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Film wearing striped shirt-dress brushing her calves, black heels clicking together as she folded her legs neatly. The yellow bag resting on her lap made her look like she'd wandered out of a catalogue shoot and straight into an emotional crisis.
Film sat on the curb with her legs stretched all the way into the empty street, heels tapping a lazy rhythm against the pavement. The night wrapped around her in soft, fuzzy warmth, and everything felt just a little too bright, a little too slow, the air buzzing gently around her ears. Her head lolled to one side before she blinked back into focus at the sound of footsteps.
The girl lowered herself beside her. She wearing loose grey sweater slouching over a white collared shirt, black trousers rumpled at the knees, and a cap pulled low enough to hide half her face. Her blue bag sat between her feet like it was the only responsible adult present.
She sat close enough but far enough to not let their shoulders brushed. Film turned with a hazy, blooming smile, cheeks flushed and eyes half-lidded from alcohol and emotion.
“You look cute,” Film announced, the words spilling out thick and earnest.
“Huh?” the girl blinked.
“I said, you look cute.” Film leaned forward like the sentence required maximum effort.
“Thank you. You look cute as well.” The girl let out a soft laugh. "What's your name?"
"Film."
"Nice to meet you, Film." the girl said and extended her hand. "I'm Namtan."
Film stared before she shook it. It felt warm against her hand. Film dazzled, then pointed straight at her. “You… look like my wife?”
Namtan chuckled. “She must be pretty then.”
Film nodded so enthusiastically she nearly toppled. “Yes! Really pretty. Lots of people tried to hit on her but I won!” She puffed her chest proudly and put her bag on her side. “I won, huh.”
Namtan bit back her laugh. “Okay… where’s your wife?”
Film frowned, eyebrows squishing together as she tried to think. “I think… she’s still out there drinking.”
“She left you alone?” Namtan asked gently.
Film shook her head, lips pulling into a pout. “No. I left. Because she’s flirting with someone.”
“Does she now?”
Film nodded sadly and kept her head down. “She flirts and flirts and forgets about me.”
“What a bad wife.”
Film’s head snapped up. “Don’t say that to her,” she scolded, cheeks puffing out.
Namtan raised both hands. “Alright. I won’t.”
Film sighed dramatically, she moved her legs closer to her before leaning her chin on her knees. “I know it’s bad but… her attention is always on her cousins Milk and Emi. She doesn’t even notice I wasn’t there.”
Namtan hummed. “She’s flirting with her cousin?”
Film groaned. “Noooo. Not like that. She’s here with me and her cousins but she still flirts and talks to them that she doesn’t pay attention to me…” Her pout deepened. “She doesn’t even know I’m sad.” She yawned, staring at her feet. “I can’t even tell her I want to go home.”
“Why not?” Namtan asked softly.
Film rubbed her eyes. “Because! She’s having fun. She might get mad at me.”
“I doubt she will.”
“Right. I’ll call her." Film nodded like the logic had finally reached her. She patted herself down clumsily. "I think… I lost my phone.”
“Did you check your bag?” Namtan prompted and pointed at her yellow bag.
Film gasped as if this was groundbreaking wisdom. “I didn’t!” She rummaged loudly through her bag. When she found nothing, her lip wobbled. “It’s not here…” Her eyes glistened suspiciously.
“Should I call her for you?” Namtan offered.
Film nodded, small and sniffly. “Yes. Please.”
Namtan scooted closer, voice warm. “Are you really that drunk you forgot about me? Didn’t I tell you to slow down and you kept going?”
Film squinted at her face like she was solving a grand mystery.
“It’s me, Babi,” Namtan murmured gently. “Your wife.”
Film’s hands flew up, cupping Namtan’s cheeks. “I have a wife this pretty!?”
Namtan chuckled. “Yes, you do.” Namtan took Film’s hand and kissed the inside of her palm. “Babi, let’s go home.”
Film froze, then flushed bright red. The realization hit all at once, lighting up her entire face. “Babi! Babi!” She threw her arms around Namtan, clinging tightly. “I’m sleepy…”
“I know,” Namtan chuckled, wrapping an arm around her. “Let’s go home.”
Film mumbled into her shoulder, “No… you’re partying…”
“I’d rather be with you and call it a night,” Namtan said simply.
Film practically melted into her, clinging. “Babi… you’re warm…”
Namtan smiled then her phone started buzzing in her bag. She pulled it out. “Wait. Lunar’s calling.”
Film perked up, eyes big and shiny. “Baby! My baby!”
Namtan answered calmly. “Hi sweetheart.”
Lunar’s tiny voice came through, dramatic and pouty. “Mami Tip, why are you still out? Mama Racha isn’t answering her phone.”
Namtan sighed in a fond, exaggerated way. “Yes, baby. Mama’s a little… busy.”
“Busy with what?” Lunar demanded, suspicious.
Behind her, Film wailed loudly, “Lunaaar! Mama loves youuuu!”
Lunar sighed. “Is Mama crying again?”
“A little,” Namtan admitted, smiling. “Why are you still up? Where’s Uncle Mark?”
“He fell asleep while reading me a bedtime story.”
Namtan shook her head, amused. “Don’t worry. Mama and I will be home real soon, okay?”
“Will Mama read me a bedtime story?”
Namtan glanced back at Film, who was trying to hug a lamp post nearby, she gently pulled her back preventing her. “Mami Tip will. Mama needs to rest a bit.”
Just then, Film lunged for the phone. “Lunaaaar! Mama loves you so much!” Her voice cracked immediately into teary dramatics.
Namtan covered the mic for a second and whispered to Film, “Babi, calm down a bit or she'll get worried.”
Film nodded and put a finger to her lips as she leaned on Namtan's shoulder and quietly sat back on the curb Namtan first saw her.
Back on the call, Lunar huffed, “Mami, Mama sounds weird.”
“She’s just a little silly right now,” Namtan teased.
Film gasped. “Lunar! Mama’s not silly! Mama is… emotional.”
“Mami, bring Mama home,” Lunar demanded.
“We’re coming, baby,” Namtan assured, still laughing under her breath. "Go lie down. Mami Tip will tuck you in as soon as we got home.”
“Okay… but hurry.” Lunar demanded and Namtan suppressed a laugh.
“We will, baby.” Namtan promised, hanging up, looked at Film with a grin. “Your daughter is very bossy.”
Film sniffed proudly. “She’s perfect.”
“Like her Mama." Namtan said and bopped the tip of Film's nose. "Alright, Miss Perfect Mama. Get on. Let’s head home.” Namtan then moved in front of Film and crouched down.
Film melted into a laugh and climbed onto Namtan’s back, arms draping around her neck.
As Namtan walked, with Film on her back, to their car Film whispered to her. “Babi… I think I got hit on by someone earlier.”
“Oh yeah?” Namtan asked, adjusting her grip on Film's thighs, "Is she pretty?"
“Yeah… she actually looked like you…”
“Oh, does she?” Namtan teased. “You didn’t hit on her back, right?”
Film huffed. “Of course not. I only love you.”
“And I only love you too,” Namtan murmured.
Film suddenly perked up. “Wait. What about Milk and Emi?”
“They can manage. Don’t worry.” Namtan said, amused.
Film tightened her arms around her neck, cheek pressed against Namtan’s shoulder. “I love you, Babi.”
“I love you too, Babi,” Namtan whispered back.
Film let out a sleepy whine. “I want cuddles.”
“Then we’ll cuddle till morning.” Namtan smiled as she continue to carry her down the quiet street. “But Lunar's definitely going to scold you when we get home.”
Film groaned. “I don’t want to be scolded by a four year old…”
“Can't help it. We had a child that's as smart as you.”
Film groaned into her shoulder. “She’s so scary…”
“Again. She gets it from you.”
Film hummed happily, snuggling closer, and let herself sink into the comfort of Namtan’s warmth as the night gently wrapped around them.
~~~
The morning sunlight filtered through the pale curtains, brushing gently across the room. Film winced at the brightness. Her head throbbed from the night before, a heavy, pulsing reminder of every bad decision she’d made and every sip she definitely shouldn’t have taken.
She lifted an arm onto the empty side of the bed, expecting familiar warmth. Nothing. She frowned, reaching blindly for her glasses on the bedside table. Once she settled them on her face, the blur sharpened, revealing exactly what she feared: Namtan’s side perfectly made, no sign of her anywhere.
Film let her head fall back onto the pillow, a miserable groan rumbling out of her.
She pushed herself upright slowly, cradling her head. She was one minute away from dragging herself out of bed to search for Namtan when the door quietly clicked open.
Namtan slipped inside with that soft, morning calm she seemed born with. Lunar stood beside her, both tiny hands gripping a tray twice as big as her torso, concentrating fiercely as she helped carry it.
They approached the bed like they were sneaking into a sacred temple.
“Good morning, Mama Racha,” Lunar whispered, barely a breath.
Film’s heart softened instantly. She leaned down and kissed Lunar’s forehead. “Good morning, my baby.”
Lunar put a finger to her lips. “Mami Tip said we should use quiet voice.”
Behind her, Namtan gave Film a pointed stare. “Someone had a whole telenovela moment last night.”
Film groaned into her hands. “Babi… don’t.”
Namtan placed the tray on her lap with practiced gentleness: warm rice porridge, fruit, ginger tea. Lunar climbed up beside Film, snuggling immediately against her arm.
“Mama has to eat slowly,” Lunar instructed, patting Film’s thigh like she was the attending physician.
Film smiled weakly. “Yes, baby.”
Namtan brushed Film’s hair aside. “How’s the head?”
“Terrible,” Film muttered, keeping her volume lunar-approved.
“That’s what happens when someone thinks cocktails are electrolytes.”
Film pouted. “I was sad…”
Lunar perked up. “Why?”
Film blinked. Cornered. “Because… Mama missed you.”
Lunar hummed, satisfied, and squeezed her tighter.
“If Mama misses Lunar she should've come home earlier." she ordered.
Film stared at her. “Are you scolding me?”
Lunar nodded with full authority. “Yes. Mami Tip said you don’t listen to her.”
Namtan hid her laugh behind her hand. “She’s not wrong.”
Film slumped deeper into the pillows. “I’ll listen… both of you…”
That earned a sage nod before Lunar leaned in and kissed Film’s temple. “Mama will rest today. Mami Tip said Mama is fragile.”
Film shot Namtan a look that promised future revenge.
Namtan just smirked. “You are.”
Film opened her mouth, but Lunar shushed her again. “Mama. No loud voice allowed.”
Film gave up. “Okay…”
Namtan sat on the edge of the bed, brushing Film’s hair again. “Eat, then lie down. We’ve got everything else.”
Film reached for Namtan and Lunar's hand and lightly squeezed them. “Thank you… both of you.”
Lunar puffed out her chest like she’d saved Film’s life.
“Mama needs some cuddles now.” Lunar declared and laid beside Film, putting her tiny arms above Film's belly,
Film pulled her close. “Yes… Mama needs cuddles.”
“Should I leave you two alone? Or am I not allowed to cuddle?” Namtan snorted and exaggerated a pout as she eyed the two of them.
Lunar immediately clung tighter to Film’s belly. “No. I was here first.”
Namtan raised an eyebrow. “That so?”
“Yes,” Lunar insisted. “Mama is mine right now.”
Film laughed weakly. “You both can cuddle me…”
Lunar gasped like Film suggested sharing her dessert. Namtan chuckled, flicking Lunar’s cheek. “I’ll steal Mama later.”
“No!” Lunar protested, scandalized. “Mami Tip, wait your turn!”
Namtan just shook her head, amused. “Terrifying child.”
Film reached out for the food and Lunar puffed up proudly. “I made Mama’s food.”
Film blinked, touched. “You made this?”
“She handed me the spoon,” Namtan cut in. “That’s the extent of her culinary contribution.”
Lunar snapped around, offended. “I’m four, Mami Tip. You can’t expect me to actually cook.”
Film broke first, laughing so hard she had to hold her head. Namtan followed right after, leaning forward to ruffle Lunar’s hair.
“You’re impossible,” Namtan said, still laughing.
“I know,” Lunar replied primly. “But Mama likes me.”
Film tugged her close. “Mama loves you.”
Namtan sat down, her hand slipping back into Film’s hair in that steady, grounding way. Lunar nestled into Film’s side, already plotting who got the next cuddle shift.
Film let herself sink into the moment, exhaustion softening under their quiet care. There was something healing in the stillness, in the way Namtan watched her with quiet affection and Lunar tucked herself against her side, brimming with energy she would definitely unleash later.
For now, Film let herself breathe, safe and slow.
A whole day together.
She couldn’t think of anything sweeter.