Brute

Part 41

Joong

After the night of the fight, I never again went to the hospice, nor visit Mae, or called for Jay. It was better that I left, before I once again brought mayhem to the family. But, yesterday, I received a call from Jay, saying that his father wanted to see me, after a month of discharge from the hospice. My head stay low, sitting in front of Khun Dum and Mae. Jay who sat beside me, was waiting for his father to start too.

"Raise your head, Archen. Why do you put yourself in such guilty position, when you were never in the wrong?", the direct words of Khun Dum, made me raised my head, and looked at him in confusion. Mae looked at both of us in confusion too. Jay just took a heavy breath, as he knew  the basic of what happened, but not the full picture of it, "I wanted my family to know, the truth that led to all of this, so that there'll be no more past to chain us in a mess, after this. Jay must have known, but honey, Archen and I were never business partners", Mae's eyes widened, but she kept quiet to let her husband continued, "he is the son of a very wealthy family, I met him through my friend who own the gym where he frequented and taught him to fight too. He didn't know about that connection at all. He was asking for a real fight; I didn't know why, but all my friend said was that there's so much anger in his kick and punches, it didn't suit him to just stay in the training ring. My friend knew some people, but he didn't want to be involved into that world, as he had business to think about, and he knew that I was in dire need of money, since the loan I made with him, was also not paid for months. That's how I became a bookie, and Archen just want to punch people".

"You...gambled? Our son's medical coverage, that you said came from business ventures, was coming from that money?", Mae said, with a hallow voice. Khun Dum just nodded. 

"There's nothing that I won't do, for our son to have a chance to live. My method was definitely wrong, but I justified my wrongful act, whenever he got the chance to breathe for another day...". Mae covered her face with both hands, and I could hear a suppressed sob coming from her. 

"Khun...no more. It's alright, don't hurt your family anymore...", I tried to stop whatever was coming ahead, but Khun Dum just shook his head and continued. 

"I pushed Archen into fight after fight. The more winning he got, the higher the stake for the next battle. His name became sought after in that circle, full house in every places, higher bookings and hard cash, flew in. Archen didn't take a cent from any winnings. It's all, solely given to me, and I used them only for a better medical care for Jayadee. When he started to feel at the peak of such fights, he didn't seek the thrill anymore, and told me that he would only do it in his own time".

"No. Not just that...I told Khun that he shouldn't have gambled all the money away. In my mind, such big amount of money, lost in such a short time, the only reason was gambling. I didn't even feel pity for him, more liked disgusted by people who didn't know when to stop", I said quietly, and turned to Jay, "Even when your father texted me on the night of the supposed fight, I ignored it, to put him in his place, not letting some leech to dictate my life...that's how I thought of him, and that was the reason, he ended up in bed for all these years". 

"Archen, stop telling it from a self-blame point of view. Jayadee, it's not the whole truth. He never took advantage, nor treat me wrong in all the time we knew each other. I was the one who used him, for a personal sake, he was just an angry youth, wanting an outlet to vent. He never knew where or how I spent all that money, nor I ever told him about our family. Whenever I saw all the injuries he sustained in those fights, I wanted to stop, wanted to hug him and apologize. But then, looking at my own son that was sick, I became selfish, and again, put my son first and left the other one to be the punching bag. So, even if he looked down on me; or saying something harsh, it was no more than what I deserved, for using him carelessly, first...".

Mae was sobbing hard, she couldn't even suppress the sorrow anymore, and came forward to hug me, while saying sorry for all that her family had put me through and went into her room to grieve alone. Jay was clenching his hands together so tight, to keep them from shaking badly. Though he said nothing, knowing him, I could tell that he must be thinking that he was the reason for all of that to happen. I reached out and held his fist to stop the shaking, and also to calm him down. Khun Dum released a heavy sigh; moved and kneeled in front of me, that caused me to be surprised and went down from the sofa, kneeling in front of him too, asking him to stand, but he refused. Jay was on the floor too; didn't say a word; but just hold his Por hand. His eyes were watery, but for his father's sake, he kept them from falling down.   

"Archen, forgive this old man who was selfish and put his son's life first and failed to treat you as another human who felt pain too". 

"Jayadee...", I called suddenly, causing Jay to wipe his damp eyes and looked up at me, "you asked me before, how could I redeem that one life debt from you...".

"No, Archen! My son, was never in the know until now, it is my decision alone...so don't put the hate on him for what I did", Khun Dum was nervous, but Jay just shook his head at his father and took a deep breath, nodded to hear my request. 

I took Por's hands in mine, "Khun, although you said you did it for a selfish reason, if only I could have one percent of that kind of love from my own father, I might feel a bit of love back towards him, but he never did, even till his last breath, I am only flesh and body, but never a son. You used to rub the balm and put the bandage on me, after every fight, while nagging me about taking better care of my body to not overindulge. I never say thank you, but actually, in that brief moment, I felt liked someone did care for me. It's understandable, to love a son more, but you must have felt a huge guilt towards me too. So, rather than give forgiveness, could I ask a huge favor instead?". Khun Dum nodded, but looked questioningly to what kind of favor it was. 

"This might be awkward, but I really want to be with a family that love each other this much, since I never have one that functioned right. So, could I be a part of your family too?". Khun Dum's eyes dampened, but he was smiling and moved to embrace me tight, nodding his head in agreement too, "Yes, Archen, definitely...then, called me Por from now on...ah, I need to call your mother...". 

"So...Jay...", I said when Por released his hold on me, to call for his wife to be with us, "I redeem that from you, sorry, but from now on, you are no longer an only son. You have to share your parent's love...with a brother", I said while smiling triumphantly at Jay, who snorted in annoyance, knowing that he would be in trouble now, because he couldn't kick my butt so easily, anymore.