Chapter 5: I have a girlfriend, okay?

Time passed—nearly half an hour—but Praemai still couldn’t fall asleep.

She sighed, again and again, so many times she lost count. Her body was exhausted from the day’s events—the long trip, the crying, the relentless back-and-forth with Tawan—but her mind wouldn’t shut off.

Eventually, she gave up. Reaching for her phone, she unlocked the screen, and the soft glow of light cut through the darkness. Her fingers, moving on instinct, tapped open Instagram before she even realized it.

Photo after photo of her old life appeared: snapshots by the pool with her best friends, party nights in designer dresses, posed aboard private jets (never mind the environmental hate comments), crystal champagne flutes in hand, and breathtaking city views from rooftop bars atop five-star hotels.

It was luxury. That used to be her life.

But now... Praemai had nothing left.

“Seriously… You’re still on your phone? That screen light is right in my eyes,” came a calm but clearly annoyed voice from the bed above.

Tawan.

Praemai flinched slightly and turned the screen brightness down—but didn’t turn it off.

“It’s just a bit of scrolling. Why are you so uptight?”

Tawan’s reply came fast.

“Scrolling in the middle of the night when someone else is trying to sleep? If you want to be on your phone, take it outside. You’re not the only one in this room.”

Praemai scoffed.

“Wow, so now everything I do is wrong, huh? Tell me the truth—are you just looking for a reason to argue? Or are you still mad about that thing from when we were kids?”

Silence.

Tawan didn’t answer.

Praemai rolled her eyes and muttered, voice edged with sarcasm,

“Come on, I was ten. What do you expect? At that age, how could I possibly know what ‘bullying’ even meant? Quit being such a dramatic adult holding a grudge over childhood nonsense.”

Still no response.

Only silence.

And in that quiet, memories began to stir—blurry, maybe, but not lost. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, the image of that last day—the last time little Praemai ever saw her big sister figure, Tawan—started to come back.

Flashback – Years Ago

In the garden pavilion of the Wisutpaisarn estate, on a hot summer afternoon, a young girl in her elementary school uniform sat hunched over a math workbook. Her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail, her small face scrunched in frustration.

Beside her sat a calm, older girl in high school uniform. Tawan Attanon wore round glasses and leaned back casually against the bench. One hand twirled a pen absentmindedly while the other rested gently on the table as she patiently watched the girl next to her.

Suddenly, the younger girl slammed her pencil on the table.

“I’m done! I’m not doing these stupid math problems anymore!”

Her small voice rang through the garden. “I hate math! I hate numbers!”

Tawan smiled calmly.

“Hating it doesn’t mean you can skip it,” she said gently. “Your father asked me to tutor you, remember?”

“Well, tell him I don’t care! Tell him I hate math!”

With arms crossed, Praemai turned away from the open workbook in protest.

Tawan chuckled at the tantrum but kept her tone light.

“If you hate math, what do you like then?”

Praemai’s head popped up instantly.

“I like money! Especially when I get red envelopes from Daddy during Chinese New Year!”

That made Tawan laugh out loud.

“Well, if you love money, you’ll definitely need math. How else will you count it all?”

Praemai’s face scrunched again, lips jutting out.

“Math homework is too hard! I’m going to Switzerland for Grade 7 anyway. You can come do my math homework there, okay?”

Tawan laughed at the innocent logic.

“I can’t go with you, little one. I’ll be staying here for university. And besides, your homework is your responsibility.”

Praemai fell silent, pouting. Then, after a moment, she mumbled sulkily,

“I’m not talking to you anymore, P’ Tawan.”

Tawan smiled, watching the girl with a mix of affection and amusement. Her gaze was warm—the same look she usually reserved for her own younger sister.

Then, out of nowhere, Praemai turned back with a curious look.

“P’ Tawan... why are you wearing glasses today?”

The question came so abruptly that Tawan almost laughed. But she wasn’t surprised—Praemai had always been like this, switching moods like flicking a light switch.

“My dad took me to get my eyes checked. My eyesight’s gotten worse, so I need glasses now.”

Praemai stared at her, then pointed at the glasses.

“They look like old-lady glasses! You look so dorky with them on! Like that nerdy kid in my class!”

Then she stuck out her tongue.

"Big Four-Eyed Nerd."

Tawan froze. The words weren’t cruel on the surface—just the blunt honesty of a ten-year-old. But something in them hit her unexpectedly.

“It’s not nice to say things like that.” she said gently but firmly. “That’s called bullying, you know.”

“I don’t care,” Praemai replied, grinning as she shook her head. “But it’s true! You really look like one of those weird nerds!”

Her high-pitched giggle echoed through the pavilion. But in Tawan’s heart, the sound only made things quieter.

She took a deep breath.

“If you don’t stop teasing me,” she said with unshakable calm, “I won’t come back to tutor you tomorrow.”

Praemai blinked, caught off guard—but only for a second. Then she stuck her tongue out again.

“Fine! Good! I don’t want to study math anyway! I’ll tell Daddy you’re quitting tonight! Yay!”

She threw her arms in the air triumphantly.

It was a childish outburst—petty and impulsive. In that moment, Praemai didn’t really mean it. She was just being a kid, throwing a fit, pushing people away so she wouldn’t have to face what she didn’t like.

That memory ended there.

And that… was the last time they saw each other.

Not long after that day, Praemai was sent to study abroad at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland—a prestigious boarding school often called the most expensive in the world, reserved for the heirs of global billionaires.

Time passed. The little girl grew up.

Now an adult, Praemai slowly raised a hand to her forehead. Her cool fingertips met the warmth of skin damp with sweat. She exhaled a long, heavy sigh… as though finally understanding something for the very first time.

She had never imagined that a few careless words from a naïve child could leave such a lasting wound in someone else's heart.

But what Praemai had never known was this—

That day, Tawan hadn’t been hurt because she was teased for looking “Big Four-Eyed Nerd” or being compared to an “old auntie.”

What truly stung Tawan... was the fact that the incident became the reason she never returned to tutor Praemai again.

The truth was, Tawan had agreed to tutor Praemai at the request of her adoptive father, Arthit.

And she had taken it seriously—seriously enough to dig out her old elementary school math textbooks and relearn material she hadn’t touched in years, just so she could explain it in the simplest way possible.

Her effort wasn’t out of obligation.

It was because deep down, she knew she wasn’t Arthit’s biological daughter. She was just a girl he had taken in—a child without roots, clinging to the only family she had.

And in Tawan’s mind, doing her best was the only way she knew how to prove she was worth keeping.

That was why… every time Arthit gave her a “task,” she gave it her all.

But that time… she failed.

To Tawan, that day felt like a failed exam.

And the disappointment in Arthit's eyes when he found out—

It never quite left her.

.

.

"Sorry... I’m just not the kind of person who likes to dwell on the past."

Tawan’s voice cut through the darkness just moments before the soft click of the light switch echoed, followed by a sudden wash of brightness across the room.

Praemai squinted against the light, then slowly sat up to face her. One was perched atop the bed, the other still on the floor atop the thin mattress. Their eyes locked for a moment in quiet tension.

Praemai gave Tawan a sideways glance, then murmured—half teasing, half confrontational,

"Really...?"

"You don’t like to think about the past? ...But it sure seems like you’re still sulking. Are you always this sensitive?"

Tawan let out a long sigh, rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, and looked back down at Praemai with unmistakable exasperation.

"You're impossible to talk to, you know that?"

Without waiting for a response, she reached over and flipped the switch again.

Darkness swallowed the room.

"You did not just turn the lights off on me!" Praemai cried, her voice rising in a mix of shock and indignation.

"Go to sleep. If you keep running your mouth, I swear I'll drag you downstairs and make you sleep on the couch."

Tawan’s voice came sharp and final, before she threw herself back into bed, effectively ending the conversation.

Praemai went quiet for a moment, then muttered under her breath, just loud enough for the darkness to hear—

"So old and still such a sulker. Pfft."

Tawan heard her—but said nothing.

Except, maybe... for the faintest smile that tugged at the corner of her lips in the dark.

...

The next morning, soft sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow across Narin Attanon’s bedroom. The space was a delightful mess—walls adorned with a mishmash of watercolor paintings, oil works, and black-and-white sketches. Strings of Polaroid landscape shots from her travels hung between warm fairy lights. Her wooden desk was cluttered with notebooks, watercolor pans, pencils, and paintbrushes resting in a clear glass cup. A few tiny potted plants added a fresh, cozy touch to the creative chaos.

Narin sat at her desk, wearing an oversized white T-shirt and comfy shorts. Large headphones covered her ears as she focused intently on editing a video for her YouTube channel.

Knock, knock, knock...

A soft tapping on the door pulled her attention from the screen. She quickly slid her headphones down to her neck and stood to open it. Tawan Attanon was leaning casually against the doorway, wearing her usual easygoing expression.

“You stayed up all night editing again, didn’t you?” Tawan asked, her voice laced with both concern and mild exasperation.

Narin beamed and nodded enthusiastically.

“Guilty, sis. I just really wanted to get the first video out! I’m planning a full Japan travel series, and I’m so into it right now.”

Tawan let out a quiet sigh but didn’t lose her smile.

“Yeah, your job gives you a lot of freedom, I get that. But if you don’t manage your time, your health’s gonna take a hit. Working straight through the night like this—it’s not sustainable.”

Narin playfully waved her off.

“I know, okay? Can we skip the grandma lecture for once? Anyway, what brings you here, sis?”

“Mind if I come in?”

Tawan gave her a small smile.

Narin swung the door open wider without hesitation and gestured grandly.

“Come on in. Whatever it is, your loyal little sister is all ears.”

.

.

“Wait, hang on a sec.” Narin squinted at her sister.

“Let me get this straight—so Mr. Woraphot faked the whole bankruptcy thing, made it look like all the family assets were seized, and sent Praemai Wisutpaisarn here just so you could ‘straighten her out’? Did I get that right?”

Tawan nodded slowly, calm as ever.

“That’s right. And you have to promise to keep this a secret. Praemai cannot find out, no matter what. Got it?”

“Aye aye, Captain Tawan!”

Narin gave a playful salute, then grinned mischievously.

“Honestly, at first I thought you’d brought a girl home. Like, seriously—your little sister leaves the country for one month and boom, you’ve got a live-in girlfriend already? That was fast.”

“Watch it.”

Tawan rapped her sister lightly on the head, amused by her teasing.

“I told you yesterday already—it’s not like that.”

“Okay, okay, I figured as much,” Narin said, waving her hands in mock surrender.

“I mean, she’s so not your type. You like calm, grounded people—mature, thoughtful, good with money and investments. Basically the exact opposite of Praemai.”

Tawan couldn’t help but chuckle under her breath, giving a small nod.

Narin had nailed it more accurately than expected.

But Narin wasn’t done.

“Well, duh. Praemai’s not Patcharawee, right? No one’s gonna top your beloved Patcharawee~”

“Alright, that’s enough out of you.”

Tawan shook her head in exasperation.

Narin burst into laughter, thoroughly pleased with herself. Then she raised a hand as if swearing an oath.

“Okay, okay, I’ll shut up. And don’t worry—your little sister’s lips are sealed. This secret’s safe with me!”

…

Inside Tawan Attanon’s bedroom.

A small movement stirred beneath the thick blanket, followed by the slow flutter of eyelids. Praemai Wisutpaisarn woke up in a haze, blinking rapidly to shake off the lingering drowsiness. Her eyes scanned the unfamiliar room, still adjusting to the new surroundings. The wide bed beside her was empty—no sign of the room’s actual owner.

“Where’d she run off to this early...” she muttered, reaching for the phone on the nightstand to check the time.

Her eyes flew wide open.

“Eleven already?! Crap! She’s totally gonna lecture me!”

Her voice rose in a panicked squeal as she shot upright, scrambling out of bed. In a flurry, she dashed into the bathroom, quickly showered, brushed her teeth, and threw herself through the motions of getting ready as fast as she could.

As she stepped out, her damp hair clinging to her neck, she was hit by a sudden realization—she didn’t bring a single change of clothes. Standing hesitantly in front of Tawan’s closet for a moment, she finally decided to help herself, pulling out an oversized white button-up shirt and a pair of denim shorts that seemed like they might fit.

She turned to the mirror and frowned at her reflection.

“Seriously? How oversized is this shirt? Doesn’t she own any cute crop tops or backless stuff like I do?”

Grumbling under her breath, she let out a long sigh and surrendered to her fate.

When she came downstairs to the dining area, she found Narin Attanon sitting alone, a small cup of yogurt in hand and a tablet propped up beside her.

“Oh, good morning, Praemai! You’re finally up.”

Narin looked up and greeted her with a sweet smile.

“Ooh, is that P’Tawan’s shirt you’re wearing? Oversized button-up with shorts? Kinda sexy, honestly—totally Tawan’s type.”

Praemai felt a sudden rush of heat bloom on her cheeks and quickly changed the subject.

“Where’s your sister?”

“You mean P’Tawan?” Narin nodded toward the office. “She’s in there. She always has an online meeting with her team every morning.”

“She’s not joining us for breakfast?”

“Nah, P’Tawan’s not really a breakfast person,” Narin replied casually. “Actually, we rarely eat together. Everyone just kind of does their own thing. But today, she specifically told me I’m supposed to take you out to grab something to eat at the market in town.”

“Huh?” Praemai raised an eyebrow. “She’s not coming with us?”

Narin shook her head, then flashed a mischievous grin. Leaning in, she whispered in a teasing tone,

“Nope. Just the two of us today. So we’ll have plenty of time to gossip about P’Tawan, won’t we, Miss Praemai~?”

…

At a small shrimp-paste fried rice stall by the canal in the district market, the atmosphere was relaxed, with a gentle breeze carrying the sound of casual chatter from nearby tables. Narin Attanon and Praemai Wisutpaisarn were seated at a wooden table right beside the water, shaded by a large fabric umbrella shielding them from the morning sun.

In front of Praemai sat a plate of shrimp-paste fried rice, the light brown grains releasing a faintly savory aroma. It was surrounded by a colorful array of toppings—tender slices of sweet pork, crispy dried shrimp, finely shredded omelet, julienned green mango with a sharp tang, red onions, sliced chili, and thinly cut long beans.

“I’ve never eaten in a place like this before,” she murmured, eyeing the plate uncertainly. “Is the food here really any good?”

Narin let out a small laugh.

“You’ll just have to try it and see. This place is famous for having the best khao kluk kapi in the whole district. Tawan eats here all the time.”

Praemai hesitated for a moment before finally scooping a spoonful into her mouth. Her eyes widened as the medley of flavors hit her tongue—vibrant, balanced, and surprisingly delicious.

“This is actually really good!” she blurted out and immediately went in for another bite.

Narin grinned, pleased to see the once-skeptical woman quickly warming up to the local fare.

As the two continued their meal, Praemai couldn’t hold back her curiosity. She wasn’t ready to ask the big questions just yet, but she began testing the waters.

“Um… Narin, your sister…” She paused slightly, choosing her words carefully. “Is she, like, super work-obsessed? I mean, she even skips breakfast.”

Narin looked up from her plate with a soft smile and chuckled lightly.

“Calling her a hard worker doesn’t quite cut it. She’s a full-blown workaholic,” she said fondly. “When Tawan sets her mind to something, she gives it her all. Ever since she started her own startup, it’s like her whole world revolves around it.”

Praemai nodded thoughtfully, her expression more introspective now. She kept her eyes on Narin as she asked the next question.

“So… what’s she normally like? I mean, I’ll be living with her for a while, and I’d like to get to know her better. I did know her a bit when we were kids, but after I left for Switzerland… we never really saw each other again. People change. Time changes everything, right?”

Narin paused for a beat, then offered a soft, nostalgic smile. The playful gleam in her eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by something more grounded.

“You probably already know this, but Tawan and I aren’t biological sisters,” she said gently. “But even so, I love her like a real sister. Truly.”

Praemai listened in silence, her attention fixed as Narin continued, eyes shining with affection.

“Tawan might seem strict, a bit intense, and totally by-the-book on the outside. But she loves her family deeply. Everything she does—she does it with precision. She was a top student, great at sports… to me, she’s honestly kind of perfect. It’s hard to compare anyone to her.”

Narin paused, clearly recalling memories from long ago.

“She used to enter business plan competitions back in college. She’d lock herself in her room for days, just working nonstop on her projects. There was a time she barely came out—she practically turned into a hermit,” Narin said with a laugh. “But in the end, she always pulled it off.”

Praemai gave a small nod, then teased with a sly smirk,

“With that level of obsession, she probably doesn’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend, huh?”

Narin burst out laughing.

“Oh god, where would she even find the time to date?”

Then she suddenly stopped. A mischievous glint returned to her eyes as she turned to face Praemai, voice lowering into a mock-whisper.

“Wait a minute… why are you asking about Tawan’s love life? Don’t tell me… are you crushing on her?”

Praemai instantly sat bolt upright, her voice pitching high in protest. Her pale cheeks turned bright red.

“No! I have a girlfriend, okay? And even if I were single, your sister is so not my type. She’s like... a scary drill sergeant!”

Narin blinked.

“Oh? So where’s your girlfriend now?”

…