Chapter 16:

"Mom..."

I hadn't seen her in 2 months and yet. Mom looked like she had aged a decade. Her wrinkles were more prominent, she had big dark circles, and she looked extremely frail.

I could see the tears forming in mom's eyes and I couldn't hold myself anymore. I hugged her instantly.

"I missed you, mom" My voice was quivering as I tried to talk through my tears.

"If you missed me so much, then why Arthit...just why didn't you pick up any of my calls?"

I looked at her all confused. "Mom, what are you talking about? You are the one who has not been picking up my calls!"

"Arthit...why, just why would I ignore my own son? Are you deliberately giving me all these lies to justify your behavior? Why would you lie to your own mother, Arthit?"

I could sense mom's anxiety setting in and she was almost on the verge of a panic attack.

"Mom. Mom. Its okay. I'll explain everything, I swear. Take a few deep breaths. We used to practice it before when the doctor told you, remember?

Inhale.Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

One more time.Good now, lets sit down on this table. I'll get you your favourite tea and some cakes, and then we'll talk."

Mom held my wrist tightly. "Arthit, you—you won't leave again?"

"Of course not mom. I am your son. How far could I ever go from you?" I smiled at her and walked to the counter.

I took the cakes and tea, and kept it on the table with a big smile.

"Here mom. They had some fresh carrot cakes today so I got those."

"I tried calling you everyday son, you never picked up my calls. I didn't even know where you were living. I was planning to go to your college next week"

"I tried calling you too mom, but you ignored my calls. I thought..you hated me for being gay" I looked down at the table, trying to hide my tears. "I am sorry I couldn't be the son you wanted me to be."

"No, no. Arthit. I would never hate you. I was angry that day when your father asked you to leave the house because it all came as a shock to me, but I could never hate you son."

"Why—why didn't you stop me mom? Why didn't you say anything to dad?"

"I am sorry Arthit. I just..I didn't think that things would get so bad. Not stopping you that day you will be the biggest regret of my life. I had no idea I wouldn't get to see your face for two whole months. I called you the same night you left to ask you to come back, but you didn't pick up my phone since then."

"Mom, will you show me your phone? I think there is something wrong with it. We should have been able to connect to each other, but none of our calls got through"

I took mom's phone and checked for any issues. She was right, her calls weren't going through to my number, but everything else seemed to be working fine. Opening her block list, I found my number there.

"Mom, you blocked my number! This is why we couldn't call each other. Why did you block me?"

"Arthit, I don't even know you can block people on phone. I don't know how the blocks things work"

"Did someone take your phone on the day I left the house?"

"I am not sure. No one touches my phone in the house apart from you or your father"

Dad.. seriously? Have we really come to this?

I unblocked my number from mom's phone and tried calling her again. It worked.

"Mom. I unblocked my number. Look, we can call each other now. But just in case this happens again, I am installing this other video calling app on your phone that you can use to directly call me."

"But why do we need to video call everyday Arthit? Aren't you coming home with me?"

"Mom... I don't think dad would want that"

"I'll talk to him. You just come home with me right now."

"No Mom, I can't. I think it was dad who blocked my number on your phone. He obviously doesn't want us meeting. I also talked to Uncle Thipat. He told me dad has instructed all the staff members to inform him immediately if I come to the house."

"Your father, he has crossed a whole new limit today.. I just I can't believe he would do this to his own son." Mom looked distraught and I didn't know what to do anymore. So, I just held her hand.

"Mom, I honestly don't care about dad anymore or what he wants. I care about you. I want you to be healthy and happy"

"But how could he—"

"Have you started drinking again mom? Tell me honestly."

"I—I just had a few glasses sometimes. You left and your dad is hardly at home. I was just lonely"

"Mom, you have to promise me to never, ever drink again. And I'll promise to always pick your calls"

"I—I promise"

"And you can't even drive, mom. Take the driver wherever you want to go. Or call me. I'll come and take you. But please, please don't drive. Okay?"

"Okay. But Arthit, you need to come home with me"

"May be someday mom, but not right now. It will only cause more tension if I go home right now."

"How have you been doing on your own? Where have you been staying? Do you need money?" Mom started sifting through her purse.

I laughed. "Mom stop. I really don't need money right now. I took up some part time jobs and got an apartment near college. I am really doing okay. I'll take you to see the apartment some other day"

"My baby had to grow up so fast. Arthit, I won't force you to come home if you don't want to yet, but you need to call me if you ever run into any problems or if you just want to talk. I am your mother after all."

"I will call you mom. But you promised me to not drink or drive anymore. I will ask Uncle Thipat so don't try to hide it from me"

"I wont darling"

We hugged and decided to part ways but with the promise to meet again tomorrow.

"I'll send you my new apartment address"

"I'll cook your favourite noodles and get it for you tomorrow then. I hope I won't find your place too messy like your old room."

"Yes ma." I hugged her before she left.

I was about to leave the bakery too, when I saw Kongpob waving from the other side of the road.

Dammit, I forgot about Kong.

I crossed the street to talk to him."Kong, have you been waiting for me all along?"

"Of course, I told you I would wait for you." He was smiling at me brightly like he didn't just get bored waiting for me for a whole hour.

"It has been more an hour Kong. You should have just left" Kongpob tilted his head slightly and moved closer to me. ", especially when I promised to wait for you. How did things go?"

"It actually went way better than I thought. I patched things up with mom and she'll meet me again tomorrow"

"Thats great Arthit!" Kongpob hugged me suddenly and took me by surprise.

"Kong, let go. I can't breathe"

"Sorry" He finally let go of me, but held my hand instead. "Its not too late yet. Do you want to go watch a movie and then grab dinner together?"

"Ummm.. there is something that I need to do at home actually. Can we get some ice cream and walk to the bus stop instead?"

"Oh-okay. Yeah. I'll get the ice creams."

I could hear the disappointment in Kongpob's voice. I wanted to go watch a movie with Kong. I wanted to take him on a date, but I wanted to secure our future first.

I needed to go home and meet with the future Kongpob to check if the future changed after I finally met mom. We took our ice cream cones and walked slowly to the bus stop.

I wanted to hold Kongpob's hand. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to tell him I loved him. But I kept them all in my heart and saved them for another day. A day, when we could finally have our happy ending .

Finally, we reached the bus stop. "I am sorry for today Kongpob. I made you wait for a whole hour and I couldn't even have dinner with you"

"Arthit, I chose to wait for you and we didnt even plan to meet today. I am just happy I ran into you today. You owe me a dinner now"

"I do owe you a dinner" The bus honked. "I'll text you and we'll plan that dinner okay?"

"Okay. Goodnight Arthit"

I sat in the bus feeling giddy and hoping we had finally avoided the accident in the future. I practically raced back to my apartment only to find Kongpob lounging on the couch.

"KONG, WHY ARE YOU RELAXING ON THE COUCH?"

"Why can't I? Why are you even yelling?"

"I met mom."

"You did? I didn't know you were going to meet your mom"

"That's not important Kong,

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A/N: I am sorry for any mistakes. I edited this chapter while drinking. I need liquor to get through my life as I hit Day 70 of quarantine.

Why do you think the future didn't change even after Arthit met his mom?

Only 7 days left till the accident and Arthit didn't even get laid yet.