Chapter Text
Time has gone by so fast. It seems like it was only yesterday when Ar-Nueng was a struggling artist, firm in not giving in to her grandmother’s demands to go back to the palace. At the same time, wanting nothing to do with a girl like Anueng. The young girl, followed her constantly and consistently managed to evoke emotions out of her usually cold exterior. Somehow in a short amount of time, Anueng was able to capture not only her attention but also the heart she protected so much. From trying to get away from her, suddenly she found herself unable to be without Anueng, no matter what it takes.
It has been a year since Nueng’s accident that placed her in a coma. Like the doctors have instructed, there were multiple tests and physical therapy sessions that she had to go through before getting a clean bill of health. The road to recovery wasn’t easy but now that she had Ar-Nueng by her side and a family with a more open-mind about their relationship, she was willing to put in the work to recover the soonest time possible.
Piengfah and Nueng’s grandmother have slowly learned to accept the their relationship, especially after seeing how Ar-Nueng remained consistently by Anueng’s side while she was in recovery and how she took care of the young girl in the aftermath. They were also able to see how happy Anueng was and the positive effect Ar-Nueng has on the girls life. It also didn’t hurt that Ar-Nueng was a nobility that could definitely give the younger girl whatever she wanted and needed. Chet was a different story. Though he no longer makes explicit comments to negate the relationship, both women knew that he was still not a hundred percent onboard. He may be tolerating them at the moment but acceptance wasn’t really there yet. Thankfully though, he has kept mum on the subject and just prefers to not breach the topic. Out of sight, out of mind.
Time has passed and everything seems to be going their way. Nueng has now moved in with Ar-Nueng at the palace full-time and has recently started a job at a radio station where she aims to be a radio host in the future. Ar-Nueng and Chet have both offered pulling some strings to help her get the position she wanted, with her father even offering starting his own broadcasting company, but Nueng politely declined them both. She wanted to start from the ranks and learn her way up with hard work, something that was definitely admirable about her.
Ar-Nueng on the other hand has ventured into multiple businesses together with Sam and Mon. From starting a cafe business to finally opening her very own gallery wherein she part-time teaches drawing. Her life has never been fuller than it was now. Though she often thinks of Song and her grandmother, and all the ‘what could’ve beens’, she makes sure to honor them any chance she gets. A life that once was filled with a lot of blanks seem to be complete and she couldn’t be happier.
Life has been pretty routinary for the couple, both would head to work in the morning and would spend the day exchanging messages about how much they miss each other. Their relationship isn’t exactly new but the way they act still makes it feel like a new romance. Often times, Sam and Mon would invite them for dinner, making a stronger bond between sisters. Eventually, Anueng and Mon also grew a bond that both Ar-Nueng and Sam are actually scared of. The younger pair knew how to manipulate the sisters and exchanging strategies isn’t exactly helping them have the upperhand to anything. Some weekends, Ar-Nueng would make sure to remind Anueng to spend the day with her mother and grandmother and sometimes inviting them over for a meal.
As much as Anueng tries to avoid it, her girlfriend would also remind her to check in with her father from time to time. It wasn’t a secret that he still hasn’t accepted the situation and often acts awkward whenever they all see each other but Ar-Nueng knows that Chet wants a relationship with his daughter no matter what the circumstance may be. It was her that he didn’t want to see.
Even with little hurdles here and there, Ar-Nueng and Anueng was living their life the way they always hoped to be. Together.
3 months later…
Anueng was currently at the office, stuck in her work station, elbow deep in the research she was doing. Her boss asked for additional information on a topic they were discussing on air and needed Anueng to fact check the details they will be bringing up. The overtime wasn’t new to the girl. She loved working and she has built strong work ethics in the past few months that she’s been employed. Even if people knew that she was the granddaughter of the ex-Prime Minister and that she was in a relationship with a nobility, they treated her the same and she was grateful for that.
Her phone vibrated on her desk and made her pause what she was doing. She quickly swiped on the screen with a smile to answer the call coming from…
“Ar-Nueng!” A high-pitched greeting that this cheerful girl never lost whenever she speaks to her girlfriend.
“Hello, my love.” Ar-Nueng sweetly replied on the other line, making the younger girl blush. “How has your day been?”
“Busy and tiring.” Anueng dramatically responded as she pouted, wanting to hear some words of comfort from her usually nonchalant girlfriend.
“Why do I sense you’re pouting right now?” she asked with a laugh, knowing well what the other girl wanted her to do.
“That’s because I am and I need you to comfort me.” Some would find this act tiring and maybe even annoying, but to Ar-Nueng, she found it endearing. It won’t be Anueng if there weren’t moments like this.
“Is that so?” Ar-Nueng teasingly replied not immediately giving in. “What does my baby want?”
The term endearment still manages to make her blush no matter how many times they’ve used it. “Hmmmm.” Anueng pretended to think.
“I know! You need me to remind you that you are doing amazing and you will keep on doing amazing things because you, yourself are amazing.”
“Mhmm.” Anueng agreed with a smile on her face but also sounded as if she wanted her girlfriend to say more.
“That you’re the best at what you do and that all your hard work are going to pay off because you will reach your goals in no time by how hard working you are.”
“Keep them coming.” she teased.
“That no matter how tired you are, you’re still the most beautiful in my eyes.”
“Mhmm.” she let out a slight chuckle as she blushed on the other line. Her heart dancing with joy at the words she’s hearing from Ar-Nueng.
“And that I love you and I am really proud of you.” Ar-Nueng stated lovingly, knowing that that was the cherry on top.
Nueng let out a long contented sigh. “All charged up and I love you too.”
Ar-Nueng chuckled at her antics, finding it adorable. “Glad to hear.” she took a momentary pause before proceeding to the actual reason she called. “So, Sam and Mon are inviting us for dinner and drinks tonight to celebrate.”
“Ohh what’s the occasion?” Anueng proceeded to look through her computer screen as she conversed on the phone.
“Well, something about hitting a target goal on their website. They wanted to celebrate with their team but extended the invitation to us. Will you be done with work soon or would you need to go on overtime?”
“Yeah.” she sadly replied. “As much as I would want to go and join you guys, I have a deadline for tomorrow’s show. I might need to stay for a few more hours and to be honest I’m also beat. Our bed is calling me.”
“Hey. Please don’t overwork yourself.” Ar-Nueng’s voice sounded more serious now. “I don’t want you getting sick. Do I need to talk to someone?”
“Uh-uh. You would do no such thing. I’m fine, just tired.” she reassured her girlfriend knowing how protective she is over her. “But you should go. You’ve been spending a lot of hours at the gallery as well. You deserve a night off.”
“But it won’t be fun without you.” This side of Ar-Nueng was reserved for Anueng. On the outside, you would never think that someone with a strong personality like her would be a softy for her girlfriend.
Anueng smiled at the statement. “You’ll be fine, plus Sam and Mon have been very supportive of the cafe and the gallery so you should return the favor and show up at that party.” she reminded the older one how her sister have helped her navigate the opening of her dream business, even managing to find the space that can both accommodate a cafe and gallery to make it easier for Ar-Nueng to manage both business. From time to time, Sam would check in and offer a hand for any administrative portion of the work to free up her sister’s plate.
“Fine. I’ll go. But are you sure you don’t need me to pick you up. I don’t want you driving if you’re tired.” Ever since the accident, Ar-Nueng had a strange relationship with Anueng and vehicles when she isn’t the one driving. Anueng was precious cargo that she can never entrust anyone but herself.
“Don’t worry about me. I will be careful and if I’m too tired I’ll get a cab to bring me home. Promise.” Anueng knew how worried her girlfriend can get so the additional reassurance was necessary.
“Alright. Update when you get home?”
“For sure. And please take care.” she responded sweetly before shifting to a different tone. “Have fun but not too much. I’m not there to fend off everyone who will try to hit on you. Remember, mine.”
Ar-Nueng laughed. It sounds like a joke but she knew very well how jealous Anueng can get. She secretly loves how possessive the younger one tends to be and how she dramatically hisses and huffs whenever someone pays attention to her more than they’re supposed to.
“Only yours.” she assures Anueng.
“Good.”
“Well, I’ll let you go back to work so you can head home. I love you.”
“I love you too. And, please tell Sam and Mon I’ll make it up to them.” They exchanged a few more pleasantries before hanging up the call and going about their days.