Dhevaprom: Kwanruetai

Chapter 4

Khwanruthai rode her brother's beloved motorbike along the dirt road toward the military camp. In the back seat, a basket of freshly laundered clothes was secured. Gongpop had called to let her know he had safely arrived in Bangkok and might need to stay there for a while. Her mother's medical checkup had revealed a potential heart issue that required further tests, and he asked her to send some money. He also requested that she deliver the laundry he'd left behind. As she sped along the road, a familiar voice whistled a teasing greeting.

"And where are you off to so early?"

"I went to get some fried dough for Mom," he replied cheerily. "Then I spotted you, Tai, and thought I'd stop to say hi. Are you heading to the camp?"

On the front of his motorbike was a bag with fried dough and two bags of soy milk placed beside each other.

"Yeah, I'm just delivering these clothes for Gong. Do you happen to know where the new doctor's house is, the one who just moved in last week?"

"Sure do! It's that green house at the end of the road. Just go straight; it's the big one on the right."

Khwanruthai had been to the military camp a couple of times before, but Gong usually handled the deliveries.

"What's the new doctor like, anyway?"

Maisuek, the one who'd greeted her, made a face as he thought. He'd only met the new doctor once. "Handsome, pale, but there's something soft about him. I don't know why, but he gives me a weird feeling."

"Strange indeed," Khwanruthai commented. "And you've met him, right?"

"Yeah, but look at these clothes! What kind of man wears a pink shirt with skinny pants? The perfume smell's so strong I had to scrub them twice just to get it out."

"Could be... maybe he's a bit flamboyant?" Maisuek suggested, his eyes flashing playfully. Khwanruthai thought for a moment, then wrinkled her nose, dismissing the idea. "I doubt it. He's a military doctor, after all."

"I'm telling you, Tai, he must be. City folks these days... This morning, I saw another guy, a sweet-looking one, walk into his house. They were practically arm-in-arm!"

"What? No, no, don't tell me. I don't want to hear it," she said quickly, rolling her eyes. She slowed her bike and glanced toward Maisuek, who lived in the camp with his mother. His father had been a soldier but had passed away years ago, leaving him and his mother to manage alone. Since meeting Khwanruthai, he'd gradually turned his life around.

"I just want to get this laundry done and head back to cook. With Gong gone, I'm swamped!"

Khwanruthai started her motorbike again and waved, riding off along the path Maisuek had pointed out. Thoughts of his words echoed in her mind the entire way.

When she arrived at the house, she found the front gate closed. This section of the camp had individual houses, especially for newly graduated officers who were given separate accommodations. She parked her bike outside, noting a sleek white sedan with Bangkok plates parked in the driveway.

"Fancy car! Doctors sure do well," she muttered to herself. She knocked on the gate and waited. No one responded, so she gave it a gentle push and realized it was unlocked.

"Hello? Is anyone home? I've got your laundry."

She peered inside. The house was quiet, and she saw a kitchen at the far end of the main floor. She placed the laundry basket on the sofa and started looking around but saw no sign of the owner. "Maybe he went out, but wouldn't he have locked up? Isn't he afraid of thieves?"

She remembered her brother's instructions. "Once you deliver the clean laundry, don't forget to pick up the dirty clothes for washing. The doctor said he'd leave them in a basket outside his bedroom. Feel free to go up and get them; his bedroom's the one on the right at the top of the stairs."