Chapter 6 Return to Bangkok

In the end, Lydia returned to Bangkok with Parker in his four-wheel-drive pickup truck, which had a Rung Arun Farm sticker on the door.

“Are you embarrassed to be riding in a pickup like this?” Parker asked as he loaded the souvenirs into the truck bed, which had a cover to ensure that nothing would fly out or get damaged by the sun or rain.

Lydia giggled. On her way there, she had only brought a small backpack since she already had clothes at her grandparents' house. But on the way back, she had accumulated a lot more, mostly souvenirs that Parker had generously packed into the back of the truck.

“When I was a kid, I used to ride in your pickup to school, Uncle Parker. Have you forgotten? If I was going to be embarrassed, it would've been back then,” Lydia said with a playful grin as she placed her backpack behind the passenger seat. The pickup truck was a four-door model, and knowing that she might get hungry during the trip, Parker had someone prepare a basket of snacks for them to enjoy along the way.

“Well, you're all grown up now,” Parker teased with a smile as he gently helped Lydia into the truck before walking around to the driver’s side. Despite having several cars to choose from, he still preferred driving his pickup, even for trips into Bangkok.

“Do you go to Bangkok often?” Lydia asked after they had been on the road for a while.

“I'm not sure if you'd call it often, maybe every two or three months,” Parker replied, then reached out his hand. “Could you grab my sunglasses for me? They're in the glove compartment.”

Lydia did as he asked, retrieving the sunglasses from the compartment. Noticing a lens cleaning cloth inside, she wiped the glasses before handing them over to Parker.

“Thank you,” Parker said as he put on the sunglasses and focused on the road ahead. “Feel free to nap if you’re tired, and if you need to use the bathroom, just let me know.”

“Sure,” Lydia replied, pausing for a moment before asking, “Parker, since you come to Bangkok often, why don’t you ever visit me?”

Parker smiled before responding, “And what about you, Lydia? When you come back to visit your grandparents, you never climb over the fence to see me.”

“Lydia pouted playfully and said, “I’m not a kid anymore to be climbing fences like that,” before breaking into a laugh.

“Since you’re not a kid anymore, it would feel odd for me to just drop by your dorm,” Parker said with a smile. “And you haven’t reached out to me either, so I figured you must have your own circle. With the age gap between us and me spending all my time at the farm, I wasn’t sure how to approach you.” He glanced at Lydia before focusing back on the road.

Lydia chose not to press the issue further. Life has its own paths, and although she often thought of visiting Parker when she was back with her grandparents, her grandfather's warnings lingered in her mind. Since Parker took over Rung Arun Farm after his father's death, he had been embroiled in various conflicts while trying to uphold the legacy of his father's hard work. Her grandfather had cautioned her against getting too close to Parker, and that advice had stayed with her.

Lydia looked at Parker with curiosity. “And what about your mother?”

Parker’s gaze shifted to the road ahead. “Two years ago, she was diagnosed with a tumor. She made a vow at the temple, promising to give up meat if she recovered. After her surgery, she stuck to that vow and moved to live with my aunt in another district.”

Lydia's eyes widened in surprise. “I hadn’t heard anything about this.”

Parker nodded, his voice steady. “Mom didn’t want anyone to know. During her treatment, people heard only that she was in the hospital a lot, but nothing more. She’s doing great now, though. Don’t worry.”

Lydia let out a relieved sigh. “I’m glad to hear she’s doing well.”

“And... Lydia, you’re working now, right? What do you do? Your grandfather mentioned something about working in a factory.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Lydia said with a bright laugh, noticing his puzzled expression.

“Really?” Parker looked surprised. “I thought you had a degree in pharmacy.”

“I do,” Lydia confirmed with a nod. “I work in a pharmaceutical production facility.”

“Ah!” Parker chuckled. “So, no plans to move back home?”

Lydia shook her head. “Not at the moment. I’m settled here for now.”

Lydia fell silent. She was deeply concerned about her grandparents, who had raised her in place of her own parents. When she passed her exams and went on to study in another city, they were still in good health. She landed a job right after graduation, one that was aligned with her field of study, and the salary and benefits were satisfactory. Although she had considered finding work closer to home, she was also drawn to career advancement. After discussing it with her grandparents, they encouraged her to pursue her dreams, so she decided to work in Bangkok and visit home during her breaks.

It wasn’t until Joe talked about marriage that she began to entertain the idea of settling down. At the time, she hadn’t yet seen Joe's true nature and believed he would take good care of her. She thought it would be a good arrangement, believing she could eventually find a way to relocate closer to her grandparents to care for them.

If she hadn’t seen that scene with her own eyes, she and Joe would probably be discussing wedding plans with the elders now, choosing favors and catering for the guests. But now, everything had come to an end.

“Is something wrong?” Parker glanced at her briefly.

“Hmm?”

“You suddenly went quiet.”

“Should I talk non-stop?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to leave Dr. Anan alone at the farm like that?”

“He is just a close friend of mine. He’s used to coming over to eat and stay like that. As long as someone is cooking for him, he’ll be fine.

Parker had his doubts about Anan. His friend had always been one to keep his problems to himself, retreating to the farm whenever things got difficult. Parker couldn’t quite understand what troubling Anan was, as he never spoke about it, but it was evident that he was using the farm as a refuge from something he refused to reveal.

Lydia chuckled softly. Initially, she was worried that Parker would have to leave his friend behind to take care of her, but Anan had insisted on staying alone for a while.

“Can I play some music?” Lydia asked.

“Sure, go ahead. Play whatever you like,” Parker replied, his tone warm and encouraging. Anything that made her smile was welcome.

With a graceful motion, Lydia reached for the car's music system. She didn't pay much attention to the current playlist, but as the soft, soothing melodies began to fill the car, she raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“This is really calming,” she remarked.

Parker chuckled at the irony. Despite his tough exterior as the strict boss, he had a surprising fondness for gentle, instrumental music.

“I’m not criticizing,” she said with a soft smile, as she picked up her phone to check the time, deliberately avoiding the flood of messages that had been coming in. She closed her eyes, intending only to rest for a moment, but soon found herself drifting into a deep, unplanned sleep. It wasn’t until Parker stopped to refuel the car that he gently woke her, asking if she needed to use the restroom.

Despite the years apart, the care Parker showed had not diminished in the slightest. When Lydia awoke again, refreshed from her deep sleep, she found herself eager to chat, hoping to keep the conversation engaging. The distance between them seemed to melt away as they spoke. She learned more about his life, which largely revolved around the farm. His rough hands and determined heart had guided him through numerous challenges. Becoming "Parker the boss of Rung Arun Farm" was not a matter of luck but of his sheer capability and perseverance.

“Do you still not have a girlfriend?” Lydia asked, shifting the conversation to a more personal topic.

Parker's response was immediate and certain. “No, I don’t.” The answer came without hesitation because it was the truth. Lydia’s expression suggested she was skeptical. “You’ve been at the house for days, and you didn’t see anyone else or any signs of a woman around.”

Lydia shrugged. “I didn’t really pay attention to those details.” It didn’t seem right to pry into his personal life.

“But I wouldn’t mind some attention,” Parker added with a teasing smile. It had been ages since he’d courted anyone. His life was consumed by work and the farm. He had no time to pamper a woman, and the women he might have been interested in were nowhere to be found. “You see, I spend all my days at the farm. What woman would have any interest in that?”

“Don’t try to act all charming,” Lydia said with a light laugh. “With someone like you, ‘Master Parker,’ there must be plenty of women vying for your attention.”

Parker’s smile faded as he spoke, his tone taking on a wistful note. “There are certainly many who come running but finding someone who genuinely stays by your side is rare. Maybe I’ll end up alone for the rest of my life.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Lydia said, her voice soothing as she tried to comfort him.

As they neared Lydia’s condo, Parker glanced over and asked, “I will help carrying your stuff.”

Lydia shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I can manage.”

“Did you forget the two crates of oranges?” Parker laughed as he noticed Lydia’s realization. When he knew, she was returning to Bangkok with him, he had quickly enlisted the workers to load up the truck with a mountain of fruits, snacks, and various products from Rung Arun Farm. It looked as if they were about to set up a full-blown market booth rather than just heading into the city.

Lydia suddenly remembered and laughed. Just like when her grandparents visited and filled her small refrigerator with goodies from the countryside, Parker had loaded her with an abundance of items. As soon as the truck came to a stop, she borrowed a cart from the condo's front desk to help him carry the stuff up to her room.

Parker, now transformed into a labor, couldn’t hide his wide grin as he made his way into Lydia’s room. Once inside, he couldn’t help but scan the room, taking in every detail. The space was impeccably tidy, with not a single trace of male presence. His satisfaction was palpable.

“How long will you be staying in Bangkok, Parker?” Lydia asked.

“Uh, probably two or three days,” Parker replied, a bit uncertain. The truth was, he hadn’t set a specific end date for his visit. In reality, he didn’t even need to come to Bangkok. But he wanted to see Lydia’s place for himself and make his intentions clear, so he’d found a reason to come.

“If you finish your work early, let me know,” Lydia said. “I’d like to take you out for a meal to thank you properly.”

“Can you really afford to treat me?” Parker asked, trying to mask his delight.

“If you’re okay with something simple, I’m sure I can manage,” Lydia answered with a smile.

“Alright, I’ll give you a call then.”

“Great,” she replied.

Parker chatted with Lydia for a few more moments before saying his goodbyes. With a cheerful whistle, he made his way back to his truck. This year, it seemed that the bachelor life might just be a thing of the past for him!