Chapter 23: Chapter 21

PHUWIN'S POV

Days, months, and years seemed to slip through my fingers. Before I knew it, I had graduated, now holding both a bachelor’s degree and the title of a licensed engineer.

A smile crept onto my lips as I stood outside the familiar front door of our house. No one knew I’d be coming home today. After graduation, I stayed in the U.S. for another month, despite my mom urging me to come back with her. But I had my reasons. I was waiting for the results of my board exam. Besides Pond, no one in my family even knew I had taken the test. I wanted to surprise them. And before flying back to Thailand, everything was sorted—papers in order, and even a job lined up that I would start next week.

With anticipation bubbling inside me, I turned the knob and stepped into the house, half-expecting to see my parents lounging in the living room, watching TV like always. But instead of the warmth of the family, I was greeted by an empty room. The stillness wasn’t complete, though—there was a sound breaking through the silence.

Moaning. Coming from my parents’ bedroom.

I shook my head in disbelief. Seriously? At this hour? Were they being frisky because the house was empty? I knew my younger sibling, Gem, was still at school. Pond had been with him earlier, helping out with their graduation practice and paperwork.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Since they’re getting mischievous, why not join in the fun? I was certain I wouldn’t stumble upon anything too inappropriate.

Setting my luggage down, I quietly ran toward their room, heart pounding with a mix of amusement and anticipation. I turned the knob and pushed the door open, closing my eyes while shielding them with my hand for dramatic effect.

"I'm home!" I announced loudly.

What I expected was an embarrassed gasp or laughter, but what I heard was different—a startled shuffle, a deep voice not belonging to my father.

"Who the hell are you?" The man's voice demanded, unfamiliar and jarring.

"Shh. Be quiet," my mother’s voice whispered urgently.

My heart dropped. What was happening?

Slowly, I opened my eyes and let my hand fall.

The sight that met me was nothing short of heartbreaking. My mother, wrapped in a blanket, only her bare shoulders visible, and beside her was a man I didn’t recognize—shirtless, with the lower half of his body covered.

"Ma, why?" I managed to choke out, my fists clenched as I turned my gaze to the stranger beside her.

"Phu, let me explain," she started, her voice trembling.

"Oh, so he's Phuwin, your youngest." The man interjected casually, as if this were the most normal situation in the world. “I’m Dan… uh, your stepdad, I guess."

“Stepdad, my ass!” I shouted, my voice shaking with rage.

"Oh, what a disrespectful kid." He sneered. "I guess that American air really did something to you."

Something inside me snapped. Before I could think, my fist was flying toward his face, the sickening thud of bone against flesh echoing in the room. I hit him three times, watching his body slump as my mother screamed.

“Phuwin!” She rushed to the man, pushing me aside, calling his name in panic, trying to wake him.

"What have you done?" Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and fear, but she wouldn’t look me in the eye.

“Since when, Ma?” I asked, barely able to contain the fury boiling inside me. My tears flowed freely now, unstoppable. The excitement, the joy I’d felt about coming home—gone, was replaced by a sharp pain that clawed at my chest.

“Why did you hit him?” she spat, finally meeting my gaze with eyes full of accusations, as if I were the one who had done something unforgivable.

I let out a bitter laugh. She didn’t even seem to care that her lover had insulted me—called me disrespectful just because I refused to acknowledge him as some kind of stepfather. Why should I?

“Since when, Ma?” I asked again, my voice shaking. “How long have you been cheating on my father?”

"Why don’t you ask who cheated first?" she shot back bitterly.

I smiled coldly. “Is that how it works now, Ma? When the person you love betrays you, you’re supposed to do the same? When has another mistake ever fixed the first one?”

"Your father cheated on me first," she said, her voice quieter now, but there was no remorse, only bitterness.

“And that justifies this? That’s your excuse?” I shook my head, disbelief turning into disgust. “What kind of logic is that?”

“Phuwin…”

“I shouldn’t have come home. I should’ve stayed in the U.S. or gone straight to Pond’s place.”

“Phuwin, I’m sorry…”

“Too late, Ma.” I turned my back on her, but just as I reached for the door, I paused, glancing over my shoulder. “I just wanted you to know that I’m a licensed engineer now. I passed the board exam. I was excited to come home and surprise you… but I guess you were the one who surprised me. I hope you’re happy with what you’ve done.”

"Phu, I’m sorry. I want to explain, but I know you won’t listen right now. I’m proud of you, son."

"I don’t need your pride, Ma. I needed a family—a whole one—that I could be proud of too. But I guess that family’s been gone already."

I walked out of the room, texting Pond to come pick me up from the condo Gemini and I shared. I also messaged Gem, letting him know I was back in Thailand and would head straight to the condo. I already told them what I had seen.

Gemini knew something was wrong with our parents long before I did, but I wasn’t ready to hear the full story. Not yet. I couldn’t handle that truth right now.

When I arrived at the condo, a wave of emptiness washed over me. I felt hollow. Shattered. The image of my parents’ room kept replaying in my mind, but instead of finding them together, I found my mother with another man. In their bed.

I had worked so hard, sacrificing so much to finish my studies. I endured the hardships of being a working student abroad because I didn’t want my parents to struggle. I didn’t want them worrying about where to find the money to send me, especially since Gem was still in school too. No matter how many times Pond offered to send me extra cash, I always refused. I thought all my struggles would be worth it in the end.

I had it all planned out. Once I had a stable job, I would tell Dad to stop working. Gem and I even talked about building a new house for our parents. I wanted to move them out of our old home, away from the nosy neighbors who always had something to say.

Nosy neighbors.

How ironic. I had defended my parents against them, fighting with those gossips only to find out they were right all along. What a fool I had been.

I walked over to the fridge and stared at the rows of beer and liquor. Looks like Gem had been dealing with our parents' mess through alcohol.

I grabbed four cans of beer and a bottle of some unfamiliar liquor. Sitting on the floor in the living room, I unscrewed the cap and drank straight from the bottle.

The bitterness hit hard, and the numbness spread quickly through my body.

I let the tears fall, uncaring. I kept drinking. The first bottle was gone in no time.

So, this is why people drink when they’re in pain. The numbness comes first, making it easier to pretend that the hurt isn’t there. The tears still fall, but the pain seems farther away. You can smile, even if it's fake. Alcohol fools you into thinking everything's fine, even when it’s not.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

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