I Found You

chapter 14

Tine's eyes flutter with the fall of sunlight on his face and he groans due to a stiffness in his body. he looks around with half squeezed eyes and realises he is in Lita's room. he jostles up awake and calls for Sarawat.

"he and Lily left last night" comes a gentle voice from the window. Lita is standing with a glass in her hand. she walks up to the bed and sits on the edge.

"you passed out last night. we had to call the doctor."

"did he say anything before leaving?" Tine asks and Lily has to roll her eyes because she knows he is not asking about the doctor. in fact, she doubts he has even listened to her.

"not really. he looked distracted and confused and ready to cry.. i thought you two had a fight."

Tine doesn't speak for a while and leans back in the pillow, closing his eyes. his head hurts a little and he could drink gallons of water right now. Lita only has a glass of it so she offers him.

"I'm sorry" Tine says after a moment, "you must really hate me for treating your parents like that."

Lita cocks a brow up, "well i could say the same, no? you must really hate me because my parents treat you like that." Tine chuckles faintly and says fair enough.

"it's nobody's fault phi" Lita sighs, "we are all just too focused on how we are feeling that we can't see how others are feeling. you are too focused on being angry that you can't see the efforts mom is putting for you. she's too focused on her guilt that she can't see how difficult it is for you. it's really that simple when you look at it like that."

Tine blinks quietly. he never really looked at it like that.

"i did not know you're so mature" he mumbles. Lita snorts explicitly, punching on his shoulder.

"i am not. uncle Kim asked me to tell you this because he's afraid you're mad at him and won't listen to him."

"of course" Tine tuts, "he deserves this. imagine having your best friend betray you and humiliate you in front of everyone."

"you and your dad are so cute" Lita laughs, "i am sure he did not mean in a bad way Tine. you just need to talk it out."

"he's crazy" Tine huffs sulkily.

"i agree" Lita sighs dramatically, "the only one sane amongst us is Lily and I'm not even kidding."

Tine laughs, "absolutely." and then after a pause, "also her dad."

Lita watches Tine silently, a faint smile shadowing on her lips before she nods in a no. "nah i don't think he's sane either. i think he is crazily in love with you Tine."

Tine's knees wobble and he can feel heat crawling up through his neck to face.

"he is not-"

"don't you dare deny it brother" Lita interrupts, leaning ahead, "you did not see how he went nuts when you passed out. i saw it all. how he looked at you when you were talking to Lily. in fact, how he looked at you when you were doing anything, really."

Tine smiles softly and purses his lips. "you like him too, don't you?"

Lita's cheeks turn crimson but she laughs, "what?! didn't you hear when i said he is like a brother to me?"

"i have said way too many empty words that i know how they sound like, little sister "

"you're being crazy now" Lita snorts.

Tine sighs. he could speak over Lita and tell her that he noticed how Mrs. June was trying to bring Sarawat and Lita closer on the dining table and he also noticed how Lita grew uncomfortable. it was not before Mrs. June revealed that they had misunderstood Sarawat's fondness for Lita that Tine connected everything - Lita knew her parents had a wrong idea about her and Sarawat. but she did not correct them because she secretly hoped he liked her. however, when she learned about Sarawat's feelings for Tine, she became uncomfortable with her parents' assumption.