Chapter 4 The Journey
On the very same evening Namping had spoken with his aunt about his departure, Colonel Thanet returned home in the dead of night as usual. But this time, he brought back a sight far more excruciating than ever before. The tall man shamelessly walked through the door with his arm wrapped around a slender young man who looked barely eighteen. Namping, who had walked downstairs to check the situation, caught the scene full in view. He could only stand with arms crossed, enduring his husband's repulsive behavior with the absolute last thread of his patience.
"Phii Nes! When will you stop being so promiscuous with anyone you can get your hands on?!" Namping reached his boiling point. Every time Colonel Thanet disappeared for three days, he would inevitably return on the fourth with
someone new woman or man alike.
"How many times do I have to tell you to mind your own damn business?!" Colonel Thanet snapped back, his voice dripping with irritation.
"It is my business! I'm sick and tired of your behavior!"
"That's your problem! As for me... it's my dick! I can sleep with whoever I want, and you have no right to butt in because I'm the one who feeds you and your brat! Shut your filthy mouth!"
The coarse, disrespectful words hit Namping like a heavy blow to the face, leaving him completely numb. His heart pounded with the humiliation of having his worth reduced to nothing more than a dependent living under someone else's roof.
"Then let's get a divorce! Since you don't value me anymore, let's just go our separate ways!"
"I'm not divorcing you!" Thanet bellowed.
"You're going to stay right here as my helpless punching bag until I get sick of you!"
"Phii Nes, sweetie... let's head upstairs. Luokwa doesn't want you losing your temper over some expired goods," chimed in the young man named Luokwa, leaning seductively against his husband's chest. His eyes glared at Namping with a triumphant smirk.
"Let's go, beautiful... Tonight, I'll give it to you so hard you won't even be able to walk," the tall man replied, gazing down at the boy with a lustful smile. His heavy hand unabashedly stroked the youth's rounded hip before leaning down to kiss his cheek deeply right in front of his trembling wife.
"Yes, please... Luokwa can't wait for you to pound me until I faint," the boy whispered raspy and shameless, before the two wrapped their arms around each other and headed up the stairs to the bedroom a space that used to belong exclusively to Namping and Thanet.
"Disgusting... Utterly vile," Namping muttered in revulsion, a wave of nausea rising so sharply he felt on the verge of throwing up.
"Shut your damn mouth, you bitch!" a crude shout echoed down from the second floor, serving as the final nail in the coffin of their relationship.
Namping let out a long sigh, gazing up at the second floor with hollow eyes. When... when would this nightmare finally end? He thought in agony. Who could he blame when he was the one who chose to love and marry this man with his own hands? He had believed in a lifetime of devotion, only to be left with scars across his body and soul.
Namping stood waiting until the sounds of moans and the creaking bed echoed from upstairs a sign that his time was limited. He quietly crept into Nong Panpan's bedroom. His little boy was still fast asleep, completely unaware of the world around him. It had to be tonight!
He immediately began packing. The pre-arranged suitcase was pulled out. With unwavering determination, he signed the divorce papers drafted by his lawyer and placed them on the desk alongside copies of all gathered evidence. He gathered as much of his saved cash and ATM cards as he could.
He then gently lifted his sleeping son, wrapped him in his favorite blanket, and carried him out the front door like a fugitive in the night. He cared nothing for any of the wealth inside the mansion; his only desperate desire was to get his son out of this hellhole as fast as possible.
He walked out past the gates of the luxury neighborhood into the dark night, hyper-vigilant and terrified that Colonel Thanet's car might come speeding behind him. He immediately hailed a ride via Grab, heading straight for the Ratchaburi Bus Terminal.
Upon arriving at the station, Namping headed directly to the ticket counter despite the late hour.
"I need bus tickets to Si Sa Ket, as fast as possible please!" Namping spoke in a trembling voice, worn out by exhaustion and fear.
"The next available express bus leaves at 1:45 AM and arrives in Si Sa Ket in the morning," the clerk replied.
Namping glanced at the clock; it was nearly midnight. He gripped the tickets tightly in his hand and carried his son toward the quiet waiting area.
Ratchaburi Bus Terminal – En Route to Si Sa Ket
Namping sat on a hard bench with Nong Panpan fast asleep against his chest. He tried to blend into the shadows of a pillar to avoid drawing attention. His beautiful eyes constantly darted toward the entrance in paranoia, terrified that Colonel Thanet's figure might appear at any moment. His heart hammered in his chest like a war drum.
This was the longest journey of his life... and the start of a new existence he had to sacrifice everything to achieve.
After a tense wait, the express bus bound for Si Sa Ket pulled into the platform. He quickly carried his sleeping boy onboard, located their window seats according to the ticket numbers, and stowed their luggage securely under the seat.
The moment he sank into the narrow seat, the tension that had built up for hours gradually began to ease. Namping looked out the window. The city of Ratchaburi in the dead of night looked quieter than he had ever seen it.
He turned to look at his son resting safely against his shoulder, gently breathing in the sweet scent of baby powder from the little boy's hair. The decisive choice he made tonight was their only way to survive.
Namping glanced at his wristwatch; it was just past 1:00 AM. He noted in his mind to call his aunt around 5:00 AM a time when the bus should be approaching the Isan region and his aunt would likely be waking up for her morning routine.
Throughout the overnight journey, the roaring bus engine and the pitch-black darkness outside brought him no calm. Namping couldn't bring himself to close his eyes for even a second. Every time the bus braked or slowed down, his heart leaped into his throat with anxiety, fearing someone had stopped the vehicle to look for him. But as time steadily passed, paranoia gave way to a faint glimmer of hope.
Dawn... On the Road to Isan
As the first light of dawn broke through the bus window, Namping instantly recognized the familiar landscapes from his childhood memories. Greenish-golden rice fields began appearing in stretches, and a sense of relief slowly replaced his fear.
He reached into his pocket for his mobile phone. It was time... He dialed his aunt's number as planned. The phone didn't ring long before a loving, slightly sleepy voice picked up.
Ring... Ring...
"Hello?" Grandma Nit answered, her voice slightly drowsy.
"Auntie, it's me, Namping. I'm on the bus right now, and we're about to reach Si Sa Ket."
"Oh! Are you really coming, child?! I'm so glad!" His aunt's voice instantly turned thrilled and overjoyed.
"What time will you arrive at the station? I'll have young Nik go pick you up. He's your father's brother's son do you remember your younger cousin?"
Aunt Nit asked about his cousin, bringing a faint memory to Namping's mind.
"I remember him. He was so tiny back then."
"He's a grown young man now!" Aunt Nit chuckled softly.
"Yes, Auntie. I'll wait at the station. Will he be able to recognize me?" Namping couldn't help but feel a little worried, given how long it had been.
"I'll send him a picture of you."
"Alright," Namping replied, relieved.
"Call me again when you get there, and I'll have him wait for you."
"The bus should reach the Pho Si Phisai District Bus Terminal around 9:00 AM."
"Okay, okay! Safe travels, my child."
"Thank you so much, Auntie." Namping replied, his heart beating fast with excitement and strong ho
pe. This journey was a gamble for a fresh start and a peaceful life for himself and his son.