Sorry, I am owned

Story written by C.Vanndeth. People and story are all made up. Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance

Cast:

• • Heng Dara – the main male protagonist, 24 years old, 170cm
  • Chey Vatthanaktevy / Thanak – novelist, the main female protagonist, 32 years old, 165cm
  • Sopheak – Dara’s long time best friend, 24 years old
  • Mr. Heng and Mrs. heng – Dara’s parents
  • His Excellency Cheng
  • Nita – His Excellency Cheng’s only daughter
  • Virak – Thanak’s brother

Chapter 1: First confrontation

It was already midnight, the whole mansion of Heng family has been very quiet. Everyone might had already been sleeping…. except the sole child of Heng family, Dara. Heng Dara was the only child of the billionaire couple Heng. His family owned three biggest shopping malls in Cambodia and the biggest bank HD Bank, which referred to the initial name of Dara, in Asia. Despite being the only son of a Hi-So, Dara was a very proper, gentle and innocent man and that worried his parents since he had never putting his eyes on any girl. He had been studying hard and soon after graduation at the age of 22, he took up the responsibly on running the shopping mall business for his parents. Unlike other friends of his, rather than going to night club at night time, Dara would lock himself in the room reading books. That was why his friends always called him “book worm”.

Tonight was not different of the other nights. Dara was lying in the bed. One hand was holding a book which we could clearly see the title “War of Love” and the other hand was under his head. Dara closed the book and said, “Thanak, you are such a wonderful writer. I hope I have chance to meet you personally to see what kind of person you are.”

He then put the book down by his side and went sleep.

Next Morning…..

Dara woke up and was ready for work. He went downstair to the dinning room.

Dara: Good morning mom! He said and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek. Good morning dad.

Mrs Heng: Good morning son. Did you sleep well?

Dar: Very well mom.

Mrs Heng sipped her coffee and looked at her son reluctantly and said, “Dara, are you free this evening? There will be a welcome party of His Excellency Cheng for his daughter, Nita, the one you used to play with when you both were child. And I want you to join it with mom and dad.”

Dara: Oh Nita. The little girl who pushed me into the lake when I was 7 years old?She is back from America, that’s nice. But mom you know that I don’t like loud event.

Mrs Heng: Mom knows, but Dara I want you to come with me. I think it would also be a good chance that you and Nita can make a better understanding.

Dara: Mom, have I told thousands times already that I will find my own girl. I don’t like matchmaking.

Mrs Heng: I just want to recommend some girls to you. I am really worried about you. You rarely go out have fun like other friends at your age, you never look at any women though they queue for you to pick. You really make me worry about you.

Mrs Heng looked at her son and said, “Or…. You…. You are a gay?”

Mr Heng who was reading morning newspaper was shocked by what his wife just said and looked at his son.

Dara: Mom what are you saying? I am not a gay. I just don’t find anyone that I really like and that is all.

Mr Heng was a bit relaxed and went on with his newspaper.

Mrs Heng: Whatever, you must come with me. This is an order!

Dara couldn’t deny it anymore, he then hurried finish his breakfast and went to work.

At The HD Company…

In his office, Dara put himself on a chair and released a deep breath. Then he heard someone said, “What makes this book worm so stressed?” Dara turned around and saw Sopheak.

Dara: It’s nothing. I am just a bit tired.

Sopheak: Is that so? As your best friend and your colleague I have never heard you complain about anything. But you know that you can never hide anything from me. So what is it just tell me.

Dara: Sopheak you are really something. It is just that my mom seems to be so worried about my love life. You know what she just asked me this morning. She asked me if I was a gay and this is ridiculous .

Sopheak laughed and Dara went on talking, “Ok, you can laugh. I really don’t know what is she thinking? Do I look like a gay.”

Sopheak: No, you don’t. But you know what? Many people would think just like your mom. A very handsome, rich, smart guy like you never have a girl. Who would believe that? ..unless he likes same sex.

Dara: Well, it might be true, but I am not a gay. I am a hundred twenty percent man, you know that! I just haven’t yet met the one I like. You know that I believe it true love. Like author Thanak wrote in one of his novel that ….True love will come when you have time to wait…….

Sopheak: Ok, then you might have to wait until you die. Eh, anyway this your Thanak, it is a she or a he? You seem to read a lot of his books.

Dara: Sure, I read every single book of his. He is such a great love story writer.But I have no idea whether Thanak is a man or a woman. Thanak is just his pen name, I think. And there is not very much information about him. Not many people know him. He never gives out his personal information nor interview with any medium. He is really mysterious. I also wish I can meet him someday.

Sopheak: yeah..yeah…he is mysterious. But this friend of mine is even more mysterious than he is……..” Sopheak said and laught. “ Oh, right…I heard from your secretary that you will join the welcome party of His Excellency Chengs daughter this evening right? So, I will see you there.”

Sopheak left the room while Dara was still confused with what his friend said about him.

At the Welcome Party………

The Mercedes Benz of the Heng family just arrived at the entrance of a really huge mansion of Cheng family. Everyone turned their eyes to the handsome Heng Dara. Girls in the events looked and gave him smiles. But Dara didn’t care about those girl and walked with his parent toward His Excellency Cheng. To Dara, those women were just nothing. They only saw his status and his wealth.

Ex. Cheng: Welcome Mr and Mrs Heng. Thank you for giving me such an honor to come to this party. And this is ……

Mr Heng: Oh.. this is my only son Dara. He is now helping me taking care of shopping mall business.

Ex. Cheng: Oh, that little boy I met years ago. You grow to be such a great man. You both are really lucky to have such a child.

Ex. Cheng heard someone called him behind, “Daddy..” He turned around and said, “oh, you are on the right time. Do you still remember uncle and auntie Heng.”

Nita: Thank you very much for coming uncle and auntie.

Ex. Cheng: And this is his son Dara, the one you used to play with when you was still a child.

Nita looked at Dara. In her head, she think, “Is this the little fat boy I used to tease and make fun of. He looks really different now.”

Dara: Hello Nita. Still remember me?

Nita pulled herself together and said, “Sure, I never forget the fat boy who set fire on my ponytail.”

Dara: I didn’t set a fire on your ponytail. It was an accident you know that. Ok, I am sorry again then if you’d like…..I am sorr…..

Nita: That’s ok. I just teased you. You don’t change a bit. Still a gentle and soft guy.

Ex. Cheng: Nita, you need to be ready for you little talk to the guest tonight. Everything is alright.

Nita: Yes dad, so I beg for your pardon to be ready for my stage.

Just after Nita left, Dara also left his parents to find his friend too. He saw Sopheak waving for him from the corner next to the balcony.

Sopheak: Eh, the elders try to match you both. Nita, eh… the only daughter of a Hi-So. A smart and beautiful girl with high education. Is that enough for you?

Dara: What are you talking about? I think nothing about Nita. You know that I never think of wealth nor beauty but….

Dara didn’t even finish his phrase, Sopheak continued, “..But true love, is that right? I am so tired of what you are calling true love. You know what it is?”

Dara: Sure I do. In a novel of …….

Dara didnt finish what he wanted to express yet, Sopheak continued Dara’s phrase, “In a novel of Thanak. He said true love will come when you wait”

Dara look at his friend. “You seem to be able to read my mind.”

Sopheak: I am not able to read you mind but I am able to recall something that the same person has always repeated to me ten times a day for 5 year consequently. ……..You are helpless Dara. Stand here and think of your true love, I will go get drink for us.

Sopheak left and Dara walk to the balcony and talked to himself, “I believe I will meet my true love and there is for sure true love for me.”

Just finished his sentence, a voice from the other corner of the balcony came, “There is no such a thing you call true love on this Earth.” Dara turned his eyes to the source of the voice. He saw that the source of the voice was someone hiding in the shade. The person continued and walked out of the shade, “You are such a stupid kid. You know nothing about love, and you told your friend about true love. You are really something. True love is just a word that stupid people create to comfort themselves.”

Now, Dara could see clearly the owner of the voice. She was a bit older than him, but still she looked beautiful and elegant in the black party dress. Her eyes looked so sharp when she stared at Dara. “Who are you? Why are you so pessimistic to true love.”

Lady: So tell me what do you know about true love? Have you ever seen anyone marry someone because of true love. Even your parents, they are married for their own advantages and that is business. So I think you idiot should stop thinking of true love. Love is just a business.

Dara: Don’t call me an idiot. I don’t know who you are, and why you are so mean about True Love, but I still believe in it.

Lady: Ok, then make this life time of your wait for your true love to appear. True love just happens in writing but not real life. And that Thanak was just an idiot just like you are.

She then walked away leaving Dara a burning mood. ………

Chapter 2: Who is she?

Dara was really angry. His face became really red. “I really wonder who she is?”

Sopheak: Who are you talking about?

Dara: Sopheak, have you seen a beautiful lady, a bit older than us, wearing black dress? She just left.

Sopheak: I haven’t seen anyone wearing black in this party. So what? Have you fallen for her? But why you seem to be so angry?

Dara: Because of that woman. She heard what we talking and she told me that I was an idiot believing in true love….. I don’t even know her, but she seems to hold some grudges against me and she’s also so mean about my Thanak.

Sopheak laughed a bit and said, “She might be right. But she is really something that dares talk to the heir of HD Group like this.”

Dara: It’s not funny….

Sopheak: Come on, don’t make her comment bother you.

Dara talked loud, “no, it is not bothering me.”

“Yes, it is. Just look at you right now. You usually are very calm and centered. …..Ok, let stop here, you are not going to meet her again anyway, so just forget about her.”

Dara: No, I cannot forget it.

Several days passed. Dara was still bothered by that lady’s comment. He left office so early today. He walked on the sidewalk. The sky was quite dark and it started showering. Dara seemed to not be bothered by this thin rain. He glanced to the street. Something seemed to catch his eyes. He then rushed running so fast, jumping the fence of the sidewalk, to the middle of the street and stretched his hands in order to stop a car. …

Seeing Dara on the middle of the street, with very fast speed, the driver might use all of his energy to break down the engine. It made a very loud sound that shocked every passengers nearby. Just an inch more, the car would hit Dara.

Stepping out of the Lexus was the beautiful lady that Dara met at the party. She looked at Dara with a very evil eyes and said, “You can kill yourself but not on my car, you damn brat.”

At the lady’s house……

Dara sit on a sofa in the lady’s appartment. It was quite a big apartment but also very spacious. There was only one streth sofa, a flat-screen television, a stand lamp, a table whish is full of newspapers and magazines, and three black-white paintings. Dara thought, “Is she living alone? She is a really strange kind….”

Haven’t yet finished his thought, the lady came out from her room, wearing knee-length pants and a love sleeved T-shirt. One of her hand carried a towel. “Here you are”, and just before Dara said thank you, she threw the towel on his face.

The lady opened a beer to drink. She stared at Dara, “ So what do you want from me. You didn’t want me to run over you today right?”

Dara replied energetically, “ I just want you to apologize to me about what you said about me and my favorite author Thanak on that night.”

Why should I? That Thanak of yours is really an idiot. She put the beer on the table and picked up a magazine.

He is not an idiot; he is really a great talented guy.

The lady put the magazine down on the table again and turned toward Dara, “ So tell me how well do you know that Thanak?”

Dara: Eh,…no…..not many thing. I haven’t yet even met him, but I read all of his novels. And I can know what kind of person he is.

She laughed and voiced, “That’s why you got infected by that Thanak’s idiotic thought, you moron.”

Dara: Stop call me a moron, my name is Dara, Heng Dara

Lady: I don’t care what your name is. So what do you want from me exactly? You don’t just want me to apologize to you, right?

Dara: eh……It….it’s just that I wanna talk to you again.

The next day at Sopheak’s house

“So you met her once again. What did you talk to her?” Sopheak talked and handed a beer to Dara.

“ Nothing. But she is really a strange lady. I have never met anyone like her.”

Sopheak put the beer on the table and picked TV remote control and turned on the TV. “You like her, don’t you?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t.” Dara replied.

“sure, you do because all what you do now is talk about her.” Sopheak continued and press the button of the remote control to scan over the TV program today.

Dara: No, I don’t. She is a lot older than me and more she is kind of… hate me. Moreover….I…

Dara hadn’t finished what he wanted to say when a familiar voice from a TV program caught his ears. “Sopheak, can you turn to the previous channel.”

Sopheak: You meant this one.

Dara was almost breathless when he saw the person in the program. The program was called The Talk With The Tops. It was the most popular program in Cambodia since it always brought the top person in any fields to the stage.

Sopheak at her Dara’s tensed face and asked, “Is that her?”

Dara answered nothing since he was fully caught by the lady in the program.

“…………

……………………….

Anchor: It was unbelievable that the popular author Thanak, whose most readers guess to be a man is actually an incredible beautiful woman. So could you tell us why you decided to reveal yourself now not 6 years ago when your first novel became the best seller?

Thanak: I don’t have any specific reason. I just think that it is the right time to reveal myself now. So that the reader stop guessing whether I am a man or a woman. Next question please.

Anchor: Well, it is sure a short and vivid answer. So Miss Thanak, all of your novels are heartthrob to readers and they are all love story. Do you think love theme is the success for your novel?

Thanak: Different novelists have different focus. I love to focus on love story, but I personally think love is an unnecessary emotion. Next please.

…………………………..

……………………………”

“No way……..She……She is Thanak? She made a fool of me……. What does she think I am………….” Dara was really frustrated. He left sopheak and flied his car into the street.

Sopheak was really worried about him, but he could do nothing.

Chapter 3: She stole my first kiss…

At Thanak’s apartment on the same day

Dara drove like flying and just a blink he reached the building where the apartment of Thanak was located. He rushed to the door, but it was closed. He turned to the code button board. He didn’t know what the code of the door was, he then just guessed by pressing the number button. Then he heard someone asking him from behind, “ What do you think you are doing?”

Dara recognized immediately that it was Thanak’s voice. He turned around and said, “Why didn’t you tell me that you are Thanak. Were you making a fool of me. What do you think I am?

“Have I told you that I didn’t know Thanak?” Thanak replied.

Dara’s facial expression changed, he started mumbling, “…..eh….no……so you think that I am stupid , right? Have you ever……”

Dara hadn’t yet finished his sentence; the sound of the door opening disturbed him. And a middle-age handsome man appeared. Thanak walked to Dara and put her hand into his. Dara was very shocked, “What are you doing?”

Thanak then replied, “Eh, darling we are dating right? Sometimes you are really stubborn, but that might be what I like the most about you. And doing like this is very normal for lovers.” She said and stared at the handsome man like she was mocking him with something.

Dara was even very confused. He was about to say something, but Thanak immediately whispered on his ear, “Play along or you will be dead.”

The man looked so confused with what Thanak said and asked very angrily, “So do you think this man that you are just dating is more important than I am?”

Thanak replied so quickly, “Yes, that is right.”

That man stared at her and said, “you are really stubborn.” And then he left.

Just after the man left Thanak freed her hand from Dara’s quickly. Dara looked at her and said, “How could you do that to him? He seemed to be so mad.”

He might be very mad now, but he will get over it very soon. But you now get what you want, right? Thanak said to Dara and walked to the door.

Dara immediately stopped her, “What did you mean?”

“So now you know that I am Thanak your beloved author. Are you happy that I am a woman.”

Dara: Well, I might be happy to know who is Thanak, but why should I be happy if you are Thanak or not?

Thanak: That’s because you like me a lot, isn’t that?

Dara: No, that is not true.

Thanak. So tell me why you keep following me and showing yourself at my place all the times?….. I tell you, I have no intention to date a kid. Go back to your mother.

Thanak then avoided him and entered the building. Dara went into her way and stopped her again. “I am not a kid…… You look just one or two years older than I am. So don’t call me a kid. ”

Thanak: “You know nothing about me. I am a lot older than you, kid. Just get out of my way.”

Dara still didn’t get out of her way, “I won’t get out of your way unless you take back what you said.”

Since Dara still insisted not getting out of her way, Thanak that walked toward him. Just a second, Thanak’s face was just an inch close to Dara’s. Dara tried to stay calm and strong though in fact he was very trembling since this was the first time he had ever been this close to a woman. Thanak lifted her hand to tidy his hair and then touched his forehead down to his lips. She touched his lips very gently that made the whole body of Dara shiver.

Thanak could feel Dara trembling, “Huh,……you are really stubborn.” She then put her lips against his….

A moment of silence came……Dara’s eyes opened extremely big; his body was very still like a statue that we could see how shocked he was. It was understandable. Though Dara was a Hiso, he was not a playboy and never with any woman before. This was the first time he was kissed by a woman and a beautiful woman like Thanak.

Feeling Dara so trembling, Thanak released her lips from Dara’s, “You acted like this was your first time, Mr Hiso!” Then she walked into the building leaving shocked Dara at the spot……..

Chapter 4: Why you kissed me the other day?

The next day at Sopheak’s office

Sopheak was sitting smiling alone in his office like a crazy person. He was thinking of what happened yesterday. He almost didn’t believe himself of what happened. Then he shook himself as he realized he was thinking of Thanak and uttered to himself, “Why am I thinking of her?” Then he heard someone knocking the door.

Dara: Come in………..O……, it’s you Sopheak. Today is really nice, right?

Sopheak: eh… what is wrong with you. It is showering outside and you said today is nice…. You look differently happy today. Anything?

Dara: No… I am like the way I am everyday.

Sopheak looked at Dara with a slight laugh on his face and said, “There must be something good happened yesterday, right?……. Tell me!”

Dara: No, there was nothing.

Sopheak was sure that there must be something going on between Dara and Thanak. He continued, “Dara, tell me…Have you fallen in love with her?”

This question shocked Dara and he tried to pull himself together. He stopped smiling and said, “How can I fall for such a woman like her. You know she is a really bad-mouthed woman. Other thing, she already has a boyfriend.”

Sopheak: Really?

This time Dara confirmed his answer by moving his head.

There was another knock at the door. It was Dara’s secretary.

Secretary: Sorry sir, there is someone intend to meet you. He said he had an important thing to talk to you.

Dara: Ok, just let him in.

The man appeared in front of Dara. Dara recognized immediately. He was the man he met the other day at Thanak’s place.

Dara: It’s you.

The man replied, “So, you still remember me. My name is Chey Virak.”

Dara: Mr. Viak, what do you have with me?

Virak looked at Sopheak. Dara added, “He is my best friend. So you can be assured.”

Virak: I wanna talk to you about Thanak. I want you to persuade her for me.

Dara: Persuade her? What do you want me to persuade her?

Virak walked to the sofa nearby and had a sit. He continued, “I want you to persuade her to come back home. She left me and the family so long. And for sure, if you can do it, I will reward you. I know that your company is planning to go Asianized. I could help you…You might have heard of the GT Group, the most famous and biggest import export in Asia and Europe right? Here is my name card. ”

Virak gave his name card to Dara and Sopheak.

Sopheak had a look at the card. It said Chey Virak, the CEO of GT Group. Sopheak raised his voice, “You are really the CEO of GT Group? Dara, our company’s plan of going international can easily become true.”

Dara replied nothing to Sopheak but said to Virak, “Why don’t you go persuade her yourself. You are family right?”

Virak: I tried several times, but it didn’t succeed. That is why I am asking for your help.

Dara looked so confused, “You are her husband and you couldn’t persuade her, how can I? ”

Virak burst into laughter hearing what Dara just said. “Who told you that I am her husband? That is ridiculous.”

Dara: Why are you laughing? You said yourself that you are her family.

Virak: Listen carefully. Thanak is not my wife nor anybody’s. She is my kid sister.

Dara was so shocked with the answer but he was also happy in his heart when he heard she was still single. He started again, “But why do I have to help you. I think she must have her own reason for not coming back to the family. And with you offer, I might have to honorarily deny. If I want to expand my company, I must have to do it by myself, my own ability not by any chain or help of others. ”

Sopheak was really stunned with Dara’s decision. He thought that Dara was throwing a tone of gold into the river.

Virak: You can think about this offer and tell me later. It is a good chance for you and your company, don’t you know.

Dara: There is no need to think anymore. I can confirm you now that I still stand with my previous answer.

Virak: Has no one before denied my offer. You will regret this chance.

Dara: No, I won’t.

Virak looked at Dara with very sharp eyes. He said nothing and left Dara’s office.

Just after Virak left, Sopheak came near Dara and said, “wow, your Thanak is really something. She is a world billionaire’s daughter and also a very famous author. She is such an interesting woman……. ” Virak wanted to continued but he stopped himself when he saw Dara getting angry.

Dara was really dazed. He said nothing and left the office.

Sopheak: Eh,… Where are you going?

At Thanak’s Apartment

Just a wink, Dara right now was standing in front of Thanak’s apartment. He rang the door. … He had the feeling someone coming to open the door. Just a second he saw Thanak open the door.

Thanak looked at angry Dara and asked, “Why are you here again?”

Dara’s face was still sturdy, “I wanna talk to you for a second.”

Thanak let Dara in her apartment. Dara follow into her spacious living room.

Thanak threw herself on the sofa and said, “So what do you wanna talk to me about?”

Dara still stood up, “Why didn’t you tell me that the man I met yesterday is actually your brother?”

Thanak raised her eyes to Dara who was standing with an angered face and said, “ Oh, didn’t I mention that to you that day.”

Dara: No, you didn’t. You, liar!

Thanak: No, I am not a liar. You made an incorrect assumption all by yourself.

Dara was touched by the answer of Thanak and realized that he actually was the one who made the assumption. Thanak didn’t lie to him nor deceive him. He then mumbled to himself, “ok, ….I agree ….I made wrong assumption…”. Then he went to sit on the other corner of sofa, looked at Thanak and started a hesitant question, “Thanak……….”

Thanak: What is it?

Dara: Eh…Tell me…Do you….you have any problem with your family?

Thanak turned her charming eyes to Dara and said, “Sure, my brother does have dead wishes. Sorry, I have no intention of returning home.”

Dara urged, “Why? I think that when there is any misunderstanding, you should find the way to solve the problem. And your brother seem to love and care about you so much.”

Just heard Dara say like this, Thanak stood up from the sofa and walked toward Dara. Dara also stood up when seeing Thanak stood in front of him.

Thanak: What kind of advantages did he offer you?

Dara: What are you talking about?

Thanak got closer to him. Now their body was really close. She looked up to Dara and said, “Or it has something to do with your company’s plan of expansion….”

Just saw Dara change his facial expression, Thana continued, “I knew it. So you came here to enhance your business career……”

Dara interrupted, “ No, I didn’t come here because of him, but I came here for you, I wanna help you. You heard that?….I wanna help you.”

Thanak talked coldly back to Dara, “mhmm,…don’t make me laugh. Everyone is out for their own good. Or you are confused by that little kiss the other day? You liar!”

Dara was so stunned by what Thanak said, “So, tell me Thanak. Why did you kiss me? It was not just a kiss, right?………”

Dara continured and his both her held Thana’s both shoulder, “Tell me…. It was not just a kiss, right? …….It might be just a kiss for you, but not for me……I ……I am really………I want to help you. Please believe me.”

Thanak didn’t reply his question instead she made a mocking sound to Dara and said, “ huh……You liar.”

Dara was so confused, he then recklessly kissed her on her lips like he was trying to make her believe that he did really came here for her not for other reasons.

A few second later, Dara discharged his lips from hers and mumbled with tears in his eyes, “I am here for you. Please believe me.”

Thanak let herself go of his both hands and before she walked away from Dara, she said “You, liar……”

She left Dara in daze. Dara looked so devastated, standing like a poor guy who was just fired from work and tired of his life. Just at that time, Dara knew how Thanak meant to him. He really loved her from the very deep down from his heart. And now since she didn’t believe him, he felt his heart hurt so much that he couldn’t find any word to describe it. What he could do now was burst into tear silently alone.

……………………….

……………………………………….

Chapter 5: I am all yours now….

Two days later at Dara’s office…..

Sitting on his chair, Dara looked so distressed. He sit so calmly looking out through window. Once in a while he sighed. It hurt him when he thought back to what happened that day. It had been two days that he hadn’t seen Thanak. He had been to her apartment five times to look for her, but she hadn’t been there. It seemed like she tried avoiding him. He knew he really missed her and loved her so much. He sighed again and his tear just fell from this handsome guy’s eyes when he thought of Thanak. He thought what would happen to him if he couldn’t meet Thanak again.

Then there was a knock on the door. Sopheak came in and walked toward his miserable friend. He almost didn’t believe that a man like Dara would be such devastated with love. He touched Dara’s shoulder and said, “So she now has your whole heart and soul.”

Dara wiped out tears from his face and asked Sopheak, “It is wrong when we want to help the one we love?”

Sopheak looked to the window and replied, “Some people just don’t want other people to involve in their own business. … but I don’t think that trying to help the one you love is not wrong……”

Dara’s eyes were full of tears again, “I really wanted to help her because I care about her. Am I wrong?”

Sopheak: I can understand you. But after all you really love her right?

Dara wiped out his tears again and didn’t reply. There was no need to answer because Sopheak knew clearly the answer and he had no doubt of the love Dara had for Thanak.

Then Sopheak handed an invitation card to Dara and said, “Here,…… invite her to the event of Entrepreneur of the Year that you will accept an award tomorrow. It would be a good time that you can clear things with her.”

Dara looked at Sopheak and accepted the card. He stared at the card and said, “I hope you will bring luck to me.” Then he burst into tears again……….

At the Event of Entrepreneur of the Year

The reception room of Hotel Canadia tonight was full of crowded people. Most of them were businessmen, local or international investors. Tonight they would give out ten awards to ten best entrepreneurs. And Dara was one in those ten. He won the youngest entrepreneur in Cambodia. However Dara seemed not to be excited with the success. He stood at the door waiting for Thanak. Yesterday, he went to Thanak’s apartment to invite her to this event, but she was not at home. So what he could do was to insert the invitation card through the door. He wished that she could see it and come to this event.

While he was waiting, Nita reached him and asked, “Eh fatty boy, are you waiting for someone? I have seen you stand her for half an hour ago. Waiting for a girl?”

Dara glanced at Nita and turned his eyes back to the reception table outside the room where all guests confirm their attendance and replies to Nita, “Yes, I am waiting for a friend.”

Nita: It looks like this friend of yours is more important than this event. Your girlfriend?

Dara: No….she is not my girlfriend, but I admit that I like her a lot.

Nita was a bit upset, but she continued with laughter, “You are a straightforward person. You know? I think I start liking you now. Though you said that you like a girl already, but I warn you, as long as you are not yet married, I still have chance in the completion, right?”

Dara looked at Nita with a shock when he heard Nita confessing love to him. And before Nita left Dara, she expressed, “I also want to meet her to see how good she is that she can win this Hi-so guy’s heart. But now I think that you should be ready for the stage. It will start in a minute.” Nita just walked a few steps away from Dara, she turned back to Dara who was watching her behind and said, “Eh fatty boy, remember what I just told you. I won’t give up and I start pursuing you…..”

Just after Nita left him, Dara talked to himself, “You are a really good and cute girl, Nita. But I am not good enough for you.”

Now the anchor of the event called out for all the award winners to the stage. Dara was so distressed since he now had no more hope that Thanak would come to the event. Dara walked up to the stage when the anchor called his name and everyone in the events clapped their hands. Dara got the top rising entrepreneur award. While he was accepting the award, Dara didn’t forget to glance around the room to look for Thanak. But he didn’t see her. He was really disappointed and sad. Sopheak and Nita who were standing saw that Sopheak looked so dazed.

Then the anchor asked Dara to give little speech on his winning…… Dara held a microphone close to his mouth and his eyes still went around the room to see if he could find Thanak. Dara looked down to the floor and said to the audience with a low depressed voice, “I would like to thank my parents and all the colleagues who always work hard for the benefits of the company.”

Just before he continued his talk, he looked around again. Dara didn’t almost believe his eyes. He saw Thanak folding her hands standing at the corner next to the entrance watching him. He was now speechless and stood just like a body whose spirit was stolen by a witch. He looked at Thanak and thought, “No,…….She…..She really came………….”

Sopheak and Nita noticed that something happened. The looked to the entrance and saw Thanak. Sopheak was stunned by her presence. For Nita, just saw the lady, she knew immediately that she must be Thanak……

Since Dara was really stunned and speechless, the anchor interrupted, “Mr. Dara, would you like to add anything?”

Dara was still not woken by the anchor’s question. He stared at Thanak for a moment. He was then roused when he saw Thanak leaving. He immediately said thank you and gave microphone back to the anchor. Then he rushed went off the stage to go after Thanak, but he was halted by journalists who wanted to interview him. Now he lost the sight of Thanak completely. However, Dara felt a bit happy since he knew that Thanak also thought of him…….

At Thanak’s Apartment….

After answering a few questions of journalists, Dara tried to excuse himself and escape from those journalists to find Thanak. He flied his car to Thanak’s apartment.

Now He was standing in front of Thanak who was holding a beer in her apartment.

Dara was so nervous and said softly, “I thought that you would not come to the event. But you did come to see me, right?”

Thanak replied nothing but continued sipping her beer. Dara continued, “I don’t understand you…….”

Thanak, this time, put her beer down and walked closer to Dara. She raised her hands to touched his face and said, “I am the one who don’t understand you. What would you possibly want from me? ”

Just finished her sentence, Thanak kissed Dara on the lips gently……. This time Dara felt different….. It was not a normal kiss, but a real deep kiss. Dara was stunned for a second and he was woken when he felt that Thanak’s tongue now was moving in his mouth. Dara pulled himself together and held her body so tight…. Now Dara was the one who led this love scene. He kissed her on the lips then down to her neck so gently. …Just a few second, he brought her into bedroom and laid her down in bed. …He started over again by kissing her on the lips then her neck while his hands were unbuttoning her shirt and removing her underthings……Now Dara could see how beautiful Thanak was. He touched her lips and looked into her eyes, he thought, “This is the women I love. She is now mines and I am hers.” Then he showed his manhood to her…… That night Dara gave her his everything, his heard, his soul and his body……..

Chapter 6: I just wanna be close to you…

The next morning at Dara’s House

Just Dara entered the house, he saw his mom sitting on the sofa in the living room waiting for him. She looked so angry.

Mrs Heng: So you are home?……Where have you been last night? You know I was so worried about you.

Dara was a bit scared with his mother’s angered face, but he understood her mother feeling of being waiting for the beloved. He walked and sit beside his mother and apologized gently, “I am so sorry mom. You knew that last night I just won an award. So after the event, I and some friends continued to the night club… I got drunk, so Sopheak brought me to his house. That was why I couldn’t come home last night.”

Just heard Dara say night club, Mrs was a bit shocked since she never herd that Dara used to that such a place like night club. She looked at Dara and said, “You’ve changed a lot recently, you know that?”

Dara replied with a smile, “I am the same Dara of you, mom. But now I just want to experience new things as what you want me to.” He looked at his mom again and added, “Mom, eh….I want to live outside alone.”

Mrs Heng looked at her son with an amaze and asked, “Why do you want to live outside by yourself? You wanna leave mom and dad? You don’t love mom anymore?”

Dara reacted immediately, “I do love you and dad with my life. But mom, you wanna see me like other man at my age right? That’s why I decided to live outside by myself so that I can learn and experience more things. Please mom, I beg you. I really wanna live my life as an independent.”

Mrs Heng didn’t want Dara to live outside, but she couldn’t deny her only son’s repeating request. So at last she agreed.

Dara quickly went upstairs to pack his things. While packing, he flashed back to what happened between him and Thanak the other night. He smiled with happiness. He thought of this morning; when he left, Thanak was still sleeping. They hadn’t talked so he left her a message saying that he loved her and asked her to wait for him because he would come see her in the evening. He smiled again with happiness. He, then, took out his mobile from his pocket and made a phone call to Sopheak. He listened to the beeping sound from his call and heard the voice of Sopheak said, “eh, …are you calling to ask whether I can do what you asked?”

Dara smiled as he knew that sopheak was really his best friend because he knew every step he wanted to do. Dara replied, “Nothing I can do without you. So how is it?”

Just this early morning, Dara called Sopheak and asked him to buy him an apartment next toThanak’s. He wanted an apartment today no matter how much money he had to spend. Sopheak knew that his friend was really serious about this. He said, “Everything is ok. I already arranged everything…. You know how hard to just immediately buy an apartment?… and it is not a normal apartment but a high class apartment like this one…. You don’t know that we had to spend 4 times more than the normal prize to get this apartment.” Sopheak paused a bit and continued, “Are you really sure that you are going to live in that apartment? I know what you want is to be near to your Thanak, right?”

Dara quickly replied, “No, I won’t be living there but somewhere nearby.”

Sopheak was shocked by what Dara said, “You meant you gonna live……”

Dara interrupted, “What you are thinking is right. …Oh, I have to pack some clothes. I’ll talk to you later. Bye…”

Dara smiled again and seemed so happy with what he was having right now. He didn’t care what would happen tomorrow, but he swore he would take good care of this happiness he was having now………….

Evening at Thanak’s apartment….

Thanak was really surprised when she saw Dara standing in front of her apartment, not because of his presence but because of the state he was coming with right now. He looked so casual but secretive. He wore Jeans with short-sleeved T-shirt and sport shoes. His face was half hidden by a cap and sunglasses. It seemed like he was trying to avoid being recognized by other. Beside him was a medium-seized travel suitcase. Dara said good evening to Thanak and entered the apartment.

Thanak wondered, so she asked him, “Are you going to tour anywhere?”

Dara put his suitcase at a corner in the room and replied with a smile on his face, “No…I am going to anywhere. But… I’m gonna live here with you.”

That made Thanak so stunned. Just a few second later, Thanak tried to push Dara out of her home and said, “You are out of your mind. Go back to your mother, kid. I have no time to play around with you.” When Thanak was about to shut the door, Dara stopped her and said, “I’ve told my mother that I want to live outside. And you live here, in such a big apartment, sole by yourself. So why don’t you just let me live with you. I can help you with the laundry, cooking and cleaning. Please…please………..”

Thanak tried to pushed him away stronger and said, “You are crazy, you idiot!”

Dara tried to also pushed the door back stronger and said breathlessly, “Please,…..Thanak….I just… wanna live close to you…”

Thanak was weakened by this short phrase of Dara. Unintentionally, Dara pushed door stronger that made him fall on Thanak on to the floor. Dara’s body right now was on Thanak’s on the floor. He raised his face and looked at Thanak’s and muttered, “I…I..really am sorry….but…..”

Thanak interrupted his mutter, “You know, there have been so many men who tried to monopolize and be close to me. But there’s been no one who is stupid and reckless like you, idiot. Get up out of me!”

Dara got himself back and sit up on the floor next to Thanak. He looked down to the floor and seemed so wretched. Thanak seemed to realize that. She then lifted up Dara’s face with her both hands, kissed him on the lips and said, “Ok, one week……..Just only one week…..”

Dara was so happy. He wanted to kiss Thanak back and said that he loved her, but she pushed him back from her and walked inside. Dara dragged his suitcase and followed Thanak.

“This apartment has only on bed room and it is my room. So you have to find out yourself how can you sleep here,” said Thanak turning her back to Dara.

“That’s ok. You have a big sofa. I can sleep here, I don’t mind,” replied Dara.

Thanak looked at Dara and claimed, “You are really a stupid kid.” Then she walked into her study-room leaving Dara handling with his stuffs.

In fact Dara already bought an apartment next door to Thanak, but he didn’t want Thanak to know that since he was afraid that she would chase him out of her home. He wanted to live close to her, and the apartment was bought just to be an alibi to his parents.

……………………..

………………………………….

Dara already settled his place and now was ready to go to bed. He walked to Thanak’s study room to say good night to her. When he was there, through the unclosed door he saw Thanak working with her computer. He thought that she may be busy working on her new novel because audiences were waiting for his new coming novel. He stepped back and said very softly, “Good night Thanak,” and went sleep.

Thanak knew that he was just at the door. She then came out and walked to the living room. There she saw Dara already sleeping so tight on the sofa. She reached her hand, wanting to touch him, but she withdrew her hand back and stared at him with sad teary eyes…………….

Chapter 7: Will you marry me?

Morning next day…..

Dara woke up in the morning and got ready for work. He tiptoed into Thanak’s bedroom. He stood beside the bed and gazed at Thanak. Just looked at Thanak, Dara seemed to already be happy. He smiled and lowered himself so that he could see her face even clearer. He touched Thanak’s head and muttered, “I know there are lots of things about you I don’t know. But now I don’t wanna know about them. Just be close to you is already enough. I feel so happy right now.” Then Dara kissed her on her forehead and before he tiptoed out of her room again, he left her a sticky note.

Just after Dara left her bedroom, Thanak opened her eyes and dragged the note to read. It said, “I will come home early this evening. So don’t dine without me! ” She then put it away and went back to sleep.

At Dara’s office…

When Dara entered his office, he saw someone was there waiting for him. It was Virak. He looked a bit serious. Dara wondered why he came to meet him again. He said, “If you come because you want met to persuade Thanak for you, you can go back now. I won’t do it.”

Virak looked at Dara seriously and replied, “So you really love her that much. But what do you know about her? How much you understand her?”

Dara looked at Thanak with a surprise on his face as he wondered why Virak asked him like this, “I don’t care about her past. I love her as she is now, and I don’t wanna know anything too.”

“Are you sure that you really love her? And are your sure that she loves you back? You are day dreaming. There is no way that you and her can be together. ……” Virak was so serious when he talked to Dara, “I warn you to stay away from her if you don’t wanna hurt her and yourself.”

Dara doubted what Virak said, “What did you mean?…”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what I was talking about. But I beg you, please stay away from Thanak because I don’t want to see her hurt.” Dara then walked toward Dara and tapped his right shoulder. Just before he left Dara, Virak begged him a pardon, “Please get away from Thanak’s life.”

Dara was so depressed about what Virak asked him. He felt his legs become really weak now and couldn’t stand any longer. He fell on the floor and muttered, “Why are you so mean about my love? Why?……” Dara couldn’t help but burst into tears. The first love of Dara seemed to be so difficult and so overwhelmed to handle. However Dara didn’t care of what would happen between him and Thanak tomorrow; he just knew that he would value every mini second he had with her.

……………………

………………………………

Three days had passed so quickly while Dara enjoying living with Thanak as nothing more than a homemate and hiding this from his family. However, things were not always like what Dara wished. There were rumors going around about Dara and Thanak living together and there were even news guessing about their relationship. It became the talk of the town that itched Dara family. Dara was called in by his mother to explain the rumors.

Dara explained everything to his parents and asked for their forgiveness as he lied to them. Mrs Heng seemed to be a bit disappointed and angry with Dara, but she could understand her son. She knew it was the love he was looking for. Dara had never put his eyes on any women before no matter how beautiful or good they were. Though Thanak was older than Dara, she sure was the one selected by Dara. So Mrs Heng had nothing else, but to agree her son’s decision and wished that he would be happy. However she asked Dara to take action to stop rumors that were sent from mouth to mouth.

Dara was so overwhelmed by the happiness he had right now. He rushed to Thanak’s place. Just as he was in front of her apartment, he was so astounded to see his stuff outside home. He rang the doorbell for her. Dara was so worried what could be going on here. Then he saw Thanak opening the door.

Thanak crossed her hands and said, “So, you are back. Oh, I already packed your stuff for you, you can just bring them with you.”

Dara was dazed with a wondering face, “What did you mean? You wanna me leave you?”

“That’s right. I don’t wanna see you around here anymore.” Thanak uncrossed her hands and continued, “Go back to your real home and don’t come here anymore because I will also leave here.”

Dara was really surprised with what Thanak just said, “Why? …Just tell me why?…We were really happy together these few days right?…but why you wanna me to leave…” Dara acted so confused right now…. “Why?….. and why did you say that you would leave here too?…where will you go.”

Thanak turned straight to Dara with a firm facial expression and replied, “You don’t realize? There is no reason, I just simply hate the sight of yours and wanna get rid of you.” Thanak’s expression changed as she saw drops of water dropping from the guy standing in front of her. She turned her face from him and continued, “Idiot, you know… you can have a brilliant future without me. I know you really like me, but there will be no result between us. So just live your life well.”

“But why?… Why?…Why can’t be together?…” Dara was a bit trembled and continued by picking a ring from his pocket, “You see? Here is the ring that I chose for you. I really love you. Don’t leave me please…”

Dara saw Thanak turning her eyes toward him and continued by proposing her, “Will you marry me? I promise I will take good care of you and will make you the happiest bride.”

Dara could see a light smile on Thanak’s face. Thanak looked at him with sympathy and replied, “You don’t know a bit about me, idiot. I cannot marry you.” Thanak turned her eyes away from Dara and said, “ I promise you that I won’t appear in front of you again. I hope you can meet a better girl than me.”

Just finished her sentence, Thanak closed the door and left Dara standing with full of tears in his eyes outside the apartment. Dara sit his back toward to the door. He squashed the right very tight and put his head down on his knees and did nothing else but cry.

On the other side, in the apartment, just as Thanak closed the door and lost Dara’s sight, she fell on the floor and burst into tears. She acted just so differently from when she confronted Dara. She now looked like an ordinary girl who was losing the most valuable in her life. She looked really weak unlike when she was chasing Dara out. She just burst into tears very silently like she was afraid that someone would hear her……

Chapter 8: Thanak’s dark past

It had been two days since Thanak left Dara. He was so devastated being rejected by Thanak. He lived his life so silently but no one knew what was really inside him. He talked very little then ever. At work place, he tried to work really hard to make sure that he had no spare time to think of Thanak. He always locked himself in the room after coming from work. It was the first Dara acted like this. Mr and Mrs Heng were really worried about their son, but they could help nothing. Though Sopheak was the one who always helped him out whenever Dara had problem, but this time it was just beyond Sopheak’s ability. Today, Sopheak asked Dara to go out so that he could probably get better.

As they walked Sopheak started, “Today, the weather is really good. What do you think?” With the question, Sopheak intended to wake Dara from his depression.

Rather than answering the question, Dara nodded his head and vocalized instead, “hmm….”

It was already quite a good sign, so Sopheak continued, “So you look a bit better now.”

Just heard that Dara suddenly halted and stood still with his eyes looking down to the ground, “Sopheak, I’ve already decided… I will stop thinking of Thanak.”

Sopheak stared at Dara with an amaze. Dare lifted his head up, looked at Sopheak and continued, “Now I understand. The more I am close to Thanak the more pains I bring to her. …….” Dara talked so lightly and his eyes became red, “She asked me to continue my life brilliantly before she left. I know she has some feeling for me too. But I seemed to hurt her somehow by just nearby her. So…..I decided to give up on her, so that she might be happy.”

Sopheak stared at his friend with a sympathetic face and little smile since he knew that Dara now was really a grown up and could get over the problem. Dara wiped up the tears from his face and continued with a smile, “So…I decide to try to forget her and live my life well.”

Sopheak smiled and hugged his friend with a joy and sympathy. He knew that it would be really difficult for Dara to do that. However he believed in his friend. “I know you can do it.”

The cell phone of Dara’s tone interrupted them. Someone was calling him. Dara picked up the phone and astounded as he saw Virak’s name appear on screen. He looked at Sopheak reluctantly and said, “It’s Virak…”

Dara clicked the green button to answer the call. The voice came out, “Could we meet in 15 minutes at the LiLa Café? I have something to you about Thanak.”

Dara turned to Sopheak with a reluctant facial expression and replied to the caller, “Ok, I’ll see you there in 15 mins.”

Just hang up the phone, Sopheak confirmed Dara, “You just said that you will try to forget Thanak. Why you wanna involve again?”

“I just wanna know what Virak wanna talk to me about Thanak. I promise this will be the last time I talk about her.”

At LiLa Café…

“Thanks for coming.” Virak greeted Dara and asked him to take a sit. “Thanak was sent to a hospital this morning.”

Dara was really shocked that showed how he still loved Thanak. He urged asking Virak, “What happened to her? Is she alright?….”

“She is alright now. Just this morning, a housekeeper at her new apartment saw Thanak lying on the floor unconsciousness. The doctor said she was just too tired and stressed out.” Virak calmed Dara down and continued, “I knew what happened between you and Thanak.” Virak made a little pause and continued, “As I warned you. There would be no result between you and her. Do you know why?”

Dara said nothing, but Virak could see how curious he was. Then Virak continued, “It was about her past when she was 22 years old. It was very long time ago, but it still is haunting her till today and it became worst when she met you.” Virak saw Dara’s serious face of wanting to know about Thanak.

“10 years ago, she met this guy. The guy who turned the life of Thanak totally upside down. Thanak was a very gifted, lively and lovely girl. She was successful in whatever she did. She already entered the university of business when she was just 16. She is smarter than me, that father decided to lay his business to Thanak after she finished her university. However the guy tricked her with the innocent love she had for him. He tricked her to tell him the company’s secrets so that he could sell them to our opponents. Not just that, he then came out to spread rumor about him and Thanak’s sexual relation. However, the new didn’t go far since father threw a rather hug amount of money on him and media…But…. ” Virak made a deep sigh and stopped talking.

Dara was so urged, “But what?…What happened afterward?…”

“I am not supposed to talk about it, so don’t ask me. Just know that since then Thanak’s isolated herself from the family. She acts very differently. She hates business. … She went to Europe all by herself for 6 years and became an insensitive writer.” Virak looked at Dara and continued, “So, now you know why Thanak acts so cold. She is alive, but her heart was dead long ago. However, after she met you. I saw some smiles on her face despite mixing sadness…..”

Virak picked a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to Dara, “I can see that Thanak at least have some feeling for you. So, I’ll give you one last chance. Make sure you take care of it well.”

On the paper was the address of the hospital where Thanak was. Dara was so thankful to Virak and promised him that he would take good care of this chance.

………………..

…………………………

At the hospital…..

It was almost 8 o’clock in the evening when Dara reached the hospital. Dara rushed to the lift and pressed the button to the 6^th floor. Just a minute, he was now standing in front of a patient room. He looked at the tag name on the door. It said the patient name was Heng Chey Vatthanaktevy. He was now so confused what would he do. He took the ring he once used to proposed Thanak, held it really tight and muttered, “I will never give up on you Thanak. Press on Dara!”

Then he opened the door carefully. He walked toward the bed. Dara now could see a patient sleeping peacefully on her bed. She looked so beautiful though she was sick. Dara smiled as he now was beside Thanak again. He knew he would not let her go again. With worries and joys, Dara could help but kissed her on the lips gently as he was afraid that would woke her up. He muttered, “I am sorry. I didn’t know that I am such a burden to you. I don’t want you to be like this, but I will die if you leave me with this reason.”

Thanak opened her eyes, looked at Dara and asked, “So, you are here. It must be my stupid bro.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up. I just wanna…..I…”, said Dara reluctantly and sudden stopped.

“No need to apologize to me. So you wanna what?” asked Thanak.

“I just wanna ask you that..that you left me because of that reason? I meant about your past,” said Dara by looking at Thanak’s face.

Thanak got down from her bed and talk toward to the window, “So what did you know about my past?”

“I knew how that bad guy did to you and that also was the reason your life changed”

Thanak turned to Dara and said, “That was all what you knew? So bro didn’t tell you the whole story.”

Dara was dazed and replied, “So tell me the whole story. I really want to know. I love you, so I can accept anything.” Dara talked to Thanak as he stared at her so calmly and seriously.

Thanak paused a bit and continued, “I killed people. I killed him and his friends, all of them when I was 22.” Then she made another pause, stared at Dara again and asked, “So could you still say you love me, a murderer?”

Dara raised his face up and replied, “Are you stupid or what? Who care about your past? I don’t care about your past, I love you as you are Thanak right now. So that’s all, the reason for you to escape me? So do you still any other guts to chase me out?”

Thanak was so surprised with Dara’s answer. She didn’t expect that he could accept her past. She stared at him with a firm expression and said, “Stop asking me. I wanna leave the hospital tomorrow. So come pick me at 8 in the morning.”

With this answer, Dara knew that he made it. Thanak now opened to him and accepted him. He immediately replied, “I won’t come tomorrow…..” Dara looked at Thanak and continued, “Because I am going to sleep here in the hospital beside you, so that you won’t escape me. And tomorrow we could go home together, right?”

They looked at each other with a smile on their face. It was the first time that Dara saw Thanak smile in such a happiness. He promised himself that he would do anything and everything to make this woman smile like this forever.

……………………………………

………………………………………………

Chapter 9: Beyond the dark past

Dara moved to live with Thanak at her new condo for already a week. News between Dara and Thanak had been the talk of the town and their pictures were good sale for paparazzi. However it was really difficult to take their pictures together. Even though Thanak agreed to accept Dara as her lover and let him live with her, she never showed off herself with Dara in public. The time that they were together was at home in the evening. Dara knew that Thanak still hid something from him as she sometimes looked so sad and miserable.

Today Dara returned home early. With a bouquet of flower on his hand, he went to Thanak’s study room. Thanak was sitting on her desk working on her new novel. As she heard the door opening, she glanced at the door and see Dara in a very elegant white suit. Dara hid the flower behind his back and walked toward Thanak.

Thanak turned her self to her laptop and continued typing her draft, “You are home early today.”

Dara looked at Thanak with a smile and handed her the flower as a surprise, “Here, for you.”

Thanak put her eyes to Dara again and asked in doubt, “Why are you giving me flowers?”

Dara knew that Thanak was not a romantic woman  and unlike other women Thanak was never surprised or even excited of anything. So a bouquet of flowers was no surprise at all for her. Dara picked her from the chair, put the flowers on her hand and said, “This is for our 90 days meeting anniversary. I know you don’t care about it, but I really do remember everything happening between us. Eh, do you still remember where we first met?”

Thanak had a look at the flowers and back to Dara as he was asking her question. She stared at him and said nothing.

So Dara continued, “We first met at the welcome party of Mr. Cheng’s daughter. You were so mean about me, you know. You said that I was an idiot believing in love….That was when we met the first time. The second time we met in the middle of the street…..” Dara laughed a bit and continued, “I was like being spirited that I didn’t care of death, standing in the middle of the street to stop your car.” Thanak looked at Dara without a change of expression on her face as Dara continued, “You know? I was really mad at you at the time. …And I was even madder as I knew you are Thanak….. It was really something. I couldn’t expect that Thanak is actually you…”

Dara held Thanak’s hands with his both hand and said, “The first of our meeting was unintentional,the  second was an accident, the third was an intention and forth was our bound fate.”

Now their eyes met, Dara kissed Thanak on the lips then he picked a ring from his pocket to propose Thanak again. “The last time, my proposal was rejected, but I really want to put this ring on your finger. I want to make you the happiest bride in the world……… Will you marry me?”

Thanak stood silently. When Dara was about to put the ring on her finger, Thanak took back her hand and turned her back to Dara. She stared at the flowers on her hands and blinked her eyes with sadness and said, “I know you really love me. And I thank you for your love, but I cannot accept this ring right now. And I don’t really know when I am ready for the proposal.”

Dara touched Thanak’s shoulders and turned her toward him, “I know you are still hiding something from me. But as I told you, I don’t care a bit of thing about your past because I love you as you are Thanak right now.”

“But I cannot find myself in happiness with my dark past,” replied Thanak.

“So tell me all about your past, don’t hide a thing from me anymore……,” continued Dara.

“I am not sure…… Recently I’ve found myself so confused. There are something stuck in my memory that I could not figure out what it is.” Thanak made a pause with a deep sigh and continued, “I’ve had dream. A dream about him and several other guys standing in front of me…, then I heard the sound of the gun shooting… And… and I saw him lying in front of me with a pool of blood…” Thanak made another silence and added with a low voice, “But…but…but I couldn’t see what really happened. I saw the head and the end of the scene, but the body of the scene….I don’t know…… and I have to figure it out otherwise I will still be haunted by this nightmare.”

“So tell me how can I help you?” asked Dara.

“No, you cannot. Even I, I don’t know how I can help myself out from this nightmare.” Thanak sighed deeply again and continued with an unclear message, “Maybe I have to go back to the past…”

Thanak turned her face to Dara. She stared at Dara with daze and sympathy for him. “Thank you for having loved me, but I don’t deserve your love.”

“What do you mean that you don’t deserve my love? Aren’t we lovers now?” Dara asked with a loud tone.

“Rita is really a good and well-educated girl. She is not an ill-mannered, nasty-mouthed, and insensitive like me. You will be good if you are with her. She can become a good partner for your business, a good parent to your children and a good wife for such a warm-hearted guy like you,” said Thanak while Dara was staring angrily at her.

“What are you talking about?……. if you want to get rid of me, just tell me so. Don’t take Rita as the excuse…… I don’t know who you are anymore. You tell me and your readers to be so frank with their heart, to be so confident about their feeling, to be so strong confronting unseen obstacles…… But look at you right now. You seem to already surrender the war though you know you have chance to win this war,” talked Dara loud.

“You are right. I daren’t confronting my own problem and that is why I have to let go of you.”

“I still don’t understand… So… you meant I am a bother to you,” asked Dara.

Thanak looked at Dara and replied, “No, you are not a bother to me, but I think I am a bother to you. And that is why I have to let go of you…… Please leave me… go away from my life…… You will better off without me.”

By hearing so, Dara was so stunned and speechless. The ring dropped from his hand unconsciously. Thanak looked at him with sympathy. Dara stepped back a few steps with a devastated facial expression and teary eyes. “So at last, you don’t want me anymore… If leaving you is a way to make you happy, then…then I will go away from your life.” Dara walked off to the door, and before he left, he told Thanak, “Thanak, you know I love you and will always love you… Take good care of yourself and don’t forget to take your medicine after your meals; it is really painful, when your stomach hurts, right? ” Then Dara walked off the room and without a look at Thanak he rused out of the apartment with teary eyes.

Just after Dara left, Thanak picked up the ring from the floor and said mysteriously, “I am sorry… You are better out there without me if I still……”

Chapter 10: So, there you are…

It had been already three months that Dara didn’t see Thanak. She moved out from her apartment just the day after she asked him to go a way from her life. She just disappeared. Even her brother Virak didn’t know where she was. Dara hired some people to look for her, but there was no trace of her.

Dara was so devastated by the disappearance of Thanak. He still followed his obligation as the CEO of the company well, but he was not Dara as he was before. He worked really hard and always tried to make himself busy, so that he wouldn’t have time to think of Thanak. He left home for work at 7 am and came back home at 10 pm. After quick dinner, he went straight and locked himself in the bedroom.

Mr. and Mrs. Heng were really worried about their only son. They didn’t want Dara to live his life as a living dead body. So they decided to find a healer for his heart-broken disease. They made Dara engaged Rita. Dara couldn’t help but to do as what his parents asked while he was thinking of trying to erase Thanak from his heart.

Engagement day……

It was a really nice day and guests were those from hi-so class. Everybody seemed to be really happy for the to-be bride and groom. Guests were chit-chatting about how good this couple, not only their beauty but their harmony in the society and business. One was the only daughter of a powerful family in politics and another one was the only son of a potential family in business field. They would make the best couple of the year in Cambodia when they got marriage.

Dara was accompanying Rita greeting and thanking the guests for coming to their ceremony. Rita was extraordinary happy today as she could marry the guy she loved. On the other side, Dara looked so being unclear of something. He wore no happy smile on his face at all for the whole ceremony.

While they were greeting the guests at the party after their engagement ceremony, a man with casual dress came to Dara. He made a whisper and gave Dara a piece of paper. Dara looked so surprised and immediately took the paper and had a look. As he looked at the paper, he smiled and said thank you to the man loud.

Then he put the paper in his trouser pocket and rushed getting out of the party heading to Sopheak. Rita was so confused as Dara left her with the guests, so she followed Dara.

Dara asked Dara with a rush, “Sopheak, give me your car key. Quick, I am in a rush. Quick!”

Sopheak was confused as Dara asking him for the key, “Where do you wanna go? You are in the middle of you engagement party. What do you want? I can get it for you, if you want anything.”

“Just give me the key, I have to go find Thanak,” replied Dara with excitement.

“But you are in the middle of party of your engagement with Rita, you know?” said Sopheak trying to wake Dara up.

Dara was a bit woken as listening to what Sopheak said. He made a silence for a moment…then he put his hand into Sopheak’s pocket and dragged the key out. “I have to go see her for the last time, otherwise I couldn’t forgive myself. ” As Dara turned and headed to the parking lot, he saw Rita standing just behind him and gave him a strange look.

“What do you wanna do? You are already engaged with me. You are now mine. So without my permission, you are not allowed to leave party no matter what happen,” said Rita with a really firm and furious face.

Dara was stunned as he knew that Rita knew what he wanted to do and he also felt so guilty toward Rita. He felt he was killing Rita alive, but he had no other choice because he couldn’t stop himself anymore.

Dara walked toward Rita and put his hands on both of her shoulders and said, “I am sorry. Please forgive me.”

Rita could do nothing as he really decided. She looked at Dara with flamming anger in her eyes and said slowly but sharply, “If you leave me today, you will be sorry.”

Dara knew that he was too much doing like this to Rita, but he couldn’t help but to leave and find Thanak. He got the news from the private spy that Thanak was in Sihanouk Ville at the the house where she once killed people. Dara didn’t feel well about this. He thought there may be something going on with Thanak and he had to stop it.

Dara drove the car so fast and thought, “So this is what is sticking in your head. Thanak, what you wanna do? ”

……………….

…………………………

At Rita’s house…

Dara left Rita just in the middle of the party and everybody was stunned by what he had done to his bride-to-be. Rita had never been embarrassed like this before in her life. She felt really ashamed that she couldn’t even face anyone. She locked herself in the room and talked to no one.

Dara’s parents were there to comfort and apologize to her. They promised to bring Dara back and made him responsible for what he did today. However, Rita and her parents couldn’t accept it at all and they said they wouldn’t go easy with Dara and his parents anymore.

Sihanouk Ville…

It was almost 8pm when Dara reached the house where the spy claimed that Thanak was. Though it was already dark, Dara could see it was a beautiful small house facing to the sea. He could see a little soft light from the house. He knew someone was there and it must be Thanak. He rushed into the house. The house was stuffy and dusty since it was abandoned for so long. Dara walked upstairs following to the light. The light was from a room upstairs. From the door, Dara could see that the room was full of dust and cans of beer. He looked to the left of the room. He was so stunned seeing Thanak sitting with her face on her knees. She looked so devastated and pale. In her hand was a piece of old paper. Dara’s heart hurt when he saw the situation of Thanak right there.

Dara walked in toward Thanak slowly and quietly as he didn’t want to scare her. As he almost reached her, he stepped on a can of beer and that woke Thanak. Thanak raised her face up and saw Dara, “It is you. why are you here?”

Dara answer angrily, “What did mean by “it is you and why are you here”? I have to ask you why you are here? Why the hell are you hiding here?”

Thanak stared at Dara with sympathetic and tearful eyes. This is the first time that Dara saw Thanak cried like this. For Dara, Thanak was a very strong, talented, and beautiful. She showed no weakness nor sympathy for others. But now the girl in front of him right now was another Thanak.

Thanak picked the photo she was holding to have a look. It was a photo of her and her dead boyfriend. Then drops of tears were falling down again.

Now I remember everything. The losing part of that memory. Thanak said starring at the photo. I was shooting him and two other friends of his to death here…..Drops of tears kept falling as Thanak was revising her long lost bitter memory back.

I remember,Thanak said it slowly with full of her tears, he brought me here. … He promised to take care and love me for this whole life. And I believed him so innocently.

She made a little pause as she sighed. I remember that night, it was raining heavily. He drank a lot of alcohol with two of his friends in this room and it was also that night that I knew the truth. Thanak wiped her tears away and continued telling her sufferings, he was actually using me for his own advantages. And he even sold me to his two friends that night…. Thanak was getting trembling, they tried to rape me and …. I lost myself control,… I then stole gun from one of them and shot them to death here. Three of them.

Thanak cried out loud this time and repeated, three of them, I killed three people here….

Dara kneeled down and embraced Thanak. It was not your fault. You just protected yourself. Dara kissed Thanak’s head, I wished I could be with you at that time. Believe me, I will never let anyone hurt you again. I will protect you by myself, I promise.

Thanak looked at Dara. She lifted her head and kissed him on the lips. She then embraced him so tightly.

Epilogue: I won’t let you go

One month later…

After Thanak remembered everything, she had opened herself more than before. She went to visit her parents and brother. She couldn’t ignore the love that Dara had for her anymore. Dara was so happy as he now could see Thanak smile everyday. And that was what Dara wished for. Now Dara couldn’t meet Thanak often since she had moved to live with her parents and helped her father manage the company.

She sure was a very talented woman. She could handle all big projects of the company though she just started working a month ago. That was why, now even Dara wanted to have lunch with her, he had to make an appointment first. That made Dara so mad, but he could do nothing beside complaining it to Sopheak.

I couldn’t understand her. I think I would like her to be like Thanak I knew first time. At least I couldn’t have sometimes with her as private. But now, just look! If I wanna eat lunch with my girlfriend, I have to also make an appointment a week before. What is it?

Sopheak couldn’t help but laugh out loud, eh I give you an advice. Why don’t you find another girl to eat lunch with you then.

What are you talking about? I am not like you.

Ok, ok, you are the most gentle man in the world. Eh, Dara, you love her right? So why don’t you ask for her hand, so that you can meet her everyday at home.

You think I don’t wanna do that. I did propose to her twice and she rejected them and the day after she left me behind. I don’t wanna this to happen again.

Ok, then you have to bear this. Eat your lunch alone today, ok? I have appointment with one of my girls. See you.

Sopheak left and Dara was still mad. He decided that he would propose to Thanak again.

This evening Dara was waiting Thanak at the front door of the house of Thanak’s parents. He had a plan that he would stop Thanak’s care here and propose her. As he though, the car of Thanak arrived. As he had planned, Dara stop the care and dragged Thanak out of the care.

Thanak was suprised for what he just dared to do. What are you doing? Why are you dragging me out  of the car?

Dara took a really deep breath and tried to act so confidently. He looked at Thanak and kneeled down on the ground. He picked thanak’s hand and show her the right he just bought this afternoon. He starred at Thanak and asked her, would you accept this ring. I know I have failed for twice already, but I don’t mind trying it again. Would you accept this ring?

Thanak looked at Dara so confusedly and reluctantly. she then, as third time, rejected Dara’s proposal. I am sorry, but I cannot accept your ring just now. I have already agreed to marry someone else.

Dara was so stunned as he heard that she already accepted anothe man. What are you talking about? Are you marrying someone else?

Dara was so sad and heart broken  and he turn his back to thanak. If you already decided, I couldn’t do anything beside giving you wishes, but would you let me know who that guy is?

Thanak laughed when she saw Dara was  so serious about what she just said. she then picked a ring from her handbag and wore it on her left hand’s ring finger. She showed it to Dara, I already accepted to marry this ring’s owner, don’t you know?

As Dara saw the ring, smile appeared on his face. The ring was the first ring he used to propose Thanak. He then shouted loud, Yeah, yeah, I did it, i did it. He then embraced Thanak with joy…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….