Chapter 40 Disease

The speeding bus drove away, and Santichai knew that Asnee will only chase after him for a moment before giving up. He knew that in the ten years they were together, Asnee had always been like this, he would work hard to get something, but then he didn't have the patience to see the end. If he finds things getting harder and harder, he backs down and gives up, which is what he does with their relationship. What happened today reminded Santichai of that night, when he dropped his pride and went after Asnee.

(Memory)

Santichai, lying side by side with Asnee in the dark, has been crying in the dark since he left the small restaurant at two in the morning. His eyes were swollen, but he knew no one would care to wipe his tears, so he let the swelling grow until his eyes were almost closed. Even though Asnee was only an inch away from his arm, Asnee didn't seem to care. Santichai only heard Asnee's breathing.

After a long-time lying-in sullenness, Asnee suddenly said, "Chai let's break up."

Santichai murmured, "Mmm."

Santichai heard the sound of the door slamming, and his heart ached so badly that if he took another deep breath, his fragile heart would shatter into pieces. He was startled at the thought of losing Asnee. He quickly ran out of the apartment barefoot, down three flights of stairs, and into the street. He saw Asnee jump into the car. He rushed to the door, trying to open it, but Asnee had locked it.

Santichai tapped the glass window lightly and pleaded with tears, "Asnee... please don't leave. I have nothing left. Please don't leave me. I only have you as my last lifeline, please don't take it away from me."

Asnee droves slowly into the street. Santichai continued begging Asnee on the side street while tapping on the car window. Asnee stepped on the gas and the car started accelerating as Santichai chased the car down the street.

Santichai cried and begged while running alongside Asnee's car, "Asnee, I never want to break up with you. Please stop the car. Asnee..." He continued chasing the car, calling for Asnee to stop the car. "Asnee, please stop the car. I don't want to break up with you. Please stop the car. Asnee...let's get back together...Asnee..."

Santichai chased the car, but he knew his two feet and injured back would not be able to keep up with Asnee's super-fast sports car. After chasing the car for ten minutes, he suddenly fell to the ground. He watched Asnee's car drive away.

Santichai sobbed heavily on the street, "Asnee, I never wanted to break up with you." He sobbed. "Asnee, shall we get back together? Don't leave me..."

After crying for a while, Santichai stood up slowly, hearing only the screeching sound of tires. Immediately after, he felt a loud thumb sound. The next thing he remembers was lying in the black abyss, staring at a million little stars in the night sky.

Hom gripped the steering wheel hard, staring at the motionless man lying on the ground in front of her. Hom's lips trembled with fear. She quickly took out her phone and entered a number.

"Hello..."

Hom cried, "I hit someone."

"What?"

Hom cried and shouted, "It's all your fault. I asked you to come with me, and you refused. It's all your fault. KK, you ugly fat ass."

KK said, "Don't worry, just get out and check on the person."

Santichai got up slowly and started walking towards his apartment slowly. He took about ten steps and then suddenly fell to the ground. Some bystanders rushed towards him.

"I think he's fine," Hom said. "He got up and walked away."

KK said, "Hom, check on him before you leave."

"I won't. I'm drunk, and if the police find out, I'm in trouble," Hom said angrily. She hung up and sped away.

Some bystanders yelled at her. A woman on the street quickly called the police and handed part of the license plate to the police.

Another woman said, "Are you okay?"

Santichai could not see too well, but he murmured, " Asnee, I don't want to break up with you. Please don't break up with me."

(Memory End)

As the song 'Hurt and Endure Is a buffalo by Asiar R Siam' was lowly played into the headphones of the person sitting next to him, Santichai realized that over the years, Santichai had learned how to live with painful memories. He has cried countless times for a heartless man like Asnee. He will remember the hurt that was done to him. He will continue to love himself, be a new person, and be strong so that no one can hurt him anymore. He learned how to teach himself that hurtful memories are not meant to taunt him, but to remind him not to go down the same path again.

In the car, Asnee did not speak to Mrs. Siriporn. He stared out the window. He saw a young lover walking side by side holding hands. He recalled many fond memories he shared with Santichai. He knew deep in his heart that Santichai was finally going to move on, and at this most frangible moment, he suddenly felt alone.

Mrs. Siriporn looked at Asnee with anger. "What on earth do you want to go back to that low-life? What will other people think of us? What will Tipkamol think when she finds out that her soon-to-be husband is driving for two hours just to meet a man," she said in a huff. She hit Asnee on the shoulder several times. "Are you crazy? I just want to give you a good life. Why don't you listen to me? You are such an ungrateful son."

Asnee turned to look at Mrs. Siriporn as Mrs. Siriporn continued to insult Santichai. Asnee suddenly shouted, "Mother enough, I'm tired of hearing your nonsense. I know better than you whether Chai is good or bad. If you want to scold someone, scold me." He felt that he couldn't be in the same car with Mrs. Siriporn now. The car drove past the hotel he booked. He tapped on the driver seat. "Stop the car."

The bodyguard stopped the car and Asnee rushed out of the car and into the hotel. Mrs. Siriporn and one of her bodyguards quickly followed Asnee into the hotel. When they got in, Asnee was already walking towards the elevator. Mrs. Siriporn's bodyguard quickly held down the elevator door for Mrs. Siriporn.

Mrs. Siriporn madly said, "How dare you scold me, I'm your mother."

Asnee did not answer because he was angry that Mrs. Siriporn had been pressing him to answer her questions and continued to insult Santichai. Asnee opened the door with his key card and sat down on the bed.

Asnee looked up at Mrs. Siriporn and he said, "You can get out."

Mrs. Siriporn said, "What did you say?" She stepped forward and slapped Asnee in the face. "How dare you speak to your mother in that tone."

Asnee said, "I don't want to hear from you anymore, please get out."

Mrs. Siriporn went mad. She gritted her teeth and said, "What's so good about that money hungry, white-eyed fox? I have successfully separated you from him for ten years. Why does he come back to find you, why? How much more does he need before he will leave you alone?" She stood before Asnee. "Asnee, he likes men, not you. He is the one with the disease, not you."

Asnee stood up and yelled at Mrs. Siriporn, "It's not a disease! Why do you keep insisting that this is a disease!" He glared angrily at Mrs. Siriporn. "Ma, I'll make it clear to you." He pointed to himself. "Between me and Chai, if one of us has the disease, that's me." He was so angry at Mrs. Siriporn that tears started rolling down his cheeks. "I'm the one with the disease! Santichai doesn't like men! I like men! I'm gay! Do you hear clearly? I'm gay! Your son is gay!"

Mrs. Siriporn was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

Asnee's lips trembled as he vented his anger, "I'm gay. I like men. If Santichai wasn't a man, do you think I'd like him. This disease inside me is incurable. The person I like doesn't even have to be Santichai. As long as he is a man, I will like him."

Mrs. Siriporn slapped Asnee in the face with her angry hand. She burst into tears.

Asnee burst into tears, saying, "Hit...hit me until you're satisfied, but the so-called disease you've labelled won't go away."

Mrs. Siriporn said, "I don't believe you. It must be Santichai. He bewitched you into thinking that you like men. I managed to separate the two of you..."

Asnee said, "Ma, you've never managed to separate us...I lied to you...I lied to you because you wanted grandchildren so much. I live a double life. Ma, why can't you and pa accept me for who I am? Why are you two trying to make me someone I'm not?"

Mrs. Siriporn's heart was broken. Her lips quivered and she hit Asnee several times in the chest to vent her anger. She said angrily, "I don't care what disease you have; I will find a way to cure it."

Asnee then said, "Then put a bullet in my head."

Mrs. Siriporn said, "How dare you threaten me with your life? You shameful son."

Asnee knew that his mother loved him very much. His last card is to threaten her with his life. He didn't want to lose his parents or Santichai. Asnee said, "Ma, if I do what you want, you can at least do what I want. I'll marry Tip, but you and pa can't stand between me and Santichai."

Mrs. Siriporn, "You..."

Asnee, "I love Chai...Whether you like it or not, whether I have a wife or not, I will continue to love him."

Mrs. Siriporn said, "Very well...As long as you marry Tipkamol and have children, I don't care who your mistress is. Remember, I don't want him in public eyes."

Asnee said, "I won't."

Mrs. Siriporn said, "Okay, that's settled." She sighed. "I'll have someone bring your car here." She threw the car keys to Asnee. "Remember your words."

Mrs. Siriporn walked out of the room and met her bodyguard at the door. Mrs. Siriporn and her bodyguard walked towards the elevator. Mrs. Siriporn knew she couldn't change Asnee's mind, but she could force Santichai to leave Asnee by playing the good mother card. "Drive me to Oceanview apartment complex. I have some unfinished business to settle with Chai," she said.

The bodyguard said, "Yes Mrs. Siriporn."