"I'm just kidding! I don't mind at all. We can share water, but other personal things are off-limits, right? Just a little joke, Khun Net!"
I took the water and chugged it. What started as a fake cough was actually starting to feel real.
"Khun Tim, how old are you? I want to make sure I use the right title," she asked.
"I'm likely younger than you. I just turned twenty-five."
"In that case, let me be your older sister then, Nong Tim."
"Of course, P'Net. And thank you for the water." I handed the bottle back to her.
"Keep it. It's fine."
"It's okay. I'd prefer a fresh bottle." I wasn't being rude; I was just being extremely protective of my husband's reputation. My politeness was thinly veiled with a 'get-away-from-my-man' subtext, though I doubt Net-Abhor-Sorn realized it. To her, I'm just... the Minister's niece! That's what she's assumed all along. Seriously, when am I ever going to be promoted to 'The Wife' in the eyes of the public?
"Nong Tim, you're a teacher, right? What subject do you teach?" She shifted her interrogation to me, giving the Minister a chance to look at some data on his tablet.
"I teach Physics."
"How impressive! I was always terrible at problem-solving. I barely scraped by during my school years."
"Everyone has different strengths. I'm actually hopeless at English myself. I break into a sweat whenever I encounter a foreigner. Since I'm here, I'll have to ask you to introduce me to a Westerner who can help teach me. Maybe then I can finally get over my phobia."
"Really? I have plenty of Western friends. But... wouldn't your boyfriend mind?"
"I'm single. Completely unattached. I've never even had a boyfriend." I wasn't lying. I skipped the 'boyfriend' stage and went straight to 'husband.'
"Perfect! I have a friend whose 'type' is Thai women. I think you'd get along with him quite well. It's settled then. This evening, I'll personally introduce you to him. After that, it's up to you! The fastest way to learn a language without moving abroad is to have a Western husband. Haha!" She laughed gracefully, but I couldn't even manage a smile. Judging by my husband's expression, I was definitely in for a lecture later. I was just joking—mostly—even though the thought had crossed my mind before.
"Ahem!" The Minister interrupted us. His face was incredibly grim. There was a certain aura radiating from him... I hoped he wasn't overthinking things.
"Oh, Khun Nin, are you being a protective uncle? Don't worry, my friend is very sweet. He comes from a great family and is a perfect match for Nong Tim in every way."
She's really steering this ship into a storm. Not only was she acting overly familiar, but she even had the audacity to rest her hand on my husband's thigh! He didn't do anything, though. He just glanced at it for a split second before returning his attention to his iPad.
"I-Tim is still young. I don't want her to have a boyfriend yet," he said. How could he say that with a straight face? If I'm so young, why did you make me your wife?!
"Oh, Khun Nin, she's a grown woman and a teacher. You should let her go. I'll handle everything; just trust me. I won't let you down. Right, Nong Tim?"
"That would be wonderful! Just ignore the Minister. This is exactly why I've never had a boyfriend!"
"I-Tim!" He growled, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous octave. Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Khun Net quickly changed the subject, but not before whispering to me that she'd definitely find me a boyfriend.
The car pulled up in front of a hotel. Khun Net led the Minister and me into a medium-sized seminar room with a seating capacity of about two hundred. The room was designed like a theater—tiered seating with a stage and a large screen in the center. We sat in the upper row, with him in the middle, flanked by P'Net and me.
"If you're crazy enough to go along with Khun Net's plan, I'm going to go hard on you tonight. I mean it," he whispered in my ear. His face remained as motionless as a statue, and that cold, detached tone of his had returned.
"I just want a Western friend to practice my English with." It seemed worth a try; I didn't want this trip to be a total waste. I should at least get something out of it.
"I'll teach you when I have some free time."
"Hah! You don't even have time to teach your own sons, yet you have the nerve to say you'll teach your wife? You're dreaming, Sir." I tossed my hair at him defiantly. He grabbed my wrist, squeezing it so hard I couldn't help but grimace. "That hurts! Let go!"
"Do not get involved with other men. Remember that!" He growled again. Did he really think someone like I-Tim would be intimidated? Wake up, Sir! Since he ordered me to do one thing, I'm going to do the exact opposite. I want to see the look on his face.
"And what right do you have to forbid me... Uncle Nin?"