My Heart Was Wounded Deep
Chapter 63

Forty minutes later, Kikan wore a blue blouse with a gorgeous patterned skirt that he found in a chat at one of the shops for tourists then glanced at the clock. They should be here by 19:00. Fifteen minutes left. Kikan looked back at the table, though, straighten the fork in Jason's plate and rearrange the wildflowers he picked near the creek and place them in three glasses of jars which he dipped in red paint and tied together with ribbons as decorations in the middle of the table. Then he went to the kitchen to sprinkle grated cheese on the green salad and check the sponge cake he made. Before finally walking into the living room to peek out of the window.

At 18:55 Rey's pickup turned into the yard and Kikan felt his stomach churn. I don't know why he became so nervous. They will just eat together. But it seemed that he was unable to make his heart beat at a normal speed.

Maybe he was afraid his mother would ruin everything. Kikan had argued with himself whether to invite his mother, or try to enjoy dinner there, but he could not imagine the four of them together. It feels too fast for that. So he brought a dish for his mother early and asked her to warm it up if she was hungry.

When he heard the knock on the door, Kikan wanted to hurry but held back.counting to five, in order not to feel as if he seemed too excited, he took a deep breath before opening the door. "Hey, let's go inside."

Rey brought a bunch of flowers that she handed over to Kikan. "You look beautiful" she said.

He himself looks handsome, finished bathing and wearing beige pants with a brown cotton shirt that looks right on his body makes the golden shine in his eyes look charming.

" Thanks." Kikan smiled but told himself not to take such a talk too seriously. Rey was just being polite. People used to say that when they came to someone else's house for dinner.

while forcing her eyes off Rey, Kikan greets their son. "I hope my cooking is delicious, as you know, cooking is a new activity for me, so hopefully you guys don't expect too high.

Jason hugged her. "If Mom's spaghetti sauce was half as good as your cake, we'd love it."

Rey coughed "Allergi" he said as Kikan looked at him. "It smells good."

Kikan went in to find a container to put flowers in. Unlike the flowers, these flowers are not wild, flowers that are obviously purchased in the store.

"I've got another game on Monday" Jason announced as Kikan searched his closet for a container.

"Games to the opponents' home?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"I'll watch" Kikan said.

"Mom doesn't even know where it is yet."

"It's not a problem" said Kikan, and he heard Jason laughing.

As Jason went to the bathroom, Rey walked into the room where the kitchen was facing the dining table. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

He could stop looking as handsome and fragrant as he was now. That would make it easier for Kikan to control his mind.

When Kikan could not find a suitable container to use as a vase, Rey walked past, washed the large ketchup can Kikan had thrown in the trash and put the flower there.

"Good idea," he said.

Rey winks at him. "I am reliable."

Kikan ignores the implications of the statement, though Rey smiles broadly to convey the meaning he intended.

"Is there anything else I can do?" tanyakanya.

"I can handle it. Be sitting. You hungry?" ask Kikan.

"Very."

"Well, this won't match any cuisine you've ever eaten at your mother's house. But. Hopefully it feels good."

"Just here I'm happy" said Rey, sounding so sincere that Kikan turned to look at her.

"You look beautiful" Rey said again, only this time no Jason could see her facial expression. Rey acted as if she couldn't help but touch him.

"I'd rather you come to the cottage" Rey said.

"Better I don't come. So I can help accompany Jason. There's no reason she should go to Tristan's house, you know. He can come here if he wants."

"Tristan's parents take the kids on vacation out of town."

"So she's also going away for the weekend?" ask Kikan.

Rey watches. "seen? Jason won't need you. You better come with me."

"It would just confuse everyone," Kikan said. Especially himself.

"No. There will be a lot of people at the party. You're just one of many guests there."

Kikan never went anywhere like that. And he hasn't been in a group of people celebrating and having fun since High School. He also felt tempted. In addition, he had prepared a very good gift for Rey. If only the gift could arrive on time through courier services...

But Kikan shook his head. She couldn't imagine herself hanging out with Rey's friends, couldn't imagine the man happy to see people's gazes on her. "I wish I could come" he murmured.

Rey placed both hands on Kikan's shoulders. "You can come, Kikan. All you have to do is agree to it"

Rey is close enough that Kikan can feel the heat of her body, and it brings back memories of how the man touched her in the pool. "Sometimes I don't know if you're... Teasing me..."

" Of course not!"

Kikan was somewhat surprised to hear Rey's anger. "Or... Tested me."

" For what?" Urge the man.

" To make sure you're safe, maybe. that you don't have to worry I'll be too attached."

Rey's touch tightens. "I'm not afraid of that, Kikan."

Then what's he doing? Kikan knew what his mother would say. That Rey would use him and get rid of him again. Kikan does not want to believe it, but Rey acts as if she is still interested in him, even though Kikan has nothing that can interest a man like Rey. Is his mother right? Does Rey expect to receive physical benefits in return for her kindness regarding Jason?

" Don't be scared of it, though" Rey added. "For now, I invite you to my party. That's all."

" But my arrival there will only cause trouble."

" How can it be?" ask Rey.

Has Rey forgotten what they did in the pool? How easy was it to take them further? "People will gossip for one thing" Kikan said.

" What about?"

" I don't learn from experience."

" Kikan's...."

When hearing the water splashing in the bathroom and Jason's steps in the hallway, Kikan lifted his fingers to his lips and rushed away from Rey for fear that their son would see them standing so close.

Rey pressed her thumb and index finger at the top of her nose when she heard Kikan tell Jason that she made a brown sponge. The boy was babbling at his mother. Especially as the night gets late. Kikan focused their conversation on Jason to chat about the upcoming year-end party, his basketball practice, his matches, his friends, the various universities he was considering.

Rey ate without saying much, and was stunned because the cuisine was so delicious. After tasting the biscuits brought to Jason's game, Rey thought they would be forced to swallow whatever the woman cooked. But he's never had a better spaghetti, and Jason's as happy as Rey is at this dinner. Even the dessert is good.

Kikan helped them eat everything, including dessert, but he himself ate very little. Rey noticed that.