Chapter 34 Their Right Moments
The wedding of Nadech and Yaya was to be held one month later.
“Is he being a good boy?” Yaya asked into the phone. “Okay, good. Remember to give Max his rubber ducky when he has a bath. Thanks Auntie Pam!”
She and Nadech were waiting in the lobby of Golden Bridge Resort. They had returned to Khorat with a single week left to the wedding.
“I still think Mint should have come with us,” he commented.
“She’ll be fine with Mark. Honestly, he’s your friend.” She shook her head at his brotherly overprotectiveness of Mint. The poor girl would never get any freedom if she wasn’t so strong-willed against her brother. “They should all be here soon.”
Nadech held himself still while she pushed his hair away from his forehead as it had grown longer. “We don’t really have to do this. I mean, what’s the point of a bachelor and bachelorette party anyway?”
“Well, I suppose it’s to enjoy our time as single people.”
“But we’re not single. We’re engaged,” he pointed out.
She winced. “True…oh I don’t know. Ask Oh, it was all his idea.”
Nadech didn’t understand celebrating one’s last days as a ‘free man.’ There was nothing to celebrate except the prospect that he would be with Yaya forever. However, he had gone along with everyone’s plans since they were all excitedly agreeing to coming to the resort even before he consented.
When the rest of the group arrived, the men and women parted ways to their separate suites, where they would rest for the night and then spend the next full day segregated by gender.
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The guys lounged around in the pool for the morning, but soon tired of it. After lunch, they gathered comfortably in the living room of the suite and turned on the television.
“What do you think they’re doing?” Oh asked, referring to the women, who were rooming just down the hall.
“Probably girl stuff like painting their nails and fixing their hair,” Boy popped open some soda bottles for them.
Oh twisted his mouth in boredom. “Maybe we should check up on them. In case they need anything.”
Nadech flipped through a catalog, “They’re fine, leave them alone. That was the point of this right?”
“Fine…they’re probably having a blast with male entertainers or something. Just saying.” Nadech, Mark and Boy gave Oh peeved glares.
“I highly doubt the older ones would allow something inappropriate like that in front of Mint and Kim,” Nadech shook his head. A heartbeat of silence passed before he tossed the catalog away. “But just in case, let’s make sure they’re alright.” However much he doubted Oh’s theory, he didn’t like the idea that it was possible Yaya was having too much fun with her last day as a ‘free woman.’
They all got to their feet. Mark peeked outside the door and the others tiptoed out after him. They inched single file down the hall, but froze when the elevator rang and opened to let voices drift towards them, voices that they all recognized very well.
“Back! Back!” Mark hissed in panic. Unfortunately for him, being the one at the front meant the other guys had already returned safely to their room, leaving him to be spotted by Kim.
“P’Mark? What’s up?”
He slowly swiveled around to face them, grinning exaggeratedly. “I was going to…ask you guys if you have some…flour?”
“Flour?” Mint repeated, brow raised high. “What for?”
“You know, like when a neighbor needs flour, you should lend him some.”
“Why didn’t you ask room service?” Margie suggested, while Taew and Yaya glanced at one another with knowing smiles.
Mark face-palmed himself. “Good idea! Duh, what was I thinking? Heh. Well, later then…”
“They were canoeing!” Mark barged back in. “The girls weren’t even in their room this whole day.
And they said they were getting ready to go out again to ride elephants!”
“Elephants. Why didn’t we think of that?” Oh pouted.
“Wasn’t this trip your idea?” Boy reminded him. “I thought you had something planned out for us.”
“I thought YOU had something planned out for us,” Oh shot back. “You know this area best.”
Nadech frowned. “Do elephants come with seat belts? If any of them fall off—“
“Dude, you’re worrying way too much,” Mark tsked.
“Well, sounds like they’re having fun. What about us?”
“Isn’t it traditional to go to a strip club or something?” Boy wondered.
This received a variety of disinterested grunts and a quiet, “I’d rather work,” from Nadech.
Boy shrugged. “It was just a suggestion.” He caught Oh’s eyes. “Uh, which I was totally not into anyway.” It was now known to everyone that Boy intended to pursue Kim. “But the resort has a list of activities and places we can visit.”
“Should we go biking?” Oh asked.
“Too hot. I still can’t believe you finally learned how to bike,” Nadech marveled.
“Right?” Oh said proudly. “Thanks to Taew, I’m thinking of joining a 5k race. Anyway, I’m feeling kind of lazy right now. Let’s just relax for a bit while deciding what to do.”
Mark spotted a stack of DVDs that he had brought along and with a devilish grin, he decided to expose his pals to some healthy drama.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Boy announced.
“I’m going to put in something,” Mark crawled over to the TV.
“Ooh, do you have Transformers?” Oh asked.
“Yeah…” Mark answered.
Several minutes later…
“What the hell. This isn’t Transformers. Unless they’ve come out with part four starring Thai people?” Oh gaped at the screen.
Boy reappeared and leaned on the back of the couch, narrowing his gaze at the TV. “Why are you watching lakorn?”
Oh looked at Nadech with bug eyes, then questioned Mark, “Why ARE we watching lakorn?”
“Because I refuse to be the only one who’s fallen prey to the twisted world of lakorn,” Mark said tensely.
“Wait, Boy, how did you know this was lakorn in the first place?” Oh asked.
“My girl cousins watch them all the time. My brother and I could never watch TV when the girls were over. This one looks familiar. Gosh, my cousins were completely obsessed with that lead guy.”
Mark glared at them. “Since we have nothing to do and I have the remote, we’re watching whatever I decide on, which happens to be Koo Gum.”
The other three at first occupied themselves with food or books while Mark watched stubbornly. Eventually, however, certain scenes caught their curiosity and by episode three, all were deeply engrossed in the timeless love story of the Thai girl and her Japanese beau.
When the doorbell rang, Boy nudged Mario. “Go get the food.”
Oh elbowed Nadech. “Go get the food.”
Nadech waved his fingers at Mark. “Mark, you go.”
Mark rolled his eyes. “I’ll just pause this until I get back.”
As the screen froze, Oh wailed, “Hurry! I wanna watch Kobori and Ang!” He realized what he’d just said, or more importantly,
how he had said it, and sheepishly curled up behind a pillow.
Mark returned and placed their dinner on the coffee table. “Okay, we don’t have to watch anymore if you guys don’t want to.”
Oh looked around, rubbing his neck. “Well, it’s kind of interesting. Even if it is cheesy.”
“And violent,” Boy added, though he thought it was cool that there was history worked into the lakorn instead of simple sappy love stuff.
“Unrealistic,” Nadech said, not that he had missed a single scene since he started watching.
"Yet oddly addictive," Oh remarked.
Boy added, “But since Oh obviously wants to watch it, I don’t mind.”
“Me either.”
Mark snorted. “Whatever you guys say.”
Before they resumed watching Koo Gum, Oh looked up. “What are we going to tell the girls we did if they ask us?”
They all shifted around searching for something reasonable.
“Swimming,” Nadech said.
“Some tennis,” Boy suggested
“Bar,” Mark ended.
“Sounds like us,” Oh approved.
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Lights from the TV flashed as Nadech opened his eyes. He saw that they had all fallen asleep and the player was signaling for a disc change. He turned it off and peered outside to squint at the rising sun, his favorite time of the day. Heart yearning to see Yaya, he grabbed a few choice items and headed out.
Yaya silenced her cell phone so the others wouldn’t wake up. She read her text message, then dressed quickly and slipped out, and down to the lobby. Nadech took her hand; she let him lead her away, like two truants sneaking off to share the moment of their life, their smiles lighting up the day in place of the sun.
Driving away from the resort, the two leisurely conversed in the car; each replied with the pleasure of hearing the other’s voice answer back, sharing the events of yesterday’s ‘parties’. Yaya was much amused that Nadech had been drawn to a romance lakorn. She would have thought that a group of men could think of something much more rowdy for a bachelor party, but was relieved nonetheless. Nadech hadn’t sounded like he particularly looked forward to the party anyhow, and when he told her that all day yesterday he was thinking about whether she had fallen off an elephant, it let her know he had been thinking about her instead of his last chance to run wild.
“What did you think of the lakorn? It’s very popular and a favorite among romantics.”
“I thought at first…” he pondered, “that it was unrealistic. But there was real life in it. Like the fact that people can go very far for one another. And that even if life ends, love doesn’t. And also...”
She cocked her head for him to finish.
“The only remedy for love is to love more,” he said, then laughed shortly at himself. “Although I’m sure I’m an amateur lakorn watcher, so don’t quote me on this.” He still didn’t even know what a rawr scene was.
Yaya smiled. “At least you’ve grown into a real life liver.”
“Are you calling me a liver, as in one of the body’s organs?”
“No,” she laughed, “I mean someone who lives life.”
“I know,” he shook his head with her amusement. “But if I was a liver, you’d be a heart. This one here.” He pointed to his chest.
“Are you sure you’re an amateur?” She laughed. “Because that was cheesy.”
He lifted a corner of his lips proudly. “Wanna grab breakfast?”
Because time passes quickly in the company of loved ones, soon, they entered a familiar setting. Yaya felt lucky to be back at the beautiful estate, which appeared just as glad to welcome them back, shining brilliantly before them like it wanted them to never think of leaving it.
Indeed, with Yaya beside him, Nadech didn’t think he could resist staying here forever. This was the place where she made him aware of the goodness of love. The place where they shared their first real kiss, the moment that made his heart pound so hard, it beat itself to pieces only to have her touch, her look, her smile bring all the pieces together just so it could keep him alive to be with her.
Once they were out, Yaya shaded her eyes and took in full view of the land. “It’s great to be back here. Is Kai around?”
“He’s on vacation, along with the rest of the house staff. I asked them to keep the kitchen stocked just in case. But it’s just us.”
The reality of that made her blink back at him in surprise.
“Come on. We won’t go inside just yet. Unless you’re tired?”
She shook her head. They went by the stables where Nadech led Waayoo out.
“I’m still not the best at this so is it okay if we share Waayoo today?”
[Click for Love ]
Yaya had no objections. After she was seated on the saddle, she helped tug Nadech up securely and he reached his arms on either side of her to take the reins. Waayoo’s clop-clop steps beat in tune to Nadech’s own heart, as he relished the morning air that swept Yaya’s scent at him. The tip of his nose touched her jaw gently, so that she turned her head, allowing him to steal a nuzzle at her face.
They headed in the direction of the forest, but contrary to Yaya’s thought that they were going to the pier, Nadech took them off course to a more secluded area next to the river with the house completely hidden from view.
Nadech was on the ground first so that Yaya slid effortlessly into his arms. Every touch sent shivers through her, as the atmosphere tingled with an unknown suspense.
“I hope I’m not ruining any plans you made with the others,” Nadech said.
“No, it’s okay. But why are we here?”
“Not to shoot down Oh, but I still think the bachelor and bachelorette parties were unnecessary. But they’ve helped me realize something.”
Their voices wrapped around the thin trees, drifting up and away through the spaces between the leaves. This was what a world within a world felt like. They let Waayoo roam nearby. Yaya watched Nadech’s resolute expression, the firmness of his jaw telling her something important would happen.
He pulled her along and stopped next to the bubbling stream. To her surprise, he pulled her engagement ring off, then produced a black box. Within, he took a gold ring that she could very well imagine signified nothing other than matrimony.
Without hesitating, Nadech looked into her eyes and said, “Do you, Yaya, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to hold, to cherish in sickness and health till death do us part?”
Her lips parted for his anticipation and with a quivering voice brimming thick with happiness, she didn’t question his actions and instead said, “I do.”
Her wedding ring was fitted onto her finger. “Your turn.”
She took off his engagement ring and repeated his words,” …till death do us part.”
Her last syllable was interrupted by the brushing of his lips against her mouth. “I do. I do, I do, I do…” he murmured and somehow, she managed to fumble that ring onto his finger. “Let the sky and earth be our witness; let the birds sing our wedding march; let the water be our path; let the sun and rain unite us. Because I can’t wait a day longer to have you as mine.”
Their union was simple, clean, without hassle and done as suddenly as the way they had come into each other’s lives. The wind raised up a symphony as leafy branches danced and urged their feathery patrons to chirp and rise for this special moment, as the two lovers met lips and let their souls intertwine.
“I love you.”
Those three words created a new rhythm for his heart to beat to. Hearing them from her voice sent a thrill through his body that he could only identify as part of her magic.
“I love you always.”
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Oh got off the phone with Nadech. “They totally dumped us for each other,” he muttered in disbelief.
“So much for your theory that they were kidnapped,” Boy said.
“Aw, let the lovebirds have some time alone,” Taew told them.
“Yeah. You know what's funny? I have a feeling that if P’Nadech had it his way, there wouldn’t be this big lavish wedding. He’d just sweep Yaya away and marry her without anyone else there to tell them how it’s done.” Kim and Mint nodded at one another. “They probably want some peace after all the bustle of wedding plans.”
“Wait,” Mark held up his pointer finger, “No big brother here shielding my fiancée from me? I think I like this very much.” He held out his hand and bowed to Mint very gentlemanly. She accepted his hands with a bemused shake of her head. “Come my lady.”
Oh shrugged. “I guess I’ll just forget to tell Mark that Nadech specifically ordered us to not leave those two alone.”
“How overbearing,” Boy stuck his hands in his pocket, sidling up to Kim as the friends of the secretly newly wed couple hung out together for the rest of the day.
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There was a knock on Nadech’s door and he opened it to find Yaya, holding a pink hair dryer and her damp hair hanging past her shoulders in mismatched waves, waves that had a soft messiness which invited his hands to comb through them and then sweep her closer to him. Giving himself a mental shake, Nadech asked her, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she smiled. “I was just going to ask. Is it really okay if we stay here for a few days?”
He returned with reassuring light eyes, “It’s fine. I told dad I was taking a few days off. And I promised your parents that I’d take good care of you.”
She shyly tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thanks.”
“You’re my wife, after all.”
Wife. Yaya fought against a dorky grin, absolutely captivated with that word. “I-I’ll go get ready…” She disappeared, then reappeared a second later, and said with a grin, “Husband.”
Nadech watched her close her door, an equally dorky grin pasted to his face.
Nadech checked his wristwatch. Yaya was taking a while to come down and he started wondering whether she had gotten ill. Just as he was going to ascend the stairs to call her, she appeared with a, “Coming! Sorry I took so long!”
Luckily she didn’t have to wear dirty clothes since she had left some of her clothes here from her last visit, and Nadech always kept some at the estate so he could travel lightly. She wore a light blue blouse and cuffed linen shorts that, as she sprung down the stairs, gave him prime viewing of those long toned legs. He couldn’t help noticing that she was barefoot also, her boots in one arm.
Yaya winced slightly, seeing him cross his arms. She shouldn’t have been so indecisive about what shirt to wear, because in the end she went back to her original choice of the plain blue shirt since she didn’t want to overdress for a picnic. But could she help it if she wanted to look nice for him, however indifferent he was about clothes? “I’m ready now.”
“Let’s get going then.”
This time they took two horses and ended up at the pier. If no one knew about the house on valley, a passerby might have blinked several times and wondered whether the pier built upon the stream was perhaps created by woodland fairies. That was Yaya’s thought when she first saw it. The grass around it was richly green. The pier reached halfway across the water that gurgled and glistened in the light cast down through a perfect round opening in the treetops, so that the area glittered.
They tethered the horses. She followed him to where he stopped and laid down a blanket.
“Sit.”
She obeyed but was quite disappointed when he settled down, not next to her, but about three steps away. But it was made up for when he surprised her by extending his legs out and laying his head on her lap. “Don’t let me roll away into the water,” was his command before his eyes closed.
Yaya reclined while watching tiny fish wiggle in the water. “Nadech?” she whispered. Had he fallen asleep already? Looking around and finding nothing to play with, she used some of her long hair and tickled his face. He didn’t move. Yaya fell still, utterly awed in that moment by his tranquil features. How her fingers itched for her camera.
Well, if she couldn’t memorize everything by sight, she would use other senses. Her fingers stroked his hair up, then smoothed his forehead that was free of worry lines. Her thumb traced his thick austere eyebrow, along down his temple. She tapped five times down the length of his straight nose, to those thin pink lips, softened by a peaceful dream. She cupped his jaw and his strong chin, sighing a small breath that was drawn in, startled, when he suddenly turned his head to touch his lips to her palm. He kissed the center of it, where all the lines of her life ran, crossed and connected, mimicking the act she’d once done to him.
Nadech blinked lazily at her, admiring her glowing skin. He then eyed her ring finger. “Are you disappointed that we exchanged rings sooner than the official wedding?”
She shook her head. “This morning…that was our official wedding. We are husband and wife now.”
He quirked his lips. “I think so too, even though I’m used to the traditional and proper way.”
“The traditional marriage is done with the one you love; the proper marriage is done when both agree that the time is right.” She kissed his fingertips.
He was relieved that she wasn’t wrapped up in the ceremonious details. He hadn’t been able to wait to have her by his side, to have their bond pronounced. As long as they both shared that agreement, and as long as their families knew they loved each other, Nadech felt that he would have married her from the moment he fell in love with her. He chuckled silently, recalling Yaya's mistake signing the marriage license. It hadn't been a mistake after all.
His past questions of love and of a relationship that required as much trust as marriage were dispelled. This moment with Yaya – well, every moment with her – felt right.
“Hungry?”
He nodded and sat up. Throughout their meal, he noticed her every smile, every stretch of her legs, every flourish of her hands as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. When she leaned forward to wipe his mouth, he wanted to pull her into his lap and hold her close until the sun set.
Nadech then felt something bounce off of him. “Are you throwing food at me?”
“You’re not listening,” she crossed her arms.
“You said that it would be interesting if Plaayo and Waayoo had a baby horse together.”
Yaya squinted one eye suspiciously at him. She’d been sure he wasn’t paying attention, but then again, Nadech was always sharp-minded. Shaking off the thought, she flipped her hair out of her face.
Nadech tilted his head at her. "If your hair's bothering you, why not tie it?" Before she could answer, he crawled behind her. "I'll help you."
She sat upright while he clumsily braided her hair, taking his time as he placed each lock in front of the other, watching light dance like gold in each strand of hair.
She peered over her shoulder and held out a grape for him. “Want some?”
He lowered his head to eat it from her hand, throwing her off.
Yaya averted her eyes. “Um…” She stood up so that her braid loosened, but tied it in time. “Ready to go back?”
“Sure.”
She stretched her arms above her, the warm air coaxing a yawn from her. As her shirt tightened across her body, Nadech glanced at her, then looked away quickly as his heart slammed against his chest; with this sudden awkward feeling, he rubbed the back of his neck.
Seeing this, she asked, “Does your neck hurt?”
He stepped back from her. “No. Let’s go.”
They cleaned up and rounded up the horses. When they broke away from the woods, Nadech said, “What do you think of staying here?”
“I’m looking forward to relaxing here. This place has always mesmerized me.”
Nadech breathed in deeply through his nose. “I mean staying here permanently, after the wedding.”
Yaya snapped her head in his direction. “You mean live here? Here, as in making this…our home?”
He smiled. “Yeah. After all, dad did put me in charge of the estate after my birthday. So I’ve been thinking of transferring here. I mean, if you’d like.”
“I’d like that very much. Very very much,” she looked around in excitement, just imagining waking up every day to seeing the valley stand before her. “How will you work though?”
“Since the first resort of our company is here, I can start off by managing that. If I’m needed in the city, I have the condo and dad’s place. We’ll work things out. I’ll have everything I need here.” When he said ‘everything,’ he gave her a fleeting look from the corner of his eye.
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Night descended. Nadech pulled on a thin t-shirt when he heard a disturbance from the stairs. He hurried out to check the source and turned on the hall light. His heart leaped in his throat seeing Yaya lying at the bottom of the stairs, groaning. “Yaya!” He skipped three steps at a time down and kneeled at her side.
She made a slight grimace. “I missed a step coming up.”
“Why didn’t you turn on the light?” he asked. His hands massaged her feet and ankle.
“I didn’t want to wake you. I finished drinking some water and thought I could feel my way up since my bedroom is right around the corner anyway.”
Nadech scoffed in exasperation. “You’re so careless. Are you hurt?”
She lifted her long cotton nightshirt just past her knees. “I’m okay, just a bit shaken by the impact.”
He scooped her up and began climbing the stairs.
“Hey, I’m fine. No need to carry me.”
He looked up at the ceiling. “Let me have some peace of mind that my wife won’t hurt herself again tonight.” She silently complied, seeing as they were at the top already anyway.
“This is like déjà vu huh?”she thought out loud, and ran her teeth across her bottom lip, "Except you're my husband now."
A smile played on his lips. “Always gaining my attention in the most unorthodox way.”
“I don’t mean to.”
“I know.”
They reached her room and he placed her on the bed with more grace than the first time they had met. He straightened up, but realized something that troubled both his mind and body.
“What?” Yaya asked, wondering why he wore such disapproval on his face as he stared at her very intently.
Nadech sighed heavily and buttoned up the top two buttons that were undone on her shirt which she had been unaware of.
“Woman, what have you been doing to me all day?”
“What are you talking about?”
How was he supposed to explain the way she affected him? He sighed. “Never mind. I’m going to…”
“Can you sit with me for a bit?”
Nadech turned back, looking at her a moment, measuring her with his gaze, before taking a seat next to her. He glanced over and noticed her hands were wrapped together and he saw the wedding ring. Smiling irresistibly, he gently un-weaved her hands and held her left hand in his, his thumb stroking her fourth finger. How did one little ring give him such a significant feeling that they now belonged to each other? Nadech inclined his head to kiss her hand.
Yaya’s heart expanded like she was lifted by a cloud. He pecked her temple too, which warmed her body thoroughly. They were utterly alone on this night, and for tomorrow too. Yaya bit her lip, face burning as she remembered what her mom had said and she became very conscious to the fact that just hours earlier on this very day, she and Nadech had gotten married.
“What is it?” Nadech asked, sensing her sudden bashfulness.
“N-nothing.”
He cocked his head at her. “Are you sure? Why do you feel so warm?” His hand went to her forehead to check her temperature. “Are you sure you weren’t hurt from falling?”
“I’m fine,” she assured him, though her thoughts were growing hazy with very embarrassing imaginations. “Um…I just remembered something mom said.”
He said, “But what is it? She must have said something important.”
“Oh trust me, it was nothing much.”
“Then why are you so flustered over it?”
“Because…” Her heart stammered at his curious look. “I’m not flustered over it. I’m just a little nervous about being here.”
He looked around, then breathed a soft laugh. “The valley? Don’t you like it here?”
“I don’t mean here, I mean here with you.” She cringed; that was the wrong thing to say.
“With me?” he asked, confused. “Your husband?”
“It’s precisely because you’re my husband that I’m nervous,” she blurted in frustration. Trying to calm herself, she peeked at him. His face was set in mild surprise.
“Why don’t you tell me what this is about?”
Yaya made a face. “You’re going to laugh.”
“I swear on my honor that I won’t laugh.”
She sighed and spoke haltingly at first. “Before, a long time ago, mom said…said she wouldn’t mind us bringing her a grandchild to look forward to but of course that’s impossible since it’s much too soon to be making babies and I didn’t think much about it then because we weren’t going to be married yet except now we are, we just got married and this is technically our wedding night so I’m nervous because you’re my husband.” She said all of this in one sentence and finished breathlessly, guessing that her face was many shades darker than usual by now.
It was a mark of his integrity that Nadech did not laugh as he had promised. Instead, he held her close to his side, but not without a small amused smile. “So it’s about this.”
“Yes,” she mumbled, hiding her face with her hair. “I know it’s silly.”
“No, it’s very important.” He pulled back just enough to see her face, to slide her messy braid all onto one shoulder so nothing could block her from him. “Don’t worry about it. Although I would like children, I agree with you. It’s too soon.”
She relaxed, and felt little bubbles in her stomach hearing him mention that he wanted children, just like her.
“Wait until we’re ready.” He gave her forehead a kiss. “Besides, I still want you to myself for a while yet.” Her face grew rosy, and he dipped his face into the crook of her neck, planting a kiss where her jaw met her ear, making her sensitive skin prickle. He murmured quietly, “But since we are husband and wife now, how about we practice?”
“Practice?” She drew a sharp breath as he nipped her earlobe.
“Making babies.”
Her lips parted in silent shock at his husky voice. “W…what?” she gasped. She felt his shoulders shake as he pulled away from her. Her mouth formed an O, seeing his glee at her reaction to his teasing.
Nadech took a shuddering breath to hold in his laughter, seeing her grumpy face. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you.”
His delight was cut off when her hands cupped both sides of his face and pulled him in for a kiss that threw his mind into chaos. He came up for air, though never leaving her farther than a hand’s breadth. “What are you doing?”
“Practicing,” she whispered, her arms wrapped endearingly around his neck.
His lips formed a crooked perfect smile. “There’s no need.” He gave her no time to second-guess her actions. “Because loving you is an instinct. Loving you…” His lips came down on hers, “…I was born for it. Always.”
Their lingering kiss sending sparks through him as he laid her down, Nadech found her nightshirt, then loosened those two buttons he’d fixed, then all of the ones after them and continued to explore her body with unceasing tenderness.
When clothes were discarded, he drew her close to his chest, pressing soft kisses on her mouth that left her aching, until she finally lifted her chin to slant her lips against his firmly, leading him, letting him lose control. Everywhere that skin touched, which was everywhere, he felt warmth. Their muffled gasps and moans drove on their desires, their taut bodies molded together on the bed.
When he felt her tense at that first slick union, he stopped and kissed her over and over, on her mouth, her eyes, her face, everywhere until the rawness was over, until she relaxed and then trembled in pleasure, and their bodies joined in rhythmic motion towards bliss.
Epilogue End of the Rainbow
“Yes, I received it,” Nadech assured Kim. “Thanks kiddo. We miss you.”
Kim answered through the phone. “Me too. I wish I could be there for your birthday.” She was away from home for her internship, in a city on the edge of the sea where the ocean breeze even reached to the clinic a few miles away.
“We’re just having dinner with dad and Oh. But thank for the gift Kim. Keep up your hard work over there, okay? We’re so proud of you.” Ending the call, Nadech looked up at Yaya.
She motioned him forward, “In here.”
“Surprise!”
Nadech’s eyes lit up when people around the room burst in applause and balloons were released. He felt Yaya’s arms around his middle while she beamed at him.
Everyone began to chime the birthday song, while Oh conducted with his fingers in the air.
Nadech nodded his head at the cake, gesturing for Yaya to help blow out his candles. “Thank you all,” he said. He should’ve suspected they would plan something like this the moment his dad called and said he was coming over to the resort for a visit so suddenly that day. “I feel grateful that there are people for me to celebrate this day with. I actually have my own announcement to make.” He clapped Oh on the shoulder. “Father and I have been talking very seriously about this and we’ve come to an agreement…”
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The party was small, compared to last year’s bash. Only close friends were present, mingling and catching up, and discussing Nadech’s news.
Mario’s face was severe with a hint of stress. He approached Nadech, where the two sat alone.
“Dude, this is your birthday. Why the heck are you giving gifts to others? And besides, I can’t accept—“
“Oh, it’s precisely because today is my birthday that I’m taking advantage of this chance to give to those I love.”
“But making me general manager?” Oh shook his head. “And having me take over the company when Uncle retires? Why would you guys do that?”
“Because you’re father’s son too. In fact, you’ve always been my older brother. I know you. You put on a brave face, but I know you have doubts about yourself. It’s time you have faith in yourself and work your strengths to the fullest. Look, in the past year, you’ve helped made the new resort open successfully and you’ve raised profits.”
“WE did,” Oh pointed out. “You think I could have done all that alone?”
Nadech’s lips quirked. “Don’t forget, I’m not going anywhere.” Nadech would maintain his shares in the company but the most control would be handed to Oh in the future. “We both know you were meant for this business. You’re ready for this.”
Oh sighed. “And did you talk to Yaya about this?”
“I did,” he nodded once. “She fully supports my decision. We both feel that this is what’s best for everyone. What I have now is enough to last me a lifetime, but I’m not going to shirk from my responsibility either.”
“I don’t need to make myself this big either,” Oh said. He had always been contented to support those around him. “It doesn’t feel right.”
“If you think you’re taking something from me, you’re wrong. We’ve always shared everything equally. I know you’re not asking anything from me or dad and there’s a lot of pressure on you now but I’m not leaving you to fight this alone. You’ll have me, you’ll have Mark, and once Mint’s done with her studies, she’ll establish herself in the company. However, I’m asking for you to do what you’re good at because I want father’s company to thrive for a long time. You’ll help me, right?” He stuck out his hand.
Oh took a deep breath before clasping on. “Only because it’s for you.” He shook the hand of his friend and brother. “Congrats, by the way.”
“For what?”
“Uh,” Oh looked around, remembering he wasn’t supposed to reveal anything. “You’ll find out later.”
“That’s a good thing, what you’re doing for Oh.” Yaya held Nadech’s hand, swaying to the background music while their friends’ merry voices rang around them.
“He deserves it. I don’t want anyone to look down on my best friend, especially when he has the most potential on his way up.” His thumb rubbed her back.
“Sure you’re not just letting him deal with the most of the public’s eyes?” she teased, knowing well his distaste for interacting with outsiders.
“He can handle it.”
“Whoops,” she had stepped on his toes. “Sorry. I’ve been a bit clumsy lately,” she laughed.
-------------
Oh’s cryptic slip stayed in Nadech’s mind and raised suspicions. When he and Yaya returned to the valley, Nadech inconspicuously searched Yaya with his eyes. She gathered her towel and stretched full length in front of him.
He saw no difference in her body. Was she a bit pale? Was she more tired lately? Has her appetite changed? He surely would have noticed any of these outward changes if they had occurred.
Yaya came out of the bathroom, ready for bed when he caught her in his embrace right inside their room.
“Hey,” she braced her hands against his chest, feeling him bury his nose in her hair.
“Thanks for today.”
“You’re welcome.” She laughed as he swept her up in his arms and settled them both on the bed. “Nadech, what is this?”
“This,” he bumped his forehead to hers gently, recalling that once upon a time when he had joked with Oh, never predicting that she would truly become his treasure, “is my present. Any more surprises today?”
“Oh!” Yaya turned to her bedside table and pulled out a large envelope. “I almost forgot to show you.”
Nadech’s heart skipped several beats seeing an ultrasound photo in her hands.
She cooed, “The vet came yesterday with Kai and some equipment. Plaayo is having a baby!”
His jaw slackened. “Really?”
“Yeah. I told Oh this morning but asked him to let me surprise you.” She realized he was suddenly very still. “What? Aren’t’ you excited?”
Nadech let out a breathy laugh. So this was Oh’s congratulations to him. “Yes. This is great.”
She nodded jubilantly, replacing the photo in the drawer, after which Nadech tugged her so she lay cozily on top of him.
“I think it’s time,” he murmured, grazing his lips on hers.
“Time to…”
He gently rolled her onto her back. Fingers intertwining, he linked his right hand in her left so that they could seem to be posing for a dance, a tango that required much more intimacy.
He claimed her lips with a sizzling urgency that made her coil her arm around him. In sync with one another, they made the air condense around them with their passion.
Afterwards, while the moist night air cooled their room, she rested upon his chest and peered at him with moonlight reflecting her bright eyes. “Happy birthday.”
His knuckles stroked the side of her face. “It sure is.”
The calm rain that fell on the house distantly reminded Nadech that he was blessed with life, and blessed with his most valuable gift, his sunshine that was the love in his life, Yaya.
-------------Author's note
What's at the end of a rainbow? Pot of gold, muahaha. So this is the end of SDLF. ^^ I always feel like when I write an ending, it comes so suddenly. Got me all nervous to click the 'post' button because I almost couldn't end it yet. ><
Thank you to all readers. I'm not sure what to say except that I'm real glad I have Yadech fans to share this adoration with. Hope you all enjoyed the story and ending. Don't forget to leave final feedback. <3
Pu Anchalee's song appears again. I used three different versions; instrumental, what I call the 'slow dance' version, and this sweet version. It truly was my inspiration, along with our NY couple.
jjinxx