Every Kind of Way

First date?

She could be leading me to my demise, and I would still go willingly. She gave me directions to a small restaurant. I know she can't afford this, so why are we here? We walked towards the back, and I saw the most beautifully lit garden. White lights hanging from trees and flowers everywhere, you could breathe in the peace that this place gave.

"I come here whenever I feel stressed. Do you feel better now, Lady Sam?" I felt so relaxed just being here with her, no one else around.

"I always feel relaxed when you're near me." 👀 I've said too much... I had my back towards Mon, and I slowly turned around looking at her. Hopefully, she won't say anything. I could tell she was blushing. She then proceeded to look away.

"This area looks nice. I'll take some photos of you." Why would she want to do that?

"I don't like to take photos." The few people that I have on Facebook have seen the same profile picture since I opened the account two years ago. Unless it's for a magazine, no one can take my picture.

"Please...come on." Damn it. She used this soft voice that I just couldn't say no to. She started taking pictures of me, I wasn't even smiling. I know I didn't look mad or too serious either, but I still couldn't see the point of this.

"That's enough. I said I don't like taking photos." I said this in the sweetest tone possible. I wasn't getting annoyed or anything, but I kind of wanted to take a picture with her.

"Then let's take some selfies." She knows just what I want without having to say it. Still, I couldn't just say yes to that. I had to appear like I wasn't loving all of this. She stood right beside me, and I swear my heart skipped a beat. We have obviously been closer before, but this felt different. "Lady Sam, smile please." She took a couple of more pictures. I tried to smile, but I wasn't used to it. "Like this." I kind of imitated her smile, but anyone could tell it was more forced than natural.

We moved to another corner of the garden with a bench. Mon really liked taking pictures. I swear she took like 20 to 30 pictures of me and her. I needed to sit down. I was tired already. Not even the photo sessions with the magazines were this long.

"Please smile a little." Did she want to be a photographer as a child? I smiled again a little bit more naturally at the thought.

"Done?" She shook her head no. "Come here so we can take one together." She smiled and nodded. In less than 5 seconds, she was already beside me again. I felt something in my stomach. I wasn't hungry at all especially this late at night. So weird. I had a feeling of déjà vu seeing her up close. I have seen her face before, I swear.

"Um...is there something on my face, Lady Sam?"

"Your face seems familiar. It seems like we met before." I tried my hardest to remember. I swear I've seen those big eyes somewhere. I may forget names, but I never forget a face. "Ah, I remember. We met that day, right? At the watch boutique. You took the limited edition 5 million bahts watch before I could!"

"That was definitely not me. I don't have that much money." Hm, now that I think about it. Besides the fact that Mon is poor, the face of the other woman didn't even look similar to hers. "If I had 5 million bahts, I would rather buy a house." Ugh! I really can't place where I saw Mon before, but I know I did.

"I forgot you're poor."

"Not everyone can be rich like you, Lady Sam."

"My memory is possibly mixed up." I moved away. That burning question was giving me another headache. I looked at my watch, it's almost 8pm. Mon lives so far away. She really needs to start heading home. I could hear the small branches breaking under her footsteps. "Let's go home. It's getting late." Mon looked at me expectantly. I couldn't say what I really wanted which is that I had an amazing time even if it was only a few minutes. "Don't forget to send me the pictures."

"I won't. I'll excuse myself then. Good night, Lady Sam."

"Get home safely." She walked towards the entrance of the restaurant to catch a taxi. A few seconds later I got a notification on my phone. I grabbed it from my bag and saw Mon had sent a couple of the pictures. My first genuine smile of the night finally made an appearance. I don't know what this is, but I want to have more moments like this with Mon. In the office I can't be myself. I want her to see I'm not just the terrible, rich and sexy boss who never smiles. I want her to get to know the real me. It's been a long time since I've wanted anyone to know me like that.

I received a call from Grandmother which I really didn't want to answer. My happiness had already diminished with the thought of having to speak to her. Another demand with no please or thank you. She just said to come to her house now. I obeyed like always. When I arrived, she talked about the wedding arrangements. I saw a picture of my sisters in one of the tables.

"I miss Song, Grandmother."

"Yes, it's truly a shame. Because she refused to be with the person I chose for her, her life turned out the way it did." I don't think God would be that cruel. "Had she listened to me, she would have had a happy life like yours, Sam." She calls this misery a happy life. She really lives in her own little world. "Follow my advice, Sam. Do not disappoint me. Do as I say. Marry Kirk. The best person for you is the person I choose. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Was it really true? Would marrying Kirk make me happy just because Grandmother chose him for me?