Bangkok

Ling. Ling. Ling.

The bell above the door rang as Kongpob stepped inside the little store with Luke right behind him. He looked around, and the place was pretty quiet. There was no one at the register next to the entrance. The soft noise of the TV hanging in the corner above the register can be heard in the background. The store was poorly lit, and the air was stale. There was not another soul in sight.

Kongpob turned right, and walked down the center of the aisle. The snacks on the shelves he had passed by had a visible layer of dust on top. He kept walking until he noticed that his right shoe was sticking to something on the floor. He looked down, and he was not amused when he saw the puddle of dried sticky goo on the floor.

Luke came forward to see what was the matter, but Kongpob waved his hand to let him know it was nothing. Kongpob bent down to see what the heck did he step in, and noticed there was a jar of sauce that was leaking from the bottom shelf.

Kongpob didn't want to walk around leaving his foot prints. He had manners. So, he pulled out his handkerchief to clean the bottom of his shoes. He got up, and straightened his suit jacket. He looked around some more.

Further looking around, the store really looked like it was stuck in time. Everything was outdated like it was still in the 90's. There were old beer ads with retired celebrities on them stuck to the walls. The newest of them all was probably the calendar dated 2006. That's thirteen years ago. That was when his Arthit was only 15 years old.

A little smile broke across Kongpob's face thinking about what Arthit would have looked like back then. He misses his boyfriend. It took everything in him to stop himself from keeping Arthit from getting on that plane. After making coffee for Arthit, he left for work yesterday morning as calm and cool as possible. He sat in his meeting only half listening, and he could barely concentrate all day. He kept checking his watch, counting down to the last second Arthit's flight took off. Sigh. You have to do what you have to do. Just two more days Kongpob. Just two more days.

Kongpob reached the back of the store. There were two freezers in the back along the wall, but they were empty. There was a shelf filled with hand soap, dish detergent, and laundry detergent. All of them looked like they've been around for years with their packaging all turning yellow.

Kongpob wondered how long has this store been in this state. He had seen enough. So he walked back to the front of the store. No one was around. Is that even possible? Do people just leave their business unattended like this? He walked closer to the high counter register, and peered over it. Then he noticed that there was something on the other side moving up and down at a steady pace under a red and white checkered picnic tablecloth.

Kongpob tapped the counter a few times, but nothing happened. He tapped it louder a few more times, and still nothing happened.

"Sir, do you want me to?" Luke asked, pointing at the hidden figure underneath the tablecloth.

Kongpob shook his head. Instead, he grabbed one of the few empty beer bottles off the counter, and threw it on the floor. The bottle caused a loud bang, and smashed into pieces.

The man underneath the tablecloth immediately jumped upon hearing the noise. He looked around confused and dazed. He saw the smashed pieces of glass on the floor before looking at the two men staring at him.

"Who....who..who are you? What do you want?" Nawin asked eyeing Kongpob carefully. He then looked at the man behind Kongpob, and his blood boiled. "I remember you. You mother fucker. What the hell do you guys want?"

Nawin walked around the counter, and pointed to the broken glasses on the ground. "How dare you come here? Is that faggot here too?"

Kongpob smirked, and took a step forward. He put his hands together. "I'm Kongpob Suthilak. This is for giving Arthit life." Kongpob did a wai in respect.

Nawin didn't know what was going on. He frowned, "What the fu...."

Boomp!

Nawin was cut off before he could finish what he wanted to say.

Kongpob shakes his hand to loosen his fist from landing a hard punch across Nawin's jaw. Nawin stumbled back from the impact, and landed on the floor. His hand was cut from the broken glasses on the ground. He shook his head trying to refocus.

"And that's for laying your fucking hands on Arthit." Kongpob dusted his jacket, and took another step closer to Nawin.

Nawin was about to get up when Luke suddenly spoke, "I would stay down if I were you."

Nawin glared at the two men, but stayed down nonetheless. He rubbed his jaw with his bloody hand. "What the fuck do you guys want?"

Kongpob tipped his head, and Luke tossed three photos to Nawin. They bounced off Nawin's chest before landing on the floor.

Nawin picked them up. One was his wedding picture. One was his family portrait from 19 years ago. And the last was a picture of him in his uniform when he was a young police officer. He stared at them for a moment. His hand trembled a bit holding the pictures reminding him who he once was. "Where did you get these? Where's my wife?"

"Wife? Do you still have the right to call her your wife? You almost killed her. How can you hit a woman? And not just any woman, the mother of your children? How were you ever fit to be a cop? You're a pathetic criminal in your own home." Kongpob glared, and spoke with disgust laced in his voice.

"You can't keep her from me. She is my wife." Nawin shouted.

"You were once a respectable man, but look how pathetic you have become. You once had a beautiful family, but look what you've done to it."

"That faggot brought disgrace to our family. He is the reason why our family has fallen apart." Nawin said, dripping with hatred.

Luke swiftly picked Nawin up by his shirt, and slammed him against a shelf causing all it's contents to fall all over the ground.

"If you dare to call Arthit that one more time, I will see to it that you will never speak again. Don't blame him for your despicable acts. You know very well who broke this family." Kongpob warned.

Luke tossed Nawin back on the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"Ouuu....fuck. What the hell do you want from me?" Nawin grabbed his now bleeding elbow.

"Believe it or not. I'm here to show you mercy. You are lucky I believe in happy endings, and second chances. Your wife does not deserve the husband that she has. Your children do not deserve the father that you are. Our society does not need a scumbag like you. But here is your chance to change."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Nawin asked.

Kongpob took a step closer, and Nawin scooted back further trying to not let his fear show. Just when Kongpob was about to speak, the sound of the door bell rung.

Ling. Ling. Ling.

"Help!" Nawin shouted seeing his son step through the door.

"Dad!" A man quickly ran to his father's side.

"Who are you? What do you want? How much does he owe you?" Kohl asked trying to cover his father.

"Hmm....so you must be Kohl Ronajpat. I guess I can see the resemblance between you and Arthit." Kongpob tilted his head eyeing Kohl.

"Who are you? How do you know me?" Kohl asked again.

"I'm Kongpob Suthilak, and I'm here to give your father a chance for redemption. Here's my card."

Kongpob pulled out his personal card for Kohl. Kohl warily takes it without breaking eye contact, but then looked away to quickly scan the given card.

"What do you want with my father? If he owes you money, I will try to repay you. Please just give me some time." Kohl said cautiously. If this was another creditor, he didn't want to get on their bad side.

"Arthit sent him. He has your mother and sister." Nawin told his son.

Kohl scowled, trying to make sense of the situation. "My brother sent you?"

"I do not have your mother and sister held captive, and Arthit did not send me. I came on my own accord. I need to make sure that your father doesn't come near him, his sister, or his mother again until he changes. None of them deserves to be terrorized and tortured this way because he fucked up his own life."

"So what do you plan to do?" Kohl asked, looking between Kongpob and Luke suspiciously.

"Your father needs to quit drinking, and get his act together. Despite the hell he has put your mother through, she still loves him. I'm offering to put your dad through rehab and anger management in Japan. Your mother has agreed to see your father again only if he changes. The call is his. You have my number. You have exactly one week to decide. If you do not take my offer, don't dare to come near them again. No further warning will be given. I'm not always this generous and lenient."

Kongpob stretched his neck side to side, and straightened his jacket before turning around to leave with Luke following behind him.

"Who are you to my brother?" Kohl asked before Kongpob could leave.

"I'm his boyfriend of course." Kongpob said with a smile that Kohl can't see, and stepped out of the dingy store.

*** Kohl ***

Kohl looked around the mess the store was in. He took a deep breath, and slumped his shoulders in defeat.

"Kohl, you've got to help me get your mother back." Nawin said as he got off the ground, and grabbed his son's arm.

"Get off me! Just leave them alone! I can't let you hurt my mother anymore." Kohl yelled, pushing his father away from him.

"Kohl, I promise I won't do it again. Just bring her back. Your mother loves me. They are just keeping her from me. You know that!"

"No! Didn't you hear the man? She doesn't want to see you until you've changed. How many times have you promised to quit drinking? It's not even 11 yet, and I can smell the alcohol on you. I'm working two jobs to support you and this place. But what do you do? You drink it all away. I'm done dad. I'm done."

"I only had a few beers. It was nothing strong. I'm fine. See?" Nawin stood straight, and tried to look his son in the eyes.

Kohl stared back into his father's bloodshot eyes. Then he looked at his father's unkempt hair, overgrown stubs, and raggedy clothes. It was only then that he noticed his father's hands were bleeding. Kohl sighed, and went behind the counter to get the first aid kit. He has seen his father much worse when creditors came knocking. Only recently had he been able to pay them off.

"Come over, and sit." Kohl ordered

Nawin did as told. Kohl was all he had left. He can't imagine what would happen if Kohl gave up on him too.

Kohl took out some antiseptics to clean Nawin's cuts, and then carefully bandaged over them without saying a word. The silence was scaring Nawin.

"Son, you're all I've got. You have to help me. I'm sorry. You know I never wanted any of this. We were happy before. Help me get your mother and sister back, and we can be happy again." Nawin pleaded.

"What about Arthit! Mother will never be happy without him. You broke us! All of us!" Kohl shouted in rage.

"He is a disgrace to the family!"

"No! You are the disgrace! So what if he is gay! He is still my brother! He is still your son!" Kohl threw the first aid kit on the floor.

"Stop blaming others for your mistakes. Stop being a coward. Face your life instead of drowning it in a bottle. I can't go on like this. I'm done." Kohl turned around to leave. He needed some air.

Nawin grabbed his son's arm, and got on knees to keep him from leaving. "Please son. I'm sorry. I know I'm a terrible father. Just give me a chance. I promise this time I will change. I never wanted to be like this." Nawin sunk to the floor with tears streaming down his face.

Kohl pulled his arm free from his father, and walked out the door.

~~~~~~

Tokyo

Sora sat in the middle of a cozy Thai restaurant. It's the best one he knows in Tokyo. He is nursing his second drink of the night. He tapped his finger in the little puddle of sweat ring around his cup. He wasn't really paying attention to anything around him other than the door. He has been staring at it for the past hour.

He picked up his drink for another sip, and suddenly the door opened. He immediately got up from his seat as the man approached him.

"Hi!"

~~~~~~
AN: Sweets, sorry for the late update. I don't know when is Wattpad's notification issue going to be fixed. I will just go ahead with my updates. I hope you guys won't miss it though. 😅

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Don't kill me. 😬