During a night out, Freen, the daughter and heir of a conglomerate awakens a part of herself when she locks eyes with a young physics professor, Becky.
They fall HARD and FAST before realising all the obstacles that prevent them from being together...
"Hengy!" Baitoey exclaimed "Toey! You're looking pretty this evening" Heng said "You know I like to get dressed up for you" Baitoey replied
Heng took a seat at the dinner table in a swanky restaurant Baitoey had picked for their catch up. They ordered Champagne.
"Are we celebrating?" Baitoey said "Kind of, I may be able to come home soon! You know I've been in Singapore building MonSam Pharmaceuticals and MonSam Resorts since I graduated. It'll be nice to come back permanently when Freen gets married" Heng said
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"Hmm... about that, is she really getting married?" Baitoey asked "Yes of course! In 3 months!" Heng replied with a laugh "Interesting" she said
Heng took a sip of his champagne. "How so?" He asked "Well... you know your sister. You know she's not that kind of person" Baitoey insinuated "What kind of person?" Heng asked "The type to marry a man" she confirmed
Heng finished his drink and got up. "I remember you're quite a straightforward person Toey. I love that about you. But where it concerns my little sister make sure your motives for this conversation are straightforward." Heng scoffs, "this is about that girl right?"
Baitoey was speechless, she knew he was right. She was jealous and was only asking because of that. She rarely acted emotionally so she felt a little ashamed to have behaved that way. Heng left the restaurant and rushed into his car.
-
"Gram! I'm here!" Freen exclaimed
A hardened looking elderly woman entered the foyer to greet Freen. Freen greeted her back. Heng was right behind Freen and had just entered the main house. He patted Freen on the head as he went past her.
"Grams!!" Heng said with a smile. He gave his grandmother a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Their grandmother turned around and walked into the living room then sat down on the sofa. "Sit down, both of you" she said without any expression or emotion. They sat quickly on the sofa opposite her.
"I heard you both caused a commotion at the university fundraiser." She looked at them both sitting stiff and silent. "They said you were throwing money around Freen and Heng you were a little drunk?" She looked at them "Is this true? That doesn't sound like you Freen" she appealed
"She just wanted to make a large donation Grams, she wasn't throwing money around." Heng answered
Freen looked at her big brother who had always defended her and wanted what's best for her.
"I asked Freen." Grams said "Freen is that right?" She continued "Mmm. Yes. That's right." Freen confirmed "Okay be careful next time, people will use anything to discredit you. You know that." Grams reassured her
"And what about you Heng? Were you drunk?" Grams asked "Urr... maybe a little?" Heng answered honestly and with a smile
Freen looked up at him again admiring his candour. Grandmother seemed satisfied for now.
Freen had dinner with her grandmother every Thursday. It was nice that Heng was here as a buffer because usually these family dinners consisted of her telling Freen what to do and what not to do. How to be proper and how to maintain the family's reputation. It was never a pleasant experience for Freen.
Unlike Freen, Heng was afforded a carefree approach to things and rewarded for it. He was the perfect person to act as a mediator in such a scenario or relationship.
"Dinner is ready ma'am" the maid said coming over to call them over to dinner. Just then Freen received a message and it was from Becky. Her heart skipped a beat.
[ON THE LINE APP] 🐶: Thank you 😅
Freen smiled knowing that Becky had received her additional gesture and that it was well received.
The scent of the food was divine. The smell wafted across their face as they entered the dinning room.
"Mmmn, Massaman Curry, thank you" Heng said waving off the maid
They sat eating in silence for a while.
"Freen, have you seen Non this week?" Grams asked "Yes, he came to the office" Freen replied "Good, make sure you get to know each other well before you're married" Grams advised "I'm happy to have a responsible granddaughter who I can rely on to continue the business for generations to come." Grams said coldly "Yes, Grams" she replied
Heng looked over at Freen. He could tell she was sad. Not until this moment did Heng realise how sad Freen was that she had to marry Non. The Freen he remembered would have done anything to save the family business.
After dinner Heng and Freen left the main house. On their way to Freen's car Heng tapped his little sister on the shoulder. "Hey Speedy..." he said "Yes?" Freen replied
"Where did you go this afternoon?" Heng asked "To visit someone in the hospital." Freen answered "Hospital? Who?" Heng asked "Becky..." Freen muttered "That girl from the fundraiser?" Heng asked Freen refused to explain further.
Heng opened the car door for Freen, and Freen stepped in. "I know you know the real reason Grams needs you to marry Non, I thought you were ok with it but after watching you today and yesterday I'm not so sure anymore" Heng said Freen sighed. "It's ok." Freen said "No. I don't think it is, somethings changed, you seem.. more expressive, warmer?" Heng said "You seem like my little sister again, though I do love ferocious Freen" Heng said, his eyes softening. "Shut up!" Freen said
"I don't think this new Freen can marry into a business arrangement. The only reason I accepted this in the first place is because I knew you would do anything to preserve the business and you would never listen to reason. But now I can see glimpses of your old happiness. It's going to be hard for me to ignore that now" Heng explained "I appreciate your concern Heng but you haven't been here for years. You've visited yes but you haven't really been here. You're detached, you wouldn't be saying this if you'd seen the books" Freen said "It's ok. I HAVE to do this for MonSam to survive. I've made peace with it" she added
Heng still noticed some hesitance in Freen's voice. He was not convinced by her speech. He knew his sister more than anyone in the world. As Freen began to close her car door Heng grabbed her arm and sighed. He knew Freen was in that tunnel vision mood and knew he could say very little about her decision but he did anyway, "grandmother named the company MonSam after our parents Mon and Sam. Don't forget what that truly means" he said
