Soulmates ✓

eight

"Hey," Sarawat smiled, pulling Tine into a quick hug as he slipped in a fast kiss on his cheek. Tine chuckled, lightly hitting Sarawat on the arm, but enjoying the sense of calmness he felt in the older boy's presence.

"Come on. My parents are out shopping right now, so I'll show you around first," Tine said, holding onto Sarawat's hand and leading him into the house.

Sarawat was used to a more extravagant life. As the son of not only an Alpha, but two very successful and well off individuals, he was used to being given anything he wanted, and having authority. Even if he was raised so he wasn't stuck up, it didn't change the privileges and lifestyle he had.

And Tine's place was far different from Sarawat's usual lifestyle. Yes, he had often slept over at Tine's dorm, but the dorm had to be well taken care of as protocol of the university.

Compared to the dorm or Sarawat's own family home, Tine's house was a small tiny two bedroom and looked to be falling apart.

He hadn't known the boy had grown up in such a poor condition. It made him frown knowing Tine had spent most of his life thus far stuck in such a run down place. But in order not to ruin the boy's mood, he didn't bring it up. Besides, who was he to feel bad for him if Tine wasn't in the slightest bit embarrassed, nor ashamed.

And for that reason, the Tine who appreciated the little things in life, made him all the more in love. Finding such a genuine and selfless soul was rare, and he had been blessed with a mate who was just that.

Sarawat laughed, pulling Tine into a tight hug as they laid on Tine's bed. He placed a kiss on the crook of Tine's neck, earning a small laugh from Tine who squirmed at the ticklish feelings.

"My parents love you," Tine said, raking his fingers through Sarawat's hair and planting a kiss on the crown of his head.

"What can I say? I'm irresistible," Sarawat grinned, shifting his position so he was hovering on top of Tine while holding his wrists down.

Tine rolled his eyes. "Says the one who was shaking like a leaf."

"Shush, love." Sarawat leaned down and began to plant several kisses on Tine's face. His actions caused Tine to chuckle before he managed to free one of his hands, and pulled Sarawat down by the neck, and kissed him on the lips.

As they pulled away, Tine and Sarawat placed their forehead against one another, a habit they developed whenever they wanted to remind each other everything was going to be alright. Sarawat laid back down next to Tine and pulled him closer.

"But on a serious note, I am glad," Sarawat muttered, "about your parents approval."

"Well, even without it, I'm sure they knew I would still insist on being with you," Tine said, bathing in the warmth his mate provided. "And what's not to love about you? You're handsome, kind - to certain people - smart, and come from a well off background. It makes me feel somewhat bad because I don't have anything to truly offer you other than my love."

"Your love is all I need, Tine. And your background doesn't matter. Not when you're such a warm hearted individual," Sarawat reassured. "I couldn't have asked for a better mate."

"How cheesy," Tine grinned.

"Ow, you love it."

"Unfortunately."

The two shared a laugh once more before they let the night sway them into deep sleep.

~

Hana Teepakorn was furious. It was the first time anyone has seen Tine's mother get this riled up, and no one knew what to do other than let the woman go off.

"So what if my son is the mate of a non-human?!" She bellowed, her vein popping through, "I'm sick and tired of trying to be normal! For years I tried so hard to hide my true thoughts and feelings, even going as far as turning a blind eye when my nephew needed me and making my son suffer through isolation and loneliness!

"Disgusting freaks? The only ones I see who are disgusting freaks are you - all of you! Where were you all when I had to step down from my job to be a full time mom and my husband injured himself and had to change his job to a low paying janitor?

"Where were you all when we lost our house and had to move into a run down dump that caused my son to end up in the hospital several times because of the bad condition it was in?

"Nowhere! Not a single one of you bothered to check up on us unless it was to come over and create more gossip on how different my son was, and how much a failure of a mother I was! And now that we came to you because we need money, none of you can offer us anything? Are you serious?

"When we had money we gave it to you whenever you asked because we believed in the concept of loyalty and family! But since that doesn't seem to be the case, I'll be waiting for the thousands of dollars you all owe me to be sent into my bank."

Hot tears streamed down her face, and Tine's father stepped forward to give her a gentle rub on the back.

"Fuck you," she swore, shocking everyone present as she had never been one to swear, especially as she was a child educator at some point. "Don't you dare think my family can't survive without toxic relatives like you."

She turned to her father, the man who was trembling at the outburst he was suddenly witnessing from his usual docile youngest daughter. "And you. From now on we're no longer father and daughter. I'm done. I'm cutting ties once and for all. Just like how you decided to cut ties with my older sister when she begged you not to kick her out because her son was different."

With the last of her true thoughts and feelings said, she began to walk out with her husband, Jirayu, while Sarawat and Tine trailing behind them.

The car was in heavy silence before Hana spoke up once more in the passenger seat while Jirayu started the car.

"I'm sorry, Sarawat, for having to witness this whole situation."

"It's alright, Mom," Sarawat smiled, "and I know this may sound insensitive...but would you like to move to the city and live in the family house with my parents?"

Tine looked at him in shock, as did Hana who turned to look back.

"Oh, no, dear. I couldn't possibly intrude on you all like that-"

"I insist. Besides," he pulled Tine closer to him, "we'll be family in the future when Tine and I get married anyway."

Both mother and son looked at him with even more shock. Tine turned a little red before facing his mother.

"Let's do it, Mom. We said we wanted a new start, and this is it," Tine urged, "Let's get away from this town. There's nothing for us here, anyway. We asked them for only five thousand dollars to help purchase a new place, which is nothing compared to the five hundred thousand they owe you and dad, yet none of them wanted to help us and even insulted Sarawat."

Sarawat nodded, "And dad can use this opportunity to retire, as can you. My mother would also love to have more people in the house to keep her company while my father works and I'm away at university."

Hana looked at her husband who smiled and shrugged, "They've got a point, hun. Let's do it."

And Hana smiled, a familiar rabbit smile. "Alright, let's do this."