23.5 WHEN THE EARTH STOP SPINNING (Adult Version)

UNDER WRAPS

"Uncle Nop"

Sun's voice was soft, tinged with a mix of surprise and hesitation. She had hoped to avoid this encounter, but deep down, she knew it was only a matter of time before their paths would cross again.

Uncle Nop looked just as surprised, his eyes widening in recognition. "S-Sun," he stammered, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

For a moment, they stood there, the air between them charged with an awkward tension. Sun could see the familiar lines of worry etched into Uncle Nop's face, and it reminded her of Sun and Ongsa's mother complicated history.

"How... how have you been?" Sun finally asked, trying to bridge the gap between them with a simple question.

Uncle Nop's gaze softened, though there was a trace of sadness in his eyes. "I'm doing okay, It's been a while since we last spoke. I didn't expect to run into you here."

"Yes, Uncle Nop. If you plan to visit Ongsa, she's still in her office. She's swamped with work, but you might be able to catch her there."

"That's actually my plan," Uncle Nop said, his tone carrying a mix of resignation and resolve.

Before Sun could step into the elevator, Uncle Nop's voice stopped her. "Can we talk, Sun?"

Sun hesitated for a moment but then nodded, her heart racing. "Yes, Uncle Nop, of course we can."

They walked together to the small cafeteria downstairs, a quiet sanctuary away from the office's bustle. As they sat down, Uncle Nop didn't waste any time. He reached out and clasped Sun's hands in his, his grip firm yet trembling slightly. Sun's eyes widened in surprise, but she remained still, her emotions a tumult of curiosity and apprehension.

"I hope," Uncle Nop began, his voice laden with a mixture of desperation and sorrow, "that Ongsa will never find out about what happened in the past. Since her mother has already passed away, can we finally bury that mistake, I don't want Ongsa to be mad at her mother over and over again, Sun?"

Sun's eyes softened, her heart aching at the gravity of his words. She forced a gentle smile, her voice quivering slightly. "I don't have any plans on telling Ongsa about it, Uncle Nop. You don't need to worry about that."

Uncle Nop's relief was palpable. "I'm so sorry for what happened. I didn't know the full story at first, but I am deeply sorry on behalf of my wife."

As Sun listened, tears welled up in her eyes, memories crashing over her like a tidal wave. She vividly recalled the gut-wrenching moment she had come back to Bangkok, three months after their painful separation. Desperate to see Ongsa, she had rushed to Ongsa's house, only to find Ongsa's mother waiting for her with a stern expression.

Sun had been met with a cold and final rejection. Ongsa's mother, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and sadness, had pleaded with Sun. She had fallen to her knees, her voice breaking as she begged Sun to leave her daughter alone. "Ongsa needs to move on," her mother had said, tears streaming down her face. "She's already been through so much. Please, for her sake, let her go."

"But, I love her, Auntie. I can't let her go," Sun had cried, her voice shaking with the intensity of her feelings. The raw emotion in her words hung heavy in the air, each syllable a desperate attempt to hold on to what was slipping away.

"You both are so young. I can't bear to see Ongsa depend on you so completely," Ongsa's mother had replied, her voice firm despite the tears glistening in her eyes. The determination in her tone was that of a parent trying to protect her child, no matter the cost.

"Auntie, please," Sun had begged, her tone laced with desperation and anguish. Her heart was breaking with each word, her soul laid bare in her plea for mercy.