Counting Stars ✓

fourteen

[warning: foul language ahead.]

King opened the door, confused. The last thing he expected when he answered the door at nine pm was for his sister to be in front of him, crying. He had never seen her in such a fragile state. Ever.

"What happened-" before he could finish his sentence, she wrapped her arms around him. His eyes widened at her actions. It was the first she had ever hugged him after all. Their family weren't affectionate people (though he wished they were). Everything was ever only primarily business matters between them.

His sister crying in his arms only meant one thing; Leo, her fianceé, had done something. As far as King knew, Kaew had met him five years ago at a formal event.

It was love at first sight for his older sister, and she tried everything in her power to gain his family's approval, and get his affection.

While they were in the top, Leo's family came from a longer background of aristocrats, making them have slightly more influence and power. Another girl had already been set for him because of his lineage. Therefore, Kaew had been over the moon when she got together with him.

But with the relationship came several baggage. Including; the media constantly following her every move, several family rules she was expected to follow, and other people trying to sabotage her relationship. It was always pressure after pressure responsibility after responsibility for her.

Bringing his sister inside, he closed the door and led her to the living room. Rune who had previously been watching the television quickly turned it off when he saw the distressed girl next to King. The three were met with sheer silence before King spoke up and said, "My older sister."

Rune nodded and quickly made his way for the bedroom to give the siblings some time alone.

"What happened?" King asked once again, after seating himself and Kaew down on the couch.

"I caught Leo in bed with another girl," she sniffled, aggressively wiling away her tears. "Our cousin, to be exact."

King's eyes widened at the information, but remained silent as he let his sister continue talking. She buried her face into her hands, "What a fucked up world we live in, Khemkhaeng."

She looked at him, with broken eyes he knew very well.

"What did we do to deserve all this?" she asked, "What did we do to deserve a father that never once cared for us. A mother that likes to take control of our lives. And us... siblings, who can't even communicate with one another."

He felt his throat tighten as she echoed out words he always asked himself. Words he thought were no more than a curse reminder of how trapped he was in his current identity.

"Did you know, whenever I tried to reach out to you when we were younger, I'd be pulled away and punished. During the times when I would be punished, I'd be told that the bond of siblings was nothing more than illusions. After going through it numerous times, I began to believe it," she confessed, "But, bullshit. I'm fucking done. Screw our status. Screw responsibilities and perfect images. I just want to be free."

His eyes widened at the information. He hadn't known she had tried to reach out to him. Growing up they had been separated despite being in the same household.

She was on one side, and he was on the other. They had set schedules as to when they would have breakfast, lunch, and dinner - all in which were separated.

So they rarely ever saw each other, but when they did, they were only ever met with pure awkwardness and unfamiliarity.

Over time, Kaew eventually became cold. Whenever she was in his presence, she'd look uncomfortable as if he'd hurt her at any given time... as though he wasn't trustworthy. And it all began to make sense as to why she became like so. Indeed it was a fucked up life they lived.

"What do you plan to do then?" He asked softly, unable to meet her gaze. She scoffed, "Mother wants me to let it go and continue being with him. Fuck that. I'm going to do what I've always wanted and let myself be free."

He raised his brows, turning to look at her in confusion and worry. "What are you planning?"

She pursed her lips.

"I've built a company of my own, King," she stated, using his nickname for the first time. "One mother doesn't know about."

Despite her simple statement, he knew exactly what she was talking about and clasped his hands together - jealousy eating away at him.

"I wish you luck, then," he mumbled. She gave him a side glance, the two falling into silence before she spoke up once more.

"When everything is settled, I want you to join me," she said, shocking King. "I want you to leave Mother as well, and allow me to be your guardian. No more restriction. You'll be free to be who you are and take the path you want."

He simply gaped at her, having not expected for her to say such a thing. Yet at the same time, he felt a slight sting of guilt towards his mother. And as though she read his mind, she continued, "And don't feel guilty about leaving. It takes more than just blood to be a mother, and she's proven enough we're only tools for her. Let's be free."

He gave her a crooked smile and nodded, reaching out to give her a handshake as though it was a business transaction.

She looked down at his hand, moved closer, and hugged him instead. "Let's not be strangers anymore," she muttered in the crook of his neck. He gently placed his hands on her back and smiled. "Okay."

Unknown Number

9:15 PM

Everything is going as planned, Khun Khemkhaeng

[a/n: How's the story so far? Are you all enjoying it?]