Because It's You.

Dreams (Mingkwan)

"Ming. Come here son." My dad calls.

"Yes Por." I answer and run to him.

When I get there he has this sad look on his face.

"Por, what's wrong. Are you OK?" I ask clearly concerned.

He pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly. I hug him back because I think he needs it.

"Remember my friend Ruang Sak Panitchayasawad?" He asks and I nod my head yes.

"His wife just died and he's having a hard time. He and his son have decided to move back here to be closer to friends because we're the only family he has." He says with a ragged breath.

"Ruang Sak has a son. His name is Wayo. I was hoping you could befriend him and help him not feel so alone."

"Of course I can." I say smiling at him.

He ruffles my hair and we walk together into the house where my eyes fall on this small boy sitting very close to his father.

"This is my son Mingkwan. Ming you remember Uncle Ruang Sak right? And this is his son Wayo." My father says pointing to father and son.

I offer a wai then walk up to Wayo.

"Want to go to my room? We can play some video games." I offer.

He shakes his head no and buries it into his father's arm.

"Sorry, he's a bit clingy after his mother..." His voice cracks and my mother starts rubbing his back.

"It's going to be ok. We're all here for you Ruang." She says.

"Thanks Chanthara. I appreciate it. We appreciate it." He says pulling his son closer.

I stand there awkwardly not knowing what anyone expects of me. I watch the boy curiously because I want to help I just don't know how.

"Tell him you love him." A voice says.

I look up and there is a man I don't know looking between us.

"I don't even know him, why would I tell him that I love him?" Crazy man.

"You will love him, more than anything in this world, and right now he's lost." He says.

"Lost? Why?" I ask.

"Well that's my fault." He says sadly.

"What did you do?" I ask.

"I left even though I didn't want to." He says.

"So how will my saying that I love him help?" I ask curious at the answer.

"It just will." He says.

That's not quite the answer I was expecting.  It doesn't inspire me to tell a perfect stranger that I love him.

"He needs to hear it.  He needs to hear it from you." He tells me in an almost pleading voice.

"Fine." I say to him.

"Wayo, I love you." I say.

He looks up at me tears in his eyes then he becomes blurry. When he clears up he's older and wearing a school uniform. I look down and I'm wearing the same uniform. What the fuck is going on.

"Come on, I don't want to watch by myself." He says.

We're in my room and he's on my bed holding a laptop.

"Whatever." I say as I go sit beside him.

"This is for research purposes, ok?" He says.

"This is your show." I say.