The Invitation
FOUR MONTHS LATER
I stared at the city below me.
From the highrise building where I stood, everything was small.
I could see movements of the tiny people and tiny cars.
It was like watching a movie where I was the giant and I ruled the land.
But instead of feeling powerful, I felt small.
I haven’t been the same since that incident at Nam Jai.
There were nights when I’d wake up screaming thinking that Kosol was in the room, holding a gun to my head.
He could have killed me and that was the intent.
Ai-oon really delivered when she said she would protect me.
P’Ton would sometimes stay at my house to keep me company.
He recommended I go to therapy to help manage the trauma.
I followed his advice but I still didn’t feel comfortable being alone.
I called the security company and asked for Ai-oon.
The call was transferred to a man with a deep baritone voice.
He was gruff but when he remembered who I was, the tone changed.
I asked for Ai and was disappointed to learn that she no longer worked there.
Since I still needed a bodyguard, he assigned a guy who was good at his job but was quiet as a mouse.
I told myself that as long as he did what he was supposed to do, that was enough.
But deep in my heart, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted.
I missed Ai-oon.
We didn’t really talk the last time I saw her.
She dropped me off at the house and said goodbye.
In hindsight, I could have ask more questions.
I could have thought of extending her contract.
But there was a lot that happened and I didn’t say anything.
Ai-oon walked away and I regretted not asking her to stay.
A knock on the door took me out of the dark rabbit hole of emotions.
The bodyguard entered carrying a stack of mail.
He placed it on the desk and quietly left the way he came.
I walked over to check what he brought.
The letters were mostly correspondence from other companies and law firms.
The last one in the pile was not.
The smooth burgundy and gold envelope was unexpected.
I peeled the flap and took out the invitation.
It was for Oom’s wedding.
I read the details and my heart quickened.
When we talked the last time, it was to say our goodbyes to each other.
I was surprised when she told me about her fiance, Paul.
She didn’t have to but she said that despite how bad our relationship got towards the end, there will always be a part of her that cared for me.
Oom wanted me to be happy.
I was happy to hear that because all this time, I thought she hated me.
It felt as if I was exonerated.
The wedding was in two weeks and it will be in Nam Jai.
I thought of what to do, quickly coming up with reasons not to go.
There was a lot to do at work and I still have an ongoing trial for a wrongful murder conviction.
The incident with Kosol opened up my eyes to what I was doing.
I extended my practice to help those who couldn’t afford a good lawyer.
If I was doing this to assuage my conscience or because of the impact of nearly being killed three times, it helped to know that I was doing more for people.
I put the invitation on the desk and called my cousin.
He picked up just as I was about to hang up the phone.
I told him about the wedding invitation.
“Are you going?”
Someone yelled a coffee order on the background.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the cafe. I’ve been working for ten hours now and I’m not done yet.”
“Do you want to come with me?”
“To Nam Jai?”
“Yes.”
“When is that going to be?”
“In two weeks.”
“That soon?”
“I was surprised it took this long for Oom to get married.”
“That means you want to go then?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.”
“Then why did you call to ask if I wanted to go with you?”
I didn’t answer.
“Is it because of Ai-oon?”
“Do you think it’s okay if I show up?”
“Why wouldn’t it be okay? You were invited.”
“I haven’t talk to Ai in months.”
“But you wanted to, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“You should have reach out to her.”
“I don’t have her number.”
“May, don’t let her get away again. Didn’t you say she’s your first love?”
“She is. But she doesn’t even remember what happened that day at the planetarium.”
“It was years ago. But it doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it. If Ai-oon is the one you want, then do something about it.”
“But what if she doesn’t feel the same way?”
“The only way to find out is for you to make a move.”
I let out a weary sigh.
The days after the distressing experience I’ve had threw me for a loop.
I could have died.
But Ai-oon was there and put her life on the line for me.
Did she only do it because she was paid to do so?
When I think back on the moment on the boat, it warmed my heart.
It was good to see a different side of her.
She was sincere or at least I hoped she was.
The jokes at the most inopportune time made me laugh.
I wanted more of that smile and the ill-timed jokes.
“Hello, May?” P’Ton’s voice brought me back to the present.
“I’m here.”
“Are we going to Nam Jai?”
“What about your schedule?”
“I checked. I’m the boss anyway. It won’t be a problem getting time off.”
“Okay then. Let’s go to a wedding.”
I was ready for the trip this time.
Before we leave, I asked my cousin to bring medications for seasickness.
“I brought bags for your throw-up too.”
“It’s not necessary but thanks?”
The day was clear when we left Bangkok.
When we landed, it was pouring.
The waves were huge and frightening.
I didn’t want to go on the boat afraid the water would swallow the boat taking me and my cousin with it.
The fisherman told us that the weather was supposed to clear up in the afternoon.
We waited at a small restaurant and by the time we were done with lunch, the rain stopped.
“You could hire a small plane you know?” P’Ton said when we sat down on the wet seats.
The engine roared, drowning out the ferocious beating of my heart.
I held on tight to the edge of the seat as we left the port to get to the island.
“I can?”
“Yes. Ploy told me about it.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I thought you knew?”
“No but I’m doing that next time.”
“Does this mean you’re coming back?” He grinned, eyes lighting up with excitement.
“I don’t know yet. It depends on how this turns out.”
“You worry too much.”
“I made the mistake of dating the wrong twin.”
“This is your chance to make things right.”
“But what if Ai doesn’t want me?”
“May, you’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“I can’t help it. Love is frightening.”
My cousin had no response to that.
I stared at the vastness surrounding us, willing my mind to focus on the destination and not the queasy feeling on the pit of my stomach.
I took the medication but the dizzying sensation didn’t go away completely.
The seasickness should have stopped me from going.
Ai-oon knew how frightened I was.
But I couldn’t let that stop me from taking my chances.
I wanted to know if Ai was worth all the effort.