Un-Beam My Heart!

21. From Rival to Friends...

               It was a cute little happy family. A handsome and hardworking father, a beautiful and caring mother and their charming son. It was their own small world which was full of love and affection. The only aspiration Sutteret Khemmonta had, was to give his son, Kimmon a safe and secure future, while all his innocent wife knew was to dote her son and take care of his every need.

               "Dad doesn't like it when you cry", fourteen year old Kimmon said to his mother in a flat tone, after they returned from the burial ground, where they had left Sutteret to rest, who had worked his ass off to provide for the family until his last breath, but lost his life to illness.

               "Let him rest, mom, he needs it badly", Kimmon sported a confident smile, "You have me now, to take care of us. I will work hard like dad and make him proud. There will come a day when everyone will acknowledge and accept us as Khemmonta and I promise, mom, I will make it happen one day"

                With the only bread winner of the family gone, Kimmon and his mother struggled to survive with the meager allowance that was left and Kimmon knew that they would be broke in no time. He was about to quit school and start looking for a job when his father's brother, Suchart Khemmonta visited his house.

                 Kimmon could never forget that day in his life. He felt so happy when his uncle apologized for his grandfather's attitude towards his mother. His uncle gave his sincere condolences and requested Kimmon and his mother to return to Khemmonta's mansion. He expressed his desire to adopt Kimmon and raise him as his own son as a repentance for the injustice that was done to Sutteret and his family. And Kimmon shed happy tears at being acknowledged as a Khemmonta for the first time in his life.

                Kimmon's every basic need was fulfilled at the Khemmonta mansion. Although Suchart's wife and his sons were cold and distant towards him, Suchart made sure to make Kimmon feel comfortable and less lonely there. Kimmon's heart would with swell with happiness and gratitude whenever his uncle would introduce him as Sutteret Khemmonta's son to others.

                In a short span of time, Kimmon became very attached to his uncle. He felt extremely indebted to Suchart for all the love and affection he showed to Kimmon. To show his gratitude, Kimmon started running errands for his uncle and gradually began assisting his uncle at work. Over time he grew up understanding how much Suchart loathed the Kreepolrerk family. And naturally, Kimmon also developed a strong dislike towards Kreepolrerk.

                A potential rival in business. That's how Kimmon saw Tae until he finished his schooling. It was nothing surprising, because the rivalry slash partnership between the Kreepolrerk and Khemmonta was a wide spread topic in the country. The whole country knew how Kreepolrerk and Khemmonta hated each other. But while doing business they acted like professionals, keeping aside their personal beliefs to themselves. And Kimmon preferred to keep it that way too, very professional.

                 Kimmon was a year younger to Tae and they never met each other except during a few parties hosted by Khemmonta or Kreepolrerk. He was skeptic and cold towards Tae, until he was sent to the same university as Tae by his uncle. Unfortunately they both were in engineering and Kimmon had no choice but to face Tae almost every day in his college life. Tae was very famous in their college, not only for his looks but also for his perfection in everything he did. He was a kind and soft natured senior, despite his strict and non-lenient ways.

              Being an emotional person, Kimmon couldn't hide his resentment well when he began his freshman year. But his opinions on Tae changed completely when he was asked to assist Tae during hazing activities. Gradually, Kimmon began understanding Tae, who had numerous opportunities to take advantage of his position as a senior and bully or insult Kimmon. But Tae never misused his power. He was fair and kind towards everyone, including Kimmon.