My Chocomallows Cake by ARIE78 (on hold)

Chapter 6

Beam rubbed his eyes, stretching out on the folding mattress . It had taken days to take the mattress out, he was pretty sure the mattress would remain ever elusive. He didn't know why he was awake so early on a Saturday.

Maybe he wasn't yet accustomed to this life and had half expected to see the expansive grasslands outside his window back on the farm where his chores knew no weekend, rather than a city behind the sliding glass doors of the balcony with nothing to do. He got out of the mattress and pressed his face to the glass, watching the cars whiz past.

He had managed to make no friends at all other than the courteous exchanges with Kit and a few flirtatious glances from the girls in his classroom. Other than that he travelled the mundane white corridors of his "Uni" alone. His homework was completely done the night before because he didn't have anything else to do then.

Although he wasn't too new anymore, all he's managed is to recognize a few of the streets around; the nearest supermarket and his school the only places he frequented, more like could frequent because this was a residential area which automatically meant...boring!

Forth had banned him from going further alone and he had no one else to take him anywhere so he was stuck.

P'Forth was another case altogether. They got down to first names however P'Forth would prefer calling him 'Oy!' or 'Chubby' rather than Beam but things were better between them. Better as in no more fights. Beam wondered if P'Forth was around more often if they'd get into fights.

They met only in the mornings before they separated paths in their curt goodbye's and P' Forth would come home a good few hours after Beam went to sleep. Sometimes he would talk to P'Pha or Wayo, maybe they could provide some entertainment today as well.

His father's cafe came into his mind when a van delivering food sped across the street. He thought about all the mysteries that seemed to cloud the place. If it was only a cafe then why did Forth work so late and those squishy things Forth had served, where had he learnt to cook something like that?

Beam had found out on that fateful night that it was those squishy things that emitted the delicious aroma Forth always wore when he came back from work. Maybe just a bit different but Beam could tell the scents were basically the same. Guess What? It was as good to eat as it was to smell! Did his father's cafe sell those squishy things? Is that why Forth could make them and smelt like them?

Just then Forth stalked out of his room ready to go to work and Beam quickly diverted his gaze to him in favour of the dull streets ahead.

"You work on Saturday's too?"

"Sometimes." Forth grunted distractedly from where he was stuffing an apron into his bag.

Beam quickly made up his mind, "Take me there."

"Where?"

"To my father's cafe."

"No," he replied curtly.

"What? What do you mean 'no'?"

"You'd be a disaster, that's why. You get lost far too easily. Can't take care of yourself one bit. I workthere and I can't be heading my staff AND keeping an eye on you at the same time. Besides I'm not sure it's a great idea to have you in a restaurant."

"Oi. What the heck is that supposed to mean?"

"You'll eat everything in sight," Forth deadpanned.

"So NOT true!"

"Care to tell me what happened to the pudding I'd left in the refrigerator last night?"

"Err-"

Forth smirked, having made his point. With the keys dangling in his fingers, he started towards the door. And stopped.

"Pretty please na," he'd heard him say in a voice so soft, it was barely a whisper.

................................................................

When Forth walked in, no one had really looked up or noticed them. None of the six odd waiters who were far too busy straightening the decor of the dining hall and none of the four members of the kitchen who were sitting on the couch, leisurely reading a recipe book. Forth was used to this sort of indifference and even echoed it. It wasn't until the boy dashed into a table, knocked over a vase and sent it crashing over, did they have everyone's attention.

One moment, the sinfully expensive vase was sitting pretty on the lace tablecloth and the next moment, it was lying on the ground- indistinguishable amongst a hundred pieces.

Forth stared open-mouthed at the mess Beam had made.

"You..."

"Khor thot khap! ! ! !" Beam said and was already kneeling on the ground, trying to pick up a shard. He winced when he cut his finger and a trickle of blood appeared.

"Are you ok?" one of the female waitresses rushed towards him. It was Nien. She's been watching the boy since he walk inside the cafe.

She stopped short in surprise.

Forth was kneeling on the ground next to him, his pale hand caught onto Beam's in a tight vest like grip and the injured finger drawn into his mouth.

Beam was staring back at him like a goldfish.

And so were the rest of the crowd.

Beam and company stared at Forth as he sucked on the finger, oblivious to the...well...to the staring. Beam actually forgot to wince when Forth's teeth accidentally brushed the wound, in fact he forgot to feel any pain altogether, so busy was he gawking.

Although he didn't understand why everyone (including him) was staring. It was a pretty normal gesture and probably would not have made a two pence difference to anyone if it had been that kind female waitress.

That was it, wasn't it? The fact that it was Forth Jaturapom. Somehow Beam felt that the hostility he usually put up towards Beam wasn't JUST put up for him. So it shocked everyone that Forth was capable of humane and maybe even a little tender gestures like that one.

Everyone seemed to release a pent up breath when Forth pulled the finger out of his mouth and promptly drew another one in when he grabbed a white linen napkin off the table and wrapped his hand in it; Closing the hand into a fist over it so that pressure was applied to the cut.

He looked up at Beam for just a fleeting second as if to ask if he was alright. But before Beam could answer back Forth had stood up and pulled him up in the process and he was dragged across the dining and into the kitchen. He caught glimpses of white and silver steel and pots and pans before they were out another door and Beam found himself in the back alleyway. He was pushed to sit down beside the dumpster which was thankfully empty and spotless in the morning.

"Now STAY THERE and try not to kill yourself." Forth muttered before going back in through the door, "don't knock the dumpster over." He added as an afterthought before disappearing.

Beam got up indignantly. What did he think of him anyway? It was just a vase! He wasn't some klutz! He leaned against the dumpster in his angry thoughts. Not realizing that it was actually pretty light. Beam and dumpster went flying to the ground with a loud clutter that resonated through the four corners of Bangkok...most probably...oops!

ARIE78: Never learn and listen to your P'Forth na. Hahahha.  . . . Bullying is no good Forth. 😉 Just hug him already la. . . Anyway pls wait for the next chap. . Maybe in two days will up. . Hope i can do it. 😊