Chapter Text
January, 1989.
“Atom! What do you think you are doing?” it was his mother’s voice. Full of rage, questioning Atom.
“Mother, Konthap and I are friends!”
“Achira Sophonpatima! How dare you lie to I, your Mother?!” Atom fall to his knees with a thud. He looks up on his mother face.
“Mother. Can you grant us your permission? I love him, Mother. Let me marry him, i want to be with him.” Atom pleads.
“Nonsense! What love? What marry? Atom, dont be ridiculous!” Atom went closer, grabbing his mother’s leg as tears stream down his cheeks.
“Mother, please. I have never ask you a thing since i was born. Just this once! I beg you, Mother.” Listening to his own son’s crying made the old lady trembled, she too started crying as she slumped on her knees.
“What nonsense are you saying! You are my son! Why are you like this, Atom!” she motioned her hand onto her son’s arm, hitting it continuously.
“Please dont be like this, Atom. You are a Sophonpatima. You are the only Sophonpatima left!"
"What should i do if i met your father and grandparents in the afterlife while our family’s bloodline stops here?” She was hysterical and Atom could only let her do so.
Atom hugs his mother tightly as the lady kept on crying.
“What sin did i commit, God? Why did this happens to me?”
****
It took a while to stabilize his mother’s emotion. Atom brought his mother into her room and tucked her into her bed.
“Please tell Mother, you wont do anything you said before.” He smiles, trying to assure her.
“Dont worry, mother. I wont marry him.”
For the next few weeks, he was cooped up in his house. Caring for his mother albeit having all those worker under their family. And in the week that his mother feel slightly better, she proposssed Atom to continue his study abroad.
Their monarch has some dealings with that Kingdom, so its easy to find ships going to that particular place. At first, Atom refused strongly. But seeing his Mother deteriorating health due to anger makes him helpless. So on May the very same year, he was set to leave his home country to the faraway Kingdom of England.
Atom felt heavy. He haven't met Kongthap since the day his mom finds out. He really want to met him but he have no way to. If his mother found out he sneaked to find Kongthap, perhaps she’ll be so mad that she’ll killed herself.
Atom resigned to his fate. Today would be his last day on this land.
He packed clothes and some other stuffs that he would bring into two separate cases. And he finished it in no time. He was left with nothing to do.
Atom walked towards the window, gazing the moon hung above the sky. He felt intense longing for Kongthap. It was as if his heart was gripped and torn apart with the fact that he might not be able to see the love of his life, ever again.
As the night grew darker, shadow was seen moving steatily around the school building. It was non other than Atom making his way slowly to the back of the school. To the rain tree, a place he and Kongthap likes to spend their time together.
It was for the last time—Atom thought.
He sat under the tree, reminiscing all the moments he spend with Kongthap here.
Crying silently, he put a letter wrapped with inconspicious fabric into a gap on the tree, hoping maybe Kongthap would find it later.
Atom went back as fast as he went out. Back in his room, he laid his back on the bed forcing his eyes to shut so he would be ready for a journey he’s about to embark the next day.
****
Kongthap look disheveled, not his usual neat and tidy appearance as he gazed the crowd in front of him. In his hand was a crumped letter from Atom that he found just around the twilight hour today after being jolted awake by a dream urging him to come to the rain tree.
From the letter he was found, he came to learn a fact that Atom was leaving. His Atom would left him.
Kongthap lost his mind. He run to the nearest harbor which should take others only 3 hours by carriage. But with his mind on jumble, he ran by his foot not knowing to stop. Unknowingly wasting his time on the road.
He felt like he’s about to go crazy if he didn't see Atom, and indeed, he failed to find Atom. Not even his shadow was visible.
Kongthap frantically asking random people came to his sight.
“Khun Phi, is there any ship going to England?”
“England eh? I think that ship just sails two hours ago, Nong! You’re late.”
As if in disbelieve, Kongthap went to ask several others only to get the same answer.
He laughs.
He laughs until he cried himself looking like a madman.
He listlessly walking another long hours back to his house. By the time he arrived the sky has become slighty dark. The first person he met was his older brother, Khaopan.
“ai’Thap?” His older brother called out to him, but there’s no response from the person being called. Only after a few minutes of silence did Kongthap smiles at his brother.
“Brother, he’s gone.”
Kongthap has lost his mind.
****
November, 2010.
England has officially entered winter season with the first snow falls just last night. Atom was now 42 years old man.
With the opening of airports in the country during the 90’s, going abroad has become much easier. Atom decided to let his mother come to england to live with him by then.
And just a month ago, his mother passed away, leaving with him her ashes to keep. The urn filled with his mother's ashes was already inside his luggage. He planned to go back to his country to pay his respect to his father and to burry his mother’s urn beside his father’s grave.
The thought of coming back home, leaving Atom in a deep trance. But a sound of laughter, pulling him out of his stupor.
It was his son’s voice. Yes, Atom has his own descendent at last. He named him Thiuson Sophonpatima.
Upon hering his laughter, Atom smiles endearly. He walked out of his room and soon met with his 5 years old son, Thiu. With him was a caretaker that he have hired to take care of him.
“Father.” Said little Thiu. Atom patted the little guy’s head as he kneeled in front of him.
“Is Thiu ready to go to Father’s hometown tomorrow?” Atom asked, which got him a vigorous nods from little Thiu.
Atom gave another pat on his son’s head before he shifted his gaze onto his son’s caretaker.
“Anna, packed more summer clothes to bring, and prepare warm coat for him to wear tommorow. Its getting cold now here, I dont want him to catch a cold before landing there.”
“Alright, Sir.”
****
21 years was not a short time. By the time he arrived at his home country, everything has changed.
Atom and his son arrived around 3 p.m that day. In front of him was the gate to his childhood house. As he held his already fall asleep son with one of his arm, he opened the gate with a push of his other hand. The house was well-maintained, still looks as good as it used to, with a slight touch of vintage-vibes and nostalgia.
Not long after, a worker come out of the house. That was a worker that has worked with his family for a long time.
“Khun Achira?! Come in! Welcome home, Khun!” said the old man.
“Uncle Ya, its been a long time. Its not tiring taking care of this house, right?” Atom said.
“Not at all, not at all! Come on in Khun Achira, lets go inside! I’ll handle your stuff!” said the uncle enthusiastically.
“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll bring my son in first, he fell asleep just now.”
“Sure, Khun. Don't be too polite with me!”
The two rushed into the house. It was regularly cleaned by Uncle Ya, so Atom could readily live in it without worry.
He first bought Thiu into his room, tucked him on his bed before he went to tidy his luggage. After an hour or so, he emerged from his room, meeting Uncle Ya whom directly asked him what he wanted for dinner.
“Can uncle Ya cook?” the old man laughs.
“Of course not! But i can go buy it for you.” Atom smiles as he shook his head.
“I’ll went out to buy it myself, Uncle. Please look after my son, just in case he woke up.”
“Okay. Do you want me to prepare my motorcycle so you can use it?”
“No need. I’ll go walk, uncle. I want to see around.”
****
Atom walked aimlessly, not at all afraid he’ll lost his way. So much things has change. Even the market district too, seems more orderly which makes him felt lost. The chaotic one was so much fun in his memories. But all in all, it was a good change.
He have yet to decide what to buy so he kept on walking until he noticed a familiar stall. A middle aged man selling pork skewer, behind him was banner that writes : been selling skewer since the 80’s. A memory surged in his mind. This stall was the stall from back then.
At the end, he bought a few pork as well as chicken skewers from the stall. after that he walks onto another familiar place. His old school. The school looks grandeur, with a guard’s office at the very front. When he approached the school gate, the guard went out of his post and come to him.
“Sir is?” Atom smiles before he answered.
“My name is Achira. I’m actually an alumni here that just wanted to see what this school looks like after twenty years. Is it allowed to come and see inside? It wont take long.”
“I see. Sure, Sir. Just come out before dark.”
“Then, i’ll thank you for letting me in, Khun.”
“No big deal, Sir.” As atom about to go in, he turned his head toward the guard again and asked;
“Is the Rain tree at the bak still there?”
*****