Khem had been preparing to leave the village since the previous night. He took advantage of the chaos after Grandma-Si's cremation ceremony to slip away quietly, unnoticed. He quickly returned to the master's house to grab his hidden clothes bag in the kitchen and made his way through the forest edge until he reached the road near the village entrance. Fortunately, all the villagers were still at the temple, so no one noticed Khem's departure.
Khem didn't want anyone else to suffer misfortune because of him, especially Jett, Chan, and the master.
Khem gripped his bag's strap tightly, walking along the road away from the village for about two kilometers until he reached a roadside pavilion. He remembered that in the evening, a red pickup taxi would pass by this spot to take passengers to the bus station in the city.
And at six in the evening, this would be the last trip of the day.
Khem didn't wait long before the red pickup taxi arrived. There were no other passengers on the truck, which actually relieved Khem.
Praying that this vehicle would reach its destination safely.
When Jett and Chan climbed onto the back of the village chief's truck, it drove out from the village and headed north. Even though they didn't know where the village chief was taking them, both felt confident that they would definitely find their friend at the end of the journey.
The village chief stopping to wait for them earlier was no coincidence.
There was no way he could have known what was about to happen.
This was the master's final act of assistance.
The two all placed our hands in a wai above their heads as the truck passed by the shrine of the local spirit.
Please, sacred spirit, protect and keep my friend safe.
At half past ten, Khem arrived at the bus station safely.
After paying the fare to the driver, Khem hugged his bag and walked to find a seat far from other people. Once he found a spot, he sat down and reflected on everything that had happened, alone.
Throughout Khem's life, he had endured many hardships from a young age. Khem never blamed anyone for all these troubles. He was grateful to have been born into this world and had always tried to live a good life.
Although sometimes Khem felt lonely, he had learned to accept it and adapt to being on his own.
Until the day Khem met a friend like Jett.
Jett was hot-tempered, reacting directly with anger when someone wronged him, not one to be taken advantage of. He also had a loud voice as if he'd eaten microphones instead of food, in stark contrast to Khem, whose every word spoken would make everyone stop and listen attentively.
Khem was weak, timid, and not one to fight back, unlike Jett who was always ready for action if someone displeased him. To others, Jett might seem intimidating, but for Khem, he was the best friend he ever had.
Though outwardly Jett might seem like a moving bonfire, he was a fire that could warm you during the coldest times.
Khem had been well-protected by Jett, leading him to believe that this life was worth living to the fullest.
With Chan, even though they hadn't known each other for long, Khem felt as connected to him as he did with Jett. Having Chan nearby always made Khem feel at ease.
Chan was calm, reasonable, often providing what those around him needed without being asked, composed, and communicated more through actions than words, contrasting with Jett like opposite poles.
If Jett was the warm fire, Chan was like the cool water that soothes the soul.
Khem was glad to have met both Jett and Chan. The time spent with them was filled with happiness, which is why he chose to leave quietly, not wanting to burden them with his troubles.
Because this time, it was more than Khem could handle. He was heartbroken to have caused the death of someone as good as Grandma-Si and to have brought pain to the master and the villagers.
Everything was because of him...
When they reached the bus station, Jett and Chan quickly jumped off the truck, went to thank and bid farewell to the village chief, then rushed into the station to look for Khem among the crowd.
Jett ran around frantically while Chan approached the station staff, explaining they were looking for a man about his height, with fair skin and
dark brown hair, showing a picture on his phone of Khem taken during a bai sri su khwan ceremony.
The middle-aged male staff member looked at the picture for a moment before nodding.
"I think I saw him near the restrooms. The bus hasn't left yet, he should still be around here. Go look for him."
"Thank you." Chan said with a wai to the other person before heading to where Jett was standing, anxiously tapping his foot. Once he finished speaking, they went together to look for Khem near the restrooms as directed by the staff.
Khem took a deep breath, looking left and right to decide his next move.
Where would he sleep tonight?
Where would he go tomorrow?
What else was there left to do?
Tomorrow, the university semester will start. Should he go back tostudying, or should he return to the monk?
Khem clenched his lips as he felt his eyes start to burn, then wiped awaythe tears with his arm.
Being alone again felt so unfamiliar...
At that moment, overwhelmed by feelings of emptiness, fear, and confusion, Khem suddenly noticed the tips of two pairs of sneakers that he remembered being washed just a few days ago.
Khem bit his lip to hold back tears, then slowly looked up at his close friends, softly calling out to them,
"Chan, Jett..."
Chan smiled, his face covered in sweat, while Jett reached out to gently tap Khem's forehead with his fist.
"You ran away quite far, didn't you?"
After finishing his sentence, Khem's strained composure began to crack, as he realized he wasn't being haunted by ghosts. The walls of his endurance crumbled along with his clear tears.
"Huh, huhu..."
Jett and Chan moved closer to Khem. Jett pulled Khem into a hug, and Chan reached out to gently pat his shoulder.
Jett took a deep breath, the relief of finding Khem causing his emotions to swing erratically. His heart was still pounding from the sudden joy, making his voice tremble more than usual.
"Listen to me, Khem."
"..."
"No matter what happens in the future, I won't let go of you, ever." Jett wanted to say more, but feeling his tears about to spill, he chose to remain silent.
Regarding Grandma-Si, it wasn't that he wasn't saddened by what happened. He had always felt guilty, knowing that Grandma-Si had once fed him when he was young. His respect, love, and connection to her were not small, but Khem hadn't done anything wrong; if anyone was to blame, it was himself for bringing Khem here.
From the moment he met Khem, Jett had set a goal to help him overcome any bad situations. Until he saw Khem have a bright future and live happily, he would stay by his side, protecting him.
Even if it meant he had to die.
"Don't run away like this again, you understand?" Khem, hearing this, sobbed more, nodding once in agreement, one hand clutching Jett's shirt, the other holding onto Chan's thumb.
"Thank you, thank you so much, Jett, Chan. I really mean it."
Then Chan left Jett alone with Khem, going to buy food and water for all three of them, as none had eaten since the afternoon.
They decided to head back to Bangkok the next day, but before that, Jett had a place he needed to visit. For tonight, they chose to stay at a nearby temple, thinking it would be more comforting than a hotel.
Fortunately, the abbot was kind and compassionate, arranging for the temple boys to set up bedding for them in the sala, in front of the large Buddha statue.
After bathing and changing, they quickly went to bed since they had to travel early the next morning. Before sleep, they didn't forget to chant prayers, asking for divine protection during their slumber. The sleeping arrangement remained as always, with Khem in the middle, flanked by Chan and Jett.
"Jett, where are you taking us tomorrow?" Khem asked. Jett stared at the ceiling of the sala for a moment as if weighing his words before responding.
"To see someone who might be able to help you." Khem pressed his lips together tightly.
"Can't we not go, Jett? I...I don't want to trouble anyone else." Jett shook his head in refusal and reached out to pat Khem's soft hair.
"He'll definitely help. No problem. Trust me, just relax and don't overthink it." Khem took another breath and nodded in obedience.
The three of them didn't talk for long about the next day before exhaustion took over, and they fell asleep.
Unbeknownst to them, the abbot and several senior monks were chantingprayers all night to ward off evil spirits coming from all directions.
The next morning, they quickly got up to wash and brush their teeth.
After finishing, they went to pay respects and bid farewell to the abbot.
Then they shouldered their bags and waited at the front of the temple for the songthaew.
Jett led Khem and Chan to a nearby sub-district, ringing the bell to get off at the village entrance pavilion. He guided his friends through narrow alleys until they reached a house on stilts surrounded by a low bamboo fence with a sign that read, "Maw Krailert's Residence."
"This is it, let's go in." Jett said before leading Khem and Chan inside.
At that moment, Maw Krailert, who was meditating, suddenly opened his eyes. His sharp gaze narrowed as he looked at the three teenagers approaching.
What do Pharan's disciples want here?
This question was evident in his expression. Jett, who had crawled forward to sit about a meter away, quickly raised his hands in a wai, followed by Chan and Khem.
"Uncle Krai, hello." Jett greeted. Krailert furrowed his brows, nodding before he spoke,
"Why have you come to see me?"
Jett quickly pulled Khem forward and looked back at Uncle Krai, one of the most powerful shamans in the area, and relayed the important parts of their story.
Maw Krailert gave Khem a fleeting glance, already sensing how grave his condition was. Upon hearing the story, he responded with a voice holding back laughter,
"Even your master wouldn't interfere. And you're hoping for help from an outsider like me, huh, Jett?"
Hearing this, Jett quickly started to plead in his usual manner.
"Oh, Uncle Krai, our master is a white magician. He doesn't deal with these matters. In Ubon Ratchathani, the only shaman as skilled as our
master is Uncle Krai." Jett tried his best to flatter, but Uncle Krai remained impassive. Finally, Jett had to resort to his last card.
"I've saved up half a million. I'll give it all to you, Uncle Krai, please help me and my friends." Hearing the sum, Uncle Krai's face finally showed emotion, his eyes gleaming like a predator, his voice menacing enough to instill fear.
"Jett, if you lie, I'll kill you."
Jett nodded earnestly, his gaze serious and unwavering, devoid of any jest. This pleased Uncle Krai, who responded with satisfaction.
"Then you all wait here."
After saying this, he got up and disappeared into the back room, leaving Jett, Khem, and Chan to wait.
Not long after, Uncle Krai returned with a wooden box about an elbow's length, placing it in front of the three young men.
"Here, open it and see." With permission granted, Jett opened the box to see what was inside, his eyes widening at the sight.
"Shit..." Jett exclaimed, quickly covering his mouth, his shocked demeanor making Khem and Chan look at him with confusion.
"What's this, Jett?" Khem asked, his eyes shifting between Jett and the contents of the box, which looked like a charred piece of wood, blackened and covered with thorns like a rosewood tree.
Jett swallowed hard before answering:
"It's called Black Rosewood...
Black Rosewood looks like an ordinary rosewood on the outside, but its wood is pitch black throughout. The ancients believed it to be a magical tree protected by deities, found in deep forests, taking hundreds of years to grow to be discovered by humans. It's considered a highly potent magical artifact.
If it's a tree where the deity has sacrificed itself and turned to stone, it has the power to protect one from all kinds of dangers, especially from dark magic and evil spirits.
Nowadays, real Black Rosewood is incredibly rare. Its value is immeasurable."
"Uncle Krai, you're really giving it to us?" Jett asked, feeling a bit uncertain due to the value of the item likely exceeding the amount of money he had offered.
Krailert nodded before replying,
"I've been nurturing this piece of ebony for years, but I don't need it anymore. Take it, but don't forget our agreement."
It wasn't just the money that made Krailert agree to help and hand over this family heirloom to the three youths; he was also curious to see if his magical studies could stand up to someone like Pharan.
Having avoided direct confrontation to prevent damage for a long time, this might be a way to determine who was truly more skilled. That was the only reason.
If he could find out, Krailert thought he could die content in this lifetime with no regrets.
Jett clasped his hands in a wai and bowed, followed quickly by Khem and Chan.
"Thank you very much, Uncle Krai."
Jett, Khem, and Chan returned to Bangkok that afternoon by airplane,arriving in just two hours. Both Jett and Chan brought their clothes toKhem's room, planning to stay together until Khem's twentieth birthday in aweek.
So, they prepared by stocking up on food and essentials, intending toleave the room as little as possible.
If their plan was correct, in just seven days, the curse and the vengefulspirits from Khem's past life would no longer be able to affect him.