"Hello?" 

"Fah? Good, you're home. Don't go anywhere, I'm on my way, I'll be there in less than an hour." Lom hung up before giving him a chance to respond. The abrupt disconnect triggered a tightening in his chest. Unable to sit still he busied himself with cleaning. 

Perfect, now my mouth is dry and I feel like I'm going to vomit. Who does he think he is? I'm coming...don't go anywhere...He doesn't say if he's coming for an hour or a week, if he's coming alone, or even why. I better change my sheets in case he's staying over. I guess it'll be the couch for me. I might have had a crush on him in high school but I'll sleep in my car before I ever share a bed with that asshole again. 

Surveying the condo, he decided it was presentable. The final touch was to mop the kitchen floor. Fah had nothing to hide as his life consisted of studying, working part-time, and spending time at his girlfriend's house. Her family loved him and although he had not officially proposed to Manao, they already considered him part of the family. Her brothers even invited him over to shoot pool or play video games.

I can't believe he assumes I have nothing important to do today. It's been three years since we've spoken, who does he think he is announcing his arrival? People in the path of a tornado get more of a warning.  

The crack of the mop handle ended his reverie. Had he mopped with that much force? 

Damn, Lom and his family! Okay, his family is somewhat my family. After all, they took me in when I was six and raised me as his brother. Hopefully, nothing is wrong with Ton or Nara, Lom's parents.

The last thought scared him. If Ton died Lom would be expected to take his father's place as Chao pho (the head of the mafia in their area). Nara had cared for Fah as if he were her own and he couldn't imagine not having her around.

I wish I knew why Lom began excluding me. He never explained anything to me, he just abruptly distanced himself from me at school and only spoke to me at dinner because his parents were there. 

Fah remembered the day he'd arrived home early to overhear a conversation that broke his heart. 

"I don't understand why you need a room of your own. The two of you have always shared a bedroom; did you two argue?" asked Nara.

"No, I just want a room to myself. I don't need him in my business all the time. I can't take a phone call without him listening, I can't do anything without him asking if I've finished my homework yet—"

"Fah's right, you should do your homework first."

"But that's just it, it's like having a parent living with me. He's nosy, he always wants to know what I'm doing, what I'm thinking, always inviting me to do stupid stuff with him and his friends."

Fah, hiding out of sight, was shocked. Is this how he sees me? 

"Lom, we only have the smaller room down the hall. All the other rooms are taken between the bodyguards and house staff."

Stepping into view, Fah swallowed hard and spoke in a strangled tone, "I'll take the small room. After all, it's Lom's house, he shouldn't lose his room to someone he hates." He turned and ran upstairs.

"Fah, I don't hate you. Ugh..." He'd never meant for Fah to hear this, he'd used him as an excuse, never imagining he'd overhear.

"Lom, you will apologize to your brother. I don't care which of you moves to the smaller room, but clear things up with him immediately. I'm not sure how much he heard, but he's always been insecure about living in our house while not being our child." Nara turned and left. Lom stood at the bottom of the stairs, picking at a loose piece of wood on the banister. 

Every day after school, the two had firearm practice followed by defensive/evasive technique training with the bodyguards. Another hour of private Muay Thai instruction came next. Although they had Muay Thai at school, Ton believed it was not intense enough. Instead of heading upstairs, Lom headed to the shooting range.

That afternoon Fah skipped Muay Thai and spent the time moving to the smaller room. He never complained about it, he never confronted Lom about his harsh words, and he never spoke to him again unless it was necessary.

The buzzer startled him, bringing him back to the present. Pressing the intercom he asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me, idiot. Let me in." 

Leave it to Lom to speak rudely to me after all this time. I guess he didn't come to apologize.

Fah buzzed him in and waited in the hallway for the elevator. When he caught sight of the man who stepped out, his eyes widened and he smiled broadly before catching himself.

Lom had always been handsome but now, as he walked toward Fah, he commanded attention. He wore his black hair in an undercut with a ponytail on top. Defined muscles replaced baby fat. Beautiful tattoos, a mix of tribal and dot-work images, adorned his arms. High cheekbones and full lips accentuated his handsomeness, making him look like a fashion model. At that moment, Fah realized there might be another reason they couldn't share a bed.

What the hell? Am I getting turned on by Lom? What the fuck is this? Stop it, stop it now. He's a selfish ass. 

Stopping in the doorway to take his shoes off, the new and improved Lom glanced around. The family home in which they were raised was adorned with framed photos of the family everywhere, the opposite of Fah's condo. Here there were no personal touches except one torn photo of Mookda, Fah's mother, holding him as an infant. His birth father had also been in the picture, but all that remained of him now was a tattooed arm around Mookda's shoulder. 

Lom could see the Rama VIII bridge in the distance through the large living room window. This was far superior to the condo his father had bought him. Soon after Fah had left for the university, Ton had surprised him with a condo of his own. Unfortunately, his was located in a less fashionable area of Bangkok without the glamorous view. 

"Come in. I put new sheets on so you can sleep in the bed. I'll take the couch," said Fah.

"What? Are you a girl? Why can't we both use the bed? I'm your brother; you don't have to sleep on the floor." Tossing his travel bag to the side, he plopped down on the couch in the living room and put his feet on the coffee table.

"Could you not?" Fah failed to hide his annoyance.

"What?"

"Get your dirty feet off my table. I study there and sometimes I eat my meals at that table." Fah was sure he'd only done it to disrespect him.

"Fine, whatever. What do you have to eat?"

"I can cook, we can order in, or we can go out, whichever you like. Let me know because Manao wants to join us."

"Who's Manao?"

"Manao Thakur, my girlfriend. We've dated since my first semester and we plan to marry after graduation. She's going for a law degree as well."

"You're going to marry her? Did you speak with Dad yet? Did he agree? Does her family know about us? They might not accept you when they learn who our father is," said Lom, a wicked gleam in his eye.

Fah had hoped Lom's visit was to make amends and restore their friendship. His mocking tone now made Fah realize this visit must have been ordered by Ton. 

"No, I haven't spoken with Ton yet. I want to wait until the final semester in case anything changes. I'll talk to him when the time is right. Her whole family loves me, they have me over for holidays, birthdays, and dinners. They know my mom died and family friends raised me." He didn't add that he'd always felt welcomed and loved there, never insecure or indebted as he did with Lom's family. 

"Well, you better come clean with her family. After all, everyone is aware of who our dad is. Whether you like it or not, it affects how people view us. You've never experienced it because you've been in school and have a different last name. You'll see it soon enough once you're out in the real world. People either hate you, avoid you, or kiss your ass. No one is real; you can't trust anyone."

"I disagree. I think people, for the most part, are good and honest. I've shown her family the man I am, and I don't think it will make much of a difference to them or her." 

"Wait, Manao doesn't know?" Lom laughed derisively.

"Not yet. I haven't found the right time to tell her, but I will. I have no doubt she'll be fine with it. Well, maybe not fine, but it won't change anything between us. We're in love."

"Hm," said Lom. "Can I grab a shower before we go out?"

"Sure. So, you want to go out to dinner? I'll text Manao. What kind of food do you want?"

"Japanese."

"Oh, great, there's a Japanese restaurant a few blocks away. We love going there." He followed Lom to the bathroom.

"There's a clean towel and face cloth on the counter for you. I have different types of shampoos and soaps in the shower and more on the counter, in case you want a particular scent."

"Thanks," said Lom as he shut the door in the face of a still-speaking Fah.

Fifteen minutes later Lom came out in just a towel. Fah's breath hitched and he could feel his face redden. Lom's chiseled abs and defined arms mesmerized him and he found himself unable to look away. The large yak sant tattoo on his back was tantalizing. Fah had always wanted to go to the temple to get one, not just for its beauty but also for its protection. However, he was afraid it would be too painful and he'd have to ask the monk to stop in front of everyone.

"Hey, stop staring at me like that. I'm getting the impression you want to eat me!" laughed Lom.

His face turning redder, Fah asked, "Do you work out now?"

"Yeah, I hit the gym every day before work. I have to. The jobs Dad gives me require a lot of physical effort. If you're not in shape, you're going to end up dead. Literally."

Fah thought about this. Lom worked for Ton whose life was running the organization. Still, he never thought Ton would send his son on dangerous jobs. The realization that Lom could be killed every time he went to work surprised him. He walked over to Lom and hugged him.

"What's going on?" Lom froze; every muscle tensed. He knitted his brow and stared down at Fah's head.

"I'm sorry you have to put your life in danger while I'm here studying. I never realized what you were dealing with. I don't want to lose you." Fah squeezed him tighter.

"It's...okay... I've spent my whole life preparing to replace him. It's not as if another path is possible, right? Relax, it's not your fault and I'm fine." Gently he removed Fah's arms from around him. He was astonished Fah still cared about him. They finished dressing in silence.

Wearing black pants and a light blue button-down shirt, Lom looked even more like a celebrity. Spotting their reflections in the mirror Fah thought, Look at me. I'm so blah. I look as if I should be his accountant. I hope Manao doesn't fall for him.

As if on cue, his phone rang.

"Hello...Have you already made reservations?... Thanks, sweetie. Do you want me to pick you up?... Sure. Give us about 15 minutes. See you soon. I love you." He hung up and spied Lom smiling.

"What? Go on, get it out of your system, make fun of me."

"No. I would have, but you ruined it by giving me permission." Lom's cockeyed smile made Fah laugh.

Twenty minutes later they pulled into Manao's driveway. Turning to Lom he said, "I'll get Manao, you move to the back seat."

"What? Why?" Lom pressed his lips together and smirked. 

"Because she sits up front with me. Now, move it." Fah went to the house and returned to the car with Manao. He held the door open as a pretty girl with cat-like features slid into the passenger seat. With her light skin and green eyes, he realized she must be luk khrueng. Leaning across the front seat, she opened Fah's door for him. At last, she turned around to greet Lom.

"You must be Lom, the long-lost brother I never heard of until a few hours ago." Her sweet tone did not take away the snarkiness of her comment in Lom's opinion.

"Fah never mentioned me?" He forced a laugh, crossed his arms, and glanced at the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror.

"No. I thought he was pranking me." Manao smiled warmly at Lom. Years of experience told him she liked what she saw; not that he would ever make a move on her. He supposed she was slightly attractive. 

"Well, I guess that makes us even. He's never mentioned you to me or our family." A hurt expression flitted across her face but was instantly replaced with a smile.

Does this girl ever stop smiling? She's like a robot. Is she the reason Fah stopped coming home these past three years? Before he met her, Fah was close to Mom and Dad and now he doesn't even call them. I better not piss her off or Dad will be angry. After all, he sent me here to find out what was going on, thought Lom.

"To be honest, I never talk to Lom's family about anything personal; just school and grades." Fah quickly calmed Manao.

"Now they're my family and not yours? That's funny. They were your family while you lived with us for 12 years. My family paid for everything you needed, fed you, and treated you as one of us.  My father bought your condo and is paying for your school, but now they're my family? You're an ungrateful asshole." He wanted to remain calm, but his anger was rising. Everything always came easily to Fah in his opinion. 

Your mother's dead? Here's a new family. Do you want a college degree? Sure, we'll pay. We won't send our own son, but we will send you off to achieve your dreams. Do you want to live comfortably? We'll buy you a condo and furnish it for you. Meanwhile, your brother can hunt down people who owe us money and beat them senseless while he dodges bullets and knives. 

Lom stopped thinking about this, plastered a smile on his face, and focused on being amiable. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. I apologize." He hated apologizing when he wasn't wrong, but his father would never forgive him if he alienated Fah.

"No, I'm sorry. You're right. They are my family. I love them, and I love you, I'm sorry." He smiled in the rearview mirror at Lom who flashed a fake smile. Clenching the steering wheel tightly he pretended everything was okay. 

Shit, Lom hasn't even been here two hours and I've pissed him off. Fuck! Why can't I keep my mouth shut? I can't let lunch descend into an argument.

He parked near the restaurant's front door, got out, and walked around to the passenger side to open the door for Manao. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lom grimace as he extricated himself from the tiny backseat and he smiled to himself.