38- Father

Ta is taking a peek between the slit of his tinted window. He purposely parked his car behind a high wall, not too far from the building in front of him.

"Did you see him coming from here?" Bear asks. Ta shakes his head a bit. He's still watching the view from that small slit.

"Are you sure this is the right place?"

"Yes. 100%. This building is one of a kind. Of course, it will be stamped in my memory," says Ta.

"But, what was he doing at this kindergarten? Does he own it?" Bear frowns.

"I don't know. His family did own some businesses, but mainly real estate and properties. This is somehow out of their league," says Ta.

They keep peeking and stalking inside the car. Until, a lady walks out from the building.

"That's her!"

"Her... Who?" asks Bear. He frowns as he gives Ta a sharp, deep glare. Ta unbothered answering him. Instead, he opens the car door and jump out from the car.

"Ter! Ai hia Ta!" Bear curses under his breathe before leaving the car as well.

***

Zee walks at ease along the sidewalk towards the BBA building. The faculty building is just next to the Faculty of Economy.

Between these two faculties, there is a coffee shop. A famous place for hangout or dating spot for both of the faculties' students.

Even as a senior, not even once Zee ever enter the coffee shop. He rather eats at the BBA cafe, or if he wants coffee, he will buy it outside, especially when he has to work.

That's when he stops walking. Staring at the coffee shop for a while. Suddenly remembers his last therapy session.

***

"Is it because you'll graduate soon?" the therapist asked. Zee frowned, staring at the ceiling while leisurely laid on the black leather sofa.

"I don't know. It's my ultimate goal. So, I don't think that's the problem," he replied to the man.

"Doing the same thing everyday sometimes can lead you to a static life. So, it might be the reason why you feel bored. Especially, if the routine gives you pressure; like study," the man scribbled something on a piece of paper that clipped on the black file.

"What's your recommendation?" Zee asks.

"Maybe you can try something new. Go see sighting. No need to be too far. Somewhere near will do. Somewhere that you never visit before," says the therapist.

***

"Welcome to The Nest. Dine-in or takeaway?"

Zee startled a bit when a man, wearing a bear's ears headpiece greets him at the entrance. Slowly, he draws a smile on his face while his eyes linger around the cafe.

That's when he notices someone he's familiar with.

His brows entwine.

***

Ta takes a sneak peek behind the wall. Watching the woman bids goodbye to a bunch of kids who run pass through the main gate. Three mini vans with tigers stripes are waiting for them. One by one, those little angels hop in and slowly, the van drives away from the permise.

The woman waves her hand. A girl, quite small, looks cute in half pony tail is walking calmly towards her. She smiles as she grabs the woman's hand with her small fingers.

"Ter..."

Ta wags his hand up and down. Bear grits his teeth, surpresses the anger boiling inside. He rolls his shirt's sleeves, ready to throw a punch.

"Ai sutt, you ignore me, huh?! You wanna sleep on couch tonight?!"

Ta shrieks like a fool when he feels a sharp pain on his left ears. Bear drags his out from his hiding spot, making a ruckus that attracts both the woman and the girl.

"Teerak, stop it! I'm hurt..."

"You don't even care to talk about your plan, yet you keep stalking some woman and her child!" Bear yells at his boyfriend.

"Excuse me..?"

Both men stop when the woman suddenly approach them. Bear pulls away his hand from Ta's ear.

"Did you.. stalking on us?" the woman asks.

Ta, being a foolish, nods unconscious. He doesn't aware the price that he must pay for his bad decision.

A heavy swing of a set of sharp knuckle is greeting his cheek after that.

"Ter!"

***

"I bet the coffee must be nice..."

Zee glares at the figure.

Heads up. Eyes go large.

"What are you doing here?"

"I don't know. I don't wanna drink coffee but, somehow, here I am!" Zee's sight falls towards the other person at the table.

"You're beautiful," he grins blandly at the woman.

The figure quickly rises from his seat.

"Let's take it outside..."

"Sure!" Zee nods his head and ushers the figure to the back of the cafe.

***

"Ter! Ter!" Bear shakes Ta's body in panic. He fell on the ground immediately after got punched by the woman.

And, now, he's lying unconscious.

"Aunt Mei, I think, you just kill him..."

"Nope, he might be just unconscious..." Mei now glares at Bear. The man look at her while sweating like hell.

"I can explain-"

"Are you planning to kidnap us?"

"No!"

"Then, tell me why you're here?" Mei hides Shu behind her. Bear takes a few steps forward.

"I just follow my boyfriend," says Bear.

"Boyfriend?"

"This is my boyfriend, Ta. I'm Bear."

***

"Who is she?" Zee goes straight to the point. No introduction, nothing. He goes straight to business.

"My friend,"

"She's quite young. She can be your daughter..."

"I can go out with whoever I want,"

"Yeah, until you chose someone from my college. In fact, probably, the girl is younger than Ylang," Zee glares at the figure.

"Since when did you pay attention to my life?"

"I don't know, pa. Since I saw you with a girl half your age? Maybe more?" Zee frowns. He sighs as he glances at the girl who sits at the table, checking her phone from time to time.

"I can do whatever I want to do. And, it's none of your business!"

"Pa, you're such a lousy father, a bad husband and a horrible man. And now, you wanna add more bad reputation? Or, should I wait until that bitch kill you for your money so you can open your eyes on how shia your life is?!"

Pang!

***

Ta opens his eyes slowly. The sight in front of him seems estranged to him. He can hear people are talking. But, he can't see them.

Unless if he lifts his body up.

"Teerak..."

Bear turns his head towards Ta. He quickly reaches to him, along with Mei and Shu, who slowly follow him from behind.

"Ter..."

"Teerak, where are we?"

"You passed out just now. We're in the kindergarten's clinic," says Bear. Ta frowns, adjusting his sight so he can see the view clearly from his spot.

"Sorry, the bed is kinda small for you," says Mei.

Instead of replying to Mei, Ta nods weakly.

"Ter, this is Mei, the kindergarten's headmaster. And... This is Shu... Er..."

"I'm Uncle Zee's daughter..."

***

Zee wipes away the stain of blood that spurred out when Nan slapped him. He smirks in frustration, turn his head and facing his father.

"Great. You slap me because of her..."

"I think I should taught you a lesson, since you being too much!"

"You just hate me, don't you? There's nothing about a life lesson of shit! You just purely hate me to your guts!"

"Zee!"

"You know what, people said, human can change. And, I thought you'll change after Ma died. But, I guess, once a man whore, always a man whore!"

Zee grabs his bag tight and leaves immediately. He can hear Nan is yelling at him from behind, but he ignores the call, wipes his tears from his eyes and strudes towards the BBA building. He walks too fast and doesn't even bother to avoid people who came from the other direction.

In the end, he collides with someone and almost lose his balance.

"Sorry..."

"Senior Zee?"

That's when he lifts his head. Those eyes are looking at him in worry.

"Pan..."

"What's wrong?"

Zee can't control his tears the moment when Pan asks him. He sobs like a small child in front of her. Pan slowly grabs his hand and brings them away from his face. She places her palm against Zee's cheek softly, and wipes those tears.

"Pan..."

Pan grits her teeth. She pulls Zee into a deep embrace, letting the man soaking her shoulder with his tears.

"I'm here for you... It's fine..."