❝ neither of you is perfect. ❞

―

DECHA FELT LIKE THERE WERE BRICKS PUSHING ON HIS SHOULDERS.

He sat next to Achara at the dining room table as their parents sat across from them. When they arrived home from the water park, Decha told them that he had something important that he needed to discuss with them. Achara had to give him words of encouragement to get him to actually walk up to them.

They gathered in the dining room, and now, Decha stared down at the table. His right leg bounced up and down, causing the rest of his body to shake. He looked up, his eyes instantly darting back down to the table when he saw the expressions on his parents' faces.

Achara placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn his head to her. Achara nodded her head, looking at him with a soft and comforting smile.

Decha gulped as he directed his turned his attention to his parents, looking back and forth between them. "Um, so I—I, um, I started..." Decha glanced down, "I started drinking again. I wasn't for the longest time and it just...it started to get; I don't know...bad?"

Decha looked up, his eyes shifting back and forth between his parents, trying to read the expressions on their faces. Jintara looked disappointed, it wasn't that hard to tell, but there was a softness to her face, letting him know that she wasn't angry. Kiet had always been unreadable. His stoicism always seemed to triumph above all other emotions. Getting nothing from his expression, Decha resulted to examining his body language. He watched him fold his arms against his chest and lean back in his chair, his eyes never once leaving Decha.

Decha inhaled a breath before slowly exhaling. "I know that you're both aware that I used to come home from a party almost every night drunk. And I know that I was part of the reason why you guys were so hard on me. It just...it just hurt seeing you treat Achara like a perfect angel. So the more you praised her and showed affection to her and not me..."

Decha glanced at Achara. Her eyes were starting to well up with tears. She nodded at him reassuringly.

Decha turned back to his parents, his own eyes starting to fill with tears. "The more you praised Achara for being such an angel, the more I rebelled because it was the only way I could get attention from either of you. The drinking, the smoking, the partying...it was all just part of that, and I didn't realize how dependent I was on alcohol until..."

Decha felt tears starting to stream down his face. "Until Demetri broke up with me. I just kept drinking and then lying to him about it—lying to everyone about it."

Decha sniffled as he looked at his mother. Her eyes were glossy as if she were about to cry.

"And I was hungover at the All Valley," Decha admitted. "I couldn't sleep that night and I thought it would take the edge off, but it didn't. And then I was drunk at our celebration party for Eli and Demetri broke up with me."

"Honey, it's okay," Jintara finally spoke.

Decha shook his head. "No, Mae. It's not okay. I didn't want to admit that I had a problem and it's ruined every single relationship I've ever had. It took losing the only person I've ever actually loved to realize that I have a problem and I need help."

"We'll get you help," Jintara nodded at him as she stood up and walked around the table, wrapping her arms around him. "I promise, baby."

Decha leaned into her arms, letting the tears start to flow from his eyes. He looked at his father, waiting to see if he would say something and trying to get a sense of what he was thinking.

Decha only sobbed harder when he saw that his father had a tear streaming down his cheek. The Thirasawat twins had never seen their father cry.

"Pa?" Achara asked, causing him to turn to her. "What do you think?"

Kiet wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Decha, kǒr-tǒht khap."

Decha's breath hitched at his words. He lifted his head from his mother's shoulder, staring his father in disbelief.

"I'm sorry I was hard on you," Kiet continued. "That I made you feel unloved. I just want my children to be perfect and when you weren't..."

Decha continued staring at him, tears streaming down his face as he listened to his father speak.

"Achara always was so perfect," Kiet glanced at her. "But we know now that is not true."

Achara looked down at her lap, picking at her fingernails as she blinked to remove the tears sticking to her eyelashes.

"Neither of you is perfect," Kiet addressed both of them. "I should have been a better father. Especially to you, my son. And to you these past months, Achara. I love you both."

Decha broke down crying. Hearing his father's words was the final catalyst. He had never heard his father say that he loved him. Decha had never heard his father say that he was sorry or take responsibility for his actions over the years when it came to how he treated him. Though his relationship with his father had improved and was better than ever, hearing that his father loved him was all that he had ever wanted.

"You will get help," Kiet said, standing up from his seat and walking over to Decha. "We will get you help."

Jintara removed her arms from around Decha's neck and stepped over to Achara. She embraced her in a hug, stroking her hair softly.

Decha stood up from his chair and stood in front of his father. Both their eyes were swollen and red, their cheeks stained with tears. For the first time since Decha was a small child, his father opened his arms, inviting him in for a hug. Decha didn't waste a single moment as he lurched forward and embraced his dad in a hug. He felt Kiet's arms wrapped around him, holding onto his back tightly as Decha's tears wet his shirt.

"Phor rak luk na, Decha."

────────────

Decha walked up the driveway to the Alexopoulos house. After talking things through with his parents, he wanted to tell Demetri. He tried texting him, but the only problem was that Demetri hadn't answered any of the texts Decha sent him asking if he could talk to him. He hadn't responded to anything Decha sent him in weeks. Not since they helped Miguel get back together with Achara.

He wanted to apologize to Demetri in person, and if he had to show up to his house unannounced to do it, then that's exactly what he would do.

Decha balled his hand up into a loose fist before raising it in the air and knocking on the door to the Alexopoulos household.

Decha shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, rocking back and forth on his heels. It was like a repeat of the very fire time he stepped foot onto their porch. Although he was here to apologize to Demetri and not to take him on a date, the nervous feeling still consumed him.

Achara waited in the car, parked in the driveway. As part of the process of getting help, their parents had decided that Decha was not to drive his own car. Once again, he was back to being driven around by Achara in her mom van. Decha didn't make any protests, accepting all of the terms that his parents put into place.

The door opened, revealing Demetri's father on the other side.

"Mr. Alexopoulos, hi," Decha greeted him. "I'm sure Demetri filled you in on everything...but um, is he—is he home?"

"He said you broke up, but didn't provide any details," Mr. Alexopoulos responded. "Demetri's actually at work right now."

"Where does he work?" Decha asked.

"At Tech Town," Mr. Alexopoulos answered.

"Okay, thanks, Mr. Alexopoulos!" Decha said before he turned on his heels and ran to the car.

"Was he not home?" Achara asked, receiving a head shake from Decha in response. "Okay. Then where to now?"

"Tech Town."

Achara backed out of the driveway and began the journey to Tech Town.

When they arrived and Achara had parked, Decha opened the car door and walked as fast as he could through the parking lot. As he reached the building, he took a deep breath before he placed his hand on the door handle.

He pulled the door open and walked inside. He scanned the store, looking for Demetri. It seemed like he was nowhere to be found. Decha sighed in defeat, his posture falling. His eyes landed on the help counter. Decha perked up made his way to the counter.

"Excuse me," Decha said to the man at the counter. "I'm looking for Demetri. Is he here?"

"Demetri who?"

Decha gave him a confused look. How many Demetris worked at this store?

"Demetri Alexopoulos," Decha replied. "It's urgent, okay?"

The man at the counter sighed. "He's in the back. Stay here while I get him."

Decha nodded his head. He watched the man walk away and disappear into the back. Decha anxiously tapped his fingernails on the counter. His heart was pounding against his chest.

A smile spread across Decha's face when he saw Demetri stepping out of the back room. Demetri stood in front of him, staring at him with a blank expression.

"What are you doing here?" Demetri asked. "Robert said it was urgent. Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

Decha nodded his head. "I told my parents about the drinking and they're helping me get better. I have to go to AA meetings, and I'm not allowed to drive. My father removed all the alcohol from the house."

Demetri nodded, a proud smile on his face. "That's great, Dech. I'm proud of you."

Decha smiled back at him. They just stared at each other, looking deep into each other's eyes. Decha missed being able to look at him and hold him close.

Demetri looked away, crossing his arms as she stared down at his shoes. "Is there...anything else? I'm on the clock right now so I can't really talk."

"I..I actually wanted to apologize to you," Decha broke the silence. "And I'm sorry for just showing up here but you haven't replied to me in a really long time, and I know that's because we're broken up, but I really needed to talk to you. So when I showed up at your house and your dad said you were at work I—"

"You're rambling," Demetri interjected.

"Right, sorry. I'll get to the point," Decha replied. "I wanted to say that you were right. I do have a problem and I used alcohol to cope and to make things better, but it only made it worse. I'm so sorry for lying to you and not understanding that you just wanted what's best for me."

Demetri remained silent, nodding his head to show that he was listening.

"I'm going to get better," Decha spoke. "For both me and for you."

Demetri smiled at him softly. "That's great. I'm glad you're going to get better and get the help you need."

"Would you...um...would you think about giving me a second chance?" Decha asked.

"I think...I think that maybe you need to focus on yourself a little first," Demetri replied.

Decha nodded in understanding. "I will. I promise. But can we still hang out like we used to? We can listen to I Will Always Love You and Just Being Friendly. And I can play the song that I wrote for you and—"

"You wrote me a song?" Demetri questioned.

"Yeah," Decha responded. "I wrote most of it in Thai because It just sounded better and it sounded more natural, but I when I play for you, I'll give you the English lyrics."

Demetri grinned from ear to ear. "I'd love that."

Decha smiled back at him, and for a moment it was as if they were the only two people in the room. Decha thought that there was not a sight more beautiful than Demetri's smile. He took in every feature, making mental notes of the tiny details. Like how Demetri's entire face lit up when he was genuinely happy about something and how he only had one dimple.

"Alexopoulos! Get back to work!"

Demetri turned at the sudden voice of his manager. He looked back at Decha, giving him one last smile.

"I've gotta get back to work," Demetri said. "You can, um, you can text or call me later and we can set up a time for you to play me the song."

"Okay," Decha responded eagerly. "I'll see you."

Demetri nodded. "See you."

Demetri turned on his heels and walked away into the back room. Decha couldn't stop smiling. Demetri was willing to give him a second chance. That alone was all Decha needed to focus on getting better.

────────────

After dropping Decha off at home, Achara drove to the Reseda Heights apartments. Now that they were both done with Cobra Kai, Achara was hoping to make amends with Robby and fix their friendship. Afterwards, she planned on spending time with Miguel.

Achara knocked on the door to Johnny's apartment. She waited for the door to open, but it never did. She knocked one more time, thinking that maybe she hadn't knocked loud enough for Johnny or Robby to hear.

"You have to open the door from the outside!" Achara heard Johnny's voice shout.

With her eyebrows knitted together in confusion, Achara placed her hand on the doorknob and opened the door. She stepped in the door, surprised at how clean the apartment looked and the new furniture that adorned it.

"Tiredsarat?" Johnny asked. "What are you doing here?"

Achara walked further into the living room, her eyes narrowing in confusion as she watched Johnny start unscrewing the doorknob.

"I'm not even going to ask what is happening here," Achara crossed her arms. "Is Robby home? I need to talk to him."

"Don't tell me you're with Robby now. I thought you and Miguel were—"

"What? No," Achara cut him off, rolling her eyes. "I'm still dating Miguel. Robby is—or was—my best friend before Cobra Kai came along and ruined everything. I just want to get my best friend back."

Johnny gave her a confused look. "You're the little girl with pigtails and ribbons in her hair in the picture that Robby keeps in his wallet?"

Achara smiled. She had no idea that Robby kept the picture that they had taken with Decha back when they all played soccer. Back then, things had been so much simpler. There wasn't a day that went by that Achara didn't have in hair tied up into pigtails. Decha carried around an old, tattered blanket everywhere he went, and Robby wore glasses.

"Wait..." Achara looked at Johnny in bewilderment. "You didn't know that Robby, Decha, and I have been friends for years? I thought you did..."

Johnny shook his head. "I had no idea. You've been friends all this time?"

Achara couldn't help but laugh. "I've missed your obliviousness."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Johnny asked, offended.

"Don't worry about it," Achara responded, crossing her arms. "Now, is Robby here or not?"

"He's here, but your little reunion can wait," Johnny told her, continuing to switch the doorknobs. "I've been trying to get Miguel and Robby to get along all day and I was just about to let them fight it out before you showed up and distracted me."

With the doorknobs on their correct sides, Johnny grabbed an air horn from off the coffee table and walked past Achara. She turned around and watched him leave the apartment.

"Wait, what?" Achara asked.

Achara followed him outside. The door closed behind her as she walked to the middle of the courtyard. With no warning, Johnny pressing the button on the air horn. Achara's hands shot up to her ears at the loud blaring sound this was emitted from the horn.

The door to Miguel's apartment opened. He didn't notice Achara at first. When he finally did, he gave her a confused look. Achara turned her head at the faint sound of the door to Johnny's apartment opening.

When Johnny stopped pressing the air horn, Achara unplugged her ears and rested her hands at her sides.

One of the other neighbors opened their apartment door, stepping out to see what was happening. "What the hell is going on out here?"

"Mind your business, dirtbag," Johnny retorted. "Beat it."

The man stepped back into his apartment and closed the door. Achara approached Miguel and Robby, with Johnny still by her side.

"Chara, what are you doing here? What's going on?" Miguel asked.

Achara shrugged. "No idea. I just came to talk to Robby about fixing our friendship and to see you, of course. But I somehow got mixed up in whatever...this is."

"Tiredsarat, be quiet," Johnny said before pointing at Miguel and Robby. "You two stay put."

"Are you kidding me, dad?" Robby asked.

Miguel huffed. "I don't know how many times I—"

"Quiet!" Johnny yelled.

Achara flinched due to him yelling so close to her ear. She turned, looking up at him with an offended look on her face. Johnny didn't care.

"You wanna hang onto your grudge? Fine," Johnny told Miguel and Robby. "But at least be men about it. Put your fists where your mouths are."

"Alai na?" Achara asked, staring at him in confusion.

"You want us to do what?" Robby asked.

"Fight it out," Johnny replied. "No points. No mats. You just keep fighting until you get it all out of your systems."

"What, here? Now?" Miguel questioned.

"It's a time, this is a place," Johnny glanced between the two boys. "Unless that was all just talk?"

Miguel shook his head, turning to Robby. "Not for me."

Robby stared back at him, shrugging nonchalantly. "Or me."

"All right," Johnny nodded. "Let's get on with it."

Achara stepped back, starting to chew on her cheek as Miguel and Robby got into fighting position. Miguel threw the first punch, instantly getting blocked by Robby. They sent a series of punches each other's way, managing to block each hit.

"Come on, is that all you got?" Johnny challenged them.

They started punching and kicking in each other's direction. Each hit and kick went nowhere, being blocked instantaneously.

"I thought you guys were sworn enemies!" Johnny yelled at them.

Robby started throwing punch after punch towards Miguel and tried to land a kick but had no luck. Miguel blocked every hit. Achara bit her fingernails as she watched Miguel spin around and land a kick to Robby's face, causing him to stumble back.

Robby turned around, revealing the blood that was starting to drip from his nose. The two boys got into fighting position once more. Robby wasted no time and immediately started to send kicks flying at Miguel, spinning, and jumping in the air as he tried to land a hit. Robby swept Miguel's leg, causing him to fall backwards in front of his apartment. He slowly stood up, continuing to fight with Robby.

Achara turned to Johnny, still chewing on her fingernails. "You really think this is a good idea? What if it—"

"Quiet!" Johnny yelled at her.

Achara dropped her hand, crossing her arms. "I did not miss that one bit."

Achara rolled her eyes before directing her attention back to the right just in time to see Robby kick Miguel into the door to the stairwell. Miguel fell backwards, causing the door to break and fall. Robby ran through the doorway, chasing after Miguel.

"Hey! Hey! Stairwell's out of bounds!" Johnny yelled.

Miguel tackled Robby through the door to the second floor. Miguel started to punch Robby as he laid on the floor.

"All right, that's it!" Johnny shouted. "Fight's over!"

The fight continued as Robby stood up, pushing Miguel into the wall.

"All right, guys," Johnny tried to stop them. "That's enough."

The two boys didn't listen as they sent punches flying at one another.

"Robby! Miguel! Knock it off!"

Achara felt her heart drop when Miguel pushed Robby into the balcony. Miguel repeatedly punched Robby over and over in the face. He had him pinned to the railing. Achara stood frozen in fear as memories of the school fight filled her mind.

She closed her eyes, trying to get them to go away. It had been months since she had visions and nightmares of Miguel falling from the balcony. It was as if she had been transported back as the scene replayed in her mind as her own shaky voice screaming, "Miguel!" echoed in her ears. She could hear nothing that was happening around her, her mind focused on the moment
she watched Miguel fall.

"No, no, no, no," Achara whispered softly to herself.

Achara opened her eyes and inhaled a deep breath before she looked up. She released the breath she had been holding when she saw that Miguel and Robby were no longer fighting.

Achara ran to the stairwell, climbing up the stairs and standing next to Johnny in the doorway. She listened to Miguel and Robby's conversation.

"Last time we fought like this, uh, how come you didn't hold back?" Miguel asked.

"I just wanted to finish the fight," Robby responded. "I mean, not like that. I just...I...I had tunnel vision and I got so angry that I just...I mean I barely knew where we were."

Achara knew all too well what he meant. During the fight, it was like she had stepped outside of her own body, fueled by rage, and turning into someone that she wasn't. Achara barely remembered anything from the fight other than Miguel falling from the balcony and the look on Robby's face when he had realized what he had done. Everything else was a blur, which was due to the concussion.

"I'd take it back in a second if I could. I mean, I was the cause of the worst moment of your life," Robby said with a frown. "And if it's any consolation, it was the worst moment in my life too."

Miguel titled his head on the side, a small smile appearing on his face when he looked at Robby. "Yeah, I'll take it."

Achara smiled brightly, running towards them, and pulling them both into a hug. "Finally! My boyfriend and my best friend are getting along!"

Achara stepped back and glanced between them. They were both chuckling, smiles on their faces.

She focused her attention on Robby. "You are still my best friend, right? I know a lot happened and that we went through a really, really rough patch. But what do you say we put it all behind us and be friends again?"

Robby smiled, nodding his head. "I'd like that."

"So?" Johnny asked, interrupting the conversation. "Is it over? Are you guys good?"

Both boys nodded their heads in response.

Johnny started walking towards them. "Oh, thank God, 'cause if you still hated each other when the baby gets here..."

Johnny paused, stopping in his tracks. Robby tilted his head to the side. Achara and Miguel shared a look, their faces scrunched up in confusion.

"The baby?" Miguel asked. "Wait, what? Like you and my mom?"

Johnny sighed. "Yeah, we're, uh, having a baby. We were supposed to tell you together, so make sure you act surprised."

"Holy shit!" Miguel exclaimed in excitement.

"Dad, that's...that's awesome!" Robby grinned, his entire face lighting up. "That's awesome."

Achara smiled at Johnny. "That's amazing! Congrats!"

The two boys walked up Johnny and embraced him in a group hug.

Once the excitement had died down, Miguel invited Achara inside his apartment for dinner. She sat at the table eating breadsticks from Olive Garden.

"Wow. You weren't kidding about these breadsticks, dad," Robby said to Johnny, continuing to chew.

"I wouldn't lie to you," Johnny replied. "Three times. In the same day."

The door to the apartment opened and Carmen stepped inside. She looked around the table with a confused look. Achara waved at her, not able to talk due to her mouth being stuffed with breadsticks.

"Hi, mom," Miguel greeted her.

"Hi..." Carmen said, glancing between the three teens seated at the table.

"Hi, Mrs. Diaz," Robby said, looking up at her. "I hope it's cool I'm having dinner here."

"It's very cool," Carmen glanced between Miguel and Robby before gently placing her hand on Robby's arm. "You're welcome any time here, Robby."

Carmen walked inside the apartment, closing the door behind her. She kissed Miguel on the head and then placed her hand on Achara's shoulder.

"It's nice to see you again, Achara," Carmen smiled.

Achara nodded her head, returning the smile. "It's nice to see you too."

Carmen pat Achara's shoulder before she walked away and stood next to Johnny. Achara looked between Miguel and Robby, a smile on her face. Knowing that she could finally be friends with Robby and be in a relationship with Miguel was something she never thought she'd see.

And what an amazing thing it was.

— EMILIA'S NOTES + TRANSLATIONS

i was like "okay the scene with decha telling his parents will be like 500 words max and then we'll move on" NOPE. it was 1,040 words.

also maybe i'm just dramatic bc i love decha so much, but i was literally crying as i wrote it.

no chae this chapter, but i promise she will be in the next one!

alternative chapter title: operation get demetri back.

TRANSLATIONS:

- kǒr-tǒht khap
kǒr-tǒd means i'm sorry. khap is the polite male particle. kǒr is pronounced as kaw with a rising tone.

for tǒht, the best way i can think to describe how to pronounce it is to say toad with a falling tone.

so it'd be kaw-toad.

- phor rak luk na
phor rak luk na translated literally means, father loves you and na is the polite particle.

instead of saying i, kiet addressed himself as father. in thai language, when speaking it is very common to address yourself as either your name or familial role. so kiet chose to refer to himself as father which i did specifically to show how their father/son relationship has changed.