Chapter 22 - Seldom Tears, Always Surprises
Kaneung's Condo
“What are you doing?” asked Sakorn.
Kaneung pushed Sakorn into her room with force. She then closed her bedroom door and rushed passed Sakorn. Kaneung stood still for a moment in front of her closet door.
“If he meant nothing to me, I wouldn't have kept this most important thing to me,” thought Kaneung, “you were ready to reveal everything to him. So do it. Open the damn door!”
Kaneung pressed her lips together and slowly reached for the knob on the closet door.
Sakorn stood in awe of what Kaneung might possibly do. What is it that she has to show him? He sensed her hesitation. Kaneung couldn't possibly decide to really be with him, she is too prideful to become an adulterer. He knew this, that was why he arrogantly made the decision to make her his that night. But, his lame excuse of himself using alcohol to cover up his selfish ways backfired. He made her hate him and end up still wanting Kaphon more. “She's still setting me up?” asked Sakorn. “But, I'm not going to run away this time. I have to show her that I am a man...like Kaphon.”
Before Kaneung could turn the knob on the closet, she felt Sakorn's hand on her hand. Kaneung turned to look at Sakorn. “You don't have to do this if you are hesitant about it. I don't want to know the answer anymore. I already know your answer.”
Kaneung pulled her hands off the knob and Sakorn's hands flung down at the same moment. Their eyes still locked. Tears are now swelling up.
Sakorn turned Kaneung towards him and gently placed his hand on her head. He took his thumb and pressed it gently against her eyelid to wipe the tears that haven't dropped yet.
“You stay strong and don't let that tear drop in front of me. You know how much you hate crying in front of me. So, don't do it. I will turn around and walk away so you don't have to let me see it again,” Sakorn whispered to her.
Her eyes remained closed. He is right. She hated crying in front of him. She hated how she couldn't open that door. “Would he accept NongLynn as his own? He doesn't love me, so will he love her as a daughter? He accepted his son because he loved her when they had him. He doesn't love me.”
Kaneung heard her front door close. She opened her eyes and wiped away the water in her eyes. She turned to her closet and opened it. A small safe sat on the middle shelf. She turned the knob to enter the code. Finally, the click. Kaneung pulled the safe's door and reached in to pull out her photo album.
The cover read, “Dreams...Family...Love”
“The most precious things in my life are held in this safe, Sakorn,” said Kaneung to herself. “You knew I liked you. Hearing you tell me that you knew how I felt hurts. I thought if I hurt you, I'd feel better so you wouldn't have to talk to me and tell me those words.”
Kaneung turned the page in her photo album and dropped to the floor sobbing.
Hospital
“Doctor, we decided that we are going to try a new treatment. We want to try bone marrow,” said Sakol.
“Okay,” said the doctor. “I will go ahead and get paperwork started for that and you will have to sign for it.”
Sakol and Wat grasped each others' hand and rose to walk out of the doctor's office. Once outside the door, they turned to look each other in the eye. Sakol's tear exploded and Wat pulled her towards him and held her tightly.
“We made the right decision. I am not going to be scamming anyone anymore. I promise, I really will be a better man. I'm sorry about all the things I did to you and our son. I will make things right,” said Wat.
Through her sobs, Sakol replied, “Stop apologizing. I heard it so many times tonight that I get it. I can't completely trust you, but I know I can't ruin Sakorn anymore. I even thought he was a good guy for me and it was my opportunity to escape you. If I hadn't been pregnant with Moo Lek, I wouldn't have left him because I thought he could be my savior. But, I couldn't go through with our plan at the time and in the end, I'm still trapped by you.”
Wilamorn House
“Why can't I get a hold of that brother of ours?” asked Ami.
“I don't know,” said Kaphon. “but let me take your stuff upstairs for you. You go and greet mom and dad. They told me they'd try to stay up and wait for you, but it's so late. They probably fell asleep in the living room. Old age.”
Ami chuckled. She walked up the steps and entered the house. As she stood in the foyer, she smirked. Ami gazed at the home. “Memories,” she said to herself and proceeded to walk to the living room.
Back outside at the car, Kaphon's cell phone rang. Kaphon scrambled to retrieve it out of his pocket. “Thida.”
“Hey, I found P'Sakorn's cell phone at the hospital. Is he home yet?” asked Thida.
Kaphon placed the luggages he already took out of the trunk of the car on the ground. “Why were you at the hospital? I thought you said you were home. Are you alright?” asked Kaphon, rapidly. His heart racing, worrying about Thida.
“P'Kaphon, I am fine. I came because P'Kaneung,” said Thida.
“Wait, Kaneung? What happened to her? Is she still there? I will be at the hospital in a few minutes,” said Kaphon.
“Wait, let me finish! I told you, everything is fine. P'Kaneung went home and I am now at home too. Don't worry,” responded Thida. Kaphon grabbed the luggages and walked up the steps to Ami's room. “What happened?” he asked.
Thida replied, “She needed a stitch, so I brought her to the hospital. And I guess, when you called I told you a fib because I didnt' want you to worry about me. And, I sent her home with P'Sakorn.”
Kaphon tossed his sister's bags in her room and rushed down the stairs to his car. “That guy isn't back yet. He has no cell phone because it is with you? I have to go see her.” Kaphon hung up the phone on Thida and drove off towards Kaneung's condo. Many things ran through his mind. He has to rescue her.
Thida sat on her bed and gazed her screen. Kaphon hung up on her. “He's going to see P'Kaneung.” She flopped down on her bed with her cell phone at hand. Her mind raced with questions. She thought that their marriage was going to turn out well, but now she is uncertain of Kaphon's true feelings towards her. Is he only marrying her because they were caught in bed together? Is what he revealed to her true? Perhaps there are feelings between the two of them. No matter how much Kaphon told her he is faking everything. Maybe the proposal to her is fake.
Thida let go of her cell phone and flipped to the other side on her bed. “Hmm, trust him Thida. As long as you are sincere towards him, your marriage will work out. One sided love per usual. You have him further along than you ever had P'Sakorn. Cherish him and trust him. Go to sleep.”
Kaneung's Condo
Sakorn walked down to the lobby still sulking over how Kaneung was willing to do anything to get revenge on him. She can't forgive him because he ruined her by not having her be pure enough for Kaphon. What he did didn't stop them from having NongLynn, which he is happy for her about.
Prior to Ami leaving for surgery
“Nong Lynn is cute, isn't she?” asked Ami. “I can't believe that Kaphon made her. She should've been yours shouldn't she?” asked Ami.
“What do you mean, mine?” asked Sakorn.
“You know? Don't tell me you didn't like her little brother. You could've just confessed and Kaphon wouldn't have gotten her. And then you could've married her and had NongLynn instead,” replied Ami.
Sakorn cleared his throat. He had thought his sister knew about the rape, but she doesn't.
“Kaphon just doesn't seem like he is already a father. He's always been the troublesome kid. Causing himself to get sent to study abroad and look at what he brought back. Luckily he got a degree while juggling a family. They had her as soon as he got the chance to see her. Fast. And, how lucky is he to do what you always wanted to do, study abroad. I don't know what dad was thinking, how is that punishment for what he did to Sakol. He's not even in trouble for bringing home a kid either. And with the girl you had the hots for. That Kaphon, accomplished all that in 5 years.”
Sakorn couldn't stand hearing his sister talking about Kaphon. Kaphon got everything, the parents, the girl, the kid, the education. He got nothing. His mom is gone. All his dad ever does is nag him about work, studying in the country to be more in tune with the school so that he can be better prepared to run it. His dad nagged him about Sakol running around the house half naked when they were together. His father favored only the kid.
Lobby
Kaphon ran towards Kaneung's door and pulled out his spare key. Kaneung's bedroom door is wide open and still sitting in front of the closet. “What happened?” asked Kaphon, “What did he do to you?”
Kaphon sat down and wrapped his arms around Kaneung. “Am I too late again?”
The safe is already sealed and the closet door already closed.
“I want to run away again so that I don't have to see him. This time, I really don't have plans on seeing him. I just want to leave him to be because I know for sure that I am not strong enough to really hurt him,” sobbed Kaneung. “Don't try to convince me again.”
Kaphon held her tighter. She is worse than last time. That guy is so mean to her.
“Kaneung, tell me you want me to continue to seek the revenge for you and I'll do it. You don't have to do it yourself if you don't want to,” Kaphon said, trying to keep her calm. His heart ached for her because she suffered so much. She loves Sakorn. He tried to convince her that she didn't. He convinced her to seek revenge on him. He did that because it isn't Sakorn that is selfish. But him. He was using her to get back at his brother. The same way that Sakorn used Kaneung to get to him. Perhaps Sakorn won afterall. “No, he didn't,” mumbled Kaphon.
After a while, Kaneung wiped her tears and proceeded to stand up. “I'm fine now. Thank you Kaphon. You are a true friend. He didn't do anything to me again,” she said. “Even though, it would've been better if he had, because then I can hate him,” she thought to herself.
Kaneung started to walk to the bathroom, but Kaphon grabbed her wrist, “Kaneung.”
“Don't worry Kaphon. I won't run away yet. I still have NongLynn. I want to hear her opinion. I can't just take her away now that she is older and she has already met him. I can't just take her away from you either. No matter how much I want to run away and never see his face again. I can't do that. I can't be selfish,” said Kaneung. “But, I will try to avoid him. Because I'm afraid I will do something that will make me feel even worse than I already feel.”
Wilamorn House
“That kid didn't even bother to pick me up from the airport. I hate that I have to be so nice to him!” shouted Ami at the mirror.
Ami then heard a car pull up and she quickly ran to the window to peek outside. “He's home,” she whispered.
Ami grabbed her robe and wrapped it over herself. She opened the door and walked downstairs. Sakorn entered the foyer and gazed at his sister walking down the stairs. His mouth shot wide open. His eyes filled with tears. “You can walk!” he shouted.
Ami smiled and ran down the rest of the way. “I can run too little brother!” She wrapped her arms around him and smirked. “I can help at the school now! And dad won't have to be embarrassed by me anymore.”
Sakorn was happy for his sister, but something else bothered him. He can't get over thinking about Kaneung.
“Well, Sakorn, escort me to my room since you forgot to pick me up. Then you can go to your room and get some sleep. I can tell you had a long night,” she said.
Sakorn's room
Sakorn showered and changed. He sat on his bed and thought of leaving her in her room all by herself.
Kaphon drove home. He knew Kaneung is set on staying, so he won't have to worry too much. He thought of what Sakorn did to Kaneung to make her so upset tonight. Halfway home, he thought of Thida. “She has Sakorn's phone. She shouldn't have his phone. I have to go get,” Kaphon shuddered at the thought of seeing her even meeting Sakorn. Not because he hates Sakorn, but because he doesn't like it when Thida will be nice to the guy. Thida loved him at one point in her life. He can't have her loving Sakorn over him. Kaphon was about to turn his car towards Thida's house, but he decided against it. He has to head home. He doesn't want to seem like the overly jealousy type. “I'll text her instead.”
Back at home, Ami took of her robe and laid on her bed. “Sweet home,” she whispered. “Soon, I will have it all to myself. Those boys will end up with nothing. It is mine after all. Right, mother?”
The next morning
Everyone got up and went on with their daily routine. Kaphon ignored Sakorn as he walked down the stairs in casual clothes. “This scene reminds me of that one day,” Kaphon thought, “he is ignoring the fact that he hurt her. And here I am again, letting him go. Why?”
Ami walked into the dining room and caught a glimpse of Sakorn. “Sakorn!” she shouted. “Come in here and join us for breakfast. I made this myself! You have to eat it if you love me.”
Sakorn glanced over and gave a fake smile. He walked in and sat down.
“Khun Lung!” shouted NongLynn as she appeared from the kitchen.
Sakorn smiled and opened his arms to her. She gave him a peck on the cheek. Instead of walking away from him, she placed her ears on his heart. Sakorn wondered why she would do this out of all days.
“Ahem, you give your uncle a hug but not your dad?” asked Kaphon.
Lynn lifted her little head away from Sakorn's chest and smiled at Kaphon. “I love you too Khun Por. Very much. But I wanted to hear Khun Lung's heartbeat. I want to know if he loves me just as much as you do.”
Sakorn was caught off guard. Before she could walk off towards Kaphon, Sakorn pulled Lynn's head back to his chest. “Listen to it, do I love you?” he asked.
“Yes, you do. It is beating even faster than before,” said Lynn. “But, I think you are just getting nervous because you want to beat out Khun Por.” Lynn laughed.
She got out of Sakorn's arm and ran to her dad. I will give you two kisses. As she finished her last peck she whispered, “Two, to make up for hurting you. I love you Khun Por. As much as I ever have or even more.”
Everyone sat at the table enjoying their breakfast. Pin chimed in, “Wow, our breakfast is complete.”
Jade chimed in, “If Kaneung were here with us, it'd be even better.”
Sakorn dropped his fork. “Sorry,” he said. Then picked the fork back up and continued to eat. Kaphon looked over at Ami, “Such a delicious meal,” he complimented.
Hospital
“P'Sakorn didn't come this morning?” asked Thida. Sakol replied, “No, he didn't. Thida, we talked to the doctor last night.”
“Good,” replied Thida. “I'm glad you made the right decision. I will also talk to the doctor. Please give me permission to help you out. And I will be the first volunteer to see if my bone marrow matches.”
“How can I ever repay you?” asked Sakol.
“You can't,” said Thida. “You just go on and be a mother to him and know that someone as kind as myself would do this even though you lied to my special person.”
Thida pulled out Sakorn's cell phone, “If he stops by, give this to him. I don't want my fiance' freaking out.”
She thought back to the numerous texts that Kaphon sent her the night before. She chuckled at all of them because her cell phone batteries died and didn't hear any of his texts.
Kaneung's Condo
“Khun Mae, Khun Por's heart beat really fast this morning when I listened to him,” said NongLynn.
“Really?” asked Kaneung. “His heart always beats fast for you.”
“Khun Mae, I'm talking about my real dad,” she replied and rushed into her mom's arms.
“He loves me too,” she said.
Kaneung's heart sank. She can't take her away from him. Not when NongLynn has gotten so attached. But, how can she face him.
“Khun Mae, you can face him right? You are my hero. Please stay here for me. I don't care if he doesn't know that I am his daughter. I just want to be near him now that I know. He looks so lonely,” she said.
One week later
“Your bone marrow matches,” said the doctor.
Thida smiled. “Let me go tell the family.”
“One more thing,” said the doctor, “Can you donate red blood cells and platelets to him too? His mother has been doing it herself. But you also have the same blood type.”
The doctor went through some paperwork and looked up at Thida. “In fact, from what I've observed, you don't know that you and Sakol have very similar DNA.”
“What are you saying?” asked Thida. “You took a DNA test too? You're saying I can be related to her?”
“More like, you can be siblings,” said the doctor.
Thida stood up, but fell right back in her chair. “Really?” asked Thida.
“Really,” said the doctor.
Her heart pounded. “Sakol can be my sister.”