The Love we Share

Chapter 5

"Your brother is good!" Sky said, as Rain and he watched Pai play basketball. "Hmm," Rain hummed, as he continued to sketch in his little book. Sky was always excited about seeing Pai play, so this over enthusiasm and the jumping up and down was nothing new to Rain. Although he sensed that Sky had more than friendly feelings towards his brother, Rain kept quiet. He knew that Sky was shy, and moreover, with a mother like his, he was likely to be more than highly repressed. If Rain would ask him anything, he was likely to clam up and just feel more conscious. But no one could stop Rain from enjoying the sight of his almost introverted best friend going silently gaga over his goof of a brother.

And it was not like Hia Pai would notice. Their fathers had been in a relationship for nearly 8 years, maybe even more, but these two clods of his had not figured it out. They were completely clueless about social cues. While people usually thought that of Rain, he knew his persona was a façade. He knew very well, only Sky knew the real him. And he preferred it that way. He had told Sky he was gay, letting him on another secret that no one knew about. And he was aware Sky was gay too. Oh, he had never admitted it out loud, but the truth was implicit in his words. And he knew very well why Sky would never say the words out loud. His mother would kill him if her perfect son turned out to be gay. She would disown him and throw him in the dungeons somewhere, if they existed in some part of the world, and throw away the key. So, it was funny how Sky inadvertently kept announcing he was gay, not really trusting himself to even admit it to himself.

"Hey Phayu! Some lady here to see you," a classmate told him as he was distributing answer sheets to a test they had recently written. Phayu was surprised. Which lady could it be? "Can you take care of these for me? Distribute them I mean?" he asked the same classmate, handing over the remaining sheets to him. "Sure, no worries," he said, and Phayu stepped out, looking for who could have called him out. "Phayu?" a soft voice made him turn his head. He was shocked to see his mother in front of him after 10 whole years. Pai was coming back from basketball practice and he was also surprised to see Phayu outside his class standing a few feet away from a woman, whom he immediately recognised as Pensri.

Phayu sat with his mother inside a café near his school. He had sat facing the doorway, noticing exactly when Pai and Rain had reached there, thankful for their presence. "I know you must be angry with me. I left all of a sudd..," she trailed off as Phayu looked at her. "I am not angry. I honestly don't feel anything about you," he said. Pensri was shocked, but determined. "I was in a tough place myself at that time. Nia's death had placed so much of hurt in me, that I just could not bear it. I was blaming myself and everyone around me, without knowing what exactly was happening. I was tired, and just needed to get away from the guilt," Pensri said.

"By placing it on your son?" Phayu asked, no expression on his face. "I know, I was wrong. I just dumped you on Graf and Rain. By the way, is he taking care of you? I know your dad just gives him money every month since he has no ti..," she trailed off again at the utter anger on Phayu's face. "They are my fathers," he hissed, "and you would do well to remember it. Pa Graf doesn't take care of me because Dad gives him money. He takes care of me because he loves me, unlike the woman who gave birth to me!" It was clear to Pensri that she had to change tactics. "I couldn't take it at that time. Then I left, and got married. I have a daughter now. Your sister, Ple. She is very fond of you as I have spoken to her about you. She is really eager to meet you," Pensri said. "I don't want to meet her. If you are done, may I leave?" he asked. "Phayu, she is your sister, and while she may not replace Nia, she is still your blood," Pensri said, sounding desperate. "Still not interested," Phayu said.

"What do you think they are talking about? And why is he not just walking off?" Pai asked impatiently. "She is his mom Hia. They are meeting after 10 years, I am sure she has lots to say," Rain said, in the long suffering tone of someone who knew that this was a recurring conversation. "If your mom came back, wouldn't you want to talk to her Hia? Wouldn't you have questions for her?" he asked. Pai looked at Rain. "No way in hell! All that I would ask her is that she should return Pa's money that she borrowed and ran away. She doesn't deserve anything from me Rain, nothing at all!" Pai said, his face taut with anger. "But Hia..," Rain trailed off as Pai looked at him. "You know what? Whatever! Stay here and be with him if you want. I am off! I have better things to do that loiter around a coffee shop while our brother makes a fool of himself!" he said, as he strode off, leaving Rain looking at him with sad eyes. As soon as he was out of Rain's sight, he stopped and took out the last thing his mother had given him, a small pocket mirror with their picture inside, the last picture they had taken together. A single tear rolled down his face as he looked at the picture. "I hate you," he whispered brokenly.