Best Buddies // KornWai //

23

“Are you serious? Your families hate each other?“ Pran's eyes widened. He didn't know that Wai and Korn's families knew each other. He went over at Wai's place several times, but never once did anyone mention Korn's family.

“Well, that sounds quite like our families, right Pran? They also despise each other,” Pat joked. In such a tensed situation, he didn't like the way everyone was being serious.

Korn sighed. “I wish it was just that but no, our families don't hate each other.“

“Then? You just said that you can't date Wai openly because of some family things,” Chang was confused, but also intrigued at the same time.

“Wai's brother and my brother were dating but dad found out and he separated them or something like that. It's really confusing, but like Wai's mother hates my brother and told me to either choose between my brother or Wai,” Korn didn't feel like talking much so he told them the short-cut version which made everyone have more questions than ever.

Pat blinked, so did Pran.
Safe and Chang looked at each other blankly.
Mo raised an eyebrow, judging Korn's family drama.
Louis sighed. He withdrew himself from this situation.

“Why the fuck would Auntie Brinda ask you to choose between your family and a stranger?“ Pran was annoyed.

“Wai is his boyfriend,” Pat corrected.

Pran rolled his eyes. “Comparing to the family, Wai is a stranger,” He said as a matter of fact.

Before Pran and Pat could study their bickering, Korn stopped him with something that no one expected. “I'm adopted.“

Pat thanked all the deities out there that he didn't take a sip of his drink. He would have choked right away otherwise. “Since when?!“

“That's not quite of a question to ask. Obviously since he became a Laedeke,” Louis rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, I don't remember. I must be quite young, maybe still a baby when I got adopted by dad,” Korn shrugged.

Pat called all of his friends so that they could have a fun time together. He didn't know that instead of enjoying, they'd be learning secrets that one never expected.

*

Wai ran to get inside his house. He drove as fast as he could. He wasn't sure of the situation inside—whether it got solved or it worsened.

As soon as he entered the house, he was shocked by the scene that welcomed him. His heart broke into pieces that couldn't be rejoined back.

Fuse was on the floor, crying miserably. Aou and Brinda were no where to be seen. Without wasting much time, Wai ran to his brother, taking him in his arms.

Fuse was crying so much that he didn't even recognise who was hugging him. Thinking it was his mother, he resisted. He started screaming loudly, trying to get away.

“Phi! Fuse! It's me, Wai!“

Fuse started to regain his mentality. He was started to be aware of his surroundings and recognised Wai.

“W..Wai?“

“Yes, it's me. What happened here? Where is Mae, Por? Where is P'Aou?“ Wai asked. He was getting worried. Nobody seemed to be at home. The house was lonely.

“Wai..! They took him away. He let them take Aou away,” Fuse was starting to be frantic. He tried his best to stay calm but his emotions seemed to overtake his mind.

“Phi, calm down. Get up, and sit on the couch,” Wai slowly made Fuse stand on his feet with with his strength and led him to the couch. He then took a glass of cold water in the kitchen and hurriedly gave it to Fuse.

After Fuse seemed to calm down a little bit, Wai finally asked about the situation. He was a bit hesitant at first but decided that whatever that would happen from now on, he'd just deal with it as it is.

“What happened? Tell me clearly.“

This time, Fuse didn't panic. He was calm but his entire body was shaking. Maybe he was cold? Or he was scared.

“After you left with Korn, Mae found us upstairs. She didn't see you or Korn running away. Por was out with one of his business partners. Mae was very angry when she saw Aou,” Fuse was fighting back his tears.

At first, Wai panicked. He thought that his mother saw him running away with Korn. “Then?“

“There's something that everyone hid from you, Wai. It's about P'Tao. He… He is not a servant here. He was from a special force, a retired soldier and now a bodyguard of our family,” Fuse revealed.

Wai blinked. He was surprised. He knew Tao from a young age, and he was sure that he never saw him training before then—

“Is this why before he used to disappear at odd hours all of a sudden?“

Fuse nodded. “But there's also one thing. He is very loyal. After Mae found us on the rooftop, she made P'Tao d-drag Aou down the stairs while… while the other men of P'Tao held me back on the rooftop. Somehow, I broke away from their hold and ran down. That was around when Mae called you. When the call ended, Aou's father came here with a bunch of men dressed in suits and high-tech devices. They took Aou with them and I… I couldn't even do anything,” By the time he finished talking, his tears already started falling.

Wai was speechless. He didn't know what to say. The whole situation was a shock to him. Seeing his brother crying, yearning for his lover shook his heart. He didn't know why their families were against their relationship. He was confused.

“It's all because of Mr Laedeke, all because of him. He took Aou away from me,” Fuse choked on his words as he spoke.

Wai froze. He heard a lot of things about Korn's father but never once had he expected to hear such a thing.

“Phi… Why are our families so against of your relationship with P'Aou?“

*

“Wai left? Already? He didn't wait for me?“ Korn asked, stupefied. He was spending his time with his friends that he didn't notice Wai leaving at all.

That was until it was time to leave and Korn noticed the car and the car owner missing.

“Owh, Korn. Do you need a lift home?“ Pat asked. His initial plan was to enjoy the day more with Pran but seeing Korn like a lost puppy turned his plan off.

Korn shook his head. “No, it's okay, Pat. You can leave, I'll manage,” He did saw the missed calls from his dad on his phone earlier. He had a guess that this was related to Wai's leaving.

Pat didn't want to push the matter any further. He simply asked Korn to keep his location on and then left with Pran.

RING RING
“Dad is calling…”

Letting a sigh out, Korn answered the phone. “Hello?“

“K-Korn! It's me, Aou. I-I need your help,”

Korn straightened himself as quick as possible, all his attention now on the phone call.

“What happened? Is everything alright?“

“Korn, Dad is making me go to Mauritius to manage his business over there.“