Counting Stars ✓

twenty-eight

King took a deep breath. He looked at Kaew who nodded at him in an encouraging manner despite the slight anxiety she was feeling herself. It was understandable they feared what was about to happen.

After all, no matter how much anger and fear they held towards Alice, she was still their biological mother. She provided them with their needs, and gave them more than enough wealth, but she never gave them the two things they craved for - freedom and love.

They walked in and sat down, facing their mother who was on the other side of the screen - looking at them with a murderous look. She raised her brow, sneering at them. "What's the meaning of this?"

They looked at each other, and back at their mother. They had reported her to the police, making sure none of those who may have accepted bribery from their mother were informed until the arrest was made.

And to say she was angry was an understatement, for she was more than ready to have her own children killed if not for the chances of suspicion of her growing.

Plenty people who have helped her in the dark had been arrested too, making the whole situation hit the media. It wasn't everyday scandals involving someone who stood in the top five percent of wealth happened.

And to top it off, she had been outed by her own two children - Kaew and King.

Ever since they were born, despite the media trying to paint a bad light on them for being cold, those who knew them had to admit Kaew and King were never truly troublemakers. And they certainly weren't children who ever went against their strict mother.

So the fact that they would do something as scandalous as reporting their mother to the police was truly a shocker for everyone.

And it made them all the more curious as to why. Alice had always been low-profiled, and certainly never seemed suspicious of any illegal activities.

"It's time you made up for your crime," Kaew said, tucking strands of her hair behind her ear. Her answer made Alice scoff. She crossed her legs, tilting her head to the side to give off an intimidating look.

If it were in the past, King would be cowering in fear, but as he took a closer look at his mother, he saw just how much she's aged, and how small she truly was compared to him.

"I've done nothing wrong. Do be careful, once I get out the two of you will face heavy punishments."

Her reply made Kaew fume in anger. If not for King tugging at her sleeves, she would've stood up and gone off in anger. Much like their mother, Kaew had a temper, and despite being able to control it better the past few years, it didn't erase it completely.

"When I first received reports on some of the stuff you did, I wanted it to be a lie," Kaew admitted. "But not anymore. We'll see you in court."

She stood up, biting down harshly on her lips as she dragged King away with her. It was only when they entered the car she broke down crying in King's arms. They drove away, and to Khun Rain's mansion.

"Khun Rain, N'Rune," Rose greeted. Rune who had been chatting with his grandmother looked up in surprise, having not expected to see Rose at his grandmother's mansion. Furthermore, the honorifics she used seem weird. "Nong?" he asked in confusion, scrunching his brows.

Rose sat down next to his grandmother, sending him an amused look, "I'm already in my mid twenties, boy."

His eyes widened in surprise. "O-Oh. But what brings you to my grandmother's place?"

"I'm sure you're aware of the upcoming trial for King's mother?"

He nodded, curious as to what she had to say about it. While he had been taken back when King informed him, he was more than encouraging of it. She was a scary woman from what King told him, and needed to be locked away.

"I'll be presenting some evidence against her as well," Rose said, picking up a shortbread from the plate in front of them, and taking a small bite. "So there's multiple charges being made against her, starting with the murder of her parents, as well as my mother."

"Your mother?" Rune gasped, his jaw dropping. Rose nodded, "My mother was in the police force. She dug up some information about Alice - King's mother - illegal businesses overseas, and was killed because of it. I managed to retrieve what she found, as well as some other information."

"She's a scary woman, isn't she?" Khun Rain asked, agreeing with the terrified expression on her grandson.

"Are we sure King is her child?" Rune couldn't help asking. His question made the two women laugh.

"It's weird, isn't it? That the child of a monster is such a sweet young boy who loves to help people, rather than stripping away their happiness," Rose said, thinking about King. They became friends and bonded through their mutual understanding of their loneliness.

Because while she may have loving parents, she truly didn't have anyone to call a friend.

The last person she did call her friend was disgusted by her when she revealed her depression, and began to spread baseless rumours about her in school - making her the target of bullying.

Going through such a betrayal, she began to distrust people, and started to hate physical touches as it would remind her of when she would get beat up behind the school.

Her parents eventually found out and had the kids responsible get in trouble, but she chose to be homeschooled ever since, limiting her to anyone other than the people from social gatherings held by her parents from time to time. And it was during the social gathering she first met King.

She didn't have the greatest opinion of him (to be fair she didn't have a great opinion about anyone) at first. She assumed he was as stuck up and cold, not because of what was said, but because of the way he kept to himself ( quite hypocritical considering she had been doing the same thing, and kept to herself.)

But after finding him sitting all alone in the garden, happily playing with a stray cat that managed to trespass, she began to wonder who he truly was. It was in a moment of impulse and growing loneliness she wanted to try and be his friend, even if they had an age gap.

And by giving it a chance, she managed to get a best friend and brother figure out of it. There was a moment in which she hated him slightly due to what his mother had done to hers.

But whenever she saw him, or spoke to him, her anger would diminish. Because by the end of the day, King had no idea what his mother had done, and was merely a lonely boy trying to hold onto the slightest hope of happiness.

And when she did tell him, a couple of hours after his mother's arrest, it broke her heart to hear him cry in guilt. It was a good thing the younger boy had Rune by his side at the time she called to tell him.

She observed Rune, who was clearly growing uncomfortable underneath her gaze.

"So," she drew out, smirking, "Have you and King had sex yet?"

Rune choked on air in surprise, turning bright red. His grandmother began to howl at Rose's question, sending him an equally teasing grin.

"No!" he exclaimed in embarrassment.

"No what?" came another voice. Rune turned around and saw King and his sister looking at them in confusion. He flushed a deeper shade of red. "Nothing," he said, standing up to grab King's arm and pull him to the seat next to his.

"Hey, King," Rose greeted, flashing a grin, one which King returned. She turned to Kaew and nodded, "Kaew. You look beautiful today."

Her statement made Rune scrunch his brows in confusion. He didn't know why but something about the way she said it was weird and off.

He looked at the soft expression on the older girl's face, and pursed his lips before shaking away the feeling. Kaew merely turned away in slight shyness at the sudden compliment, and took a seat next to her brother.

"Well, is everyone here?" Khun Rain asked.

"Not yet," King said. "There's one more."

"Who-" Rune didn't finish as he heard a familiar voice greet them. He turned back once more, his mouth running dry. "-Kasper?"