Love Upon a Time: Special Edition.

Chapter 9 - Look at Life.

After waiting almost 400 years, my official status can no longer be described as 'single'. My brother Phop and I are finally married. We got married three months ago in a small, intimate ceremony, inviting only close friends and family (but the total cost was over half a million baht!). Everyone said we got married too quickly because they understood we'd only been together for a year. 

 

Only P'Phop and I knew how long and agonising the waiting had been, so we didn't want to waste any more time. But wait! If you think that, after everything we've been through together, our life as a couple will be smooth and obstacle-free, then I have to tell you… The real world isn't always a happy-ever-after like in fairy tales. It's true that P'Phop and I love each other very much, but there are times when we don't understand each other or feel hurt.

 

For example, right now...

 

"You're tired, aren't you? We don't have to go to the plant market today," P'Phop said as I ate breakfast around eleven o'clock. His expression didn't show any sign of tiredness. While I can't describe a specific emotion, the current atmosphere is so tense it's almost tangible. I raised my eyebrows, looked up from my plate of rice, and replied in a flat tone, "Okay, then suit yourself, P'Phop." 

 

There was no further conversation. P'Phop went back into the bedroom to get some documents before returning to sit on the sofa in the living room and continue his work. I pursed my lips tightly, recalling the source of the awkwardness between us.

 

After getting married, I officially moved into P'Phop's condo (even though I had been sleeping there almost every day before that). Then we started living together. Of course, there are things we need to adjust to each other, right? Which isn't a problem because most of the time when there's a problem, we talk things out directly. However, something that has been bothering me a little has happened recently: P'Phop started working at the law firm to gain experience before taking his exam.

 

I want to be a judge in the future because my boyfriend... no, my husband... is a workaholic who loses track of time. He's the type who's still engrossed in law books at one or two in the morning, refusing to stop. Whenever I ask him to come to bed, he always puts it off.

 

"P'Phop, everything's fine now. Come to bed."

 

"Just ten more minutes, please. Let me check this a little more. I'll be done soon."

 

He kept saying things like that. You can probably guess that ten minutes is meaningless. I was so anxious and couldn't sleep after seeing him not getting any rest. Phop usually tells me to go to sleep first, but in the end, I always stay awake until he goes to bed before I can sleep peacefully. I understand that work-related matters are difficult, but I'm worried about his health, so I'm a little annoyed... Well, actually, more than a little. I want him to learn to control his emotions.

 

The workload has slowed down somewhat. Some things can wait until the morning to be done. I've told him that before, but I guess P'Phop is the type who can't sleep if he doesn't finish his work on time, so he always ends up compromising. I don't think I don't understand his feelings, but I'm still bothered by it. Even so, I've decided not to interfere if it's not too much to ask. Until… Last night.

 

"P'Phop...when are you going to sleep? It's already 1:30."

 

"Just a little while longer. You can go to sleep if you're sleepy," he said, his eyes behind the blue-filtering glasses he now only wears for work due to his location. He was still engrossed in the documents on his desk, not even glancing at me sitting on the bed.

 

I've asked him five times already, starting from midnight until now, and I've gotten the same answer every time. Even though tomorrow is Saturday, a day off for me because I work for a company, since it's import/export, I have to work every other Saturday. And he was the one who invited me to look at the lumberyard at Sanam Luang 2 with him, so we could buy some to plant at home.

 

Phop is the type who goes to bed late but always wakes up early, but I'm not. However, that's not as important as the fact that I want to spend time with him. I'm exhausted from work. Getting to cuddle with my boyfriend is like recharging my batteries, but that handsome guy's battery won't let me cuddle him. So all I can do is sit here, hugging my knees, glaring at the broad back of that workaholic, feeling utterly resentful.

 

Finally, I drifted off to sleep without realising it. When I woke up, it was morning. I could hear P'Phop's soft voice calling my name above my head.

 

"Sir, it's morning already."

 

"Ugh..." I groaned hoarsely, but my eyelids were so heavy I couldn't open them. I'm the type who always sleeps in late, so I was about to drift back into sleep.

 

"It's nine o'clock already. I've made breakfast. Get up and eat."

 

"Ugh... I'm sleepy. I'll eat later," I mumbled in response, having no intention of pulling away from the soft blanket that enveloped me.

 

"Aren't we going out today? You said you wanted to leave early."

 

"Hmm, let's go in the afternoon then...."

 

I vaguely remember falling asleep like that, then drifting off again. When I woke up, the clock on the bedroom wall showed it was past ten o'clock. My stomach was rumbling, so I dragged myself out of bed and out to the living room.

 

"P'Phop, what's for dinner today?"

 

"Pork blood soup," said the person sitting on the sofa, reading documents in a shirt and jeans that looked more like they were going out than staying home. He didn't even look up at me. That's when I started to sense something was wrong. But when I saw P'Phop put down the documents and get up to warm up the food, I thought I was probably overthinking it. Until...

 

Seeing him take a little while to prepare my food, I thought something must be wrong. Thinking about it, he really wanted to go to the plant market and was waiting for my day off so we could go together. I was the one who said I wanted to go early in the morning, but then I overslept.

 

He woke up late himself, then refused to postpone the meeting, even though he had gone to bed late too. He still woke up early to make me breakfast and was already dressed and ready. So if he's sulking, he's not.

 

But why am I the one at fault? The reason I stayed up late is that he was working and didn't sleep, isn't it? And now he's sulking at me? No. Did you ever think that I could get hurt too?

 

The atmosphere during breakfast was silent; each of us was lost in our own thoughts. At first, I was planning to go and apologise to him. I decided to give in for now and find a time to have a serious talk with him when we're both in a better mood. But then, out of the blue, he cancelled the trip to the wood market and used the excuse that I looked tired. When in fact, who was the one working so well that they kept me from sleeping?!

 

I know perfectly well that when he uses that emotionless tone of voice, he's definitely sulking at me. And especially now that P'Phop has had LASIK surgery and no longer needs glasses, I can see his true feelings even more clearly. The various expressions in those sharp eyes became clearer than ever, just as they had been in his previous life. He always put on this stern act when he was upset. Did he think he was the only one who sulked? So I tilted my chin up, refusing to back down.

 

Then the atmosphere between us became tense, like something out of Silent Hill. He went back to work, while I sat eating pork blood soup to vent my frustration. Chewing inwardly, he gritted his teeth. This is what married life is like; it's not glamorous like in fairy tales. There will be days when he doesn't want to look at his partner at all.

 

However, because he went to the trouble of getting up early to cook for me, and the pork blood soup was so delicious, I finished the whole bowl. Even though I was sulking, I didn't want it to become food.

 

"So you're really not going, are you?" After finishing the dishes, I walked over to ask the person engrossed in documents. P'Phop looked up and met my gaze, his voice calm, "It's up to you."

 

I don't know why that sentence made the veins in my temples throb, forcing me to avert my gaze before I couldn't control my swirling emotions anymore. I wasn't ready to talk to him, and he didn't seem ready to talk to me either. So, before things escalated, I chose to walk away into my bedroom to take a shower and cool down.

 

Sometimes I forget that, even though P'Phop looks older than his actual age, both in this life and the previous one, he's still a young man who isn't even twenty-five yet. Everyone has their childish moments, and I'm no different. So I have to stay calm. 

 

Today, I have to have dinner with my parents and siblings, and I'm staying overnight at their house. It wouldn't be good for them to see their son, who's only been married for three months, having problems at home. I'm still really upset with him, but we've been through so much together. As Klao, I once lost the opportunity to be by P'Phop's side, and I understand that deeply. Despite the suffering, every moment we spend together now is too precious to let trivial matters like this inflict further wounds.

 

We definitely need to talk this out before we meet my parents. We promised each other we wouldn't stay angry for more than a day. I spent quite a while showering and getting dressed to calm myself down as much as possible, trying to control my negative emotions.  It's all about reason. Let's talk it out, even though it's difficult every time, especially when I'm feeling hurt like this. But let's clear things up one issue at a time. I took a deep breath as I closed the bedroom door, reminding myself not to give in to temptation, before pushing the door open to face what awaited me.

 

"P'Phop," I called out my lover's name, who was still sitting on the sofa, my voice softening. He turned his head immediately, but before I could say anything more, P'Phop spoke first, 

 

"Sir, I'm sorry."

 

"Huh?" I blinked, confused for a moment, but seeing the downcast expression on P'Phop's face, I understood. I sat down beside him and asked in a low voice...

 

"What are you apologising for?"

 

"The reason I was so tense with you this morning," my interlocutor sighed heavily, reaching out to hold my hand tightly, "I was just upset. I misunderstood and thought you might be thinking..."

 

"You're saying our date today isn't important, even though you know you've never disregarded our relationship. You're acting so immature."

 

"Yes, I was just imagining things," I pulled my hand away from his grasp and crossed my arms. "And you were already upset with me about something else before this, you know?" 

 

He paused, a look of guilt appearing in his dark eyes. It was clear he knew it too.

 

"About me staying up late working and not going to sleep?"

 

"Yes," I narrowed my eyes at the person who was avoiding my gaze. It was time to clear up some misunderstanding. "It's happened many times already, so who's more deserving of sulking? You?"

 

"It's my fault. I'm sorry," he apologised first, putting on a dejected face. This was P'Phop's ultimate tactic. Maybe he knew that if he did this, then I wouldn't be able to stay angry anymore.

 

"Okay," I said, and within seconds, my heart melted easily. Even if I'd been secretly resentful for months, it would disappear instantly just from him using those pleading eyes. He looked at me. "Okay, then. You really did miss our appointment today. I'm sorry."

 

"Yes," my husband's face immediately brightened as he pulled me into a hug. I patted his shoulder and pushed him away, saying, "But, brother, when you tell me to come sleep here, unless it's urgent work that needs to be finished tomorrow or the day after, you should rest. I'm saying this because I'm worried about you, you know? You don't want to act like a nag, do you?"

 

"I understand," P'Phop nodded obediently. This is the first time I've talked to him seriously about this. I don't know if he'll listen in the end, but I think he probably will because he cares about me a lot. That doesn't need to be proven.

 

I leaned my head against his broad shoulder, letting P'Phop hug me, while glancing at the wall clock, which showed it was almost one o'clock in the afternoon.

 

"Let's go to the plant market. We can still make it now. We can buy some plants to take home right away."

 

"Okay," P'Phop smiled slightly, looking instantly more enthusiastic. He walked into the bedroom to grab his bag and car keys, while I went to the bathroom to take care of my personal business.

 

Before leaving the room, we drove from the condo in the Khlong San area to Sanam Luang 2, a plant trading area on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. Speaking of P'Phop's hobbies, in his past life, it would probably have been practising martial arts. But there's something else I recently learned: he loves planting trees, and he's someone who meticulously searches for different species.

 

All sorts of wood were brought to the garden of Phraya Phichai Phakdi's house by him. At first, I thought his uncle or his clerk had provided it. Even in this lifetime, he still loves them just as much, and he even grows them himself. Whenever he has free time, he often invites me to go to Chatuchak Market or other plant markets, like this day...

 

I'm planning to find some flowering plants to put in the garden at my parents' house in the future. We also plan to buy our own detached house. When that time comes, my brilliant lawyer friend will probably spend days and nights designing the garden.

 

"Sir, how about some climbing roses? What colour would you like?"

 

"You like white, but this deep pink is also beautiful when it's in bloom," I pointed to a German rose variety because I saw it in P'Phop's garden. There weren't many brightly colored or eye-catching flowers.

 

My husband turned back to consult with the shop owner, listening attentively to their advice, while I was intently observing his face. I like seeing P'Phop with that serious expression, even though it's easy to say that P'Phop is like an old man; his personality, his demeanour, even his hobbies I don't think that's true at all. Who would act so quirky and unyielding like the person who says that? Even P'Jom wasn't this crazy in his past life. I don't know how he grew up in this life either.

 

Besides, when P'Phop makes a serious face, I also like his smile, and I think he looks good when he makes that mischievous face. I also think he is very handsome. Um...in short, I like everything about him. Oh well, I can't help it. Thinking about it, I liked him first. When I was a kid, I knew I liked him since I was thirteen. Back then, P'Phop probably only thought of me as a younger brother.

 

"Here you go."

 

"Yes?"

 

"I wanted to give my boyfriend some flowers," he said with a smile, handing him a pot of light pink Pretty Jessica roses. "I was going to plant them at my condo."

 

"Where did you get these flowers from? You clearly wanted them yourself!" I laughed but accepted the potted plant. My heart swelled with joy; it was quite comical. Love is such a big deal; something so small can make me smile like an idiot. But the roses were really beautiful. 

 

We spent over two hours at the flower market, loading the plants into the car until our muscles ached, because P'Phop is the type who buys everything without thinking. Even though he spends more time in a condo than in a house, that's one reason he wants to buy a detached house with land: condos don't have space for planting trees.

 

As for me, I've been thinking that if I ever have a house, I'd like to plant fruit trees like mangoes or something similar. My family already has a mango orchard, so eventually we'll have one. So, you two have become a couple of gardeners now, huh...?

 

"Hello, Mother," I greeted Khunying Prayong. No, I should call her Mother Narintip, now my mother-in-law, who was walking out of the car. 

 

As soon as I got out of the car, I bowed respectfully. While at home, I also had to keep Olive, Thir's Siberian Husky, from jumping up and around my legs, which would cause me to lose my balance.

 

"Hello, dear," my mother said with a sweet smile. I'm so lucky that she's still very fond of me in this lifetime, and of course, she's still as grumpy as ever, which reminds me of getting scolded a lot back then.

 

"Mom, I stopped by and bought some more flowering plants to plant."

 

"Oh my! Phop, I told you not to buy so much!" 

 

A chorus of complaints immediately arose when their mother saw the back of P’Phop’s car, crammed with all sorts of Plants.

 

I left my boyfriend to deal with his mother alone, pretending not to notice the pleading look in P'Phop's eyes because he wanted to buy so much himself, even though I was the one paying. We knew we were going to get scolded, but we didn't listen. By the time we finished unloading the plants from the truck and got home, our ears were numb. But P'Phop was still smiling happily because he had just managed to persuade Mom to stop complaining.

 

"Watch this, kid. When Phop does something wrong, he always uses this trick: he hugs you, puts on an innocent face, and acts all sweet and pleading. Don't you dare give in," my mother said to me. His expression clearly showed that he was no longer angry, but he was clearly just pretending to be sulking.

 

I met the gaze of my lover, who maintained a poker face and blinked, as if trying to deny the truth. But I knew him inside and out, so I immediately nodded to my mother.

 

"That's true, Mom. He always does this. I see through his tricks."

 

"I didn't do it to escape punishment. I truly feel guilty," P'Phop said softly, his face downcast as they walked side-by-side to rest in the room. As soon as he was out of sight of my mother, who had gone into the kitchen, he quickly put his arm around my waist. 

 

"So, did it work?"

 

"There you go, you've admitted it; it was all pretence."

 

"It has to happen sometimes," P’Phop smiled in a way that made him look annoyingly handsome. "You should be a little clingy with me sometimes. I'm a sucker for it. Like when you're being cute and affectionate in bed..."

 

My face was burning hot, as if smoke was coming out of my ears. I quickly pushed his face away, trying to compose myself as my mother walked back home. My mother glared at the person next to her, who sat there with a smug smile.

 

"Oh dear, what's wrong with your little brother? Why is his face so red? Is he hot? Should we adjust the air conditioning?" My mother asked worriedly. I quickly shook my head and said I was fine. I guarantee I'll keep a pillow between us for the whole week, you wait!

 

After sitting and chatting for a while, catching up on each other's lives, my mother told us to go up to our room and rest, waiting for my father to return from his business meeting with clients. We were supposed to have dinner together, but instead, we decided to go to the garden and help the gardener plant trees, discussing what we'd want to plant if we ever bought a house. Olive, our dog, kept coming around, inviting me to play fetch with him, filling in for his real owner, Thi, who hasn't been home much lately.

 

Just as dusk was falling, my father arrived home. Phop, who had just finished working on the trees, walked over to where I was resting on the long bench, while Olive rested her chin on my leg. I'm feeling relaxed.

 

"Sir, let's go inside."

 

"Okay, I'm going to eat first, Olive. Later tonight I'll call and scold your uncle, tell him to come home sooner or later." I ruffled the little dog's hair, and Phop looked at it with affection.

 

"Or maybe we should buy a dog? I like dogs too. What do you think?"

 

"You've got it all," I said, thinking about the plans we'd discussed. First, we'd buy a house in the suburbs but close to the highway for easy access.

 

It's a simple town, and maybe we could adopt a child. P'Phop likes children, and I think taking care of someone and watching a child grow up wouldn't be so bad either. But right now, it's just a rough plan; we haven't discussed it seriously because we're still too young.

 

The dinner was simple, as is typical of the Pattakorn family. Phop's father, Phraya Phichai Phakdi, was still the same stern-looking man from his previous life, but in reality, kinder than his appearance suggested. Most of the conversation revolved around inquiries about our newlywed lives, especially my mother, who kept giving us endless advice.

 

"When you have problems, you have to talk it out, my child. Even if it's just small resentments, these things can accumulate. If you don't speak them out, one day it will reach a point where this explosion is going to be bad."

 

"Yes," I replied. Actually, my mother's son and I just had a little argument this morning, but I'd rather not say. My father added, "Yeah, like, when his mother gets upset about something small, she tells me every day. Sometimes it's several times a day."

 

"Wait a minute, are you saying Rin is sulking?"

 

"Like this," Dad winked, making me suppress a smile to maintain politeness. But it became harder when P'Phop turned to look at me and smiled too. In the end, dinner ended with Dad going to apologise to Mom, while P'Phop and I excused ourselves to go upstairs, shower, and change into our pyjamas. I left my clothes here because I have several trips, as I have to stay overnight almost every month to let my mother know she misses her only son. Although lately, P'Phop has been complaining that Mom seems to miss me more.

 

"P'Phop, go take a shower," I called out to my lover, who was sitting with his legs stretched out, leaning back against the headboard, watching something.

 

"What are you looking at?" I leaned forward to look, curious. When P'Phap turned his phone screen towards me, I raised my eyebrows because he had opened a display app. Official documents in digital format, and I'm just sitting here looking at them...

 

"What's wrong with a marriage certificate? Is there a problem with it?"

 

"No," P'Phop replied without making eye contact. I noticed his ears were bright red. 

 

"Just... I just wanted to watch."

 

I paused for a moment, trying to understand, before bursting into laughter, finding the older man endearing. P'Phop seemed more mature than his age, but in reality, he had a different side...all so cute, like little kids. Just thinking that I'm the only one besides their family who gets to see this side of them makes me feel incredibly good.

 

"You've been married for three months, and you're still so infatuated?" I teased, climbing onto the bed and sitting beside him, then continued, curious, "Do you do this often?"

 

"Almost every day," P'Phop murmured, sounding a little embarrassed. But when he said the next sentence, my feeling in my legs turned into a bitterness in my chest instead. 

 

"Maybe because we didn't get married in our past life, so in this life... I don't know, maybe it's ingrained in my memory. That's why I like to look at it often, telling myself that it's real, that we're really married."

 

When I think about that time, the smile on my face inevitably fades. I only waited for P'Phop for one year after warping back to the present, but he had to drown in despair and sorrow. I don't know how long he'll live without me, or how long that lifetime will last. He probably doesn't want me to feel guilty or overthink things.

 

I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. P'Phop hugged me back and kissed my temple, saying, "It's so good that you're here."

 

"I'm so glad you're here. We're really together now." I looked up and kissed his jawline, but when his eyes intensified and he leaned in for a kiss on the lips, I covered his mouth with my hand and smiled. "Go take a shower first."

 

"Yes"

 

He quickly got up and walked to the wardrobe to grab a towel. I watched my husband's back as he disappeared behind the bathroom door, before glancing back. Phop's cell phone was lying on the bed. I knew his cell phone password, so I unlocked it. Then I sat leaning against the headboard, looking at the official documents confirming our marriage. I guess I'll be looking at our marriage certificate every day from now on. Come to think of it, he's the one who's married, isn't he...?