Chapter 10: Seven Questions

Pie Mindara Manaying

            “Pie, wake up. We’re here,” I heard Kimhan called me twice. “You know, I’m not going to carry you inside,” She added, causing my eyes to snap open, irritated. Did I ever ask her to carry me? Never! Instead of arguing about anything, I removed the seat belt and lazily stretched out. It has been a long journey I could tell. We left the city before noon and it seemed like dusk was about to greet us soon. The sun was getting ready to bid its temporary goodbye from the western sky. Nightfall was coming in an hour or two.

            “Tired?” Kimhan asked and I managed a small nod. I was so beat even though Kimhan was the one who did the driving all the way here. I spent the long hour journey by sleeping, awaked for a few minutes, eating and nodded off again.

            “Well you can continue to rest later,” She smiled, looking exhausted herself. Then, as if there was something bizarre I had never seen in somebody else’s eyes, I found myself gazing right into the two pairs of beautiful orbs as if I have been put under a spell. Her brown iris was captivating yet they held a mysterious look which screamed for discovery. They didn’t just screamed out for my attention, didn’t they?

            “Can we get inside now?” I ran my gaze away from her before she noticed the effect she had on me. I hated the fact that Kimhan’s gaze never failed to charm me. Should I tell that I was actually loved the look in her eyes? It was ridiculous.

            “Sure. Why don’t you take these keys while I get your stuffs from the trunk?” Kimhan handed me the keys which I supposed should be used to unlock the door of the house.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

I stood in awe of the spectacular view right before my very eyes. It wasn’t the house that enchanted me but it was the surrounding itself. A few yards away from where I was standing was a huge lake appeared as if by magic; the visage of the lake was veneer – clear and tranquil, flanked by avenues of trees. Cavern quiet, I felt peace seeping through my weary form. It was nearly impossible to admit it but I instantly fell in love with this state of tranquillity.

            “I can tour you around tomorrow,” Kimhan said, approaching me with a luggage and a few other stuffs of mine in her hands. We held our gazes once and I knew it wasn’t necessary for me to respond to her at all time. Of all excuses I could make, I didn’t want her to know that I was enchanted to be here. To be completely honest, I never knew that this kind of place exist in my own homeland. I hated to admit it but I began to fall in love with the beauty of the land which practically owned by Kimhan Burnaphan. Surprised, surprised, I liked the place.

            “Are you going to unlock the door, Pie?” Kimhan flashed a faint smile while patiently waiting for my progress. Shush, how could I forget that? I had the keys and Kimhan was carrying a lot of things in her hands.

            “Okay,” I walked hastily to the main entrance of the house.

The tall grey door leaf wasn’t as heavy as I thought at the very moment I pushed it open. Holding it still, I let Kimhan entered the house first and trailed after her the second later. Again, I was not expecting the view I had in front of my very eyes. At first, I thought I would see white cloths spread all over the furniture, protecting them from the nasty dusts of the air. However, everything was opposing my assumption. The house looked fine as if it was inhabited by someone before us. The floor was clean and everything was neatly arranged at their places. Then, it struck me that Kimhan had returned to this place a few days ago just to make sure the house was good for me to stay. She did everything just for me.

            “I see that you like the house?” Kimhan spoke, looking at me for a confirmation.

            “Cosy… and I’m fine with it,” Kimhan seemed relieved upon hearing my comment. I was telling her the truth anyway. I liked the place. “Where’s my room?” I asked, not wanting to lengthen the time I would have to spend with her. I needed to change, a shower would help to refresh my body and then, a long sleep in bed would be the best to end the day. Maybe Kimhan could serve something for me to eat before that. I didn’t even realised I was starving until the thought of eating food suddenly rushed to my mind.

            “Come with me,” Kimhan said, leading the way which I figured out to be upstairs. This house wasn’t that spacious and it wasn’t surprising because Kimhan came from a small family. I wonder how many rooms we had here.

Kimhan took me to the west wing of the floor and we stopped at the left room of the hall. Across the room was another door which I presumed to be another bedroom as well. “Here,” Kimhan opened the door and I stepped inside. Judging from the interior look of it, this room was supposed to be the master bedroom of the house.

            “This was my parents’ bedroom,” Kimhan stated, placing my luggage and belongings at the bedside. “And now, it’s yours,” She added, turning around and facing me. “Your clothes are in the wardrobe,” She pointed at the long wardrobe attached to the other side of the wall. “The bathroom is there,” I traced the direction she was pointing to.

            “Okay,”

            “I’m going to sleep in my room,” Kimhan said just before I was about to ask her the same. “And my room is just right across this room,” Now it answered my question. First, I was right about the room across this one was another bedroom and secondly, why I was not surprised to know that it was Kimhan’s bedroom?

            “Alright, I got it,” Awkwardness began to fill in the air of the room as Kimhan stood there, staring at me like she had never wished to leave the room. “I’m going to shower,” Maybe it could be the best excuse to make her leave me for a moment.

            “Sure, sure,” Kimhan seemed to be taken aback. “I’ll cook the dinner and come down whenever you’re done,” She said, taking a step back before she her heel, leaving me all alone as I desired.

*******

I had not realised how long had I spent in the bathroom but I guessed it was long enough for Kimhan to prepare for the dinner. Maybe I could see what she was doing by now. I hoped the dinner was ready. My stomach was starving and it roared in hunger demanding to be fed. I picked up my oversized T – shirt and also the short shorts. Kimhan wouldn’t bother with it right? Whatever it was, I just didn’t care. I looked for my phone just to remember that I had placed it on the nightstand. Before I saw my phone the other things caught my attention. They were the photo frames of Kimhan’s family. Yes I could assure it. I saw Kimhan’s picture there but it was the little version of Kimhan…with long hair?

Interested and thrilled at the same time, I reached out my hand to grab the precise photo frame. It was difficult to believe but Kimhan looked way more feminine in this old picture. Judging from the look, she was about five or six back in time. She was normal like any other girls though, she was pretty and cute even though she was just a little girl. A small chuckle escaped from my lips, as I thought about it. Did I just said that I found Kimhan Burnaphan pretty?

            “Pie, dinner is ready,” The knocks on the bedroom’s door startled me. Short after, Kimhan emerged from the opening. She saw me holding the frame and I placed it back to its place as if it was a big mistake to even look at the photo frame. Kimhan walked herself into the room and sat at the edge of the bed, very close to me. She took the same frame and stared at it for the longest second.

            “My father has always wished for a son,” She began and I knew it was my opportunity to listen to her story. That was it, Kimhan started to open up about her for me. “When I was born, he was a bit devastated knowing that his only child is a girl but that didn’t stop him to love me though. He treated me like a princess yet he never failed to train me like a warrior. I was raised to be a prince afterwards and all I knew, I grew up like this,” Kimhan pointed to herself, curling up the corner of her thin lips into a small smile.

            “I was cute huh?” She nudged me, showing the pictures of girly Kimhan.

I burst out laughing, “Yes, you were cute and I like this Kimhan better,” I took the frame from her. I admired how pretty she looked even if she was just a small girl. If she ever kept her image until now, she might look better than me.

            “Well maybe if I grow my hair longer by now, you won’t feel the same,” She shook her head, laughing along with me. “You will always hate me,” She stated and that was when our laughter stopped abruptly. Kimhan tore her gaze away from me, dropping it to the ground and all of sudden the feeling of guilty haunted me.

            “Kimhan…” A long sigh was heard from me.

            “What about we go downstairs and eat our dinner?” Kimhan cut me before I got the chance to further my words. “I fear that it’s getting cold,” I nodded at her, knowing that she just didn’t wish to lengthen the matter. Kimhan has grown a bit well tolerated with me. It was a huge improvement so far. I was impressed.

*******

The smell of the food made my stomach growled even wilder in hunger. Kimhan made me seated across her and I didn’t protest for any of her gentleman acts when she pulled the chair for me though. I was getting used to her treatment. This was Kimhan Burnaphan and she would always been this way.

            “Well, I cook your favourite,” Kimhan served the food for me. It w