Oab froze, the word "daddy" ringing in his ears like a beautiful, unexpected melody. His mind raced, his heart swelling with a cautious joy. Maybe Buea didn't mean him, he reasoned, telling himself not to get ahead of things. After all, Buea had known Kluea as a father figure for so long.
Taking a steadying breath, Oab handed the bowl to Plawan, trying to keep his voice calm. "Here, you should feed him," he said softly, with a hint of a smile. "He might've meant you."
Plawan's eyes softened in understanding, and he took the bowl without hesitation. He lifted a spoonful of the dessert to Buea, but the baby's lips pressed into a pout, his head turning to avoid it. Instead, Buea's little arms stretched toward Oab, his bright eyes wide with expectation as he repeated, "Daddy!"
The word hung in the air, filling the quiet kitchen with a tangible warmth. Oab's heart nearly stopped. He glanced over at Plawan, who looked equally stunned, a glimmer of emotion in his gaze as he registered the title Buea had just chosen for Oab. Oab could feel tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, but he chuckled instead, letting out a shaky breath as he took the bowl back. He wanted to hold onto this feeling, savor the sweetness of that single word that had taken on a world of meaning.
"Alright, buddy," Oab said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Daddy's got you."
Buea beamed, his little hands clapping together in delight. Oab fed him another spoonful, watching as the baby's eyes lit up with happiness. The room felt different now, filled with a silent acknowledgment between him and Plawan. It was as if this one tiny word had sealed something important between them, something that had been mending and rebuilding all this time.
Plawan, watching them both, seemed to be on the verge of tears himself. He reached out, his hand resting gently on Oab's shoulder as Buea continued to enjoy the dessert, clearly enchanted by Oab's presence. For a moment, the two of them locked eyes, each understanding without a single word the significance of what had just happened. Oab looked down, gathering himself as he fought back the tears that threatened to fall.
The baby's laughter broke the silence, and Oab couldn't help but join in, letting his hand gently tousle Buea's soft hair. "You like that, huh?" he whispered, giving him another spoonful. "Daddy's special treat just for you."
"Daddy!" Buea clapped again, his little hands reaching for more.
Plawan leaned his head on Oab's shoulder, a quiet sigh escaping him as he allowed himself to relax into the moment. His hand found Oab's, and their fingers intertwined, grounding them in this beautiful new reality. It was a quiet, simple moment, yet it felt like the most significant one of their lives.
Oab looked over at Plawan, his heart brimming with gratitude and love. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Plawan squeezed his hand, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "He's yours, Oab. He always has been."
As Oab fed Buea the last bite, he realized that his family, though lost and fractured for so long, was coming back together in the simplest, most beautiful way. This was the start of something new, something whole—and he would do everything he could to make sure it stayed that way.
The past months had been transformative in a way Plawan could never have anticipated. If anyone had asked him before if he'd ever envisioned Buea growing up with his father, his answer would have been an unhesitating "yes"—he'd always hoped for it. He'd wanted nothing more than to give Buea the chance to be close to his father, even if it took years for Oab to forgive him and accept them back into his life. But if that same question had been about the three of them as a family—Plawan, Oab, and Buea—he would have hesitated. That dream felt too big, too risky to hold close.
