Author pov:

    Sorawit stormed upstairs, slamming the door shut. Downstairs, silence reigned.

     "You shouldn't have said that!", Wichian's Mrs. Vamika Said. "What? I was just saying the fact. He is the eldest one and he has the right to look after my company." Said Pong, Sorawit 's dad.

    "Dear ! Please understand. Wit has still not accepted us as his family. Talking about these things in front of him will only make things complicated", Vamika tried to explain.

    Mr. Pong thought about the incident and realized his mistake. He felt bad. "Sorry! I didn't mean to hurt wit. I was just.... ",

    "It's okay babe! Just go and talk with him. He may have misunderstood you", Mrs. Vamika Said. Wichian just sat silent observing the elders and didn't want to disturb them. He just completed his food and bid good night to his mom and Step dad and walked upstairs.

    While crossing Wit's room, Wichian heard his voice. "Can you believe he said that to him? He asked him to take over his company. Then whom am I ? He has already taken my dad, my home, my car, now planning to take away the company too? "

    Wichian heard Sorawit yelling at someone on the phone. He felt guilty. He is not the one who planned to take this away from him. In fact he never wanted any of these. But the universe's plan was different. He got everything when he didn't even want anything. they all belonged to someone else.

    Wichian is not a person who steals others'possessions. He knows the value of everything. When he heard Sorawit talking about him to his friend . Wichian was not angry but felt sorry for Wit.

Wichian felt bad.

Felt guilty.

His heart ached.

But what could he do? All he can do is avoid being closer to him or his dad. He sadly walked up to his room and closed the door shut to avoid hearing him.

In sorawit's room:

     "What is he planning ? Did he want my whole life to be his?", Sorawit yelled on the phone.

    "Wit! Calm down. You can't do anything. He is legally your brother now." Said Tor from the other end.

    "Brother my foot. He just came here to get everything from me. I won't have any mercy to him. I will make him regret living in this home. I will make his life hell so that he will run away from this home."

    "What are you going to do?"

    "Just wait and watch"

Sorawit cut the call having a wicked smile which showed how determined he was to throw away his brother from his house. But the smile didn't last longer.....

Sorawit's POV:

I ended the call with a wicked smile, showing just how determined I was to throw him out of this house. But the smile didn’t last long...

There was a knock on the door.

“Wit?” I heard my dad calling.

I quickly opened the door and let him in, avoiding eye contact. I wasn’t angry—just sad.

Disappointed.

“Wit, I’m sorry if I hurt you. I know you still haven’t accepted Vamika as your mom or Wichian as your brother. But you have to understand... that doesn’t make them strangers. They’re our family now.”

I stood still. No words left my mouth. I knew my dad wanted me to accept them, but I couldn’t.

“Son, you may think I did this out of selfishness, out of love. You may think I didn’t care about you. But when you come to understand Vamika and Wichian, you’ll know why I love them. And I know—one day—you’ll love them more than me. All I hope is that day comes soon,” Dad said.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you. You can take your time to accept them, but don’t hurt them until then... or you’ll be the one feeling guilty.”

With that, he turned to leave after saying goodnight.

I was alone again. Not sad—but confused.

What the hell did that mother and son do to my dad for him to be head over heels for them?

With the thoughts of today’s events running through my mind, the night slipped away.

------------

Next Morning:

I woke up with the alarm ringing right next to me. It was already time to get ready for school.

I quickly brushed my teeth, took a shower, and put on my uniform.

Descending the stairs, I saw my dad already at the dining table—with his wife and Wichian.

I was dismayed.

I hid my emotions and gave my dad a small smile before joining them.

“Wit! I’ve made your favorite Som Tum. Try it,” Mrs. Vamika said to me.

Though I wasn’t interested, I accepted a bite just for my father.

But to my surprise—it tasted just like how my mom used to make it.

I tried to hide my expression, but my eyes betrayed me.

My dad and Mrs. Vamika noticed.

“It’s the same as how your mother used to make it, right?” Dad asked.

I knew it tasted the same.

But I didn’t want to admit it.

I didn’t want to give her hope.

“No! No one can match my mom,” I snapped, reaching for the other dishes.

I could sense the disappointment hanging in the air.

“Mom, there’s still a lot of Som Tum left. Can you pack it for me? I’ll have it during the break,” Wichian said.

I knew he sensed his mother’s disappointment and asked just to ease her pain.

Mrs. Vamika quickly packed it in a box and handed it to him.

“And Mom, I’ll go by bus like usual. Changing routines suddenly looks awkward. I don’t want to be teased by my friends,” he said.

I didn’t know what was going on with him. Was he really worried about being teased... or about me?

“But Wichian, I want you to take the car. I don’t want my son on public transport,” my dad said.

“Honey, it’s okay. He’s used to it. Let him be,” Vamika reassured him, and Wichian quickly left for the bus stop.

“Honey, you shouldn’t have allowed him. What if something happens? It’s safer by car.”

The husband and wife continued worrying about their sweet son—forgetting that I was still sitting right there.

Who cares? Let them.

I tried to focus on my food, but my eyes kept wandering to the Som Tum on the plate.

“I’m leaving,” I said.

“Wit! I packed some Som Tum for you too. Here, take it,” Vamika said.

“It’s okay. I’m full,” I replied quickly and left.

I saw the disappointment on her face.

But I didn’t care.

I got into the waiting car and rushed to school.

At School:

Pete, Tor, and I were chatting under a tree.

“Wit, did the joker complain to your dad about you?” Pete asked.

“No,” I replied.

“No? He must really be afraid of you,” Tor said.

While we were still talking…

“Hey! The joker’s coming,” Pete pointed at Wichian heading to class.

“He still looks the same! I don’t think he’s afraid of you. Maybe he just doesn’t care who you are,” Pete snapped.

That made my blood boil.

“Hey, uncle! Come here,” I shouted at Wichian, who turned around, confused for a second, then realized I was calling him.

“Wit! What are you doing? Why are you calling him uncle?” Tor asked.

“I’m bored. Let’s have some fun,” I smirked.

Wichian walked toward us—calm, not annoyed.

“What?” he asked flatly.

“Uncle, I heard you’re good at sketching. I have an assignment and I suck at drawing. Can you do it for me?” I asked, stretching my notebook toward him.

“Wit! Are you serious? Calling him uncle and asking him to do your work? Are you nuts?” Tor whispered.

I didn’t care.

I just wanted to annoy him.

Annoy him until he leave the house.

I kept staring at him, waiting for a reaction.

I expected him to get mad and reject me.

But to my surprise, he just took the notebook and walked away.

I was stunned.

“Did he just take your notebook?” Pete exclaimed.

The bell rang and we rushed to our class.

During class, as the period neared its end, lunchtime approached.

“Wit, do you think he’ll really do your assignment?” Pete asked.

“What if he doesn’t? We have to submit it after lunch,” Tor added.

I didn’t know what to think.

Would he finish it?

And if he did—why?

If not, how would I manage?