The Love we Share

Chapter 8

"Hia! You are back! Is everything okay?" Rain asked, a worried look on his face. 'Everything is fine. She will be discharged soon, so I came early," Phayu said, trying to put a hand around Rain's shoulder. Rain stepped away. Phayu was shocked. This is the first time something like that had happened. "Rain?" Phayu asked, confused. "Hia, I didn't do anything. I didn't hurt her," Rain said, doe-eyes wide on Phayu's face. "Oh Rain," Phayu said, his tension dissolving. "Are you still thinking about that?" he asked. Rain nodded. "Baby, I am always on your side, okay? I know you didn't do anything. And I know you never meant to hurt her," Phayu said, smiling and pulling Rain towards him. "Rain," he said more seriously. "I know you very well, better that I know myself. And you are the most transparent person I know. You will never knowingly hurt anyone, and definitely not physically. So my faith in you remains unshaken," Phayu said, pulling Rain into a hug and smiling down at him.

"There you go! Seafood congee, as loved by my wonderful brother!" Pai said, as he placed a bowl in front of Phayu, along with some fried dough and soy milk, all of which Phayu loved to it. "Rain was worried about you," he said. "I know, but..," Phayu trailed off. "Phayu, you don't have to tell me. I understand, and I am on your side. But Rain is younger than us. He tends to worry more, especially since Ple has come to Thailand," Pai said. "What can I do to convince Rain?" Phayu asked. "Nothing. The only thing to do is to wait till they leave. That's the only way Rain will be at peace," Pai said. Phayu nodded

"Hello. Hope everything is okay now," Graf said, stepping into the hospital room where Phayu's grandmother and mother were packing the debris of their stay. "Yes, yes, everything is fine. We were just clearing up," Pensri said. Graf nodded. I just came to give you this meal. Hope you enjoy. And hope Nong Ple gets well soon. I will take your leave," he waiied, before turning to leave. "P'Graf? Just a minute," Pensri said. Graf turned and saw taking something out of her bag. "This is some money. I know that P'Pakin gave you money every month, but this is just a little something from my side for taking care of Phayu," she said. "It's not needed," Graf said. "Please, I insist," Pensri said. "And I insist too. I did not take care of Phayu for money. I took care of him because he is also my son, and I don't need money to take care of my child," Graf said. He waiied again and left. "I told you to not leave your child. Now see, he is lost to you," Phayu's grandmother said to her daughter. Pensri just looked away.

Pai and Rain peeped out of the restaurant doors. They were far away to remain unseen and close enough to see the departure of the devils, as they called the mother-daughter duo. Ple was clinging to Phayu and crying. Graf and Pakin stood there, waiting for the whole scene to run its course. They were also fed up of all the daily drama their children had been going through. "Don't you think it's a bit excess, all this crying and clinging?" Rain whispered to Pai. "Ssh! Don't let them hear you," Pai said, grinning. "Only a few moments more Hia!" Rain danced in his place, unable to believe that Phayu would soon be free. Finally Pensri and Ple sat in the car and it left. Phayu, Pakin and Graf turned around at the war cries that rented the air as Pai and Rain ran down the stairs, jumping and dancing around the three of them, pulling Phayu into it. Pakin and Graf both laughed uproariously at the antics of the children, hoping that the hard days were finally over for their loved ones.

"I am so happy! It's been ages since we had this much fun!" Rain said, as he danced ahead of Phayu and Pai. The three of them had taken off to the mall as soon as Phayu's family had left, and Pakin and Graf had let them go, knowing that it had been a while since they had spent some time together. "Photobooth!!!!" Rain dragged Phayu and Pai to click their pictures. They made funny faces, and laughed away the tension of the last six months. Even when Phayu and Pai exited the booth, Rain continued to get his pictures clicked until his Hias dragged him out. The boys decided to buy some groceries and other things that they needed. Rain walked ahead with Phayu and added snacks and other unhealthy stuff to the cart, but Phayu kept putting everything back. Pai followed them and whatever Phayu placed back, he put it in his cart. Both Rain and he tried to sneak in some unhealthy things, but Phayu was having none of that. At the checkout counter, he took everything junk out and replaced them with all with fruits and other healthy options. Rain and Pai could only look on in frustration, knowing that Phayu wouldn't budge an inch when it came to stuff like this.