Chapter Text
Pran was fourteen when Pang, whose parents died in a plane crash, moved in with them. The Seredichawat family adopted him. Dissaya couldn't leave the boy alone. After all, they were related.
"The last time we saw each other was about seven or eight years ago," Pran recalled as he made up the bunk bed with fresh sheets. His room had been rearranged a bit to accommodate two boys now. "You were always moving around because of your father's job," Pran continued, but he immediately stopped himself and looked worriedly at his brother. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to remind you of that..."
Pang does not respond in any way to sincere apologies. He stands silently, looking at the study posters hanging on the walls.
Pran is embarrassed by his own words. He shuffles awkwardly from foot to foot. "I have to do the dishes after dinner," Pran mumbled, not knowing how to deal with Pang. He had not yet gotten used to the fact that the boy, whom he had seen only a few times in his entire life, would now be living under the same roof as him. "I'll be back soon," Pran adds quietly, completely lost, and dashes out the door.
Pang is left alone in the room. He sits down at his desk and stares blankly out the window.
Suddenly, a light comes on in the window of the house across the street. It is so close that Pang can clearly see the boy who lives next door enter the room. He takes off his shirt as he walks and throws it on the ground.
A girl, a year or two younger, enters after him, and they begin to argue animatedly about something.
This goes on for a minute or two before the girl frowns but picks up the abandoned item. She throws it into the laundry basket and leaves the room while the boy goes to the window.
Pang notices that the boy is looking directly at him. He waves his hand and gives him a friendly smile.
What the hell?..
Pang doesn’t know how to react. He gets up and closes the curtains.
Pang looks around. Pran has cleared out some hangers in the closet for him.
Pang decides that now would be a good time to unpack. He walks over to his suitcase in the corner, but he doesn't have time to open it.
There was a sound behind him. Suddenly, someone was hugging him from behind, their arms wrapped around his shoulders.
Pang realizes that the stranger surpasses him in size and strength, but years of judo training take their toll.
In the next instant, Pang strikes back with his elbow with a deft and precise movement, hitting the target and hearing a surprised exclamation; he grabs and makes a throw through the hip, dropping the attacker on his shoulder blades with a bang.
The boy next door looks at Pang with his eyes wide open.
"Who are you? Where is Pran?" the stranger breathes out in astonishment.
At that moment, the door swings open, and Pran stands frozen on the threshold of his room.
"Pran!" The boy cries in relief.
"Pat?" said Pang in surprise, entering and closing the door behind him. Hearing the noise, Pran hurried back.
"Get off me!" Pat rudely pushed Pang away and stood up.
Pang stood up and stepped aside.
"What are you doing here?"
"I saw the light in the window and you," Pat mumbled.
"Me?" said Pran. "Are you sure?"
"I thought..." he said, rubbing his bruised lower back and glaring at Pang with an unpleasant look. "I thought he was you," Pat said uncertainly.
Pran sighed and shook his head. He realized there had been some confusion.
As he approached Pang, Pran put a hand on his shoulder.
"Damn," Pat breathed in amazement, his eyes running from one boy to the other. "You two look so much alike, like twins."
"Pang, this is my best friend, Pat. He lives in the neighborhood. We are in the same class," said Pran, warm smiling.
Pang stared at Pat. He was their age, but he was almost a head taller and broader in the shoulders.
"Pat, this is Pang, my brother."
"Brother? You didn't say you had a brother."
"Well, now I do," Pran says quickly. "Pang will live with us."
Seeing the surprised look on his friend's face, Pran decided that he would explain everything to Pat, but not now. He didn't want to embarrass Pang, so he quickly escorted Pat out, promising to meet him at school the next day.
Later, lying in his bed, Pat couldn't sleep for a long time. He couldn't stop comparing their looks. Of course, there was a difference, but it was in the details. Pang's features were sharper, more pointed, and his gaze was harder, straighter. His Pran, with his soft smile and gentle look.
How could he have confused them?
Pat could clearly see the difference now, and that was a good thing.
He didn't like Pang at all.