✔Fated Encounter

2

"Dad your blood pressure is shooting the sky again" he said as he wiped the older man's hair away from his forehead. He sighed staring at his father's tired face who just laid with his eyes closed. "What is it, dad?"

"Nothing" Ben looked away. 

He sighed. "Okay... well, you should rest and take less stress"

"Huh, less stress" Ben scoffed. "What else an old man got to do than stress when he has two sons but none to stand beside him? Huh? I can get over Wayo not being remotely capable of stepping up, I don't have any expectation from him yet at least he can smile at people! Present himself but you! You are a disappointment!"

Beam flinched a bit at his tone. But he was so used to it by now that he just sighed and stood up. "Well. Sorry to hear that O poor miserable daddy dearest. I'll be leaving in a day or two. I need to be in Boston"

Ben who was about to snap at him, stopped to blink. "Boston? You lived in California"

Beam stopped to eye his dad with a raised eyebrow. "Surprised you remember" he chuckled. "Yes, I did. I left California a year ago and settled in Seattle. I'm going to Boston for a medical conference to talk about my research and then there's an award ceremony" he sighed, thinking why would he tell his father that. He should tell what his father wanted to hear. "Then... I'm coming back here"

But Ben didn't get that part. "Award?"

Beam looked down at his dad's curious face. He smiled thinly. "Yes, dad. Like the medical Nobel prize for innovation. I'm getting one" with that he turned to walk out, leaving Ben still for a long while. "And I said I'll be back home after that" 

"An award huh?" Ben mumbled to himself with a faint smile. "He didn't seem like he had time to be serious about anything except playing around" he then picked up his ringing phone.

"Yeah?"

....

"Of course, patch me in" he said, straightening up. "I'm better now"

....

"Good afternoon Mr. Vongviphan" said a deep voice from the other line.

"Good afternoon. How you're doing today Mr. Jamhornum?"

##~~

"How was your trip?" Beam asked Wayo who sat putting butter on his toast with a sulky expression. He looked up at Beam with a grumpy pout and went back to his assault against the poor toast.

"Eh, that bad?" Beam asked.

"Huh" Wayo pouted even more.

Beam smiled at his little brother's childish antics. "Then you won't wanna know what I got you from Boston?" he asked and chuckled at the excited glint in Wayo's eyes who suddenly looked attentive.

"Handmade chocolates?" he asked and Beam chuckled.

He looked around for the step snake mom of his who didn't want him spoiling her golden pretty boy or getting him fat, and not finding her, he tilted his head towards the kitchen. "Ask Stella"

Wayo jumped up and ran. Then came back to hug him tightly from behind and drop a quick kiss on his cheek before sprinting away yet again.

"Huh, is he ever gonna grow up?"

The smile left Beam's face he looked up at the tall and tanned man who stared where Wayo disappeared with a disapproving frown. Then he huffed and looked down at Beam who stared right back at him with expressionless eyes. 

"Hey Beam" he said and Beam quirked an eyebrow.

"Hey to you too, shitface" Beam called back with a sweet smile. "How is it that it's been six months and my little brother still hasn't realized that you're not gonna give him the sweet fairytale ending he thought came in a package deal with you?"