Best Buddies // KornWai //

25

“Por, what do you mean?“ Korn asked, clearly frustrated by his father beating around the bush rather than speaking straightforwardly.

“I have a brother, younger than me. He must be in his late thirties right now,” Dawn smiled fondly.

“Why didn't I know about this? Where is he?“ Korn was shocked. He had been with Dawn for as long as he remembered but never once someone mentioned that he had an uncle.

“You were still around one year old back then when he left home. Ever since, he never returned back,” Dawn said.

Korn sympathised with his father. Aou was also leaving but at least, Korn could still keep in touch with him but if one day, Aou went missing like how his uncle did, Korn would have gone frantic. However, he still didn't understand how was his uncle related to his father and Wai's family's war with each other.

“Dad, I understand that you must be feeling very sad due to your brother being brought up this conversation but how is he concerned in this?“ Korn asked.

Dawn looked at Lay. Korn did the same, confused. It seemed like Dawn and Lay were having a secret conversation between them.

Lay sighed. He walked towards Korn. “Alright, Korn. I'll tell you a few things about Sir Dawn's brother and you tell me if you find these familiar or not, okay?“

Korn blankly looked at Lay.

“I was very close with Sir Dawn—”

“It's Phi.“ —Dawn.

“I was very close with P'Dawn's brother because we are of the same age. Do you know how old am I?“ Lay asked.

Korn hesitantly nodded, not knowing where this conversation was going. “You're thirty-nine years old.“

Lay nodded, in disappointment that his age was a topic here. “What's our age difference?“ He asked.

Korn blinked. Seriously? He had to do maths now? “Eighteen but again, how is this related here?“

“P'Dawn's brother left home when you were one. How old was he back then?“ Lay asked again, making Korn more frustrated by the maths questions.

“He was nineteen, okay? Now, this isn't primary school. Tell me right away!“ Korn was getting angry.

“Last question. Who joined the Jitaraphol at 19 years old?“ Lay asked.

Korn frowned. How was he supposed to know that? “Be for real, Phi. I don't live there—”

“Korn, this is P'Tao. He has worked for us for more than 10 years.“

“P'Tao, you must have been working here since a young age then?“

“Yes, Nong. I've worked here since I was 19.“

Korn gasped at the realisation. “P'Tao…”

Just as Korn turned to face his father, Dawn wasn't there anymore. He soon realised that these small riddles were not for him to know his uncle's identity but for Dawn to quietly slip away.

“Korn, you've already met Tao. How is he?“ Lay asked.

Korn had no idea what to say. He never knew Tao really. The only person who could answer that would be Wai.

Wai!

Korn ran out of the room, with his phone on his hand. He quickly dialed Wai's number.

*

Wai was unconscious. He was found by Tao, who came to check in on the brothers at the insistence of their mother.

Luckily, Tao called an ambulance on time and Wai was taken to the hospital. The state in which Wai was found was very disturbing to the point that even Tao couldn't believe his eyes.