BLAMELESS SORROWS

56. Get together.

Heri's Point of View.

Mom: Heri please call Vann to come down and help me with the cleaning of the grinder.

Mom shout from the kitchen while I stand in the middle of the living room tying my hair up so it won't disturb me in my working.

Heri: Iam on it!

With that I rush upwards and went and knock on Vann's room which was opened already. So I went in calling him.

Heri: Vann where are you?

I look around first in his bed but does not spot him so I went towards the washroom but it was open as well and no one was inside.

Vann: What are you doing?

I shout and jump up in fright at his sudden arrival while he lazily stand there leaning against the balcony's door and still in his sweats with a phone in one of his hand.

Heri: I was looking for you, what else will I be doing in your room?

He just shrug and come in and sat in the bed.

Vann: Okay, do you need something.

Heri: Mom needs your help with cleaning the grinder.

He nod as I said that.

Heri: But we will managed of you need more rest or sleep.

I said looking at his tired and pale face. He have been in the hospital non stop without any rest continuously for days now without even coming home for sleep. And his tired face too suggest he might need a bit of sleep.

Vann: Its fine, ill be down in a few minutes.

Heri: You sure, we can managed if you are tired!

He nod in a yes, as in he is sure and went in the bathroom while taking his shirt off.

Well I guess no rest then.

With that I went down and went towards the kitchen, catching an apron and wearing one as I talk.

Heri: Mom, Vann is coming in a while.

Mom:Okay, thank you.

Mom smile at me while continue cleaning the rice which still has its husk attached, which need to be pound. I went towards her and help her with it.

Heri: But he seems quite tired and burn out, maybe we should just leave him alone?

Mom looked up concerned at what I said.

Mom: Yeah, he has been working a lot this week.Overworking himself actually.

I nod as he said taht, there was some accident at the river near the paddy field a few days back and quite a lot of people were injured which is why Vann was quite busy.

Mom: Well once he come down, we will feed him and sent him back up again to rest. I have made some delicious rice cake of different type and beside if he want to, dinner is ready.

I nod again at that completely agreeing with mom. Vann is becoming more and more frail and thin as he keep on overworking himself and he do need a lot of nourishing and rest.

Just then Dad call me.

Dad:Heri, someone is calling. Please come and get it!

I shout back a yes and quickly wash my hands and went to the living room to check my phone. It was Galen calling.

Heri(chirpy) : Good morning Galen.

Galen: Good morning love, you sound quite chirpy early in the morning. Did something good happen?

His husky voice is so damn beautiful and sexy at the same time, I can never get enough of it.

Heri: Nothing special, we were just trying to make some rice cake and mangatai, so preparing the rice for it!

At the same time, I heard mom shouting from the kitchen asking for help for carrying the rice she was cleaning to dad.

Galen: Oh your home seems quite lively with the festival coming up.

Heri: It has always been like that.

But it seems nothing change in his place. Considering he live alone and no one is there with him to do any of what Iam doing.

Heri: Umm if you don't mind, will you please come visit today at my home. We really need a hand with the preparation. Only if you are free of course.

He chuckle at how nervous I seems to get in asking him this.

Galen: I would love to, I will just get dressed and will be there in a jiffy.

I hop a bit, excited at the news sporting a huge grin on my face.

Heri: Okay, see you soon. Love you.

Galen: Love you too

With that he hang up while I turn back with the goofy smile still in my face.

But I got another surprise as dad was there standing right behind me.

Heri: Dad you scared me!

Dad: Iam sorry. But the smile on your face is suggesting that we might have Galen over?

I nod at that, completely excited.

Dad: Okay, the more the merrier. Now come on, let's go give your mom a hand.

With that we went in the backyard and help mom lay the rice down in the huge carpet she have laid for them to dry in the sun. Mom have dried it yesterday as well, but the more crisp it become the mor easier it will be to pound so the need to do it again.

We kneel by the carpet and spread the rice around.

Dad: Oh honey, Galen will be here shortly.

Mom smile looking up at me while I tried my best to keep the goofy smile off my face.

Mom: Well well well, isn't this fun. Our children all grown up and now even bringing boys at home.

I shake my head in disbelieve and before I know it, I have said something out.

Heri:But Galen is not a boy.

I mean he is a boy, a very manly and beautiful one at that.

Mom chuckled while I flushed at what I said. How did I even managed to embarrassed myself this much with just one sentence.

Just then Vann come in so much to my relied.

Vann: Good morning guys!

Heri: Oh it's Vann, good morning Vann.

I said it excitedly while Mom and Dad chuckled at my flustered state.

Mom: Well Vann, is Tilbe coming?

We look at her interested at the question, Tilbe come every year at this time of the year, but just to sleep and sleep and sleep more. She treat it as a holiday form her practicing her dance which she somehow seems to practice every year just as hardly as the last year or sometimes even harder.

Vann: Nop, she have to practice her dancing again. So she probably won't have time, and besides she will need to sleep.

We all nod at that, Tilbe's stamina is not a thing to mess with. Running for a metre can tired her out for a week if i have to exaggerate that is.

Mom: Talking about needing sleep, I think you need one too Vann. You look tired, why don't you go get some more rest sweety.

Dad: That is after you eat if course. Let me get you some food.

And dad was about to get up but Vann stop him.

Vann: Iam alright mom and I can do it myself dad, beside I have been inside for a bit too long. Let me mask myself in the outside air for a bit today.

Mom nod at that while dad get back to spreading the rice.

While Vann also join in.

Vann: We are making mangatai and rice cake again this year as well?

We all nod at that.

Mom: Yup but I have made some rice cake already, if you guys want to have some.

Vann: Iam alright.

Heri: I have eaten my fill.

Dad grin at me as I said that.

Dad: I too have eaten my fill with Tilbe.

Yup we eat it right when it was taken down, hot and sticky. It was so so tasty.

Mom: Well Iam planning to make some flower rice cake and fruits flavoured one as well. I was hoping Tilbe will be here even if its just to sleep, I mean at least she can enjoy the rice cake. My Mangkhap will be unfinished if I don't see her chubby cheeks chewing on the pretty cakes happily.

We all sigh as we hear her, yeah it will be incomplete without seeing Tilbe sleeping everywhere not willing to just sleep in the bedroom calling it boring.

Dad: Yeah, it will be weird not seeing the little girl struggling to stay awake.

Vann: It's like Iam not the only one dating her, but my whole family is.

All of us chuckled as he said that.

Well Vann will loose the job of carrying her around this year I guess.

Heri: Let's just hope that, she does not fall asleep while dancing since she have not finished practising by this time yet this year.

Vann nod in agreement, seriously worried while I chuckled at that.

Mom: Anyway when is Galen coming Heri?

Heri: Iam not quite sure, but he might be here in about a while.

Just then the doorbell ring.

Dad: Well talk about coincidence.

I laugh at that and went to open the door. And true to dad's words Galen was there in a black shirt with a beige colour jacket and a black jeans.

I went and hug him.

Heri: Well don't you look handsome and also I miss you.

He chuckled hugging me back tightly.

Galen: I miss you too Heri, and you look quite adorable and beautiful yourself.

I chuckled at that.

Heri: Thank you. Now come on in, let's go and meet mom, dad and our tired Vann.

He nod and we went in while he stop before we can went outside.

Galen: Where can I leave this?

And he raise the bag he is carrying which I somehow didn't see before.

Heri: What is this?

Galen: A small something's, it a plum, banana and wild apple juice I make and kept for around a decade now.

I gasp as he said that, how did he have so much of such precious thing.

There are one bottle each of the drink. And its a huge glass bottle not a small one at all.

Heri: Why did you bring so many of it, it must have take you a lot of work and time to make this.

He just shrug when I said that.

Galen: I bet it will be much tastier when I drink with you guys.

And he shrug once more while I hug him once more.

Heri: I'll make sure to make a masterpiece out of the already existing masterpiece.

He chuckled as I said that.

Galen: It's not that much big of a deal.

Heri: It is. Anyway let go and meet my parents.

With that I keep the juices and we went out with our hand held together.

Heri: Hey mom, dad Galen is here.

Galen: Hello again mom, dad. Happy Mangkhap.

Mom/Dad: Happy Mangkhap son.

Vann: It's like I don't exist!