After Sundown - Chapter 36 - Memories of yesterday

“Kondhi (My darling)… come back to Phi. Please return Nong to me.”

 

“!”

 

The deepest and most familiar voice sounded, making the person in bed wake up from the dream. In his consciousness, Saengrawee felt as if he was going to cry. He seemed able to breathe above the surface of the water. Like drawing air into the lungs after being immersed and staying in a whirlpool for a long time

 

But in reality this is not the case. Saengrawee finally opened his eyes slowly. He slowly absorbed the surrounding atmosphere that entered his field of vision. The warmth on the wrist without a cast made the owner of the small body have to roll his eyes to look for the source of warmth. PhraPhloeng Sittikornkanal was lying face down on the other side of the bed, while the tall man’s thick hand was holding the left wrist of the person on the bed, as if afraid that Rawee would have the strength to get up and escape from him.

 

Saengrawee smiled gently, before looking out the window where the ceiling light passed over the horizon. The loud sound of birds chirping is a good sign to start a new life…

 

The man in white took a deep breath. He prepared to gently pull his hand from the other party’s grasp because he didn’t want to disturb the other party. But when he moved his body slightly, the tall man who was sleeping was shocked and immediately got up…

 

His senses are too sensitive…

 

Silence fell as the two looked into each other’s eyes. PhraPhloeng remained silent. His brain processed the uncertainty in front of him. Was the image before him reality or a dream? Until finally the person on the bed said a few words to break the silence.

 

“Ah…good morning.” The voice that greeted him was hoarse. PhraPhloeng got up from his chair and looked at the white person in front of him. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He was silent for a long time before the young man was able to find his own vocal cords

 

“Rawee…Back?” Instead of being happy or excited, PhraPhloeng was afraid that the image before him was just a dream. The tall man was still in a semi-conscious state, so happiness was a little scary for him

 

“Yes…Rawee has returned to P’Phlorng,” Saengrawee confirmed without saying anything else. He pressed his hot palm to the older man’s cheek. The other party tilted his face as he tried to finish his words

 

“…”

 

“Look? Rawee has really returned.” The tall man’s sharp eyes flickered. Someone who had always been strong in Saengrawee’s eyes now had the same unsure expression as before. PhraPhloeng wanted to rush over to hug the person in front of him as hard as possible, but he was afraid that the person who was just recovering from a dangerous event would get hurt.

 

More than ever, the young man had to restrain himself.

 

“Rawee, does any part hurt?” His trembling voice conveyed the feelings of the person speaking

 

Saengrawee observed his condition based on questions from people standing nearby. His eyebrows rose a little higher than before when he felt Phloeng acting strangely unlike before

 

“Nothing hurts at all.” The skinny figure on the bed frowned deeply. He tried to check himself thoroughly, and found that his body was not that bad. There was only a small wound left. Even though his arm was in a cast, Saengrawee tried to move it for a moment and then stood up. The weather was so hot that the old man had to step in and support him.

 

“Dangerous. Don’t get up too quickly.”

 

Rawee was just a little dizzy which was a physical side effect of lying still for a few days. As for the various wounds all over his body, they seemed to have almost completely healed.

 

PhraPhloeng studied the person in front of him with a surprised expression. The old man’s handsome face was still filled with worry, to the point that the younger person had to confirm it again.

 

“P’Phloeng, Rawee is really okay. I no longer feel pain at all. Look,” Saengrawee showed it so the person in front of him could see it. The wrist on the side that used to be stiff can now move again. Without any disturbance at all.

 

Amazing…

 

“Ah…” All his thoughts suddenly stopped. Saengrawee was shocked and acted a little uncomfortable when he was suddenly grabbed and hugged by the person in front of him.

 

He was pulled into the other’s chest while PhraPhloeng buried his face in the small curve of his shoulder. Phloeng tried to absorb the warmth and life from the body of the newly returned person.

 

“Thank you…” The owner of the voice whispered in a louder voice.

 

The handsome old man’s face was still hidden and refused to retreat. This made the younger man feel a little awkward and act a little nervous

 

“It means?”

 

“Thank you for coming back to Phi….” After finishing his sentence, Saengrawee felt wetness in his shoulder area. A small hand rose to hug Phloeng in response. Someone’s touch made the tall man’s face and broad chest tremble even more uncontrollably

 

“Rawee is back…Kwan Ae Kwanman,P’Phloeng.” Saengrawee touched his fiance’s face, making him look up and look into his eyes. He used his fingertips to wipe away the other party’s tears while saying words to calm his fiancee, just like the other party had once done to him

 

[ Kwan Ae Kwanman is an expression from the old language, which means ‘Dear Kwan, you are back’. They say this when someone, especially a baby is scared or crying because of fear. And you also need to lightly stroke the baby’s head (Kwan position) to calm him. There are two meanings here: 1. He was very sad, so he wanted to call back Kwan (his spirit). 2. She suffers from heartbreaking sadness because her lover is gone, so she wants her lover back. Therefore, the song title Kwan Oey Kwan Maa (Dear Kwan, Please be back.) appeared]

 

A faint smile appeared on her young face, making her sweet features even more pleasing to look at. Her light brown eyes were filled with water droplets. PhraPhloeng stared at the man in his arms without looking away. As if he wanted to make up for lost time, a hot palm moved to caress his clear cheek, whispering a few words that made Saengrawee’s heart tremble.

 

” Stay with Phi…don’t leave me anywhere again, Rawee.”

 

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There were no external wounds on Saengrawee’s body. However, the elders in the family, including Phraphloeng, agree that people who have just gone through a dangerous event should have their physical condition checked again at the hospital to ensure their health.

 

They all flocked to the hospital again in the afternoon. Saengrawee did not hesitate or refuse. Even though he was well aware that no part of his body was currently injured, for the sake of peace of mind for all parties, he easily followed other people’s advice.

 

The results of the physical examination were no different from what was expected.

 

The doctor who had been treating the Sittikornkanal family for a long time came out to confirm it for himself.

 

Saengrawee Ramsawang is in fit and safe condition. While that’s amazing for people who adhere to the principles of science, not everyone took the news well.

 

Saengrawee twisted his wrist back and forth after finally removing the soft cast from his right arm. His face was much more cheerful than before, causing others to smile as well. Pimpila came forward and gently stroked the young man’s hair, saying a blessing to the thin man who immediately raised his hands in obeisance.

 

“No more suffering, no more sadness. I hope that from now on you will only encounter good things and live a good life. May there be only happiness in the future, son.”

 

“Thank you mom.”

 

Sangrawee’s humility remains the same. Since the first day they met, Pimpila has liked her future son-in-law with all her heart and affection besides her beloved son. He wanted to look after the younger person, the other party barely had time to leave his sight

 

“However, we still cannot damage anything. “Let’s all go home so Saengrawee can rest,” said Patchara, who had been silent for a long time. Everyone agreed that they should immediately hurry and take Saengrawee back to rest.

 

The clock struck just in time for dinner. On the way back to Sittikornkanal Mansion, Pruit quietly observed his future grandson-in-law for a while. After a while, he decided to ask, when he saw the other party wearing an expression as if he was thinking about something in his heart.

 

“Saengrawee… is something wrong?”

 

“Well…Rawee just wanted to ask permission to come back and visit Luang Lung Chan tomorrow. Is that possible?” He had received permission from Phra Phloeng, and the other party volunteered to be the driver to see him off.

 

If it was approved by the oldest person at the table, then the request could be said to have passed smoothly.

 

“Go…Grandpa will come along. Homtoey prepare food for me to bring tomorrow. Let’s make it early so I can go to the temple altar. “The food shouldn’t be spicy and don’t forget the green curry,” Pruit said with a calm expression, ignoring the others. The elderly man didn’t say anything to stop Rawee. He even asked to come along.

 

Homtoey, who was standing not too far away, responded and withdrew because he had several other tasks he had to complete, while SaengRawee looked at the scene in front of him without saying anything.

 

Luang Lung doesn’t eat spicy food. He also loves green curry from a long time ago. Although the other party never spoke up because his status as a Pastor was not worthy of demanding anything. But for Saengrawee, who has lived with Luang Lung Chan since birth, he knows the person who is his only family very well.

 

“TonKla”

 

“Yes, Khun Pruet”

 

“Go to the kitchen and tell HomToey tomorrow, buy tacos at the market. Oh, buy it at Grandma Iad’s shop, don’t go to another shop.”

 

In fact, from childhood to adulthood, Saengrawee always considered himself to be the person who knew Luang Lung Chan’s heart best. But now, Saengrawee has to change his views.

 

It seems that this position may not be his alone as he once understood…

 

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The sun at dawn is so bright and clear. Clean colored clouds floated from the surface of the sky, no different from cotton. The monks’ singing helped calm Saengrawee’s restless mind. A gentle breeze blew, bringing with it the fragrance of various types of flowers that drifted and mixed with the wind.

 

“Yathā vārivāhā pāri pariparenti sakarang…”

 

The water pouring round continued after the singing of the robed person in front of him ended, Saengrawee closed his eyes and made a wish while thinking about people in a different world and hoping that person would receive the reward he had spread this time….

 

“Take water and pour it on the big tree,” said Chanthakorn after the water-pouring ceremony ended.

 

“Yes, Luang Lung,” replied the grandson then got up and went down the monastery stairs, he disappeared for a long time before returning again when the monk reached out his hand, and said a few words that made him suspicious…

 

“PhraPhloeng…Rawee can be a bit stubborn sometimes. Anyway, I’m here to tell you. Please take care of this child.”

 

“Don’t worry, Luang Lung Chan. I will take good care of it.” PhraPhloeng answered firmly.

 

The man in white raised his eyebrows, more curious than before. Why did the monk’s gaze looking at him look strange. Coupled with Pruit’s gloomy smile, it made him wonder a little.

 

Are these three people talking about something?

 

“Are you recovering well, Rawee?”

 

But before he had time to ask, Luang Lung Chanthakorn took control of the situation. He asked first. Therefore Saengrawee had to suppress his own curiosity for the time being

 

“It’s getting better, Luang Lung Chan.”

 

“Okay. Don’t think about things that make you dizzy. Understand?” The teachings of the person who had the honor of being his uncle showed that the other party still viewed him as a child.

 

“Rawee is an adult, so uncle doesn’t need to worry.” Saengrawee smiled unconsciously, causing many people watching to feel different.

 

For Pruit, he thinks Saengrawee is very adorable. As for Chanthakorn, he saw that his nephew was still a very naughty little boy. Meanwhile PhraPhloeng, this person had no other comments other than smiling broadly like a younger person

 

“Want to go strolling? Grandpa might take a long time to chat.” PhraPhloeng whispered. The younger man saw that the two adults were still chatting continuously. What was more important was that he secretly noticed that the person next to him started to move around, restless. He guessed one of the other people’s legs must be. .. Cramps

 

It seemed like he had reached his limit.

 

“That’s good too….” Saengrawee nodded before getting up, then followed Phi out of the wooden booth immediately after getting permission from the two parents. Saengrawee stood on tiptoe and panted slightly as he tried to force himself to stop walking in a strange position.

 

“Let’s take a walk there.”

 

“Ah, P’Phloeng, wait…where is Phi taking me in such a hurry?” The person goes numb trying to use his legs as normally as possible. He shouted after the tall figure who was walking ahead without bothering to look at him. His mouth was pressed tightly, he even stood on his tiptoes and tried to move after the older man with great difficulty

 

PhraPhloeng secretly smiled seeing the young man’s expression, in his thoughts. The image of a younger person today was no different from a white baby rabbit trying to jump at him. He’s adorable, not seductive.

 

Saengrawee took a long time to catch up with his elders. The pain and numbness in the soles of his feet made the thin man not pay attention to the atmosphere around him. However, after a while, he suddenly stopped. He tried to adjust his expression to normal after realizing that they were now standing at a riverside pavilion…

 

“The pain hasn’t gone away?” The tall man turned his face back and asked as he went down to sit on the pavilion floor. The position was exactly like when Saengrawee met the other party for the first time decades ago…

 

“Yeah…Yeah?” Some of them were barely conscious and focused on the other party’s questions again. He lost his cool and easily did what the tall man said.

 

The other party nodded and invited him to sit down

 

“Come sit here, next to Phi”

 

“…”

 

“Please give Phi your paw.”

 

“Why? Why?” That half-assed sentence caused Saengrawee, who had just been sitting there, to open his mouth and ask in confusion.

 

Some people were still confused when PhraPhloeng started to move closer than before.

 

“Phi wants to massage your feet”

 

“No need… P’Phloeng, don’t…” The owner of the white body was shocked when the old man’s palm touched his ankle. Saengrawee had many questions in his head. But, everything was gone, all that remained was the sound of his heart still beating fast.

 

“Are you afraid Phi saw something?”

 

“…”

 

“There’s no need to be embarrassed…it’s beautiful.”

 

The eyes of the person listening can no longer be conditioned. Saengrawee didn’t dare think about anything because he didn’t want to be disappointed until the person in front of him said the same sentence. This caused yesterday’s memories to fully emerge.

 

“As beautiful as a flower,” His sharp eyes looked straight at her firmly. It seemed as if it was trying to tell him. PhraPhloeng smiled gently when he saw the younger person’s tears streaming down his beautiful pair of eyes.

 

The surrounding atmosphere has not changed much from before. Not one bit. The two people sat in the same position, even the fragrance of the white-petaled bat flower did not change

 

If anything has changed, it’s nothing but their age, their bodies and their relationships and feelings towards each other as time goes by…

 

“Auh… So P’Phloeng, remember…?” The end of his sentence suddenly disappeared. All that remained were the white man’s sobs. Saengrawee allowed himself to become a crybaby, while the person in front of him held up something to look at to interrupt him

 

Even though a curtain of tears almost covered his entire view, Saengrawee remained confident without wasting time to reflect. The things he saw in front of him right now couldn’t possibly be delusional or anything like that. In addition…the sun pendant necklace that he gave to the other party when they were children was in front of him…

 

“Phi remembers now. I’m sorry Phi…” said the owner of the hot palm that wiped Rawee’s tears

 

Saengrawee just shook his head, while the older continued to speak in a low tone.

 

The weak voices continued. When he remembered it, images of the past and present overlapped. The picture is almost the same.

 

The child and the person sitting in front of him now had barely changed a bit…

 

“Rawee, can you forgive Phi?…Forgive Phi for saying bad things before, Phi doesn’t remember Nong’s sister. Is Saengrawee still as weak as before when he’s in front of other people?….”

 

….The person who was asked could only shake his head. It’s not that he doesn’t forgive. But Saengrawee intended to tell his fiancé that he was never angry with PhraPhloeng at all. Because if he didn’t happen to see the necklace, he probably wouldn’t remember anyone else either. Everything between them was like a matter of fate determined by heaven…

 

PhraPhloeng wiped the white man’s tears before wearing the necklace around his big neck. His handsome face smiled slightly, while his eyes stared at the small necklace with a sun pendant that had no price tag.

 

But in general, the necklace has immeasurable value.

 

“You’re as cute as ever,” the older person’s compliment came imitating his past behavior. PhraPhloeng raised the back of his hand and made a movement to wipe the younger person’s cheek, making the crybaby laugh and cry.

 

Who would have thought that they would meet again… The kind Phi was a stranger before. More than ten years have passed and Phi is still good, the same as before. There is absolutely no difference from his memories…

 

PhraPhloeng took more than ten minutes to be entertained. The exhausted person was asked to stop crying before they both returned to their home. The young man pushed Saengrawee back and asked him to sit in the car to wait for him after saying goodbye to Luang Lung because the afternoon sun was very hot.

 

“Have a safe journey,” said Chantakorn in a short greeting. He immediately turned around and climbed the monastery stairs first.

 

Between Pruit and his old friend, there were no more words left for each other. The old man only said a short sentence after turning around from staring at the yellow-robed person’s back until he disappeared from sight…

 

” Come on back .

 

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Last night after returning from Ayutthaya, Saengrawee fell asleep since the afternoon because he felt tired from the trip. Entering a new day, he woke up early. He slept much longer than usual. He slowly and quietly got out of bed, allowing his roommate to sleep peacefully without disturbing him.

 

Saengrawee decided to go straight to the kitchen of the small house. He volunteered to show off his skills in making seafood porridge for everyone to eat, accompanied by Nun and Prik on both sides as his assistants.

 

The white man was busy cooking in the small house without realizing it, in the main house of the Sittikornkanal mansion, right now there was chaos caused by someone’s panic…

 

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TB