I hummed to myself, relaxed in the jacuzzi. Did those kids really think their shallow little tricks could fool me? Please. Just a single cobra? I'm the queen of snakes. When I was little, my mom sent me to live with my grandma in a cobra-charming village in Khon Kaen. I've handled pythons with my bare hands. Back in the library, I was only briefly startled—and I had to play the 'victim' convincingly. By now, that little friend of theirs is probably sprawled out, belly up, waiting for the groom in the boys' room.
"I'll make sure tomorrow is... unforgettable for you both."
So these were his sons after all—fraternal twins. No wonder the surname sounded familiar. Their faces were unmistakably his, inherited without a trace of deviation. What no one knew was that these two were his legitimate sons, kept in the shadows, just like my own position right now.
The older one was the quiet type—but trust me, he was just as dangerous underneath. The younger one was the slick class troublemaker. Girls all over school screamed for him. I was the only one stuck with daily headaches from the 'Looker' gang—always provoking me during lessons, and still messing with me even when I merely walked past them.
It wasn't hatred, really. It was more like aggressive affection. As stubborn as they were, I had a soft spot for that group. They were quick thinkers, kept up in class, and turned in all their work without cheating. Especially Jao Peem, the ringleader. He was easy to deal with—tell him once, and he'd get it done. What came next, though—I wasn't so sure.
"Fuuuuuck—!"
The yelling came from the room next door. No question whose room it was. The twin brats who'd dared to mess with me. I slipped on my white robe and walked out to enjoy the show, whistling like nothing was wrong.
"Uncle Kaew, hurry! It's about to bite Jao Peem!" Jao Pat hopped out of the room in a panic. The man clutched a burlap bag and stepped inside, clearly unsure of himself.
"Do my dear sons need any help?" I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Stay out of it!"
"Why? Can't I?" I walked past Jao Pat and into the room. The creature reared up, hissing at Jao Peem, who sat motionless on the bed.
"Khun Tim, don't get any closer!" Uncle Kaew warned, holding a length of magic banana rope. Was he serious? Did he really think a cobra would be scared of a rope just because it worked on pythons in old folk tales?