Love Amidst the Flames

Chap 60

On the way back to Bangkok after a relaxing day, Engfa enjoyed her peaceful drive, but her mind was immersed in the joyful moments with Charlotte. Charlotte's bright smiles during the charity event kept flashing in her mind, filling Engfa's heart with peace and sweetness like never before. She felt that Charlotte was truly living well, strong, and happy. The barriers between them, which had been growing, began to change. Charlotte no longer avoided or rejected her as before. Engfa's heart was filled with hope, wishing that their feelings for each other would have another chance to bloom and flourish.

Upon arriving in Bangkok, Engfa's phone rang. The screen displayed Sun's name. "I bet something's come up," Engfa thought to herself, then laughed as she answered.

• "Sun? What's up?" Engfa asked cheerfully.

• "I just finished my mission at the border and came back to Bangkok. It's been a while since we last met. Want to go out for a drink?" Sun replied, sounding as if he had been looking forward to this meeting for a long time.

In a good mood, Engfa immediately agreed:

• "Sure! I'd love to see you, just give me a moment!"

Before leaving, Engfa texted Charlotte to let her know she had arrived safely in Bangkok and asked if she was okay with her going for a drink with Sun. Charlotte replied with a short message: "Don't drink too much." Engfa smiled and replied: "I promise, just a few drinks!"

Engfa drove to a small restaurant in an alley, a place she and Sun often visited since their time at military school. When she arrived, she saw Sun already sitting there, with Dee, Tif, and Tina—old friends of theirs. As soon as Sun saw Engfa walk in, he waved his hand:

• "Hey, Engfa! Over here!"

The five of them happily greeted each other, gathering around a table full of food and bottles of alcohol. The atmosphere that evening was cozy, as they shared stories about life, work, and checked in on each other's health.

The restaurant became lively when Engfa joined the group. They picked a table in the corner, just enough for privacy but still warm. The table was filled with typical Thai dishes—papaya salad, grilled meat, spicy hotpot, and various small dishes for them to nibble on throughout the evening. The five of them raised their glasses and toasted to their reunion after being apart for so long.

Sun spoke first, gently clinking his glass, then teased:

• "Come on, come on, we've got to drink! Tif, if you don't drink up, you're not going anywhere!"

Tif made a grimace but then laughed loudly:

• "Help! During the mission in the South, they had me climb mountains for a whole week, and my legs are still sore. Let me drink one, and then I'll tell you all about it."

Dee laughed:

• "Sounds like a vacation, but you're complaining about it. Let's see, did you have a climbing buddy? Is Tif still single or is someone interested?"

Tif blushed, downed her drink in one go:

• "People think the military is full of stiff folks, but honestly, the soldiers there were so enthusiastic, waiting for me every morning to exercise together. By the last day, I had to tell them, 'I'm leaving first, you guys stay healthy.'"

Everyone laughed loudly. Engfa laughed until she nearly choked, teasing:

• "Tif, if you say no one's interested in you, that's just an excuse! You must be hiding something from us! Right, Tina?"

Sun took a sip and turned to Engfa:

• "What about you, Engfa? You've been so busy lately, I heard you haven't been showing up for gatherings. What's going on?"