||ᴄʀɪᴍsᴏɴ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs|| ᴘᴏɴᴅᴘʜᴜᴡɪɴ ғғ

1

Palm sat quietly in his airplane seat, his heart heavy with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. The hum of the engines grew louder as the plane began to take off, and he leaned back, closing his eyes. His thoughts drifted to his long-lost brother, Pond, the person he had spent years searching for without any luck.

"Where are you, Phi?"_ Palm whispered to himself, his voice barely audible above the sound of the plane’s ascent. "I’ll find you. No matter what... I’m coming."

The journey felt long, but his determination kept his nerves at bay. He was finally on his way to Bangkok, a city vastly different from his quiet life in Chiang Mai. He hoped that in the sprawling urban landscape, he would finally find the answers that had eluded him for so long.

When the plane touched down in Bangkok, the city’s vibrant energy hit Palm the moment he stepped off the flight. The hustle and bustle of the airport seemed a world away from the peaceful, slow-paced village he’d come from. After retrieving his luggage, he made his way outside, scanning the busy street for a taxi.

A taxi pulled up in front of him, and the driver, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, got out to help load Palm’s luggage into the trunk. Once everything was set, Palm slid into the back seat, and the driver returned to his seat, starting the engine.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his curiosity clear. “Hey, nong, are you new to Bangkok?”

Palm nodded. “Yeah, it’s my first time here.”

The driver’s smile widened. “What’s your name?”

“Palm,” he replied, his voice steady despite the nervous excitement bubbling inside him.

“Ah, Palm. Nice name,” the driver said, his tone warm and welcoming. “So, what brings you to the big city?”

Palm hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. “I’m here to find my brother.”

The driver’s eyebrow arched slightly in surprise as he glanced back at Palm. “Your brother? Why are you looking for him? You don’t know where he lives?”

Palm sighed, the weight of his mission pressing down on him. “No... he ran away when we were kids. My family searched for him everywhere but never found him. I’ve finally heard he’s here in Bangkok. My mom’s been worried sick, so she sent me to find him.”

The driver’s expression softened at Palm’s words. “Ah, I see. Well, don’t worry, nong, you’ll find him soon enough. If you need help, just let me know, okay?”

Palm managed a small smile. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”

As the taxi wound its way through the chaotic streets of Bangkok, Palm stared out the window, taking in the unfamiliar sights. The city was alive with motion—bright lights, busy markets, and the constant sound of car horns. Everything felt overwhelming compared to the quiet life he was used to in Chiang Mai.

After a few moments of silence, the driver spoke again, glancing at Palm through the mirror. “So, where am I dropping you off?”

Palm reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, crumpled piece of paper. He handed it to the driver, who glanced at it briefly before his face paled, his eyes widening in shock.

“What?” the driver stammered. “This place?”

Palm frowned, unsure of what had caused the man’s sudden reaction. “Yes. Why? Is there something wrong with it?”

The driver’s gaze flicked between Palm and the road, his earlier warmth replaced with an air of discomfort. “You… you’re going there? Nong, you seem like a good kid. Innocent. Why are you going to that part of town?”