Melted: A MaxTul AU story

Ten: Updated Relationships/Different Perspectives

Author's Note: I know it's been awhile, but thanks to everyone who has been waiting patiently. I also apologize to the people who thought I had published new chapters when really I had only made corrections in previous chapters.  I hate that Wattpad doesn't let you indicate the difference between a corrected/updated chapter versus a brand new one.

As I have stated before, I do have the story outlined through to the end, so I will eventually finish it.  I have completed the other story (Because of You AU) and will not start another until this one is done. However, I cannot guarantee regular updates because every week depends on what is happening at my workplace with COVID. We are all worried about the upcoming flu season. 

It's a long chapter. Get something to drink and a snack.

Please be careful everyone and remember to be kind.

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"So, what do you think?" Max asked after shutting down his screen share. He had just finished showing Aunt Clara (or Tantӓ Clara as he had been taught to call her) pictures of Tul's apartment, and he was nervous. He knew she would like the apartment. Who wouldn't? However, he was concerned that she was going to know he was only telling her part of the story.

Clara Tappitak was sharp. She was the kind of mom/wife/friend who could tell something was wrong just by the way the other person was sitting or how they set their expressions. Max, Uncle Pong, Ohm, and Ramida rarely bothered to lie to her because it wasn't worth it. Max had worked really hard to keep himself off the screen by focusing on sharing pictures of the apartment and the video he had later made of the surrounding neighborhood. 

He had decided that he wasn't going to tell Tantӓ Clara about Uncle Pong's illness, but he was going to get her to help him persuade Uncle to move out of his room. He told her about how his uncle wasn't eating much and living in this small space and that he was concerned. Not surprisingly, she was angry and feeling guilty that her husband was sacrificing himself for them.

But Max also knew that he couldn't tell her everything about where Uncle lived, for if Tantӓ Clara saw the actually room itself, she would immediately know there had to be more than not wanting to waste money in that choice. She knew exactly how much money he was sending them and how much their living expenses were. She'd insist on knowing why he needed to sell all of his things and live in a room.

Thus, Max really talked about Uncle Pong's move as a great way for him to save money while living in a great spot. He even hinted, without outright lying, that Uncle would be paying rent by saying it wouldn't cost any more than what he was spending now. He hyped up the fact that there was maid service and that he'd get regular meals this way. He even added that maybe some of his values would rub off on the young Pakorn and would positively affect the workplace.

Clara laughed. "Did you warn your friend how difficult it can be to live with Pong? He isn't the neatest or cleanest person around without me there. I distinctly remember you complaining about his smelly socks."

"I did warn him, Tantӓ Clara." Max smiled and scrunched his nose at the same time. "But that is why Tul showed me the apartment to convince me that he probably wouldn't even see uncle's dirty socks, the place is so big."

Clara laughed lightly again. "Your uncle always did seem to have a soft spot for the Pakorn boy despite what he said about his coldness. If he's being a friend to you, then Pong was right."

This was the second time Clara mentioned Tul doing this because he was friends with Max, and though Max considers them friends now, it felt odd the way she said it because he was pretty sure that wasn't the reason Tul was letting Uncle Pong live with him.