On that same road, Talotkan's motorbike roared forward with unyielding vigor, cutting through the wind. Behind her, none other than Yim followed on her bike , just as exhilarated, just as free. It felt as though the two of them had conquered the very skies themselves..... as if a mountain of joy had descended upon them. Laughing amidst the rushing breeze, Talotkan thought to herself,
"If only this road would never end… if only we could keep riding like this, laughing together forever…"
But reality, as always, was something else entirely.
The two of them now sat together on a quiet bridge, beneath the cool shade of trees, the gentle wind flowing above the still river. They felt happiness simply by being beside each other. Yet, in that very air of peace, an unease quietly spread between them..... a faint distance that suddenly felt like miles apart.
And then, that silence was broken by a voice.....deep, trembling.
It was Talotkan, speaking as though burdened by something she could no longer hold back.
"Yim… You know, in my life, there has never been anyone except Grandma. She was my whole world, my only world. But ever since I met you… it feels like…"
Her voice faltered. She stopped midway, for her throat had tightened.
Yim's heart sank at once. For the first time, she saw Talotkan's eyes brimming with tears... tears she had never shown anyone. Panicked, unable to speak, Yim rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her.
When they embraced, their hearts spoke in unison, louder than any words. Perhaps… this was what people called love.
Talotkan fought desperately to keep herself from breaking apart. She only wanted to carve a few more moments of joy, to spend them with Yim, before everything slipped away.
When Yim finally pulled back, Talotkan reached into her pocket and took out the pendant. She gently placed it upon Yim's delicate hand. Her eyes were wet, her throat heavy, yet her voice still carried a fragile determination.
"Yim… I don't know when it happened, but you've become part of a world that's precious to me. Somewhere along the way, my heart began beating only for you. But now… this heart doesn't have much time left."
For a fleeting moment, Yim's heart lit up at hearing that she was Talotkan's "precious world." But the very next instant, those words.... "this heart doesn't have much time left"....struck her like a blade. She shook her head violently, forbidding her to say such things, scolding her in tears.
"You must never say that about yourself! Do you hear me? Never!"
She hadn't even realized when her own eyes began to weep for Talotkan.
And just as Talotkan parted her lips to speak again.... it happened.
That moment they had both been waiting for, whether they admitted it or not.
Yim leaned forward without hesitation, without words, and her lips touched Talotkan's.
It was gentle, trembling..... like a falling leaf drifting upon the still surface of water.
And at last, they both realized.... they had been closer to each other all along than they had ever dared to admit. This was not the beginning, nor the end. It was the seal of love.....stamped softly upon their hearts.
…Some time later.
The two of them still sat there together in silence, simply feeling each other's presence.
Yim's gaze never left the pendant resting in her hand.
Talotkan looked at her, smiling faintly through the quiet. Her voice was soft, tender, and yet carried a weight only Yim could feel.
"Yim… do you know? This pendant has a name, too."
Yim's voice lowered, almost a whisper.
"What…?"
Talotkan's smile deepened, her eyes shining with something unspoken.
"Thi Nai Sak Haeng Longloi."