Chapter Text
Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one. -Anonymous
The idea came to him like a eureka moment. Tankhun was watching Reply 1988’s episode two with Arm and Pol, each sitting by his side. Tears streaming down their faces. Their eyes were red and puffy from all the crying.
It was two in the fucking morning.
The lights in Tankhun’s bedroom were dimmed. The air-conditioning system was set to 23°C. Just the right temperature, according to Tankhun (the self-proclaimed K-drama expert) when you're watching a Family-centered genre K-drama.
This was his first time watching Reply 1988 . Why didn't he watch this before? Anyway, kudos to Pol for this one. Tankhun had them both make a report. Well, it was more of a research, actually, on the most loved K-dramas and how it shaped today's generation.
Pete, Tankhun's ex-head bodyguard, and now Vegas' husband, just laughed when Arm and Pol called him over the phone about it.
Then, two weeks ago was Horror week. Thus, they all watched Hotel del Luna again and again (four times, actually) until Arm had almost memorized the whole OSTs of Hotel del Luna . Arm had saved it in his Spotify playlist entitled Best Korean Drama OSTs (username: WhosTheNerdNow) . Pol, however, insisted that he had dreamt about Lee Ji-eun (IU) for five consecutive nights.
Then, last week, oh, last week was fun! Out of all the K-dramas that Tankhun and his bodyguards watched, by far, Prison Playbook took the number one spot. But he’ll talk about this for another day.
This week, Pol suggested they should try watching Reply 1988 . It was then, at that moment, that scene from Episode 2 when Dong-il’s brother finally made it home. His brother was calling out his name with sadness and longing. Dong-il was waiting for his brother to come home.
Tankhun, then, began to cry. Real tears. Not the fake cries he had when he was watching other K-dramas. That particular scene hit something inside him. It was like someone stabbed his chest.
It started with him getting teary-eyed. His hands balled into tight fists. His long nails dug into the palm of his hand. Do not fucking cry.
Oh, how Tankhun tried so hard not to. He could hear Arm and Pol already sobbing as the scene played out.
But Tankhun wasn’t able to stop the tears and painful sobs that escaped his lips when Dong-il slowly turned around to look at his older brother, holding back his tears. The two brothers slowly approached each other. Dong-il’s brother dropped his bag, held Dong-il’s face, and embraced him. As the dialogue continued, Dong-il’s sisters came rushing to their brothers, hugging each other, crying, and screaming their hearts out.
Tankhun suddenly thought of his younger brothers, Kinn and Kim. He didn’t understand why but scenarios of him, Kinn, and Kim suddenly flashed before his eyes. They were kids, young and innocent, playing with each other in the backyard of the Theerapanyakul household. Those were happy times when their mother was still alive.
He missed those days.
Trying to ignore the sadness Tankhun was feeling, he instantly thought of something.
“Pause! Pause it!” Tankhun had to look away from the TV screen and yelled out to Arm and Pol.
While Pol rushed to the coffee table beside the TV screen and clicked the off button of the remote and Arm was busy wiping his own tears, Tankhun had a realization.
When was the last time they took a family picture? Not a selfie for his Instagram account. A genuine one. One where you frame it and display it in the family living room. A family picture where they were all together - his brothers and their wives, his cousins, and his adorable nephew, Venice.
Tankhun could just imagine it. It’ll be chaotic but fun!
However, if he’d asked them, his father wouldn't possibly care. Kinn was probably too busy with the family business and Porsche to even think about it. And, Kim? Well, Kim was being Kim. Plus, he wasn't in the family house all the time.
We need a family photo! Now!
Tankhun felt like he was the smartest man in the world! Well, he was smart, really. He just hides it with his craziness and lunatic attitude.
Arm and Pol stared at their master who was now done wiping his tears and was pacing back and forth in front of them. Tankhun’s fluffy, rabbit-themed slippers dragged on the floor
It was Arm who asked first, with a hint of concern in his voice, “Sir, is there something wrong? Did you not like what Pol recommended?”
Pol looked genuinely concerned as well. If Tankhun would say he didn’t like it, his ass would definitely be punished. Or maybe Tankhun would dress him up again just like that time during Tankhun’s birthday party.
“No, no!” Tankhun shook his head. Now, he had a wicked grin on his face. Arm and Pol looked at each other, nervous as to what was going on inside their master’s crazy mind.
“Let’s do a photo shoot!” Tankhun declared, still pacing back and forth. His hands motioned in a frantic manner. “Yes, that’s it! A big one! With dad, me, Kinn, Kim, and Porsche! Let’s also include the second family! Oh, I need to call Pete on that. Vegas and Macau need to be there as well! And little Venice, too! How can we forget our little sunshine? Ahh~ I feel like this is going to be fun!”
Tankhun’s body was shaking from the excitement now! He was like a six-year-old kid who just ate a whole bar of chocolate. Gone was the emotional and crying Tankhun a while ago. This was crazy Tankhun!
His bodyguards glanced at each other with a worn look on their faces. In times like these, it was Pete who could stop Tankhun and his mad thoughts. Pete would know what to do. Oh, how they missed him.
“Oh, no! I almost forgot about Porchay! Kim would kill me if I did! We have to invite him, too! And I need to call my stylist! I might have to change my hair color. And the whole backyard needs trimming! We have to call P’Tae. He knows what to do! I was thinking of doing the photoshoot there since it’s summer. But I wanna have it in the family living room, too, y’know? Hmm…. Or! We can do both! Let’s have a fun and elegant family photo!” Tankhun blabbered for what felt like a whole one minute. He then looked at his bodyguards with his hands on his waist. “Did you guys get it?”
Both Arm and Pol nodded in response. Thank god Arm was quick to pull out his iPad and noted down everything Tankhun said.
“I need to tell dad and Kinn! And then call Pete! Oh, and can you try calling Kim? Ask him where he is,” Tankhun said all of this while he was on the phone. He was apparently trying to call Pete first.
“Umm.” It was Pol. “Sir Tankhun, it’s past two in the morning. They’re probably asleep now. We can call them later if you want.”
“Yes, Sir!” Arm exclaimed. “I think that is a good idea. Right, Pol?” Arm turned his head to Pol’s direction and glared at him at the same time mouthing the words, We need to sleep!
Pol nodded his head frantically and gave their master his most charming smile. “Plus! You need your beauty sleep, Sir. You don’t wanna get wrinkles like Master Kinn, right?”
Tanhkun let out an exaggerated gasp, dropping his phone on his bed. He had completely forgotten about calling Pete again. “Oh my God, no! I don’t wanna be ugly!”
Their master sat back down on the bed. “Ugh, alright, fine.” Tankhun pursed his lips in annoyance. “But, you have to wake me up at exactly eight okay?”
“Why… eight, Sir?” Arm asked. At eight in the morning, Tankhun would still be sleeping.
“Yeah, Sir. You usually wake up at ten and -” Arm nudged Pol’s side, shutting him up.
“Because we’re attending the family meeting at nine, you idiot!” Tankhun glared at his bodyguards. “How else can I discuss my plan?”
“Right, right!” Arm and Pol just gave their master a tired grin and a two-thumbs up. They just hoped this family photoshoot wouldn’t turn into a disaster.