The Sinner

Pill 💊

"Is everything ready? You're not gonna back out last minute again, are you?" A woman's voice asks eagerly over the phone to which Prapai chuckles endearingly.

He pauses, then with a pursed smile, he assures her, "Everything's ready, mom. I won't back out this time." He says almost to himself. "I'll see you in a week?"

"Yes, my dear. Your dad and I are so excited to see you."

Unbeknownst to those around him, this isn't the first time. It's not the first time Prapai has received an offer to work in the US or the first time he prepared to leave and got his parents all excited only for him to cancel—not once but twice.

It's not like the salary here is better or that he doesn't aspire growth in his field by working and furthering his studies abroad. But, of course, his friends are here and...there's something else keeping him from leaving.

Or someone.

But after six long years, he's slowly accepted that he's waiting in vain and he's waiting on someone that's never coming back to him.

"I guess it's time." He whispers, training his eyes on the clear blue sky. He smiles but it's bittersweet.

He's meeting Phayu today but the latter is so in-demand these days that it's not uncommon for him to run a bit late. Pai doesn't mind; he knows he'll miss this once he leaves.

And although Phayu promised to visit him with Rain, he knows it won't be soon since they're both still building their careers with Rain working as an apprentice and Phayu looking to start his own firm apart from being a freelance architect and a part-time professor.

Times have really changed. It feels like just yesterday, they were in college...and Sky was still with them.

Prapai catches himself thinking of him for a little too long and shakes his head; he's hopeless.

He makes his way to the cafe where he and Phayu agreed to meet but he stops in his tracks when a rubber ball rolls on the ground towards him. Prapai juts out a foot to stop it and a boy comes running shortly after.

"Excuse me, that ball belongs to me, phi." The small kid says as though he were older to which Prapai chuckles before crouching down to pick up the ball and hand it to the young gentleman.

"Thank you!" He wai's. Prapai wai's back, feeling as though he's speaking to someone his age.

Still, "Be careful." He warns fondly. "We don't want you chasing your ball into traffic, now, do we?"

The boy's eyes widen, then he shakes his head. "I didn't think of that. Thank you so much, phi."

Prapai ruffles his hair with a wide smile. "How old are you anyway? And what's your name?" Pai peeks behind him then adds, "Where're your parents?"

"Woah." The boy holds out his palm respectfully. "One question at a time, phi."

Prapai barks out a laugh. "You're right, I'm sorry."

He then watches the boy straighten his posture and make a proper introduction. "My name is Star and I'm six years old plus four months. I'm here on a field trip but my ball rolled away so I got...a little distracted."

The kid is mature beyond his years—but he's a kid nonetheless and is very serious about his ball. Prapai nods in understanding.

"Be more careful next time, okay? Ask an adult to go with you if something like this happens again."

Just then, Star's teacher finds him and panically comes over. "Star, why'd you disappear like that? Teacher was worried."

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Again, like a perfect gentleman. Somehow, he reminds Prapai of someone but he isn't sure who.