MYMOON, Chapter 7:
The black phone, doubling as an alarm clock, blared to wake the small figure who was sound asleep from his dreams. Having only slept a few hours after staying up late to finish a report, he rubbed his face lightly.
Klai wanted to sleep more, but he was afraid of dozing off too long. Forcing himself, he groggily sat up.
His slender hand reached for the noisy black phone to silence it. His light-colored eyelids closed again before he took a deep breath, hoping the oxygen flooding his lungs would refresh him.
Because Klai felt utterly exhausted… He’d slept until almost ten in the morning But had to wake up by noon.
Such is the life of a university student.
Creak~
The sound jolted Klai, making him open his eyes to check the phone screen. Seeing the name displayed, he snapped out of his drowsiness. Talking to his senior with a groggy voice wouldn’t do.
“Yes, Phii Dear?”
[You’re not coming to practice today, right, Klai?]
“That’s right. Yesterday, I practiced the piece several times until I got through it.”
[You’re playing it smoothly now, aren’t you?]
“Yes, Phii Dear.”
[If you plan to come practice again, let me know, okay? I’ll have the juniors prepare the khim for you.]
“Okay, I’ll check my class schedule and let you know, Phii Dear. I’ve got a lot of presentations coming up, but I’ll try to find time to practice once or twice more before the open house event.”
[Alright, Klai… I’m sorry for troubling you. The juniors said this piece is really tough. No one else can play it.]
“It’s okay, Phii Dear. I’m happy to help.”
[You’re always so kind to me. I’ll treat you to a meal after the event’s over.]
Klai laughed before saying, “It’s fine, but if you really want to treat me to a meal, I’ll thank you in advance.”
[Alright… I won’t bother you anymore. See you at uni, Klai!]
“Sounds good~”
Klai ended the call with his senior. He placed his phone next to the lamp as usual. Phii Dear was a close senior from when they were kids, having studied Thai music at the same music school. His father sent him to learn Thai music, hoping he’d master the ranat. But Klai didn’t enjoy it and told his father honestly. His father then let him choose his instrument. When Klai heard the sound of the khim Phii Dear was playing in one of the rooms, its enchanting melody instantly captivated him. From then on, Klai chose to learn the khim and stayed in the same class as Phii Dear. [1] the ranat is like wooden xylophone and the khim is like the cimbalon
But when Klai reached high school, he had to stop music lessons to focus on academics. Still, he regularly played the khim at home. He hadn’t seen Phii Dear for a while, though they kept in touch. It wasn’t until university that they started meeting more often.
The Faculty of Fine Arts, where Phii Dear studied, organized various performances for the open house. Phii Dear’s department had a singing performance in a large auditorium, and he was chosen to sing “Like a Dream.” The song featured a khim accompaniment, but the first-year students couldn’t play it. Last week, Phii Dear called to ask for his help.
Klai agreed without hesitation, thinking it wasn’t a big deal—just requiring regular practice. Yesterday, after classes, he had some free time and went to rehearse the khim at Phii Dear’s faculty.
That’s why Klai missed seeing the moon at 5:30 p.m…
The petite figure got out of bed and headed to the bathroom without delay. Klai took off his long-sleeved shirt and short pajama pants, tossing them into a wicker basket. Knowing he took long showers, he couldn’t afford to linger sleepily on the bed.
After spending some time showering and dressing, the small figure, now in a navy suit, picked up the printed report from the night before. His almond-shaped eyes glanced at two cactus plants side by side on his desk.
A faint smile appeared on his sweet face. Klai touched the tiny spines of the cactus Moon had given him, whispering softly, “We didn’t see each other yesterday… I miss you, Sasin.”
After entrusting his feelings to the cactus, the group leader, who had to present, quickly grabbed his car keys and leather bag and left the room. Klai wanted to reach the university early to rehearse the presentation with his friends.
Stepping out of the elevator, he walked to the condo’s underground parking lot. He hurried to his white Audi A5. As his slender hand opened the car door, a LINE notification chimed. After getting in, Klai pulled his phone from his back pocket.
LINE ~
MaMay: Klai, I’m at uni. Should I order an iced cocoa (not sweet at all) for you?
MaMay: Have you left the condo yet?
Ppie: I’ve parked and I’m heading to the classroom.
Ugh… looks like Klai’s the last one to uni today.
glaijai: I can go order myself, Mai. I just left the condo.
MaMay: Okay, okay. Then Klai should come order himself. glaijai: Let me drive first.
Ppie: Drive safely, Klai.
MaMay: No need to rush. There are still a few hours left. glaijai: sent a sticker
Klai sent a sticker of a wiggly bunny surrounded by floating red hearts to his two close friends, then placed his phone beside him and focused on driving.
Today…
After finishing the presentation,
Klai will hurry to meet Moon. 🙂
Since traffic was quite heavy this afternoon, Klai arrived at the university later than planned. He parked his car under the academic building and rushed to meet his close friends waiting at the coffee shop. As soon as he arrived, he saw Mai and Pie chatting playfully.
“The group leader has arrived~” Pie said in a cheerful voice as he stopped at their table.
“Traffic was awful.”
“There’s still forty minutes before the presentation. Want to grab something to eat first, Klai? There’s still time.”
“I’ll eat after the presentation’s done.”
“Saying that… does that mean you skipped breakfast and lunch before leaving the condo?”
Klai gave Pie a sheepish smile as she narrowed her eyes and pointed at him. “I… was in a rush. I was worried I wouldn’t make it.”
“Klai… try to eat breakfast. If you get gastritis, it’s hard to recover. I’ve got it now, and it never fully goes away,” Mai scolded in a stern tone.
“Tomorrow, I’ll wake up and eat early…” Seeing both friends shake their heads as if they didn’t believe him, Klai sat down across from them and raised his pinky. “I promise.”
“When you make a pinky promise… it means you’ll really try to follow through.”
Klai smiled and nodded firmly. “Yup.”
“You promised, Klaijai.” Pie hooked his pinky with his.
“Yeah, I promise.”
“Now that the promise is sealed, let’s go wait for the presentation in the room.”
The small person stood to full height after Mai finished speaking. Klai pulled a report from his leather bag and handed it to a friend to check for neatness. Pie took it, raising his eyes slightly.
“Wow… this is super neat, looks great from the cover alone.”
“When it comes to work… the boss doesn’t let anything slide. It has to be perfect down to the last detail.”
“Mai’s exaggerating,” Klai said with a chuckle. “We just try to do our best, that’s all.”
“Your standard for ‘best’ is insanely high, Klai,” Pie teased.
Klai burst out laughing at his close friend’s jab before saying, “Let’s go, or we’ll be late for the meeting.”
Mai and Pie nodded at him. We walked to wait for the elevator, and after a moment, they saw New and Thot coming out of the coffee shop. The two were heading their way, but Klai paid no attention. He took the report back from Pie and glanced up at the arrow above the elevator door. However, Pie’s warning shout grabbed his attention instantly.
“Klai, watch out!”
Klai turned to Pie, whose eyes were wide with shock. He immediately sensed something was happening to his left, but before he could turn to look, he felt hot liquid seeping through the fabric, touching his skin.
The small person flinched slightly, feeling a sudden heat on the left side of his chest. But Klai stayed composed, raising the report above his head to keep it from getting stained by the hot liquid. When Pie grabbed his arm and pulled him close, Klai turned to his left to find the source of the brown stain now splattered on his white dress shirt.
Thot… holding a white paper cup with brown liquid dripping from the rim.
Seeing this, the first thing to do was stay calm. Klai remained silent, though his patience was nearly gone. His slender hand passed the pristine report to Pie. Mai gritted her teeth, glaring fiercely at New and Thot.
As soon as Pie took the report, Klai removed his navy blazer to avoid staining it with coffee, as the ruined dress shirt was bad enough. His slender hand shook out the blazer to ensure it was clean, then he glanced down at the coffee-stained white shirt. Now Klai knew what it felt like to be scalded by hot liquid.
It must feel like this burning sting…
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to.”
“You meant it, Thot! I saw you let New fake-push you into Klai.”
“When will you stop slandering me, Mai?”
“Me, slandering you?”
“Yeah, you. Always seeing the worst in everything.”
“Shut up, New! You’re the one who’s trouble.”
“Mai, calm down… causing a scene at uni isn’t good,” Pie tried to restrain Mai, who was fuming.
Even though Klai didn’t witness the incident from the start with his own eyes, he realized what was happening when it occurred. He could piece together the events on his own.
He looked at Thot, who was holding a coffee cup, trying to meet his gaze but soon looking away. Klai thought Thot had planned with his close friend to prank their group, though it might have gone slightly offscript. In truth, Thot and New probably intended for the hot coffee to spill on the report instead. Klai noticed Thot’s worried expression and New’s eyes darting toward the report in Pie’s hands.
Klai let out a heavy sigh, feeling exasperated with the pair. From observing their behavior, he figured they wouldn’t be hard to handle. He had no intention of retaliating with petty revenge like in a drama—it was a waste of time and pointless. Upon careful analysis, New and Thot’s mindset wasn’t much different from that of children.
The way to deal with people who refuse to grow up
Is to be the adult who reprimands mischievous kids to make them realize their mistakes.
He looked at them calmly, walking toward them with composure, and said, “The report didn’t get stained with coffee like you and Thot wanted.”
“…”
“Claiming it wasn’t intentional… it just makes you and Thot look like you’ve only grown in size, not in maturity.”
“…”
“I am not going to stoop to childish pranks for revenge.”
“…”
“Because I don’t like trouble, I’ve been patient, even though we know you and Thot have been messing with me all along.” Klai stared intensely at them before continuing, “But this time, you’ve gone too far… beyond what normal people would do.”
“…”
“If you and Thot don’t stop messing with me and my friends, I’ll have to tell the advisor everything. And don’t think the advisor won’t believe me, because I’ll explain why I distanced myself from the group.”
“…”
“I’ll talk about how you, Thot, New, and Orn didn’t contribute to the work, and I’ll mention the incident at the bar that made me decide to cut ties with every one of you. That should convince the advisor that there’s a real conflict between both sides in their advisory group.”
“…”
“I don’t think I can resolve this myself, since you and Thot won’t stop.
It’s probably better to let the advisor help sort it out.”
“I-I didn’t mean it, man… my hand just went weak when I got close to you, Klai.”
“If you don’t want trouble… then don’t let your hands go weak around me again.”
Klai spoke while staring at both of them. Thot and New looked visibly worried. They probably thought he’d let it slide like always. Bringing up the threat caught them off guard, leaving them unprepared.
The petite figure walked back to his close friends. Mai was on the phone with someone, looking anxious, while Pie tapped on his phone screen before looking up at him with disappointment in his eyes.
“What’s going on?” Klai asked.
“Klai, I messaged a friend from another faculty to borrow a shirt. The plan was for you to swap shirts with them before our presentation and switch back after. But today, they’re presenting at the same time as us,” Pie explained.
“…”
“My friend probably won’t make it to uni before our presentation either,” Mai added.
Klai looked between Mai and Pie, then gave them a reassuring smile. He’d already thought of a solution for his coffee-stained shirt, so he wasn’t too worried. But it was understandable that his friends were concerned—several guest professors were attending the presentation today.
He figured explaining the situation to the professors would likely earn their understanding. But with the time left, Klai thought it better to solve the problem first rather than go in with a stained shirt and ask for sympathy.
“Our group is the fourth to present, right?” Klai asked, glancing at his wristwatch.
“Yup!”
“Then we need to go… Mai and Pie, you guys head to the room first.
I’ll catch up as fast as I can.”
“Where’s you going?” Mai asked.
“I’m going to buy a new shirt at the shop across from uni. We’ve got twenty minutes… I think I can make it.”
“Oh, I totally forgot there’s a student uniform shop across from uni!” Pie said.
“Want to leave your jacket with us?” Mai offered.
“No need, I’ll bring it along. That way, I can change and get fully dressed right after.”
“Okay, okay!”
“Then hurry, Klai. When the professor checks attendance, we’ll say you’re in the bathroom so you won’t be marked late,” Pie said.
“I’m off then!”
Klai nodded, turning to head toward the exit. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Thot quickly avert his gaze and face the elevator door. The petite figure shook his head slightly, sighing.
Someone who does wrong and can’t take responsibility… This is how they act.
Klai half-walked, half-ran out from the elevator. He glanced down at the coffee stain on the left side of his chest. His slender hand undid the top button to check the red mark on his skin. He figured he’d need to stop by a pharmacy after the presentation. He looked ahead periodically, careful not to bump into anyone, then glanced back at the brown-stained shirt.
At that moment, a pair of black Vans sneakers stepped into his view. Klai stopped walking as the owner of the shoes moved closer. Still looking down at the floor, his slender brows furrowed slightly. He stepped to the left to avoid the person, but they moved with him, as if intentionally blocking his path. Unsure, Klai tried stepping to the right. The black Vans shoes kept following him anyway.
Klai decided to look up at the person who thought to block his path during such a rushed moment. It was in this second that Moon’s smile soothed the red mark on the left side of his chest.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
This smile… it always teases his little heart…
“You’re walking without looking where you’re going.”
“…”
“…”
“Where’s KhunKlai rushing off to, khap?”
That cute sentence ending…
Isn’t Moon supposed to use it with adorable girls he’s fond of?
“Uh…”
“And what’s that stain on your shirt, khap?” Panli… help me out here.
Please change that sentence ending.
Before I fail to even talk to you properly.
“My shirt got stained with coffee… there was a little accident.”
Moon frowned while looking at his shirt, then reached up to tug slightly at the top button of their own shirt, as if trying to imply something. “KhunKlai, open your shirt and let me see.”
“O-Open my shirt?” Klai repeated, eyes wide.
“Yes, khap… I want to see the red mark.”
The smaller person shook his head vigorously in refusal. Heat was now rushing through his ears and pooling in both cheeks. “N-No way,
I’m not showing you.”
“The coffee that spilled… it was really hot, wasn’t it, KhunKlai?” Moon asked with a serious expression and tone.
“Well…” The one being questioned thought back to the sensation of the hot liquid touching his skin for the first time. “…It was pretty hot.” “You’re rushing because you’re going to see a doctor, right?”
“No…”
“Do you want to see a doctor? I’ll take you.”
Moon’s gaze and tone reminded Klai of the time he said, “So stubborn.” Klai stared deeply into the serious eyes that held a hint of something else before looking away from the person in front of him.
“I’m fine… no need to see a doctor.”
“Li…”
Klai turned toward the voice. A cute-looking woman holding a small plastic bag stopped beside Moon. She looked at him, blinking rapidly as if puzzled. Klai didn’t know who she was, but he guessed she was probably close to Panli.
His thin lips pressed together before he spoke, “I need to hurry and buy a new shirt… I’ll excuse myself now.”
“Wait…”
Whoosh!
The small person froze mid-step as a large hand grabbed his arm. He swallowed hard and turned to face Moon, who held his gaze briefly before letting go.
“Where are you going to buy the shirt, Klai?”
“The shop across from the university.”
“Do you really need to change your shirt right away?”
Klai nodded firmly. “Yes, I have a presentation today.”
“What time is the presentation?”
The person being questioned glanced at his watch. “Only ten minutes left now.”
“If you go out to buy a shirt… I think you won’t make it back in time,” he said, staring at Klai before continuing. “Why don’t you borrow Li’s shirt for now?”
“My shirt might be a bit big, but if you wear a suit jacket over it, it should work fine.”
“…”
“How about it?”
Klai took two minutes to decide. He calculated the distance to and from the uniform shop and the university before saying, “I’ll trouble you then, Panli.”
“No trouble at all,” Panli replied, then turned to the small woman standing beside him. “Can you carry the stuff alone?”
“Y-Yeah, I can!”
“If you can’t, leave it by the door. I’ll call Type to pick it up and bring it to the classroom.”
“It’s just this much… I can carry it.”
“Okay.”
“Where’s Panli going?”
“I’m taking KhunKlai to change his shirt.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry… I don’t want to leave KhunKlai alone right now.”
Moon’s words made the world pause for a moment. Everything slowed to a near standstill. Yet, one thing defied the world, leaping and dancing wildly.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
The only thing that could defy every rule of the world Was… the tiny heart of Klaijai.
“It’s fine, go take your friend to change.”
“Mm.”
The tall man responded to the person beside him, nodded to Klai, and walked toward the parking lot. Klai followed at a distance, wanting his racing heart to calm down first. But the broad-shouldered figure turned back to look at him and slowed his pace.
“KhunKlai…”
Klai stepped up to walk side by side with Moon and said, “Yes?”
Panli shook his head lightly before his large hand reached out to grab Klai’s. He flashed a smile and led him by the hand toward the parking lot. Klai stole a glance at the side profile of his moon. Though Panli wasn’t smiling or showing any expression, it made Klaijai’s heart race even more.
His almond-shaped eyes glanced down at their joined hands. He couldn’t help but smile when the other tightened his grip. Now, Klai wasn’t surprised that so many people wanted to be near Panli. His gentleness and attentiveness made those around him feel safe. Klai kept looking at his hand intertwined with Moon’s.
Klai thought…
The journey from Earth to the moon wouldn’t be easy.
But it wouldn’t be hard…
If the guide was… Mister Moon.
The tall man led him to stop at his favorite car. Klai had seen the pearl-white Benz sports car from a distance before. Seeing it up close like this, the car was as cool as its owner.
🙂
“Wait here for a moment, KhunKlai.”
Panli spoke before letting go of his hand. He pulled car keys from his back pocket, opened the car door, and leaned in to do something. Soon after, he turned and nodded, signaling for Klai to come over.
“…”
“I’ve got plans to watch football at a friend’s place tonight, and I have an early class tomorrow… so I brought an extra student shirt to sleep over at their place.”
“Oh…”
“I’ve cleared the stuff in the car, KhunKlai. You can change in there now.”
The petite figure approached Moon, eyes widening. “Change in the car, Panli? I think I’d rather…”
“If you take the shirt to change in the bathroom, you definitely won’t make it in time…” The taller figure interrupted, tapping his watch while looking at him. “There’s not much time left, KhunKlai. Hurry and change.”
Klai shifted his gaze from Moon to the man’s favorite car. Its tinted windows were as dark as the white Porsche that had dropped him off at the condo. He figured no one would see him changing inside, but for reassurance, he stepped closer to the car.
Though the windshield was slightly less tinted than the side windows, the car was parked facing a wall, easing his worries. Klai stepped back from the pearl-white car to check how visible he’d be to passersby. A soft chuckle from the other man made him freeze. He turned to see Moon smiling faintly.
“Scared someone will see you changing?”
“Yeah,” Klai admitted. He really was. As a kid, he insisted on bathing alone because he didn’t want Phii Jeab to see him naked. Even she had never seen him exposed. There was no way he’d let anyone else. “I think I’d rather take the extra time and change in the bathroom, Panli.”
“No need to worry, KhunKlai… As long as I’m standing here, no one will see you.”
“…”
Perhaps it was the earnest look in his eyes and the serious tone that made Klai trust Moon’s words. He didn’t respond. Lowering his head, he took a deep breath, then glanced at the open passenger door. A neatly folded student shirt sat on the seat. His slender hand grabbed it, and he climbed in.
“The front faces a wall, so no one can see,” the taller man said, holding the door and leaning down slightly. “The driver’s side window is blocked by another car. And the rear window… you’re so small, the seat will cover you completely. No one will see.” He flashed a smile and gently patted Klai’s head.
“And…” As if reading his mind, Panli continued.
“This side’s window? I’ll stand here and block it.”
Klai nodded hesitantly. The taller man stepped back slightly and closed the door. Klai didn’t immediately remove his coffee-stained shirt. He admitted he was a bit wary.
It wasn’t that he distrusted Moon.
But Klai was wary of others passing by the area.
At that moment, Moon turned around and stepped back to stand close to the car window. As Panli did their best to shield him, Klai quickly took off his shirt and slipped into Panli’s shirt as fast as he could.
Klai glanced at the hem of the shirt, which hung past his hips, thinking that Moon’s shirt was bigger than he’d expected. His slender hands unzipped his pants, tucking the shirt inside. It took Klai several minutes to get fully dressed. He let out a huge sigh of relief as he fastened the last button of his navy suit jacket.
You made it, Klaijai…
But before getting out of Moon’s beloved car, which he’d secretly admired for so long, Klai decided to take a moment to capture the car’s interior. As he scanned the surroundings, he caught glimpses of Moon’s lifestyle and preferences through the items inside the car.
A pair of designer sunglasses resting on the console.
A pack of cigarettes placed near the gear shift.
Yellow soccer cleats lying at his feet.
And the lingering scent of Moon’s signature cologne filling the air.
Klai gave a small smile at everything that made up Moon. He thought the world was being far too kind today. Not only did it send Moon to soothe the fresh wound he’d just received, but this round world also allowed him to learn a little more about who Sasin was.
And the world made Klai believe that…
No matter how long the distance,
If we keep trying and never stop moving forward,
One day, we’ll reach…
The heart of another person.
🙂
He tapped on the car window to signal the tall figure leaning against the door. When Moon heard the knock, they turned around and opened the car door. Klai quickly grabbed the coffee-stained shirt beside him and stepped out of the car.
“All good now, khap?”
Klai nodded firmly. “If I hadn’t run into Panli… I’d have been in big trouble.”
“…”
“Thank you.”
“Can you turn that ‘thank you’ into giving your all at the presentation, khap?”
Klai had promised himself he wouldn’t smile again, but he couldn’t help it. He nodded and flashed a smile at Moon. “I’ll give my all at the presentation.”
“KhunKlai…” Moon’s smile slowly faded before he continued, “Don’t forget to apply some ointment.”
The small person blinked rapidly, his almond-shaped eyes glancing down at his chest again. “After the presentation, I’ll hurry to buy some ointment to apply.”
“Okay.”
Klai knew that moments spent with the same moon—Moon—didn’t come often. He felt a pang of reluctance every time he had to say goodbye, but duty called, so Klai reluctantly said, “I really have to go now.”
“…”
“See you later, Panli.”
The time Klai got to spend close to Moon had run out…
“Which floor is your presentation on, Klai?”
“Eighth.”
“I have a class on the seventh.”
“…”
“Shall we split up later?”
“…”
“Let’s take the elevator together first.”
…But the ever-kind Moon extended Klai’s time with him just a bit longer.
His almond-shaped eyes flicked to the watch on his wrist. The one thing in the world that couldn’t be stopped was time. Even though Klai wanted to make it to class on time, when he looked up at the numbers above the elevator door, he had to accept he wouldn’t. He’d suspected from the start that he wouldn’t make it to the presentation on time, but knowing his group was fourth to present, with each group given fifteen minutes, Klai was confident he’d still join his friends in time.
This time, he’d probably get marked late by the professor.
But that’s okay, Klai.
Everyone makes mistakes…
Klai comforted himself silently. It wasn’t surprising that someone as strict about rules and studies as him, in the aviation business program, would feel anxious. Everyone in the program knew well that time was of the utmost importance. In the past, Klai would have been angry with himself for this slip-up. But now, he no longer thought that way.
Because his beating heart constantly reminded him: we are human, with hearts, feelings, and flaws that can surface at any time. For anything we’ve tried our very best at, if the outcome isn’t as expected, all we can do is accept it and forgive ourselves.
As he had once promised Phii Jeab…
Klai thought forgiving himself wasn’t easy. In the past, he couldn’t do it either. But when he stepped back to look at himself from a distance, he realized that sometimes problems didn’t stem from him alone. He wasn’t someone who had done something so unforgivable. Everything around him and the world beyond his control contributed to the issues and flaws in his life.
So,
The only thing he could do was…
Give himself a chance to become a better person from the mistakes that happened in his life.
“KhunKlai, you probably won’t make it to class on time, huh?”
Klai shifted his gaze from the number two above the elevator door and said, “Yeah… I won’t make it, but I shouldn’t be more than five minutes late.”
“But it’s okay, right?”
“I’ll probably get marked as tardy by the professor.”
The tall figure raised an eyebrow before saying, “Tardy for less than five minutes, and the professor marks it already? For my professor, you get five minutes after class starts before they mark you late.”
“My department is pretty strict about time… The professor marks tardiness right after class begins. If you’re late three times, it counts as one absence.”
“Wow… That’s pretty harsh.”
“But I’ve never been late or absent before… This time, it’s really unavoidable.”
Klai only noticed he was frowning when the other person reached out a long finger to poke the space between his brows. Moon pressed lightly, loosening the tight knot of his furrowed brows.
“Don’t overthink it…” Moon flashed a bright smile before continuing,
“You’ve already done your best.”
“…”
“There’s no need to dwell on what’s passed. A minute ago is already the past, KhunKlai.”
“…”
“Let the past stay in its time. You don’t need to carry it with you. Just focus on doing your best in the present.”
The long finger returned to its owner’s side. Klai gave a faint smile and nodded. He glanced down at the red mark on his chest, still stinging, then at the coffee-stained white shirt in his hand.
The smaller figure looked up at Moon and said, “Panli, your shirt…”
“You can return it whenever we meet. I’m not in a rush to use it.”
He really wanted to ask for Panli’s LINE ID, but he was afraid of invading the other’s privacy. Still, fearing he might not get another chance, Klai decided to ask his moon for it. “Then I…”
“You can pass it to Phii Dom for me.”
“…”
“Phii Dom will probably see me more often.”
Klai gave a faint smile. He wasn’t sure if Panli could read his mind, but it felt like he was trying to slow him down. Klai nodded and said, “I’ll pass it on to Phii Dom for you.”
“Okay,” Panli replied.
He agreed for now, but he’d figure out a way to return it himself later…
Ding!
The chime of the elevator made Klai look up at the number above the door. The bold red seven reminded him that his time with the moon had truly ended. This time, no one could extend that happiness. The elevator doors slid open automatically. The taller figure turned, flashed a smile, and said, “I’m heading off, okay?”
In the final second before they parted, Klai spoke up, “Today… susuna, Panli.”
“I’m always fighting… KhunKlai, you’ve got to fight too.”
“Got it.”
Klai smiled as he watched Moon step out of the elevator. The sight brought him back to the day they’d met by chance in this same elevator. Today felt similar—Klai could only watch that broad back grow farther away.
But he forgot that today was the present, and that day was the past. Things could always change. The taller figure paused just as the elevator doors began to close, then turned around. Their eyes met again. Panli gave a gentle smile and said softly, “Do your best with the presentation,
KhunKlai.”
Klai broke into a grin. He raised his hand in an “OK” gesture and replied, “Alright, I will present with all his heart.”
The taller man nodded lightly, then waved goodbye. Moments later, the closing elevator doors hid him from view. Klai stared at his reflection in the doors, smiling unrestrainedly.
He remembered seeing himself cry in that same reflection once. Back then, he’d felt such pain and loneliness that he could barely go on. But today, Moon had changed everything… and created beautiful memories for him.
From now on, whenever Klai was alone in this elevator, he wouldn’t dwell on the bad moments of that day.
Instead, he’d think of Moon…
The petite figure pushed the heavy classroom door open just enough to slip inside quietly, careful not to disturb the other groups presenting on stage.
“Which group is it now?” Klai whispered as he sat next to Pie.
“It’s only the first group so far.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Klai…” Mai, sitting next to Ppie, leaned forward to look at him. “Earlier, when the professor was checking attendance, Ppie and I told the professor there was a small accident, and you got coffee spilled on your shirt. That’s why you had to go buy a new one. We thought it’d be better to just tell the truth.”
“Did the professor say anything?”
“No, they didn’t mind. The professor said it was good that you decided to change your shirt first, since there are several guest professors observing the presentations today.”
“Oh… and the professor said to meet them after the presentation.”
The listener furrowed his brows, wondering why the advisor wanted to see him, but Klai nodded to his friends. “Okay, okay.”
Klai listened to his classmates’ presentations for a while until it was his group’s turn. Today, he admitted he was a bit nervous since it was a core course for his major, taught by his advisor. But the sound and image of Moon’s smile, standing in front of the elevator, gave him some reassurance.
“Do your best with the presentation, khap, KhunKlai.”
Perhaps because he had prepared thoroughly and received great encouragement from Moon, the presentation went smoothly. After it was over, Klai went to meet the professor, who was staring at the computer with a stressed expression.
“Professor…” the small-framed guy said softly, before the professor looked up from the computer. “You wanted to see me, right?”
“Yes, yes. Give me a moment, please. I need to handle some data in the system first.”
“Okay,” Klai replied, stepping back from the professor’s desk. Mai and Pie, who had just finished packing, came to find him at the front of the room.
“What did the professor want to talk about, Klai?”
“I don’t know yet. The professor’s clearing some work first.”
“Oh.”
“Klaijai…”
“Yes, Professor.” The small guy walked back to the professor’s desk.
“You were chosen as the head of the welcoming committee for the open house, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well… our department just created a mascot costume of a student in our department’s suit. I think it’d be great if the welcoming committee wore it to greet the younger students visiting the open house.”
“Oh…”
“What do you think?”
“Good idea, Professor. The mascot costume will definitely draw attention to our booth.”
“Then you should start looking for someone to wear it. Since you’re already handling the event, Klai, I’m sure it won’t be hard to get cooperation from your team.” It might not be hard.
But it’s definitely not easy…
“I’ll get started on this part right away, Professor.”
“Okay, Klai. Once the day comes, you can handle the request for the mascot costume. It’s currently stored in the faculty room.”
“Got it, Professor.”
“Alright…” The professor nodded with a faint smile, then furrowed her brow as if recalling something. “You were late today, weren’t you,
Klai?”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Your friends said coffee spilled on your shirt? How did you manage to get coffee spilled on you?”
Klai glanced at Mai and Pie, who had come to stand beside him. He knew his friends wanted him to tell the truth, but since Klai felt the timing wasn’t right, the two might hold back. He didn’t want to draw the professor’s attention. “A small accident, Professor. Someone bumped into me, and their coffee spilled on my shirt.”
“Oh… but you’re okay, right?”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Good. That’s all I needed to discuss with you. We’re clear now, so I won’t take up any more of your time.”
Klai gave a smile to the professor, with whom he was fairly close, before saying, “Then my friends and I will take our leave, Professor.”
“Alright.”
The small person raised his hands in a polite and respectful wai to the professor before nodding to his friends, signaling them to leave the classroom. As soon as they stepped out and stood in front of the elevator, Mai and Pie started muttering to each other.
“You two… what are you grumbling about?”
“It’s a shame you didn’t tell the professor the truth.”
“If I’d told her about this, it wouldn’t just be New and Thot under scrutiny. We’d probably get watched too. The professor wouldn’t take sides but would likely observe things herself.”
“Ugh… those guys don’t deserve to get away with this.”
“Seriously, you lost time and money, and they face no consequences.”
“I only lost time… not money,” Klai said with a slight smile. His two friends narrowed their eyes at him before stepping closer, ready to call him out.
“What does that mean, Klaijai? ~”
“Tell us right now where you got that shirt!”
The one being questioned gave a shy smile before saying, “It’s Panli’s shirt.”
“0_0”
“Panli lent it to me… It might be a bit big, but it works once I put the blazer over it, right?”
“For real…” Pie repeated, eyes wide, before breaking into a shy smile.
“I’m embarrassed for you.”
“How did you end up borrowing Panli’s shirt?”
“The elevator’s so slow…”
“Don’t change the subject, Klai!”
Klai laughed before saying, “Alright, Mai and Pie, walk me to the fourth floor first, and I’ll tell you on the way.”
“Okay, okay, let’s take the escalator then. I want to hear it now!”
The small figure was dragged by both friends, each grabbing an arm, toward the escalator. Klai laughed as he stepped onto the slowly moving black steps, then began recounting how he and Moon had run into each other at the entrance. He didn’t really want to mention changing clothes in the car to them, as just thinking about it made his face flush.
And now he had to recall it… and narrate it too.
So embarrassing…
But in the end, he told his two friends everything. Now, Mai and Pie were giggling, playfully pushing each other as they walked him to the large window.
“So shy, Pie!”
“For real, Panli’s soooo cute!”
Klai shook his head slightly, smiling shyly, before saying, “I guess I don’t need to be shy anymore, since Mai and Pie are embarrassed for me.”
“Haha!”
Mai, laughing, raised her hand to check her watch before saying,
“Two minutes until five-thirty. your moon is about to appear, huh?”
“Mm.”
“Can we stay and see your super cute Moon today?”
“Sure…” Klai pointed at both friends, his voice firm. “But absolutely no falling in love.”
“Got it… So possessive!”
The teased person laughed softly. He playfully scolded his close friend before sitting back down in his usual chair. His two best friends sat across from him. His almond-shaped eyes glanced at the watch on his wrist, starting a countdown.
5
4
3
2
1
5:30 p.m.
Klai looked down at the parking lot. But he only now noticed that Panli’s car wasn’t there. Moon didn’t seem to be showing up to play his usual role as the moon for Klai to gaze at, as he did every day. There was no sign of him at all.
“Looks like your Moon’s slacking off today… not coming to do his job,” Klai said.
“What? The moment we come to sneak a peek, Moon skips out and doesn’t show up?” his friend replied.
“Should we wait a bit longer?” Klai asked.
“Sure, we’re not in a rush today.”
He and his close friends waited for Moon a while longer until the sky began to darken. Finally, Klai spoke up, “I guess Moon really isn’t coming today… Let’s come sneak a look at him together another time.”
“Deal.”
The petite figure stood to his full height with a smile, grabbing his leather bag to head home. As Klai walked down the escalator with his friends, he thought to himself…
How lucky that we met earlier.
Otherwise, this longing would’ve hit me hard.
It would’ve really messed with me…
Leave a Reply