151 Chapter 151 : The one who creates TROUBLES

December 12th marked a full week since Ava had begun living in the Wongcharee house. Ava didn't have to worry about a thing. Somchai and Pimpa took amazing care of her. From delicious meals to pretty dresses, Pimpa made sure Ava had everything she needed. Though her usual routine was just staying in her room and think. 

Somchai left for work at the early morning after breakfast, while Pimpa typically left around noon for her nearby office studio. This left Ava and Tanin to their own devices for most of the day, as Tanin hardly used to go to school. He liked to skip. While a house helper arrived in the evenings to prepare snacks and dinner before leaving once the parents returned.

Despite the initial awkwardness and shyness living with them, one thing remained constant: Tanin's knack for causing trouble, a fact his parents had long since coming to accept with a resigned sigh. 

The house often resembled the aftermath of a playful (but slightly destructive) hurricane after Tanin had spent some quality "alone time" with it. Ava, after a mere three days of living there, had begun to understand the full force of Tanin's mischievous nature. The first disaster struck on the third afternoon when Tanin returned home from school, not with the usual backpack slung over his shoulder, but with a sight that left Ava speechless.

Six, yes, six clucking chickens followed him into the house, a feathery entourage that squawked and flapped their wings in a flurry of chaotic energy. Ava stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes widening as the birds paraded through the living room, leaving a trail of tiny pecks and scattered feathers in their wake.

"Hey Ava, look here!" he crowed, gesturing towards the feathered pandemonium, "My friends!"

Ava stared at him, dumbfounded. "What are you going to do with those chickens?" she managed to question.

The dining room was in complete chaos. The six chickens, no longer content with walking around, had intensified their destruction. One was perched on the edge of the table and pecking at a half-eaten bowl of cereal, scattering soggy flakes. Another had knocked over a vase filled with colorful plastic flowers, sending them scattering across the floor. The remaining chickens were tearing at the tablecloth.

But Tanin was completely unfazed by the chaos. He reached into a cardboard box propped open near the door and scooped up a generous handful of grain and tossed it onto the dining table. The effect was instantaneous. The chickens let out a loud cluck and scurried towards the offering. They jostled and shoved each other, all desperate to be the first to reach the spilled grain.

Tanin burst into another fit of giggles, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. "See, Ava? They're hungry little fellas." he explained, wiping a tear from his eye. "Mom hates chickens, says they're messy and noisy. So, I thought I'd bring them over while she's at work and give them a good meal. You know sharing is caring."

Ava's jaw dropped even further. Tanin's logic, while undeniably flawed, was delivered with a charming innocence that made her wonder if she should be exasperated or impressed. One thing was certain – life with Tanin around was guaranteed to be anything but boring.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "And where exactly did you find these chickens?" 

Tanin scratched his head thoughtfully. "They live near my school," he began. "Maybe someone keeps them as pets, I don't know. But I see them every day and give them some food after school. Today, I guess they decided to follow me home."

Suddenly, the front door swung open with a bang, and Somchai entered the house, briefcase in hand. He'd cut his workday short due to a canceled client meeting. However, the scene that greeted him was far from the peaceful domesticity he'd envisioned.

There, in the heart of his pristine dining room, stood Tanin, clad in his rumpled school uniform, surrounded by a cackling, clucking whirlwind of chickens. Somchai blinked, momentarily convinced he was hallucinating from work-related stress. Then, as the full absurdity of the situation registered, his jaw dropped.

"Tanin!" he roared, "What in the rooster's beak is going on here?!"

Tanin yelped and darted behind Ava, using her as a human shield. "Hhhh- Hi Dad! Just having a little party with some new... friends!"

Somchai took a deep breath, trying to tamp down his rising anger. He pointed a finger at Tanin. "You, young man," he boomed, "are in a heap of trouble. This," he gestured dramatically at the chicken-infested dining room, "is a disaster zone of your own making!"

Tanin, peeking sheepishly from behind Ava, mumbled a barely audible apology. Somchai, however, was having none of it. "Apologies won't clean up this mess. As punishment for your... creative use of the dining room, you will single-handedly restore it to its former glory. Every last feather, every grain of spilled food – it should be disappeared. Otherwise you aren't getting dinner today."

Tanin's face fell faster than a deflated soufflé. Cleaning up after his feathered friends suddenly didn't seem so appealing. The rest of the day was spent in a flurry of cleaning. Tanin, grumbling under his breath, diligently swept, mopped, and chased down rogue feathers with all the enthusiasm of a snail on Valium. Meanwhile, sitting on the sofa, Somchai kept a watchful eye to Tanin. By the time dinner rolled around, he was a sweaty, exhausted mess.

The following morning, however, brought a new twist. The dining table was overflowing with delicious Thai chicken dishes - Green Curry, tangy Tom Yum soup, stir-fried Pad See Ew Gai noodles, and something that looked like deep-fried chicken wings. Tanin dug into his meal with gusto, completely oblivious to the irony of the situation. 

Pimpa casually asked while, "So Tanin, did you enjoy playing with your new friends yesterday?" 

Tanin's eyes widened. He stared at his plate, then back at his mother, the pieces clicking into place. With a dramatic flourish, he threw himself back in his chair, bursting into a loud, fake cry. "No! It can't be! I ate my friend!!!!!" he wailed, raising his hands towards the ceiling. "Jesus, please forgive me! I won't bring any more chickens home, ever again!"

Ava and Pimpa burst into laughter, unable to contain themselves at Tanin's dramatic outburst. Somchai simply raised an eyebrow in amusement. He knew exactly how to handle his son.

But Trouble, for Tanin, was like breathing – an essential part of his existence. Another day, he decided to "help" with the dishes. The dish soap dispenser was empty, so Tanin, in his infinite wisdom, grabbed the brightly colored bottle of liquid detergent next to it. The ensuing explosion of suds that turned the kitchen into a scene from a bubble bath was legendary.

This time Ava helped Tanin mop up the mess while patiently explaining the difference between laundry detergent and dish soap. 

Another day, Tanin decided to hide the television remote control to make his father angry. The problem? He hid the remote a little too well, even for himself. The entire day all searched for the remote, with furniture being moved and cushions being pummeled. Eventually, Pimpa, managed to locate the missing remote control tucked away behind a dusty photo frame.

While his brand of troublemaking could be trying at times, Ava found herself growing surprisingly fond of the mischievous boy. He may have been a hurricane of chaos, but he was also kind-hearted and possessed an endless sense of curiosity.

Back in the present time, A sharp rapping on the door jolted Ava awake. It was morning. Before she could fully register the time, the door swung open, revealing a grinning Tanin.

"Ava! Come on, let's go for a ride! It'll be fun, I promise!"

Ava's sleepy smile faltered slightly. Since arriving at the Wongcharee household, she hadn't dared step outside. The fear of being spotted by one of Ibrahim's men, of her location being revealed, kept her a prisoner within the house. 

"No, thanks, Tanin," she replied politely, "I'm not really in the mood for a ride today. You go ahead, though."

"But you have to come!" he argued playfully. "Hat Yai is a beautiful city! There's so much to see – markets, temples, delicious food! You'll love it, trust me!"

Ava remained silent. Seeing her hesitation, Tanin plopped down on the edge of the bed. "Oy! Are you that scared of your husband?"

Ava swallowed hard. Tanin's innocent question cut deep, "What if someone sees me and tells Ibrahim? I don't want to put anyone else in danger because of me."

Tanin's brow furrowed in confusion. His knowledge of Ava was limited to what his parents had told him – she was Ibrahim's wife, seeking refuge within their home due to marital troubles. The full depth of her fear remained a mystery to him.

"You've been cooped up here for days! How long are you going to stay locked away? Besides Ibrahim doesn't know where you are, then how come you're so scared? Why can't you step outside and enjoy the sunshine for a bit?" Tanin asked. 

Ava sank back against the headboard. "It's not that simple, Tanin," she explained taking a deep breath. "Yes, maybe for now I am hidden, but the fear... it's there inside me like a dark cloud. One wrong move, one careless action and it could all come crashing down."

"Did Ibrahim cheat on you with another woman?" Tanin added, "I'm sorry to ask this as it's your private and personal things. But I'm just curious."

Ava decided a partial truth might be easier to explain than the whole, "There wasn't another woman, no third person between us. Ibrahim... he didn't cheat."

HE BETRAYED. 

"But then why?" Tanin pressed, "Why are you hiding if there wasn't another woman?"