Soft, warm sunlight came through the thin curtains and shine on the wide bed. It created a stark contrast to the heated atmosphere of the previous night. Ploy Napphan condo, once filled with desire, now silent. The only sound was the air conditioner working hard to maintain a cool temperature, as if reflecting the emptiness in Jam's heart.
Ploy Napphan's slim body was curled up in bed, her beautifull face looking relaxed as she slept. Jam watched her and felt a mix of emotions rising in her heart, happiness, guilt, and longing.
Jam felt unsure, and all her feelings rushed in along with a throbbing headache from the alcohol last night.
“If tonight ends like a one-night stand... are you okay with that?”
Ploy Napphan’s voice echoed in her head. She tried to remember what happened last night, but the memories were blurry, like they were covered by thick fog.
Did it really happen? Jam wondered to herself. She glanced around the room. The soft scent of Ploy Napphan still lingered in the air. On the bedside table was a vase of white lilies, now withered and drooping, just like their relationship seemed to be coming to an end.
Fan Jam deciding to quietly get out of bed. Her body ached from their activities last night as she dressed. She walked over to grab a notepad and a pen, writing a short message for Ploy Napphan.
“Dear... my drinking buddy, I really enjoyed our time together last night. You’re amazing, but we probably won’t see each other again. It was nice meeting you.”
That is all I can do... Fan Jam thought to herself as she wrote the note. She felt like she was waking up from a sweet dream into a reality she didn’t want to face.
She placed the note on the bedside table, grabbed her bag, and quietly left the condo, leaving behind only emptiness and the cold air from the air conditioner.
On her way home, Jam looked out the taxi window, watching the soft sun shine without helping ease the lonely feeling in her heart. She sigh deeply, thinking about the flowers at the shop she needed to talk later today. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t the same as having someone listen to her life stories.
Why did she so easily open up to strangers? She asked herself repeatedly. A sense of disappointment began forming inside her. The fleeting overnight relationship ended abruptly, leaving scars in her mind far greater than expected.
Or maybe she wanted something more than a one-night stand?
Fan Jam questioned herself, shaking off scattered thoughts. She knew that she shouldn't have any hope for Ploy. They had agreed from the start.
Morning sunshine that used to seem warm now became harsh daylight, hitting her eyes like a reminder that yesterday’s encounter was nothing but a temporary illusion. Feeling lost and alone hit her heart once more. All she could wish was for these feelings to fade away soon.
But deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be that easy...
The mobile phone ringing outside the flower shop door caught Jam’s attention when she opened it. Inside the store, everything was calm except for the bright sunlight shining through clear glass windows mixed with chilly wind blowing through.
The sweet scent of various flowers wafted in, touching her nose and inviting relaxation, but it couldn’t ease the exhaustion in her heart.
Sunlight hit the clear glass vases lined up on the shelf, reflecting sparkles like jewels.
The soft music playing in the shop only emphasized the loneliness that filled the space. Jam sank into a chair behind the counter, her pale face and red eyes showing her physical and emotional fatigue.
“You are here, Jam?”
Said Lubpad, the shop’s employee, greeting her with a bright smile. But when she saw Jam's pale face and the same clothes from last night, that smile slowly faded. She didn’t ask anything further, only giving Jam a concerned look.
Jam nodded slightly. She felt heavy as if she were carrying the whole world on her shoulders. The confusion and pain from last night still gnawed at her heart relentlessly.
She walked straight to the small bedroom at the back of the shop that she had set up for resting during her long hours of work. She closed the door quietly and sank onto the soft bed, feeling utterly drained.
Leaning back against the soft pillow, she closed her eyes for a moment before slowly getting up to take off her clothes in preparation for a shower, revealing faint red marks on her skin, traces of joy and passion from the previous night.
Images of Ploy Napphan appeared in her mind, the smiles, laughter, and heated touches, all still clear as if they had just happened moments ago.
“Forget about her, Jam,”
She tried to tell herself. But the more she tried, the clearer Ploy Napphan's image became.
Jam sighed deeply and stepped into the bathroom, turning on the shower to wash away her body and distracting thoughts. She looked at herself in the mirror; her pale face and red eyes from crying made it hard to recognize herself after last night’s happiness.
She hurriedly took a shower, got dressed, and dragged her tired body out front.
Customers began to arrive at the shop to choose flowers. She had to shake off all her thoughts and get back to work.
Lubpad look at Jam with concern. She noticed changes in her boss but chose not to ask anything, waiting for Jam to be ready to talk when she wanted.
“You don’t look so good today,”
Lubpad said worriedly. Jam forced a smile.
“I just stayed up too late, I’m fine.”
All day long, Jam tried to focus on arranging flowers, answering customer questions, and managing the shop. She worked hard not to let thoughts of Ploy Napphan intrude, but every time she caught a whiff of lilies, she would think of Ploy Napphan's smile.
That woman is a perfect match for the white lilies that often went unnoticed.
“Just forget about it, Jam,”
She murmured softly to herself as she arranged a bouquet of flowers. She knew well that forgetting someone was not easy, especially when that person had touched her heart so deeply, even if it was just for one night.
The afternoon sunlight was low, casting golden light into the shop and creating a warm atmosphere. But it couldn’t chase away the chill in Jam's heart. She sighed again, waiting for the day to pass quickly so she could rest...
“Go take a break, Jam. I’ll handle things here,”
Lubpad said.
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
