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BEFORE AN US

Chapter 17: Vee Brave

Chapter Text

Vee Vivis

 

When War and I arrived at my house, the younger person looked more like a piece of paper than human. He was so nervous to meet my parents that his face turned pale and his hands all cold and clammy when I grabbed hold of them after we get out of the car.

"Relax. They are not gonna bite you or something."

"No they won't. Your father doesn't bite, he punches. And your mom, she doesn't like me." He pulled me back when we were only a few steps away from the main door.

"So you remembered what happened then? I thought it was...errr.." I hesitated not sure if I should mention Mark's name. War exhaled hard looking warily at me.

"I fished out some of Mark's memory. They are being so loud that I don't need to dig deeper in my brain's archives to find them." He rolled his eyes like he's fed up with something.

"So you can still hear them talking?" It's the only logical reason I can come up with when he said "they are being so loud". He still continue to hear the other personas talking inside his mind. That must be be so difficult for him.

"Let's not talk about that now. I am about to re-meet your parents and the topic of hearing voices inside my head is not helping at all P." He told me with his sullen face.

"What voices?" War and I both jump from where we were standing when we heard someone talk behind us. It was no other than my dad himself. He stood a few meters away from us with his clothes all greased and creased. He must have come from his garage fixing a car engine or two.

My dad was looking at me and War with his thick pair of eyebrows furrowing, maybe discerning what he just heard.

"Da...dad."

"Uncle."

"Who are you calling uncle? Why do you two look like you have seen a ghost? And why is this kid here Vee?" My dad's ever-so-slightly supercilious voice is very intimidating that War beside me immediately back off and hid half of his body befind me. This could be considered as extremely cute but since my dad's aour face kept on staring at us, I hide away my feelings. With my chest puffed out like a hawk, I face my father like a man about to go against all odds just for love.

"Why do you look at me like that ai Vee? What's the meaning of this?"

"That is...uhmm...I..War here is...you see dad.." Shit! Why am I stuttering?

"So are you just gonna stand there and talk right outside of our front door? We have a visitor, I see. Hi Mark?" The person who came next wore this stupid grin on his face while waving one of his hand to the person behind me.

It was my dear brother Rue who now came. What's with people showing themselves all of a sudden? Is he still not in the university when we last saw him? Did he went after War and me after we left?

"Ai Rue, you are here as well? Are you boys done with your classes? It's unusual to see you home when the sun is still up." Dad switches his gaze between me and ai Rue with this suspicious look in his eyes.

"Dad, I'm in fifth year remember? I have my own time under control. Are you getting senile or something?" Rue rolled his eyes on our father. He get a wacked on his head immediately. I never felt this elated over a whack from dad before.

"Talk to me nicely you ingrate child!" Our dad scolded. I stuck my tongue out to show to ai Rue and received a hit on the head as well.

"Ouch! Dad! Why hit me too? I did not do anything nor spoke to you rudely." Dad only pointed War behind me.

"That's for the advance headache you are about to tell me and your mom. I smell trouble when I see one. I know you have something big to say. This is all starting to make sense." He said moving his fingers to point to ai Rue, then to me, and back to War and did this on repeat.

"Dad, you knew?" I softly mumbled but his grunting told me he heard it anyway.

"I'm not your father if I can't sense what's happening to my sons." He gave me and ai Rue another set of whacks on our heads before finally opening the front door and pulled us in with him, not letting go of our earlobes. Even if I'm in pain, I see to it that I never let go of War's hand and dragged him with us inside the house.

"Boys! You are all here." My mother peaked
his head excitedly when she heard us clamoring. She's in the kitchen and seems to be cooking our dinner. Then another head popped out right after mom. He's that someone who is always mistaken to be me because he strongly resembles my face.

"P Vee and P Rue!" When he steps out of the kitchen, you could see how he towers above us. He's even taller than dad now.

"Tine? Why are you back from Chiang Mai?" Rue asked the tall kid who immediately wrap his arms around his neck and tried to reach mine as well. His smile made his eyes disappear and the three of us were soon wrestling playfully with each other. "I miss my P's so much that's why." Tine said chuckling.

He's our youger brother Tine. He's in first year and he studies Political Science in Chiang Mai University.

"What's with the growth spurt ai Tine! Why are you this tall?" I ruffled his hair smiling. It's been months since I last saw him.

"I just sleep a lot and have been drinking plenty of milk. And oh yeah, gym." He pulled his sleeve up and started flexing his biceps looking so proud of himself. Rue just hit him on the head and pretended to throttle him.

"P Vee. You have another brother?" War came closer behind me to whisper. His eyes fixed on Tine who is now laughing heartily with ai Rue's jokes. There's this sudden impulse that made me cover his eyes instantly.

"You are looking too much. Don't look. There is nothing to see." My sudden action made the two of us so close that I was almost hugging him as I tried to hide his smaller body from Tine.

"P Vee!" His little voice complaining made me smile. He's pushing my hands away frowning. If we are not in front of my family and about to drop a bomb then I may have kiss his lips already.

"P Vee? Who is he?" Tine finally notices him. It looks so weird seeing him tiptoeing just to take a glimpse of War that I was trying to hide.

"Wow Vee. The last time I saw you glare at Tine like that is when he tried to stole one of your action figure collection. The murderous intent though is worst now." Rue taunted looking at me smugly. I glared at him more than I did to Tine. He just laughs and headed to the kitchen.

"Vee. Don't forget you haven't said anything yet. Don't you look at your younger brother like that." Dad reminded before following ai Rue.

"P, I think I should go home. I don't want to meddle with your family's get-together." War pulled on my shirt and take a few steps back to the door. I'm still holding on to his hand and they trembled a little.

"No. You will join us." I said pulling him back forward with me. Tine jumps infront of us with this crazy smile on his face. He's eyeing War with great interest and ignores me pushing his shoulder away.

"Hi! I'm Tine by the way. I have a feeling that we are of the same age. Are you P Vee's junior?" Tine is the most extroverted of us three brothers so I am not surprise that he acts all friendly like this. But I feel irritated. War's face flushes a bit red as he came face to face with my brother that looks a lot like me.

"Yes. Hi. I'm War. I am more of P Rue's junior. I study Architecture." The smaller person answered looking so tiny beside my giant brother.

"I am right then! I am glad that you are my age! We can be friends!" Tine said excitedly reaching for War's arms but I blocked him just in time. No touching for him. I pulled War away from my giant of a brother and take him to our dining area. My mom raises her head, surprised to see War with me.

"Vee, that is..."

"This is War mom." I introduced him after shoving him into a chair. He sat their looking out of place and discreet. He glances at me with his pleading eyes so I pulled a chair back and sits beside him. Rue and Tine each sat on the opposite side of the table facing me and War. Soon, mom and dad also sits at their respective chairs. The table was silent except for the sound of the utensils. Their's a silent and foreboding tension and all of my family's eyes seem to switch only to me and War.

"Is it War? I don't think this two called you that name before?" My mom asked after passing the bowl of rice to War.

"Mark is his other name. I mean it's his real name but people close to him prefer calling him War. It's what his parents used to call him before." I answered for the you ger person because I know he'd only stutter from nervousnous if I let him answer instead.

"How come you know so much about him?" Dad asked dubiously. I watch ai Rue making himself busy with his chicken while Tine intently listens to the conversation.

"Because I have been paying attention to him." I answered.

"And why is that son?"

"Because I care so much for him mom." Rue cleared his throat while the other three was frozen momentarily. War beside me shifted his position very slightly. I grabbed his hand below the table and squeezed on it to give him a bit of my encouragement. He gave me a side glance and almost smiled. His beautiful eyes imploring to let this awkwardness end soon.

"So were you able to get home safely that time khun War?" My mother asked War in a face I cannot read. She's asking this like a normal adult would ask their son's friend but her face tells me she's being aloof and detach to the person beside me, just like how my dad is behaving. I can't blame my mother and father with this. It was all my fault why they are behaving this way. I made a bad impression of War for them that first time they met him.

"Yes maam. P Vee went after me and made sure I get back to my apartment." War somehow made it to answer without choking. I squeezed on his hand again to tell him he's doing great. He squeezes back in return.

"That's a relief." My mom said raising her eyes to look at dad. My dad scrunches his nose and made this weird expression like he and mom were battling in a telepathic way. When he finally look like he's losing the battle, he let out a long and dragging sigh.

"Look, I'm sorry about me acting out before Khun. It was inappropriate in every way. I hope I didn't hurt you that bad." He finally said scooping a huge part of curry chicken to put in War's plate. The poor person beside me looked so shock that he accidentally dropped the fork he was holding. He was looking at my dad like he's seeing him for the first time.

"Ah. It's nothing sir. Really. Not your fault at all. It was more of a misunderstanding. No I mean it's my fault." War had became so pale that I was worried he's gonna pass out anytime soon.

"It's Vee's fault War. Don't try to cover up for him." Rue pointed out pointing his form on me. My dad nodded his head nonstop like it'll make him less guiltier if I claim all of the blame to myself.

"No. It's not his fault. It was really mine. I'm sorry again, maam, sir." War took turns to bow his head to my my and to my dad in a repeat apology. I pulled his shoulders to make him look at me and stop whatever he was doing.

I don't want him to take all the blame for himself. In fact he shouldn't be blame at all. It was my recklessness and too stubborn idiotism that all that happened to my poor special person. I hurt him bad and made my parents dislike him too. Who thought he would become someone that I would
like to spend the rest of life with? The universe can play a hurtful joke sometimes. It is therefore my obligation to do my best to lift his reputation.

"It is all my fault and I'm sorry again mom, dad, and also War. I'm sorry for what I did before. I admit I was a total asshole." I look into his eyes and his trembled under my powerful gaze.

"Oh get ready for it. P Vee is about to announce something big." I heard Tine whisper to Rue.

"He's gonna tell us he's pregnant."

"Noooo... P Rue! Don't ruin it for him."

"Wedding proposal?"

"Will you two shut up?" I barked at my two brothers who burst out in muffled laughter right after. War's face is telling me he's ready to evaporate in place. I wipe dry the sweat on his forehead ignoring my dad clearing his throat and Tine's annoying giggles.

"Me and War, we love each other." I just said out of the blue without removing my eyes to that of the person in front of me. I watch him drawing in a deep breath. I smiled and squeezes on his hand. It's like the whole world stops for the two of us and the sound from our surrounding muffled.

"P Vee." I like listening to his voice. I am looking forward to hear him call out my name every single day of my life.

"You know that I do. And I want us to be together longer than anyone could imagine." I added staring at his quivering lips totally ignoring the people around us.

"Oh god! If they are gonna kiss then I think I'd puke all over the dining table."

"Don't be disgusting P. They are so sweet though."

"Is he asking us for our blessing or not? He look like he's totally lost with the kid. Your son is clearly telling us that he's gonna do what his heart tells him anyway regardless if we are against their relationship or not. Who needs our blessing?"

"There goes my second to the last go of having grandchildren. Tine is the only one left and our last chance dear. Life is hard."

"Me? Why me?"

"Tine? Don't tell me you..."

So as a conclusion, our little family dinner ended with everyone having different kinds of emotions. Tine and my mother were the ones who look more excited than I was and they were soon all over War. My mother's treatment with him drastically change for the best. She is doting on how cute War is that the younger person looks more like a daughter she never had. Tine too was chatting endlessly competing with our mother. I heard him asked War how did the two of us fell in love and how am I treating War as his boyfriend. War's shyness never disappeared but he looks more comfortable this time compared to his self earlier.

"You happy now?" I was too busy looking at War talking to my mom and Tine that I wasn't able to noticed Rue sitting beside me on the sofa. My brother has lips torn at the corner. Must be from the punch I gave him earlier.

"Do you have a problem with me being happy?" I asked him in an angsty tone. He rolled his eyes with an impatient grunt.

"You and your simple mindedness never fails to amuse me Vee. I just want to make sure you are prepared for what's coming." He said to me leaning his back on the sofa. He might be War's senior but he doesn't have any idea as to what War is. But I wanted to tell him how prepared I am to take this challenge.

"I am more than prepared dumbhead." I answered looking confident with myself.

"Good. I'd like to see how you handle the others." The smile that suddenly forms in his mouth is annoying.

"I can handle my friends pretty well. Thank you." I responded matching his confidence as much as I could.

"I'm not talking about your friends." He shrugs as he smirks.

"Then who do you mean by the others? War's friends? They can accept us." I thought about Kham and I would like to ask my brother about him. But I think I'll save it for later.

"Them." He answered pointing at War's direction where he sits side by side with my mother and Tine.

"Tine and mom? Are you blind? Look at how they dote on him. They adore him." I just pointed out the obvious.

"No. Not mom and Tine. Them." He pointed at War again and it made me look at his face more seriously. I can't think of my brother knowing something.

"You. How much do you know?" I asked. My right hand balled into a fist nervously. Rue exhaled out loud.

"Have you met 02? I think he's the best version there is. He's cool and pretty much in control of himself. He told me everything. He said I'm the most trustable human he had ever met. He said he trust me to hide everything and to guide the others when he's "sleeping". Oh 02 is very amusing Vee."

My hand spontaneously grabbed my brother's colar. I was shocked with his revelation ang knowledge about War's condition. How come he know? This may sound a little selfish but I like that War and me only shared this secret among ourselves. It's like a part of what we are having, unique and exclusive. So knowing that other people knows of War secret made me very edgy.

"You!"

"Relax a-hole! I'm not gonna tell anyone if that's what you fear. And besides, I think I know the secret before you did. So..."

"Ai Rue!" I yelled at my brother's face so loud that the whole inhabitant of our house turned to stare. War was the one who acted fast enough to come and pull my hands away from my brother's collar.

"P Vee! Why are you two fighting again?" War whispered to me solow that only Rue and me can hear. I only glared at him and Rue feeling irritated.

"Oi! Knock it off you two or I'll drive you out of my house this instant!" Our dad yelled seeing the tension created.

"Ugh! I hate you!" I cursed at my brother before standing up from the sofa to storm to my room. I was fuming so much that I didn't noticed dragging War along with me.

"P Vee! Slowly. You're hurting me." I heard him complained but followed me anyway. I'm not gonna get over the fact that ai Rue knew first before I did.

I opened my room and throw War inside before slamming my door and locking it. I was ready to start lecturing the younger guy as I turned around but he gave me another shock.

War just wrapped his arms around my neck and pulled me in to a kiss. My eyes are still open so I can see his lips moving, nibbling on mine while his tongue tried to push inside. His eyes are tighly closed and I glorified in seeing him doing the first move. I made my self stubborn and did not return the kiss.

After a minute of me standing there pretending not to be affected by the kiss, War finally pulled away from my lips. His beautiful face hovered close to mine and I can see confusement from me not reaponding from his kiss. If he knew how I controlled my raging emotion just to act out all pouty then he would bot look at me like this.

But he's cute when he's being like this. I'd like to bully him more. When he saw me looking at his lips, he tiptoed and gave another peck on them. So cute.

"Whatever it is that makes you irritated, I'll kiss it away." He said in his small and husky voice and continued to give me small quick kisses. As much as I wanted to keep my cool and pouty facade, I can't stop myself from smiling when he is being adorable like this.

"You know pretty well my weakness." I said to him pinching the top of his nose. He smiled to me so wide that his eyes were totally hidden. Ugh. Why is he being like this? It's hard to think of anything when I am this distracted.

"Thank you." He said as I curled my hands around his waist and pulled him closer to me.

"For what?"

"For braving back there to tell your family about me."

"Are you happy?"

"I am! Extremely over the clouds!" This is the only thing I wanted to hear. Happy hubby, happy me.

We'll worry about other things tomorrow. For now, we want to savor this happiness for ourselves.

 

A/N: The rest of this work is in my Wattpad account. Link below.

https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/295640326-before-an-us