Love Upon A Time.

Special Chapter 5 -The Reveal of Our Forevermore.

Over the past eight months, I've faced many challenges that have significantly drained my energy. The internship for my cooperative education course was so intense that I almost passed out as soon as I got back to my dorm. My professor constantly criticised my internship report, driving me nearly insane. But in the end, everything went well, and time flew by faster than I realised. Before I knew it, my last semester at the university was over. I was a fresh graduate with a job already secured, and I was walking alongside someone into the lobby of a luxurious hotel in the city centre.

 

"Do you have an invitation card?"

 

As soon as we stopped in front of the banquet hall, a young woman in a light blue dress at the reception table asked.

 

"Yes, we do," a deep, soothing voice responded.

 

I turned to look at the source of the voice, who was showing the invitation card to the woman and handing her an envelope. He wore a white shirt under a dark blue suit, matching the wedding theme of blue and navy. His sharp jawline was captivating, as were his thick eyebrows, piercing eyes, and striking facial features. Even the silver-rimmed glasses on his nose couldn't diminish his handsomeness one bit. Whether he wore glasses or not, my boyfriend still looked incredibly hot.

 

"Please sign the guest book and collect your wedding souvenir," the same woman said, handing us a pen. P’Phop took the pen and wrote a message in the guest book while I looked at the large framed photo on a wooden stand next to the table. It was a picture of today's bride and groom.

 

Today, P'Phop and I were attending the wedding of his friend, Miss Nam. You mightn't recognise the name, Nam, but if I said Wanna, it might ring a bell. Yes, she was P'Phop's former fiancée in a past life. In this life, I met her at a restaurant when I was studying with P'Phop. They seemed close, and I wondered if there was something between them. But Nam already had a boyfriend and got married before P'Phop.

 

Speaking of marriage, I couldn't help but think about my relationship with P'Phop. We've been together for eight months now (counting this lifetime), and these eight months have been incredibly happy for me. Without him, my second semester of senior year would've been much tougher. I was lucky to have my parents' support and P'Phop by my side, always encouraging me and giving me the strength to push through my cooperative education course.

 

After graduation, I moved out of the student dorm and into P'Phop's condo. P'Phop continued his law studies and helped with the family business while I looked for a job. As I was nearing graduation, P'Phop's parents invited me to work at their company. P'Phop fully supported the idea, but I wanted to stand on my own first and didn't want people to think I got the job through connections. So, I decided to look for a job elsewhere.

 

I eventually got a job at an import-export company as an international import coordinator. I work Monday to Saturday, but only every other Saturday. Fortunately, the company is close to P' Phop's condo, just a ten-minute train ride away, so it doesn't take up too much of my personal time. P'Phop was quite upset that I didn't take the job at his parents' company. He said I made him sad and demanded that I make it up to him. He didn't let it go easily, and I had to make it up to him for several days before he finally did. But honestly, I think he wasn't really upset. This guy is cunning; he just wanted an excuse for me to make it up to him.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that making it up to him involved some 18+ activities, like when he pretended to be upset the first time he stayed over at my place. Now you understand why he didn't let it go easily. He's always looking for ways to benefit himself.

 

"Kun."

 

P'Phop nudged me gently as I stood there daydreaming, handing me the pen to write my message. I stepped forward, wrote a message wishing Miss Nam and her husband happiness, and returned the pen to the bridesmaids. As a wedding favour, I received a flamingo-shaped bottle opener. At first, I was hesitant to attend Miss Nam's wedding because I didn't know anyone there. But P’Phop insisted, saying he wanted to introduce me to his friends. So, here I was, nervously walking into the event with him.

 

"P'Phop, my hand is sweaty," I murmured as his warm hand slipped into mine while we walked into the banquet hall together.

 

"It's okay," he replied, tightening his grip on my hand. I smiled slightly, looking at our hands clasped together. Whether in this life or the previous one, he always showed affection for me in public without hesitation. In this more open-minded era, P'Phop didn't miss any opportunity to show everyone what we meant to each other.

 

The banquet hall was crowded with guests, with sweet international music playing in the background and conversations buzzing all around. I scanned the room for the bride and groom and soon spotted Miss Nam and her husband in front of the backdrop. I nudged P'Phop, and we walked over to them.

 

"P'Phop, Khun," the bride's sweet voice in a pure white dress called out as soon as she saw us.

"Hi, Nam. Hi, P'Phum. Congratulations," P'Phop greeted them.

 

"Congratulations," I added, smiling widely at P'Phop's friends. Miss Nam wore a short, off-shoulder white wedding dress and stood next to her newlywed husband, Phum. They say the bride is the most beautiful person at the wedding, and it seems true. Miss Nam looked more radiant and glowing than I'd ever seen her. She must be very happy.

 

"Thank you, both Phop and Kun. I'm glad to see you here. Phop must take you here to introduce you," Miss Nam teased, glancing between P'Phop and me. I suddenly felt shy and could only manage a dry smile while P' Phop glanced at me with a smirk.

 

"Yes, it's rare for us to all be together, so I brought him to meet everyone."

 

"Good, good. Everyone's been wanting to meet Kun for a long time. When it's your turn, don't forget to invite me, or I'll be really mad." Miss Nam narrowed her eyes, sounding serious.

 

"Got it."

 

"Okay, let's take a picture. Kun, come stand next to me."

 

The enthusiastic bride pulled us to the backdrop for a photo. After a few more exchanges, Miss Nam and her husband were called away to talk to other guests.

After parting with the bride and groom, Phop took me to greet his friends. We chatted briefly before joining a group of three other guests, whom he introduced as his university friends. They were all good-looking and dressed in brand-name clothes. At first, I felt nervous and out of place, but P'Phop's friends were friendly and easy to talk to. Soon, I was chatting with them comfortably.

 

"Do you know, Kun, we've been telling Phop to introduce you to us for ages, but he never did. I don't know why he's so possessive," said a tall guy in a light blue suit. This was Mek, P'Phop's friend since high school. He was so talkative that I wondered how he became friends with someone as reserved as P'Phop.

 

"Seriously, he's so possessive of his boyfriend," added Bank, who wore a navy blue suit and stood next to Mek. He glanced at P'Phop with a resigned look.

 

"Because you guys are assholes. You might mess with my boyfriend," P'Phop joked in a calm voice, taking a sip of his white wine.

 

"Come on, he's so cute. Who would mess with him?" Win, who stood closest to me, winked jovially. P'Phop immediately shot him a glare.

"Wow, look at that. I just complimented him, and Phop looks like he wants to punch me," Win said.

 

"I'm just looking," P'Phop replied calmly, making me chuckle. P'Phop is like that possessive, but in an adorable way, not to the point of causing arguments.

 

"Honestly, I never thought you'd have a boyfriend. Since high school, you have never seemed interested in anyone. Who would've thought you'd bring a boyfriend and introduce him to us?"

 

"Yeah, I'm curious. Who made the first move?" Mek looked at us with curiosity.

 

"I did," P'Phop admitted.

 

"Wow, quiet but not so innocent, huh?"

 

"A stealthy tiger, aren't you?"

 

These seniors took turns teasing us. I bit my lip and sipped my wine to hide my embarrassment.

 

"So, how did you do it?"

 

"The same way you guys do," P'Phop answered, and I found myself reminiscing about the past. Back then, how did he court me? He liked to send flirtatious glances my way, say things that made me blush, act generously, and often bring me sweets. On good days, he'd even swim over to my boat. Yeah, that's how he courted me.

 

"So why did you agree to date him, Kun?"

 

"Well... he's a good person, and like him," I replied honestly. When I glanced at the person next to me, I noticed P'Phop's ears turning red, which was quite amusing. Wow, was the former Mr Officer blushing because of what I said? I felt a strange sense of accomplishment. Usually, he's the one making me blush. Now that I had made him blush, it felt like payback.

 

"By the way, many of our friends are getting married. When will it be Kun and your turn?"

 

"Why do you want to know? I won't invite you guys anyway." P'Phop turned and spoke curtly to Bank, seemingly to hide his embarrassment.

 

"Hey, we're friends, Phop. I'm your friend."

 

"Yeah, why are you acting like this?" Win complained to his friend before smiling sweetly at me.

 

"But you'll invite us, right, Kun?"

 

"Uh.. yes, but not anytime soon," I replied awkwardly, scratching my neck out of habit. This question was tough to answer. Initially, P'Phop said we'd get married after I graduated. But since I graduated, he hadn't brought up the topic again, so I didn't dare ask. Honestly, I wasn't too serious about marriage. Living together now felt like we were already married. Whether we had a ceremony or not didn't make much difference.

 

"And you, Mek? When are you getting married?"

 

"Next year, maybe. Waiting for my girlfriend to finish her master's." joining the conversation while scanning the lively surroundings.

 

Soon, the host's voice onstage caught the guests' attention. I focused on the bride and groom's presentation video, laughing along with the on-stage conversations, songs, music, and well-wishes. The atmosphere was filled with happiness, refreshing my weary soul from the early days of working life.

 

"Kun, do you want to step outside for some fresh air?" P'Phop suggested that after the bride and groom cut the cake, they toss the bouquet. I nodded, and we slipped

out of the bustling banquet hall into the quiet flower garden beside the hotel building.

 

The August night breeze carried a slight chill. The sky above was thick with red clouds, signalling rain. Luckily, I wore a thick blue suit, so the breeze didn't bother me much. Spotlights along the path illuminated the well-manicured bushes and grass. I sat on a bench, gazing at the large, beautifully carved marble fountain in the garden's centre.

 

"You're not uncomfortable, are you?" His deep voice asked softly. I knew P'Phop was referring to my feelings about his friends.

 

"No, they're fun to talk to." I smiled broadly to confirm my words. P'Phop's worried eyes relaxed, relieved to see me getting along with his friends. I understood his feelings. Family, partners, and friends are all important in life. Everyone wants their loved ones to get along.

 

"By the way, didn't your friends bring their partners?"

 

"Mek's girlfriend has exams, and Bank and Win are single."

P'Phop said while pulling my hand to gently stroke the back of it. He often did this, whether intentionally or absentmindedly.

 

"But today's event is really well-organised. Everything seems perfect."

 

"I think so, too." 

 

P'Phop met my eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

 

"It's good we came to this event. We can take notes for our own."

 

The air, once cool, seemed to warm up a bit at his words. P'Phop seemed to wait for my response, but when I stayed silent, he continued, "Time flies, doesn't it? We've been together for eight months, and now you've graduated and have a job."

 

"So, we can get married now, right?"

 

His sharp eyes sparkled like stars in the universe. I swallowed hard, biting my lip as 1 looked away.

 

"What? I just graduated. Who rushes into marriage?" I deflected, trying to hide my growing embarrassment.

 

Since graduating, I'd been waiting for him to bring up the topic, but now that he did unexpectedly, I felt at a loss.

 

"But I want to get married now."

 

"If you want to, bring a ring and propose. Change this ring for me," I jested, raising my right hand with the old gold ring on my ring finger. I jumped when he suddenly knelt on the ground.

 

"P'Phop! What are you doing?"

 

"Proposing." He uttered softly, pulling a small navy velvet box from his suit pocket.

P'Phop opened the box, and my heart raced at the sight of the silver ring with a small diamond inside. I looked from the ring to P'Phop's face. He was beaming widely, and I smiled back, even though my vision blurred with tears.

 

"When did you prepare this?"

 

"I ordered it last month and picked it up yesterday."

 

He took my left hand, speaking firmly.

"Kun."

 

"...Yes?"

 

"I kept my promise."

 

When he said that, I took a deep breath, holding back tears. In our past life, he didn't have the chance to fulfil his promise to replace my engagement ring with a wedding ring because I travelled back to the present. He lived the rest of his life alone, and centuries passed. But now, he'd kept his word.

 

"I love you. Will you marry me?"

 

"Yes..." My voice trembled as I smiled through tears. P'Phop took the ring from the box and gently placed it on my left ring finger.

 

"We need to hurry and get married before something else comes up." He joked, standing up and wiping the tears from my eyes.

 

"Nothing will come up now," laughed softly, hugging him. I didn't know where my confidence came from, but my instincts told me we'd face no more obstacles. We'd be together forever.

 

"I'll call my parents tonight, and tomorrow, I'll visit your parents to tell them."

 

"Okay," I mumbled, resting my head on his broad shoulder. The cool touch of the ring on my left ring finger felt so real, filling my heart with happiness.

 

"Let's say goodbye to everyone and head back to the condo, shall we?"

 

"Sure," I agreed, looking up at my lover. P'Phop's eyes were fixed on my lips, and suddenly, his glasses seemed very annoying.

 

"I think I'll get LASIK soon."

 

He whispered, removing his glasses and leaning in. I smiled, closing my eyes to savour the gentle kiss. This kiss wasn't rushed or filled with desire, but brought warmth to my heart. P'Phop's breath and our kissing sounds echoed in my ears amidst the breeze and rustling leaves.

 

"Let's go say goodbye."

 

P'Phop kissed the corner of my mouth and whispered. I nodded silently, stood up, and let him lead me back to the banquet hall. Spotlights along the path reflected off my ring, the diamond sparkling in the light.

 

After nearly four hundred years, I was finally going to marry the one I truly loved.

[End of Special Chapter]