White Tulips and Daisies

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Because of the scheduled trip this weekend, Build decided to make an earlier appointment with the cleaners today. It's Thursday and he woke up earlier to drive so he could get home as early as he can. He remembered the multiple reminders of Aunt Praya to drive slowly and carefully because it seemed like it was going to rain. The clouds are dark and heavy, the wind whistling. It really seems like it is going to rain.

Build decided to clean their own mansion first. It took them half of the day and then they moved to another mansion. The moment they travelled to the next house, it was already raining hard. But still, Build decided to continue and reminded the cleaners to be as quick as possible because he needed to drive back home. But as they finished the routine, it was already past four in the afternoon. Looking at the window, it doesn't look like it was still afternoon. The surroundings are dark and heavy rain is pouring outside.

"Thank you for today. Sorry for messing up with your schedule." Build smiled with guilt. He's talking to the cleaners' team lead.

"Not a problem at all, Khun. Are you going back today? The rain is too hard. I'm afraid driving so far would be dangerous." The man looked outside.

"I might wait until the rain is a little calm and then I'll go." Build scratch the back of his nape.

"Alright. But if the weather didn't change, you should stay for the night. It's for your safety." The cleaners bid their goodbyes.

Build saw them as their van vanished into the fog of the heavy rain. Build sighed. It would be very dangerous for him to travel with this kind of weather.

He slumped on the couch and dialed Aunt Praya's number.

(𝐵𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑? 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑜𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘?) As soon as Aunt Praya answered the call, Build heard a hint of worry.

"Not yet, Auntie. The rain is too heavy right now."

(𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒'𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝑦𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑛. 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑠. 𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑑)

"Don't worry about me. Once the weather calms down a little, I'll drive back home." Though Build is skeptical about it. Every minute, the rain became heavier. "Where's Blue?"

(𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑝. 𝐼 𝑏𝑒𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑝 ℎ𝑒'𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢.)

Build glanced at his wrist watch. It's almost six already. He'll never make it before Blue wakes up. He doesn't even know if he can make it tonight. He sighed. "Just tell him I'll be back soon."

The older woman made an affirmative sound. The moment Build pressed the end button, a huge and frightening lightning struck outside along with turning off all the lights inside the mansion. Build stood up in shock when it was followed by a loud roar of thunder. His heart almost leaped out of his chest. He is alone in a dark mansion. Fear crept inside him. Build is not usually afraid of dark and thunderstorms. The thing he fears right now is the fact that he is alone.

Build closed his eyes. He tried to calm himself but when another strike of lightning and a deep roar of thunder echoed inside the house, all he could do was cover his eyes and sit on the carpeted floor, eyes still closed. His mind is so occupied that he lost his phone in the dark.

-

The moment Aunt Praya hung up the call, he heard a loud cry from the bedroom. She immediately went to check and to confirm her guess, Blue is already awake and wailing, calling for his Papa. The woman tried comforting the kid but was unsuccessful. He kept calling his Papa's name. She tried every coaxing he knew but the kid's loud crying chorused with the heavy rain.