Rahut Thanks for your comment. And I know what you mean about Gun, but I his character is the type that doesn't wear nice on his sleeve, although he is very kind and gentle at heart. At this point of their story, it's just that he'd been frustrated with his *lonely* life and didn't really know it at the time. Besides, she did intrude into his life at a bad time, so it's normal for him to resent her. Especially when she is forced upon him out of nowhere. So what can I say? LOL. But i promise that you'll come to love him later on.
All that's aside, here the next update.
Chapter 6: A CONSTANT PROPOSAL
“Thank you for picking me up.” Vill leaned back in her seat and sighed. “I can’t believe she cut out on me again. This is not the first time.”
Ton chuckled. “Don’t get mad. It’s not her fault this time. Her plane was delayed. It’s not like it was in her power to make it late.”
Although Vill was tempted to say otherwise, she had to agree with his point.
Her older sister Pan isn’t the type to keep appointments. Granted, she is kind and generous. But organized, she is not. Her character is very spontaneous as she tends to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants. There are times when she drives everyone around her crazy. And this is one of those times.
Pan is three years older than Vill. Every since childhood, Pan had exhibit an independent streak that constantly drives their parent crazy. When she was nineteen, she declared to everyone that she will no longer be studying business but will be switching her major to archaeology. The result was a chaos in the family. After all, this was not the first time their precious daughter had a change of heart on her major, as in everything else. Her parents had threw their hands up and declared that Pan was a lost cause. How were they able to pay for everything when she constantly changed her mind?
Amidst the frustrations and chaos, no one noticed that Pan had charmed her way into a well-to-do exchanged-student from America and won his heart. It didn’t take them long to announce their engagement, with a wedding following soon after. Finally, Pan made her final surprise to the family—which wasn’t much of a surprise to anyone—and informed everyone that she will be continuing her education in American with her husband and his family.
At first, everyone was skeptical about the marriage and was afraid that there may be trouble in the coming. After all, what can guarantee that Pan will not have reacted to the marriage as she has in everything else? Fortunately, her brother-in-law turned out to be just what Pan need; a strong shoulder to lean on—and a strong hand to keep her in line.
A smile formed upon her lips. Today, Pan is happy. Her marriage is still strong, according to her parents who had visited them a few months back. And Vill is happy for her sister.
Unfortunately, today she wants to strangle her sister. After many planned trip and unplanned cancelations, Pan managed to catch a flight from California to Bangkok, which was schedule to arrive three hours ago. After waiting for an hour, and countless questions at the information desk, Vill finally got a phone call from her eccentric older sister.
“I’m sorry, Vill, for not telling you. But my flight got delayed on the way. My flight makes a stop in Hong Kong, which at the moment is having a huge storm. They announce that there will be no-fly until the storm stops,” Pan explained. Vill sighed and imagined her sister sitting at a coffee shop at the airport looking not a bit affected by all this. Why, she even sounds cheerful on the phone. Pan is the type of women who doesn’t let bad things get to her. She always makes the best of it. It’s the best part of her—and sometimes times the most annoying also. “And in my case, the storm might last until tomorrow. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“And when were you informed about the no-fly delayed?” Vill asked.
She felt her sister cringed on the other line. “Oh, about two hours ago. Hey! Don’t get mad, Vill. It’s not my fault I didn’t call you. My cell was…well, it was in my bag. And you know how forgetful I am.”
Vill rolled her eyes. “You could’ve at least thought about the little sister who is waiting for you.”
“Well, I am sorry. I really am. Blame it on my starvation. I tell you, there’s nothing worth eating on that plane. I practically starved myself on it. The first thing I did when I got off the flight was heading straight for McDonalds. McDonalds, Vill! I was so hungry I swallowed a triple stacked burger whole! And it gets worst, I even ordered...”
And her sister went on and on about the food she had and what she did after, forgetting why they even talked about it in the first place. Soon Vill eventually forgot about her anger toward her sister.
Sighing, Vill forced herself to think about the present. “I have to be back tomorrow to pick her up,” she informed as they turned into the highway. “Why sisters had to be so annoying?”
Ton chuckled.
Vill sat up, alerted. “You know, scratch that. Only Pan is annoying. My other sisters don’t annoy me as much.”
Ton smiled. “That’s because they’re younger than you. Plus, you are a teacher. You have patients with these kinds of annoyance.
As for your older sister…well, I can’t really say. She’s just eccentric.”
“She’s one of a kind, I’ll tell you that,” Vill said. Ton nodded in agreement.
They sat in silence for a few more moments until Ton reminded her that his parent invited her for dinner.
“Oh, I totally forgot about that,” Vill said, surprised that she had forgotten something as important as this. She looked at her watched. “Oh my, it’s eight pm. Is it too late?”
Ton laughed. “Relax. We’re not late. Dinner at my house is at nine.”
They arrived at the Ton’s mansion with ten minutes to spare. His parents greeted them at the front door. Vill kowtowed and exchange greetings with them. After exchanging pleasant conversations, they went to the dining room, where the servants were setting the table.
Mr. and Mrs. Chayathorn are very polite individuals who treated everyone as an equal, although they are have wealth and privilege. Since knowing them, Vill had never felt uncomfortable in their present or anything less than happy. They treated her like their very own daughter, always ready to help whenever they can. Mrs. Chayathorn especially loved having Vill over on many occasions. Many times, she would bring her along to social events attend only by the upper class. Although Vill had lacked for nothing at home, she still understands that her family is only of an average class.
Mr. Chayathorn is the CEO of Chayat Enterprise, a big company that specializes in everything from domestic goods to overseas resorts. Anyone who knows of the enterprise also know that everything was built from scratch, as Mr. Chayathorn is a self-made man who was once just a simple son of a butcher in an unknown town. He had built his empire from his own sweat and blood, until it became what it is today. It was no wonder why everyone respects and look up to him.
And, since he is hoping to pass everything to his only son, Ton is working under his father, overseeing responsibilities that would soon be his. So far, Ton excels in it, much to Mr. Chayathorn’s pride. But that didn’t mean that Ton had it easy either.
Although Ton was born into a gold mine, he was raised as if he was a middle class person who has to hard earn everything. Everything Ton wanted, he had to earn it. Anything he need, he must made the effort to achieve it. Hence, his drive to excel in whatever he does and for whatever he wants. Vill guess that it was also this lesion that made Ton into the man he is today.
Mr. Chayathorn had once mentioned to her that he had wanted more for his son to be like him. “But to become a man who can have and achieve anything he wants in this world, one must also know what it likes to not have anything to start with. He must know how to fight for what he wants, earn it himself, not matter how hard it takes. Only then can he appreciate the things he earned, and learn to make something of himself in the process.”
He had smiled at her then. “It’s the same with the people around you. To earn their love and respect, you must first love and respect yourself. And it usually starts with making something of yourself.” He chuckled at her puzzled expression. Mr. Chayathorn is not the best when it comes to teaching things, though his lessons are very valuable. “I’m usually not the best people to explain things of this nature. Usually, I excel at giving orders, but never teaching anything. I say we finish this conversation and go see what your aunty is making in the kitchen. I’m starving.”
Thus, ended the conversation that day. But Vill will never forget it. It wasn’t everyday she gets to learn from one of the most respected man in the country.
Vill’s dinner at the Chayathorn was usually followed by long conversations in the living room, where everyone enjoys deserts and music. Sometimes they even play games together.
That’s why Vill finds it odd that only she and Ton were in the living room together after the meal with his parents nowhere in sight. When asked, Ton told her that his parents are retiring early. He then proceed to bring the conversation to another topic altogether.
Soon, Vill forgets about the oddity of the night, and they ended up talking about Ton’s new plan to open a new school for children whose parents had little money. It was a plan that Vill wholeheartedly agree. After all, being a teacher herself, she understands what it’s like to see parents struggling day by day, just trying to send their children to their first few years in school. Some of them eventually ended up giving up, as their basic needs soon override their desire to see their kids educated.
Their conversation then shifted to a variety of subjects and soon, both were laughing and poking fun at one another as they ended up sharing memories of their past. In the midst of their laughter, Ton took both of her hand in his. It was then that Vill’s earlier suspicion came to past.
“Vill, I know this is somewhat unexpected,” he started, looking into her eyes. “But I want to tell you again of what you already know.”
Vill’s heart sank. “Ton...” He held his hand up.
“No, Vill. I know what you are about to say,” he said, determination set in his eyes. “But please hear me out. You won’t regret it. I promise.”
She kept silent as she watched him gathering his courage together. His grip on her hand is tighter. He searched her eyes. “Vill, I love you. I’ve loved you from the beginning. Ever since I saw you in that library looking lost and frustrated, I’ve knew that you were the one. Now, I know what you’re thinking. That this is too early or that this thing between is us is impossible.”
He held her hand to his chest. He leaned closer. “But it’s not. I’m here, and you’re here. The important thing is that we share a special bond. And I know that you don’t think we suit as a couple, but I promise that it will work. I know that if you give me a chance—give
us a chance—you’ll realize that you love me too. Just as I love you. Please Vill. Please say you’ll give me a chance.” He pulled her hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss on the back of her hand, his eyes never leaving her.
“Ton...” she started, but found that she didn’t know what to say.
How many times had he proposed to her? This is the third time already. What will it takes for her to make him understand that she doesn’t love him? At least not in the sense he was thinking.
She has always admired and respected him since the beginning. He had treated her with respect, and always come to her needs and she will always be grateful for such a good friend. But she knows her heart well, and what they shared together isn’t love. Not what they have.
Oh why does it have to be like this? And with her closest friend?
Sighing, Vill carefully extricate her hand, avoiding eye contact with him. “You’re making things very difficult for me, Ton.” She finally said. Closing her eyes, she gathered her own set of courage.
“I had said this to you before,” she started, opening her eyes and staring directly into his. “The answer will always be no.” A frown appeared on his forehead, his eyes with disappointment. “No matter how many times you ask, it will be no. I just don’t feel the same way about you. I cherish our relationship, and I care about you. But that kind of love is just not a part of the package. I don’t love you that way.”
She glanced down as his fist and covered it with her own. She offered him a grim smile. “Let just say we call this the end of it?” she suggested. “Give up, Ton. There are better girls out there. I’m just not the one. One day you’ll believe me one that, I promise.”
He didn’t reply.
Trying to think of something to change the subject, she stood up and walked over to the window. Folding her arms across her midriff, she stared at the darkened sky. “It’s getting late. I should be getting home, don’t you think?”
She heard Ton getting up and coming to stand behind her. She closed her eyes and sighed as he reached for her upper arm and turned her to face him. He stared into her eyes, searching for the very thing she doesn’t have for him. “I’m not giving up, Vill. I know that you are capable of loving me the way I love you. But until you realize that—or ends up loving someone one day—I will never stop trying.”
“Ton...”
“Like you said,” he cut her off. “I know my own heart. So whatever I do with my heart, it’s my choice. And my path is chasing you until the end. Okay?” He sends her a charming smile. “Now, let’s get us on our way.”
Vill couldn’t suppress a smile as he disappeared out the door. He is his father’s son.
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This was a very interesting chapter for me to write. Not only was I introducing Ton's parent, I was brining Vill and Ton's relationship to another level. Unfortunately for me, I have to make Vill say no. After all, you all know she is getting paired up with Son. Right? Ton's parents won't be appearing much in the story. In fact, this is probably the only time I write of them. But I just want to give a little background for Ton and have you readers understands why he cherishes a woman like Vill...and his will to win her. Hehe. I hope you enjoy it. Next up: Vill's story.