Love Upon a Time: Special Edition.

Chapter 11 - Friendship.

One of the privileges of being able to recall past lives is that you understand the truths of life a little more easily than others. It's called 'change,' and if the time difference is almost four hundred years, you'll find it incredibly disheartening to visit old stomping grounds and see how much the environment has changed. Just like me and P'Phop are now, as we decided to take a one-day trip together to Ayutthaya province.

 

"Hey," Thi called out to me, "Aren't you going to the bathroom?"

 

"No, I'm going to buy some meatballs. Do you want me to get some for you?"

 

"I'll take fifty fish balls, okay? Beb, do you want to eat some fish balls with me?"

 

"No, I don't want fried food. I'll get fat."

 

"Where am I fat? When I hugged you last night, your figure was still as slim as ever."

 

"P'Thi! What are you talking about?!"

 

Pun's complaining about his friend faded into the distance as I distanced myself from the two of them and walked towards the fish ball stall located inside a gas station. In Ayutthaya city, P'Phop stayed at the same convenience store where we used to stock up on car supplies because both Thi and I eat a lot.

 

You're wondering why the four of us are here? Well, this coming Monday is a public holiday, and it falls on a Saturday that I have off, so P'Phop came up with an idea. They invited me to go on a trip down memory lane to Ayutthaya with them, but then I remembered that Pun has to go to England next month to study for his master's degree. So, I consulted with P'Phop and suggested we invite Pun and Thi instead. Both of them agreed immediately when I messaged them.

 

When Phop is at university, Thi, Pun, and I often hang out together. That's why this trip is the first time I've been with him. We travelled together as a family. Back when I was still young (before I went to Phichit), the four of us were always together. We played together, studied together, and were always there for each other, through happy and sad times. Having P'Phop, P'Jom, and Kaew as friends made me feel incredibly lucky. I have to thank them for taking in that introverted, precocious me from back then.

 

Even though Thir and Pun don't remember those things anymore, and I don't dare tell them I don't want to be seen as crazy, fate still eventually brought them together. We ended up meeting again and becoming close friends.

 

"Sigh..."

 

I sighed softly, reflecting on the changes I'd encountered along the way as I gazed out of the gas station window while waiting for the auntie to fry more fish balls. Although I lived in the Don Klang area of Ayutthaya for less than a year, I'd seen quite a few places. But now, the atmosphere around me was nothing like what I remembered anymore...

 

“Here you go.”

 

"Thank you, Auntie."

 

I took the bag of fish balls and walked back to P'Phop's Mercedes. The owner of the car was carrying bags of snacks and drinks out of the convenience store, while Thi and Pun were already standing in front of the car, chatting quietly, waiting. Once P'Phop unlocked the car, everyone returned to their seats, ready to continue their journey.

 

"The sun isn't too strong yet, so let's go to Wat Yai Chai Mongkol first," said P'Phop, the driver and tour leader, as he started the car.

 

"Do you think you can even go to a temple? Won't you die of heat?" Thi laughed hysterically, leaning back to avoid me throwing the empty water bottle at him until P'Phop had to grab his hand to stop the fight quickly.

 

"Thi, don't tease Khun. It's mean," Pun turned and frowned at his boyfriend, who was still acting all smug and annoying me.

 

"Yes, Pun, leave him and go find a foreign guy."

 

"Wow, you bastard, you're talking nonsense. Why don't you just come down and fight me?"

 

Thi's face looked like I'd punched him in the solar plexus, and he grabbed Pun and hugged him tightly until the youngest member of the group started yelling. As for me, the one who dropped the bombshell, I couldn't help but smile. Thinking back to his past life, where Kaew pursued Jom for many years before finally succeeding, this life is considered his revenge.

 

We were heading to the same place with the same people, but everything had changed. As we drove along Rojana Road, past the Sam Pluem Temple pagoda, we reached a roundabout. I tried to imagine what it used to be like, which was completely different from what it is now. Of course, in those days there were no paved roads, no cars, no electricity poles. 

 

Travel was only on foot along dirt roads, or at best, by horse. Buildings were scarce. Everything is in remarkably good condition, but over time, wars, development, and repeated restorations have changed the Ayutthaya I once knew, evoking both familiarity and unfamiliarity. Upon arriving at Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, I felt an even greater emptiness in my chest.

 

"It's so old, isn't it?" I whispered to P'Phop as we walked toward the Chedi Chai Mongkol, the tallest pagoda in Ayutthaya, built during the reign of King Uthong, and it was surrounded by fewer Thai and foreign tourists than expected, perhaps because it was still late morning.

 

"Well, it's almost four hundred years old now, isn't it? But it's still good that it's survived to this day," P'Phop said softly, even though I couldn't see his gaze because he was still wearing his mask. He's wearing sunglasses after getting LASIK surgery, but judging by how often he turns left and right, looking around, my boyfriend must miss his old neighbourhood a lot too.

 

I looked up at the massive pagoda in front of me, recalling my visit here during a school field trip in junior high. Back then, I remember feeling a strange, inexplicable feeling in my chest throughout the entire trip to Ayutthaya, but I didn't understand why. Now, looking back on this day, I finally understand that it was this feeling of attachment.

 

"It's so beautiful, even though it's such an old place. Believe it or not, this is my first time here," Pun said, stopping beside me and shielding my eyes from the sun. Even though he was already wearing a hat. The younger student tilted his head slightly, looking up at the pagoda and saying, "But it's strange, I feel like I've been here before. Maybe my parents brought me here when I was a kid."

 

"That's right," Thi also stared intently at the pagoda with a thoughtful expression. I don't know if these two ever came here when they were kids, but if they did in a past life, they probably did. Definitely, we were here together during Songkran one year.

 

Finally, the two of them shook off the unanswered questions, went to the top of the pagoda to pay their respects, and then went to worship the reclining Buddha. The side chapel, still as beautiful as I remembered, was unfortunately in ruins. Time has taken away many things, leaving only history for future generations to remember that these things once existed in a certain era, and one day our present will become the past for future generations to look back on. This is the cycle of the world.

 

"Are you hungry? Shall we go grab something to eat?" P'Phop suggested, checking the time and realising it was almost eleven o'clock. I took off my hat, wiped the sweat from my forehead, and nodded. Then my eyebrow twitched when I heard Thi's annoying voice, "The only one who's hungry is probably you, Kun. With a stomach that big, all he does is eat, and he's too lazy to exercise. Phop, if you fatten him up too much, he might turn into a pig."

 

"Pun, do you want a new boyfriend? I think an English guy wouldn't be bad," I asked my junior in a calm voice, making Pun giggle. Meanwhile, Thi extended his hand as if to say, "Pun, do you want a new boyfriend?"

 

He was about to hit me on the head, but P'Phop was faster, raising his hand to block me while glaring at his cousin.

 

"Don't tease him."

 

"Yeah...my wife is more important than my brothers," Thi complained.

 

I hid behind P'Phop and wiggled my fingers to annoy him until he lost interest. I turned to Pun instead. Of course, Pun was still my favourite younger brother and always sided with me. It was getting dark, and the troublemaker was all down and lonely because nobody wanted to play with him.

 

"Okay, let's go have dinner then."

 

"Yes, P'Phop, I'm getting hungry too. I saw a review of a boat noodle shop that said they've been selling them for fifty years!" he chattered as we walked back to the car together.

 

I couldn't help but think about what Thi had said, that I would turn into a pig, so I walked closer to my lover and asked, "P'Phop, what will you do if I get fat? What if I'm not handsome? Would you still like me?"

 

"Do you even need to ask?" He chuckled softly, pulling his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose. His sharp eyes sparkled with gentle tenderness. "No matter what you're like, I love you. That's it. Just be yourself.”

 

"Wow, my heart's racing! I want to marry you again!"

 

"Then it's the same for me. I want to marry you every day," he smiled, wrapping his arm around my waist as I gave him a disbelieving look, before he leaned in to whisper to me.

 

"But you're not fat. Go ahead and eat. I'll take you to exercise later."

 

The sentence was simple, but the speaker's eyes sparkled, making my stomach flutter. The eleven o'clock morning sun wasn't as hot as my face right now. S I nudged P'Phop's shoulder, giving him a reproachful look, making sure the handsome former nobleman not only remained unfazed but also refused to let go of my waist.

Who says quiet men don't like to tease? Look at my husband as an example.

 

Leaving Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, we drove towards the old city of Ayutthaya, the former royal palace and a major trading centre. There were all sorts of forests and markets to choose from. The city itself has changed a lot too. Some canals have been filled in, and some areas have been completely transformed. I don't remember much anymore, but I still managed to stop and take a picture of the bridge at Pa Dinso (a stationery shop), as a memento. Before moving to Phichit, I used to buy stationery here often. Back then, Khlong Chakrai Noi was a market and community area, full of people and bustling with activity every day. Seeing it now makes me miss those days. Now it's just a memory.

 

"What's wrong, P'Kun? You seem distracted today. Are you feeling unwell?" Pun walked over to greet me while P'Phop and Thir were discussing where to go after dinner.

 

I shook my head to reassure my junior. "No, just thinking about something. How are you, Pun? You're not bored, are you?"

 

"No. At first, I was wondering if looking at old things would be boring, but when we actually came, I really liked it. When I get back from England, we'll invite P’Thi to come again." Pun spoke with a smile.

 

Even if the brain can't remember, there must be some lingering residual in the soul, right? Otherwise, Pun would never have liked Thir again in this lifetime. I'm starting to wonder if Thi remembers how much he treated Kaew arrogantly in his past life as Jom. He wonders what his fate will be. If I had to guess, he probably wants to go back in time and punch himself. Haha

 

We got back in the car and drove a little further until we reached the boat noodle shop that Pun had seen in a Dickdog review. The shop was a three-story shophouse in an alley. Firstly, the restaurant is neither too small nor too large, but almost all the seats are occupied even though it's not even noon yet. The elderly couple who own the place are busily blanching noodles.

 

"Wan, keep an eye on the customers for Mom."

 

"Please come inside," a cute young man wearing an apron called out as soon as we arrived in front of the shop. He smiled broadly and pointed to a table.

 

"The menu is on the table. Please write your order on the paper and call me when you're finished."

 

"Okay, what do you guys want to eat?" My older brother, Phop, asked, grabbing a notepad and pen from the basket of pork rinds to write down the orders. I was getting hungry, so I ordered a bowl of dry and a bowl of waterfall noodles. My boyfriend and Thi each ordered two bowls. Only Pun ordered a special bowl of waterfall noodles. After writing Everything was ready,” I beckoned the shop owner's son to come take my order.

 

"That boy is so cute," Pun said, resting his chin on his hand and smiling as he watched him. I saw Thi make a sour face. "I wonder if he's in university already? He has such a pretty face; he should be an actor."

 

"BL (Boys' Love) series are really popular right now."

 

"Just so-so. That kid isn't as hot as me, Pun."

 

"What's wrong, P'Thi? I don't like him that way at all. I think he's cute, that's all." 

 

Pun turned to yell at the jealous guy who was completely oblivious. I also turned to look at the boy who was taking a bowl of noodles from his mother's hand, preparing to serve customers at another table. I couldn't help but agree that he was really good-looking. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw her acting in a series someday

 

The traditional boat noodles were as delicious as all the reviews said. I liked them so much I ordered two more bags to take home. After we finished eating, we drove to the floating market at Wat Tha Ka. Crowds flock to these markets to buy food and souvenirs. Modern floating markets still retain a similar atmosphere to those of the past, only with a wider variety of food available.

 

Suddenly, I thought of Aat. We used to be together almost 24 hours a day. Whenever I went to the market, I would always ask Aat to buy whatever I wanted to eat...

 

"Pun is...that friend of Pun's, the one named Ball."

 

"Huh? What's wrong with the ball?"

 

"No, I was just wondering how things are going."

 

"Right now? He's studying Chinese in China because he wants to be a business interpreter. His life is great, and he has a beautiful girlfriend," Pun described the life of his friend in their group, someone who, in a past life, used to be his personal attendant, and when I heard that, I was truly delighted.

 

"But why did your brother ask?"

 

"No, I just suddenly remembered. I gave him some lecture notes, so I was wondering how it went." I deflected with a not-so-convincing excuse, turning to give him a look. He glared at P'Phop, then changed the subject and invited Pun to buy cotton candy from the stall upstairs.

 

It's unbelievable that we spent hours at the floating market. It's probably Thi's and my fault for stopping at every stall that looked delicious, while P'Phop just went along with it and didn't stop us. Pun ended up having to stop his brothers from buying up all the vendors' stalls. After that, they drove to pay respects at the Ayutthaya City Pillar Shrine, located in the centre of the island city, which was rebuilt to replace the original, which had collapsed over time. They also visited Wat Phra Sri Sanphet before driving out of the island city to conclude their temple visits at Wat Phanan Cheong.

 

"This feels so familiar, Phop. Did we ever come here when we were kids?" This time it was Thi who spoke up after we finished paying our respects to Luang Pho Do in the temple. He frowned, looking towards the dock with a questioning expression.

 

"Probably," P'Phop replied vaguely. After Thi took Pun to the fortune-telling area, P'Phop whispered to me, "After you left, Jom bought a new house to live in with Kaew. It's near Wat Phanangcheong. Those two come here often to make merit so that they might recognise each other."

 

"It's a shame they don't remember."

 

"I don't know. For some people, not remembering might be better. There must be a reason why most people can't recall their past lives," P'Phop sighed.

 

I looked at him and smiled. "I think I'm lucky to remember you, even if it's not all happy memories. I would be very sad if I were to forget you."

 

"You thought I didn't want to remember so that you could find a new boyfriend," I teased. Then I regretted it, because the former police officer from my past life smiled. The spirit appeared immediately.

 

"Believe it or not, even if I didn't remember, I'd still fall in love with you. I can't see any chance that I wouldn't like you."

 

"You're so head over heels for me," I grumbled, trying to hide the heat on my face, but secretly I was happy too, realising he'd never done this with anyone else, in past lives and this life. It seems I'm more possessive than I thought...

 

"Yes," he replied confidently, puffing out his chest. If we weren't in the temple, P'Phop would have pulled me into a hug by now. He's such a touchy-feely guy. Thi and Pun came back carrying their fortune slips and invited P'Phop and me to go pray at the Shrine of Mae Soi Dok Mak. It was already 4:30, so we went to find a riverside restaurant for dinner, since we're planning a farewell party for Pun, who's leaving next month.

 

"Order whatever you want, Pun," P'Phop told my junior when we sat down at a floating restaurant that was getting cooler in the evening. The wind was blowing, the cool breeze of the early rainy season bringing with it the refreshing air of the river.

 

"Sure! I'm really envious of your brother; his boyfriend is so handsome and kind."

 

"Aren't you jealous of yourself, Pun? I'm more handsome than Phop," Thi said with a mischievous smile. He probably looks handsome to other people, but for me, sitting across from him, I wanted to kick him off the raft! How dare he say he's more handsome than my boyfriend?!

 

"They're handsome in different ways, you know. P'Phop looks nerdy, I like that."

 

"Oh yeah, I think Pun said a long time ago that P'Phop was handsome," I just remembered. Back then, Thi’s car broke down, so we temporarily drove P'Phop's to university. When Thi showed Pun a picture of the car's owner, he complimented him too. P'Phop chuckled shyly, while Thi's face fell. "Little one, and what about me...?"

 

"He's handsome, but right now P'Phop is more handsome than P'Thi because he's the driver."

 

Pun smiled sweetly, looking completely relaxed. That made Thi stop looking like a dog abandoned by its owner and reach out to put his arm around Pun's shoulder. They chose the menu together. Anything is fine; just let others order whatever they like.

 

It wasn't long before the food started arriving at the table. I raised my beer glass. "Cheers! Wishing Pun a safe journey, a smooth life abroad, and success in his studies. No headaches needed! Cheers!"

 

"Thank you!" Pun said cheerfully, clinking glasses with them. The clinking of glasses filled with alcohol made the atmosphere even livelier. I sipped my beer while glancing at P'Phop, who was clinking glasses of water next to me. Because he was the driver, I noticed he was looking at me too.

 

"Don't drink too much."

 

"Don't worry, I'm not that weak-willed." I winked at him. He was probably still picturing my past life getting completely drunk on Western liquor, but beer is nothing to me. I can still stay sober even after two bottles, I promise.

 

We sat eating, sipping beer, and talking from dawn until the sky changed colour. It felt like a trip down memory lane to the old days when P'Phop, P'Jom, and Kaew came to eat at the house to send me off to Phichit. This time, it was Pun who was going on a long journey, but only for a year. Plus, with technology like phones these days, we can always text or video call each other if we miss each other.

 

"If Pun goes, I'll become a zombie. Only my body will remain; my soul and heart will go to be with you in England."

 

"You're being so dramatic, P’Thi. Are you drunk?" Pun shook his head, chuckling with exasperation, glancing at his friend, whose face was starting to turn red as he rested his chin on Pun's shoulder, acting all clingy.

 

I looked at that picture, my eyes wide. I bet Thi won't be able to bear the longing and will fly to see Pun every month. But I understand. He's in love, after all. Long-distance relationships can be difficult, but I believe these two will get through it easily.

 

Pun raised his hand and gently stroked his lover's hair, then turned to P'Phop and me. "Honestly, I'm going to miss this kind of atmosphere so much. It's heartbreaking."

 

"Well, if you two ever go to England, let's meet up sometime."

 

"That's right, would you like to go to England?" P'Phop turned to ask me seriously. He always likes to take me travelling, and we've never been to Europe.

 

"That sounds fun, doesn't it?"

 

"Go ahead, fly with me. While Pun's at school, I can be a third wheel," Thi grinned. I kicked him over the table. "You've been annoying me all day. I'm not helping you anymore."

 

"Hey, don't be mad at little brother."

 

"What can I help you with?" Pun looked confused, glancing back and forth between Thi and me. I froze, feeling flustered, and accidentally made eye contact with Thi, like someone who's feeling nervous. How could I tell him that Thi was planning to propose to Pun first formally?

 

On the day he went to England, he asked P'Phop and me for help. Then it was my husband who resolved the situation, saying in a gentle voice, "Regarding the work at the hotel, you were helping Thi with some paperwork."

 

"Yeah, yeah," Thi nodded awkwardly, in a completely unconvincing way. "Besides work, what else would I have to talk to you about, Pun? Nothing!"

 

"Really? Is there something you haven't told Pun?"

 

"Wow, how could that possibly happen, Beb? Hehe."

 

Damn it! Back in the day, Thi was juggling so many girls he sounded like a train switchman. But as soon as he got a boyfriend, his acting skills plummeted. No wonder Pun is still around. He frowned as if he couldn't believe it.

 

"Pun, would you like some dessert? We have fruit too," P'Phop tried to divert attention by calmly handing him the menu, acting completely innocent. Luckily, this time Pun let it slide and went to choose dessert, while I got kicked in the leg under the table by Thi, who glared at me. So I gave him an apologetic look for pushing him.

 

It just slipped out. Now he has to figure out how to cover it up. Hopefully, the secret won't get out before then, because he's planning a big proposal in the hotel lobby. The ceremony will probably be at the same hotel. It's really convenient having a family that owns a hotel business.

 

The meal left us full. The four of us headed back to Bangkok in the evening, while Thi, who had been drinking heavily earlier, sat dozing off, leaning on Pun's shoulder. While scrolling through my phone in the back seat, I gazed out the window with a sense of longing when P'Phop's gentle, deep voice casually said, "Let's come visit here again sometime, okay?"

 

"Yes"

 

Because of limited time, we still haven't visited many places, including my father's old house, my brother Phop's house, the Pak Khlong market, and the temple where we celebrated Songkran together. I'm not sure we'll be able to find them again, since many areas have changed a lot. But when I think about the opportunity to explore them again, I get excited.

 

It's not just about our future; many other things await us in our married life: finding the right home, discussing whether to adopt children, and planning our lives together. Even after retirement, many exciting things still await us. Therefore, there isn't a single day that I don't look forward to living and experiencing new things with the man I love most.