A large countryside villa stood embraced by the beauty of nature. Sean, a young boy who had grown up surrounded by the peaceful countryside and warm-hearted villagers, was lying under a big tree.

Soft sunlight filtered through the leaves and landed gently on his face, making him use his book to shield his eyes. A light breeze rustled through the air, blending with the sound of birds chirping cheerfully. Before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.

Crunch.

The sound of footsteps pressed down on dry leaves. Sean heard the slow, steady steps approaching where he lay, but he pretended to stay fast asleep.

Then the footsteps stopped.

A boy stood there, gazing at the sleeping figure before quietly sitting down beside him. He stared at the younger boy with curiosity.

Paul’s Thoughts:

“Today, I came to visit my grandmother, who lives in this quiet countryside. As soon as I arrived, I wandered out of the house and happened to notice someone lying under a big tree.

I sat down next to a boy who seemed to be sound asleep, a book covering his face. I couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting to his soft, delicate lips.

‘Hmm… but why is he lying here all alone?’

I stayed still, not wanting to wake him up.”

Paul silently watched the sweet-faced boy as he gently shifted in his sleep. Startled, Paul slowly moved away, stood up, and returned to his grandmother’s house.

Sean slowly opened his eyes and removed the book from his face.

He had been aware the entire time—he knew Paul had been sitting there, watching him in silence.

Yet not a single word was spoken.

Sean found himself wondering… why?

Why had Paul chosen silence, as if he didn’t want Sean to even know he had been there?

**Dairy notes **

“Today, the boy next door came to visit his grandmother—just like he does every week. I don’t even know his name. We’ve never talked, not even once. I’ve only seen him from afar, through the fence that separates our houses.

I’ve always wanted to get to know him, but I’m not even sure if he wants to know me.

But the one thing I’ve never understood is this…

Why has he never said a single word to me?

He just sits there quietly under this tree, watching me… without saying a thing.

Honestly… I really like him.

Even though we’ve never spoken, just being able to see him over the fence and meet his eyes—

Sigh. That alone is enough to make my heart flutter.

I don’t know if he feels the same.

Maybe it’s just a foolish hope.

But even so… it still makes me happy.”

——

“Sean! Sean! Where are you, sweetheart?”

Ella’s voice, Sean’s mother, called out from afar.

“I’m here, Mom!” Sean shouted back before quickly jumping up, brushing dried leaves off his shirt in a hurry.

He glanced one last time at the fence separating their homes, then sighed softly and turned to head back to his mother.

“Let me guess—you were lying under the tree again, weren’t you? Look at you, covered in leaves!” Ella said as she looked over her son’s disheveled clothes.

Sean gave a sheepish smile, brushing away the last of the leaves from his shirt.

“Heh… yeah, Mom. I was just sitting and reading a book, that’s all.”

“Were you really reading, or did you fall asleep again?” Ella asked, shaking her head gently.

“…Just a little nap,” Sean replied, avoiding her gaze.

“Well, go wash your face and get ready to set the table. I made your favorite.”

She sighed, but there was a gentle smile on her face.

“Yes, ma’am!” Sean said quickly as he headed toward the house—but not without sneaking a glance back through the fence.

At that very moment, Paul happened to look over toward Sean’s yard as well.

Their eyes met—purely by chance.

Sean flinched, his eyes widening in surprise as he realized Paul was looking right at him.

Paul, too, looked startled that their eyes had met. But unlike every other time…

This time, Paul didn’t look away.

He kept looking.

“…..”

No words were spoken—no greetings, no questions.

Yet somehow, in the silence, something was shared between their eyes.

Sean’s heart pounded, though he couldn’t explain why.

It felt as if everything around them had come to a standstill.

And just like always… he still didn’t have the words to explain that feeling.

**Diary notes **

“Let me tell you a little about my family. We’re farmers—we grow vegetables and fruits. Our farm isn’t huge, maybe around 1,500 rai (about 600 acres), I think.

Our family runs a fully integrated business—from exporting fresh produce to processing fruit and even producing animal feed.

We also support local farmers in our village by purchasing their crops. It helps strengthen rural livelihoods and prevents people from leaving their families behind to work in faraway cities.

I have one older brother and one older sister. I’m the youngest son in the family.

Today, everyone in our family is home. My brother just returned from university in the city, and my sister came back from her high school there too.

In just a few days, I’ll be turning 12.

It won’t be long now before I’m sent to study at the same high school as my sister.

Sigh… When I think about it, I already know—I’m really going to miss home…”

Preparing Lunch

“Cluck cluck! Cluck cluck!”

The sound of chickens crowing filled the air across the wide fields.

Sean was busy collecting eggs in the chicken coop to help his mother prepare lunch, all the while mumbling aimlessly to himself.

“Sean! Sean! Are you in there?”

Sherlene’s voice called out from outside the coop, trying to locate her brother.

“Yes! I’m here!”

Startled from his thoughts, Sean turned to the direction of her voice and called back loudly.

“What are you doing in there? Mom’s been waiting on those eggs forever!”

“Oh, come on, Sherlene. I’ve only been here for ten minutes!” Sean replied, feigning innocence.

“Fresh eggs from happy hens! Perfect for cooking something delicious!” Sean muttered to himself as he gently placed each egg into a basket.

“Well then, where are the eggs? Come on, let’s go help Mom cook.”

Sherlene raised an eyebrow as she glanced at the younger boy.

“They’re right here in the basket.”

Sean grinned sheepishly and scratched his head a little.

“Here are the eggs, Mom.”

Sean returned to the house and handed the basket to Ella.

“Sean, come help me cook so we can eat sooner. Your father’s probably waiting by now.”

Ella took the basket with a soft smile.

“Yes, Mom.”

Sean nodded obediently and walked over to pick up a knife, beginning to chop vegetables that had been soaking in a bucket of clean water.

Lunch was soon laid out on the family’s dining table—an array of homemade dishes, each made with fresh ingredients straight from the garden.

It was a meal full of warmth, laughter, and the kind of happiness that can only come from a family gathered together on a weekend at home.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

“Today was the first day of the school break. I woke up early and went to loosen the soil around the brightly blooming flowers along the fence. The soft morning sun and gentle breeze made me feel completely relaxed.

As I was tending the flowerbeds, I suddenly heard a car approaching from the house next door. My curiosity sparked immediately. I peeked through the gaps in the fence, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a young man stepping out of a luxurious car…”

A sudden noise from the other side of the fence startled Sean.

He turned his head quickly toward the sound, his light brown eyes widening slightly as he caught a vague shadow near the bushes. Without thinking, he stepped closer to the fence and peeked through.

“Yip! Yip!”

“Rustle… rustle…”

“What’s that sound?” Sean murmured softly to himself.

“Yip! Yip!”

“There you are! Where did you come from, little guy?”

Sean bent down and reached into the bushes, lifting a small puppy into his arms.

“Whine… bark bark!”

“Did you dig under the fence to sneak over here? Haha! You’re clever, aren’t you?”

Sean laughed as he cuddled the pup.

Meanwhile, Paul, standing on the other side of the fence, had heard the puppy’s bark. Curious, he stepped onto a nearby stool and leaned over the fence.

His eyes locked onto the cheerful boy playing with the puppy on the other side.

Sean giggled softly as he lifted the little dog up to his cheek. The puppy wagged its tail excitedly, then licked Sean’s cheek with pure affection.

That smile, that laugh—Paul froze in place, as if time itself had paused just for this moment.

“Oh, you little rascal… I’ve been looking everywhere for you. So you snuck through the fence over to this side, huh?”

Paul frowned slightly before letting out a smile of relief.

“So this little troublemaker is yours?” Sean chuckled, gently stroking the pup’s head. “Haha, looks like he really likes me.”

He lifted the dog carefully and handed it back over the fence to Paul, offering him a small smile as he did.

Paul took the pup, his eyes still on Sean, and found himself smiling without even realizing it.

“It’s not just the puppy who likes you…” he thought to himself.

“Sean! Sean! Dad’s calling for you!”

Sherlene’s voice echoed from the garage.

“Coming! I’m coming!”

Sean turned toward the voice and quickly dashed off to meet Charles, his father, in the garage.

“Sean… Sean, huh?”

Paul whispered the name softly to himself.

Paul’s Thoughts

“During the school break, I came to stay at my grandmother’s house in the countryside. The weather today was just perfect—soft morning sunlight and a cool breeze drifting by.

I had just arrived not too long ago and was already wandering around, searching for my little troublemaker of a puppy. I had no idea where it had run off to.

I wasn’t sure if I was hearing things, but I thought I heard barking somewhere nearby…

‘Yip! Yip! Bark! Bark!’

‘Hehe! Giggle! Hehe!’

I kept following the sounds. When I got near the fence, I looked down and saw a small hole in the ground—it looked like someone had dug their way through.

I knew immediately… that little rascal had tunneled under the fence to the other side.

“Wait… was that him? That sounded like my puppy!” I muttered to myself.

I glanced around for something I could use to get a better view. I spotted a chair under the tree, grabbed it, and climbed up to peek over the fence.

And there—there he was. The puppy was playing cheerfully with the boy next door, who was giggling and smiling so brightly.

I froze for a moment, just watching him. And then… he looked up and saw me.

Our eyes met—completely by accident.

I couldn’t move. But even then… I couldn’t help smiling.

That moment… it was just beautiful.”

⸻

The Orchard

Sean rode with his father, Charles, in a small farm truck (or “e-tan” in Thai) on a bumpy dirt road, heading toward the orchard.

It was almost harvest season, and the fruits needed extra care to protect them from insects and animals that might ruin the crops.

The little truck rumbled along uneven ground, jolting up and down—but Sean enjoyed the ride. It was the kind of simple journey that made him feel alive.

“Dad, why do we have to cover the fruit trees with nets like this?” Sean asked as he watched his father carefully stretch a net across the trees with his older brother, Charlie.

“Because sunlight and pests can damage the fruit. That’s why we need to cover them,” Charles replied with calm patience.

“Then why don’t we just use insecticide?” Sean asked curiously.

“Because chemicals leave harmful residues on the fruit, and they can be dangerous to people,” his father explained, smiling gently.

Sean nodded with understanding. His eyes scanned the orchard that stretched out as far as he could see.

Rows upon rows of apple, mango, and longan trees stood tall, their branches now heavy with ripening fruit.

Evening at the Farm

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, the workers started putting away their tools. Birds chirped and fluttered about, returning to their nests in large flocks.

Sean leapt onto the farm truck the moment his older brother, Charlie, pulled it up and stopped beside him.

“Don’t jump up like that—you’ll fall off one of these days,” Charlie scolded him gently.

“I won’t fall! I’m holding on super tight,” Sean replied with a grin so wide his eyes nearly disappeared.

“You little rascal,” Charlie sighed, laughing at his brother’s cheeky expression. “Still acting like a monkey, huh?”

On the way back home, the brothers chatted and laughed as the back of the farm truck rattled with baskets full of fresh vegetables and fruits.

“Mom! Mom!… Where are you, Mom?”

Sean called out loudly as soon as they arrived, glancing around when he couldn’t see Ella anywhere.

“She’s probably in the kitchen. Just go inside and look! Haha!”

Charles, their father, chuckled at the sight of his son’s excitement.

“Mom! I went to the orchard with Dad! Look—we brought back tons of fruits and vegetables!”

Sean shouted excitedly, proudly handing over a large basket to Ella.

“Wow! That’s wonderful, sweetheart! There’s so much! Thank you, dear. I’ll make a delicious dinner for you all,” Ella said with a warm smile, taking the basket from his hands.

Sean walked out of the kitchen with a proud grin, happy that he could help his mom today.

He went to the dining table and began setting it for dinner, carefully placing the dishes and utensils in place.

“Sean, with all these fruits and vegetables you brought in, I don’t think we can finish them ourselves,” Ella called from the kitchen.

“Why don’t you take some over to Grandma next door tomorrow?”

“Okay, Mom!”

Sean answered cheerfully.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

A Morning on the Farm

Ella, Sean’s mother, had left for the market at dawn with Charlene, Sean’s older sister.

They brought fresh produce from the farm to sell at affordable prices, ensuring the villagers could buy healthy food.

All the fruits and vegetables were freshly harvested—chemical-free and organically grown.

While Ella and Charlene were away at the market, Sean woke to the loud, familiar sound of roosters crowing across the fields.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

He sat up in bed and stretched, then pulled on a light blue long-sleeved shirt before heading downstairs.

“Dad? Did Mom and Charlene already leave for the market?”

Sean asked as he entered the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of milk and sitting down beside Charles and Charlie.

“Yes, they left before sunrise,” Charles replied, sipping his coffee while reading the morning paper.

“Your mom said we had a lot of fruit to sell today, so they’ll probably be gone for a while.”

Sean nodded and drank his milk in one go, then headed outside toward the chicken coop.

Collecting fresh eggs every morning was one of Sean’s daily chores—a task he always took seriously to help with the family’s meals.

“Cluck! Cluck! Bwaaak!”

The chickens squawked as Sean stepped into the coop. He carefully picked up the warm eggs from their nests and placed them gently into a small basket.

“Oh, hey there, little rascal! Back again?”

Sean chuckled as he spotted the tiny puppy that often snuck through the fence to play in their fields.

“Yip! Yip!”

“Slurp! Slurp!”

“Sneaked in through the fence again, huh? I bet your owner’s looking for you right now.”

He picked up the puppy and gently patted its head before walking back toward the house, the little dog cuddled in his arms.

At the Village Market

Ella and Charlene set up their stall at the village’s morning market.

The other vendors knew them well—produce from Sean’s family farm was famous for being fresh, organic, and chemical-free.

They also sold everything at reasonable prices, making it affordable for the villagers to enjoy good, high-quality food.

“Charlene, what do you have for sale today?”

Aunt Rose, the friendly vendor from the neighboring stall, greeted her with a warm smile.

“We’ve got apples, pumpkins, potatoes… and fresh eggs from our chickens at home,”

Charlene replied sweetly.

Ella carefully arranged the fruits and vegetables to make them look as appealing as possible, then called out to passersby with cheerful energy.

“Fresh fruits and veggies—chemical-free and straight from the farm! Great prices too!”

Before long, customers began to gather around their stall, chatting and laughing. The morning market was buzzing with familiar voices and the friendly warmth of the close-knit village.

“Ella, Charlene’s really grown into such a beautiful young lady,”

Aunt Rose complimented Charlene fondly.

“Oh, you’re being too kind. She’s still a little clingy to her mama,”

Ella chuckled, reaching out to gently pat her daughter’s head.

“How old is she now?”

Aunt Rose asked.

“I’m seventeen, ma’am,”

Charlene answered politely with a gentle smile.

“I’ll be graduating high school soon.”

“Last year already, huh? Time really flies,”

Aunt Rose said with a soft chuckle.

“Yes, ma’am,”

Charlene replied warmly.

**Diary notes **

“A Little Troublemaker (Again)”

“That little puppy snuck under the fence again today… and of course, I ended up being the one who had to deal with him.

Well, not that I really minded. We ran around together on the front lawn for a while, and I figured—he probably thinks I’m his playmate now.

Since he already went through the trouble of digging under the fence, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to play with him a bit before taking him back.

I’ll wait for Mom to get home and bring some fresh fruits and veggies over to Grandma’s house at the same time.”

“Beep! Beep!”

A car horn sounded at the gate. A red pickup truck pulled into the driveway and stopped at the garage.

As soon as the engine was turned off, Mom and Charlene stepped out of the truck, looking slightly flustered from the morning market rush.

I ran up to greet them, full of excitement.

“Ella, what did you bring back this time?”

A gentle voice asked with warmth.

“Oh, these?” Mom smiled as she walked into the house.

“Aunt Rose and Aunt Mary sent these for the kids. They’ve been so kind to us lately.”

Charlene and I followed closely behind, helping her carry everything inside.

“Sean, did you already prepare the basket of fruits and vegetables for Grandma?”

Mom turned to ask as she placed some bags on the table.

“I did, Mom,”

I replied softly, walking over to pick up the neatly packed basket.

“Oh? And where did this little one come from?”

Mom asked as she noticed the puppy sleeping soundly on the doormat.

“He’s from Grandma’s house. He crawled under the fence again,”

I explained.

“Then why haven’t you taken him back yet?”

“Normally his owner comes to get him by the fence… but I haven’t seen anyone today.

So I thought I’d bring him along when we go take the fruits to Grandma,”

I said, glancing over at the fence outside.

“Oh, I see! Well then, let’s go together.”

Next Door

“Ding-dong!”

“Hmm? Who could that be? Butler, could you get the door, please?”

“Yes, Madam.”

The sound of the butler’s footsteps echoed steadily down the hallway as he made his way to the front door of the villa. He opened it politely and was greeted by a young boy in casual clothes, holding a basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables, accompanied by his mother.

“Good morning, Mrs. Ella. Madam is inside. Please, come this way,” the butler said courteously, leading them inside.

“Good morning, Grandma. I brought you some fresh fruits and vegetables,” Sean said with a big smile, holding out the basket.

“Oh, thank you, dear! Now… who is this? Charlie or Sean? I can never tell you boys apart,” the elderly lady chuckled, lifting her glasses for a closer look.

“It’s Sean, Grandma,” he replied politely.

“Oh, Sean! My, my… kids these days grow up so fast. Heh, heh, heh!” she laughed heartily.

“What are you working on, Grandma? That looks really interesting,” Sean asked as he eyed the colorful yarn and knitting needles in her lap.

“I’m knitting a scarf for my grandson,” she said with a gentle smile. “He’ll be leaving to study abroad in a few months.”

“And where’s Paul, Grandma?” Ella looked around and asked.

“He went out with his sister,” Grandma replied casually.

“Next week we’ll be holding a birthday party for Sean—he’s turning twelve,” Ella added with a warm smile. “We’d love to invite you and your family to join us.”

“Oh, of course, dear! Twelve already? He’s becoming quite the young man now, isn’t he? Heh, heh, heh!”

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...