Drowning In Your Love

Shrouded In Darkness

Penelope was in operation room while they all waited outside. Gulf had gained consciousness and wasn't hurt too bad while Tine had 7 stitches on his face. Wat and Mew were trying their best to console Derek who was absolutely losing his mind. Tine hadn't said a word since they got here. His mind was in turmoil. He couldn't help but feel guilty. After 4 hours doctor exited the operation theatre and conveyed the bad news. Penelope had passed away because knife had ruptured her vital organs and she had lost too much blood.

Derek lost consciousness as soon as he heard the news. His entire world had crumpled down in blink of an eye. Wat took care of his father and sent everyone home. They had to prepare for Penelope's funeral. Just thinking about it made him wanna cry. He realized with a start that he hadn't cried yet. His mother was dead and he hadn't cried a single tear. It hadn't sinked in yet that he had lost his mother. He felt like if he started crying, he would never stop. Right now he has to take care of his Dad, he needs to make sure his Dad didn't break down.

Mew and Wat took care of the funeral. The news had made headlines and lots of their business colleagues and relatives arrived to attend the funeral. He had stopped Tine and Gulf from attending the funeral because they would attract too much attention. He didn't know how he would explain everything to others. He wished Brett wasn't in jail so he could beat the hell out of that jerk. That monster had messed up his family and serving life imprisonment wasn't enough punishment according to him.

It had been a week since his mother's death and everything seemed out of order. Derek hadn't left the room even once. He stayed all day inside hardly eating anything. Mew wasn't doing any better. He hadn't talked with Tine yet. He couldn't bring himself to face him. He was tired of consoling everyone. He wanted someone to console him too. It was dinner time when he ordered food and called everyone to eat. It took lot of effort to get Derek to come and eat. But as soon as his father saw Tine and Gulf there, he freaked out.

"Get them out of my sight." He said coldly.

"Dad-"

"You are still keeping them here when they are the reason your mother is dead?"

"Where will I send them?"

"That's not our problem. You did what you could do now let them fend for themselves."

"Dad please, let's just eat for now."

"I won't tolerate them even for a second more. She's dead because of these two. It's their fault."

"Brett is the one who killed her. Tine and Gulf aren't at fault here."

"If not for them, Brett wouldn't have been here in first place."

"Dad, let's not fight."

Derek scoffed, "She died protecting them. Brett was their problem, they should have dealt with him. My Penelope shouldn't have sacrificed herself."

"Mom did what she thought was right. I miss her too, Dad but-"

"Do you?" Derek looked at him with red rimmed eyes, "Had you not messed with Brett this all wouldn't have happened. Y-You killed your mother."

Wat stood there staring at his father who looked at him with nothing but hate filled eyes and felt his heart break a little. He couldn't argue with that. It was the truth. Truth he was very well aware of. In deepest corner of his mind he hated himself for starting all of this. He felt guilty for putting his mother in danger. He was the reason of her death. Had he never brought Tine here, none of this would have happened. His bravery and kindness had brought harm to him many times in past but never to his family but this time he put his family at such risk. For what? A stranger? Someone he pitied? Someone he liked? He didn't know what had made him do this in the first place.

No one ate that night. Everyone was hurting but no one was courageous enough to reach out. Derek left for their home in Bangkok next day. Now it was time for them to make a crucial decision. They have to return to Bangkok eventually. Now that Brett wasn't a threat anymore, they couldn't keep hiding here for any longer. The actual problem was what to do with Tine and Gulf. Could they take them as well?

Mew hadn't talked to Gulf at all since the incident. Gulf didn't have courage to start the conversation. He knew Mew hated them immensely. The way he looked at Gulf had changed. It wasn't filled with love and care anymore. It wasn't full of hatred either, more like dislike and contempt. He completely agreed with Derek. It was their fault that Penelope had died. He could understand his anger and pain but a little part of him argued that they weren't the cause. They were in pain too. They had suffered too. Gulf had slept in Tine's room for past week, he couldn't bear to sleep alone.

Tine knew Wat was conflicted. He blamed himself for the incident which wasn't right. He could understand why Derek hated them. Anyone would do the same in his shoe. Of course, family came first. They were nothing more than strangers. A kind sweet woman had died because of them. He wished she hadn't tried to save him. He wished he was the one Brett had stabbed. Dying would have been better than being the cause for someone's death. He had stood outside of Wat's room for many nights but couldn't muster the courage to go inside. What could he say to Wat anyway? Any word of consolation would have felt insincere.

He knew Wat was wondering what to do with them. He wasn't going to be burden on this family anymore. He had talked with Gulf and they had decided to go their separate ways. They wouldn't stay with Wat anymore. It was the only thing they could do for Wat and Mew. Having to face each other everyday would be torturous for all of them. It would be only right to break the contact and never see each other again. Wat and Mew had done more than enough for them now they'll try to live on their own.