It's finally here!!! haha, felt like fooling around.
actually, it is true. it's here--the chapter where aum and aff "reunion" after 10 long years.
ENJOY!!!! Oh, I decided to add a sig for every chapter.
Chapter Three:
“So what do you think?”
“It’s beautiful, mom,” Harit answered his expectant mother. “I love it.”
Seemly pleased, Ploy Rangsiman smiled and hugged her son. “I know you aren’t that surprised. But thank you for pretending otherwise.”
Harit suppressed a grin. His mother was right. He was expecting some sort of surprise. After all, everyone in the household knew that his mother loves occasions, and her children’s birthdays are no exceptions. At first he was suspicious when his mother wasn’t informing of any plans of a party. He had spent a few days wondering what his mother was up to until the night his sister confirmed his suspicion after she informed him that he was going to spend the weekend with her and her friends at the ocean.
Smiling, he returned his mother’s embrace. “No, thank you. I knew you were up to something. But this is just ridiculous. I would have settled for the regular family dinner, you know that.” Shaking her head, his mother pulled away and rolled her eyes at him before turning to his father. His father chuckled at his wife and son.
“Harit, I know I said this to you every year,” his brother started as he put his arms around his brother’s shoulder. “But happy twenty-ninth-birthday, older brother. You’ve been a pain in my neck for twenty-four years now. “
Everyone laughed as Harit slugged him playfully in the shoulder. “Thank you, Min.”
“Mother, tell Harit to stop slugging me,” Min whined. “He just gave me a bruise.”
Harit rolled his eyes. “You have to stop taking everything to mother. Otherwise, it won’t be just your shoulder I’ll bruise.”
Ignoring his brother’s word, Min put his arms around his mother. “The party is great mother. You did a great job. Too bad I’m not your favorite son. Otherwise, I’ll get the same treatment.”
His mother laughed. “Min, that’s enough. Just look at you. Stop fooling around.”
Tye shook his head at his youngest son. “Really. You are impossible. You mother and I love you all the same. Now talking about that, where is your sister? I haven’t seen her yet.”
“I sent Thawan to the kitchen,” Ploy answered
Min grinned. “Really? Oh I hope she have Auntie Jen make more dessert. It was delicious, I can’t stop eating them.”
His mother smiled. “Was it? I was hoping for that. Otherwise, I would have asked her to do it. Oh, I can’t believed she did all of this in just a couple of days!”
Harit rolled his eyes. “Mom, Auntie Jen can arrange a festival that would feed all of Bangkok in just one day if she have to.” He had known his nanny for as long as he can remember. Her family had served his family for generations and now she is more of a family than a servant. His heart warmed at the memories of her taking care of him when he was young, of her dressing his wounds when he got hurt, and scolding him for it afterward.
“No, not Auntie Jen,” his mother informed. “I cannot ask her after she just recovered from her cold. I asked someone else. Oh Harit, don’t forget to thank her. She was amazing. She arranged everything from the guest lists and seats to the food menu and the decorations. She made them herself. I was so pleased with how it turned out. She even prepared the main course and dessert herself.”
Curious, Harit rummage through his mind for the names of all the people his mother is acquainted with. None of them seemed to fit the description of the home domestic type. After all, most of them are rich and powerful ladies who busied themselves with society events and gossips. “Who is it, mother? Bpeeyachat was with us, so I can’t think of anyone else who is experienced with home domestic and event coordination.”
“Yes, auntie,” Bpeeyachat, who was standing by Chat, joined in the conversation. “Do we know her?”
His mother smiled. “You’ll be surprise,” she hinted. “It’s someone you don’t expect. And yes, you all know her.”
Even Min was becoming curious. “Who is it, mother? Stop paying guessing game. I want to kn—“
“Father. Mother. We’re here!”
At the sound of his sister’s voice, Harit turned around to find his sister smiling at them. “Thawan, why were you in the kitchen so long? The guests wanted to see you.”
The younger girl grinned. “I was busy. It was hard finding the right dress,” she answered offhandedly. “Everyone, look. Guess who is here.” She stepped aside.
Awestruck, Harit stared as a young woman came into view. Something about her struck a chord in his mind. She was familiar, but also a stranger.
Seemly uncomfortable with the attention, she curtsied everyone. “How is everyone?” she asked. “I haven’t you in a long time.”
“Soriya!” Bpeeyachat gasped. “Is this you? Oh my, you’ve grown prettier than the last time I saw you.” The two girls hugged and started a conversation. Chat and Min joined in with them, exchanging greetings and catching up with one another.
Harit watched them quietly as he finally remembered where he had seen the woman before. Bpee was right. She had definitely grown. She no longer processed that childish face and pout that fools everyone around her. Unfortunately, she didn’t lose that innocent aura around her either. He frowned as his memories of her returned, and none of them were pleasing to his mind. No. None of them were.
He scowled as his sister led her toward him. “Harit, don’t you remember Soriya? We used to play together all the time when we were younger.”
Soriya wanted to be anywhere but here. She forced a smile and curtsied. He replied courtly and simply asked her how she was. She replied in the same manner, keeping herself as indifference as possible. It was obvious that he wanted the same as he quickly made an excuse and left the group.
Biting her lips, So tried to pretend that it didn’t affect her. However, as the night went on, she found her thoughts always coming back to him. Before making the trip him, she had known that their path would cross and she was more than ready to face him. But now she wasn’t so sure. Over the years, she had had mastered her emotions, especially where he was concerned. She no longer falls apart at any reminder of her first love. She didn’t even bat an eye when his name was mentioned. Now that she was back, she finally found a reason why she had control over herself in England. Harit Rangsiman didn’t live there. He lives in Thailand. And now she is here also.
Regardless of her feelings however, she cannot deny that fact that Harit was an extremely attractive man. He became more rugged, sharp in some places, and broad in others, all made his features more appealing. He lost his boyish charms with age, making him more mature and handsome than she when she last saw him ten years ago.
The night went on as planned and Soriya soon relaxed into the atmosphere, regardless of her awareness of the subject of the event, who obviously made an effort not to notice her. By the time it was for the dance, it seemed that Harit and she wouldn’t have to utter another world to one another. Unfortunately, Ploy has other plans.
After serving cake, Ploy noticed that the guests were more than ready for a dance, so she quickly announced to everyone that I was time for the first dance of the evening. After offering thanks to everyone for attending the party, she asked Harit to come onstage. Once he was up there, she continued. “Today, as we all know, is my son’s birthday. However, I’m not only celebrating his birthday, but I am also celebrating the return of a special someone who had left us for ten years. Once a long time, she was a sweetheart who was always spending her time with us. So when she left, she had taken more than just memories with her. She had taken herself away from us. Now that she is back, I want to welcome her back home, with us, and hope that she would continue to stay forever. And thanks to her, this party wouldn’t be a success. She had helped make everything today possible,” she looked at Soriya and smile. “Therefore, Soriya, it would be my honor if you would share the first dance with Harit.”
Soriya gulped as all eyes turned on her. She turned to her friends for help and found all of them staring at her expectantly. “I—I—okay. I’ll dance.” She got up and walked to the dance floor, where Harit stood waiting for her. Without saying a word, he deftly pressed her hand on his arm and led her toward the center of the room. Not long into the waltz, more couples moved to the dance floor.
“I can’t see why you agree to dance with me, when it is obvious you don’t want to,” she said irritably, hating the fact that he doesn’t even have the decently to even say a word to her as they danced.
“I wanted to,” he surprised her by murmuring.
“What—“
“You don’t have to lie,” he interrupted. “Thawan told me. You refused to come to the outing when she asked you and told her that you’re going to the country to see your nanny. If you didn’t want to go, you should have told her the truth.”
“I never meant—“
He interrupted her again. “Thawan was upset over the matter. She wanted you to be with us. To think that ten years in England would have taught you a few things, but it succeeded in only helping becomes more devious. You’ll never change.”
Ten years ago, she would have kept quiet and let him say what he wants. But that was then. Keeping her face expressionless, she looked up at him. His eyes were blank, staring back at her. “You—I haven’t met you for the last ten years also. Then, you never cease to make a point of your distrust and hatred toward me. Now, you still hate me. Not even a few hours into meeting again, you already made your feelings clear, even when you haven’t made the time to find out who I am. Between the two of us, you haven’t changed.”
One corner of his mouth curled up in a half smile. “Well, well. I guess you learned something in England all along. It’s looks as if you’re not afraid to speak your mind anymore.”
She returned with a mock smile. “I’m glad you told me. Otherwise, I might have not known.”
The scorns in his gaze revealed how much he would love too strangle her. “I’ve told you once long ago, and I will say it again,” he whispered huskily. “Stay away from my family.”
The atmosphere was suddenly heated with the two staring challenging at one another. Soriya narrowed her eyes at him. “Fine,” she replied dryly. “As long as you inform them that you ordered me to stay away.”
“You—“
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have a legitimate excuse to lie—I mean tell my best friend and your family that I will be staying away from them.” She returned his icy glare with a smug smile and a shrug. Both of them knew that it such action was impossible. His family would never agree to it, and Harit knew better than to even suggest it upfront. “I believe you can do it,” she added with mock encouragement.
Harit glared at her icily. If looks can kill, she thought, relishing this moment. The waltz ended and Soriya abruptly took a step backward. Reflexively, his arms hardened and his fingers tightened around her waist, keeping her with him.
Surprised at his impulsive action, she looked at him with questioning eyes. His face was blank as he instinctively released her. He gave her a challenging glare. She quickly returned it one of her own. “Oh! And I have a request for you—stay away from my life.”
Harit struggled to control his temper as he watched her strode away. That little minx. How dare she? To think that she was once a shy and obedient girl.
Quickly striding off the dance floor, he head straight for the garden for some fresh air. He quickly found a bench and sat to cool his temper and the urge to find Soriya and teach her a thing or two. Recollecting the scenes from a few minutes ago, Harit realized that he have more than just a simple problem in his hands.
Originally, he had wanted to test her, pry-into her mind, to see if she is up to no good. When his mother wanted them to share the first dance, he thought it would be the perfect way to execute his plans. Instead, he got a devious hellion. He sighed as he contemplates his next move. Soriya is obviously not staying from his family. With a personality like that, he would never let her stay near his sister. Thawan is already a challenge enough without having Soriya added into the picture.
With another sigh, he foraged his mind for an effective strategy. When nothing came into mind, he thought of their dance together. Slowly, his lips curved into a smile. Fiery hellion, he thought. If only he have a few minutes alone with her...
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I hope you like reading this chapter. It was hard writing this chapter as I really don't like how they treat one another. I prefer writing after they realize they were in love with one another.
Thank you for reading. COMMENT PLEASE, I want to know how I am doing.
P.S. Please excuse any of my mistakes. if there is anything you don't understand, just leave a comment.
