[Pete perspective]
"I am going to tell my father that I will never let him hurt your family."
"Will he even listen to you Pete?"
"I... I don't know, but I can't let this go."
Although I went to Ae's house to find him in the middle of the night, his family did not say anything about us, I am very grateful. Even when they saw me and Ae hugging each other, his mother just opened the door and let us into the room. His father said that I should stay here overnight. His brother smiled at me. His sister in law asked me if I had dinner. This gives me a deeper sense of guilt.
My father couldn't hurt my relationship with Ae, so he started to mess with Ae's family. All of this is my fault, Ae and his family should not have to encounter such a thing.
"Calm down Pete. Be calm, you need to breath."
Even if Ae encounters such troubles, he still wants to try to comfort me and caress my back. In fact, he should be more angry with me. I want to take a deep breath, let go of my bad feelings, and swallow the words I want to shout at my father, but it makes me breathe more harder.
"Are you feeling bad?"
"I... my mood can't be recovered. Ae my father actually hurt your family. When I'm not paying attention he might actually take further action." I told him in a trembling voice. I didn't think that my father would be such a cold hearted person.
I know that my father is not pleasing to my mother, but I did not expect him to ruin my happiness by hurting others.
"I am going to tell my mother."
"You told me that your mother was not in trouble because your grandmother was protecting her. Can she do the same again?"
After I calmed down, I kept my mouth shut. There was no way I could get Ae's hopes up. Yes, my mother has not been harassed or embarrassed by my father. And it is for my grandmother's sake. But this kind of thing, I can't ask my grandmother for help. If Grandma knows that I am gay, maybe things will become more out of control. Grandma loves me very much, but Grandma loves her family's reputation as much as my father does. Grandma certainly won't accept the fact that I like boys. It is very likely that her means of stopping me will be worse than that of my father. Or maybe... Grandma is likely to be scared by this news and have a heart attack.
I bowed my head and stared at our hands that were entangled with each other. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't cry. At this point, Ae put his big hand out and held onto me.
"You don't have to worry, my family is not as bad."
I didn't say a word, I know how much he values his dignity, but I still ask him. "Would you like to take my money for your brother?"
Ae looked at me in disbelief and then told me fiercely. "I will never use your money!"
"But Ae ..."
"If I take your money, I will be the kind of person your father already thinks I am. Pete, I am not a gold digger. I don't need to spend your money, not even a penny." He refused me, but I still tried to use his own reasoning to convince him.
"But your brother needs it Ae. I also know that the interest on usury can be much higher and outrageous with time. Do you want to watch your brother fall into debt?"
I haven't had time to finish and Ae puts his hand on my shoulder, then stares into my eyes and says to me in a firm tone: "You listen to me Pete ... my brother will never use your money."
I also gaze at him. The boy in front of me is a self-respecting person. He is also very confident in his family. Even if he has a hard time living, he will never spend a penny of others... Ae has always been such a person who is not humble.
"But I...oh...all my fault..."
"Don't say it, it's not your fault at all, it's not at all, it's not your fault."
When I started to shake, Ae quickly comforted me, whispering in my ear, and kissing my head softly. Even though he was full of trouble at the moment, he still managed to comfort me.
"My brother and I will definitely find a way... you don't need to blame yourself."
I lowered my head down, leaned on his shoulders, hugged him tightly, and couldn't say anything.
That night, I was lying in the warm embrace of Ae , but we were not asleep. We are just thinking about the solution to the problem in silence. But no matter how I rack my brain, the final solution is to go back to the original point... I have to negotiate with my father.
"Your father is not there. Just leave early in the morning."
When I left Ae's home, I only knew that I would apologize to every one of his family. But his family didn't say anything extra, just smiled at me. They just asked me why I was so anxious to go home, not staying with them for breakfast, I quickly refused. Because I have to rush to my father's residence, he and his new family returned to a villa in Thailand.
But just as I made up my mind to go to him, Ms. Su told me he wasn't around.
"Where did he go, did he say it?"
"No, he didn't say anything. I heard that there are still some things to deal with in Thailand, so we can't go back to Germany for a while... but it's also good, Alwin can practice Thai during this time."
I smiled at her. Her eyes were giving off a friendly and sincere smile.
My father did not tell others, in other words... he would never tell others that his son's sexual orientation was abnormal, even his wife.
"Please, take me with you so we can play." My brother came out of the house. When he saw me, he rushed to me with a smile. I smiled at him comfortably.
"I'm sorry, I don't think so. Today, I still have things to do."
"Things, things, things! I hate that word. My father often says that something needs to be handled so he is busy!"
I think my younger brother's Thai is really good, because he is making a big fuss in a fluent Thai language. I quickly comforted him, even if his heart is a little stubborn.
"I am really sorry."
"What's the matter Pete, you... you look like you're bothered by something."
I turned to look at her and admire that she could see it, but I just smiled and said, turning around. "There's nothing, then I will go first."
I left my step mother and her son and quickly left the villa. I didn't know where to go to find my father, because when I called him, he sent me to voicemail every time. As if he knew I was looking for him all over the place. I could't find my father... my heart is suffering.
[Ae perspective]
Pete went back early in the morning, I think he was going to find his father. No matter how many times I tried to stop him.
This man who forced someone else's family to this point will not stop, even if his son is kneeling on the ground for mercy.
I think Pete's father wants only one thing... he needs us to break up. But I also realized immediately that he was not concerned about Pete. He talked about his son's orientation only, indicating that what he really cares about is his family's reputation.
"Long time no see Ae. You've gotten so big." Since it is annoying at home, when my brother says that he wants to make deliveries to the regular customers, I just seized the opportunity to come out and breathe. Even though today is Sunday; I volunteered to work, and then greeted my brother's friend. Now his friend is already a contractor.
"No, I'm still the same as before."
"You're a lot taller."
I spoke to my brother's friend while moving the goods off the back of the car.
"I heard that Oh got a big order. I must ask him out to eat before he takes off."
When I heard about the bidding, I felt a bit stunned, but I didn't want to talk to them about what happened. I just moved the goods to the place he specified, and then took out the order for him to sign. Then I said goodbye to him, and drove away, but my heart was like a stone.
What can I do for my brother?
These thoughts are lingering in my mind, and it is clear that the root of all this is me, but I am not willing to tell my family about these things. This is not enough. I can't help my family. It will only help with some trivial things, such as angering them.
"Because I am still young. Nonsense! When will I grow up?"
I secretly cursed in my heart, then I held tightly on the steering wheel leaning against it.
I am still a college student, what can I do to help my brother repay his debt? I can find someone to ask for help, at this time Pete's face is in my mind.
I can't! I will never rely on my wife's money!
But suddenly, I remembered a person... this person must have money to lend me.
When I thought about this, I picked up my phone and dialed it.
[Why did you call Ae? Haha ha.]
Can greets me in a very relaxed tone. He must be watching something funny. But I am not interested in this, I quickly asked him.
"Is Tin there?"
[Tin? How strange! Do you want to chat with my boyfriend? When did you become so close with him?]
But I just told him...
"Is he not there? I'm in a hurry!"
[Oh, you're so fierce, then I will turn the speaker on... Tin, Ae has something to say to you.]
I don't care if he wants to turn on the speaker, as long as he hears what I say. I am eager to talk to his boyfriend now.
[When you eat, be careful, don't drop it on the ground... What's wrong, you're looking for me what's going on?]
Every time I heard him speak, I was upset, but I tried my best to calm my mood and then went straight to the subject.
"I have something to ask you."
[You have something to ask me? Then talk.]
Tin asked me in a puzzled tone. Before I changed it, he certainly didn't have the patience to listen to me. But now he still has the mood to listen to me, but I don't know where to start.
Tin used to think that I was with Pete for money.
[Say, I don't have a whole day waiting to hear your story. ]
[ h, your attitude towards talking to my friend is better. People call us and come to us for help. What is it Ae? Hurry up, I'm listening.]
Can's voice came in, but my mouth suddenly became very heavy... I suddenly thought of my pride. I must not ruin the happiness of my brother and their family because of this absurd dignity.
"I want to borrow money from you."
[You want to borrow money?]
He seems surprised, but I continue to speak.
"Because Pete's father."
[You wait a minute.]
[Tin! Where are you going? I want to listen too.]
[First, you should eat or it will melt... There is nothing to say. ]
I think he has turned off the speaker. I think that he knows something about Pete's father, otherwise he would let Can listen too. So I will tell him about the matter. After explaining it for a long time, I began to think that he would not help me.
[How much?]
Suddenly he asked this sentence.
"One million." I need this money to pay off the loan shark, because my brother said that the bank's borrowing should be no problem. Then I did not expect to hear this.
[Then I will let the lawyer prepare the loan for you. Later I will not charge you interest. I will give it to you after you graduate.]
I can't believe what I heard. I thought that the chance that Tin would help me was almost zero. But he told me this, and I held the phone tightly.
"Why?" I couldn't help but ask, and then I heard that his original indifferent tone became a lot softer, like a real person.
[Because you helped me to meet Can.] This is the reason for Tin. He also asked me to go to the college to find him tomorrow. He will prepare the loan and the money when he arrives.
I could say; "Thank you, thank you very much."
[I did it all because of Can.]
He hangs up after he finishes talking. My heart began to be full of hope, and then I drove home. I was thinking while driving, how to tell my brother so that he would be willing to accept the money. When I drove the car to my home, my hopes dropped. Because I saw a very familiar car parked on the side of the road.
I turned off the car very and ran back home. In order to tell myself that this is all my head. There should be only one driver in this car. But when I was about to run upstairs to the bedroom, I saw him...
"Thank you for coming over today."
My mother is talking to a tall man in a humble attitude, and that man... is Pete's father.
His father glanced at me, then looked up and down my whole body, as if looking at a dirty delivery boy with a condescending look. He smoothed out his suit, as if to say that my home was dirty. Finally, he walked out of my house without looking back, and my heart suddenly drops.
"Mom." I went back and called my mother and found that she was going upstairs.
"Oh, I haven't met such a local guest for a long time! Just very cautious."
"Mom, what was he doing! What was he doing!"
I quickly followed her up and asked, then I saw that my sister in law was packing two or three cups and turned back to look at me with a sad look. And my brother, sitting down on the sofa with his head down, I sat next to him.
"Brother!"
"Hey, you came back Ae. Just in time it's almost lunch time."
"What was he doing! Brother! What was he doing here?"I shouted at my brother, only to see him vigorously patting his face, and then he stood up.
"What's for lunch ah Nat?"
"Brother! What does Pete's father want? What did he say to you?"
I pulled my brother's collar and turned him to look at me. He sighed and began to say: "He said that you are dating his son, and then he said that he can't accept it completely. Then, your dad was stimulated, and your mother was like a ghost. He said he can help us solve the debt problem, as long as you break up with Pete." Brother said this thing as if it were a joke, but I did not laugh.
I twisted my wrist and held his clothes again, then said in a disappointing tone: "Have you accepted his money?" But he just stared straight at me without speaking.
At this moment, I feel that all my family members have betrayed me, are facing me, and going to join the demon in destroying my life.
"How can you treat your brother like this! How can you do this! You heard it! I really love Pete!"
I pushed him and almost broke his collar.
He hardened his tone to tell me. "Do you think your brother is that kind of person?!"
My brother asked me, but my mind was blank. I just want to beat him, I want to beat him up quickly, because I think he must have accepted Pete's fathers other's conditions, but...
"Do you think that I am the kind of person who sells my brother? I love you Ae. Even if I am poor, I will not sell you! I will not sell your happiness for many more millions. You are my happiness remember that!"
I suddenly stopped, looking at my brother who yelled at me, and then snatched my hands from his collar.
"You didn't agree."
"Have you always thought that I was the kind of person Ae? No! I didn't accept it! I don't want a penny. I was surprised because I found out that all the behind-the-scenes dirty deeds are because of his father. Damn it! I can't control myself. You know that I almost hit him, but I don't want to give him even one punch. My hands are still shaking, our father is the same, and when he left he left a bad atmosphere."
I stumbled and looked at my family members who were in the midst of their heat and hate. At this point my Sister-in-law came to my side.
"Ae, I knew you were with Pete from the beginning. Your brother knows, because I told him... No one in this family would abandon you because of who you love." My sister in law said to me, putting her hand on my shoulder softly, I couldn't speak.
"Ae, our family is not rich enough to care about the eyes of the society, if you love him, Dad will not stop you."
"Moreover, Pete is also a good boy, and mother has no reason to stop you... except for his vicious father."
Dad and mom told me this. I lowered my head and my brother sighed deeply.
"You don't have to worry about it Ae, it's just three million. It's not 300 million. Your brother has a way to earn it! If you don't make a big fuss, I can go to my father-in-law to ask for money. Don't forget that I have already given him another grandchild. With such a little amount of money, he will definitely be able to help!"
I can't say anything at this moment, I just look down at my feet. I now know how weak I am.
I am afraid that no one will accept our love, so I have never told them anything. I have not told anyone, but my family now tells me that they have already accepted it.
"Sorry, Mom, I am sorry." I felt that my face was already wet. The pressure of the past few days made my tears fall. My brother approached me.
"You don't have to endure all of this pressure. The task of a child is to learn. As long as you haven't graduated, your big brother won't make you stand up and make money for the family, understand, little melon!" My brother grabbed my head and hugged it, and still patted my head a few times. At this time, the big stone in my heart was broken down, letting my tears flow out.
"Do I have the right to love Pete?" I asked my brother this and hoped to get some confidence from him.
"Who dares to stop you?"
I laughed and cried simultaneously. I felt that the mountain in my heart was removed. Although this brother in front of me has no art of talking, he makes me feel comfortable. But I love him very much, so very much, and I love everyone in this family. They gave me confidence and made me understand that the love between me and Pete is not a mistake... we can fall in love.
All of this will pass, and these things will definitely pass.
[Pete perspective]
"Ae went to find you to borrow money?"
On Monday morning, when my friend told me that Ae was looking for him to borrow money, I could hardly believe my ears.
"Well, but in the evening he came and said no, he can do it himself."
I breathed a sigh of relief, but this did not reduce my anxiety. I haven't found my father yet. I don't know how to contact him, or how to beg him. But at least, I heard Ae say that he can solve the difficulties at home now, perhaps this is the first good news in a few days.
"Your father will be willing to stop here?"
I was taken aback and turned to look at this close friend, and then he told me very seriously. "I have heard something about your father. People like him will not easily let go of anyone."
He knows what my father is doing, and I am not surprised at it. Because in fact, Tin's family should be familiar to my grandmother.
"I don't know ... "
"Still you are not willing to admit this at all."
I am stunned.
Yes, Tin is right. I am not willing to admit that my father will never see the merits of Ae and will never care about my happiness. If I admit it, I will know that if the father does not get the results he wants, he will not give up. And all the means he has taken will be used on Ae.
"I won't break up!" I muttered.I don't need to break up with Ae. I firmly believe that love can overcome everything. I believe we can certainly overcome all difficulties, despite the thorns in our backs, and the road full of difficulties.
But I... maybe it's easier to think of everything.
These thoughts have been lingering in my mind until the evening when Ae comes back to class. But the person who appeared was not Ae, but... Pond .
"Pete did you know?"
"Know? Know what?"
I asked in confusion, there was a hint of fear in my heart... I was afraid to hear bad news about Ae.
Then Pond said with a look of indignation: "It was the school that set up an assessment team to evaluate Ae almost killing Trump. The bastard told the police that Ae almost killed him, so Ae faces the crime of attempted murder. The accusation... Fuck! Why won't he fall into hell alone? They are all sitting in prison, and they are thinking about framing Ae. At that time, who told me that his lawyer was useless!" Pond was actually cursing like a cannonball. I listened quietly, and the tears could not stop flowing out.
Look, this is my father's answer.
If I don't break up... I will be the one who ruined Ae's future. I have to accept the reality.
Real life is not a story. The so-called "love can overcome everything" does not exist... only money is omnipotent.