Chapter Text
Keng used the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, not that it would really help minimise the heat or anything, the sun had mercy for no one and if Keng wanted to go into town with his harvest then he would have to push through and get this done. His stomach growled and he was reminded of the fact that even if he finished and went home there was no food waiting for him. This morning his best friend and roommate Thomas ate the last roll that they had left.
Thomas profusely apologized, but Keng wasn't angry at him since he did the exact same thing the previous month.
“Phi Keng, do you need some help?” He heard a voice behind him, and he was met with the youngest member of their group, Teetee. He moved to their town only a few months ago, temporarily of course, his mother and sister had to handle some business in his hometown. Once he arrived, he walked straight to this farm and begged for work and lodging and because he was willing to do work for shelter and food, we let him stay. They didn’t know anything else about Teetee, they’ve never seen his mother or his sister.
Sometimes the others would talk and speculate about what actually happened for Teetee to flee so far away from home because that was what it was. Escaping, fleeing, running away from something until the dust settles and he could go home. But after six months went by everyone just accepted that Teetee was one of us now, he sure as hell acted that way from the start.
Always kind.
Always respectful.
Never complaining.
It really does make you wonder what he could have done to have to run away to the other side of the country.
“Oh, Nong, it’s okay I am almost,” Keng said, loading the last bit of crops on to his wagon.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I can help, I will pick up whatever falls,” he said eagerly and Keng just chuckled. Teetee stayed a couple of steps behind Keng picking up whatever fell out of the wagon and placed them in his wheelbarrow. Always helpful.
The sun was blazing down on them and by the time both Keng and Teetee got back to the farmhouse it was almost dark. Their bones were aching, they were surely going to wake up tomorrow with tender skin from working so long in the brutal sun. After working on the farm for so long one would think that they would be used to this, be better prepared, but even if the boys wanted to be they didn't have the resources to prepare.
“Thank you,” Keng said once they secured the crops in the truck.
“No, problem, I am going down to the river before bed,” Teetee said bidding Keng farewell.
This was his nightly routine since he got here. Every night he would go to the river and spend about thirty minutes soaking and the rest of his time writing a letter. The rest of the boys pretend to not notice his red and puffy eyes when he gets back. They pretend not to notice the letter tucked away in his pocket. They pretend not to notice the little box he hides behind the shelf containing all the letters he has written. What the contents of those letters are no one knows and why he never sends them will probably remain a mystery.
“Is he down by the river?” Thomas asked when Keng finally made my way inside.
“Yeah, we successfully finished harvesting everything so we will have more than enough to sell tomorrow, are we going to ask Teetee to join us tomorrow?” Keng asked while pouring himself a glass of water to try and soothe his hunger.
“Sure, I am sure he wouldn’t mind-”
“Having Teetee with you guys would literally be heaven sent. With him there you guys might actually sell everything,” Latte said, coming into the kitchen where Thomas and I were sitting.
Latte’s family left him this farm and because he couldn’t imagine his two friends working down in the slums for the nobility in town he asked them if they weren’t interested in taking over the farm. The two boys were actually surprised to see Latte in the farmhouse because the last time they heard from their friend he left for university. That was three weeks ago, now they can’t wait for him to leave again because if Keng has to listen to another complaint about working in the sun he will probably commit a crime.
“Friend, if you can do better why don’t you come with us?” Thomas said teasingly.
“No, no I am good,” Latte said, pouring himself a glass of water. “Maybe I should go tomorrow and buy some supplies for the house,” he said and Keng looked over at Latte inspecting the empty cupboards hoping to find something to snack on.
“Come on, let's go sleep, we'll forget about our hunger for a while,” Keng said, getting up slowly. His body was feeling the effects of the hard labour he was doing today. The little bed in their shared bedroom was calling his name.
“What about Nong?” Latte asked. In the three weeks he has been back he was still not used to Teetee disappearing at night the way Keng and Thomas were.
“It’s fine, he’s fine,” Thomas said walking past them to the bedroom.
Keng laid down on his little bed and watched Thomas flop down on his bed. There were three small beds in the one room so Keng, Thomas and Teetee decided to just share the one room and Latte chose one of the other bedrooms there were in the house. The farmhouse was quite big, there were more than enough rooms for everyone, but there was a sense of security when they shared the room.
Two hours after everyone went to bed Teetee crept into the room. He paused in front of his little bed, the only thing Keng could see moving in the dark was his shoulders then he heard a soft sob slip from his lips and his strength faltered. Keng immediately stood by his side, helping him onto his bed and underneath the covers. Teetee’s heart wrenching sobs were muffled by the pillow he buried his head into. Keng knew that tomorrow he would have to look at Teetee and pretend this didn’t happen. This was a common occurrence. Sometimes Keng wished he was a heavy sleeper like Thomas.
He couldn't handle seeing someone so devastated and there was nothing he could do to help especially when it was someone he cared about.
As Keng walked back to his bed something caught his eye, a piece of paper was laying at the foot of Teetee’s bed. Keng picked it up softly as if the paper might vanish at the slightest touch. The paper was wrinkled and he realized that the reason for the wrinkles was because the paper must have gotten wet. Against his better judgement Keng opened the letter and saw that only a few lines were occupying the paper.
"Dear ______"
Keng couldn’t make out the name as it was so badly smudged, and the moonlight didn’t offer much light through the open window.
"I would do it all again.
I would love you all over again.
I would choose you again."