Chiang Mai.
Zee Pruk was a man with a few words but also a man of his words. Years of experience residing in Thailand and taking over a dangerous position in a multi-billion dollar company had taught him to act with cautious. Same went to that night, as the CEO of the company, he was obligated to attend one of the board of director's birthday party. The party was awesome but when Mr. Songsak, the host introduced a sexy woman to him he decided that he had enough of the night. He already did his job to attend the party and he would rather went home to sleep. He sighed relieved closing his eyes when his back leaned against the leather seat of his car and finally leaving the party venue.
He opened his eyes when his driver murmured something from the front seat. "What happened?" He asked his driver, Nat when the car stopped longer than usual at the traffic.
"I'm not sure sir. Looks like an accident happened. There's a crowd in front." Nat explained.
Zee blinked his heavy eyes open, "Go take a look and help them if needed." He instructed before closing his eyes again.
"Yes sir."
Zee sighed softly when he heard the door closed quietly. He leaned his head against the headrest while rolling his neck for a few times groaning when he felt the sore muscles stretched. He could have a good sleep at the moment. He opened his eyes again when he heard a distant shrill of an ambulance siren approaching. He sat straighter frowning when Nat was still not coming. Feeling curious, he opened the door before stepping outside.
He stepped forward towards a crowd at the side of the road. He could hear someone wailing and hissing in pain at the same time. Curiosity made him rush through the crowd before stopping in front of the sight. His eyes bulged when he saw a heavily pregnant man was crying and wailing besides an older woman's body while occasionally sobbing and hissing in pain. His eyes blinked slowly.
He saw a baby bag laying near the pregnant man's legs. The man was wearing a sweater and a loose pajamas pants with a wet spot on his crotch area. The man was about to give birth but still didn't want to let the woman go.
Zee's mind flashed to the past.
"Zee... it hurts."
"I'm sorry Hwa, I'm so sorry!"
"Please save the baby."
The last word accompanied with a glint of the sad eyes pulling him from his flashback.
He flinched when Nat called his name from beside him. He marched in front, stumbling through the crowd. "Mister, you need to go to the hospital!" He called the pregnant man.
"No! Leave us alone! Go away"! The pregnant man screamed while hugging the woman.
Zee swallowed, the man was about to give birth. He looked around him, other people was whispering and murmuring while looking at the scene with pity on their face. He clenched his fist.
"Sir, the ambulance's here,"
Zee moved forward at the same time an ambulance came. He pried the man's hand from the woman body before trying to carry him up. He fell down on his butt. Nat called him with worry but he told him to help the paramedic to help the woman. He lifted the trashing pregnant man with ease before laying him down on a stretcher.
"Let me go, you asshole! Let me go! My mae!" The man screamed struggling to break free. The paramedic winced before telling Zee to hold him tightly before lifting the stretcher into the ambulance.
"Wait for the police and meet me in the hospital," he shouted to Nat amidst all the chaos.
"Fuck! It hurts!" The man screamed as another contraction hit him and Zee flinched when he grabbed his forearm squeezing it hard.
The paramedic glanced at him while preparing an injection "Are you the baby's father?"
Zee winced, "No, I'm his friend," he lied didn't want to explain further.
The paramedic nodded at him before holding on Saint's arm. Zee just looked at the pregnant man who was squeezing his eyes shut in pain.
"Fuck you Perth! Fuck you!" The man screamed again kicking his small feet against Zee's waist.
"Alright, alright we're going to put you under, calm down, calm down." The paramedic coaxed while injecting the needle into Saint's skinny arm.
"No! Let me go! I don't want! My mae! Where's my..." Saint mumbled before closing his eyes and not moving.
Zee exhaled a relieved breath before leaning back against his seat. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair and loosening his tie before closing his eyes.
"Hwa, what am I doing?" He mumbled.
•••••••••
Zee was sitting on one of the chair in the waiting area with a cup of coffee in his hand.
"What about the woman who's got hit?" He asked Nat who was standing near him.
"I'm sorry sir but she couldn't make it. The paramedics tried their best but she's already gone." Nat explained.
Zee sighed again, "Find out his identity." He instructed.
"Yes sir."
"Excuse me sir." Their conversation was interrupted when a doctor and a nurse approached them.
"Yes." Zee stood up straight looking at them.
"The mother and the baby are healthy and safe." The doctor explained while smiling at him.
Zeew released a heavy breath that he didn't know he was holding, "Can I see them?"
"Yes you can. The mother's in his room while the baby is getting cleaned."
Zee followed the nurse after thanking the doctor for his effort. He opened the door after thanking the nurse who was blushing at him.
The first thing Zee saw was the petite man was laying on a bed. He was covered under the soft blanket and an IV drop was connected to his left hand. He looked so small and weak when his pregnant tummy was no longer visible. Zee approached closer with a careful stance. He stopped when the man opened his eyes before looking at him. His words stuck in his throat when a pair of eyes were staring at him cautiously under the thick brown lashes. His face was pale but a little pink hues decorated his cheeks. His soft brown hair fell limp across his forehead.
"Hel-"
"Who are you?"
They both spoke at the same time.
"Hello, my name is Zee" he introduced himself carefully before sitting down on a chair beside the bed. "I'm the one who helped you here" Zee explained without breaking eyes contact.
Saint was staring at him suspiciously before he finally releasing a heavy breath. "Thank you," he finally said.
Zee nodded his head with relieve.
"Where's my mother?" Saint asked after a moment wincing when he tried to sit down.
"Mister, please don't be panic because you just gave birth-" Zee tried to calm him down first.
"Birth?" Saint asked looking at his pudgy tummy under the blanket.
"Where's my baby?" He asked with tears started to gather in his eyes.
"It's okay, we'll bring the baby here," Zee coaxed him gently before pressing a button near the bed.
A blonde nurse came in a moment later with a bundle of blue blankets in her arms before showing the baby to Saint.
Saint gasped when the baby was in his arms. "Oh my God," he whispered with tears falling down his cheeks.
Saint stared in awe at the light brown hair and the cutest plump pouty lips. He kissed the baby's tiny forehead and all over his face.
"Baby... my precious.." He cooed. "This is your mummy and I already love you so so much." Saint cried wrapping his arms around his tiny body.
Zee smiled relieved when Saint was no longer in a panic mode, but he smiled too soon.
"Do you know where's my mae?" Saint asked looking straight at Zee while rocking the baby gently in his arms.
Zee swallowed, "I'm sorry, so sorry." He started calmly, " They tried to save her but she couldn't make it.
"No!" Saint whispered, his lips shaking and eyes watering. "You're lying. You gotta be kidding me!" He snapped.
Zee stood up from his chair getting ready to press the button when he noticed the baby was starting to whine from his mother's distress.
"Please calm down, your baby-" Zee pleaded trying to calm Saint down after pressing the button.
"Go away! I need to find my mother! Let me out of here!" Saint snapped trying to stand up from the bed with his whimpering baby in his arms.
Zee's eyes were about to bulge out when Saint stand shakily on his feet and tried to rip the IV drop wire.
"Oh no no! Please calm down." He rushed forward trying to hold him steady.
"No! Go away! I wanna find her! She need to see her grandson!" Saint protested with tears streaming down his red cheeks trying to push Zee away with one hand and his baby in his other arm.
The nurse and doctor rushed in at the same moment Saint was about to fall down.
Zee saved the new mother and baby catching them in his arms making he fell down on his bum but still making sure the mother and baby were alright.
The nurse rushed forward to take the crying baby away leaving Saint's arms falling limp to his sides.
"Mae..."
That was the last word Zee heard before Saint's eyes shut.
•••••••••
"Do we have any information?" Zee asked Nat who was sitting in front of him. They were at the hospital 24 hours cafeteria trying to have some very late supper. Zee called Nat to meet him there after Saint was sleeping safely from his fit and the baby was also safe.
Nat put his cup down. "His name is Saint Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana and the woman is Jew, his birth mother. They came from Bangkok to here not more than a year ago. No further information founded and the baby's father information couldn't be found."
Zee sighed again. "What a poor boy." He thought. "Where do they lived?"
"About that, something unfortunate happened." Nat said slowly.
"Why?"
"Their flat was broken into and some of their belongings were destroyed. All the valuable items were stolen. A report has been made and the police are investigating." Nat explained.
"Oh my.." Zee sighed pinching on his nose bridge. He mumbled something after a few moments.
"Sir?" Nat called him unsurely.
"Hold a funeral. A simple and quiet one." He instructed.
"I will sir."
"And inform Miriam to prepare the guest rooms. We're taking them to my home for the moment."
••••••••••
Saint wiped on his wet cheek. He bit his trembling lips didn't want to cry anymore but he lose. The cold breeze caressed his tears making them dry on his skin. The cemetery was quiet and serene save for a couple of visitors including him and his baby. A beautiful bouquet of white lilies and roses, Jew favourite flower was placed beside the tombstone.
He bent down to carry his napping son up. "Phu" he called gently rousing his son from his nap.
He rubbed gently on Phu's chubby cheek when the infant opened his big round eyes. "Your grandma sleeps here, she's in heaven now-" Saint choked up. "Looking at us..." he sobbed, a drop of tears fell down on Phu's nose.
Phu yawned cutely revealing his dark brown almost black very narrow eyes, a rare trait that was not Saint's making him smiled sadly. Phu's delicate pale fingers curled around Saint's forefinger tightly as in to comfort his grieving mother.
"We're going to be alright. You and I. We're gonna make it." He promised his son who was blinking up at him didn't understand anything.
Saint put the fussing Phu back in his stroller, the baby just always wanted to be carried. He tightened his jacket around his body before pushing the stroller slowly. He wanted to thank the stranger man who had helped him from the moment he wanted to give birth until the funeral. It was hard for him to believe that there was still a kind and generous rich man in this world after his bitter memories with the Tanapon. He wince before shaking his head.
He found the man sitting on a bench near the entrance. He stared at the weird man. He could tell that the man was a wealthy man from his appearance starting from his posh looks to his expensive suit. Why would he want to burden himself waiting for Saint and his baby at the cemetery and on Sunday at that. The man lifted his head when he noticed Saint was approaching.
"Sir," Saint called. "I want to say thank you so much for all that you've done. Words cannot describe of how much I owed you. I can only hope that you will be blessed for your generous deeds."
Zee nodded his head smiling gently before his sight went to the bundled up Phu in his stroller. The cute baby was napping peacefully didn't aware of his surrounding. Zee averted his eyes back towards the mother when he noticed Saint was staring at him.
"Where will both of you go?" He asked suddenly.
Saint smiled before looking down at his baby. "We're going to the shelter center at the downtown while the police settled the case and I'm going to look for a job."
Zee cleared his throat, "You're- both of you are welcomed to stay at my home."
Saint's eyes grew wide, "We cannot do that. What about your family?'
"I live alone," he informed. "But Miriam, my maid was always there doing her job." He explained further. "You can stay as long as you want or until you get a job and new accommodation. You can leave wherever you want."
"But-" Saint tried to object.
"Poor Phu" Zee said before crouching down in front the stroller and staring fondly at the sleeping baby. "The weather's getting colder." He added while smiling assuringly.
Saint bit his lip before looking at his baby too. "Alright." He said after some long thoughts. "Thank you so much for your generous offer. I promise you that we'll try not to burden you so much."
"No need to." Zee smiled again. "Just make it as your own home. It's not like I'll be at home all day. And I'm sure Miriam would be happy to have some company with her."
Saint smiled feeling relieved with the explanation. He reminded himself to stay out of Zee's sight as much as they can and helping with the house chores as much as he can. He finally nodded his head.
"The wind's getting harsher. Let's go now." Zee said.
Saint nodded his head before following the man. He saw a sleek black Mercedes waiting with a driver besides it. He had a feeling that he had seen that car before but maybe it was just his mind playing trick. It's not like that was the only black Merc in Chiang Mai.
Zee told him to carry Phu up before he took the bag from Saint and asking John to fold the stroller before putting it inside the trunk.
Saint stepped inside the car before settling down into the plush seat. He bundled Phu carefully in his blanket coaxing him down gently when the infant started to whine.
Saint leaned his head against the headrest. He suddenly felt tired. He stared at the cemetery longingly before the car moving further from the area. He promised himself and his son that they will visit soon. He patted on his baby gently when all the weariness weighing down on him.
He closed his eyes with his hand still patting on his son.