Fah drove up to the gate at Run's house and waited. He'd been here briefly the night of the gala but then Mek became sick for real and had to be taken home. It turned out that Mek, along with fifty-two other people at the gala, came down with food poisoning.

Run had invited Fah over for the dinner that Mint promised him. A buzzer sounded and the gate swung open.

Parking off to the side of the driveway, he stepped out of his car. No sooner had he stood up than Run came out the front door to greet him, followed by a child.

"Hi, Fah! I'm glad you remembered the way here. This is my little brother, Tin."

"Hi," said a small clone of Run. There was no denying the two were brothers; they both had Mint's eyes and mouth. Fah greeted Tin.

"Tin's been excited to meet you ever since he found out you and Mek came over while he was asleep. My parents are super protective of him so he isn't permitted to go out often or hang out with many people."

Tin ran ahead to open the door for them. Once out of earshot Run added, "Due to my dad's job there have been threats against his life so he is kept home."

"That's too bad, especially since it isn't his fault. I mean, it's not your dad's fault either, but you understand what I mean, right?"

"Yeah, I feel the same way. I try to take him on car rides and stuff but my parents aren't comfortable with that."

"Are they as protective of you?"

"Yeah, they are. They let me go to the gala because I was with them and because of who the attendees were. Otherwise, I have to invite friends here. I've lost friends because they would tire of always coming to my place while I couldn't go to theirs. I also couldn't go to CentralWorld, ICS, or anyplace else. Even going to food stalls my dad sends a bodyguard. It's embarrassing to be followed."

"Well, hey, you're always welcome at my place but I'd never tire of coming here. Or visiting with your family." Fah meant this and Run could sense it. "A heads up though, my place is small, nothing like this."

"Cool, that's even better. I'd love to have a small place of my own. There's no need for a house this big unless you care about impressing people who don't matter," said Run.

"Excuse me, Run? We don't have this house to impress others. Your father and I bought it because it offered us room for a secure place where you and Tin can do plenty of activities without having to go out into public." Mint smiled as she spoke. "Hello Fah, I'm so happy you can join us. Adi will be happy to see you as well. He's still at work."

"Thank you for inviting me," Fah said.

"You boys can stay busy for an hour, right? Run, make sure to include Tin. I have to tend to dinner; we'll eat when Adi is home." She turned and disappeared down a hallway.

"What do you want to do? We have a pool if you want to swim - I can lend you a suit. We can watch a movie or listen to music. If you're hungry I can sneak some snacks out of the kitchen." Run regarded Fah expectantly.

"It's okay, I can wait for dinner."

"Run, can we show him around the house? Please!" Tin pulled on his brother's sleeve as he spoke.

"Sure we can. Tin, you can be the leader." Run turned to Fah. "Do you mind?"

"No, that's cool. At least I'll know where the bathroom and your room are," said Fah smiling.

Tin led them down different hallways, pointing out different rooms. There was a library with more books than Fah could imagine being in one person's home. The bathrooms were almost the size of Fah's apartment. They came to a closed door. Tin pushed the door open.

"This is my dad's study. He works here and sometimes he comes in here to get away from us," said Tin.

"Honestly?" asked Fah.

"Yeah. Tin, my mom, and I love to play all types of games but all three of us are competitive and loud. My dad likes everything quiet. Whenever we're playing and he comes in here it means we've been too loud."

Entering the room Fah noticed framed photos on the desk and shelves along the walls. He loved looking at family photos and wondered what it would have been like to have photos of him with his real parents. Maybe if they'd stayed together he'd have had a brother like Tin or a sister.

The family photos were of vacations all around the world, pictures of the family taken at home, and photos of Run's parents when they were young and first married. Fah didn't say anything but he couldn't help notice Mint had been pregnant on her wedding day.

Tin walked behind the desk and sat in his father's desk chair, spinning it in circles. Run and Fah came up behind him. Tin opened the top drawer of his father's desk to see inside.

"Tin, stop! Dad doesn't let us go in his drawers. You're going to get us into trouble. Shut it now!" scolded Run. Tin began shutting it when something caught Fah's eye.

"Wait!" yelled Fah. Surprised by his outburst Tin and Run turned to stare at him. "Tin, please open it again for a second."

Tin glanced at Run who said it was okay. Tin opened the drawer again. Fah reached in and picked up a photo lying off to the side. It showed a young Adi with his arm around a woman holding a baby. His tattooed arm hung over her shoulder.

"We've never known who that was. I asked once and my dad said she was a good friend, but never told me more," explained Run. Fah's hand was shaking and tears began to run down his face. He couldn't speak.

"Hey, Fah, are you okay?" asked Run in a concerned voice.

Fah stared at Run, his lips quivering. He had no idea how to tell Run that Adi was his father. What would it do to Run and Tin? What if Mint found out? He started to hyperventilate. The sound from the doorway of someone clearing their throat startled the three of them. Adi stood staring at the boys.

"Hello, Fah. Run, Tin, haven't I told you two before that this room is off-limits? Wasn't this door shut? I believe I have also told you before to stay out of my desk as well." He entered the room. Run and Tin apologized and bowed their heads, not looking up.

"May I have that photo, please, Fah?" Adi had no idea why his son's friend was crying and holding the photo.

"Khun Adi, please, may I speak with you privately?" His request caught the other three off-guard. Run tilted his head and asked Fah what he had just said, but Fah couldn't speak.

"Certainly you may. Boys, please go ask your mother how long until dinner is ready. Please shut the door on your way out."

Tin and Run nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind them. Khun Adi turned to face Fah.

"How may I help you?" asked Khun Adi.

"Why do you have this photo?" asked Fah.

"Why? Well, as you can see, that is me. I'm younger and in much better shape than now, but that's me." Khun Adi seemed confused by Fah's question.

"Who are the woman and the baby?" asked Fah.

"That's Mookda and her son. She was a close friend but we lost touch many years ago." Khun Adi peered sadly at the photo. "I always hoped I would see her again but I never found her."

"Because she died when I was six," said Fah. Khun Adi stared at Fah.

"Wait, what are you saying? Are you saying that you are this baby?" Khun Adi whispered in disbelief.

"Yes. Mookda was my mother. I'm Tongfah. Look," said Fah as he pulled his copy of the photo out of his wallet. "My mother said that was my father in the photo with us but she ripped it in half. She would never tell me his name, only that he was from a rich family and he abandoned us." Fah glared at Khun Adi. "He abandoned his newborn baby and his woman," said Fah. Khun Adi stared at his photo, the photo that Fah was holding, then Fah's face, and slid down into his desk chair.

"Mookda is dead?" A tear slid down his cheek. "What happened?"

"She was crossing the street and was hit by a car. My best friend's family raised me. I had no relatives because they disowned my mom when she became pregnant before marrying. My aunt wrote a few times but when I went to the return address on the envelope they didn't know who she was. "

"What? I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say...I never knew about any of that..." Khun Adi's voice was shaky and he couldn't stop blinking. He rested his head on his hands for a moment.

A knock on the door caught their attention. Without waiting for an answer the door opened and Run walked in. He saw his father and Fah holding photos, Fah was angry, and his father was crying.

"Hey, what's going on?" asked Run.

"None of your business, Run. Out now!" Khun Adi snapped. Run looked startled as did Fah.

"I think it is sort of his business," said Fah. "After all, he's my half-brother." Run's mouth fell open and he kept looking from his father to his new friend.

"Your half-brother? What are you saying?" Run turned to his father for an explanation. His father kept looking from Run's face to Fah's. Sighing heavily, he put his head down on his desk and wept. The two boys stared at him and then at each other.

"Fah, what's going on?" asked Run.

"I think your father should explain it to you. It's his story, after all."

Khun Adi raised his head. "Run, please ask your mother to come here. Tin as well. On second thought, let's all meet in the living room." Run left to gather the others.

"Fah, I had always hoped to find you and your mother again. I will explain it all now, but I need my family to present since it affects them. I don't know how they will react. If things become chaotic, please contact me at my office so we can talk more."

Khun Adi put his arms around Fah and hugged him. "My son, I'm so glad to see you after all these years. I never thought we would meet this way, but I am very happy. I'm glad you get along with Run." Letting go of Fah, he smiled though he still had tears in his eyes. "Let's join the others."