From Something To Everything (Bounprem)

44. Nephew

“Uncle.” Art exclaimed and cannonballed at his favourite uncle as soon as he got off the car.

Boun squatted down to catch his little nephew. He hugged the little one before getting back to his feet carrying his nephew.

“Did you miss, Uncle?” Boun preferred being called ‘uncle’ instead of ‘lung’ as being called ‘lung’ made him feel like a middle-aged man.

“I missed you so much” Art spread his tiny hands wide open to show how much he missed his uncle.

“Oh really?” Boun used his nose to tickle his nephew’s tummy causing the latter to giggle.

Boun carried Art into the mansion.

Jane smiled watching the uncle and nephew interacting with each other.

“I wish his own Dad showed at least half as much love as you show him as an uncle, Boun.” Jane sighed.

“Khun Yay.” Art wiggled out of Boun’s grip and ran towards his grandmother and placed a kiss on her cheeks.

“Go freshen up and come. Khun Yay will get snacks for you.” Jane said cupping Art’s little face.

“Yes.” Art did a small victory dance upon hearing his grandmother’s words.

“Take little master to his room and help him change,” Jane ordered one of the maids, who came forward to take Art away. “He is just like you when you were young.” Jane glanced at her nephew. “He knows how to act cute with people and get what he wants.”

“I love you, so much, Pa.” Boun side hugged his aunt and kissed her cheeks just like Art.

“Don’t ‘I love you’ me.” She pushed Boun away. “I know you love your Pa Ann more.” Jane pouted.

“No, Pa. I love both of you beautiful ladies just the same.” Boun said still hugging his aunt looking at her with puppy eyes.

“Don’t try to act cute with me and try to convince me. I know you call her every other day, while you would only call me once a week.” Jane lightly slapped her clingy nephew’s shoulders.

“Pa, I was too busy. Am I not visiting you even now and then? I haven’t seen Pa Ann for almost a year now.” Boun blinked cutely.

“Go away you little brat.” Jane got out of Boun’s hug.

Boun lay on the couch with his head on his aunt’s lap.

“How is your work going?” Jane asked running her hands through Boun’s golden locks.

“Never been better, Pa. Did Ohm tell you that I will be acting in a bl series?” Boun asked excitedly.

“Ohm didn’t tell me. Your Dad did. He was so furious the other day when he came over. You really know how to make him angry, don’t you?” Jane looked at Boun whose bright smile visibly faded.

“He is not my dad Pa. and I am no longer his son. Our relationship ended the very day I was kicked out of that house.” Boun said in a serious tone.

“Blood ties are not broken that easily, Boun. He is still your biological father. He still cares about you. His getting angry is proof of that.” Jane slowly massaged Boun’s scalp.

“I don’t need his care. I can take care of myself.” Boun sat up.

“You both phi-Nong are stubborn mulls. You are being like this and your P’ Kao, he has stopped coming home altogether. Even if he doesn’t want to visit his old parents, he could at least come to visit his only child. The kid is growing up without a mother and having a dad like Kao is the same as having none.” Jane sighed and shook her head.

“He would come home if you stop pushing him for a remarriage and forcing him to on blind dates.”

“Kao, told you that I am forcing him to meet girls?” Jane asked.

“No.” Boun shook his head. “I heard from Jane. Pa, can’t you just let him be. He is a grown-up. Let him decide what to do with his life.”

“This is not just about him, Boun. You have to consider Art as well. He is still too young. He needs a mother, Boun.”

“Art might need a mother. But P’ Kao needs a partner and I know that you know that none of those girls can be one for P’ Kao.” Boun knelt before Jane and held her hands. “He can never love them. He would never be happy and things that happened with Shelly will repeat itself.”
  
Jane held Boun’s hand and gave a sad smile. “I know, Luk. I know he will never be happy with them. But I don’t have a choice here, do I? Didn’t you see how your Khun Pu and Khun Yay reacted when you told them the truth? I… I… I know I am being selfish here, but I don’t want others to point fingers at Kao as they did to you.”

Boun obviously understood what his aunt was trying to say. If someone were to know that the heir of the Dechaphatthanakun family was into men, it would be chaos just like how it happened when he, the heir of the Guntachai family announced that he was bisexual. His grandparents almost had a heart attack that night.

“I know, Pa. But by forcing P’ Kao into a marriage, you are ruining two lives. One P’ Kao’s and another that girl to whom he would marry. And in today’s society, what guarantee do we have that his second wife would actually take care of Art?” Boun asked.

“What else am I supposed to do, Boun? Even though Art acts way matured for his age, he is still a child. He wants his parent’s attention and loves just like other kids.” Jane was seriously disappointed in her son.

“How about we do this, I will talk to P’ Kao about spending more time with Art and you stop asking him to go on blind dates with those socialites?” Boun suggestively asked.

“But…”

“No buts. It is decided then.” Boun cut in and shook his aunt’s hand sealing the deal.

“Uncle, can you help me with my homework.” Art who had changed out of his school uniform ran over to Boun.

“Sure, anything for my baby boy.” Boun placed a sniff kiss on Art’s chubby cheeks.

“We can play with the toys Uncle Ohm got for me last week after we finish my homework.” Art held Boun’s hand and dragged him upstairs into his bedroom.

Boun smiled and nodded. The uncle and nephew sat next to each other.

“Uncle, please help me choose what colour to use.” Art pulled out his colouring book from the school bag and spread it open on the study table before taking out his crayons.

“Let’s use red colour here.” Boun pointed at the picture in the colouring book.
Art happily nodded and picked up the crayon and started colouring the picture.

The duo spent the rest of the night completing the homework and playing. Boun made sure that Art was well tucked in as he slept before leaving the mansion.