Choices

Siri

Siri sat on the swing by the gazebo of her house. It had been a few weeks since she has seen Tam, it was unheard of because they usually have dinner at least 2x a week even with his busy schedule at work but since they announced their engagement all they have ever done is fight on the phone.

Her parents have begun to notice his absence too. She just told them that he was busy at work since a lot of his co-workers got sick, so he was taking on more work than usual.

His parents contacted her though, asking her for details on the engagement. At first, she was puzzled as to why they were asking. It was supposed to be the couple who will do the planning, right?

'Tam said that he was still swamped with work that I thought I should just come and ask you what you want for your engagement. If there are any specific things you wanted like the menu plans and other things.' She remembered Khun Tip asking her over the phone after her mother had talked to Tam's mother. Her parents were very accommodating to Tam's mother; Khun Tip is very kind and sweet to her and even her parents, often remembering them even on their birthdays. For which, Siri will always be grateful.

Tam has been more distanced that usual, not that he was very affectionate or clingy but Siri now feels it more than ever. Tam being cool for her when they were younger has now become Tam being cold and very non chalant. She rubbed her fingers on her forehead. Now, she was thinking was it a mistake? Asking him about marriage? She wonders if she has pressured him to asking her to marry him. Did she? Wasn't that what she intended? She is so confused right now. She doesn't know if what she was doing was the right thing.

She picked up her phone and sent someone a message. 'Can we meet? I need to talk to you.' She received a reply immediately and read it.

She stood up from the swing and went inside, calling out as she entered the door, 'Mom, I have to go out and meet someone.'

Her mother stuck out her head from the kitchen door and asked, 'To see Tam? That is good, if you are not planning anything, bring him to see us if he has the time, okay? I missed that man too. Tell him I will cook him his favourite.'

She just smiled at her and went upstairs to her room to change. She picked up her bag and went out of the house. She drove her car for a bit until she reached a garden cafe. As she entered the door, the person at the counter waved at her and Siri signalled two fingers and she was pointed out of the other door leading into the back garden.

Siri sat down and stretched her arms above her head; the waitress came out and brought her the usual green tea with mint. She sipped her tea while she waited.

'Hi!' A voice was heard. Siri turned her head at the newcomer and looked at him, she smiled ruely. He sat down in front of her.

Pop looked at Siri as he sat down in front of her. He leaned back on the chair and waited for her to talk. The waitress had placed a cup of Americano in front of him as was his usual order. He calmly sipped his drink when it arrived.

Siri stared at Pop who was silently sipping his drink and when he saw her looking at him, he silently raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.

She took a sip and slowly placed her cup back and the table and said, 'How have you been?'

'I am doing okay, just recently spend some time with my grandfather, he is getting old so I figured I need to spend as much time as possible with him. I don't want to have regrets later when he is gone.'

She nodded as she listened. 'I see.'

'How about you? How are you?' He asked.

'I got engaged. To Tam.' She replied.