𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒓

𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑓, 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑢𝑚𝑎, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑢𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒. 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒, 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑑.

'𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠' 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝐴𝑛𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒, 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠, 𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙.

Some stories begin with a whisper — a haunting melody, a flicker of memory, a name carried on the wind. The River Remembers was born from such echoes. It began with a question:

What if love once lost could find its way back — not through fate, but through the courage to choose differently this time?

This is a story about two souls, separated by time but bound by something deeper than memory. It's about the weight of expectation, the ache of silence, and the quiet rebellion of love that refuses to be erased. Set across two timelines, it weaves together music, identity, and the quiet strength it takes to live honestly in a world that does not always welcome honesty.

Though this is a work of fiction, it is rooted in truth. The truths of those who have hidden parts of themselves to survive. Of those who have carried pain across lifetimes. Of those still learning that love is not shameful — and never has been.

As a writer, I offer this story with humility and care. I hope that within these pages, someone might see themselves reflected — not perfectly, but tenderly. I hope that even in the most sorrowful chords, you'll hear the possibility of hope.

Because the river remembers.

And sometimes, it carries us home.

Note: This novel is published under the account kitty_girl in both Tapas and Wattpad :D

Rattanakosin Era, Year 1820

The moon hung low in a cloudless sky, scattered by millions of tiny stars that twinkled like fairy lights strung across the heavens. The night air was still, broken only by a soft breeze that rustled the frangipani leaves. Its pale blossoms glowed in the moonlight, releasing their sweet scent into the air. The tree stood tall by the banks of the Chao Phraya River - serene and fragrant, in stark contrast to the turmoil in the hearts of the two young men beneath it.

They were both dressed in white - not for mourning, but for hope.

A symbol of release.

Of new beginnings.

"Khun Kla, do you believe what the reverend monk said?" The taller one of the two turned to his companion. "That if we're meant for each other, we'll find one another again, no matter how many lifetimes it takes?"

"If P'Chan believes him," Kla replied softly, "then I do too". His voice was almost a whisper, light enough to be carried off by the wind.

"Are you ready, N'Kla?" Chan asked, resolve evident in his tightened eyes. He used the term he reserved only for when they were alone - when the world was kept out by locked doors.

Instead of answering, Kla rose to his toes and pressed a final kiss to Chan's lips. A silent goodbye.

A promise sealed in touch.

Hand in hand, they stepped into the river, letting the current carry their sorrow, their love, and their defiance away.

"I will find you again." The words echoed once, before fading away.

A vow.

In the distance, a temple bell rang.

A breeze stirred the petals of the frangipani.

Time folded -

and the world began again.

...----------------...

Glossary

Titles, Honorifics & Speech Particles

Khun - คุณ (koon)

A polite title like "Mr." or "Ms." Used before someone's name regardless of gender.

P' / Phi - พี่ (pee)

Means "older sibling." Used before the name of someone older than you (e.g., P'Kla \= older Kla).

N' / Nong - น้อง (nawng)

Means "younger sibling." Used before the name of someone younger than you.

Ai - ไอ้ (eye)

Informal, often affectionate or teasing prefix between close friends (usually male-male). Can be playful or mocking depending on tone.

Jaa - จ้า / จ๊ะ (jah)

Soft, affectionate sentence-ending particle. Often used to show fondness or gentleness.

Na - นะ (ná)

A softener used at the end of a sentence to make it gentler, more persuasive, or more affectionate. It adds emotional nuance — like saying "okay?", "alright?", or "please" in English.

Khrap - ครับ (krap)

Polite sentence particle used by men. Adds respect to speech.

Kha - ค่ะ / คะ (kah)

Polite sentence-ending particle used by women.

Wai - ไหว้ (why)

A traditional Thai greeting: palms pressed together, head slightly bowed.

---

Family & Respect

Mea - แม่ (meh-ah)

"Mother."

Luk - ลูก (look)

"Child" or "son/daughter." Can also imply someone beloved.

Lung - ลุง (loong)

"Uncle," an older brother of one's parent.

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Nobility & Formal Titles (often historical)

Phra - พระ (pra)

A reverent prefix used for monks, sacred items, or noble titles.

Khun Phra - คุณพระ (koon pra)

A formal noble title, similar to "Sir."

Khun Phraya - คุณพระยา (koon pra-yah)

A very high noble title in historic Siamese society.

Khunying - คุณหญิง (koon-ying)

A title for high-ranking noblewomen, similar to "Lady."

Khun Chai - คุณชาย (koon-chai)

A noble title for men of royal descent, like "Lord."

Khun Than - คุณท่าน (koon-tahn)

A respectful term for older or high-status individuals.

Khun Ajarn - คุณอาจารย์ (koon ah-jahn)

A respectful way to address a teacher or professor ("Ajarn" \= teacher).

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Cultural Words

Sawasdee kha - สวัสดีค่ะ (sah-wah-dee kah)

A polite greeting meaning "Hello," used by women.

Baht - บาท (baht)

The currency of Thailand.

Sueng - สะล้อซอซึง (serng)

A traditional Thai stringed instrument from Northern Thailand.

Ranat ek - ระนาดเอก (rah-naht eck)

A Thai xylophone used in classical music.

Chao Phraya River - แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา (chao-prah-yah)

The main river running through Bangkok, rich in cultural and historic symbolism.

Chulalongkorn University - จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย (choo-lah-long-korn)

Thailand's most prestigious university.

Impact Arena - อิมแพ็คอารีนา (im-pack ah-ree-nah)

A large concert and event venue in Bangkok.

...----------------...

Character Introduction

Tan Phongthawat (Tan)

A quiet, reserved student from a well-respected family. Music is his secret refuge, even if his parents expect him to follow a different path.

Kla Rattanapisut (Kla)

Soft-spoken and introspective. He carries more than he says aloud, his silence holding memories and feelings that run deep.

Phayu Rattanachai (Yu)

Friendly, bubbly, and a little bit of a gossip. His warm, outgoing nature makes people feel at ease — though when he’s truly hurting, he hides it away behind silence.

Sarun Thanapreechakul (Run)

Calm, patient, and determined. He never forces others to open up but instead shares his own truths, quietly waiting until trust is returned.

Nicha

Sharp-witted and observant. She notices what others overlook, though she chooses carefully when and how to speak.

Tan woke with a sharp gasp, the echo of a temple bell still ringing in his ears. For a moment, he lay frozen, unsure of where he was — until the soft pitter-patter of rain against the window and the low hum of the air conditioner anchored him back to reality.

His dorm room was quiet, dim except for the blinking green light on his table clock. Sheets clung to his sweat-soaked skin, his chest heaving in shallow, uneven breaths.

With a trembling hand, he turned on the bedside lamp. The soft golden glow chased away the shadows but not the unease coiling tight in his chest.

"It’s just a dream," he whispered, voice unsteady. "Just a dream..."

But he knew better.

It wasn't the first time.

He could never remember the whole thing, just fragments — flickers of light and scent and sound. A river shimmering beneath moonlight. The sweet, heavy scent of frangipani. A slow descent into water. And always, just before waking, the solemn toll of a temple bell echoing through his bones.

He glanced down and found his fingers clenched tight around his sheets, white-knuckled. As if refusing to let go of something — or someone.

A flash of lightning lit up the room, casting stark reflections on his cluttered desk: unfinished assignments, a tangled set of earphones, the gleam of a forgotten pick beside his guitar. His pale face stared back at him in the mirror — drawn, shaken, unfamiliar.

Tan sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The clock read 3:12 a.m. Too early for anything but too late for peace.

He stumbled into the bathroom. Cold water splashed against his face, a shock that brought him fully into the present. In the mirror, a pair of tired coal-black eyes met his. Messy brown hair fell over his forehead in damp clumps, his skin ghost-pale under the flickering light.

Tan Phongthawat, second-year student at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Music. The eldest son of a prestigious Bangkok family. Groomed for medicine or law, but stubborn enough to choose music. The compromise: he'd study music, but join the family business after graduation.

He lingered in the mirror's gaze, searching for answers he couldn't name, before returning to his room.

There, he buried himself in sheet music and assignments, fingers absently tapping rhythms as he stared at the blank music software on his laptop. A melody hovered at the edge of memory — haunting and familiar. Like a song he once knew but forgot the words to.

...----------------...

Morning crept in slowly. Gray light filtered through the curtains, dust motes dancing in the golden haze. Tan had fallen asleep again — this time slumped over his desk.

His phone buzzed loudly, vibrating against a pile of papers.

["Where the hell are you?"] came an exasperated voice. Phayu Rattanachai, or Yu — his best friend since high school. The sounds of a bustling hallway filled the background.