2 In 1; In Unity & More [Completed] Kong

“Pa? Im here. Where are you?”

“In here, Kong. Just hanging the laundry. Where’s that boy, the junior of yours? Is he not coming?”

“He’s fishing with his friends Pa. He said he will come by in the evening for dinner.”

My dad nodded as he asked me to help myself to the breakfast he had made. We chatted about school, then his work and caught each other up on our stories. My dad and I behaved more like friends rather than father and son and it was obvious in our conversations.

“So tell me sweetie, are you seeing anyone?”

“Pa! We been through this.”

“Kong my boy, if you don’t start dating now, when do you want to do it? I definitely want a son in law at some point. And you are already 21! At least go on a date or two. Make your old man proud yea.”

“Pa!” I shouted mortified. He laughed. We traded more stories and were watching a soccer match together when Lam called, saying he was on his way. He asked if he could pick something up on the way for us. My dad took the phone from me.

“Could you help me get the cakes from the bakery near my condo? And also the cute barista’s number for my son. Because if he doesn’t want to make the effort, I shall do it for him. He’s clearly ignoring my wishes for a son in law.”

I screamed at my dad from the background as Lam and my dad chortled. 30 minutes later, Lam turned up with an array of cakes. I stared at him.

“Lam, there’s only 3 of us. Why did you buy 9 pieces?!”

“I don’t know what uncle would like plus you. So I just got all of the available flavours.”

“I like this boy even more. Maybe you should date him, Kong. He will spoil you and me rotten.”

Argh! I growled at my dad and he laughed. Lam just laughed, blushing a little. We had dinner together and chose 3 flavors to share amongst ourselves.

As we were eating, my dad asked Lam about his own family. Shit I had forgotten to warn my dad not to broach that topic. I saw Lam stiffen a bit but he just put on a small smile as he answered my dad.

“I have always been staying with my grandparents since I was 9, uncle. My parents divorced when I was young and both wanted to remarry so they gave up on me to have their own lives. They obviously make up for it with a lot of money for me thinking it solves everything. So yea.. nothing really to say much about family. My grandparents are old. I’m thankful to them for looking after me but..it’s not the same..”

I was incredibly silent, realizing in a way Lam had it worse than me. What’s worse than a dead parent? Having non existent living ones. I looked at him as he ate the cake quietly, choosing to stuff his mouth, not wanting to talk anymore but then I heard my father speak.

“I guess then it’s settled then. I wouldn’t have the hassle of fighting your parents for you then.”

Both Lam and me looked at my dad stunned! What was he on about?

“You are like a son to me as much as Kong. This boy of mine, he picks his friends carefully. He has brought very few people home or approved very few people of mine that I like. So people he brings home or he allows me to invite over, I know they are good souls in some way. And as much as Kong is my son, you are like one to me too. Just like Arthit and Aim. So, never fret about the non existent parents when you got a dad in me ok?”

Lam was just incredibly quiet, but I could see he was fighting some tears. I silently grabbed his knee under the table and squeezed it gently. He looked at me and I tried smiling. Tried being the key word as I am very bad at comforting people.

“If that’s you trying to comfort him, stop it Kong. You are doing an ugly job of it. Don’t scare the poor boy.” My dad retorted cheekily.

“Pa! Cut me some slack!!”

“Fight me kiddo. I don’t care. Or get your non existent boyfriend to fight me on it.”

ARGH!!! AGAIN!! I glared at my dad as he laughed. Good thing, Lam got distracted too and ended up laughing at my misery. I smiled to myself seeing both of then laughing away heartily.

It was a very endearing evening and I wouldn’t trade this for anything else. It was just odd Lam was a part of this equation so quickly though we barely made peace just 2 days ago. We cannot even be considered friends and yet he was already my father’s son. The irony of it all was definitely not lost on me and going by my dad’s cheeky smile at me, he clearly knew too.