Choices

The Greatest Sacrifice

Flashback

It has been 2 years since Kam had gone to London. One day Dao had sent him a text message asking if they can meet up at the restaurant. Sak was confused, if Dao wanted a get together why ask only him, why not include Tam. Understandably, she did not ask Pop was at the province visiting relatives.

Sak entered the meeting place and sat down immediately upon seeing her at the table. They ordered food and ate for a while in silence. Dao was never like Kam, who would endlessly chatter while eating. Sak waited until they finished eating.

'Dao, what is this about?' Sak asked immediately.

'I will be going to London to visit Kam, do you want to come?' Dao immediately asked.

'We are going to visit Kam? But why are we the only one to be here? Where is Tam? Sak was very puzzled. Did they fight? Dao and Tam?'

So many questions were running in Sak's head. Dao looked at him and said, 'It is nothing Kam just misses us, he told me on the phone last week, so we are going to visit him.'

'Oh okay, so I suppose, with Tam not here, I am the last one to get asked?' Sak said.

'Nope, you are only the 2nd one I asked. I asked Pop, too! But he wanted to spend time with his grandfather who is old and sickly.' Dao replied.

'Wait, you did not ask Tam? Why?' Sak was confused all the more. He would have thought that Tam would be the first one to be asked if they were going to visit Kam, in the UK.

She looked at him and said, 'Can we talk somewhere else?'

Sak looked back at her and gauging from the seriousness of her expression, this was something big.

They paid for their food, and both stood up to walk out of that place.

They sat by a pond at a nearby park.

Sak sat quietly, waiting for Dao. She has always been a measured speaker. She is not like Kam who was impulsive but will always consider what she talks about and avoids hurtful words.

'Sak, I have a favour to ask you, if I may, ' Dao started. She looked at him straight in the eye.

Sak nodded his agreement.

'Can you keep whatever we talk about a secret from Tam?' She asked.

Sak was so bewildered that a frown was forming on his face. He was trying to understand why Tam had to be kept out of the loop.

'Promise me, Sak! You will never tell Tam! If you break your word, I swear I will never speak to you ever again.' She was adamant.

Sak just nodded, he figured that whatever it is, it had to be important if Dao is resorting to threats like this.

She sighed. 'I asked only the two of you to go to London and see Kam because he doesn't want to see Tam.'

Sak sat up a little straighter in shock when he heard it. 'What? Why?'

She exhaled loudly and inserted a hand through her hair, rubbing it furiously as is her habit every time she gets anxious.

Sak grabbed her hand and said, 'Hey, it is okay! Just tell me the reason.'

Dao released air from her lungs because she looked at Sak.

'Do you know why my brother is currently studying in a country so far away?' Dao asked Sak.