jjinxx
Is your "nom" Fai-approved?
Chapter 17 A Family
Nadech knew he was right the moment he set eyes on Yaya that night in her gold dress and loose wavy hair, with that tantalizing scent reaching his nose. Great, so he was supposed to suppress the urge to breathe too. Death it was. Why did she have to be so… addicting? Whether dressed in sweats or a gown, frowning or smiling, silent in thought or animated in speech, he had been steadily drawn towards her like a hound to fresh steak. But he meant to keep his word. None of that lip action was going to happen again.
Yet, despite the warning bells going off in his mind, his gaze swept over her body and went back for round two. No curve of her figure or color of her skin seemed to escape his eyes. He had always been someone who took care with details and it seemed that even something he knew was bad for him couldn't be an exception.
Yaya gulped. The way he looked at her was very much like in her dream but when that expression disappeared and he offered her his arm stiffly, she thought she must have imagined it and he really was going to stick to his words that 'it' won’t happen again. She bit her bottom lip, begrudging her disappointment.
Nadech barely looked at her as the night began. They were greeted by various people who Yaya could tell were vying for his attention and whom he had as little interest for as she did, yet he was respectful and courteous to all of them. Finally they met Uncle Thongchai. He gave Nadech a fatherly hug and she couldn’t help being reminded of Mario and understood why so many people in the province voted for him.
Nadech and his father became occupied with some business reps when Yaya came back from the restroom, so she found Khun Palada and Uncle Thongchai in conversation.
“Did you ever imagine Nadech getting married?”
Uncle Thongchai replied, “Yes, and just like this too, with Norachai setting him up. How else would he ever agree to it?”
“Do you think it will work out? I mean, will this help him?”
“Norachai has faith in Nadech and Yaya.”
If being engaged was supposed to transform Nadech, then Yaya thought the elders would be highly disappointed. She had a hard enough time trying to understand her fiancé and he had just gone and messed with her again, kissing her and then distancing himself from her.
Yaya didn’t think she should be eavesdropping but just as she was about to move, she heard Uncle Thongchai say quietly, “Even seventeen years might not be enough to mend the boy’s heart.” He sighed. “Sometimes I almost wish Norachai had put up with it instead of sending Mina away. But then I remind myself he’s my brother and he shouldn’t have to endure such a broken marriage.”
“It’s just you can’t help wishing things were different when you see what it did to Nadech. Remember the way he used to run away from home? Every weekend it seemed Norachai had someone chasing Nadech back to the house, he was so desperate to find them. Patchata has been keeping an eye on him and tells me Nadech’s search is still going.”
Her sympathy for Nadech’s tragic childhood rushed like a current to her chest. Even now he was searching for his mom and sister? She realized that when he told her he ran away from home, it wasn’t some adolescent rebellion, but actually a task of search that consumed his soul. How in the world had they been separated? Surely even a divorce shouldn’t make things so difficult. The next words she heard chilled her spine and raised a hundred other questions.
Bitterly, Uncle Thongchai said, “As much as I feel sorry for my nephew, I hope he never finds her.”
“I suppose that would set off a whole new rift between Norachai and Nadech.”
“So much more. If Nadech ever found Mina and confronted Norachai with her, both father and son might not recover from it.”
Their conversation broke off as other gentlemen joined them. Brooding over what she’d just heard, Yaya nearly walked into someone.
“Excuse me.”
“No, it was my fault.” The young man apologized and sent her a dashing smile, one that Yaya knew well and was not weakened by it as other girls were. Saran, another friend she had met through Jack’s organization, had grown into something of a little brother to her. He was even more unruly than she was towards their fellow hi-so’s, and insisted on being called Porshe so that Yaya didn’t even know who his family was. Until now.
“Saran!” Yaya recognized the scowling face that approached them. “Don’t mess with other people’s properties. And didn’t mom tell you to study for your exams tonight?”
Yaya rolled her eyes at being referred to as an object.
View threw her a dirty look. “I barely recognized you dressed like that.”
“I didn’t realize my life’s objective was to be noticed by you.”
Porshe snickered and earned a glare from his real older sister. View said, “Just because you’ve got connections to the distinguished Phraisong family, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to forget your manners.”
“Oh,” Yaya brightened up, “Are you talking about my fiancé?” She smiled smugly as View’s face blanched. “He doesn’t mind the way I talk at all. Why would he when he proposed to me?”
“I’m sure Nadech would mind you chatting it up with your ex-boyfriend. How many others are you hiding from him?” View said.
“I don’t see how the number of men attracted to me has anything to do with you. But thank you for trying to fill in the role of my fiancé’s mom.” Her eyes caught someone. “Jack!”
“Yaya, what a wonderful coincidence!” A frivolously dressed man skipped over to them. His mannerisms were such that rarely anyone disliked him. “Excuse me, but let me borrow Yaya.”
Yaya waved to the siblings. “Later Porshe.”
“You look gorgy hon! Down to business: I have a special job for you. We are saving Earth’s wildlife and your mission is to capture every bit of wildlife beauty with that magic camera of yours. We are going to make everyone’s hearts bleed after seeing how much we should give back to our mother Earth. Now, I’ve chosen the location for you already. I’m sure you’re very busy preparing for your wedding and everything,” Yaya shook her head, but Jack didn’t notice, “…that’s why I haven’t pressured you until now, and the upcoming event is almost at its finishing point. I made sure you could get to a location that is well-preserved and absolutely dazzling! Not to mention convenient for you to stay at too.” He nudged her playfully and wiggled his brow up and down, though she didn’t know what he meant. “Ah, and speaking of which, here comes your fiancé. Must I add how yummy he looks too?” Jack laughed.
Yaya face-palmed herself when she saw Nadech stride up to them, followed by his father. Jack eagerly held out his hand for a shake.
“Khun Nadech, we meet at last!” He shook Norachai’s hand also. “And Khun Norachai, it’s always a pleasure to be in your company.”
“Jack, the next event is coming up soon?”
“Yes! The ad team is doing a superb job spreading the word already. I was just giving Yaya here her assignment too, since her deadline is coming up.”
Norachai nodded approvingly. “Yaya, it’s great to hear you take part in this also. Do I have any hope you’ll help Nadech with the company in the future? Once he becomes chairman, he’ll need all of your support.”
She glanced at Nadech. “Yes sir.” He didn’t look like he would need any help from her though.
“There’s plenty of time for that. I’m actually sending her off to Khorat. Khao Yai national park there will be most satisfactory for promo images and paired with Yaya’s skills, she’ll take everyone’s breath away. Uh,” Jack cleared his throat, “I specifically chose that spot because I thought it’d work out well for her.”
A look of understanding passed between Jack and Norachai.
“The national park!” Yaya exclaimed excitedly, missing the silent communication.
“Exactly. I’ve worked everything out with the park officials. You’ll have special permission to enter even restricted areas. The team’s arrangements have been taken care of.”
“You’ve already worked out where we’ll be staying?” she asked.
“Well, for the team, yes. But you won’t have to worry because like I said, it’s coincidentally perfect in your case. You do have Khun Nadech.”
She eyed Jack in confusion.
Norachai turned to his son. “I’ve offered the first branch resort at Khorat to Jack’s organization. They will hold the charity show there this year.”
“Yaya will be leaving soon to meet the photography team,” Jack informed.
“Good timing too. Nadech has to do the yearly inspection over in the Khorat resort.”
“I do?” Nadech asked.
“Didn’t I tell you?” his father said casually. “And since Yaya is doing work there, you might as well stay until she’s finished and make sure they have everything they need. You two will be resting at Waang Saaeng Kham.” Seeing Yaya’s head cock in curiosity, he explained, “I’m sorry Yaya. Waang Saaeng Kham is the name of our family estate, the one that is now passed on to both Nadech and you.”
She caught the expression on Nadech’s face that said he was less than indifferent to the mention of his family inheritance.
-------------
The things she’d heard tonight were really eating her up so she almost forgot about Jack’s assignment until Nadech asked, “When will you be leaving?”
“As soon as three days.”
They reached the third wing and she turned to him but he had already closed his bedroom door.
“Good night to you too,” she muttered.
It was another night of insomnia for Yaya, though her mind was occupied by more pertinent issues such as Uncle Thongchai’s cryptic words. How badly did Uncle Norachai and his wife’s relationship end that to have them meet would set off such explosive problems? And again, her heart ached for Nadech. It was boggling and heart-breaking that at such a young age, Nadech could love his mom and sister so deeply that their absence rendered him with such a dark lens on life. Every tomorrow for him was a droll work day to distract his mind from a hopeless search. If Yaya had to be brutally honest, she didn’t think the fates would give up the location of his loved ones now, not after seventeen years.
Her ears perked up. Coming from the room next door was a muffled voice. Crawling out of bed and tip-toeing to their door, she pressed her ear to it. She swore she could hear Nadech. Was he still awake?
The answer came when she heard a sound that squeezed her stomach with concern, and it could never come from a fully conscious Nadech. It was that of a wounded soul that called for something out of reach. Without a second thought, or even remembering to feel self-conscious about their kiss, she pushed the door open and crept to Nadech’s bed.
She clicked on a lamp and chewed her lip at the sight of him wound up in bed like he was bracing for pain to descend on him. Yet, she knew it wasn’t physical pain, but mental images that assaulted him.
“…promise, I promise…” he mumbled and she leaned closer to hear. “Don’t go…”
She couldn’t keep watching. She had to end his nightmare.
His mom kissed his forehead one last time, and said his name. But the voice kept coming, repeating and repeating until it pulled him out of the dream realm.
“Nadech?”
Eyelids laced with weary memories, Nadech slowly adjusted his sight to the light in his room. He didn’t need to see her to know Yaya was there. He pushed himself to sit up. “What is it? Is everything okay?”
“You tell me,” she said. “Sounded like you had a nightmare.”
Not quite. The same dream that haunted Nadech was also a source of comfort. He both hated dreaming of his mother and longed to see her.
“You heard me?”
Yaya nodded.
Strange. He’d never been aware that he talked in his sleep. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
“I wasn’t asleep,” she shrugged. “What did you dream?” She hesitated but decided it was better that he knew she knew some of his family history. It was only fair. “Did you dream of your mom?”
He kept his eyes on the footboard of the bed. “You know about her?”
“Not really. I was curious and asked Mario. He didn’t tell me anything,” she added hastily. “Just that she’s gone right now. And so is your sister.”
He sucked in a breath at the mention of Da.
“Um, don’t get mad at Oh, I was the one who asked, you know, because I…I’m going to be part of this family.”
His words were flat. “You sure you want to be a part of a family where marriages don’t last?”
Before she could catch herself, she said, “I don’t have a choice.” She regretted it immediately.
He laughed darkly. The sound was nothing like his free and lively laugh from the park. “You’re right. Don’t worry though. I vowed never to let what happened with my parents happen to us. Besides, we don’t love each other.”
His declaration was meant to be reassuring, but it wasn’t in the least. The way he said it was like he was incapable of the act, which crushed her hopes of helping him. And the fact that she had once thought the same thing when Yuke ended it with her; she had believed that as long as she didn’t love, she couldn’t get hurt. “You can’t judge all marriages on one. Many people live happily ever after.”
“But many don’t. If only based on love,” he spoke the word like it was poisonous, “then when it’s gone, there’s no motivation to stay together. Even for the sake of their children, my parents didn’t stay together. Did you know that my father didn’t even blink when mother took my sister away? That’s how much love is worth. I’ll pass on that.”
“You have Oh and Kim, don’t you?”
“That’s different.”
“What about me?”
“Your bad luck, princess, as the newest member to the family. But I expect we’re both immune to the follies of love, aren’t we?” He gave her an arch stare that was both familiar to the Nadech she had first met and yet so uncharacteristic that she was almost positive this was the man who was still hurting from his nightmare speaking.
Unfortunately for him, her experience with Yuke had not ‘taught her better’ as he was suggesting. She still welcomed love into her life. And after hearing his words, she wanted more than anything to prove him wrong. He wore cynicism well, but not after she had seen him with a smile.
“You don’t really think that, do you? You once accused me of believing marriage should come from love, but you’re also guilty of believing it too.” Why else would his parents’ separation leave such a gap in his emotions?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, of course not, Mr. Advantage-is-more-important-than-love. You know, maybe Love was pms-ing on that day Yuke came to meet me, so it skipped out on me, but not entirely. I have a family and friends who prove love isn’t worthless. And so do you.”
“And Love must have been so pissed off when I was eight that it split my family in half,” he said sarcastically. She held her breath, hearing this venomous side from Nadech, whom she had come to expect cool and calm from. “Should such a fickle feeling be worshipped? Hey, I’m happy for those lucky people. But how are you going to prove my case otherwise?”
And then, the entire atmosphere changed. Nadech’s gaze narrowed at her and it was like those shadowy eyes charged the air with sparks. But they were the dangerous kind, the kind that made Yaya’s neck hairs stand. Slow and steady, he slinked out of bed.
“Should we test this out? See which one of us is right?”
He loped towards her and Yaya felt like stalked prey as he trapped her in front of the desk. Then he caught her face in his hands and kissed her with such ferocity that her instinct made her fight. Try as she might, his mouth possessed hers entirely. She struggled to escape from him but eventually stopped, not because she gave up, but because his lips had grown gentle, and it threw her mind in a frenzy when he swept her lips apart to deepen the kiss. And before she could stop herself, she kissed him back.
One hand buried in her hair, Nadech’s other hand gripped the desk when he felt her respond to him. The way her mouth moved against his, tender and sweet, and a little shy, it felt so good. So good that for the first time in his life, he wanted more, and not just from anyone—only from Yaya. And that scared the shit out of him.
------------Author's note
joob joob!!!!
jjinxx
Nadech knew he was right the moment he set eyes on Yaya that night in her gold dress and loose wavy hair, with that tantalizing scent reaching his nose. Great, so he was supposed to suppress the urge to breathe too. Death it was. Why did she have to be so… addicting? Whether dressed in sweats or a gown, frowning or smiling, silent in thought or animated in speech, he had been steadily drawn towards her like a hound to fresh steak. But he meant to keep his word. None of that lip action was going to happen again.
Yet, despite the warning bells going off in his mind, his gaze swept over her body and went back for round two. No curve of her figure or color of her skin seemed to escape his eyes. He had always been someone who took care with details and it seemed that even something he knew was bad for him couldn't be an exception.
Yaya gulped. The way he looked at her was very much like in her dream but when that expression disappeared and he offered her his arm stiffly, she thought she must have imagined it and he really was going to stick to his words that 'it' won’t happen again. She bit her bottom lip, begrudging her disappointment.
Nadech barely looked at her as the night began. They were greeted by various people who Yaya could tell were vying for his attention and whom he had as little interest for as she did, yet he was respectful and courteous to all of them. Finally they met Uncle Thongchai. He gave Nadech a fatherly hug and she couldn’t help being reminded of Mario and understood why so many people in the province voted for him.
Nadech and his father became occupied with some business reps when Yaya came back from the restroom, so she found Khun Palada and Uncle Thongchai in conversation.
“Did you ever imagine Nadech getting married?”
Uncle Thongchai replied, “Yes, and just like this too, with Norachai setting him up. How else would he ever agree to it?”
“Do you think it will work out? I mean, will this help him?”
“Norachai has faith in Nadech and Yaya.”
If being engaged was supposed to transform Nadech, then Yaya thought the elders would be highly disappointed. She had a hard enough time trying to understand her fiancé and he had just gone and messed with her again, kissing her and then distancing himself from her.
Yaya didn’t think she should be eavesdropping but just as she was about to move, she heard Uncle Thongchai say quietly, “Even seventeen years might not be enough to mend the boy’s heart.” He sighed. “Sometimes I almost wish Norachai had put up with it instead of sending Mina away. But then I remind myself he’s my brother and he shouldn’t have to endure such a broken marriage.”
“It’s just you can’t help wishing things were different when you see what it did to Nadech. Remember the way he used to run away from home? Every weekend it seemed Norachai had someone chasing Nadech back to the house, he was so desperate to find them. Patchata has been keeping an eye on him and tells me Nadech’s search is still going.”
Her sympathy for Nadech’s tragic childhood rushed like a current to her chest. Even now he was searching for his mom and sister? She realized that when he told her he ran away from home, it wasn’t some adolescent rebellion, but actually a task of search that consumed his soul. How in the world had they been separated? Surely even a divorce shouldn’t make things so difficult. The next words she heard chilled her spine and raised a hundred other questions.
Bitterly, Uncle Thongchai said, “As much as I feel sorry for my nephew, I hope he never finds her.”
“I suppose that would set off a whole new rift between Norachai and Nadech.”
“So much more. If Nadech ever found Mina and confronted Norachai with her, both father and son might not recover from it.”
Their conversation broke off as other gentlemen joined them. Brooding over what she’d just heard, Yaya nearly walked into someone.
“Excuse me.”
“No, it was my fault.” The young man apologized and sent her a dashing smile, one that Yaya knew well and was not weakened by it as other girls were. Saran, another friend she had met through Jack’s organization, had grown into something of a little brother to her. He was even more unruly than she was towards their fellow hi-so’s, and insisted on being called Porshe so that Yaya didn’t even know who his family was. Until now.
“Saran!” Yaya recognized the scowling face that approached them. “Don’t mess with other people’s properties. And didn’t mom tell you to study for your exams tonight?”
Yaya rolled her eyes at being referred to as an object.
View threw her a dirty look. “I barely recognized you dressed like that.”
“I didn’t realize my life’s objective was to be noticed by you.”
Porshe snickered and earned a glare from his real older sister. View said, “Just because you’ve got connections to the distinguished Phraisong family, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to forget your manners.”
“Oh,” Yaya brightened up, “Are you talking about my fiancé?” She smiled smugly as View’s face blanched. “He doesn’t mind the way I talk at all. Why would he when he proposed to me?”
“I’m sure Nadech would mind you chatting it up with your ex-boyfriend. How many others are you hiding from him?” View said.
“I don’t see how the number of men attracted to me has anything to do with you. But thank you for trying to fill in the role of my fiancé’s mom.” Her eyes caught someone. “Jack!”
“Yaya, what a wonderful coincidence!” A frivolously dressed man skipped over to them. His mannerisms were such that rarely anyone disliked him. “Excuse me, but let me borrow Yaya.”
Yaya waved to the siblings. “Later Porshe.”
“You look gorgy hon! Down to business: I have a special job for you. We are saving Earth’s wildlife and your mission is to capture every bit of wildlife beauty with that magic camera of yours. We are going to make everyone’s hearts bleed after seeing how much we should give back to our mother Earth. Now, I’ve chosen the location for you already. I’m sure you’re very busy preparing for your wedding and everything,” Yaya shook her head, but Jack didn’t notice, “…that’s why I haven’t pressured you until now, and the upcoming event is almost at its finishing point. I made sure you could get to a location that is well-preserved and absolutely dazzling! Not to mention convenient for you to stay at too.” He nudged her playfully and wiggled his brow up and down, though she didn’t know what he meant. “Ah, and speaking of which, here comes your fiancé. Must I add how yummy he looks too?” Jack laughed.
Yaya face-palmed herself when she saw Nadech stride up to them, followed by his father. Jack eagerly held out his hand for a shake.
“Khun Nadech, we meet at last!” He shook Norachai’s hand also. “And Khun Norachai, it’s always a pleasure to be in your company.”
“Jack, the next event is coming up soon?”
“Yes! The ad team is doing a superb job spreading the word already. I was just giving Yaya here her assignment too, since her deadline is coming up.”
Norachai nodded approvingly. “Yaya, it’s great to hear you take part in this also. Do I have any hope you’ll help Nadech with the company in the future? Once he becomes chairman, he’ll need all of your support.”
She glanced at Nadech. “Yes sir.” He didn’t look like he would need any help from her though.
“There’s plenty of time for that. I’m actually sending her off to Khorat. Khao Yai national park there will be most satisfactory for promo images and paired with Yaya’s skills, she’ll take everyone’s breath away. Uh,” Jack cleared his throat, “I specifically chose that spot because I thought it’d work out well for her.”
A look of understanding passed between Jack and Norachai.
“The national park!” Yaya exclaimed excitedly, missing the silent communication.
“Exactly. I’ve worked everything out with the park officials. You’ll have special permission to enter even restricted areas. The team’s arrangements have been taken care of.”
“You’ve already worked out where we’ll be staying?” she asked.
“Well, for the team, yes. But you won’t have to worry because like I said, it’s coincidentally perfect in your case. You do have Khun Nadech.”
She eyed Jack in confusion.
Norachai turned to his son. “I’ve offered the first branch resort at Khorat to Jack’s organization. They will hold the charity show there this year.”
“Yaya will be leaving soon to meet the photography team,” Jack informed.
“Good timing too. Nadech has to do the yearly inspection over in the Khorat resort.”
“I do?” Nadech asked.
“Didn’t I tell you?” his father said casually. “And since Yaya is doing work there, you might as well stay until she’s finished and make sure they have everything they need. You two will be resting at Waang Saaeng Kham.” Seeing Yaya’s head cock in curiosity, he explained, “I’m sorry Yaya. Waang Saaeng Kham is the name of our family estate, the one that is now passed on to both Nadech and you.”
She caught the expression on Nadech’s face that said he was less than indifferent to the mention of his family inheritance.
-------------
The things she’d heard tonight were really eating her up so she almost forgot about Jack’s assignment until Nadech asked, “When will you be leaving?”
“As soon as three days.”
They reached the third wing and she turned to him but he had already closed his bedroom door.
“Good night to you too,” she muttered.
It was another night of insomnia for Yaya, though her mind was occupied by more pertinent issues such as Uncle Thongchai’s cryptic words. How badly did Uncle Norachai and his wife’s relationship end that to have them meet would set off such explosive problems? And again, her heart ached for Nadech. It was boggling and heart-breaking that at such a young age, Nadech could love his mom and sister so deeply that their absence rendered him with such a dark lens on life. Every tomorrow for him was a droll work day to distract his mind from a hopeless search. If Yaya had to be brutally honest, she didn’t think the fates would give up the location of his loved ones now, not after seventeen years.
Her ears perked up. Coming from the room next door was a muffled voice. Crawling out of bed and tip-toeing to their door, she pressed her ear to it. She swore she could hear Nadech. Was he still awake?
The answer came when she heard a sound that squeezed her stomach with concern, and it could never come from a fully conscious Nadech. It was that of a wounded soul that called for something out of reach. Without a second thought, or even remembering to feel self-conscious about their kiss, she pushed the door open and crept to Nadech’s bed.
She clicked on a lamp and chewed her lip at the sight of him wound up in bed like he was bracing for pain to descend on him. Yet, she knew it wasn’t physical pain, but mental images that assaulted him.
“…promise, I promise…” he mumbled and she leaned closer to hear. “Don’t go…”
She couldn’t keep watching. She had to end his nightmare.
His mom kissed his forehead one last time, and said his name. But the voice kept coming, repeating and repeating until it pulled him out of the dream realm.
“Nadech?”
Eyelids laced with weary memories, Nadech slowly adjusted his sight to the light in his room. He didn’t need to see her to know Yaya was there. He pushed himself to sit up. “What is it? Is everything okay?”
“You tell me,” she said. “Sounded like you had a nightmare.”
Not quite. The same dream that haunted Nadech was also a source of comfort. He both hated dreaming of his mother and longed to see her.
“You heard me?”
Yaya nodded.
Strange. He’d never been aware that he talked in his sleep. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
“I wasn’t asleep,” she shrugged. “What did you dream?” She hesitated but decided it was better that he knew she knew some of his family history. It was only fair. “Did you dream of your mom?”
He kept his eyes on the footboard of the bed. “You know about her?”
“Not really. I was curious and asked Mario. He didn’t tell me anything,” she added hastily. “Just that she’s gone right now. And so is your sister.”
He sucked in a breath at the mention of Da.
“Um, don’t get mad at Oh, I was the one who asked, you know, because I…I’m going to be part of this family.”
His words were flat. “You sure you want to be a part of a family where marriages don’t last?”
Before she could catch herself, she said, “I don’t have a choice.” She regretted it immediately.
He laughed darkly. The sound was nothing like his free and lively laugh from the park. “You’re right. Don’t worry though. I vowed never to let what happened with my parents happen to us. Besides, we don’t love each other.”
His declaration was meant to be reassuring, but it wasn’t in the least. The way he said it was like he was incapable of the act, which crushed her hopes of helping him. And the fact that she had once thought the same thing when Yuke ended it with her; she had believed that as long as she didn’t love, she couldn’t get hurt. “You can’t judge all marriages on one. Many people live happily ever after.”
“But many don’t. If only based on love,” he spoke the word like it was poisonous, “then when it’s gone, there’s no motivation to stay together. Even for the sake of their children, my parents didn’t stay together. Did you know that my father didn’t even blink when mother took my sister away? That’s how much love is worth. I’ll pass on that.”
“You have Oh and Kim, don’t you?”
“That’s different.”
“What about me?”
“Your bad luck, princess, as the newest member to the family. But I expect we’re both immune to the follies of love, aren’t we?” He gave her an arch stare that was both familiar to the Nadech she had first met and yet so uncharacteristic that she was almost positive this was the man who was still hurting from his nightmare speaking.
Unfortunately for him, her experience with Yuke had not ‘taught her better’ as he was suggesting. She still welcomed love into her life. And after hearing his words, she wanted more than anything to prove him wrong. He wore cynicism well, but not after she had seen him with a smile.
“You don’t really think that, do you? You once accused me of believing marriage should come from love, but you’re also guilty of believing it too.” Why else would his parents’ separation leave such a gap in his emotions?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, of course not, Mr. Advantage-is-more-important-than-love. You know, maybe Love was pms-ing on that day Yuke came to meet me, so it skipped out on me, but not entirely. I have a family and friends who prove love isn’t worthless. And so do you.”
“And Love must have been so pissed off when I was eight that it split my family in half,” he said sarcastically. She held her breath, hearing this venomous side from Nadech, whom she had come to expect cool and calm from. “Should such a fickle feeling be worshipped? Hey, I’m happy for those lucky people. But how are you going to prove my case otherwise?”
And then, the entire atmosphere changed. Nadech’s gaze narrowed at her and it was like those shadowy eyes charged the air with sparks. But they were the dangerous kind, the kind that made Yaya’s neck hairs stand. Slow and steady, he slinked out of bed.
“Should we test this out? See which one of us is right?”
He loped towards her and Yaya felt like stalked prey as he trapped her in front of the desk. Then he caught her face in his hands and kissed her with such ferocity that her instinct made her fight. Try as she might, his mouth possessed hers entirely. She struggled to escape from him but eventually stopped, not because she gave up, but because his lips had grown gentle, and it threw her mind in a frenzy when he swept her lips apart to deepen the kiss. And before she could stop herself, she kissed him back.
One hand buried in her hair, Nadech’s other hand gripped the desk when he felt her respond to him. The way her mouth moved against his, tender and sweet, and a little shy, it felt so good. So good that for the first time in his life, he wanted more, and not just from anyone—only from Yaya. And that scared the shit out of him.
------------Author's note
joob joob!!!!
jjinxx
DD
