𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞

Episode 45

The aroma of simmering stew filled the air as Dunk and Phuwin entered their small house in South Korea.

Their aunt, a picture of warmth and worry lines, bustled around the kitchen, a ladle in one hand and a concerned frown on her face.

"You boys look exhausted," she remarked, her voice laced with motherly affection. "Go freshen up, dinner will be ready in ten minutes."

Dunk and Phuwin, their faces etched with a shared weariness, exchanged a silent glance before retreating to their separate rooms.

The weight of the day's events hung heavy on their shoulders. The bakery bustled with customers, their success a testament to their dedication and resilience. Yet, a new dilemma gnawed at them, a complication that threatened to unravel their carefully constructed peace.

At dinner, the usual lively chatter was replaced by an unsettling silence. Their aunt, sensing their mood, finally broke the quiet. "What troubles you both?" she inquired, her gaze flitting between them with concern.

Dunk, ever the responsible one, took a deep breath and spoke. "Auntie," he began, "we got a big order today. A wedding cake and a thousand pastries…"

A hint of a smile played on their aunt's lips. "That's wonderful news!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. "More business means more money, which means…"

"The wedding is in Thailand," Phuwin finished the sentence, his voice barely a whisper.

The smile on their aunt's face vanished, replaced by a mask of shock and disbelief. Thailand. The very word hung heavy in the air, a painful reminder of a past they'd desperately tried to bury. For Dunk and Phuwin, Thailand wasn't just a geographical location; it was a city woven with memories – happy memories of their childhood with Fourth, and agonizing memories of their abrupt departure.

Their aunt, her voice trembling slightly, asked, "Chang Mai?"

A single nod from Phuwin confirmed her suspicion. Chang Mai, the city where their lives had fractured five years ago, the city they'd left behind with heavy hearts and a promise to their comatose brother, Fourth, that they would return when he woke up.

A wave of emotions washed over the room. Dunk, usually the pillar of strength, looked lost and unsure. Phuwin, his gaze fixed on his plate, seemed trapped in a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Their aunt, her eyes welling up, reached out and squeezed their hands, a silent show of support.

The weight of their responsibility for Fourth pressed down on them. They couldn't ignore the financial security this massive order offered.

Yet, returning to Thailand meant confronting the ghosts of their past, the guilt of leaving Fourth behind, and the uncertainty of what awaited them in Chang Mai.

The decision hung heavy in the air, a turning point in their lives. Their path, once clear and focused on their bakery and caring for Fourth, now branched out into uncharted territory. Returning to Thailand wasn't just about fulfilling an order; it was about facing their past, confronting their fears, and perhaps, finding a way to move forward, a way to heal the wounds that time had yet to mend.

The silence at the dinner table stretched, thick with unspoken emotions. Their aunt, her face pale and drawn, stared at them with a mixture of fear and determination. The weight of her unspoken words hung heavy in the air – a secret she'd buried deep within her heart, a promise long kept.

Dunk and Phuwin, their own concerns swirling within them, exchanged a worried glance. They understood their aunt's apprehension. Leaving Thailand hadn't been a simple decision; it was a desperate act fueled by a reason they knew all too well, a reason their aunt had sworn to secrecy. And now, fate, or perhaps some cruel twist of destiny, had brought them face-to-face with their past.

Their aunt, her voice trembling with a barely suppressed panic, finally broke the silence. "No!" she cried, her voice cracking with emotion. "You can't go to Thailand! We'll find another way, work harder. Money… we can make money here. You don't have to go back!"

The raw fear in her voice startled Phuwin and Dunk. They had never seen their aunt so vulnerable, so desperate. A knot of worry tightened in their stomachs. There was more to their aunt's reaction than simply not wanting them to return. This wasn't just about a cancelled order; it was about something far deeper, something she'd kept hidden for years.

"Auntie, please," Phuwin pleaded, his voice gentle. "Calm down. We can talk about this in the morning. Don't worry yourself tonight."

Dunk placed a hand on their aunt's shoulder, his touch a silent reassurance. "We'll figure something out," he added, his voice firm yet soothing. "Just go get some rest. We'll handle it."

Their aunt, her eyes filled with a pleading that mirrored their own anxieties, nodded slowly. Rising from the table with a weary sigh, she retreated to her room.

As the clinking of dishes filled the ensuing silence, Phuwin and Dunk were left alone with the weight of their decision. The lucrative order was tempting, a chance to secure their financial future. But their aunt's reaction had thrown a wrench into their plans. Now, they had not one, but two tangled messes to untangle – the looming decision about the wedding cake and the secret their aunt so desperately tried to shield.

The night stretched before them, heavy with unspoken truths and the looming shadow of their past. Sleep, if it came at all, would be filled with restless dreams and unanswered questions.

As they settled into their rooms, a silent vow hung in the air – they would find out what haunted their aunt, it cant be just fourth's accident there is something more which is scaring aunty so much..... dunk's thought....

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