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Perspective - Third Person
"...Therefore, I do not trust anyone, but I think I want to try trusting you."
As soon as this sentence comes out of Tinn's mouth, the listener is left stunned, eyes wide open in disbelief as he gazes at the person in front of him. Silence envelops both of them, broken only by the sound of a few passing cars. For Khaen, the expression on the face of someone he deeply hates appears... pitiable. He does not know why he feels pity, but the look in Tinn's eyes makes him feel as if he sees little Ai'Gucci once again.
Lonely. Sad. Wanting someone to take care of him.
The look that once made him bring a temple dog home and then hide it from his mother for fear she would not allow him to keep it. This feeling is returning to him, along with the thought that Tinn... might not be as bad a person as he initially believed. Therefore, Kirakorn speaks in an awkward, stammering voice.
"Tinn, I... I apologize. I did not mean you. Before this, you were really terrible, huh? Then suddenly, you say everything that happened was because of your family. Um... so about what I said earlier... I, um... I apologize." The speaker waves his hands in a flurry, going from being eloquent to being at a loss for words, fearing that he might hurt the person in front of him again.
His serious concern, despite having just insulted him to the core, makes the pitiable person... smirk.
"You think I would say something like this, huh?"
Gulp.
"Huh...? What!?"
Khaen freezes, his hands still mid-motion, waving as part of his gesture. He turns to look, confused, while his heart skips a beat at the mocking smile thrown at him. Then the slow-witted one starts to understand something when Tinn continues.
"Heh. Just a few words, and you believe me? You're an endless nitwit."
Grab.
"Fucking shit-lizard Tinn, you tricked me!!!"
Khaen grabs Tinn's collar and holds it tightly. His face flushes with embarrassment as blood rushes to it. He cannot believe he has fallen for this jerk's words again. He had told himself to stay firm.
Why am I so gullible like this?!
Once again, he just...
"Well, why be a nitwit and believe me?" Tinn's grin only heightens Khaen's anger, sending it skyrocketing.
The hand gripping Tinn's collar tightens and shakes with rage. Instead of throwing a punch like he has done so many times before—
Shove!
"Don't come near me again. If you do, I'll stomp you into the ground!" Khaen shoves Tinn's chest hard and says no more.
He spins around, walking away without sparing a glance at the loser, not even for a second. The feeling of pity vanishes, replaced by a growing sense of resentment.
I won't trust this demon-kin again. Not a single word. Mark my words!
Khaen walks briskly, turning towards the main road, while the sly one still stands there, leaning against his car for a moment before finally moving. As soon as the car door closes...
Sigh.
How could I tell him all that?
Tinn's sharp features collapse onto the steering wheel, drained. His hands, once tightly clenched, drop limply to his sides. Because everything he had claimed to be a lie... was actually the truth.
Tinn truly doesn't know how he ended up blurting everything out to him. He truly doesn't know why the words flowed so easily. He truly doesn't know why a small fragment of his heart felt an unexpected warmth when Khaen-ta-lup showed concern.
However, it was that very behavior that made someone like him realize just how pitiful he was acting.
Don't act weak. Don't be pathetic. Don't let anyone pity you.
Therefore, this secret must stay buried deep within his heart. Yes, better to be that disgraceful wretch than to be pitied in anyone's eyes.
~~~
The Metthanun mansion today is a twin mansion on nearly ten rai of land (~ 3.95 acres). The mansion itself is Mediterranean-style, focusing on simplicity but with class, surrounded by a large garden maintained by dozens of workers. In front of the mansion stands a large fountain in the center between the two homes.
It's a luxury that everyone covets, but not for the second heir, who looks at it with cold eyes as he steps out of the car. Then the young man walks straight through the grand central hall of the house, heading up to his bedroom, ignoring the greetings of many workers. However, a lively laugh from another direction makes his steps halt. A laugh that this mansion rarely hears, revealing that...
His feet change direction immediately. Soon, he stops at the doorway leading to the garden lounge, where he sees... the family of the person he despises more than anyone—his very own brother, Tul Metthanun.
A young man of Thai-English descent, known as a genius who achieved great success while still in university. After only a few years in a managerial position, at just 26 years old, he has gained the trust of both Thai and foreign investors. He is the pride and joy of the family. By his side stands a young woman from an aristocratic family, adding even more prestige.
His brother is too perfect. A devil disguised as a perfect gentleman.
Tinn clenches his fists tightly as he watches his brother laugh as though brimming with happiness, though his eyes never truly reflect any joy.
"Uncle Tinn!" But then, his thoughts are interrupted by a small voice calling him, accompanied by a chubby finger pointing in his direction.
"Oh! Nong Tinn, when did you get back? Come inside," P'Wadi, the woman who holds the title of sister-in-law, greets him with a sweet smile, to which Tinn only offers a brief reply.
"Hello. When did you get back from France?"
"Just the other day. This little one's been fussy because he misses his father."
The young woman leans down to kiss the chubby-cheeked boy sitting on his father's lap. However, when she looks up and meets her husband's gaze, she freezes slightly before covering it with a smile.
As if Tinn doesn't notice.
They act like their family is so perfect, but how could I not know that the two of them are having problems?
"Mm-hmm! Phu missed Daddy," little Phupha, just over three years old, giggles innocently while his father lovingly pats his tousled head.
"Daddy missed Nong Phu too."
"And what about Grandpa and Grandma?" Tinn's mother asks, focusing all her attention on her grandson by marriage, not her own son by blood.
"I miss them. I miss Daddy, Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Tinn too. I miss everyone!" The boy with light brown hair speaks sweetly, making a circle with his hands as he hugs his father tightly.
"Well, I was going to ask—why didn't Tul go with you on the trip?"
"Wadi visited a friend for almost a month, so I couldn't go with her. Besides, I can't just leave work here so easily," Tul replies with a polite smile, his eyes looking at his stepmother with affection, as if she were his real mother.
However the younger brother, who has heard the truth straight from his brother's mouth, how can he not know?
I hate that woman just as much as I hate her child.
You're quite the actor, aren't you, brother? Tinn thinks to himself.
Thud.
Tinn merely makes a quiet remark, causing his family members to turn and look at him.
"What did you say, Tinn?"
"Nothing, Father. If you don't mind, I'll excuse myself now," he replies immediately, shaking his head. He offers a polite smile to the family before his gaze lands on his older brother.
"Do you want to join us for dinner tonight? I plan to go out," his brother continues to play the role of the ever-perfect elder sibling.
Tinn, however, sneers inwardly. "No thanks. I'm afraid I won't be able to eat," he replies.
After finishing his statement, Tinn turns and walks out of the picture-perfect family scene without a second glance. Yet, he still hears his real mother speaking to his older half-brother.
"Don't take it to heart, Tul. I don't know why Tinn grew up to be like this."
Of course, now that half of the family's power rests in his older brother's hands, a son like him is worthless.
~~~
"You dumb dog! Stupid, bad dog! You're a dog that doesn't love its owner! How could you let them fool you? You're an idiot, idiot, idiooot! Completely useless!"
By now, the evening sky has darkened as Khaen-ta-lup (don't call me that!) sits on a small stone bench in front of the house, while Gucci happily gnaws on a chicken bone at his feet. Even though his owner smacks him several times on the head, Gucci doesn't seem to mind.
"Whine... whine..."
"Don’t talk back!" Khaen snaps at the dog, seemingly holding a full-blown argument with it.
"Whine... whine..."
"I already told you I’m calling you stupid, not myself!" Khaen, frustrated from an entire day gone wrong, rests his chin on his palm, rolling his eyes in irritation. The more he recalls the afternoon’s events, where he ended up looking like a fool, the angrier he gets. He can’t believe he actually believed that jerk’s words—fine, not just a little, he fell for it completely.
"You and I are equally stupid, Gucci. How could we both let him fool us like that?"
"Woof, woof!" The stubborn dog looks up and barks as if to argue back, prompting Khaen to give it another smack on the head.
"Don’t argue! We’re both idiots. I’m not the only one here..."
"Stop being ridiculous and arguing with the dog already," a voice interrupts from behind. Khaen freezes and turns to see his younger sister, a long-haired girl in glasses, shaking her head in exasperation at her brother talking to the dog again.
"I’m not being ridiculous. You don’t understand, Le! Dogs are intelligent creatures. People say dogs can sense their owner’s emotions. If you talk to them, they understand. Haven’t you heard those stories about dogs waiting at the front door while their owner is in the hospital for months? It’s so moving. And don’t forget the dogs that rescue people trapped on mountains—"
"Stay on topic!" Lemon snaps in a firm voice before her brother can ramble endlessly.
She sits down beside him, even using her foot to nudge Gucci away as the dog tries to rest its head on her.
"Yeah, yeah. Like I could ever live up to that Khun-chai from the seventh heaven," Khaen mutters.
"Oh? And how would you know he’s from the seventh heaven? Have you tried it yourself?"
"Le!!!" Khaen exclaims, his voice rising in protest, while Lemon casually sticks a finger in one ear, as if anticipating his loud reaction.
She gets to the point without wasting more time. "Khaen, go ask for a picture of Tinn for me."
"What?!" Khaen nearly shouts, his eyes widening as he stares at her, baffled that she repeats the request with unwavering certainty.
"Go ask for a picture of Tinn for me. If I have to repeat myself a third time, I’ll have Mom take you for a nerve test to see why you can't understand something this simple," Lemon says, cutting her brother off. He immediately shuts his mouth, shakes his head in response.
"Not happening." The firm rejection does not make the younger sister feel disheartened at all. She continues to speak.
"If you won't help me, I won't mind, but my senior ordered me to find a picture of Tinn for me. I don't know how they found out that I know Tinn. If you won't help, just think about how those senior girls who want to fangirl over Tinn will treat me. If you want to see your younger sister bullied, you don't have to ask for it." The one who prepared a somewhat unreasonable argument keeps talking, causing the listener to blink in confusion.
"Hey, someone ordered you to find his picture?"
"Yeah, but if you won't help, I can ask myself."
"Uh-huh."
Khaen is left speechless, and his brain (the size of a Tua Pu seed) works quickly.
If I don't ask > my sister will be bullied > she won't want to go to school > she'll have to drop out.
No way, really!!!
That's not enough. His brain, still the same size, also imagines his younger sister asking for a picture from his own archenemy.
If she goes to ask > she'll be given a trade-off by Ai'Tinn > a guy ruthless enough to kiss Khaen, then a girl might get assaulted > he'll record it > Ai'Ley will commit suicide > it's my fault.
"I'll go ask for you."
"Now that's how a brother should be." In the end, Khaen accepts, his head hanging low, allowing his younger sister (who is assaulted in his imagination) to slap his shoulder heavily twice, say thank you, and then walk up to her room, leaving Khaen in a daze.
"Fine, doing it for my sister." He says that, but his heart feels heavy. He can only move down to sit and scratch the belly of the dog sprawled out lazily, his thoughts returning to the same enemy.
"Something's bothering me. I'm really bothered by how it was when Tinn talked about family. That kind of look in his eyes, huh? The one it acts with?
"Huh? What did you say, Ai'Gucci? When you looked at me with those pleading eyes, you wanted me to keep you as a pet when there are other people you are acting with, right? Answer me, damn it!"
"Hack hack hack" The answer is the fat dog lying on its back, tongue hanging out comfortably while its owner scratches its belly, causing Khaen to pout.
"You're useless, Ai'Gucci," he blames the dog again.
"Khaen-ta-lup, have you seen the TV remote?" At that moment, the mother appears, asking for the important device for the post-news drama time.
"Mom! Don't call me by my full name!" Khaen whines softly, making his mother laugh.
"Your name is cute. Tinn even said that your name is adorable."
"Hmph!" The son grumbles, turning his face away sulkily, prompting his mother to step closer, and then…
Yank!
"Ouch!! Don't pull my ears, Khaen!!"
"You're the one! You've been acting terribly today. How can you run off like that? Do you think your friends will still want to be friends with you?"
"We're not even friends! Ouch!! Mom, my ears are going to rip off!"
"Serves you right! Just look at what you're saying. Your friends would be heartbroken to hear that," the mother releases her grip from her son's ear, which has turned bright red, and starts to turn back into the house to look for the TV remote.
If it weren't for the one touching his own ear, murmuring softly, "I just don't understand rich people at all!"
"But I understand," the mother quickly replies, making her son look up with interest.
"How so, Mom?"
"Sometimes, their lives are pitiful," the son makes a disbelieving face, shaking his head as if to say, You think someone like Tinn is pitiful? prompting his mother to continue speaking.
"It's true, Ai'Khaen. Even though our house provides just enough to live on and is not rich with gold and silver, we love each other well. As for those rich folks, siblings often get along just to fight over inheritance, or when it comes to money, family problems pop up everywhere. Mother doesn't love me, and Father doesn't care. No one pays any attention. You can't trust anyone. Don't you notice that their harsh words are just a way to cover up their true feelings?"
The listener falls silent, recalling the moment in the papaya salad shop. He speaks as if his mother didn't intend to name him... was that true? Or was everything he said... true?
"Is it true, Mother, that his harsh words are just a way to cover up his own feelings?"
"Of course. I can see it. Don't you see how sad that smile looks? It's so pitiful." When the mother confirms again, the listener becomes dazed, reflecting on the insults thrown at Tinn.
Damn, did I go poke at that jerk's heart or something?
"Alright, I am going to find the remote now. The movie will start soon." The mother says this and steps into the house, leaving her son dazed with guilt for unintentionally hurting Ai'Tinn.
So, does that mean I have to... apologize? Right? Ughhh! Why did I have to speak harshly?
Meanwhile, the mother, sitting on the sofa in front of the television, prepares to watch her favorite drama, suddenly recalls, "By the way, when did Ai'Khaen start getting into dramas?"
Yes, everything that Khaen-ta-lup's mother said did not refer to Khun Tinn, but to the beloved hero shining on the screen.
Therefore, let us offer condolences to Khun Khaen-ta-lup in advance, just as his younger sister affirms that...
"It's good to have a stupid older brother."
Khaen knows that he is someone who trusts people easily, but... he still does not know to what extent he is gullible.
~~~
"Ai'Pete!"
"Yes?"
Thus, at noon, the alert young man calls Ai'Ae, practically burning the phone line, asking where he is and then shows up drenched in sweat. However, instead of calling the person he phoned, a sharp tone calls out to someone else who is currently scooping rice into his mouth, causing Khun Pitchaya to turn and look puzzled.
"Is there something wrong? Khaen, you look stressed," he asks.
"I have something to ask!" The one who has come maintains an unusually serious tone, leaving the other two men sitting at the table exchanging confused glances.
What is this? Does Ai'Khaen have a serious side to life?
"Yes, what do you want to ask, Khaen?" This one is incredibly kind, asking with a genuinely friendly smile.
"Well... it’s a secret," says the person who has come, with no small amount of awkwardness.
If it were not for the nightmare about harming Ai'Tinn that has kept him sleepless, he swears he would not be involving himself in such matters like this.
The gesture causes Ae to furrow his brow, while Pond merely laughs and points a finger at the friend beside him.
"Ai'Khaen, don't you know that Ai'Ae and Ai'Pete have no secrets from each other?"
"Damn! Just shut up."
As Pond finishes his sentence, the short young man beside him curses, but the red ears show that Khaen, who genuinely doesn't understand how friends can date each other, begins to realize that his friend is probably embarrassed. Although he is usually talkative, since Ae hasn't yet revealed the nature of their relationship, he decides to keep quiet. Then he...
Clap!
Khaen puts his hands together in prayer and raises them above his head, and then... begins to ramble:
"Ai'Pete! Pete, help me out! Pete, if you don't help me, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life! I may talk a lot, but I've never hurt anyone's feelings, you know? I'm a good person, a good son to my parents, a good brother to my sibling. I've never harmed any living creature. If a mosquito flies by, I just swat it. If ants walk past, I just spray DDT, that's all. I've never had any intention of hurting anyone's feelings, you hear me? Plus, he was a dog-mouth to me first! I'm not really in the wrong! But you have to help me, okay, Ai'Pete, please!"
The barrage of words coming out of Khaen's mouth leaves the three young men looking at each other, wondering: Has this guy ever learned how to get to the point? What's he rambling on about mosquitoes, ants, and heaven for?
When he finally finishes, no one knows what he actually wants.
"Hahaha, Ai'Khaen, I know you talk a lot, but at least make it meaningful, dude. Who did you dog-mouth, and what do you need Ai'Pete to help with? You've gone around the world three times and still haven't made your point," Pond remarks with amusement, making Khaen lift his face slightly from his hands, meeting the sharp eyes of Khun-chai.
"I just can't get it out."
"Which part of those four paragraphs says you can't talk?"
"Oh, come on, Ai'Pond. Haven't you ever heard that before you say something, you need an introduction? I was just taking you all on a little detour..."
"Ai'Khaen, what you do isn't called an introduction. It's called going off-topic," even Ae cuts in before things go too far, causing the one seeking help to lower his hands... and pout.
"Fine... can I have Ai'Tinn's number, Pete?"
"Huh?" All eyes turn in confusion, and even Pete repeats.
"Tinn? My friend from IC?"
It's well-known that these two are at each other's throats. No, Khaen despises Tinn to the point of no return.
"Yeah!" Despite being a little embarrassed, Khaen insists, making the picky one lean in closer.
"What do you need it for?"
"I'm not telling… Please, Pete, give me the number. Think of it as helping an innocent soul this one time," Khaen pleads with wide eyes, directing his request toward his friend from outside the faculty.
Pete, without much hesitation, pulls out his phone and searches for the number. Khaen quickly grabs his own phone and saves it, but then something occurs to him.
If I call him, he'll know my number. What if he yells back at me…? Damn it, that would suck.
This thought makes Khaen pause and reflect deeply until a better idea suddenly strikes him.
"Hey, hey, hey, do you know where Ai'Tinn usually parks his car?"
"What, are you planning to scratch it with a coin or something?" Pond asks with curiosity, causing Khaen to snarl at him and punch himself in the chest a few times.
"You should know by now, I, Ai'Khaen, am bold and daring! If I really wanted to cause trouble, I wouldn't do it behind his back! I'd go straight in, punch him, and then kick him twice just for good measure. Not to brag or anything."
"Pfft, you're bragging and then saying you don't want to. Classic," the mixed-race guy teases with a laugh, making Khaen chuckle along, his mood brightening.
That is, until Ae speaks up. "Do you have some kind of issue with him? Maybe I can help."
Khaen feels so touched by his friend's kindness that he could almost cry.
"Ae, you're such a good guy."
"How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not as good as you think I am? So, do you have a problem with him or not?" Ae replies.
Khaen really wants to say something, but when he turns to look at Pete and sees the genuine concern in his eyes, completely unaware that his demonic friend is out to destroy his romantic life, Khaen can't bring himself to say it. In the end, he just shakes his head.
"It's nothing, really. Just a small unresolved issue."
I'll handle this myself.
"And about the car…"
"Tinn usually parks opposite the Science Faculty. If you’re looking for him, he comes pretty early. As for when he leaves, I’m not so sure. His car is..."
"The black Porsche. The one I passed and joked about dirtying the seat, and he smugly said he didn’t mind. Damn liar! Just by looking at his face, I didn’t believe him," Khaen blurts out without thinking, prompting Ae to squint slightly.
"You talk like you’ve been in it."
Thunk.
"N-no! Hey, don’t joke like that. How would I ever have the chance to get in his car? No way! Ha ha... someone like him inviting me? That’s straight out of a cartoon. Anyway, I’m going now. I forgot I was supposed to meet Phii No."
As soon as he finishes, the one laughing awkwardly dashes off in another direction, leaving the group watching him to mutter almost simultaneously: "Tinn invited him into the car, didn’t he?"
"So why would Tinn invite Khaen into his car?"
The question lingers only for a moment before the person who had run off returns in a slightly panicked state.
"Pete, I just remembered—I need your help with something else!"
Of course, this matter clearly involves the owner of the Porsche. It seems that Khaen's earlier resolution, made after talking to his mother (though they were clearly on different wavelengths), to avoid getting involved with Tinn has changed yet again.
NEXT Chapter 40 - A Showing of Compassionate Concern by a Naive Person
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