Bas' POV

Truthfully, I wasn't planning to be receptive to whatever P'Tae was going to say to me.

I followed him outside the house where he sat me down on the wooden ledge of the porch.

"Bas," he started.

I tried to put on an attentive expression.

"All the rest of us, not just Godt, are not too happy that you are planning to spend the rest of your vacation apart from us. The goal of our vacation was to have some bonding among us and to give each other some emotional and moral support. You may be the youngest in our group but your presence is very important to us."

I noticed that P'Tae's voice was starting to quiver with emotion and his eyes were starting to glisten.

I was touched by the sincerity of his speech and was starting to waver in my decision to spend the rest of my vacation with Kong.

Kong!!! I forgot that he was one of the reasons that I wanted time off from the rest of the group.

I was about to make some excuse to P'Tae for wanting to stay in Kong 's house when P'Godt walked into the porch.

"Bas," he said, looking intently at me, his lower lip quivering, "I believe it's time for me to be open about how I feel towards you. If I don't tell you now I might lose you forever to Kong."

At that very moment a platter full of cups of tea went crashing to the floor behind us. Kong had been standing behind us and had heard everything that P'Godt had said.

"No, no, no, no, no!!!" he cried, "I have a girlfriend, Bas!"

"What???" I cried in dismay.

"I'm sorry," Kong said softly, bending to pick up the broken cups while P'Godt rushed inside the house to fetch a mop.

I watched as P'Godt mopped up the floor, the muscles in his arms bulging as he made quick work of the mess that Kong had made.

I shook my head in confusion. Why was I getting attracted to P'Godt as well. I needed to go some place to clear my head.

I went back inside the house and approached PKul.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've given you, P'Kul," I said, "I think I should go back to the cottage with the others. Is it okay if I use the smaller cottage behind the vegetable garden?"

I knew all about the mini cottage behind the garden. It was meant to be a secret hideaway for family members only. Visitors were not supposed to know about it. I was thinking of using that as a place to clear my head and my emotions.

"Of course you can use it," P'Kul assured me. "It was built there for you to use."

After I thanked him I went into Kong 's room to fetch my suitcase. When I came out dragging it with one hand, P'Godt approached me.

"Let me carry it for you," P'Godt said, taking it from me.

I turned to give Kong a good bye hug. He was still looking mortified. P'Godt grabbed me.

"Let's go," he said, pulling me down the steps of the porch and leading the way to the narrow trail.

For some reason I felt that I was going back home with him.