Chapter 5

“Engfa… go to school.”

Plaifah adjusted the straps of the large woven market bag hanging from her shoulder before looking at her younger siblings.

“Both of you.”

It wasn’t a suggestion.

It was an order.

Outside, the first rays of morning sun stretched across the narrow streets as their mother had already left to sell freshly made Thai snacks to commuters. She always believed the earliest customers were the most generous ones.

The smell of coconut milk, pandan leaves, and jasmine still lingered throughout the tiny apartment.

Engfa’s chest tightened.

She knew why.

While she and Wanchai had slept, Plaifah and their mother had stayed awake almost the entire night preparing trays of Luk Chup, sticky rice, and other traditional sweets to sell.

Their tired eyes that morning were proof enough.

The guilt sat heavily on Engfa’s heart.

Ever since the debt collectors came…

Everything felt different.

“But aren’t you going to school?” Wanchai asked, slinging his backpack over one shoulder.

Plaifah smiled.

“I’ll catch up later.”

“But we can help.”

Engfa stepped forward.

“We could sell with Mom.”

“Exactly,” Wanchai agreed immediately.

“Give me some sticky rice.”

He flexed dramatically.

“I’ll have every pack sold before lunch.”

Plaifah couldn’t help laughing.

She placed a hand on each of their shoulders.

“Mom feels better knowing you two are safe at school.”

She looked directly at Wanchai.

“Especially you.”

His eyebrows lifted.

“What does that mean?”

Plaifah gave him a suspicious look.

“It’s not that we don’t trust you…”

She paused.

“…We do.”

She emphasized the last two words so dramatically that Engfa almost laughed.

Wanchai folded his arms.

“Sure.”

“I’m just the family screw-up.”

He grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

“Wan!”

Plaifah called after him.

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

But he had already disappeared down the stairs.

She sighed.

Hurting his pride was sometimes the only way she knew to keep him out of trouble.

As Plaifah hurried after him, Engfa quietly slipped a neatly wrapped box of her mother’s homemade Luk Chup into her school bag.

“Fine…”

She called after her sister.

“I’m going.”

Plaifah looked back.

Something about that answer felt…

Too easy.

She narrowed her eyes.

“You better.”

Engfa smiled innocently.

“I promise.”

Plaifah knew that smile.

It almost always meant trouble.

…

By recess, the familiar group had gathered beneath the large rain tree that had unofficially belonged to them since freshman year.

Sunny arrived first.

Patcha shortly after.

Then Chers.

Finally…

Nesa.

“Good morning, my favorite unemployed people!”

Nesa announced dramatically before dropping her bag onto the table.

Every head turned.

Every single time.

Nesa had a talent for making strangers feel like old friends.

She could start conversations with anyone.

Teachers.

Security guards.

Street vendors.

Even people who clearly wanted to be left alone somehow ended up laughing with her.

She was loud.

Fearless.

Unapologetically herself.

And if anyone dared mess with her friends…

She became the first person ready to throw hands.

“So…”

She grinned.

“Who’s buying me breakfast?”

“No one,” Sunny answered immediately.

“I’m saving money.”

“You’ve been saving money for three years.”

“And look how successful I’ve been.”

Patcha snorted.

Chers simply shook her head.

“You two haven’t even been here for a minute.”

While they laughed, Engfa slowly unzipped her backpack.

Twenty-four colorful pieces of Luk Chup sat neatly inside.

The tiny fruit-shaped candies gleamed beneath the morning sunlight.

Nesa gasped dramatically.

“Candy!”

She reached for one.

Smack.

Engfa gently slapped her hand away.

“If you taste it…”

“…you bought it.”

Nesa blinked.

“…Excuse me?”

Sunny leaned forward.

“Wait…”

“You’re selling candy?”

Patcha raised an eyebrow.

“I thought today was Friends Appreciation Day.”

Chers nodded.

“So did I.”

“I almost thanked you.”

Engfa laughed.

“I’ll appreciate all of you later.”

She clasped both hands together dramatically.

“But right now…”

“I need customers.”

The group exchanged glances.

She almost never asked anyone for help.

That alone made them realize this mattered.

Sunny reached into his pocket.

“I’ll be your first customer.”

“How much?”

“One hundred baht.”

Sunny nearly choked.

“One hundred?”

“For ONE?”

Engfa nodded proudly.

“Premium pricing.”

“Delivery fee included.”

The entire table burst into laughter.

Sunny stared at her.

“You carried it twenty feet.”

“Transportation isn’t cheap.”

Even Sunny couldn’t help laughing.

Then Engfa’s smile softened.

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I had another choice.”

The laughter faded.

Everyone knew about her family.

No one said anything.

They simply understood.

A long silence settled over the table.

Then—

Nesa stood up.

“I got this.”

She refreshed her cherry lipstick.

Removed her jacket.

Undid the top two buttons of her school shirt.

Let her neatly tied bun fall into soft waves around her shoulders.

Everyone stared.

Patcha sighed.

“…Here we go.”

Sunny covered his face.

“Oh no.”

Before anyone could stop her—

Nesa grabbed the backpack.

Climbed onto the bench.

And shouted loud enough for the entire courtyard to hear.

“FRESH LUK CHUP!”

“CUTE CANDY FOR CUTE PEOPLE!”

“BUY ONE AND YOUR CRUSH MIGHT FINALLY NOTICE YOU!”

Half the courtyard turned.

“NESA!”

Engfa whispered loudly.

“Get down!”

“It’s okay!”

Nesa winked.

“The security guards love me.”

“They’ll think I’m rehearsing another school play.”

As if summoned by fate…

Students started walking over.

“What flavor?”

“How much?”

“Can I get two?”

Within minutes…

The crowd doubled.

Nesa somehow convinced people that buying two increased their luck before exams.

Then she added another twenty baht to every sale.

No one questioned it.

Engfa stared in disbelief.

“Nesa…”

“…You’re overcharging.”

“It’s called marketing.”

Five minutes later…

Only a handful remained.

“I cannot believe this worked,” Engfa whispered.

Nesa tossed her hair.

“Never underestimate a pretty salesperson.”

Just then…

Five boys approached.

Aaron walked confidently in front while his friends followed close behind, nudging each other with amused smiles.

Engfa immediately recognized them.

Aaron caught her eye.

Then smiled.

He’d been quietly trying to win her heart since first year.

Never aggressively.

Never disrespectfully.

Just… consistently.

Truthfully…

Engfa admired him.

He was athletic, handsome, captain of the university football team, and one of the friendliest guys on campus.

If persistence were an Olympic sport…

Aaron would’ve won gold.

Unfortunately…

Her heart simply refused to cooperate.

“What are you selling?” he asked casually.

“Candy,” Nesa answered.

Then immediately stepped aside.

“Our beautiful Engfa is selling candy.”

Aaron’s eyes brightened.

“I’ll take all of them.”

Silence.

Sunny slowly looked into the backpack.

Then back at Aaron.

“Brother…”

“There are eighteen pieces.”

Aaron nodded.

“I know.”

“You don’t even like Luk Chup.”

Aaron looked him straight in the eye.

“I do now.”

Nesa nearly fell off the bench laughing.

“You are shameless.”

“I’m supporting local businesses.”

Even Engfa laughed.

For a moment…

Everything felt light again.

Aaron paid without hesitation.

“Two hundred baht each,” Nesa added confidently.

“No problem.”

He didn’t even blink.

Just as Nesa finished packing the candies…

A familiar voice drifted through the crowd.

“I heard someone was selling Luk Chup.”

Five girls approached.

At the front stood Heidi.

Beautiful.

Fashionable.

Confident.

The kind of girl who knew people stepped aside when she walked by.

Beside her was Marima.

Just as elegant.

Just as intimidating.

But Engfa barely noticed either of them.

Because walking quietly between them…

Was her.

Charlotte.

Time slowed.

Her chestnut-brown hair caught the sunlight, revealing warm caramel highlights that hinted at her British heritage.

Her fair skin carried a soft golden warmth kissed by the Thai sun.

She was tall.

Elegant.

Graceful without trying.

Unlike Heidi, who naturally commanded attention…

Charlotte almost seemed unaware she had everyone’s.

She smiled politely at people.

Listened more than she spoke.

There was a quiet kindness about her that made her impossible to ignore.

Engfa forgot to breathe.

Heidi looked around.

“My friend wanted one.”

Nesa folded her arms.

“My friend was selling Luk Chup.”

“Were.”

“They’re sold out.”

Her tone matched Heidi’s perfectly.

Neither girl looked away first.

The air suddenly felt heavier.

Charlotte gently touched Heidi’s arm.

“It’s okay.”

“I’ll ask my brother Paul to buy me some outside.”

Her voice…

Soft.

Warm.

Refined with the faintest trace of a British accent hidden beneath fluent Thai.

It sounded like music.

Engfa’s heartbeat stumbled.

Without thinking…

She reached into the backpack.

There it was.

Sunny’s candy.

The very first one sold.

The one she’d promised to save.

Her fingers hesitated.

She looked at Sunny.

Then…

At Charlotte.

The decision had already been made.

“There’s…”

She swallowed.

“…one left.”

Sunny’s jaw dropped.

“What?!”

Patcha looked horrified.

“That was Sunny’s.”

Chers covered her mouth to hide her smile.

Nesa simply stared at Engfa.

Then slowly smiled.

“Oh…”

“So that’s what’s happening.”

Before Charlotte could answer—

Aaron stepped forward.

“Hi.”

“I’m Aaron.”

He extended his hand confidently.

Charlotte smiled politely.

“Charlotte Austin.”

Engfa silently repeated the name.

Charlotte.

Austin.

Afraid she’d somehow forget it.

Aaron laughed easily as the conversation flowed.

Within seconds, Heidi and Marima were smiling too.

He handed half of the candy he’d just bought to the girls.

Charlotte accepted one with a grateful smile.

They walked away together.

Still talking.

Still laughing.

Engfa watched until they disappeared into the sea of students.

“Nock, nock.”

Nesa snapped her fingers in front of Engfa’s face.

“Earth to Engfa.”

Sunny folded his arms dramatically.

“So…”

“I’ve officially lost my candy…”

“…to a girl whose name you learned five seconds ago?”

The table erupted into laughter.

Everyone laughed.

Everyone…

Except Engfa.

Because for the third time in as many days…

Charlotte Austin had unknowingly turned her entire world upside down.