"Slovenia?" Anamarija repeated.
And then—
She smiled.
A real smile.
Bright.
Wide.
The kind that didn't ask for permission.
She looked at Chak's mother and tilted her head slightly.
"Will they survive?" she asked lightly. "There's no luxury like this there."
Chak's mother didn't react.
"They want freedom," she replied calmly. "And this is a rare opportunity for that."
Silence followed.
I looked around.
Chak's expression was unreadable.
Calm.
Controlled.
But I knew him.
I saw it—
That small spark hidden in his eyes.
He was interested.
More than that.
He was looking forward to it.
Malai, on the other hand, looked unsure.
Her posture was composed, but there was hesitation in her eyes.
Like she didn't fully believe this would be good for her.
Chai leaned back slightly, a small grin on his lips—
He looked excited.
But even in that excitement, there was uncertainty.
Like he didn't quite know what life without all of this would feel like.
"For how long are we going?" Malai asked.
"Two weeks," their mother replied.
Two weeks.
Not too long.
But long enough to change something.
"What are we even going to do there?" Chai asked.
His mother didn't answer.
Instead—
She gestured toward Anamarija.
"Ask her."
All eyes shifted to her.
Anamarija didn't answer immediately.
She just smiled faintly.
"You'll see," she said after a moment.
That didn't help.
At all.
"Who exactly is going?" Malai asked next, looking at her mother again.
"Everyone sitting at this table," she said calmly.
A small pause.
"And Suraphom. Just in case."
Of course.
I glanced at Chak.
And that's when I saw it clearly.
The moment his eyes met mine—
That spark grew.
Something unspoken passed between us.
Something dangerous.
Because we both understood what this meant.
Two weeks.
Away from everything.
No pretending.
No distance.
No barriers.
Just us.
---
And then—
The door opened.
A young woman stepped inside.
She bowed slightly toward Chak's mother.
"Madam," she said respectfully.
"Phalin is not pleased that everyone left the table."
The room went still.
Just like that—
The calm cracked again.
And everything we had just agreed to…
Was about to collide with reality.
The moment the door closed behind the staff member—
No one spoke.
Chak's mother simply stood up.
"Let's go back," she said calmly.
Like nothing had happened.
Like the tension hadn't just shifted again.
We followed.
---
The closer we got to the dining room—
The louder the atmosphere felt.
Voices.
Movement.
Something sharp in the air.
And the moment we stepped inside—
It was obvious.
Phalin was angry.
She was still standing near the table.
Her posture straight.
Her expression controlled—
But her eyes burned.
The moment she saw Chak—
She walked straight toward him.
"Where did you go?" she asked.
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it cut through the room.
"And why was I not included?"
Chak didn't answer immediately.
Before he could—
Phalin turned toward his mother.
Her composure still there.
Barely.
"What were you discussing?" she asked.
A pause.
The entire room felt like it was holding its breath.
Chak's mother looked at her.
Calm.
Unmoved.
"It's not important," she replied.
Simple.
Final.
Phalin's expression tightened.
"Not important?" she repeated.
A hint of disbelief in her voice now.
"Yes," Chak's mother said, just as calmly.
"It doesn't concern you."
The words landed hard.
I saw it—
That slight crack in Phalin's control.
Her jaw tightened.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
For a moment, it looked like she might say more.
Push further.
But instead—
She let out a small breath.
Then smiled.
Polite.
Cold.
"Of course," she said.
But her eyes moved—
From Chak…
To me.
And stayed there.
For just a second too long.
Like she was connecting something.
Like she was getting closer to the truth.
And somehow—
That made everything feel even more dangerous.
Phalin's gaze lingered on Chak for a moment longer.
Then—
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She stepped closer.
"What is this?" she asked, reaching out toward his neck.
My stomach tightened instantly.
Her fingers hovered just above the mark. Mine bite.
Chak didn't flinch.
"Ah," he said casually, brushing his hand over it. "A cat scratched me yesterday. I itched it a bit."
Phalin tilted her head slightly.
"Really?" she said.
But her eyes—
Her eyes moved.
Straight to me.
Locked.
Sharp.
Like she didn't believe a single word.
I forced myself not to react.
Not to look away.
Not to give her anything.
---
"I have a question for you."
The voice cut through the tension.
Phalin's brother.
He was looking directly at Anamarija now.
She didn't hesitate.
"Ask," she said calmly, meeting his gaze without fear.
"What does that guy from yesterday have… that I don't?"
The room went quiet again.
I already knew who he meant.
Vikran.
I glanced at Anamarija.
And I saw it—
That small smile.
Barely there.
But real.
"Patience," she said simply.
Clear.
Sharp.
Final.
For a moment, he didn't respond.
Didn't even blink.
Across the table, I noticed Chai trying not to smile.
Anamarija then turned her head slightly.
Looking at him.
"Can I go see your son?" she asked.
The shift was so sudden—
So effortless—
Like she had just ended one conversation and stepped into another without carrying anything with her.
Chai blinked.
Then nodded immediately.
"Yeah," he said. "Of course."
And just like that—
The tension broke again.
But only on the surface.
Because underneath—
Everything was still there.
Waiting.
Chai pushed his chair back slightly, already standing.
"Come," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Torn followed immediately, his hand brushing lightly against Chai's back as they moved.
Anamarija stood up as well.
Effortless.
Calm.
Like the tension at the table hadn't touched her at all.
She glanced at Chak's mother.
"May I?"
Chak's mother nodded once.
"Of course."
Anamarija didn't look at anyone else.
Not Phalin.
Not her brother.
She just walked past them—
And for a second, the entire room seemed to shift with her movement.
Chai led the way out.
Torn right behind him.
Anamarija followed.
And just like that—
They were gone.
---
The silence they left behind wasn't relief.
It was heavier.
More focused.
Because now—
There was no distraction.
Phalin slowly sat back down in her chair.
Her gaze moved again.
From Chak…
To me.
Then back to Chak.
Her fingers reached for his hand once more.
This time—
Holding it tighter.
Like she was reminding him.
Like she was reminding everyone.
But Chak didn't react.
He didn't pull away.
He didn't respond either.
Just still.
Controlled.
Distant.
---
"You seem very… calm," Phalin said suddenly.
Her voice soft.
But pointed.
Chak glanced at her briefly.
"I am."
She studied him for a second.
Then her eyes shifted to his neck again.
To the mark.
To the lie.
To me.
"You should be more careful," she said quietly.
Her gaze didn't leave mine.
"Cats can be unpredictable."
My fingers tightened under the table.
But I didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Didn't give her anything.
---
Across the table, Malai exhaled slowly.
"This is exhausting," she muttered under her breath.
Ton run to me and said: Can you tell me the story. Please.
I smiled and take him to my lap. Of course I tell you.
In the castle lived a young prince which want something he never had. A love. To someone who's loves him....
Even Chak's mother remained silent now.
Watching.
Observing.
Like she was letting everything unfold exactly the way she wanted
Minutes passed.
Slow.
Heavy.
Chai's voice echoed faintly from the hallway.
"You're going to like him."
A small pause.
Then—
Anamarija's voice.
"…You have a lion."
And for the first time since we sat down—
A faint, unexpected shift of something lighter touched the room.
Just for a moment.
Before everything returned—
To tension.
Chak suddenly pushed his chair back.
The sound cut cleanly through the room.
"We need to go," he said.
Phalin turned to him immediately, her brows drawing together.
"Why?" she asked.
Chak didn't even look at her.
"I have work," he replied coldly.
No explanation.
No softness.
Just distance.
Phalin's lips pressed together, clearly not satisfied—but she didn't push further.
At the same time, the door opened again.
Chai, Torn, and Anamarija stepped back into the room.
Anamarija looked… calmer.
Like seeing Singha had grounded her.
But the moment she stepped back into this space—
The tension returned.
Chak was already standing.
So was I.
Malai followed.
Chai and Torn exchanged a quick glance before moving as well.
It was time to leave.
---
As Anamarija stepped forward—
Phalin's brother moved.
Straight toward her.
Before anyone could react—
He took her hand.
And kissed it.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"I told you," he said quietly, a confident smile on his lips.
"That guy is nothing compared to me."
His eyes held hers.
"I know one day you'll be mine."
The room stilled.
But Anamarija didn't pull her hand away.
She just looked at him.
Cold.
Unmoved.
Then she spoke.
"He's better than you," she said calmly.
A small pause.
"And he's already two steps ahead of you."
The smile on his face faded instantly.
For the first time—
He looked… irritated.
"We'll see," he muttered.
But the confidence from before wasn't the same anymore
One by one—
We started saying goodbye.
Chak's mother stepped forward first.
She pulled Anamarija into a warm embrace.
"Take care," she said softly.
Malai followed.
Then her husband.
Ton. Hugged her so tightly.
Chai hugged her again, lighter this time.
Torn gave her a respectful nod—then a brief, gentle
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then—
Phalin.
She didn't move toward Anamarija.
She didn't say anything.
They just looked at each other.
A long.
Silent.
Measured look.
"Bye," Anamarija said calmly.
Phalin didn't respond.
Not even a word.
Just that same controlled expression.
Then Phalin turned—
Toward Chak.
She stepped closer.
Reached up.
And kissed him.
Right there.
In front of everyone.
My chest tightened.
Again.
She pulled back just slightly.
"I'll come to your office tomorrow," she said softly.
Like it was already decided.
Like it wasn't a question.
Chak didn't answer.
Didn't agree.
Didn't refuse.
He just stood there.
And somehow—
That silence felt louder than anything he could have said.