jjinxx
Is your "nom" Fai-approved?
Let love crumble the curtains of heaven for us to meet
*Starring*
Deun (Beau Savitree)
Win (PJ Kawin)
Karn (Toey Pongsakorn)
Pheung (Prang Kannarun)
Phet (Phet Takrit)
Phao (Wawwa Nichari)
Chapter 1
“P’Karn? Are you ready?”
Facing the mirror, Karn slid his eyes over to see Deun come in.
“Wow!” Deun walked over to him as he turned to smile at her. “You look so…”
“Do I look strange?”
“No way.” She smoothed his formal white jacket. “You look handsome like always. Today you look like a hero from the olden days.”
He laughed at his sister’s comment. “Don’t tease me.”
“I’m serious. Keep up that bright, pearly smile too! I was just over to see p’Pheung. She’s so beautiful that you won’t be able to help falling in love with her for sure.”
Her words reminded him that he and the woman getting engaged to him today did not already love each other. Karn wondered at how he hadn't grown used to that fact yet. It was enough that Pheung was the woman of any man's dreams.
Deun winced, noticing his eyes fall to the ground. She then smiled to encourage him. “I should get back to helping mom. It’s almost time to start. Sit tight, okay?” He squeezed her hand in thanks for her support.
“Deun.” She turned back before closing the door. She was dressed in traditional Thai clothing as well, for the occasion. “You look beautiful today too.”
“Thanks, p’Karn.”
“But don’t let your own engagement come too soon.”
She rolled her eyes. “P’Karn, you haven’t changed one bit.” Even when it was his engagement day, he still made the effort to be protective of her.
Deun had left for a few minutes. Someone knocked at the door.
“Come in,” Karn said. The two men who entered brought Karn back to his feet, a grin stretching across his lips. “You’re here!”
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Phet came over and hugged Karn hard. Karn then turned to the next man.
“Win.” It had been a few months since Karn had seen Phet, but with Win, they hadn’t met face to face in over two years.
“Look at the groom.” Win’s serious face broke out in a smile as he returned Karn’s hug. “I always knew you would be the first to commit.”
“I’m not a groom yet. This is just the engagement.”
“Talking like you don’t know what comes next,” Phet said, taking a seat. “So? How do you feel?”
“Well, hasn’t it been a long time now since Mr. Psychologist tried analyzing my feelings?” Karn joked. The trio smiled, recalling their time together in college. Phet had been the psychology major, practicing his counseling skills on his two buddies. “I’m anticipating your new book.”
Phet said, “I’ll reserve a special copy for you both, with an autograph, and a bookmarked chapter for your personal issues and everything.”
“And you, Win? I haven’t heard from you in a while. Taking care of business, as usual?”
Win smiled. “Letting the real bosses take care of business as usual, you mean? I’m still just a shareholder.” Win had inherited a golf club business from his parents, though he still hadn’t felt interested in taking over. His uncle was the current CEO.
“I hear they’re holding the upcoming international tournament at your course.”
“Uncle Mee and the manager will make sure things go well. Let’s not talk about business. So how long have you known your betrothed?” Win asked. He picked up an invitation, identical to the one he had received in the mail earlier that year. Win had been pleasantly surprised to see the name of his cousin printed next to Karn's name on the card. He thought about revealing this fun fact, but Karn and Phet would find out soon enough. Win hated spoiling surprises, anyway.
“A year or so.” Karn caught Win and Phet watching him. “What? You guys look like you’re trying to read my mind.”
“We’ve never been able to read your mind. Your face is quite telling though,” Phet said. Karn, the mature, unbiased military man, never managed to be anything but transparent when he was around the people he loved. “You still haven’t answered me. How do you feel?”
Karn matched their gazes and finally replied. “I feel fine. Today is a good day. I’m gaining a good person in my life. My parents are happy, and that’s what matters.”
Phet and Win exchanged silent looks. Win took a deep breath. “Well, congratulations. It’s good to see that you’re moving forward like this. Looks like Phet and I will have to catch up.”
Karn looked at him skeptically. “I’ve never seen you interested in settling down.” In fact, Karn couldn’t recall Win ever being in a relationship before.
“I’m just trying to make you feel better now that you’re going to give up your bachelor life.”
Karn grinned. It was good to see Win laughing. He remembered years ago in school when Win would go days just keeping his thoughts to himself. When that happened back then, no matter how Karn and Phet probed him, Win would never give in to sharing his thoughts with them.
“I’m glad you’re both here to witness this day for me,” Karn said. “Come on. It’s about time you two got to meet my dad and sister.” Karn’s parents divorced when he was fifteen, and Win and Phet had only met Karn’s mother before.
“Your sister finished school in San Diego then?” Win asked.
“Yup,” Karn said proudly as they headed out from his room to the living room where many guests were gathered.
“I wonder if she ever had a boyfriend while she was over there,” Phet said, earning an un-amused side look from Karn. Phet and Win hid their laughs, both knowing well that Karn put himself in the place of bodyguard when it came to his sister. “Remember when you considered skipping your finals because you heard that your sister was meeting up with a male classmate?”
“And it turned out that they were just working on a project together?”
“Because that’s what normal high school students do?”
“Are you two here to mock me, or congratulate me?” Karn asked as the other two broke their contained laughter. They shushed down once they reached the stairs, politely greeting the family and guests who were now waiting for the formal ceremony to begin.
“Dad.” Karn introduced his two friends to his father.
“So these are the gentlemen who helped keep you out of trouble in school?” his dad said. The men grinned at one another.
“Karn has told me a lot about both of you. I’m glad he has good friends around him, especially two men who are intelligent and well-respected.”
“And where is your fiancée?” Phet asked to Karn.
“She’ll be down soon. I’ll go grab you guys some drinks.”
Win held up his hand. “We’ll manage. Today, you just focus on you and don’t worry about taking care of us. I’ll go get drinks.” He left the others to get to the refreshments and snacks.
[SIZE=11pt]He paused to admire a beautiful fruit carving displayed in the center of the snacks table. As he followed the shape of leaf hearts, his eyes refocused on a person standing beyond the table by the entrance to the house. She wore a Thai dress. Win blinked, as if the image of her was one from a dream. He watched her smile at some of the guests, and her smile struck him in the chest. She looked familiar. Win forgot what he was doing. When she exited through the doors, his feet instinctively followed her.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]------A/N[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Title inspired from "Ter Kheu Khrai," the theme song of "Tawee Pope."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Goodness. What am I doing. Let's see how this story goes. Su su for Bangrajun! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]T-T[/SIZE]
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