My Chocomallows Cake by ARIE78 (on hold)

Chapter 20

  It was a long ride back. For the first time, he didn't feel like returning home. Because that meant looking at Beam's face and he didn't know how long he could keep up the facade.

"Forth," the man had said.

It wasn't the easiest of conversations.

"Beam has spent enough time in Bangkok. He should go back. I just wanted to thank you for taking such good care of him," Mr Baramee aka Big Boss had said, too immersed in his file to look at him.

The man was such a contradiction to his son. Cold, abrasive and it was always about work with him.

Strange.

Wasn't he like that a while ago?

Yeah. But somewhere along the way he'd changed. All because of that stupid idiot at home. An idiot he'd grown attached to.

Forth cast a glum glance at the building. He struggled out of the car and trudged to his apartment.

For a long moment, he stood there before the door, trying to put on a fake mask of enthusiasm.

That was when he first noticed them.

There were two pairs of shoes outside his door. Beam listened quietly as his father recounted about how he was a guest and shouldn't act though this was home because it wasn't.

It's not like Beam told his father that he had grown accustomed to considering the small yet elegant apartment his home. But he had come to consider it home and everything his father said hurt. Everytime his father would bring up Forth's desperate attempts to imply without being rude that Beam was overstaying his welcome, his eyes would swell up with tears.

It's not so much as Forth saying all that as Forth not saying it to him.Beam knew he could be adamant at times but he wished that Forth had at least known that Beam would back off if he was becoming a nuisance. Beam thought their relationship had reached a good standard considering the only relationship he has had in the past 10 years was with a cat. But Forth couldn't trust him with that much. Frankly that is what hurt him the most out of a mixture of many other feelings lost in the whirl of his confusion.

His stepmother had suggested for him to live with them, a reaction that included highly scandalized looks of are-you-fucking-out-of your-mind-woman from both the father son duo.

It was most ironical however how his father hadn't come to visit when he first came to Bangkok and yet here he was to convince him to go back. It was maybe just a little pathetic and maybe that's why he never noticed Forth and his feelings. Too desperate for the attention Forth gave him.

Beam had ensured his father that yes he will leave ASAP. He just needed to finish off a few things, his English coursework was still due, a career aptitude test that really was useless but he was just curious and of course a few goodbyes and places he had wanted to visit in Bangkok. As soon as his father stepped out the door Forth had stepped in, most probably Beam wouldn't have even known his presence if it wasn't for the soft 'I'm Back!' To which he cheerfully replied 'Welcome Home P'Forth!'

He flashed on his brightest smile. People said he had a beautiful smile. (Okay so only Mingkwan to which Kit had grunted what Beam liked to believe his consent) Shielding his eyes from so much shining Forth softly asked.

"Ready? Where'd you wanna go?"

"Where? No where?"

"What do you mean!? You told me you wanted to eat Sushi. So let's go."

Beam pulled away from the hand grasping his elbow, "It's not necessary! I'll just make a sandwich. Plus I'm busy"

"WHAT? NOOO! I came home so early for this!"

Beam's decision changed. "Okay! Then I'll go!"

Just as he was about to put on his jacket on the way to the door Forth caught him again, "You're acting like its some kind of obligation. If you can't or don't want to go then don't. The choice is yours."

Beam clutched the jacket tightly clearly hesitating about the answer.

"Uhhh..."
"What's wrong?" Forth asked.

"N-nothing," the boy answered all too swiftly, staring fixedly at the floor.
Forth gave him an incredulous look and scoffed. "Yeah, right."

When there seemed to be no answer forthcoming, Forth caught his wrist. "What is it with you? One moment, you want to go and the next moment, you don't..."

Beam winced at his tone and Forth wondered what the hell was wrong with him.

"Is this... about your dad?"

This was unfamiliar territory. In none of their conversations, he'd ever tried to find about Beam's family. Why should he? He'd accepted long ago that the boy would be in and out of his life. Whoosh and gone. Getting personal only made matters complicated. And then, there were feelings. Forth didn't like those.

Beam gave a small disconcerted laugh. "Naah," he said, careful to not meet his eyes. "I stopped caring a long time ago," he looked away. "But you know, I don't get 'parents'. Why have kids when you can't take care of them?"

Forth watched him for a long moment, not knowing what to say.

Beam gave a shrug. "Ahhh but I don't regret coming here. Though all I've been is trouble. To him, to Ming, to Kit and... to you P'Forth," Beam gave a small bow and raised his head to give Forth a wide smile. "But thank you, Phi. Even if I go back, I will always remember the grouchy chef in Bangkok who made the best Chocomallow cake in the world. I will send you a postcard-"

He never let Beam finish. Instead, Forth pulled him into a hug and held him wrapped in his arms.

"Shut up," he hissed, patting the stupid brown head in his arms.

Beam was startled into silence.

"You're not going anywhere."

"Phi...For-th?" he finally choked out.

"Yeah, you've been trouble. Trouble with a big 'T'. But you know what I really hate about you?"

"... eh?"

"The fact that I care about you. And...I don't want any friggin' postcard. Are you stupid, nowadays we can make a video call but I'm not letting you go."
It was probably making Forth uncomfortable and it was probably not an appropriate reaction either. No, no self respecting nineteen year old would react like this but Beam clearly was in a league of his own.

ARIE78: Got bz lately due to the upcoming celebration of CHINESE NEW YEAR. My workload become double. Fuh, need a vacation soon or i will get crazy due to overwork hahahah...😂