"Me? I am here to meet my mom. Why are you here? Shouldn't you go back to Macau to spend more time with your mistress? What was her name... Lily?"

Dad's eye suddenly twitched. I was bluffing him. I didn't know whether dad was already having an affair. But he definitely recognized the name which Kongpob told me yesterday.

"What—what are you talking about Arthit? Who is this Lily?" Mom asked.

"Dad, do you want to tell mom or should I? And you really dare to threaten a divorce? This whole house belongs to her, she is the majority stakeholder in the company, and you are the one who is cheating on her. I wonder what you will be left with if we take this to court."

Dad suddenly grabbed my collar. "How dare you talk to your father like that? And why are you even here? I told you, you were not welcome in this house"

I pushed dad away harshly. "And I am telling you now that you aren't welcome in this house from now on. You are not allowed to have any communication with mom from here. You want to talk to her, you go through me first.

I'll have mom's lawyers send the papers to you. Now, if you don't want the pictures and details about your mistress to be the front page news tomorrow, I recommend you go back to Macau right now."

Turns out, bluffing him did indeed work. Dad finally left and I took a sigh of relief. One problem down, a million others to go.

Mom was crying and shaking because of everything that she had just heard. "He is really cheating on me, isn't he?"

"Mom he is the idiot. It is not your fault." I hugged mom tightly.

"Do you think I am a bad mother, Arthit? Did my problem with alcohol really ruin my whole family?"

"No, you are a great mother. And you haven't touched alcohol for weeks now. The problem is people like dad who don't understand what it really means to be a recovering alcoholic."

"What should I do now Arthit?"

"You can have breakfast with me , Mom and I will handle everything else."

I sat down at the dining table and had breakfast with mom. I still don't know if dad was the real trigger and if I had solved the problem. So, I decided to stay with mom for as long as I could. She was still in a bad mood, but she perked up a little after our talk post-breakfast.

I also texted Kongpob to make sure he was still in the house.

The fumigation is still going on the dorms. It could take a few hours. Don't leave the house without me, okay?

Yes Arthit. I won't

Promise?

Promise

"Arthit, I'll make some chicken for lunch. You will stay, right?"

We were already past the first accident time, but I wasn't sure if everything was safe. The accident time could change, Kong had already told me that. So I decided to call reinforcements — Bright and Prem.

"Mom, I am calling Bright and Prem for lunch too"

"Sure, call your friends. I also think you should leave that apartment and come back home Arthit."

"Not yet mom....not yet."

Bright and Prem had lunch with us and they helped amp up mom's mood even more. I needed to find good lawyers for mom to make sure dad wouldn't be able to touch us. But that was a task for another day. Today was all about surviving.

"Uhh. Mom, why don't you go lie down for sometime? You must be tired. I'll take Bright and Prem to my room"

"Okay boys. But make sure to eat the cake in the fridge. "

As mom went to her room, I dragged Bright and Prem to mine, and shut the door.

"Okay listen, I need some help"

"AHH HAA" Bright pointed his finger at me. "I knew something was up. You suddenly came back to your house and invited us too. I only came because I was curious"

"Shut up. Bright. You came because I told you mom was making chicken"

"Well... that too."

"Arthit, what do you need help with" Prem finally spoke up

"Something...something has happened with dad. I can't leave mom alone right now, but I really need to be somewhere right now."

"Sure, we'll stay here and look out for your mom. But Arthit, where exactly do you need to go right now?"

"Uhhh.." I scratched the back of my neck. "Its just something very important, trust me on that. I can't really talk about it yet. Can guys please stay here till I come back?"

"Okay Arthit, but you need to tell me what happened, after you come back."

"I am just staying here for the cake" said Bright

"Yes, I will tell you about it later. I am going now.

Uh...Bright. Your car is at that bakery we used to go to in school. I had to run back home from there. Can you pick it up?"

"I can but didn't you say you needed my car?"

"Its okay, I'll just take mom's car. I don't have time to go back to the bakery right now."

"Pffff. Prem, I bet he is going to meet a guy right now and he wants to impress with his mom's Mercedes. What, my car isn't good enough for that guy?"

"Shut up Bright. I am leaving. Get your car if you want to. BYE"

As I was leaving, I met Uncle Thipat at the main door. "Arthit, I am very proud of you for standing up to your father today."

"I am not sure if I am proud of myself yet. Uncle, I really need to go somewhere right now, but if mom wakes up or anything happens, please call me."

"Yes, I will. Don't worry."

···

I called Kongpob on the way and practically raced to his house. It was already 3pm, way past the second accident time, but I still wasn't sure if I had completely avoided it.

When I arrived at Kongpob's house, he was already getting all of his stuff outside and his parents were there too. Dammit, I forgot I would have to meet Kongpob's parents too. I am already all sweaty and nervous. This is NOT how I wanted to meet them.

"Arthit, you are finally here!

Mom, dad, this is my friend Arthit. He is a senior in my college"

"Hello Arthit, so good to finally meet you" Kongpob's dad was looking right at me.

"I am sorry for being late Mr Suthiluck. There were some traffic on the way."

"No, no its absolutely okay. I am just happy Kongpob has a great friend like you. Look after him while he is in college, will you? He is moving away from home for the first time,"

"Yes of course. Uh.. you will be at home all day right? Just in case, Kong forgets something and we need to get it back?"

Kongpob suddenly looked at me all confused. "What do you mean Arthit? I already packed and double checked everything"

I need to come up with something quick! "No, I know. I know. But just in case. Will you stay at home Mr Suthiluck?

"Yes of course, me and Kong's mom will be spending our Sunday at home. I was actually hoping to take Kong to college, but he only wanted to go with you."

"I just.. I just wanted to help anyway I can."

Kong and I loaded all of his stuff in the car, said our goodbyes to his parents, and left for college.

We were approaching the freeway where the accident happened. I too focused on driving when I suddenly heard Kongpob trying to call me out.

"Arthit? Arthit?"

"Yeah? Sorry I was too focused on driving. What were you saying?"

"I remember you telling me you were a broke college student. But then you suddenly showed at my house in a Mercedes? Are you secretly very rich but you don't want me to know because then I would fall for your money instead of you"

Suddenly, I was regretting taking mom's car. It was the car in which the accident happened. I should have left it at home and taken Bright's car instead. Or I should have taken a different route. Kong told me to identify and avoid as many triggers as possible.

"It — It is my mom's car. I was with her in the morning. I dropped her at home and rushed to you."

"You should have spent more time with her Arthit. I know how important she is to you. I could have easily gone with dad."

I looked at Kong and stared in his eyes. "You are important to me too, Kong"

Kong was smiling at me, but suddenly I saw fear on his face as his attention went on the road.

------

A/N: So, yes The Accident will have 3 parts.

What do you think will happen in the third part? Will Arthit and Kong be okay? How will this day change their lives? I HAVE SUPER PLANS FOR THE STORY AND I AM VERY EXCITED TO WRITE IT.

I am sorry for any mistakes. I am editing this chapter while drinking my third glass of Vodka.