Love Upon A Time.

Prologue.

The year 2021 marks a time when science and technology on Earth have advanced to the point where plans for human space tours are already in the works. Yet, one thing that has never faded with time is the belief in the unseen, including superstitions and fate. And now, I'm sitting in front of an expert in such matters.

 

"Hmm, an ominous force looms over your birth sign. Misfortune is in your fate," said the slightly raspy voice of an elderly woman dressed entirely in white. After taking my birth date and scribbling numbers on a piece of paper for a while, the plump fortune teller scrutinised my face with her cloudy eyes. I tried hard not to sigh out of politeness, but my mind kept thinking, 'Why do I have to be here?'

 

"Looking at your chart, it seems you've been through a lot lately. There's even a sign of an accident."

 

"Yes. He's been having a run of bad luck lately. Last month, he lost his phone, and just last week, he almost got hit by a motorcycle. Will he be okay?" asked the young man with messy blonde hair in a college student uniform sitting next to me. I glanced at my close friend, noticing that he seemed more serious and attentive than I was.

 

"He won't be severely hurt, but looking at his chart, he'll face some significant challenges soon. It seems to be his past karma; he can't avoid it. Just visit the temple often, make merit, chant, and meditate. It'll help ease the severity," she advised.

 

"Okay," I replied half-heartedly, then sat and listened as my close friend continued to inquire about my future. Meanwhile, I let the words go in one ear and out the other.

 

My name is Nakun Pattanathada. I turned twenty last month. I'm a third-year English major at a prestigious university in the city. Everything was going smoothly with good friends, acquaintances, and excellent grades. But when I hit twenty, it felt like my luck inexplicably took a turn for the worse.

 

It started with losing my phone, barely passing the midterm exams that I almost thought of dropping out of that subject, getting my term project busted by the professor, frequently tripping and hurting myself, and lastly, as my friend mentioned, almost getting hit by a motorcycle last week.

 

I don't believe in bad luck or past karma, as the fortune teller said. It's more about my carelessness. I almost got hit by a motorcycle because I wasn't paying attention, I lost my phone because I left it in a public restroom, and my grades dropped because I had a migraine during the exam.

 

But Thi-tath, or Thi, my superstitious friend, thought otherwise. He believed I was having bad luck and had been dragging me to temples and fortune tellers. I didn't want to go, but he eventually tricked me into it.

 

"Let's go. I'll take you back to your dorm," Thi said, smiling widely after we left the fortune teller.

 

"You said the same thing when we came here. My dorm isn't in the temple," I replied, slightly annoyed.

 

My dorm and Thi's house are in the same direction, so we often ride together. Today, I planned to work at the university library and return in the evening, but Thi insisted on taking me home.

 

At first, I didn't suspect anything until he drove past my dorm. He lied about being hungry and wanting to go to the mall, then brought me to the temple. That's when I realised he was up to something. He dragged me to the fortune teller's table and paid the fee, even though I didn't want to.

 

"I was worried about you. You've had bad luck lately, so I brought you to check it out. I also wanted to see my fortune. Don't be mad," Thi said with a grinning face, nudging my shoulder to ease my annoyance.

 

This is why I don't believe in fortune-telling or superstitions. I believe in my own actions. Life is ours, and we choose what to do or not do. The recent mishaps are my own mistakes, not fate. But Thi means well and tries to help me in his own ways, so I can't stay mad at him. Besides, I didn't pay for the fortune-telling, so whatever.

 

"But just listen and don't overthink it. I don't think this fortune teller is accurate," Thi said as we braved the sun and walked back to the car.

 

"Why? Because she said Pun hasn't softened up to you?" I teased.

 

Pun is my junior, and Thi has been chasing him for over a year. However, Pun doesn't agree to be his boyfriend, probably because Thi looks a bit like a Playboy.

 

"Damn, you got me." Thi pushed my head lightly before unlocking the car. I got in the passenger seat, and the silver Audi drove out of the temple onto the main road.

 

"I'll take you to see the fortune teller my mom always goes to. That one is really accurate."

 

"No way. I'm not going anywhere," I replied firmly. No matter how much Thi insisted, I didn't budge.

 

As I said, I believe in my actions and things that can be proven. Going to a fortune teller doesn't solve the root problem. I need to be more careful, take good care of my health, and focus more on my studies. Fortune-telling is way too expensive. My family is middle-class, not rich like Thi’s. I won't waste money on it; I'd rather save it for living expenses.

 

"See you tomorrow," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt as the car stopped in front of my dorm.

 

"Are you sure you don't want to check your fortune? This fortune teller is really good." Thi tried to persuade me again.

 

"No. If you say one more word, I'll curse Pun to hate you," I threatened, pointing my finger at him. Thi was very sensitive to superstitions and curses, so he glared at me.

 

"Get out of my car before I kick you out, you little shit," he swore, lifting his foot. I quickly got out and walked into the dorm, watching the silver Audi drive away, laughing at how I managed to tease my friend back.

 

Thi and I are the closest friends in the same program. I'm not sure if it's because he's the first friend I made at university or because his overly friendly nature made me feel comfortable quickly. Despite our different personalities-I'm quick-tempered while Thi is a peacemaker-we've managed to stay friends until our third year, and I hope we continue to be so for years to come.

 

I stopped by the convenience store under the dorm to buy food and snacks before heading to my room. I hummed a tune while waiting for the elevator to my floor. My dorm is off-campus and quite expensive. However, it's close to the university, with spacious rooms and many student residents.

 

Being an only child and having the means to afford it, my parents prioritised my comfort. But I don't just rely on my family; I also model for clothing stores on Instagram, which helps cover my living expenses and eases my parents' burden.

 

I had dinner, showered, and changed into a T-shirt and shorts to do my homework. Being a third-year student is much more demanding than in previous years. After classes, I have to work on reports, quizzes, and exams. Sometimes, I have weekend photo shoots, leaving me little time to relax or visit my parents in the countryside.

 

Bzzz.

My phone buzzed on the desk, drawing my attention from the laptop screen. A wide smile spread across my face when I saw the name on the screen. ‘Mom.'

 

"Hey there, Mom! Calling me like this, you must be missing your son, huh?" I teased as soon as I picked up the phone.

 

"Of course I am! Where have you been, hanging out with some girl or guy? You never call your parents anymore. " My mom's voice came through the line, sounding a bit sulky.

 

She is a senior district officer in Chachoengsao province. She is generous, loves going to the temple to make merit, and is quite sensitive. She becomes sullen like this if I don't call her for a week.

 

"I'm not hanging out with anyone, Mom. I've been busy with reports. Sorry." I quickly tried to soothe her and heard a sigh from the other end.

 

"Studying hard, huh? Are you tired? Have you forgotten to eat? Don't forget, or you'll get a stomachache."

 

"I haven't. I eat three meals a day."

 

"And are you staying up late? Get good rest, or you'll get sick."

 

"I'm not staying up late these days. Don't worry," I reassured my worrywart mom. Even though I'm twenty, in my parents' eyes, I'm still that little boy running around the yard. It doesn't embarrass me to be affectionate with them, like when I was a kid.

 

"Good. Make sure to rest a lot and be careful, okay? When Thi told me you almost got hit by a car, I was so scared."

 

That comment made me silently curse my friend. The other day, Mom called while I was eating at the university cafeteria. Thi was sitting next to me and blurted out that I almost got hit by a car, which freaked Mom out. I got scolded for not being careful, even though it wasn't a big deal. I just almost got hit, not actually hit.

 

Thi always makes a big deal out of small things. He really deserves a beating.

 

"By the way, are you free this weekend? Monday's a holiday. Are you coming home?"

Luckily, Mom changed the subject, and I was relieved not to get scolded again.

 

"Yes, I'm free this weekend. I want to come home and eat your cooking."

 

"Good. It's Luang Ta's birthday this weekend so that we can go to the temple. When are you coming back?"

 

"I’ll probably come back tomorrow afternoon. My class ends at two, and I'll take the van home right after."

 

"Alright, I'll make dinner. What do you want to eat?"

 

"I want Thai spicy mixed vegetable soup with prawns, sweet and sour fish, and, um, spicy fried egg salad. Can you make that?"

 

"Sure, I'll make it. Travel safely. See you tomorrow, my dear son."

 

"Okay, Mom. Sweet dreams."

 

The call ended, and I put my phone back on the table. Thinking about going home made me smile. No matter how convenient the city is, the heavy traffic and chaos make me prefer the peaceful fruit orchards and open roads of my hometown.

 

I pushed my homesickness aside, adjusted the glasses I wear while working on my laptop, and got back to my homework, translating an article.

 

At that moment, I never imagined that this trip home would force me to face something I had never believed in my entire life and never dreamed would happen to me.