Chapter 3 Escape Plan
A new morning arrived as sunlight filtered into the kitchen. Namping was quietly busy preparing breakfast for his son when the door suddenly swung open. The young woman from the night before walked down the stairs alone, her posture hurried and slightly guilty. Catching sight of Namping, she respectfully bowed her head in a polite greeting before quickly rushing out of the house.
Sitting at the table waiting for his food, the young boy turned to look at his mother in confusion. Through the innocent eyes of a three-year-old, curiosity shone clearly he wondered who the woman was and why she had been inside their home.
"Mommy, who was that lady?" Nong Panpan asked in his clear, sweet voice.
Namping was about to explain that she was just a friend of his father's to protect his child's innocent mind. But before he could open his mouth, the sound of his husband dressed fully in his military uniform came striding down the stairs into the kitchen.
"Good morning, my boy," Colonel Thanet greeted his son in a tone noticeably softer than usual.
"Good morning, Daddy," the boy replied softly, averting his gaze and avoiding direct eye contact out of fear lingering from yesterday's outburst.
"Shall we go to Big C today?" Colonel Thanet asked coaxingly.
"Um... can we?" Nong Panpan replied in surprise, as his father rarely took him anywhere.
"Of course we can. We'll go together in a bit."
"Okay," the boy nodded in agreement, turning to glance at his mother, who stood motionless without saying a word. Namping merely stood watching the father and son sit down for breakfast, the painful memory of last night reinforcing the dull numbness in his heart.
"Are you going to stand there all day? Go get dressed," Colonel Thanet's deep voice turned coldly toward Namping.
"I can go in this outfit," Namping replied, gesturing to his light-colored shirt and trousers, which already looked neat and presentable.
"Filthy! Go find something decent. Don't embarrass me out there."
"Alright..." Namping reluctantly turned to go upstairs to change. Even though his outfit was far from terrible, he had no desire to escalate conflict further this morning.
Namping walked upstairs slowly, a suffocating tightness weighing on his chest. Memories flashed through his mind. In the past, no matter what he wore, Phii Nes never complained only showering him with compliments that he looked adorable in everything. How true was the saying, 'At first, even boiled vegetables taste sweet, but as time passes, even sugar turns bitter.' Love could flip completely upside down, stripping away all remnants of affection.
He pulled a polite outfit from the closet before casting a glance at the medium-sized suitcase hidden in the dark corner of the room. It had been packed quietly, awaiting the day of their long journey.
The luxury car pulled out of Anan Village, heading toward the Big C located near the military camp. Colonel Thanet drove while mother and son sat stiffly in the back seat. Namping gazed at the passing scenery outside, his heart beating rapidly as if counting down the hours.
"We're here," Colonel Thanet turned around to smile at his young son, reaching over to gently ruffle his hair affectionately.
"Thank you, Daddy," Nong Panpan replied politely.
"Go walk around with your mother first. Once I finish my business, I'll come pick you two up."
"Okay."
Before Colonel Thanet got out of the car, his tall frame turned back to Namping, his voice laden with strict command and possessiveness.
"Take good care of my son."
"Panpan is my son, too. Of course I will," Namping couldn't help but retort softly.
"Talking back again! You're asking for another beating!"
BANG!
The car door slammed shut with a deafening thud. Namping immediately ushered his son out of the vehicle, wanting to prevent any argument from unfolding in public. The moment they stepped into the Big C shopping mall, he led his son straight up to the second floor, intending to head to the bookstore. On the way, his eyes caught sight of a familiar woman.
"Oh! Phii Rung, hello!" Namping bowed respectfully to his senior from his school days.
"Oh, Namping! Are you here to buy books too?" Phii Rung smiled back warmly.
"Yes, I am. How have you been, Phii Rung?"
"I've been doing well! How about you? You look quite thin these days," Phii Rung noted, noticing the pale distress on his face.
"I... I have a few family issues," Namping hesitated briefly.
"Come sit down first! Dear, please watch Miki and Panpan for a moment," Phii Rung quickly called out to her younger sister to keep an eye on her daughter, Nong Miki, and Nong Panpan. The two of them sat down on a bench in front of the bookstore in a relatively private corner.
"Namping... come, tell me what happened, hmm?" Phii Rung spoke in the gentlest voice, reaching out to give his slender shoulder a comforting squeeze.
That touch of pure kindness from a respected senior became the final straw holding Namping together. The strength he had forced himself to maintain all day crumbled in an instant. Tears he could no longer hold back streamed down his clear cheeks uncontrollably.
"Phii Rung... sob... I can't take it anymore," Namping sobbed heavily, his body trembling, his voice shaking and ragged as if he were choking on his own pain.
"He hits me... Phii Rung, he doesn't just cheat on me, but he abuses me physically and mentally... Every single word he says is so harsh that I feel like I have nowhere left to stand."
Namping buried his face in his hands, letting the bitter agony he had suppressed pour out alongside his tears. The heartbreak of physical and emotional infidelity paled in comparison to having his dignity crushed into dust by the man called his husband.
"Goodness, Namping! How on earth did things turn out like this?!" Phii Rung exclaimed in utter shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her hand holding his shoulder trembled with deep pity.
"When you two first got married, Phii Nes looked so loving and cherished you so well... How could he change this drastically, my dear?"
Phii Rung pulled her junior's shaking frame into a tight hug against her chest, gently stroking his back to soothe him. The horrifying reality was far too twisted and cruel for anyone to imagine that behind the image of a handsome, respectable military officer lay such cruelty within his marriage.
"It's already happened, Phii... Nothing will ever be the same again," Namping murmured faintly, his words infused with unimaginable bitterness. The painful truth was accepted through tears that had just dried.
"So what are you going to do next...? Will you get a divorce? Since he's abused you to this extent, I think it's beyond repair, Namping," Phii Rung asked with deep concern, her eyes filled with anxiety.
"I want to get a divorce, Phii Rung... I want to get out of this hellhole so badly. But he refuses to let me go. He sees me as nothing more than a helpless object he can step on whenever he pleases," Namping clenched his fists so tightly they shook, his gentle eyes now flickering with quiet resolve.
"Oh, my poor thing... So what will you do now? If there's anything I can do to help, just tell me. I'm ready to help you with everything."
Namping went silent for a moment before deciding to reveal the secret he had been holding in and planning for over many nights.
"I... I'm going to take my son and flee back to Si Sa Ket, Phii."
Phii Rung froze for a long moment in sheer surprise, a flicker of worry washing over her eyes.
"The idea is good, Namping... But can you really break free from the grasp of a man like him? His power and influence are no joke."
"I will! If I go back and hide in Isan, I will disappear as quietly as possible. He will never find me," Namping asserted firmly, as if his sole remaining hope in life was returning to his ancestral land.
"I pray you succeed. May the sacred spirits protect you and your child... If you ever run into trouble or need help, call me anytime, twenty-four hours a day, Namping," Phii Rung urged, squeezing his hands tightly to pass on her strength.
"Thank you so much, Phii Rung. Thank you truly for understanding me," Namping bowed deeply with immense gratitude. Such kindness in his darkest hour was more precious to him than anything else.
"It's nothing at all, Namping. You will always be my sweet younger brother... Go now, go prepare well."
"Yes, Phii..." Namping replied briefly before trying to shake off his sorrow. He turned to offer a faint smile to his son, who was sitting nearby with bright, clear eyes.
"Let's go, Panpan. Let's go look at more toys over there, sweetheart."
Namping held his son's hand, stepping forward into the bustling mall. Amidst the crowd passing by, no one knew that beneath his calm demeanor, he was executing the most critical escape plan of his life...
.
.
.
After the day Colonel Thanet brought him and their son to Big C, the tall man did not return home for nearly three full days. The lonely quiet covering the grand house reinforced Namping's realization that the family he had fought so hard to preserve had truly reached a dead end. His once-fragile heart was now filled with unwavering determination.
Sitting and watching his son play with toys on the floor, Namping felt his final thoughts solidify. He took out his mobile phone and hesitated briefly before dialing the number of Grandma Nit, his father's younger sister living in Si Sa Ket.
Ring... Ring... Ring...
The ringtone chimed for a moment before the other end picked up, and a familiar Isan accent resonated through the speaker.
"Hello! Who is this calling?"
"Auntie, it's me, Namping." Namping replied, trying to keep his voice as normal as possible.
"Oh! I was wondering who was calling!" Grandma Nit's voice returned with relief and joy.
"Yes, Auntie."
"I've missed you so much! Why haven't you brought the little one to visit me at all? I've completely renovated the house, you know. Bring the little one over, Namping; we have plenty of space here at home." The warm words from his aunt felt like sweet nectar soothing his parched soul.
"Auntie... would it be okay if I went to stay with you for a while?" Namping asked with quiet hope.
"Come right over, my child! Luang Pu will be so happy to see his grandchild back home together. What about your mother? Is she coming along too?"
"No, Auntie. My mother remarried and moved to Suphan Buri."
"That's alright. Bring your son here, Namping. I'll help you raise him. It's just James and Jimmy living with me here anyway."
"And what about Jo?" Namping asked, referring to his youngest cousin.
"He's working over in Bangkok, child."
"Come live at our home, Namping. I'll help you raise my grand-nephew, and we can open a small shop together. I'll invest in it for you."
"Thank you, Auntie..." Tears welled up in Namping's eyes, overflowing with deep gratitude.
"When will you be coming over? I'll get a room cleaned up and waiting for you."
"Before the end of this month, Auntie," he promised, knowing time was running short.
"Alright! Come stay with me. Your father's portion of the land is something I've kept reserved for you, child. You don't have to worry about a thing."
"Yes, Auntie."
"That's all for now, child. I'm going to call Luang Pu and tell him that Namping is coming back home."
"Thank you, Auntie. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, my child."
Namping stared at his phone after the line went dead, a profound sense of relief washing over him. He hadn't revealed the full reason behind his escape just yet, intending to tell her every detail once he arrived.
Now, only the execution of his planned strategy remained. Regarding the divorce, he had carefully consulted a lawyer and confirmed there was a very high chance of winning the divorce decree due to solid evidence including video recordings of his husband's infidelity, records of physical abuse, and pre-arranged medical certificates. He had made up his mind that before departing, he would sign the divorce petition and leave it behind, allowing his lawyer to manage all legal procedures.
Nam
ping tucked his phone away, turning to look at his son, who was smiling happily with a toy in his little hands. This was the sole reason he had to make this journey.