Mudita ; The Gifted 2018

Special Chapter 2

Jaidee

10th grade

2ND SEMESTER: MIDTERM PERIOD

It was the opening night for the drama club and Claire had gotten us all front row seats. Originally, only Pang, Korn, Punn, Namtaan, and I were going but she threatened that if the rest didn't come, she was going to make their lives a living hell. And as her best friend, I knew how petty Claire was when it came to revenge.

So here we all were, all 10 of us seated in the front row. Mr. Pom was sitting a row behind us along with the other teachers. I kept my head low, playing with my phone when I felt Wave grab my hand.

"What's wrong?" He asked, worriedly and I frowned.

"I'm scared of running into him." I said and he intertwined his fingers with mine.

"I'm right here. He won't go near you okay?" He reassured me as the lights began to dim, signaling the start of the play.

"A long time ago during the reign of King Rama IV, there lived a beautiful young woman named Mae Nak who lived with her husband, Mak on the banks of the Phra Khanong Canal. They loved each other very much and soon Nak became pregnant with their child."

I recognized the voice as P'Best. He was narrating the story.

The lights slowly brightened as Claire entered the stage, caressing her stomach happily as P'Kao, one of the older members did the same.

"I can't wait for our child to be born. I'm going to shower him with lots of gifts and teach him how to fight." P'Kao said, raising his fists as Claire laughed.

"What if it's a girl?" Claire asked and P'Kao rested his hand on his chin as if he was thinking hard.

"Then I'll buy her every single dress in this village and when she gets suitors, I'll scare them away with my sword." P'Kao said, laughing and Claire did the same lightly hitting his chest. P'Kao grabbed Claire's hand, gently holding it against his chest.

"My love, I don't really care if it's a girl or a boy. I will love it no matter what." He said, lightly kissing Claire's forehead as the lights dimmed again.

"One day, Mak was conscripted and sent to war against the Shan tribe. He promises to return to his wife and their child but he was seriously wounded in battle."

The lights went on again and we could P'Kao on stage, bleeding through his abdomen as he clutched onto a pillar.

"I-I must be strong! I must return to my family.." He groaned, pressing a piece of cloth to his stomach to stop the bleeding before the lights dimmed again.

"Mak survived and while he is being nursed back to health in central Bangkok, Mae Nak and their child both die during a difficult childbirth."

Claire appears, blood on her lower half as she cries out in pain. She falls to the ground as she cries out her husband's name in vain. I felt my eyes tearing up as I sniffled. Wave noticed and immediately caressed my hand with his thumb. I smiled at him in thanks before turning back to the performance.

"When Mak returns home, however, he finds his loving wife and child waiting for him."

P'Kao is seen walking towards his house where Claire was standing, waving at him and welcoming him home. P'Kao then ran to Claire, hugging her tightly.

"Welcome back dear." Claire said as P'Kao kissed her forehead.

"I missed you. Where is our child?" P'Kao said, entering the make-shift house as Claire grabbed a baby doll covered in blankets.