Narrator's POV: A General's Secret and a Father's Fury
Somchai, the fisherman, was selling fish in the market when a cloaked man approached him. Somchai looked at the man, understanding the unspoken meaning in his gaze.
"Chaiyot," he called to the young man helping him unload fish from the boat. Chaiyot quickly made his way over, a look of concern on his face as he saw the cloaked figure. He often saw this man talking to the old fisherman but never questioned their connection. Still, he couldn't help but wonder who this man was. Chaiyot also always noticed mysterious people around them whenever this man was present; they might not be obvious, but Chaiyot had an uncanny ability to distinguish these individuals from the rest of the villagers. It was a skill he possessed, though he never knew where he had acquired such an observational knack, and it made him wary of anyone who seemed out of place in their small community.
"How's he? Why is he helping you with the fish?" the cloaked man asked with concern in his voice.
"I can't say no to him; he is a determined child, General Saint, and I can't say no to him. I can see this young man once lived with purpose, and losing his memory won't erase his nature of being a smart and hardworking man," Somchai replied with a slight smile, knowing that the general's question was more out of curiosity than suspicion. "He may not remember his past, but his actions speak volumes about the kind of person he is," Somchai added, grateful for the young man's help and determination.
General Saint sighed, acknowledging Kirk's unwavering determination even before, which only deepened his admiration for the man he secretly loved. He smiled subtly as he looked in Kirk's direction. He blushed when Chaiyot, or rather Kirk, smiled back at him, acknowledging his presence.
You never failed to impress, Kirk, Saint thought.
"Until now, you never told me who this man is," Somchai asked. General Saint chuckled. "He's just a man with a mysterious past and a heart of gold." Somchai nodded, understanding that some things are better left unsaid.
If this man knew who he was making lift fish, he might lose his mind; it's better he doesn't know, Saint thought to himself.
Saint took a brown pouch from inside his sleeve and secretly handed it to Somchai. "Consider it a token of my appreciation for your discretion and for helping me take care of Chaiyot," Saint whispered. Somchai's eyes widened in surprise, grateful for the unexpected gift from the mysterious general. But when he opened the pouch, shocked by its contents, he immediately tried to return it.
"I can't accept this, General Saint; this is too much," Somchai said, handing back the few pounds of gold inside the pouch. Accepting this would make him and his wife indebted to Saint in a way that he could never repay. Saint smiled warmly at Somchai's refusal, understanding the man's reluctance to accept such a generous gift. "I appreciate your integrity, Somchai. Please consider this as a gift," Saint replied, insisting that Somchai keep the gold as a token of their friendship and mutual respect.
"But this is too much; I can even buy the whole village with this amount of gold," Somchai protested, feeling overwhelmed by the generosity. Saint chuckled, placing a hand on Somchai's shoulder. "You and your son, when he was still alive and working for me as a soldier, have always been loyal friends and allies. Consider it a token of my gratitude for all that you have done," he said reassuringly.
Somchai sighed, no longer able to refuse the general's gift, wondering what his wife and Chaiyot's reaction would be when they found out about the unexpected wealth. But he knew deep down that Saint's gesture was genuine and heartfelt, a testament to their enduring bond. Still, it wasn't clear why the general would give such an amount just for taking care of a stranger, a young man. What was Chaiyot's identity to make him worth such a gift?
Rebecca's POV: A Forbidden Connection and a Father's Wrath
"Freen!" I shouted as the guards almost dragged us out of the place, but I couldn't leave Freen here if danger was lurking.
"Irin, what about Freen? Are you leaving her here?" I couldn't bear the thought of abandoning my friend, especially when she needed me the most. Despite the chaos and urgency of the situation, I was not leaving her here, not now that I realized she was the main reason I accepted my father's offer to go back to my mother's place.
I kicked the guard who was annoyingly dragging me away from the room and ran where Freen was. Thanks to Irin for helping me by blocking and pulling the guards away from me, I was able to reach Freen just as I opened the door. I saw the beauty of an angel. I didn't waste time, as I was dying to do this earlier if not for Irin's annoying timing.
I was panting from running away from the guards, looking into Freen's eyes. She really is the flower girl. I grabbed her neck, wasted no time, and kissed her aggressively, but she wouldn't respond. I was annoyed by her reaction, so I bit her lower lips. She groaned in pain, which made her involuntarily open her mouth, giving me the opportunity to kiss her more passionately.
I smirked when she finally decided to reciprocate my kiss, her hands finding their way to my hair as she pulled me closer. The guards' footsteps grew louder, but I couldn't bring myself to stop kissing Freen, the girl who had captivated me from the moment I laid eyes on her.
Oh god, I don't want this to end.
Our hands were all over our bodies. I was even more turned on when she pushed me against the door that opened upon impact, but it only added to my excitement as I deepened the kiss, savoring every moment with her. The guards finally reached us, knocking behind us again.
Ugh, Irin and her timing. I glared at the woman in front of me when she stopped kissing because of Irin's knock.
Annoying.
"Rebecca! Get out of there now, or I will tell the guards to break the door!"Urgh, for the love of God, what is it with my father again?
Irin gave me an apologetic look before quickly opening the door. I reluctantly followed to go out, holding tightly to Freen's hand.
My father's jaw tightened upon seeing me, and his eyes filled with anger. "Rebecca, how many times do I have to tell you to stay away from that girl?" he bellowed. I knew this was going to be another long lecture about the dangers of associating with Freen.
"Everyone was worried and alert about what happened outside Lord Nop's residence while you were with this woman, playing hide-and-seek. What is wrong with you? I understand your sentimentality towards this woman during the party earlier, but this doesn't make sense. You need to be more careful with your actions and who you associate with, especially in public places like Lord Nop's residence. Your safety and reputation are at stake, so please think before you act impulsively." He paused, contemplating what to say to not make it sound more vulgar, and then continued, "You should be thankful that Lord Nop offered his kindness by lending us assistance in guarding you and giving you his carriage to give you a lift as a replacement for our carriage, which was attacked by some crazy individuals. Remember, not everyone is as generous as him, so be mindful of your behavior and show gratitude towards those who help you. It's important to maintain good relationships with people, especially in high society circles like this one." My father's words echoed in my mind. Again, he was only concerned about his reputation and status among the elite.
I tightened my grip on Freen's hand.
"You are not concerned about my safety; you are only concerned about your own image," I shouted back to him, feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment.
"You ungrateful child!"
"เบคก้า!" {Rebecca!} I heard my mother shout, who was now crying and pleading with my father to stop.
My sight turned black because of the impact of his slap; my face was almost twisted with pain.
"I have worked hard to provide for you and give you the best opportunities in life," my father retorted, his face turning red with anger. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before responding. "I appreciate everything you have done for me, but I also deserve to be treated with respect," I said firmly, meeting his gaze with determination. "I will not sacrifice my well-being for the sake of your reputation." My father tried to slap me again, but this time Freen intervened, grabbing his arm before he could make contact.
"โปรด!" {Please!} Freen said firmly, standing between us. "อย่าทำร้ายเธอนะ ฉันจะไปแล้ว แค่อย่าทำร้ายเธอ" {Don't hurt her. I'm leaving. Just don't hurt her.} I could see Freen's pleading eyes as she said those words I didn't understand.
My father glared at both of us. "Bring her home." He commanded the guards, and they dragged me away, but I tried to stay with Freen. My heart sank when I let go of her hand. I refused to let go, but she forcefully let go of my hand.
"ฉันเสียใจ" {I'm sorry.}
"No. Don't do this..."
"ปล่อยฉันนะ" {Let me go.} No, those words again.