The Grim Lover

It's been so long since I've felt this comfortable sleeping. My body feels like I'm one with the bed, the pillow, and the blanket. Even though I'm not sleepy anymore, I want to stay here longer. What if I slept all day? Would Fourteen complain? Hmm... he'll probably come wake me up soon. That fake Grim Reaper won't let me miss breakfast.

 

Speaking of Fourteen, what is he doing now? I was practically exhausted by the time I fell asleep last night. I wonder if Fourteen will be affected at all. He looked tired yesterday. Perhaps this was the first time the Grim Reaper had experienced exhaustion.

 

"yeah..."

 

I slowly opened my eyes. Before my eyes could even focus on the first image of the day, my heart sank to my feet. I sprang up. I automatically sat down, so startled that I forgot to scream.

 

"What the heck?" I took a slow, deep breath, patting my chest to calm myself down, while the culprit who almost given me a heart attack. Without even blinking, Fourteen lay there staring at me silently, as if he didn't understand why I was so startled. "Why are you staring at me like that? I thought you were a ghost."

 

"Even being this kind, I can still get scolded," Fourteen said, resting his arm behind his head in a relaxed manner. "The human world is truly cruel."

 

"I told you, when I'm sleeping, you should sleep too. Don't lie there with your eyes open like that. It's scary."

 

"I'm just too lazy to fall asleep," the Grim Reaper grimaced, as if closing his eyes for hours was incredibly torturous for him. "And really?"

 

"Should you thank me? I've let you cuddle me for so many hours. You even drooled in your sleep, and I didn't mind."

 

I immediately raised my hand to touch the corner of my mouth. I didn't feel any saliva as he mentioned, but I wasn't entirely confident in my own judgment either. I was so tired that night. After the activities were over, I fell into a deep sleep and didn't even realise what I had done.

 

"Thanks for being my pillow, but next time, please close your eyes. I beg you." Fourteen didn't promise anything. He shrugged as if he didn't care about my complaints, so I was too tired to nag anymore. 

 

The first thing I wake up to shouldn't be something so negative. At least I should be thinking about something good, looking at something positive, like that handsome Grim Reaper lying shirtless on the bed, showing off his physique.

 

Hmm... even though I've seen it a lot, I never get tired of looking at it. Fourteen's figure is absolutely perfect, especially combined with the tattoos all over his body.

His body was so captivating that it made me want to lie down and snuggle up to him again, a perfect start to the day.

 

Whoosh!

It wasn't just a thought; I actually acted on it. I crawled closer to Fourteen, and without asking permission, I plopped down on his chest. Within two seconds, I heard a loud sigh hit me on the head, a clicking sound, followed by a large hand trying to push my head away.

 

"Get out," Fourteen said irritably. "Who gave you permission to lie on top of me?"

 

"Even like this, you're still being so reserved?" I said with a straight face, wrapping my arms tightly around him and pressing my cheek against his inviting chest. It's as if they're glued together. "If last night was that wild, there's nothing to be worried about today."

 

"So what does that have to do with anything? Last night was last night."

 

"Don't be so petty, Fourteen. Friends help friends."

 

"I've helped you a lot already," Fourteen said sternly. "Do whatever you want. Isn't that enough? Being so greedy, you'll go to hell when you die."

 

"When did you start talking this much?"

 

"Ever since I've been around a clingy person like you."

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Fourteen immediately removed the clinging object from his body. He pried my arm off with more force and got out of bed immediately when my hand managed to get free, then he wrapped a blanket around me and rolled me up like a jelly roll so I couldn't escape.

"Fourteen," I said, feigning a stern voice, hoping to scare him, but to no avail. The Grim Reaper grabbed me and rolled me around the bed until I felt dizzy. He finished by hitting me in the butt with a pillow before walking away nonchalantly. 

 

"You Fourteen!"

 

"Get up and eat breakfast. Don't just keep sleeping."

 

After saying that, Fourteen slammed the bedroom door shut, leaving me tossing and turning in the blanket. How did he roll me up so tightly? Are you trying to kill me like this, in this jam roll-like state?

 

"Damn it! I can't get it off!"

 

Our midday activities today were uneventful. I spent the day watching several crime/mystery movies, primarily to find inspiration for gathering evidence. Simply imagining things doesn't provide any useful material in my mind, so now I have no choice but to rely on methods others have used before.

 

Fourteen was also lurking nearby. He'd sneak off to sit at the table by the window and read comics while I watched a foreign film, then crept back to sit on the sofa with me while I watched Detective Conan. He'd sit hugging a cushion, glued to the screen, not blinking. It seemed that live-action presentations didn't appeal to Fourteen as much as animation. Knowing that, I just kept watching Conan, starting with the next episode as soon as it ended. Fourteen seemed to enjoy it, with no complaints. 

 

We watched until our eyes were blurry, and before we knew it, the sun was about to set. Around five o'clock, I received a call from Chieng. He had just finished work and said he wanted to stop by, although honestly, I wasn't planning on visiting today.

 

I wanted to entertain him, but I couldn't be so heartless as to refuse a friend. Chieng had sacrificed his precious gym time to see me. If I had to guess, he probably saw the news about me giving my statement to the police this morning. I haven't read many of the comments, but from what I've seen, the mainstream opinion doesn't seem to be any more sympathetic. They're saying I've been hiding for so long, only just agreed to give my statement, and that I even dare to deny the accusations. Well, I guess my answer isn't what they're waiting for.

 

Those reactions were frustrating, but I wasn't particularly affected by them. Maybe it's because this wasn't unexpected. Being branded a murderer from day one, simply coming out to defend yourself without much supporting evidence won't change the situation.

 

Things have changed a lot. The idea of ​​gaining sympathy is a pipe dream. The most likely outcome is that I'll be disliked even more, because not only have I been slow to react, but I've also refused to say what they want to hear.

 

Chieng arrived around six o'clock. I went down to greet him, while Fourteen hid in the bedroom as usual. Even now, I'm still not sure what to do about Fourteen's situation. Besides me, only Dr Beam and Oscar have seen him, and in their case, there doesn't seem to be a problem. However, others are starting to realise that Fourteen exists as the mysterious new boyfriend I brought to the police station. 

 

Actually, I don't have a problem with the new boyfriend rumours; they're ridiculous. But if they see Fourteen's face, things might get much more complicated. Conspiracy theories would spring up like mushrooms, and Detective Conan would be out solving cases all over town. So for now, let's just say Fourteen exists only in my bedroom.

 

Today, I don't have to tire myself out in the kitchen because Chieng said he'll buy dinner and we'll eat together (which means just the two of us). We chose a Western restaurant near the hospital that we used to frequent together. The steak there is so tender it practically melts in your mouth. P'Fah also really liked their mushroom soup and mashed potatoes. Whenever I finished work late, he always invited me to eat there. Talking about it makes me miss him so much.

 

Today, Chieng ordered mushroom soup and mashed potatoes. I wonder if P'Fah will want to eat with me? I hope he'll sit next to me. At first, I didn't really want him to come. Now I'm starting to feel guilty for thinking that way. Having dinner with Chieng makes me feel better.

 

It's been longer than I expected. It's been so long since we sat down to eat together and chatted about random things. Although it's a shame that it's just the two of us now, being able to share time with someone familiar again has really recharged my life.

 

"I hate DM cases, but I see them way too often," Chieng grumbled about the hospital while cutting a bite-sized piece of steak. The topic of illness he dreaded the most was diabetes (or DM, short for Diabetes Mellitus). Patients with diabetes who come to the orthopaedic department often have poorly controlled diabetes, leading to deep infections that penetrate the bone and tissue, causing irreparable damage and requiring amputation. As a doctor, having to tell patients they'll be going home without fingers, toes, arms, or legs is always heartbreaking. That's why Chieng dislikes this type of case. "I saw two today. I'm so depressed."

 

By now, I'm starting to wonder if Chieng wanted to comfort himself or me. He barely mentioned the news, and all he does is complain about everything at the hospital, from the patients to my colleagues in the department. He says that not seeing Gloy and me at the hospital makes him feel empty, even though we didn't use to see each other that often anyway, because Gloy and I were practically in the operating room all the time. The time we got to sneak away to see the orthopaedic doctor was very little.

 

"It's not the same," Chieng grumbled. 

 

"Knowing they're there but not seeing them is different from having no one there at all." 

 

I looked at Chieng and smiled. Hearing that, I understood. He must feel truly lost that our group suddenly fell apart with no way to get back together. One person died, and another became a suspect. Now, Chieng is the only one God allows to live a normal, peaceful life.

 

"I guess I'll just have to accept it," I answered frankly. "Even if my matter is resolved, I probably won't go back there again."

 

"Really"

 

"Are you still hoping I'll come back?" I said, chuckling playfully, but it made Chieng's face fall, and his head hung low.

 

"That's true," Chieng said softly. "If it were me, I wouldn't want to come back either."

 

Of course. A hospital where important documents can be forged without anyone knowing (or knowing but no one objecting), and the staff are all in collusion. Giving false testimony to frame one innocent person... anyone who chooses to go back to a place like that, if they're not crazy, they're probably completely insane.

 

"Well then, I wish you all the best and hope you find a new job that truly suits you," Chieng said, raising his soda glass as if giving a wedding blessing. I responded to his blessing by clinking my own soda glass against his before taking a sip. I took a big gulp of the sweet, fizzy drink.

 

Dinner was over, but Chieng was still whining and wouldn't go home. I didn't object. At first, I was a little worried about him seeing fourteen, but then I heard him say It's okay. In my head, I thought that fourteen wouldn't be a problem if he could just lie in bed reading comics in his quiet bedroom for another hour or two. Maybe that would be heaven for him—being alone with his favourite comics without me bothering him.

 

Chieng and I sat and talked nonstop. There were so many stories we wanted to tell, it seemed like we'd never finish tonight, including the TV series we're both completely hooked on. During this period, amid the scandalous gossip about the orthopaedic doctor who already has a girlfriend and the female surgeon who willingly accepts the second-in-command position without fear of karmic repercussions, Chieng's storytelling style remains as spicy and captivating as ever. He's one of the most entertaining and exciting storytellers I've ever met, which is why I never get bored listening to him.

 

After finishing the entertainment gossip, let's move on to the topic of 'doctors,' which we often discuss, especially Chieng and me. Studying completely different specialised fields, we always have stories (and complaints) to tell each other. This time was no different. Chieng was telling the story of a patient with a malformed fracture, trying to use hand gestures to illustrate, but it seemed he wasn't satisfied. He raised his hand and touched his chest as if searching for something. Seeing that, I immediately knew what he was looking for, so I turned to open the drawer next to the sofa and pulled out a pen for him.

 

"Here it is!" Chieng took the paper bag from the pastry shop that was on the table in front of the sofa, smoothed it out with his hands, and then began to draw. The image of the bones that he is referring to.

 

I watched the orthopaedic doctor intently drawing a human hand and couldn't help but laugh. When it comes to things like this, he's incredibly serious. The more I saw him, the more I understood why he chose to specialise in orthopaedics. Of all the doctors I've met in this field, I think my friend is the most skilled and proportionally accurate artist. 

 

Each of his operation notes is like a work of art. He's so beautiful that his colleagues tease him about spending so much time drawing that he doesn't do anything else, when in reality, he spends very little time creating these stunning drawings.

 

"Didn't you say you were the doctor with the most pens in the department?" I couldn't resist teasing him. Usually, doctors get scolded by the nurses about that. He's always stolen pens, but Chieng, a doctor, proudly boasts that he never borrows a pen from anyone. He always carries several of his own, but today he doesn't have a single one on his shirt.

 

"Yeah, I have a lot, but lately I've given a ton away to my younger siblings. Once they found out I had a lot of pens, they started asking for more. Before I knew it, I didn't have any for myself anymore."

 

"It's always like that. Whatever we have, it's gone. If it doesn't disappear, we give it away."

 

"He's handsome and kind, isn't he, kid?" Chieng looked up, winked at me briefly, before going back to drawing. "But the only pen I haven't lost is..."

 

"Your pen is full of water."

 

"Swear to it."

 

"Really! It's true!" Chieng insisted seriously. The pen he was referring to was an expensive, well-known brand of ballpoint pen, which I didn't actually buy. It's not really a pen, but Gloy gave it to me as a New Year's gift last time. She had three custom-made pens, one for me, one for Chieng, and one for herself. Our names are engraved on the barrels in small gold letters. I know they're very expensive, so I take very good care of them. Chieng, on the other hand, uses his everyday until he accidentally loses it. He was terrified that Gloy would be angry if she found out, so I gave him mine to use first, at least to avoid raising suspicion and drawing her attention. I planned to go back to the shop and order a new one later, but we both forgot. To this day, I still haven't gotten that pen back. "I was using it just the other day! It's like the ink never runs out!"

 

"The other day, or in a past life," I said sarcastically, "I haven't seen you use it in a long time."

 

"I was afraid it would get lost again, so I kept it at home."

"fib"

 

"Okay!"

 

"Keeping it is the same as losing it," I argued, because I didn't believe it would still be there. If it wasn't still crooked, I should be carrying it with me. He once told me it was the smoothest writing and most beautiful drawing pen I've ever used. I remember it vividly.

 

"Ah, ah, this kid..." When I refused to believe him, Chieng even put down the pen in his hand. He pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket before scrolling through things with a serious expression. That's absolutely right. This guy takes trivial things so seriously.

 

"Ah! Here it is! Open your eyes and look!" Less than a minute later, Chieng held his phone up to my face and repeatedly zoomed in with two fingers, as if afraid I would, but the image was not clear enough. The picture that he used as evidence against me was a selfie taken with his own camera. 

 

The handsome orthopaedic doctor tilted his head and smiled at the camera as if he had never been annoyed by anyone before in his life. But the important point wasn't his face; it was his collar, which he kept pointing up to show me, proving that the pen was indeed tucked into his shirt collar.

 

"Here it is, March 16th, 10:30 PM," Chieng said, pouting and showing the picture, not just the date and time it was taken as confirmation too. We take our playful activities seriously. I give up.

 

"Yeah, yeah, I see it!" I said, pushing the phone away from my face because it was about to hit my nose. "No."

 

"Whether it's cured or not, that's good. Just make sure you take good care of it."

 

"Of course. Who would lose something over and over again?"

 

"You," I lightly pushed the boastful guy's head. "What's something that never goes away?"

 

"Handsome and alluring"

 

"I'm going to throw up."

"Hehehe," Chieng let out a creepy laugh. Seeing that he was cleared of the accusation, he bent down and continued drawing the hands. Actually, if it were just for illustrative purposes, it should be finished by now. But it seemed like he had become a game instead. 

 

"But are you going to get it back? The person who gave it to me probably won't be checking to see if I lost it."

 

Suddenly, Chieng's voice sounded sombre. He acted normally, as if he were getting used to talking about it, but I knew deep down that Chieng still hadn't completely gotten over the death of Gloy.

 

"It's alright," I replied calmly. "You keep it."

 

"Are you sure?" he said, his voice trembling with laughter. That was a laughter I was very familiar with, one I'd used many times myself when feeling pathetic about life.

 

"I can't do anything about it. It's expensive. Even if the ink runs out, you can buy replacement cartridges."

 

"It's alright," I reiterated. "It's probably more important to you than to me." 

 

Chieng fell silent. He probably understood what I meant, and because of that, the conversation that had been flowing smoothly suddenly came to a halt for the first time. This remained a gap between us. No matter how much we enjoyed exchanging stories on other topics, the matter of Gloy was the only one on which we hadn't found common ground.

 

He loves her. As for me, I hate her. And we are all friends.

 

I think it'll take us a while longer before we can talk about this without feeling like we're talking underwater. One day, he might understand that not everyone needs to love Gloy the way he does. As for me... I don't know. I don't know when I'll be able to forgive her. But if you ask me now, I'd only say: Never.

 

"This time, keep it safe. Don't lose it again."

 

The next day, my older brother called me early in the morning. He said he needed to go on an urgent business trip to another province with a client, and his regular babysitter couldn't get back in time. So he asked me to pick Benny up from school in the evening and keep the little boy company until he returned the next morning. 

 

Personally, I didn't have any major business to attend to besides gathering evidence to get myself out of jail, so I readily agreed without giving it much thought.

 

At 3:20 PM, Thirteen and I parked in front of Benny's elementary school. At first, I told Thirteen that he didn't need to do this with me, but he ignored me and followed me to the car as if nothing had happened. I really don't understand why he's following me so closely. Does he think I'm going to commit suicide while I'm babysitting? I'm not that heartless.

 

At 3:30 in the afternoon, I got out of the car and stood in front of the school gate. My older brother said that Benny's school was quite strict about security; parents weren't allowed inside, so they had to wait outside the gate like this when it was time to pick them up. When school ended, the class teacher would walk her students to their parents.

 

"Could you keep an eye on them?" I nudged Fourteen, who was standing next to me with his hands in his pockets and a nonchalant expression, with his face showing no sign of life. "There are a lot of kids, I might miss some."

 

"Don't you recognise your own nephew?" the Grim Reaper said languidly. Even with a mask covering his mouth, only his eyes were visible, which made him feel irritated. He got it! That's truly an incredible ability.

 

"You know Benny too, don't you?"

 

"Just knowing their face."

 

"That's why I asked you to keep an eye on it."

 

Fourteen sighed heavily, as if tired of arguing with me. He looked straight ahead with a world-weary expression before speaking softly.

 

"Is that him?" The Grim Reaper nodded towards the inside of the school grounds. 

 

"The small one with the round head." I turned to look in the direction he was pointing, and saw a small, round-headed person whose eyes widened and who immediately broke into a big smile when he saw my face.

"Good morning, teacher!" The little first-grade boy quickly bowed to his teacher before running excitedly towards me. Oh...my nephew! I feel guilty for not visiting you for so long.

 

"Benny!" I called out to my little nephew, opening my arms wide to catch the little rascal. Benny, still in his school uniform, ran at full speed, his steps quickening as he The distance shrunk considerably before the chubby-headed little one leapt into the embrace.

 

"Ah, Sky!"

 

My nephew ignored me and ran to hug the stern-faced guy next to him.

 

"Benny misses Uncle Fah very much!" The young Grim Reaper stood frozen in place. He turned to look at me with an expression that seemed to say, "What is this little thing?" while Benny continued to hug Fourteen.

 

He wouldn't let go, and even tilted his head back with puppy-dog eyes, as if waiting to be picked up.

 

"Here... little one," Fourteen gently touched Benny's head. His voice was flat, completely different from the tone P'Fah used when talking to Benny, but because the other person was so young, they didn't notice this obvious difference. "This isn't—"

 

"Oh...Benny," I interrupted immediately after guessing what Fourteen was about to say. "Hello, Uncle Fah, have you said hello yet?"

 

"Oh!" Upon being reminded, the young first-grade boy immediately sprang away from his favourite (fake) uncle. Benny clasped his hands together and bowed. He tilted his head almost ninety degrees, then looked up and flashed a wide smile, showing off his white teeth. "Hi, Uncle Fah!"

 

Fourteen stood still, feeling awkward, and once again he turned and glared at me. I knew what I was doing wasn't right, and besides, I consulted him first, but I really couldn't ruin my nephew's happiness. Benny seemed so happy to see P'Fah (who wasn't actually P'Fah). He's not old enough to understand what death is, and this little guy would be heartbroken if I told him that the person standing there wasn't his favourite adult. So I gave Fourteen a hesitant smile and a pleading look for now. Just one day, please.

 

Fourteen stared at my face for a moment before looking down at Benny, the little boy who was looking up at him with expectant eyes.

 

"Hi...Benny." Fourteen greeted back.

 

"Yay! Ah, Faa!" Benny jumped up and down excitedly, then grabbed Fourteen's hand and hurried towards the car, completely ignoring me standing there awkwardly.

 

"Where have you been, Uncle? Auntie said you weren't here anymore. Why are you back? Do you miss Benny, Uncle?"

 

The cheerful chatter of a little child faded into the distance, and the adult walking beside him didn't respond. He followed awkwardly. He nervously turned around to look at me, then frantically waved his hand, like a child abandoned by their mother in front of the cashier.

 

"Come on, why are you standing there like an idiot?" His voice sounded irritated even in my head. "What am I supposed to do now?" But I didn't feel bothered at all. Suddenly, it felt like I had travelled to a future I had long given up on seeing or perhaps, this was the past.

 

"A sky sky, Benny drew a sky sky with wings."

 

This was probably the tenth time Benny had looked up and proudly shown off his artwork to Uncle Fa, who was sitting not far away. He nodded back, tried to smile kindly (because I forced him), and this time even gave his clever nephew a thumbs-up. Ben was so happy, his smile stretched so wide it almost reached his ears.

 

Actually, I initially planned to have Benny stay overnight at my condo tonight, but my older brother said Benny has an art class at home today, and if he gets carried away, he might finish late. I also didn't want to take my nephew through heavy traffic; by the time we got home, and he could shower and go to bed, it would be late. So, as you can see, I ended up bringing fourteen to stay at my older brother's house.

 

"You," Fourteen whispered to me, his face like a little puppy being punished, "I can't take it anymore."

 

"Just be patient," I pleaded, rubbing my hands together. "I feel sorry for Benny. Can you just go along with it for now? I'll... tomorrow..."

 

"The big one is back."

 

"And what then? Will he stop crying out for help from the heavens?"

 

"I'll have my older brother talk to them. Don't worry. Let's just focus on surviving this for now."

 

"Wouldn't older brother be completely confused if the kid told him he saw Fah today?"

 

"He's still young. Big Brother won't believe it," I whispered, before turning to smile and bow slightly to the art teacher who had turned to look at us. It seemed our whispering wasn't working, so I pulled Fourteen by the arm and led him towards the restrooms instead. "I'll tell them that P'Fah only visited this one time and won't be coming back again."

 

"The kid will cry his eyes out."

 

"By then, he'll cry with Big Brother. I just don't want to see Benny cry with my own eyes," Fourteen didn't argue further. He frowned, clicked his tongue slightly, as if he wasn't pleased, but I knew he wouldn't refuse my request.

 

"Please, please, help me," I gently shook his arm, putting on the most pleading face I could muster, even though I knew that if I took his help...A mirror was placed in front of me, and my expression didn't look much different from usual. Fah loves his nephew very much. I don't want to make Benny sad..."

 

"Just this once."

 

"Okay, just once," I said firmly, feeling much relieved when Fourteen officially agreed to help. "Just once."

 

“Then I won't bother you again."

 

"They'll just start bothering me with something else again."

 

"But I won't bother you about this anymore, I promise." Without further ado, I held up my pinky finger and wiggled it in front of him to show him my promise. Seriously, Fourteen looked at my wiggling pinky finger, made a slight face, and then clenched his fist as if he couldn't bear to watch it move any longer.

 

"How can you act so arrogantly with that expression? I don't understand."

 

"What kind?"

 

"Like this," Fourteen said, then made a face like that sleepy, fat cat meme I've seen on the internet. That expression was just like when P'Fah teases him.

 

"You've perfectly copied my style. 'Your face looks like someone who's given up on life, but actually, you've taken a lot.'"

 

"I think I show a lot of facial expressions..." 

 

I wanted to argue, but I couldn't quite bring myself to. In my own mind, I feel like I'm constantly showing my emotions, especially when I'm with Fourteen. Sometimes it even makes my face ache. But from his perspective, I'm just another sleepy, grumpy-faced person. I don't know what to do about it anymore.

 

"Oh no!"

 

Suddenly, a cheerful voice sounded nearby, causing me and Fourteen to turn around at the same time. We found ourselves facing a seven-year-old boy. Standing there defiantly, holding colored pencils in his hand, Benny narrowed his eyes at me and Fourteen, then grinned like a villain in a children's cartoon.

 

"Let's have a little secret rendezvous. I knew it! Benny knows."

 

"Benny," I said, feigning a playfully stern tone, "What are you doing here? Why don't you go be with your teacher?"

 

"Uncle Fah and Uncle Won weren't here to watch Benny paint, so Benny came to find them," Benny said so clearly that I started to wonder if it had been a long time since we'd seen each other.

 

How old are they now? Why, in my memory, are they still just tiny kids who can barely make sense? "I knew they were secretly cuddling," and they even know strange words. Wait, do kids these days still use the word "cuddling"? "We're not cuddling, Uncle Agon and Uncle Fak are discussing business."

 

"Why are you two standing so close together? You're practically kissing!"

Fourteen and I exchanged confused glances before instinctively taking a step back from each other. I swear we had no idea what we were thinking. Standing that close together... Has it always been like this? I didn't even realise.

 

"Oh, you're shy?" Benny said in a clear voice, grinning mischievously as if he'd managed to tease me. First-grade kids these days grow up so fast.

 

"Don't be shy. A lot of Benny's classmates are dating."

 

"Benny..."

 

"Ben already knows that Awon and Afa are dating," the cheeky kid said, proudly showing off something that was anything but proud.

 

"How did you know?" Since I couldn't stop him, I just went along with it. Arguing was pointless. It's better to just give in and get it over with. That little rascal.

 

"So he'll finally agree to go back to school. Did Auntie say so?"

 

"Kill?!" Benny drawled, shaking his head slowly like a sloth. "It was Ah Fa who told me."

 

"Ah, Fa?" Fourteen pointed to himself, looking at me and then at Benny with a confused and bewildered expression.

 

"When?" I pretended to ask further.

 

"A long time ago," Benny replied confidently. That answer further convinced me that the person who told my nephew this was the real P'Fah, not a fake P'Fah.

 

"The fake one standing next to me right now is definitely him. Benny said he loves Auntie Fah the most in the world, so Uncle Fah said he loves Uncle Won the most in the world."

 

I could only manage a weak, embarrassed smile in return. Hearing Benny's explanation only made it clearer: the only person who could give a response like that was P'Fah. Seriously, what kind of crazy person says they love themselves instead of saying "I love you" back to make their niece happy? Instead, they say they love their boyfriend! Believe him.

 

"Right, A-Fah?" This time, Benny aimed at Fourteen, who was standing there looking a bit confused. "A-Fah loves A-Won the most in the world, right?" Fourteen remained silent, his expression unreadable; it was impossible to tell what he was going to say. His demeanour made me feel anxious as well, while at the same time thinking… If he were to give a strange answer, what excuse would I use to explain to my nephew?

 

"yeah"

That was his answer. (Fourteen replied calmly before gently patting my head.)

"I love him more than Ben anyway."

 

His answer left me speechless. I turned to look at my nephew, who was a little too big for words. I imagined him bursting into tears, completely devastated. My favourite uncle said he loves others more than he loves me, showing such deep affection.

 

"I know!!"

 

But no. Benny didn't cry, but instead giggled with delight.

 

"Stop talking about it, you only love your boyfriend, A-Fah only loves his boyfriend," the young kid, with baby teeth, said in a tone like a children's song I didn't recognise, before swaying away.

 

It was as if they were content just knowing that I and Fourteen were there. "Come see Benny drawing too! Both of you!!"

 

The child was gone, but left behind a final, shrill yell. I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn't made my nephew cry for no reason. I glanced at the person next to me and found that Fourteen hadn't said anything either. He watched the mischievous one walk away while his large hand remained on my head.

 

"Thank you," I said softly.

 

"Mm-hmm," Fourteen replied in the same tone without turning to meet my gaze. His expression was as blank as ever, difficult to decipher. I didn't know...I'm not sure if I'm feeling more fond of Benny or getting more annoyed with him, and it's the same with me. I still can't figure it out. Does he have any affection for me, or is he just annoyed?

 

After the art teacher left, Fourteen made dinner for Benny (and me). After eating, we hung out for a while. As for me...I didn't do much; I just sat and watched while answering Benny's endless questions. The real playmate was my favourite adult. It's his.

 

"What is A-Fah doing? Benny is making a train."

 

"castle"

 

"Oh! So where will Benny's train be located?"

 

Just by randomly assembling colourful building blocks, the fake P'Fah and my nephew were having a real conversation. Fourteen was more engrossed in the game than I expected, and talked to Benny more than he talked to me. The two of them had a serious discussion about building a Lego city. Benny burst into laughter, delighted with everything Fourteen said, while Fourteen seemed to have forgotten that this was an activity I had asked him to do.

 

"Benny, why does everything have to be yellow? The castle has to be yellow!" 

 

Fourteen seemed to be enjoying it more than anything else.

 

"Benny, the train is also yellow."

 

"But Benny's train comes in so many colours, it doesn't have to be yellow. Look at the Sky Castle, it's all yellow. It wouldn't look nice with other colours." Benny was silent. He looked at the Fourteen Castle thoughtfully, then turned back to look at his own train for a moment before deciding to pull. The yellow toy was taken out and handed over.

 

"Okay, Benny will use green instead."

 

"Thank you," Fourteen replied. "How about the purple one instead?"

 

I don't know when I started smiling; the next thing I knew, my cheeks were a little sore. At first, I was worried that Fourteen wouldn't get along with Benny because he's kind of shy and easily annoyed. I thought he might not have enough patience to play with a talkative and inquisitive child like him. But when it was time to actually play the role of P'Fah (the older brother figure), Fourteen did better than expected. 

 

His voice wasn't as bright as a typical preschool teacher's, but it wasn't harsh either. He spoke softly, but he didn't seem bored. He was interested in everything Benny said, answered questions calmly, and didn't act like Benny was a clueless child. Fourteen is a perfect older brother like Fah.

 

The fun was almost over, but Benny still had boundless energy. I helped him onto the bed, and Fourteen sat beside him (because Benny wouldn't go up to his room unless both Fourteen and I brought him). Benny still refused to put away his colored pencils, saying he wanted to finish the drawing he had started before he would go to sleep. So, I reluctantly gave him the chance.

 

"I want to," Benny turned to look at me, his voice soft and his pleading eyes conveying something I could somewhat guess. "Benny wants..."

 

"Can I have another sheet of paper? Benny colored this one wrong."

 

"Benny..." My voice softened just as much. This innocent-looking kid always uses his cuteness to melt my heart. "When are we going to sleep?"

 

"Just a sec, Benny, draw it quickly, no more than ten numbers."

 

The young boy bargained. His "not exceeding ten o'clock" meant no later than 10 PM. Tomorrow was Saturday, so he didn't have to wake up too early. He agreed.

Giving me some probably wouldn't hurt, right?

 

"Fine," I sighed softly. Fourteen sitting there chuckled as if pitying my defeat. "Where's the paper?"

 

"It's in Auntie's study," Benny jumped up on the bed enthusiastically. "I'll go get it myself."

 

"Huh...can I come in? My aunt's office?"

 

"You can come in," the mischievous boy nodded confidently. His demeanour showed that Benny was truly familiar with his older brother's office; he didn't seem afraid.

 

"We have to go in there," Benny said. 

 

"Auntie said Benny uses a lot of paper; it's not good. So Auntie said if he wants to draw, he should get some recycled paper from Dad's room." Benny's answer sounded reasonable and very much like a big brother. I felt like I was hearing the lawyer's voice superimposed on Benny's. In fact, that's why I just nodded in agreement without thinking much about it.

 

"Then Awon's coming too," I said, leading Benny off the bed, before glancing at Fourteen. He didn't say anything, just nodded. I guessed, "Wait here," so I took Benny's hand and led him out of the bedroom and straight to my older brother's study on the other side of the second floor.

 

"Come in, come in," Benny opened the door to his father's study and invited me in as if it were his own room. He walked straight to a low cabinet next to his older brother's desk, which was piled high with files and documents. On top of the cabinet was a red document basket containing A4 paper that had been used on one side. It looked like recycled paper, just as Benny had said. 

 

"Benny, you should take three sheets."

 

"Didn't you say you were only going to draw one sheet?" I teased.

 

"Take some for Ah Fah!" the young man replied with a serious expression. I didn't say anything, just laughed and nodded slightly, as if to say, "Do whatever you want."

 

Go ahead, then, and look around his older brother's impeccably neat office with interest. "Ah!!" But in just a second that I took my eyes off him, Benny had caused trouble. When I turned back, the neatly arranged stack of documents on top of the cabinet had slid down onto the floor. It lay piled up around the feet of the little boy, who stood hunched over, knowing he had made a mistake.

 

"They all fell off."

 

And now you're using that high-pitched voice again.

 

"Pick them up, or Dad will scold you," I said jokingly, before walking over to help Benny pick up the documents that had fallen on the floor and put them back together in a stack. I swear, I'm not usually the type to meddle with other people's personal belongings, but this time, I'm sorry to say, I was just too observant. One of a kind.

 

Among the stack of documents that Benny pulled out, one set caught my eye because I saw something familiar.

Anan Jitpaisan

Jitpaisan

The surname of Gloy.

 

I took the liberty of picking up the document and reading it. In my mind, I kept repeating "I'm sorry" as I scanned the text.

 

Arranged in a rapidly forming mass. It's data from a real estate company that I'm familiar with. Actually, it's not just me who's familiar with it; anyone in this country would probably know him. His business empire is huge and spans almost every industry. In simple terms, he's a tycoon. The point is, I know his businesses, but I'm not interested enough to know the real names and surnames of the owners or partners.

 

Today is the first time. And it happened to be my best friend's last name. Is it a coincidence? It's a coincidence that Gloy shares the same last name as a major national tycoon, and it's also a coincidence that my older brother once said that he used to work for Gloy's father. If this is a coincidence, it's a very strange one.

Because, from what I heard from Gloy, both her parents were surgeons and are now retired. They live their lives mainly in Lampang province, and I occasionally visit her in Bangkok. Did I misunderstand something?

 

I pulled my cell phone out of my pants pocket and quickly searched for the name "Mr Anan" on Google. In just a few seconds, information about him suddenly appeared on the entire screen.

 

That's right... He's not a doctor, never was. He's a businessman who holds shares in a major company in the country, and that's his family history. He has three children in total: two sons, the elder and the younger, and a daughter, the middle child.

 

Dr. Kloyjai Jitpaisan

What...is this all about?

 

Gloy's name is in the family records of a national tycoon; she's not just an ordinary surgeon, as she claimed. And in the company documents that her older sister has, on the last page, there's something written in red pen: "Loyjai Jidhisarn," underlined and emphasised. to the point that it looks scary.