บ้านเช่าหรรษา

Ronnakrit's Pov

" I'm back!" I called. 

Pulling my snickers at the door step, moving in to the sitting room.

As soon as I got inside, the bag I held dropped from my hand. My jaw dropped.

" What happened?" I rushed closer to Pawat, bringing Grandma into my arm. 

" They came again." Pawat said, his voice barely above a whisper. 

My eyes travelled over his battered form, and I struggled to fight back my tears. They've beaten him beyond recognition. 

I jumped to my feet, bringing him in a warm hug. " I'm sorry." Tears rolled down my eyes slowly. "I shouldn't have left you here alone." 

" They warned us to make payment or else, they would come back for us." Pawat sobbed.

" Hey, don't cry. They won't touch you again. I promise." 

" Thank you..." He cried. 

" Now go take your bath, while I make dinner." 

Without another word, he shuffled out of the room. I helped Grandma back to the sofa. I wonder why those people are so cruel. 

Afterwards, I made my way to the kitchen. Putting on my apron, placing a frypan on the gas cooker. And lighting it up. Pouring oil into the pan.

Tears slowly trickled down my eyes as the oil bubbled up. Turning towards the cabinet, I opened it, stretching my hands in and retrieved a bottle of chili out of it.

I turned back to the frying pan; the oil within it was shimmering and hot. And quickly, I poured the chillies into it.

A tickle, like a feather, rose at the back of my throat as the chili hit the hot oil. I regretted this the next second, as I just realized I wasn't wearing my face mask.

I paused immediately, moving away from the frying pan and searching my pocket for my inhaler. But, I could not find it. I turned towards the window to open it. But, I was too slow. My whole body shook with violence.

I lost my balance, but tried to stand back up in an attempt to check around for the inhaler, and, I failed once again.

At that moment, I remembered that the inhaler was actually in the apron I wore across my neck.

I tried really hard to retrieve it, and when I got it, my hands were shaky and it fell. It slid a few feet away from my grip and I was not able to drag myself or move, as my muscles had weakened at that moment.

Each breath was a battle, a shallow sip of air that did nothing to aid the burning sensation in my lungs.

I slumped to the floor, trying every bit of my knowledge to get the inhaler back in my grasp. But my fingers kept fumbling.

My eyes widened with terror as life slowly seeped out of my body. The excruciating pain in my chest was slowly fading.

"Help..." My voice was not loud enough.

I quickly stretched my hands as far as I could, managing to grab the tray of steel plates. And in an instant I dragged it down.

The steels clanged as they all collided with the floor, creating a very loud noise. Loud enough to grab attention from the sitting room.

"What is happening?" I heard my brother's voice as he came closer to the kitchen. And in an instant he screamed. "Krit!!"

He was running towards me... And that was all I knew as my eyes shut down slowly.

I felt a hand lift my head. And my mouth slowly opened. The bitter taste of chemical filled my mouth as the inhaler was sprayed. And almost immediately, I felt the band in my chest dissolve.

I smiled and my eyelids fluttered open. Thankfully, he came in time, else, there would have been a mourning spree in my house today.

"What's all this carelessness about?" Pawat yelled, slightly tapping the back of my head.

"I'm sorry," I said softly.

He helped me back to my feet before turning off the gas cooker. And we both got out of the kitchen heading to the sitting room.

The cold pain was still lingering in my throat.

"This is too much, you should have opened the window before even lighting the gas," he said, helping me to sit on the sofa.

"I've heard you. Now quit the lecture and tell me where Grandma is," I said dismissively.

"I took her to her room," he said and at that moment his tone was bored.

"Don't think too much about it. I will earn and make sure Grandma can talk again," I said, trying to calm him down.

" Let's just sell this house to rent a smaller apartment. And we'll be able to pay our parent's debts, and treat Grandma." He said.

"Hey, don't say that. Now go inside and get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day," I said dismissively.

He hesitated for a slight moment before standing up and leaving the sitting room. I stared at his back as he slowly climbed the stairs.

I leaned on the sofa, resting my head properly, consumed by my thoughts.

Slowly, I grew tired of thinking and I began to close my eyes gradually. And sleep eventually claimed me. My dream was chaotic, as Pawat's bruised face and my fight for life resurfaced every seconds.

The next morning, the bright light casted shadows in the sitting room. And I slowly rose, stretching and yawning.

Pawat's voice drew my attention. He was on a phone call and I was left wondering who it was. "Hello?" he said.

"What do you mean?"

"Hey, who is that?" I called as I realized that he was with my phone.

"Dagger," he said, stretching his hands forward to hand the phone over.

It hit me hard; he was talking to my new boss. Oh shit! I snatched my phone from his grasp.

"Hello?" I said calmly, retreating from the sitting room, mainly to keep Pawat from poking his nose. I stopped under the mango tree in the compound.

"Hello?" His voice boomed from the other end. "What is the meaning of that?" he asked.

"I am sorry. My phone wasn't with me," I said.

"Do not let this ever happen again," he spoke from the other end.

"Okay sir."

"The location and the prey's pics would be sent to you. Get the mission done before the end of tomorrow," he said.

"Okay," I replied, and the phone call ended immediately.

I sighed deeply. The weight of the mission set hard on my shoulder. It was my first time... As soon as I lowered the phone, a black sedan pulled up to the curb right outside our gate.

I walked up to it, opening the gate, and knocked on the window.

It slid down slowly and a box was passed out to me. "Get it done," a cold voice resounded through the car. "And remember... We are on your tail."