Love at First Death
Along the banks of the Mekong River in the district of Naga Pura or City of Nagas, Thailand, a twelve-year-old boy named Singh slowly regained consciousness.
His vision was blurry at first, but then he saw it.
A small pink Nagini with a crimson crest coiled tightly around his father’s body.
"Don’t you dare hurt my father!”
The boy forced himself to his feet, summoning every ounce of courage he had left. His eyes searched desperately for anything that could be used as a weapon.
A large stone lay nearby.
Without hesitation, he grabbed it and hurled it at the pink Nagini with all his strength.
The strike worked.
The naga released his father and turned toward the boy with a furious glare.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Then the Nagini slipped away and disappeared beneath the waters of the Mekong.
Singh stumbled forward and dropped beside his father.
"Dad! Dad!”
He shook the man desperately.
But there was no response.
No movement.
No breath.
His father was already dead.
A storm of grief and rage erupted inside the young boy’s heart.
At that moment, he swore an oath.
One day, he would find the Nagini responsible and avenge his father’s death.
---
Eighteen years later, the boy had grown into a man.
His name was now Captain Kruth Torwong, a rising officer in the Royal Thai Police.
Though time had passed, his determination remained unchanged.
He changed his name from Singh to Kruth which means Garuda because he would become the mighty Garuda that hunted Nagas.
And someday, he would destroy the Nagini that had taken his father away.
---
In the present year, Naga Pura District has officially been elevated to provincial status.
The government had granted greater administrative authority, particularly over special emergency operations.
The province occupied a strategically important stretch of the Mekong River directly opposite a neighboring country.
Across the border, a newly constructed Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant began commercial operations for the first time. The electricity generated there would be sold to Thailand, backed by investment and technology from a powerful foreign ally.
With Naga Pura now carrying responsibilities of national importance, the province required capable and courageous personnel.
As a result, Captain Kruth Torwong’s name appeared on the official assignment list.
His transfer to Naga Pura was inevitable.
---
"Are you sure you’ll be alright living here by yourself, Mom?”
Kruth looked at his mother with concern.
"Of course, dear. I’ve lived by myself before.”
Pimpat smiled warmly and spooned salted egg salad into her son’s bowl of rice porridge.
"Eat more. You’ll need your strength for your first day.”
"Hey, Mom! Give me some salted egg salad too. It’s my first day of school as well!”
Kan, the youngest daughter, pouted playfully.
"You are jealous of little things.”
Laughing, Pimpat added another spoonful to her daughter’s bowl.
"But things are different now,” Kruth said quietly.
His eyes drifted around the Government housing unit they had recently moved into.
This wasn’t their old home.
This was Naga Pura.
The place where everything had happened.
"I’m really fine, son,” Pimpat assured him. “Just rush home after work. Both of you.”
Her tone was cheerful, but beneath the smiles shared around the breakfast table lay wounds that had never fully healed.
Both mother and son still carried the pain of the past.
Only Kan remained untouched by those memories.
She had still been in her mother’s womb when their father died and knew the tragedy only through stories.
---
"Captain Kruth Torwong?”
Governor Dechana stared at him in surprise.
"Are you related to former Deputy Governor Korakot?”
"He’s my father, sir.”
For a moment, the governor was speechless.
"Really? My goodness... You’re that little boy who used to visit the provincial hall with him all the time, aren’t you?”
His face softened with nostalgia.
"I worked with your father nearly twenty years ago. Back then I was only a Deputy District Chief. It’s a shame that he...”
The governor caught the shadow, crossing Kruth’s eyes and quickly changed the subject.
"Well, welcome. I’m glad we’ll be working together.”
He turned to Colonel Traichak.
"Make sure you guide the Captain well.”
"Yes, sir.”
---
At the Hallway.
"And this is Girin,” Traichak introduced.
"He works with the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department. You’ll be working closely together.”
"Nice to meet you, Captain,” Girin said with a friendly smile.
"Likewise,” Kruth replied.
"You can call me Kruth.”
"It’s almost lunchtime,” Girin suggested.
"Why don’t we grab something to eat and discuss work at the same time?”
"Sounds good.”
Kruth agreed, despite still feeling full of breakfast.
---
Meanwhile, at Naga Pura Provincial Hospital, Luksorn—the Provincial Energy Officer—walked into Shompoo’s herbal supplement shop called Komarabhacca.
Inside, Shompoo was live streaming to her international audience.
The moment she noticed Luksorn waving, she waved back and silently mouthed, ‘Just a minute.’
Luksorn responded with a thumb-up.
" Alright, this is my last item for today. I’m excited to introduce Gluta Glow Complex — a beauty dietary supplement designed to support your daily glow from within. If you’re looking for an easy addition to your self-care routine, this one is a great choice. It comes in a convenient tablet form, so it’s simple to take every day. Many people love it as part of their skincare and wellness routine. Don’t miss this chance to add a glow-boosting product to your collection. Grab yours now while it’s available!”
Shompoo’s cheerful English presentation continued effortlessly.
Her smile was bright.
Her pronunciation was flawless.
Her confidence was natural.
---
At the market in front of the Government Complex.
"Who is she?” Kruth asked.
He had been watching the livestream on a tablet at a market stall.
"Oh, that’s Shompoo,” Girin explained.
"She owns the herbal supplement shop inside the hospital.”
Kruth continued watching.
The young woman’s English fluency impressed him.
"Is she an alien?”
Girin burst out laughing.
"No. Not at all.”
"Then why is she livestreaming in English?”
"Because half her customers are foreigners. Her business is incredibly successful. Tourists and expats come to her shop every day.”
That explained it.
Still, Kruth found himself unable to look away.
There was something unusually captivating about her.
---
After ending the livestream, Shompoo hurried over to Luksorn.
"Starving?”
"Absolutely starving!”
Luksorn rubbed her stomach dramatically.
"Then let’s go.”
Shompoo turned to Meetang, a third-year pharmacy ladyboy student who worked as the shop’s administrator while gaining internship experience.
"Can you watch the store for me for a bit?”
"Sure, Sis.” Meetang replied with a lady gesture.
"What time is your orientation today?”
"Two o’clock.”
"I’ll be back before one-thirty.”
Meetang flashed an OK sign.
As Shompoo turned to leave, Meetang suddenly exclaimed,
"Sis. Shompoo! Auntie Suree just placed another order worth three thousand baht!”
Shompoo rushed back to the computer screen.
"Wow!”
She beamed proudly.
"Please send her a big thank-you message.”
Then she turned to Luksorn.
"One of my fans from northern Thailand. Every time she orders, she spends thousands.”
Luksorn nodded, already accustomed to hearing about Shompoo’s devoted customers.
---
Then the two girls headed toward the market in front of the provincial government complex.
There, seated at a corner table, were Kruth and Girin.
At that moment Shompoo saw Kruth clearly for the first time...
Her heart stopped.
It was him.
The boy from eighteen years ago.
The boy standing beside the Mekong River.
The boy who had thrown a stone at her.
The boy whose father had died that day.
---
"Oh! Bro. Girin!”
Luksorn greeted Girin cheerfully.
"What brings you here today? Aren’t you usually out inspecting sites?”
"Come sit with us.”
Girin waved them over.
"Oh, right. Let me introduce someone.”
He gestured toward Kruth.
"This is Captain Kruth. Today’s his first day in Naga Pura.”
Shompoo stood frozen.
Unable to move.
Unable to speak.
Like someone trapped beneath an ancient spell.
"Hey, Shompoo, why are you just standing there?”
Luksorn laughed.
Then she turned to Kruth.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Luksorn, the Provincial Energy Officer. I’ve been stationed in Naga Pura for four years.”
She pointed toward her friend.
"And this is Shompoo. She runs the herbal supplement shop inside the provincial hospital.”
"It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
Kruth smiled warmly.
"I never expected Naga Pura’s Energy Officer to be this beautiful.”
The compliment came naturally.
Perhaps too naturally.
Because in the next instant, Shompoo shot him a fierce glare.
A glare so sharp it could have pierced stone.
Kruth blinked in surprise.
For some reason, that expression felt strangely familiar.
As though he had seen it somewhere before.
Long ago.
Very long ago.
---
After lunch, everyone discussed their plans for the afternoon.
Girin would be taking Kruth to an emergency planning meeting.
"I’ll be heading out on a river survey this afternoon,” Luksorn explained.
"We’re collecting water samples to test for contamination.”
"That sounds interesting.”
Kruth smiled.
"What a shame I have an important meeting. Otherwise, I’d volunteer to escort you.”
The young officer’s charm was impossible to miss.
And it was clear that he had already taken quite a liking to Luksorn.
