Episode 05

    "Sigh! It's truly sad. No mother, and now the father has died like this."

    "Exactly. I heard he doesn't have any relatives either."

    "Really? Oh no, how is he going to live? He's only fourteen."

    "So pitiful."

    "That debtor was so thoughtless. If you're in debt, you have to pay it off. How could he shoot the creditor like this?"

    "He probably thought that if Achira died, the debt would die with him."

    The villagers attending Achira's funeral kept discussing the various events that had transpired, from the cause of Achira's death to how pitiful Kab Kluen seemed, having lost the only family member he had left. But no matter how people talked about his family, Kab Kluen paid no attention and didn't register their words at all. The boy sat leaning against the wall in front of his father's coffin, his eyes fixed on Achira's photograph. Kab Kluen had cried so much that his eyes were swollen and red, his face pale from lack of sleep and food since Achira passed away. Tears that had just stopped flowing started again as he thought of his father.

    Kab Kluen's days felt like they had ended, as if he didn't know what to do or how to continue living. He just sat there in front of the coffin. When he lost his mother, it was as if his world had already crumbled more than halfway. Luckily, Achira was there, being a father, a family that provided love, warmth, and care, helping Kab Kluen get through the loss of his mother. But this time, he had lost the remaining half of his world. No one was left to stand by his side. The grief was so overwhelming that Kab Kluen didn't know how to get through this time. It was hard, too hard for him, who considered his father as his entire world.

    "Young Master, please get up and eat something. You haven't eaten in days. If you keep this up, it'll be bad for you."

    The housekeeper who had raised Kab Kluen since he was a child spoke to him with concern. Kab Kluen slowly shook his head in refusal, his eyes still fixed on Achira's photograph, and replied softly.

    "I'm not hungry yet. I want to wait and eat with Dad."

    "Young Master."

    Upon hearing Kab Kluen's words, Aunt Bua called out to him with a trembling voice, as if she was about to cry too. He Xing Yan and Zhang Ai Yue, who were standing by to see off the guests, turned to look at Kab Kluen with concern.

    "I'm going to check on Kab Kluen. Please continue seeing off the remaining guests."

    "Alright, go ahead. Try to persuade Kab Kluen to eat or rest."

    Zhang Ai Yue nodded in agreement, reaching out to gently pat the back of He Xing Yan's hand, offering him comfort because he knew his husband was just as saddened by the loss of his only close friend. The couple exchanged faint smiles before Zhang Ai Yue walked away.

    "Kab Kluen, all the guests have left. Tomorrow is the cremation ceremony. Why don't you eat something and then go home to rest? That way, we can send your father off together tomorrow."

    Zhang Ai Yue spoke to Kab Kluen in a gentle tone, but Kab Kluen still shook his head, refusing his suggestion.

    "Achira would be worried seeing you like this. You know he didn't like it when you skipped meals. So please, eat something, even just a little."

    Hearing Zhang Ai Yue mention that Achira would be concerned about him, and recalling how Achira often scolded him, Kab Kluen's eyes began to tremble as if he might cry again. He looked up, pressing his lips tightly together to hold back his tears, and nodded in agreement. Seeing Kab Kluen agree to eat something, Zhang Ai Yue smiled softly, while Aunt Bua quickly excused herself to prepare a meal for him.

    From a distance, He Xing Yi witnessed the entire pitiful scene of Kab Kluen. However, not knowing how to comfort someone in distress, He Xing Yi could only stand and watch Kab Kluen with a blank expression before bowing his head to continue collecting the dishes.

    "Kab Kluen!"

    Zhang Ai Yue shouted Kab Kluen's name loudly as she saw the boy collapse right in front of He Xing Yi. He Xing Yi looked up in confusion, and upon seeing his younger brother faint, he quickly put down the tray and rushed to him. He was about to administer first aid, but Zhang Ai Yue stopped him.

    "There's no need. Kab Kluen fainted because he hasn't eaten or rested. So let's take this opportunity to let him rest. Xing Yi, please take him home to sleep. When he wakes up, encourage him to continue resting. Your father and I will handle things here. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, I'll take him home then."

    After speaking to Zhang Ai Yue, He Xing Yi lifted Kab Kluen into his arms and carried him to the family van, instructing the driver to head back to Kab Kluen's house immediately. During the ride, He Xing Yi held his brother's hand the entire time, watching Kab Kluen's face with deep concern.

    …

    After returning home, He Xing Yi took his brother to bed and stayed close by. Before long, Kab Kluen slowly regained consciousness. As soon as he realized Kab Kluen was awake, He Xing Yi quickly moved to stop him from getting up.

    "Don't get up yet. Just rest a little longer," he said gently.

    "How did I end up back home?" Kab Kluen asked, puzzled.

    "You fainted, so my mom asked me to bring you back home to rest."

    "I'm fine now. I want to go back to be with my father."

    Kab Kluen tried to get up again, but He Xing Yi held him down, preventing him from leaving the bed. Kab Kluen couldn't get up because He Xing Yi pressed down on his shoulders. His pale face stared intently at He Xing Yi's face with displeasure. At that moment, tears began to well up in Kab Kluen's eyes, and his lips trembled. Soon, he let the tears flow once more. Seeing this, He Xing Yi felt a pang in his heart and gradually released the pressure on his brother's shoulders.

    Not knowing how to comfort him, He Xing Yi, at a loss, leaned in to embrace his brother. One hand rested on Kab Kluen's back, while the other gently stroked his head.

    "It's alright."

    Even though he knew losing Achira was anything but alright, He Xing Yi chose to say those words because he didn't know what else to say. He hoped his embrace would make Kab Kluen feel better, but it only made him cry harder.

    The person in his arms cried so hard that his body shook, and He Xing Yi's shirt became soaked with tears. It was unclear how long Kab Kluen cried, but eventually, he fell asleep in He Xing Yi's embrace.

    He Xing Yi carefully laid Kab Kluen down properly, gently covering him with a blanket. He gazed at his brother's face for a moment, ensuring he wouldn't wake up, before quietly leaving the room.

    When he went downstairs, He Xing Yi saw that Zhang Ai Yue and He Xing Yan had just returned home. Instead of heading to the shower, he walked over to his parents.

    "Where's Kab Kluen?" He Xing Yan asked.

    "He woke up from fainting and insisted on going to see Uncle, but I stopped him, and he ended up crying himself to sleep. I think he's exhausted from all the crying."

    "That's good. Kab Kluen hasn't slept since Achira passed away."

    "And Dad, are you okay?" He Xing Yi asked with concern.

    "I’m sad, but I’m getting through it just fine because your mom's right by his side."

    He Xing Yan spoke with a smile, wrapping his arm around Zhang Ai Yue's shoulder and pulling his closer. However, he quickly released his when Zhang Ai Yue's hand slapped his stomach.

    "Our son is old enough to get married now. Show some respect in front of him, will you?"

    He Xing Yan let out a brief ‘ouch’ before quickly changing his demeanor as an idea struck him. He turned to his son and spoke.

    "Xing Yi, I have something to discuss with you. Let's talk outside."

    Upon hearing his father's words, He Xing Yi glanced at Zhang Ai Yue. Initially hesitant to go, he decided to follow his father out when he saw his mother nod in approval. Although He Xing Yan hadn't explicitly stated what he wanted to talk about, Zhang Ai Yue knew it was likely about Achira's last request.

    Though Zhang Ai Yue had raised He Xing Yi since he was a child and knew everything he liked or disliked, she had no idea how he would respond to what He Xing Yan was about to discuss.

    Meanwhile, not long after He Xing Yi left, Kab Kluen woke up again. After opening his eyes, he lay still on the bed in the dark, square room for a while before slowly getting up to retrieve a video tape from the bookshelf. He stood in front of the TV, setting it up.

    "Kab Kluen."

    "Wow! Look, our son is starting to walk!"

    Soon, the TV screen displayed familiar images and voices. Kab Kluen picked up the TV remote and sat on the floor in front of the sofa, staring at the images with a blank expression.

    The video Kab Kluen was watching was a compilation of moments his parents had recorded throughout his childhood—from his birth, first steps, first words, to his first day at school. Every significant event in his early years was captured by his parents, making Kab Kluen feel as if he was reliving those moments once again.

    Throughout his fourteen years of life, he always had his parents by his side. Even after losing his mother, Kab Kluen still had Achira with him. They ate together, laughed together, talked, and did activities together. Whether in happiness or sorrow, Achira was always there. But from this moment on, no matter where Kab Kluen looked, he wouldn't see his parents anymore. There would be no more conversations or shared laughter.

    The time they had together was now just a memory, untouchable and irretrievable. Just the thought of being alone without them brought tears streaming down Kab Kluen's face.

    "Kab Kluen."

    "Kab Kluen, open the door for your father, will you?"

    As Kab Kluen sat with his head down, crying, a familiar voice called out. He quickly turned to look at the bedroom door, thinking his father was knocking as he always did. But in the next moment, he realized that his father would never knock on his door again.

    Kab Kluen turned back to the video playing on the screen, staring blankly at it. Slowly, he got up and walked to the bathroom. Even though the bedroom was dark, the dim moonlight allowed him to see the bottle of bathroom cleaner clearly. He stared at it for a moment before speaking softly.

    "If I die too, we'll be together again, right?"

    ...

    "What did you say, Dad?" He Xing Yi asked loudly after hearing what He Xing Yan had just said.

    "I said I want you to marry Kab Kluen."

    He Xing Yan spoke in a calm voice. Hearing it again, He Xing Yi's mouth fell open, and he rolled his eyes before letting out a deep sigh.

    "Why do I have to marry him? I don't even like him."

    "You may not like him now, but once you're married and living together, you'll grow to like him."

    He Xing Yan spoke from experience. Initially, he hadn't loved Zhang Ai Yue, but living together and seeing each other every day had changed his feelings over time.

    "No way. I will never marry someone I don't love."

    "He Xing Yi, that was your uncle's last request!"

    This time, He Xing Yan shouted loudly.

    "So what? He's not here anymore. Why should I follow it? Why should I be responsible for Kab Kluen when I'm not involved at all?"

    "Don't you feel sorry for him? He used to have Achira as his only family, but now Achira is gone, and he's left to fend for himself. He's only fourteen. Do you think he can get through this?"

    "Dad, you're looking at it wrong. You should be saying that he's already fourteen, so why wouldn't he be able to get through it? I care for him as a brother, not as a lover. I have no intention of marrying him like you said, so please don't bring this up again. Not only will I never agree to marry him, but if you keep insisting, it'll make me care for him even less."

    He Xing Yi firmly declared that he had no desire to marry Kab Kluen. After speaking, he turned and walked away in anger, ignoring He Xing Yan's calls. When he was younger, he liked Kab Kluen, and as he grew older, he even thought about marrying him. But now, his feelings had changed.

    The person he liked and wanted to marry was no longer Kab Kluen. At most, they were just siblings who used to be close. If anyone tried to make them more than that, He Xing Yi wasn't sure if he could still see Kab Kluen as a brother. He also wasn't sure if he might start feeling resentment.