"My dearest Nopporn," "Please don't be surprised to receive a letter from Praya Atikarnbodi, a close friend of your father" "A year after you first left home, you were probably aware that my former wife, Khunying Atikarnbodi, died of influenza." "But what you don't know is" "I recently married Mom Ratchawong Kirati, and I wish to bring her to Japan for a treat." "I also wish Kirati to feel that marrying someone of my age is not completely meaningless." "I have no desire to stay in a hotel this time." "So I have to rely on you to arrange a rental house for our 2 month stay." "Please let me know your availability so that I can arrange my time to suit your convenience." "In addition, I would appreciate it if you could come and pick me up at the arrival exit of Tokyo railway station." "Good morning Khunying." "So Sorry My name is Yam." "I am only Chaokhun's cook." "This is my wife, Khunying Kirati." "Glad to see you again, Nopporn." "Good morning Khunying kirati." "Nice to meet you, Nopporn." "The house is very lovely." "Yes, this is what I expected, Nopporn." "You're so thoughtful." "And also thanks for this nice Japanese servant." "You can call her Osan." "She can speak a little English." "Oh... very good." "Let's go inside." "If I take Khunying Kirati with me every where I go," "I don't believe a lady of her age would have an enjoyable time." "So I ask you to do me the favor of accompanying Khunying Kirati to experience some of the outside world" "2 Saru Sobas, please." "Yes, sir." "Please wait one moment." "I have heard that this place has the best soba in Tokyo." "This restaurant?" "No, the whole village in Little Tokyo." "Are you comfortable with being so formal?" "Not really." "Then you should be yourself." "No need to be formal with me." "But I should" "You are formal again." "Alright." "I..." "I..." "I..." "I..." "Now you can't even say "I" properly." "What is this place called?" "Yamanaka." "What lovely weather!" "Yes." "Your university name is "Rikkyo" right?" "Yes." "What faculty do you study?" "Economics." "How many years until you finish?" "2 years." "So you will return to Siam in 2 years?" "I will work here for 2 years first." "What kind of work?" "Banking." "Alright..." "Let's go." "Yes." "There's a Japanese saying." ""ISHINDENSHIN"" "Understanding without opening your mouth." "How?" "If I want to tell you that I feel very happy without saying a word," "I would do this." "I can't read your gesture." "Does it not mean "I"?" "Yes." "But other gestures were not recognised." "You made it up." "I want to say, "I feel so happy today."" "I'm afraid there's nothing to see around here." "Nothing to see?" "Nopporn, you are my Columbus." "You've brought me to a new world." "Don't the daisies make you feel as if they are dancing and welcoming us?" "You sound like a poet." "I'm no poet." "I just said what nature inspired me to say." "Nature is the father of all kinds of art." "Now I know you are a philosopher." "Stop flattering me." "Do you know, Nopporn," "I just feel like recording everything I have seen here in a painting or a book." "You are an artist, too, perhaps both a painter and a writer." "Not again!" "Remember that in this short time, you've given me 4 different jobs!" "I'm not going to say any more." "Oh... please do." "Your words make me clever." "I think I'd be much cleverer, amazingly clever in fact, if I were to be near you for a year." "So all you want is one year then?" "I mean at least one year." "But if I had the choice, it would be indefinitely." "But I'm going to be here for only 8 weeks and already it's the third week." "Time passing so quickly." "I wish I were Hanuman." "So you could stop the sun's chariot?" "Yes." "But it's just impossible." "I don't suppose you'd object if I asked Chaokhun to extend your stay for a bit?" "I follow the orbit of the sun." "It's not for me to choose, it's up to the sun." "Your tie is ripped." "Take it off, I will stitch it for you." "What does that song say, Nopporn?" "It says that if we are not Sakura flowers, we shouldn't despise being another kind of flower," "All we should ask is that we might be the most beautiful of our kind." "There is only one Mt Fuji, but all other mountains are not worthless." "If you can't be the sun, then be a star." "Whatever you are, then be it, no matter what it is." "Be it to the best of our ability regardless of what it is." "It's a song with a very valuable message," "and you translated it very nicely." "I'm so flattered by your compliment." "What a man of fine words you've become, Nopporn." "Seeing those 2 girls reminds me of the old days." "They are like well nourished plants, bursting forth into bud." "Such radiance makes me shudder a little when I think of myself." "Why is that?" "You are amply blessed in this direction, even more so than those 2 girls." "How old do you think I am?" "26 or 27, certainly no more than 28." "I am 35." "I've passed what people call the halfway mark." "Shouldn't I believe my eyes rather than your words?" "Just so that you won't go around guessing people's ages wrongly," "I'll tell you something." "Women that know how to look after themselves, can always look five years younger that they really are." "There's no way I believe you." "That's enough." "I'm tired of trying to win over a naughty boy like you." "It's not so humid today." "There's been a breeze all day long." "My feet are feeling a little chilly." "Oh, good gracious!" "Why have you covered my feet with your scarf?" "The two don't go together." "Didn't you know your feet are more beautiful than my neck?" "So they should receive more care." "How could that be possible?" "I was enjoying myself with you." "I thought it was only an hour." "I'd have said only 5 minutes." "I think we'd better go home." "I can stand all right now." "You can let go of my hand." "Will you be needing me tomorrow?" "I'll have to think about it." "Fine." "Tomorrow I'll come round for your answer." "It's quite breezy tonight." "Be careful to keep your neck covered." "If you are not well enough to come tomorrow, I will be very sorry." "OYASUMINASAI, my good boy." "OYASUMINASAI Khunying." "Are you not going to bed, Kirati?" "I'm not sleepy yet." "How was the party?" "As good as it gets for the oldies." "Oh... a Japanese friend of mine invited us to his anniversary party at Hotel Kaihin," "Kamakura city." "I know you like antiques so I thought you might like old cities like Nara," "Kyoto and Kamakura." "Before entering the temple, you must wash your hands and your mouth to purify your soul." "Everyone that visits TOBA, must come and see these 2 rocks, which are the symbols of God who created Japan." "The big rock is ISANANGI God and the small rock is ISANAMI Goddess." "Is it a true story?" "It's only a legend." "Look at the string tied between the 2 rocks." "It's a sacred string made from rice straw." "The monk at ISEI shrine tied it on both rocks as if they are a married couple." "Would you give me an honour?" "Chaokhun is very kind." "You must love him very much." "I like him the way children would like a kind old man." "You didn't say anything about love." "There is a big difference in our ages." "But love can exist between an old man and a young woman, can't it?" "I don't believe that a rose can grow on a cement road." "For a young woman who is happily married to an old man, does it not mean they are in love?" "When a young wife is reasonably contented, she tends not to be interested in the problem of love." "Whether there is love or not, as long as she is happy, what else does she want?" "That's the way people live." "Nopporn, love can bring bitterness and all kinds of hurt into our lives." "But for those who do love, their hearts are engulfed in a wonderful sweetness." "This isn't something I've experienced for myself." "I'm speaking from what I believe." "But you're happy in your marriage." "That's probably true." "Have you ever not wanted to find love?" "It's too late now." "And if love were to come along." "What would you do?" "Oh, I don't prepare answers to questions like that in advance." "Dwelling on that kind of thing only makes you unhappy." "Happiness without love is better than making yourself unhappy." "Worrying about love." "But you did not marry for money, did you?" "Certainly not." "And why did you marry him, since it wasn't for love?" "You shouldn't pry into my private life." "You've got to admit that we are very good friends." "But that's no reason for you to pry into my inner feelings." "Well, you've already answered all my questions." "That's because I was tricked." "You can be tricked by happiness." "And you're beginning to get on my nerves." "Let's go back," "I'm worried about Chaokhun." "Has Khunying come back yet?" "Not yet, sir." "Does she always go out without you?" "I'm too lazy to walk." "Please excuse me, but I don't think it's appropriate to let Khunying to go out with Nopporn alone." "I think of the old saying "Sugar and ants."" "Thanks for your concern, Yam." "I shall talk to you about this as an old friend." "I trust Kirati." "But if she is not what I expected, doesn't she deserve it?" "I'm too old." "I'm even worried about how she would live happily if I died." "I want Kirati to be happy." "Yam, a jealous husband not only has disrespects himself." "I'd like to know what your reason was for deciding to marry Chaokhun." "Not again." "Is it something you're getting yourself ready for?" "Not at all." "But I want to know all the time why a young lady like you wanted to marry an old man like Chaokhun." "9 years ago, I was never worried or afraid of marrying an old man." "Were you forced to?" "No one has forced me." "It's my decision." "And what was your reason?" "Nopporn, we are going for a picnic." "We should enjoy ourselves." "Please don't spoil it by asking questions of my past." "But Khunying, I really want to know." "Don't be stubborn, Nopporn." "The reasons of the most unfortunate woman in love shouldn't be listened to on a picnic day." "The stream is massive." "It's a river called TAMA." "It runs to Tokyo." "I'd rather call it a stream." "As you wish." "What do you call stream in Japanese?" "OKAWA" "What about "Rocks"?" "ISHI" "Water?" "MISU" "Fish?" "SAKANA" "Bridge?" "HASHI" "Sky?" "SORA" "River bank?" "KAHUNG" "Midday?" "HIRU" "Sunrise?" "HINODAE" "Sunset?" "HINO-IRI" "Fine weather?" "HAREI" "Nature?" "CHISEN" "ANATA OH AISHITEI IMASU" "What?" "What does that mean?" "I love you." "How tall is Mt." "Mitake?" "About 1000 metres." "Are you going to climb up to the peak?" "Do you think I can?" "I definitely can." "But I think you should try 100 metres first." "OK." "If we can pass TORI-E..." "Pardon?" "That red door means you have reached Mitake spirit house." "What is this beautiful flower?" "HANA." "What's that one?" "HANA." "That one?" "HANA." "Over there?" "HANA" "There?" "HANA" "HANA, HANA, HANA, HANA They all look different." "How come there's only one name?" "Is there a name in Thai?" "Yes." "Really?" "What are they?" "All flowers have the same name..." "FLOWER" "Oh..." "Nopporn." "Oh..." "Khunying." "Don't forget I study Economics." "How am I supposed to know the names of flowers." "Of all the flowers in this mountain." "I knew only one." "May I?" "What's this flower?" "Nopporn NO KOGORAE DESU" "In Thai, please?" "Or English." "It's Nopporn's heart." "Is there such a thing?" "Yes." "The only one in the world." "There are plenty of them around here." "They are all HANA." "It will become Nopporn's heart when I picked it and put my heart into it." "It's the only one because Nopporn only has one heart." "What's this flower?" "Forget me not." "I've never seen such a Forget Me Not." "This is a new kind." "It's Kirati's forget me not." "Do I mean anything to you?" "You are a precious friend to me, Nopporn." "And you are the only one in my life." "If so, you shouldn't let me soak in sadness." "What can possibly be your sadness?" "My sadness is..." "I want to know the reason why you married Chaokhun." "You are so stubborn." "And I can never win over you." "I was brought up like a bird in a golden cage." "We were 3 sisters;" "Kirati, Wijaru, and Sutharn." "Our father brought us up in the royal way just like himself." "At first we went to school regularly, like anyone else." "Then, when I reached adolescence, he kept me shut away in his world." "I continued my education with an elderly English governess at home." "Sometimes my father would send me to the palace to wait upon various senior princesses who are our relatives." "Before the end of the absolute monarchy, most royalties lived in a different world." "At that time, it seems I never asked myself whether it was right that we would shut away our youth from the eyes of the outside world." "I never thought about it, because we hadn't been trained to think." "We had to walk down that narrow way in accordance with tradition." "When I was 27," "Wijaru, my younger sister got married." "I was terrified." "I kept comforting myself that I still had time and I would marry next." "I waited until I was 29." "The next one to marry was Sutharn." "Sutharn, my youngest sister, was married to a man that she loved and he loved her." "Nopporn, How can I express to you my true feelings on my sister's wedding day." "I was embarrassed enough that my sisters were married before me." "And yet I had to appear in their weddings showing everyone that I was the only one no one wanted to marry." "I was taught to be a lady." "I smiled and greeted the wedding guests but my true feelings were hopeless," "lonely and desolate." "I felt like I was left alone in the pitch-dark world." "And it's me sitting alone with a weary heart, tired of walking on the path that I didn't choose." "I just want to be like someone else who can love as they desire." "Is it my fault?" "Who do I have to pay for a suffering life like this?" "My life is different." "I cannot choose my own way." "I wonder if anyone can see." "Why are you sitting in the dark?" "Shall I turn the light on?" "Please don't, mother." "Mother, do you know that I am 29?" "I know everything about all my daughters." "Can you please tell me, honesty...," "am I beautiful?" "You're very beautiful, dear?" "Even more beautiful than your sisters." "Why there was no man loved me and wanted to marry me?" "Why, mother?" "All I'd think of was - because I was the first daughter my father loved and protect me more." "He sheltered me from... the outside world, treated me like a bird in a golden cage." "My father sheltered my body but my age increased everyday." "And no one can stop it." "Finally, when he set me free," "I was too naive to know what to do." "Love's a wonderful blessing." "It's best blessing of your life." "I was like other people who dreamed of love, marriage, children and to experience the world." "THe more I wanted it, the more lonely I become." "There was no sign that I'd get what I craved for." "I've lived with this loneliness and isolation until I was 34." "I guarantee with all my honour," "I'll take care of Khunying to the best of my ability." "You don't have to guarantee, I trust you." "You and I have been friends for long time." "My dear Kirati, this is your own decision to make." "I'll not force you." "I know perfectly well that a match with Chaokhun is not suitable." "But you're nearly 35 now." "Marry him, my child, marry the man I suggest." "Even though he's old, he's a good man." "Nopporn," "I'm ashamed of talking about my feeling the night I made decision." "Please don't think that I crazy or overact." "I'm telling you this because you're my best friend." "I looked at myself in the mirror for a long time." "I hesitatingly asked myself is this a young woman who will marry an old man the same age as her father." "How can it be possible?" "With such looks but no love and no hope." "I'd not believe" "I was 34 turning 35." "Chaokhun's proposal was a symbol of the disintegration of my hopes, a symbol that my chance of finding love and marrying a man I loved had completely gone." "Poor Khunying." "You look so young and beautiful even now." "You're sure to find love if you'd waited a bid longer." "You'd have said no." "Nopporn, please don't be angry." "Don't forget that we're talking about the past." "There's nothing to argue about." "Ooh..." "Sitting down too long, my legs are all numb." "I'll carry you." "I'll be fine, thanks." "Are you happy, Khunying?" "I'm so happy when I'm as close to you as this." "Please let go of me so that we can get our things together." "I don't want to be any further apart." "Nopporn..." "Please don't look at me like that." "Let go now." "I'm strong enough to support myself." "Nopporn." "You don't know what you've just done." "I know I love you." "And is it appropriate then that you'd express your love for me this way?" "I don't know whether it's appropriate or not, but love got the better of me." "It completely overpowered me and left me senseless." "And what meaning is there in expressing love when you're senseless." "Whatever I did to you, even when senseless, will remain imprinted upon my heart." "As if it is profitable for your life?" "In love," "Do you still think about capital and profit?" "You might not and I might not." "But love might think of us in such terms." "Have you ever thought of the position I'm in, and the position you're in?" "I have." "You're Chaokhun's wife." "I'm the one he trusts to take his wife around." "And what you just did to me, was it appropriate?" "I " "I don't know how to make you understand me." "Although what I did was wrong," "I've tried very hard to control myself." "But I was overcome by love." "I'm subject to the laws of nature." "I couldn't escape when I was forced into a corner." "Please don't talk to me about virtue." "This follows the laws of nature and we're all subject to her laws." "Nopporn, if both of us were spend the rest of our lives on the top of Mt." "Mitake, then you're right." "But soon we'll have to go down this mountain and face other people." "And you'll have to go back to your studies and plans for your future." "As for me, I've a duty to be a loyal wife to Chaokhun, to follow him everywhere he goes and to take care of him, as a good wife should do." "We'll soon leave each other and will socialize with other people who are constricted by virtue." "You can't use the laws of nature with these people." "Nopporn, you must face the reality because reality is the destiny." "I'm sorry if I've displeased you." "You upset me." "Please answer just one question." "Do you believe I love you." "I believe you, Nopporn." "Are you very cross with me for what I did?" "If you don't do this again," "I'll think of you as the same old Nopporn, and will, all my life." "And may I still love you?" "That's your right." "But love will fade as time goes by." "I'm certain my love for you will never fade." "I'll love you till eternity." "People of your age have great confidence." "We shall see." "Can you let me know whether you love me?" "I've forgive you and answered enough of your questions." "I do not want to answer any more." "Chaokhun extended his stay for 2 weeks as you requested." "Thank him for trusting me." "Before boarding the ship in Kobe, he'll visit industrial factories in Osaka." "I've never reamed of seeing such a spectacular place like Atami before." "Khunying, there's only 6 days left." "Poor Nopporn!" "You keep counting the days, don't you?" "I count every hour, every minute, almost every breath." "You take it much too seriously." "You'll be ill." "You must try to control yourself." "I don't want to." "I don't see any reason why" "I'd have to suppress a love, which arose spontaneously and purely." "We can't escape reality, Nopporn." "What reality?" "The reality that we must part in 6 days." "The most cruel reality." "That's why" "I asked you to control your feelings." "Please believe me." "I beg you." "I'll try." "But I don't think it'll be any use." "We'd never have met." "Our beginning was so wonderful but the end turns out to be a torture." "Is it torture for you, too?" "It's torture because I feel sorry for you." "You took our relationship so seriously." "I think that seriousness is a symbol of true love." "If I'd done something to displease you at the outset, things wouldn't be this way." "But I like it this way." "I remembered you said that love is a wonderful blessing... the best blessing of life." "I don't think I'll be wrong to say that you love me the same way I love you..." "Truly, and with all my heart and soul." "Please believe me, Nopporn." "You must control your feelings." "Actually, we'd spend our last night in Japan staying up than this." "But Osaka is not a tourist town." "And we'll have to get up early tomorrow." "Not so early." "We can leave here 9-10 a.m." "To arrive at Kobe Port in the afternoon." "Have a good night, Nopporn." "Yes, sir." "Oyasuminasai, Nopporn." "Oyasuminasai, Khunying." "I don't think you'd be up yet." "How come you're dressed so early?" "We'll leave here at 9-10 a.m." "I know." "But I couldn't sleep so I got up and got dressed." "And wait... wait until the time we'll part..." "Once we get to Kobe, we'll be with our group in the saloon all the time." "We won't get another chance to be alone." "I thought I'd want at least 10 minutes to say good-bye to you alone." "That's why I came to see you so early." "That's what I want so much." "Thank you for giving me this opportunity." "You must concentrate on your study." "I'll pray for you when I'm in Siam." "Please think of me all the time." "Please understand me, and the love I feel for you." "I promise I will." "Is there anything else, Nopporn?" "I've a million more words to say," "But time is short." "I'd like to choose only the best hundred words that would make you understand that full million," "But I can't find the right ones." "Just say what you can." "The rest I'll read in your eyes." "Go ahead and read then." "I still don't know what to say." "My good boy," "Please take my advice for the last time." "You left home for Japan to study, not to love me." "Please keep your target clearly in mind and stick to it." "Forget what has been between us over the last two months." "Think of it as a dream." "This is real flesh and blood." "This is really you, not an image nor a shadow in a dream." "How am I supposed to think of it as a dream?" "I love this flesh and blood so badly." "Chaokhun will wake up in a minute." "I must go now." "Our time is almost up, my dear." "Do you love me Khunying?" "I'm your closest friend." "Please take this to remind you of me." "Control your feelings well, Nopporn." "I'll never forget your kindness, young man." "Nopporn," "Good-bye... my good boy." "Please think of me always." "I will." "Always." "Good-bye." "...Good-bye." "Do you love me?" "Please go now, Nopporn." "Please go before I die right here." "Good-bye." "I don't know how I got back to Tokyo that day." "All my thoughts were only with you." "The next day I went to Aoyama." "I have to confess that" "I felt like my truly beloved Khunying Kirati has passed away and this house was her cemetery..." "Nopporn is back." "Nopporn..." "let's have a dinner." "Come on, Nopporn." "Let's eat." "Everyone is waiting." "Come on before it gets cold." "Eh..." "What's wrong with him?" "Sadness placates my hunger and I don't wish to talk to anyone." "Khunying my love." "I'm dying as I miss you so terribly." "I miss you so very much." "My heart keeps asking me whether you love me or not." "But... not even an answer from you." "My darling Khunying," "You must still be in the ship and have not received my first letter." "But my heart would have exploded if I don't write another letter to you." "I needed to release my feelings and my thought of you." "Do you remember when we went to Bunraku muppet show?" "A couple faces too many obstacles in their love." "They decides to commit suicide to solve the problems." "Having love, having no fear." "True love can eliminate fear." "This is what I remembered from the diary of Yasui Tetsu, the brave female Japanese teacher." "What about you, Khunying?" "I think you love me too." "But why love doesn't encourage you to tell me that you love me?" "Don't you know that by not telling me, it's a torture to me?" "I'm tortured by my love and longing for you." "Nopporn..." "I miss you so much." "I miss you too." "That's why I came back." "Do you love me Khunying?" "Do you love me?" "I was incredibly happy in the dream." "But when I got up, the happiness is all gone." "Whose letter are you reading?" "Nopporn's." "Really?" "What did he say?" "Can I have a look?" "Well, Nopporn didn't send it to me." "I'd better not read it." "I've heard that your country is very beautiful." "I wish I'd go there one day." "Any letters for me?" "No." "He asks us every day." "And the answer is no." "But still he doesn't believe us." "Nopporn, my good boy." "I've been home for 5 days and have received your 2 letters together." "I welcomed your precious feelings once... and will remember them until eternity." "You don't need to repeat it." "I'll not stop you from missing me." "But please don't think of me physically as your property." "Please return to your studies and your future." "You must control your feelings and accept the truth that, having Chaokhun as my husband, separates you and me into different worlds." "Please accept the reality that your future is a lot brighter than mine." "Please work hard and put all your efforts into your studies." "It'll gradually diminish your pain and it'll be gone eventually." "If you wish to think of me, think of me very little, but for as long as you like." "Watching "Our Home, Our Farm"" "reminded me of our 3-acre land at Bangkapi." "We haven't done anything since we bought it." "Shall we build a holiday house over there?" "That's a good idea." "I'm so tired from coughing." "The older I am, the worse I get." "I think you should see a doctor." "Hmm..." "I agree." "Tuberculosis can be caught from breathing." "The patient's cough will spread the germs out in the air." "Anyone who inhales can catch it." "Please protect yourself as strictly as I recommended." "I thought it was his kidneys?" "Yes, but the lungs are more severe." "No one's ever recovered from this." "Reungdej!" "We still have some hope." "I'll take care of him to the best of my abilities." "I must leave now." "Chaokhun would like to see you two." "I'll fetch Yam." "I'll go with you." "Doctor gave Yam a lift to the market." "Where are other servants?" "Whan and Lumduan quit this morning." "Just because father has tuberculosis?" "What shall we do now?" "No, Kirati." "Don't come near me." "Get Yam." "Yam is not here, father." "She'll be back soon." "I can wait." "Kirati, you'd go outside." "Let Yam do it." "But I'm your wife." "This land and this house will entirely belong to my wife Kirati." "The rest of the properties and worldly possessions will be equally divided between my wife Kirati, and my 2 sons;" "Amnaj and Reungdej." "Will anyone disagree with this will?" "Both of us agree." "Father's will is very fair to all of us." "I present this land and this house as the properties of Amnaj and Reungdej, heirs of Atikarnbodi." "Khunying... we don't..." "I insist." "Thank you for a lovely meal." "Nopporn, you forgot this letter." "Thank you." "Nopporn, my good boy." "First, I must tell you the tragic news." "Chaokhun's passed away from tuberculosis." "Hi..." "Yam." "I come to pay homage to Chaokhun's bones." "Same here." "I'd like to ask him some permission." "Who would like to meet?" "Khunying Kirati." "Stop barking." "Are you here to see me?" "I'm General Pongsatorn." "I'm assigned from the government to invite you as a guest of honour to join the welcoming function for the Japanese Prime Minister Hideki this Friday 20th, August." "Thank you for your kind invitation." "However, I'm not ready to socialize at the present." "Auntie..." "I'm going to the doctor." "Please tell Sorn to prepare the car." "You've improved a lot." "TBC was a bad disease" "But the new European medicines have given us some hope." "Will I recover?" "It depends on you." "If you want to recover, you must take care of yourself as I have instructed." "See me every appointment." "Although it'd be slow." "I guarantee your health will not deteriorate." "You can be assured I'll be a good patient." "Dear Khunying," "I'll return to Bangkok on Friday 18th, February." "The ship will arrive at Mitsui Port in the morning." "I've been waiting for today for so long." "How was your trip?" "Very good, father." "Hi Nopporn." "Remember me?" "Hi Preecha." "How are you?" "I'm good, and you?" "I'm well." "Do you still remember us?" "Of course." "Nopporn, do you remember Pari?" "Yes, I do." "Thanks for coming." "I missed you so much." "I missed you too... always ...ever since we parted." "I'm so pleased to see you again." "You're hurting my hand." "Today isn't like when we parted at Kobe Port." "Oh, I'm sorry." "It's Bangkok now." "And we don't have to part again." "We don't have to go through such misery again." "Who knows, Nopporn?" "I'm not planning to leave Thailand again for the rest of my life." "Parting is not the only cause of sorrow." "But let's not argue about it now." "All your relations are wanting your time." "I think Khunying should remarry." "Some guys proposed to her but she refused them all." "After her husband's death, she's never socialized." "Someone noticed that she had a deep secret in her heart." "Here's your special medicine." "Please... heal me." "Please accept my apologies for such a delay in visiting you." "That's alright." "You'd think of your work before anything else." "His name is Thorwald, my bodyguard." "He doesn't hurt my friends." "Romfa, this is Nopporn." "Romfa is Vijaru's eldest daughter." "I live in this house with my niece and my aunt." "Please come over." "I'd be receiving you inside." "Please excuse me." "I'd like to have a look around first." "This is a very lovely house." "This is my dream house." "Besides this lovely house," "What else do you have to keep you happy?" "You still can't stop asking questions." "That may be all that's left of the Nopporn I knew in Tokyo." "Am I asking too much?" "Not at all." "I'll answer you but please let me think." "My greatest happiness is merely a hope, or anticipation of something." "My life now is no different." "Real happiness drifts along before me, while I follow along behind, snatching wildly at it, waiting and hoping." "You might have heard that money can give you everything." "Why don't you use your wealth to make your hope come true?" "Money is powerful but it's not everything." "What I've been hoping for is not something money can buy." "This is my great misfortune." "I wished to see a forest garden." "And you have." "Yes." "A little garden of 3 acres." "Very charming." "You're a very talented garden designer." "Are you still a schoolboy?" "How old are you, Nopporn?" "Almost 29 now." "When we first met, you're 22." "I wish I was Hanuman now." "So you'd stop the sun's chariot?" "Yes, I don't want to grow older than now." "You're back." "Yes, I am." "Good." "Go have a shower first." "I've something I wish to discuss with you." "I've postponed this for 2 months now." "You've come here twice now." "I guess you're telling me good news about the advancement in your work," "right?" "It's good news but nothing to do with work." "Khunying," "I'll get married in 3 months." "With the lady in the blue dress who went to meet you at the Port?" "Oh, so you knew about us all along, then?" "No, I just guessed." "Have you know each other long?" "Before I went to study in Japan." "But all the time I knew you in Tokyo, you never said a thing about her to me." "Maybe that was because I wasn't interested in engagement myself." "And now you've resigned yourself to marrying a lady whom you've never been interested in." "It's my father's wish and I've no objections." "My fiancee is an educated lady from a suitable background." "Marriage will give my life a more solid base than I have at present." "You haven't told me your fiancee's name yet." "It's Pari," "Pari Buranawart." "Do you love your fiancee, Nopporn?" "We haven't know each other long." "We both like each other well enough, and I hope we'll be able to love each other when we're married." "Isn't love necessary for young people before they decide to commit themselves to marriage?" "I think love is too complicated and too painful." "What made you see love in that way?" "Because..." "I was in love once." "Please tell me about it." "You know about it already." "At first, love brought happiness, but it ended in pain and suffering." "Don't you think that love is a blessing of life anymore?" "Later on, I thought that" "I had allowed myself to be carried away by my feelings in a very inappropriate way." "I'd have loved and respected you as an older sister." "I realised that I'd behaved very wrongly." "I've tried to completely forget the events of that time." "And at that time, too, I learn just how much pain and torture such passionate love causes." "I believe I'll never love like that again." "People have different ideas about love." "I agree with you in that love crushes and tortures our hearts, sometimes more than we can stand." "You did the right thing, like everyone else who is able to escape from the torture and forget the past." "But some fools may be incapable of doing as you did." "Let me congratulate you once again." "I believe in love, so I'll wish that the two of you will love each other deeply and within a short time." "I drink to you, my good boy, and to the love and happiness of the pair of you." "You're very lucky to have received the new American medical treatment in time." "Khunying, your aunt told me that you are here." "Thank you." "I'm sorry for your illness." "But no matter how you are," "I always want to marry you and spend my life with you." "Please give me a chance." "Why didn't you choose the one who is suitable for you?" "My heart is beyond reason, Auntie." "Oh..." "Khunying." "Oh my goodness, Khunying." "Why are you sitting in the wind like this?" "Let me call the doctor." "Please don't." "Let's get in the house then." "Khunying, please take some medicine." "Please leave it there." "I'll put it here then." "Having listen to you, I'm also thrilled with your extravagant wedding reception." "You're a very lucky lady." "I'm really happy for you." "Thank you." "I want to know about your illness." "Just another oldie sickness." "It's so so." "Thanks very much for your visit." "You've a guest waiting in the garden." "Khunying has been suffering from TBC for 2 years now." "Previously, she took care of herself seriously." "There's hope that she might get better." "But now the cause of her illness has changed." "Her condition has deteriorated alarmingly." "Purple flower " "Nopporn's Heart." "Red one " "Kirati's forget me not." "Whenever anyone comes to visit her, before I even have a chance to tell her who it is, she always asks..." "Is it Nopporn?" "It's Khun Pranom." "Would you like to see Khun Nopporn?" "Shall I..." "No." "Don't go disturbing his happiness under any circumstances." "But when people came to see her again, she asked about you again." "Please have a seat." "You must rest as much as possible." "Khun Nopporn is here." "Is he really?" "Yes." "Shall I receive him in here?" "Wait!" "Sutharn, help me." "La there not any way to cure her now, doctor?" "Her condition is beyond hope." "You're here in a good time though." "She's just recovered consciousness." "How much time left for her?" "...Less than 2 weeks." "Can I come in now?" "Please just wait another moment." "Khunying is getting dressed." "Please do my hair and make up my face again." "Put my lipstick on the way I have it;" "and bring me some nice dresses from the wardrobe for me to choose from." "Sutharn, please help me to look beautiful again," "just one more time before I die." "Please come in." "Please don't make her talk too much or she'll be too tired." "Yes." "Nopporn, please come and sit here." "I'm a little unwell, so I've to receive you in bed." "I was concerned about you, so I come to see you." "Thank you so much." "I knew you hadn't forgotten me." "This is Sutharn, my younger sister, who has found love and happiness in marriage, as I once told you." "Everyone can go off now, including you, Sutharn." "Leave me alone with Nopporn." "I didn't think I'd see you today." "I didn't think I'd ever see you again, even for one last time in my life." "I'm right in front of you now." "And I'll stay as long as you want me to." "That's impossible, Nopporn, because you're not mine." "I don't understand what you mean." "You wouldn't understand, because you've never, ever understood, right from the first they we met." "Please tell me what else it is that I don't understand." "You don't understand anything." "Not a single thing." "You don't even understand yourself." "This is your wedding present." "This is a painting I did it myself." "Not very good, Nopporn, but my heart and soul went into it." "Do you remember" "what happened there?" "My love happened there." "Our love..." "Nopporn." "You fell in love there and your love died there." "But for someone else, love still flourishes in a wasted body." "From the day you told Khunying about your wedding, she never took any medication nor when to the doctor again." "Khunying does not to live because of me." "I'm killing her." "Please give me the last chance." "Please let me be near her, taking care of her, until..." "Are you not afraid of the disease?" "Having love, Having no fear." "True love can eliminate fear." "What do you remember about Mitake?" "I remember you at Tama river." "No." "Call it stream." "You bowed to me many times." "But you bowed to me first." "I'd to do it in return." "You aimed to reach Mt Mitake's peak, to pass me..." "Don't you remember what happened?" "How can I know it's so hard to climb a mountain." "I'm like someone else who dreams of love, marriage, having children and experiencing the world." "I die with no one love me, yet content that I've someone to love." "I've never seen this painting before." "When did you hang it?" "3 days ago." "Did you buy it?" "No." "A friend of mine did it for me." "It's very ordinary." "But it may be just that" "I'm not up to appreciating it merits."