Chapter Six

                                    

                                          



Unsurprisingly, the decision to go to the cinema the following day derived a decidedly mixed response from Kai and Amara's parents – where Somsak was more than eager for his son to finally get out of the house, Maya was extremely, and perhaps rightfully worried.  The previous night's phone call still weighed upon Kai's mind, though he was attempting to keep himself distracted. 
"Last time you went out, you ended up getting triggered by something and you won't even tell us what it is." her eyes were huge, wet, "Baby, are you sure you're ready for this?"
Kai was sitting at the table, plaiting Amara's hair for her as he looked up at his mother and replied in Thai, "I already told you, mae, I'm okay.  It was just something minor." he tugged at the dark locks, hearing his sister hiss in English.
"Ah, not too hard!"
"Sorry," he replied to her, before switching to Thai once again, "Please, I'm not a child anymore, I can handle a cinema trip."
Somsak was smoking a pipe as he came to his son's defence, "He's right, you know.  He's a fully grown man, he can make his own decisions."
"I know, darling, but I worry about him." she countered, then looked to Kai again, watching as his black hair fell over his eyes as he focused on the task at hand.
Amara whined, "If you guys are going to argue, can you do it in English?  I can barely understand a thing you're saying."
"We're not arguing, love." Somsak leaned against the table as he switched language, reaching out to stroke her face, "Your mother's just concerned."
Kai finished the plait, replying, "And she doesn't have to be.  Yes, last time I went out wasn't good, but I'm better now, I promise you."
"Are you sure?" Maya's eyes filled with tears.
Amara then promised, "Don't worry, ma.  I'll look after him."
"See?" Kai gave a smile at that, "Perfectly safe."
Maya then asked, "How are you getting there?  Are you walking?"
Amara then turned to her sweetly, "Well, ma, I actually thought I'd take the car if it's okay."
"Still can't believe you got your licence before I did." Kai grumbled under his breath.
Maya looked to Somsak, who then came up to rest his hands on her shoulders, "I think that's a great idea.  Just bring it back in one piece."
At that, Amara saluted, "Yessir." she grabbed the keys from the fruit bowl before turning to her brother, "Right, shall we?"
"Ladies first." Kai waved his hand, though stopped for a second as his sister skipped outside to the car so he could address his parents, once again in Thai, "I can handle this, mae.  I promise."
Maya nodded before pulling him into a warm embrace and kissing the side of his head – he looked up to see his dad looking at him encouragingly and couldn't help but smile.
After a second, however, he heard Amara hitting the car's horn, calling out the window, "Hurry up, hia, or we'll be late!"
Kai laughed at that, breaking away to say, "I guess that's my cue." before grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder as he headed to the car.
As Amara drove them to the theatre, Kai found himself relaxing for the first time since leaving the hospital, even if he soon picked up that his sister was something of an awful driver, with terrible, terrible road rage.
As another driver swerved in front of her, Amara threw her hands up and yelled, "Fucking asshole!  I was clearly moving into that lane!"
After she flipped the other driver off less than discreetly, Kai laughed and Amara delighted at hearing the sound, "You shouldn't be so rude!"