my future roommate

Chapter 17: There will be happiness

"Listen to me, Tine.." Suddenly, Sarawat turned towards me, his eyes piercing right through me. "May be its too soon, may be it sounds too crazy, but I like you, I really, really like you Tine. And for a second I thought you liked me too. May be it was all in my head and that's all on me. I am sorry for assuming things." He took a deep breath. "I don't want to complicate this, Tine. I don't want to force my feelings on you. If you just want to be friends, we'll just be friends — for now.

But would you at least give me a chance? You don't even have to like me very much. I just hope you'll keep your heart open for me. I just hope you don't go around 'managing' things like these all alone. I hope you always remember I am just a call away — That's the promise you asked me to make, remember?"

Tine's POV

I stayed quiet, taking in Sarawat's words. Wondering if things would have been different between us had I not known what was going to happen in the future. Wondering if I had been at least a little bit happy right now if I hadn't a different version of Sarawat in my apartment, who claimed to be from the future.

Was there even a world where Sarawat and I could be happy? Or was there no hope for us at all from the very start?

DING

My phone buzzed and I stared down at the lit up screen because at this point I could take any distraction possible just to avoid answering Sarawat's question.

Find Mom

The reminder that I had set this morning flashed on my phone screen. I took a deep breath. It felt like I was stuck in a rock and a hard place.

"Wat..." I finally spoke up, my voice echoing inside the silent car. "I need to make a phone call. I will — I will just be back." I unlocked the car door but before I could go out, Sarawat pulled me back by my arm.

"Stay here inside." He said. "Make your call. I'll be outside. Let me know when you are done."

"No, wait..."

Sarawat opened his car door and went out before I could say anything else. I felt a new pain seethe through my heart. Everything was slowly and steadily going to shit, but I was hoping, there was still a chance. I could still change things. I could save mom and I could find a way to be with Sarawat — or at least I could find a way to save Sarawat's father.

I opened my phone back up again, trying mom's number one more time, but just as I expected, she didn't pick up my call. Ideally, I should have given up right here, I usually gave up right here. But not now. I couldn't just let my ego get in my way right now. I had less than two weeks to save mom. I had to do whatever it takes to meet her.

So, I decided to call the next best person who could help me locate mom. Someone I could trust.

I tapped a few buttons on my phone and pressed it to my ear when I heard the call get connected.

"Hello Uncle Bobby? Its Tine!"

"Hello? Tine, its really?" He still sounded the same

"Yes, its me uncle.."

"Tine. How are you? Are you doing okay? Where are you staying right now?

"I am doing okay uncle. I rented an apartment near college"

"The home is not the same without you, Tine."

"How are you? Are you doing well, I hope dad doesnt give you a hard time for talking to me."

"Your dad couldnt even dare. I have been working at this house longer than he has even been here." I could hear him smile through the phone. "He can threaten the other house staff all he wants to lose any contact with you, but not me. You are my boy Tine, I have watched you grow up."