"KIM"

Chapter 18

As Kornwit met Nat again, he noticed the sadness lingering in the boy's eyes, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy he had seen before. Concerned, he gently asked, "Why do you look so sad today?"

Nat hesitated for a moment before replying, his voice barely above a whisper, "Papa Jeff is sad."

The mention of Jeff's name sent a shiver down Kornwit's spine, his heart skipping a beat at the sound of it. "Jeff?" he repeated, his voice barely concealing the urgency he felt.

Nat nodded, his gaze fixed on Kornwit's face, searching for some sign of understanding. "Yes, Papa Jeff," he confirmed, his tone filled with concern.

In that moment, Kornwit felt a surge of emotion wash over him, memories flooding his mind like a tidal wave. The name Jeff stirred something deep within him, a connection he couldn't quite explain.

"Where is Papa Jeff?" Kornwit asked, his voice tinged with urgency as he struggled to contain the torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

Nat hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal to this stranger. But something in Kornwit's eyes told him that he could be trusted.

"He's at home," Nat replied quietly, his voice tinged with sadness. "But I don't know how to make him feel better."

As Kornwit heard Jeff's name, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over him. "Jeff?" he repeated, his mind racing with questions. "But it couldn't be the same Jeff, could it?" he thought to himself, his heart pounding with uncertainty.

Turning his attention back to Nat, Kornwit forced a reassuring smile. "I'm sure your Papa Jeff will be okay," he said, though his mind was still reeling with the possibility that this could be the same Jeff he once knew.

Nat nodded, though a hint of doubt lingered in his eyes. "I hope so," he replied softly, his voice filled with concern.

But wait, Kornwit interjected, unable to shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. How does his Jeff have a child after only a few months? It doesn't make sense, , his brow furrowing with confusion.

As Kornwit grappled with the flood of emotions swirling inside him, he knew he needed to clear his mind and focus on the present. Turning to Nat, he asked, "What does your Papa Jeff do for work?"

Nat's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as he began to explain. "Papa Jeff used to be a music teacher at the university," he started, his voice tinged with pride. "But he quit that job to start his own music class for students in the neighborhood. He wanted to share his love of music with others."

Kornwit listened intently, a sense of admiration stirring within him at Jeff's selflessness. "And what does he do now?" he inquired, curious to learn more about Jeff's current endeavors.

Nat's face brightened as he continued, "Now, Papa Jeff works at a fancy restaurant in town. He's a waiter there, and he loves it ."

A smile tugged at the corners of Kornwit's lips as he listened to Nat's words.

"Your Papa Jeff sounds like a wonderful person," Kornwit remarked, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

Nat beamed with pride at the compliment. "He is," he agreed wholeheartedly. "And I'm lucky to have him as my papa."

As they continued to talk, Kornwit couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of his mind. There were still so many unanswered questions about Jeff and the sudden appearance with a child.

Kornwit suddenly had an idea. If he could drive Nat back home, he'd have a chance to meet Jeff. Trying to keep his excitement in check, he turned to Nat with a suggestion.

"Nat, how about I drive you back home today? Kornwit offered, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.

Nat hesitated, considering the offer. He looked at Kornwit, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. After a moment, he nodded. "Okay, Mr. Kornwit. That sounds good," he agreed.

A wave of relief washed over Kornwit, and he smiled warmly at Nat. "Great, let's get going then," he said, trying to sound casual despite the excitement bubbling inside him.

As they made their way to Kornwit's car, Kornwit couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and apprehension. This was his chance to reconnect with Jeff and perhaps uncover the truth about the past they shared.

The drive was a tense 45 minutes for Kornwit, his mind racing with memories and questions. When they finally arrived at Nat's home, Kornwit parked the car outside and took a deep breath. Stepping out of the car, his heart nearly stopped when he saw him.

Jeff.

The man he had missed so much, the man he had loved so deeply. It was really him.

As Nat hopped out of the car, he turned to Kornwit. "Mr. Kornwit, do you want to come inside and meet Papa Jeff?"

Kornwit glanced over at Jeff, who was absorbed in tending to his garden, looking content and peaceful. A pang of regret hit Kornwit; he didn’t want to ruin Jeff's happy moment. He remembered how much Jeff seemed to hate him, how he had blocked his new number to cut off any contact.

Summoning a smile, Kornwit shook his head.

"Thank you, Nat, but I can't today," he said gently. "I have something urgent to take care of."

Nat looked a bit disappointed but nodded understandingly. "Okay, Mr. Kornwit. Maybe another time?"

Kornwit nodded, forcing a smile. "Yes, maybe another time. You take care, Nat."

As Nat walked towards the house, Kornwit stole one last glance at Jeff. The sight of him brought a flood of emotions, but kornwit knew it wasn’t the right time. He got back into his car, feeling a mix of relief and sadness.

As he drove away, he whispered to himself, "Maybe one day, Jeff. Maybe one day, you'll give me a chance to explain."

Vee you can 😇😇