The door swung open.
"Mom… Dad…" Keng said, his eyes widening in shock.
Ping froze instantly, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure they could hear it.
Keng reacted fast, pulling Ping back and helping him straighten his clothes. Ping stood there stiffly, not knowing what to do or where to look.
"Mom, Dad, this is—" Keng tried to explain.
Before he could finish, his father stepped forward, his face dark with anger. Without a word, he turned and walked away.
Keng's mother stayed behind. She looked at Ping for a long moment, her expression unreadable, then quietly turned and followed her husband out.
Ping's chest felt tight.
Keng turned to him immediately, seeing the fear written all over his face.
"It's okay," Keng said softly. "Don't be scared. I'll talk to them."
"But… it looks like your parents will be totally against us," Ping said, worry filling his voice.
"You should go first while I talk to them," Keng said gently.
"No, I can't do that. I'll stay and talk to them with you," Ping protested.
"No, little Ping," Keng said, resting his forehead against Ping's. "You don't know my parents. This might take a while to settle."
"Will you be okay?" Ping asked quietly.
"I'll be fine," Keng said, giving him a light peck, trying to reassure him.
Keng walked Ping out. As they passed the living room, Ping greeted Keng's parents politely, but there was no response.
Keng's father didn't even look at him. His mother lifted her head briefly, worry in her eyes, then looked away.
"I'll be waiting for your call," Ping said softly.
Keng nodded.
As soon as Keng stepped back inside, he was stopped abruptly.
Slap.
Pain exploded across his face as his father's hand connected with his cheek.
"You son of a bitch," his father said coldly.
"What the hell was that we just saw?" he roared. "Do you have any explanation for it?"
Keng's mom also stood up.
"We went to your room to tell you about Mr Jayden's daughter," she said softly. "She just returned from France, and we want you to meet her."
Mr Jayden was Keng's father's closest business partner.
"But mom… I love someone else," Keng said, finally voicing it out.
"You what?" his father's voice thundered.
"You love a guy?" he asked sharply. "What do you think you're doing? You're not gay."
"And what if I am?" Keng said firmly.
"Ping is who I love, and I won't let you take him away from me again," he added, his voice shaking but determined.
Keng's father stiffened, staring at him.
"The reason you kept insisting on leaving England… it was because of that boy?" he asked coldly.
"I didn't even get to say goodbye to him back then," Keng shouted. "And now you want to take him away from me again? Impossible!"
Another slap landed hard on Keng's face.
"Keng!" his mother cried.
She rushed forward, grabbing his hand, trying to calm him since she couldn't stop her husband.
"How can you love a man?" his father roared. "How do you want my business partners to look at me? How do you expect me to hand over my company to you?"
"How does being gay affect your dignity?" Keng asked emotionlessly.
His father raised his hand again, but this time his wife stopped him.
"Please… that's enough," she begged.
Breathing heavily, Keng's father turned away.
"You are going to meet Jayden's daughter tomorrow," he said firmly. "You will get to know her, and when you graduate, you'll marry her."
"What?" Keng's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I told you I'm in love with someone else," he said weakly.
"Get rid of this gay nonsense and marry a woman like a proper man," his father said angrily, grabbing Keng by the collar.
"Please, stop!" Keng's mom cried, tears streaming down her face.
His father shoved him away and stormed into his room, slamming the door behind him.
"Keng…" his mom said softly.
She touched his face gently, wiping away the tears and the sting from the slap.
"I want you to think about what your father said," she said quietly. "Just… get to know the girl."
"Mom, please," Keng said, his voice breaking. "I love someone else, and I'm happy with him."
"You must be joking," she said, forcing a weak smile as she wiped her tears and walked away.
After the drama was over, Keng slowly walked back to his room.
At that moment, the only thing that mattered to him was Ping.
He picked up his phone and called him.
Ping, who had been waiting anxiously for the call, picked up immediately.
"Hello," Keng said softly.
"Hia… I've been waiting for your call," Ping replied.
"I was settling things with my parents," Keng said.
There was a short pause.
"Are they… okay with us?" Ping asked carefully.
Keng was about to reply when the door suddenly flew open.
Before he could react, his father stormed in, snatched the phone from his hand, and ended the call.
"You are crazy, Keng!" his father yelled.
"Oh no, not again…" his mom rushed in behind him.
"I'm taking this phone away," his father said angrily. "I'll get you a new phone and a new number."
And with that, he stormed out.
Keng stood there in shock.
But even then, his thoughts weren't about himself.
They were about Ping.
Would Ping be sad again?
Would he cry because of me again?
Would he think I abandoned him again?
Those thoughts kept replaying in his head.
Meanwhile, Ping stared at his phone in confusion.
Why did he hang up?
His heart started pounding as worry crept in.
Ping's mom noticed his expression and walked over to him.
"What's wrong, baby?" she asked gently.
"Keng's parents… they— they caught us,"
Ping said, his voice trembling.
"Caught you doing what?" she asked calmly.
"Kissing," Ping said, and the tears finally fell.
"They seem not to approve of our relationship," he continued through sobs.
"And now… I can't even reach him....."
His mom pulled him into a tight hug.
"I wonder what he's going through right now," Ping cried softly.
"He'll be fine," his mom said, stroking his hair.
"He's strong."
But even as she said it, Ping's heart refused to settle.