Chapter 4: House Call

                                    

                                          



The temperature inside the cab is too low for Kongpob. He looks outside the window, at the grey sky. It might rain soon, so he needs to get home as fast as possible.
                          
Kongpob's mother asked him to go home this weekend since the hazing activities are already done. Since Kongpob now has more time in his hands, he can't say no to his mother. He also misses her cooking, so he agreed.
                          
He arrives just before the first drops of rain hit the ground. His mother greets him warmly, locking him in a tight hug.
                          
Kongpob's family is quite well-off. They own a company that makes hard plastic products, and his father is its CEO. Their wealth is evident in their home. It's a three-story mansion. Its garden, which overlooks a stream that connects to Chao Phraya River, can fit in at least six more large houses.
                          
"Change your clothes and join me for lunch. I cooked your favorite," Kongpob's mother sweetly says.
                          
Kongpob breaks their hug. "Yes, mae."
                          
He climbs up to his room at the very back of their home. Exhausted from the trip, he drops his body on his bed for a minute before shedding his clothes off. Then, he goes to his bathroom to wash his face.
                          
In front of the mirror, Kongpob sees his skinny body. He realizes he needs to eat more and start exercising. He mentally notes to schedule exercises in addition to his morning routine.
                          
Wetting his hands to wash his face, he forgets to take off his bracelet. It's already wet when he realizes, so he keeps it on.
                          
He grabs his face towel beside the bathroom window and wipes his face to dry it.
                          
He still isn't done drying his face, but he freezes on the spot.
                          
Outside the window, in the stream connected to the river, he sees the merman. The very merman he saw at the beach.
                          
He blinks repeatedly to make sure the frosting of the window's glass is not fooling him. He even opens the window to make sure.
                          
And he really is sure. The merman from the gulf is there at the back of their house, looking around as if he's lost.
                          
Without wasting any second, Kongpob runs from his bathroom, grabbing the nearest shirt and wears it on his way downstairs.
                          
"Son, let's eat," his mother says when he turns to the kitchen.
                          
Kongpob swallows before looking at the back door. "Go ahead, mae, I'll join you in a bit. I just want to visit our garden first."
                          
"Our garden? When did you start caring about our gar—"
                          
His mother haven't finished her question because he gently pushes her into the dining room. "I'll be back in a minute!"
                          
Mrs. Suthilak can't do anything but nod. At that, Kongpob rushes to the back door. It's still drizzling when he comes out, so he brings the yellow umbrella resting at the side of the door.
                          
He looks around the stream to find the merman, but he isn't there anymore. He even tries to walk a few meters towards the river, but he still cannot find him.
                          
He turns around and walks a few steps back to their house before he feels a light object hit his head. He looks back and sees the merman, seemingly mad at him.
                          
"What the fuck did you do?" The merman angrily asks him.
                          
"What? I didn't do anything!"
                          
"Where's the stone? Give it back to me!"
                          
The question makes Kongpob look at his wrist. Arthit doesn't miss it. He goes nearer the bank to try to grab Kongpob's wrist again, but the latter steps back.