Prologue
A Childhood Vow
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It was at the fifteenth birthday party of Thanwa Siripatsagul, that seven-year-old Aiyares Aphitwatthiwichok, or Aiye for short, made a bold declaration in front of all the guests: when she grew up, she would marry the birthday boy. She vowed to dedicate her life to Thanwa as a means of repaying him for saving her life when she almost drowned.
"Hah! Who would want a chubby, unattractive bride like that?" Thanwa said, scoffing inwardly. When he’d pulled her out of the pool, he had nearly drowned himself under her weight. “The best way you can repay me,” he said, “is to not bother me anymore.”
Nine years later
I briskly walked on the treadmill at my local gym, Fortify Fitness. “Chan” to those who knew him—had designed me a fitness regime. As the gym’s owner, I figured he’d know what would work best for me.
I got the news just that morning: Thanwa was coming home from overseas. I have to make an impression on him, I thought. I have to be stunning. I won't let him tease me as a fat pig like when I was seven!
"Aiye, are you nearly done with your power walk? Once you complete the program, you can head home," Chan said to me from where he’d been observing.
"Almost done, Chan! Thanks so much for today," I replied with a smile.
After finishing all the exercises Chan had planned for me, I took a shower and waited in the gym lobby for Uncle Sorn, my family's driver, to pick me up. While waiting, I checked Thanwa's latest updates on social media, and a smile spread across my face when I saw a photo of him with his classic, charming smile, with the caption: “Excited to be heading home soon!”
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and then Add to home screen.