The five of us sit in silence but I don't dare break it.
Bible's leg shakes against mine and I instinctively place a hand on his knee to calm it which suddenly draws all the eyes in the room to the move.
Seated directly across from me is Bible's dad, with a serious face that would terrify the faint of heart, good thing I am a master at hiding my expressions but the truth is, despite my blank face...
I'm nervous.
That much is obvious but I don't let it show. To be honest, at 27 and Bible 25, we are both adults and don't need to explain our actions to anyone but I keep my opinions to myself out of respect for Bible.
"So, how long has this been going on for?" Bible's mother is the first to break the silence and I turn to Bible, waiting for him to speak but he doesn't say a word so I make the choice to answer for him.
"Five or six months."
"Five..." Jonathan sputters, glaring at Bible. "You've kept this from me for six months? Bible!"
"Yeah well, I didn't think I had to report to you on every person I go out with. I am an adult..."
"Don't be snarky, kid," Bible's dad speaks for the first time. "Jeff is not just any other person and everyone in this room knows that."
The room falls into an uncomfortable silence and we all sit there simply watching each other wearingly before Jonathan breaks the silence with a sigh.
"I, for one, don't care who you date, Bible..."
"Thank you..."
"I'm not finished," Jonathan says, cutting Bible off. "I am hurt you didn't tell me you were dating the man whose show my girlfriend was dying to go to last Christmas. Do you know how much I had to pay for the tickets from a sketchy guy selling them on Instagram?"
"Jonathan..."
"I paid 3,000 baht for the backseat row for a show that was originally 900 baht."
"Look, Jonathan..." Bible tries again.
"I couldn't even hear the music from the back. Some kids were smoking and stinking up our corner and to think you date the artist."
"Fine, Jesus Jonathan, I'll get you and your girlfriend's front-row seats for Jeff's next show. In fact, I'll get you into the VIP section."
I don't pay mind to the bickering brothers, choosing instead to watch Bible's dad who's been seated the entire time with a faraway look in his eyes and when he turns to look at me, I don't shift my gaze.
"Does your family know?" he asks.
"Pa!" Bible cuts in but I tighten my hand on his knee, assuring him that I can handle myself.
"My mother knows I am seeing someone. She has no idea that it's Bible," I say.
"Will she approve if she learns of this?"
"I don't know. I respect their opinion, I can only hope that they'll respect my choices even if they don't like them."
The older man nods before getting up. We watch him leave the room and it's not until the man has disappeared from the room that Bible's mom jumps up, pushing his son out of the way and to the floor before settling down beside me.
"I am a huge fan, Satur" she gushes, peeking to see if her husband has left already before turning to me. "You have to get me a ticket to your next concert. I can't believe you are dating Bible. You could do so much better."
