Heartstrings And Espionages

I glanced at her… Tangwen. Mixed with sadness. The first voice I hear from him is, "I do." Now the turn was Tangwen's. We met our both eyes. She didn't even blink once. It's okay, say it, Tangwen. She shut open her eyes and looked at Dillon. He nodded and then her eyes flew back to me. For a moment, I froze but I nodded, holding calmness in myself.

Leen Ha-Kong held her both hands and she finally opened her mouth, "...I do." She declared looking at him. Soon the priest suggested they exchange rings and later their lips. By then, I was out of all the guests' sight. Smoking in the garden, I was benched, gazing straight into the distant sky. Painted dark and cloudy. Will it rain? I don't mind then. At least there's something to fade away with me. I sighed the smoke sharply and stayed still in my position.

"Smoking isn't good for you." I turned around and found Dillon. He won't leave me alone for a moment. Urgh! "What's up? Don't you have work to do?" I said, blowing the smoke in the air. He abruptly grabbed the smoke vape. "What are you doing? Lemme at least get over this." I said.

He sat next to me and suddenly held my face, puffing my lips out. What the hell! "Find other ways but no smoking." And then shoved my face away. I clenched my fist and gave a death glare at him. Grabbing his neck, I whispered. "Let. Me. Get. Over. This. Dillon." I stated every word clearly and snatched the smoke vape away.

He just sat beside me quietly for a moment. I peeked at him and asked, "What brought you here? Is it my parents again?" He said nothing but looked at me. What now?! "Speak up. God offered you a mouth to speak." Yet he didn't say a word but maintained that same blank look. Stop getting on my nerves already, Dillon. I crunched all my anger and said,

"You really got some guts, huh?" He shrugged yet making that poker face. Sigh… What's this new drama now? I looked at my smoke vape and thought the reason might be the thing I'm using right now. Doesn't he smoke? I mean, all do to release their heavy feelings and frustration which they can't show it out.

"Have you ever smoked before?" He strikes his head. He didn't, then. "Why are you acting mute all of a sudden?" He said nothing but stared at the smoke vape. So he wants me to stop smoking. Aah, what a pain! Reluctant enough, I blew the last smoke and put my smoke vape in my handbag. "Will you speak now?"

"How do you want me to speak while inhaling that smoke, huh? Why don't you listen to me, Moon?" I smiled at his words. Like who do you think you're speaking to? I never obey my elders' words in the first place and you want me to do yours. Stop kidding me, Man.

"I can't obey your orders, Dillon. My life, my wish. I only follow this rule even if one day we date each other or tie the knot." I explained, holding a moment of ruling self-life. He narrowed his eyes in line and I chuckled. "You really don't care about my feelings, ghosty." Said what? Oh my, how hilarious!

"Your feelings? Do you have a heart to feel?" I laughed and he just puffed his cheeks. Oh god! This guy is out of line! Is that a childish demeanour? "Hey. I'm human too! How can you say that?" He exclaimed. We both looked at each other and burst out in laughter. I don't know the reason but we just did it. Haa… after a long time, I'm feeling alive and kicking.

These Alfie family members – they hurt the others and also heal those people. I doubt if it's any kind of culture followed by generations. If it is, then I doubt my existence.

"You and Tangwen are weird." I said, gazing at the dark sky. "How are we weird now?" He questioned. I hung my hand into the air, wide open – I peeked at the sky through the gaps between my fingers. "Tangwen hurts and you heal. Aren't you guys weird now?" I looked into his eyes as I was done with all my eyes and Betty Martin. But He didn't follow up… left it on heard.

...…

"Yeah. I'm going on Friday." The woman seated next to me spoke up. I glanced at her and then my attention back to my hands. It's just irksome to sit beside a bag of wind. She's been on call for 1 hour and yet not done with it. I can't even keep my head to rest. I literally snap to reality whenever she laughs grisly on the call. I doubt the existence of the opposite person who's on the call with this woman.

"Attention please. The next station is going to arrive in the next 10 mins. Please not rush and be polite to your legs. Thank you."

What's with the announcement? The lady seriously left everyone with a laugh and smile including me, Man. I need to get down either. Better I recheck everything. I glanced here and there. Not just my things, I eventually went through on all those people with lots of stuff. I know it's inappropriate to commit but it made me a bit curious – out of the blue.

"Hahaha! I doubt if he responds with that – hahaha!"

This lady is really a pain in my nerves. Why doesn't she just shut her mouth for a while? I've been hearing from her for an hour now. I'm the kind of species that could get things to worse out of nothing good yet I'm being patient as I'll be leaving soon anyhow. All I need for a moment is – silence. And she wouldn't let that wish of mine come true.

Ha… That's a relief. I finally arrived in my hometown… Nah, just kidding. I'm still in Chiang Mai. My parents just gave me an address and said to reach there in no time. After Tangwen's wedding, I straight away packed my things and now I'm standing in front of the house. Where my parents really want me to reach. This place is surprisingly next to… the family Chirapaisarnsakul's old mansion.

I couldn't believe my parents decided to adapt to this areas' atmosphere. This is the mansion where I was supposed to grow up but things really don't look as planned. Now… the Chirapaisarnsakul's don't live here. The modern mansion is not so far from here either. It's only 20 minutes matter for me. Yet, I'm not indeed to know those people, anyway.

"And… why do you wanna stay here all of a sudden?" I instantly halted when I saw my parents furiously going with an argument. It doesn't seem too bad though. I leaned my shoulder to the door frame and gazed at their wrinkled faces. Mhm, no way, they are getting old as time flies!

"What do you mean now? Even after knowing the current situation, how can you argue about leaving, Ren?" My Mom doesn't really seem to know how to handle a situation. intentionally named her husband while quarrels will only add fuel in the fire. It does too.

"Now, you're in the present. Your worries and concerns don't give a shit to them, Lily. Stop causing a mess and let's go home." Who are they actually referring to? Without any moto, humans like my parents don't argue over simple interests. I don't wanna get involved with no information about what exactly brought them into a mess. I just waited until they untied their misunderstandings or whatever they were with.

"It doesn't matter to me! In such conditions, I can't leave him alone just like his son did. He needs one to look after his will. And I want him to choose that one from my family, Ren!"

…What? I doubt this isn't any prosaic subject to shrug off. There's something my Mom isn't giving up on. But what could it be? Who else could be "someone" she needs to take care of in this city? As far as I know, rather than Chirapaisarnsakul's there's no one to look after but aren't we already disowned?

"I'm telling you. It's useless. Moon will never allow for that post even if that gives everything to her. You need to understand why your husband left that house 18 years back, Lily!"

Wait… Is this argument regarding my biological father? "Don't say as if you know everything, Ren! Leaving the house was his decision not mine! I still have responsibilities to offer. Now it's the time! Why don't you understand me?" His decision…? What's this all?

"Enough!" I screened – my Mom with a wide face. She couldn't stop herself from trembling when she found I was eavesdropping on their argument. "Moon…? When did you arrive?"

I did pay attention to his query but didn't bother to respond. All I could feel inside me was… heat. This kind of feeling in me wasn't cosy at all. I pulled my luggage aside and took a seat. Gesturing to my parents the same. Let's get to the point now.

"What's going on here, Mom and Dad? Will you guys mind explaining to me?" Straight with my sharp tune, I got them to sweat incredibly. My parents looked at each other finally realising that things had gotten worse than before. My Mom didn't take advantage of looking into my eyes but mumbled beneath her breath, playing with her thumb. That's a sign of being nervous as a whore in church. I sighed and asked ironically,

"Stop mumbling and speak up, Mom. I'm not in a state of patience." She gave me a wide-eyed look and her hands trembled. Bewildered, I gaped at her.

"I… just don't know how to keep it in front, Dear." She shuttered and ogled at the floor. I cracked my forehead and pitched in the middle of my eyebrows. Frustration bursting out of me like a triggered volcano. "Mom, speak up already. If not, I just have to know things from where they relate to." She suddenly froze and grind to a halt. What's wrong with her?