Vanilla Boy

Chapter 13

Shanee Vachiravit Jamorhnoom, formerly Shanee Ruangjarojas, is the fifth descendant of the Ruangjarojas nobles who have ruled the Thai business world since the time of their ancestors.

Young Shanee then falls in love with Vachiravit Jamorhnoom, a man with the sloppy bad boy appearance who turns out to be a man with amazing business management skills, her senior in university.

Shanee insists on marrying young Vic and they start life with the capital of an old auto repair shop which is growing and expanding into other businesses they are slowly building.

Their small workshop turned into a big showroom when Shanee gave birth to Selly--their first daughter.

Three years later, when their second daughter Bica was born, there were already three car showrooms and an auto parts factory within the Jamorhnoom business circle.

Vic turned his money around and invested in stocks smartly, so that when five years later their third son was born--Gary, Jamorhnoom's name was already listed as the largest shareholder in various automotive and heavy equipment industries, not only in Thailand, but also in the Asian region, Southeast and parts of Europe. In the course of Shanee and Vic's household, they developed a business in the health and food sector.

Their family grew bigger and bigger and all were involved in the business they had started since the beginning of their marriage.

Beam listened to Forth's explanation with admiration, as he waited in the living room with Forth while the Jamorhnooms were in the dining room discussing something with Shanee.

Beam was nervous. Shanee Jamorhnoom is very beautiful for a woman at the age of 72, but her aura as a strong and sharp-minded person is also very much felt.

"Baby, calm down. I'll face anything for you. Grandma isn't an impressionable and easily attracted person, but she's rational."

"She probably doesn't like me," Beam muttered sadly. "I'm just a student, an orphan, and a man also."

Forth pinched the tip of Beam's nose gently. "You're so stupid. I never cared about the things you mentioned earlier, because to me, you are everything I ever wanted to be."

Beam hit Forth's arm. "That's a lot of crap, Forth. You're always exaggerating."

"I will always overdo it in loving you, Baramee." Forth kissed Beam's nose, then his forehead, and was just about to land his lips on Beam's, when he heard a deliberate coughing sound.

Wine was standing on the threshold of the living room smiling, when he saw Beam pushing Forth with a bright red face.

"Hey you guys, it's not time to make out yet. You still have to get that girl named Farah off grandma's match list."

"I know, Phi, and I'll do everything I can for Beam," Forth replied.

"What if grandma insists and you might end up nameless on Jamorhnoom?"

"It's okay, Phi," Forth replied calmly. "We have too many Jamorhnooms in this family and losing one won't be too noticeable. I would gladly be a Vongviphan."

Wine flicked Forth's forehead. "Crazy boy! Come into the dining room, grandma is waiting for you. Good luck, Beam. Try not to be too nervous."

Beam gulped and followed Forth who gripped his hand tightly. Shanee looked at the two young people standing in front of her with a sharp gaze. He saw Forth's hand gripping Beam's hand tightly.

"Sit down, wolfie. We need to talk."

Shanee stared intently at Beam, observing his features closely. "What's your name, young man?" Shanee asked after a while.

"His name is Beam Baramee Vongviphan, Grandma," replied Forth.

Shanee snorted and glared at Forth. "Is he so mute that you have to answer the questions I asked him?"

Beam squeezed Forth's hand and smiled at Shanee. "I'm sorry for Forth, Ma'am, sometimes he gets too excited. My name is Beam Baramee Vongviphan. I am 22 years old and currently studying at the same university as Forth."

"Beam is a genius medical student, Grandma. He got a full scholarship because his grades are always high," Forth interrupted proudly.

Beam patted Forth's arm and glared at him. "Shut up, Forth. I can answer for myself. Don't make me feel like an idiot."

Forth pouted. "But, Beam...."

"Shh!"

Forth sighed and was silent. Leah and Gary looked at each other, Wine and Grant stifled a laugh. Shanee looked at the two with raised eyebrows.

"So your name is Beam and you're a medical student, huh? I heard you're Trina Intochar's adopted daughter. What about your parents?"

"They've been dead since I was a teenager, Ma'am. My father died first from illness, then my mother died because her boyfriend beat her and put me in a mental hospital because I tried to fight her. Doctor Trina treated me and then adopted me."

When surprised, the Jamorhnooms keep their feelings in their hearts. Shanee admires Beam's courage and openness. She leaned toward Beam. "Why are you with Forth? Is it because he's a Jamorhnoom?"

Beam smiled widely and shook his head. "Forth may be a Jamorhnoom but he is willing to become a Vongviphan if you throw him away, Ma'am and that's enough for me. I never believed in love because to me it was absurd. That's why I never tried to be in a serious relationship with anyone because to me love is just a thing, meaningless words. I'm not proud of my past, but when Forth came into my life, he stubbornly made me start to believe that absurd words can be given meaning."

"You're a medical student, aren't you? Why do you talk so gibberish like an engineering student," Shanee snapped unimpressed.

Beam smiled widely and looked at Forth lovingly. "Maybe that's how deep Forth influenced me. I'm not as rich as Jamorhnoom, Ma'am, but I'm a hard worker and I am willing to be a great doctor with my own work. Trina Intochar has enough wealth to send me to become a professor, but I choose to study harder so I can get a scholarship and doesn't bother my adoptive mother. Just giving me the status of a child makes me very grateful of her kindness."

"What do you see in Forth? You're handsome, clean, neat, there must be a lot of women waiting in line behind you. Why did you choose this brat and brawling grandson of mine? Just look at his tattoos, piercing, not to mention he's the head of a motorcycle gang and smokes."

"I've quit smoking, Grandma," Forth interrupted.

Everyone was surprised to hear Forth's words.

"Really, Forth? Since when?" asked Grant in disbelief.

"Ever since I started approaching Beam. He's a medical student and I heard from a friend that Beam doesn't like cigarette smoke. I'm afraid he won't like me if I'm around him and smells of tobacco," Forth replied firmly.

Shanee smiled faintly and looked at Beam.

"Forth is not a delinquent, Ma'am. Forth is the bravest, fairest, and honest person I have ever known. He fights for those around him who are being treated unfairly and in fact Forth never starts a fight first. His tattoos and piercings are just appearance, but behind that, Forth has a warm and sensitive heart. I like everything about him, even his stubbornness, stupidity and carelessness," said Beam as he gently squeezed Forth's hand.

Wine and Grant laughed. "Oii . . . you're very lucky, wolfie," Grant said, flicking Forth's forehead.

Beam sighed and looked at Grant and Wine in turn. "You guys need to stop flicking his forehead, Phi. Forth will be a fool if you keep doing that."

This time, everyone including Shanee laughed at Beam's words, while Beam rubbed Forth's forehead and Forth looked at him lovingly.

"Okay, let's eat now," Shanee said after her laughter died down.

Forth and Beam exchanged glances. Just that?

*****