IN THE MATTER OF MONTHS

2. Can't let go

Cheryl was a chatterbox, it took her some time but she warmed up to me, we often met and she told me how she was also going to join the family business once she graduated, she sure had the knack for it.

"So? The whole family is getting into the business world then?" I asked her one day when we met for coffee.

"Yeah, except for mum and my older brother, they have the soul of an artist" she clicked her tongue and smiled cheekily.

"P'type?" i asked, confusion etched on my face

"I have one more brother" she replied smiling, staring at a distance as if reminiscing an old memory.

" that's news to me, what's his name?" i asked curiously

"His name is-" we were interrupted by my phone ringing, it was my secretary N'moe,

I was summoned to the office by father, and I hurriedly went back throwing a swift goodbye at her and the topic of another Teepakorn sibling just slipped my mind completely.

                                                                                          *

Dad had briefed me about the new project we were signing with teepakorn corps, and had asked me to do a thorough research about the cons and give him a report by the end of the month and that had kept me busy for over a month, I had to look over every clause to make sure the deal would bring us profit, P'Type had done a commendable job in covering all aspect of the deal, he was not unreasonable with his demands from our services but nobody could find a loophole and take advantage of his company, he was thorough and careful, I understood why he was given such a big responsibility of being the MD of the thailand branch.

In a matter of months, Dad presented the idea of me marrying Cheryl, knowing him I was not very suprised and even though I had a hunch that something like this would happen sooner or later, it still had broken my heart all over again, my father had always treated me like an investment, and this was the time to withdraw all he had invested in me.

A true business man.

I thought I had stopped expecting things from my parents but after my father basically told me that I should get married to Cheryl, and my mother had no objections whatsoever, I cried myself to sleep that night.

I refused, but dad had been hot on my trail to convince me, he used all his cards, the parent card, the '' whatever I do is for the sake of this family". The "you will have to make sacrifices for this family", but what stumped me off my feet was an innocent question "do you have someone else?"

Did I?

No, not for a very long time, I had made sure that I had no one.

I decided to meet Cheryl, to at least appease my father.

                                                                                                       *

"My dad brought the topic once, P'wat, i was rather surprised" Cheryl started right after ordering her favorite iced coffee, we had decided to meet at the coffee shop near her place, I had intended to hear her thoughts about this proposal.

"So? Uh.. what do you think about it?" I asked , nervousness quite evident in my tone my hands shook a bit.

"Well, to be honest P'Wat, I don't hate the idea very much" my heart thudded against my ribs, a sense of terror rising in my mind. It was irrational, but i wanted to just bolt out of the cafe.

"Y-yeah?" i licked my lips to get rid of the sudden dryness in my mouth

" Yeah, I mean, I have known you for a few months now, and from what I gather, you are a very nice person, and I feel like it's very easy to talk to you," Cheryl answered slowly, her cheeks turning pink while she fidgeted on her seat." maybe if got to know each other properly, we could think about sharing our lives together, only if you want it too"