"Was Salmon stubborn?" Pim asked Itt again.
"No." replied the little boy, hugging his parents for a while. Salmon squirmed out of his dad's lap, then ran back and climbed up to sit on Itt's lap making everyone laugh.
"Staying with Itt like this, what will it be like when you get back?" Pim turned to her mother.
"That's it, when he got there, he kept hugging Itt and refused to let go. Mom called him over and he didn't want to. Day had to tell him to see you" Mom said with a smile. Itt also sat back and smiled, because he couldn't say anything to Pim, so she went to share the souvenirs she bought with her relatives.
"Day and Itt, yours are in the same bag. As for this bag, I'll give it to my mom and dad too," Pim said, handing the paper bag over for Day to receive.
"Thanks," replied Day, before placing the bag on the floor next to him. Salmon saw it and bent down to take it apart to see what was there. But when he saw Day look at him. He shook his head a little, causing the little boy to stop and go back to being quiet.
"Khun, you look and just shake your head and you can stop Salmon" Pim turned to tell her husband.
"I guess I'll have to ask Day for some advice. What do you do to defeat the mischievous Salmon?" Pim said again.
"There's no secret. Just teach him and explain, he already knows. Salmon is a smart boy, he's just mischievous with age" Day said back with a calm expression. This made Pim cherish this brother-in-law in his heart.
"Tonight, Mum is going to throw a party. In the front yard, to celebrate Pim's family coming back too" Wa said. Pim responded gratefully, before Mom let her disperse and
rest first.
"Itt, come with Mom and Dad," Mom said.
"Yes." replied Itt before picking up Salmon who refused to walk alone.
"Salmon, do you want to go upstairs with Mommy?" Pim called his son.
"I'm going to play with Uncle Itt, " replied the little boy. Pim just smiled,
"Okay, " Pim said, because she knew her son wanted to spend more time with Itt and Day.
"Let's sit in the front yard," Itt said, and Day nodded before walking out onto the lawn in front of the house where there are shade trees.
"Want to sit on the lawn under the trees?" Day asked, Itt nodded.
"Wait a minute, I'll find something to lie down on and not get itchy" Day said back and pretended to go home.
"Where are you going?" asked the boy immediately.
"I'm going to get a rug and spread it out for you to sit with Uncle Itt," Day said. Salmon nodded in acknowledgment.
"Always ask," Itt said with a smile and held Salmon waiting for Day. Soon Day returned with an appropriately sized mat, along with some water and snacks, and the tall figure managed to roll out the mat so that Itt and Salmon could sit down. Salmon lay down and rolled on the rug smiling, there was a gentle wind, and it wasn't too hot.
"Would you like some snacks?" Day asked the little boy who was lying next to him.
"Eat," Salmon replied as he sat down immediately. Day unwrapped the candy envelope and handed it to them. Salmon caught it to eat.
"Day and Itt, I'm going out to get you some food and drinks. Do you want anything?" Wa entered and asked.
"Salmon, do you want something to eat?" Itt asked his beloved nephew.
"I want to eat cake at Nam restaurant," said Salmon with a smile.
"Then let me buy you a cake. The store is close by, I'll call and ask them to make it. I'll contact the store and tell them to make the cake I ordered" said Itt. Before Day sent the money to Wa, after receiving the money, Wa immediately left.
"Day, call and order P Nam a cake" said Itt, so Day picked up the phone and called the number of the shop. Day ordered the cake Salmon wanted to eat and had Wa get it ready, before telling Nam that Salmon would be back the next day. So, Nam asked to speak with Salmon. Day then handed over the phone. The little boy picked it up and chatted before turning the phone back to Day to talk and hang up.
"What are you talking about?" Day asked.
"Nam said he wanted to see me. But I can't," said the little boy. Day smiled slightly before lying down on the rug. Salmon hastily dropped the envelope of candy into the bag beside him and lay down to rest it on Day's stomach.
"Uncle is sleeping" Salmon called Itt, who was sitting looking and smiling.
"Let's eat and sleep," Itt said nonchalantly, before laying down next to Day with a slight incline so he can sleep comfortably.
"Lift your head, Itt," Day said. Itt lifted his head before Day held out his arms to support him. The slender figure immediately supported Day's arm. The three fell asleep talking, most of the conversations were with Salmon who kept asking questions. Itt and Day answer every question their beloved nephew has asked. Until sometime passed Salmon's voice was silent.
"Itt, look at Salmon, is he sleeping?" Day asked, then Itt looked up and smiled.
"I'm really messed up, sleeping on my stomach" Itt said with a smile as the Salmon slept on Day's stomach.
"You better get him back to your room," Day said, and Itt gently picked up Salmon and carried him to Mom's house. Day also took the mat and snacks. Itt carried Salmon into the bedroom and carefully placed the boy on the bed before covering him with a blanket and sat quietly looking at his beloved nephew. Day, who followed, came to stand beside him, and raised a hand to gently squeeze his lover's shoulder, Itt turned to look at Day and smiled slightly.
"I must have lost my voice from so many questions and answers from Salmon, it's good to see him like this" said Itt in a low voice.
"Just Skype every day. Would you say it's more annoying," Day said, joking and smiling.
"I think we should go down and help the relatives prepare food for the sister. I'll call Mom and Dad too" said Itt.
"Hmm... Let Salmon rest a little, we'll wake up later" said Day, before going down to help Itt's relatives to prepare things.
"Where did Salmon go, Itt?" Ploy asked.
"He fell asleep, so I took him to bed first," Itt replied, helping to bring the table to get ready. After a while, Wa came back with a box of cake. Itt went to put it in the fridge and then come back to help the others.
"Hey Itt, let's see your nephew who loves you" Ploy's voice said while Day and Itt were sitting talking with Wa at the table in front of the house. Itt immediately got up.
"What is with Salmon?" Itt asked quickly, Day also got up.
"I heard the little boy crying in his room so went in to see him, he didn't want me to carry him. He just cries for Itt and Day" Ploy said again. Itt and Day hurriedly walked to the living room, upon entering the room, they discovered that Pim was hugging and comforting her son to stop crying. But it seemed that the boy is still agitated.
"Oh, Uncle Itt and Uncle Day are here. Look, you can stop crying" Pim told her son when she saw Day and Itt enter.
"Huh... Uncle Itt... Huh, " Salmon raised both arms for Itt to hug him. Itt immediately hugged the boy's body.
"Shh..don't cry why did you wake up and cry? I don't see why you must cry like that?" Day said and reached up and patted Salmon gently on the head.
"He woke up and didn't see you two," Ploy said.
"If you go back to your house, and you wake up and you don't see Day and Itt again. What are you going to do?" Pim said with a smile. Day then sat on Itt's other side. Salmon is now hugged and tucked into Itt's chest with a slight hiccup.
"Salmon, "Day called his nephew. But he knew Salmon heard it, though the boy didn't respond.
"If you go home to your mother, you wake up and don't see us. Don't cry like that again, understand?" Day said. The little boy sobbed heavily hugging Itt but nodded.
"The two uncles won't want to stay with you if I ever find out that you woke up like this again. I won't let your mommy send you to stay with me." Day pretended to threaten, making Salmon move away from his chest. Itt immediately turned to Day.
"Huh... no... huh.... I will come with Uncle Day... Huk. Uncle Itt... again..." said the little boy, sobbing.
"Then you have to make a deal with me first, you won't wake up crying like that again," Day said, extending his pinky finger to the little boy. Salmon immediately placed his pinky on Day's pinky.
"Huh... Uncle Day." The little boy said back, making Itt, Pim, and Ploy smile slightly.
"When I see that, I'm relieved. I'll leave you with Uncle Itt and Day to wash Salmon's face and eyes, I'll go down to help first," Pim said.
"Okay, I'll take Salmon," Itt replied, before Ploy and Pim left the room. Salmon has already started to ease some of the hiccups, but he's still clinging to Day and Itt who has sat in silence, waiting for Salmon to stop crying.
"Your eyes are puffy and not pretty," Itt teased his nephew.
"You can take Salmon to wash his face," Day said, so Itt took Salmon into the bathroom to wash his face. Before leaving, he applied talcum powder until his face was smooth, then went downstairs to join the relatives who are now beginning to gather. Itt's mother and father also arriving.
"What happened? When you wake up and don't see Uncle Itt do you cry?" Dad plays with Salmon, because Pim and Ploy went downstairs to tell everyone.
"I just saw him cry today dad" Itt said with a smile before leading Salmon to sit at the table. There are many dishes that Wa ordered, including fresh ones that are grilled by themselves.
"Would you like grilled pork, Salmon?" Day asked the little boy.
"I do," Salmon replied before Day went to grill the pork. Itt got up with Salmon on his arms, he took another piece of meat refusing to sit and wait at the table.
"So who are Salmon's parents, Pim?" Wa asked jokingly.
"That's right, Salmon still hasn't approached Frank. I think we've been forgotten by Salmon" Pim said jokingly. Frank sat up and laughed too. When the food was cooked, Day and Itt also sat down and ate together with Salmon. The other relatives came over to play with Salmon every now and then, but the little boy wasn't away from Itt and Day for long, so he ran back and sat with Day and Itt anyway.
"Uncle Day, what about my cake?" asked the little boy as he remembered.
"I thought you forgot," replied Day with a smile.
"Did you eat anything else?" Day asked.
"That's enough I'm going to eat the cake," said Salmon again. Day then got up and got the cake from the fridge on a plate and gave it to the boy.
"Uncle Itt, " Salmon asks his uncle to feed him. Itt agrees to sit and feed him the cake while Day is sitting and feeding Itt food, because he's busy.
"Itt takes care of his baby, but Itt is Day's son" said Itt's mother with a smile when she saw the scene.
"I think we should take a picture together," Wa said thoughtfully before taking the camera and snapping pictures of family members.
"Itt and Day, would you like to take a picture of the three of you?" Wa asked.
"Wait a minute" Itt responded immediately. Before arranging Salmon to sit on his lap and half of Day's lap.
"Ok... .1... 2... .3..." Click... Click...
...........
"Itt, take Salmon to shower before you go, so you can go to bed. Tomorrow, you must get up and get ready to deliver Salmon again" Day said to Itt as he entered the room. Itt is lying on the bed playing with Salmon who laughs. The slender figure brought the little boy into the room at 9 pm. Day then sat and drank with Wa and other relatives for a while. At first, Pim invited Salmon to sleep with her. But Salmon wants to sleep with Itt tonight, so Pim doesn't say anything.
"Okay, let's shower Salmon" Itt said to his nephew before going into the bathroom and showering. Soon after, Day went to take a shower.
"Day, what time do you have to wake up tomorrow?" Itt asked his lover when he saw him coming out of the bathroom.
"I have to wake up and have breakfast with mom, then we're going to the airport." Day said back. Itt nodded in acknowledgement then he turned to look at the little boy who was watching TV in the middle of the bed.
"Come on, Itt," Day said, knowing Itt was thinking about Salmon.
"What, I didn't think much of it," Itt said back, smiling slightly. Day came and sat on the bed next to Salmon, because today the little boy will sleep in the middle.
"Salmon, go to sleep now. Tomorrow, we must wake up early," said Day. The little boy looked up from the TV screen to see Day.
"Hmm" the boy replied gently. Day then turned off the TV and turned off the bedroom light. Only the light from the bedside lamp remained. Salmon immediately turned to lie down and hug Itt, but first, he turned to Day.
"Uncle Day, hug me," said Salmon. Day smiled and climbed into bed, then rolled over to sleep cuddled up with Salmon and Itt.
"Uncle hugging Salmon would be uncomfortable?" Itt asked with a smile.
"It's not that difficult," said the boy. Itt then lightly sniffed Salmon's forehead. As for Day, he also smells of Salmon's soft hair.
"Close your eyes now, I'm going to turn off the lights," Day said. Salmon immediately closed his eyes. Before Day reached out to turn off the light and turned around, hugging Salmon and Itt like before.
☀ ️ Next morning...
The alarm that Day had set went off causing Day to wake up and immediately turned around to pick it up and press it. Day lay on his back for a moment before turning to look at the child and his boyfriend who was still sound asleep. He got up and went to the bathroom.
🚪Knock... Knock... There was a knock on the bedroom door, causing Day, who had come out of the bathroom, to hurriedly walk over to open it
"Is Salmon awake, yet?" Pim asked.
"No, I'm about to wake him up" Day said back.
"Please call him for me. I thought no one was up yet so I came to have a look" Pim said before heading back to her room. Day closed the door and walked over to the bed.
"Itt..wake up, Itt, " Day calls out to his lover, who lazily slowly opens his eyes.
"It's already morning?" Itt asked softly.
"Um, go take a shower first, you'll be able to wake Salmon in a moment," said Day. Itt slowly got up and went into the bathroom to shower. Day turned on the TV to watch the news. When Itt left, Day went to take a shower.
"You can wake Salmon," Day said after showering and dressing.
"Salmon, wake up!" Itt called his nephew tenderly. The little boy turned when someone disturbed his sleep.
"Salmon," Itt called again, and the little boy woke up.
"Okay, let's take a shower," said Itt, before taking the boy who hadn't woken up yet to take a shower. When he saw the water, the boy's eyes lit up and he spoke to Itt for a bit. Day also prepared some clothes for him.
"You came down." said Pim when she saw Day and Itt bringing Salmon from their room.
"Let's have breakfast together first'" Mom called immediately when she saw that everyone had come.
"Day, is it Salmon's bag?" Pim asked in surprise when she didn't see her son's large bag.
"Salmon didn't get his clothes back. So, he's going to take the clothes we bought for him back," Day said back.
"Really? Salmon must love Brick and Day a lot to be like that" Pim said affectionately to her son, before taking them to have breakfast together in the dining room of the house. The whole time they were eating, Salmon sat next to Itt and Day. Both didn't say anything and kept getting food and feeding the little boy every now and then. But most of the time he told Salmon to eat alone. After eating, he packed his things in the car to get ready to send Salmon's family to the airport.
"Pim, me and Day can take the car alone. Let Salmon sit with me" Itt said to Pim, because the mother had to take the van.
"Okay, let's drive," said Pim, before saying goodbye to the mother who didn't come with her at the airport and took them to the car right away. Itt picked Salmon up and sat him on his lap in the front seat. The little boy was silent, not speaking as usual.
"What's going on today? It's quiet" Day pretended to ask, but the little boy was silent and sad. Itt was speechless. He wants to extend the time but it's not possible. When they arrived at the airport, Day found a parking spot, So the tall figure picks up Itt who is holding Salmon to join Pim and Frank who are waiting,
"How long until they call you to board?" Itt asked his sister softly.
"About an hour,'" Pim said. Day and Itt took Salmon to sit and wait with relatives who had come to bring their family as well.
"Hey, why are you making that face?" Ploy walked over and asked Itt, who smiled slightly at his sister. Now Salmon clings tightly to his uncle and won't let go. The closer the time gets, the more Itt's eyes start to turn red. Until Day had to raise his arms to hug them.
"Pim, I'm going to have to save your number and email address. Let Itt Skype Salmon," Day urged, and Frank hurriedly wrote and haggled a bit about setting up a call.
"Salmon it's time, we have to go in" Pim approached to tell her son who is facing Itt's bust.
"Salmon" Day called the little boy again.
"Huh...huh... I don't want to go... I'm staying with Uncle Itt" The little boy sobbed, making Itt's eyes water.
"No, Salmon we already talked about it" Day said, and the little boy started sobbing until Itt couldn't stop the tears that flowed, Pim tried to grab his son from Itt's chest, but Salmon waved his hand back and forth, not allowing her to take him.
"Pim I'll carry him for you," Itt said, his voice shaking. Day had to lift a hand to wipe the tears from his smooth face. Itt carried Salmon following Pim. She and Frank said goodbye to their relatives again.
"Salmon, look up and talk to me first" Day called Salmon who was now tucked into his uncle's shoulder. But Salmon didn't look up.
"Salmon, do you want me to be angry?" Day threatened, causing the boy lift his head.
"No... Uncle Day doesn't get angry," the little boy said, sobbing, and Day smiled slightly.
"If you don't want me to be angry, Salmon shouldn't be stubborn. Do you understand?" Day said again, Salmon was silent for a while before nodding.
"You have to go with mom and dad. You'll come back to us soon." Day said again. Salmon pressed his lips together before sobbing again.
"You're making Uncle Brick cry too, look," Day said. Salmon glanced at Itt before lifting a small hand to wipe away his uncle's tears.
"Huh... Uncle don't cry, don't cry" said the little boy with a trembling voice. Itt smiled with tears.
"Salmon, please don't cry, be a good boy" Brick's voice was equally shaky. The relatives looked at Itt and Salmon with pity and sympathy for both.
"People who cry are consoling each other," Wa said with a smile.
"Go with Mom, Salmon'" Day said to Salmon again. The little boy nodded in agreement. Before Itt could put Salmon down, Pim reached over and grabbed Salmon's hand. Itt bent down and kissed the little boy's cheek, left and right.
"When you get back, let's open Skype and talk," Itt told his nephew.
"Huh,'" the boy replied with tears streaming down his face. Before Day and Itt raise their hands in honor of Pim and Frank
"We agreed to bring him," Pim told Itt, who nodded. Day hugged Itt's thin shoulder. Pim took Salmon to the entrance to check the documents. The little boy often walked backwards to look at his uncles. Itt stood there with tears streaming down his face, but as soon as he entered, the little boy said something to his mother and then ran back to find Itt and Day.
"Huk... Uncle Day... Uncle Itt, " The little boy called the two loudly with both arms outstretched, Day and Itt hurriedly crouched down to hug Salmon before kissing Day and Itt on each other's cheeks.
"I love you so much," Salmon said, his voice shaky.
"We love you too, little one" Day and Itt replied. Salmon pulled away again and looked at Day and Itt with tears in his eyes again
"I'll be back. Please don't forget me" Salmon spoke again, Itt smiling slightly before kissing the baby's forehead
"Of course, I promise. " Itt replied to his nephew in a serious tone.