The Love we Share

Chapter 6

Phayu looked up at the night sky. While it was not cold, there was a nip to the air. But it all felt so fresh and clean. The terrace of their building had definitely given them a lot of happy memories. For them, this was the house that had made them a family. He knew that he had found happiness here, he had found brotherhood here, and if he was not wrong about his own feelings, he had found love here. But that was for later. Right now, he just found peace. This late at night, when the whole world slept, and there was no intrusion from the world, that was the most perfect thing. He was jolted out of his reverie when Rain covered him in a thin blanket. "It's a bit chilly Hia," he said, smiling at Phayu. Phayu smiled back as both Rain and Pai clambered on to the viewing platform with him and opened the bags of crispy fried chicken and coke.

"Are you sure there is a meteorite shower today?" Rain asked. "The last time, we sat up here and froze to death, but nothing happened," he pouted. "This time our sources have indeed confirmed that Khun Varain will see the falling stars," Pai bowed. Rain giggled and bopped him on the head and Phayu smiled and let Rain's giggle warm him, way more than a blanket could. "You guys are soon going to give the college entrance exams. Do you know what you will study?" Rain asked them. "Not really. But since I want to help Pa, maybe Hotel Management?" Pai asked. "Wow Hia! That awesome! Pa will be thrilled to know that!" Rain clapped his hands. "Don't tell him yet, okay?" Pai asked. Rain stopped and stared, a chicken leg suspended near his mouth. "Huh? Come again?" he asked incredulously. "Why would you not tell Pa that you want to do Hotel Management?" Rain asked.

Phayu nodded at that. "Pa will be happy Pai," he said. "I know. but I just want it to be a surprise. Can I not do that?" Pai asked. "Okay Hia, you can. But still. I know Pa will be happy," Rain said smiling. Pai ruffled his hair. "And you Hia?" Rain turned to Phayu. "I have not decided Raindrop," Phayu said, using a childhood nickname that Rain used to love a lot. 'Why not?" Pai asked. "I have a lot of options. I don't want to get into business, or computers as most of my classmates do. Or even engineering. But those seem to be the only options that are floating around," Phayu said. "And I definitely don't want to become a cop," he added, before Rain could even ask. "Hiaaaaaa! How did you know that's what I was going to ask?" he pouted. "Because I know my Raindrop very well," he said, smiling at Rain and squishing his cheeks.

"What is it that you were not willing to say in front of Rain?" Phayu asked Pai. Rain had gone off to sleep, waiting for the meteorite shower, and Phayu had covered him with the same blanket Rain had brought for him. "If I tell Pa, he will make me change my mind. He will say that he doesn't want me to work with him and waste my life. But this is what I want Yu," Pai said. "Ai'Pai, if you are doing it as a repayment, then forget it. He doesn't need that. Both of them don't. What they have done for us, was done completely from a place of love. If you try to repay Pa, you will hurt him beyond measure," Phayu said. "I am not trying to repay him Yu," Pai said, staring into the distance. "Then?" Phayu asked.

"Look, you and I both know Rain is not going to inherit the business. He doesn't have that in him. Thanks to Pa, all of us can cook, but I am the only one who genuinely enjoys it. I want to take it over from him when he retires. It's not a repayment for what he has done. It is my duty as his son," Pai tried to explain to Phayu. "I get that. I really do. And I hope Pa takes it in the same spirit as yours. Otherwise, it's only going to hurt him," Phayu said. "I understand. And I promise that I will make sure he is not hurt by my decision. Does that work for you?" Pai asked. Phayu nodded. He was about to say something when he was distracted by Pai's shout. "A meteorite!" Phayu looked at the sky and they immediately woke Rain up. "Rain! Rain! it's begun!" Phayu said as he shook the younger boy awake.

Rain woke up at once. He looked towards the sky as he waited for the next to fall. As soon as it fell, he shouted in delight. "Mama! Mama! Can you hear me Mama? I am fine here! Are you watching me Mama?" he shouted, waving his hands in the air. Phayu and Pai stared at him, not knowing how to react. What was he doing? But they still smiled at the little boy as he shouted out his excitement. For them, anything that Rain did was nothing less than perfect. Phayu noted Pai wishing on a shooting star. "You believe in all this?" Phayu asked, teasing Pai. "Well, it's free. If it comes true, good. If it doesn't come true, then also fine. Doesn't change anything at all," Pai said, going back to make his wish. Phayu shook his head, but continued to watch over Pai and Rain with complete indulgence.