Forget Me Not

Too Much

Sarawat and Tine sat at the dining table surrounded by Sarawat's entire family. Tine had to admit that he had never encountered a more easy-going and welcoming family in his life. In a rare moment of silence, after the playful banter and jokes between Sarawat and Phukong had subsided, their mother began to share a story.

"I know Sarawat may seem like he detests all those superhero movies, but let me tell you, Tine. When he was ten, he broke both his legs jumping off the roof in a Superman costume because he thought the cape would let him fly."

Laughter erupted around the table, leaving Tine astonished. "You didn't!"

"I was given misinformation," Sarawat replied, shooting a glare at their older brother, Phumuad.

Their grandmother chimed in, "Wat always had a hero complex. He and his best friends used to take on all the neighborhood bullies, no matter their size. Have you met any of his friends? Their names are Boss and Ma---"

"No, not yet," Sarawat interrupted, steering the conversation away. "So, Tine, why don't you tell everyone what you do?"

All eyes turned to Tine, especially Sarawat's dad, who asked eagerly, "Yes, Tine, what do you do?"

"Oh, I'm a vice president at a research firm. Essentially, I bring together groups of people from various demographics to understand their likes and dislikes, and what products appeal to them. Some days it's twelve-year-old boys; other days it's middle-aged housewives."

"Can you get me a PlayStation?" Phukong suddenly asked.

Tine looked amused. "Yes, yes I can."

The four children---Habib, Aziz, Mahboub, and Ameen---looked impressed and delighted. The eldest, Habib, turned to Sarawat. "Uncle Wat, please marry Tine."

Another round of laughter ensued, and Phukong added, "If you don't, I'm going to."

"Sounds like a plan," Tine winked at Phukong, who blushed, not expecting his humor to be reciprocated. "But I don't know why we're talking about me when we could be hearing more embarrassing stories about Sarawat."

When Tine smiled at Sarawat, Sarawat couldn't help but smile back. His eyes held a certain sparkle that was hard to miss, and Grandmother was the first to notice, followed by Sarawat's parents, who exchanged knowing glances. Little did Tine know that a silent understanding passed between the Guntithanon family, cementing Tine's place in Sarawat's life.

◇─◇──◇─◇

After the hearty meal, everyone gathered in the backyard for casual conversation. The kids ran around, playing with Phukong, while Tine chatted with Sarawat's parents on the patio. They seemed to be enjoying each other's company.

Sarawat stood with his grandparents by the house, observing the scene. "We like him, Wat," Grandpa confided. "I think he's someone very special."

Sarawat watched as Tine laughed at his dad's silly jokes. Tine noticed his gaze and smiled warmly at him.

"Yeah, I like him too. I like him a lot."

"Does he make you sick, Sarawat?" Grandpa asked.

Sarawat blinked, thinking he must have misheard. "Excuse me?"

Grandma clarified, "What Grandpa means is if Tine makes you feel that little queasy sensation in your stomach, like butterflies. You know, that feeling you get when they're around, and you can't quite explain why. You can convince yourself you like, even love someone if you try hard enough, but you can never fake that sick feeling. Even now, after all this time with your grandfather, it's still there. So, we ask you again, does he make you sick?"