"Papa, please say that again?" Itt asked his father to repeat himself just to be sure he heard correctly.
"I said I am going to have you and Day take care of Salmon while Pim and Frank go on vacation," Itt's father repeated.
"Papa!! You thought wrong if you think Day and I will have time to take care of him. Day is already helping you look after both branches of the shop. I am also helping at the shop. More importantly, I have never taken care of a child before," Itt immediately shouted. This caused Salmon to wince a little from shock.
"Itt, you are scaring your nephew. Can't you see him?" Itt's mother said. This caused Itt to realize she was right. He quickly rubbed Salmon's back gently.
"I'm sorry, Salmon. I didn't mean to scare you," Itt quickly told the small child who had been startled when his uncle yelled in front of him. Day looked at the picture of Itt stroking Salmon's back. A smile rose on his face.
"Okay, we will be his guardians," Day said, causing Itt to immediately turn to look at Day.
"Are you being serious, or are you joking?" Itt asked instantly. He cared about his nephew a lot, but Itt doesn't think he could help raise a child.
"Itt, you don't like Salmon?" Pim asked.
"Well... no... I do like my nephew... but I don't think I can take care of him as well as you or others could," Itt said in a stressed tone.
"You haven't even tried to take care of him yet. How do you know that you are not capable of taking care of him? Besides, you have another person to help you, so why are you worried? If you need to work into the shop, I can help take care of him while you and Day are working," Itt's mother said. Itt turned to look at Day.
"Do you think we can take care of him, Day? These days, you've been very tired," Itt asked Day in a soft voice.
"I've only been a little tired. What are you so worried about?" Day said back. Itt turned to look at Salmon.
"Salmon, do you want to live with Uncle Itt?" Itt asked his nephew just in case Salmon didn't want to live with them. Salmon looked alternate between his parents and Itt.
"Mom... Can I stay with Uncle Itt?" the little boy asked.
"Well, do you want to live with Uncle Itt, Salmon? I will let you decide," Pim asked her son's name to ask him. Previously, she had explained to her son that he would be staying with his relatives in Thailand while Pim and Frank went on vacation. The little boy bowed his head slightly. Even though he truly wanted to go with his mother, he knew he could not.
"I don't know," the little boy said softly. He was not very close to his mother's relatives.
"Okay, you can just think about it. Your mother and father will be leaving the day after tomorrow. Let's go out to eat first," Grandma said. She wanted her children and grandchildren to have more time to get to know each other and become closer to their relatives. After everyone heard this, they agreed to go to the restaurant where they had made prior reservations.
"Day, why do you want to take care of Salmon?" Itt asked Day while he drove to the restaurant.
"Well, why don't you want to take care of Salmon?" Day asked back after a moment.
"I asked you first," Itt yelled back at Day when answered his question with another question, refusing to answer.
"I don't have a reason. They just want us to take care of him and treat him well. That's all," Day replied in a calm tone. Itt frowned slightly.
"Well, do you not like children or what? You don't seem like you want to take care of him," Day asked.
"No, I do like them, but do you think you can take care of a child on your own? I still must depend on you for everything," Itt said in a hoarse voice.
"I don't want you to be more exhausted having to take care of the two of us, Salmon and me, all at the same time," Itt said.
"Is it because you don't want me to be more exhausted, or are you afraid that I will take better care of Salmon than I do you? Are you afraid I will cater to him more?" Day said with a chuckle. Itt froze.
"I'm not so childish that I would get jealous over something like that," Itt yelled back. Day laughed.
"If you don't want me to be tired, you will need to help me take care of Salmon," Day said in a serious tone. The main reason Day agreed to take care of Salmon was because he saw the way Itt comforted Salmon after he accidentally raised his voice. This made Day realize that if Itt had to take care of someone who was less mature than him, Itt would learn how to become more mature and more considerate of others. Since Day is more mature than him, Itt is often rebellious. With Salmon, Itt probably won't be like this when taking care of a small child.
"Salmon doesn't want to stay with us, does he?" Itt said in frustration. He can't imagine what it will be like raising a small child.
Not long after their conversation, they arrived at the restaurant for their reservations. All the relatives met there together. Itt's father, who had made reservations at the restaurant, chose an outside table facing the Chao Phraya River. The scenery was very nice. The table was in a private area. Since the large family came together, the restaurant had prepared a table for their large party. Itt and Day said next to Itt's parents. Itt's Grandma sat at the head of the table. She wanted to see her children easily. Itt's father had ordered their food in advance. He didn't want to waste any time waiting.
"You can aet comfortably. It's been a long time since we've all gotten together like this," Grandma said.
"Would you like some beer, Day?" Wa, Itt's Hia, asked. Day nodded in acceptance.
"Me too," Itt quickly said. Wa ordered Itt one as well. While eating, everything continued to talk. Pim bent down to whisper something in her son's ear. Salmon made a slightly confused face before looking at Day and Itt, who were sitting across from him.
"Uncle Itt... I want to eat fish," the little boy stood in his chair and pointed at a plate in front of Itt that was filled with steamed fish with soy sauce.
"Jay Pim... Salmon wants to eat fish. Am I able to give your child some fish to eat?" Itt asked.
"Isn't that what Salmon is asking you, Itt? Can't you give it to your nephew?" Pim said suddenly.
"Aren't you, his mother? Day, you can go get some fish for Salmon," Itt complained at Pim before turning to Day.
"Well, why are you using Day as a scapegoat?" Wa asked jokingly.
"Oh, Hia Wa, even Hia Itt has to ask P' Day to scoop it for him," Ploy teased his brother.
"Well, hey, I'm afraid to get it and give it to Salmon to eat. Day, get Salmon some fish. Look at his face," Itt turned to encourage his lover to do as he asked after seeing Salmon was starting to get hungry.
"Itt, I can do that for you, but you need to learn to do that for other people," Day said back. Itt frowned a little before looking alternately between Day and Salmon's face. He slowly picked up the spoon and scooped some fish meat onto Salmon's plate. He was careful not to scoop anything that had bones sticking out of the fillets.
"Salmon, what do you say?" Pim asked her son. Salmon immediately raised his hands to show respect to Itt.
"Thank you, Uncle," the little boy said with a wide smile. He tried to pick up his spoon to scoop up the fish from his plate to eat.
"Salmon, please sit and eat nicely," Day's voice came out smoothly. Salmon, who had been standing on the chair, looked at Day a bit. He slowly squats down to sit like normal.
"Wow... if I knew that coming to Thailand would be all it took for Salmon to stop being stubborn, I would have brought him here sooner," Frank's voice said with a light chuckle.
"Is Salmon stubborn, Uncle Frank?" Itt asked his brother-in-law.
"Well, he is stubborn when it comes to his father and me. He never listens to what we say. We have to say it repeatedly. Day says it one time, and he immediately agreed to do as he said. Haha," Pim said out loud.
"Heh heh. It's not just Salmon, P' Pim. Itt's an adult, and he still hasn't matured in that way yet," Day smiled slightly.
"What? Are you not going to bother objecting?" Day tried to ask Itt back after some time. Itt wrinkled his nose a little. He sat down to eat like little Salmon. After eating for a while, he was full. He began to become restless like children are. He got up and walked around to see the relatives. He didn't go far because Pim would call him and was keeping watch over him. It wasn't just Pim who was looking after the child alone, Day and Itt kept watch on him from time to time as well.
"Wait here. I'll be back. I'm going to go smoke for a second," Day said before getting up and walking towards the smoking area. Itt looked at Day before realizing something.
"Salmon, come see me," Itt beckoned for Salmon, who was jumping around beside Pim, to come see him.
...
Day sat and smoked a cigarette. It was short-lived. Day turned to see Salmon, standing with Itt, with his little eyes on him. Day immediately stopped smoking and quickly extinguished his cigarette.
"Itt, why did you bring Salmon over here? Can't you see there's a lot of cigarette smoke?" Day asked in a stern voice.
"I didn't... Salmon ran after you. That's why I followed him," Itt replied with an innocent look. Day knew just by looking at him that he was lying. Day looked at the small child.
"You can go back to the table, Salmon. The air here is not good for you," Day replied to say this to make it easier for the child to understand.
"If the air is not good... then why is Uncle Day here?" the little boy asked. Itt raised his hand discretely to cover his mouth to suppress his laughter. Day looked at Itt with fierce eyes before a small hand reached out to pull Day's hand.
"The air isn't good... let's go," Salmon said with a little tug on Day's hand. Day couldn't help smiling a little. Itt also smiled as well.
"Yes, go ahead. We will go," Day replied reluctantly before standing next to Itt.
//I know you told Salmon to chase after me//Day said softly to Itt. Itt feigned innocence.
"Not at all," Itt replied with a smile. Honestly, Itt wanted to stop Day from smoking himself, but he was not able to run as fast as Salmon. Salmon let go of Day's hand and ran the other way.
"Salmon," Day called out Salmon's name. Itt immediately ran towards his nephew. Day went in the same direction. Salmon leaned on the clear glass display of the dessert counter. Inside the clear glass, there were many delicious looking cakes. Itt's eyes were shining when he saw this.
"Day. Cake! I want to eat cake," Itt immediately told Day while pulling on his shirt.
"Uncle Itt... I want to eat cake," Salmon tugged on the hem of Itt's shirt. Day looked at the uncle and nephew and smiled slightly.
"Do you like cake, Salmon?" Itt asked back. The boy nodded his head shyly. Itt smiled broadly when he saw that he had a new friend.
"Day, you see, Salmon also wants to eat cake. Buy some for us to eat," Itt said immediately.
"Can you eat it, Itt? I saw you eat many dishes," Day tried to ask.
"What do you mean? I ate something savory. Now I want to eat something sweet," Itt said. Salmon stood and looked at his two uncles.
"One for each," Day said. Itt pouted before holding up two fingers. Salmon also held up two fingers. Day looked alternately between Salmon and Itt.
(Huh, he's a mini you.) Day secretly thought to himself.
"Salmon, will you be able to eat two pieces?" Day squatted down to ask the little boy.
"Yes, all gone," Salmon replied because of his appetite.
"And if it's not all gone... What will you have me do?" Day asked back.
"Leave it, yes," Salmon responded childishly. Day looked at Salmon fiercely. This scared the little boy. He moved to stand behind Itt.
"You can't leave it. Day, if Salmon is not able to finish it, I'll help him eat it myself... Is that okay, Salmon? Huh?" Itt said, not waiting his nephew to feel scared of Day anymore. The little boy quickly nodded.
"Are you sure?" Day looked at Itt and asked.
"Hmm," Itt answered.
"Then you can go buy two pieces each. You can let the waitress bring it to the table," Day said back, giving Salmon a big smile. Itt took Salmon to pick the cake. Day stood and watched Itt and Salmon from a distance.
//Sigh... I don't know if it was a good idea or a bad one for me to agree to take Salmon with us. It's like having two children. // Day mutters quietly to himself. After choosing the cake, the trio returned to the table.
"Where have you been?" Pim asked immediately.
"Mom... Uh... Mom, Uncle... got me cake... I want to eat cake," the little boy happily jumped around while telling his mother.
"Where is the cake?" Pim asked back.
"At the restaurant. They also have a dessert counter. Salmon and I ordered cake for us to eat. Salmon, come sit next to me. Hurry, so we can eat together," Itt called Salmon. The little boy immediately ran around to him. Day out a chair in between him and Itt for Salmon to have a seat. After a while, the cake that was ordered was being served. Itt and Salmon quickly grabbed a spoon to eat it.
"If you were to tell me that Salmon was Itt's son, I would believe it," Grandma said as she watched her grandson and great-grandson eating cake together.
"That's true," Pim's mother said. Itt ordered a different kind of cake than Salmon, so he scooped a piece of Salmon's cake to try it.
"Mine... Uncle Itt's eating mine," Salmon yelled while frowning.
"Here we go. They're starting to get closer, zo he's starting to act stubborn," Pim said when she saw her son's behavior.
"Salmon... it's not good for you to act this way. I've told you this before, didn't I?" Frank scolded his son a little. Salmon was still frowning.
"What? I only took a little bite?" Itt said, but Salmon still made a grumpy expression over Itt touching his cake. Day didn't say anything. He watched Itt to see what Itt would do.
"Are you still going to eat it? If not, I'll eat it all," Itt threatened, causing tears to fall from Salmon's eyes.
"No... my cake," said the little boy as he protected his piece of cake, on the table, with both hands. He was afraid that Itt would steal it away and eat it all.
"Be nice, Itt," Day said quietly to his lover. Itt made a slightly protruding expression while thinking to himself. He can't take care of a child like this, even if he wanted to. He looks at Salmon's face before scooping a piece of his own cake onto Salmon's plate.
"Okay, then let's trade... I will let you taste some of my cake in exchange for some of your cake. Does that sound good?" Itt said. Salmon looked up at Itt hesitantly.
"Is this one good, Uncle Itt?" Salmon pointed to Itt's cake.
"It's delicious... your's is delicious too," Itt said to encourage the little boy. Salmon bit his lip.
"Uncle Itt, don't steal my cake no more," Salmon pleaded. Itt nodded. So, Salmon went back to sitting and eating his cake. Itt smiled at him. Itt ate both pieces of cake he had ordered, but Salmon isn't able to finish eating his second piece yet. The little boy seemed as if he was starting to get full. Salmon would secretly turn to look at Day, from time to time.
"Salmon, are you full?" Ploy asked. Salmon quickly turned to Itt.
"Uncle Itt, please eat it... I am full," the little boy said to Itt quickly.
"If you're full, just leave it right there," Ploy said again, but Salmon turned to look at Day fearfully.
"It's okay. I'll finish eating it myself," Itt took his nephew's cake from his plate and ate the rest of it. This made Salmon smile widely. He turned to Day immediately.
"Uncle Day! Uncle Day... it's all gone...the cake it all gone," Salmon said with a smile. This made Day smile a little bit. He lifted his hand and rubbed Salmon's head gently.
"What's wrong with you, Salmon? Just now, you were frowning. Why are you smiling now?" Wa reached over to pinch his nephew's cheeks.
"...If I don't finish the cake, Uncle Day will scold me," Salmon said, making everyone smile and laugh.
"I think not only is Salmon like Itt about eating cakes, but he's also afraid of Day just like Itt. Heh heh," Itt's father said jokingly.
"Papa... I'm not afraid of Day," Itt quickly argued.
"I just get a little embarrassed," he said in another low voice, causing the whole table to burst into laughter. Salmon looks at the adults in confusion. He doesn't know what they are laughing about. After everyone gets full, they talk for a while until it is time to go back.
"In just a moment, Itt and I are going to go back to the condo," Day said to Itt's father and grandma.
"Hmm... Drive safely," Itt's father said back.
"Uncle Itt. Where are you going, Uncle Itt?" Salmon ran over to Itt.
"I'm going home. Salmon, you must go back with your mom," Itt said.
"Then... when...will you come see me again?" the little boy asked again. Itt froze a moment before turning to Day.
"You can come see him tomorrow afternoon," Day said because he would be going to the shop in the morning. Itt nodded before turning to Salmon again.
"I'll come see you tomorrow afternoon," Itt replied. Salmon smiled. Day and Itt went to say goodbye to Itt's other relatives before driving back. As for Itt's parents, they stayed the night at Grandma's house.
...
"By the way, Salmon isn't that stubborn. I'm more stubborn than he is. Hahaha," Beick said with a laugh as they rode back to the condo.
"Hmm... you like your nephew very much too. Don't you know how much you were catering to him?" Day asked back. Itt gave him a confused expression.
"When did I indulge him?" Itt asked because he couldn't remember catering to his nephew.
"Think about it yourself," Day replied without saying anything more. Not long after, they arrived at the condo.
"Let's stop by Neil's room first, shall we? I haven't seen the two of them lately," Itt said as he stepped onto the elevator. Day nodded in acceptance. They took the elevator to their friends' room. Upon arriving in front of the door, they immediately pressed the doorbell. A loud bang sounded from inside the room. Itt stopped suddenly.
"Day... what was that noise?" Itt asked because he had been startled. Day didn't answer, but he immediately pressed the doorbell again.
Ding dong... Ding dong... Ding dong...
Day repeatedly pressed the doorbell from in front of the room. The door opens. Itt and Day looked at Neil suspiciously as he opened the door because he had a sullen expression on his face.
"What is wrong with you?" Day asked his friend in a low voice, but Itt had already walked inside Neil's room.
"Damn it!! ...Where is Nick, damn it," Itt shouted to his friends.
"In the room," Neil said shortly. He was frustrated. He slicked his hair back. Itt quickly went to find his friend. When he entered the room, he gaped when he saw the condition of the bedroom.
"Is this a bedroom or a battlefield?" Itt said. This caused Nick, who had been sitting on the floor with his head bowed low, lifted his head to look at Itt. Itt quickly walked towards his friend.
"What are you two arguing about? And why destroyed the room and made this mess?" Itt asked his best friend.
"Whatever we are arguing about, it's your friend's fault," Neil said as he followed Day into the bedroom.
"Why did you come in?!! Get out of here!" Nick yelled. His eyes were trembling.
"Did you think I wanted to come in so badly?" Neil yelled.
"Hey, what is going on between you two? What is the matter? Please tell me. I won't stop asking. I want to know," Itt said while Day stood and leaned against the doorframe. He was not very pleased with what he was seeing in front of him.
"Day... where do they give treatments for Rhinos? Tell me, I'll bring someone out here for him to get treatment," Neil turned to ask Day, causing Nick to stare at Neil.
"Who do you think is being a rhino?!! Neil, did you even ask me what happened? You keep cursing at me and saying that I'm a rhinoceros. Have you ever trusted me?" Nick said with a trembling voice. The more Itt heard, more confused, and worried he became.
"Itt, we should go back to our room. I want to take a shower," Day walked over and pulled Itt's arm to go back to their room.
"Day... Wait, Day... I still don't know what these two are arguing over...what if they hit each other? What should we do?" Itt immediately said as he held onto Day. Day reached over and put his arm around Itt's neck.
"Neil and Nick are just like the two of us. You can let them hit each other. It's good. It's not like they will kill each other," Day said before dragging Itt out of Neil's room.
"I'm worried about my friend. When I have a problem with you, Nick is always there to look after me," Itt said when Day had brought him back to the elevator.
"I know, but I would rather leave them two of them alone to talk about it," Day said back. Neil had already briefly told him the reason why the two were arguing.
"But..." Itt tried to object again. Day gave him a fierce look.
"Or would you rather we be another couple fighting like that?" Day threatened. Itt shook his head immediately.
"No, no. Uh, I won't be nosy, but if tomorrow comes and my friend is hurt, I'm seriously going to be very angry with you, Day," Itt threatened back a little. Day shook his head slightly. He took Itt back to the room, took a shower, and got ready for bed.
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