Fan enters the room carefully. There's Pran, lying on a bed with wires and tubes all over him. It's a heartbreaking scene for Fan. She didn't expect that the man who she used to talk and joke around at the eatery will end up still like that.
"Uncle Pran... what happened to you?" Fan grabs Pran's hand softly. Tears coming from her eyes as she sobs faintly.
"Fan... is that you, lhuk?"
"Yes. It's Fan. Don't talk a lot. You need to rest," says Fan. She takes a chair and seat next to Pran.
Pran takes a deep breath, slowly lifting his hand and touches Fan's wet cheek.
"I know I can trust you."
"Trust is what makes us friends, Uncle Pran..."
"Hmm..." Pran shuts his eyes tight. "And, you know, you can trust me, right?"
Fan smiles and nods. "Yes."
Pran crinkles his forehead a bit; suppressing the pain all over his body. "What if I told you, you will have a family soon?"
Fan got struck by that word. As an orphan, that's the only thing she can dream on. A love from people who she can call mother and father, and the joy of having siblings who can play and goof around.
"I do have one. I have you and Misaku."
"We won't always around, Fan. I mean.. just look at me..."
"Don't say that, Uncle Pran."
Pran smiles weakly. "I want to see my Fan happy."
Fan's lips stutters. She hides the sorrow behind her brave face. Hearing that from Pran feels like a stab on her chest.
"You will see me happy, Uncle Pran. You will be that part of happiness in me. You'll get healthy again, and you'll come back to the eatery and have as many pad khra pao as you want. Trust me!" Fan smiles, trying to facade her true feelings.
Pran laughs along slowly. "You know, out of so many times... this is the only time I choose not to trust you..."
And slowly, his hand drops from Fan's cheek. The girl blinks her eyes in disbelief. The machine suddenly beeping so loud, adding more anxious feeling within her.
Fan quickly press the emergency button. After a few seconds, the doctor and nurses rush in. They ask her to wait outside while they handle Pran. Fan reluctantly forces herself out of the room, and when she is standing with her hands both are shaking, a sight of the man who brought her here, running along the aisle with another man before he rushes into the room.
After a few minutes, everyone comes out of the room. Fan stares at them, feeling like a soul leaving her body. Just as she is about to ask, another man comes out.
"Khun Pran asks for your presence..."
"Is he okay?"
The man seals his mouth and walks away. Fan pushes the door and quickly runs towards Pran. The man is so weak, he can't even open his eyes properly. But Fan hears him chanting her name, so she scoots closer.
"Uncle Pran..."
"Fan... I'm sorry..."
"What's wrong?"
Silence.
Pran then slowly turns to the man who sits next to him anxiously. He whispers something to him. The young man leans closer, trying to listen to him attentively. Gradually, his eyes turn to Fan and squints.
And after that, the room falls into a deep silence.
***
"Today is the funeral day of one of the most important person of the Wangsorn family; Pran Wangsorn. At the age of 79 years old, he left his children; two daughters—Rathya and Mali, and a son; Kolonel Nit, along with his grandchildren; Wen, Eren, Ice and Eden."
"But that's not only what Pran Wangsorn left. He also left a huge and majestic legacy to be continue by the next generation; his multimillion company and several non-profit foundations; mainly focus on youths and educational growth."
"For now, there's no official statement regarding on who's gonna be the succesor of Pran Wangsorn. Many speculate that the spot will automatically goes to his eldest grandson; Wen Wangsorn since his uncle is still serving in military. Right now, the board of the company is taking over the management temporary until the appointment of the new Chairman of the Wangsorn."
That's all from us, The Night News.
"He was sitting there, eating so happy two days ago. And now he's gone..." Misaku wipes her tears. She is grieving for a nice man that probably arrived once in a her lifetime.
Compare to Misaku, Fan, on the other hand, just keep shutting herself. Those words from Pran before he passed make her ponder.
Why did he said sorry? He never did wrong!
"Fan..."
Fan turns around and look at Misaku. She stares at her in panic, index finger pointing at the entrance of the shop.
Wen is looking at her, as usual with his sharp eyes. Fan leaves the table at once, presenting herself in front of the man. Her eyes glare briefly at him—black silk shirt with a baggy slack, also in black—and immediately, she feels small.
They are two people from a very different world. Wen looks clean, neat and smells good; which compared to Fan who looks shabby in an old t shirt, sweat pants, coating in dusts and smokes from the kitchen.
How can she feels so wronged.
"How's the funeral?" Fan asks hastily. She wants to attend, but the media flocks fill the scene in no time, and Wangsorn is not a fan of rumors. Fan was last seen with Pran; the whole hospital was the witness. So, it's not good for the family's PR.
"It went well. They place him next to my grandma," Wen replies. He looks calm, yet puzzling and there's a strain of upsetting feeling from his eyes.
"Do you want anything? Maybe a drink? We don't have a lot; just some pink milk, red tea, red juice and coffee—"
"Let's get married."
Right on that spot, Fan hears a bang sound from the kitchen. Or maybe, it's her imagination. The bang sound maybe from her shocking expression that is unspeakable.
"So...sorry?"
"You heard me. Let's get married. If you say yes, I'll arrange the preparation right away—"
"Wait. What? Did you hear yourself, khun?" Fan starts to get sweaty. "You ask me to marry you? Are you out of your mind?"
Wen bites his lower lips. "I'm sane, and sober."
"That means you're crazy!"
"Will you... less talk and let's get into this proposal?"
"Why should I?"
"Why don't you?"
This game of pull and push is getting weird and exhausted for Fan. She balances herself with the table behind her.
"Excuse me, khun. This is a serious matter. Marriage is unlike a bargain at the market! It's my future! Your future!"
"I can guarantee you, your future is as bright as the Sun if you say yes."
"Stop with that marketing skill, please..." Fan chuckles. "There's no way I can marry you."
"Why?" Wen asks. "All the girls in this country are dying to have me as their spouse. Not only girls, men too."
"I'm that 0.01% that refuse you. What you say?" Fan's inquiry challenges Wen deep. "Not everyone likes imported apple, you know? Maybe there's someone out there who doesn't; like me."
"You say no?"
"Looks like it," Fan brushes off the dusts from her palm. "If you're hungry, stay. But, if you have nothing else, you may go now."
Wen sighs as he leaves the shop in anger. Fan shakes her head in disbelief, turning around when she locks eyes with Misaku.
"You're crazy..." the old woman says. "Nope. Not crazy but stupid!"
Fan lets out a faint laugh. She grabs her apron from the counter and donning it with a calm face. "I think he's the one who is out of his mind."
"What if he really meant that?"
"Phi... there's no way he wanted that out of the blue. I know nothing about him until yesterday. Uncle Pran did mentioned about his grandkids, but it's just a vague conversation," Fan replies.
Misaku smucks. Her lips pout a bit.
"Phi... Look at me. How can someone like me dream of having a millionaire like Wangsorn as my family?" Fan pats Misaku's shoulder before she leaves to the kitchen. Inside, she feels a bit scared and totally confused.
"Is this why Uncle Pran said that to me? But... where's the connection anyway?"