Ephemeral: Love, Pleasure and Hidden Pains

Five

p/s: contain medical inaccuracies. mention of death.

July 4, 2002

[BREAKING NEWS]

'Kalasin billionaire, Phassakorn Romsaithong, 37, was found dead in a warehouse in the south side of Kalasin. The body of the Romsaithong heir, 10, was found near the river, half a kilometre from the scene. They were found after a series of reports from local villagers at the sight of heavy smoke in the middle of the palm oil farm.

On the new year celebration, Phassakorn was driving home from a company celebration with his ten years old son, Phakphum Romsaithong, before they were reported missing by his wife. The finding is the mark of the end of searching for both the victims.

In the same warehouse, police have also found 7 other bodies of unidentified men. There is no news regarding the source of fire and the identity of the body found. Police are still investigating the cause'

***

Nalin was holding her hands together, praying for God to save her son. The battered face of the ten years old baby that she carried for 9 months and love for more years was heartbreaking. She had to be strong even though her heart mourned for the loss of her husband. The tears on her face were already dry. She could not cry anymore.

The door of the operating room was opened, there the doctor came out with a natural face. Her heart almost give out

"Your son is stable now. His left leg and right arm are broken. We cleaned the gunshot wound on his stomach. Luckily none of the bullets hit any vital organs. He is a strong one. We still need to make sure he is truly stable before sending him into his private room. In the meantime, he will be placed in PICU", the male doctor explained.

As he finished there were two detective steps in the line of her eyesight. Doctor immediately shielded her, "I'm sorry, the patient needs to be stable before any of you could visit. He is still unconscious" warned the doctor.

The detective sighs, "We need to talk to you Mrs. Nalin," said the detective. She looks at the eyes of the detective, there is a glint of worriness and guilt. It is the same detective, she had spent thousands of baht to find her family alive.

"Do you have any private rooms?", she asked the nurse. She immediately shows her the way with the detective following behind her. As soon as the door closed, she sat on one of the chairs. Ever so elegant even when she was devastated. The other assistance of the detective immediately found the cctv and put a black tape on it

The detective opens his case, "We gather a bit of knowledge on the suspect. Police is a bit secretive as this is a high profile case"

He place seven different picture, she recognised no one except their driver. Her hand instinctively drew the picture nearer, "What is he? Victim? Perpetrator" she asked, voice level which so much authority

"We still don't know whether he is a victim or not. We need Khun Phakphum testimony", he said slowly and carefully.

Nalin eyes hardened, she pushed the picture away, "Until my son truly stable, I'd let you interrogate him", she finally conclude. She had lost her husband, she didn't want to traumatise her son any further. Without waiting for an answer, she walked out of the room, with confidence, standing tall, powerful.

Her hand rummaging her handbag, phone in hand, "Tighten the security. Pack a bag. We moved to Bangkok as soon as Mile was discharged. The villa in Bangkok, make sure all the security is at it highest. Keep eyes on anyone. Kill if you needed", she said, voice small yet powerful.

***

White, pale skin of her son is the only reason she broke down again. She had been strong alone for months. His once chubby cheek is now hollow. Dark circles and bruises littered the small body. Tears slipped down her face. She failed as a mother. Now being a single mother, what could she do to make sure her son never went through the same again?