The Secret of Us

11

Mind Say One Thing, Heart Say Another

The chatter of her niece and nephew on a leisurely

weekend brings a smile to Dr. Fahlada,who's just walked

near the swimming pool. The two mischievous kids

plead with their mother to join them in the pool,

including her, who's been coaxed since morning.

"Auntie Lada is here!" the two voices chime in

unison, echoing across the pool until their mother has to

quiet them down.

"It's okay," she reassures. "You can leave Nung and

Pra e with Lada."She drapes her white robe over a

poolside chair, revealing her petite, sexy figure in a

black two-piece swimsuit with short bottoms and a plaid

collared top that doesn't emphasize her curves.

As soon as Nung and Prae's beloved aunt enters

the pool, it seems their mother won't have to struggle to

keep the kids in check. The two rascals immediately

flock to
179
 Mee Nam

Auntie Lada, their chatter more entertaining than

annoying to Dr. Lada.

"Do you have plans for this evening?"

"No, Kade. Is there something up?" Lada turns to ask

her older sister, now that the kids have been passed on to

her sister-in-law.

"Has Dad told you yet?"

"Not yet. He hasn't mentioned anything to me,"

she replies while still leisurely exercising her muscles in

the small pool, a regular routine she enjoys for relaxation.

"Today, Dad has invited the director and the actress

who will be shooting the commercial for the hospital's

Dermatology Department to dinner."

"Why did he invite them?"

"He said it's to apologize for the inconvenience last

time and to discuss the commercial shoot details with

you."Hearing this, Dr. Fahlada can't help but feel guilty for

the time the crew lost because of her.

180
The Secret of Us

"Who's the actress shooting the commercial with

me?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't discussed it with Dad."

Dr.Fahlada nods in agreement with her sister, her mind

wandering to the actress initially cast for the

commercial.The crew must've changed her as she

requested to replace the actress for the Dermatology

Department's commercial.

"I'll be staying for dinner," she tells her older

sister,who watches her younger sibling swim towards

the kids with a smile. Everyone in the Thananusak

family is concerned about their youngest sister, who

seems to enjoy her work so much that she doesn't

consider having someone by her side. Dr. Fahlada

Thananusak is as beautiful and wealthy as anyone, but

she never brings anyone home to introduce to the

family.

However, it seems that what Dr. Fahlada has

planned may not go as she wishes. Inside the spacious

dining room,there's the commercial director, two crew

members, and,most importantly, the same actress she'd

previously

181
 Mee Nam

declined. However, what she must do is enter the dining

room to maintain politeness. The creator can only return a

gentle smile.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable. Today, I want

everyone to relax," the head of the Thananusak family

says,easing the tension and bringing smiles back to the

atmosphere.

"Thank you, Mr. Phuthares," the director is another

who feels the dining room's tension, having witnessed the

incident between the beautiful doctor and the actress.

Who would've thought Dr. Fahlada would refuse to work

with the rising star actress, Sanithada?

Many might feel slightly uncomfortable, but not the

actress, who maintains an indifferent facade but is excited

inside. She's never imagined visiting Dr. Fahlada's

house,even if it's in the capacity of an actress in the

hospital's advertisement.

The dinner proceeds simply, with only Dr.

Phuthares,the hospital director, and Dr. Fahlada, the host,

welcoming
182
The Secret of Us

the crew. The rest of the family is busy with other matters

outside.

"I must apologize for the inconvenience that day to

the director and everyone involved."

"It's no problem at all, Director. We're always ready

to work for you,"the famous commercial director wouldn't

refuse a well-paying job.

The conversation about work continues, but the

actress sitting near her manager smiles at the woman

sitting close to the hospital director. However, Dr. Fahlada

doesn't look her way, not even a glance.

"Please make yourself at home, and would you

excuse me, Dad? I'll be leaving now," Dr. Fahlada says,

causing everyone at the table to hold their breath. They

all look at the speaker and the actress she'd previously

clashed with.
"Lada."

"You can talk to the team. I'll go read," she

declines,surprising her father. Dr. Fahlada is never rude

like this. He intentionally chose the same actress because

he wanted to
183
 Mee Nam

know why his daughter refused to work with Sanithada

Phongpipat.

"Lada, please take Sanithada home for me," the

director's words st un the dining room, not just with held

breath but now with shock. The director must know that

his daughter and the chosen actress for the commercial

had already caused a speechless scene on set.

"As you wish."

"Susie, if you're busy, let Dr. Lada drop you off

first.Don't worry about Miss Sanithada. Dr. Lada will take

her,"said the director. No one dares to refuse the

director's commanding words, not even Dr. Fahlada, who

could only maintain a neutral expression without

showing any emotion.

The luxury German car cruises at a steady speed,

its comfort matching its price, but not for Susie, who

alternates between looking at the driver and the

passenger.The car is silent except for the music from

the radio,playing heartbreak songs that add to the

discomfort.
184
The Secret of Us

"Please stop in front of the 7-Eleven."

"Okay."

"Why are you stopping at 7-Eleven, Susie?" The

asked almost wishes she could tell the asker to be quiet

right now.

"I'm meeting a friend."

"Meeting a friend?"

"I have a fight with a friend behind the 7-Eleven

after it closes," the manager exits the car, leaving the

actress stunned by the response.

Who would make an appointment to fight

bebind a 7-Eleven after it closes?

Dr. Fahlada can't help but smile at the bewildered

face beside her. Does this woman really believe that 7-

Eleven has a closing time?

"7-Eleven is open 24 hours. Susie must have

a secret."

"A secret she doesn't want you to know."

"I didn't ask you."

185
 Mee Nam

"I'm not speaking to you. I'm just speaking out

loud,"the one claiming to speak out loud continues to

suppress a smile at the pet ulant face turned towards her.

She must realize that what she thought wasn't the case at

all.

"7-Eleven has no closing day."

"There's no closing day. Don't you see the sign that

says open twenty-four hours?"

"I didn't ask you."

"I'm not speaking to you. I'm just speaking out

loud,"the same exact phrase, not a word out of place. It

turns out there are only two people in the car, but they don't

talk to each other, just speaking up randomly.

"If the power goes out, 7-Eleven closes."

"That's not called 7-Eleven closing."

"If we go shopping when the power's out, 7-Eleven

won't be open," the actress turns away, her face about to

burst into a smile. They're arguing over nonsense, just like

when they used to hold hands and analyze everything we

encountered throughout the day.

186
The Secret of Us

"If the power is out, no one would think of going to 7-

Eleven."

"I didn't ask you."

"I'm not speaking to you; I'm just speaking out

loud,"this time, Dr. Fahlada chooses to slow down the car

before inadvertently looking at the pretty face that is

looking out of the car window with a smile. Perhaps,

because in the car has just the two of them, Dr. Fahlada

chooses follow her heart instead of her brain.

One person is intent on driving, but the other refuses

to reveal the destination. When will this car reach its

destination?

The car continues on the road, with no sign that the

driver will ask or the passenger will reveal the destination

for the evening. They just sneak glances at each other when

the other isn't looking back. The radio music seems to

conspire to improve the atmosphere, as a sweet, touching

song replaces the heart-wrenching tunes.

The slender hand reaching to turn off the radio stops

when it's gently grasped by another. The traffic light

187
 Mee Nam

remains red, and Dr. Fahlada can't help but look at

where her hand is. She doesn't pull her left hand back as

she should but lets it be held.

The actress's beautiful eyes continue to gaze at

the driver's face and the hand she's holding, filled with

longing.The doctor doesn't pull away but allows her to

hold on.Perhaps it's the atmosphere from the music or

something else that makes Dr. Fahlada not the cold-

hearted doctor but the warm and caring one she used to

be.
"Doctor?"

"What's wrong?" Her voice remains as calm as

ever,but her hand still rests beneath the palm of the

other without pulling away.

"I have a stomachache," Sanithada admits.

"Stomach?" Dr. Fahlada's brief question brings a

smile to the face of the one being asked. It's clear that

everything concerning Sanithada, Dr. Fahlada never

forgets.
188
The Secret of Us

"Yes, I barely ate anything for dinner, and now it

hurts,"To be honest, the pain isn't severe, but she

mentions it just to see the doctor's reaction.

"Does it hurt a lot?" Dr. Fahlada's voice is laced with

concern, sending the listener's heart racing. The words

and the caring gaze are exactly what the young actress

longs to have returned to her.

"Not much."

"Let's stop by the 7-Eleven up ahead. Hang in

there."Even though her tone isn't sweet or soothing, the

warmth of her concern is enough to make the listener's

heart smile.

"7-Eleven doesn't close?"

"Seven-Eleven never closes. It's open twenty-four

hours." Neither of them looks at each other, but why do

their faces light up with smiles when they talk about the

convenience store that's open all day and night?

The car is parked in front of the brightly lit

convenience store, but no one has y et opened the door

to
189
 Mee Nam

step out. Dr. Fahlada looks at her own hand, still held

firmly in place, unwilling to let go.

"Doctor."

"I know." The sigh from the one who acknowledges

this prompts the slender hand that was holding on to

release the car owner's hand, allowing her freedom before

a smile spreads across her face. As soon as the car door

closes, the doctor walks into the convenience store, but

the one left behind sits watching with a sweet smile.

The scent of warm porridge wafts to her nose as

soon as the person who had left the car earlier return s to

her seat.The smile on the young actress's face never

fades; her doctor remembers that she likes porridge when

she complains of a stomachache, and it's always the

doctor who prepares it for her.

Dr. Fahlada's lips are blowing on the hot

porridge,stirring it with a spoon to cool it down as quickly

as possible. The observer can't take her eyes off the

scene.
190
The Secret of Us

The longing and concern cause tears to well up the

moment their eyes meet.

"Does it hurt a lot? Should you take your medicine?"

"Just the porridge is fine."

The cup of porridge is offered, but it seems the one

with the stomachache remains indifferent, refusing to

accept it, her thin lips applied with glossy lipstick tightly

sealed.

"It's not hot anymore." Although Dr. Fahlada knows

what the actress is hinting at, she still refuses to comply

as she used to because now, the two of them are no

longer lovers as they once were.

She can't feed be r like bow sb e used to do. However the

eyes of the cruel woman always soft en Dr. Fablada's beart.

"It's hot," the stubborn voice persists, the actress

pursing her lips as soon as the cup of porridge is

transferred to her hands according to the doctor's wishes.

"If it's hot, deal with it yourself. I'm going to

drive."The annoyed expression makes the one about to

drive away
191
 Mee Nam

from the convenience store chuckle secretly because what

she sees is so reminiscent of the past when they first

started dating. The little one would often sulk like this

whenever she was upset.

"Ouch, it's hot!" The car that should've been moving

along the road is now stationary as the driver quickly

grabs the cup of porridge, using her free hand to examine

the delicate lips of the one complaining about the heat.

Their breaths are so close they could almost

touch,causing both the one intending to be burned by the

porridge and the one concerned about the heat to pause

their thoughts as their eyes inadvertently lock. It's

Dr.Fahlada who pulls away, offering the porridge cup again

for the heat to dissipate.

A clear plastic spoon is presented, prompting the

actress to smile before she begins to eat the porridge. She

watches the doctor stir it continuously until she's sure it's

cool enough to be fed gently.

192
The Secret of Us

There's no chatting in the luxury car. Only two

people are determined to play their roles. One is paying

attention to blowing off the heat, and another is paying

attention to eating the porridge that was fed gently.

A bottle of water is opened, and a straw is inserted

before being handed to the person who's finished the

porridge. Dr. Fahlada watches the unfolding scene with a

heart whose walls are slowly being eroded. The soft

hand grasps hers, still holding the water bottle, and the

beautiful face leans down to sip from the straw while the

bottle remains in her hand.

Sometimes, memories that were once hidden begin to

melt the walls of the heart without one realizing it.

Finally, the luxurious German car arrives at its

destination for the night. Dr. Fahlada looks at the tall

condo building, a semi-penthouse project by the

Intranon Group, which her cousin once mentioned was

managed by her lover. It emphasizes privacy and has an

excellent
193
 Mee Nam

security system, making it suitable for those who value

privacy and are willing to pay a substantial amount for it.

The car passes through a strict security system, and

it seems a single electronic card displays information

about the owner and their residence, along with a security

code for the car to enter. If it weren't for the fact that she's

the youngest daughter of the Intranon Group and the lover

of her cousin, the doctor might think the condo's

developer was out of their mind or had watched too many

movies.

"Come up to the room with me. I'm afraid I might get

a stomachache on the way,"Sanithada says, a seemingly

good reason to keep someone with her as long as

possible.

Without acceptance or refusal, the driver's side door

opens, and Dr. Fahlada stands waiting. Perhaps seeing the

doctor from an angle she's never seen before makes the

actress's heart beat faster than she expected.

Before, it was the doctor who initiated the

courtship,but now it seems she must take the lead in

pursuing the
194
The Secret of Us

doctor, learning about her in ways she's never

experienced before, from her coldness to her hurtful

words.

Even though Doctor is stubborn and denies it, sb e

always ends up giving in.

The door to room 901 opens, but Dr. Fahlada remains

still, not stepping in as the owner wishes until the one who

entered first comes back out. The slender hand takes the

opportunity to grab the doctor's, who's looking around the

living space with interest.

"There are only three rooms on this floor, Doctor.The

condo screens buyers. So it's safe, no need to worry,"the

woman in front of her says, causing the doctor to

maintain a neutral expression as she inadvertently looks

around too much.

The listener almost laughs at the word

"screening."It's as if the condo is scanning potential

buyers for high-level security. But the privacy and

convenience are worth the price, even if it might be too

high for someone to choose a residence.

195
 Mee Nam

The door closes as Dr. Fahlada steps inside, looking

at the spacious living area that seems well-designed for

the price. Expensive space must be worth the money paid

to the project owner. The room is decorated mostly in

white for a soothing effect.

But what catches Dr. Fahlada's attention for a long

time is the living room area, decorated similarly to the

"room of happiness" in her memory, which she can't

forget. The arrangement and even the decorative items

are reminiscent of when they chose them together after

agreeing to live together instead of renting separate

rooms.

"Doctor..."Tears fall from the actress as she sees the

pained look in the eyes of the one in front of her, who

turns away from the living room that reflects her feelings.

"Why? Why come back? What do you want?"

"I don't want anything. I just want you," the actress

sobs, her embrace from behind and her tears not making

the doctor turn around to face her. The angelic doctor of

many closes her eyes to hide the pain in her heart.

196
The Secret of Us

"When you broke up, you didn't want me. Now you

do. What am I to you?"

"Doctor…"

"Answer me. What am I to you? Or did your new

lover leave you, and now you're back to caring for

someone worthless like me?"

"You're not worthless. To me, you're the most

valuable person," the actress sobs.

"The most valuable, but what you did doesn't show

it. This is real life, not a drama you're acting in!

Remember,I'm not a character for you to play with!"

The heart-wrenching sobs don't make Dr. Fahlada

pay attention to the slender figure of the actress, who

collapses on the floor as soon as her arms are empty.

The door is closed, but the tears of the owner of the

luxurious condo continue to flow.

"Doctor, you're the most valuable to me..."

197
 Mee Nam

12

Advertisement Shooting

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Your coffee, Doctor," the fragrant aroma of the

second cup of the day fills the room, prompting a hint of

surprise from the young nurse. It's well-known that

Dr.Fahlada only drinks one cup of coffee in the morning.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Would you like anything besides coffee?" The nurse

can't help but offer an alternative, noticing Dr. Fahlada

reaching for a second cup despite it being just one in the

afternoon.

"How many more cases do I have today?"

"Just one more this afternoon, Doctor. You have a

commercial shoot at two," the nurse says as she closes

the door to Dr. Fahlada's private office, her words clearly

indicating that she shouldn't overstep her duties.

198
The Secret of Us

The coffee cup still steams, but Dr. Fahlada doesn't

seem to care that leaving it untouched might alter its

flavor.Instead of sipping her usual brew, she continues to

read the documents in her hand.

She meticulously reads through the preparation

notes and the to-do list for the commercial shoot,

memorizing every line. Yet, the one thing that keeps her

expression stoic and her sighs frequent is the thought of

the woman she has to work with today as co-presenter.

The cries and tears of that cruel woman from that

night still haunt her memories, driving her to rely on

sleeping pills for the past three nights. If this continues,

her health will surely deteriorate. The more she tries to

push away the image of the cruel woman, the clearer it

becomes.

Whoever said that falling out of love is as easy as

forgetting everything clearly hasn't seen the countless

stories of people yearning for lost love. After nearly a year

of trying to forget everything, even keeping herself busy

to
199
 Mee Nam

avoid idle moments, her heart still remembers the depth of love

she had for the woman who broke up with her.

The memory of herself crying for a reason on the day

she was left still haunts her nightmares. Despite her

efforts to gain as much work experience as possible to

improve herself, her love r chose to leave her for a foreign

man. She remembers every word, every plea, every

attempt to make amends, only to be met with a cold,

indifferent gaze that wounded her heart to the point of

collapse.

'Why do we have to meet again now that I'm finally

standing strong?'

Even though the scars on her heart are beginning to

heal, the unexpected reunion stirs up old

feelings,sometimes feeling like the wounds are being cut

open repeatedly. Time hasn't helped her heart grow cold

or feel any less for that woman.

Her brain tells be r to stop loving, to be indifferent.

But her heart bas never managed to erase the feeling of

love.
200
The Secret of Us

The makeup session takes longer than

expected,and Dr. Fahlada, sitting patiently while the

team works on enhancing her beauty, can't help but feel

a slight irritation. Despite the cool air conditioning, she

feels an underlying restlessness, especially when she

enters the room prepared for the presenters, and

doesn't find the woman who's been troubling her

thoughts lately.

"Aekky, have you seen Earn?"

"Yes."
"Where is she?"

"She's taking a break in another room. She said

she had a stomachache," whispers the makeup artist to

the costume designer, making Dr. Fahlada, who

overhears,wonder.

The first set of solo photos goes smoothly, with

Dr.Fahlada looking beautiful enough to not trouble the

photographer. But now, her gaze is fixed on the woman

approaching to take a couple's shot, even as her own

white gown is checked for wrinkles.

201
 Mee Nam

Her face may seem unaffected, but as a doctor

who diagnoses patients, she can tell that the actress is

feeling unwell, often bending over slightly.

The director calls for the two presenters to get

ready,forcing Dr. Fahlada, who was about to inquire

about the actress's condition, to move to the prepared

spot instead.

Today's shooting is just still photos, so it's not

difficult to speed things up. Dr. Fahlada watches the

woman standing slightly apart from her with a calm

expression. The scent of the cruel woman's perfume,

which she inadvertently inhales, makes her face break

into a smile. This woman still favors the same soft,

subtle fragrance she's always loved.

If she inadvertently breathed in the familiar scent,

it wouldn't be much different from the actress trying to

suppress her vulnerable emotions, just barely noticeable

even when they were so close. But she had no right to

embrace or even turn around to talk to her, considering

202
The Secret of Us

that right now, the doctor think she's unimportant. So

she'll make the doctor see that she's unimportant too.

Someone like Dr. Fablada didn't like being treated as if she

were wortbless.

Her usually warm behavior when close to her now

turns into an indifferent attitude, making the doctor

inadvertently look at the thin back in a short blue dress in

front of her with a thoughtful gaze. Normally, this cruel

woman will come to chat or show a better attitude, not act

as if they're just working together.

The hands that touch her hip or the body that moves

closer, even without a command from the photographer or

director, make the actress press her lips tightly. She feels

her heart fluttering, knowing that the doctor's hand is

touching her, even if it's just a small gesture.

Sweat begins to form along the actress's hairline as

the photographer continues to request multiple retakes to

get the desired shots. The more the air conditioning

works,the more the actress in front of the camera feels

the
203
 Mee Nam

breathable air slowly disappearing, along with the

increasing stomach pain that makes her want to sit down

rather than stand still for the camera.

"Earn!?" It's not just Dr. Fahlada who quickly catches

the fainting woman in her arms; the entire crew rushes

in,prompting the doctor, who usually heals the sick, to order

them to back off. She lets the actress's manager carry the

unconscious woman to a long sofa in the dressing room and

orders no one to disturb them.

Susie looks at her charge lying still on the sofa, then at

Dr. Fahlada, who is caring for the patient. She's unsure if

Sanithada really fainted or pretended to, just to get close

attention from the st unning doctor. But it seems like a real

faint, given the doctor's clearly concerned expression. Susie

wants to help, but the doctor's stern look makes her stand

still, watching the woman care for her agency's actress.

The actress's heavy eyes slowly open as she senses a

strong smell from something. She looks around the room

and stops at the sweet face of the doctor in the white gown,

204
The Secret of Us

holding a white cotton ball - probably the pungent

ammonia that revived her. But now, the stomach pain

returns, making her uncomfortable lying flat.

"Where does it hurt?" The doctor's voice is

caring,but her expression remains neutral, not wanting

the newly awakened woman to know how worried she

is.

"Susie?"

"Yes?" Instead of calling for Dr. Fahlada, she calls

for her manager, making her flinch. If it weren't for the

doctor's stern gaze, she would've rushed to the actress's

side immediately.

"Where does it hurt?" The doctor's voice grows

even more neutral as the patient pushes her hand away

and calls for her personal manager instead of saying

where it hurts.

"Susie, take me back to my room, please."

"I asked where it hurts. Can't you hear?" The

beautiful doctor's voice becomes irritated, leaving Susie

stunned. Sanithada's gaze tells her to do anything to

bring her out of the awkward situation in this room.

205
 Mee Nam

"It has nothing to do with you, even if I'm in

pain,sick, or dying,"the actress's shaky words make Susie

cover her chest, not understanding how Sanithada has the

courage to say this, especially when she's just caught the

doctor kissing her and now is speaking sarcastically.

"Fine! Then die and let me see," Dr. Fahlada's voice

turns fully irritated as the patient is stubborn and

uncooperative.

"Step aside, Susie. Taking me back."

"Uh, well, it's just that..."

"Susie!"

"No need. I'll handle it myself," One calls out, but

another stops her with a glare. In this situation, what can

a middle person like Susie do?

"Susie!"

"I'll handle it."

"Susie!"The actress's voice doesn't make her

personal manager brave enough to step forward,

especially when faced with Dr. Fahlada's fi erce look.

206
The Secret of Us

Gosb, I desperately wish I could transform into an

earthworm and vanish from the tumultuous scene unfolding

before me. Earn is struggling to push berself up, trying to

keep Dr. Fablada at bay.Meanwhile, my angelic doctor is

firmly grasping Earn's arm. In such a situation, what sh ould

I do?

"Let go of me! It's not your business even if I

die,"Sanithada's voice drips with sarcasm, letting Dr. Fahlada

know that she's now acting like a defiant child. The doctor

dislikes stubborn women who don't follow what they should

do. She'll make the doctor pay attention this way. If her

heart no longer harbors love, she'll back off and stop being

stubborn.

"I don't care about you, but I am concerned about your

illness," Dr. Fahlada maintains her composure, which would

be difficult if she hadn't dealt with such frustrating patients

before.

"Excuse me. Could you please help support me,Susie?"

"Go get checked right now, Sanithada."

207
 Mee Nam

"I won't get checked. You don't have to care about

Earn, doctor. Just let me die, and you won't be annoyed

anymore,"the two women lock eyes, neither willing to

back down, creating a tension that has a third party

nervously biting their own finger. The two gorgeous

women are making the situation more suspenseful than a

drama where the heroine defies the hero. The only scene

missing from this type of drama is the hero kissing the

heroine, but in this case, it's the heroine kissing the

heroine.

"Sanithada, when did you become so sarcastic?"

"Since you said those things to me," she retorts with

challenging, defiant eyes, making Dr. Fahlada want to

shake the woman before her. But if the doctor looked

closer, she might see the trembling eyes of the beautiful

actress, smiling because Dr. Fahlada isn't indifferent.

"Fine!"

"Doctor, I'm hurt!"

"You're not even half as hurt as I am."

208
The Secret of Us

"How do you know I'm not hurt? H-how do you

know..." The tears start to fall from the young actress's

eyes.
"If you were hurt, you wouldn't have broken up
with me!" The two beautiful women exchange glances
filled with pain, making Susie bite her finger in
empathy. She now realizes that the two were once
lovers, and it seems Sanithada was the one who
ended things with Susie's angelic doctor.

Ob, the poor, pitiful doctor.

But why does the one who initiated the breakup

seem to be in pain, too?
"Do you think I wanted to break up with you that
badly?"

"Then why did you break up with me, Sanithada!

Because a woman like you never has enough!"

Slap!

The sound of a hand striking a face echoes

without the need for a stunt double, shocking those

209
 Mee Nam

present. They're so engrossed they almost miss the

moment. After a slap, there should be a kiss, right? But

no kiss comes, only the doctor's arms catching the

fainting Sanithada once more before she hears the

doctor urgently calling for a stretcher.

The young actress's weary eyes struggle to open

once again as she regains consciousness,finding

herself in a white room. She sees an IV bottle beside

her bed and then smiles weakly at her personal

manager, who looks on with concern.

"Please take me home, Susie," she whispers,

though her gaze drifts to someone in a gown sitting on
a long sofa,prompting her to say something that isn't
good for her health.

"But..." Before Susie can finish, the doctor

approaches with a calm demeanor.

210
The Secret of Us

"I haven't discharged you yet. You're still weak," the

doctor's soothing voice could lu ll anyone, but not the

actress, who immediately turns away.

"Susie, I want a different doctor," she declares,

casting a chill over the room. Susie slowly moves to the

foot of the bed, away from the doctor, whose face is no

longer calm.

The patient's gaze is as defiant as the doctor's

disapproving one. Susie almost blushes on their

behalf,watching the doctor's eyes linger on the disheveled

hospital gown.

Susie wants to scream out loud at the sight of the

doctor's slightly embarrassed face and the patient's

restless movements, revealing glimpses of pale skin.

Hospital gowns are prone to slipping, and what will the

doctor do if it does? Stand and watch or leave the room?

But Susie's jaw drops at the unexpected turn of

events. The beautiful doctor leans down, and Sanithada's

face flushes red. The doctor's fingers gently trace the

loose
211
 Mee Nam

gown, slowly retying it with a smile that seems to preclude

harsh words.

"A decent woman shouldn't expose herself like this."

"If you say so, I'm an indecent woman. Let me go! I'll

take it off right here," The younger woman tries to untie

the gown, prompting a stern look from the doctor.

And once again, Susie is caught off guard by the

unfolding drama. She's unsure what genre she's

witnessing as the two confront each other, making her bite

her finger in suspense. Sanithada struggles to free herself

from Dr.Fahlada's grasp.

Oops!Susie almost can't contain her excitement as

the two women kiss. It seems the doctor couldn't handle

Sanithada's stubbornness and just went for it. The two

women kissing have forgotten there's another person in

the room.

What shouldI do? Leave quietly or pretend to be

oblivious and keep watching the tbrilling scene?

212
The Secret of Us

The soft lips that have been pressed together for

so long are finally freed, and the doctor's face forces the

actress to reveal her feelings of hurt mixed with

overflowing emotions.

"Does it hurt?" Dr. Fahlada's gentle

question,accompanied by a soft touch to the lips, eases

the tension in the room, but not for the person who's

been biting her nails in anticipation.

"It hurts here," Sanithada says, tears welling up in

her eyes and her hand lightly touching her belly, which

Dr.Fahlada soothed with kisses on both eyes and a

lingering kiss on her stomach.

The onlooker who's been following from the

beginning is about to bite off all her nails. What kind of

person is Susie's angelic doctor? She shows so many

emotions that it's hard to keep up. Now, the doctor is

comforting the patient, holding her still in her arms.

"Don't be stubborn; you will get better."

"Doctor, my stomach hurts. It hurts a lot."

213
 Mee Nam

“Lie still, don't move. The medicine will take effect

soon.”

"But it hurts now. My stomach really hurts," the quiet

conversation is clear in the silent room, and Susie smiles,no

longer needing to bite her finger. She's enjoying the tender

moment between the two women.

Dr. Fablada speaks softly, and Earn's defiance melts away

under the doctor's gentle care. It's clear that Earn and be r

beloved doctor can be sweet togetber, but how long this will last

is anyone's guess.

But from today's scenes alone, I'm convinced there's a

deep and intriguing backst ory between Earn and the beautiful

doctor, one north following closely.

Should I keep a close eye on the situation?

214
The Secret of Us

13

Nursing

The sun, nearing its descent below the horizon,left

only a gentle cascade of light to spill into the room. The

curtains remained open, unlike the time when the potency

of medication had lulled her into sleep. The young starlet

scans the room before her gaze settles on her personal

manager, who's dozing on the long sofa. Only Susie is

there; the doctor has vanished at some point. She can still

remember the warmth of the doctor's hand in hers before

sleep has overtaken her.

"Oh, you're awake, girl?"

"Where did Doctor go, Susie?" Sbe wakes up asking

about Dr. Fablada right away, not even inquiring about

Susie, who's nursing be r own acbing fingers.

"Dr. Fahlada didn't leave a message."

"Oh."

215
 Mee Nam

"But she did instruct me to inform the nurse to call

her once you wake up." Susie's face, previously marked

by a hint of jealousy, now brightens with a smile. She's

now absolutely certain that the beautiful doctor has a

profound influence on her Sanithada.

"Susie..."

"Alright, Earn. Now that you have some strength,

I'm going to ask you something directly. No beating

around the bush." Susie doesn't just speak; she drags a

chair to sit beside the bed, ensuring the patient can't

avoid eye contact.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Excuse me, I'm here to check on you."Before

Susie can even begin her interrogation, she has to move

to the other side of the bed, where the nurse is

bombarding the young actress with questions and

jotting down instructions from the doctor.

"Where's Dr. Fahlada? Why isn't she examining me

herself?"

216
The Secret of Us

"She's tied up with a special case. Dr. Wut is filling in

for her," the nurse explains with a soft voice, well-trained

in patient care.

Dr. Wut flashes a charming smile at the beautiful

patient whom Dr. Fahlada has asked him to

examine.There's no need for further questions; the

essential history of Sanithada Phongpipat is neatly written

in Dr. Fahlada's distinctive handwriting.

The term"tied up with a special case" seems to make

the young actress feel a bit slighted, even though she

knows Dr. Fahlada isn't one to neglect her patients. But

Sanithada is sick now, and she wants Dr. Fahlada to take

care of her.

"No fever. Tonight, we'll administer an IV to keep you

strong. You should be able to go home tomorrow,"said the

handsome doctor, whose soothing voice seems to go

unnoticed by the patient, who's now adjusting her blanket

to signal her need for rest.

The handsome doctor and the nurse has already left

the room, but silence still hangs heavy, prompting Susie

to
217
 Mee Nam

sigh. Initially, she's wanted to probe into the story between

her and the doctor, to understand why they'd parted ways.

But she's sure that both their hearts still harbor fond

feelings, perhaps even love.

Knock!Knock!Knock!

The knock on the door pulls both the patient and her

caretaker from their reverie. Susie goes to see who's come

to visit the actress despite Sanithada's plea not to inform

her family. But when Susie sees the visitor's pretty face, she

can't help but greet her in surprise.

"Ingfah!"

"Hello, Susie. I'm here to visit the patient," Ingfah

greets, ever the leading lady with impeccable manners——

beautiful, adorable, and humble. It's no wonder she's a

national sweetheart.

"How did you know? And when did you get

back from abroad?"
"Which question should I answer first? I heard from the

nurses that Sanithada got sick. As for my return, it's a

218
The Secret of Us

secret. I'm still on a break," Ingfah replies with a

smile,offering a gentle look to the weary-faced patient on

the bed. She'd returned to Thailand because she couldn't

bear being away from a certain journalist, sneaking back

on a flight. But the Thai weather has forced her to see

Dr.Fahlada's care for her skin, and she arrived just as the

doctor's day was ending.

"Hello, Ingfah. It's been a while since we last met."

"You've been working so hard you got sick... But you

look even prettier," Ingfah says with a sweet smile to the

younger actress, who returns a tired but appreciative

grin.If she isn't mistaken, it seems like Sanithada was

waiting for someone, but her expression dims slightly

upon seeing her,only to brighten again with a smile.

"You look even more beautiful and happy after your

break, Ingfah," the actress teases her admired senior,

who's always been a role model for her.

The conversation in the room quiets down when the

door opens again, but this time, all eyes are drawn to the

219
 Mee Nam

same f ocal point. Only Susie observes closely as three st

unning women are now in the same room.

Dr. Fahlada's gaze moves from the patient to the

visitor, her face stoic, but she offers a faint smile that

doesn't escape Susie's notice. The doctor's eyes hold a

hint of displeasure the second she enters the room and

finds the patient smiling at the beautiful actress.

"Dr. Fahlada, are you here to visit Earn, too?" Ingfah

breaks the silence, addressing the beautiful doctor who's a

close relative of her best friend. If she weren't Indira's

close friend, she wouldn't have been allowed to see

Dr.Fahlada after hours.

"I'm the attending physician," The doctor replies with

a slight smile, moving closer to the bed to inquire about

the patient's condition.

Now, only Susie stands smiling as she watches the

three women up close. Sanithada lays on the bed, Ingfah

to the left, and Dr. Fahlada to the right, asking the patient

about her symptoms with a calm demeanor. But Ingfah's

220
The Secret of Us

gaze, seeking answers, forces Susie to momentarily avert

her eyes, unable to explain why the younger actress is

acting so strangely.

Ingfah's phone rings, silencing the room once

more.She excuses herself to leave as her ride is waiting.

Before departing, she quietly tells the other actress to

keep her return to Thailand a secret.

"Get well soon."

"Thank you, Ingfah." The idolized actress left the

room, but silence reigned once more. Dr. Fahlada seems

poised to leave as well.

Susie barely contains her breath as she witnesses

the interaction between Sanithada and the angelic doctor.

The younger one's free hand, not connected to the IV,

reached out to grasp the doctor's soft hand, her eyes

pleading. If this were a drama, Susie thinks, it'd be the

scene where the heroine gazes longingly at the hero, both

in the patient's room.

221
 Mee Nam

"Susie, don't you have some important

business to attend to?"

"Me?" She points to herself, her face questioning, as

the patient suggests she has matters to handle. She

doesn't recall having any such business.

"You just told me a moment ago, didn't you? I can

sleep alone tonight."

"Oh... Yes, I have an important appointment tonight."

It's clear the actress wants something, but it seems her

desires won't be fulfilled. Dr. Fahlada appears uninterested

in what she's heard.

"Please excuse me," the doctor says, her

performance not meeting expectations as she leaves with

a neutral expression, revealing little emotion.

The door closes again, and this time, the patient's

tears make Susie sigh once more. Sanithada is sensitive

about anything related to Dr. Fahlada. But does the doctor

feel the same as her, or is she merely fulfilling her

professional duties?

222
The Secret of Us

While the patient's tears flowed, Dr. Fahlada, still in

her white coat despite the late hour, struggled to control

her thoughts. She's left the patient's room and now sat

in her office, reflecting.

The sight of the beautiful actress Ingfah reminds

her of the cruel woman who'd hurt her heart. But why

does she feel displeasure, especially when such feelings

should've been long gone?

Her heart is betraying her thoughts once more.

Perhaps it's time to admit that the woman named

Sanithada still makes her heart race and causes

irritation.

No matter how much she hides her feelings when

something stirs them, they're exposed. Dr. Fahlada's

heart has never forgotten the cruel woman.

Sanithada Phongpipat remains the woman she can

never forget, the love she'd given with all her heart

back when the two of them loved each other without

anyone else in between.

223
 Mee Nam

The clock hands on the wall continue to

move,indicating the time, which is now approaching ten

o'clock at night. Nurses dutifully bring in the evening

medication,but the patient still waits for someone.

However, the wait seems futile as the recovery room

door remains unopened by the expected visitor.

Sanithada should come to terms with the

situation,considering she was the one who ended

things, giving a painful reason to the doctor. Tears

stream down the young actress's face as she vividly

recalls the day that squeezed her heart, every action,

and her own words. No one wants to sever their own

heart nor be labeled a traitor to love,especially when

they never wished to do so.

But when a choice must be made, it should be the

right one. Yet, the choice made was far from what she

desired. If she could choose, she would still be in a

warm, loving relationship with Dr. Fahlada, the only

woman her heart longs for and wants to be with all the

time.
224
The Secret of Us

Perhaps it's the medication or the exhaustion from

crying, but the patient falls into a deep sleep, unaware of

the door opening and the person she's been waiting for.

Dr. Fahlada enters the room, dressed in

comfortable pants and a white T-shirt paired with

hospital slippers. She hasn't disappeared or abandoned

the patient; she was merely attending to her personal

matters.

The patient sleeps soundly, prompting the doctor

to stand and watch with a look that speaks

volumes,reminiscent of the times when their hearts still

held love for each other. Her slender fingers gently trace

the beautiful face before her soft lips tenderly touch the

patient's forehead.

"My naughty girl," she whispers.

Late into the night, the patient stirs, needing the

restroom, but the sight of someone stretched out on the

sofa brings a smile to her face. Finally, her Doctor

couldn't bear to leave her to sleep alone.

225
 Mee Nam

"Why didn't you wake me?" the caregiver voice

chides as she emerges from the bathroom. Dr. Fahlada's

slender hands help the patient adjust the IV line back to its

proper place before adjusting the bed for easier access.

Yet, the patient resists lying back down easily.

"Doctor,I couldn't sleep."

"You'll fall asleep soon enough. You need to rest more

when you're sick," the doctor's voice isn't sweet or soft,

but it still brings a smile to the actress's face,reminiscent

of every time she was ill and the doctor would tell her to

rest.

"I've slept plenty already."

"When you're ill, you need to rest. Go to sleep now."

"I just woke up."

"It's two in the morning, not the time to be awake.Go

back to sleep." the doctor insists, but she can't bring

herself to walk back to the co uch when the patient firmly

grasps her hand. Dr. Fahlada stands still, allowing her

hand
226
The Secret of Us

to be held for several minutes or until the patient is

satisfied.

The dim light in the bathroom that is left on reflects

the inside of the recovery room; two people are lying side

by side, gazing at each other, even if one of them

occasionally chooses to close their eyes.

Dr. Fahlada sighs as the patient seems ready to rise

from the bed again. She watches the patient approach

and sits down, gazing into her face.

"What is it?" It'd be a lie to say she feels nothing

with the woman of her heart sitting so close. Dr. Fahlada's

face grows warm, and she inadvertently leans back

against the sofa.

"Since when have you worn pajamas like this?" The

question, accompanied by a smile, makes the doctor look

away, knowing well that Dr. Fahlada dislikes

wearing full pajama sets, preferring lighter fabrics than a

matching shirt and pants.

227
 Mee Nam

"Hearts can change, why can't pajamas?" The

words reinforce both the speaker's and the listener's

feelings,making the atmosphere tense once more.

The actress looks on with regret and pain while

Dr.Fahlada reveals her own hurt, showing the woman

before her how much her heart has suffered from the

past.
"Doctor..."

"Go back to bed. Don't make me resent you any

more than I already do," the doctor says, turning her

back to the woman, signaling that it's time to sleep.

But the patient chooses to lie beside her on the

long sofa, her IV-laden arm embracing the woman who

turned away. The actress doesn't realize that her actions

are causing Dr. Fahlada to sigh with irritation, struggling

with feelings that seem to welcome the warmth of their

embrace.

"I'm sorry..."

"Enough. What we had is over... by your own

words."The more she speaks, the more it reminds her

that what
228
The Secret of Us

they're doing now isn't right. But Dr. Fahlada doesn't push

away the woman holding her.

It's a difficult decision, torn between a heart that

wants to be cold to the woman who'd hurt her and a heart

that longs for the warmth that had been missing.

"I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to break up

with you..." Tears flow, soaking the doctor's back, making

the woman bite her lip with her face buried in the sofa's

armrest. The actress acts as if Dr. Fahlada is clueless.

Wanting to break up, cutting ties so easily, and then just

apologizing to come back? Who will bear the pain of the heart?

"Don't play games!" Dr. Fahlada's voice hardens

again, remembering the pain of being left.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"I told you not to play games; what kind of person

are you? You break up when you want to, and now, what's

on your mind, thinking of the old one so you can say

you're sorry?

229
 Mee Nam

Dr. Fahlada retreats from the embrace before

standing up, looking at the sick person's tearful face.

However, it seems that her repelling hurt the sick

person, as blood returned to the IV tube, making Dr.

Fahlada, holding the other hand, place it at the lower.

There's no more conversation but only the patient's

sobbing. Fahlada's hand holds Sanithada's soft hand to

prevent blood from backing up. The patient's hoarse

voice made Fahlada shut her eyes down.

The young actress trying to explain the truth wants

to cry out loud, as Dr. Fahlada, who's holding her

hand,doesn't want to hear from her. Sanithada feels like

an embarrassed woman who dares to come back to her

ex-lover, even if it was she who ended the relationship.

Her words and her actions hurt Dr. Fahlada's feelings so

badly.

More love often leads to more burtful feelings,

eventually becoming resentment. People seem unable to

escape this cycle.But why does a rational woman like Dr.

Fahlada not think about the reason why she had to end

their relationship
230
The Secret of Us

abruptly without any indication that their love would

become parallel lines?

"I love you."

"Liar!"The torment in Dr. Fahlada's eyes can be

seen clearly as the woman before she dares to say the

word 'Love.' The doctor's slim hand unwittingly

squeezes the small hand that is uncontrollably

trembling.

"I'm telling you the truth, then and now;I always

love you."

"Sanithada, what kind of woman you are!"

The young woman looks into the doctor's eyes and

declares,“I'm the woman who loves you with all my

heart,”using her gaze to convey her overwhelming

emotions.Even the doctor's grip on her hand causes her

so much pain that she wants to cry out.

"But I... I..."

"I don't believe, no matter what you said, I don't

believe." Tears brim again as Dr. Fahlada's cold voice is

about to say something that cuts through her heart.

231
 Mee Nam

"For you, I can endure it, listen to you, but why

can't you do the same for me? Why can't you accept the

truth that I don't..."

"I can't let you say, I just can't. I don't believe that

you don't love me anymore. Waaah..."

"Why don't you consider how much I'm hurting? Do

you realize my pain when you say you no longer love

me?"

"I'm sorry, Doctor, I'm sorry."

"I forgave you the moment my heart couldn't...wait

——Earn!"The doctor's shout doesn't wake the woman

in her arms, who fails to see the caring eyes blaming

themselves for not controlling their

emotions,inadvertently hurting the woman who's

fainted in the middle of the night.

232