Dhevaprom: Kwanruetai

Chapter 12

As Kwanrutai arrived home, she headed straight for the kitchen. She'd lost a lot of time with her daily work routines, and though it was already 3 p.m., she still had meals to prepare for several households. Apart from her main income from laundry and ironing, she also cooked food to sell at the hospital. Thankfully, her older brother helped her, which eased her workload considerably. She began washing and chopping vegetables, prepping ingredients for the evening dishes. Some of the components had been prepared earlier that morning.

In the midst of stir-frying, her thoughts drifted back to Phon. His house wasn't far from hers, and she had known him since they were kids. Seeing him in his current state had left her unsettled. What troubled her the most was the fearful expression on his face, as if he was trying to tell her something. Unfortunately, his voice was so hoarse that she couldn't understand him. Her mind was racing with thoughts when someone suddenly patted her on the shoulder.

"Hey, Kwan! What's with the daydreaming? Your veggies are burning!"

She looked down at the pan to see her stir-fry charred black. Flustered, she quickly turned off the heat and emptied the contents onto a plate, muttering irritably, "Darn it... just a moment of distraction."

Her brother frowned and scolded her, "How many times do I have to tell you to speak politely? You're a young lady. How do you expect anyone to propose to you if you talk like that?"

"Oh, come on, Kong," she retorted, "I'm not interested in getting married anyway."

Kongphop's frown deepened. "You never listen, hanging around with Mai and Samlee all the time. Look at you—you're dressing more and more like a boy."

"Relax, Kong. I just got a little carried away, that's all."

"So what were you daydreaming about, to the point where you let the food burn?"

Kwan felt a pang of frustration over the wasted food, knowing it would have to be tossed. "I was... just lost in thought," she replied, hoping he'd drop it.

Kongphop's suspicion lingered. "Was it about that guy from Bangkok?"

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "Why would I be thinking about him?"

He narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. "Just remember, if that guy ever tries anything funny, you come straight to me, alright? I'll teach him a lesson."

Kwan nudged his arm. "It's not about him, really. It's about Phon."

"What about Phon?"

"He regained consciousness today. I just came back from visiting him at the hospital. The doctor took out his breathing tube, but he still can't speak clearly."

"I'm relieved to hear that, for Aunt and Nuch's sake. After losing Pranbun, the last thing we need is something happening to Phon."

"But it's heartbreaking that he had to lose a leg. It'll be a long recovery."

"He's strong. I'm sure he'll find his footing. And it's our job to support him. But why are you so worried if Phon's awake now?"

"He seemed like he was trying to say something, but I couldn't make it out," Kwan said, reflecting on the encounter. She planned to visit Phon again tomorrow, hoping to get more clarity and ask about the people who had harmed Pranbun and Phon.

"Maybe he just wanted to thank you for visiting."

"Maybe."

Kongphop tousled her hair and pulled her close. "Don't dwell on it. It's good enough that Phon's safe. Once he's better, we can make merit together." He smiled, though something still gnawed at Kwan's mind, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.