Interminable

A cacophony was followed closely by a deep voice calling out, eliciting a frown from the person inside, who had already addressed this matter on several occasions.

 

"Khun Yai. My dear lord!"

 

BANG! The door closed with a noticeable slam, drawing a disapproving glare from the occupant of the room. Upon seeing a stern expression, the young lad, beaming from ear to ear, instantly adopted a more restrained demeanour.

 

"Saen, haven't I told you not to run? You represent Meun Samur Jairatch, yet you act in such an unbecoming manner-"

 

"But sir, please hear me; now I know the name of that Lady Chui Chai!"

"-ner..." 

 

Those words of the young lad, Saen, cut in and caused the man to stop short. He accidentally slipped his pen onto the table. Joy reflected in those striking eyes, and those luscious lips broke into a smile so infectious that the lad couldn't help but smile along.

 

From the broad house ahead came intermittent sounds of string and wind instruments. The tall young man turned to look back at the person behind him. The nobleman's handsome features still bore a smile, his pristine skin glowing under the gentle light of the lamp by the house, accentuating his porcelain-like complexion. The tall form was adorned in silk. His attire seemed designed to conceal his true identity from others.

 

"Are you expecting someone, Master?" Even though he wished to stay incognito, one of the dancers seemed aware of his mien and inquired with deference while her eyes flitted to admire those striking features.

 

"Well, is the Chui Chai performer at the royal court here, my beautiful lady?" Saen sweetly uttered on behalf of his master. The tall figure's eyes roamed the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of that person even a second sooner, completely unfazed by the frequent gazes from the bevvy of stunning dancers stealing looks at him.

 

"You mean Payom? She was bedridden in her dwelling house."

 

"Bedridden?" asked the tall figure, panicking.

"Yes, Master."

 

"Could you, Lovely Lady, guide me to her dwelling?" Saen’s question blurted even before his young lord could demand.

 

"Certainly. But what about Master...?"

 

"Oh, it's me who has some errand with her, not the Master. He wished only to observe the halls where Luang Sanor's performers rehearse." With an awkward smile, Saen uttered.

 

"Is that so?" The lady questioned before escorting him to Payom's small abode. The old wooden house had lamplight seeping through the windows. Saen walked ahead and came to a halt, calling out, but was greeted only by silence. He turned to look at the taller figure before stepping forward and entering the house first.

 

"COUGH, COUGH." A raspy cough from within drove Saen to barge into the house without seeking the owner's consent.

 

"How are you feeling, Mother?" The lad asked as he helped the frail house owner sit up, then fetched a water bowl for her.

 

"Thank you, young man." With faded-coloured eyes and a pallid face, they all spoke of her advancing years, conveying that she was no longer a damsel but had reached the threshold of middle age. Yet, she still carried a hint of her former beauty. 

 

"So, what brings you here?" Though he may have been a stranger, his goodwill made her regard the young lad with no small affection. The tall companion lowered himself to sit beside the lad. That soft smile coaxed one from her in return.

 

"My name's Saen. And this is Mas-uh, my elder brother, Yai," As he explained, Saen took a fleeting glance at the man behind him to gauge if his little fib would earn him a reprimand. Seeing no disapproval, he flashed a sheepish grin and went on,  "I'm here looking for the lady who did the Chui Chai dance during the royal event the other day, Mother Payom, you lovely aunt."

 

"The lady who performed the Chui Chai dance during the royal event?"

 

"Yes." Saen nodded

"Do you need something?"

"I, uh, my brother seemed to fall in love with her." Closing his sentence, the young lad lowered his voice to a whisper while letting out a coy laugh. The muted glow of pale eyes rested on the refined face of the quiet young man who sat still. The household owner's once-jubilant expression grew icy, stirring a flicker of anxiety in him. Nevertheless, he gave a small, reserved smile to the senior.

 

"You?"

"It was I, the performer of the Chui Chai dance that day."

 

"Eh?"

"But..." Saen stammered disbelievingly.

 

"If you have come to see the one who performed theChui Chai dance that day. Here I am, Payom!"

 

Saen turned to the young lord, whose face had turned ashen. It wasn't because he was appalled that the figure before him wasn't a fair and youthful maiden. Still, because she wasn't the one who had stolen his heart, she wasn't the one with eyes gleaming like scattered starlight, wasn't the one with a sweet smile that breathed life into him, and wasn't the one with cheeks that carried the blush of a fresh rose. Not her!

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

The immaculate white wooden house seemed untouched by time, hinting at the great care lavished upon it. It featured two stories and a balcony jutting out from the upper level. Sheer blue curtains were tied neatly as though still in use, while the airy blue drapes downstairs fluttered lightly in the wind. The tapering pair of eyes swept over the scene before lowering to meet his mother's in hesitation. By no stretch of the imagination could this house ever be his.

 

CREAK...The gate was painted the same shade as the fence, and it eased open with a gentle push from the young man. The garden beyond teemed with old trees that well indicated the place's age. The Dahlia unfurled blossoms while the champaca tree exuded its rich, sweet fragrance. Beneath a fragrant floral arch, a white set of wooden chairs cradled a vase of crimson roses. 

 

Along the fence, rows of night-blooming jasmine stood neatly, their perfume ready to grace the evening air. Even without blossoms, the white cheesewood tree, with its lush green leaves, brought a sense of vitality to the garden. Nearby, a lotus pond glistened, its water so clear that colourful fish darting below were visible in perfect detail.

 

"You've finally come."

 

"JOLT!' A sudden hoarse cry from behind evoked a startle from his slender shoulders, just as it did to his mother. He wheeled about to face the source-aged woman with stark white hair. Her eyes flitted upward as if unwelcome.

 

"Khun Kaew and mother, aren't you?"

"Yes," the boy nodded.

 

"This way, Master," said the elderly woman as she led the way.

 

Chan Pen gave a nod and followed along while Kaewta remained rooted in place, feeling as though someone was watching him. A flicker of movement in his peripheral vision made the young man suddenly glance up at the second-floor balcony.

 

Empty.

 

Still, Kaewta's gaze swept across, searching for anyone who might be hiding. But there was nothing, not even a shadow.

 

"Are you planning to remain there until dusk? Your room is upstairs, not in the yard." Whirling back, the one leading the way said, causing the boy to avert his gaze and bow apologetically to keep her waiting and hasten his pace toward his mother's direction. The person walking ahead, meanwhile, glanced up at the balcony Kaewta had been watching earlier before ducking her head, looking chastised.

 

"This is your room, Master."

"Thank you, uh..."

 

"Please call me Nanny Yam."

 

"Thank you, Nanny Yam." Kaewta offered a wail in appreciation, accompanied by a broad smile. The nanny's stern countenance faltered before she coughed to mask her coyness and motioned him toward his room.

 

At the heart of the spacious room stood a grand four-poster bed, whose white canopy was neatly tied back at each post. At the headboard, a footed tray with a fresh garland diffused its fragrance. Soft blue curtains trimmed with lace swayed gently in the breeze. Every piece of furniture was crafted from sleek, well-polished wood, and a grand full-length mirror set against the wall was framed by finely wrought decorative carving.

 

"Nanny Yam must have prepared this for me." A pale hand brushed lightly against the garland of fresh flowers. The boy thought as he surveyed the room before striding swiftly toward the door, which had been shut on the far side. There is a balcony, indeed! So, this is the main chamber; aren't there any other residents in this place?

 

"Kaew, would you like to wander around the house with me?" At the sound of his mother's voice, the boy stepped back into the room. His eyes swept over the space once more before he softly closed the door and made his way downstairs.

 

In the closed room, the wind stirred, making the curtains billow and slap against the window. The sweet fragrance of fresh garland wafted through the room, filling it with a pleasant scent, as if from a gladdened soul.

 

"Sorry, I'm late, Ruedee. My house is quite far from the university." The sweet, husky voice apologised to his friend, who sat waiting with a pout.

 

"I thought you weren't attending class today." Ruedee placed a paper bag in front of her friend.

 

"What's this?"

 

"My brother asked me to give this to you." Ruedee grinned widely, teasing the boy.

 

"Perfume?" Kaewta asked, lifting the elegant glass bottle with its intricate label. Inside, a soft-hued liquid exuded a fleeting, aromatic fragrance. It piqued Kaewta's curiosity.

 

"He gave one to every guest, but I asked for an extra bottle just for you."

 

"Didn't you know I don't use such perfumes?"

 

"Just keep it anyway. It's better than turning him down and hurting his feelings." Kaewta let out a small sigh in protest and inevitably slipped the small bottle back into the paper bag, then tucked it into his cross-body bag again.

 

"By the way, how's that assignment going?"

 

"I can't draw it yet." Since he'd been swamped with moving houses, and then his mother fell sick. Consequently, he'd completely forgotten all of his backlog.

 

"That's odd. You've been able to handle your other artworks."

 

"Hm," he hesitated, unsure whether to tell his friend that his inability to draw came from the feeling that he was intentionally sketching someone so specific.

 

"So, how's the new house?" Ruedee steered the subject.

 

"It's good..."

"Well then, can I visit this evening?"

 

The boy nodded. His spirit instantly lifted at the thought that Ruedee would come by often. He wasn't quite certain why the house unsettled him so much. It felt as though it wasn't just him, his mother, and Nanny Yam staying there. At times, it was as if someone else was there, too. Yet whenever he turned to look, the emptiness still made him run his hand lightly down his arm, trying to soothe the chill as goosebumps rose in unison. Yet, last night, he slept deeply from the prolonged exhaustion that wore him down for days.

 

After avoiding Arjan Kitti, who was eager to offer him advice on the work, Kaewta quickly grabbed Ruedee by the arm and led her out of the building.

 

"Phi Chai, over here!" Ruedee called out with a cheerful wave to the tall figure lounging against the car.

 

"You didn't tell me that Phi Chai would be joining us!" Kaewta exclaimed indignantly.

 

"Having someone to drive for us is convenient, don't you think?" Ruedee replied as she looped her arm around her friend's toward her tall brother. Chai came in white trousers and a soft green polo, which made his fair Chinese complexion even more radiant. Kaewta raised both hands to greet his friend's brother.

 

"Hello, Kaewta. Would you mind letting me join you and take a look at your new house?"

 

"No," Kaewta gave an inevitable denial, for the other person was his friend's sibling, after all. "Well... Could you just call me Kaew instead? My full name feels a bit peculiar, somehow."

 

"That's a lovely name, actually."

 

"Please." The boy clasped his hands in a gesture of begging. He did not like being called Kaewta by anyone except for his mother.

 

"This house is old but sturdy and stunning, too," Chai remarked and accepted the glass of water from the boy. Kaewta had led his friend and older brother to sit under the llang-llang arch. Today, the short vase was no longer filled with deep red roses but instead, showcased champaca blossoms interspersed with a few champaca leaves and light-green grasses for a touch of elegance. The sweet fragrance spread through the air. Chai couldn't help but breathe it in.

 

"This house is picturesque, Kaew, but somehow, I feel it's oddly spooky."

 

"Ruedee!" Chai turned to scold his sister in a low voice, afraid his words might frighten the boy standing before them.

 

"Um..." Kaewta gave a timid smile. How could he explain that he was already terrified?

 

"And how many people are in the house?"

"There are me, my mother, and Nanny Yam."

 

"Nanny Yam?"

"She's the house warden."

 

"I haven't seen her since I got here," Ruedee mentioned about her.

 

"She's probably gone somewhere. Oh, right! Let me fetch you some treats from the kitchen. My mother made fruit-shaped mung beans today!"

 

"Wow, your mother made my favourite treats!"

 

"Yes, and there's bael fruit juice, too," Kaewta chuckled at Ruedee's enthusiasm.

"Can I explore the garden?" Chai stood to his full height, strolling around the arbour. The champaca tree by the house was so inviting when its white blossoms peeked out, and a white cheesewood tree towered beside it. He walked closer before coming to an abrupt halt.

 

"Who are you?!" Chai's voice burst out. Kaewta had said there were only three of them here; then, who was this tall, imposing man with dark skin facing him?

 

"I should be the one asking who you are! What nerve you have, trespassing on this property!" The deep timbre of the voice seemed to reverberate through the air, sending an unexplainable chill down the man's arms. But the thought of keeping Kaewta safe made him straighten his shoulders.

 

"It doesn't matter who I am. I'm calling the police."

 

"Police? Do you think I'm afraid of the police? How bold of you to set foot here. Leave now, or you'll regret it!" The man's threatening stance made Chai involuntarily take a step back.

 

"Saen!" A deep, resounding voice barked, making the broad-shouldered man flinch. His rugged face snapped toward the source of the voice, and Chai's gaze followed suit, landing on the balcony of the second floor.

 

"Khun Phra Nai!"

 

That skin was so bright, almost translucent. His dark, long eyebrows suited his sombre eyes, proud nose, and deep-lipped mouth. That black hair fluttered lightly in the wind on those broad shoulders beneath a crisp white shirt with a dignified mandarin collar. His tapering chin held high, like one born to rule. There was some mysterious ebb in those eyes running a chill down Chai's spine.

 

"Phi Chai...Ah, Saen!" Kaewta came to follow his classmate's brother before stumbling upon Saen's lofty figure. His thin brows arched in surprise when he met the man.

 

"He's your acquaintance?" Chai shifted his gaze to ask.

 

"Uh, he's the one who helped my mother and me settle in here. What are you doing here, Phi Chai?"

 

"l... Kaewta, is there anybody else living in this house?" Chai asked. When he looked up to the second floor just now, the tall man with those gloomy eyes was no longer there. 

 

"No. There's nobody else."

 

"From now on, I shall reside here with you, Master," Saen interjected. Kaewta raised his eyebrows again, but he chose to hold his question about the other's sudden arrival.

 

"Saen, are you going to see my mother?" Kaewta asked Saen. His trust in the man before him had grown over time. It seemed to him that Saen had no ill intentions and also assisted him and his mother in various matters. With a nod, Saen headed toward the back of the house.

 

"Kaew, who does this house belong to?"

 

"Saen said this house is mine, but that doesn't mean I believe him. As soon as I can find another place to live, I'll move out right away."

 

The word move out right away made Chai exhale in relief. For inexplicable reasons, he didn't want the boy to stay at this house at all, to the point that he even made himself wonder. That smooth face, the round, upturned nose, the deep-hued lips when they curled into a smile. Everything about Kaewta delighted him to his very core, as though he ran across a tender bloom that he wanted to shield from harm.

 

Chai's eyes peered over the edge of the champaca treetop to the second-floor balcony, which was empty at the moment. He truthfully saw someone in this residence. He didn't believe it was just an eye trick, but why did Kaewta insist there was no one else?

 

"Drive safely," Kaewta said before stretching up and watching the white car drive further away. Ruedee waved to her friend and cast a broad smile just like Chai did. Chai stole a glance in the rearview mirror. Seeing the boy still standing in place, his smile grew even wider, causing Ruedee to give him a soft, teasing elbow. Out of the blue, his eyes stumbled upon something, prompting his foot to slam on the brake impulsively. Unprepared, Ruedee nearly hit her head on the dashboard. That man!

 

Chai whipped his head back toward the balcony, but there was nothing there. A cold sweat trickled down the side of his temple. His strong hand lifted to adjust the rearview mirror to align with his line of sight.

Nothing...

 

"Phi Chai! What's the matter? Why did you stop the car so suddenly? Is my head bleeding?" Ruedee exclaimed

 

Chai apologised to his sister, shifted the gear, and resumed driving. Glancing at the rearview mirror again, there was nothing else but Kaewta's concerned expression; Chai let out an exhalation.

 

"I sense something strange about this house."

"Strange? How so?"

 

"I don't know, but it seems there's someone other than Kaew and his mother."

 

"Oh, that must've been Nanny Yam," Ruedee said with laughter, even though they hadn't seen the nanny that Kaewta had mentioned at all today.

 

"No...It's not Nanny Yam."

 

"Well, well. Are you afraid that my friend is hiding someone? So, you really have your eyes on my friend?"

 

Ruedee feigned a surprising tone, yet her eyes were gleaming. If her brother were fond of her little classmate, she wouldn't mind, since it'd be lovely if Kaewta finally had someone to watch over him.

 

"Uh...! I don't know. It's just an affinity I can't explain."

"Forget it. I've had enough of talking to a tight-lipped."

 

Chai cast a cherished grin at his sister. The contentment had washed away the peculiar sensation he had previously felt. He was so grateful to himself that he asked his sister to come along. He wanted to draw the boy closer, to know him better. Ruedee was right-he truly had an eye on Kaewta.

 

"Who is that, Master?"

 

"Oi, Saen, you startled me! You can't just stealthily sneak up on people like that!" The small-shoulder man jerked when a deep voice rose from behind him.

"Why did you allow him to come here?" The reprimand was plain to see, prompting Kaewta to furrow his brows.

 

"I didn't mean to. And have you spoken to Mother yet?" The boy steered the conversation elsewhere.

 

"I have. Nanny Yam is preparing a room for you."

 

"Have you already known Nanny Yam?"

 

"How could I? She's known me since the days I ran around bare-naked in the rice fields, Master."

 

Kaewta laughed at the remark before excusing himself for a bath and bed. The thought of both Nanny Yam and Saen sharing a long-standing acquaintance left no need for further inquiry.

 

A white mosquito net was draped over the bed, swaying in the gentle breeze. The faint fragrance of night jasmine wafting through the air was soothing to the soul. Kaewta walked to the window and peered down. He was on the verge of calling out to Saen, who was still rooted in place, but when Nanny Yam approached the tall figure, it brought him to a halt. For a moment after, they looked upward and caught sight of him. Kaewta gave them a gentle smile before vanishing into his room, sinking onto the plush bed and drawing the red silk blanket over himself, eyes drifting shut.

 

As he drifted toward sleep, a warm, gentle wind caressed his closed eyelids. The comfort of it brought him an unconscious smile to his lips. Turning to his side, he clutched the blanket close. The mattress shifting along the moving pressure offered the soothing warmth on his back. Curling him in a deep, longing hug.

 

In your sleep, if you could ever dream of me, my heart would know no greater joy, Kaewta.

 

'You're off to your dance practice again, aren't you?' The baritone voice inquired, with a note of grievance.

 

'Of course I am. Or would you like to come along, Khun Yai? The beautiful, bright eyes sparkled with hardly concealed joy when the voice's owner offered an invitation.

 

'Do you allow me to keep you company at last?

 

'Who told you? Kaew won't allow Khun Phra Nai to accompany me. What if someone finds us?...'

 

'How cruel!'

 

Kaew will dance what has been rehearsed for you once Kaew returns. Is it good?

The questioner smiled as he eased down to sit, cheek resting affectionately against a broad shoulder. The tender-eyed man looked down and pinched the soft cheek lightly in fond exasperation at the smooth talker.

 

'Don't feign pleading, or you'll find yourself in trouble if I lose my restraint.'

 

'I know I won't because you wouldn't do anything to Kaew if I told you not to.'

When you obstruct me like this, how could I defy it?' The deep-hued lips compressed when those eyes gave her a loving stare.

 

..Please wait for me, Khun Yai. I shall return soon, before long. The small hand gently touched the other one's. The man flipped his palm back, wrapped it firmly, and brought it to his lips. I shall wait. If I don't see your face before I sleep at night, I can find no rest. So, I shall wait for you.? The one who waited cast a wide beam before leaving with a heart filled with joy.

 

Hot...

It's burning

It hurts...

Please help me.

'Khun Phra Nai! Khun Yai! Save Kaew!'

 

The small figure upon the bed writhed in fevered unrest, sweat glistening upon his smooth temple and soaking the pillow below. His fine brows tightened, and his tender voice quivered with dread. Each sob was a jagged wound, cutting the listener's heart as if to rip him apart. The watcher's saddened eyes brimmed with despair as if his heart teetered on the edge of ruin. If only he could take the suffering upon himself, never wished him to bear the pain, the torment. Why was he not at his side? Why had he been so blind to the signs? ...That they had to be apart...

 

Fingertips brushed away the tears of one lost in a dream. The featherlight touch drew a sob from the small figure and caused him to weep along. Full lips brushed against those frail eyelids to soothe and console as he pressed a kiss to wipe off the tears, then drifted to rest upon the curve of his forehead, tarrying long enough to whisper love without words.

 

I'm sorry.

My beloved Kaewta…

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

Who was it? That laughing sound. Those starry eyes. The vision in his dreams.

A small hand was placed upon his chest, the blend of fulfilment yet hollow still coiling within. Despite the following morning, the sorrow was still in his wake, and the pain remained, bringing irrational tears to fall. And then came the longing, a deep yearning from someone who felt like an invisible breeze wrapping him in a tender embrace, prompting him to curl his arms tightly around himself over and over again. Whose embrace was this? And this remaining feeling-who does it belong to?

 

The tardy wind stirred the paper ends, flapping noisily against each other. The light-skinned hand rested on the surface. That person in his dream refused to let the memory go. The charcoal pencil pressed against the paper, and the lines started to take form. Loving eyes and a soft, tender smile... He poured his heart into depicting every detail of his vision as much as he could. Strange as it seemed, the portrait that Kaewta could never draw earlier now flowed effortlessly. And his heart swelled even more as the image became clearer. Those animated eyes were sparkling as if they were alive, and the smile was as if it was meant just for him.

 

...Promise me, Kaewta, you will draw only me.

... I promise.

 

"Yes, I promise." With a quiet reply, the smile kept unfolding on those vivid-hued lips. As the sunlight gradually left the horizon, the scratching continued. Hour after hour, the stroke of lines filled the paper more and more. Though the footstep approached closer, the one lost in contemplation couldn't hear. Until that touch landed on the slim shoulder, Kaewta jolted so hard that he dropped his pencil onto the floor.

 

"Ruedee!"

 

"I've called you many times already; can't you hear me at all?" The girl puffed out her cheeks in frustration, but then her eyes burst wide all of a sudden. "You can finally draw, Kaew!"

 

"Huh? Uh..." The young man rose to his full height as Ruedee reached for the painting on the easel to examine it more closely. Kaewta, however, was struck by a sudden, unbidden sense of protectiveness that made his hand instinctively forbid her before he could be aware of himself.

 

"What? I was only glancing," WHOOSH! A sharp gust of wind whipped the sheet of drawing paper from the girl's grasp. Kaewta turned and sprang forward, fingers outstretched. They brushed only the edge of the page. A shiver and sudden dread coursed through his heart. Don't go away!

 

"Why don't you sketch indoors? The wind blows fiercely at this hour. What would you do if your drawing were carried off?" With ease, the tall man, Saen, seized the paper midair and handed it back to Kaewta. The boy held it so dear to his chest. His gaze met the girl's bewildered stare, then he smiled sheepishly.

 

"Ruedee, we should go inside. I have to put this drawing away first."

 

The girl wanted to ask for just one glance, but Kaewta had already gathered the easel and his sketchbook and headed indoors. Kaewta had never been possessive of anything before; now, why had he guarded that drawing to that extent? That was odd.

 

"How beautiful!" the girl exclaimed to the art before her, her face bright with pride as though the work were her own. The true artist smiled just as widely.

 

"This deserves a perfect score. Even if it's a little late."

 

"Arjan!" The pair cried out in unison. Kaewta had brought the piece today to submit before the semester break. Kitti glanced at his friend's smooth face and smiled, then looked at the coloured side-profile artwork, full of admiration.

 

"Tomorrow's the start of the semester break. Why don't you leave this drawing with me during this time?"

 

"Uh..." Kaewta hesitated at the suggestion. Leaving this piece behind with the professor? That decision was quite against his will.

"Let's settle it this way: you come to collect it back in two weeks. We professors will be here working anyway."

 

"Yes, sir." Though he did not wish to comply, with his schooling at stake, he had no other choice but to nod in agreement.

 

"I'll have your company. Don't worry." Ruedee clasped her friend's hand as she whispered. That gesture of comfort curled a smile to his lips. Kaewta relocated his art with the easel to the faculty's art storage room. He placed it down with care, draping a sheet over it hoveringly. That sense of protectiveness toward the picture was deeply treasured ... and yes, it really was.

 

"Stay here for a while. I'll be right back to take you home."

 

"Kaew, are you done yet?" shouted Ruedee from out of the door. Kaewta echoed her, taking a glance at the covered painting once more before leaving the room. The white cloth danced to the wind as if acknowledging those words. The rhythmic clack of high heels echoed against the floor. The professor turned toward the sound and greeted his visitor with a broad smile.

 

"Good morning, Khun Sophee."

 

"Good morning, Arjan Kitti." A tall, statuesque woman with striking features smiled and greeted back.

 

Sophee Phetpinij was a patron who contributed to the university through her land, so Kitti was casually acquainted with her and her family.

 

"May I ask.."

 

"I came to see my niece. I happened to be passing by and thought I'd ask if she'd like to join me for a trip this holiday. Has Ruedee not yet finished her tasks?"

 

"Oh, she just left with a friend. I'll find her for you if you wish. In the meantime, please feel free to browse the artworks." Sophee gave him the nod. She saw the professor off as he walked out the door.

 

Her elegant face tilted upward to scan the number of paintings decorating the walls. Some were stacked on the floor due to a lack of space, while others stood proudly on display for admiration. Yet, there was only one that caught her eye: a painting hidden beneath a white cloth in the corner of the room...

Something of it beckoned her forward. Her slender fingers tugged the cloth's hem and lifted it open; what she saw beneath left her utterly still.

 

"You..." With her sweet voice broken, Sophee's heart fluttered in a wild rhythm. The surge of joy was so overwhelming that she was on the brink of tears. The nostalgic lament was so intense that she could no longer contain herself.

 

Fair skin, striking against dark, lustrous hair. Dreamy, wistful eyes, slender in shape. Lips, full and richly hued. Each detail of that face lived vividly within her and was engraved in her heart, as if from birth, as though she had always been waiting ....waiting to meet that person.

 

Sophee had never experienced love with any man, nor had she had her eyes on anybody. She waited, kept waiting, and now that person appeared before her very eye, the person right in front of her, unmistakably. The tapering finger gently traced that outline with deep infatuation. The portrait looked so lifelike, as if it had a heartbeat and soul. Although she didn't know who created this art, she was certain she had to make this picture hers!

 

"I've finally found you." The lady was on her knees, resting her face on the portrait while she blissfully smiled.

 

"You're mine..."

My Khun Phi!t