Chapter 22 : You Are My Future

The days flew by like a lie, last week he went rock climbing with his college peers, when night fell, he went to the new luxury shopping centre, then he met Tull for dinner but today it was time to go to the airport to go study abroad.

Slender hands pick up Torfan's diary, the diary of the woman who gave him a new life and put it in his backpack to remind him of the good memories that have happened in his life.

The slender figure in the slim red jacket walked out of the bedroom with the large suitcase and small carrier bag, his Mum and Dad were waiting in the luxury van to take him to the airport, the servant lifts the suitcases and puts them in the boot and closes the door.

As the car eased out of the entrance hall, Tian buried his head in silence, feelings of longing and depression flooded his chest, so overwhelming it almost exploded.

"It's okay, son, it will be fun to be there later, so much so that you forget to go home." The mother saw the child's condition and raised her hand to stroke his arm as a comfort.

The thin lips just smiled in response, he then remained silent until he reached his destination. The airport was packed with tourists from all over the world late that night, a European brand van drove in, parked right in front of the entrance and as the owner and his family got out, the driver rushed over to carry the large luggage.

Tian pushed his trolley with his bags to a special compartment for business and first class passengers, once the check-in for his seat has been arranged, he walked up to the two men he has known since he was a child, in addition to his parents with his backpack and the small suitcase he can carry on the plane.

"Hello, Uncle Peetan--" the youngest son of the Sopasitsakul family made a bow to his father's former crony, then turned to the other man, "Hello, Phii Tay, what brought you here?"

"I came to see you off, I came froma special shift."

"Don't bother...", even though Tull and his friends from college didn't want to make a scene to see him off.

"What about it? You'll be gone for years, my ears will probably be bored to death, no one will call me to complain about studying anymore." The doctor laughed in amusement at the memory of the late-night calls he used to make to complain about exams.

"That loudspeaker will hang up, do you think you can get away with it?"

"Whatever, young master, I'm on 24 hour standby." Having said that, Tay remembered he had a special gift for his brother of a different bloodline, he pulled out a photo frame and handed it to Tian.

"Sorry, this is two years late, I lost my phone, so the photo is gone but luckily I remembered I had uploaded it to an external flash drive."

Tian took the thing in confusion but when he looked down, his eyes burned. It is not an ordinary picture frame, it is a digital image, the image rotates alternately with the input file over and over again and the image displayed at the moment, as he is descending from the village on the hill, is of children and villagers coming out to see him off.

Love and friendship spill over in the narrow rectangular frame, so that no matter how much time has passed, it can still be clearly felt.

Slender eyes struggle to find the shadow of someone in these images but find nothing.

Tay smiled slightly, while patting the thin shoulder of the person in front of him.

"In the days of discouragement, keep these good memories to encourage you."

Lalita looked at her son, who was clutching a picture frame of the village on the hill and reminded him: "Don't just talk, it's almost time to board."

Tian took a deep breath, wiped the snot from his nose and walked with his family to the first baggage check point.

"That's all for now, if I get there, I'll call and let you know." Tian bent over to hug and thank everyone who has come to see him off today.

The slender figure dragging the small suitcase, walked a little further, then slowly turned around one last time to look back, Dad, Mum, Uncle Peetan and Phii "Tay, all standing there waving goodbye but his gaze turned to another person in the distance.

I have to go now.

As he took out his passport and ticket to the inspector, the phone rang which he had forgotten to turn off, the young man suddenly paused, even though he shouldn't have cared, because what he was doing in front of him was more important but his hand went to his mobile phone in his trouser pocket, on the screen was a number that wasn't saved on the device, even so he pressed the answer button." Hello." He waited a while, there was no answer, except for a rustling sound as if the signal was not good.

He frowned and thought it was a wrong number but as he was about to take the phone out of his ear, he heard a man call out his name.

"Tian." The faintly audible low tone managed to make Tian's spinning world collapse, it was as if everything around his body had stopped moving and the figure was dazed for a long time before his stiff lips could be made to move.

"Captain…"

Mrs. Lalita was the first to see her son's abnormality and rushed over to look for him, the others followed but when she did arrive, no one dared to make any noise.

The smooth, clear face showed no emotion, only beautiful, long, thin eyes dripping clear tears and he held the phone close to his ear, as if waiting for the most important moment in his life.

"Good luck--" the person on the other end of the line said but it was enough to break down the wall of strength he had been trying to build.

"Two years have passed, is that all you have to say to me?" Tian's voice rose and fell with a sense of imminence.

The young officer was silent for a moment, then finally he was willing to open up.

"I miss you."

It was as if the man was whispering in his ear, the last bolt was removed, causing the man standing motionless at the airport to sob, tears bursting like a dam, all emotions bursting forth, longing, sorrow and love, nothing meant anything anymore.

It's enough to wait for each other.

The handsome boy cried until his face was distorted, causing people around him to stare in amazement but he didn't care and tried to put that mute voice on the phone again, even though the signal on the phone had been cut off.

"The team leader is waiting for me, there..."

The mother, overwhelmed, embraces her son, she doesn't know who the caller is, only that he has a great influence on Tian's mind.

"Don't cry, son, don't cry, tell mummy what's happened?"

"Mum, I'm sorry."

The unexplained apology silences Mrs. Lalita, the maternal instinct tells her to change the new question.

"Who is the captain?"

But it seemed that Tian could not listen to anything but what he had to do next, he turned breathlessly in his father's direction and said, in a tone of determination.

"Dad, I can't go."

Mr Teerayut looked into the child's swollen eyes with determination and breathed a long sigh of relief, not sure if he was relieved or more worried than before.

"Then go and sort out what's on your mind and come back and talk about it--" the former general ordered, as if he was a subordinate born a man, think about what you want to do, don't regret it later, got it?

The tone of voice at the end, like that of a tall officer on a mountain, makes Tian laugh, he wiped the tears from his face and then raised his hand in a serious salute as a soldier's son.

"Roger..."

And then turned to his still shocked mother, he took the plump hand and squeezed it tightly "I'm sorry to disappoint you, I love you my mother the most but i have to go."

Mrs Lalita opened her mouth to call out the slender figure running away with the suitcase but didn't have time and turned to attack the husband who had allowed the children to do that.

"What the hell is this, Phii!?"

"Our child just changed the way he wants to go--" replied Mr Theerayut slowly but firmly and his wife turned red with anger.

"You mean to go back to that mountain? I can't accept it, I did everything I could to keep my child away from there and then you support him going back, I don't understand, I'm going to get him back. I'm going to go and get him back." She was about to leave but Colonel Peetan, who had been ordered by the former officer with a look in his eyes, went ahead and stopped her.

"Calm down, ma'am, the others are watching, I think we'd better talk at home about something."

"By then, Tian will probably be in Chiangrai!" When she felt that the man would not move as she had said, Madame Lalita clasped her hands, tears of sadness rained down.

"Why does everyone make me feel like I'm so cruel to my children?" The husband rushed to his partner's shoulder to comfort her, no one said anything about you, Madame." I just love children, I just want my children to have a good future." She turned and sobbed on her thick shoulder, before she would follow the tractor back to the van that met her at the door.

Mr Teerayut himself opened the door and sat his wife down on the seat, then stepped inside and smiled and said something that completely defeated her stereotypes.

"The child has been given a new life, let him use it as he chooses, for miracles usually happen only once."

The wife could only pout in anger but deep down she was agreeable to obedience, in the past she had only been as stubborn as possible, then the habit was passed on to the youngest child too until it finally disappeared, that's why she had to restrain her emotions, didn't she? Isn't it?

"Yes, I also hope that one day my child will understand my good intentions." If there's no word invented for sarcasm yet.

Colonel Peetan and his son had taken it upon themselves to cancel the tickets and bring back the luggage, so there was no need to watch and worry about it.

Halfway back to Sopasitsakul mansion, Mrs. Lalita seems to remember what she was wondering and asks her husband sitting next to her.

"Do you know someone called Captain"?"

"Probably the person who was assigned to look after Tian during his stay on the mountain."

"But when he called, the child cried and asked not to go to study abroad." After these words, both of them were silent, then the wife calmed down and screamed.

"Phii, I think I'm going to faint!"

Although his flight to Chiangrai only took an hour, his heart had already flown there. Tian sat staring blankly out of the window at the white clouds floating by, his heart in his mouth. Even though he felt guilty about the decision he had made to his parents, he was relieved that at least he was back in charge until he graduated with the degree they had hoped for.

If he got there, would the villagers on the mountain welcome him as they had done before? Because two whole years had passed.

Tian pressed his forehead against the glass next to him, so that the cold air from the negative temperature outside penetrated his skin and his eyes, swollen from severe crying, slowly closed to allow his brain to rest. He was crying like a child, if anyone had the whim to film a clip and put it on a website, he would have found an oil can to put over his head.

It's because of you, Captain Face!

Despite all the internal scolding of the man but with a strangely happy thin smile curving his lips, in a few hours, the parallel lines in front of us will meet again.

Afternoon, Chiangrai airport exit still crowded with people waiting to pick up relatives, Tian brought along a backpack and a small tractor-trailer, he walked in the heat looking for a taxi to the mountains, after a long search, finally a pick-up truck accepted to take him up.

"What are you doing going to that village in the mountains? It's very remote and there's no electricity." asked the driver, while turning the steering wheel along the winding ridge.

"I'm looking for a friend…", Tian replied briefly but was looked at from head to toe by curious eyes. Even a countryman could see that he was carrying something expensive and good, so how could a man of this class have a friend in the mountains?

"I was a volunteer teacher there." As soon as he explained more, the driver had a look on his face like he'd seen a monster in a name tag walking in a field, so he stopped talking and turned his head to look out at the view.

Two hours or so later, the old pick-up truck pulled up to a small crossroads with old road signs from the highway hall pointing to the village of Phabandao, Tina lifted off his suitcase, paid the driver the agreed amount of money and before long, the truck was gone, leaving Tian standing alone.

The narrow gravel road, which had been cleared to serve as the entrance to the village was still as rough as ever but now he was no longer as weak as he had been two years ago, so he could easily walk up the hill with his bag in his hand and his small suitcase, avoiding the potholes.

Evening in the village of Phabandao in the middle of the valley was still going on in a normal way of life, Bianglae Khama took off his knitted hat and pats the dust off his trousers, he has just come back from working in the tea plantation, a middleman has come to buy something today, so he has to keep an eye on the villagers so they don't get ripped off but since the volunteer teacher has come to teach the children and villagers how to count, it seems to have prevented a lot of exploitation.

He exhaled deeply in sorrow over the years, I wonder what happened to him, probably graduated and went to work by now.

The sound of something heavy being dropped from behind made the Village chief look back, his eyes widened with fear, he was daydreaming wasn't he!

"Teacher Tian!!!!"

The young man from Bangkok standing in front of him was still as handsome and charming as he remembered, no, he looked healthier, no longer pale and thin, the slender figure raised his hand in a respectful salute but Bianglae lost his manners and approached and clung to Tian with delight.

"What are you doing here?"

Tian looked embarrassed, raised his hand and rubbed his neck unnaturally, "I decided to come all of a sudden, so I didn't inform anyone before, I was going to ask if I can sleep at the village elder's house."

Bianglae Khama laughed loudly and then reached out happily and patted Tian's slender upper arm, "Sleep all the time, teacher, you are always welcome in my house and in this village."

The visitor from afar smiled, a pure camaraderie that fills his heart.

"But Phii's dormitory is also empty, no one has come since the previous volunteer teacher left two months ago."

"I'm not here to be a teacher, can I go and rest there?" he said, worried about bothering others but living with other families should be more of a worry than bothering others.

"The teacher is staying, I'm going to a meeting at the Palace the day after tomorrow, I'll call the charity to talk about getting things sorted out."

Tian thanked the village head once again by making the sign of the sign of the cross and then the village head went to take Tian to the long-unoccupied dormitory at the end of the village.

The hut was still filthy as no one had been informed that a new teacher was coming but fortunately, the mosquito nets and sleeping mats were still neatly folded and tidied up, ready for use.

The young man looks longingly at the place where he used to live and sleep every night to the sound of mice and rats, even though there is no electricity, no TV, no internet and no comforts, there are so many precious memories to be made.

"Teacher, clean up after yourself, I'll get the necessary things for you later." Shouted Bianglae in front of the bamboo building, which was still as ramshackle as ever.

Tian stuck his head behind the window and shouted out a reply, then turned his head and came in to tidy up, first by patting down the dusty mattress and drying it on the balcony where there is still a hint of sunlight, he sat down and digs out the clothes the maid has put in the small suitcase, only three or four pieces of clothing and unopened boxer briefs are visible.

Well, let's make do with what we have. Soon, the pedagogue felt aggrieved, because he hadn't used the knowledge again.

Tian smiled harmoniously alone, although inside he now wants to run to the barracks, so that he can quickly see the man's face but he must hold back, no matter what, he is already here, sooner or later we will meet, suddenly, Tian's spine suddenly turned cold, as he thinks of some possibilities.

How had the captain called him? There was no phone signal on the mountain, it seemed an unreasonable investment to go to the city to make a call.

Or had he moved elsewhere?

Tian shook his head vigorously to get rid of those negative thoughts, because deep down he still had faith in the promise he had given. His slender hands pick up his backpack and open it to see what other necessities he has brought with him, then his eyes suddenly rest on the sweetly coloured diary he has placed there.

This was another thing he had to finish.

Tian picked up the notebook that has turned his life upside down and walked out with it.

The sunset on the ridge begins to turn orange, spreading its light to the horizon, the cool, humid breeze of the fertile forest blows over the figures strolling in the tea plantation.

Lush greenery, beautiful natural meadows, miraculously soothing to the mind's anxieties. Tian climbs up the hill to a high cliff with the same name as the familiar village until he stops in the clearing where he once did something foolish by believing an untrue tale.

The young man smiled faintly and finally he counted 999 stars and gave up.

The slender figure searches for a branch the size of a hand, then drops to his knees and digs hard at the edge of the steep cliff until a hole appears quite deep. He picked up Torfan's diary and turned it to the last page.

The words that will never be seen.

The slender hand pulled out the pen tucked in the pocket of the jacket and continued to write.

"Thank you for giving me a new life."

Suddenly, the heart beneath his left breast trembled and beats like a silent response, Tian puts the coloured book in the hole with great care.

... He covers the earth back up with his hands, not caring how dirty it is but then out of the corner of his eye he notices a huge shadow falling on the horizon completely blocking out the sun. Slender eyes saw the shiny, mud-stained black shoes come into view and then the trousers on the strong, slender legs until they stopped at the sharp face with the angry frown that was more terrible than the temple rakshasa.

"I felt like I had to come here." Spoke the master in a low voice, so low that it became almost a growl but as soon as he saw the startled face of the man kneeling below, he felt an extraordinary sense of frustration.

Tian almost forgot to breathe, he rises abruptly, his light brown eyes widen as he stared at the army uniform in khaki short sleeves with the insignia of his affiliation pinned to the collar, while the chest of the garment is decorated with a ribbon, the difference being the absence of a fedora.

Growing up, he had seen his father's subordinates in and out of the house in uniform to the point where he was used to seeing them but never had he felt so bold and imposing as this man.

The fucking heart was beating... More and more violent, more and more violent. It's like... Falling in love again.

Phupha looks like he's heading straight from the village to the top of the cliff, panting and sighing. He was both relieved and annoyed that the other side hadn't taken any action, he decided to call Tian, he was in the Phamok's army camp in the capital at the time of the important ceremony.

But when he heard the sobs that sounded like the whole world was falling apart coming from the other end of the line, the signal was cut off and the young officer almost went mad, he abandoned his courtesy to the entire battalion of officers, did not attend the party and rushed back up the hill.

"Why are you so aggressively looking for trouble?" Like a love spell being recited, the moment the officer speaks, he immediately breaks down.

The arrogant young master's eyes jumped up in anger, "I thought you'd be glad to see me again."

"I'm glad but you shouldn't ruin your future like this."

"This is the future I chose, I chose to come back to you!"

Even though he was shouted at but at this moment Phupha was completely silent, no more sound could be heard, except for the last words nestled in his heart, those fierce eyes softened by all the deep love.

"I can wait for a few more years."

As if a cool breeze had swept away the teacher's feverish impatience, Tian smiled faintly and then shook his head.

"But I can't wait." He could no longer bear this hopeless waiting.

The young soldier took a deep breath and then looked up at the sky, which was beginning to dim as the sun was moving away.

"That means you've found the last star."

As if to emphasize his own failure at that moment, the smooth face darkened, if he had found it, he probably wouldn't have had to wait so long and as he fell into thought, the man looking up at the sky said in a soft voice.

"But I have found it." Phupha slowly averted his gaze from above, then took the medallion off his shoulder, a gleaming gold-crowned pentagram was placed in a dirty, slender hand, he approached the slender figure and whispered.

"Try to pray again this is the thousandth star."

As if the emblem was so heavy in his hand, that Tian's body trembled, clear tears pooled in his beautiful eyes and then dripped down his smooth cheeks.

"Pray, let us, never be parted again." We shall never be parted. The officer opened his mouth to reiterate and was ready to be the one to make this prayer come true, the thick lips smiled in waves, that face looked so warm and soft.

Tian swooped down and hugged the captain tightly, all the waiting is over, he rests his head on the side of the thick shoulder that is not wearing a medal of honour because it has just been given to someone and then just doesn't move.

"If I go abroad and never come back, will you really wait for me?" Phupha lovingly puts his arms around his beloved and replies: "I will wait, as long as it takes."

"Why didn't you think of chasing me?"

It was as if the words of complaint had silenced the young officer for a moment, the fierce eyes dark with sorrow were drawn down.

"Tian, we can't do everything as fast as we'd like but I'm doing my best."

To close the distance between us.

Every time Dr. Nam called himself, he heard the phrase "doing his best" making him wonder what it meant.

Or does it mean... The spiky touch of the medallion logo in his palm, made Tian suddenly remember high school, when he had heard his older brother, who had just been awarded the rank of Major, mutter that he was going to study to get into the Royal Thai Army Staff School to enrich his knowledge to create opportunities for the future and then that institution was located in a place where the feeling of "love." Tian buried his face in his neck, letting another stream of happy tears flow out until the other man's khaki collar was soaked through, he loved the sunshine of this man, because every time he was around him, he felt warm and safe.

"Whatever happens next, don't let me go."

Phupha leaned in and kissed Tian lovingly on the temple and then held the slender body close, in response to that request.

The stars in the sky strive to fall into the arms of the humble earth.

Then how could he be willing to let go of these hands?

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