by J. F. Gump
Mike stood inside the plane wondering what to do. He was being separated from Math and he could not explain that she was with him. He didn’t know what Math’s sister or her husband looked like. He was going to be stranded at the Chiang Mai airport without Math. It was his turn to panic.
He elbowed his way through the knot of stewardesses, determined to go wherever Math went. The airline employees pushed him back just as hard as he pushed them. Desperate, he shouted, “Teeluk, pom lak khun mak mak. Sweetheart, I love you very much.”
One of the stewardesses looked at him and said something in Thai that he did not understand. He nodded anyway. They let him go with Math to the ambulance.
Mike tried his best to explain to the ambulance crew about Math’s heart condition, but it was useless. They only smiled, nodded, and ignored him. Ten minutes later, sirens blaring, they arrived at the hospital. Math was wheeled into the emergency room.
Much to hospital staff’s dismay, Mike refused to let go of the gurney. Everyone eyed him suspiciously, but he stood his ground. He followed Math into the examining room and stood watching, while the doctors and nurses went through their routines.
After a few minutes, a lanky Thai man, obviously not a doctor, rushed into the examining room. He looked at Mike, then at the doctor, before hurrying to Math’s side. The man said something to her, but Mike didn’t understand his words. Math mumbled something back, but her voice was so low that Mike couldn’t hear. The Thai man turned and said something unintelligible to Mike. Mike stared stupidly while he tried to remember the Thai words for “who are you”. The words wouldn’t come. In a moment, the man exited the room. Math seemed to be semi-lucid so Mike went to her and kissed her softly on her cheek.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. I hurt and I cannot breathe easily. I feel very tired, teeluk. Can you hold my hand?”
Gently, he took her hand in his. “Is this the same thing that has happened to you before?”
“I think so,” she answered, “but I’m not sure.”
“What is the doctor saying, Math? I am very worried.”
“I do not know the English word. Maybe you can ask the doctor.”
Like he can speak better English than you, Mike thought. He turned to the doctor and said, “Alai, nah? What?” while pointing at Math.
The doctor spoke rapidly in Thai.
“Mai kow jai, I don’t understand,” Mike answered.
The doctor picked up a book and leafed through it. In a moment he said in English, “Panic attack”.
Mike laughed, and tears of relief filled his eyes. He pointed at Math. “Math bai, chai mai? Math can go?”
The doctor smiled and nodded his head.
“I will pay for everything,” Mike said, but the doctor just stared. “Tao lai? How much?”
The doctor thought for a moment then said, “Five hundred baht.” His English was perfect.
Mike tried to pay the doctor but was directed to a cashier’s window. He paid the fee and hurried back to the emergency ward. He arrived just as Math was exiting the examination room. The lanky Thai man he had seen earlier was helping her to walk.
“This is my brother-in-law, Surat,” Math said weakly.
“I am pleased to meet you,” Mike said in English.
“He does not understand English,” Math answered for him. She spoke to Surat in Thai. Surat politely bowed his head and smiled at Mike, then he motioned that they should leave. Mike tried to take Math in his arms, but Surat did not release his hold on her. Mike didn’t persist. Instead, he followed behind. Math was part of his family and Mike respected that.
In the car, Surat and Math had a brief conversation. Then, Math told Mike they would go to the airport to collect their suitcases and then go to the hotel. Ten minutes later they were at the airport and fifteen minutes after that they were at the hotel. Surat said goodnight and Math and Mike went to their room.
Math was exhausted and wanted to lie down. After making sure she was comfortable, Mike took a beer from the room’s mini-bar and went out onto the balcony. The view of Chiang Mai at night was terrific. He sipped slowly at the beer, as his eyes soaked in the sight.
Later, after his beer was finished, he went inside. Math was sound asleep. He sat quietly on the edge of the bed and watched her for a long time. She was very beautiful. He wondered what she saw in him. Whatever it was, he was glad. He lay down beside her and slept.
The next morning Math was up early. She showered, dressed, and put on her make-up while Mike slept. He was awakened by the sound of the hotel room door opening and closing.
“What time is it?” he asked, struggling to wake up.
“Time for lazy farangs to get out of bed.” Math said, walking into the room with her hands full. “I bought you a newspaper and American coffee already. I am going to the balcony to drink my tea and enjoy the morning while you wake up.”
She knew his morning moods and habits and had learned that it was best to leave him alone until he had finished his shower. “My sister and brother-in-law will be here in an hour,” she added as she stepped out onto the balcony.
Math had a terrible fear of heights, but the view from the balcony was too hard to resist. She stood by the railing and looked at the morning city for several minutes before she backed away, her palms sweating. By the time she finished her tea, Mike was in the shower. Ten minutes later they went downstairs to the lobby restaurant to wait for Nuang and Surat.
Mike was nervous. He had met Surat at the hospital the night before, but he had never met Math’s sister. “I hope your sister likes me,” he said, fidgeting in his seat.
“Of course she will like you. Why would she not like you?”
“Because you are her sister and I am a farang. A farang who is old enough to be your father. Maybe old enough to be her father too, for that matter.”
Math laughed and teased, “Yes, you are a very old man. I think for our first anniversary I will buy a walking cane.”
“Very funny,” said he. “Okay, maybe I am not that old, but I am a lot older than you.” He raised his eyebrows in mock question, “You were only joking about the cane, weren’t you?”
“Oh, no. I am serious about the cane, but it is not for you. It for me to beat you with, if I ever find you with another lady.”
He smiled and kissed her on her neck. “You can buy the cane but you will never have to use it. You are the only woman I want.”
In return, Math smiled and kissed Mike on his lips. Their kiss was interrupted by polite cough. They both looked up to see Surat and a lady standing by their table.
“Sawasdee ka,” said the lady softly, distinctly. “Chan cheur Nuang. My name is Nuang.”
Math got up and hugged her sister. “Nuang, this is my friend Mike. I am so happy for you to meet him.”
Mike stood clumsily, almost knocking his chair over backwards. He could feel himself blushing. “Sawasdee krup,” he muttered in his worst Thai. He wanted to say it again, clearer, but figured that would only make him look stupid. Nuang giggled and his blush increased to the point that small beads of sweat popped out onto his face.
“Pom cheur Mike. My name is Mike” He held his hand out for Nuang to shake. It was an automatic action. He knew Thais didn’t shake hands as a custom. He wanted to run away and hide from his bumbling.
Nuang wai’ed to Mike then politely shook his hand. “Are you okay, Khun Mike?” she asked in broken English. “Your face is very red and you seem nervous and upset.” Then she smiled.
“Just making an idiot of myself,” he replied hoping Nuang didn’t understand.
Nuang looked questioningly at Mike, then at Math. Math translated, and Surat and the two girls laughed. Not knowing what else to do, Mike laughed with them.
“Please sit down and join us for breakfast,” Mike invited, still laughing.
Again, Math interpreted and everyone sat. They ordered their food and passed the time getting to know each other. Math interpreted from English to Thai and Thai to English as was necessary for everyone to understand. It was awkward but effective.
“I am studying English,” Nuang volunteered. “By the time you and Math get married, and I come to visit you in America, my English will be almost perfect.”
Mike eyed Math curiously.
“I told Nuang that you are the man who will be my husband,” she said shyly. “I told her she should come to visit us when we move to America. I hope you don’t mind, teeluk.”
Mike smiled, then leaned over and whispered into Math’s ear, “I don’t mind, sweetheart, but only as long as you never change your mind about marrying me.” He kissed her softly on the cheek. When he looked up, he saw Nuang observing intently.
“Pom farang ngoh ngoh. I am just a stupid foreigner,” he said to Nuang, laughing.
Nuang nodded her head in agreement and laughed with him.
Thus started their adventure in Northern Thailand. It turned out to be seven days Mike hoped would never end, and seven days he would remember for the rest of his life. Together, they went elephant trekking through the mountains, watched men defy death in pits of cobras, visited exquisite floral gardens and orchid farms, toured ancient Buddhist temples, traveled to Myanmar (Burma), visited Southeast Asia’s infamous Golden Triangle, saw Hill Tribe villages and Long Neck people and more. At the end of every day, Mike and Math were exhausted but still found the energy to love each other.
Nuang had many opportunities to tell Math her secret about Jum, but, remembering her promise to the old monk, she held her tongue. Math looked so happy to be with Mike, and yet so sad knowing that he would be gone in just a few short days. She would not ruin the time Math had left with Mike by telling what she knew. She had been to visit Jum at the temple and for now his health was okay. There would be time enough later for Math to learn about her true father. Nuang decided it could wait until Mike had gone home before she said anything to Math. So, for now, she would keep her secret.
On their seventh day in Chiang Mai, Mike announced that he wanted to see Phuket Island in South Thailand, and that he and Math would leave the next day.
Everyone, including Math, was surprised. Mike had never mentioned going to Phuket Island, but Math didn’t mind. She had never been there and was excited at the thought. But, then, she would have been excited and happy to go anywhere, as long as it was with Mike.
That evening, Mike and Math took Surat and Nuang to a very expensive restaurant for dinner. Nuang dressed in her finest traditional Thai clothing and she looked absolutely ravishing. Surat’s ego practically burst at the seams, when Mike told him he was married to the second most beautiful lady in Thailand. Second only to Math, of course. Both Math and Nuang smiled bashfully at his words. At that moment, Mike knew he had made up for that awkward and embarrassing first day in Chiang Mai. Math capped off the evening by making long, slow love to him.
The next morning, before breakfast, Mike made flight and hotel reservations for Phuket. Later, Nuang and Surat drove them to the airport. Nuang cried and hugged Mike and Math goodbye. “I will come to visit you and Math in America,” she said to Mike. “I promise.”
“You will always be welcome in my house, Nuang,” he replied, meaning it.
Five hours later they arrived at their hotel in Phuket. The sun was setting. They walked the beach until dark, holding hands and saying nothing. It was quiet except for the sound of the waves rolling across the sand.
In a while, Mike stopped and took Math in his arms. He held her close and said, “I don’t want to go home, Math.”
“I know. And I want you to stay here with me. Please say you can stay, teeluk.”
“We should get something to eat and go to bed,” he changed the subject. “I feel very tired. I think I could fall asleep just standing here.”
She knew he wasn’t tired. She had seen him in these moods before. She knew he was depressed. She hoped it was only for tonight. Please, dear Buddha, she said silently, let Mike feel happier tomorrow. “I am tired too,” she lied. “Maybe we can order our dinner from room service. Then we can be alone with each other. I don’t feel like seeing a lot of people right now.”
“Me too,” he responded.
She knew she had said the right thing.
Altogether, they stayed six days in Phuket. Mike’s depression faded but never disappeared completely. They spent most of their time walking the beaches, shopping, eating, and lazing around the room. They made love whenever the mood struck and, as the remaining days grew fewer, the mood struck more often and with increasing passion. Sometimes they talked, but less often than one might have expected. When they did talk, it was never about Mike’s leaving. It was always about anything but that.
At the end of the sixth day, Mike told Math he was making reservations for his flight to America. He couldn’t put it off any longer. She responded by locking herself in the bathroom while he called the airlines. She didn’t want to listen to him talking about his leaving. After he had finished with the airlines, he knocked on the door and she came out. She had been crying.
“We will go to Bangkok tomorrow,” he said. “I leave for America the day after that.”
She said nothing. She could not. Instead, she pulled Mike down onto the bed with her and held him tightly for a very long time. She did not talk, she did not cry, and she did not make love to him. She just held him and touched his face and his hair and his arms and everywhere. When she finished, she said, “I never want to forget what you feel like, teeluk. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind,” he replied. Then he did the same to Math.
Later that evening, they made love. They didn’t know it then, but it was to be the last time they would make love with each other before he went home.
By five o’clock the next day, they were at the Amari Airport Hotel in Bangkok. Their moods were gloomy. They both knew they had less than twelve hours left to be together. Mike took Math shopping for some new clothes, hoping it would brighten her mood. It helped, but only a little.
Later, they had a pleasant dinner at the hotel and tried to pretend that nothing was happening. They tried to ignore how quickly their last hours together were passing. Mike had already decided he would not sleep that night. He could do that on the flight. He wanted to spend every last minute awake and with Math.
By ten o’clock they were back in their room. Math needed no words to tell Mike she wanted to make love to him. In minutes, they were in bed kissing, touching, and caressing.
“Please take me now,” she moaned softly, urgently.
He needed no further encouragement. He positioned himself between her legs then paused for the briefest of moments to kiss her neck and tease her breasts. Suddenly, and without any forewarning, he felt his manhood softening, going limp. He had had this problem before, but never with Math. He went into a panic, which only hastened his flaccidity.
Math waited patiently for Mike to take her. She did not know what was happening to him at that moment.
Mike, realizing it was hopeless, stopped everything. He moved from Math and sat on the edge of the bed. He faced away from her to hide his embarrassment.
“What is wrong, teeluk,” she asked. “Don’t you want me?”
“I don’t know what’s wrong,” he said, tense.
“Are you angry with me? Did I do something wrong? I only want to love you one more time before you go to America. Don’t you want me anymore?”
“Damn it, Math,” he snapped sharply, unintentionally. He forced his voice lower. “Yes, I want you. I want to make love to you more than anything in the world right now, but I cannot. I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I cannot make love now. See?” He pointed at his flaccid manhood.
“Just lay down, teeluk,” she said, reassurin
g him. “Maybe I can make it better.”
Mike lay down on the bed and Math used every trick she knew to make him erect. Three times he almost made penetration and three times he failed.
After the third attempt, she said, “Never mind about me, teeluk. I only want to make you happy.” Using only her mouth, she skillfully brought Mike to a climax. Afterwards, he did the same for her. They spent the rest of the night lying in bed, holding each other, and talking about the future.
“I will come back to you, Math. I don’t know how long it will take, but I promise you I will come back. As sure as I am leaving in the morning, I will come back.”
“And I will wait for you, teeluk. As long as there is a breath in my body, I will wait for you.”
At three o’clock in the morning, Mike showered and repacked his suitcase. At four, they checked out of the hotel and walked across the freeway overpass to the Bangkok International Airport.
Math watched as Mike went through security and checked in with the airlines. She met him by the entrance to Immigration Control. There they held each other until Mike said, “Math, leaving you today is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I don’t want to stop holding you, but my plane is leaving very soon. I am sorry, sweetheart. I must say goodbye.”
“No, please, teeluk. We will not say goodbye. We will only say bye for now, until we can be together again.”
He kissed her long and hard. “Yes, teeluk, only bye until we are together again.” He kissed her one last time, then walked toward Immigration Control. He did not look back.
“I will wait for you, teeluk,” she whispered to herself, as she watched Mike disappear through the doorway. Then she sat down on her suitcase and cried. “Please, dear God,” she prayed silently, “keep my love safe and send him back to me in quickly time.”
After a while, she took a shuttle to the domestic terminal and bought a ticket to Phitsanulok. Really, she didn’t want to go there because of Sawat. But Mike had been adamant that he didn’t want her living in Pattaya. He wanted her to go to her sister’s house in Chiang Mai and she had said she would. But except for Nuang, there was nothing for her in Chiang Mai. At least in Phitsanulok she had her own house and her mother, father and little brother. By now, a long time had passed and maybe Sawat had forgotten his anger. If he bothered her, she could always leave again. At that moment, Phitsanulok seemed her best choice.
