Chapter One
That day, I happened to be having my vacation from home and everything that makes my life miserable in the small water town that I didn't really know. As I walked right across the beach wishing I had my camera so I could take some photos that I would never show anyone, I noticed something like a wedding going on.
There was an altar made from woven palm fronds with some colored ribbons sweeping in the wind. A person that looked like a priest was also there followed by the heavily dressed girl in a white wedding gown that was way too extravagant. It was a wedding though it didn't feel like one.
No one was laughing or smiling and everyone seemed grim. This is why I kept glancing towards them. Also, I almost recognize the guy. Yes I did, that was Kongpob. He was dressed smartly in a black suit and bow-tie but there was no mistaking it.
How do I know Kongpob? Well, first of all, we attend the same school, high school, and secondly, he has always been such a smartass. To put it more accurately, he was someone I wouldn't mind smacking around a bit. I am a year above him so I do get the chance to do so once or twice.
As far as I know it he is a minor. I am too. Are minors allowed to get married? I pondered this as the priest continued to speak. I remembered that if there were grown-up witnesses then it was allowed. From the looks of the several adults there I take it they all agree.
I wanted to leave, mind my own business, but something made me go closer. Later I would argue that I simply wanted to be able to tell other people about this when I get back to school, to humiliate Kongpob, but really I just found myself drawn to the look the guy threw me as I was about to turn.
If I have ever seen a 'help me' look before now, it wouldn't be as clear as the one Kongpob was giving me. It didn't occur to me that I may be reading it wrong. I got close until I was practically standing on the small walkway to the altar.
The priest was still talking yet Kongpob was looking at me, not at his bride who by the way wasn't looking at him, nor at the priest but at me. He wanted me to do something, I could tell. The urgency in his eyes was almost painful.
I began to scramble my mind. What the hell am I supposed to do? How do you stop a wedding? Do I want to stop the wedding? If this was the time to object it would have been perfect. What is the best way to stop a wedding?
Kongpob's urgency made me blurt out the first thing I could think of. "stop...!"
My voice died at the very end when everyone started looking at me. They had already seen me before but now with my voice and the word out there, I never felt more on the spot.
Um... my mind blanked. I couldn't think with all the adults staring at me. What the hell am I doing?
"P'Arthit, I told you not to come," Kongpob said startling me. I could have sworn he wanted me to do this. The clarity of the situation was like a cold bath in winter. I felt like I was standing at the edge of the abyss with no idea how I got there.
"Kongpob, do you know him?" a woman from the audience asked, rising to her feet.
"Yes mom, he is my boyfriend," Kongpob said without pausing.
The gasp in unison was almost rehearsed. I gaped at Kongpob blinking my eyes rapidly.
"Kongpob stop saying things like this."
"I am being serious here, mom."
So she was his mom. Looking closely I remember her.
"You!" the man sitting next to Kongpob's mom flew into a rage that was beyond terrifying. "How dare you show up here get out of here right now!"
"Dad, I'm sorry."
I was still wondering whether to run after being yelled at like this but Kongpob is still keeping the ruse. He had tears in his eyes that looked real for what it's worth and he started to come my way.
"Kongpob, go back to the altar and finish the wedding this instant."
"I'm really sorry dad."
"Kongpob!"
He came to me and grabbed my hand. "Go."
I didn't break any argument and we started to run. I wasn't sure why we were running, not until a group of guys in tuxedos showed up and started chasing us everywhere.
It was like one of those movies where a girl in a wedding dress starts running out of the wedding with her lover and some men in black and dark shades start chasing them all the way to a cliff where they then jumped off.
This scary imagination was actually happening right now. The two of us, like we were experts at escaping, ran out of the beach and into a crowded market place. I was caught in disbelief. Was this really happening?
Only a moment ago was I thinking about having a two-day vacation, meet someone new— not really— and then go back to my boring life and my painful family. Where did it all go wrong?
I looked at the guy running beside me and couldn't say anything. All tears gone now Kongpob looked serious, like a guy intent on getting away. There was no talking between us and... he was still holding my hand.
I pretended like I didn't notice. When we stopped at a dead end, a wall facing us, I said, "now what?"
"This way." Like some indigene the guy found a narrow road in between the wall and the building. It would only fit us if we walked slanted and it looked filthy as hell.
What am I doing? I was about to walk through what looked like a dirt corner being led by a boy I had only seen vaguely in school, a boy I helped escape his wedding.
He let go of my hand and began to walk through the road. I sighed deeply regretting the shattering of my normal and predictable existence and began to follow.
"Watch your head P'Arthit." the guy had his head facing front but he warned me about any dangers. The rod poking out of the wall would have hit my head because I certainly had no way of seeing it in the darkness.
The sky had changed and a storm was brewing deeply. Finally, we appeared on the other side of the market.
"Now what?" I asked my question again. I haven't a clue where to go now. There was my hotel room but we were so deep into this place there was no way I could find it now, not with ease at least.
"This way, P'Arthit." the guy had enough guts to smile. I threw him a sharp look then he grabbed my hand. "I've got this."
"Planned out your getaway pretty well didn't you," I had to rib him. His smile fell flat almost instantly and he didn't respond. We began to wade through people and then finally stopped at the dork.
Kongpob had to go talk to one of the fishermen to apparently get us across, and then he came to me. "I think I'm good," I told him, holding out my palm. "Those guys aren't chasing us anymore. All I have to do is sneak away now."
Said men in tuxedos must have lost us when we escaped through the corner. I didn't want to say anything before because I wasn't certain they wouldn't show up as soon as we relaxed but many minutes have passed. It would be too weird if I didn't speak up now.
He looked hesitant then he said, "But if they catch you P'Arthit then they would have to torture you until you tell them where I am."
"Torture?" my eyes bulged. No one said anything about torture. Just what have I gotten myself into? "Kongpob..."
I was speechless but the gutsy guy who dared to escape his wedding wasn't having that problem. "Just stay with me, for now, P'Arthit, I have a way. Can you trust me?"
Assuming I had a choice. I nodded and gestured for him to hurry. If there was torture involved then I wanted to get away even more. He smiled, the fact that he could was really annoying. I gritted my teeth and followed him on the boat.