Love of Silom

Chapter 1 - Wayu.

 

"Alright, so tonight, everyone finishes their part of the work. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll meet at Lapang's house to finalise the model."

 

The voice belonged to Mint, my project groupmate. We were sitting under the Faculty of Architecture building. Our group consisted of three people: me, Mint, and Lapang. We were working on a design project for a conference centre, and now we were in the final stretch. This meant heavy doses of coffee and sleeping only when necessary—unless we wanted to crash and burn.

 

"Okay," Lapang and I replied in unison.

"Wayu, are you catching a ride with us?" Mint asked.

 

"No, it's fine," I declined. "I'll stop by the library to work for a bit. The air conditioning is nice there."

 

"My house has AC too, you know. Why not come to my place?" Lapang moved closer and slung an arm over my shoulder.

 

"Your house is all the way in Bang Na. Why would I go there?" I pushed him away. 

 

"You just want me to help you with your work, don't you? Do it yourself. I'm not helping."

 

Lapang made a disappointed face, while Mint looked at me, shook her head, and smirked before raising a finger and saying firmly,

 

"Tomorrow at 1 p.m., don't be late.

"Got it," Lapang replied in a playful tone.

 

We went our separate ways. I cut across the lawn toward the road. The university library wasn't far from the architecture building—just a short walk past a few other faculty buildings. I liked working at the library or co-working spaces because they were quiet and peaceful, with few distractions. Plus, the air conditioning was a big bonus. My house didn't have AC, and even with a fan, it wasn't as cool. The library was perfect.

 

I worked for a long time, almost until the library was about to close, before finally stopping. It was time to head home and continue working there. I shut down my laptop, stretched to relieve the stiffness in my shoulders, and then my eyes met those of a guy sitting across from me. He had been smiling at me for a while now. I had noticed him glancing over earlier. The colour of his shirt indicated he was from the Faculty of Engineering.

 

I stood up and started packing my things. Just as I was about to put my mouse into my bag, it slipped from my hand, fell to the floor, and broke apart. The guy stood up, picked up the battery that had rolled near his chair, and handed it to me.

 

"Thank you," I said.

 

He glanced at my table, which was cluttered with my laptop, charger, headphones, and a stack of books on Western architecture.

 

"Need any help?" He asked.

 

Cutting the model...I almost blurted that out, but was afraid he might actually offer to help. So, I mumbled, "No, it's fine," and smiled at him before walking away. Honestly, I was disappointed. He was good-looking, fair-skinned, tall, and fit my type exactly. But I am really busy right now. The project was due next Monday.

 

My house was situated deep within a narrow alley off the main road. The entrance to the alley featured a bustling evening market that stayed open late. The atmosphere was lively at this hour, with people returning home from work. I chose to walk home instead of taking a motorcycle taxi from the alley entrance, figuring it was a good way to get some exercise.

 

As I turned into the narrow alley—my house was almost at the very end—I saw Wall, my younger sister, leaning against the wall with a bored expression. She was still in her school uniform, though she had untucked her shirt.

 

"Waii, why are you standing here?" I asked as I walked over. "Did you smoke or something? Why does it smell weird?"

 

"I didn't smoke," Waii said, frowning. "Mom and Dad are fighting again. It's annoying, so I came outside."

 

"What are they fighting about this time?"

 

"The same old thing. Mom caught Dad sleeping with another woman. Not the same one as before, this time it's someone from Khon Kaen or Saraburi. I couldn't stand listening to it anymore."

I sighed heavily. This wasn't the first time Dad had cheated and been caught by Mom. It had happened many times before.

 

"Have you eaten yet?" Waii shook her head. "I don't have any money." 

 

I pulled out my phone to check my bank balance. There was enough left for two more meals. I turned to Waii and said, "Let's go eat noodles at Aunt Nong's place."

 

The two of us walked toward the alley entrance. Waii untied the white ribbon from her ponytail and stuffed it into her skirt pocket, letting her long, shiny black hair cascade down her back.

 

My sister was beautiful. She had big, bright, cat-like eyes, thick lashes, an oval face, and a pretty mouth, like an expensive princess doll you'd see in a shop. Everyone said she and I looked a lot alike, which annoyed Waii a bit because she didn't like being compared to a guy, even though she was undeniably cute. As for me, I didn't want to look like a princess doll either—not even a prince doll.

 

But what set Waii apart from other princesses was her behaviour. She was stubborn, hot-tempered, argumentative, and rebellious, constantly breaking rules and causing headaches for both our family and her school. But to me, she was still my little sister. No matter how difficult she was, I saw it as just a phase of being a teenager. 

 

When we got to the noodle shop and ordered our food, I asked, "Did you get your grades yet?"

 

Waii was now in 11th grade, and it was time for her to start seriously thinking about her future.

 

"Yeah."

"How'd you do?"

 

"I failed four subjects."

"What?! Four subjects?" I was shocked. 

 

"How did you fail that many?"

Wai put down her chopsticks, annoyed.

 

"Are you my brother or my dad? Stop nagging. If I fail, I'll fix it. I'll handle it myself."

I looked at her, feeling concerned but knowing that if I pushed too hard, she'd just resist more. So, I tried to keep my tone gentle.

"I'm asking because I care. If there's anything you need help with, let me know."

"It's fine. I'll handle it," Waii cut me off.

 

After we finished eating, Waii and I walked home together. As soon as we opened the door and stepped inside, we froze at the sight of the house.

 

Dad's clothes were scattered all over the floor and furniture, as if they'd been thrown around. A chair was knocked over, a bowl of curry had spilt on the dining table and dripped onto the floor, and the sofa was wet, probably from someone throwing a glass at someone else, as shards of broken glass were scattered everywhere. I turned toward my parents' bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, and Dad's angry shouts competed with Mom's crying.

 

"Who would want to come home to this?!"

"Fine! If you don't want to come back, then don't! Go live with that woman!"

 

"If I really leave, do you think you can manage without me? Huh?!"

 

Waii stepped over the broken glass and slammed her bedroom door shut. I wanted to go to my room, put on my headphones, and blast some music too, but the state of the house was too much. So, I started cleaning up, with the sound of my parents' arguing in the background.

 

This was why I often spent my time at the library or coffee shops. The house was small and didn't have AC, which was bearable, but the environment was mentally draining.

 

My dad was a salesman who sold tools and travelled to different provinces every month. He was a flirt and loved to party. My mom was a housewife. The two of them fought constantly over money, women, and everything else. They could only get along for a few days before the arguments started again. Sometimes I wondered how they ever loved each other enough to have Waii and me. Where did that love go? All I saw now was two people hurling insults at each other like they hated each other with every fibre of their being.

 

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

The next morning, when I stepped out of my room, I saw Mom sitting on the sofa watching TV. The dining table was set with crispy pork cracklings dipped in sauce, fresh vegetables, and sweet-and-sour spare ribs stir-fry. The house was spotless, a clear sign that the war between my parents had temporarily ceased.

"You're up? Eat if you're hungry. I'll heat the chicken soup for you," Mom said softly when she noticed me.

 

"It's fine, I'll do it myself." I went into the kitchen, reheated the food, and brought it to the table. Then, I noticed Mom's face.

 

"Mom..." I stared at the left side of her cheek, where a clear bruise was visible.

 

"Oh, it's nothing, don't worry about it," Mom waved me off. "By the way, here's your allowance for the week. Your dad just gave it to me.

 

She placed the money on the table and went back to watching TV as if nothing had happened. This was a common scene, like watching a rerun of a drama series, fighting, yelling, even physical altercations, only to sit together the next day as if nothing had happened. Is this what married life is supposed to be like? I felt exhausted and helpless just thinking about it.

 

"Mom, has Waii left?"

"She went to school right after breakfast," Mom replied.

 

"I'm planning to stay at a friend's place for three or four days to work on a group project. It's due next week."

 

"Alright, go ahead. Don't worry about Waii and me. Your dad's home this week."

 

Hearing that made me even more uneasy. I could only think it in my heart, not daring to speak it out loud and ruin the mood.

 

"Mom, could you keep an eye on Wail's studies?"

"I always do. She'll tell me if anything's wrong."

 

"Did she tell you she failed four subjects this time?"

"Huh... what?" Mom was momentarily speechless.

 

"Mom, can you please pay more attention to her?"

 

"Why are you shouting? Your dad's still sleeping," Mom frowned impatiently. "Fine, I'll ask her when she gets back. You go do your thing."

 

  ════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

That afternoon, I went to Lapang's house with Mint to work on our model project. His place was spacious, and they had a housekeeper to handle meals, which made things much easier. I ended up staying over. As for Mint, if we finished our tasks before midnight, he'd drive home.

 

We finally completed the project on time. Though everyone was exhausted, the final presentation turned out well. Thanks to our thorough preparation, we passed without a hitch.

 

"Let's skip the celebration today. I'm too tired," Mint said as he helped load the model into his car after the presentation.

 

"What about you?" Lapang turned to me.

"Look at me. Do I look like I'm in any state to go?" I replied helplessly.

 

"Ugh, you guys are no fun," Lapang complained.

 

As we loaded the model into Mint's car parked by the teaching building, I noticed a familiar figure passing through the corridor between the buildings. It was the guy who had helped me pick up my mouse parts in the library. He glanced at me, then was pulled away by his friends, laughing and chatting.

 

"A friend of yours?" Mint asked.

"No, just someone I ran into at the library."

 

"Oho, you were staring so hard you might've twisted your neck. Why not just shout a confession?" Lapang nudged me with his elbow. "Handsome guys really are something else, huh?"

 

"Did you exchange contact info?" Mint continued.

 

"When would I have had the time? After finishing the group project, I still have individual assignments to catch up on. I'm just glad to get some extra sleep."

 

"True," they both agreed immediately. At this point, the only thing that mattered was sleep and rest.

 

"Close the car door already. Let's go home. I'm about to fall asleep standing," Lapang urged, even though he had just suggested going to a bar.

 

  ════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

When I got home that day, I took a shower and collapsed into bed, sleeping like a log until the next afternoon. When I walked out of my room, I saw Mom lying on the sofa, leisurely watching funny videos on her phone with a relaxed smile on her face.

 

"You're up? Are you hungry? There's green curry chicken in the pot. I figured you were exhausted after sleeping from yesterday till now, so I didn't wake you," Mom asked softly as I approached. I sat down on the sofa next to Mom.

 

"I just handed in the project yesterday, and I don't have classes today, so I slept in. Is Dad up?"

 

"Your dad left for work early this morning."

I nodded. Dad was going out of town for work this week.

 

"So... what about that new woman?" Mom pursed her lips, a smug expression on her face.

 

"I already called her using your dad's phone and gave her a piece of my mind. I even threatened to show up at her workplace and humiliate her if she dares to mess with someone else's husband again."

 

"What did dad say?"

"He promised to cut ties with her"

 

I nodded. "I hope he means it."

"If your dad said it, he'll do it."

 

Sure, cut ties with this one and find the next. Just as I was about to wash my face to clear my head, I noticed a small cup on the coffee table with some clear liquid still in it. Even without smelling it, it was alcohol.

 

I asked, "Mom, are you drinking now?"

 

"Just a little, not much. It's like medicine," Mom said casually. "Helps regulate my energy. By the way, I'm going to the store at the end of the alley later. Do you need anything?"

 

“No.”

 

After mom left, I showered and went back to my room to finish some work. With some light music playing, I felt calm and comfortable, as if all the troubles had drifted away. For a moment, I thought about the guy I met at the library and at the faculty yesterday, and I couldn't help but smile.

 

Hmm... if I see him again, should I give him my contact info? However, this peace didn't last as long as I'd hoped. A few days later, I got a call from Waii's homeroom teacher. She said she'd tried to reach mom multiple times but couldn't get through, and eventually, mom had even hung up on her.

 

This wasn't the first time. The teacher mentioned that Waii had repeatedly broken school rules, and despite multiple warnings, there had been no improvement. This time, the school insisted on meeting with a parent and demanded that someone come in by 1 p.m., or Waii would be temporarily suspended. I agreed to go to the school to handle it and hurried back to the classroom to grab my bag.

 

"Lapang, I have to leave early. Cover for me during the afternoon roll call, and let me know if there's any homework."

 

"What's wrong?" Lapang asked.

"Family stuff."

 

"Alright, go ahead. Let me know if you need anything."

 

When I arrived at the school, I realised Waii's mistakes weren't just acts of rebellion or minor rule-breaking. Previously, Waii had skipped classes, and the school had sent warning letters to our parents. But this time, it was more serious. She had arranged for a group of bikers to pick her up after school, which frightened other students and angered parents, who complained to the school and demanded action.

 

I sat there listening to the teacher spend an hour detailing Waii's various misbehaviours. I was also asked to sign a guarantee that if anything like this happened again, Waii would be expelled. On the way home, I tried to control my emotions and not lash out at Waii. But as soon as I got home and saw Mom still lying carelessly on the sofa, I couldn't hold back.

 

"Mom, why didn't you answer Wail's homeroom teacher's calls?"

"I was at the neighbour's house discussing something. I didn't hear it."

 

"What could be more important than answering the teacher's call?" I couldn't help but shout, then turned to Waii.

 

"Waii, what are you thinking? Why aren't you focusing on your studies? You need to be careful about the friends you make, or you'll ruin your own future! How can you be so careless about your life?"

 

Waii's face darkened, and she retorted with frustration, "What gives you the right to say my friends are bad? Can you judge them just based on what you see?"

 

"They're bikers who cause trouble in the neighbourhood and smoke in groups near the school. How can people like that be good?"

 

"So all bikers are bad? Why generalise? There are bad people among the police, soldiers, and teachers as well. Why can't there be good people among bikers?"

 

Before she could finish, Dad's voice came from the doorway.

"Hey! What's all this shouting? The neighbours can hear you!"

 

When Dad found out what had happened, he grabbed a plastic hanger from beside the ironing board and started hitting Waii, venting his anger as he yelled. Waii cried and apologised, trying to block the blows, but Dad's rage didn't subside. He kept hitting her until she collapsed on the floor and curled up in a corner of the room. Mom and I rushed to stop him, but in the process, we also got hit many times. 

 

I pulled Waii into her room while Mom stayed outside trying to calm Dad down. Waii sat on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably, her body covered in bright red marks from the hanger.

 

"I don't want to live in this house anymore," she cried. Even though I knew she had done wrong, I couldn't bear to see her like this. I took out some ointment and applied it to her wounds. When she had calmed down a bit, I spoke.

 

"If you don't want Dad to get so angry, you need to make sure something like this doesn't happen again. I don't want to see you get hurt like this either."

 

Waii didn't argue back or show any resentment. I continued, "As for making friends, I hope you'll be more careful and not get yourself into trouble. You're already in your second year of high school. If you can hold on for another year, you'll get into university. Then, you'll have more freedom to do what you want. But for now, I hope you'll focus on your studies and graduate smoothly. Can you do that?"

 

Waii was silent for a while, then whispered, "I'll try."

 

After that day, Waii didn't cause any major problems at school, and I felt a little more at ease. However, I've also been dealing with a lot of schoolwork, and final exams are looming. 

 

Then one day, when I came home from university, I saw Waii sitting weakly on the sofa, her face pale, with a small basin at her feet. Mom sat beside her, crying and scolding her nonstop.

 

"Mom, what's going on?" I asked in panic.

"Waii's pregnant!"

 

"What?"

"She's pregnant! That's why she's been vomiting," Mom shouted angrily.

 

I was stunned, standing there watching Waii shift uncomfortably, looking like she was about to throw up. Mom, while holding the basin, cried and scolded Waii, calling her promiscuous and shameless, saying Dad would definitely beat her to death when he found out. Even as Waii was nauseous, she mustered the strength to retort, saying that promiscuity was inherited.

 

Dad was indeed furious, but he didn't kill her. Because she was pregnant, he just slapped her hard, making her mouth bleed, and then ordered her to get an abortion. 

 

That day, I had to take my sister to get the procedure done; my emotions were too complex to put into words. I felt a mix of sadness, anger, and shame, unable to look the doctors and nurses in the eye, who probably pitied us. I felt like I had become a bad person, someone at the bottom of the societal value pyramid. It felt like just opening my eyes was causing trouble for society.

 

When the doctor told me that Wail's pregnancy was too far along to terminate safely, my mind went blank. In the end, Waii gave birth to a little boy, pale-skinned and looking exactly like the man who got her pregnant. Oh, did I forget to mention? That guy disappeared as soon as he found out Waii was pregnant, completely irresponsible, and even moved to another province.

 

At first, I was relieved that Waii couldn't go through with the abortion. But I forgot how cruel it is to bring a child into a world with no support or security. It's not just evil to the child, but also to those of us who have to bear the responsibility.

 

The first to escape this tragedy was Waii. She left with a man she had just met, claiming she wanted to start a new life. No matter how hard I tried to persuade her to come back, even for the sake of the child, she refused, saying she never wanted to be a mom. If forced to return, she would just keep running away until she left this family for good.

 

Now, the family consists of me, my mom, my less than one-year-old nephew, and a dad who despises his own grandson. We're crammed into a small house, and every day is filled with exhausting challenges. For others, home might be a paradise, but for me, it's definitely not.

 

My nephew grows every day, and while Mom takes care of him, she's not very attentive. Dad seems increasingly frustrated with this family situation and has started using work trips as an escape from reality. However, the problem is that household expenses don't decrease just because Dad's away. This is the turning point in my life, leading me down a path I never expected.

 

 And this is just the beginning….