Chapter 11: Chapter Ten

GUN'S POV

It's been days since I last been to Off's. Tay has been teasing us most of the time, he wouldn't let the thought of me and Off watched movies together, but little does he know, I stayed over that night. Pim learned about it and she and Chimon didn't gave me a break about it as well.

Off got busy, he said he has meetings and endorsement shoots that's why we also barely see him when we visit our studio which is almost done. The renovation for my cafe already begun as well, I decided to give it a bohemian vibe and make it a bookstore and movie rental place as well.

My search for a condo was postponed because I got kind of tight on the budget and I was saving money for emergency purposes. I couldn't even remember the last time I drunk and gave in to my cravings. I've been stuck in the house and work set-up for a while.

"P'Gun, there's this upcoming show in the industry, the role suits your perfectly, you might wanna consider auditioning, they are paying good price" Chimon said

"Oh, I know that, P'Gun you should try it out" Pim suddenly joined the conversation

"I studied to be a director not an actor" I told them

"Just give it a try, you have potentials, I sent you the details" Chimon said and my phone received the notification from him.

"You were part of the theater club for years during high school P'Gun" Pim said

I ignored both of them, I didn't want to become that famous, I'd rather be behind the cameras. Fame comes with a price to pay, I know it's not the best thing for my mental health right now, which speaking of is about to come crashing down again... I finally agreed to that family dinner Pim kept asking me about. I'm about to see my parents after almost 4 years now.

I'm excited to see my mom, even though she was too busy most of the time, she was there to defend me from my father, she was there to check on me when I moved away, she sends me messages sometimes even if I wouldn't reply to her. But my dad... we haven't been talking since then, even when I was still here, all the time he talked to me was only when he could see my mistakes and he would often rub that in my face.

Pim told me the other night that Dad has changed and that he actually agreed immediately for that family dinner when I finally said yes, but who knows? Mom must've talked to him to be able to convince me to have the family dinner with them...

I finished all my works early today so I have spare time to think and wander. I wanted to prepare myself for tomorrow so I decided to stop by Iconsiam to find myself some clothes that will be decent for my parents. I know I still have a reputation to present to them even though they were part of the glorious chaos that I've become.

I was checking out some polo when I noticed this familiar guy in a hoodie... Is that Off? I tailed him for a little while when I saw that he was with a girl... maybe he finally found someone, I shrugged it off and continued looking for something I could wear tomorrow.

"Gun?" Someone asked from behind

It was Oab...

"H-hey..." I said not knowing the right words to tell him.

"Wow, you really did came back" He said in a bitter tone

"Oab, can I talk to you some other time? I just have some things to sort out" I said trying to save myself from the impromptu confrontation

I just couldn't talk to him yet

"Things to sort out then what? Leave again? Leave everything else you've ruined behind?" He said and walked away from me.

I was frozen for a few minutes after Oab left me, I felt my heart racing and I felt a tear roll down my cheek, I immediately wiped it but it was too late, I saw Off looking at me, he was hesitant to come to me and his eyes were also different, like he has been crying as well. The woman she was with pulled him before he could even take a step towards me.

I decided to distract myself by continuing to pick out something, I picked out the most random one and purchased it. Thoughts were running in my head, I don't even know what to say to Oab and to my parents tomorrow...

I immediately went home and locked myself up in my bedroom, the thoughts were consuming me once again. I got messages from Tay telling me that Off told him he saw me and that I don't look okay. I don't need to burden Tay again, not with the same things I burdened him before... I had a breakdown that night, I was close to sleeping when Chimon knocked, I forgot we're room mates while he stays here for a while. Ugh.

I woke up with puffy eyes, last night when Chimon came, I decided to let my tired eyes sleep so that I would avoid any conversation with him...

"P'Gun, I have a photoshoot for a few hours, I'll be back later and we'll go to the house together" Pim said.

Apparently, instead of booking a restaurant, mom already knew what chaos might happen and to save the family from an embarrassing fight later, she already thought ahead of everyone and hired personal cleaners for the house and some catering service to serve our food.

The set-up will be that they have all they to cook and clean the house and once the dinner is served and prepared all of them needs to leave the house and just come back for things we might be using.

Off Tumcial

Hey

Remember the family dinner I told you about?

It's happening tonight...

Still thinking if you'd really be there waiting for

me outside when things gets out of hand...

I left my address to Off, hoping he'd be there in case things gets out of hand, and if it doesn't get out of hand, I'd still be glad he'll be there, he makes me happy lately, he became a safe space for me...

I was debating on telling Tay about the dinner and to be there in case something goes wrong but I know my best friend is busy, I'll just call him I guess when it's all too much... I spent the next hours scrolling through social media, distracting myself from everything about to happen tonight. Pim came back around after lunch and so we started getting ready...

"Pim can I come in?" I said as I knocked on Pim's door...

"Yes P'Gun" She said

I walked towards her who is getting ready in front of her dresser.

"Since when did you become so grown up?" I asked as I helped her straighten her hair.

"P'Gun don't make me cry now" Pim said

"Pim, I'm sorry for being a terrible brother, leaving you here, whatever happens tonight, I promise not to leave you again" I said

"P'Gun I know you are scared, I might be little back then but I hear those fights you have with Dad, It's just now that I have the realizations with everything I heard... I'll be the one to fight for you this time P'Gun, and... I am very proud of how strong you are and everything else you've already accomplished" Pim said

We ended up crying a little until Pim scolds me for ruining her make-up and that she needs to fix it so that we wouldn't be late for the dinner. We left the house around 5:30 in the afternoon, we also brought our stuff that we need and some extra clothes just in case everything goes well and we decide to stay at the house for a little while.

I stood in front of the gate with my heart racing inside my chest, I don't know what's about to happen, it's out of my control and I was having second thoughts, I checked my phone for the nth time, Off didn't replied, the message to Tay is ready in case things go terrible later.

"It's gonna be fine P'Gun" Pim said

We stood there for a few more minutes until we decided to head inside, the house seemed abandoned, it was clean and all but unlike before things were left untouched for a long while...

"Pim, Gun... I missed you" Mom welcomed us as we came across each other in the living room.

I immediately got secured with my mom's hugs.

"How are you doing Gun? Tell me everything from the past 3 years" Mom told me

We sat at the sofa and we started talking, I told her all the good stuff and how my business is going well...

"What did I miss?" Dad said as he walked out of his house office... Pim ran to him and hugged him like she doesn't often see him lol.

I turned around and when he was near the sofa, I stood up and paid my respects for him, he's still my father after all...

"Gun was just telling me about everything he has reached for the past 3 years that he has been away" Mom proudly said

I was nervous but then he took steps closer to me and hugged me, I was in shock that I didn't immediately hugged him back.

"Gun, I am sorry for all the horrible things I've done to you, I am so proud Director and CEO Atthaphan" He said

I broke down to tears hearing him say those words. This is clearly not what I expected to happen. We were catching up during dinner and all, I've told them the stories and how many times I almost gave up on the coffee shop business.

"Let's visit New York soon then maybe we could see the coffee shop Gun put up on his own" Mom said

"But I want to be a guest when he opens the Bangkok branch, how is that coming up Gun?" Dad asked

"That will be soon, the location I got is already under renovation" I told them

"If you need help with finances, we'd gladly help Gun... give us another chance to be better parents" Mom said

"Mom, this is already too much" I told them

Dinner finished and we all decided to stay here at home, Mom and Dad still has work to do, actually I have to check emails din, Pim being the star is the only one bothering all of us and playing music and all.

I decided to walk outside with a slight hope Off would be there, when I opened the gate he was surprisingly there...

"How did it go?" Off asked

"It went well actually..." I said with a smile

"See? One down." Off said as he handed me my favorite ice cream

"How did you know?" I asked

"Gun, when you were crying that was what you wanted, and we you stayed over, that's one thing you kept all to yourself" He said

We talked for a little while when I decided it's time for him to go home...

"Call me when something goes wrong" he said

"Yeah and text me when you get home" I told him

I closed the gate when I saw Pim and Dad waiting for me

"Just friends don't do what we do" Pim sang to tease me again

"Pim, don't tease your brother like that, he's  blushing" Dad said

"Oh stop it, you two!" I told them and walked inside with them

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Thanks for reading! <3