jjinxx
Is your "nom" Fai-approved?
Chapter 6
“Master, I can take care of her,” Kat assured.
But Nadech listened to no one.
“Really son. This is not appropriate for you to be tending to a woman,” Mother reasoned. “Let Kat take care of her fever.”
“Mom, I’m staying. Kat, bring me the water.”
Outside of the room, Mother shook her head. “Why has he become so stubborn?”
“…So then Yaya is Nadech’s special guest, not Mister Om’s?” Kat thought.
“What are you saying?”
Kat lowered her head. “We all thought Yaya had something to do with Om, because they came here together, but seeing Nadech give her such priority…Uh, Mother, don’t you think Yaya looks like someone?”
Mother pursed her lips. “She does look like—“
“Who?” Om appeared before them.
“I was just telling Mother that Yaya looks like Araya, your…” Kat trailed off, seeing Om’s straight face. “Excuse me.”
Walking with her son, Mother casually said, “Don’t you think so Om? I mean, when I first saw the girl, she certainly reminded me of Araya, bless her soul.”
Om simply replied, “A lot of women have similar features.”
“I wonder if that’s why Nadech is attracted to her.” Her brow curled in distress. “To think they met over a poisonous snake!”
But Om was stuck on her previous question. Was his brother attracted to the girl because of her resemblance to Araya? The thought didn’t sit well in his stomach, and Om particularly didn’t like that someone who looked like an important person of the family’s past was appearing from out of nowhere. Though he couldn’t deny that the SLIGHT resemblance was a fascination to him. No one could blame Om. “Nadech is with her?”
His mother frowned. “He refuses to leave her side. I warned him he might get sick too but he insisted on nursing her himself. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. What will we do when her family comes asking for her?”
“Mom, you do know that her parents are dead?” Nadech walked towards them, the bowl of water in his hand and towel over his shoulder. “The only family she has left sold her to a rich family and when her fiancé died, her future father-in-law wanted to keep her as his mistress. Tell me I should have left her back there.” Nadech dared from them, his eyes fierce.
Mother, hearing of her misfortune, softened. “She’s been through that much?”
“She has no one left. She’s staying here.”
“Son, I didn’t say she couldn’t stay. I was just concerned that she might not want to be here, especially after the incident earlier.”
“She’s confused. Until I know for sure she’s safe, please let her stay here.” Nadech was not one to rise above his beloved mother, however obstinate he was on the subject of the ill-fated maiden. When Mother did not give further protest, he left reassured.
Nadech returned after Kat changed Yaya, and he continued to wipe her arms and forehead. With her face relaxed so still, the facial differences were even more apparent, so that Nadech was no longer fooled by his earlier illusion. True, Yaya’s doll-like features reminded him of Araya, but there were distinct differences that made Yaya a completely different person. Perhaps due to the lingering grief of burning the letters at that time, Nadech had been thinking of his dear best friend too much when he stumbled upon Yaya. So his mind purposely wanted to see Araya’s face in hers. But there could be no mistaking her anymore.
As Nadech watched over her, he realized he had had no idea how anxious the last few days had been, not seeing her and not knowing whether she was doing okay.
But of course, as her words had revealed to him, she wasn’t content here. She was confused and distraught and in mourning still. A swirl of darkness had hung above her head while she had demanded to be released. Would her future hang upon this thread of emptiness? Or would someone fill it up—not with the past, for that was irreplaceable, and impossible—but just with a bit of light so she could survive in this world.
Nadech knew the household was curious about Yaya, and why she was here. He’d never done anything this reckless before. The spontaneity of it surprised even him. Sure, catching a snake bare-handed had been reckless also, but this…it was incomparable.
“But I won’t go back on my word. From now on, I’ll be your guardian.”
It couldn’t have been heaven’s will to make them save each other’s lives once and then be separated forever.
She stirred the slightest and mumbled, “…Mark…”
Nadech remembered her saying his name earlier. Was this someone who would be able to help her?
-------------
Nadech jogged up to his room, having forgotten something for work. In the middle of shuffling his papers, he looked up, as that of a creature whose instinct sensed an imbalance in his universe. His feet beat their own path out of the room and down the hallway.
‘Rassa.’
Yaya was curled into a tight ball, as if the smaller she made herself, the sooner she would disappear along with all the aches and grief she was enduring. She lay in what felt like a pile of leaves and then it turned into cold soil, and she sunk into a dark grave.
‘Don’t you remember me?’ It was Mark’s voice. Behind him were her parents’ shadows. ‘Where are you?’
It was at this point that she wanted to stretch out and dig her way back up to air, back up to the suffering of the world. Anything would be better than this stifling darkness. But why couldn’t she? And who was Mark calling for?
‘Rassa,’ his voice sounded like a lost wind in the forest. ‘Don’t forget about us.’
She knew he was talking to her, but why did the name sound so alien? Yaya, yes, she was Yaya, so who was Mark talking to?
“…no…I’m not her.”
Nadech’s blood froze when he heard the muffled sounds of distress from Yaya’s room. Was she okay? Just then, his feet chose to cease their efforts, and his chest tightened uncomfortably. What was going on? He’d felt perfectly fine just moments ago.
But that thought had flown out of his mind before it finished, and was replaced by the sole notion that Yaya was in pain. Whether he didn’t have the power to think, or if he just didn’t care, Nadech didn’t fathom how he knew this; and just forced air into his suddenly throbbing lungs so he might make it to her room.
He fell at her bedside, short of breath; it was fortunate then, because his hand landed close to hers, and he took hold of it. He had no strength to hold her tensed body still. Every ounce of energy went into holding her hand. His head ached! With a splitting migraine that momentarily blinded him.
Kat had become aware of a disturbance and ran into the room. She watched the scene in front of her in shock for a second before rushing forward. “Nadech, what’s wrong?”
“Yaya’s not…do something, do something for her!”
Kat stumbled around, unsure how to treat both of the sufferers. “Um…augh, oh gosh….!” She rounded to the table and opened a bottle of pills prescribed by the doctor, then hurried over to give them to Yaya. Kat was sure it was impossible for Yaya to take the medicine without choking, but what else could be done? So, as carefully as could be done, she helped urge Yaya to swallow the medicine with water, and somehow, succeeded. Now, she turned her attention to Nadech.
“What’s wrong with you? Y-you were fine, weren’t you?”
Nadech’s vision blurred but, he simply shook his head. “I’m fine.” He knew he’d only fall over if he moved, so he remained crouched by the bed.
“Are you sure?” He looked in immense pain to Kat.
“I’m sure. Go…go on with your work,” he gasped, “I’m fine. Go.”
“C-call for me if you need.” She moved very slowly towards the door, reluctant to leave him in such a state. But he gave no more evidence of illness aside from his curved posture.
Gritting his teeth against his lightheaded-ness, he continued to sit beside the bed with Yaya’s hand in his. Some time later, he woke up from a sleep he didn’t remember falling into and in alarm, he jumped up to see Yaya sleeping with a weak frown on her brow. Apparently the medicine had helped. And no trace of his previous pain remained.
“Yaya?” he spoke gently.
From wherever her broken heart and anguished soul had fled to, she heard his whisper. Someone was reaching for her, she felt the delicious warmth on her hand, and clung to it. Her nightmare subsided.
What was wrong with her? She hadn’t been this bad. And even weirder, nothing appeared to be changed, according to the doctor. Nadech had also asked about his own health, and was informed there was not a speck of chance he was ill. Had he dreamed that whole terrible episode of that afternoon?
Sighing, Nadech leaned against the post of Yaya’s bed, looking down upon her sleeping form. He ran his hand through his hair and tried to convince himself she had just had a nightmare, nothing at all like the pain he had imagined. But he had ‘imagined’ it so acutely, and even so strongly that her pain seemed to cut into him too. What was up with that headache he experienced?
“Honey, I heard that the doctor was just here. What happened?”
How was he going to answer his mother truthfully? “I just wanted to make sure Yaya didn’t get any worse.”
He glanced across to a confused Kat and shook his head with the slightest motion to direct her not to tell his mom about what she had seen.
-------------
A stream of light woke Yaya from her groggy rest. Clearing her vision, she expected for Mint to pop up and then to hear her mom’s voice. But reality hit when her eyes landed on the man beside her. His head rested upon an arm on the bed, but then suddenly looked up. He blinked several times, checked his watch and reached for the cloth on her forehead.
“You’re awake.”
Her large tired eyes sent him a ‘duh’ look. She had no idea of the fret she caused him, or of the enormous relief he felt seeing those eyes of hers open.
“How are you feeling?” She felt the cool back of his hand on her head. “Temperature’s gone down,” he mumbled before wetting and wringing out the cloth.
Yaya licked her dry lips.
“Here.” He had a straw by her mouth and she drank a sip. It wasn’t until he’d wiped her face gently and was holding up her arm that she closed her hand around his fingers to stop him. “Why are you doing this?”
Her frail hand managed to send a strong pulse up his arm. Nadech almost forgot to answer her question. “Didn’t I say that you’re staying here because it’s for your own good?”
“I meant, why are you cooling my body yourself?”
“If you’d rather have someone else, I can call for Kat.”
Her brow twitched together in a frown. “You haven’t answered my question.”
He turned her hand over and began cooling it with the cloth. “It was my decision to bring you here. It was my decision to make you stay. It was I who promised to take care of you. I’m not handing you off to someone else when it becomes inconvenient. But if you’re uncomfortable with me, I’ll let Kat stay here.”
She didn’t like the sound of being shadowed again.
“I’ll be fine by myself.”
Nadech eyed her closely. “Promise you won’t try to run away?”
Holding her chin high, she replied, “I won’t TRY. If I decide to leave, I’ll find a way out of here.”
“You won’t,” he shrugged with confidence. “Because unless you make a promise to me that you won’t TRY, I’ll have two people watching you at all times. If that doesn’t scare you, I’ll stay with you myself.”
“Yeah right. Like you don’t have a life and a job to get to.”
“I wouldn’t have any life it you hadn’t saved me.”
They stared at each other as their fateful first encounter played in their heads.
“So the question is, are you scared of me?”
If Yaya had known Nadech even a little better, she would have known he was a light-hearted person. But judging from their time spent together, the way he risked his life, the way he beat Sakdecha, the way he swept her away from everything without hesitation (at least, SHE hadn’t seen any hesitation), and a little bit because he was her senior, Yaya was given the impression that Nadech was a ruthless serious man. And the fact that she could save and be saved by him scared her.
She nodded.
“Then promise me you won’t try to run away.”
What could make more sense than to keep her jinx in sight? “I promise.”
For a moment that she yielded to him, Nadech was reminded of her frightened form in his arms, paralyzed with fear. He would never tolerate anything happening to her.
“Are you hungry, Yaya?”
She repeated his assumed name for her, even yet getting used to it. It wasn’t necessary for him to know her as Rassa. The people who had known her by that name and had loved that name were not here anymore.
“Yaya?”
She heard him calling to her, and eerily, when their eyes met, Yaya was overcome with a feeling like he truly knew her from the start. Like “Yaya” was a hidden part of her that had been waiting for Nadech to come along and awaken her. But that was ridiculous of course. Whatever name she was called by, no one could know her better than herself.
“Yes, I am actually hungry.”
“I’ll see what they have downstairs. Let me help you up first.”
Yaya could do nothing more than lean against Nadech’s chest for him to lift her into a sitting position. He was just pulling away but she hissed in pain. A strand of her hair had gotten caught in his button.
“Excuse me.” Nadech unwound her hair. She felt him place her hair delicately behind her ear.
“There. I’ll be back.”
She just realized how empty her stomach felt. Taking in his appearance, his untucked shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows, his black hair falling over his brow, Yaya asked, “…you stayed with me the whole time?”
“I stayed clean too, if that’s what you’re asking,” his lips hinted at a smile. Seeing no amusement from her, he sighed. “You’re not alone. As long as you’re here, you have me.”
The door closed after he left. Yaya lay against the plush pillows, with his words echoing in her. He sure was taking this seriously, the whole saving his life thing and repaying her for it. That must be why he felt so responsible for her well-being.
Only then did Yaya see that life had so many twists and turns, with unimaginable destinations. If Nadech hadn’t bought their land and been near her that day, the snake might have bitten her and no one would have saved her. And she would be the lucky one being mourned.
“No,” her fists curled around the blanket. Life shouldn’t be taken for granted. She should be thankful that she was still alive, not regretting her rescue. And her parents had been so good to her, she shouldn’t disrespect them by resenting the life they had given to her at birth.
Nadech returned with Kat, who was carrying a tray with food. He appeared having freshened up, clothes changed and hair swept to the side in a manner that was effortlessly dashing.
Kat smiled. “I’m glad you are awake. Eat up so you’ll gain your strength.”
“Thank you Kat. You may leave,” Nadech said.
“Oh,” she hesitated. “But I thought I might stay and help Yaya, since she must be too weak to eat by herself.”
Nadech glanced with concern at Yaya. “You may leave,” he repeated.
Once alone with Yaya, Nadech pushed back his sleeves and settled on the edge of the bed.
“I don’t really need help eating,” she said.
“If you say so.” He placed a napkin on her lap, then put a bowl of porridge on it.
It only took two bites before they both realized she was wrong.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” she said.
Nadech hid a smile, noticing the way she had frowned and avoided his eyes while eating. He could tell she was tired from it already, but knew she was hungry too. “You know, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. It doesn’t make you a weak person.”
He took up the spoon, but paused, hand hanging in the air.
“What?” she asked, growing self-conscious under his gaze.
He blinked once and smiled. “Nothing.” Truthfully, he’d been searching for any clues of why or how she could have gotten so ill yesterday afternoon.
“Tell me,” She suspected he was pitying her, but wasn’t sure.
He cocked his head. “Okay. But only if you eat first.”
The bowl was in his hand and he blew on a spoonful, holding it up for her.
Yaya felt so awkward being fed like a child. If he was her mom, she wouldn’t care, but Nadech was…well, not her mom.
Thinking she was being stubborn, Nadech urged, “Come on. Pride doesn’t keep you full.”
She grudgingly accepted the offering. “So? Tell me now.” She demanded softly.
“I was just thinking how beautiful a smile would look on your lips.”
She didn’t feel like a child now, though he hadn’t given off the impression of flirting.
Pretending not to notice her being taken aback, Nadech slowly fed her, until Yaya was full and tired. They were only halfway through the bowl.
“One more.”
Yaya made a face. All she did was sit and eat but she’d used enough energy for the afternoon.
“Just one more,” he insisted, then added, “I’ll give you a present if you eat this.”
This time, it was he instead whom she felt had let slip from his cool mature image, resorting to such a child-like tactic. She did as he wanted and drank some water, and lay down at his insistence.
Kat knocked and entered as Nadech was still leaning over Yaya. She cleared her throat sheepishly, afraid she’d come at an inappropriate time. “Er, Mister Nadech, I’ve come to see if you need any help.”
“Bring the dishes away.”
Yaya said to Kat, “Thank you for everything.”
“Oh, I’m just doing my duty.” Kat looked up. “When you’re rested, I’ll come help you bathe and dress, okay dear?” She winced with a second thought. “Or does Nadech want to help with that himself too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nadech answered.
“Sorry,” Kat laughed weakly with embarrassment. “I’ll be on my way.”
Before Nadech left her room too, Yaya spoke out. “Hey, what about my present?”
“You’ll get it when you fully recover.”
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Done with finals! One and a half weeks until I go to SE. Asia!
I just want to apologize again with the pace of this story. I'm quite undecided with the direction it will head in so I don't want to rush and make it a regretful story. Happy day to you all.
jjinxx
“Master, I can take care of her,” Kat assured.
But Nadech listened to no one.
“Really son. This is not appropriate for you to be tending to a woman,” Mother reasoned. “Let Kat take care of her fever.”
“Mom, I’m staying. Kat, bring me the water.”
Outside of the room, Mother shook her head. “Why has he become so stubborn?”
“…So then Yaya is Nadech’s special guest, not Mister Om’s?” Kat thought.
“What are you saying?”
Kat lowered her head. “We all thought Yaya had something to do with Om, because they came here together, but seeing Nadech give her such priority…Uh, Mother, don’t you think Yaya looks like someone?”
Mother pursed her lips. “She does look like—“
“Who?” Om appeared before them.
“I was just telling Mother that Yaya looks like Araya, your…” Kat trailed off, seeing Om’s straight face. “Excuse me.”
Walking with her son, Mother casually said, “Don’t you think so Om? I mean, when I first saw the girl, she certainly reminded me of Araya, bless her soul.”
Om simply replied, “A lot of women have similar features.”
“I wonder if that’s why Nadech is attracted to her.” Her brow curled in distress. “To think they met over a poisonous snake!”
But Om was stuck on her previous question. Was his brother attracted to the girl because of her resemblance to Araya? The thought didn’t sit well in his stomach, and Om particularly didn’t like that someone who looked like an important person of the family’s past was appearing from out of nowhere. Though he couldn’t deny that the SLIGHT resemblance was a fascination to him. No one could blame Om. “Nadech is with her?”
His mother frowned. “He refuses to leave her side. I warned him he might get sick too but he insisted on nursing her himself. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. What will we do when her family comes asking for her?”
“Mom, you do know that her parents are dead?” Nadech walked towards them, the bowl of water in his hand and towel over his shoulder. “The only family she has left sold her to a rich family and when her fiancé died, her future father-in-law wanted to keep her as his mistress. Tell me I should have left her back there.” Nadech dared from them, his eyes fierce.
Mother, hearing of her misfortune, softened. “She’s been through that much?”
“She has no one left. She’s staying here.”
“Son, I didn’t say she couldn’t stay. I was just concerned that she might not want to be here, especially after the incident earlier.”
“She’s confused. Until I know for sure she’s safe, please let her stay here.” Nadech was not one to rise above his beloved mother, however obstinate he was on the subject of the ill-fated maiden. When Mother did not give further protest, he left reassured.
Nadech returned after Kat changed Yaya, and he continued to wipe her arms and forehead. With her face relaxed so still, the facial differences were even more apparent, so that Nadech was no longer fooled by his earlier illusion. True, Yaya’s doll-like features reminded him of Araya, but there were distinct differences that made Yaya a completely different person. Perhaps due to the lingering grief of burning the letters at that time, Nadech had been thinking of his dear best friend too much when he stumbled upon Yaya. So his mind purposely wanted to see Araya’s face in hers. But there could be no mistaking her anymore.
As Nadech watched over her, he realized he had had no idea how anxious the last few days had been, not seeing her and not knowing whether she was doing okay.
But of course, as her words had revealed to him, she wasn’t content here. She was confused and distraught and in mourning still. A swirl of darkness had hung above her head while she had demanded to be released. Would her future hang upon this thread of emptiness? Or would someone fill it up—not with the past, for that was irreplaceable, and impossible—but just with a bit of light so she could survive in this world.
Nadech knew the household was curious about Yaya, and why she was here. He’d never done anything this reckless before. The spontaneity of it surprised even him. Sure, catching a snake bare-handed had been reckless also, but this…it was incomparable.
“But I won’t go back on my word. From now on, I’ll be your guardian.”
It couldn’t have been heaven’s will to make them save each other’s lives once and then be separated forever.
She stirred the slightest and mumbled, “…Mark…”
Nadech remembered her saying his name earlier. Was this someone who would be able to help her?
-------------
Nadech jogged up to his room, having forgotten something for work. In the middle of shuffling his papers, he looked up, as that of a creature whose instinct sensed an imbalance in his universe. His feet beat their own path out of the room and down the hallway.
‘Rassa.’
Yaya was curled into a tight ball, as if the smaller she made herself, the sooner she would disappear along with all the aches and grief she was enduring. She lay in what felt like a pile of leaves and then it turned into cold soil, and she sunk into a dark grave.
‘Don’t you remember me?’ It was Mark’s voice. Behind him were her parents’ shadows. ‘Where are you?’
It was at this point that she wanted to stretch out and dig her way back up to air, back up to the suffering of the world. Anything would be better than this stifling darkness. But why couldn’t she? And who was Mark calling for?
‘Rassa,’ his voice sounded like a lost wind in the forest. ‘Don’t forget about us.’
She knew he was talking to her, but why did the name sound so alien? Yaya, yes, she was Yaya, so who was Mark talking to?
“…no…I’m not her.”
Nadech’s blood froze when he heard the muffled sounds of distress from Yaya’s room. Was she okay? Just then, his feet chose to cease their efforts, and his chest tightened uncomfortably. What was going on? He’d felt perfectly fine just moments ago.
But that thought had flown out of his mind before it finished, and was replaced by the sole notion that Yaya was in pain. Whether he didn’t have the power to think, or if he just didn’t care, Nadech didn’t fathom how he knew this; and just forced air into his suddenly throbbing lungs so he might make it to her room.
He fell at her bedside, short of breath; it was fortunate then, because his hand landed close to hers, and he took hold of it. He had no strength to hold her tensed body still. Every ounce of energy went into holding her hand. His head ached! With a splitting migraine that momentarily blinded him.
Kat had become aware of a disturbance and ran into the room. She watched the scene in front of her in shock for a second before rushing forward. “Nadech, what’s wrong?”
“Yaya’s not…do something, do something for her!”
Kat stumbled around, unsure how to treat both of the sufferers. “Um…augh, oh gosh….!” She rounded to the table and opened a bottle of pills prescribed by the doctor, then hurried over to give them to Yaya. Kat was sure it was impossible for Yaya to take the medicine without choking, but what else could be done? So, as carefully as could be done, she helped urge Yaya to swallow the medicine with water, and somehow, succeeded. Now, she turned her attention to Nadech.
“What’s wrong with you? Y-you were fine, weren’t you?”
Nadech’s vision blurred but, he simply shook his head. “I’m fine.” He knew he’d only fall over if he moved, so he remained crouched by the bed.
“Are you sure?” He looked in immense pain to Kat.
“I’m sure. Go…go on with your work,” he gasped, “I’m fine. Go.”
“C-call for me if you need.” She moved very slowly towards the door, reluctant to leave him in such a state. But he gave no more evidence of illness aside from his curved posture.
Gritting his teeth against his lightheaded-ness, he continued to sit beside the bed with Yaya’s hand in his. Some time later, he woke up from a sleep he didn’t remember falling into and in alarm, he jumped up to see Yaya sleeping with a weak frown on her brow. Apparently the medicine had helped. And no trace of his previous pain remained.
“Yaya?” he spoke gently.
From wherever her broken heart and anguished soul had fled to, she heard his whisper. Someone was reaching for her, she felt the delicious warmth on her hand, and clung to it. Her nightmare subsided.
What was wrong with her? She hadn’t been this bad. And even weirder, nothing appeared to be changed, according to the doctor. Nadech had also asked about his own health, and was informed there was not a speck of chance he was ill. Had he dreamed that whole terrible episode of that afternoon?
Sighing, Nadech leaned against the post of Yaya’s bed, looking down upon her sleeping form. He ran his hand through his hair and tried to convince himself she had just had a nightmare, nothing at all like the pain he had imagined. But he had ‘imagined’ it so acutely, and even so strongly that her pain seemed to cut into him too. What was up with that headache he experienced?
“Honey, I heard that the doctor was just here. What happened?”
How was he going to answer his mother truthfully? “I just wanted to make sure Yaya didn’t get any worse.”
He glanced across to a confused Kat and shook his head with the slightest motion to direct her not to tell his mom about what she had seen.
-------------
A stream of light woke Yaya from her groggy rest. Clearing her vision, she expected for Mint to pop up and then to hear her mom’s voice. But reality hit when her eyes landed on the man beside her. His head rested upon an arm on the bed, but then suddenly looked up. He blinked several times, checked his watch and reached for the cloth on her forehead.
“You’re awake.”
Her large tired eyes sent him a ‘duh’ look. She had no idea of the fret she caused him, or of the enormous relief he felt seeing those eyes of hers open.
“How are you feeling?” She felt the cool back of his hand on her head. “Temperature’s gone down,” he mumbled before wetting and wringing out the cloth.
Yaya licked her dry lips.
“Here.” He had a straw by her mouth and she drank a sip. It wasn’t until he’d wiped her face gently and was holding up her arm that she closed her hand around his fingers to stop him. “Why are you doing this?”
Her frail hand managed to send a strong pulse up his arm. Nadech almost forgot to answer her question. “Didn’t I say that you’re staying here because it’s for your own good?”
“I meant, why are you cooling my body yourself?”
“If you’d rather have someone else, I can call for Kat.”
Her brow twitched together in a frown. “You haven’t answered my question.”
He turned her hand over and began cooling it with the cloth. “It was my decision to bring you here. It was my decision to make you stay. It was I who promised to take care of you. I’m not handing you off to someone else when it becomes inconvenient. But if you’re uncomfortable with me, I’ll let Kat stay here.”
She didn’t like the sound of being shadowed again.
“I’ll be fine by myself.”
Nadech eyed her closely. “Promise you won’t try to run away?”
Holding her chin high, she replied, “I won’t TRY. If I decide to leave, I’ll find a way out of here.”
“You won’t,” he shrugged with confidence. “Because unless you make a promise to me that you won’t TRY, I’ll have two people watching you at all times. If that doesn’t scare you, I’ll stay with you myself.”
“Yeah right. Like you don’t have a life and a job to get to.”
“I wouldn’t have any life it you hadn’t saved me.”
They stared at each other as their fateful first encounter played in their heads.
“So the question is, are you scared of me?”
If Yaya had known Nadech even a little better, she would have known he was a light-hearted person. But judging from their time spent together, the way he risked his life, the way he beat Sakdecha, the way he swept her away from everything without hesitation (at least, SHE hadn’t seen any hesitation), and a little bit because he was her senior, Yaya was given the impression that Nadech was a ruthless serious man. And the fact that she could save and be saved by him scared her.
She nodded.
“Then promise me you won’t try to run away.”
What could make more sense than to keep her jinx in sight? “I promise.”
For a moment that she yielded to him, Nadech was reminded of her frightened form in his arms, paralyzed with fear. He would never tolerate anything happening to her.
“Are you hungry, Yaya?”
She repeated his assumed name for her, even yet getting used to it. It wasn’t necessary for him to know her as Rassa. The people who had known her by that name and had loved that name were not here anymore.
“Yaya?”
She heard him calling to her, and eerily, when their eyes met, Yaya was overcome with a feeling like he truly knew her from the start. Like “Yaya” was a hidden part of her that had been waiting for Nadech to come along and awaken her. But that was ridiculous of course. Whatever name she was called by, no one could know her better than herself.
“Yes, I am actually hungry.”
“I’ll see what they have downstairs. Let me help you up first.”
Yaya could do nothing more than lean against Nadech’s chest for him to lift her into a sitting position. He was just pulling away but she hissed in pain. A strand of her hair had gotten caught in his button.
“Excuse me.” Nadech unwound her hair. She felt him place her hair delicately behind her ear.
“There. I’ll be back.”
She just realized how empty her stomach felt. Taking in his appearance, his untucked shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows, his black hair falling over his brow, Yaya asked, “…you stayed with me the whole time?”
“I stayed clean too, if that’s what you’re asking,” his lips hinted at a smile. Seeing no amusement from her, he sighed. “You’re not alone. As long as you’re here, you have me.”
The door closed after he left. Yaya lay against the plush pillows, with his words echoing in her. He sure was taking this seriously, the whole saving his life thing and repaying her for it. That must be why he felt so responsible for her well-being.
Only then did Yaya see that life had so many twists and turns, with unimaginable destinations. If Nadech hadn’t bought their land and been near her that day, the snake might have bitten her and no one would have saved her. And she would be the lucky one being mourned.
“No,” her fists curled around the blanket. Life shouldn’t be taken for granted. She should be thankful that she was still alive, not regretting her rescue. And her parents had been so good to her, she shouldn’t disrespect them by resenting the life they had given to her at birth.
Nadech returned with Kat, who was carrying a tray with food. He appeared having freshened up, clothes changed and hair swept to the side in a manner that was effortlessly dashing.
Kat smiled. “I’m glad you are awake. Eat up so you’ll gain your strength.”
“Thank you Kat. You may leave,” Nadech said.
“Oh,” she hesitated. “But I thought I might stay and help Yaya, since she must be too weak to eat by herself.”
Nadech glanced with concern at Yaya. “You may leave,” he repeated.
Once alone with Yaya, Nadech pushed back his sleeves and settled on the edge of the bed.
“I don’t really need help eating,” she said.
“If you say so.” He placed a napkin on her lap, then put a bowl of porridge on it.
It only took two bites before they both realized she was wrong.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” she said.
Nadech hid a smile, noticing the way she had frowned and avoided his eyes while eating. He could tell she was tired from it already, but knew she was hungry too. “You know, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. It doesn’t make you a weak person.”
He took up the spoon, but paused, hand hanging in the air.
“What?” she asked, growing self-conscious under his gaze.
He blinked once and smiled. “Nothing.” Truthfully, he’d been searching for any clues of why or how she could have gotten so ill yesterday afternoon.
“Tell me,” She suspected he was pitying her, but wasn’t sure.
He cocked his head. “Okay. But only if you eat first.”
The bowl was in his hand and he blew on a spoonful, holding it up for her.
Yaya felt so awkward being fed like a child. If he was her mom, she wouldn’t care, but Nadech was…well, not her mom.
Thinking she was being stubborn, Nadech urged, “Come on. Pride doesn’t keep you full.”
She grudgingly accepted the offering. “So? Tell me now.” She demanded softly.
“I was just thinking how beautiful a smile would look on your lips.”
She didn’t feel like a child now, though he hadn’t given off the impression of flirting.
Pretending not to notice her being taken aback, Nadech slowly fed her, until Yaya was full and tired. They were only halfway through the bowl.
“One more.”
Yaya made a face. All she did was sit and eat but she’d used enough energy for the afternoon.
“Just one more,” he insisted, then added, “I’ll give you a present if you eat this.”
This time, it was he instead whom she felt had let slip from his cool mature image, resorting to such a child-like tactic. She did as he wanted and drank some water, and lay down at his insistence.
Kat knocked and entered as Nadech was still leaning over Yaya. She cleared her throat sheepishly, afraid she’d come at an inappropriate time. “Er, Mister Nadech, I’ve come to see if you need any help.”
“Bring the dishes away.”
Yaya said to Kat, “Thank you for everything.”
“Oh, I’m just doing my duty.” Kat looked up. “When you’re rested, I’ll come help you bathe and dress, okay dear?” She winced with a second thought. “Or does Nadech want to help with that himself too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nadech answered.
“Sorry,” Kat laughed weakly with embarrassment. “I’ll be on my way.”
Before Nadech left her room too, Yaya spoke out. “Hey, what about my present?”
“You’ll get it when you fully recover.”
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Done with finals! One and a half weeks until I go to SE. Asia!
I just want to apologize again with the pace of this story. I'm quite undecided with the direction it will head in so I don't want to rush and make it a regretful story. Happy day to you all.
jjinxx
