A Portrait Worth a Thousand Memories✅

[Pt2: EP5] Getting to know you

Dunk felt unsettled after his meeting with Joong. He closed the door quietly, hoping that Pond didn't realized that he went missing after the meeting with the business prospect. He was still staying at Pond's house. He will be getting a house soon. He had earned more than enough to get a small cozy home for him and Phuwin. He had even created a saving account under Phuwin's name. Though he had changed his surname to Tangsakyuen. He didn't want Phuwin to know of all the problems that went down since he left. They could no longer use the Vihokratana name, neither does he want Phuwin to use the Boonprasert name and be identified as a cursed man. He had gotten all of Phuwin's documents ready for when he returns.

"Where were you, Dunk? P'Bai said he saw that wretched Joong Rarchen Veeraphakul drag you away." Dunk sighed. There's no way he could hide, maybe the partial truth was the best way out.

"He was there for the exact same business proposal as I was but he let me have it." 

"He would be that kind? Are we even talking about the same person? Veeraphakul? Joong Rarchen Veeraphakul? I doubt. What did he want?" Pond don't trust a Veeraphakul, what more the son of Tony Veeraphakul. He hated him. 

"He just wanted a friend. He even invited me for coffee but I told him it would give a wrong impression if the press finds out. He still wants to hang out sometimes" He hope that little white lie would work. That's the only way that he can explain his occasional disappearance when he meets Joong.

"Dunk, after all that you've been through. I thought that you'll be a little more cautious of people. But you are still this innocent. Next thing I'll know, you'll be bringing kids on the streets back home." Dunk had laughed at Pond, claiming that he was too dramatic. None of them knew how true Pond's words would be.

***

Back at Joong Rarchen Veeraphakul's residence...

"Khun noo (young master), you really should stop seeing Dunk Natachai Boonprasert. Even he knows that this is a bad idea. If master knew what you have done, he would be fuming." P'Daou tried to persuade Joong out of it.

"Like I care about what that old man thinks. If I weren't his only son and heir, he could care less about what happens to me. I will never forgive him for separating me from my mother!" His mother had planned to leave with Joong. She had told him specifically to pack what he valued the most and wait for her at the bus stop but his father had somehow found out. He was dragged away before he could inform her. He had never seen his mother again. 

He had tolerated him because of P'Daou and the people within his household. He had been kind to all the staff in his household and the company. They were his family. They needed a means to live. He could care less about what his father thinks.   

"Find out all you can about Dunk Natachai Boonprasert." P'Daou sighed but did as he instructed. 

***

"There isn't much that we could find about him. It doesn't seem like he was from here. Only news we have was the fire that killed his family. It was Pond Naravit Lertratkosum that saved him. He stays with him and works for him but he is planning to buy a house. No one is willing to sell him one, of course because of his background" Of all the things that he heard, the only thing that brighten his mood was the fact that Dunk plans to move out of the Lertratkosum household.  

"Sell him the other house that's under my false name. Sell it at half of the current price."

"Khun noo, aren't you saving that house for her?" Joong knew what he meant but he had tried for years without success. If he did find his mother, he was sure that Dunk will be able to house her, or more like hide her based on his kind personality. He could imagine what a family the three of them would make. 

***

 Dunk had been having difficulty finding a house. There was no way he could hide the fact that he was buying the house. Nobody wanted to sell a house to cursed man. So, he couldn't believe it when P'Krist found a semi-detached house that was selling way below the market rate. He had asked P'Win, a business partner of Pond who had become his best confidant through their many business dealing. He had told him that plot of land was good. There wasn't any haunting. He too was curious why the home owner would sell it that cheap but Dunk was just glad to be able to buy a home for him and Phuwin when he comes back. He had put the deed under Phuwin's name. He didn't want the home owner to regret selling it to him. It was the best case scenario in the time when they would need to sell it later on if Phuwin didn't like it. He thinks it is a great location, it was within walking distance to Pond's house. If Pond really got on with Phuwin when he returns, it was definitely ideal. He was beyond ecstatic when all the procedures went through without a hitch. 

***

Joong was happy to see how Dunk was beaming at him during his next visit. Dunk in his good mood was definitely a sight to behold. It was like he brought colours to his black and white world. He saw the smile that graced his face when Papang served him coffee and dessert. This was what he wanted to greet him everyday in his life if possible. A refuge from the storm that he lives in. 

"You sure seem happy today." Joong made a light comment. Dunk hummed in agreement. 

"Yes, finally got myself a house. My brother will have a home when he's back." His smile was as bright as the sun. 

"Your brother?" Didn't his family died in the fire?

"He's studying in London." Joong saw the proud smile he wore as he went on a long rant about his twin brother's achievements. Joong couldn't help but smile. Must be nice to have a sibling. 

They carried an easy conversation since Dunk didn't carry the initial defensiveness. Both of them were shocked to know that they had talked for three hours. 

"I need to go before Pond gets worried." Dunk left with a quick goodbye. Their easy interaction left Joong hungry for more. It was a soothing balm to his day. P'Daou was quick to notice his good mood. Though he didn't like the idea of Dunk, he can't deny that he was good for Joong. He wondered how long this can go on for before Joong's father finds out.        

~Please vote if you like this EP. It drives me forward. Khoorp khun na kha~

Do comment to let me know your thoughts. 😊😊 

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A/N: decided to post earlier since I have quite a few places to be today. 2 EPs as usual

I like to think that it's easier to get away with documentation back then than it is now😅😅 all fiction na... 

puuean-puuean who are wondering if there will there be smut in the prequel? yes, but just not today😅😅 will be soon but very vanilla compared to original... I spent all of it on the original series🤣🤣