Brute

Part 34

Jay

I looked at the coming vehicles before crossing the road, holding my mother's hand. We went to pray first, hoping that this year Por's health would improve and he's willing to come out from his deep sleep to greet us. I sent my mother to wait in the car, because the weather was too hot to wait outside, and went to the stall near the temple to buy some delicacies to give to the hospice staff who took good care of my father. While waiting for it to be packed, I could feel as if someone was watching my movement. Joong had already predicted this, that somebody must be tasked to follow me around. I didn't giveaway any sign that I was aware, first, because my mother was somewhere nearby, she shouldn't need to worry on this good day, and two, I also wanted to know who was it that kept an eye on me.

I paid for the food, started to move into the car and drive off. After a while, Mae was confused as to why I drove off from the supposed pathway to the hospice. I said that there's something I needed to get from the office, first. Yet, my eyes keep darting to the rearview mirror, noticing the same rider that had been following us, starting at the temple, until up to right now. I asked Mae to have a cup of coffee at the cafe in the lobby area, there're a lot of people there, thus she would be safe. I went up to see Joong. As soon as I entered his office, Joong's eyes widened, questioning on why I was here, instead of enjoying my leave. 

"I need a back up, someone was tailing me all the time since morning. I couldn't keep alert to my surrounding and keep an eye on Mae too. Are you free?", I asked; or more liked, requesting my boss to leave work and help me to safeguard Mae. Joong nodded and stood up to follow, "It's about time, I supposed, to go and visit your father too, Jay. At least, now, I don't have to pretend to know nothing of your relationship to him, anymore". I didn't know how to respond, and just shrugged the awkwardness away. 

Mae eyes went huge as Joong greeted her politely. "Jayadee, this is what you need to get from the office? Eiii!!!", my mother pinched my waist immediately. I was not expecting that and thus couldn't escape the painful twist. "Ahh, Maeeee....stop,stop". 

"Mr. Archen, forgive this son of mine. He really doesn't know his boundary", Mae was pushing me forward to bow in apology. Joong was enjoying the rare moment that I was being scolded, but played it cool liked the boss that he was. "Just called me Joong, Madam. Actually, I called Jayadee to come and fetch me. He told me that today is Mr. Sathit birthday, so I wanted to visit him, too". My eyes widened, and looked questioningly at Joong. 

"Then, you could call me, Mae, too. Son, next time don't surprise Mae liked this!", Mae again berated me, "Then, let's move, Por must be waiting to hear our wishes!", my mother was feeling so excited, that she casually grabbed Joong's hand and pulled him to walk ahead, just liked how she held and pulled my hand. Joong's face was a mix of confusion, and also a sincere joy. He liked this, being casually treated, liked her own son. 

We arrived at the hospice and gave treats to the staff, asking them to pray for Por's well being too. As soon as we entered the private care room, Mae again, held Joong's hand and brought him along to the bedside, "Honey, looked who has come to visit you on this year's birthday! It's Mr. Archen, well, he said to just call him, Joong". 

"Por, your son is also here, but Mae left me at the back and pulled his new son to the front, instead!", I shouted, being petty. Mae looked back to give warning eyes to me, "Jayadee! Since when did you become jealous liked this?! Come here! Sorry, Joong. He is an only child, that's why he's spoil". Joong raised his brows in mockery and smirked, looking at me being scolded again and again. I moved to stand at the other side of my mother. My mother held my father's hand, and wished him birthday and also to get well. But, she couldn't say much more, because her eyes had started to water, so, she left the room, to not cry in front of Joong. 

"Por, Mae is happy, don't worry. She just missed talking with you, that's all. Later on, I'll leave her here to have a talk on everything, with you, again. Por, this is Joong. You must have known him long before I do. He didn't talk much, so I didn't know much about how both of you came to know each other. Mae said you were business partners, and I didn't want to burst her bubbles, so I never corrected her, even though I knew, that was too far fetched. So, you need to wake up and tell me how did you two meet, alright? Besides, Mae seemed to immediately like him, this is dangerous for me, Por, I would be sideline and there'll be no one to back me up, if this continues", I said and squeezed my father's hand tight.

"Underground fight club. That's where we met, Jay", my hold on my father's hand slacken. I turned and looked at Joong. "He was a bookie, and I just fought. Didn't need the money anyway, it was just to lose some truckload of anger. The gym was too tame, you kicked and punched around with too many protections. Not satisfying enough, when all you want to feel was pain and to hurt someone else too. So, maybe Jay...your mother wasn't that delusional, just that the type of business was not one that one's ventured out in the open", Joong suddenly said with a bitter smile. 

"Hello Khun Dum. Usually, I came here and stayed quiet. Maybe you didn't even realize I was here all those time. I didn't know what to say to you, nor to your son, who didn't know, that I had kept watch over him, in all these years; watching him survived the critical stage, making progress, getting back to being healthy, graduated and now work together beside me. Maybe, it did start off as a major guilty conscience; but now...he is my brother. And that, maybe, could only remain so, only till this moment that I said this to you. But, that's alright. He should know truth, whether it's now or later, the end would still come...so, I will tell him everything, Khun. I will give this as a final present, from me to your family. Even if I am cursed, it's alright. If you wanted to curse me too, then you need to wake up and tell me to not spew shit again. You could also punch me a lot, Jayadee said he would do it for you. After you are satisfied, then maybe...you could forgive me; forgive me for mocking without knowing your hardships, for not listening, and for not doing good...until it's a little too late...".

My head was spinning. Joong had been following me as long as that? That therapy sessions, that medical care, that scholarship, that work interview...everything? I thought it was because of my family's condition; that my mother was considered as a single parent, that so many things were covered by some funding from charitable foundations. I looked at him, but almost felt liked I was looking at a stranger. Someone who spun everything, making it seemed liked a seamless, continuous gift from God, but was actually, a masterfully-crafted reality. 

I was confused, but could also feel a simmering anger too. Joong didn't fight back when I punched him hard, his face turned to the side, lips cracked and bleeding, feet staggering and he fell down to the floor.  At the same moment, my mother came in, and shouted to stop me from taking another punch, "Stop it, Jayadee! What is this, that you had done!", my mother went down and blocked Joong from my view. She immediately turned and wiped the blood that smeared on the side of his lips. 

I couldn't hold my feelings anymore..."Get out, Joong, before I lose it again...". Joong gently pushed my mother's hand away and stood up. He went to the bed and held my father's hand. "I wish you would get well, wake up and see how strong your son had become now. Forgive me again. Happy Birthday". With a respectful bow, to both my father and mother, he left the room. My mother was crying at the side, confused and a tad angry with me too. I went and gave her a tight hug for comfort.

We were too lost in the moment to see, that Por's hand that was held by Joong just now, suddenly started to move, and tears had dropped from the side of his eyes.