The Love we Share

Chapter 9

Phayu and Pai watched in amusement as Rain and Sky acted out the entire ad that Por had acted in in front of them. "So? What did you think?" Rain asked. "Well, it was hilarious, but we have no idea what brought this on," Phayu shrugged. "Do you remember this ad?" Sky asked. "Nope, not really. Or maybe vaguely" Pai said. "Well, the kid who was in this ad is now in our class. Joined new this semester," Rain said, sliding into his usual seat beside Phayu, as Pai sat next to Pai. Just then Graf came out with food for all of them. "What are you guys upto?" he asked. "Rain and Sky were telling about their new classmate Pa," Phayu said, as he and Pai got up to get the cutlery for their food.

As usual, Sky was enthralled with the way the three of them exchanged their food. There were no words required, just a continuous flow that never failed to impress Sky. "I wish I had a brother," he muttered under his breath. "Pick either one of them. I will give you for free," Rain said, stuffing food into his mouth. Phayu immediately reached forward and wiped Rain's mouth with a tissue. "By the way, Hia Pai, Sky finds you very handsome," Rain said. Both Sky and Pai nearly choked on their food. "I don't!" Sky said in a high pitched voice as he kicked Rain under the table. "It's too difficult to understand you guys," Pai said, shaking his head. Phayu snickered. "That's because you are dumb you moron!" he said, cackling with laughter. "As if you know any better!" Pai said. "Apart from Rain, who else do you speak to?" Pai asked, a challenging tilt to his head. "I speak to you and, now I speak to Sky too," Phayu said, turning his nose up at Pai.

Sky and Rain managed to finish the mandatory run required for their PE class. They were standing there, trying to catch their breath when they saw Por sitting with a group of people. "Like does find like," Sky said snidely. Rain snickered. When Por saw Rain and Sky look at him, he put his nose in the air. Rain was so pissed, that he mimicked the action that he had seen Por do the previous day. Por was appalled and he looked around to see if anyone had caught Rain's actions. Sky bopped Rain on the head and took him away. "Let's go see P'Pai play," Sky said and the two of them went to the basketball court. As usual, they cheered for Pai and Sky offered him a bottle of water when he came running to them during a break in play. He smiled at Sky, who blushed at the attention. They chatted for a while. Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching the three of them.

"Pai? Pai Ambhom?" a man asked, as Pai stepped out of the locker room after changing out of his basketball uniform. "Yes? That's me?" Pai said, surprised. He had never seen this man in his life before. "How can I help you Khun?" he asked again. "I am Anuson Chaichana. I am your father," the man said, taking Pai by complete surprise. "What? How the hell can you say you are my father?" Pai asked, anger reflecting on his face. "Aya Ambhom was my ex-wife. She left me because I have no money. She was pregnant with you and didn't even tell me. When I went looking for you, your grandmother said you were gone, and called me good for nothing," the man said. "So I decided to go work abroad. I was lucky to find a good job and make lots of money. I even got marr..," the man trailed off when Pai raised his hand.

"Why do I care about your bullshit? You are not my father. I already have a Pa, and a Dad, and I don't need another. Kindly leave," Pai said, trying to leave. The man caught his hand and Pai shrugged it off. "Don't touch me!" he said. The man raised both his hands, in a placating gesture. "Pai, I just want to say that that man? The restaurant owner? He can't give you the happiness and pleasures of life that you deserve. You can get so much more if you come with me! I can give you the world on a platter! That cop also, I am pretty sure he too doesn't make much money. Just come with me and everything will be fine!" the man said. Pai glared at him. "One, I am not your son, you are not my father. I already have two. Two, neither I, nor any other member of my family need anything from you. Three, I don't give a flying fuck as to why you are trying to nose into my life. But let me assure you. If you don't leave, I will call not only the school security and the cops if I see you anywhere in my periphery," Pai said, glaring at the man for a few seconds and stalking off. The audacity of some people!