what Mom Mai cooked, huh~?"
The lottery boss leaned back, hugging newlywed Luktan against his chest at the breakfast table, while Teng frowned, scooping rice noisily.
"It would've tasted better if Tod
hadn't been crowding the teacher," the small voice shot back, chewing stubbornly.
"Jealous? Want to borrow your old man's wife?"
Though spoken playfully, Tod's arm remained snug around Luktan's waist. Luktan could only shake the head at the former roughneck's childish antics.
"Showing off like some possessive little brat… And so proud! Makes a father look ridiculous."
CCLXXIX
"Ha! Acting all cool, but when it's just the two of us, you follow every move I make. Wanting to do everything with me. Don't tell me you're possessive, huh? Could this stir trouble between
step-kid and stepmom? Such a headache~"
"If it's such a problem, Tod, go sleep on the hill with Uncle Benja. Teng can sleep with the teacher as usual."
"Ugh, someone's grumpy~… Trying to claim Dad's wife way too early, kiddo."
"What have these two been talking about since morning? Eat your breakfast so we can get to school and work," Grandma Si chided, noticing the ups and downs of their playful bickering teasing, arguing, laughing. True father-and-child behavior. Spot
on!
"Teng wants to go to school now, Mom, because Tod isn't there. We can
be together all day, unlike…"
CCLXXX
The small eyes glanced sideways at the tall figure of Father, a mischievous grin spreading across the face, perfectly mimicking the father's sly expression while giving a little eyebrow raise, thinking to hold the upper hand.
Tod bared teeth at the little one
playfully, a fond look in his eyes as he watched the father-child antics of
Grandma Si and Luktan at the table.
"Don't get too full of yourself. During the day, I'll let you have this. But at night… you sleep with Grandma while I get the night with your Mom, just the two of us."
"Geez, I'm not jealous at all. We were only together for a moment, and you already have to sleep. Plus, Teng can't stay with you all day."
"You little brat! What do you know about what adults do at night? Who goes to bed like you do, early and straight to sleep?"
CCLXXXI
"Do what? It's dark and quiet at night. There's nothing to do."
"Hmph… There is."
The playful battle for attention and dominance looked cute on the surface,
but for Luktan, it sent a strange shiver down the spine.
All day long, Teng laughed, smiled, and played with friends, constantly answering questions about parents and the new stepmom.
Being with a complete family, receiving compliments about having a rich, handsome father and a caring, loving mother like Luktan, made the little one beam.
Finally, Luktan could run and play like other kids, without sitting alone gloomily selling lottery tickets…
CCLXXXII
After school, the father had been
going back and forth between the city and the foothills, mostly because Benja liked to call him over to discuss
expanding the herbal liquor business. Tod and Peeradol had to constantly keep their eccentric friend in check, making sure no weird ideas got carried
out.
During free time, they would help Grandma Si oversee the workers at the
lottery stall, which was gradually winding down because she had promised Luktan's father that illegal lottery sales would stop. Life settled into the rhythm of the countryside. Mornings and evenings meant dropping off and picking up the two kids at Wat Sra Si school. A simple daily routine, ordinary, yet Tod didn't feel bored like he used to when he was
alone.
Both the mischievous child and the
slightly crazy wife were the colors of life he couldn't find anywhere else.
CCLXXXIII
After school, Tod arrived to pick up mother and child. He couldn't stop smiling at the sight of Luktan holding the little one's hand as they walked toward the car.
"What's with the smile? Don't tell me
you've been smoking weed!"
Bump! Tod lightly tapped Luktan's head before grabbing it to plant a kiss, amused at the wide-eyed reaction, like seeing a ghost when their husband smiled.
"What's with this grin? How can I not say something? Thinking Benja will come up with another weird scheme, huh?"
"Strange stuff happens every day, but I don't want it to be as weird as his
ideas… And what's with that? Jumped
Tod gestured to the back seat where the little one sat sprawled, arms and legs splayed, fast asleep.
"Today, Teng played with friends all day, you know? Usually, they'd sit calculating lottery numbers alone. But today, running around all day… it's great. Must be exhausted, but this is good. Finally, Teng's cheerful like this again."
"Hmph… That's because of me… Thanks…"
"Tod…"
"Thanks, Luktan, for coming into my life and Teng's."
"Lately, with diabetes probably on the horizon, you've turned my life upside down, huh? From the back foot to the
front hand, just like that. So cute "
"I think I'm going to get all romantic here, you little spark plug."
CCLXXXV
"Ah, okay… Thanks, Tod, for coming into my life. I never imagined being the lottery boss's wife could be this thrilling and wild."
"Still… still? That's praise, right?"
"Ha ha ha! It's amazing, the best ever, the best thing in my life."
The teasing and laughter echoed through the car, until a voice spoke up
"If you're going to drive this slowly just to be all lovey-dovey, next time why not just ride bikes? Crawling along like this why bring a Benz?"
The little one in the back mumbled
groggily, likely stiff from running around, just realizing outside the window hardly moved. Seeing the two up front cuddled, holding hands, and exchanging kisses the whole way made the backseat passenger feel queasy. Love made them sick, so a small
protest slipped out:
CCLXXXVI
"Jealous, huh? Can't help it. They're married. If you want that, grow up fast, ha ha ha!"
"Teacher, back off! Tod's gone full
ghost mode again!"
Ha ha ha ha…
Early evening at the lottery boss's house
"Tod, where are you taking me? It's already evening."
"Out to the garden."
"Why the garden? It's almost nine, it's pitch dark, and it's cold. You'll catch a cold."
The tall figure held the small hand of his wife and walked into the garden without saying much, simply leading the way. Long legs stopped at the edge of the pond in the middle of the garden. Tiny lights floated above the
water, scattered at first, then
multiplying until the entire surface shimmered as if another world had
opened up.
CCLXXXVII
"Whoa… Tod… what is that?" Luktan's
mouth fell open at the breathtaking natural scene. The lights flickered
freely, golden and gentle, dancing like a delicate ballet.
"Fireflies.At first, there weren't many because of the drought. But as the villagers returned to farm and tend the land, the ecosystem recovered, and they slowly came back. The fireflies in
my garden have increased since you arrived."
"Really… no way."
"It's true. Ever since I first met you, they started appearing near the house. Over time, when I brought you here to stay overnight, the numbers grew. And if you follow them here… well, that's what you see now."
Tod wrapped his arms around the small frame from behind, resting his chin on the top of Luktan's head, gazing out over the water filled with
wonder.
CCLXXXVIII
"And… when we were apart, did they decrease?"
"I don't know. I didn't come here. I
had no mood for anything, so I forgot to notice them."
"Heh, heh… it's funny, isn't it? Both you and Teng… the villagers… even the trees, the grass, and the animals they all have their own charm here."
"I told you, you'd fall in love with everything here and never want to leave."
"That's true… I love everything here. I love Teng, love Aunt Si, love Wat Sra Si school. I love you… I love you, Tod."
Luktan turned to face the taller
figure, reaching out with small arms to tilt the handsome face down and plant a soft kiss on his full lips.
"You little fool… stealing my lines! How dare you say that? I love you too. Tod loves Luktan… my crazy wife."
CCLXXXIX
Tod scooped the small body up into his arms effortlessly.
"What the… nearly handsome, yet the words are wild. How can you love me this much?"
Wide eyes sparkled in the firefly light, a challenging grin inviting the taller figure.
"I'm weak against looks… I fell for your face, for my dragon, for everything about you."
Big hands squeezed the soft curves of the small body with playful affection.
Luktan had never feared the lottery boss, having clashed countless times until Tod found himself surrendering, doing whatever it took just to keep this daring, fearless little one close. Things Tod never imagined doing, he did willingly hopelessly smitten by Luktan's courage and… heart.
"I'm still addicted I want to see my big