Nightmare.

"Let me hug you for some time then." He said while tightening the hug.

I kissed his head and started stroking it gently. Not soon after I found him sleeping soundly on my chest. I kept his head on the pillow not waking him and got off from the bed.

I got fresh up and folded the clothes on the bed while Song was sleeping on the other side peacefully and kept them in the wardrobe.

It was about time, so I went into the kitchen and started preparing for dinner. I was cutting the vegetables when I heard a muffled tone from the bedroom. I quickly went inside, praying for my guess to be wrong, and saw my fear coming true. Song was having the nightmares again.

"Mum, Mum, Mum...." He was crying out in his sleep.

"Song, Song. Wake up. Wake-up." I said while patting his cheek.

He opened his eyes suddenly with his face full of sweat. He was still crying. I hugged him and started consoling him.

"It was just a nightmare, just a nightmare. I'm here. It's okkay, everything's okkay." I said in a quiet tone while patting the backside of his head gently.

He calmed down after some time and I broke the hug.

"Are you alright?" I asked looking at his face which was still frightened.

"I'm fine." He sniffed.

"Was it the same nightmare?" I asked.

He nodded his head in agreement.

"Again? It's almost been a year since they have stopped." I said with a worried tone.

"I don't know. It was the exact same nightmare." He said in a dull tone.

"It must be due to what you were thinking when you slept. Take shower, I'll prepare dinner." I said while caressing his cheeks.

"Okkay." He said in a quiet tone.

He got up, took his towel, and went inside the bathroom. I was about to return to the kitchen when I heard a beep sound from my phone. I took the phone to check and it was Link.

"Sam and I are on our way. Make dinner for four." Was the text message he sent.

"Okkay," I replied and went inside the kitchen to prepare the dinner.

I was busy preparing it when Song came into the kitchen.

"Dinner's ready?" He asked.

"Almost," I said while stirring the soup and turned off the gas.

"How are you feeling now?" I asked after turning around walking towards him.

"Much better." He replied.

"Are you sure? Did you skip your medication? Let's consult your psychiatrist tomorrow." I asked while coming towards him.

"I haven't and there's no need. I don't want you to cancel the trip to mum's house." Song replied with a smile.

I nodded my head still with the worried face. He hugged me by the waist and kept his head on my shoulder.

"I'm fine really. You worry too much." He kissed my cheek and rested his head back on my chest.

I hugged him back without saying anything. We were like that for a while and broke the hug when we heard the door knock.

"Must be Link. He said they will come over for dinner." I said and went towards the door to open.

I opened the door and saw Sam and Link with a bag in Link's hands. They both came in and saw Song at the dining table.

"Hai guys." Song greeted them with a smile.

"Hey man." Link said.

Sam went towards him and started babbling about something. I served the food on the table and we all started eating.

"Kiet, you packed your bags right?" Link asked.

"Yeah." I nodded my head.

"Good." Link said and we continued eating while having random conversations. We completed our dinner and I got ready. Link and I grabbed our bags and were about to leave.

"Song, you sure you don't wanna come?" I asked again.

"Yeah, I will come tomorrow. I have to pack things." He answered.

I turned towards Sam and spoke.

"Sam, please take care of him, he's having the nightmares again," I asked.

"Again?" Link and Sam said at the same time.

"It's just once. Don't make a scene. You both are getting late, you should go." Song replied.

"Take care," I said. While Link was bidding goodbye to his girlfriend.

We both came out of the dorm and got into the car. Link started the engine and drove the car.

"You called mum, that we are coming?" Link asked.

"I informed her yesterday," I answered.

"What about the interview?" He asked.

"Not yet," I replied.

"What about the Singapore plan? You called dad?" He asked again.

"I have, right after the interview."

"And?????"

"He wants me to come to Singapore right away. His birthday's in two days and he wants me by his side when he announces his 'Will' like he said all these years." I replied.

"You sure wanna go and accept that position your dad offers, man?" He asked.

"You know that's what I have worked for. I did what he wanted me to. Now it's his time to fulfill his promise." I answered.

We both drove to Chachoengsao, the district we both grew up in. It took us two and a half hours drive to reach our home. Link dropped me at my house first. The time was around 9 when we got there. I got out of the car with my bag.

"Don't you wanna meet mum?" I asked while leaning on the window of the driver's side.

"I'm tired from driving. I need rest." Link said while rubbing his eyes.

"I told you, I would drive in the half, but you insisted on driving," I said and poked his forehead with my index finger.

"Don't nag, I do recall our conversation from earlier." He said while rubbing the area I poked.

"Take rest. Let's meet tomorrow." I said while ruffling his hair.

"Don't do that. I'm not used to sweet-talking." He said with a chuckle.

"But-" I was continuing but he cut me off before I can finish my sentence.

"Yeah, but I don't wanna remember that past, it hurts even though it's sweet." He said with a smile.

Even though Link's smiling, why do I see the pain he's hiding from the past. My smiling face went turned to a sad one, thinking that.

"Stop it, Kiet. I know what you are thinking. Just go inside. Bye." He said and drove off from my house.

I turned around and looked at the house. I inhaled deeply and went towards the front door and knocked. It took a while for the door to be opened and it was mum. I went inside the house and hugged mum.

"I thought you will come by 8," She asked.

"The traffic was heavy," I said while moving towards the living room.

"Did you have something?" Mum asked.

"Yes. How are you, mum?" I answered.

"I'm fine. What about you son?" She asked.

"I'm tired," I said while stretching my body lazily.

"Why don't you get to sleep then, let's talk tomorrow," Mum said with a smile.

"Okkay, goodnight mum," I said and went into my room, kept my bag on the side, and took a towel to shower.

I came out of the shower after 15 minutes and got dressed to go to bed. I laid myself on the bed and got a call

'Must be Song' I thought and smiled when I checked the screen it indeed was him.

"Hello, Song," I answered the call.

"You got home?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm about to sleep. Why are you up till now? it's late." I asked.

"Not that sleepy. I slept in the afternoon." He answered in a soft tone.

"Right. So what will you do now?" I asked.

"We both are gonna play video games," Sam answered instead of Song.

"Don't play till dawn. I know you guys' playtime." I warned.

"Link was right. You do nag a lot. Now, if you two lovebirds completed talking, let's play." Sam shouted in the back.

"Good night," Song said.

"Goodnight," I said with a smile and ended the call, and slept.

The next day I woke up and went downstairs after freshening up. I saw mum at the dining table.

"Morning mum." I greeted mum.

"Good morning." She greeted back with a smile.

We both sat at the dining table and were having breakfast when mum spoke.

"So.... you got the job?"

"Yes," I said with an excited tone.

"I was tired yesterday, So I couldn't talk. Sorry for that." I apologized.

"It's fine. Congrats on the job.... you told your dad about that, I guess." She asked.

I nodded my head in agreement.

"And?...." She paused.

"Mum, you know I can't go back now. It's the only chance and you know why I'm being this curious to go to Singapore." I completed the sentence.

"I know, Kiet. I Just want you to think before you act." She advised.

I nodded my head in agreement again.

"So, when are you leaving then?" She asked.

"Tomorrow night," I replied.

"Tomorrow night? What about Song?" She asked in confusion.