Soul stood at the doorway of the meeting hall with his son clenched tightly in his arms. It had taken him close to thirty minutes just to calm his baby. He was still feeling a bit sore from being in one position for too long and now tension racking his delicate frame. If not a bit more than when he had landed from the private plane Crown Prince Kengwang had brought him in.
He could feel his heart beating wildly in his rib cage and the nervous cold sweat rolling down his back. Everyone froze for a minute and all attention went to the door.
Lim could not believe who he was seeing. His eyes wouldn't dare blink in fear of his P'Soul disappearing again. The rate of his heart going crazier by the second.
Kiwi is stunned. A bit doubtful.
He leaves his fiance's embrace and slowly approached the nervous looking young man carrying a whimpering baby. As if in a daze, he lifts his eyes and shakingly asked..
"S-Soul.. I-is it r-re-really you?" He asks. His voice stumbling in disbelief. He prays it's not an illusion.
He is praying that his bestfriend is really standing in front of him.
"..."
Soul's breath hitched. He stared at the one he adores more than a friend and considers a brother. He had missed him a lot. More than he could have ever thought.
Breathing hard with a sad smile and eyes shut tight, he nods his head.
"Mh"
"Really you?"Kiwi is stunned. "Wh-where were you Ai'Soul? Where did you hide?"
After the first question was confirmed, the following questions came rushing out
"Did Key do something wrong?"
"Did I hurt your feelings? Did I stop paying attention to you after I started dating Thame?"
"Why did you hide from me? Why did Soul hide from Key?" Key kept asking as his voice continued to shake in anger. Pain and tears.
This is the question he had been asking himself ever since he knew that Soul had disappeared on him two years ago.
He and Soul had met in grade 9 and became bestfriends instantly. Soul's parent were never around and very mysterious. So Kiwi made it a point to take care of Soul as a brother. Both were practically always glued to the hip. Just that they were very much opposite of eachother. Kiwi for precise words is an extrovert with a bit of a spoiled baby touch. And Soul is a delicate very shy introvert baby.
Key is very protective of his shy Soul and Soul just adores his Key.
Although sometimes spending nights together, they still lived separately. That's why it had taken him off guard when Soul suddenly disappeared leaving behind a small note of 'goodbye'
Key had searched day and night for almost a year for his bestfriend. Even begging his boyfriend to use every resources he had to find his bestfriend, Soul.
But it all led to a dead end. Sometimes he would sleep in Soul's condo school dorm for days hoping his best friend would one day come back home.
But he never did.
All he wants to know is why Soul had left without a word.
"Soul khor thod na. I am sorry na Key. Soul had to leave in other to protect my child and you" Soul answered with his head bowed.
"What do you mean protect me, hm Soul? Why would you want to protect me? I thought we agreed I was doing the protection?. Besides you have the entire family backing you. Who dares goes against us?" Key sneers
He is fuming. He is angry at himself. Angry at himself for not being more attentive... for not protecting his first and only bestfriend.
"That's why I regret leaving my Key. I was just too scared. I couldn't think straight nor risk it. Not when you and my baby are involved." He sobbed quietly.
".. you were pregnant Soul~ Very early in pregnancy at that point.. and you were all alone in your thoughts and I cant help but think 'Im sorry' Soul"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry...." Key says over and over
Making Soul sob out. With his baby embraced tightly in his arms.
"N-no.."
Kiwi sniffed let out a shaky breath, wiping his tears away and trying to calm
"Ar'Key please don't cry na hu~ woo~. Ar'Ke it's okay na na wooo~~" little Kiritin cries running to hug his uncle. Comforting and crying at the same time.
Key picks up the little Ven and comforts him as he try to calm himself
"Do not suffocate my nephew before I can officially meet him khap. I will let the bastard Lim have his moment. The thoughts of you and P'Phir was what kept him alive.. from my end" he snorts
Turning to Lim he gave a fierce look.
"You are lucky he came back" Then walks into the waiting arms of his fiance. Thame without any words hugs his love and nephew in a comforting hug
Soul couldn't help but sobbed harder as he watched his best friend turning away. At that moment he knew he wasn't the only one who suffered from his passed rushed out thoughts. And that thought alone brought more pain into his aching heart.
"What can Lim do to make your
tears stop?" Saelim asks in a soft tone walking towards the man he had dreamed of night and day. He regrets keeping their relationship a secret. He regrets not doing anything to reassure his lover. Lim regrets not giving his P'Soul the sense of security to rely on and trust him(L) fully
He beats himself up daily for his stupid pride and immaturity. He regrets it alot...
"P'Soul know it hurts me to see them in your pretty eyes khap hawci. So please don't break my heart anymore na?" He dabs a clean handkerchief at the crystal tears on Soul's pale cheeks.
This made Soul gasp. Lim's face was so close to his. He tried to breathe but momentarily couldn't. All his senses heightened.
"Lim~"... he cries
"Hi my hawci.. I've missed you my Ter~"
After seeing his best friend smiling like his old self again, Kengwang felt the weight lifted off his shoulder.
'Finally the family is complete'
"This jerk actually is a dad before me. And he is supposed to be my assistant" he tsked and shook his head in 'disappointment'.
Saelim rolled his eyes but kept cooing at his seventeen months old son. He is a strong little Sen who looks very much like his mae.
"Nong Kengwang Thongphir, your godfather is mean and Por hope you grow up to bully his kids" Lim tells his baby son. Who only gave a cute baby giggle as Lim lovingly rubbed his nose against his.
Kengwang was stunned for a moment but gave a gentle smile.
Lim chuckles. He felt soo full and happy. Seeing his P'Soul and son. He felt complete.
"Wait where is P'Phir?" Aat suddenly asks for his captain
All eyes turned to Kengwang
"Yeah. You both came here together" Peate said
"Oh he is in my wing. And won't be coming out for the next few days" Kengwang smiles proudly
"N'Devil what are you planning to do to my best friend?" Peate squints at his cousin
"His heat seems to be oncoming and it somehow triggered my rutt" Kengwang explains, still smiling a bit too proudly
"Wait he is not supposed to go into heat" his mae who also happens to be Khamphir's doctor says in concern
"Is there any need to wonder how that happened" Dr. Chaiya,his Por scoffs
Everyone chuckles at his statement
"But you are yet to officially meet his parents and ask for his hand in marriage khap. And you know we go traditional when it comes to marriage khap" Peate said
"Already did that two days ago. And Devilisa was in charge of it. But P'Phir was not there" Keng answered with a small laugh
"I hope you will still ask him in the modern way too khap. Most times we Vens and some gamas do love a little bit of romance khrab" Kaeo gently smiles at Kengwang.
"Of course Your Gentleness khap. I shall do that soon khap. But I want that as a backup in case he decides to punish me by not wanting an early wedding" he winks making everyone amused
He gave a light closing remarks and turned to leave after giving a blessing.
Just like the Empress does at every family meeting.
"Before I forget.."
"Welcome to the family khap P'Lhong, Little Em, P'Soul, and baby Kengwang khap. Thank you for making the family finally complete khrap" he smiles warmly
"Now my wife is waiting for me. Wish me luck" He winks and left.
Kongkaeo shook his head at his brother inlaw with a soft smile marring his beautiful face.
He hopes and prays that N'Khamphir would survive the next few days. Probably the next few weeks. He sighed again and looked at his second-born dozing on his lap. Giving a gentle smile he hugged his baby tightly.
"Mummy loves you and your siblings very much my baby" he placed a soft kiss on his little head.
"What about me kap my Berry?" His husband teases
"Berry loves you very much my bhowa" Kongkaeo whispered looking into the eyes of his Sen
"I love you too sweet Berry" the Sen smiles and peck his lovely wife.