Before Dawn

Chapter 13

Mai and her son walk back in the house with their hands entangled together. Type marvels seeing how bright and beautifully decorated everywhere is. The portrait of their family is hung on the wall. He sees his younger self in the photo. He is standing in the middle of his father and mother. The walls are painted white and the sofas are white as well. Even the tiles are white. Everywhere looks so neat that he doesn't want to even touch anything to avoid staining them.
"You can sit down. Let me call your father and grandmother." Mai says. She rushes to her bedroom giving two spaces as she walks up the stairs. When she enters her bedroom, she picks her phone on the bed and calls her husband, Jab.
After two beeps, He answers the call.
"You need to come back home right this instant." Mai says not giving a single second for Jab to speak.
"Why? Did something happen at home?"
"I found my son. He's here at our house." Mai says excitedly.
"You let a stranger in our house. He could harm you. I'm calling the police right this now."
"If you call the police, I'm leaving this house and I will go and stay with him in the station. He has some things we gave him as a child that only him can have. Come back right now." Mai cuts the call and dials her mother's number, Madam Ahn but she doesn't answer her call. Then she remembers she went for prayers with Miss Cheer.
   She goes downstairs to the living room and sees her son seated admiring the different pictures on the wall.
"Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?" Mai asks.
"I wold love to eat anything you cook, mom." Type smiles.

       Tutor feels the splitting migraine in his head causing him to grunt in pain. He opens his eyes slowly trying to minimise the pain as much as possible.
"You're awake." Henia stands up from the chair she was sitting on while watching Tutor. She rushes out to call Tharn and Mr. Thananan.
Tutor tries to sitting up but the pain wouldn't let him so he stays in the bed. Tharn and Mr. Thananan rush into the bedroom with Henia behind them.
"Thank goodness you're awake." Tharn holds Tutor's palm rubbing it gently.
"What happened? We saw you on the floor bleeding from your head." Mr Thananan says.
Tutor gently places his hand on his head and feels the tied bandage around his head.
"I slipped as I was coming downstairs." Tutor remembers the oily liquid he slipped on.
"Henia how could you be so careless? I hired you because of the compliments of my friends. It's still your first day and this already happened." Mr. Thananan yells.
"I'm sorry sir." Henia bows her head slightly and walks out of the room.
"It was just a mistake. She will be careful next time." Tharn tells his father who is fuming in anger.
"I have an appointment but I will be back as soon as I can." Mr Thananan smiles at his son in law and leaves the room.
"Could you get me something to drink?" Tutor asks. "I'm very thirsty."
"Ok. I will send Henia to bring it. Let me give you some time to rest." Tharn then stands up from the edge of the bed he is seating and leaves.
   After a while Henia comes back with a white small tray and on it is a bottled water and a glass of orange juice. She places it on the table beside the bed and turns to leave.
"Thank you Henia. Please don't take too harsh Mr Thananan's words." Tutor says.
"I'm not hurt by his words but what hurts me is when I'm criticised for a mistake I didn't make." Henia says turning to Tutor's view.
"What do you mean?"
"I cleaned that house thoroughly in the morning and you slipped on oil. How could the oil have been there of all places?"
"Maybe it was a mistake. A food spill or something."
"I hope so too sir." Henia says leaving the room.