Certainty in the Uncertain

Chapter 6

Saifah slipped the last egg from the pan onto a plate and turned the stove off. He moved to put the last plate onto the table for breakfast before yelling upstairs, hopefully waking Phayu and Rain. As he set the plate onto the table, he heard the door open only to see his parents step inside.

"Ma!" Saifah rushed over to hug his mother who gently stroked his back while he held on.

"I've missed you dear boy," she said, pulling back to look at him and running her knuckles along his cheek. "Now, say hello to your pa too."

Saifah turned to his father who quickly pulled him into a hug.

"I missed you too pa," Saifah mumbled into his father's shoulder.

Finally released from his father's arms, he watched as his mother wandered around the room, stopping at the table.

"So, Phayu must be home unless you are expecting company for breakfast?" she asked.

Saifah was momentarily unsure of what to say. No he wasn't expecting company. Yes, Phayu was home. Upstairs. Most likely still in bed. With Rain.

Their parents knew about Rain and had even talked with him numerous times on the phone. But they had never met Rain in person and Saifah wasn't sure that greeting their parents in his pajamas and with morning hair was the first impression Rain was hoping to make. He was confident that Phayu wouldn't care but he didn't want to be stuck with the menacing brat that might make an appearance if this didn't go the way Rain had envisioned.

"Um, yes ma, Phayu is home. I'll go upstairs and get him. He's probably still sleeping since we were out late last night." Saifah moved towards the stairs only to be stopped by his mother's hand on his shoulder.

"Saifah, there are three plates on the table. Is Rain here?"

"Uh, yes, I think so," he replied.

"You think so?" she asked and he nodded. "So, if you are unsure, why are there three plates?"

"Ugh, fine, yes, Rain is here. If you let go of me, I'll go up and get them," he answered, noticing a large smile pass over his mother's face.

"Oh, no, Saifah. Allow me."

"Allow you what?" he asked, dreading the answer. Praying for it not to be what he was thinking.

"Allow me to go wake them up." Oh this was bad. So. So. So. Bad. Rain was going to kill him. Make his life a living hell for the unforeseen future. He was oh so dead.

Saifah looked over at his father with pleading eyes, attempting to summon help from his father that he knew would not come. His father just smiled and shrugged and Saifah knew it was over for him. He watched in horror as his mother made her way quickly up the stairs and disappeared from view.

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Knocking on the door, Achara listened for noises on the other side of the door. Hearing none, she knocked louder several more times.

"Go away, Saifah," she heard Phayu finally say. She knocked again.

"Seriously Saifah, stop." She knocked again, giggling to herself.

"Saifah!" Phayu's raised voice indicating his annoyance. Hearing the rustling of sheets, she waited patiently for the door to open. However, when the door opened, she was not met by Phayu but by Rain.

He stood before her in pajama pants covered in laughing kittens, a shirt so big that it had to be Phayu's, and hair sticking out in all directions. He yawned and rubbed his hand over his face several times.