Billionaire Biker Boy

Chapter 49 - Love at First Sight.

 

Wonchana smiled and responded with respectful confidence, "Yes, Auntie. Actually, I've been courting O for about a month now. The reason I came here today is to formally ask for your permission. I want to take care of him, and I'm not looking for just a situationship. I'm ready in terms of age and financial stability. My family has no objections either; everyone is happy to welcome him."

 

Sinee listened quietly. It'd be hard to doubt his sincerity after hearing that. "And what about the new company? Why did you decide to start a logistics business?"

 

Wonchana exhaled softly, sensing that the elderly woman's demeanour had softened.

 

"For several reasons, Auntie. First, it complements my family's business. Second, has great potential, and I want him to work in a field that suits his abilities. And the most important reason is that I want him to be close to me. But I've already told him that even if he moves to Bangkok, I'll bring him back here every month."

 

"Have you considered what would happen to the company if, one day, things don't work out between you two?"

 

Wonchana answered confidently, "Although I'm certain that day will never come, if it were to happen, it wouldn't affect the company. This business already benefits my family's operations. The investment is clearly documented."

 

He spoke with an earnest tone, "Regardless of whether you, O, or P'Sea decide to continue the business, I guarantee on my honour that there will be no issues, and I'll provide full compensation if necessary."

 

Sinee let out a long sigh. "To be honest, when I first saw you, I was worried. My child is just a naive kid, so different from you in terms of age, personality, and social circle... Even though what you're saying sounds solid and credible, I can't help but worry."

 

"I understand, Auntie. O and I may seem different, but those differences are what draw us together. He completes my life in every way. I don't want to come across as less credible, but 0 was my love at first sight. I've never felt this way about anyone before. And the more I got to know him, the more I fell in love. I can assure you that he'll never regret being with me." Wonchana spoke with conviction.

 

Sinee sighed deeply once more.

...How could she not believe in love at first sight when she'd experienced it herself?

Neither of them realised that two figures sitting on the stairs of the second floor were eavesdropping on their conversation. 

The smaller figure, still in pyjamas, had woken up upon hearing the door and went to brush his teeth. Afterwards, he came to the stairs just in time to hear his mother talking to his soon-to-be boyfriend. So, Samut sat down quietly, and moments later, his tall older brother joined him, sitting down beside him. They listened in silence, each with different feelings.

 

Then the older brother's large hand landed gently on Samut’s soft hair, ruffling it lightly.

...His little brother had really snagged a premium catch.

 

But Samut was still dumbstruck by what he'd heard.

..Huh? He's even planning to start a new company?

 

"Well, look at you, scoring a big shot from Bangkok," Chonlatee teased in a whisper.

The younger brother elbowed him to hide his embarrassment before leaning his head on his brother's shoulder and whispering his feelings.

 

"I'm scared... scared I'm not good enough for him, P'Sea."

 

Chonlatee wrapped an arm around his younger brother, offering comfort. "Have some confidence. If he likes you as you are now, it means you're already good enough for him."

 

Seeing Samut's expression brighten, Chonlatee nudged him, "..Go on, hurry up and shower so we can eat and head out."

 

Samut got up and went back to his room, while Chonlatee went downstairs to join the others.

..Even if it was bittersweet to see the little bird leaving the nest, he felt much more at ease knowing the new nest was strong enough to protect this little bird.

 

After everyone finished breakfast, Sinee announced the day's itinerary for their guest from Bangkok. "Let's rest for a bit, then we'll go pay respects to a Buddha statue at Khao Kho Hong. After that, we can grab something to eat at Ko Yo island."

 

The group enthusiastically agreed, and Samut handed Wonchana an Ikat fabric bag. The tall man accepted it and turned to Sinee. "Auntie, this is a gift from Bangkok." He handed it over with a light laugh. "Though the seller said it's actually from Surin. I happened to see it while having a meal with O, and he mentioned you like this kind of fabric."

 

"Thank you, but there's no need to go to such trouble next time. Just bring yourself," Sinee replied, though she looked pleased as she ran her hand over the fabric.

 

Not to be outdone, Samutr chimed in, "I've got something for you, too, Mom. This one's from my own hard work." He handed her a small red envelope and a larger white one. When Sinee opened the white envelope and saw 8,000 baht, she wasn't surprised.

...His first paycheck, of course.

 

"Thank you, dear, but you don't need to give me anything next month. Save it for yourself."

 

Samut nodded eagerly, but when Sinee opened the small red envelope, her eyes widened. "Did you buy this? Why?"

 

"I didn't buy it. It was a prize from the company's New Year's party. I danced and won it," the younger man explained sheepishly. 

 

"Actually, I got a bigger one, too. P'Win's parents gave it to me as a Christmas gift, but I left it in P'Win's safe because I was afraid it'd get lost."

 

The woman stroked her youngest son's head with a mix of affection and slight concern. After some thought, she turned to the tall man and spoke directly, "Please thank your parents for being so kind to O, but there's no need to give him such valuable things. Our family isn't struggling financially. And I heard from Sea that they've even given him money?"

 

Wonchana swallowed nervously at her stern tone before replying honestly, "My family and I don't see it that way at all, Auntie. My parents gave it to me because they genuinely care for him."

 

Since Samut hadn't mentioned the incident with the thief, he didn't bring it up either. "As for me, I discovered that he was restricted in using money. So I only found excuses to pay him because I wanted him to have some money to spend comfortably. That's all. I had no other intentions. But P'Sea already told me not to do it anymore."

 

Chonlatee sighed before summarising his conversation with his soon-to-be brother-in-law from the previous day for everyone.

 

"I was worried he might get scammed or taken advantage of. also didn't want him staying in Bangkok too much, so I set those conditions."

 

Then he turned to his younger brother, "But from now on, it's up to you, O. Whether you want to stay in Bangkok or come back, it's your choice. Take back your account. As for the condo, you don't need to pay rent. I never wanted your money in the first place... Oh, one more thing, Win and I are starting a new company in Bangkok. Do you want to move there to work? Though, technically, it's still the same building."

 

The small man froze, his thoughts drifting back to an idea he'd had on Christmas after seeing a certain place.

..Would it be a good idea?

 

Seeing Samut's silence, everyone grew curious. Wonchana spoke up first, "O, don't feel pressured. If you don't want to work at the new place, that's fine."

 

"It's not that," Samut said, biting his lip before deciding. " I want to pursue a master's degree first, then come back to work."

 

..Because he wanted to be better.

...He wanted to stand proudly beside P' Win.

 

Everyone smiled... No one could deny such a desire.

 

"Where and what program?" Chonlatee asked.

Samut beamed. "MBA at Chulalongkorn University."

 

Wonchana's smile widened. The little one's plan aligned perfectly with his own. If Samut studied there, he could stay close, pick him up, drop him off, and even tutor him. Thinking this, the tall man cleared his throat and said, "That's great. At Atcharangkul, we have scholarships for employees pursuing master's degrees. You can apply. You'll definitely get it." And if it didn't go through, he had his own funds as a backup.

 

Chonlatee, growing annoyed at the lovestruck man, immediately interrupted, "No need. I'll fund O myself. No strings attached."

 

Seeing the lovestruck man deflate, Samut laughed before hugging his mother and starting to sweet-talk her, "I'll come back to visit often, Mom. Don't worry. Get your pretty outfits ready for my graduation ceremony."

 

Sinee stroked her youngest son's head, her heart full.

 

"Alright, if you've thought it through, do what you want. It's your life. And you don't have to come back every month; plane tickets are expensive," the thrifty mother said.

 

With everything settled, Chonlatee took on the role of chauffeur, driving everyone out for the day. Wonchana sat in the front passenger seat, while Samut and Sinee sat in the back.

The first stop was Khao Kho Hong, part of the Hat Yai Municipal Park and home to Phra Phutthamongkol Maharat, the largest Buddha statue in southern Thailand. The statue, in the 'Pang Ham Yati posture, was cast in brass and stood nearly twenty meters tall, facing the city of Hat Yai. As Chonlatee drove past the Lim Ko Niao Shrine, which housed a pristine white jade statue of Guan Yin, he remarked, "We'll stop there on the way back. If we go too late, it'll be too hot up there."

 

When they reached the top, the plan had to be adjusted slightly because of the sheer number of people who came to pay their respects to the sacred site as the year drew to a close. Samut sighed in dismay at the sight of the crowd.

 

"Dang, and it's not even a holiday yet. Let's just pay our respects to the Buddha statue for now. As for the cable car, I'll bring P'Win here again another time."

 

Everyone agreed with the suggestion, as Sine wasn't particularly keen on the cable car either. While she wasn't exactly afraid of heights, she felt it was an unstable mode of transport. Plus, the tickets cost hundreds of baht. So, they all went to pay their respects to the Buddha statue and wandered over to the small viewpoint for a quick look at the scenery.

 

"P'Win, do you see over there? That's Songkhla Lake." Samut pointed to the right while recording the view on his phone. "But if you come in the evening, the sunset in that direction is even more breathtaking."

 

"It's already beautiful as it is," Wonchana complimented before asking, "ls that the Guan Yin statue we passed earlier?"

 

The man gestured toward the end of the staircase in front of the Buddha statue, which sloped down the hill. At the far end was the white jade statue of Guan Yin.

 

"That's right. It seems like it's in a different direction, doesn't it? That's because the road up here curves around the hill like a circle. You can actually walk down to it, but..." Samut trailed off dramatically.

 

"But what?" the city man asked curiously. The local scrunched up his face before revealing, "But think about the walk back up! Your knees will be shaking, I'm telling you."

 

The others laughed, and Sinee said, "I'd give up now, but when I was young, around O's age, I never backed down. I'd go anywhere."

 

"I'm not backing down either, but I don't want to ruin my knees prematurely," the not-so-old one retorted.

 

"Haha, then let's get in the car and drive down to pay respects to Guan Yin," Chonlatee the Chauffeur announced.

 

After paying their respects to Guan Yin, the group headed down the hill for lunch at Ko Yo. Chonlatee drove along the Tinsulanonda Bridge until they entered Ko Yo. The city man noticed a sign for Wat Laem Pho temple and a golden reclining Buddha statue, lying with its back stretched out toward the bridge.

 

"The Buddha statues at the temples here are so big," Wonchana noted in awe.

 

"Some of them are. That one is the largest reclining Buddha statue in Thailand. If you want to visit, we can stop on the way back. Right now, the restaurants will get crowded," the chauffeur explained. The guest laughed.

 

"I'm not really a temple-goer. I prefer nature trips."

 

"Hah, I can go anywhere as long as it's a trip. I'm not picky," Samut chimed in from the back seat. The nature lover turned his head to tease,

"I always thought you were all about food."

 

"P'Win!" The foodie leaned forward, eyes wide in mock indignation. Sinee and Chonlatee laughed in unison, and the mother immediately added fuel to the fire, "He's not wrong. Every time you suggest going somewhere, it's because there's a new restaurant to try."

 

"Mom! At least spare me some dignity!" the foodie whined.

 

"Isn't the restaurant we're going to today one you found on TikTok?" the older brother chimed in.

 

"And is it good or not?" the younger brother shot back.

 

"I guessss," the older brother admitted with a playful high-pitched tone.

 

Chonlatee then turned left toward the hill leading to Khao Kuti. Before long, they arrived at a charming café-style restaurant. The small one, who had been there before, hopped out cheerfully. Samut clung to Wonchana's arm and announced confidently, "We'll eat here, and then we'll go have cake and coffee at the place next door."

 

Earlier that morning, the two men had stopped for coffee, but the city man didn't seem to enjoy the southern- style brew. The local promised to take him to a better café, so Wonchana had only drunk half his cup.

 

Sinee watched her youngest son chatting away and smiled fondly. The restaurant was adorably decorated, with plenty of photo spots for customers. This time, Samut, excited about his new camera, was more interested in capturing pictures. Since it wasn't crowded yet, the glass room with sofa seating was still available.

 

"Mom, aren't these tables uncomfortable? We can sit outside," Samut suggested when he saw his mother choosing the sofa with a low table.

 

"It's fine. It might be a bit inconvenient for eating, but it's more comfortable to sit here. Plus, you can take your pictures," Sinee replied knowingly, then turned to their guest, "Win, order whatever you'd like. It's on me."

 

Wonchana smiled at the change in how she addressed him.

..Have I  been accepted?

 

He thanked her and looked at the menu. The dishes looked appetising and were reasonably priced, offering both single dishes and shared plates.

...What should we eat?

 

Instead of deciding, he turned to the small one for input.

 

"What should we eat, O?"

 

"Tamarind fish and lime chicken," the one still engrossed in filming replied without even glancing at the menu. Seabass with tamarind sauce and fried chicken with lime cream, huh?

 

Chonlatee laughed and added, "No fried shrimp?"

 

"Oh! And spicy seafood salad, too. Mom loves spicy salad," Samut said, knowing his mother's preferences.

 

At restaurants like this, Sinee usually lets her children order unless it is a place where she can't eat much. In that case, she'd order her own dish. Thus, the responsibility of ordering the rest fell to the two men.

 

Once the food was ordered, Samut dragged the tall man around to take pictures before the place got crowded. Wonchana indulged him, enthusiastically helping with the photos.

 

Watching her youngest son and the other man taking selfies together, Sinee let out a relieved sigh. Previously, when Samut brought that friend along, the atmosphere had been entirely different.

 

...Samutr would go out of his way to please that friend, losing his sense of self.

..And he didn't seem nearly as happy as he did now.

 

"No need to sigh, Mom. The little bird is ready to leave the nest, and the new nest is much stronger and more luxurious than ours," Chonlatee remarked.

 

"Sigh.. I'm just a worried mama bird. But I never intended to interfere. I'll love whoever my children love," Sinee replied.

 

"Well, you didn't even say anything when it was Oat," Chonlatee grumbled, recalling how he'd been told not to meddle in his brother's affairs. "Honestly, I wasn't too worried about that one. Oat didn't seem to like O in that way. You can't clap with one hand... But with this one, he seems serious and sincere. Still, it's all happening so fast that I can't help but worry," Sineen confided in her eldest son.

 

"Wow, so you've had it figured out all along. But don't worry about this one. Win's solid. He's responsible and keeps his word. He's nothing like Oat," Chonlatee reassured her.

 

"So, does Oat have a partner now?"

 

"Oh, Mom, not just one. He's juggling multiple relationships, both women and men. It's like a bomb waiting to go off," Chonlatee said, recalling how Samut had later told him about another suspected partner of Oat's, though Samut wasn't entirely sure about that one.

 

"What a mess," Sinee sighed.

 

"Exactly. A mess. I truly can't wait to see karma catch up to him," Chonlatee quipped.