Chapter 12
The brights sun's light filtered its way through the slits in the palm trees as the group made their way down the strip of stores, everything particularly boutique and expensive looking.
Film had been watching Namtan like a hawk, noticing the way she'd check the time on the lock screen of her phone every so often, or check her messages.
Film hadn't noticed that Namtan was watching her as well, giving her small smiles when Film would talk to Orm or laugh at Lingling's jokes.
They walked down the little strip, hand in hand, enjoying the breeze that flitted by.
Every once in a while, Orm would tug her fiancé in the direction of a store she wanted to see, and she'd kiss her hand, and follow along blissfully.
"That's fucking sad." Jackson muttered. "Poor dude's more whipped than a horse."
Lookmhee smirked, "Why? Because you asked Orm out and she straight up rejected you at senior year homecoming?"
Jackson rolled his eyes, muttering something unsavory.
Namtan smirked, mimicking Jackson's impression. "Hey babe, why don't you and I head over to the bathroom and really score some touchdowns."
Film chuckled at Namtan's deep tone, wishing she'd known Namtan even then.
"Be honest, would you have slept with me if I used that on you?" Namtan teased.
Honest? Film could do honest.
"Probably." She smirked, watching Namtan's jaw drop.
She loved Namtan, but knew the girl was like the ever-changing seasons. She wanted to experience more of her, all of her. Sure, now was the sweltering heat of Namtan's life, the summer love, metaphorically. But what about the spring that made her who she was? Namtan thought Film wasn't fond of her wealth, her privilege, her careless lifestyle.
The truth was, Film was fond of everything and anything that was innately Namtan.
"Oh, Namtan." Lana sighed, pausing at the window front of a particularly expensive looking store. "How about a few dresses?"
Namtan made a face, and Film stifled a laugh.
"Mom, after last night's photos, you have lost all dressing privileges." Namtan grumbled.
"I'm sure Film would agree with me." Lana tried once more. "Wouldn't you love Namtan in some new dresses?"
Film cleared her throat and tried to embody Switzerland itself, the voice of neutrality. "I think Namtan looks stunning in anything, Mrs. Tipnaree."
Lana smiled at that, and Keith nodded. "Good answer, kid. You sure you don't want a job at a PR firm or something? I know a guy who-"
Namtan glanced at her watch, eyes widening, and then froze, stopping Film as well. "Dad. She doesn't want the job. We have to go get ice cream, though."
Sonya lifted a brow, and Lookmhee followed suit. "Is that an innuendo for something?"
"What? No." Namtan rolled her eyes. "You guys go ahead. We'll be back."
"Namtan, what are we-" Film's question was halted when Namtan squeezed her hand and offered her a breathtaking smile.
"It's a surprise." Namtan grinned, tugging her towards the cute little ice-cream shop on the corner of the strip.
"Namtan?" Film asked, brow furrowed.
"Film." Namtan sighed in exasperation, handing Film a twenty. "Please, just get me a mint chip cone." She batted her eyelashes. "Please."
Film's brows were up in confusion. "But, you hate mint chip. I remember, because of that one time at-"
Namtan's look was all Film needed to shut up and wheel around into the bustling store, wondering why Namtan was trying so desperately to rid herself of her. She was acting beyond strange. She tried to glance back to stare at her best friend, but the line was long and Namtan had already left.
By the time Film ordered the cone and stepped back into the sweltering heat, she'd realized that Namtan was sitting at a table with someone. Film squinted. It was a man, who looked oddly familiar. And suddenly, it all clicked.
"Film!" The familiar high-er pitched voice echoed as Film felt the breath knocked out of her with a tight hug, brunette hair the only thing visible at her side.
Film's heart stopped, and a smile flitted across her face, and before she knew it, she was kneeling and grinning.
"Bonnie?" Film breathed, careful not to drop the cone, her gaze searching her face, her grown features. She looked so much more different than on FaceTime or Skype, she was starting to fill out her soccer jersey more and more.
"Hey Sis!" Bonnie grinned. "Surprise! Are you surprised?"
Film felt her heart clench as her eyes found Namtan's gaze. Namtan was beaming at her a little further down at the table, the man Film now recognized as James doing the same.
So, this was Namtan's grand affair, her big surprise, her reason for acting so strangely.
She had gotten into contact with Bonnie.
For her.
Sure, Film had thought about it, but she never wanted to take time away from Namtan, this being her family and her operation.
Of course, Namtan had to go off and do something amazing.
"Give the kid her ice cream." Namtan smirked, standing with James to come over.
Bonnie grinned as Film handed her the cone, beaming up at her. She gave Film an embarrassed glance.
"Sis, introduce us." She whispered offhandedly, and she rolled her eyes.
"Namtan, now you can say you've officially met my-"
"-Sister." Bonnie supplied with a proud grin.
"-Sister." Film winked at Namtan.
Namtan knelt down and Bonnie threw her arms around Namtan, narrowly missing her dress with the ice cream. "Hi Namtan." She smiled.
Film turned to James, offering him a smile.
"Your girlfriend is quite the keeper, Film." James offered politely. "This was all her idea."
Film and Namtan both gaped at each other awkwardly, and Bonnie's eyes seemed to sparkle.
"You're dating?" Bonnie asked between frantic licks of her dripping mint chip ice cream.
"About time."
Film reddened and her mouth opened a little in shock. So, the kid had a mouth on her, just like she did when she was her age. Perfect.
Namtan let out a laugh and James shook his head apologetically. "I meant to make no assumptions."
Film waved it off entirely too awkwardly, her entire body simply radiating the joy she felt. She glanced at Namtan with a numb, blissful smile.
"Namtan? Do you mind if I speak with you for a second?" She tugged Namtan's wrist, excusing herself from Bonnie, and James, who'd ran into the shop to get napkins for the girl.
"I hope this is alright." Namtan murmured, and Film could tell from her best friend's body language that she was nervous, with her rosy blush and the way she rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean, I didn't want to overstep my boundaries, but-"
Film pulled Namtan into a hug, effectively shutting her up as both girls melted into it. Film couldn't fathom how much Namtan meant to her in that moment.
"Namtan." Film's voice was a little choked. "This is incredible. I can't thank you enough."
"Don't thank me." Namtan shrugged nonchalantly, a pleased smile on her face. "We're best friends, it's what we do."
Film frowned momentarily. "Namtan, how long do we have? I don't want to keep your family waiting, because-"
"Babi." Namtan shook her head with a knowing smirk. "It's fine. They all knew. They were playing along."
Film's eyes widened. "Namtan, you went to all this trouble for me?"
Namtan blushed once more. "Don't even mention it. Just, maybe keep them away from my family, because the fake girlfriend thing might be a bit hard to explain to Bonnie."
Film nodded, shaking her head. "Namtan Tipnaree, you're amazing."
Namtan sighed. "It was just-I know this can't have been easy for you, seeing my family so-overwhelming. I just-I wanted to remind you that you're not alone. My family is yours, but you have people out there who love you, myself included."
That was the least painful way of admitting it.
Film took one glance into Namtan's hazel eyes and she knew she was gone. Namtan was the single greatest thing to happen in her existence. Namtan was the star that lit up the darkened sky of her background, her childhood. Namtan was laughter, and smiles, and everything she could ever hope to look forward to.
Namtan was it, for her.
"Go on. Spend time with them. I'm a text away." Namtan spoke gently, her smile never fading.
Film frowned almost immediately. "You're not coming?"
"They're your family, Film." Namtan nudged her. "Go. Rebuild. I'll deal with my hell-family."
"No." Film shook her head, and Namtan cocked hers in confusion.
"No?"
"You're my family, Namtan." Film spoke softly, pressing a grateful kiss to Namtan's cheek, before turning back to Bonnie, laughing at the mess she'd already managed to create.
Film's laugh, ever so gentle and amused, was Namtan's favorite sound. A grin broke out on her features just hearing it.
And that was when Namtan Tipnaree started to realize that was spiraling deeper and deeper into love with Film Rachanun.