Fathers and Law: Lom and Fah Book One

Chapter 1

"Damn you," yelled Fah as the mattress, which he now believed was sentient, threw him to the floor. How could putting on a fitted sheet be this difficult? Forty minutes earlier a phone call had sent him into a frenzy.

"Hello?"

"Fah? Good, you're home. Don't go anywhere, I'm on my way, I'll be there in less than an hour." Lom hung up before giving him a chance to respond. The abrupt disconnect triggered a tightening in his chest. Unable to sit still he busied himself with cleaning.

Perfect, now my mouth is dry and I feel like I'm going to vomit. Who does he think he is? I'm coming...don't go anywhere...He doesn't say if he's coming for an hour or a week, if he's coming alone, or even why. I better change my sheets in case he's staying over. I guess it'll be the couch for me. I might have had a crush on him in high school but I'll sleep in my car before I ever share a bed with that asshole again.

Surveying the condo, he decided it was presentable. The final touch was to mop the kitchen floor. Fah had nothing to hide as his life consisted of studying, working part-time, and spending time at his girlfriend's house. Her family loved him and although he had not officially proposed to Manao, they already considered him part of the family. Her brothers even invited him over to play video games and shoot pool.

I can't believe he assumes I have nothing important to do today. It's been three years since we've spoken, who does he think he is announcing his arrival? People in the path of a tornado get more of a warning.

The crack of the mop handle ended his reverie. Had he mopped with that much force?

Damn, Lom and his family! Okay, his family is somewhat my family. After all, they took me in when I was six and raised me as his brother. Hopefully, nothing is wrong with Ton or Nara, Lom's parents.

The last thought scared him. If Ton died Lom would be expected to take his father's place as Chao pho (the head of the mafia in their area). Nara had cared for Fah as if he were her own and he couldn't imagine not having her around.

I wish I knew why Lom began excluding me. He never explained anything to me, he just abruptly distanced himself from me at school and only spoke to me at dinner because his parents were there.

Fah remembered the day he'd arrived home early to overhear a conversation that broke his heart.

"I don't understand why you need a room of your own. The two of you have always shared a bedroom; did you two argue?" asked Nara.

"No, I just want a room to myself. I don't need him in my business all the time. I can't take a phone call without him listening, I can't do anything without him asking if I've finished my homework yet—"

"Fah's right, you should do your homework first."

"But that's just it, it's like having a parent living with me. He's nosy, he always wants to know what I'm doing, what I'm thinking, always inviting me to do stupid stuff with him and his friends."

Fah, hiding out of sight, was shocked. Is this how he sees me?

"Lom, we only have the smaller room down the hall. All the other rooms are taken between the bodyguards and house staff."

Stepping into view, Fah swallowed hard and spoke in a strangled tone, "I'll take the small room. After all, it's Lom's house, he shouldn't lose his room to someone he hates." He turned and ran upstairs.

"Fah, I don't hate you. Ugh..." He'd never meant for Fah to hear this, he'd used him as an excuse, never imagining he'd overhear.

"Lom, you will apologize to your brother. I don't care which of you moves to the smaller room, but clear things up with him immediately. I'm not sure how much he heard, but he's always been insecure about living in our house while not being our child." Nara turned and left. Lom stood at the bottom of the stairs, picking at a loose piece of wood on the banister.