Chapter 8 the Lonesome Little Round Soul

Chapter 8 the Lonesome Little Round Soul

Days blurred together as Ladapha continued her job search. While waiting for interview results, she applied to other companies, but her criteria for convenience in commuting limited her options. The lack of progress only deepened her frustration.  

Buzz—buzz.

Her phone vibrated on the table. Glancing at the caller ID, she smiled and quickly answered.  

“What’s up, Miss Beautiful Teacher?” she teased.  

[Chom, sorry! I’ve been so busy, but I finally found some free time.]  

“And?”  

[Are you free these days?]  

“Pretty much. Why?” Ladapha asked, curiously.  

[Wanna grab a buffet? There’s a discount promotion, and I’ve got so much to talk about.]  

Eating out was manageable, but shopping? Definitely not. Ladapha was careful with her savings, reluctant to spend frivolously while unemployed.  

“Just the buffet, okay? I’m skipping shopping,” she replied firmly.  

[No shopping, I promise. Just food and chatting. Does Friday work?]  

“Alright, see you Friday!”  

Hanging up, Ladapha sighed, setting her phone aside. She opened her email and resumed sending job applications before heading to the kitchen to make a quick lunch.  

After eating and tidying up, she returned to her computer. This time, instead of job hunting, she indulged in some drama reruns to relax. But then—*ping!*—a new email notification appeared.  

She paused the TV drama and opened the email. Her eyes widened as she read the contents, and moments later, a loud scream filled the room.  

She had landed the job!  

Her heart raced with excitement as she reread the email, unable to believe her luck. A job at a major company—something she had barely dared to dream of. Today was, without a doubt, the best day she’d had in months.  

“Here are the documents for Mr. Peng’s approval,” said Jetanipat as he placed a black folder on the desk.  

Yin Yue, the young CEO of S Corporation, momentarily glanced away from his computer screen. He picked up the folder and began reviewing its contents. Despite being under thirty, Yin Yue’s exceptional management skills had driven the company’s growth both domestically and internationally, earning him widespread respect.  

“Next month, we’re expecting international clients. Arrange for someone to host them and present our proposals. Also, how’s the export deal progressing?” he asked, still skimming the documents.  

“They’ve promised a final response by the end of the month,” his assistant replied.  

“Good. Ensure all necessary paperwork is ready for completion.”  

“Yes, sir.” Jetanipat hesitated briefly before adding, “About the item you asked me to return to that woman...”  

Yin Yue looked up sharply. “What about it?”  

“Ah, nothing. It’s taken care of,” Jetanipat quickly replied, choosing not to mention her offer to treat his boss to a meal.  

Yin Yue closed the folder and handed it back. As he did so, his gaze drifted to a pink envelope sitting at the corner of his desk. It had been there since the morning, largely ignored amidst a busy schedule.  

“An invitation to the wedding of Ms. Lapasrada’s son,” Jetanipat explained.  

“A wedding?” Yin Yue raised an eyebrow and picked up the envelope. Opening it, he noted the date—only a few weeks away—and sighed. With no travel plans during that period and the importance of the family as business partners, skipping the event wasn’t an option.  

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to work,” Jetanipat said, excusing himself.  

Once alone, Yin Yue slid the invitation into his desk drawer, only to pause as his eyes caught on something else inside—a photograph.  

He still kept it?

Pulling out the photo, he stared at it, his expression cold. Without hesitation, he crumpled it into a ball and tossed it into the trash.

There’s no need to hold on to the past anymore. 

With a deep breath, Yin Yue refocused on his work, pushing any lingering thoughts aside.  

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Ladapha strolled into the kindergarten, watching the cars pulling in and out as children ran around, and waiting for their parents to pick them up. She found a marble bench outside and sat down to wait.  

A tap on her shoulder made her turn, and she saw her friend Kanika, a teacher at the school.  

“Chom, I’m so sorry,” Kanika said, her voice filled with guilt as she approached.  

“It’s fine,” Ladapha replied with a cheerful smile.  

Kanika let out a deep breath, trying to shake off her exhaustion.

Before she could explain further, her phone rang. After listening to the caller, her face turned crestfallen.  

“Looks like you’ll have to wait a bit longer,” Kanika said apologetically. “Actually, it might be quite a while.”  

Ladapha raised an eyebrow, silently urging her to elaborate.  

“It’s the boy’s father—he’ll probably be late picking him up again,” Kanika said, glancing toward a little boy sitting by himself. His round face was adorable, with pink lips, but his eyes held a sadness that tugged at the heart.  

“He’s so cute,” Ladapha said, standing up and gazing at the boy.  

“I have to stay until his dad comes to pick him up,” Kanika explained.  

Ladapha observed the boy with fascination. “He’s adorable. His parents must be stunning.”  

Kanika chuckled. “You’ve got it bad—you love kids but don’t want a boyfriend.”  

“It’s not the same thing!” Ladapha shot back with mock irritation.

“I love kids, but that doesn’t mean I want to get married and have my own.”  

“Sure, whatever you say, Miss Loves-Kids,” Kanika teased.  

“Can I go talk to him?” Ladapha asked, her eyes still fixed on the boy.  

“Go ahead. Just so you know, he doesn’t talk much. You might not like that.”  

Before Kanika could finish, Ladapha was already gone, crouching in front of the boy.  

She studied him for a while until he finally looked up, meeting her gaze with an unfriendly stare. Still, she gave him her warmest smile.  

“Want me to play with you?”  

The boy stared for a moment, then shook his head and turned away.  

Ladapha noticed him rolling a plastic ball by himself. Determined, she got up and crouched down in front of him again.  

“Playing alone is boring, you know,” she whispered, smiling again.  

“Papa said not to talk to strangers,” the boy replied bluntly, “and you’re a stranger.”  

A stranger?* Worse—*Auntie?!  

Though the term stung, Ladapha couldn’t stay mad. His round cheeks and innocent demeanor melted her irritation.  

“Chom, you really seem to like this kid,” Kanika teased as she approached.  

“I do! I love little boys with round cheeks and cute eyes like his,” Ladapha said, watching the boy turn his face away to continue playing with his ball. “When’s his dad coming to pick him up?”  

Kanika sighed, hesitating. She didn’t want to disappoint her friend further.  

“I honestly don’t know,” Kanika admitted reluctantly.

“Sometimes he’s very late. When that happens, the on-duty teacher has to wait until he arrives. I could not tell you exactly when he’ll be here...”