I was left speechless. I couldn't find a single word to counter the woman who is legally my 'wife.' All I could do was sit there, seething in frustration, as I replayed the events that had made me come home with such a short fuse.
After finishing the meeting on 'Criteria for Recruiting and Appointing Assistant Teachers'—which, in reality, should have been dealt with two weeks ago—the Prime Minister issued an urgent invitation for me to attend a cultural performance showcase. I wouldn't have been so irritated if his daughter hadn't been clinging to me like a shadow the entire time.
"P'Nin, I want this...I think...I want to...I... I... I..."
I thought my head was going to explode. I couldn't afford to be rude, especially since the Prime Minister and his wife were sitting right there. But what truly annoyed me was the invitation:
"Khun Panin, after you return from your meeting in Singapore, please join us for dinner at my home. I'd like to consult you regarding the Thai education system."
'We can talk at the office, sir' or 'I'm not available'—that's what I wanted to say. But doing so would be a direct slap in the face to a superior. I knew his real intention was to create an opportunity for me to be with his daughter. Namwa has always been a nuisance. She told me she liked me the very first day we met again (after not seeing each other since she was a child). It's been three years since she graduated, and she still hasn't given up on her mission to pursue a man like me.
What made me even more furious was seeing our 'news' plastered all over social media. Maybe that's why I-Tim lashed out at me like that.
Do I have to apologize?
Once I managed to calm myself down, I headed straight to her bedroom. I knocked a few times, but there was no response. "I promise we'll talk reasonably. I-Tim, open the door for me."
After about five minutes, the door finally opened for a 'forbidden person' like me. Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. I didn't realize she would take it this hard.
"Why are you crying?"
"I wasn't crying. Soap got in my eyes."
"You haven't even showered yet. How could soap get in your eyes?" I brushed a stray, wet strand of hair away from her face. Without any makeup, her skin showed some clear signs of acne. To be honest, she was a far cry from someone like Namwa. If she didn't have such a naturally beautiful facial structure, she'd be quite plain. "Want me to buy you some skincare?"
"Don't bother playing the nice guy with me. Aside from the car, I won't ask for anything else from you." She brushed my hand away without a second thought. "And just stay out of my business. I want to live my life like this—just make sure those women of yours don't bother me. That's enough."
"Oh..." So, she's sulking about the news.
"I want to be alone. Get out." Her small hands pushed against my chest, but it was a futile effort since I didn't budge. Instead, I caught her hands and held them.
"I was in a bad mood because of work. Just forget about it."
"I'm not good at forgetting. You're the Minister of Education—can't you control your emotions better than this? I understand you're stressed and carrying the weight of the entire country on your shoulders, but this is a home. You shouldn't dump your trash here. It stinks, and nobody likes it."
The corner of my mouth quirked up slightly. I was impressed by her reasoning, even though it bruised my ego a bit to be lectured like this. I suppose I'll have to try and think of myself as one of her students for a moment.
"I'll try. Now, let's go eat. I've already bought some food." I gripped her hand to lead her out, but the smaller woman resisted, her face full of suspicion.
"Wait... are you actually trying to make up with me?"
"I never said that," I replied flatly. I-Tim shot me a sharp, glaring look before shaking my hand off.
"I'm still not over that news about you. I'm not used to it, and it pisses me off that the husband who didn't even want me as his wife is making headlines with another woman." She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest.
Even though my own feelings aren't entirely clear yet, they have been steadily taking shape... ever since I met her... again.