ToBeTogether

Chapter 1

~To be Together~

Sweat was beaded across New's forehead as he carried a box of books into the mansion. The Perdpiriyawong family have finished the renovation of their home and were moving back in. New entered the door into the mansion, up the staircase, along the hallway then to his room. He tried to balance the box on his hip to open his door but the box slipped and fell upside down onto the floor. 

Sighing, New dropped down on his knees to flip the box, with a frown on his forehead then slowly picked up one book at a time to put back into the box. He unconsciously grabbed each book, without noticing that an envelope fell to the floor and landed behind him. He opened his door, picked up the box and walked into his room. He headed straight for his bookshelf beside his bay window, which was his favourite spot in the room. With the box on the floor, New smiled as he was about to decorate the shelves with his favourite books. 

He gently picked a book and pushed it into place and repeated the process until the box was empty, then stood back to appreciate the work he had done. 

“Hia, are you upstairs?” Kuea, New’s younger brother, called from the lobby.

“Yeah, I’m in my room,” New walked towards his door, out into the hall to see his brother.

"Hia, mum told me, to tell you that we have the ball tonight and for us to not be late, also if we will be late, she will cut our allowance.” Nu Kuea said the last sentence with a worried look.

New smiled at his younger brother's expression, but also knew that his mother would indeed cut their allowance if they were late, so he reassured his younger sibling that their precious allowance would not be cut, not if he could help it.

He turned around and walked along the hall to his room, but then stopped short when he noticed the white envelope on the floor.

“What’s this?” 

New bent down and picked it up and looked it over, turning it over to see if he could identify anything about the content that could be inside the envelope. New also didn’t see a name that may help him identify to whom the envelope belonged to, so he entered his room with the item still in his hand. Curiosity got the best of him, so he tore open the envelope and a key fell out. 

“Huh! A key?” New held the cold golden key and looked even more confused as to why there was a key in an envelope, and why it was outside of his room. He looked at the details on the key to try and figure out what the key could open and looked around his room to see if there was a secret door. Of course there wasn’t, so the only thing he did was put the key back into the envelope and put it inside his drawer. 

The movers were moving the last of the furniture into the lobby with Aunty Ja instructing (more like commending) them where to put what. New walked downstairs and did a wai to all the workers.

“Aunty Ja, was that everything?” New waied as he saw his beloved Nanny, someone who practically raised him up. 

“Khun New, yes! Everything has been put into place. But of course I’ll have to wait for Madam to see and approve everything. But it’s done for the most part. It’s so nice to be back home, don’t you think?” Aunty Ja asked with a smile as she spoke to New.

New loved his Nanny, because when his parents were busy out there in the world, running their family business, she was there for him through everything and has taught him everything he knows. New didn’t resent his parents, as he knew they were working to make the family business successful. He knew that his parents loved him and when Kuea was born, it was the first time in a long time he ever stayed with his parents for a very long time, until Kuea was able to walk. But he loved those times and held it close in his heart, as those were precious memories he would never forget. During that time, he really felt and saw the love that his parents had for one another and the love they felt for him and his new baby brother. That was the time that they were truly together as a family.

“Aunty Ja, Nu Kuea and I will be attending the ball tonight. So we might be late coming back home. And don’t worry about dinner as we will be having something to eat at the ball.”

“Ah the ball, of course your mother has sent me the details and has sent over your suits. I shall have them prepared in your rooms when you get ready. How about a little lunch? Everyone’s out back in the yard. Let’s go and join them.” Aunty Ja guided New to their huge backyard that overlooked the rolling mountains of Chiang Mai.

As New walked out onto the patio, Porche and Pete came around the corner after doing a perimeter check. Porche had been New’s bodyguard since he was a teenager, always there to protect and serve. Porche was like an older brother at times when he wanted advice on life (as Porche was much older than him), about love and other things that stressed out a teenager. Porche also taught him taekwondo as a form of self defence and protection, but he was never in a situation where he had to protect himself, because Porche was the best of the best, New’s father made sure.

The rest of the bodyguards, who are always with New and Kuea at all times, have become more like brothers, family and have learned to trust each other. New and Kuea have always been taught to appreciate what they have, so they were always thankful to their bodyguards who risk their lives daily to protect them.

“Hia, we were just about to go ahead and start without you. What was taking you so long?” Kuea came running to his brother showing evidence around his mouth that he had indeed started without him.

“I think you already have Nu Kuea,” New smiled and brushed the frosting from said brother’s upper lip with his thumb.

“Good afternoon Khun New, we have arranged your entourage at 0:1800 hours and we'll take you straight to the ball. Sir Perdpiriyawong has given us the details, so you can be at ease at the ball and have a bit of fun.” Porche informed New while also encouraging New to not worry about their safety.

“Thank you Phi. I trust you with my life and know that you will keep us safe.” New smiled, appreciating that he had his people. 

“Let’s eat,” Aunty Ja announced as she put a big bowl of salad in the middle of the table surrounded by mouth watering dishes that could make the gods cry.

New smiled as he sat down at the head of the table and felt such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that he had everyone he cared about here, safe and happy. Everyone was enjoying the meal, laughing and chatting, while a gentle breeze soothed over them from the majestic mountains in the background.