vegas || pete
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*sentences in bold letters are southern thai language, different from central thai language.20900Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA3er5Z4Ws
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VEGAS
(6 MONTHS LATER]
I hadn't been comfortable with Pete's strange behavior for the past few days. He looked unusually frantic. He walked around in the bedroom. His hands were sometimes rubbing his head, sometimes holding his temples, look like someone was about to go crazy. I didn't know what stressed him out. I asked and he didn't answer. He just shook his head and said it was nothing. It was like he was worried about something that he couldn't tell me. To be honest, I was pretty serious because Pete was everything in my life. I could have noticed that his behavior was unusual even a little bit.
"Pete, what's wrong?"
I saw him sitting there, being distracted. He was holding Venice in one hand, while the other was holding a bottle of milk and stuffing Venice's mouth. That kid was looking at Pete with his innocent eyes as if he was asking the same question as me. What happened with you these days!
"Nothing."
Pete quickly replied and shook his head, before his eyes would glance at Venice and gave him a smile. Honestly, we had been together for several months until Venice could speak. I still didn't get used to that all of Pete's focus right now was concentrated on that kid alone.
Yes! I was jealous with that kid very much because Pete's twenty four hours had given twenty hours to Venice, two hours to himself to sleep, an hour for bathing, playing games, and the rest of the time was mine. I begged him to hire a nanny, but he didn't want to. He asked for raising Venice with his own hands.
Sometimes he followed me to help some business at the company and agreed to leave Venice at The Main Family home and the nanny was Thankhun. Had you seen the future of Venice yet? Not likely to grow up to the quality you expected.
[Vegas has still beef with Thankun, I see 🤣]
"Vegas, give Venice the dinosaur doll."
Pete pointed to the other side of the bed. Then I had to take a deep breath. Messed up my once tidy room with kid's toys! Not only messed up my room but also the white, black, gray, and blue tones that used to rule the theme have now transformed into a colorful Alice in Wonderland theme.
"Let him go and pick it up himself, he has grown up." I said with frustration, but in the end, I was defeated by the pressure of Pete's eyes and went to pick up the silly green dinosaur doll and give it to Venice, who immediately grabbed it.
"Very good, so you can live with Venice like this." I was a bit puzzled by Pete's sparkling eyes. When he saw me just walking and handing the doll to Venice, he looked so excited! How could I take care of that kid!
"What are you talking about, Pete?" I asked, standing up and wondering.
"Well, tomorrow, I'll go back to Chumphon. So Venice don't have to go with me." Pete gave me a dry smile.
And here's another problem that I'm quite puzzled about. How often he told me that he didn't want me to go back home with him. After the day that his grandma called and said that she wanted to meet him, because since going to the funeral and when he was raised from the dead by misunderstanding, they still hadn't had a chance to meet yet. When I heard that, I wanted to go to pay homage to grandma at once because I made a lot of mistakes with her and wanted to ask for forgiveness or talk. Once I met her, it was good for me to feel that the guilt in my heart was somewhat reduced.
"I don't want to let Venice go, but I'll go," I said with a serious expression. Pete was behaving like a man with a secret, or was he hiding someone at his home? Didn't let me know it was true, I would burn down the house for sure!
"And who will Venice be with? Macau will go to the Dharma Camp for five days. He will return at the same time with us going back from Chumphon. That's you, stay with Venice." Pete let Venice down because he squirmed, wanting to crawl on the floor to get his toys on the floor.
"I can live here because this is my house but can he?" I pointed to Venice who was hold a toy car with both hands.
"It's gonna be fine. Why can't you– Venice, Venice?" Pete called Venice, and he turned to Pete with a bright smile and giggled, trying to give the toy in his hand to share with his mother.
"Pa Pete won't be here for a short time. Can Venice stay with Pa Vegas?" Pete asked his child with hopeful eyes. Venice, who seemed to understand what Pete had said, stop smiling immediately and turned to look at me with a puzzled look before.
"Wow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" Shouting and crying loudly through the house.
"Ohh, that's the answer." I said, shaking my head. What made Pete think I could take care of Venice? Just try to let him get close to me without crying first then let's talk about something else later.
"Okay, don't cry. Oh, oh."
Pete got up from the bed, hurriedly went straight to pick up Venice to comfort him. That kid knew his job. When Pete held him, he stopped shouting and began sobbing to call for pity votes to demand attention from my wife.
"So Venice is going to live with uncle Thankhun? Are you ok with it?" And upon hearing that name, Venice reacted as if the world had collapsed again. He made a face as if he couldn't believe his mother would talk to him like that. His mouth was tilted more upside down than before.
"Wow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow!" Venice shouted again.
"Try harder." I said jokingly.
"Oh no, don't cry. Be quiet, oh oh. What should I do?" Pete was still thinking about leaving Venice to someone and he wouldn't let me follow him for sure.
"What secret are you hiding in your house that you don't want to bring your son with you that much? What's wrong? Don't tell me that you hide your wife and kids on that island." I said what I thought.
Since we lived together, I only cared about Pete. I felt that I loved him more and more every day, loved him more than ever. I love him so much that I couldn't imagine how I would live without him in my life. Therefore, there is a feeling of negligence, wanting all matters of importance and demanding everything of him.. How could I think too much like this!
"No! Yeah! Let's all go, let's go, bring the house as well! Nong, Nop. Let's all go." Pete suddenly lost his mind and his head heated up stubbornly. He carried Venice into the bathroom with such anguish that I was too confused!
"What's wrong with him?" I followed him and run through the whole story and found nothing wrong. What's wrong with him?
(THE NEXT DAY)
Nop drove us to Chumphon where we would take a boat to Ko Lea and let Nop rent a hotel nearby. Since yesterday Pete hardly talked to me. But it wasn't because he was angry, it was like he was thinking something in his head. Sometimes he talked to himself. As I walked closer to listen, he walked away. For example, now we were on a private boat hired only for our family. He carried Venice walking around like a mouse caught in trap for a minute and I didn't know if Venice was dizzy because of seasickness or because Pete kept walking around here and there until he was all dizzy.
"Pete, are you okay?" I asked him worriedly and looked at Venice, whose neck kept falling continuously because of sleepiness.
"No!" Pete replied angrily.
"Seat down, Pete! Venice was so dizzy that he was going to passed out. Is he sleepy or dizzy?" I moved for Pete to sit next to me. He laid Venice down by his arms and periodically turns to look at me.
Pete sighed heavily.
"If you have something to say, just say it." I was completely uncomfortable with this situation. I already knew that there was something caused him stressful for days. It was the same thing that he definitely didn't want me to come home with him.
"Vegas, do you love me?" Pete suddenly blurted out, which surprised me quite a lot.
"Yes, I love you."
"Do you love me very much?" Then the question that was more heartbreaking than the waves of the sea now kept pouring in.
"Very, very much," I emphasized.
"So, what can stop you from loving me?"
"Nothing." I said as I thought. Even though now I didn't understand anything.
"Okay, can you promise me no matter what happens on the island that you still love me so much?"
"Pete, you better tell me."
Pete soothed Venice. His face turned out of the ship to look at the waves, looking at the wind as if trying to gather some courage.
"Come on! Sooner or later, it is going to happen, Pete!" He said to himself again and sighed every ten minutes.
Pete's actions caused me not to refrain from worry too much. He really blew my mind. Even now we didn't talk to each other anymore. I didn't urge or ask for an answer, but I looked at every expression and action of him with concern.
"What is that?"
I, who was looking blankly at the sea and the sky, lost in my mind, suddenly stumbled upon a large rock with a large white banner with a beautifully handwritten message saying...
"Welcome Home, Pete Phongsakorn"
I read out loud then quickly turned to look at Pete, who was pale and unable to sit anymore.
"So what's that!"
"We're almost there." The boatman shouted loudly, causing Pete to look like he wanted to die right away. He wiped his sweat carelessly even though the cool sea breeze that hit my face calmed all the hustle and bustle of my mind, but made the life philosopher Pete almost mad.
"Hey! Peteeeee!"
The closer to the shore, the more sound of the drums, the music and the crowds grow louder and louder. I walked to the mast, grasp it as lean out to looked out.
"I told you not to play big!" Pete picked up the inhaler and filled his lungs.
"Welcome home! Nong Pete, the handsome man of the island, back to Grandma Jui and Grandpa Noi's embrace."
I read the large message from the shore that was held by dozens of people waving around. Almost ten meters because the letters were so prominent that they hit the eyes. Honestly, if I was just looking at it from the middle of the sea just now, I'd probably see this banner faintly as well.
Dae Dae Dae Dae The long drum sound beat each other unceasingly. The closer the boat got to the shore, the louder the villagers' voices became. No matter how dazed I was, I was able to catch the beginning of the whole story right. I walked over to pick up our big luggage that we had packed together and turned around to rub Pete's head and laughed. Now he didn't dare to face me.
"Here we are. Let's go." I grabbed Pete to get up. My voice rang out with joy. It was so loud that Venice began to wake up.
"I told you that you don't have to come." Pete said in an irritable voice. His face was about to cry impatiently.
"I don't see any problem." I said, rubbing his shoulder to comfort him.
"Come down quickly, little Pete! Grandma miss my sweetheart to dead! Whose child are you carrying? Said an elderly woman dressed in a beautiful panung (sarong). She waded through the water and approached Pete with joy.
"Oh my God! Grandma's beloved grandson has come back. Thought that if he died unnaturally, he would forget the house number back to the island." The Southern language that I only understood few words was spitting out non-stop. Venice looked at the crowd but didn't cry, just had a shocked expression.
"Grandma! Did you say that you won't play big? How about those banners?" Pete spoke the Southern language back and looked at the crowd with those banners in despair.
"You haven't gone back home for a year. I have to hold a big event that be worthy of my position."
From what I could understand, what couldn't understand. I was able to summarize that this woman was Pete's grandmother for sure. What a surprise! I thought she was an ordinary old woman, but she still looked agile, still looked well-organized, looked strong and healthy, and most importantly, looked stylish with puffy hair, full makeup, and wearing a gold necklace, the kind that if there was sunlight reflected on Grandma's neck, it would hurts one's eyes.
"Hello." I tried to smile brightly to greet Pete's grandmother, who was supposed to be named Jui because I had just read it from the banner, in a friendly manner.
"So, why do you bring someone here? Friend? Go ashore first. Hey! Let's help carry stuffs quickly!" Grandma waved her hand to call someone from the shore to help me carry our luggage.
"What are these! Why are there so many?"
As soon as we reached the shore, aunts and uncles came to put garlands of Soi Kluai Mai on Pete's neck. Moreover, there were some kind people giving me the garlands. I could only smile dryly, but Pete stood in front of me.
"No, it's not necessary. Just give it to me!"
"Whose child are you carrying? Huh? Oh my God! He's so adorable. Don't tell me that you made a girl get pregnant." Grandma Hui pulled Venice into her arms, although he didn't open his mouth to cry, but his body was stiff, his mouth began to tilt slightly and kept staring at Pete with sad eyes.
"Er baby! Baby!" Pete started to panic. "My friend's son!" Pete gave me a remorseful look.
"And who is this guy? Very handsome! Your friend?" Grandma Jui came closer to examine my body from head to toe. I started to understand why Venice was so tensed up now. Because now I was tensed too.
"Oh! Oh! Why is it big like this Grandma?" Pete tried to change the subject. I didn't have any regrets at all. Because if Pete told now that I was his husband and Venice was his child, the whole island would be shocked to death for sure!
"This has been done in a hurry. You told me just a few days ago that you're going to go home and I can't prepare for the whole thing in time."
I looked at the decoration on the island. Actually, I had expected it to be quiet and take the opportunity Pete came to visit Grandma to rest. But not at all, the beach front was lined with four to five tents. There was a small stage with musical instruments and a large amplifier, decorated with colorful paper flowers, paper triangles, rainbows. Then I saw colorful light bulbs tied to the poles, some along the trees. I thought this night should be more than this.
"Are you a celebrity on the island?" I whispered to Pete softly, wanting to make fun of him, but seeing his face look like going to cry, I felt pity.
"I'm sorry, Vegas." Pete made a guilty face.
"I thought you were a politician visiting the island. How great it is!"
"I'll hold a new one for you later. Take your stuff home first. Let's sit and find rice and fish to eat." Grandma Jui carried Venice in her arms. She shouted and pointed her finger at the villagers who came to pick our stuff up as well. Venice didn't take his eyes off Pete as if he was crying for help but unable to speak.
"Is that Pete's child? Have had wife and child already?"
"His friend's son. He said that his friend's son. Come on, Pete! Grandpa is picking coconut. Go back home to see your Grandpa quickly!!"
Pete walked with his head down, didn't dare to turn around and look at me. As for me, I admitted that I was awkward, but it was just I was not attracted to anything that new, anything that I had never ever met.
We walked a little from front of the island to reached Pete's house. Being as big as a celebrity on the island, I understood very well that the house was more magnificent than the other houses in this area. I forgot that he used to be the head bodyguard for the eldest son of The Main Family. The salary was probably quite a lot. He must have sent money to take care of his grandparents to made their life comfortable. Because Pete's house was a white building with blue roof, one-store, emphasizing the width not the height. There was an area around the fence for planting various plants. There were long tables lined up outdoors to dry all kinds of fish, shrimps and aquatic animals. As for the other houses, some were made of wooden, some are made of cement, but did not take up much space and were not decorated like Pete's house.
"Come in first. Grandpa Noi! Grandson has arrived! Why are you still on the coconut tree? Really for some damn coconut! I've told you to buy it at the market but you don't listen to me. Old enough to enter the coffin and still climb a coconut tree. Sooner or later, you'll fall down and get hurt." Grandmother Hui's voice still rang out non-stop. She kept complaining about her stuffs, complaining about Pete, complaining about Grandpa. I had never sympathized with Venice but today, I felt pity for him. By this time, his ears must be all ringing. At home, no one yelled at him. We lived together in peace. The situation in this time was quite a shock.
"Come here, baby!" Pete couldn't stand seeing Venice suffering. He went to grab and hold him as before. Venice looked relieved and immediately threw himself into Pete's embrace.
"So cute! Is that friend's child? Is that his father?"
"Uhm." He turned to look at me and nodded.
"And his mother doesn't come along?" Pete made a hesitant face before his Grandpa walked out from the back of the house and dragged two bunches of coconuts.
"Hello, Grandpa. Why do you get a lot of coconut?" Pete flew towards his Grandpa who looked calm but smiled and looked at Venice affectionately. And before Grandpa would open his mouth to greet Pete, Grandma Jui began to speak again.
"Grandpa Noi! Pete brought a friend and a friend's son with him. That guy is really handsome." When Grandma Jui pointed at me, I immediately wai Grandpa.
"And this is his son. So cute. Right Grandpa?" Pete's Grandpa nodded as he patted his grandson's shoulder twice, then quietly dragged the coconut along with the machete then sat down and peeled it. Pete's Grandpa looked calm and quiet, but I could understand the reason because Grandma Jui had said everything! Nothing left to say.
"Go into your room. There is nothing to do until evening. Let's wait to eat dinner at the party. Take a shower and get ready." Grandma pushed Pete and me into his bedroom and dragged the bags then arranged them on the chair in the room.
"Get ready for the party tonight."
"Phi Jui! The green curry is done! Should I take it out of the cooker?" Someone shouted from the front of the house.
"Take it out. I'll go and see for myself in a moment!" Grandma Jui walked out of the room in a hurry. As soon as the door closed, I and Pete sighed out at the same time. I sat down against the leg of the bed with Pete laying Venice next to me.
There wasn't even a sound of talking. There wasn't even a move from me and Venice. The two of us just sat motionlessly. Grandma Jui was really good at doing that. Venice was very calm. Usually, he was naughty. Laying him on the floor or on the bed, he crawled around, looking for this and that. But now there wasn't even any movement at all.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?" Pete adjusted the air conditioner temperature lower than before. I hoped that the cold air would ease some of this turmoil and confusion.
"Still okay." I said in a low voice, looking straight at the wall so blurry that my eyes couldn't focus on one point.
"Be patient, Vegas! Be patient, Venice! It's just the intro, after this will be the real deal!" Pete sits down on my lap and puts my head into his neck, firmly snuggled into his chest. "Only two days, two days."
"Don't overthink it." I wrapped my arms around his waist and rubbed his back lightly. Venice was now pushing his face onto the bed and preparing to sleep again.
The sound of the door opening made Pete startled. He flew away from me almost immediately. Grandma Jui appeared with a smile and started rapping again.
"Forgot to ask. Can you sleep together or Grandma prepare a guest room?"
"We're fine. We can sleep together."
"Or you go to sleep with me and Grandpa. Leave this room for your friend and his child."
"We're fine. You can get out." Pete tried to push Grandma Jui out again. This time, he locked the door carefully. I and him let out a sigh of relief together again.
"Is it ok if I don't to go to the dinner?" I laid on the bed tired.
"Sorry but if you don't go, Grandma Jui will come here and follow you until you go." Pete said in weak, and the three of us laid on the bed, both physically and mentally exhausted.
We were able to rest our eyes for almost two hours. Pete woke up to prepared milk for Venice then took a shower and changed clothes to go to battle with the applause and the loud noise outside. The audio and music started to get loud an hour ago. It took me a long time to get out of this room.
"The Welcome Back party is even bigger than my school's party," I teased Pete as I walked along the shore in mourning.
"Be patient, even though Venice must be strong."
"Venice is all terrified from the very moment you see him floating around."
"No, Venice, no! You have to fight, son." Pete hugged Venice tightly and kissed his left cheek to send encouragement to him.
When I got to the fire camp, lights were glittering all over the island, the chattering sound was so loud that it was incomprehensible. Nearly fifty people sat gathered around a round table that had more than thirty sets of dishes. There were bands and singers up to sing in Southern languages with fun.
"Pete, come to pay homage to Grandma Jiu quickly! You are handsome as usual. I haven't seen you for years." Grandma Jui dragged Pete to one of his relatives. I followed along with them.
"Whose child is this P'Jui?"
"Child of Pete's friend" Grandma Jui pointed at me and I raised my hands to pay homage to Pete's relatives on the table.
"It's time, Pete. Have you had a wife yet? Grandma Jui might die some day. Hurry up to have grandchildren for her to carry."
"Er. Haven't bring his wife home yet." Grandma Jui turned to look at Pete, who now seemed to have his soul left his body.
"Oh! Not yet? P'Jui said that he had worked very hard. Do you remember NongNui? NongNui is my husband's niece. Remember her? You were play together when you were young" I glanced over to look at a slim teenage girl, dressed up nicely, kept twisting her body and smiling shyly.
"I don't remember" Pete quickly shook his head.
"Now she has grown up to be a beautiful girl. Let's get to know each other." Pete glanced at me with concern. I didn't know how my face expression look like now, but I stared at the woman named Nui relentlessly until she turned to look at me with horror.
"I'm hungry, let's go eat first." Pete quickly cut the conversation and looked for a table with vacant seats. One hand held Venice, the other pulled the hem of my shirt to follow him.
"The front table, walk over there, Grandma has prepared it for you." I followed him and sat at the round table with Grandpa Noi sitting first. The food was well-arranged. All of them are Southern food that would please Pete very much. But I couldn't seem to eat anything.
"Eat it. They are all very delicious, each one of Pete's favorites, shrimp-paste sauce, khua kling, Riang leaves, khao yam. Eat." Grandma Jui put this and that on my plate until I thought it was a monk's alms-bowl that mixed up everything.
"You definitely can't eat them." Pete looked at the food while making a thoughtful face. He was right. I just sat and ditched the food on the plate with reverence.
"Oh my god, why you can't eat it? Try it. If you go to Chumphon, without eating southern food, it's like you've never arrived yet. Grandma waked up at 2 am. Sits and pounded the curry paste herself. All my hands hurt."
"Just try a little bit." I said and scooped a small piece of Khua Kling. I didn't want Pete to be awkward because this was Grandma's intention.
"No, no, no! You can't eat it, Vegas." Pete tried to hold my wrist so I couldn't put the spoon in my mouth.
"Come on Pete. I can eat. I can't be discouraged Grandma," I whispered to Pete in a low voice. Pete made a sad face and let go of my wrist. So I picked it up and slowly put it in my mouth. And when I started to chew, the smell of curry paste got in my nose was quite good, the spiciness at the tip of the tongue caused all my mouth get sting.
"Drink some water." Pete handed me a glass of water.
"Oh my God! Hey son! City slicker eat Southern curry and they're in tear."
"It doesn't taste like what I ate with you in Bangkok," I asked, turning to Pete.
"Well, that chili paste wasn't made authentic. It was mild taste so everyone can eat."
"You didn't tell me."
"From now on I forbid you to eat anything. Here, I leave Venice with you for a bit. Wait a minute, I'll fry some omelets for you." He left Venice to sit on my lap and immediately walked to the back of the party.
"Don't cry, Pete will come back in a minute." Venice raised his head slightly and pouted before turning to look around. He also snuggled up to me. It was a time when the two of us understood each other's feelings very well. And then the focus of all attention was gathered on me. Grandma Jui and Grandma Jiu dragging their chairs to join me on both sides. Then I knew my destiny with countdown in my heart 5 4 3 2 1 Start!
"What is your name?" Asked the Central language as her eyes focused on me from head to toe.
"Vegas."
Damn it! I had talked to many customers and I had never felt this nervous before. Why did I have to be nervous? It felt like I was going to be interviewed on the front page of a newspaper that being read by people all over the country. I didn't know what to do, so I pulled Venice into a tight hug.
"Ve... Ve... Ve... what? Gas? Is it right son? Gas?" Grandma Jiu looked confused.
"Vegas, name of a city." I smile dryly. It's true. I had never met anyone who made me feel so intimidated. Uncle Korn still couldn't do it. My body felt tight. Sweat started to seep through my body.
"And what's the little guy's name?" I looked down at Venice on the table who bow down and play with his toys, and didn't think to help me at all.
"Venice."
"Ve what? Nice? Is it Nice? Ohhh! Strange, difficult to call out." Grandma Jui shook her head and waved her hand.
"What are you doing?" I took a deep breath, trying to be as conscious as possible.
"Private business."
"What is your business? How is it? Grandma is confused." Grandma Jiu rested her chin on her hand, listened to me with a serious expression, focusing on me that I was under all the pressure.
"Uh, home business. Logistics, transportation, import, export, something like that." I didn't know how to arrange my words to make them as easy to understand as possible because from the day I was born, no one stare at me and ask personally questions with such determination.
"What kind of products, son?" I couldn't tell the truth. The whole island would be panic again.
"Well, a lot of things, some iron, some metal, some soil."
"Where would you send them to, son?" I blinked at the question, which caused me to get migraines and my brain to be steamed.
"Uh, it depend on who ordered it."
"Oh, yeah, it's a big business." Grandma Jui must had 100 Getting To Know You Questions to ask me non-stop.
"My father's name is Kant. My mother's name is Rin." I didn't understand why they wanted to know, oh!!
"Oh hey! How long have you been friend with Pete? Pete is a bodyguard, isn't he? How can you get to know each other?"
"Oh..." I paused for a moment, how could I answer, why were these questions even more confused than the question in the exam?
"Grandma Jui! Grandma Jiu! Get up quickly." Pete held a plate of omelet rice in front of me and pulled the two of them away.
"I'm asking this guy how can a gentleman like him could be friends with you." Grandma Jui turned around and looked at Pete.
"I know all of that thing. You don't have to ask him." No matter how much Pete tried to hold on, he couldn't resist Grandma Jui and Grandma Jiu.
"How did you get to know each other?"
"Uh..." I looked at Pete for help. When Venice saw Pete, he immediately opened his arms asking Pete to hold him.
"Met by chance. We are friends. Are you satisfied? Get up. Grandpa help me." Pete turned to look at Grandpa that sit still, not sided on anyone, like every word that would come out of his mouth in this life was transfer to Grandma Jui alone.
"You keep saying it. Tell me the truth." Perhaps Grandma Jui stimulated too much or afraid that I couldn't behave properly, Pete had taken a deep breath before introduced me.
"This is the son of Khun Kant, younger brother of Khun Korn Theerapunyakorn. I met him when I was worked as a bodyguard. So he is the boss's nephew. Are you satisfied?" Pete explained for a long time until Grandma Jui and Grandma Jiu got shocked.
"Hello. Then why didn't you tell me Pete? But he's Khun Korn's nephew? Would you like something more? Oh, my God. Jiu! Let's go to get some soft drinks and snacks. Bring some snacks." Then Grandma Jui and Grandma Jiu were busy. So I hurriedly raised my hand to stop them.
"Never mind. It's okay, let's sit down."
"Please accept my apology. We didn't make you welcome at all. Pete, if you tell me that Khun Tân nephew will come, then I can arrange a bigger event."
"Can it be bigger than this?" I said in disbelief. Pete once told me that Uncle Korn had helped people here. So they respected him and had faith in him.
"Go. You've found out. Then get up and go. I'll give Vegas something to eat."
"How can you call Khun Tân nephew like that? You don't have manners at all, I'm sorry on behalf of Pete. I teach him but he didn't remember. Grandma and Grandpa raised him ourselves since he was born. His parents passed away but he was well-brought-up and smart. Send a lot of money back to us. All the people around here are jealous. Grandma Jui raised my grandson very well." Grandma Jui gave a shy smile, and her expression and manner appeared respectful to me immediately. But I didn't want her to be like that.
"Pete's too lucky. His boss is good and still climbs up to be a friend of another boss. The luck had come along with his fate that had been foreseen."
Pete, who couldn't stop his Grandma, just shook his head and held Venice, who was starting to be irritable, looking at the colored paper that used to decorate the poles.
"Foreseen what?" When it was about Pete, I became interested.
"Oh, it's been a long time. Since he just went to work in Bangkok. Grandma was very worried about him. So Grandma went to see the fortune teller. She said that he was talented. He was able to survive. At first it was a bit difficult, but after a while, his merit would attract good luck that would had great power."
Where was that fortune teller? Absolutely exactly! He had great power over everything in the house now. All of us, I, Macau, Venice, and all subordinates, were completely under his feet.
"He is working away from home. You see, take care of Grandma and Grandpa very well. But Grandma is worried about only one thing. It's about him having a wife and having children. You see, he's holding a child. He should be a father of children. Grandma want to hold my greatgrandchildren."
I could only smile dryly and wanted to tell that you had already hold your greatgrandchild. Even though that child was not Pete's real child, but he took care of him like a father.
"Yeah."
"When he was at school, there were many girls had crushed on him. What did happen on Valentine's Day? Brought the house full of flowers, some chocolate, some gifts, all of them! Grandpa told him to accept them. At school he was almost shocked to death! And all the heart stickers! The girls put them on his head, ears and the eyes that were stick together until he was barely able to see the way. He has his charm, right? But I was surprised that he has never brought a girl to meet Grandma."
"Oh... Really?"
"Don't forget to find a wife for him. And Khun Noo Tankhun didn't come with you?"
"Big Brother is busy." I said like that and didn't know if he was free or not. Who cares!
"Talking to Khun Noo Tankhun was enjoyable. He came to talk to Grandma every day. I enjoyed talking to him and felt relieved my loneliness. When I turned to him, he had already fell asleep and snored loudly. He is really cute."
Wow! Did you talk until Tankhun fell asleep? I really respected Grandma Jui. Grandma must be the top Northern people.
"Over there, they're start dancing. Ramwong dance around the mortal. Khun Noo Tankhun likes it very much! Let's go. Grandma will take you to dance with brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. Even though you're Khun Tan nephew."
"Please let me eat first! I'll follow you later." I pointed to a plate of rice then Grandma Jui and Grandma Jiu walked into the middle of the dance hall with a mortar in the middle.
"Huh, are you still okay?" Pete lied down next to me, playing dead again.
"Oh, that's ok. What is that called?" I scooped the omelet rice into my mouth. My eyes turned to look at Ram Wong dance whatever as well.
"Ram Wong dance around mortal of the South. So you want to dance?" Pete's expression got better as he saw me start relaxing.
"No! So why put a mortar in the middle of the circle?"
"There isn't any explanation about that." Pete grinned widely and sighed in relief.
"Oh! I really doubt it."
Even if I was uncomfortable with being with a lot of people, but I tried to blend in Pete's life and what had made him grow up until now.
"Well I don't know. It is set up like that. So people will ask. I think so. Yep! If you don't want to dance, if you don't want to be coerced to dance, just pretend to have a headache and walk home."
Even though he seemed at ease but he was still worrying. I was not surprised why Pete is such a freak and was able to get on well with Big Brother. Because the environment here was entertaining like this. Around 9pm the villagers began to gradually return. I thought this was probably the most peaceful moment so I walked along the dimly lit beach to feel the sea breeze with peace of mind. I wasn't ill at ease, just unfamiliar with having lots of relatives and having fun together. It seemed strange to me and was beyond my expectation very much.
While waiting for Pete to showered Venice and put him to bed, I sit down on the sand, released my repressed emotion, let myself relax as much as possible. It was both comfortable and happy at the same time. Sitting here was no different from when I was with Pete, I could understand why he was such a good person with such positive energy because just being at where he was growing up made me feel good.
"Vegas..."
Pete's voice came from behind. So I turned around, smiled and opened one of my arms inviting him to come and sit next to me.
"Venice is asleep?"
"Yeah, he must be tired. It's been a long journey." Pete sat down next to me and put his arms around his neck.
"What's wrong again?" I asked as I stared at the side of him that still hadn't relieve tension yet.
"I'm sorry," Pete said slowly.
"Sorry about?"
"I know, Vegas. You don't like crowded places. You don't like loud noises. You don't like people touching you and bustling with you. I know you're uncomfortable. I know you're in trouble. My relatives are like this. I tried to tell you that you didn't have to come and in the end you came. And my family is playing really big." Said Pete with a contemplative face.
So I used my hand to push his head snuggle on my shoulder. Even though I was afraid that someone would see, but just now I saw them dancing and holding hands joining a round, especially Grandma Jui, I thought she wouldn't have the energy to walk over here.
"You're overthinking everything. I haven't said anything yet."
"I've been stressed for many days. I tried to assure my grandmother that I don't want to have a party. I don't want to had a feast. But how didn’t she listen to me?"
"It's weird if she listens to you. So that you've been weird for many days because of this, right? What are you afraid of Pete? I haven't seen anything yet." I looked down at him slightly. So he bounced his head off my shoulder and made a serious face.
"I'm all scared."
"Scared what?"
"As I said, I am afraid that you will be uncomfortable. I'm afraid that you will be in trouble. I'm afraid that you won't be able to eat here and there. I'm afraid you won't like Grandma, and I'm afraid you won't love me anymore."
I laughed at the thought of my lover. So I moved my hand to gently caress his face and moved my own face closer.
"You listen to me Pete. I can never stop loving you even if this house is more chaotic, even if your house is in the forest and have to go up with a gun with great difficulty, even if I can't eat anything at your house, even if your grandfather or grandmother hates me or any of your relatives is going to do this shit on me. There's no way I can stop loving you. You don't have to worry. I will adjust everything, I will do whatever it takes to be with you. Even if I don't have an omelet today and I have to eat something spicy, I can do it, as long as I have you."
I leaned down and kissed my lover's cheek lightly.
"You're right. I'm all stressed out. Life has never been so difficult and today, it's hard with me here."
"I haven't had any trouble, Pete. Besides, we've only been here for three days. It's not a problem at all. Honestly, Grandma and Grandpa are very nice to me. Your relatives were just curious. They asked like ignorant persons. And the Welcome Home event, although it looks a bit grand, but it's warm and cozy. I admit I'm not used to it. Sometimes I seem awkward because I couldn't keep up with everything. But I don't mind anything related to you."
"Thank you, Vegas."
"Why thank you, I'm the one who must thank you. I'm glad I came to learn, to know where you grew up, and I know that you will raise Venice very well."
"Ugh! I love you Vegas, what affects you? I'm all stressed out."
Pete wrapped his arms around my neck and leaned forward to touched my lips softly.I moved my hand to hug him tightly around his waist. The two of us pressed our lips together. No one thought of turning away. We both let the sky, the water, the wind, and the sound of the waves be the witnesses of our unfailing love this time. Because no matter how difficult it was, the two of us would never be separated from each other.
"What are you doing, what are you doing!"
And it seemed that our witnesses of love were not only nature but also Grandma Jui. How unlucky I was!
Pete and I got down on our knees in front of Grandma Jui and Grandpa Noi on the sofa in the middle of the house. When Pete pushed me away forcefully with his eyes widening, he was totally shocked. If he could run into sea and swim to escaped, he would have done it. But for me, I feel that sooner or later, his grandparents need to know this anyway.
"So tell Grandma what happened, child!" Grandpa Noi put a fan in front of Grandma Jui while holding the inhalers on both sides of her.
"Grandma..." Pete bit his lip tightly. I knew that he didn't know where to start.
"What the hell did the two of you do just now. Tell me!"
"It's me."
"I love Pete."
I decided to say seriously. There wouldn't be any excuses, and accepting the truth was probably the best solution. When I said that, Grandma Jui was a little weaker than before. Pete turned to look at me and shook his head as if he didn't want me to tell.
"I love Pete so much. We've been living together for a while now."
"Tell me. Ve...Vegas." said Grandma Jui in Central tone, and pointed me and Pete.
"Pete is my lover and I am Pete's lover." My tone remained consistent with a face that looked up at the two grandparents sincerely.
"What about bodyguard job?" Grandma turned to ask Pete. Pete took a deep breath and spoke as well.
"I have resigned from The Main Family, Grandma."
"Just go to become his wife like this and then Pete. What do you do, grandchild?"
"I helped Vegas look after home business and raise the child." Pete said in a hushed tone.
"Child? That little one? Ouch! Which hole did he come out of? Pete, you're a man. And Gas... Gas whatever is a man too. Oh... I might be faint again." Grandma Jui sniffed the inhaler heavily through her nose.
"Grandma, I'm sorry..."
"When did you fall in love with each other? What happened? Or have you been forced? Huh! Pete!!" Grandma Jui spoke in Southern tone again. I couldn't understand what she said this time, but when I heard Pete's answer, I let out a smile.
"I love Vegas! And I love him so much!" Pete replied with the same intensity as me.
The face that did not dare to meet his grandparents at first now glanced up and stared with seriousness. Grandpa and Grandma were silent, both looking at me and Pete alternately before sighing deeply.
"You really love him, right?"
"Yes!" Pete replied.
"Grandma and Grandpa know that men and men can love each other. The world is changing faster every day that I can't keep up with, Phi Noi! But it's okay. If you ask me whether I'm upset, yes, for sure. But when Pete have chosen..." Grandma extended her hand to touch Pete's head affectionately. "Whoever Pete love, Grandma love that one too."
"Grandma..." Pete called to Grandma in trembled voice and went straight to hug Grandma's waist tightly.
"Come on, Pete has done a lot for us, Phi Noi. Whatever makes him happy, just let it go."
"Oh, good, grandchild. Grandma and Grandpa don't mind anything." Grandpa rubbed Pete's shoulder and said in a kind voice. I gathered all the courage that I had to bow down at the feet of Grandpa and Grandma with determination, persistence, remorse for what I had always done badly to Pete.
"I beg for forgiveness for what I have done wrong to Pete. I will take good care of him from now on." I put my hand over my chest like that until Grandma smiled and nodded at me.
"Hey, Pete! Stop crying! You've got a husband. Behave yourself. Stop crying. What a jerk of you!" Pete kept his head down, cried and buried his head into Grandma's chest like that.
"Nice. Nice. Which hole did he come out of? Grandma is curious. Answer me clearly."
(Please 5555)
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later. But from now on Venice is great-grandson of Grandpa and Grandma."
"Aw, such a cute great-grandson! I'm so crazy about him to death. And bring him to visit me often too, not once a year."
"Yes." Pete and I responded in unison.
"Next time, you should give him a simple name. Nice. Nice what? What a mouthful name? I can't call his name right!"
During the three days that I had been here, Grandpa and Grandma gave us a very warm welcome. They treated me like a grandson and most importantly, they seemed to love Venice very much. Even though there were many questions that bothered both of them, but
I could feel that they both believed in Pete and respected his decision without any doubt. Pete grew up well, surrounded by the love of his grandfather and grandmother. This place was full of comfort in spite of the chaos, but it was so warm and cozy that I first learned the true meaning of family. And no matter what, I would bring Pete and Venice back here often to fulfill their love and we would live happily ever after.
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- End of VEGASPETE SPECIAL CHAPTERS -
