Autumn is a second spring

43. Vacation

Little Fluke looked over at his mother and then at his father. His father had a file in his hand while his mother had a book in hers. It didn't look like a vacation at all. It was more like a normal day in their lives just with the change that the three of them were now under the same roof.  

He had been very excited about this vacation as this was the first time he would get to stay with both his parents for so many days. He had heard from other students in his class about how fun it is to on vacations with their parents. 

He had been looking forward to the summer vacation since the beginning of the semester as his parents had promised that they would take him to Krabi, which was his paternal parents' hometown. 

Even though neither his grandparents nor any relatives lived there, he was still excited to know more about his father's side family. He had nearly zero knowledge of the Siripongthons.

He was being brought up by his maternal grandparents and uncle in Chiang Mai. His mother was still a medical student when she got pregnant with him. She only got a few months of maternal leave after which she joined back in the hospital.

Ever since then, it was his aunt-in-law, Beau, and Darla, his mother's best friend, who played the maternal roles in his life. Starting from breastfeeding him to attending his parent teachers' meetings, these two women had been there for him. 

As for his father, he mostly lived abroad and rarely came to Thailand. Even when he did, he would be there for some business and would be staying for a few days only.

Little Fluke had barely lived with his parents. That was why he worked extra and had to win the first rank in his class so that his parents would take him for a vacation, just like they promised they would.

But ever since they got to Krabi, both his parents seemed to be busy. So busy that they barely paid any attention to him.

He was missing his best friends, his cousin, and everyone back in Chiang Mai with whom he usually spent his summer vacations with normally. He was feeling really lonely.

His mother had handed him a story book to read. But he had already read the book as he had won it in a reading contest as first prize. Of course, his mother had no knowledge of that. She didn't even know that he had taken part in the contest, much less won a prize.

Nevertheless, little Fluke loved his parents so much that he didn't tell her that he didn't want the same book. He carefully took the book she gave him and thanked her heartly. It was rare for him to get a gift from his parents directly. Other than the things that they sent him via his uncle, it was the first gift his mother handed to him directly. He cherished the book.

"Dona, take the child inside. Some of my clients are coming here. I don't want the kid to make a mess in front of them." Thas ordered one of the maids there.

Little Fluke wanted to protest. He never made a mess. Darla and his teachers always told him that he was a very neat kid. 

But he didn't want to make his father upset. So he obediently followed the maid inside. 

The maid gave him some food and locked him inside his room, putting a tv show for him to watch as she was ordered to do.

Hours passed by and little Fluke could hear the laughter and talking coming from outside the room, both from his parents and the guests. He too wanted to go outside but his parents didn't want him to.

A whole day passed by and little Fluke dearly missed his home and everything about it that made him happy.

For the first time in his life, little Fluke was panicking. The place was so different. The kind of food they ate was different. He had no friends here nor his parents had time to accompany him.

Still, he didn't raise a complaint. He was afraid that his parents might get upset and sent him back to his uncle's place. Not that he didn't like the idea of going back but because it would mean that he wouldn't be spending his vacation with his parents.

Little Fluke acted like a good, obedient child to please his parents. He firmly believed that if he did so, his parents would want to spend time with him just like the parents of all his classmates.

But his belief proved to be wrong as days passed by. Neither his mother nor his father was interested in actually be by his side.

His initial excitement for the vacation died down and he buried himself in books and those imported toys his parents got for him on which he had zero interest. 

His mother noticed his behavior. 

"Dona, take the kid to the park or something. Maybe walk him around the neighborhood. He might find someone to play with there." Remi ordered. 

The maid took him to the huge playground where almost all of the children of the island was gathered.

Watching the kids play, little Fluke was a bit fearful. Just like the first day in school when you have to be in between a bunch of strangers.

He watched the kids play for a while, not daring to make a move as all of them seemed to be friends already. He was very nervous to approach them, but under the constant encouragement of the maid, he did.

As always, he managed to make friends with the kids pretty quickly. Yet, that didn't stop feeling like an outsider in the bunch.

Few more days passed by and he started visiting the playground by himself to play with the kids. He naturally became the leader of the group as he had many new and fun games for them to play.

One day, he noticed a boy who was taller than him and little girl, who seemed to be the boy's sister, coming to the playground. He learned that the duo were also not locals just like him.

As the boy was really handsome, all the girls approached him while the boys kept their distance from the siblings.

The tall boy seemed to dislike the way those girls were approaching him and looked uncomfortable. The girls were fighting over the fact that who would be the boy's bride. The little girl who stood next to the boy was scared by the fight and hugged her brother's leg in fear.

As this went on for days, little Fluke decided to interfere and end the war. "You girls don't have to fight each other. He is going to be my husband in the future." 

This caused the girls to stop fighting and glare at him. 

The sibling duo was also looking at him which made little Fluke nervous. He himself didn't know why he said something like that. He just wanted those girls to leave the tall boy alone. He couldn't get into physical fight with those girls, nor verbal one as they outnumbered him greatly.

This was the only strategy he could think of. That is to claim the boy as his and end the war between the girls.

"But you are a boy!" One of the girls screamed.

"So what?" Little Fluke smirked confidently. "I am prettier than you." He squatted in from the little girl who was hiding behind her brother. "What do you say Nong? Can phi marry your phi?" He pointed at himself and then at the taller boy.

The little girl  was over the moon. She was afraid that her phi might need to marry one of those girls who were fighting in front of her. She eagerly nodded.

"Then it is settled." He stood up and looked at the bunch of girls. "From this day onwards, he is mine. I better not see any of you lingering around him." 

The girls stomped their feet and huffed before leaving.

The boy turned his gaze at the sibling duo who were staring at him with wide eyes. 

"Do you guys want to play in the swing?"  Fluke asked with a cheeky smile.

"Kha" The little girl  answered bouncing in excitement. She was really happy.

Fluke looked at the older boy who nodded in response. 

"Great! Let's go!"