Two Months Later
Khaohom tried to wake up at her usual time to prepare desserts, but today, she simply couldn't open her eyes. She had been feeling unwell for almost a week, with a constant urge to vomit whenever she ate anything. Yet, not wanting to worry her grandmother, Khaohom forced herself to eat until today, when she was too weak to even get out of bed.
"Ah… What's wrong with me? Why can't I get up?" Khaohom murmured weakly.
After trying to rise and make the desserts for what felt like an eternity, Khaohom finally surrendered to her fragile body and fell back asleep. It wasn't until seven o'clock that Grandma Sa's voice called out from her room.
"Khaohom! Khaohom, dear! Are you alright?" Grandma Sa called out as loudly as she could.
"Cough, cough. Grandma, I'm fine. I'll be out in a moment," Khaohom felt a bit weak, but not as bad as before she fell asleep.
"Mmm… You don't have to go selling today, dear. I'll wait for you outside," Grandma Sa said worriedly. She had heard the faint coughs and figured her granddaughter must be ill.
"Okay, Grandma. Cough, cough." Khaohom continued to have dry coughs. Her throat felt strangely itchy.
Twenty minutes later, Khaohom opened the door, having showered and changed into one of her favorite long dresses.
"Are you feeling unwell, Khaohom? Come here and let Grandma see, dear," Grandma Sa beckoned her granddaughter.
"I think so, Grandma. I suspect I might have a cold," Khaohom slowly walked over and sat beside Grandma Sa.
Grandma Sa raised her wrinkled, elderly hand to feel her granddaughter's forehead. The noticeable warmth startled the old woman.
"Why are you so hot, dear? And you took a shower? That will make it take longer to recover," Grandma Sa admonished.
"Haa. I just didn't feel clean, Grandma, so I showered," Khaohom sighed deeply.
"Can you still drive, dear? I'll take you to the hospital." Grandma Sa wanted the doctor to check her granddaughter; she was afraid Khaohom might be seriously ill.
"I think so, Grandma. Let me grab my bag and ID first. Wait for me," Khaohom stood up and walked back into her room.
Grandma Sa also walked into her room and put on a robe over the kor-kra-chao (traditional sleeveless shirt) she was wearing. She was afraid she might be inappropriately dressed for a government office, so she needed a cover-up.
Soon, the two locked up the house and drove to the district hospital, which was not far from their regular market stall.
The hospital wasn't crowded today, allowing Khaohom to be examined shortly after presenting her ID and waiting outside the examination room.
"Hello. What brings you in today?" Peerayut Kanjanapho, the young doctor at the hospital, asked while looking down at the initial screening document.
"Hello, P'Phee. I didn't realize you were actually a doctor," Khaohom immediately recognized the young doctor's face. He was her senior from the district high school.
"Oh, Khaohom! Is that you? What brings you here?" Dr. Phee immediately smiled broadly upon hearing the familiar sweet voice.
"I came back to look after Grandma about three months ago. I feel like I might have a cold today, so I came for a check-up," Khaohom smiled sweetly at him. This senior had been very popular among the schoolgirls back then. Now, he looked even more handsome and refined than before.
"Mmm… Let me check you first." Dr. Phee put on his stethoscope and checked the patient's heart rate. After a moment, he nodded and continued,
"It is just a cold. Thankfully, your fever isn't high. I'll give you some medication," Dr. Phee smiled gently.
"P'Phee, I also have a loss of appetite in the mornings. I've been feeling strangely dizzy lately," Since she was already at the hospital, Khaohom wanted to get a thorough check-up.
"Hmm? How long have you had those symptoms?" Dr. Phee asked.
"About half a month now," Khaohom answered truthfully.
"Is your period regular?" Dr. Phee asked with a serious expression. He had secretly liked this junior for a long time, but after college, they lost contact. He only knew she had studied and worked in Bangkok, so he never expected to see her again.
"Mmm… I think I'm two months late now," The realization hit Khaohom, making her face turn pale. How could she have forgotten that during Alan's last visit, she was so heartbroken she forgot to take her birth control pills?
"In that case, Miss Khaohom, please go give a urine sample. I'll have the nurse run a test," Dr. Phee's face turned equally serious. He could already guess what Khaohom was ailing from.
"Thank you so much, P'Phee. I'll be back for the results," Khaohom stood up so quickly she almost fell. Fortunately, Dr. Phee rose just in time to catch her.
"Be careful! What if you fell?" Dr. Phee couldn't help but scold the petite woman. He was deeply concerned about her.
"Thank you. I'll be careful," Khaohom gave him a wry smile. She hadn't expected to feel dizzy when she stood up.
"Mmm… Go quickly. I need to see the results to know what's wrong with you," Dr. Phee said with a slight smile.
Khaohom nodded and followed the nurse who was leading the way. Grandma Sa was waiting outside the examination room. Seeing her granddaughter emerge, she thought the examination was over.
"Khaohom, should we go pay and wait for the medicine, dear?" The caring voice of the elderly woman rang out.
"I have to go for another test with the nurse, Grandma. Please wait here for me," Khaohom replied softly but truthfully to Grandma Sa.
"Hmm? Are you seriously ill, dear?" Grandma Sa frowned deeply with worry.
"I don't think it's too serious, Grandma. I'll be right back," Khaohom quickly reassured her grandmother and followed the nurse who was beckoning her near the restroom nearby.
Grandma Sa could only nod in response. She didn't know what Khaohom was sick with because Khaohom hadn't allowed her to enter the examination room to listen.
In less than ten minutes, Khaohom walked back with the nurse to receive the results of the urine test.
Grandma Sa looked after her granddaughter worriedly. Seeing Khaohom's pale face, she was even more concerned that her granddaughter was severely ill.
"Haa. Khaohom, the results are in. You are pregnant," Dr. Phee couldn't help but sigh. He felt a pang of regret knowing that the woman he liked was already taken and expecting a child.
"What! You're not joking, P'Phee, are you?" Khaohom asked anxiously.
"It's the truth. If you want to know the exact gestation period, I will refer you to the provincial hospital for further examination," Dr. Phee said with a serious expression.
"Ah… Please do, P'Phee. I want to be absolutely sure one more time," Khaohom felt an indescribable emptiness in her chest. She had been working hard every day to forget Alan. Now, knowing she was carrying his child, Khaohom was worried that something might happen to her baby.
"No problem. Khaohom, please wait outside. I'll have the nurse give you the referral letter later." Dr. Phee reluctantly decided to let Khaohom go to the provincial hospital alone because he still had many patients to examine. His hospital only had three doctors, giving him as much work as the others.
"Thank you so much. I hope to see you again, P'Phee," Khaohom raised her hands in a respectful wai before getting up to leave.
Dr. Phee could only look after the slender figure with deep regret. He desperately wanted to know what kind of person got Khaohom pregnant. Was that man better than him? Why did a lovely woman like Khaohom settle for him?
Dr. Phee pondered this for a short while before bending down to complete the referral letter for Khaohom. He handed the document in the envelope to the nurse to deliver to Khaohom, who was waiting outside.
"Thank you very much, Sister," Khaohom wai-ed again after receiving the referral envelope.
"It's my duty, dear. You should hurry and go for the next examination. It might get crowded later," the nurse smiled. She felt kindly toward the lovely young woman in front of her.
"Alright. Please excuse me," Khaohom smiled sweetly, then helped Grandma Sa stand up, and they walked away from the examination room.
"Khaohom, what did the doctor say you have, dear?" Grandma Sa asked again, having not received an answer from her granddaughter earlier.
"Phew… Grandma, I'm pregnant," Khaohom answered, forcing herself to tell her grandmother the truth as she drove toward the main town center.
"Haa. I thought you were seriously ill, dear. Being pregnant is nothing! It's good news, actually. Our house will be a bit livelier," Grandma Sa smiled, relieved. She had raised Khaohom before; raising Khaohom's child wouldn't be an issue.
"You're not going to blame me for being pregnant without a father?" Khaohom couldn't help but feel her eyes well up with tears.
"Why would I blame you? It was that man who hurt my granddaughter first,"
"Huk… Thank you so much, Grandma," Khaohom couldn't hold back her tears. She tried to focus on driving well until they reached the provincial hospital.
"Silly girl. You're going to be a mother and you're still crying like a child," Grandma Sa said with a loving smile.
Khaohom talked with Grandma Sa on the way to the provincial hospital. She felt much better seeing her loving grandmother constantly offering encouragement.