3. Suicide attempt.

A dam with rushing water underneath, and there is a long bridge spanning it. Bella decided to come to this place because she felt stressed responding to Paeng and Nabdao's evil deeds that suddenly treated her without justice, whereas while Chali was alive, everyone was kind and warm.

Now, Bella's world was turned upside down quickly just a few nights after the cremation ceremony of the late Chali Parthatap.

Even the pain of losing her beloved father still fills Bella's heart, but she is forced to understand the strange situation as it unfolds.

"Father, what happened? Why did Uncle Nabdao and Aunt Paeng's attitudes suddenly change? It's like the world turned its back on me after you left." Bella wailed. She stood still, staring at the rushing water from the side of the bridge. The girl looked down with a pale face, the traces of crying still visible there.

"Dad, how do I tell Mom that her daughter can't take the exam because she was expelled? How do I tell Mom the truth? I can't see the disappointment on her face, and I'm having trouble, Father."

Bella covered her face, and she cried again. It looks like today will be filled with many tears.

"I'm scared, Dad. I'm afraid of ruining Mom's expectations. Should I lie?"

The girl was suddenly silent, and she began to be carried away by the rushing water. Then crazy thoughts started to appear when every painful word from Paeng buzzed in Bella's ears.

"Dad, should I just follow you?"

A black Porsche was traveling at a moderate speed from a different direction but was about to cross the bridge path.

A man with a black jacket emblazoned with Metallica was sitting relaxed, driving. He also had music on in his car.

The man frowns when he sees a woman standing on the side of the bridge, then gestures like when someone is about to jump into a swimming pool.

"She's going to swim, yeah," he muttered.

However, three seconds later, the man realized something. He glared and stepped on the gas pedal to make the car go faster before stopping on the other side of the dam.

"IS SHE CRAZY!!!"

As fast as the wind, the man got out of the car and ran towards Bella, who seemed to be about to jump into the water; without much thought, the man lifted Bella's body from behind before she had time to jump, every second is precious in critical situations like this.

The stranger managed to pull back to within a meter of the edge of the dam which almost made him witness someone commit suicide while the young girl struggled to be lowered.

"Let go of me! Let go! Are you crazy!" Bella snapped and clawed at the hands wrapped around her waist before being lowered.

"Crazy? Isn't such an accusation on you right now, you crazy one!" The man snapped back. They locked eyes as Bella turned her body around. "You don't think I'd know if you wanted to jump down, do you?"

"None of your business. Get lost." Bella was about to approach the edge of the bridge again, but the man grabbed her wrist. "Let go of me, you hear!"

"No! Whatever your problem is, don't kill yourself!"

"I'll repeat it, and it's none of your business. You don't need to take care of other people's problems. Get out of here!"

"Then, you're going to jump, aren't you? You'll be free to do so if I leave now." The man clucked. "Stop fooling others, and you should be thinking now. Take a deep breath, then let it out."

"Stop giving advice." Bella was busy pulling her hands free from the stranger's choke hold. "Can you let go? What you're doing is hurting other people."

Bella's pitiable expression makes the man melt and release the choke, but when Bella suddenly runs toward the edge of the bridge, he realizes he has missed the woman's trickery.

"Damn it!"

Not wanting to be lied to again, he chased after Bella, pulling her from behind before lifting her bridal style.

"Hey! Let go of me! You can't do that! Who are you!" Bella was busy struggling, her hands clenched into fists and hitting the man's back.

Although Bella was eager to hit him, the man chose to remain silent, and he continued to walk across the bridge toward his car.

There was no hesitation when the man dropped Bella off at the side of the car, opened the door, and forced Bella to get in.

"Get in."

"No way! Who are you to treat me like this? Leave me alone." Bella was still struggling, she tried to put on a pleading expression like before, but the man was no longer touched. He already understood the girl's trickery.

"Come in, or I'll throw you into the tiger cage," the man threatened.

"You've gone mad!"

Bella was forced inside, and the man didn't hesitate to buckle her in. Their faces were very close as he looked down, then lifted his face and stared at her intently. His brown irises were like the edge of a knife pointed at Bella.

As if hypnotized, Bella no longer spoke and was silent.

"Stay calm. Let me take you away from this place," said the strange man before closing the door and running around the car. Now he was sitting behind the wheel while Bella's condition was still the same, silent.

The car drove off, and they drove off the bridge.

During the trip, both of them were silent, and the atmosphere inside became very calm. The hypnotic effect seemed to bind Bella's body still.

"I don't know who you are, but it wouldn't be wise for you to commit suicide." The man finally spoke. "Didn't it cross your mind that such a crazy thing happened-how? Would your parents have to deal with it?"

Bella remained silent, her gaze blank.

"How much trouble are you in that you would give up? Whatever it is, please think things through calmly. Suicide is not wise."

The car's speed slowed when it encountered the hubbub of a traditional market, and the man chuckled because he felt he had cut the wrong way.

"Being away from Bangkok for so long has made me forget some things."

Bella turned her head, and they locked eyes, but the girl made no sound.

"How to get out of the crowd on a crowded market street like this, do you know?" the man asked.

Along the way, they continued to find many people stepping on the narrow streets, making the movement of cars very limited.

"Aren't they afraid of having their body parts touched by oncoming cars?" The man chuckled in frustration. "Ah! This sucks."

Despite pressing the horn, the marketgoers passing in front of the car didn't seem bothered. They continued their activities. The man finally relented, deciding to stop because it was impossible to squeeze through the crowd in the middle of the road.

"I need to pee," Bella said after a long silence.

"You?"

"What? I can't do it, you mean?" Bella frowned.

"That's not what I mean, and you don't intend to kill yourself in a public restroom, do you?"

Bella laughed. "Is that all you have in mind? I can't hold it in any longer." She unbuckled her seat belt as the stranger got out and circled the car, the door beside Bella opening.

"I have to make sure once again you don't intend to kill yourself in a public restroom, do you?" The man was very anxious, and Bella seemed touched by how the two human characters were opposite.

First, the family that was so close to her for a long time suddenly betrayed and tried to make Bella and Charita's lives miserable.

Secondly, the strange man she had just met for the first time showed an excellent attitude with all his attention.

Bella's eyes were sad again, and she looked down silently.

"Why are you silent? You're not sure of your answer?" the man asked.

Bella shook her head. "No, I don't intend to kill myself in the toilet. You don't have to worry about me. Just take care of yourself."

"I already took care of myself."

"Never mind, I have to find a public restroom." Bella left just like that, and she broke through the crowd among the crowds of merchants and shoppers at the rows of vegetable stalls and other goods.

"I hope she comes to her senses, and I hope she won't go back to that bridge." The man got back into the car, believing the girl would not return to him and report that she had finished urinating.

***