As he thought in front of the house Mac glanced over at his boyfriend who had taken off his shirt.
Tree branches fall on the stairs, and when Nan moved or stretched her arms, her arm muscles and six packs were clearly visible. Nan's hair, which had started to grow long, was pulled back in a casual fashion to make it look he looks like a bad boy. Looks cool. How many more tattoos?
Mac wouldn't be surprised if people continued to approach his lover.
- What happens? came Nan's voice.
Making Mac flinch a little because she was still staring at him even though they've been lovers for a long time.
- What the? Mac asked back.
- You see, I have been confused for a long time, he asked back.
Mac avoids looking into his eyes and looks back at the bushes.
"I'm looking at the tree branch," Mac replied in a normal voice. Try not to look at Nan.
- I'm sure, I think it's because I'm handsome, Nan said back with a smile.
But in Mac's heart, he accepted what his lover said. Nan chuckled a little, then continued to cut the branch. While cutting, he looked around and saw that there were two teenagers, a white man and a black man, looking towards their neighbor's house, still cutting branches and looking at the two.
"Mac," Nan called in a quiet voice causing Mac to look up.
- This is the house next to us. Who lives there now? he asked, nodding towards the house on their right .
- There is a single mother, Martha with a son Arthur, aged 5 years and about 4 months, but the mother is not at home now she should go to work, and the boy probably to school, said Mac, because they had said goodbye since few times.
- Where does she work? Is it just the two of them, mother and son? She, he asked.
- She probably works in a company, I never asked her, but since it's just the two of them living, there are some friends who come to see them. But not often, Mac replied. There he looked. Two teenagers were still watching.
- Hhhhh...would you like to invite them to eat together? Nan asked, Mac looked at his face.
- What happened? Mac asked suspiciously because now he's going to invite the neighbors to eat together... There must be something.
- At this moment, what is happening? like the drug addicts who broke into the house and stole?
-Yes, I saw that two months ago, the house on Soi 2 was broken into and entered. It cannot be stolen. Good thing the home owner wasn't there at the time. They said it was a security camera, but they couldn't see clearly. But he looks like a white man with fair skin.. Let's go and ask him and we'll know. about it.
Mac answered as he knew, then immediately frowned because his foot was on the iron ladder that was higher than the ground, so he could see a little further but he couldn't see enough.
Soon the two walked by the house and pretended to be passing by. Mac turned to look, but he didn't care, because it was normal for people to walk around the neighborhood without attracting suspicious glances.
What is this? Mac asked nervously as he began to feel suspicious of his boyfriend who was eyeing the two young men suspiciously
- I'm not sure, maybe I'm thinking too much, he said.
- Tell me, I want to know, repeated Mac, because he must think and feel something
- Did you see the two people who passed just now?
Mac nodded in agreement.
Then he said what he suspected. it makes the eyeballs grow instantly
-You think it's true, don't you, Nan? Mac was shocked.
- I told you I wasn't sure. Maybe I'm thinking too much. However, today I invite them to the table. I'll cook for you, he said, Mac immediately nodded.
- You, if you really believe what a thief is. So he's about to go up to the house next to us? Mac asked
- May be. I don't want to be so pessimistic. but I still believe that the woman she is
alone with two small children. What's up what happens to a her if the two are thieves? he said that.
"Then we'll follow him for a while," Mac said again.
Nan nodded in agreement.
- So we're going to tell them? Mac asked.
- No need, if the two are not really thieves, we will scare them.
- No, Mac replied before helping each other finish bending the branches.
and waiting for me to prepare dinner Nan.
As for Mac, he continued to look at the house next door until he saw a woman's car pull into the house. Mac hurried to meet them.
- I'm done and I left to take a shower and change, go to the house, Martha said to her son when she got out of the car, then she turned to greet Mac when she saw him.
- Hi Mac, you're back after a long time, right? Martha asked because he knows Mac had returned to Thailand
- Hi ..Yes it's been a few days, Mac answered the girl and waved and greeted the boy with golden hair who sends Mac a shy smile along with standing behind his mother.
- Ah, Martha, my friend is from Thailand. We will cook dinner together and we want to invite you to eat together, Mac invited her.
- Yes.. thank you very much, said the girl smiling.
- let's eat together. Did Arthur lose something? Mac asked as he remembered.
- No, everyone can eat. I just don't like eating vegetables that much, Arthur said
- Yes, I will prepare dinner without too many vegetables. See you then, Mac replied, Martha smiling before taking her son into the house and Mac returned to the kitchen.
- You, I invited them.... He'll come, Mac said, and Nan nodded in agreement.
- It's also western food. in case he can't eat Thai food with us, Mac said.
-Um, you came to help me. Don't just talk about it, Nan said.
Mac immediately rushed to help his lover. Menu they're going to make today....There's a pork belly salad that Mac wants to eat. Nintha fried rice, fried chicken wings, salmon steak, vegetable salad and fries for the little ones.
As he finished there was a noise outside the house. Mac rushed to open the door and saw that it was Martha and her youngest son who was now in a cute overall with pink cheeks glowing and it made him want to kiss his cheeks but he doesn't dare because he's afraid of losing his manners.
I also baked an apple pie for dessert, Martha said.
Mac immediately took the pie pan.
- Thank you. Enter first, invite her inside.
At that moment Man came out. Arthur saw him and was shocked because he is big and immediately hides behind his own mother.
- Hello, I greeted Nan.
The girl frowned but smiled.
- Hello, answered Martha
- Uh... I forgot to mention that... my girlfriend is a man, Mac said as he remembered because I forgot to tell the girl earlier he didn't know if the girl could accept it or not.
- Don't worry...I have many friends who are gay or lesbian.
Saying this, Mac let out a sigh of relief.
- I'm Nan, Nan introduced herself and the girl also introduced herself back.
- Stay and wait for us to set the table for a moment. The food is ready, Nan said in a friendly manner then she looked at the little boy who hid behind her.
- The child is scared, for sure.
Mac spoke softly.
- Teng Chai wins, said the young woman.
"It's all right," replied Nan, but she looked at the little boy again. He admitted that Arthur was cute, but he wasn't used to small children.
- Let me help you set the table. The girl spoke quickly before taking her son and flying into the kitchen.
-Arthur, you'd better stay here and wait with me. I'll bring some cookies for you to eat first.
Mac tries to befriend the little boy. Arthur hesitated a bit and looked up at his mother. Martha nodded to her son and Arthur, unfamiliar, walked over to Mac. Mad held out his hand to the little boy who accepted to shake Mac's hand, Mac took him to sit on the chair. Mac smiled immediately.
- He is not used to strangers. In the normally it's just the two of us together, mother and son..
Martha spoke as she looked at her own son lovingly before turning to help set the table. As for Mac he brought some sweets for Arthur to eat.
- Mac, don't let him eat too much. He won't be able to eat anything soon.
- He speaks slowly, although he came out smiling. before gently rubbing Arthur's back and when the table is ready he sits in a stationary position where he sits with Mac
Martha and her boy were sitting together. Mac put a cushion on the boy's chair to make him sit higher, so he could sit and eat comfortably, and Arthur sat down and ate a deliciously wrinkled fish steak.
- What are you doing, Arthur, is it delicious? Mac asked, the little boy nodding.
Trembling, he ate and rocked himself legs, until he's done and wants to go play phone.
Mac saw the little boy from a distance, but never played with him or approached him.
- He will be like that. When he eats delicious food, he likes to rock and play.
- Is it cute, does it look easy to care for? Mac asked
- It's easy, it's easy. but not all the time, said the girl again
- Why doesn't he like to eat vegetables?
That voice grew louder, causing Arthur to go quiet for a bit and immediately look away.
-,,Arthur doesn't really like vegetables, he's so small, answered Martha.
That's dad
- Mother... Arthur, she turned to his mother.
Acto has more Moo .
- That's more... Mac, wanting to help, spoke instead.
Then he was glared at by Nan so Mac immediately stopped talking.
- You don't want to be strong, do you? she asked.
Arthur moved to embrace his mother's arms. He was a little scared when he saw Nan's look. Because of Nan's bigger body and he was very small
- If you eat vegetables, your body will thus become big and strong.
Mac came over to help speak as he grabbed that arm and squeezed it, Arthur watched with interest as Mac asked Nan to hold her arms up to show her arm muscles as well.
- Can you... catch him? Arthur asked hesitantly.
-Let's try, was the immediate answer.
- Come on, don't be afraid. Mac says .
Then Arthur slowly got off the chair and walked towards him in fear. Turning to look at his own mother who smiled at him in encouragement. The little boy then walked over to Nan and looked.
- Come on, I'll help you.
Mac says and picks him up then Nan flexes her muscles for the little boy to hold him. Arthur slowly reached out and squeezed Nan's arm immediately then smiled.
- Mm, his arm is very competitive.
Arthur quickly turned to his mother and told his mother out loud.
- It's strong? Mac asked, Arthur immediately nodded.
- Then eat a lot of vegetables and you will also have such muscles and you will be very strong, Nan told him.
- Yes, Arthur will eat vegetables, Arthur's mother will eat vegetables, the little boy said to his mother before he got out of Mac's arms then ran back to his place then started to eat the vegetables.
Everyone looks on with encouragement. Arthur started eating right away although he winced at first but he swallowed it all.
The three cheered encouraging him to eat more vegetables
- Normally, even if you look at it, it won't eat it. You two are very talented.....I want him to eat vegetables, the woman said, looking at her son.
- Normally when you go to work Where does Arthur go? I asked Nan out of curiosity.
- If the semester is still open, go to school. In the evening I take him and he goes home with me. But if he doesn't go to school then I'm stuck at work and I'll drop him off at a nursery, answered Martha.
- Is no one helping you? Mac asked. Martha smiled gently.
- Arthur's father is gone, and my parents don't want me to bother them too much, said Martha.
Mac nodded.
- Yes, let's get some snacks and stock up at home, Martha said with a smile.
- Do you want to stay home tomorrow? Mac asked
- Yes..tomorrow I have a day off and I was planning to clean the house and go buy some things, answered Martha.
- I'm at home tomorrow. come and play with me You can come? Nan asked.
I don't know, I can't imagine this image... Nan is taking care of a child, Mac said in Thai as he thought.
As for Martha, she looked back and forth at Mac, smiling.
"You two are so cute," Martha said making him and Mac turn around.
- What the? Nan asked in surprise
Well, you two seem to get along so good, it's like you love each other so much that you make me jealous.
- It made me realize that same-sex love is not different from that of a woman and a man. In fact, your love and trust in each other that I see in you, I have not seen in same-sex relationships. you two are really nice people, Martha complimented her heartily.
- Don't just think that we're both human and we went through a lot before we got along...it was hard at first to make him love me, said Nan looking at Mac who was pretty quiet .
- I know I can trust you and I can leave Arthur with you because you will never hurt my child, said Martha
- Thank you for trusting me, replied Nan, and when she finished eating or took them all to the dining room to serve fruit.
Nan was washing the dishes by himself as he sat there he felt someone following him in his back or so he turned around and saw that it was Arthur who came to lurk in the kitchen doorway looking at him, when he saw that he was looking at him he ran a little.
- Come in, said Nan.
Seeing that he was smiling at her, she slowly walked towards him with fear.
- What do you want? Nan asked, but Arthur shook his head.
- Don't be afraid.. you can look at me further, and I will teach you how to become strong.. do you want to learn? Nan asked smiling at the little boy.
- Okay then let's help me wash the dishes first...
The little boy nodded in agreement.
"Then pull the chair closer," Nan said again.
Arthur turned and looked at the chair and dragged it to the side as he slowly climbed into the chair. Nan was watching him but didn't put out a hand to help, wanting to learn to manage himself.
- Yes, the little boy smiled, he was so proud that he managed to climb the chair by himself without being helped as usual by his mother.
Nan smiled a little and continued to wash the dishes with Arthur sitting in silence and watching.
- Did you learn to sing at school?
That prompted the conversation. Arthur nodded hastily.
-Ooo you can sing to me too, Nan continues trying to make Arthur feel comfortable with him.
- Mary had a lamp... a small lamp... a small lamp. Archer sang sheepishly, but finally finished singing.
- It's good, do you want to learn a new song? This song is fun, Nan said and Arthur looked at him with interest before briefly teaching the boy a song.
- Martha... Mac, his voice was heard Arthur as he ran out of the kitchen with Nan following him out after washing the dishes
- Yes, said Mac, sitting on the sofa, talking to Martha.
"Arthur can sing Thai songs," Arthur boasted. Mac frowned.
-Who taught you to sing? Mac asked looking at Nan he had a strange feeling.
- Arthur, let's sing it over a good drink with Mac, said Martha too.
Arthur squirmed slightly awkwardly then looked for Nan who gave him a gentle nod to start singing.
- Why is my intuition not good? Mac said in Thai to his lover who smiled slightly again before the three of them looked at Arthur who was standing ready.
Arthur held both arms out in front of him with two thumbs up and turned him upside down ..
"Punib Ipi Ipi Ipi Ipi, cred... Punib Ipi Ipi Ipi Ipi Ipi"
He sang a lot of songs, although his accent was not clear and some of the words were not pronounced clearly. But Mac knew immediately what the song was.
- Oh, what did you Nan teach Arthur to sing? Mac shouted in Thai, then turned to Arthur.
- Ah, Arthur, the song is very good, but I think this song is for sleep, it's for adults, we don't have to learn to sing yet. Let's learn the Nang Kwan song, Mac immediately changes the song and tries to sing it softly because he didn't want the little boy to lose his confidence.
- What song do you want to sing? How is the song translated? Martha asked again suspiciously.
Mac turned to hit his lover a little, he turns and tells him that it's nothing serious, he doesn't want to translate his lyrics being shy and his face is red.
- Uncle, do I sing well? The little boy was still confused.
- very good...But this song is hard to sing. Let's find new songs for you, Mac has secretly returned to kick his lover's leg who sits and laughs irritably
Then they started singing for about an hour until it got dark outside.
- Yes, thank you very much, for today, Martha says goodbye.
-If there are any problems you can call us anytime, this is my number, Nan said while handing him his phone number.
- Good night, Arthur waved to Mac.
Nan and Mac waved. Then they return together to the house, but first they look around, I didn't find any anomaly.
-Yo, Mac shouted as he was pinched by Nan's side.
- What was my song about? he asked smiling.
- Why did you learn that song? There are plenty of other songs...not one that has erotic expressions....
Mac immediately yelled at his boyfriend, but it wasn't that bad.
- Then what song will you give Arthur? Nan asked him
- Well, if Nong wants to learn a Thai song that suitable song will be the song Kab Kab Kab Peon.
- Where do you learn music like this? This song is really cool, Nan said with a smile that Mac knew well.
"You don't share any other songs that aren't like this," Mac said again.
- Umm..then this song? Nan turned to ask. Mac narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
- Mowgli hunted. Hunting Mowgli, sang Nan.
Mac hastily shut Nan's mouth.
- Oh, please stop singing, moaned Mac, then Nan hugged Mac's neck and went into the house in good spirits.