Chapter 4: La-Orchan

Rinlada took Treephat and Nicha to a well-known restaurant in Ayutthaya for lunch. While the food was delicious enough to command their full attention, Nicha couldn’t help but notice something far more intriguing—Treephat’s gaze, which never strayed from Rinlada.

It was clear her best friend was more than a little interested in Rinlada. Being the playful and mischievous type, Nicha decided to give her friend a little nudge in the right direction.

“Did you know, Khun Aey, that Lin might seem quiet, but she has plenty of admirers?” Nicha began with a sly grin. “Men and women alike. And when it comes to women, she’s especially popular!”

Rinlada chuckled lightly and replied, “Really? I had no idea Khun Lin was so popular among women.” She smiled, her tone teasing.

“Oh, very popular,” Nicha confirmed enthusiastically. “But Lin never dates anyone seriously. She’s single. Very single,” she emphasized, her tone deliberate as she shot a playful wink at Treephat.

Treephat immediately gave Nicha a warning glare, but Nicha paid no attention.

Rinlada turned to Treephat with curiosity. “Never dates seriously? Does that mean you’re a bit of a flirt, Khun Lin?”

The question caught Treephat off guard, making her startle slightly. She quickly explained, “Not at all. I just haven’t found the right person yet.”

“She’s just a little too picky,” Nicha interjected with a laugh, before steering the conversation further. “What about you, Khun Aey? Do you have a partner?”

But Rinlada wasn’t so easily outplayed. She met Nicha’s gaze, smiling sweetly, and replied with a playful tone, “Are you asking because you’re curious, or are you asking on someone else’s behalf?”

The unexpected comeback left both Nicha and Treephat momentarily stunned. Seeing their expressions, Rinlada let out a soft laugh.

“I’m just teasing,” she said with a warm smile. “There have been a few people who’ve shown interest, but I’m not easy to fall for. I haven’t opened my heart to any man yet.”

Haven’t opened her heart to any man yet…

Neither Nicha nor Treephat could tell if Rinlada was subtly hinting at her preferences. Nicha shot her friend a sympathetic look, while Treephat could only offer a faint, resigned smile, as if silently accepting her disappointment.

But just as the mood began to settle, Rinlada added with a playful glint in her eyes, “Maybe it’s because I like women more.”

Nicha nearly smacked the table in excitement. There it is! Her gaydar had never failed her before.

…

After the meal,

Treephat and Nicha drove Rinlada home, despite her polite insistence that it wasn’t necessary. Treephat, however, stood firm, saying she would feel more at ease knowing Rinlada made it home safely.

“Thank you so much, Khun Lin and Khun Nicha, for going out of your way to drop me off. I really appreciate it,” Rinlada said warmly.

“It’s no trouble at all. It gives us peace of mind,” Treephat replied with a gentle smile.

Rinlada returned her smile. “Drive safely, and please don’t forget to send me a message when you get home.”

“I will,” Treephat replied simply.

Rinlada gave a sweet smile before driving her beloved Mini Cooper through the large gates, disappearing from view.

Treephat stood watching until the car was completely out of sight. Next to her, Nicha couldn’t resist teasing. “Wow, you followed her all the way home, stood here until she drove off, and now you’re still staring. You like her, don’t you, Lin? I can tell!”

Treephat immediately denied it, her voice firm. “What are you talking about? No, I don’t.”

“Yeah, sure! Just admit it—you like Khun Aey,” Nicha pressed, grinning mischievously.

Treephat let out a long sigh. “I just want to get to know her, that’s all.”

“Get to know her, or are you planning to ask her out? Just say it, Lin! If you like her, just admit it!” Nicha teased again, this time raising her voice theatrically.

This time, Treephat turned to her friend with a serious expression that made Nicha pause.

“I want to get to know her... because she looks exactly like the woman from my dreams—the ancient woman I’ve been dreaming about for as long as I can remember.”

Nicha’s eyes widened in shock at Treephat’s words.

…

Meeting Treephat felt so coincidental that Rinlada couldn’t help but wonder if it was fate. She lay reclined on her bed in soft pastel pajamas, a thin blanket loosely draped over her. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling as her mind wrestled with a tangle of emotions.

The moment their eyes met in the temple…

A strange sense of familiarity had surged through Rinlada. It was as if she had known this woman for ages. The gentleness in Treephat’s gaze, the warmth in her voice—everything about her was captivating, making it impossible for Rinlada to look away.

Suddenly, the sound of a notification broke the silence in the room. Rinlada quickly grabbed her phone from the bedside table, her heart inexplicably racing.

Treephat has arrived back in Bangkok safely.

The short message from Treephat lit up the screen, and Rinlada felt her heart pound even harder. She didn’t understand why such a simple message could make her smile.

Her slender fingers typed a quick reply.

[That’s good to hear.]

She paused for a moment before typing another line.

[It was nice meeting you again, Khun Lin. I hope we’ll have the chance to see each other again.]

Within seconds, a new notification popped up.

[Likewise, Khun Aey. Sweet dreams tonight.]

A small, unconscious smile appeared on Rinlada’s lips. She typed back a brief response.

[Sweet dreams, Khun Lin.]

.

.

After placing the phone beside her, Rinlada sank into the softness of her bed, the blanket still loosely wrapped around her. But even as she lay there, Treephat’s image lingered vividly in her mind. Her sharp eyes, her warm smile, and her voice filled with subtle kindness—all of it seemed etched into Rinlada’s thoughts. She couldn’t explain why she felt such a strong connection to Treephat, especially when they had just met for the first time.

.

.

Eventually, her eyelids grew heavy. Slowly, Rinlada let her eyes close, surrendering to the quiet of her room and allowing her dreams to take over.

.

.

In her dream, Rinlada found herself standing once again inside the temple of a familiar monastery. Everything around her felt strangely recognizable. It resembled the temple where she had met Treephat earlier that morning, but here, the surroundings appeared newer, untouched by time.

Before her stood the large green stone Buddha, still seated majestically on its pedestal. Soft light filtered through the windows, casting a serene glow across the room, enhancing the tranquility of the space.

Rinlada moved closer, and that was when she saw a woman bowing respectfully before the Buddha. The woman was adorned in exquisite traditional Thai attire, her silk garment vibrant and intricately patterned.

What made Rinlada freeze in place was the woman’s face—it was identical to her own in every detail, as though she were gazing at a reflection pulled from the depths of time.

Beside the woman knelt another, her posture graceful and composed. This second woman was also dressed in traditional Thai clothing, though her outfit was in softer tones. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, her sharp nose and striking features perfectly symmetrical. She exuded an air of elegance, every angle of her form flawless.

As the second woman slowly turned her face, Rinlada’s eyes widened in astonishment.

It was Treephat’s face.

Rinlada felt as though she were under a spell. The entire world around her seemed to still—no sound, not even the faintest whisper of wind. It was as though the scene before her was trying to reveal a significant story, a piece of her past that she had long forgotten.

.

.

“Do you come to make merit at this temple often?”

asked the woman whose face bore a striking resemblance to Treephat. Her voice was soft and gentle, yet it carried an undertone of curiosity.

“Quite often.” replied the woman who looked strikingly like Rinlada. She paused for a moment, studying the other woman carefully before returning the question with polite curiosity.

“You are Lady Phiengwad, daughter of Lord Krai, are you not?”

“You know me?” Phiengwad raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes glimmering with a hint of surprise.

The woman resembling Rinlada let out a soft laugh, her smile as radiant as the morning sun.

“Who wouldn’t know of Lady Phiengwad?” she said with a tone filled with admiration, her lips curving into a cheerful smile.

“Lady Phiengwad, daughter of Lord Krai, renowned throughout the city for your incomparable beauty, like a painting come to life. Your long, jet-black hair, your delicate fragrance akin to freshly bloomed flowers—your beauty is said to defy description. Today, seeing you in person, I can attest that the rumors are true.”

Phiengwad listened to the compliments with a gentle smile, her gaze softening as she looked at the woman before her. The lively young lady reminded her of a chirping bird, her words flowing endlessly as though they had been rehearsed or memorized.

“If that’s the case, then you must be the daughter of Lord Noradit, am I correct?” Phiengwad asked, immediately shifting her tone upon hearing herself addressed as Sister.

The woman in question raised her eyebrows slightly, surprised, before responding, “You know me as well, P’Phiengwad?”

“Of course, I do. However, I am not certain whether you are the elder twin or the younger one. After all, in the entire city, only the twin daughters of Lord Noradit possess such beauty and elegance, with faces and attire befitting the daughters of a wealthy noble,” Phiengwad said warmly.

At this, the woman laughed playfully, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink.

“If you keep praising me like this, P’Phiengwad, I might just float up and stick to the ceiling of the temple!”

she teased with a mischievous smile.

“Well then, P’Phiengwad, why don’t you take a guess? Am I the elder twin or the younger one?” she asked, her tone full of playful challenge.

Phiengwad smiled sweetly, clearly amused by the playful demeanor of the young woman before her. "I’ve heard it said that Lady La-Orduen, the elder twin, is gentle and refined in her manners, while her younger twin, Lady La-Orchan, is equally beautiful but far more mischievous. They say the younger twin is also quite the talker, chattering endlessly like a parrot."

"Are you saying I talk too much, P'Phiengwad?"

La-Orchan protested with a hint of embarrassment, though her smile betrayed her playful spirit.

Phiengwad chuckled softly and replied in a gentle tone, "Not at all. I meant to say you’re eloquent, not excessive. I think you must be La-Orchan, the younger twin, am I right?"

La-Orchan beamed with pride, her eyes shining brightly.

"That’s absolutely correct! P'Phiengwad, you’re not only beautiful but also as clever as the rumors say!"

.

.

“La-Orchan, are you ready to return home?”

The voice of a newcomer sounded from behind, soft and steady, accompanied by the graceful figure of a woman emerging in the soft glow of the evening light. Her steps were slow but elegant, every movement exuding poise.

Phiengwad turned toward the voice, her gentle eyes meeting the striking gaze of the newcomer. The woman before her was stunningly beautiful, her face almost identical to La-Orchan’s, befitting that of a twin. Yet her calm demeanor and commanding presence made those who looked upon her feel as though they were standing before a deep, still river, impossible to fathom.

La-Orduen’s sharp gaze rested on Phiengwad, her mysterious and regal eyes captivating the latter, holding her as if under a spell. Phiengwad found herself unable to look away.

“We can leave now,” La-Orchan chirped, breaking the spell of silence with her cheerful tone.

La-Orduen briefly lowered her gaze before turning it back to her younger twin, her expression tinged with curiosity, as though questions lingered unspoken.

Seizing the moment, La-Orchan eagerly introduced the two women.

“P’La-Orduen, this is P’Phiengwad, the daughter of Lord Krai,” she said brightly before turning to Phiengwad. “P’Phiengwad, this is my elder twin sister, P’La-Orduen.”

The two women exchanged glances once more. In La-Orduen’s eyes, a thoughtful expression flickered, while Phiengwad offered a warm and friendly smile. Her gentle demeanor seemed to ease La-Orduen’s initial reserve, helping her to relax.

“On the next holy day, I plan to return here to make merit and pay my respects to the Great Buddha. I hope I’ll see both of you, La-Orchan and La-Orduen, again,”

Phiengwad said in a soft, melodic tone. Her serene smile radiated genuine sincerity, making her words all the more heartfelt.

La-Orchan responded with a bright, enthusiastic smile, her eyes sparkling with joy. La-Orduen, on the other hand, simply nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Though her expression remained calm and composed, a peculiar sense of happiness stirred within her at the thought of meeting Phiengwad again.

Suddenly, the vivid images of the dream dissipated like a mist fading into nothingness.

.

.

Rinlada bolted upright from her bed, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. She gasped for air as though she had just escaped something intangible yet suffocating. Confusion and countless questions swirled chaotically in her mind. She tried desperately to piece together the fragments of her dream, but the more she thought about it, the more it felt as if parts of it were deliberately obscured, hidden beyond her reach.

The silence in her bedroom was deafening, and the air felt unnaturally cold. From a dark corner of the room, a shadow began to stir. It moved as though alive, twisting and contorting into a grotesque form. Slowly, it took the shape of a woman dressed in exquisite traditional Thai attire. Her beauty was like that of a painted masterpiece, yet it was laced with an unnerving sense of dread.

Her face was pale, devoid of color, and her hands and feet were bound by long, unending chains that rattled softly in the oppressive stillness.

The woman slowly raised her hand, her slender fingers adorned with a gold ring set with an antique pearl, pointing directly at Rinlada. Her eyes burned with fury and malice, glowing as if fueled by an insatiable rage.

But Rinlada… she saw none of it… the malevolent spirit.

.

.

"I tried to keep you and P'Phiengwad apart, but no matter what I did, you two still managed to find each other!"

The raspy, echoing voice reverberated through the air. It belonged to the spirit of La-Orduen, Rinlada’s twin sister from a past life.

Her once-beautiful face now contorted with deep-seated rage, her lips pressed tightly together as if holding back the weight of countless lifetimes of bitterness. Her eyes burned with the fury of grievances that had festered over centuries. For lifetimes, she had done everything in her power to prevent P'Phiengwad from reuniting with La-Orchan in this life. Yet, as a spirit, she could not defy the will of fate.

"Whether in the past or now, you remain the thorn piercing my heart, La-Orchan!"

Suddenly, her pale, ghostly hand lunged toward Rinlada. But the moment her fingers made contact, a searing heat coursed through her. La-Orduen shrieked in agony as her skin burned where it touched Rinlada. Dark scorch marks marred her pale complexion, the result of an unseen force protecting Rinlada.

A radiant, glowing light emanated from the sacred amulet hanging around Rinlada’s neck, its energy forming a shield against the vengeful spirit.

La-Orduen stared at the light, her fury unrelenting, her eyes ablaze with hatred. Though she was forced to retreat this time, her resolve remained unshaken.

She would wait for Rinlada to falter, for a moment when her defenses would fail. One way or another, her twin sister from this lifetime would pay for the sins she had committed in the past.

Before La-Orduen’s form dissipated into the darkness, she left behind a final, venomous warning:

"Mark my words, traitorous sister. When your time comes, I’ll deal with you myself… You, the betrayer!"

…