Fathers and Law: Lom and Fah Book One

Chapter 54

Reaching the restaurant they hurried inside to escape the midday sun and enjoy the air conditioning. They were seated at a table and given menus.

"Excuse me, Fah? Is it really you?" Fah glanced up at a pretty girl standing by their table.

"Hello, do I know you?" Her voice was familiar somehow.

"It's me, Manao. We spoke last night. I helped you out with that, um, thing you needed help with."

"Manao? Thank you so much!" He stood up and asked if he could hug her. She said yes. They hugged and she whispered in his ear, "I miss this." With his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her back gently so they faced each other.

"We dated for years, it was hard getting over you. It might not have ended well, at least not for me," she tried to smile, "but I wanted to let you know that during the time we were together, you were a perfect gentleman and you were always so thoughtful."

"Thank you for saying that. I don't remember anything but Lom told me what happened. I'm so sorry about that and I'm sorry I hurt you. It was incredibly kind of you to help me last night. I'm glad you still had the photo." Fah would thank her for the rest of his life if that photo kept him out of jail and helped find Lom.

"It's the only one I have left. At first, I was mad and deleted every photo I had of you but I kept that one in case I wanted to share it somewhere else. See, I'm not such a good person after all. I never did share it again but later I kept it so I could remember you." She smiled wanly. "Friends we went to school with have called and texted me to ask if I've seen the photo. They all think I was lucky to have dated such a handsome man."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be the man you needed me to be," he said and hugged her again. Soon people in the restaurant noticed them. Whispers started at one table and people began looking at their phones and then at Fah. Run and Mek saw what was happening and told Khun Korn. He nodded.

"You know, I'm not in the mood for Japanese food after all, do you mind if we go somewhere else?" Khun Korn said. Everyone got the signal, agreed, and stood up.

"Fah, can we stay in touch? I miss you as a friend," said Manao.

"Definitely, you have my number, call me anytime," he said. They parted and he joined the others at the front of the restaurant. Khun Korn spoke with the manager and handed him money to apologize for their early departure.

Down the block, they found a restaurant none had been to called Aloha. It had a Polynesian theme. One wall was a large pool of water with fountains placed 30 cm. apart. As the music played the fountains shot up timed with the music. Colored lights in the water changed each fountain's spray, putting on a show for the diners. The restaurant was dimly lit and had only a few customers inside as they entered.

"This is better. Fewer people means you're less likely to be recognized," said Khun Korn. Everyone sat down to peruse the menu.

"Ooh, spare ribs!" said Ohm. "I think I could eat the ribs of every animal right now, I'm so hungry!"

"Run and Mek, I hope neither of you is vegan. My boyfriend has the sensitivity of a buffalo," said Win.

"We're fine," said Run, smiling at Ohm.

Fah made his choice and asked Khun Korn to order for him. "I need to use the bathroom, please excuse me."

He walked past tables and booths toward the restroom sign near the kitchen. In the back section of the restaurant, it was even darker. Once in the men's room, he splashed water on his face. Was this what his life was going to be like from now on? Would he be unable to go out without people recognizing him from his in flagrante delicto photo? It hadn't seemed like a bad idea last night when he was safe at home but now...