As soon as I was allowed to leave the hospital, we immediately returned to Thailand because I was worried about my mother and Fai. I didn't want to be away from them for too long. Jay's condition, which was still not fully recovered, also required further treatment in Thailand. I returned to my usual work routine, which meant I could only visit Jay at night after work and on weekends.
My mother already knew everything that had happened. Although Tiger didn't fully agree at first, he couldn't refuse my mother's request to meet Jay because she wanted to thank him in person. She was deeply grateful to Jayden for helping me. After hearing Jay's story from me, she also agreed that we should help him.
I had already expected my mother to say something like that. She even offered for Jay to stay at our house, but Tiger didn't allow it because he didn't want Jay to be near Fai, his daughter. I understood Tiger's feelings. He never intended to let Jay stay with us from the beginning, as he had already arranged a place for Jay to live.
Today was the day Jay was discharged from the hospital, as his condition had improved significantly. Coincidentally, I had the day off from work. I planned to leave home early to pick him up, but as I was getting ready, I was called from behind.
"Uncle," a cheerful voice called out to me. I turned around to see. "Today is the day the person who helped you during the accident is getting out of the hospital, right?"
I smiled. "Yes."
"This is for him," Fai lifted a clear bag filled with cookies, decorated with a blue ribbon. "Shortbread cookies. I made them myself. Can you give them to him as a thank-you for helping you?"
"Of course," I took the bag. "You made these yourself? They look great, very appetizing."
"I made them with Papa, but he made a mess in the kitchen. Cleaning up was more exhausting than baking the cookies," Fai said with a smile. "But it was fun."
"I'm glad to hear that. Next time, teach me how to bake, okay?"
The little girl looked excited. "Of course! Whenever you want to bake, just tell me."
"Alright, I'm heading out now."
"Be careful on the road."
"I will," I replied with a wide smile. I got into my car, holding the shortbread cookies in my hand. My niece's smile and cheerful tone made me feel like today was going to be a good day.
Fai was the little girl Nao and Tiger adopted two years ago. She was seven years old, charming, kind-hearted, and full of energy. Everyone adored her. I was proud of Fai and her parents for raising her so well. Fai called Nao "Papa" and Tiger "Daddy."
My mother was "Grandma," and I was "Uncle."
We had told my mother the truth about my abduction, but to Fai, we simply said that I had been in an accident and that someone had helped me. When I arrived at the hospital, I walked down the familiar hallway I had been through almost every day. I knocked softly on the door and knocked again.
"Jay, may I come in?"
A voice from inside responded, "Come in."
I couldn't hold back a smile. Every time we met, I had been teaching him daily social habits, like asking for permission before entering a room and responding with "Come in" to be polite. Not because I cared too much, but because I thought it was a good thing for him to learn. The best part of all this was that Jay was gradually opening up to me, listening, and remembering the things I taught him.
"You're getting discharged from the hospital today. You remember that, right?"
"I know."
"Here are some clothes for you to change into," I handed him a bag of clothes. "The size might not be perfect. I just guessed."
Jay took them.
"What do you say when receiving something?"
"Thank you."
"Very good!" I smiled in satisfaction. "I didn't bring any roses today."
"…" Jay didn't respond, but his eyes looked sad. Red roses meant a lot to him—more than just a preference. Even the wilted ones, he kept by the window.
When we moved to Thailand and had to throw them away, he looked sad too, even though he didn't say anything. That showed he wasn't completely indifferent; at the very least, he could feel sadness.
"You have to throw away all the roses in this room, just like when we moved to Thailand. I'm sorry, but don't worry. I have plenty of things for you," I said with a smile, hoping to cheer him up a little. "The doctor is here," I added when I saw the door open. I spoke with the doctor about a few details, and we were given permission to leave.
"Everything's ready. Let's go. Can you change your clothes by yourself?"
He nodded before starting to take off his shirt.
"Ah, wait… You can't do that," I said. "If there are other people around, don't change or take off your clothes in front of anyone. Go to the bathroom or tell me to turn around. Then I'll turn around so you don't have to bother going to the bathroom." I turned around. "Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Perfect."
I took Jay to my car, which was parked outside. The first thing I did was hand him the cookies Fai had made. "These are butter cookies, made by my niece. This is her way of thanking you for helping me."
"Thank you."
"Have you ever tried them before?"
He shook his head.
"Try one. They're sweet—some people like them, some don't," I said as I drove. Jay took one cookie from the bag and tried it. "How is it?"
"…Good."
"If you like them, go ahead and eat them all. My niece made them with love for you."
"Okay."
Jay stared out the window while eating the cookies. I couldn't help but smile at the sight. Before long, we arrived at an apartment building. I took him to the top floor, unlocked the door, and led him into a medium-sized apartment.
"I rented this apartment for you," I explained as I took off my shoes and guided him inside. "This will be your home. I don't know if you'll like it, but I tried to find a place close to my office so I can easily visit you. This place has good security and brand-new furniture. Overall, I think it's a pretty good place. Not too big, but comfortable for one person."
Jay didn't respond; he just looked around.
"This is a rental apartment, not your own, so you have to take care of the furniture. I didn't buy any personal items because I thought it would be better if we picked them out together."
"Thank you."
I smiled. "Take a good look and decide what you need. We'll buy whatever you require. Come on, let's go inside," I said when I noticed he was still standing near the door. He took off his shoes and stepped in. "Sit on the bed and see if it's comfortable. If it's too firm, I'll get you a softer mattress."
Jay sat on the bed.
"What do you think?"
He nodded.
"That means...?"
"Good."
"And the curtains, are they too thin?"
"No."
"Alright," I nodded. Jay didn't seem to care much. Maybe he was used to living anywhere, especially after being treated like a tool and sent on dangerous missions. He probably never had a truly comfortable place to stay.
"You might not mind, but I'll still get you a softer mattress and blackout curtains in case you want to sleep longer."
I wanted to buy appliances like a microwave or an electric kettle, but Tiger said they were dangerous, especially sharp objects or anything that could be used as a weapon.
"Let's go buy some things now."
"Okay."
We went to a home furnishing store.
"If you need anything, just let me know."
He nodded. "Okay."
I smiled, feeling that it would be hard for him to know what he needed. I started with the desks section.
"I have a lamp like this at home," I said, picking up a lamp. "It's easy on the eyes and adjustable. Do you want one?"
Jay looked at it but didn't answer.
"Alright, we'll get this lamp," I decided, putting it in the shopping cart. "Do you need a bookshelf? If you have a lot of books, you can use it. Do you like books?" I asked, tilting my head.
Back at the hospital, aside from talking, I often read books to him. For some reason, it felt like reading to a child. At home, I often read to Fai as well. Reading to children is good for their development. I read short stories, moral lessons, interesting history, and general knowledge books. I liked reading, and Jay always listened attentively. When I asked him something, he could answer, showing that he truly listened. But when I asked if he liked it, he never responded.
"The books I often read to you—if you like them, I'd be happy to recommend and buy some for you. And if you have your own books, you'll need a bookshelf."
"Yes."
"Yes, meaning?"
"Bookshelf."
"Alright." The bookshelf was too big for the cart, so we asked a staff member to set it aside for us.
"Stationery... it's better to buy them at an office supply store. How about desk decorations? Look, roses," I pointed at a small artificial flower in a decorative vase.
Jay picked it up, looking curious. "..."
"It's a plastic flower. Real flowers wilt and need to be replaced or watered if in a pot. People often buy them to decorate their rooms or desks."
"Plastic."
"Yes."
Jay put it back, looking even more confused. I asked, puzzled, "You don't like plastic flowers?"
"Why make them out of plastic?"
"It's just for decoration, like I said," I replied. "Let's move on. Let's pick some plates and cups." I led him to the kitchenware section.
He looked sad... no, more like hurt.
"Jay."
"Yes?"
"Maybe I've said this before, but I'll say it again—whatever it is, if you want to talk or express something, you can tell me. I promise to be here for you, without judgment or criticism, just to listen."
"Okay."
"Alright, let's pick some plates and cups." With all the dangerous items and other equipment already removed, only kitchenware remained for when he ordered food.
"Tiger said to avoid ceramic or glass items since they can break and become sharp. So let's look for plastic ones. These look nice. What do you think?"
"Hmm."
"And these?"
"..." Jay stared at the two plates in my hands for nearly two minutes, unable to decide.
"It's okay, we'll get both."
After buying kitchen supplies, we loaded the shopping bags into the car and continued to buy other necessities like toiletries, soap, shampoo, and clothes. I thought I should also buy Jay a phone since he would need one. In the future, if he wanted to do something, I would support him financially. For example, if he wanted to play music, I would buy him an instrument.
Nao joked that I was raising a child, and maybe he was right. I didn't mind as long as it wasn't a problem. I had savings—since I started working, I divided them into two parts: one for emergencies, like medical expenses, and another for personal wants. But I rarely touched either, whether emergency or personal.
I decided to use my personal savings for Jay.
We started shopping for clothes. "Pick whatever you like," I said. But as expected, Jay wouldn't choose anything.
"There are a lot of stores. I usually shop here, but it depends on your style. This store has variety. Let's take a look."
A brown long-sleeve shirt caught my attention. "I think this would look good on you."
I held it up in front of him. "It must be new stock. What do you think? Look in the mirror," I led him to a mirror while holding the shirt against him. "How is it?"
"Up to you."
"Haha, alright. I'll get this for you," I put it in the cart. As expected, Jay showed no interest in picking out clothes. Anything I chose and said looked good, he simply nodded. In the end, I picked all his clothes for him.
"Can you help carry some bags? These are heavy."
"Okay."
"Thanks," I smiled, handing him half of the shopping bags. "Now, let's get you some shoes."
"Okay."
We went to a shoe store. I thought Jay at least needed a pair of sneakers and sandals. The sneakers he wore were the ones I bought in Japan, but having an extra pair wouldn't hurt.
"You haven't picked anything for yourself today," I said. "I want you to choose a pair of shoes for yourself. Go ahead."
In the shoe section, there were many options.
"Pick one pair. I'll wait for you," I said, sitting nearby and watching him....Ten minutes later, he was still staring at the shoes without making a decision.
A store employee approached to ask something, but Jay just stared at them without responding, creating an awkward situation. I quickly stepped in to help.
"Hey, sorry, I'll help him choose," I said.
"Alright," the employee smiled before walking away.
"Why did you apologize?" Jay asked.
"Hmm?"
"We're supposed to apologize when we do something wrong, right?"
"That's true. But when I saw the employee come up to talk to you and you didn't respond..."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"It's just considered impolite. You could at least say, 'No, thank you.'"
"Ah, okay."
"Alright, let's choose some shoes," I said, trying to help him pick a pair by having him try some on and asking which felt the most comfortable. But he kept saying that all of them were fine.
In the end, I chose for him. I let out a small sigh, a little disappointed that I couldn't get Jay to pick something for himself today. As we walked, we passed by a hair salon.
"Jay, do you want a haircut? Usually, what do you do when your hair gets long?"
"When it gets too long, I cut it."
"Ah, how do you cut it?"
"I cut it myself."
"Really?" I looked at him in amazement. "You cut it yourself?"
"Yes."
"That's impressive. You did a really good job," I praised him, since his hairstyle looked neat. Maybe he had been cutting his own hair since he was young. "Let's go to the hair salon."
"Alright."
I took him inside. "Jay, listen."
"Yes."
"When you sit down, the staff will show you pictures of different hairstyles to choose from. You have to pick one yourself, understand?"
Before I could answer, the salon staff came to greet us. I told them I wanted Jay to get a haircut, and he was immediately directed to a chair. Soon, the staff showed him pictures of different hairstyles. I watched him, silently cheering him on. You can do it, Jay. Almost ten minutes passed, and the staff started smiling awkwardly.
"Sir, if you can't decide, would you like me to help you?" they asked.
Jay nodded. "Yes."
I sighed again. Though it was touching, I wanted him to make decisions on his own. But it's okay. If he's not ready yet, that's understandable. No need to rush. I waited until he finished getting his haircut. It seemed like the staff chose a style that suited him very well.
"That looks really good," I complimented after paying.
"Hmm."
"When someone compliments you, you should say 'thank you.'"
"Thank you."
"Very good."
"Thank you."
"Haha," I laughed. "Now, we just need to get a phone. Let's go."
"Alright."
I picked out a phone that I thought would be suitable for Jay.
"Jay, this phone is quite expensive, so please use it carefully."
He nodded. "Thank you."
After leaving the mall, I drove to the market with the intention of buying a few pots of roses for Jay, as I had promised. When we arrived at the flower shop, we went to the section filled with various types of roses. I hoped he would be excited, but he was quieter than I expected.
"Let's buy two or three pots of red roses. That should be enough for your balcony."
"Alright."
"Do you want to choose them?"
"They all look the same."
"That's true. Then just pick one."
"Alright."
After a full day of shopping, we finally arrived at the apartment. After parking, we carried our things to the bedroom and put them away. I sat down on a chair, feeling tired.
"It's finally done, huh?"
"Yes."
"Now, let's talk about what we're going to do next."
"Alright."
"Most kids your age go to school," I began to explain. "I plan to teach you school subjects. If you like it, we can study further so you can take exams and continue your education or get a diploma to work. You may not fully understand now, but this is our first step. If you don't like studying, we'll try something else."
"Alright."
"At the same time, Jay, I want you to work part-time so you can develop social skills, meet people other than me, learn to work in a team, earn money for your needs, and learn financial management."
"Alright."
"A friend of mine, Bai Plu, needs help at his café. He's very kind, so don't worry. He will guide you through the job. The café is on the way to my office, so I can drop you off and pick you up. When do you want to start? Or do you want to rest first?"
"Anytime."
"Alright, then next Monday. I'll inform Bai Plu," I said.
"After work and on weekends, we'll study together."
"Alright."
"Give me your phone." Jay handed it over without hesitation. "Do you know how to use it?"
"Yes."
"What do you usually use it for?"
"For calling."
"Alright, I'll save my number." I saved my number in his phone. "Call me if you need anything. We should also use LINE. Do you want to try other social media?"
"What's that?"
"Facebook or Instagram, hmm." I thought for a moment. "Let's start with LINE first." I registered his LINE account and added him as a friend. "It'll be easier to communicate without calling, just by sending messages. This is my LINE. Press 'chat.' Type a message like this, and it will be sent to me. It's very convenient; you can send pictures, videos, and stickers."
"Stickers?"
"They're like cartoons. Cute," I showed him some LINE stickers. "These stickers can replace messages. For example, this one bows, meaning 'thank you.' They express our emotions."
"Ah, I see."
"There are many stickers, but you have to buy them. If you want any, let me know."
"Alright."
"Oh, there are also emojis, similar to stickers. Tap here and scroll to see them. There are many types."
"Alright."
"You can send me messages anytime you want, and I will also text you."
"Alright."
"For food, there's a restaurant near the apartment. You can go down and buy something. Here." I took out my wallet and handed him a thousand baht. "This is for now. I'll see you again tomorrow. Enjoy your dinner, but I have to go out tonight."
He took the money. "Thank you."
"Alright… See you."
"Alright."
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
"So, Dan, now you're Jayden's guardian. You bought him everything he needs and even gave him money for his expenses," Nao commented as we relaxed in the park. "Raising a kid isn't cheap."
"It's something that needs to be done."
"Are you sure you won't have any financial issues?"
"I have savings. Like I said, I have money set aside for whatever I want to use it for, but I rarely spend it. So, I decided to use it for Jay."
"I forgot that you're rich. With your six-figure salary and bonuses," Nao said.
"You're rich too, aren't you?"
"I prefer to say that we have enough to live on," Nao replied, waving his hand modestly. "How was shopping today?"
"Jay didn't want anything. So, I had to pick what I thought was best for him. But it's okay, this is a process. And he's learning to communicate. Jay is very smart; he remembers everything I teach him without needing it repeated."
"This is… Dan, it seems like everything you touch turns to gold."
"It's like a child who trusts their parents. Over time, he will start thinking for himself."
"That's true," Nao nodded. "If he grows up well, you'll be very proud. You're raising him with your own hands."
I smiled. "Of course."