The room was dim, lit only by a flickering bulb overhead. Dalis's hands were bound, her heart hammering inside her chest. She sat on a torn mattress in the corner of the abandoned building's second floor, the dampness of the walls seeping into her skin. Shadows moved outside the broken windows—guards, or worse.
Across from her stood a man she had never seen before—or so she thought.
Tall, dressed in a dark maroon jacket, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. His features were sharp, almost elegant, but his eyes—his eyes unsettled her. They studied her too long, too deeply, as if searching for something lost.
"Who are you?" she asked.
He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Dalis stiffened. "Should I?"
"No," he murmured. "Not your fault. You were only four."
She blinked. "What...?"
"I'm Ma," he added, after a pause. "That's what they call me now."
His voice was calm, but his fingers twitched at his side, like he was holding something back. Dalis caught the name—Ma—People had mentioned it before, like he was someone important in this twisted network. But why did he look at her like that?
"You're the one behind this," she said, her voice rising. "Why are you doing this to me?!"
His gaze lowered. "I didn't plan for it to be like this."
Dalis stood, unsteady, defiant. "Then let me go."
Ma teases, "Why should I?"
Furious and confused at the same time, never has she ever been treated like this before. However, her mistress's attitude remains the same, even in danger, but a little bit tough, especially when no one is nagging her. "YOU PERVERT!" she shouted,
"How much money do you want? Just tell me! Are you doing this for money? Don't you feel ashamed toward your ancestors, as a man who hurt the inferior woman like this?! You're shameless!"
"Oh my gosh, the mistress of Sokun's family! Do you think you're at your mansion now?" The man was a little bit stammering. He couldn't believe his eyes to see this attitude of this lady of Sokun's family.
"Huh! I don't have to be respectful to a person like you! You stupid, pervert, jerk! What the hell do you want from me? just tell my brother, and he will give it to you. Messing up with Sokun's family, how dare you!" Dalis yelled with anger, but for Ma she looks so cute.
"Meow…" the man chirped.
"That is so cute when you get mad."
"Cute your mother!!" The lady loses her manner. Actually, she's always known as a well-behaved lady as a mistress of Sokun's. But, beneath that perfect woman like, buried a tough young girl.
"No. I don't my mother would be as cute as you!"
"You shut up!! And let me go!!"
"Wait, are you commanding me right now?" Ma smirked, "How come? Have you ever seen a kitten threaten a wolf?"
"You're wrong!"
"Why would I wrong?"
"You don't know me!"
Ma's lips parted as if to respond, but no words came. There was a storm behind his silence. But he wouldn't believe the girl before him is Sem SokunPisey!
"I know you, clearly." Ma added.
He remembered it clearly—his mother's laughter in the garden, Sokun's rare visit, the day the older man had crouched beside him and placed a gentle hand on his head.
"Do you love Dalis?"
"Yes, Uncle Sokun. I do."
"Good. Then I will let her marry you one day. She'll be your bride. But you must protect her, take care of her, okay?"
He had been just eight years old. Dalis was only four, toddling after butterflies in a pink dress. A moment too innocent to understand the weight of that promise.
Then, just days later, everything changed. His mother died. His father, then still Sothy, renounced everything. He changed his name to Sambath, cut all ties to Sokun, and forbade Ma from ever speaking of that side of the family again.
And yet, here she was. The girl promised to him. Grown now. Beautiful. Frightening, but tough.
She stares at him and adds, "Are you stupid or anything? Don't you know who my father is?"
"A murderer?!" He teases.
"Huh, this is crazy! Are you talking about yourself?"
"Umm, maybe. But I'm a murderer, then…" He looked at her with dreamy eyes, "I would kill."
To his surprise, she didn't show any fear at all, instead, she chuckled.
"You know what, stranger? Don't you think we all were born to die? Do you think it's a real power to kill? You're wrong! I don't even care. After I die, I will go in peace and leave all the memories to you that you have to carry forever. Why would I care?"
"Good girl. You're so wise and not afraid to die, why don't you be my wife? I'll take good care of you."
"You can't even take care of yourself," She added with a smirk, "Look at you! What is the meaning of your life? You can't even find the purpose to live, and choose to destroy others instead. I'm afraid you can't."
The mafia boss burst out laughing. His hand grabbed her neck;
"Do you think who can save you now? Strong Lady!"
The girl choked, and he pushed her to the wall. His eyes locked on hers, "Are you scared now?"
"Kill me if you dare!" The girl tried to make sounds with her strong eye contact, she never gave up.
She is gaslighting him. The man presses harder and leans toward her left ear, "I'll make you my wife."
She remains strong, but inside her chest she trembling. But who knows her sarcastic level! The man released his hand from her neck.
"What a pity! How could you let a 16-year-old girl teach you about life? Have you ever entered a history class before? How many strong warriors had died because of his lust?"
Ma's jaw tightened. "That's where you're wrong."
He turned before she could say more. Behind him, footsteps echoed—Samphors.
"You're wasting your time," she hissed. "She'll never love you."
Dalis's blood ran cold. Love? Eww!
Samphors's eyes burned with jealousy. "She's not yours, Ma."
Ma said nothing.
But his silence was answer enough. But somebody added, "Nah, I don't need your man!"