Chapter 3 It All Started with Excitement

“Why… why…?” Tharatchanan sobbed, her words broken and barely coherent. 

“Did Art break up with you?” Ladapha asked softly, her voice tinged with worry. She gazed at her sister with concern, then rose from the sofa and moved closer. 

Tharatchanan didn’t answer immediately. She cried harder, her attempts to speak swallowed by her sobs. After a few moments, she managed to choke out, “He cheated… That bastard... he cheated” ... 

Ladapha stepped forward and pulled her elder sister into a tight hug, holding her close without asking any more questions. She gently rubbed Tharatchanan’s back, her voice calm and soothing. “If you need to cry, let it all out. Just for today, cry as much as you need to.” 

She didn’t want to push her sister further, knowing how deeply Tharatchanan had cared for Art. Her sister had been so serious about him—serious enough to talk about marriage and building a future together. But maybe it was better this way. At least she knew the truth before walking down the aisle with someone who didn’t deserve her. 

“I... I loved him. I still love him,” Tharatchanan whispered through her tears, her voice trembling with pain. 

Ladapha stayed quiet. She didn’t know what to say, having never been in a relationship herself, she couldn’t fully understand the depth of her elder sister’s heartbreak. 

“He’s been lie… on me… for an entire…” 

Anger flickered across Ladapha’s face. For five years, she had seen her sister devoted to him, never once straying or entertaining the advances of other men, even when loneliness crept in during his absences. And now this? 

“Do you remember what Mom always said?” Ladapha asked, her voice steady. “A man who truly loves you will never cheat. Not once.” 

Those words hit Tharatchanan hard. She had heard them countless times growing up, and yet now they felt like a painful truth she couldn’t escape. Her chest tightened, the pain pressing down on her until it felt impossible to breathe. 

She nodded faintly, acknowledging her elder sister’s words. Deep down, she knew they were true. A man like him wasn’t fit to be the father of her children; let alone someone she could trust her life with. 

Ladapha held her elder sister a little tighter, silently vowing to help her get through this pain, no matter how long it took.

“Hum,” Tharatchanan murmured, glancing at the pile of things she had dragged down earlier. Once, these items had meant everything to her, but now they were nothing more than trash waiting to be discarded. The fond memories of the past five years were fading fast, all thanks to one man’s betrayal. She knew it wouldn’t be easy to forget, but she also knew she had to. 

The weekend came and went, and Tharatchanan hadn’t left her bedroom even once. She barely touched the little food Ladapha had brought her, and despite her internal monologue telling her to move on, to not waste more time grieving, she simply couldn’t muster the strength. 

**Knock, knock, knock** 

The sound of repeated knocking echoed through the quiet apartment. There was no response from Tharatchanan. She didn’t even stir from the bed, where she lay curled up with her back to the door. 

Finally, the door creaked open. Ladapha stepped inside and was immediately struck by the oppressive darkness of the room. The curtains were drawn tight, shutting out even the faintest trace of sunlight. 

“You need to start being again,” Ladapha said gently, walking closer to the bed. She gazed down at her sister, her heart aching at the sight of Tharatchanan’s unmoving figure. 

Worry gnawed at her. What if her sister was thinking of doing something drastic? Two days weren’t long enough to fully heal, but seeing her wallow in despair like this wasn’t helping anyone. 

“Maybe I should call our *amazing* big brother to come stay with you for a while,” Ladapha suggested, her tone both teasing and serious. 

“Don’t you dare!” Tharatchanan snapped, her voice muffled but sharp enough to show she wasn’t entirely defeated. 

“I’m not joking,” Ladapha said, folding her arms. “If you keep acting like this, there’s a real chance you’ll do something reckless. So maybe having him here wouldn’t be such a bad idea.” 

“You’re not going to call him, are you?” Tharatchanan asked, her voice trembling. The thought of their hot-headed older brother showing up—and potentially escalating things with her ex—made her stomach twist. She couldn’t risk a bigger problem brewing in this mess. 

“That depends on you,” Ladapha replied, tilting her head as she met her sister’s gaze with quiet determination. 

Tharatchanan sighed heavily, sitting up for the first time in days. She wiped her face and tried to steal herself. Ladapha was right, wallowing wouldn’t help her heal, and the last thing she needed was more chaos in her life. 

“Okay, you don’t have to call and tell.”

Ladapha laughed. “Good. Then let’s go down and eat.”

Tharatchanan nodded reluctantly and swung her legs off the bed. As Ladapha stepped back, her sister’s gaze drifted toward a mirror across the room. The moment her reflection came into view, a loud, horrified scream filled the room. 

“Ahh! Is that my face? Why do I look *this* terrible?” 

Tharatchanan dashed to her vanity, staring at her reflection with wide, panicked eyes. Her once flawless complexion, free of wrinkles and blemishes, was now a pale, tired canvas with dark circles under her eyes. Her hands trembled as she traced the lines and shadows on her face, her disbelief turning into outright despair. 

“This is unacceptable!” she cried, stomping her feet in frustration. 

Ladapha, who had been watching from the doorway, burst into laughter. Her elder sister’s over-the-top reaction, though dramatic, was a welcome change from the silence and sadness of the past two days. 

“You really need to take better care of yourself,” Ladapha teased, grinning. “At this rate, you might just end up single forever.” 

“Ladapha!” Tharatchanan snapped, glaring at her younger sister. 

“Alright, alright,” Ladapha said, waving her hands in mock surrender. “I’ll wait for you downstairs. Don’t take too long, okay?” 

With that, she left the room, still chuckling to herself. Tharatchanan let out a sigh, shaking her head at her sister’s antics before turning back to her reflection. Despite her embarrassment, she couldn’t help but crack a small, reluctant smile. Maybe it was time to pick herself up and start moving on. 

After the door clicked shut, Tharatchanan turned to the mirror once again. She couldn’t believe how much she had let herself go in just two days. Her reflection—pale, tired, and almost unrecognizable—felt like a wake-up call. She let out a sigh and walked back to her bed to grab her phone. 

What should she do? Should she arrange to meet him and talk things through? Or should she leave it as it was and wait for the inevitable day when he officially ended things with her? 

Over the past two days, it felt like she started coming to terms with the situation. Part of that acceptance stemmed from seeing her zombie-like face in the mirror. It finally hit her that crying and wallowing in sadness was only making things worse. 

The morning air was bright and clear, with no sign of impending rain—a perfect day for a fresh start. Ladapha stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her outfit for her job interview. She had carefully chosen a new set of clothes for the occasion, ensuring she looked polished and professional. After double checking her documents, she gave herself one last glance in the mirror, grabbed her bag, and headed downstairs. 

“You’re up already?” Tharatchanan asked, her voice laced with mild surprise as she watched her sister walk into the kitchen for breakfast. She hadn’t expected Ladapha to be up so early, let alone dressed so formally. It wasn’t every day that Ladapha looked this put together. 

“Where are you headed?” Tharatchanan added, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. 

“Job interview,” Ladapha replied with an excited smile, her voice tinged with nervous energy as though it were her first job opportunity. 

“They already called you?” 

Ladapha nodded enthusiastically and took a seat at the table, her eyes lighting up as she began eating the breakfast in front of her. 

“I’ll be heading out to meet a client today,” Tharatchanan said, setting her utensils down. “Want me to drop you off at the company on my way?” 

“Well, of course!” Ladapha grinned cheekily, taking another bite. “I’m not about to take the bus and risk messing up my hair!” 

Tharatchanan chuckled softly, her sister’s humor momentarily lifting the weight in the room. She glanced at Ladapha again, noticing her radiant confidence and energy. It was refreshing, but deep down, Tharatchanan couldn’t help but worry.

“Have you come to terms with it yet?” Ladapha asked gently, her tone serious now. “About him” 

Tharatchanan paused, her smile faltering for a brief second before she nodded. “Yeah,” she whispered, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her voice wavered as she added, “Let’s just go. It’s getting late, and the traffic will be terrible.” 

Without another word, she stood, grabbed her plate, and headed to the kitchen. Once out of sight, Tharatchanan let herself pause and take a deep breath. Her mind churned with indecision. Should she meet with Art and confront him? Or should she take the easier route and simply send him a message to end things? 

Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her phone and composed a quick text message: 

Art, Are you free after work today? I need to talk to you about something. 

After sending the message, she turned back to see Ladapha watching her quietly from the doorway. Ladapha’s concern was evident, but she didn’t press further. Instead she smiled reassuringly. 

“Let’s go,” Ladapha said, grabbing her bag and heading toward the door. 

Tharatchanan simply nodded, following her sister out of the house. Ladapha locked the door behind them, and within moments, they were in the car, heading into a day full of possibilities, decisions, and, hopefully, closure. 

She *had* to pass this interview. 

Ladapha repeated that mantra in her head as she glanced around the waiting area. Other candidates sat quietly, their faces a mix of confidence and anxiety, waiting for their turn according to the queue numbers they held. Her nerves were on edge—her body tense, her hands icy and trembling despite her best efforts to steady herself. 

Although this wasn’t her first job interview, this opportunity felt monumental. The company was a renowned producer and exporter of ready-made food products, with an impressive reputation both domestically and internationally. The position came with excellent salary and benefits, making it the kind of job many could only dream of. Naturally, she was anxious. 

Nearly two hours passed as Ladapha waited. One by one, candidates entered the interview room and emerged, some looking confident while others appeared visibly shaken. She took a deep breath, glancing down at her chilled hands to ground herself. When her name was finally called, she stood up quickly, forcing her legs to steady beneath her, and walked into the room. 

The interview was grueling. By the time it was over, Ladapha felt drained, both mentally and physically. The intense questioning and discussion had pushed her to her limits, and she had to muster all her composure just to get through it. 

She left the interview room with a heavy heart, her energy depleted. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had fumbled and ruined her chances. 

Inside the bathroom, Ladapha leaned against the door, her documents and bag resting on a nearby counter. Her face was forlorn, her mind replaying the interview questions and her own responses repeatedly.

“I’ve definitely blown it,” she thought, exhaling as she pressed her back against the door. She rubbed her hands over her face, trying to shake off the lingering nervousness that left her body trembling.

Suddenly, she heard the low, unmistakable sound of a man’s voice. Her ears perked up, and she froze, her heart sinking as a horrifying realization began to dawn on her.

Did I… Did I accidentally walk into the men’s bathroom?

“Wanna grab some drinks tonight? I’ve got a blind date lined up with some girls,” a man said casually, his voice carrying from somewhere nearby.

Her face turned pale, and panic set in.

*Oh no! Not again!

Ladapha felt like sinking into the ground.