Until We Meet Again (English Translation)

24

Ch. 24 Get Ready

***

“Naa In kha why is daddy’s* surname different from mine and mae la kha?” a little child a few years old was asking like a rooster.

(* in the novel Alin called her father 'daddy' not por/pho : father)

InTouch glanced at his sister. He kissed the cheeks of his niece, “Your surname is different from daddy's, but he is your daddy na kha.*” The mother didn’t know how to explain the adults' problem to a child. Because when Phi wanted to marry a foreigner, their father opposed it, but they insisted. Then he ended up allowing her to marry but not to change her surname. The little girl, Alin,  looked confused, but then she didn’t ask any further. She tightly embraced her beloved uncle who was teasing her. The tiny hands held her uncle’s cheeks and kissed him repeatedly.

“After growing up, Alin will marry naa In.”

(*naa : uncle/aunt from mother’s side, uncle from father’s side :Ar and some people also use lung, uncle/aunt who is not related by blood/complete stranger : par/lung)

The child's mother*answered “You can’t marry your Naa, na luk.”

(*in the novel it’s written as ‘mother’ not mae) (*luk : son/daughter/dear, older people call their child or grandchild or children much younger than them)

“Aww” Alin was pouting and then frowned “Why, la kha? but Alin loves naa In.”

The two adults looked at each other in confusion. How would they explain to a child? InTouch kissed his niece’s cheeks again. “Naa In has a lover. Sorry, na Alin.”

The little girl pouted again, she couldn’t imagine that her uncle would love someone more than her.

“Then, Naa In will marry that person kha?” The bright eyes were looking at her uncle. Her eyes seemed unaffected, then the uncle’s eyes became  pensive.

Will we marry?

It will never happen.

***

“Parm!!!” The voice called out with a cool touch. He slapped the younger boy’s cheeks to wake him up. Parm opened his eyes and breathe deeply. In front of him was the face of Phi Dean who looked at him with care.

“I …” The dazed young boy looked around. He found himself lying on the couch and Phi Dean was holding a towel to wipe his face.

“Calm down.” The big hand rubbed the Nong's face gently and looked directly at him “Look at Phi,” The low tone calmed down the young boy's panic.

“Just now, Parm was suddenly hyperventilating and collapsed.” Dean slowly explained to the Nong, “So Phi brought you to lay down on the sofa. How do you feel now? Wanted to puke? Or dizzy? Or hard to breath?”

(*oooiiii phi Deaaaannnn! He was just unconscious, not pregnant! Why did you ask whether he feels like gonna puke??!!!)