HEMP ROPE, BETWEEN US (ENG)

Chapter 21

Win parked the car in front of a small house outside the city. It was a two story cement house with a garden outside, with netting covering vegetable patches.
He got out of the car, bringing all the gifts they had brought from Bangkok, his hands were full.

"Hia, I already brought things."

Team had complained when he saw him bringing a basket of food to the car. He hadn't been sure what to do, when Team texted him last week saying that he would go visit his family and he wanted them to go together.

The blonde smiled faintly thinking of how Team had asked him to come. He wasn't sure how or if he would tell his family, but when he was nervous he was able to think of Team and be eacother's safe place.

They had left together late last night and drove north for several hours. Team asked to drive worried Hia would be too tired so they took turns, ate snacks, stopped to rest a few times until they reached Team's home at 8am.

"Can I help carry things? Are you tired?" Team came over to carry the gifts they brought.

They both also had their backpacks with their  clothes and such on their backs.

"Nope I'm wide awake. Are your parents awake yet?" He whispered the last part, not wanting to be too loud.

Team opened the fence gate to let them in and laughed a bit when seeing Win looked nervous.

"My parents get up early, usually they are already up by 5am. My dad likes to get up early to garden and check on his vegetables."
He gestured to the small veggie patches, one with bright leafy greens growing nicely.

Team got out his keys to unlock the door, when it suddenly opened revealing a tall, thin, tanned man standing in the doorway.

"Oh!" They both said, surprised.
Team quickly held his hands up in wai,

"Father, hello!"

Win quickly adjusted things in his hands to wai as well.

"You sure got here early." His father greeted them and pulled Team into a hug.
"Are you getting taller? You seem bigger!"

Team paused and slowly hugged him back with a smile.

"To centimeters taller. I have to hurry or I won't reach 6ft."

"Are you hungry? Your mom got up early to cook for you since you were coming. Eggs, rice, porridge, milk, let's go check it out."  He lightly patted his son's back and lead them inside.

He turned to help the tall person standing nervously,
"Here, let uncle help you carry that."

"That's ok! I can carry it."
Win held onto everything in his hands tightly and hurried to follow them into the house.

Before he had told Team not to be nervous when meeting his parents but now that it was his turn his hands were shaking and he was being akward.

"Oh, these good kids brought a lot of things." A soft voice greeted him as soon as he walked in. A slender, kind looking woman with pale northern skin quickly came to help him carry things.

"Hello auntie." Win greeted, feeling like he couldn't do anything right.
He tried to raise his hands to wai but they were stuck with what he was carrying.

"Hello! Ah driving must have been tiring, Team, help him carry stuff!" She turned to scold her naughty son who was pouring a glass of water.

"That's ok," Win shook his head "I'll set them down."

"Here, come eat with us at the table." At the end of her sentence she lightly slapped her son on the shoulder.

"Well he wouldn't let me hold anything!" Team answered with a smirk. He handed the glass of water he had poured to Win.