The chirping of small birds flying past the roof woke the lieutenant from her slumber, wrapped in a thick blanket that covered her bare body. But there was no sign of the homeowner. The lieutenant tried to muster the strength to get up from the bed, holding the blanket to cover her chest.
Her body felt completely sore, especially around her shoulders and wrists, prompting her to shake them lightly to ease the muscles.
Reflecting on the cause of his fatigue, she raised both hands to her head: she remembered almost everything that had happened. She couldn't believe he'd actually done such things.
Her face flushed, and she couldn't think of what to do if she saw the person she'd spent the night with. The first thing she needed to do was to get dressed properly before going anywhere.
She hurriedly ran down the stairs, aiming to get to her car as quickly as possible, but had to stop abruptly when she saw the slender figure walking in with a silver tray in hand.
"I was just about to wake you up. Where are you running off to?"
Mae Kru Bulan asked with a calm voice. She'd already showered and done her makeup, while the lieutenant looked like someone who had just been through a battlefield.
"I was just coming down, not going anywhere. I was going to get my work clothes from the car."
"So, are you not going anywhere or just going to get your work clothes?"
"Did you go to offer food to the monks?"
Feeling groggy as if she'd just started working, she quickly changed the subject, realizing she was starting to talk nonsense.
"Miss Pichapat Ruechakun, I've already sent the merit to her. You were sleeping soundly, so I didn't want to wake you."
"You remembered the name after I said it just one time?"
"I was forced to memorize prayers since I could remember. Why wouldn't I remember the name of my lover's sister?"
"Don't say that. The term' lover' is..."
It's true that their relationship had gone beyond normal boundaries, but calling her a lover seemed too soon for her. She feared saying something hurtful and regretting it later, especially since Mae Kru was standing there, listening intently.
"What about it?"
"Today, I have to stay at the quarters... the one the authorities prepared for me. I haven't been there since I arrived. My clothes haven't been washed either."
"Put them in the basket. I have a washing machine. I'll wash them myself.
Staying at the quarters isn't mandatory. Didn't I tell you that you must stay here?"
The slender figure from last night seemed like a different person now. The familiar stern voice returned as her words seemed to irritate her.
"No matter how much you like me, you have no right to force me like this,"
"What's so uncomfortable about my house?"
"It's not that..."
"I made breakfast. If you don't want to eat, I'll make coffee instead."
Once again, Mae Kru ignored her intentions and walked into the kitchen. Lieutenant Peem followed, hoping to have a proper conversation.
But when she saw Mae Kru Bulan pick up a fork and bring a piece of dark fried pork belly to her mouth, even holding her hand under it, she didn't want to say anything that might hurt her feelings. After all, she'd just had a fight over the food the day before.
