Thirteen years. The weight of that number pressed heavily on Pleng as she lay awake in the stillness of the night, her hand gently caressing Wanviva's hair as the other woman slept beside her. She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts a tangled mess of guilt, longing, and regret. How had it come to this? Pleng had never imagined that she would one day find herself as *the other woman*, trapped in a situation that was as complicated as it was heart-wrenching. Wanviva, the love of her life, was married to Ek. Pleng had always harbored feelings for her, but she had waited too long—thirteen years too long.
The soft chirping of crickets outside lulled her mind into a quiet lullaby. Her eyes fluttered shut, the exhaustion of carrying her unspoken emotions for so long finally pulling her into sleep.
When she woke up, she felt disoriented. The room was brighter than it had been, and the sounds of the morning birds outside replaced the crickets' song. Rubbing her eyes, Pleng sat up and looked around.
She was back. *Back home.* The room around her was different. Familiar. It was her old bedroom, untouched by the years that had passed. She was surrounded by the warmth of nostalgia, but confusion filled her chest. How could this be? She blinked a few more times, trying to shake the fog from her mind, when she heard a knock on the door.
"Pleng, are you awake? I'm starving, come on!"
It was Wanviva's voice, bright and cheerful. But it wasn't the same voice from last night—it was younger, lighter, and carefree. Pleng hurried to the door, her heart racing, and when she opened it, there stood a version of Wanviva she hadn't seen in years.
Wanviva smiled brightly, her high school uniform crisp, her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. "Come on, I'm starving!" she said, grabbing Pleng's hand and pulling her along.
Pleng's heart clenched. It was as if she had stepped back in time, to a moment before things got complicated, before Wanviva had met Ek, before the silence between them had grown into a chasm. She let herself be dragged to the kitchen, where they sat for breakfast with Pleng's parents and Wanviva's mom. The room smelled of freshly cooked rice and eggs, a scent that pulled at Pleng's heartstrings.
Her parents were alive. Her dad sat at the head of the table, chatting animatedly with her mom and Wanviva's mom, their laughs as warm as she remembered. Tears welled up in Pleng's eyes, and she quickly wiped them away, feeling the sting of how much she had missed them.
Wanviva's phone buzzed, and she excused herself to answer. Pleng watched as her mother casually remarked, "Probably Ek. He's been trying to court her for weeks now."
Pleng's stomach twisted at the mention of his name. She watched as Wanviva returned to the table, biting into a piece of bacon as if nothing had happened.
"Was that your boyfriend?" Her mom teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Wanviva made a face, scrunching her nose. "Ek's nice, but we're just friends. I'm supposed to meet him later after school."
A surge of possessiveness rose within Pleng, something she hadn't felt in years. *This isn't right*, she thought. *Wan would have avoided his call.*
After school, Pleng and Wanviva headed to the library together, where Wanviva had agreed to meet Ek. Pleng glanced at the clock on the wall, anxiety gnawing at her insides. Ek would be here soon. She couldn't bear to watch this unfold again. Not after everything. The years of regret, the stolen moments—they all came rushing back in a wave of desperation.
Her mind raced, and in a split second, she clutched her stomach, wincing as if in pain.
"Wan... I don't feel so good," she muttered, feigning discomfort.
Wanviva's eyes widened with concern. "Pleng, are you okay? Let's go home. You're looking a paler than usual."
Seconds later, Ek arrived at the library's entrance, just as Wanviva slung her bag over her shoulder, supporting Pleng. She offered Ek an apologetic smile. "I have to take her home. Sorry, Ek."
Disappointment flickered across his face, but he nodded, his eyes briefly meeting Pleng's before he turned and left. Pleng let out a sigh of relief.
Back at Pleng's house, Wanviva hovered over her, insisting she take something for her "stomachache." After making sure Pleng was comfortable in her room, she prepared to leave.
"Wan," Pleng called out softly, reaching for her arm. "Do you like him?"
Wanviva paused at the door, turning to face her. "Who? Ek?"
Pleng nodded, her heart pounding.
Wanviva looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging. "He's nice, but... I don't think I like him the same way he likes me."
Pleng hesitated, her mind racing. Should she say it? Should she risk it all now, knowing what the future held? Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Remember when we talked about how you should get a boyfriend first so I could get one too?"
"Yeah, I remember."
"What if... what if instead of you having a boyfriend, you got a girlfriend?"
Wanviva's eyebrows furrowed, a look of confusion passing over her face. "A girlfriend? Like... who?"
Pleng's heart beat faster. Now or never. "Me."
There was a pause. A long, heavy pause. Pleng felt as if the entire universe held its breath.
Finally, Wanviva's expression softened, and she smiled. "You? Really?"
Pleng nodded, her throat tight, barely able to speak. "Yeah."
Wanviva let out a soft laugh before leaning in, brushing her lips against Pleng's in a kiss that was gentle but full of unspoken emotion. When they pulled apart, their foreheads pressed together, Wanviva whispered, "I thought I was gonna have to wait years to do that with you."
Pleng laughed softly, tears prickling her eyes. "You have no idea."
They embraced, and in that moment, Pleng felt like everything was finally right. This was how it should've been. This was what they had both needed all along.
But then, something shifted. Wanviva's voice grew distant, as if coming from far away. She was calling Pleng's name, but the sound echoed in Pleng's mind, pulling her away from the moment.
"Pleng. Pleng, wake up."
Suddenly, Pleng's eyes shot open, and she was no longer in her teenage bedroom. She was back in the present, back in Wanviva's bed, thirteen years later. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the sheets.
Wanviva lay beside her, her brow furrowed in concern. "Khun Pleng, are you okay?"
Pleng's heart ached as she realized the dream—no, the memory—had slipped away. She reached out, caressing Wanviva's cheek, her fingers tracing the familiar lines of her face. Wanviva leaned into her touch, closing her eyes as she kissed the palm of Pleng's hand.
"I wasted so much time," Pleng whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't want to waste any more."
Wanviva's eyes opened, her gaze soft and loving. She leaned forward, capturing Pleng's lips in a tender kiss, sealing the promise between them.
The only other thought on Pleng's mind was how to get rid of stupid Ek.
