Chapter Text
Another casual day approached Chonlatee which begun by a little child jumping on his bed. Chonlatee was a sound sleeper, no alarm clock could wake him up beside his own little lively daughter.
"Nong Pring … let daddy sleep …" He yawned and rubbed his closed eyes but the little naughty princess leaped on his chest which almost broke his ribs. She wasn't fat, just a little chubby as spoiled as she was by her beloved father and she always stole the spotlight with her cuteness. Her bangs were almost hiding her beautiful eyes and her medium-length straight hair was falling down on her shoulders
Chonlatee matured during the long six years. His hairstyle was different too as he had longer hair split in the middle without bangs but he still looked as gentle as ever
"Papa … it's my first day at school! Don't sleep … na?"
She pouted her cheeks and crossed her arms but she couldn't look cuter at the moment. Chonlatee had his eyes opened enough to grab his phone and take a photo of his little princess.
"Hmm, let's dress you into the best clothes then …" He kept yawning after following his babygirl while holding her little chubby hand to her room where she barely slept.
"Hmm … not this … not this … yay! The dress Dad gave me for my sixth birthday!"
She cheered while Chonlatee rubbed his neck. Right, her other father who abandoned them soon enough after Miriam gave birth to their child … he made him look the best in Pring's eyes but he himself didn't hold good feelings for him anymore.
"Papa … do you think that he'll be there too? I miss him! Just for one more day."
Pring's birthday. That's the only day he ever comes to see him and his daughter who he abandoned.
"Hmm, I'm not sure about it … didn't I tell you he's too busy?" She pouted her pinkish lips.
"But … you are saying it every time. You have time for me."
That was true because … although Tonhon abandoned him six years ago, the alimony he was sending to Chon could cover up the rent and all of their expenses so he only had a part-time job at a local cafe.
"It's different, honey, I … I've got only you in my life, auntie Pang and your grandmother. But your other father … he's got his own family now. It's too much for him but he loves you, I swear!"
Pring wasn't really convinced by this. Sure, he was sending her gifts but that didn't make up for the love he claims to have for her. Showing up for one day in the whole year seemed to be awfully little which made her wonder … how much time his other children get to spend with him.
"Papa … can you ask him? If he won't visit us on Christmas … my siblings get to be with him every day … one more day wouldn't hurt, would it?"
She was on the verge of tears which made him panic. He had all the urge to come into Ton's precious office and make him see her more often but at the same time … he was told to not meddle with his new family or he'd lose all the remaining contact they have.
"I can try but … oh the time passes so fast! We must hurry!"
While Pring was changing her clothes, he had his shower and put on his clothes quickly before he returned to her and braided her hair which he tied with her large pink ribbon.
For a breakfast he made her a rice porridge with cut strawberries on it which she loved so much with warm milk. He didn't have time to eat himself as he had to prepare her school bag and tick all the things she needed for her first day on his checklist.
Mainly games which she could play with newly made friends because the first day was about interaction between the new freshmen, a fun day for children who found their mates immediately, a hell for shy kids sitting in a corner but Chonlatee was sure that his little princess would be popular among her classmates. That's exactly why he was following the newest trends to make sure that she was fitting in.
"Hmm, a light meal when you are hungry and a bottle of orange juice. You know how to use the phone I gave you, right?"
Chonlatee didn't want her to own a smartphone yet in her age which could be dangerous with all the inappropriate content so he hoped that a new casual push-button pink mobile phone would be enough.
"I know! I just must press this button right here and–." Chonlatee's phone rang and they both laughed.
"Hmm, perfect and now … we must rush to our bus stop!"
Even after all those years, Chon didn't have a divers license. He made excuses to not being able to have it because if Tonhon bought him a car, he'd feel indebted to him for life and would probably feel guilty for being upset with him but his forgiveness shouldn't be bought like this. When he needed it, Pang was always there to drive him wherever he needed but today she had an important job interview which she couldn't miss.
"Papa … will we ever have our own car?" Chonlatee felt doomed but he didn't let it ruin his mood.
"One day … sure." He beamed from ear to ear to cover the guilt he felt deep down and she kissed his cheek which made all the negative feelings disappear.
When they finally got to the school, Chonlatee managed to bump into a tall thin man and unintentionally break his glasses but he didn't even have time to apologize as his daughter was dragging him away.
"Papa, which door?" She was very curious and excited so Chonlatee didn't tempt her and showed her the way right away. Many seats were already taken, mainly backseats but in one front seat was sitting a really cute sympathetic girl with glasses.
"Go, you can befriend her." Chonlatee smiled and she nodded. Their interaction went well and Chonlatee had both of his fingers crossed.
"They are cute, aren't they?" The same tall man who got hit by Chonlatee spoke up right next to him.
"Your glasses … I'm sorry! Let me give you money for the repair–!" The man grabbed the broken glasses and shattered them in his fist.
"No need to repair them now." Chonlatee gulped, they seemed to be really expensive.
"I'm carrying my contact lenses just in case anyways … I should just warn you. Your daughter could be shocked."
Chonlatee looked at him with interest. He looked quite handsome, he couldn't lie.
"Why? Is there something I should know about your daughter?"
But the man chuckled as if he said something funny.
"I don't have a daughter. I was just indebted to someone so I agreed to look after her … the girl suffers from epileptic seizures so I'm just here to make sure she'd get medical help right away."
"No way! Are you a pediatrician?!" The man shook his head.
"A casual hospital doctor. Her parents had some errands to run in their village and on the first day there's no school nurse. With all the chaos going on here it could be dangerous."
"I see … well, I raised my daughter right so there's no need to worry."
The man smirked, surprised by the confidence of a petite man.
"You look too young, when did you and her mother have her?"
"Kinda personal, don't you think?"
Chonlatee smiled, caught aback by the sudden question but coming out to someone here could be a bad idea.
"Sorry, I forgot my manners. She just doesn't look like you at all so I was wondering … no, I should stop."
"I kinda adopted her but that's all I'll tell you."
"Kinda? What does that mean?"
"Not saying."
Chonlatee crossed his arms. It seemed like acting all mysterious drew the man even closer to him.
"Then … how about your name? You can see my name tag on my shirt too, nothing too personal."
Chonlatee sighed, he was flattered that he attracted a handsome man like this doctor but at the same time he didn't want to get into trouble with someone he just met.
"Depends on what you plan to do with it. Find my account on social media? I've got them all on private."
"Woah, okay, I won't pester you, Papa." Chonlatee blushed way too much right now.
"W-what did you just call me?"
"I heard her call you like this in the corridor and in addition … your T-shirt… did your daughter write on it?"
Chonlatee face-palmed, so embarrassing but it was his cutie little patootie who did it. No way he could be mad.
"Anyways … aren't you here to watch the girl?" Chonlatee turned away without taking the chance to look at the doctor's name tag.
"Well, your daughter is doing a great job for me. I'm not actually needed here as long as she's here. I should return her her favor."
The doctor smiled and then walked to the girls shamelessly which made Chonlatee gasp. It's enough that he couldn't stop bothering him.
"Hey there, girlies. Plang, is everything alright?" The shy girl nodded slowly while Pring couldn't stop staring at him. Not with impression, she looked like she was trying to read through him.
"Uncle, what did you want to talk about with my papa?" He knelt down to her.
"I was wondering if he could be my friend. Can he?"
"Depends… do you have a car?" He smiled, what a smart girl.
"Of course, a big one. Are you telling me that if I drive you, he'll be my friend?"
She was nodding without hesitation while Chonlatee couldn't believe her, she sold him too cheaply.
"W-woah, that's great … I can sit with Nong Pring." The girl next to her fixed her glasses and Pring smiled at her.
While they all had fun, their homeroom teacher finally entered the room and gave her speech to the young children. The parents were standing at the back and to not distract the children from their interactive activities, the parents were free to go until their school day would end. Just Chonlatee was willing to stand in the corridor the whole time and wait which the doctor found awkward.
"Aren't you going anywhere?"
Chonlatee got startled, he thought everyone already left.
"Why? I have nowhere to be at anyways. Are you going? When you are supposed to look after the girl …"
"That was sneaky. But since I've got nowhere to be at either, I can keep you company."
Great, that's what Chonlatee thought.
"Listen, I don't know what I did to have your attention but I don't want you to get the bad idea, I'm not interested." It upset the doctor a bit but he didn't let it chase him away.
"You really are into women, huh? Guess my instinct was wrong."
"Is it the only reason you came up with after my rejection? Though it's none of your business, I've never been into women, my daughter and I aren't related genetically but that doesn't change anything."
"It does, for me." The shameless doctor muttered to himself and smirked while looking at Chonlatee's profile.
He gave Chonlatee 15 minutes of silence to not get a bit too annoying but looking at his branded watch made him frustrated.
"Seems like they really have a good time. I don't have to worry."
The doctor wondered if the sentence was meant for him.
"Looks like that. Do you seriously want to wait here for four long hours? There's a cafe nearby, we might grab something to eat."
Chonlatee smiled because it definitely was the one where Pang had a part-time job. Her job interview should be over by this time so he wondered if she already worked in the cafe.
"Okay … we can go … as two strangers who just met, don't misinterpret it. I'd just like to visit my friend."
"Friend … in that case I'm excited to meet them. They could be more welcoming than you."
He hit the nerve. Chonlatee was very kind and hearty but ever since his trust got broken, he had to be more careful about people he didn't know. Mainly for his daughter too.
The cafe was right on the opposite side of the school but Pang didn't seem to be there. At least indoors because she was just running on her high heels in their direction.
"Move, move! I'm late for my work!" She shouted but still tripped. She was lucky enough that the handsome doctor caught her in time.
"Huh? Heeehhh?" She screamed in panic because meeting Chonlatee right next to the hottie was very rare.
And Chonlatee had to admit that this doctor's reflexes were fast. Pang could have her knee broken if he didn't save her. It quite impressed him. He didn't expect it from such a moron.
Meanwhile Pang's eyes fidgeted between them and then she grinned brightly and kept pointing her index fingers towards them until she connected the dots.
"Chonlatee! How come you didn't tell me you've find yourself a date?! I'm supposed to know everything about you! Absolutely everything! What's this supposed to mean?!" She sulked while Chonlatee kept looking at her apologetically.
"That's a misunderstanding, we just met a few minutes ago and wanted to kill some time before we can return to school."
The doctor spoke up surprisingly which Chonlatee didn't expect either. On the contrary, he expected him to take advantage of Pang's delusional personality.
"Oh, I see… well, I'm in a rush now but I'll serve you once I clock in and change my clothes. Don't bust it, Chon!" She looked at him strictly and left but the doctor couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear.
"What?"
"Your name, she just exposed you, Sherlock."
Chonlatee face-palmed and looked at the doctor's chest again to find the name tag and make it fair but the doctor was faster.
"Wanna know it? I guess you have to find my name yourself."
"No, thanks. It's not like I need it."
Chonlatee turned his head away and walked in the cafe. The doctor followed him right away. It seemed really nice until he saw a cat. An obese black cat walking around the customers which he as a sterilized doctor taking good care of the hygiene at his apartment couldn't accept.
"The cat … its fur is all over the place. Public health inspection should have a look at this place."
Chonlatee tsk-tsked at him. One step in and he couldn't stop acting like the place belonged to him.
"Well… it's against the hygiene rules. It could be dangerous to pregnant women or allergists. They won't want to take this upon themselves."
"Tell me, do you care more about the people or that someone isn't obeying the rules?"
He gulped, so far no one doubted him like this. Just one of his most recent friends.
"The people of course, I'm a doctor in the end. The treatment isn't cheap so I believe those people wouldn't want to get sick. Toxoplasmosis could cause a miscarriage or developmental disabilities. There should be a warning that a cat is allowed to get close to the costumers. It could save lives."
Chonlatee was impressed, he just learnt something new.
"Good thing we didn't have a cat then or Pring could … oh, it's just some blabbering about the past." Chonlatee chuckled nervously but the tall pale skinny man didn't buy it.
"We… so you weren't alone." Chonlatee turned away.
"Of course not… I'd be crazy to become a single father willingly."
He covered his mouth but couldn't stop opening up to the person whose name was still a mystery to him. The man was way too thrilled by these words.
"What a jerk. Did he leave you recently?"
Chonlatee bit his lips, he felt naked, as if he told him everything already.
"No … she wasn't even born yet when …" He didn't finish the sentence and didn't have to.
"Doesn't seem like he died based on the anger in your eyes. Let's say he went for milk and never returned …"
"You ... don't say it like this. I feel even more ashamed for letting myself being fooled like this."
The dark-haired man nodded and fortunately for Chonlatee, Pang was already rushing towards their table with a pen, note and her blue apron wrapped around her uniform.
"Hello gentlemen, anything for drink?"
"Pang! We already met!" She shushed him immediately.
"Shh, I must say this to all customers if I want my wage. I can offer you cappuccino, latte, hot chocolate, frappe, milkshake, bubble tea, americano, espresso, ice coffee–."
"Bubble tea." Chonlatee said immediately which didn't surprise Pang at all, he always liked sweet food.
"Then … I'll take the same. Experiencing something new might be good." Pang winked at him, knowing very well it had a double meaning and left so her boss wouldn't scold her for fangirling over her costumers.
"You never had it?" The man shook his head.
"Espresso or black coffee mostly. Just getting enough Coffein in my blood was enough during my night shifts at the hospital. If you want to know more about me, you can just look at the Rakbumrung hospital website."
He blinked twice confused and then searched through his phone. He didn't even have to open the website because many links already uploaded to him once he typed it and he couldn't believe his eyes.
"W-what they say … is it real? Did you do all this?"
"Only the core of it is true, the details mostly aren't but you read through me right, I'm not a nice person at all."
"Dr. Karn … is it true that you conspired with this rich man to kill your successful colleague?"
Chonlatee frowned and had the urge to throw it right on his face but he had a great self-control.
"That's right … I'm not proud of it, no … I deeply regret it which doesn't excuse my actions. You could notice I wasn't rushing anywhere although being a doctor means being busy every day … I'm on probation and can't work for three years in my profession too."
"Huh? But for something so serious … isn't that too little?"
"That's because … they only had the man I worked with speaking against me but no one else … showed up as a witness. Not even my past friend whom I hurt so much …"
Chonlatee gulped. This isn't something anyone would brag about or even open up with. He didn't understand what he expected from this but a conspired murder attempt was something unforgivable.
"I … I think I lost appetite so I should go."
"Wait, Chon–."
"CHONLATEE!!! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THE DOOR, I'M JUST ABOUT TO SERVE YOU AND YOU MUST PAY FOR IT!"
Pang shouted when she was carrying two large glasses of bubble teas to them.
Chonlatee sighed and walked back but facing Karn was ten time worse out of sudden.
"What were you even in rush for? You told me Pring will stay there for four whole hours so in the meantime … you can get to know this handsome daddy–, I mean gentleman. Now I'll bring you the most expensive desserts because customers aren't coming and we must get every single penny out of you two. Bye, bye."
She rushed away while considering to lock the door so Chonlatee wouldn't be able to escape but she was still hopeful that more customers would come.
"Just why … why did you tell me?" Chonlatee asked before sticking a plastic straw in his mouth. The bubble tea melted his frowny expression but he still couldn't let his guard down.
"Once you'd know my name, it wouldn't be hard for you to find out. I'm still receiving death threats till today from people who only saw the news but never visited the hospital. I just … didn't want you to find out this way. It's better to be prepared for rejection than waiting till you'd end all your interaction with me."
"You were quite overconfident to think I'd let you into my life just because I'd know nothing about you or be sugared by your lies and give in to you but your honesty from the beginning is admirable. At least I know I shouldn't be seeing a person like you nor my daughter."
Karn nodded emphatically, just like he excepted but he left his double face in his past. He didn't plan to deceive anyone anymore while hiding something like this.
Chonlatee finished his bubble tea fast but when he was about to stand up, Pang arrived with the desserts.
"You little rascal! I told you you need to leave all your money here so I get my wage! Here is your Mango Sticky Rice and don't try to leave again."
She smiled brightly while checking that her boss wasn't after he ass and left.
"Your friend is really … 'interesting'." Chonlatee looked down, Pang and her cheerful personality made him forget he was upset with Karn.
"Without Pang I'd be already gone but you are pretty calm for a person who didn't leave me alone for a second."
"Because I accepted this part of me and accepted people won't like me for it. I actually wish my friend put charges on me and sent me to prison so I could start over a few years later after serving my sentence for the horrible crime I plotted to do. I'm glad I failed at least … seeing him living a happy life with his boyfriend makes me feel like I didn't entirely ruin his life, only our long friendship."
"Hmm … you told me so much without me asking … do you want me to trust you so desperately?" Chonlatee put the back of his hand under his chin.
"And if I said I'm looking for a second chance on life?" Karn said and drank his sweet bubble tea while Chonlatee had to try the dessert.
"Second chance … from me? Not the poor friend? You are seriously strange. I don't even know you unlike him."
"I asked for a tarot cards reading from the boyfriend of my friend who's always accurate and has glimpses of future pictured in his head after touching someone. It usually leads to death though so I only asked for the card reading … he told me that today I'll meet a cute shorter man with commitments who'll change the trajectory of my life. It really worked."
Karn smirked and wiped his mouth with a napkin while Chonlatee gasped.
"You and card reading?! You don't look like a person who'd believe it at all!"
"Thanks to this tarot card reader, my friend stayed alive because he kept playing with his fate till he survived. At first he was in my way so I hated him for it but now I'm really thankful. That's why I wanted to try it. In the end, meeting him helped my friend move on from our past crush and his ex-lover."
"If that's the reason why you wanted to kill him then I'm seriously leaving … my ex left me for another woman and before I had to watch him with his girlfriends but never felt like killing him or them for it. Instead I kept dying inside…"
Karn smirked again.
"Just like he said, you'd eventually break the wall between us."
"Huh?"
"You opened up to me when you had no intention to do it. Does it mean our distance is shortening?"
Now Chonlatee got annoyed.
"Actually, what's even your intention? If you only want me to get me in the bed then stop wasting our time. It's not easy for me to talk about my past relationship but you …"
He was hopeless. Of course such a snobby doctor wouldn't try to comfort him and rather focus on himself. He's a man after all. The bad kind of man which he always attracted.
"I apologize for my inappropriate comment, I'm serious about us continuing to see each other without any hidden agenda. Your bad experience makes me understand why you want to distance yourself and rather focus on your daughter but … based on what you told me … you've been doing this for several years. Isn't it the right time to focus on yourself when your daughter started attending school?"
"HEY! THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING HIM FOR YEARS!" Pang rushed in to see if they had finished their orders but Karn's plate was still untouched.
"Pang! You are eavesdropping behind a door I swear!"
"Of course not … I'm just bored and you two are the only telenovela I can watch. If I tell you something, khun, will I get a bigger tip?"
Pang blushed while not feeling bad at all for exposing her best friend.
"I'll end my friendship with you!"
"Of course, anything you want."
Pang smirked and ignored Chonlatee's complaints but she rather got closer to Karn to whisper it in his year.
"He … wasn't sexually active for six years, please do something about it." She winked at Chonlatee while he was trying to figure out what she told him.
"Well, good to know, it's at least worth 1000 baht."
"Yay! That actually covers my whole shift!" She was cheeky and grabbed the money from Karn shamelessly. Then she returned to her eavesdropping spot and left Chonlatee in panic.
"What … did she tell you?"
"Just something about your friendship."
"Liar, it's not worth 1000 baht." He was sure that Pang was pouting her mouth now but she deserved it.
"Let's just say… you weren't really active in one aspect of your life."
"Huh? You mean work? I can only manage a flexible part-time job … wait! I told you something new again!"
Chonlatee had enough of guessing. He'd only spill out everything about himself which would put him in disadvantage.
"Not this one … more like…" Karn had his own hand slip on his tummy to his crotch but Chonlatee was too busy staring at him and his naughty hand.
"Wait! She didn't tell you–!" Karn nodded and he almost hit the table with his head. His own best friend betrayed him. Now he really only had his mom and Pring. She'd really do anything for money … even sell her best friend forever.
"Let's … let's focus again on your past, there are many holes in it. So why did you want to kill him again? Only for a guy? Pathetic."
Chonlatee laughed nervously and felt embarrassed that talking about a murder attempt was easier than debating his sex life.
"Making me feel miserable is your talent for sure. I was envious of him and my own father planned to give the hospital to him while completely forgetting about my existence … I hated to be left in someone's shadow for my whole life so when I got the opportunity to become number one again, I grabbed it. In the end, Thap won over his true love's heart while I lost again. I got what I deserved but I can't change anything about it."
"Oh … I didn't make it better indeed. So the card reading … is accurate but today is not over. You can bump into someone else for sure …"
"Wait a minute." Karn pulled out his phone to get his confirmation and Inthu always replied to his insecure clients when his handsome boyfriend wasn't dragging him to a bedroom.
"He needs a photo of you, may I?"
"Huh-uh?" Chonlatee nodded without thinking and Karn snatched his photo quickly before he'd change his mind. After a while Inthu replied back.
"He says 'no doubt, that's the person with whom your fate crosses, for more information you must bring him to me so I can read his cards as well'. Now I'm not so sure about the accuracy but he's got no bad reviews."
"Few hours together and you already want me to meet your friends? Isn't it a bit soon? But telling me almost everything about your past gives it more sense … you want to find out if I'm the right person no matter what, huh?"
Karn nodded and Chonlatee smirked. Taking advantage of people was bad but Karn was an exception with the guilt he felt and the sentence which he could never serve … this was gonna be fun.
"Hmm, my daughter was really sad this morning that we had to travel by bus … it'd be fine if you drove us back home."
"Your home? So besides your name, I'm gonna get your address too?"
Chonlatee didn't think this through.
"You wish! I'll tell you where to stop and you can't follow us!"
Karn smirked and nodded after interlocking his hands in his lap. Making Chonlatee frustrated could become his hobby now in the meantime when he can't work in his field.
"PANG! WHY ARE NO CUSTOMERS COMING YET!"
"I DON'T KNOW, BOSS! MAYBE THEY FOUND A BETTER CAFE!"
"BETTER CAFE? ARE YOU SHAMING MY BUSINESS?!"
They heard a loud hit and Karn didn't hesitate to check it out while Chonlatee was hiding behind his large back.
"What's the noise here?" Karn asked but saw Pang sitting on the cold tiles in the staff's room while stroking the left side of her face all trembling.
"P-Pang! What happened?" Chonlatee knelt down to her.
"They should have some ice in the freezer. I'll check it out while I'll be having a conversation with her boss."
"I-in his office." She gulped and Karn nodded.
"Wait, I'll go with you for the ice." K
arn hesitated but then agreed after seeing how swollen Pang's eye got. The freezer was found next to the staff's room so Karn gave Chonlatee the whole pack and then headed to the office where he found the old guy on the phone. Typing something and thinking he's all alone.
"So this is where you are hiding … I already thought you managed to escape."
"Escape?! From what?! And what are you doing here?! You've got no right to step your foot inside–!"
But that's exactly what Karn did.
"Oh, of course I can. As a former doctor and the hospital director's son I must inform you that having a cat walk between your customers without any warning sign for pregnant women and allergists is illegal. I should call public health inspection on you but that's not all because what you've just done must be reported to police."
"W-what do you want?"
"Nothing, I'm sure my friend already called them. Beating your employee just because your business isn't doing well … what a poor excuse to land a hand on a woman."
"You little … that bitch should be grateful I even gave her the work! I'll never let you win this fight!"
"So are you admitting you hit her a while ago?"
"Well … yes but why do you keep asking?" Karn smirked and tapped on the phone.
"Oh, nothing. Evidence is just crucial. You know … after medicine, I was preparing to major in law too but after completing my master's degree, I never returned to it. I've studied the law for it though so I know pretty much what I need."
Karn bragged about his knowledge, leaving the abuser in shock and then returned back where Chonlatee was embracing Pang who was crying on his shoulder.
"It's settled now, you called the police, didn't you?"
They both looked at each other and shook their heads. Two best friends who shared one braincell. Karn face-palmed and then headed in front of the Cafe to call them. Just introducing himself was enough to alert the police and quicken their arrival. Connections worked everywhere in this capitalized world.
Little did he know that Chonlatee followed him a short while after that just to see him smoking.
"Didn't you say you are trying to get a second chance on life. Well, you are definitely shortening it by this."
He grabbed his cigarette and stepped on it to put it out. Karn couldn't help but to laugh.
"What?"
"Nothing … you are just... so righteous. Never done this?"
Karn showed him the pack of cigarettes which he was hiding in his pocket just in case and Chonlatee shook his head.
"I never felt the need to try it and damage my health … it's enough passersby do it and make me and Pring inhale the strong smell of it … I seriously don't like smokers."
Karn smiled, he was everything Chonlatee hated so why did they seem to be getting closer by every interaction?
"I get it, second handed smoking is even worse since it's nonconsensual most of the time and you are a father with very young daughter … you must be a perfect father figure." Chonlatee bent his head.
"Well … can't say perfect otherwise Pring wouldn't be teased at nursery about not having a mother … I even thought I'd ask Miriam, her biological mother or Pang to play this role so the teasing would stop but Pring didn't feel ashamed of only living with one father and told me she wants me to be the one to pick her up every day … it didn't stop but she was happy every time I came for her."
Chonlatee sobbed a bit while Karn was trying to pull out another cig but Chonlatee snatched the whole pack this time.
"At least not in front of me, I don't want to reek of smoke." Karn's sly smile couldn't be bigger.
"Are you thinking only about yourself or are you worried about me?"
"Myself! Why would I be worried about you? Psycho."
"Yeah, you can call me that. I am one."
They were quiet till the police arrived. Even though the man escaped through the office window, they found his soon and then settled everything at the police station.
Meanwhile Chonlatee and Pang went to the hospital because they needed a medical report in addition to Karn's recording and Pang's confession. They had some time alone when Karn was being interrogated.
"Don't you think he's really trying? He did all that but I'm sure it wasn't for me."
"Huh? If not then it's horrible! A female abuse shouldn't be overlooked by anyone!"
"I didn't mean it like this but he did far more than he needed! Only calling the police would be enough but he made sure I'd be even compensated for what happened and that the person would rot in jail. I doubt he'd do all this, even putting himself in danger just to save a random woman."
"You are not just any woman! You are my best friend!" She pointed her finger at him.
"That's exactly it! By helping his interest's best friend, he definitely earned some points, didn't he? Oh Chonlatee, you shouldn't be so dense. He definitely likes you."
Chonlatee sighed. She didn't know what he did. Trusting a person like this could be dangerous. Not only for him but his daughter too.
"What if he opened up to me … that he isn't such a nice person and did many wrong things in the past? Should I still go for it?"
He asked her honestly because he himself was confused about what he wanted.
"Hmm, it depends on what he did I guess but if he treated you right, you should give it a try. If it doesn't work then dump him, he doesn't seem to be this crazy person not letting go of his ex."
Chonlatee gulped. Wasn't it partly the reason why he did what he did? And even just because of a crush with one-sided feelings?
"Well… I just met him but meeting him from time to time should help me know his true intentions better. He's got a trustful card reader too in his circle. Would you go with me if I wanted to try it?" She blinked on one eye and then she nodded.
"I have so many questions to ask! Like … will I get the work I had an interview for? Will I find the right girl for me? Will my best friend get finally laid–!"
"Oi! You shouldn't ask this!"
"Why not? It's important. You are unbearable without the dopamine getting into your head after orgasm! All you do is stay home, do your chores and worry about Pring who'll need her freedom soon too. Once she hits puberty, you'll definitely need someone to handle it with you."
Pang said while drinking her tea from a coffee machine. She only had her face and bruise treated but otherwise she was perfectly fine and they released her right after the check-up.
"Don't even remind me … she'll always be the little girl I've been swinging in my arms after Miriam gave born to her … by the way, didn't you hear about her?"
Pang shook her head.
"Ever since she got married, we are hardly in touch. She's about to have her own baby soon I think but I plan to invite her and Amp to a girl's night out one day."
"Amp?! Are you kidding me?!"
She bent her head. Feeling ashamed that she kept it a secret but she knew how much she hurt Chonlatee and didn't want to hurt him.
"She was fooled by him too. I know what she did to you was horrible… I'll never forgive her for attempting with that douche to sexually assault you but at the same time … she's been trying to change what she did. I don't know, maybe I'm starting to trust her more. But remember you'll always be the first in my heart so if she does or says something bad to you, I'm cutting her off my life."
Chonlatee sighed. If Pang was willing to forgive her after everything she was willing to do just to get Tonhon back … maybe giving Karn a chance wouldn't hurt but he still needed to be sure.
Suddenly his phone rang, his alarm clock which he set just told him that four hours passed and it was the right time to pick Pring up.
"Oh fuck."
"You and swearing? What happened?"
"I must get to the school right away! Pang, can you wait here? I'm sure Karn will come after he's done with the police but I must go."
"Sure, go get her so she doesn't wait long. Since I lost my job … I might spend more time with her so you and Mr. Handsome have more time to get to know each other."
"Pang …"
She was chasing him away with her hand.
"Go, go! Or she'll cry that her Papa isn't coming."
Chonlatee nodded and rushed to the closest lift but right after opening it he bumped into someone.
"Again … what a day."
After opening his eyes, he spotted Mr. Handsome.
"Dr. Karn!"
"Chon?" He helped Chonlatee up immediately.
"I-I must go! Pring is–."
"So I came for you right in time. Come, I must take Plang to Thap too. Inthu is like a brother to her so she's staying with them in Thap's apartment until her parents move closer to her school."
Chonlatee nodded and got in the lift quickly. He was tapping the buttons too fast and in the middle … they got stuck.
"No, no, no, NOOO!!"
Chonlatee hit the door desperately but nothing happened. Then he felt a warm big palm on his shoulder.
"Calm down, just pressing this red button informs the staff that we are trapped. It won't take as long as in the movies."
"I promised … I was never late … what if she thinks that I forgot about her …"
Chonlatee was on the verge of tears but suddenly he heard his phone ringing. His beloved daughter was just calling him and he picked it up.
"Pring! My lovely princess! I'm so sorry I didn't come yet!"
"Papa…" He heard her sobbing and his heart was shattering into pieces. This whole scene confused Karn but only because parental love was a foreign word for him.
"Please wait a bit longer and with your friend too. The man who talked to you… he'll take her to her family but a lot of things happened. I'll explain it once we arrive."
"A-arrive?"
"In a big car as you wanted. Just wait patiently and I'll come for you."
"O-okay! We'll wait! See you soon, Papa."
"Bye, honey." She hung up first as always because Chonlatee didn't have the heart to do it.
"You are so obsessed with her … is it healthy?" Chonlatee frowned.
"If you had your own kid, you'd understand!"
"But she's not your … sorry, I don't know much about such strong bonds. I thought parents can love their children this much just because they came from their own blood."
"I got it a lot at first … and I think my ex felt this way. Well, she's partly his thanks to artificial insemination but it didn't feel the same … at least that's how he told me. I think it was just an excuse but considering his family … it didn't surprise me. He was into girls all the time, then I managed to get his heart but when we graduated from our university … he was starting to have different goals and the whole pregnancy became a burden to him but for me it was entirely different. I know who I've been for so long that I knew I wouldn't have a different chance to become a father. I loved her since the first time she looked at me with her tiny eyes … my love for her just grew stronger."
Chonlatee smiled while thinking about it. His ex didn't bother him anymore, relationships come and go but this is for life.
Fortunately, the lift moved in a while and took them down as they wanted. They ran out of the hospital and Karn lead the way to his car. Chonlatee already saw it when he brought them to hospital, a large black Lamborghini totally outshined the family cars. It was obvious Karn was the type to brag about his financial situation but Chonlatee didn't mind as long as the car was useful.
"Sit in the front this time, you can't use your friend as an excuse now."
"Just … call her Pang."
Chonlatee pouted his mouth and sat down in the front seat. He still had a trouble getting used to such modern model and couldn't find his seatbelt but Karn was faster. Their eyes met but this time the distance was only five centimeters long.
During the five long years … Chonlatee didn't think his heart could beat this fast again. Luckily, Karn grabbed the seatbelt and fastened it quickly. In such vulnerability he could take advantage of him but he didn't do it which actually made Chonlatee feel disappointed.
"I won't speed up, I promise. Getting hit by a car taught me to be careful."
"Huh? You were?" Karn nodded but didn't say more. It was way too embarrassing for his ego and it's wasn't anything which would make him insincere.
In front of the school were just waiting Pring, Plang and their homeroom teacher. Everyone else had to pick their children which made Chonlatee feel twice more terrible.
"Pring!"
He got out of the car quickly just to hug his princess who was bawling her eyes out. Plang felt neutral about Karn's presence, she didn't really trust him but trusted her parents, In and Thap who trusted him enough to give him this important task. He was ready to meet the consequences for returning the poor child late.
"Hi there, how was school?" He asked nonchalantly and she looked up at him, surprised by this question.
"Good… with Nong Pring… I didn't like… the others." She was squishing her dress while looking down and Chonlatee paid her an extra attention while hugging his crybaby.
"Don't worry, you don't have to like everyone. One person is enough and Pring is very friendly."
Plang smiled warmly and Karn wondered if he used some sort of magic on her because she didn't smile ever since he picked her up from her parents.
"How did you do it?"
"What do you mean?" Chonlatee was dumbfounded.
"You know, make her smile."
"Oh … it's so obvious you've got no experience with kids. You must smile at them and talk emphatically so they can be sure they can trust you and that you wouldn't judge them. They must see you as their friend, not a strict adult." Karn nodded even though he knew that as a doctor in a white coat he couldn't be popular with little children.
"You must teach me then, when I can return to my profession, it'd be helpful."
"Hmm, looks like I won't get rid of you that easily."
"Ouch, another rejection?"
"Not at all … I should actually thank you. Without you, I'd get here God knows when." Karn smiled after a longer time.
"Papa, will we go home or will you flirt with this uncle?"
They both turned red, wondering how she even knew the word but Chonlatee knew she spent way too much time with his best friend.
"It's not flirting! Aunt Pang taught you this word, didn't she? That's it, we are going home."
Chonlatee grabbed Pring's hand who dragged Plang with her and helped them fasten their seatbelts in Karn's car which he managed to learn from Karn. Then he sat back in his passenger seat. Hoping everyone would be quiet at the moment. It was impossible though.
"So … where should I drive first? As your personal driver." His sly leer couldn't be bigger.
"To the hospital."
"What? No way! I'm not going, Papa!"
Chonlatee face-palmed.
"We must pick up aunt Pang, it's a long story." But when Chonlatee wanted to call her, he noticed that she messaged him.
"Hi bestie, I got the idea that it was Karn who gave you a lift so I decided to book a ride. I've still got money for it so don't worry and take care of your daughter. Bye bye! I hope we'll see each other again soon!"
Chonlatee was beaming at his phone which seemed suspicious to Karn.
"Some guy texted you?" This got Chonlatee's attention immediately.
"Are you crazy? It's enough that I have to be stuck with you … we don't have to pick Pang up anymore so … I guess my apartment is the only stop."
"Then … set the data to my navigation, you can type there your whole address though."
Chonlatee raised his eyebrow. He wouldn't even mind but this attitude made his decision. The name of the street was enough.
"Playing hard to get, huh?"
"Scared of some challenge? I won't make it easy for you. I learnt better."
Karn sighed but then smiled at him immediately, however Pring was getting bored and kicked the back of his seat.
"Pring! Your shoes could dirty it!"
"Sorry … I just want to go home … I waited so long for you …"
She sulked so Karn started the engine and drove them home safely. During the ride Chonlatee turned the radio on once he found the right button so they wouldn't be bored and in a while they reached their destination.
"We are here."
"Thanks, for everything today."
"Can I ask for only one thing though?"
"Huh? My gratitude is not enough?"
"Just your number. I'd like to see you again."
Chonlatee bit his lips. His heart started to beat loudly again and his hand was shaking too much to get his phone.
"I'll give you my number then … lend me your phone." Karn nodded and gladly gave it to him. Chonlatee saved his number in Karn's phone quickly and returned it.
"Just … text first. I usually don't pick up unknown numbers."
"Sure, good to know. I wouldn't like to be blocked since the start."
Chonlatee couldn't talk to him any second longer. Every time he spoke up, it only confused his heart more.
"Papa, let's go!" Pring was impatient and so Chonlatee hurried up.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, see you again, Dr. Karn."
"Phi Karn… would sound nicer. I don't work as a doctor currently, you know."
Chonlatee smiled and nodded.
"Okay, Phi Karn. And … my full name is Chonlatee."
Karn nodded, expecting a kiss on the cheek now but that was too naive, Chonlatee only unfastened his seatbelt and got out to pick his daughter.
Once Karn drove away, Pring didn't talk to Chonlatee even once.
"Hey… princess… what's wrong?" She didn't say anything, just pouted her mouth.
"Sweetheart, talk to me." Her facial expression melted and she sighed.
"You … were paying more attention to the uncle than me. I'm not used to it." Chonlatee gulped and realized it was really true. Especially in the car.
"We just… got along just like you and Plang. Nothing more."
"But we weren't flirting." Chonlatee got flustered again.
"We weren't either. How come you even know what this word means?"
"Auntie Pang said that when I see you looking at some man the same way you look at me and hear you giggling to what he tells you, it means you are flirting."
Pang really dared to drag his daughter into her cupid business as well.
"We can do this with our friends too, it doesn't mean anything."
"Liar, you never looked at Auntie Pang this way."
She pouted her cheek again and Chonlatee wished nothing more than to change the theme.
"Enough about me, what about school? No trouble?" She shook her head.
"Our teacher is so nice! Even gave us candies and one board game for each … will you play with me? Please, please!" She was pulling his arm and he nodded, feeling relieved that she forgot about their previous conversation.
~ The End of the chapter ~