Chiang Mai.
Saint woke up to the sound of a crying baby from his right side when he just fallen asleep not more than an hour ago.
He rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes before sitting up on the bed to tend on his fussy son. The dim light from the nightlight illuminating Phu's scrunched up face. Saint cooed at him before lifting the chubby baby gently into his arms.
"Shhh.. shh... " he coaxed trying to stop his whines, but it was not working. He glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table, it was 11 in the evening. He fixed Phu's position in his arms before lifting the hem of his shirt to expose one of his swollen nipple. He nudged his nipple gently to Phu's lips before the fussy baby finally latched on in hurry. Saint hissed in relief when the pressure in his chest lightened. He looked down at his baby smiling fondly when he saw Phu was sucking on his nipple urgently with his eyes closed shut. Saint rubbed on that puffy soft cheek to coax his son back to sleep.
When Phu finally let his nipple go, he laid him on his shoulder to burp him but the baby had another plan. He whined again before breaking into full wailing. Saint frowned in worry. He patted on his back gently while trying to calm him down. "Baby, what's wrong? Please tell mommy, hmm. Shh... don't cry."
But Phu was still crying. Saint was about to get up from the bed when he heard a knocking on the bedroom door. He swallowed heavily, worried that Phu's wails might wake up the house owner. He opened the door with difficulty and was met with Zee who looked worried, dressed in a loose jogger and soft worn t-shirt.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry if he woke you up-" Saint apologized instantly.
Zee waved his hand in front of him. "It's alright, don't worry about that, I was just finishing my work in the office when I heard Phu cried." He explained with a sincere smile. "Are there anything that I can help with?" He asked.
Saint contemplating to turn down his offer when Phu once again crying near his neck while kicking his chubby legs against Saint's tummy.
"I- I don't know why but he keeps crying after he woke up." Saint explained while rocking Phu in his arms.
Zee bit his lips, a crease formed on his forehead. "Maybe he's hungry?" He tried.
"He already had milk," Saint told him while ducking his head to hide his blushing cheeks.
"Oh," Zee scratched his head. "Maybe he just want to be hold. May I try?" He asked lifting his hands forward.
"Oh, sure." Saint said snapped from his daze.
Zee took the crying toddler carefully into his muscled arms. He laid Phu's front gently against his chest with his right hand securing under his bum and the other against his back. He patted on Phu's back gently while walking to the hallway leading out to the living room. Phu stopped crying automatically. Saint was standing frozen at the doorway where he could hear Zee humming some songs to his son in his nice voice. Saint shook his head. He looked down at his outfit noticing that his legs were bare from thighs to feet since he was only wearing panties and oversized shirt to go to sleep. He blushed before walking to his drawer to change into a loose jogger.
He stepped into the vast living room when he saw Zee was sitting on the couch with sleeping Phu against his chest. The TV was turned on but muted.
"He stopped crying," Saint said approaching the coach.
"Yeah, what a tough guy." Zee chuckled gently before kissing the side of Phu's curly head.
Saint's heart felt warm. Zee's affectionate gesture towards Phu was too much for him, as the baby's mama to handle. He looked at the both of them. They looked like a true pair of father and son, when the supposed biological doting father was absent himself. Saint shook his head to chase the unnecessary thoughts away. He had decided to start a new life, with his beloved son and with the help of a generous and kind man like Zee. He wished nothing more, just waiting for the right time to start living on his own. It's not like he would live with Zee forever, that man surely wanted to get married one day and Saint and his son would have to move out from his house. Truth to be told, Saint thought he could do that, Zee had paid his salary for the past 8 months since he lived here, and the pays were more than enough for Saint and his son. When he had recovered from the trauma, he insisted to help working in the big penthouse, as Miriam aid since the older woman only work until 5. Zee also suggested for him to take one of his guest rooms to make a nursery for Phu, but he refused firmly didn't want to seem like an opportunist. The big bedroom courtesy from Zee with adjoined bathroom was more than enough for him and his small son. Thinking about Zee, Saint never saw him with any man or woman since he lived with him and he was back home from work, he would go to check on Phu and Saint first. Were they the reason why? Saint frowned.
Zee was staring at him amusedly when he lifted his eyes. "Here, let me take him to bed," Saint rushed out trying to take Phu from Zee.
"If you don't mind, can you make some tea? I have something to talk to you about? Don't worry about Phu, I'll hold him for you." Zee asked with a sleepy smile on his gorgeous face.
Saint swallowed. "Sure, wait for a moment." He said before disappearing into the kitchen.
Saint boiled his kettle of water on the stove , yes his kettle that he bought using his own money. He took two mugs out of the upper drawer before setting them down on the marble top. He dropped the tea bags before putting a spoonful of sugar into Zee's and none for him.
After the tea done, he took the mugs carefully into the living room. He blessed them in his heart when he saw Zee's palm on the sleeping Phu's small back.
Saint put the mugs down onto the coffee table. "Here, let me take him to the bed. I'm sure he'll sleep until dawn." Saint said taking Phu into his arms. He went to his bedroom before putting Phu down gently in the middle of arranged pillows and soft stuffed toys as a barrier from him to roll around. He went back to the living room after kissing Phu's forehead leaving the door opened.
Zee motioned for Saint to sit down. "Thanks for the tea, just as I like it," he praised sincerely.
Saint smiled feeling happy when his small deed made the man smile.
"So, Saint," Zee started. "It's been like eight months right? Since you and Phu here."
Saint swallowed. Maybe that was the time, the time that Zee will ask them to leave. He was ready, they were ready. Zee had help them too much.
"Time flies right?" Zee said cutting his thoughts. "Phu already can crawl," he said chuckling thinking about the healthy baby.
Saint smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.
"So, I was thinking-" Zee continued.
Saint looked down at his folded hands on his lap bracing himself.
"We should move to a bigger house," Zee said before taking his mug to sip his tea.
Saint snapped his head up looking at Zee in disbelief. "W- we?" He asked.
Zee smiled amusedly at him. "Yes. We, us. Me, Phu and you." He said calmly. "I already bought the house, it's in a safe and private neighborhood in-"
"Wait," Saint cut him. "I'm sorry for cutting you but- are you asking me and Phu to move out with you into a new house?" Saint asked to make sure he listened correctly.
Zee nodded his head. "Yes, I'm sure. We're already like a family so that's why I want to live together with all of you. And Phu is like my son." He said the last part slowly before clearing his throat and sipping his tea with blush on his cheeks.
Saint stared at him in disbelief. "But you'll get married one day Zee and you'll have your own family while Phu and I-"
Saint froze when Zee got up and kneeling in front of him. He was flustered and wanted to get up but Zee's firm hold on his hands signaled otherwise.
"Listen here Saint," Zee squeezed his hand gently.
Saint blinked before nodding his head
once.
"And I want to let you know this, this is really personal to me and very private. I-" he stopped before exhaling shakily.
"I used to have a girlfriend and we're expecting a daughter together but.." he said.
Saint's mouth opened and his eyes widened, "Oh no." He whispered.
"But under an unfortunate event, they- they couldn't make it." He said shakily, his eyes dim.
"I'm so sorry Zee. I'm sorry for your loss." Saint whispered wetly, his eyes brimming with tears. He couldn't imagine missing his only son when he already lost his mother while Zee lost two of his most precious people at the same time. He squeezed the hands.
"Thank you but it's in the past right?" Zee said sadly while patting his hands back. "That's why Saint, when I saw you near the road eight months ago, I have the instincts telling me to save you, to save the baby." He said smiling.
"Maybe it's Hwa and my daughter reaching for me from heaven," he smiled weakly.
Saint choked before tears running down his cheeks. "I don't know how to thank you Zee. You have done too much for us. Because of you, we got the second chance to live. Thank you so much."
Zee smiled before reaching his hand up to wipe on Saint's cheeks. "Don't cry Saint, I've done what was the right thing to do at the moment. Because of that I get to know you and precious Phu. I should say thank you too." He said.
Saint nodded his head.
"So, let's move together?" Zee asked again. "Let's take care of each other and I promise you that as long as I live Phu will always be protected and happy. That one I can promise you." He exclaimed.
"Yes! Thank you Zee." Saint whispered pulling Zee into a warm hug. The older man stiffened for a second before pulling Saint closer and hugging him tight.
"Everything's gonna be alright Saint," he said smiling in the hug. "I promise you."
••••••••
"Phuri! Come here right now."
"No!!" The boy with chocolate stains on his mouth and cheeks ran through the French door to the backyard. A half-finished cone of chocolate ice cream was crushed in his small hand.
He squealed when he saw his mommy stepped through the same door. His little but strong feet brought him faster and far away from him. He turned his head at the same time his face collided with long legs cladded in navy slacks in front of him. Phu fell on his butt. The ice cream smushed on the ground beside him. He frowned lifting his face wanted to throw tantrum but grinning when he saw the man in front of him.
"Baba!" He screamed jumping into the older man's awaiting arms before being lifted into the air and a bearded face rubbing and kissing against his face and neck. He giggled feeling ticklish while trying to push the face away.
"Baba is home," Phu said leaning his head against the man shoulder. His small fingers plucking at the man's beard.
"What did you do this time, young man?" The handsome man asked fondly.
"Mama is meanie!"
"I know right? Your mama is meanie." Zee sighed when he saw Sainy dressed in his lavender sundress approaching them with an amused face and one of his pretty brow lifted.
"I'm home." He said sighing fondly.