Chapter 15

Despite so many thoughts running around his brain in chaos, Sun arrives at Exeter’s residence safely. Dr. Helman’s younger brother, Elixir, answers him at the gate.

“Sawadee P’Dauwan,” greeted Elixir. He tells Sun to go in.

“Sawadee nong. You can call me Sun instead of my real name.”

“I prefer calling you Dauwan.”

“Why?”

“Dauwan sounds better than Sun: Sun is a mediocre term for me,” replied Elixir with a little chuckle.

Elixir Helman is the lone younger sibling of Exeter, who is about to finish secondary school. Ever since Exeter introduced Sun to his family as his boyfriend, Elixir has developed a liking towards his brother’s boyfriend. It is not the liking that will lead to loving: it is more of a strong infatuation. Elixir sees Sun as more of a “brother from another mother” rather than a lover.

Sun can still remember that day when his Grumpy was sick with flu, and he came to their house to look after him. Sun helped cook dinner for the family, and he made a congee with meat especially for Exeter. Elixir cut his hand while chopping the veggies for the congee, and it was unfortunate of him as the wound touched some of the cut onions, thus, intensifying the pain. It was Sun who attended to him, washed the wound, pressed on it to stop the bleeding, and dressed it.

“There. It’s done,” says Sun after putting the bandage. “Remember, avoid carr…”

Elixir suddenly pulled away his injured hand from Sun’s and ran upstairs to his room. Sun was a bit shocked as he didn’t know the reason why Elixir would do that. When the congee was done, Sun served it to Exeter in his room.

“Here, Grumpy. Eat this before taking your medicines,” said Sun.

“Have you had yours, Snobby?”

“Not yet. You first. I’ll eat when you’re done.”

Sun was about to kiss Exeter, but Grumpy avoided it.

“What are you doing?” asked Exeter, moving away from Sun.

“Trying to kiss my Grumpy.”

“I’m sick. You could get infected.”

“Just one,” pleaded Sun. He made a face like that of a cat wanting something from its owner.

“No!”

“Okay. As you said.”

As Exeter relaxed, Sun hastily kissed him on the forehead.

“You really are stubborn, Dauwan.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take my vitamins.”

As he fed Exeter, he narrated what happened to Elixir, and the way he reacted after tending his wounds.

“He has a crush on you,” said his Grumpy.

“Really?”

“Yes. Whenever you are here, he becomes disconcerted.”

“HAHAHA! Wow.”

“Funny, right? He told it to me. He says that he sees you as a gentler version of me, and – I quote – ‘someone who is not as a Hitler as me’.”

At this, Sun burst in laughter, but Exeter felt guilty of it. It is true that he is a little strict towards Elixir, but with a good reason: since their parents are, most of the time, not at the house, he needs to be both a brother and a parent to his nong. He explains that despite being stringent, he does not intend to hold his brother by the neck.

“My Fuhrer,” Sun said teasingly. He moved a spoonful of congee and stopped it just before Exeter’s mouth.

“Yeah, laugh it up, Snobby. Laugh it up," said Exeter before taking the food.

“It’s just funny that your brother calls you Hitler,” said Sun. He continued to laugh at the idea that his boyfriend was compared to one of the most ruthless dictators of all time.

“Is your brother home yet?” Sun asked as they walk to the house.

“Not yet P’.”

“You go on ahead, nong. I’ll call him first.”

It has been hours since they last talked, which is not usual. He dials Exeter’s number, but he only hears multiple rings with no answer. He next calls his own house.

“Sawadee” says an elderly voice.

“Sawadee Aunt Mika.”

“Hello N’Sun. Where are you?”

“I’m at Exeter’s house.”

“Will you be having dinner here?”

“Not likely, auntie. I maybe spending the night here. I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”

“Okay nong.”

“Where is uncle?”

“He’s fine. He’s at the living room watching football. His foot is hurting again.”

“Is it his gout?”

“I think so. He ate peanuts earlier.”

“He never listens, does he?”

“No, he doesn’t. He just can’t stop eating his favorite snack.”

“Tell him to drink lots of water.”

“I will, and I hope he listens. I have to go now, nong. We are cooking dinner over here.”

“Krap Auntie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You take care, nong.”

“You and uncle take care too.”

Sun redials Exeter’s number, and again nothing but rings. He enters the house, whose door Elixir leaves open.

It has a customary setup inside. After the door, straight ahead, the house is divided into two uneven divisions – the larger living room is on the right, and the left is for the dining hall. The kitchen is in a separate room to the further left and is connected to the dining hall. A sliding door used to divide the two sections before, but Mrs. Helman had it removed so one can freely pass between them. A small flight of stairs provides access to the next floor, which has a living room of its own. The second floor is where all the quarters for each member of the family and two housemaids are.

Mr. Robert Helman, Exeter’s father, greets Sun after crossing the threshold. Mr. Helman is English, while his wife – Mrs. Jane Attipaporn-Helman – is Thai. Jane went to England to take her tertiary studies at the University of Exeter, and there was where he met Robert. Thus, they named their eldest son Exeter – after their college alma mater. Robert graduated first with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and being a year ahead of Jane, had to wait for her to finish her study of Civil Engineering. During that one year, Robert enrolled in a review center in preparation for his licensure exam. Its date, unfortunately, clashed with Jane’s graduation day, so he wasn’t there to see her walk on the stage in her graduation attire. Robert passed his licensure test, and a few months after, they decided to migrate to Thailand. This was where Jane had her review, and where she took her own licensure test.

Once in Thailand, Robert then enrolled for another set of classes – Thai writing and speaking. Being English, Robert had a hard time adapting to the new culture, norms, and especially the language, which was his greatest struggle after migrating. During their first few years, they both worked separately as contractors for different private projects. When they had saved enough capital, they decided to put up a production business that makes industrial grade steel.

“Sawadee N’Sun,” said Mr. Robert. Sun returns the greeting. However, the look of concern in Grumpy’s parents did not escape his attention.

“Have you gotten in touch with Exeter these past few hours? Or has he contacted you in any way?” asked Mrs. Jane.

“I called him twice when I arrived here, auntie, but there was no answer,” said Sun as he sits near them.

“We did too. We got no answer as well. He told us that he will tell us something really important when he arrives.”

“He told me the same thing, auntie, that is why I’m here.”

“I’m just worried because he sounded scared when he talked to us on the phone earlier, nong,” said Mrs. Jane.

“Did he tell you about the will he wrote, Auntie? Uncle?” asked Sun on.

“What will?” answered Mr. Robert.

“He did not tell you? He told me before he left the lab that he wrote his will, and that he sent it to your family’s lawyer.”

Exeter’s parents look at each other, surprised, unaware about this.

“No. We don’t know about it,” said Mrs. Jane.

Sun is further alarmed with this development. All he wants now is for his boyfriend to come home to answer all their questions.

“Dinner is set, everyone,” announced Mara, one of the two housemaids at the Helman residence. The other, Mela, is waiting by the table.

Like in Sun’s house, Exeter and his family treat Mara and Mela as a member of them. True enough, they appreciate this domestic benevolence of the Helman Family that even after six years of service, none of them attempt to leave.

Elixir turns on the small television in front of the dining table.

“Fire has broken out of Pharm Botanical Research Institute. Initial reports say that between 3:00 and 3:30 in the afternoon, there was a power surge throughout the entire building causing the generators to overheat. No injuries have been reported yet. More on this story as the investigations go on.”

“That must be why P’ is not yet here. Maybe they were told to stay at the office for questioning,” said Elixir.

“I hope so too, son,” replied his father, calm but visibly worried.

Sun is not convinced with what the anchorman says – “No injuries have been reported yet” – the “yet” in the sentence gives him the dread. As they go through dinner, the feeling of anxiety and worry is at the table together with the dishes. They are about to end when they hear a beep in the house.

“Can you turn that down, son,” Mr. Robert told his youngest, so that he can determine where the sound is coming from. Elixir reaches for the remote control.

“Just in – a blue sedan has been involved in a car accid…” The telly goes silent without them hearing the next news as Elixir presses the Mute button.

“It’s your doorbell, uncle. Someone is buzzing at the gate,” said Sun.

“Elixir, go and see who it is. It must be your brother,” commanded Mr. Robert.

“Is that Exeter?” inquired Mrs. Jane. Elixir is peeking through the window.

“No, Ma. Two policemen are at the gate.”

Mr. Robert’s phone rings, and the caller is Atty. Phun – their family lawyer.