Chapter 13.1: Krathong or Kradong…Why does it look so bizarre?
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Tonight, the full moon cast its silvery light across the rippling water, sparkling as if flecked with tiny shards of silver. The Loy Krathong festival at the pier was lively and festive, lanterns hung on wooden posts giving off a warm glow. People bustled about—some laughing, some talking, some selling goods with cheerful calls. The scent of incense mingled with an array of Thai flowers and the sweet aroma of traditional desserts floating through the air.
Children ran around holding colorful paper lanterns, their little faces illuminated, sparkling under the lights. Laughter echoed brightly amidst the bustling scene. Along the pier, wooden tables were arranged with lotus flowers, banana leaves, and pre-made krathongs (decorative floating baskets) for people to choose. The gentle lapping of water against the shore blended with faint Thai music playing nearby.
I walked with my friends—Jan, Maria, and James—chatting and teasing each other constantly. P'Theer walked beside me, speaking softly with my friends like a protective older sibling. But somehow tonight felt like the world itself was forcing us into a moment alone together.
He walked close to me, his face calm and composed, yet every time his sharp gaze glanced at me, my heart skipped harder than it ever had.
We stopped at a wooden table by the water, where numerous krathongs were displayed. He handed me the one we had made together. His hand brushed lightly against the back of mine, as if deliberately letting the touch linger.
"Go ahead… Waran. We'll float it together." His deep, steady voice carried reassurance.
I nodded slowly and stepped down the wooden stairs to the water's edge. The moon's reflection danced upon the water, inviting me to release my worries. I crouched, placing our krathong gently on the surface. My fingers lingered on the edge as if unwilling to let go. He sat beside me, his gaze seeming to follow the lantern, but in truth, it was fixed on me alone.
"Make a wish, Waran," he said, calm but clear.
I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath. Silence enveloped me, broken only by the soft splash of water. The krathong slowly drifted away along the current. Opening my eyes, I saw the candlelight flickering on it, shimmering in the darkness of the river. It felt as if my heart floated along with the glow.
"I wished… for your happiness," I whispered.
He met my gaze, looking directly at me. The corners of his lips curved just slightly.
"I…" The words caught in my throat. My heart was racing too fast to speak. Just looking into his eyes, I realized tonight, I didn't need to make another wish.
After that, we wandered through the festival. The atmosphere sparkled with multi-colored paper lanterns dangling from bamboo poles and trees. People were buying snacks, laughter blending with the soft melody of a small musical ensemble. Children shouted, selling cotton candy and crispy rice snacks, the sweet scent lingering in the air.
We reached the sandy plaza where both children and adults were building towering sand pagodas decorated with colorful flags and flowers. I bent down, scooping sand into my hands, but my pagoda slanted awkwardly, just like the krathong we made. He chuckled quietly and sat down beside me, his large hand helping to shape the sand into form.
"You're not really good at this, are you?" he teased lightly.
"I've never done it before," I replied, pouting.
"That's good… that we're doing it together." His tone was calm, but those words made me pause. My heart raced faster than the drums echoing from the festival.
Just then, a voice cut through the moment:
"P'Theer! Impressive indeed, bringing Waran along to build sand pagodas. Everyone will think you two are a couple, ha ha ha!"
Khwan-Khao's sharp laughter pierced the air. I exhaled heavily as he remained calm, only briefly glancing at Khwan-Khao.
"Perhaps… you've never done this with anyone else before?" Khwan-Khao pressed on, her eyes tinged with mockery.
He stopped his hand mid-sand sweep, turning slowly. His piercing gaze was icy, voice low and cutting.
"You seem to enjoy meddling in others' affairs… I fail to see how this concerns you."
The atmosphere went instantly tense. Those nearby stifled their laughter. James cleared his throat, Jan bit her lip to hide a smile, and Maria lifted her fan to cover her mouth, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Khwan-Khao froze briefly, then forced a dry laugh. "Ha…ha, I was just teasing a little," and quickly averted her gaze.
He turned back to me as if nothing had happened, resuming shaping the sand with calm precision. His eyes softened when they met mine.
"Continue, Waran… tonight is ours."
I went silent. My heart raced, almost leaping from my chest. I looked up at the lanterns floating across the sky. The festive sounds around us faded, leaving only the pounding of my heart in his gaze.
After finishing the sand pagoda, he deliberately looked at me. His hand trembled slightly but remained steady. He retrieved a small object from his pocket—a delicate gold chain, adorned with tiny alternating blue and red beads. In its center hung a gold crescent moon pendant, thumb-sized, edged with lotus patterns reminiscent of traditional Thai wood carvings.
"Waran…" His deep voice lowered as he lifted the necklace close to my eyes. The lantern light reflected off it, making it shimmer as if alive.
I looked up at him, his expression serious, yet with a trace of a soft smile.
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He reached out, the chain soft but solid enough to slip over my neck. My face flushed crimson, and my hand gripped the snack in my palm tightly, too aware of how close he was. My heart raced.
"Wow… it's beautiful…" I whispered, my hand trembling slightly.
He adjusted the necklace so that it rested perfectly at the center of my neck. His large but gentle hand carefully turned the pendant to face forward. He leaned in slightly, whispering in his deep voice,
"Fits you… like the moon shining tonight."
I nearly ducked my head, but my heart felt like it was going to explode. The lantern light reflected off the necklace and my face, catching even a faint reflection of him on the pendant. I smiled shyly.
"Th…thank you, sir."
He just gave a small smile and released his hand, but his gaze didn't leave me. Even that light touch made me burn inside.
"Consider it… reserved for you," he whispered quietly, turning to watch the lanterns drifting across the sky.
Beside us, Maria nodded subtly, suppressing a smile. Jan leaned close to my ear and whispered,
"Hey, Ray… P'Theer is going full-on aggressive tonight."
My face was blazing red, yet I couldn't tear my eyes from the necklace and him. My fingers traced the gold pendant carefully, thinking… this wasn't just a necklace. It was a symbol of tonight… of us… of the most beautiful memory.
The riverbank glowed under the dim light of floating lanterns of every color. Big and small lanterns drifted lazily, like drops of gold and silver reflecting on the water's surface. Beneath the moonlight, everything shimmered like a mirror, the sky and water merging as one. Children's laughter mixed with street vendors' calls and the gentle splashes of oars, creating a lively yet warm atmosphere.
I walked beside him, his hands clasped behind his back, leaning down so our faces were less than a foot apart. I felt his breath brush lightly against my skin.
"Next… will be the proposal," he said softly.
Then, his lips touched mine—a gentle, soft kiss. My eyes widened, and I let out a small laugh.
"I want to skip straight to our wedding day!" I teased.
He smiled faintly, replying in that calm, deep voice,
"I already planned that… how could we not get married?"
I quickly glanced at our nearby friends. James, Jan, and Maria were staring at me in shock. I hastily covered my face, tears threatening to spill from embarrassment. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest.
But above all the happiness, there was one pair of eyes fixed on me—angry, displeased, like a villain from a stage play. I caught Khwan-Khao hiding her gaze but still sending a subtle pressure my way. Hah… just looking was already hilarious. Serves her right, I thought.
From the side, a voice full of jealousy and frustration cut through:
"Warun, you're not going to get away with this alive."