Manner Of Death English Translation

Chapter 12

For as long as I can remember, I have always received a lot of compliments for being a smart and sensitive man. I was accepted in to a reputable high school and later into medical school, a place that many people can only dream of. I, a forensic scientist who has been approached many times to become a medical teacher.

But right now, all of those compliments are definitely a thing of the past when I see how stupid I can be.

I look at a magazine without reading it before suddenly putting it back in place and looking out the window. The weapon this man gave me so that I can protect myself is in fact unloaded; a weapon with which I hoped to defend with myself is no more than a dangerous toy. If something had happened to me sooner I would have died very easily.

After seeing the post-it, a torrent of thought invaded me. I concluded that Tann and DA Pert must be in contact somehow. It could be acquaintances or Tann could be the one who attacked Pert. The second seems to be the more likely because Tann knew Pert since the latter had gave him something like that. Tann should have told me about it from the start. There is no reason to hide it. Therefore, I hurried to pack my bag before taking out the weapon and examining it. I know a thing or two about guns, which I learned in my classes, but not as much as forensic science, and when I found out it wasn't loaded, it was like getting a stab in the back.

I can't stay here any longer, I have to run away. I was trapped—by Tann.

I swallow this great pain that begins to overwhelm me, I could not afford to waste time and let myself go to the sadness. I grab my bag and leave the room half walking half running. When I hear the front door open I stop dead. My hands are frozen with fear. My heart is pounding so hard that it's about to come out of my chest.

Tann closes the door quickly, raising his head to watch me stand on the stairs. A look of pure fear appears on his face. "Where are you going? "

I let go of my bag and go back upstairs. I hear his footsteps following me. I run to the living room, close the door and lock it. I walk away from the door when I hear him knock on the other side, "Bunn! Open the door! I need to talk to you!"

There is nothing more to say to this murderer... I go to the window to assess if it is possible to escape from there. I stand 5m from the ground. The jump may seriously hurt me.

The sound of an unlocking door is heard, I turn around and decide to take the gun out of my pocket.

The door opens to make way for Tann's tall, dominant figure. I instantly raise the empty weapon at him.

The more I look at his face, the more my pain intensifies. I press my lips together, trying to let go of my feelings. "You got home.. early," in a trembling voice.

Tann raises his hands and looks at me surprisingly calm, "Bunn ..."

"Where is the district attorney?" Tann slowly approaches me, "Stop! Stay away!!" I scream.

Tann stops, "Come with me, you're in danger."

"Yes, the danger is right in front of me," I back down a little further.

Tann breathes, lowers his hands and quickly approaches me. Of course, he's brave enough to do this because he knows the gun isn't loaded. I turn around quickly. There is nowhere to go except jump out the window. I try to avoid him by feigning him but his long arm grabs my chest just in time. He holds me tight in his arms. I drop the useless gun and try to free myself by hitting him, stepping on his feet and nudging him back. Tann releases his hold for a moment, but it's enough for me to escape.

"Bunn! Stop! Or I'll shoot!" Tann's voice echoes in the room. I'm about to reach the door and slowly I turn around.

Tann is not kidding. He has a small gun in his hand, not the one I dropped a moment ago; the cannon is pointed at me.

My life is over. My life will probably end here. Killed by the hand of the man who had claimed that he loved me.

Tann walks towards me and embraces me forcefully, still holding the gun. My body is shaking without being able to control it. "I'm sorry I did this to you, you wouldn't have stopped otherwise." I'm shaking so hard he must be able to feel it. He grabs my shoulder and pulls me away from him slightly. Tann's eyes are fixed on my face. "I've just been ordered to kill you."

"... But I can't do it Bunn. How can I? My mission has failed since I first saw you." Tann takes his free hand and rests it on my cheek. His face looks confused and anxious, but I no longer trust his words or actions. "Is there anything true about this..." I breathe heavily. My wounded heart begins to fill with bitterness. My brain doesn't understand anything more.

Tann remains silent for a few seconds then. "One thing is true... I love you."

No, I won't believe that.

"I want you to come with me. I'll take you to a safe place. But please stay there until I take care of this whole mess." Tann lowers his head and then places it on my chest. "Please, Bunn, I don't want to see you die..."

"Who are you ?" My fist clenched tightly.

Tann looks up and I see his eyes have turned red. "I'm the one who broke into your house and threatened you the first night. But I didn't kill Jane."

His confession has the same effect as salt on a wound. The feeling of a heavy weight in my chest becomes a huge lump stuck in my throat. I'm so mad at myself for letting him do it all this time. Tann's approach was just a distraction to distract my attention from him. And I trusted him, I believed in him, I even ended up having feelings for him.

"Who killed Janejira..."

"I know who did it but I can't tell you right now. When the time comes, I'll tell you." His face begged me. "Look, I don't care if you hate me, but I need your cooperation. You have to keep a low profile for a while to make my boss think you're dead. I'll fix this later."

"I'm not going anywhere with you!" I try to push him away when I feel the voice of reason in me starting to fade. Tann pulls my hands together to keep me from pushing him back further.

"Bunn !!" Tann screams louder in a harsh voice. "You have no choice! If someone sees you outside, you're dead! You have no idea who's after you."

"Let me guess, you're going to bury my body in the forest!" I send him these words with rage. The pressure around my hands hurts. "You are a murderer!"

"I never killed anyone..." Tann seems to hurt by my conviction. "If you don't cooperate, I'm going to have to force you to." Tann raises the barrel of his gun to my chest. "Go to my room."

Tann releases his hold, ordering me to head to his room. I can't resist, but it has nothing to do with the gun aimed at me, I just feel like I've lost any reason to fight. Tann guides me to the headboard, still with the barrel aimed at me. The man slowly walks over to the cupboard, opens it, and takes something from the top shelf, a place I hadn't looked at. A black leather case was hidden under a briefcase. Tann opens it with one hand and reveals a familiar silver object that emits a soft 'clang' when touched.

Where does he get all this? Revolver. Handcuffs.

Ah ... his relationship with the police.

Tann walks up to me, and hangs one side of the handcuffs on my right hand and the other on the headboard. My freedom has just been destroyed. "In a safe place. You don't have to go anywhere. You stay here ok?" Tann looks at me from his height, a look full of remorse. He picks up the phone and takes a picture of me before I can even answer. "I'm sorry... I have to make sure he knows I have you."

I don't know how to react to his actions. Tann slips his hand into my pockets. I use my free hand to push him away but it doesn't help. He reaches for my pocket and takes Pert's phone and puts it in his shirt pocket. I hear a vibration. His phone, it seems. Tann quickly takes the call. "Boss..." He looks at me, "Yes! Let me take care of it!" Tann leaves the room, slamming the door, annoyed.

Only silence remains. I try to pull on the handcuffs knowing it's perfectly unnecessary. I'll only hurt my wrist. I am leaning against the headboard, wrapping my arm around my knees.

If I get out of it, I want to go home, see my parents, play games with my big brother. I also want to spend time with my friends from college. I close my eyes, thinking that I probably won't see them again. Maybe my sacrifice will keep them safe, especially my family in Bangkok. If I die, maybe there will be no more death threat to those around me.

...

"Bunn!" I hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching me in the parking lot. I turn to the source of the noise. The beautiful face of Prosecutor Pert appears in my field of vision. I give him a big smile.

"Hello Mr. Prosecutor," and I bow slightly to Pert who pursues his lips.

"I knew it was you! I recognized your name, 'Dr. Bunnakit'. If it's not Bunn, the thug with a brain?" Pert hits me on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

"When you walked into court, you freaked me out."

I laughed, I too was shocked to see Pert in the DA. "Yes, I am replacing Professor Apirak. I look forward to working with you."

Pert is smiling, he looks happy. "I'm seriously shocked to see you here man. Since I got home I haven't got anyone to date. Are you already going back to the hospital?"

"Yes, I have a body to dissect." I understand then that Pert is from this region. He had to be sent to a high school in Bangkok to be able to be more easily admitted to one of the universities in the big city.

"Well I have to go back." Pert looks at his watch, and with the other hand searches for something in his pocket. "I practically saw you running out of court so I ran to catch you. And I forgot my phone. Give me your number. We need to keep in touch man."

"Sure," I try to find a piece of paper, but Pert already handed me one. It's a post-it. Orange. There is already someone's number written on it.

"What's that number? Nath?" Puzzled, I accept the note.

"Hey, just write yours on the back. It's the only piece of paper on me."

I'll take a look at the Prosecutor. I have seen many men all my life, but not one who could match Pert in terms of physique. With his light skin color, Pert is very handsome, tall and kind. It's no surprise that he turns every girl's head and ends up sleeping with a different one every night.

"Still on top man? Give me Nath's number: I'll ask her out." I return the note and write my number on it.

"Why should I do that? She's pretty. Busty. Exactly my type."

I return the note to him. "Who is not your type is the question to ask yourself instead."

".." Pert takes the note and puts it in his pocket. He then replies, "Professor Phannee, for starters, is not my type."

Pert and I burst into laughter at the same time. The stress of having to adjust to a new environment becomes a little more bearable. It's nice to meet an old friend. After that, I think Pert and I need to see each other more often. I never approved of the way he dated several girls at the same time when we were in high school. But we are adults now. It's better to be friends with people we know for us to help each other out.

...

I am awakened by the sound of the door opening. I have to blink a few times to get them used to the darkness of the room. Tann's bedroom is pitch black. I stand up against the wall next to the bed where I have fallen asleep from exhaustion. It was dawn now. The person who opened the door, turns on the light that blinds me completely for a while.

"Let's go," Tann walks up to me and unties me with a small key.

"Go where?" As soon as my hand is released, I quickly withdraw it to avoid touching him.

"To hide." Tann scowls and looks irritated for some reason. "I thought we were past that," I grit my teeth. I've never seen so much rage in him before. It seems to me that Tann is trying to channel his temper into speaking to me in a more friendly tone.

"It's for your own safety; you come with me. I give you two options. One is to come with me of your own free will. Second, I don't want to go for the last one ok? Because you will be hurt and I will never forgive myself."

I look at Tann, I am terrified of his steely gaze. But above all, I need an explanation of everything that is going on. Who sent Tann here? How was he involved in Janejira's death? And where is he taking me? Will he kill me? When Tann sees me sitting in silence, he sighs. "You're not going to make it easy for me, are you?"

I'm still sitting, hugging my knees to my chest, still. "Tann ..." I whisper his name.

"Hmm?" is his answer.

"I have no choice, do I?"

"No," Tann grabs me by the arm. "Get up. We don't have much time."

"Who are you ?" I sound like crazy repeating myself but this question floats in my head without being able to get it out. Who is the man I am in love with? The man who, needless to say, ended up betraying me in the most horrible way. I have no idea.

Tann leans in and takes my face to tilt it. So he bends down and kisses my forehead. My eyes close and my body begins to shake. I don't know what he wants to convince me of by his actions. All I can feel right now is frightening dread.

"I promise you that when this is all over, I will tell you everything." And in a heartbreaking voice he adds. "If I survive this, we'll run away together. And you will know all about me... "