Missing someone so much that you just want to grab them, hug them tight, and kiss them hard the moment you see them but can't. Frustration and restlessness gnaw at you all day, until another day passes.
Looking at the good-for-nothing son sleeping soundly, a thought finally comes to mind.
Dooood~
"Hello!" A bright, rapid voice comes through the line, even though the phone had been off for days.
"What are you up to?"
At the other end, words fail. All that's there is a raw, aching need to hear the voice, to feel close, after days of awkward hesitation, not daring to reach out.
Especially during the break, when the small one had been gone for eight days… the restlessness had become almost unbearable.
"Nothing much. How's little Teng?"
The voice sounds lighter, cheerier than when in the countryside. The person who makes Luktan feel better is always the kids.
"See, this is what I mean finally, you turn the phone on. When you ran away, you didn't even know how to use it. Annoying, really."
No polished words came to mind for the rough one. Didn't know what to say, but just hearing that voice made him want to pull them into a hug.
"I've got nothing to talk to you about," came the small voice, a little evasive.
"Oh, really? Right… heir to a gold shop, but wants to try the hard life? Ha. What drama did you watch? Someone with money like you doesn't like comfort, chooses to work a job paying less than ten thousand, spends money till thin. Do rich people really think scarcity is happiness?"
He didn't even know why he had to tease. It was irritation, a little sting at knowing the other's status wasn't bad at all. Because it meant he couldn't lure the teacher with the promise of hardship anymore.
"Tod! If you don't shut up, I'll hang up and won't turn this phone back on again! I just wanted to check on Teng. Let me talk to the kid. Is the battery dead? I'm worried!"
His thick brows knit together. Teng, Teng, Teng asking only about the kid, even when the father literally came all the way to the house himself.
He grits his teeth, irritated by how little the teacher seemed to care about him. Fine. If he adores kids that much, he might as well use the kid to reel the teacher in.
"The battery's fine. He's asleep… tch. Just a little brat anyway, trying to steal my well, whatever."
"That's your kid, what are you even talking about? Take better care of him."
"Can't say I know how to raise kids. If you're that worried, come here. I'm at Pee's condo on XX Road. It's only a twenty‑minute drive from your house."
"What did you just say? You didn't take Teng back home?"
"Nope. I didn't go back. Only Pee did he had to go run his bar."
"And you… you're staying with Teng alone? Just the two of you?"
The teacher practically shrieked into the phone, like the world was ending. Was it really that shocking for him to be alone with his own kid?
"Yeah, why? Afraid I'll murder your future groom or something? He's the son of your man try to restrain yourself."
Hearing that panicked voice only made him want to tease more. People who are too kind always have a soft spot somewhere.
"You really have a filthy mouth. If you can't say anything decent, then stop spitting garbage at people. And did you feed the kid yet? It's already evening!"
"Filthy or not, you sure enjoyed everything whenever we hooked up, didn't you? And what are you, Teng's mother now? Teng this, Teng that."
"If you two don't want Teng, you can just hand him over. My parents adore him."
The teacher just loved asking for trouble. If he ever got his hands on him again…
"So you want the kid but not the father, huh? After we've slept together more than once?"
"Shut up! Talking to you gives me a headache. Just tell me where you are I'm sending food!"
"I'm not disabled, I know how to feed myself. But someone around here is being stubborn, refusing to eat or even speak. That part's concerning."
"Teng? Why?!" See? Just mention the kid and he jumps didn't even hear the rest. So naive.
"Guess my beloved teacher has to come over to feed and bathe him personally, or he might die on the spot."
"…Give me the address."
"Good…"
"Can you stop thinking for me? You don't understand the situation back then or now you couldn't have done anything. Do you really think I hate Teng, that I don't want him? Go dig up some facts first, teacher~ if you're going to meddle, at least do it properly."
"Your mouth is like a rabid dog!"
"And when you said you didn't want to get too deep… does that mean you're in love with me… or just obsessed with the lottery dealer's goods, hmm~?"
Suddenly, the big guy who'd been making the whole situation awkward softened. He buried his nose into the soft cheek, pressing all over the face until the smaller body went stiff.
They'd kissed before, yes but this, this sloppy, all-over, drenched-in-lips-and-tongue kind of moment? This was… embarrassingly intense!
Swish!!
A strong arm wrapped around the slender waist, lifting up to hold from above, while the smaller body was underneath, letting the white wrist slip free but pressing their bodies tightly together.
"I'm not crazy about that thing! Are you nuts? Big, long, enduring… who'd fall for that… oops!"
The teacher shouted back but seemed to blurt it out before instinctively covering the mouth with both hands.
"Damn, thought we were here to love each other… and other things too."
"Who said that… I don't love! I don't feel that way… not… even a bit," the soft voice murmured at the end, almost like an unwilling admission.
"But I love you, teacher," the strong hand tilted the small chin up to meet a steady gaze, each word deliberate, clear, unwavering.
"Huh… what?!" The small face froze, eyes wide, then found a voice to shout out.
"I love you, Luktan… I'd give up everything… I'm scared of losing you… why do you have to make me say all this!" The rough guy, half sweet, half brutal, squeezed the small cheeks, making the pout appear even cuter.
Smooch~ A light kiss pressed to the small lips before pulling back to meet each other's eyes.
"…."
"Hey, little one… still breathing? Your eyes are wide as saucers." Tod tilted the frozen face like a fragile doll.
The teacher was in shock.
"Are you joking… or do you want it? But… normally, you never say you love anyone when you… do things."
"What? Don't you understand the word love? Think I'm shy? I'm serious understand this, accept my love!"
"Is this a confession… or extortion?!"
Pouring out feelings to each other brought back the usual playful, mischievous vibe between them.
"I love you, Luktan. Be my wife, alright?"
The hoarse, husky voice like during intimate moments came with Tod's rare, sweet, intense gaze. The teacher bit the lip to hide a smile, flustered.
"We already… you know…"
"Be sweet with me, teacher. Look at me! Face's red as fire! Say you'll be my wife!" The rough guy, still mischievous, slid a hand down to squeeze the soft ass, playfully teasing.
"Alright~ I'll be your wife."
"Promise me," the handsome, mischievous grin caressed the small cheek, tracing the tip of the nose, a relief washing over like nothing before.
"But we need to settle things with the kid and the ex first."
"Huh!"
"Get custody first, then I'll be your boyfriend… your husband… I'll give up everything~"
"You… little venomous snake!" Tod clenched teeth, staring at the one he was head over heels for. (Really dangerous!)
"Haha, just wait, I'll get back at you for everything!"
"So stubborn, just like that kid in the next room… is that… their mom, hmm~?"
The soft, sweet voice murmured at the small figure in the embrace, admiring the bright smile with braces.
"Don't call him 'that'!"
"Why not~ I like it."
"Tod~"
"God, I missed you… eight days and I'm already losing my mind. What kind of secret charm does a tiny kindergarten teacher have to get me this hopelessly hooked?"