Red Strings

Chapter Eight

"Let's continue eating," Force said, his voice firm but laced with amusement. "Book might shed tears if you keep talking about this." The tension in the room eased slightly as everyone chuckled, the laughter a welcome release from the heavy atmosphere.

As they finished their meal, Winny insisted on cleaning up with Prem, leaving Satang alone with Book. Force and Off headed upstairs to discuss business, leaving the two men to their own devices."I want to know you more, Satang," Book said, his voice soft and sincere. "Winny seems different when he's with you."

Satang, his heart fluttering at the unexpected compliment, asked, "How, phi?"

Book leaned forward, his gaze intense. "He barely smiles, but now, he's always smiling. And I see how caring he is towards you."

Satang felt a blush creep up his neck, his cheeks warming under Book's scrutiny. Book, sensing Satang's discomfort, reached for a drawer beside the couch and pulled out a photo album.

"This is Winny," Book said, his voice filled with pride. "These are the pictures I took after we brought him home." He flipped through the pages, his eyes sparkling with fond memories. 

Satang, however, felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach. Winny's face as a child seemed strangely familiar. Could they have lived in the same orphanage?

Book, oblivious to Satang's inner turmoil, continued to reminisce, his voice filled with warmth. He spoke of Winny's tears as they left the orphanage, of his sadness at not being able to say goodbye to his friend. "He told me he didn't say goodbye to his friend before leaving," Book said, his voice softening. "So whenever we could, we brought him back to the orphanage to donate goods and visit that friend. But Winny told me his friend wasn't there anymore. It made him really sad. We went back countless times, but he never saw that kid again."

Satang felt a pang of sympathy for Winny, his own past echoing in the story. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was a connection, a shared history, between them. His mind raced back to his own time in the orphanage, the faces of his friends, the bittersweet memories of leaving. Could Winny's friend have been... him?

***

As the night deepened, the soft sounds of the house faded into the quiet stillness, and Satang lay beside Winny, watching him sleep. The soft rise and fall of Winny's chest, the peaceful expression on his face, reminded Satang of how much had changed since their childhood. Yet, despite the comfort of having Winny close, there was a heavy ache in his heart—one that lingered from long-forgotten memories, now resurfacing. Book's words echoed in his mind, tugging at something deep inside him. His past, once locked away, now felt too close, too real.

FLASHBACK

Satang had always been a quiet, reserved child, often the target of bullying at the orphanage. His older brother, Boun, would usually stand up for him, chasing away the older kids who took pleasure in picking on the shy, smaller boy. But that day, Boun had been given a task, leaving Satang alone in the playground, isolated from the rest of the children.

It was then that a boy approached him—a stranger, but not in a way that felt strange. The boy asked why Satang was sitting alone, and with a hesitant voice, Satang explained that he was waiting for his older brother. The boy smiled and offered to introduce him to his own group of older brothers. The invitation was simple, but it was all Satang needed. He didn't even know this boy's name, but it didn't matter. Children didn't need words to form bonds; a shared moment was enough. They played together every day after that, and soon, Satang found himself spending more and more time with this boy.

In the world of children, friendships didn't come with the complications that adults placed upon them. No formal introductions, no expectations—just the pure joy of being together, sharing laughter, and simple games. But, like all good things, this too came to an end.

One day, Satang overheard a conversation between the adults. His friend, the boy who had brought him into the fold, was leaving the orphanage. He was being adopted, and would soon have a family of his own. Satang was devastated. He couldn't bear the thought of losing the one person who had made him feel seen, the one person who had shown him kindness without question.

On the day his friend was set to leave, Satang decided he would hide. He didn't want to say goodbye. He couldn't. He knew that if he stayed, his sadness would become too much to bear. So, he hid away in a quiet corner of the playground, hoping that somehow, by staying out of sight, he could stop the inevitable from happening. But the day came, and his friend left, taking with him the laughter and comfort that Satang had come to rely on.

Satang cried, heartbroken and alone once more. The only thing he had left of his friend was the red string bracelet they had made together. The bracelet, a simple token of their bond, was the only piece of his friend that remained.

Not long after, Satang was adopted too. A new family, a new life. But even as he settled into his new home, the absence of his friend hung heavily over him. He knew he would never see him again. His heart had been left behind, tied to a memory that he would never forget.

END OF FLASHBACK

Satang's thoughts swirled in the quiet darkness as he gazed at Winny's sleeping face, his fingers absently touching the red string bracelet around his wrist. If it's you, please give me a sign... Winny.

The words slipped from his lips, barely a whisper, yet they carried the weight of years of unanswered questions, of memories long buried. Winny, now lying beside him, was so familiar, yet so new. Could this really be the same boy from his past? Was fate bringing them together again?

Satang's heart was full of uncertainty and longing, but also a strange sense of peace. Maybe, just maybe, this was the sign he had been waiting for all along.

End of Chapter.