jjinxx
Is your "nom" Fai-approved?
Chapter 19
The date drew closer and closer. While Om was visiting his friends, Yaya was allowed time to herself, so she wandered aimlessly into the park as the afternoon sun glittered across the river.
“Yaya!” Someone caught her around the waist, and she looked down to see an ecstatic Bee hugging her. she ruffled his hair affectionately. “How are you honey?”
“This is great! Mommy brought me to the park and you’re here too!” She turned to see Nee approaching.
“Yaya,” Nee smiled, “Om told me you were here so I thought we could come keep you company.”
Yaya looked back gratefully.
“Bee, run along pick some flowers for mommy,” Nee said, and he happily obeyed. She then turned back and hesitantly asked, “You don’t look so well. Are you feeling okay?” She went on, “I’ve been meaning to ask you. Are you sure you want to marry Om? I just mean that, you two hardly know each other. Of course,” she added quickly, “I understand that you have your reasons.” Nee’s brow dipped in confusion seeing Yaya’s face grow impossibly drearier.
“I have a confession,” Yaya said quietly, breathlessly, “and I have no one to tell it to.”
“What is it?”
“I…don’t want to marry him.”
Shocked, Nee hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer. “W-what do you mean?”
Yaya buried her face in her hands. “I’m such a horrible person. I’ve already decided to be strong for him, but I can’t help…can’t help hurting every time I see him.”
“Yaya…” Nee was beginning to realize what just might be going on, but she restrained herself to ask slowly, “What are you talking about? Do you mean that…?”
“I don’t love him,” came Yaya’s weak voice. “I…I love…”
“Who?” Nee asked, leaning closer, “Who?”
As she suspected, the reply came in a distorted but comprehensible name. “…Nadech.” Yaya furiously wiped away her tears, forcing herself to look up. “Nee, please don’t tell anyone what I said! It would hurt Om so much, and all I want to do is treat him well.”
“…”
“Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“Yaya, don’t you think it was best if you followed your heart?” Nee asked, returning the gaze with a sympathetic simper in her eyes. “This isn’t right.”
“But it’s the only thing I can do. Nadech asked me to, so I have to.”
“He what?” Nee couldn’t believe her ears. Why were so many people standing in her way? Her fingers wrapped tightly around the edge of their bench. “But…regardless, how can you live a lie like that? All because of your hateful cousin?”
Yaya swallowed back her tears hard. Her decision had nothing to do with Pope; she no longer thought about him or wondered about what his intentions were. All of her present pain was enough to deal with. “I’ve already decided to do what Nadech wanted.”
Nee bit back an angry retort. How could this girl be so stupid? Presently, Bee returned with two bouquets of daisies for them, and Yaya excused herself, further embittering Nee when she mentioned that she was worried about Om.
The day before the engagement arrived, to which Yaya woke up as if in a daze.
Yaya remained motionless on her bed, the strange remnants of a nearly forgotten dream lingering wistfully on her lashes. The silhouette of a man she knew dearly had appeared beside her bed, brushed away her tear, and kissed her into the realms of sleep.
She stared up at her ceiling and wondered if the time since her parents’ death was all some twisted fairy tale that her subconscious had dreamt up. Her eyes fluttered closed. She waited for her mom’s voice. She waited for Mint to jump on to her bed. She waited until the door was knocked on, interrupting her vain attempt to escape.
“Time to wake up, dear,” Kat’s voice drifted in. “Tomorrow’s the big day!” she exclaimed, not even realizing that she was drowning the young woman’s spirits even deeper.
Suddenly, Yaya sat up in bed. “Kat.”
“Yes?”
“I want to cook dinner tonight.”
“Oh but there are many last minute things you should—“
“I really want to,” Yaya said, almost fiercely. She was determined, and wouldn’t give in until Kat and Mother had agreed.
When the busy day of plannings and decorating and keeping so busy that she and Om barely saw each other finally died down to a heavy sky of grayness, Yaya took to the kitchen. Just as she had gotten things rolling along, Om peeked in.
“Can I be of assistance?”
She replied pleasantly, “Just go relax, I know you’ve had a long day.”
He slipped in. “I’m not tired. Allow me the honor of helping you, please.”
She pursed her lips in a smile and nodded.
“Where’s the elbow grease you boasted of?” Yaya chuckled.
At this, Om whisked the contents of the bowl he held faster with concentration. When he was done, she added the ingredients together and he watched with fascination at the precision in her movements and confidence in everything she handled.
“Yaya, you’ve grown a lot,” he observed.
“I should hope so,” she said. “My mom said she wanted me to stay as her little daughter forever. But isn’t that a silly wish?”
“I suppose all parents want it to be that way. They always want to nurture us and protect us from harm.”
Though this thought pricked her heart a bit, she continued to do her work without trouble, moving moved around in a world of her own, unaware of anything outside while food steamed and boiled and sizzled at her magical touch.
“Alright,” she covered the pot on the stove with its cover, “we’ll just leave this alone until it’s ready.” Stepping to the side to wipe her hands with a towel, she grew conscious of Om’s close presence. He gently turned her to face him. Eyes cast down, she stood rigidly before him, waiting.
Om tilted his head down, slowly, closer. When she could feel his breath softly on her skin, he paused. He took the time to scout her every feature—those full lips, the perky nose that fit in her small face, and especially those eyes. Om had told himself again and again, that she was not Araya, but it was always Yaya’s eyes that called him back to the past with the woman he loved more than life itself. But standing here, closer than either would have imagined to be before, Om felt a rising reproach with himself. Because who he saw was not anyone remotely close to Araya, but a young woman who he suddenly knew was both eager to help him feel better and yet, trying to hold back her own yearning for…someone else? Is that what he was really seeing?
He didn’t love her, he knew that. But he did have the hope that they would provide a solid companionship for each other. But was their union the right way?
He came closer still. She felt him reach past her. “We should open the windows now,” he said, and just like that the air lightened around them as a breeze stole away the tantalizing scent of home cooking and shared it amongst the rain descending to feed the parched soil.
As if nothing had happened, they went about fixing dinner again, though in silence, until Om mentioned, “Nadech said that he was coming home late tonight. He’ll probably miss dinner.”
She replied without a single waver in her voice, “That’s fine.”
But he caught the dimming of her eyes, and once again sensed her hidden disappointment.
-------------
“You’re back,” Kat greeted Nadech as he shook off the rain droplets from his suit jacket.
Smiling tiredly, he was about to go up when she said, “Are you hungry? There’s some dinner that was saved specially for you.”
Thinking of his mom, he turned and said, “That sounds good actually. Could you set it out for me?”
“Yes sir.”
“Thanks.”
Sitting down at the table, Nadech didn’t give another thought before lifting the spoon to his mouth. That was when he recognized the flavor on his tastebuds and more importantly, knew exactly who had cooked that night.
Tomorrow was the day the two of them were going to promise to become partners. And it would become official to the world that she did not belong to Nadech. One after another, Nadech scooped each spoonful into his mouth, even when the lump in his throat threatened to stifle his airway, he forced himself to keep eating. It was all delicious of course. When the spoon caught a drop of his tear and transformed the flavor to that of the sea, he still didn’t stop, wanting to use that flavor as his outlet towards Yaya.
Up in his room, Nadech swung his window open. In washed a light spray of rain that collected like crystals on his face, feebly attempting to extinguish his heart that was smoldering to ashes, gray like the rolling clouds.
With the taste of Yaya’s cooking lingering on his tongue, Nadech turned away from his window, picked up his pen, and began to write on a plain sheet of paper. When he was done, he folded it thirds and let it lay alone on his desk.
-------------
It was strange that each time she beheld her reflection, Yaya seemed to see someone more and more different. Today had to be the crowning wonder of all, as the elegant woman in the world of glass returned her stare solemnly. To her surprise, her mind was clear of foolish yearning. There was nothing to do now but accept her duties and do her best for Nadech’s sake.
Someone knocked and then came in.
She gasped. “Mark!” Immediately, she was up and had reached for his arms that welcomed her warmly.
“Hey,” he said, hugging her close. “Did you think I was going to let you get away with not even telling me about this?”
Guiltily, she met his eyes with regret. “I’m sorry. Everything’s happened so soon that I just didn’t think.”
He took her by the shoulders and leaned forward slightly so they were level. “Hey, I’m not angry. Okay? Don’t worry, I’m just surprised that’s all. And I’m here to support you.” He cleared his throat, and slowly asked, “Is this…something that you truly want?”
The calculations were quite simple: Nadech wanted to help his brother, Yaya wanted to do whatever would make Nadech happy, and so the answer was clear to her.
“Yes,” she said.
Mark bit back a word of doubt, because he had expected a different outcome. But then, he thought, who was he to go around telling the future when he hadn’t seen Yaya in so long. So he silently nodded in understanding. “Okay then. My mom’s downstairs greeting Mrs. Theerada. I’ll wait for you.” He departed with an encouraging smile.
Not ten seconds later, Yaya’s phone rang. Any other day, she would have wondered who it was before picking up, but on this day, she was too distracted to question it, and so the voice that reached her from the other end nearly made her drop her cell phone.
“P’Rassa…”
“M-Mint?” Was she hearing things? Could it really be? “Mint?”
“You have to help me!” there was a fearful quiver in her voice, “I don’t know what’s going on. I’m scared, I’m scared of P’Pope. He’s changed and it’s…”
“Wait, what’s going on? Tell me what’s happening,” she tried not to let her mind think of the worst case scenario.
“P’Rassa, I’m really confused,” Mint cried, barely able to speak. “I don’t know how I feel anymore and everything is wrong. I…I have to leave! You have to help me get away from—“ Mint stopped and then said, “I have to go. I think he’s gone, maybe I can get out.”
“Mint?! Wait, Mint!” The line ended and Yaya’s felt her stomach heave with worry. What was happening? Was Pope that angry at her that he was taking it out on Mint, and treating her so badly that she was desperate enough to risk calling Yaya? Yaya didn’t realize she’d been pacing until she came to a stop and made a decision.
Loud footsteps thumped down the stairs and Nadech turned just in time to recognize that it was Kat who was dragging him urgently away. “What’s going on?”
When they were safely away from all the guests, Kat’s panic-stricken face turned to him and she said, “Yaya’s missing!”
Struck silent, he thought he must’ve heard wrong. “What did you say?”
“She’s gone!” Kat wailed in distress, “I went up to call for her but she was gone and—and just this was left.” She held out a piece of paper.
He took it and read the few words: I’m sorry. This is a matter of life and death, so I have to leave to go help. Please forgive me.
Life and death…Nadech’s blood seemed to freeze in fear. What was she thinking?
“Kat,” he said with surprising calm, “Go inform mom and P’Om. I…I’m going to try to find her.”
Finally breaking free of the front entrance, Nadech fished out his phone and just as he was getting into his car, the ringing stopped when her voice answered, “Hello?”
Hearing her, he clenched the phone and asked, “Where are you?”
Yaya tried to do her best to hold back the tremble in her words, “I had to leave. I’m so sorry, but Mint called me and she sounded so scared, I had to—“
“But what’s going on?” Nadech asked, stepping on the accelerating when he read through the anxiety she tried to hide. “Yaya, where are you going?”
“…Back,” she said. “I have to help her. I’m going back.”
“You can’t!” there was no need for him to panic. He shouldn’t believe anything would happen to her—he wouldn’t tolerate it! But just the idea of her going back to a place of unbearable memories, a place where the people there didn’t want her, Nadech felt it, felt the panic rise in him. “Stop, whatever you’re doing right now, stop.”
He couldn’t see the sad smile on her lips. “Nadech…if there was anyone in the world who I would believe could do anything, it would be you. But how are you going to stop a moving train?”
She was already on her way. “Yaya, please. Please don’t go back.”
His plead would have melted her at the knees if she’d been standing. But she was perched upon a seat in the train that was speeding her farther and farther from him, and Mint’s cries were making her crazy with worry. “I’m sorry, for not being able to do what you want.”
Om dropped upon a seat on the sofa. “She’s…really gone? She left?”
“Son, there must be a reason. Yaya would never have left if not for an emergency,” Mother wrung her hands anxiously, not even knowing what she should tell all the relatives and guests who had arrived for the engagement ceremony. “We have to find her first. Her message sounds serious!”
Mark frowned at the short message left by Yaya. His mom was beside him, equally restless about what had just happened. “It can’t be…” he murmured.
Nee’s ears perked up. She had come to the engagement telling herself this was not yet the real deal, so she would not have to take action. But if Yaya had left, and if they knew where she was...then all Nee needed was to be faster than them all and she would get what she wanted. She listened carefully to Mark.
“She couldn’t have…” Mark muttered, as if to convince himself. “Mom, you don’t think she went back, do you?”
“What do you mean?” Om asked.
“Do you know where she went?” Mother looked up with disturbed eyes.
Mark shook his head. “There’s only one other person that could have made Yaya this worried she would leave everything. Her cousin, Mint, back home. But I can’t think of any reason why she should have thought she was in danger,” he said, reading the urgent words that had been quickly scrawled to save time. “No, I don’t understand what could have occurred. But there isn’t anyone else.”
“This can’t be happening,” Mother shook her head. “Om, what should we do?”
“I’m going after her,” he stood up. “For whatever reason that she did it, we can’t let her get hurt.”
“Nadech ran out when I told him,” Kat informed them, “he said he was going to look for her.”
-------------
jjinxx
The date drew closer and closer. While Om was visiting his friends, Yaya was allowed time to herself, so she wandered aimlessly into the park as the afternoon sun glittered across the river.
“Yaya!” Someone caught her around the waist, and she looked down to see an ecstatic Bee hugging her. she ruffled his hair affectionately. “How are you honey?”
“This is great! Mommy brought me to the park and you’re here too!” She turned to see Nee approaching.
“Yaya,” Nee smiled, “Om told me you were here so I thought we could come keep you company.”
Yaya looked back gratefully.
“Bee, run along pick some flowers for mommy,” Nee said, and he happily obeyed. She then turned back and hesitantly asked, “You don’t look so well. Are you feeling okay?” She went on, “I’ve been meaning to ask you. Are you sure you want to marry Om? I just mean that, you two hardly know each other. Of course,” she added quickly, “I understand that you have your reasons.” Nee’s brow dipped in confusion seeing Yaya’s face grow impossibly drearier.
“I have a confession,” Yaya said quietly, breathlessly, “and I have no one to tell it to.”
“What is it?”
“I…don’t want to marry him.”
Shocked, Nee hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer. “W-what do you mean?”
Yaya buried her face in her hands. “I’m such a horrible person. I’ve already decided to be strong for him, but I can’t help…can’t help hurting every time I see him.”
“Yaya…” Nee was beginning to realize what just might be going on, but she restrained herself to ask slowly, “What are you talking about? Do you mean that…?”
“I don’t love him,” came Yaya’s weak voice. “I…I love…”
“Who?” Nee asked, leaning closer, “Who?”
As she suspected, the reply came in a distorted but comprehensible name. “…Nadech.” Yaya furiously wiped away her tears, forcing herself to look up. “Nee, please don’t tell anyone what I said! It would hurt Om so much, and all I want to do is treat him well.”
“…”
“Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”
“Yaya, don’t you think it was best if you followed your heart?” Nee asked, returning the gaze with a sympathetic simper in her eyes. “This isn’t right.”
“But it’s the only thing I can do. Nadech asked me to, so I have to.”
“He what?” Nee couldn’t believe her ears. Why were so many people standing in her way? Her fingers wrapped tightly around the edge of their bench. “But…regardless, how can you live a lie like that? All because of your hateful cousin?”
Yaya swallowed back her tears hard. Her decision had nothing to do with Pope; she no longer thought about him or wondered about what his intentions were. All of her present pain was enough to deal with. “I’ve already decided to do what Nadech wanted.”
Nee bit back an angry retort. How could this girl be so stupid? Presently, Bee returned with two bouquets of daisies for them, and Yaya excused herself, further embittering Nee when she mentioned that she was worried about Om.
The day before the engagement arrived, to which Yaya woke up as if in a daze.
Yaya remained motionless on her bed, the strange remnants of a nearly forgotten dream lingering wistfully on her lashes. The silhouette of a man she knew dearly had appeared beside her bed, brushed away her tear, and kissed her into the realms of sleep.
She stared up at her ceiling and wondered if the time since her parents’ death was all some twisted fairy tale that her subconscious had dreamt up. Her eyes fluttered closed. She waited for her mom’s voice. She waited for Mint to jump on to her bed. She waited until the door was knocked on, interrupting her vain attempt to escape.
“Time to wake up, dear,” Kat’s voice drifted in. “Tomorrow’s the big day!” she exclaimed, not even realizing that she was drowning the young woman’s spirits even deeper.
Suddenly, Yaya sat up in bed. “Kat.”
“Yes?”
“I want to cook dinner tonight.”
“Oh but there are many last minute things you should—“
“I really want to,” Yaya said, almost fiercely. She was determined, and wouldn’t give in until Kat and Mother had agreed.
When the busy day of plannings and decorating and keeping so busy that she and Om barely saw each other finally died down to a heavy sky of grayness, Yaya took to the kitchen. Just as she had gotten things rolling along, Om peeked in.
“Can I be of assistance?”
She replied pleasantly, “Just go relax, I know you’ve had a long day.”
He slipped in. “I’m not tired. Allow me the honor of helping you, please.”
She pursed her lips in a smile and nodded.
“Where’s the elbow grease you boasted of?” Yaya chuckled.
At this, Om whisked the contents of the bowl he held faster with concentration. When he was done, she added the ingredients together and he watched with fascination at the precision in her movements and confidence in everything she handled.
“Yaya, you’ve grown a lot,” he observed.
“I should hope so,” she said. “My mom said she wanted me to stay as her little daughter forever. But isn’t that a silly wish?”
“I suppose all parents want it to be that way. They always want to nurture us and protect us from harm.”
Though this thought pricked her heart a bit, she continued to do her work without trouble, moving moved around in a world of her own, unaware of anything outside while food steamed and boiled and sizzled at her magical touch.
“Alright,” she covered the pot on the stove with its cover, “we’ll just leave this alone until it’s ready.” Stepping to the side to wipe her hands with a towel, she grew conscious of Om’s close presence. He gently turned her to face him. Eyes cast down, she stood rigidly before him, waiting.
Om tilted his head down, slowly, closer. When she could feel his breath softly on her skin, he paused. He took the time to scout her every feature—those full lips, the perky nose that fit in her small face, and especially those eyes. Om had told himself again and again, that she was not Araya, but it was always Yaya’s eyes that called him back to the past with the woman he loved more than life itself. But standing here, closer than either would have imagined to be before, Om felt a rising reproach with himself. Because who he saw was not anyone remotely close to Araya, but a young woman who he suddenly knew was both eager to help him feel better and yet, trying to hold back her own yearning for…someone else? Is that what he was really seeing?
He didn’t love her, he knew that. But he did have the hope that they would provide a solid companionship for each other. But was their union the right way?
He came closer still. She felt him reach past her. “We should open the windows now,” he said, and just like that the air lightened around them as a breeze stole away the tantalizing scent of home cooking and shared it amongst the rain descending to feed the parched soil.
As if nothing had happened, they went about fixing dinner again, though in silence, until Om mentioned, “Nadech said that he was coming home late tonight. He’ll probably miss dinner.”
She replied without a single waver in her voice, “That’s fine.”
But he caught the dimming of her eyes, and once again sensed her hidden disappointment.
-------------
“You’re back,” Kat greeted Nadech as he shook off the rain droplets from his suit jacket.
Smiling tiredly, he was about to go up when she said, “Are you hungry? There’s some dinner that was saved specially for you.”
Thinking of his mom, he turned and said, “That sounds good actually. Could you set it out for me?”
“Yes sir.”
“Thanks.”
Sitting down at the table, Nadech didn’t give another thought before lifting the spoon to his mouth. That was when he recognized the flavor on his tastebuds and more importantly, knew exactly who had cooked that night.
Tomorrow was the day the two of them were going to promise to become partners. And it would become official to the world that she did not belong to Nadech. One after another, Nadech scooped each spoonful into his mouth, even when the lump in his throat threatened to stifle his airway, he forced himself to keep eating. It was all delicious of course. When the spoon caught a drop of his tear and transformed the flavor to that of the sea, he still didn’t stop, wanting to use that flavor as his outlet towards Yaya.
Up in his room, Nadech swung his window open. In washed a light spray of rain that collected like crystals on his face, feebly attempting to extinguish his heart that was smoldering to ashes, gray like the rolling clouds.
With the taste of Yaya’s cooking lingering on his tongue, Nadech turned away from his window, picked up his pen, and began to write on a plain sheet of paper. When he was done, he folded it thirds and let it lay alone on his desk.
-------------
It was strange that each time she beheld her reflection, Yaya seemed to see someone more and more different. Today had to be the crowning wonder of all, as the elegant woman in the world of glass returned her stare solemnly. To her surprise, her mind was clear of foolish yearning. There was nothing to do now but accept her duties and do her best for Nadech’s sake.
Someone knocked and then came in.
She gasped. “Mark!” Immediately, she was up and had reached for his arms that welcomed her warmly.
“Hey,” he said, hugging her close. “Did you think I was going to let you get away with not even telling me about this?”
Guiltily, she met his eyes with regret. “I’m sorry. Everything’s happened so soon that I just didn’t think.”
He took her by the shoulders and leaned forward slightly so they were level. “Hey, I’m not angry. Okay? Don’t worry, I’m just surprised that’s all. And I’m here to support you.” He cleared his throat, and slowly asked, “Is this…something that you truly want?”
The calculations were quite simple: Nadech wanted to help his brother, Yaya wanted to do whatever would make Nadech happy, and so the answer was clear to her.
“Yes,” she said.
Mark bit back a word of doubt, because he had expected a different outcome. But then, he thought, who was he to go around telling the future when he hadn’t seen Yaya in so long. So he silently nodded in understanding. “Okay then. My mom’s downstairs greeting Mrs. Theerada. I’ll wait for you.” He departed with an encouraging smile.
Not ten seconds later, Yaya’s phone rang. Any other day, she would have wondered who it was before picking up, but on this day, she was too distracted to question it, and so the voice that reached her from the other end nearly made her drop her cell phone.
“P’Rassa…”
“M-Mint?” Was she hearing things? Could it really be? “Mint?”
“You have to help me!” there was a fearful quiver in her voice, “I don’t know what’s going on. I’m scared, I’m scared of P’Pope. He’s changed and it’s…”
“Wait, what’s going on? Tell me what’s happening,” she tried not to let her mind think of the worst case scenario.
“P’Rassa, I’m really confused,” Mint cried, barely able to speak. “I don’t know how I feel anymore and everything is wrong. I…I have to leave! You have to help me get away from—“ Mint stopped and then said, “I have to go. I think he’s gone, maybe I can get out.”
“Mint?! Wait, Mint!” The line ended and Yaya’s felt her stomach heave with worry. What was happening? Was Pope that angry at her that he was taking it out on Mint, and treating her so badly that she was desperate enough to risk calling Yaya? Yaya didn’t realize she’d been pacing until she came to a stop and made a decision.
Loud footsteps thumped down the stairs and Nadech turned just in time to recognize that it was Kat who was dragging him urgently away. “What’s going on?”
When they were safely away from all the guests, Kat’s panic-stricken face turned to him and she said, “Yaya’s missing!”
Struck silent, he thought he must’ve heard wrong. “What did you say?”
“She’s gone!” Kat wailed in distress, “I went up to call for her but she was gone and—and just this was left.” She held out a piece of paper.
He took it and read the few words: I’m sorry. This is a matter of life and death, so I have to leave to go help. Please forgive me.
Life and death…Nadech’s blood seemed to freeze in fear. What was she thinking?
“Kat,” he said with surprising calm, “Go inform mom and P’Om. I…I’m going to try to find her.”
Finally breaking free of the front entrance, Nadech fished out his phone and just as he was getting into his car, the ringing stopped when her voice answered, “Hello?”
Hearing her, he clenched the phone and asked, “Where are you?”
Yaya tried to do her best to hold back the tremble in her words, “I had to leave. I’m so sorry, but Mint called me and she sounded so scared, I had to—“
“But what’s going on?” Nadech asked, stepping on the accelerating when he read through the anxiety she tried to hide. “Yaya, where are you going?”
“…Back,” she said. “I have to help her. I’m going back.”
“You can’t!” there was no need for him to panic. He shouldn’t believe anything would happen to her—he wouldn’t tolerate it! But just the idea of her going back to a place of unbearable memories, a place where the people there didn’t want her, Nadech felt it, felt the panic rise in him. “Stop, whatever you’re doing right now, stop.”
He couldn’t see the sad smile on her lips. “Nadech…if there was anyone in the world who I would believe could do anything, it would be you. But how are you going to stop a moving train?”
She was already on her way. “Yaya, please. Please don’t go back.”
His plead would have melted her at the knees if she’d been standing. But she was perched upon a seat in the train that was speeding her farther and farther from him, and Mint’s cries were making her crazy with worry. “I’m sorry, for not being able to do what you want.”
Om dropped upon a seat on the sofa. “She’s…really gone? She left?”
“Son, there must be a reason. Yaya would never have left if not for an emergency,” Mother wrung her hands anxiously, not even knowing what she should tell all the relatives and guests who had arrived for the engagement ceremony. “We have to find her first. Her message sounds serious!”
Mark frowned at the short message left by Yaya. His mom was beside him, equally restless about what had just happened. “It can’t be…” he murmured.
Nee’s ears perked up. She had come to the engagement telling herself this was not yet the real deal, so she would not have to take action. But if Yaya had left, and if they knew where she was...then all Nee needed was to be faster than them all and she would get what she wanted. She listened carefully to Mark.
“She couldn’t have…” Mark muttered, as if to convince himself. “Mom, you don’t think she went back, do you?”
“What do you mean?” Om asked.
“Do you know where she went?” Mother looked up with disturbed eyes.
Mark shook his head. “There’s only one other person that could have made Yaya this worried she would leave everything. Her cousin, Mint, back home. But I can’t think of any reason why she should have thought she was in danger,” he said, reading the urgent words that had been quickly scrawled to save time. “No, I don’t understand what could have occurred. But there isn’t anyone else.”
“This can’t be happening,” Mother shook her head. “Om, what should we do?”
“I’m going after her,” he stood up. “For whatever reason that she did it, we can’t let her get hurt.”
“Nadech ran out when I told him,” Kat informed them, “he said he was going to look for her.”
-------------
jjinxx
Thanks jjinxxy!
