LOVE WAS RED

CHAPTER 1

Something was different and Saran felt it as soon as Kit picked him up from his studio flat. Outside the apartment building they walked to Kit's car, where he opened the door for Saran before he got behind the wheel.

Once in the car, Kit opened a compartment and then took out a small carrier bag.

"I want you to have this," Kit said as he handed it to Saran.

Saran opened the carrier bag and saw inside it a small velvet grey box. He took out the velvet box and opened it.

Saran held his breath when he saw an eternity ring paved with diamonds that gleamed brilliantly and as the light fell on them.

"Do you like it?" Kit asked as he started the engine.

Saran smiled, looking at Kit. "Yes I do. Thank you, it's a lovely ring." Saran slipped it onto his finger and watched as the diamonds scintillated and sparkled with a radiant lustre.

Saran smiled again, his happiness increasing.

"I don't want us to go to the cinema any more," Kit informed him.

"Why?"

"I don't want to see a movie "

"So what are we doing now?"

"Let's go straight to the restaurant and have dinner." Kit said.

"Yok, Bank and I are going to Pattaya this weekend, '' Saran began slowly as he looked carefully at Kit. But Kit's attention was glued onto the traffic ahead as he drove the car to the restaurant.

"Why are you all going to Pattaya?"

"Bank is having a premiere for his documentary there."

"What is the documentary about?" Kit asked without looking at Saran.

"It's about human trafficking." Saran said without taking his eyes off Kit. "Will you go to Pattaya with me?"

"Sorry, I can't do that." Kit looked like he was offended by Saran's request. "I hope you all have fun in Pattaya."

"Is something the matter?" Saran asked as his happiness began to decrease.

"Why would you even ask that?" Kit snapped at Saran.

"Have I done something to offend you?" Saran asked innocently.

"Please stop with the interrogation!" Kit said bluntly as he looked at Saran for the first time since they got into the car.

Suddenly, Saran felt very cold. He could feel the frustration in Kit's voice and that frightened him a little.

What was happening? Saran wondered as he looked down at the eternity ring on his finger.

They arrived at the restaurant which is known for its fine dining. They are shown to their table and given the menu.

Saran looked over the menu at Kit. He was busy texting someone.

Who is he texting? Saran wondered.

Their food was brought and they ate it in silence.

"Why are you so quiet this evening?" Kit asked as he sipped his red wine.

"You seem a little angry," Saran began, "and I don't want to make the situation worse than it already is by talking."

"How can you say that," Kit interjected nastily. "Lately you seem to have an issue with everything that I do."

They stared at each other across the table.

Kit set his wine glass down and picked up his cutlery. "I have been thinking about our future…. I think we should break up."

Saran felt something choke his throat and he could not breathe.

"I cannot do this anymore, I have thought about it and I don't think this relationship is working."

Saran wanted to cry as his hands trembled as he held onto the cutlery.

"We have been disconnected from each other for sometime now."

"What are you saying, Kit? Can't you see that you are hurting me with every word that is coming out of your mouth," Saran said while fighting back the tears.

"Let's just end everything here and now. We have been together for three years now and it's time to end it. I need to focus on work and myself at the moment."

"Are you saying I am now a distraction in your life after three years together?" Saran demanded.

"No," Kit said.

"What is happening to us?" Saran was now crying, "I thought you loved me?"

"I meant it when I said I loved you," Kit said.

"No, you can't mean something, then not mean it!" Saran wailed with hurt frustration as he dumped his fork onto the plate.

"Something has shifted in the relationship and I know you can feel it too, but you are not willing to admit it," Kit explained.

"So you invited me to dinner to say goodbye?"

"Saran, calm down," Kit said with a lowered tone, "don't be melodramatic,..."

"I don't want to have this conversation anymore," Saran was now wailing loudly, causing other patrons at the restaurant to look at them.

"Saran calm down! Kit was now trying to suppress his anger as he looked around them. "People are looking at us."

"I don't care! Take me home right now." Saran was now screaming as he covered his teary eyes with a white table napkin.

Later, a fuming Kit drove a crying Saran home.

Kit then said calmly: "Trying to understand that this is for the best."

Saran cried even more.

Kit reached into his jacket and offered Saran his handkerchief.

"No thank you, I don't want it " Saran snapped at him.

"Saran, try to be reasonable."

"Don't you love me anymore," Saran asked with a bleeding heart. "I don't want us to break up."

I don't want to be you anymore." Kit told Saran.

"You don't want to be with me…?" Saran asked quietly, looking at Kit as he drove.

Kit remained silent.

"I can't believe that you are really breaking up with me."

" We are over."

"No….we are not!" Saran cried helplessly.

"It has to be."

Saran turned away from Kit and looked out of the car window.

His face was stained with tears.