Fathers and Law: Lom and Fah Book One

Chapter 9

"Fah, you're awake?" It was a stupid question, but all Lom could say. The door shut and they heard footsteps receding down the hallway. Both men hurriedly got dressed, all passion having wilted at the sight of Fah.

"Hey, what's up?" asked Lom pulling his shirt on as he entered the living room. Fah wasn't there. He checked the bathroom and kitchen, but they were empty as well.

"Do you think he left?" asked Mek. "Look, the door is unlocked. I locked it when we came home."

"Oh shit. I hope he didn't go outside. There's no way he can be sober yet, he might get hurt."

"I guess I should have asked this before, but what is the relationship between the two of you?" Mek gave Lom an inquiring look.

"Brothers. Well, adopted brothers. My family took him in when his mom died. Why?"

"When I first came to the table and asked if you were together and you said no, he looked extremely hurt. After we talked, I thought everything was cool. Just now, that was the face of a man whose heart had been broken. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Mek. Don't feel bad. I wanted to be with you. Fah and I have never had sex, we've never even flirted. When he kissed me tonight, it was a complete surprise."

"I saw. I also noticed you didn't stop him." Lom turned red. Mek continued, "I think you two need to talk. Let's go find him before he gets himself into trouble."

The two men drove around the neighborhood looking for Fah to no avail. He wasn't in the back of Lom's SUV nor walking along the streets. Their calls to his phone went unanswered. Lom texted as well.

Unable to locate him, Lom called Manao. He had taken her number from Fah's phone earlier in case he needed to speak to her on their father's behalf. She answered yawning.

"Who is this and do you know what time it is?" Her voice made it clear she was not happy.

"Hi, Manao. It's Lom, Fah's brother. He was with me and drank too much and now we can't find him. Has he called you?"

"What? No calls. Let me check my texts...No, nothing from him."

"Can you try calling him and then call me back? Please? I'm worried about him."

"Sure." She hung up abruptly. She called Fah and he answered on the second ring. He was crying.

"Fah? Where are you?"

"I'm not sure. I'm in a car getting a ride with people I met at the 7-11. They're taking me home."

"You got into a car with people you don't know? What's wrong with you Fah? You could be in danger!"

"No worries! We're here at my dorm now." Manao heard background noises of Fah thanking everyone in the car and people saying goodnight to him.

"Manao? Sweetheart, are you there?"

"Yes, I'm here. What's going on? Lom called me, he's worried about you. He's been driving around looking for you. You need to call him."

"Fuck Lom!" Fah hung up on her. She tried calling back, but he refused to answer. She called Lom.

"I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is Fah answered and he was in a car full of strangers who drove him back to his dorm. The bad news is when I mentioned you were worried about him and told him to call you, he said, 'fuck Lom,' and hung up on me. Now he won't take my calls either. What did you do to him?"

"Nothing. That's why I don't understand what is going on. We went to a bar to talk; we met up with a friend. Fah got so drunk he vomited so we put him to sleep on my friend's sofa. He woke up and left without telling us."