The Meeting Between Families

The morning sun climbed steadily over the sprawling estate of the Sestasittikul family. Inside the grand hall, Auau stood before a mirror, adjusting the cuffs of his perfectly pressed white shirt. His reflection showed a man composed and ready, at least outwardly. Today was a day he had long anticipated but never looked forward to.

Lady Chanya Sestasittikul, his mother, entered the room with her usual elegance, her gaze firm but warm. "Auau," she began, "this is more than just a family gathering. It is a binding of two legacies. Be respectful and patient, no matter what. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mother," Auau replied evenly. He had grown up hearing about the promise his late grandfather made to the Walor family, a promise he was now bound to fulfill. Though he had long since resigned himself to this fate, his thoughts betrayed a faint unease.

At the Walor residence, the atmosphere was far from calm.

"Por, why don't you marry him if you think this is such a great idea?" Save snapped, his voice echoing off the walls of his room. His brother, Por, stood leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed with an amused smirk.

"Because, little brother," Por said, tilting his head, "I'm already married. Plus, you're the one Grandfather specifically wanted. You should feel honored."

"Honored?" Save spun around, glaring. "I'm supposed to marry some stranger because Grandfather made a promise years ago? This is my life!"

Por shrugged, unfazed by Save's outburst. "It's family tradition, Save. You don't get to choose. Besides," he added with a sly grin, "what if he's handsome?"

Save groaned, throwing himself onto his bed. "You're not helping."

Por chuckled. "I'm not trying to. Now, get dressed. Father's waiting."

By mid-morning, the Sestasittikul family's sleek black car arrived at the Walor estate. The two families exchanged pleasantries in the grand foyer, the air filled with polite smiles and warm greetings.

"Lady Chanya, it's wonderful to see you again," said Lord Arun Walor, Save's father, his voice deep and welcoming.

"Lord Arun," Lady Chanya replied with a gracious smile, "it's been far too long. Let us hope this meeting will strengthen the bond between our families."

Auau, standing just behind his mother, bowed politely. His calm demeanor and tall stature made an immediate impression.

At the back of the room, Save stood with his arms crossed, his expression a mix of annoyance and defiance. Por gave him a nudge. "Go on, say hello. Don't embarrass us."

With a reluctant sigh, Save stepped forward.

"This is Save," Lord Arun introduced, gesturing toward his youngest son.

Auau inclined his head politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Save."

Save, however, merely raised an eyebrow. His gaze traveled up and down Auau, taking in the older man's calm face and composed posture. "Pleasure's all yours," he muttered under his breath, earning a sharp look from his father.

Por stifled a laugh behind Save, leaning in to whisper, "Behave, or he might run away."

Auau's lips twitched in what might have been the faintest hint of amusement. "I understand this situation isn't ideal for either of us," he said quietly, his voice steady, "but I hope we can find a way to get along."

Save's jaw tightened. "Don't hold your breath," he muttered, stepping back to stand next to Por.

The elders continued their conversation, discussing wedding preparations and plans as though everything was already decided. Meanwhile, Save and Auau stood at a polite distance from each other, their worlds colliding in a way neither had wanted.

Just as the discussion was gaining momentum, a maid entered the room and bowed deeply. "Lunch is ready, my lords and ladies."

"Wonderful," Lord Arun said, gesturing toward the dining hall. "Please, this way."

The families made their way into the grand dining hall, where a long table was set with fine china, crystal glasses, and an array of steaming dishes. Save dragged his feet as he walked behind the group, shooting a glare at Por, who was grinning as though he found the entire situation hilarious.

Auau took his seat across from Save, his posture straight and composed. Save slumped slightly in his chair, picking at the edge of the tablecloth as the first course was served.

"This is lovely," Lady Chanya remarked as she took a sip of her tea. "Your chefs are truly talented, Lord Arun."

"You're too kind," Lord Arun replied with a smile. "I hope the meal is to everyone's liking."

While the elders continued their pleasant conversation, Save stabbed at his food with little enthusiasm. Across the table, Auau watched him quietly, his expression unreadable.

"If there's something you don't like," Auau said softly, his voice steady, "you can tell the maid. I'm sure they'd be happy to adjust."

Save looked up, narrowing his eyes. "I didn't ask for your opinion."

Por let out a snicker, leaning over to whisper, "Wow, Save. You're really winning him over."

"Shut up, Por," Save hissed, feeling his face heat up.

Auau, unfazed, simply returned to his meal, his calm demeanor only serving to frustrate Save further.

As dessert was served, Lord Arun turned to Lady Chanya. "Shall we move to the tea room to continue our discussion?"

"Of course," Lady Chanya agreed with a nod.

The elders excused themselves, leaving the younger generation alone at the table. Por leaned back in his chair, smirking at his younger brother.

"Well," he said, "this has been entertaining."

Save groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is the worst day of my life."

Auau's calm voice cut through the silence. "It's only the beginning."

Save peeked at him through his fingers, scowling. "Thanks for the reminder."

Auau didn't reply, but there was the faintest hint of amusement in his otherwise serene expression. The tension hung heavy in the room, marking the first of many uneasy moments to come.

The silence at the table stretched on as the sound of cutlery on plates filled the air. Auau sat straight and composed, occasionally glancing at Save, who seemed determined to focus on his plate rather than engage in any conversation.

After a moment, Auau cleared his throat softly, breaking the quiet. "So, Save," he began, his tone polite and curious, "what do you do for a living?"

Save barely looked up, poking at his dessert with his fork. "I'm a college student," he replied curtly, his voice flat.

Auau nodded thoughtfully, undeterred by the terse response. "What are you studying?"

Save finally lifted his eyes, his expression somewhere between disinterest and irritation. "Engineering," he said, leaning back in his chair as if the effort of answering was too much to bear.

"Engineering," Auau repeated, a hint of genuine admiration in his voice. "That's impressive. It must take a lot of dedication."

Save raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a faint, sarcastic smirk. "Yeah, well, I didn't really have a choice. My dad insisted it was a 'respectable path.'"

Por, who had been quietly watching the exchange with amusement, chimed in, "And by 'insisted,' he means Dad had to bribe him with a new motorcycle to get him to focus."

"Por!" Save snapped, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

Por shrugged, grinning unapologetically. "Just keeping the conversation interesting."

Auau chuckled softly, the sound light and unassuming. "I suppose everyone has their own motivations. It's good that you're pursuing something worthwhile, regardless of how you got there."

Save blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Auau's calm response. He expected judgment or smugness, but instead, there was only understanding.

"Well," Save muttered, looking back down at his plate, "it's not like I have much of a choice in anything these days."

The comment hung in the air, its meaning clear, but Auau didn't press further. Instead, he simply nodded, his calm gaze resting on Save for a moment before returning to his meal.

Por smirked, leaning closer to Save and whispering, "See? He's not so bad."

Save shot him a glare, his irritation bubbling back to the surface. "You're enjoying this way too much."

Auau chose not to respond, letting the moment pass. For now, he was content to observe, silently learning more about the person he was bound to spend the rest of his life with.