The Sunset Between the Sea and the Cloud

The alarm echoed through the room, making Noe jerk up from his bed. With half an eye closed, he reached out for his phone on the bedside table and peeked at the time and date.

Friday, 7:30 am

He groaned.

Why did I even turn on the alarm today?

He threw the phone back to bed, lay back, and covered himself with a blanket. He was about to doze off when his phone rang again. He ignored it, but he failed when it rang the fourth time.

“Aish!” He kicked the covers and reached for the phone. “I’m going to kill whoever is on the other line!” He mumbled and answered the phone.

“Noe Boonrueng!”

Amara screamed on the other end before he could say hello. He moved his phone a bit to save his eardrums.

“Do you know what time it is?”

“Do you realize what day it is?” He asked her back. “You knew that I don’t wake up early on weekends.

“I knew it! You totally forgot! It’s the 17th! You do remember what the event is today, right?”

Amara’s patience is wearing out. She expected her brother to come as early as she would. She had to endure waking up early just to help him set up.

Noe checks the calendar, and a big reminder is set on the date. “Shia! I totally forgot!” He jumps off the bed and runs to the bathroom.

“Nothing to be surprised about that.”

Noe could tell that his sister was rolling her eyes at him.

“Lucky for me, Jen arrived early, or I would have been standing outside the cafe like some lunatic.”

“I’m sorry, princess.” He placed the phone on speaker and set it on the sink.

“That’s okay, hia, no need to rush. We still have ample time to prepare. Remember, you have a pretty sister like me. I bought the basic things we need yesterday. Daw and Claud just arrived to help, too.”

Noe could hear the chaos.

“You’re the best!” He made a smooch sound, imitating a kiss.

“Ew! Hia!”

Noe chuckled. “You sounded so scandalized. If I had known you’d have been kissed by him.” He teases.

“Hia Noe!”

Noe burst into laughter. “Fine, fine, I’ll stop, but just make sure that when he does, he needs to ask permission from me, or else he’s gonna regret laying a finger or two on you.” He warned his sister.

“Geez, we’re not even on that level yet.”

“Just want to remind you.”

“I know, I know, and I won’t do that unless we are in a relationship.”

Noe smiled, satisfied with her answer. Amara was far too young to know the harsher edges of love, and he couldn’t bear the thought of her being hurt. “That’s good!”

“I know that you and Hia Klai just want to protect me, and I’m proud to have you both as my brothers. The greatest brothers in the world.”

“We’re proud to have you, too, our little Barbie doll.” Noe smiled. He left the bathroom and headed to the walk-in closet. “Mar, I got to go and take a shower.”

“Okay, see you!”

He was about to put the phone away when he heard Amara call his name. He put the phone back into speaker mode.

“Hia! I forgot to tell you. P’Navin is on the way to pick you up.”

“Will Phi Chaii be with him?”

“Not sure. He’s still sleeping when I called the house earlier today, but you should expect him to be there.”

“Got it. Saw his message.”

“Alright! Take care!”

Noe dropped the call and headed back to the bathroom. He turned on the shower and shivered under the cold water. He leaned his hand on the wall, letting his body adjust to the cold and letting his thoughts wander.

Five years since he graduated from university, and a lot has happened. He opened his cafe, celebrated Amara’s 18th birthday, and marked various other birthdays with his friends and family.

His schedule was so packed that he could barely keep track of the tasks he needed to complete during the weekend.

He turned off the shower and walked out of the bathroom. He felt sleepier as he dried off his hair. He sighed, threw the towel in the basket, and walked down to the kitchen.

He ground some coffee beans when the doorbell rang. He turned on the coffee maker before walking to the door.

“Good morning!” Navin greeted him.

“Oi! You’re too loud.” Noe covered his ears.

“You are so mean to me,” Navin pouts. “Is it bad to greet you with such energy in the morning?”

Noe left the door open for him to follow inside.

“I’m not being mean, just pointing out the fact, and not- sorry, I just had a bad morning.”

Navin laughs. “But you can’t say no, cause we all do love him?”

Noe hummed in agreement.

Navin placed a packed tea on the kitchen table.

“You bought it for me?”

Navin smiled and sat comfortably in the high chair. “Yup!”

Not to his surprise, Noe runs and hugs him tightly. “Thank you! You’re the best!”

“Seriously, babe, you should stop spoiling my brother.” Klaise walks in out of nowhere.

“P’Chaai!” Noe, thrilled, ran to hug his brother.

“Ugh! Can’t. Breathe.” Klaise pats his brother harder than he intended.

Noe let go of him. “Do you really have to pat me so hard? I just miss you.” He pouted.

“Since when are you guys so affectionate with each other?” Navin sipped his tea and smiled.

Noe and Klaise looked at him with sharp eyes.

Navin choked on his tea. “Sorry.”You don’t wanna mess with this duo, or your world will fall into hell.

“I’m surely scared of cats.” He shook his head.

Klaise smiled.

Noe laughed, but it didn’t last long.Oh no.

Klaise looked at him sternly. “You are no Cinderella that a carriage would wait and come to pick you up anytime you want to. What time did you wake up?”

“Sorry, Hia. I was so exhausted last night and slept through my alarm.” Noe explains.

“I suggest we throw them away? I don’t think you find them useful?”

“Babe.” Navin stands behind Klaise. “Please calm down.” He massages his shoulder. “At some point, we all don’t wake up on alarm clocks.”

Klaise closes his eyes, pleased with the massage he got. Navin glances at Noe, tilting his head slightly to the side, signaling him to get ready to leave.

Noe quietly made his way towards his room, but just before he reached the stairs, he looked back at his brother and P’Navin. A smile formed on his face. Seeing his brother happy and content made him hope that one day, he would discover that kind of life, too.

Noe and Klaise step into the cafe in awe. The place was a wreck. Chairs overturned, banners hanging askew, and cats playing with balloons and streamers littering the floor. Noe placed Orion’s cage on top of the table.

“What the hell happened here?” Klaise crossed his arms.

Amara peeked from the library door. “Hia Klai, Hia Noe!” She squealed and slowly made her way, making sure not to stumble over the things that were scattered on the floor.

“Amara, can you tell me if this is still my cafe?” Noe looks everywhere in horror, then back at his sister.

Amara guiltily smiles at them. “I’m sorry, P’chaai. We were feeding the cats when Prim slipped out of P’Daw’s hand and ran toward the main room. The other little ones followed, and before we knew it, we were chasing cats everywhere.” She bit her lips, holding back her tears.

Klaise laughed, imagining the chaos that had happened.

Noe sighs.

“No wonder the whole place turned upside down.” Klaise looked at his annoyed brother. “Am I right, Noe?” He nudged him. “Come on! Smile! I anticipated this to happen, especially with them.”

Noe shook his head in disappointment.

Klaise reached for Amara. “Don’t cry, little Barbie doll, it’s okay. Instances like this are likely to happen. Don’t cry, okay?”

Amara softly smiled.

They all turned when they heard a loud crash. Daw chased Prim, a British shorthair cat. Claud followed him. Neither of them noticed the people standing around them.

Neither of them noticed the people standing around them.

“Here, Primmy, come to Daddy.” Daw tried to call the kitten, but to no avail. The cat jumped on one of the tables and into Orion’s cage, settling there.

Daw slowly raised his head and smiled shyly at the three siblings. “Sawadee, Phi Klaise.” He greeted the older one.

Claud wai and greeted him as well.

Daw looked at Noe, “Bestie...” He called him awkwardly, smiling at him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for Prim to slip out.” He apologized, cutely batting his eyelashes at him.

Noe sighs. “Well, we don’t have much choice. It already happened.” Even he is not immune to Daw’s cuteness.

“Yiee!!! I know you won’t stay mad at me.” Daw cheered and hugged him tightly.

“That’s enough now.” Claud separated them. His jealousy kicked in.

“Oh, em gee! What happened here? Did a burglar come in?” Kraisee came in with Navin.

“Little burglars, to be exact.” Klaise giggled and took Prim into his arms.

“Oh. Cats.” Kraisee understood what Klaise meant.

“P’Krai!” Noe excitedly extended his arms for an embrace, which Kraisee instinctively offered.

“Hello, little kitty. How are you?”

“I’m okay, just a little frustrated with things,” Noe replied. “How about you? I rarely see you around. I missed you.”

“You are so busy these days that I can’t get hold of you every time I come to the cafe.” Kraisee pretends to sulk at him.

“I told you to call ahead.” Noe has become so accustomed to Kraisee’s sulky demeanor that at times he struggles to distinguish whether it’s genuine or just a facade.

“I know. I’d like to surprise you when you least expect it. It’s much more fun that way.” Kraisee winks at him.

Noe giggles.

“That’s enough catching up. Why don’t we start cleaning and decorating?” Klaise walks between them.

“Aye, sir!” Kraisee rolls his eyes. “You’re such a drama killer, Klaise.”

Klaise ignored him.

“Did your brother wake up on the wrong side of the bed? He seems a little moody.”

Noe shrugged his shoulders.

“He’s always moody,” Navin whispered.

Noe slowly slapped him on the arm.

“The cats destroyed some of the party decorations. Some of it can still be used. I still have some balloons left, but they will not suffice in decorating the whole place.” Amara says sadly.

Noe comes near to his sister. “Don’t worry, we still have ample time if we help each other. Daw, Claud, P’Navin, and P’Krai can clean up. Hia Klaise will supervise, while you and I will run to the nearest mall.” He instructed.

Everyone agreed.

“P’Chaai, I’ll leave Orion in your care.” He handed the cage to him. “Thank you.”

Navin threw the car keys to him. “You guys take care.”

Noe and Amara left, and the others began to tidy up.