Chapter 36 The Prince And The Frog

Santichai has been resting at KK's home for the past few weeks. He applied for a bursary to continue school and passed the pre-test. He is already enrolled at a nearby university and is waiting for classes to start in two weeks. He continued physiotherapy three times a week, not that he needed it, but he didn't want to go against KK's wishes, so he continued.

After Santichai's afternoon walk, when he got home and started preparing meals, the doorbell rang. He didn't expect KK to be home before nine o'clock. He hurried to open the door, but the four people standing in front of him were not KK.

Mr. Suwannarat asked, "Who are you?" He looked at Santichai up and down.

Mrs. Suwannarat smiled and said, "He must be KK's housekeeper, otherwise why would he be here?"

Mr. Suwannarat said, "I forgot about this."

Mrs. Suwannarat smiled, "Recently, KK didn't go home for dinner because of you." She looked over Santichai's shoulder. "Are you cooking?"

Santichai said, "Yes, Mrs. Suwannarat."

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "Make more dinner tonight, and you can leave after you finish."

Santichai nodded, "Yes. Mrs. Suwannarat."

After Santichai finished making dinner and Mrs. Suwannarat double-checked that there was enough food, Santichai grabbed his backpack and walked to the front door. Looking back, he saw that Mr. and Mrs. Suwannarat were having a pleasant conversation with the two women.

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "How old are you?"

Aom said, "I'm twenty-four this year."

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "I don't know what kind of woman KK likes, but I'm sure he will like you." She sighed. "Let's not bring up the past because it was just a misunderstanding."

Santichai slowly put on his shoes.

Mr. Suwannarat said, "My KK is a very good man, he works hard and is nice to everyone. Sometimes, people misunderstand his good intentions. So, the rumor that he is a big player is not true. Mrs. Bho you can rest assured."

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "Aom, yes, KK is a very kind person and those who are nice to him often misunderstand his kindness in the wrong way."

Aom said, "Thank you auntie for explaining it to me."

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "You will understand when you meet him. Anyway, he and you have been engaged since childhood. Although you broke off the engagement, KK's grandfather still has the final say."

Mrs. Boh smiled, "Since you said it, we can rest assured."

Santichai put on his shoes and walked out the door. He started walking towards the security gate. He said good night to the doorman. He walked slowly out of the safe neighborhood, onto the street, and up the hill to the main street. He went to the sea and sat on a rock and looked at the many boats in the sea. The scene of Mr. and Mrs. Suwannarat sitting and talking to the two women is very familiar. In the years he spent with Asnee he had seen this scene hundreds of times. He understood why Mr. and Mrs. Suwannarat is here tonight with Mrs. Bho and her daughter. Over the ten years, he and Asnee went home to meet the Siriporn many times, but each time they saw the Siriporn, Asnee introduced him as a friend who accompanied him.

Santichai took out his mobile phone and took a photo of the night boat in the sea. He looked at the picture he had just taken, but the picture on his phone wasn't as pretty as the one he was staring at now.

Santichai sighed and said, "No matter how many photos you take, the real image and the fake image are two different feelings." His phone vibrated, which startled him. He dropped his phone into the water at his feet. He picked up the phone quickly, but the phone couldn't be turned back on. He signed. "Well...I'd rather stare at the real image than at the fake one."

Santichai grabbed his backpack and walked out into the street. He took a taxi to his house. Before going upstairs to his apartment, he checked his mailbox, which contained a postcard and two letters. He opens the door to his apartment, reminding himself that this is where he belongs. He was sitting on the sofa, reading the postcard Mr. Kasem sent him. Mr. Kasem was the head carer of the orphanage where he grew up. Mr. Kasem invited Santichai to celebrate his 70th birthday and retirement.

Santichai turned over the postcard, which arrived a month ago. He knew Asnee knew where he lived. With so much going on in his head, he decides to take a 17-hour bus ride to celebrate Mr. Kasem's birthday, then take a break until he starts school. Perhaps, resting in the place where he felt the warmest growing up might bring him peace. Santichai quickly packed his backpack and brought some clothes. He grabbed all the important documents and left his home to the bus station.

KK hurried out of the office and into the parking lot, knowing that Santichai would be waiting for him at home. Santichai promised him that he would cook dinner tonight. As he approached the parking lot, he encountered Fon.

Fon hurriedly asked, "Doctor Suwannarat, how is Santichai doing?"

KK said, "Santichai is doing well. His surgery went well."

Fon frowned, "I miss him."

KK said, "I will pass on your message to him."

Fon said, "Tell him to come back and visit me."

KK said, "Mrs. Pricha, you might want to hire someone full time."

Fon said, "Hey, don't talk to me like he won't come back."

KK smiled and said, "I'll tell him to call you sometime." KK waved at Fon, got into his car, and dialed Santichai's number, but it went directly to voicemail. He pulled his car into the main street and drove straight home.

When KK approached his house, he found that many lights in the house were on. He thought it was a little strange, because Santichai usually only turns on the lights in the living room, and sometimes turns the light off when he watches TV.

KK walked to the front door and entered the code. He opened the door, looked down at the steps to the door, where many shoes were neatly lined up. He walked into the room and saw his parents and Mrs. Bho were sitting on the sofa talking.

Mrs. Suwannarat turned around and said, "Oh, KK, you're home. Dinner was ready about an hour ago. I told Aom to reheat the food now."

KK looked at Mrs. Suwannarat and asked, "Aom, is here?"

Mrs. Bho stood up and looked at KK. KK's appearance took her by surprise. She smiled and said, "Are you really the KK I knew from before?"

KK smiled and said, "Good evening, Auntie Bho."

Mrs. Bho smiled happily, "You've changed a lot."

Aom walked into the living room and said, "Auntie Suwannarat, the meal is ready." She looked at KK. "You are?"

Mrs. Suwannarat stood up and walked over to KK. She looked at Aom and said, "You don't recognize him?"

Aom shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know who he is."

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "This is KK, who you don't want to marry at that time."

Aom is surprised to find that the KK today is not the same as the KK she met many years ago. The KK she met before was a fat man, but today's KK is a tall and handsome guy with thin cheekbones and beautiful big round eyes. She smiled and said, "Hello."

KK said, "How have you been?"

Aom said, "I'm fine, how about you?"

KK said, "Good." He looked around the room but didn't see Santichai.

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "I told the housekeeper he could go home for the night." She smiled at KK and Mrs. Bho. "Let's eat before the food get cold again."

KK said, "Ma, he is not."

Mr. Suwannarat walked in and said, "Let's go to dinner. After dinner, I have something to tell you."

KK, his parents, Aom and Mrs. Bho sits around the dining table. They start to eat.

Mr. Suwannarat said, "KK, do you remember that postponed engagement?"

KK said, "Yes." He looked at Aom. "I thought we agreed to call off the engagement because Aom didn't want to marry me. Why bring this up?"

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "The reason why Aom was calling off the engagement was because there were rumors that you are a big player."

KK looked at Aom, "Really?"

Aom smiled and said, "It's true, but since I met your mother, she explained it to me, and I fully understand it now."

KK looked at Aom and asked, "So, do you want us to get engaged again?"

Aom smiled and said, "If you still feel the same as I do, I still want us to get married, just like our grandparents wanted us to get married in the first place. You and I both know we've been engaged since we were kids."

KK said, "Commitments of the engagement between us were from our grandparents, like you told me before, we don't even know each other, how could we spend the rest of our lives together, as partners and raise children. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Aom said, "I only recently learned the truth about you."

KK said, "Then you should know I'm bisexual."

Aom said, "I know."

KK asked, "You don't mind?"

Aom said, "No, I don't mind.

KK said, "You're right. We shouldn't pay too much attention to the promises of the elders." He looked at Aom and Mrs. Bho. "Sorry, I don't feel the same." The four people sitting at the table looked at KK at the same time. KK turned to Mrs. Suwannarat. "How does the food taste?"

Mrs. Suwannarat said, "Your housekeeper cooks delicious food."

KK smiled and said, "Sorry ma, you misunderstood. His name is Santichai Kittibun. He's not my housekeeper. He's my boyfriend, and he's the guy I'm dating now."