Chapter 4 The room was dim when she woke up. She wondered how long she had fainted. Raising herself up, she saw that someone was sitting on a chair nearby. Had he been watching over her? She got up and walked over to him. Shyly, she looked at him, studying the hard facial structure that almost looked too foreign to be Asian and suddenly, concluded that he was one of the handsomest men she had ever met. He was only the third man she had seen up close, compared to the men who courted Jariya. And Jiranan had to admit that none compared to this man. Such innocent boyish look pasted his sleeping face. She had not realized that she had leaned against him until his eyes opened and stared at her. Slowly, his warm brown eyes fluttered opened and she blushed, moving away. But the man caught her wrist slightly, stopping her. "You are real," he whispered. Turning to face him, she shyly nodded. "You watched over me when I fainted?" He gave her an odd look and just stared at her. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?" "My name is...Yui," she whispered, afraid to give her real name to such a stranger. "I don't know what I'm doing here. I woke up and found myself here. Is this your house?" He nodded, slowly getting up. She realized that he still held her wrist and slowly, she pulled away. "This is my workshop," he told her. As he walked away, Yui followed close behind. "It's my family's heirloom passed down from as far as I know. They say each generation, there is an artist. I guess I am one of it." Yawning loudly, he stretched his arms and nearly knocked over some wooden pieces that Yui caught in time before they smashed on the ground. "Rubbish. Rubbish material that didn't inspire me. Until you." "Me?" "Yes, you." There was a mocking laugh in which he answered as if Yui did not know how special she was. "They say that many strange things happen in this room. Phenomenon. I never believed them until you. You, Yui." Warmth spread through her with his words. "Are you a carpenter...?" "Andy. And you can say that I am a carpenter, if you wish." He yawned again, this time Yui caught his hands and slowly led him back to the rocking chair. "Why am I so sleepy? Isn't this a dream...like always? And you would disappear, right?" "I'll stay...this time..." "Good, because I want to tell you something...." Before he could even tell her, he was already asleep. Shaking her head in amusement, she took his left hand into her hands and felt the crude callous marks running through her soft hands. Never in her life would she act this way, but he had touched her heart in a way that no one else had with just the mere words of "until you." Now she found herself trusting him, believing in him. When she brought his hand to touch her face, she felt him curl to cup her cheek. With a lover's sigh, she leaned against him and closed her eyes, relishing in the warmth he offered silently. ~ ( * ) ~ The heels of her stiletto shoes clunked hard on the marble foyer. With a sweeping look, she gazed over the house that had sheltered her the past twenty-four years. But never once had she been happy here. Everyone will love her this time. They will see that they were wrong to overlook her. Suddenly, a servant came out and stopped in shock, staring at the woman in front of her. Jiranan smirked in disgust and vanity, as she walked towards the servant. "What's wrong, Karn?" She circled the servant and leaned close. "Don't you recognize your own mistress? You didn't think I could look like this, could you? You think I would always be the geek, the shadow of my sister, Jariya? Well, look again. Look completely and tell me who you see." Jiranan's dark eyes bored down on the young girl. "Miss...Miss Jiranan?" The round eyes of shock and astonishment made Jiranan laughed. She laughed so loud that everyone heard her. And from behind, her mother and sister arrived with their father. "Who is that, Karn?" Her mother asked, annoyed of the unexpected guest, after a long travel from the airport. Jiranan turned and faced her family as if she had never been home. "Mommy! Daddy!" Jiranan exclaimed in fake enthusiasm, running up to hug each and kissing them soundly on the cheek. To her sister, "P'Ja!� hugging her tightly, and whispering, "Who will be the shadow now?" When she pulled away, Jariya stared at her in shock. "Yui?" "Posh, don't call me that, P'Ja." Waving her hand in the air as if to wave a servant away, Jiranan took her father's arm in her own. "Daddy, how was the trip? Did you enjoy America? I've missed you so. Did you buy me a gift?" Mr. Manojem stared at his wife in confusion and wondered what in the world his wife called him back for. It didn't look like his daughter needed any rescuing. "Yui!" Her mother called her back. "Mommy, please, my name is Jiranan. I hate that baby name. I always had, so I'm begging you, don't call me that again." Baffled, her mother almost stumbled back in Jariya. "You're supposed to be in Ayuttaya. Your father would have gone to visit you after---" "Ayuttaya is too boring, Mommy. Besides, why can't I be in Krong Thep? What is there for me to be scared of?" "Yu---Jiranan," Jariya began. "Have you forgotten Pakjira Wannasut? She's out to get you." "Let's see her to do." Jiranan lifted her chin in a challenge. No one commented. Turning back to her father, she smiled and pulled him inside the house, greeting him warmly like a daddy's girl, leaving Jariya and her mother standing around like a puppet on a string, their jaws dropped open. ~ ( * ) ~ Jariya walked into her room that night to find her younger and supposedly meeker sister pulling out a short dress that showed more skin than Jariya would ever think her sister would dare to show. "What do you think, P'Ja?" Jiranan asked, hugging the dress closely against her. "Don't' you think this dress will look great on me? You wouldn't mind if I wear it tomorrow?" "What about your own stuff?" "Oh, P'Ja." She breathed out in annoyance and plopped on the bed. "Those dresses are too old-fashioned. People would only make fun of me. Besides, I'm Mr. Jookran Manojem's daughter. I should dress to play the role. Like you, P'Ja. I will not make you look bad. You are my sister. I promise to get all those men back so you don't feel like your charm has failed." Jiranan laughed and flitted off with the dress in her hand as Jariya grew pale and quiet. She always wanted Jiranan to act more confident, but not this confident. Shadow Main       Home        << Back 3       Next 5 >>

Copyright 2003 Lina Em.
This story is fictional and any similarity to real life is coincidental.
Please don't take this story and pass it off as your own, all work belongs to Lina Em.
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