Love Upon A Time.

Crossing Fates.

That night, I had a strange dream. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed loudly, shaking the house's floor, accompanied by cries and shouts. The cacophony around me was chaotic, yet I sat motionless in a spacious room, indifferent to anyone who spoke to me. I didn't even glance around or perhaps even breathe.

 

I was lost in my thoughts, feeling like everything around me was slowly being taken away. In the dream, it seemed I once had a time filled with complete happiness, but suddenly, it was replaced by scornful words and disdainful looks from those around me. Something suppressed within me began to erupt, and eventually, I couldn't bear it any longer.

 

The faces of the people before me were blurry. Even though I was drunk and senseless, those harsh words still hit me like waves crashing against the shore. Sometimes, I retaliated; sometimes, I ignored them. My feelings at that moment were so mixed up that I could hardly distinguish them. One moment, I was filled with rage; the next, I cried in sorrow. The most prominent feeling was a bitter smile of self-pity. I blamed fate for making me face such terrible things.

 

"Mr Klao... Mr Klao, sir."

 

A voice echoed from afar, pulling me out of the dream. I gazed at the wooden beams above me with a vacant stare.

 

"Chuay..."

 

"Wake up, sir. It's morning already."

 

My personal servant... I mean, the real Klao's servant sat beside the bed, respectfully waking me. I rubbed my head and looked out the window. The sky was still dark, but the crowing of roosters told me it was indeed time to wake up.

 

I sat up on the bed while Chuay prepared the bathing equipment. My mind was still foggy. I remembered dreaming about something, but the images were so faint upon waking that it was frustrating, leaving only a strong sense of melancholy that I couldn't easily shake off. What did I dream about? Why can't I remember?

 

"Let's go down to the dock, sir. Ok-ya ordered that Mr Klao should join in offering alms today."

 

"Alright, let's go," I sighed, pushing aside the elusive dream, and changed into bathing clothes. 

 

Since coming here, I've been. waking up early every day, and my body was getting used to it. Back at the dorm in my modern time, I'd wake up at seven forty-five if class started at eight. I quickly bathed and went back up to change clothes, ready for the alms offering with Phraya. By now, I was getting used to wearing the traditional Thai pants. I no longer felt awkward about stepping around, as I had in the first few days.

 

Initially, I couldn't even tie my pants myself; they'd always come undone until Chuay had to dress me. But wearing them every day, I got used to them and could now dress myself comfortably. Having a servant dress me always felt odd since I wasn't a child anymore, even though Chuay said it was normal for nobles to have servants dress them.

 

"Today, stay with Mother and behave yourself."

 

After breakfast, P'Phop, who was about to leave for work, reminded me seriously. Even though neither P'Phop nor I said anything, the fact that I'd sneaked out and saved Wanna from thugs had reached Phraya and Aunt. If I had to guess how they knew, it was from word of mouth among the villagers.

 

Phraya didn't reprimand me and even praised me for being a gentleman, while Aunt Prayong complained about me going out in the sun right after recovering. Despite my good deed, it didn't negate the fact that I disobeyed P'Phop's orders, so he grounded me for three days, and today was the last day.

 

"I always behave well," I couldn't help but retort. After a week here, I was getting more fluent in the old language so that I could argue back immediately. Initially, I thought it would take longer to get used to, but I adapted to the old language faster than I expected, even surprising myself. P'Phop raised an eyebrow, looking at me with disbelief.

 

"You're quite the talker." He scolded me lightly, but from his eyes and the smile at the corner of his mouth, I could tell he was pleased that I was talking back.

 

"Just endure one more day. I'll ask Father to take you out tomorrow to make merit at the temple."

 

Those words eased my irritation a bit. I thanked him with a wai. P'Phop extended his hand as if patting my head, but then hesitated and withdrew it before walking down the house while I watched him leave.

 

He still didn't fully believe I was the Klao he knew. That wasn't surprising; he was closer to Klao than anyone else, so he could sense something had changed. This made me even more curious about the issues he and Klao had. Why did everyone say Klao was rebellious and particularly antagonistic towards P'Phop?

 

"Klao, are you bored being idle? You can go horseback riding if you like." Khun Ying Prayong said when she saw me looking around aimlessly.

 

Phraya Pichaipakdee's house had many beautiful horses, and I wanted to try riding one, but there was one problem... 

 

"Um... Aunt, l..."

 

"You can't ride a horse?"

 

"No, I can't. But I can have the servants teach me," I said, but Aunt Prayong shook her head.

 

"The servants aren't very skilled. They mightn't take good care of you, and you could get hurt. So stay with me today. When Phop has time, I'll ask him to teach you."

 

"...Thank you," I said, giving her a wai and a forced smile to ease her mind. Ugh! Having P'Phop teach me? That would give him more opportunities to tease me. I think he knows I'm avoiding him, so he deliberately tries to get close. When Phraya talks to me, he hovers around. When I go for a walk, he follows, asking about old times and making annoying comments. Even when I bathe, he likes to join me. He's like a stalker!

 

"And what are you doing, Aunt?"

 

"I'm making flower garlands to offer to the monks at the temple tomorrow. Do you want to try making one?"

 

"I'm not good at these things," I smiled awkwardly. I could do some household chores like simple cooking and sewing, but intricate tasks like making flower garlands were beyond me.

 

"Of course, you're a man. Then sit and have some snacks while I make garlands. Muan, bring some snacks from the kitchen for Klao."

 

"Yes, ma'am."

 

Aunty Muan, the head servant in the kitchen, nodded, and I sat down to have snacks beside Khun Ying Prayong, watching the women in the house make garlands with amazement.

 

I had to admit, the craftsmanship of making flower garlands in the old days was impressive. The process was quick, and the works were beautiful. Truly remarkable.

 

"Aunt, may I massage your legs?"

 

After finishing my snacks, I offered to massage Khun Ying Prayong's legs out of genuine goodwill and desire to ingratiate myself. After all, I stayed in their house, so I should be on good terms with the elders.

 

"Klao, you're so sweet." She laughed, patting my head as I earnestly massaged her legs and feet. I hoped that if I ever got into trouble again, she'd scold me less, or if P'Phop annoyed me too much and I ran to her, she'd take my side.

 

In the afternoon, after lunch, while I was helping Khun Ying pick jasmine buds for the garlands, I heard P'Jom, who'd just come up to the house, greet us.

 

"Oh, Jom, are you here to see Phop?"

 

"Yes. Hasn't Phop returned yet?"

 

"Not yet. He'll be back soon. Why don't you sit here and wait, or go to the pavilion by the river? Klao can keep you company."

 

"That sounds good." P'Jom smiled, and Khun Ying asked me to accompany P'Jom to the pavilion to pass the time until P'Phop returned.

 

"How's it? Are you comfortable staying at Phraya's house?" The older man asked once we were seated. I leaned back against the pavilion's backrest, gazing at the distant river bend.

 

"It's comfortable, except for someone constantly watching over me."

 

"Haha, that means Phop still doesn't trust you to be out of sight." P’Jom laughed heartily, his eyes showing both sympathy and amusement, making me pout slightly in annoyance.

 

Laugh all you want. It's not your misery, so it's easy to find it funny. I swear, if the person in front of me were Thi, I'd have hit his head by now.

 

"Come on, don't be upset. Phop is like that because he cares about you. You know him well, don't you?"

 

Listening to P’Jom talk, I let out a long sigh. I'd only been here for a week; how could I possibly know P'Phop well? All I knew was that the man was good-looking, had a respectable job, seemed quiet but quite mischievous, and exceptionally good at finding faults.

 

"P'Jom."

 

"Yes?"

 

"Were P'Phop and I really close in the past?" I inquired, puzzled. I needed more information about the relationship between P'Phop and Klao. P'Jom had been close friends with P'Phop and had known Klao since childhood, and could be a good source of information.

 

"Has the alcohol made you forget everything from the past?"

 

"...Yes, I can't remember much from the old days. Please, tell me," I admitted, looking at him expectantly.

 

P'Jom furrowed his brows slightly but eventually spoke up. "Alright, alright. Before you moved to Phichit, you two were very close. You had no siblings, so you clung to Phop, calling for him all day. Phop was very fond of you; you two are practically real siblings."

 

"Really? I thought he hated me. He always teases me and gives me those scrutinising looks," I said, pouting at the thought, which made P'Jom laugh.

 

"Sometimes it's like that. If he's close to someone, he likes to tease them. If he's teasing you, it means you two are talking more, right?" P'Jom's question made me purse my lips before asking something else.

 

"Then... When I returned to the capital, why didn't P'Phop and I stay as close? Do you have any idea why?"

 

"If you've forgotten, I can't answer that. I don't know why you've changed so much since you came back."

 

Hearing his answer, I felt a sudden wave of disappointment. So, no one knew why Klao acted so distant from P’Phop.

 

"But you being like this is good. It reminds me of the time before you went to Phichit."

 

"Do I resemble my old self that much?"

 

"Yes and no. You used to be very polite and quiet, but now you seem to talk back more."

 

"Of course, I won't let anyone bully me without fighting back," I replied, making P'Jom burst into laughter before we changed the subject.

 

"Aren't you going to work, P'Jom?"

 

"I am, but since I'm not a government doctor, I don't have to work specific shifts."

 

"Why didn't you join the government service?" I asked, surprised. In this era, it was rare for the children of nobles not to enter government service, especially since P'Jom was the son of a Phraya. He should've been assigned to a government department.

 

"I prefer being a doctor. I'm not suited for military or political work. Luckily, I'm the youngest, so my father didn't force me," he said with a smile.

 

In an era where parents often controlled their children's lives, P’Jom was indeed very lucky.

 

I continued chatting with P'Jom for a while until P'Phop returned home. As soon as his boat docked, his sharp eyes darted between P'Jom, sitting next to me, and me.

 

"Jom, did you come to see me?"

 

"Yes, I had some free time today, so I thought I'd invite you for a drink. Since you weren't back yet, I chatted with Klao," P'Jom explained as P'Phop turned his gaze to me. I stared back, waiting to hear what he'd say.

 

"Did you two have a good conversation? Or did Klao give you a headache?" There it was, another jab right at me.

 

"Well, P'Jom and I had a good conversation, right, P'Jom?" I turned to my ally, who nodded with a chuckle.

 

"Yes, we had a great chat."

 

"Good," P'Phop said, though his face showed incredulity, making my temples throb with irritation.

 

“I will head up to the house now so you two can talk freely," I said, bowing slightly before walking away, unable to contain my frustration. He's such a nuisance! When will I get to go home so I don't have to see him anymore?

 

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

Even though it was late afternoon, the market, a hub of trade and exchange, was still bustling, especially the liquor shops, which grew more crowded as evening approached. After work, villagers and government officials enjoyed gathering to drink and unwind.

 

"You're just sitting there drinking without saying a word. Got something on your mind?" a familiar voice he'd known since childhood asked knowingly. The listener's sharp, dark eyes turned to the person sitting next to him. Phop set his empty cup down on the table and replied amidst the noisy shop.

 

"If you're asking like that, you probably know what I'm thinking about," he said.

 

"It's about Klao, isn't it?" his friend replied, hitting the nail on the head.

 

Phop's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly as he poured more liquor into his cup. "Yes. Don't you think he seems different?"

 

"Yeah... since he disappeared and then reappeared, he's definitely changed a lot," Jom agreed. "Klao drank so heavily that the alcohol must've messed with his mind. He can't even remember being close to you."

 

"He can't?" Phop's sharp eyes narrowed in thought.

 

"Yes, he even asked me if you hated him and why you always gave him those scrutinising looks. When Klao asked, his face was all scrunched up," Jom said with a laugh, taking another sip of his drink. 

 

Phop fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Don't you think that maybe he's like this because he's not the real Klao?"

 

"Huh? Are you still thinking that?" his friend asked, nonplussed. Phop sighed heavily. How could he not think that when Klao's behaviour had changed so drastically? Even though his appearance was the same, his manner of speaking and his eyes were different. 

 

The Klao he knew before going to Phichit was a bright-eyed, quiet, and shy young man. After Luang Preecha-piban was sentenced and died, Klao became repressed and aggressive. But this Klao was a confident young man, charming to elders but stubborn with him, something he'd never seen in the Klao he'd known for twenty years.

 

"Yes, from the first moment I looked into his eyes, I felt something was off. It's like I know him but don't know him. Klao can't remember much from the past and has changed so much that he... seems like a different person. If you told me he wasn't the same person, I wouldn't doubt it."

 

"How could that be? He looks exactly like Klao, and we've both seen the birthmark on his arm. If he's not Klao, then what, a ghost impersonating him?" Jom argued, not convinced. Phop couldn't argue with that either. All physical evidence indicated that the person in his house was indeed Klao. But for some reason, Phop couldn't shake his doubts about him, so he'd asked his father for permission to bring Klao to live with him so he could keep an eye on the guy.

 

"He's probably just messed up from the alcohol. Don't be so suspicious. Some things are better left forgotten so he won't have to suffer anymore."

 

Phop's eyes softened at those words.

 

Klao was directly affected by the ruins of his family's reputation. When he went to inspect the area, He still remembered the villagers' scornful words. They insulted Klao's father and trampled on his dignity. Klao, who had to hear such harsh words every day, probably couldn't bear it.

 

That was likely why the Klao he knew had changed so much, to the point where even he, who'd been as close as blood siblings, couldn't get near him. And that was the question that had always lingered in his mind. Why did the words Klao used to call him 'P'Phop' disappear? Why did Klao act so cold and aggressive towards him? Phop had never gotten this answer.

 

"Besides, I think this change is good. At least he's not cold and distant anymore. He's more lively and endearing," Jom said, making Phop think of the adorable face of the young man in his house.

 

Since he was young, Klao had fair, radiant skin. His round, bright eyes had a slight downward tilt at the corners, giving them a sweet yet sorrowful look that captivated everyone. He also had a well-shaped nose and full lips, making his face endearing to those around him. Even Klao's father often scolded Phop for spoiling Klao too much, and Phop admitted he couldn't resist Klao's pleading eyes. Whatever Klao wanted, Phop would give in every time.

 

"But he's become so stubborn, hardly listens to anything I say anymore," the young man remarked. Though he'd spoiled Klao a lot, Klao had been an obedient child who never gave him a headache. But now, Klao rarely listens to him. Whenever Phop said one thing, Klao would immediately do the opposite.

 

"Isn't it because you made fun of him first?"

 

"See, I knew it. It must've been you who started it," Jom uttered, slapping his knee and shaking his head, giving Phop a look of exasperation. Phop's lips curved slightly behind his cup of liquor. He pressed his lips to the rim and downed the strong, clear liquor in one go.

 

He admitted that he sometimes intentionally provoked Klao to catch him in a lie. Because when a liar was cornered enough, they'd eventually slip up or show some telltale sign. Besides, he found it incredibly amusing to see Klao's adorable face twist in frustration.  Despite his outward appearance as a calm and composed Muun, Phop did have a playful side. And right now, teasing his adopted younger brother was his number one source of fun.

 

The crowing of the rooster in the morning was like a powerful alarm clock. As soon as the sound reached my ears, I opened my eyes wide and sprang out of bed without waiting for Chuay to wake me. I swiftly bathed and then eagerly returned to the house to change clothes. Finally, today is the day my house arrest ended. I'm finally going to go outside!

 

"Today, you should wear some jewellery," Chuay said after I finished dressing and was about to go to the pavilion for breakfast. I watched as the young servant fetched a small wooden chest from Klao's personal belongings. When he opened it, my jaw dropped. The chest was filled with gold jewellery, necklaces, rings, and even a gold enamel belt buckle. Holy crap! Is this all real gold...?

 

"Is this K... mine?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

I swallowed hard, staring at the large gold ring Chuay took out of the chest. On my first trip to the market, I noticed that people in this era loved to wear jewellery to show off their status. They'd wear as much as they could on any part of their body. Just thinking about wearing all that gold and walking around in the present day made me shudder. If you walked out of your house covered in gold, you'd be robbed within a hundred meters! Kick my butt if that isn't true!

 

"Can't I go without it?" I asked, frowning. It's not mine, and if I lose it, I'm screwed.

 

"No, sir. Today, you're going with Phraya and Khun Ying. If you don't wear any jewellery, it'd be embarrassing for them," Chuay insisted, slipping a gold ring with a red gemstone onto my finger. Alright, I'll have to keep up appearances for their family's sake. I'll be extra careful today because if I lose this ring, I won't be able to replace it.

 

After breakfast, Phraya Pichaipakdee's family set off by boat to a nearby temple to offer food to the monks. I heard that Phraya's family built this temple. My teacher once mentioned that wealthy people in the past liked to compete in building temples, and it seemed true. There were temples all over the city. People flocked to make merit, and every Buddhist holy day was a public holiday. Buddhism clearly had a significant influence on people's minds in this era.

 

I followed Uncle Phraya, Aunt, and P'Phop into the temple, with servants carrying offerings and food behind us. On a major Buddhist holy day like this, the temple was even more crowded than usual. The murals depicting the life of Buddha and the surrounding architecture amazed me. Despite not having modern construction tools, people of the past built such stunning temples. It was incredible.

 

"Come sit next to me," P'Phop whispered as we sat waiting in the temple. I moved to sit beside him. Although it was quiet because everyone had to be respectful, I could still feel the eyes of those around us staring, making me uncomfortable. I knew they were looking because they thought I was Klao, but the blatant staring and gossiping while I was right there was too much.

 

"Khun Ying, did you bring Klao to make merit today?" a middle-aged woman dressed elegantly asked.

 

"Yes, Klao just moved to our house, so I brought him to make merit and welcome him," Aunt Prayong replied

 

"No wonder I saw Klao at the temple. At first, I thought I was seeing things. Usually, he's at the tavern from morning till night. I thought he didn't know how to come to the temple," the woman said, laughing. Aunt Prayong's eyes showed displeasure, and as the one being gossiped about, I couldn't just sit there quietly.

 

"I have to come to the temple sometimes. Lately, I've felt unlucky, so I wished to make merit and send them to appease my karmic enemies," I said sweetly, beaming at the woman. She immediately shut her mouth, and I sighed in relief. I understood why Klao was acting this way. Being gossiped about to your face was unbearable. If it weren't for Phraya and Aunt Prayong, I'd have snapped back harder. It was infuriating.

 

I felt P'Phop's gaze on me and turned to meet his eyes. I expected to see reproach, but instead, he gave me a gentle smile. His calm, kind eyes eased my irritation, replacing it with a strange feeling that made me look away. People who'd come to make merit before us gradually left, and it was our turn to offer things to the monks. P’Phop and I carried the offerings to the front, trying not to notice our hands brushing against each other. For a moment, I thought about what Thi had said about making merit together and meeting again in the next life. Did that mean I'd meet P'Phop again? But then I realised I didn't know him in the present, so that it couldn't be true.

 

"Put your hands together to receive the blessing," the elderly monk instructed in a raspy voice that sounded familiar. I looked up and was stunned to see his face clearly. Luang Ta...

 

The blessing began, and I put my hands together, feeling dazed. When I brought the offerings, I hadn't noticed. Now I saw that he looked exactly like my Luang Ta. This wasn't the first time I'd met someone who looked like someone I knew from the present. It only made me more confused about what was happening.

 

After the blessing and pouring water ceremony, the elderly monk greeted Phraya, Aunt Prayong, and P'Phop before turning to me.

 

"It's been a long time, Klao," he said.

 

"..Yes," I replied softly. The more I looked at him, the more I missed Luang Ta. When I came here, I had nothing but the clothes and the sacred thread Luang Ta had tied around my wrist. It was the only thing that eased my homesickness a bit.

 

"I've known you since you were just a little kid, and now you've grown into a decent young man. Come here, sit beside me." Luang Ta beckoned me to sit near him, so I moved closer and offered him a respectful wai.

 

"You've come a long way and are troubled," the monk's hoarse voice said, making my eyes widen. I looked up at him, my heart racing.

 

"Luang Ta... You know..."

 

"You've just returned from Phichit, haven't you? Now you're with Phraya, so there's nothing to worry about," he comforted me and smiled kindly. But I felt deflated, like a balloon of hope being popped. I thought he might know I wasn't from this era and could tell me how to get home.

 

"Come here, I'll sprinkle holy water to welcome you," he said.

 

"Yes," I replied, putting my hands together to receive the holy water. Then, I stepped aside to let Phraya and Aunt Prayong talk to Luang Ta again. When it was almost time for the monks to eat, Phraya excused himself to return home.

 

"Klao," the monk called.

 

"Yes?"

 

A raspy voice called out, making me, the last person to bow and bid farewell to the monk, look up. The old monk's cloudy eyes scrutinised me for a long moment before he spoke words that left me stunned.

 

"Whatever karma one creates, one must resolve. Everything that happens is already destined. Don't worry too much. When the time comes, you'll see the path yourself."

 

"Luang Ta... you know, don't you?" I asked, stammering with joy, which made Luang Ta laugh.

 

“I only know that you, Klao, have just returned from Phichit. From now on, live righteously, and bad things won't come near you. Do you understand?"

 

"...Yes."

 

A temple disciple came to help support Luang Ta as he walked away. I sat there quietly until Chuay came to nudge me, prompting me to get up and walk outside to join Phraya's family. Luang Ta must've known where I come from. His words somewhat calmed my troubled mind. But the question is, when will the time come? When will I see the way back? When will I get to go home? Hopefully, it won't be another ten or twenty years...

 

After the merit-making ceremony, Phraya, Khun Ying, and most of the servants returned to the house. I asked to tag along with P'Phop to the jewellery market. It seemed one of P'Phop's subordinates had just had a daughter, so he was going to buy jewellery as a gift. Naturally, I wouldn't miss the chance to explore. So now, P'Phop, Chuay, Khong, and I were walking amidst numerous jewellery shops lining both sides of the street.

 

Initially, I wanted to visit the market where Klao often drank, hoping to find some clues. But I figured Mr Officer here would never allow a prisoner like me to go. So, I considered today a day off. Once they trust me enough to let me go out alone, I'll follow Klao's trail everywhere.

 

"So this is what it looks like..." I muttered, looking at a simple Ta Ping on sale in a basket. I'd only seen pictures of children in the past wearing these to cover their private parts on the internet. This was my first time seeing one in person.

 

"Do you want it?" A deep voice asked teasingly, making me roll my eyes at him.

Why would I want a Ta Ping? I'm too old for it.

 

"I'm just looking. So, what are you buying, P'Phop?" I changed the subject, slightly annoyed, making the older man smile.

 

"I'm buying a red gold Ta Ping and a pretty belt. She can use them when she grows up."

 

P'Phop continued to choose jewellery while I glanced at the silver and gold rings adorned with gems nearby. I had to admit that the jewellery craftsmanship in this era was superb. There were so many beautiful pieces. If I bought some to sell in the present day, I'd surely become a millionaire.

 

My eyes caught a simple gold ring with intricate carvings. It wasn't very thick, and I stared at it with interest for a while until I heard P'Phop's voice.

 

"Do you like this ring?"

 

"It's nice," I answered, my gaze still lingering on it. Compared to the gem-studded rings and large enamel rings around it, this ring wasn't eye-catching at all. But to me, it looked minimalistic and suitable for everyday wear without being too flashy.

 

"Mr Klao, are you going to buy it?" Chuay, who was holding a bag of money beside me, asked.

 

"No, P'Phop, are you done shopping?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Then let's go get something to eat. I'm hungry," I said, hurriedly walking towards the front of the market where food was sold. No matter how much I liked that ring, it was gold and definitely not cheap. Just living under someone else's name was shameful enough. I couldn't shamelessly spend someone else's money extravagantly. Just using what was necessary was enough.

 

I stopped to buy some snacks to take back home. There were many kinds of snacks here that I had never seen before in the present day. The one I was buying now was called khanom kong. It was a round snack with crisscrossing lines in the middle, made from roasted mung beans mixed with coconut milk, palm sugar, and sesame seeds, then fried. It was sweet and enjoyable to eat.

 

"P'Phop, do you want some?" I asked the person who'd just caught up with me. He shook his head in response. From what I observed, P'Phop didn't seem to like sweets or fried foods much, unlike me, who could eat almost anything except spicy food.

 

"Look, it's the son of Luang Yokkabat from Phichit, the one who was whipped for taking bribes."

 

While the vendor was giving me my change, I heard whispers from nearby stalls. I pretended not to hear, but the gossip continued to reach my ears.

 

"The one who's a drunkard?"

"Yes, he spends his days drunk and consorting with prostitutes. I wonder how he ended up with Muun."

 

The gossip, not very quiet, continued as if they didn't see me standing nearby. I took a deep breath to calm myself, glancing at P'Phop, who was being mentioned. His face remained expressionless.

 

"I heard he's now living at Phraya's house. Phraya is quite bold to associate with such a person. Isn't he afraid of tarnishing his reputation?"

 

"Indeed, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If the father is corrupt, how different can the son be?"

 

At this point, I clenched my fists to control my emotions. Even though I wasn't Klao, I didn't like hearing people being insulted. Did these people even know Klao to judge him without knowing the truth?

 

"I feel sorry for Muun. Having to take care of such a troublemaker is a real burden."

 

Those resigned words snapped my patience. I was about to retort, but P'Phop spoke first in a calm voice.

 

"Don't worry. I don't consider taking care of my younger brother a burden." P'Phop's deep voice immediately silenced the area. I looked at him, seeing him smile at the vendors, but his eyes clearly conveyed displeasure, making the people he looked at hastily avert their gaze.

 

"And it's not for others to judge my brother."

 

Wow, he may speak little, but when he does, it's harsh, I thought, impressed by the person beside me as P’Phop turned to look at me.

 

"Do you want to buy anything else?"

 

"No."

 

"Then let's go home."

 

His warm hand gently touched my back, guiding me forward. The whispers continued behind us, but P'Phop didn't seem to care. He walked beside me, giving me a comforting smile.

 

My heart seemed to beat a little faster as I glanced at his sharp profile. Despite being annoyed by his teasing smile, which made him look even more mischievous, his defence of Klao earlier made me wholeheartedly respect him.

He truly is a good brother to Klao.