The Secret Lover that I Hate

Chapter 7 Annoyance

"Uncle Pe..." Then the voice of Pha phang, who was sitting on the other side, called out towards the entrance of the living room, causing me and Pha phuean to turn and see him walking in after not seeing him for three days. I didn't know why he was able to come home today.

"What's up, little rascals?" He walked in and greeted the two rascals with a smile, not even glancing at me.

"I've missed you, Uncle Pe," Pha phang said sweetly.

"Really?" Even though he seemed cold to me, I couldn't help but admit that when he was with the kids, he was warm, cute, and gentle. It made me think about the time he would spend with our child.

"You bet..."

"And don't you miss your uncle?" Khun Phetai turned to ask Pha Phuean.

"I missed you a little," Pha phuean replied, making me smile unconsciously at the innocence of the child, but I had to stop smiling when I met his cold gaze.

"That's good, then I won't have to bring you any toys."

"Aw, I could miss you a lot," Pha phuean quickly pleaded, and Khun Phetai ruffled his hair playfully.

"Um, have you had anything to eat yet, Phetai?" I bravely asked him, causing him to look at me steadily, so steadily that I didn't dare to continue looking at him.

"Ajaocha's cake is really tasty. Uncle Pe, do you want some?" Pha Phuean spoke up.

"No, you eat it. Then hurry up and do your homework," Khun Phetai said before walking out of the living room. I could only watch him leave, feeling a bit disheartened.

After the kids finished their snacks, I sat them down to do their homework, with me as their teacher. I must admit, both of them are very smart kids.

"Ajaocha is the greatest!" Pha phang said after I finished teaching the two rascals their homework.

"Pha phuean and Pha phang are the best too," I said, unable to resist giving their cheeks a playful squeeze. If I love my nieces and nephews this much, I can't wait for my own child to arrive.

Pha Phang giggled with delight.

"Shh," then Pha Phuean shushed everyone, causing both Pha Phang and me to fall silent immediately.

"Is something up?" I asked Pha Phuean what was happening, but then I couldn't help but smile when Pha Phuean tilted his ear towards my belly.

"The baby is kicking," I thought to myself, oh, he's really excited about the baby.

"The baby probably wants to play with us," Pha Phang said, placing her hand on my belly too.

"That's right, the baby probably wants to come out and play with big brother Pha Phuean and big sister Pha Phang already," I said, sitting and letting the kids touch my belly with excitement.

"Uncle Pe! Come here quickly," then Pha Phuean looked up and called Phetai, which made me stop smiling without realizing it. I didn't dare show much emotion in front of him because I was afraid he would find a reason to scold me.

"What is it?" Phetai walked in and asked.

"Uncle Pe, come here quickly. Come feel the baby. The baby is kicking," Pha Phuean didn't just say that; he jumped off the sofa, grabbed Phetai's hand, and excitedly dragged him over to me. And...

I froze as if under a spell when his large hand, guided by Pha Phuean's small hand, was placed on my belly without anyone expecting it. This was the first time he and I had touched each other since that night. We hadn't even been within five steps of each other, let alone touched. The closest was probably when we sat down to eat, which left me so flustered I didn't even dare to breathe.

"Wow, the baby is kicking even harder," Pha Phuean exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

"The baby must know Uncle Pe," Pha Phang added, and it was true, just as the two little ones said. Ever since his large hand touched my belly, the little one inside had been kicking vigorously and frequently, kicking non-stop until I...

"Ah," I let out a cry after feeling pain and tightness from the baby's relentless kicks.

"Let's go take a bath now," Phetai took this opportunity to quickly withdraw his hand and step away from me before speaking to the two rascals instead.

"Alright," Pha Phuean replied, sounding a bit sulky.

"Come on, Auntie," Pha Phang invited, since I needed to go up and make sure everything was in order for the two rascals myself.

"I'll catch up in a bit," I told the kids because I was feeling a bit uncomfortable and planned to sit for a while before going after them.

...but whatever I do, it never seems to please him.

"Think a little. How can you let the kids bathe on their own?" he said sternly after the kids had left. I just sat there biting my lip and lowering my head, not daring to look at him. But when I sensed he had walked away, I dared to look up and watch him leave.

Whether I speak up or stay silent, it hurts.

After feeling better, I got up and walked upstairs to check on the two rascals, wondering if they had flooded the place by now. I decided to check on Pha Phuean first because he tends to play more than Pha Phang. Tell Pha Phang to bathe, and she will, but not Pha Phuean.

As I walked in, I heard laughter coming out, which made me even more certain that the little rascal was up to something.

"Ahem!" I opened the bathroom door, planning to scold Pha Phuean, but I was surprised to find Phetai with his shirt off and pants rolled up, bathing Pha Phuean.

"Auntie, can you bathe me?" Pha Phuean called out to me sweetly.

"Uh, let Uncle Phetai bathe you first, alright? I'll go check on Phang," I said, avoiding being close to him, so I declined my nephew. Besides, Pha Phang is still young and needs supervision.

"Auntie..." Pha Phuean immediately pleaded with me.

"Uh..." I was at a loss because it wasn't just Pha Phuean there.

"Please..." He not only pleaded but also gave me a pleading look.

"Hey, Pe, could you go check on Pha phang?" I bravely spoke up because I didn't want to leave Phapang alone either.

Then Phetai looked at me in such silence that I couldn't tell what he was thinking or if he wanted to criticize me. But he stopped what he was doing and walked out of Phapuen's bathroom, which made me sigh in relief and allowed me to continue bathing Phapuen. Phapuen is very attached to me, and he usually behaves this way.

After getting the kids ready and letting them watch cartoons until bedtime, I had to be the one to tuck them in as usual. They both love listening to bedtime stories, but it was a bit easier today since Phetai was there to help, so we could each take a room. Pha puean, as always, chose me, while Pha phang wasn't too picky and was fine with anything.

"Good night," I whispered, kissing Pha puean's forehead after he fell asleep before the story even ended. I tucked him in, then got off the bed, turned off the lights, and closed the door.

But where I was headed wasn't my own bedroom; it was the kitchen downstairs. Besides checking the tidiness that the housekeeper usually does once, my hunger drove me to find something to eat and check the kitchen's orderliness again.

I made myself a glass of milk for expecting mothers and was about to drink it.

But...

"Who's there!" a sharp voice suddenly called out.

Crash!

"Ah!" I was so absorbed in my thoughts, not expecting anyone to come by at this time, and the sudden voice startled me, causing the glass in my hand to fall to the floor, spilling the warm, almost hot milk onto my foot.

"Clumsy!" He didn't show any concern for my pain, just more criticism.

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling guilty, as I awkwardly knelt to pick up the broken glass pieces, struggling with the awkwardness of my pregnancy.

"You're really annoying! Be more careful. The things in my house aren't free for the taking!" he said and walked out, which made my eyes well up with tears.

It's fine if he doesn't care about me, but doesn't he care about the baby at all?