MYMOON, Chapter 11:
“Shrimp fried rice, no tomatoes.”
“No tomatoes, right?”
“Yes.”
Klai shifted his gaze from the waitress, who was jotting down the order on a small piece of paper after confirming with him. The person in front of him, staring intently at their phone with a serious expression, seemed to have forgotten to order, as their fingers kept tapping on the glass screen nonstop. Klai didn’t want to disturb Panli, who looked stressed, but the waitress was glancing between him and Panli, subtly signaling for him to ask the other person.
So, Klai spoke up, “Panli… what do you want to eat?”
“I’ll have the same as you,” Panli replied, eyes still glued to the phone screen. Though their expression seemed uneasy, their tone was as cheerful as usual.
“Another of the same, please,” Klai said.
“Got it. What drinks would you like?”
“Water…” Klai glanced at the person across from him again. Panli still hadn’t looked up from the phone, so he decided to choose for them. “…One bottle of water and two glasses of ice, please.”
“Okay, please wait a moment.”
“Thank you,” Klai said, handing the menu back to the waitress, who was heading to the counter.
Klai sat quietly, not making a sound to disturb Panli, who was clearly stressed about something. Panli had brought him to eat at a restaurant owned by a senior’s mother, nicknamed “Phii Hia,” located quite a distance from Football Field No. 1. Since Moon chose a table by the window, Klai could scan the surroundings again. He had to give credit to this vast area, which boasted four artificial turf football fields, one badminton court, a saltwater pool behind the shower rooms, and a fitness room—an empire for sports lovers.
Klai believed anyone who came here would be impressed, as it had all the amenities one could need. If you got hungry, you could eat at this restaurant. Earlier, Panli mentioned it was a family business of the senior’s, as their family loved sports so much that they transitioned from market owners to building artificial turf football fields and later expanded into other ventures.
This business was pretty interesting.
But no matter what you do… everything should stem from the word “love.”
Because no matter how many obstacles you face…
The word “give up” would be replaced with “get up and try again.”
“Yes, Phii… I’ve read everything in the group LINE.”
“…”
“The issue is with the type of fabric. From what Eff told me, the shop recorded the details incorrectly, so the work didn’t come out as we wanted.”
“…”
“Probably, yes… How about this? Tonight, I’ll come to your place, and we can figure out how to fix the problem together.”
“…”
“I’m not free right now, but late at night, I’m available.”
“…”
“You’re still up late, right?”
“…”
“Alright, see you later.” The person who just placed the phone on the table flashes him a smile before letting out a soft sigh. “I left you sitting alone for too long. Sorry about that.”
“No worries at all. I wasn’t lonely one bit.”
“I had a small issue with work. My friend and senior partner were discussing it over LINE.”
“Oh…” At first, Klai thought it was a university assignment issue, but with Panli phrasing it like this, he figures it’s likely a problem with Moon’s personal business. Still, he doesn’t dare pry too much, not wanting to overstep into private matters. He’d rather Panli share on his own. “But you seem less stressed now, right, Panli?”
“Yeah… but I’m still pretty tired. This week, I’ve got a ton of work at uni, and my personal projects have issues too…” The speaker’s voice is soft, almost drained, with a sad expression. Yet, there’s a mischievous glint in his eyes. Moon slides an empty plate to the side, then slumps forward, resting his cheek on the table. One large hand reaches for Klai’s, pulling it close to his face. Warm breath grazes the back of Klai’s hand lightly. “…I’m so exhausted, KhunKlai.”
Klai can’t help but smile. He never imagined Moon could be this clingy. He wonders if, when feeling this tired, Moon seeks comfort from everyone like this.
But seeing him resting his face on the table, eyes closed, gently squeezing his hand as if waiting for words of encouragement after a grueling week, Klai realizes…
When we’re this exhausted,
When we barely have any energy left,
At times like these… not just anyone can recharge us.
It’s only a few special people… who can truly be our strength.
His free hand moves to stroke the golden-blonde hair. Klai notices the clingy figure subtly smiling with closed eyes. Moon’s thumb gently brushes the back of his hand before he murmurs softly,
“You kind person…”
Klai doesn’t know how much importance Panli places on him, especially since they haven’t known each other long. But one thing he does know is that ever since they got close, Panli has remained the same kind person, unchanged.
Even though past experiences remind Klai to be cautious of overly kind people who seem too good to be true, this kind person is Panli. Every action and word from Panli radiate sincerity, allowing Klai to let his guard down. He’s met plenty of people who pretend to be kind, so he thinks he can tell who’s genuine and who isn’t.
Klai didn’t let past experiences and stories turn him into someone closed-off. Instead, he used them to filter good people into his life. If he allowed himself to be hopeful and indulge in wishful thinking one more time, and if it led to disappointment and pain worse than before…
No… because this time, the person he loved was “Panli.”
Klai believed he would be far from the word “pain.”
Not because he thought Moon would never hurt him, but because Klai trusted he could nurture and grow their relationship better than before.
Past lessons taught him what to do and how to walk steadily by Panli’s side.
But there was one more thing Klai believed… after getting to know Panli.
No matter what the future held…
Whether Panli ever realized the feelings hidden in his heart or not,
Panli would always be his “same old moon.”
Klai would never be left drifting alone in the vast universe…
“I’m always cheering for you, Panli, you know.”
The person still resting their face on the table, playfully stroking his hand, gave a faint smile before saying, “Thank you.”
Klai was thankful too… that the only other person in the restaurant was the staff, who was more interested in her white phone than the two of them. If other customers were around, Moon probably wouldn’t dare act so affectionate, and Klai wouldn’t have had the chance to unlock his feelings and dare to hope for more. He wanted to thank every moment of this day that allowed…
His heart to step closer to Moon.
And made him believe that… one day, his heart would stand side by side with his moon.
When Klai saw the waitress approaching their table with a tray carrying shrimp fried rice, its aroma wafting, along with a glass of ice and a bottle of water, he gently moved the hand being held by the other to signal. And Moon, being the perceptive person he was, let go and sat up straight.
“Shrimp fried rice.”
“Thank you,” Klai nodded as he looked at the two plates of shrimp fried rice, both without tomatoes, placed in front of them. The waitress set the glass of ice beside the plate and poured water. Klai nodded again to thank her before saying, “Thank you.”
The waitress smiled and returned to the counter. He looked at the identical plates of fried rice. But in the next moment, the owner of the other plate, sitting across from him, created a difference. Moon used a spoon to scoop all five shrimp from his plate onto Klai’s.
Now… Klai’s plate had ten shrimp.
“Uh, Panli… even though I love shrimp, you don’t have to share with me. Keep some for yourself…” Klai said, about to scoop some shrimp back, but Panli looked at him with a serious gaze and shook his head lightly.
“No way, KhunKlai, eat them. Don’t worry about me.”
“I…” Whether it was the serious look in his eyes or the ten shrimp that made Klai hesitate to say certain words, “…I feel a bit shy about it.”
“No need to feel shy at all… I planned to order the same dish as
KhunKlai from the start.”
“Because I decided that if KhunKlai ordered something with shrimp, I’d give you the shrimp from my plate… so KhunKlai can eat more of your favorite.”
Klai gave a small smile, “…”
“Anything someone does for you willingly… KhunKlai, you don’t need to feel bad or shy about it…” Moon flashed him a smile before continuing, “…just accept it with an open heart.”
“…”
“Deal?”
Klai nodded slightly, “Mhm.”
The owner of that radiant smile, brighter than the sunlight, shifted his gaze away and started eating. Klai, who had dared to step a little closer to Moon, looked at him and thought…
Whoever gets to have Moon as their partner in the future must be incredibly lucky.
Because Moon is always polite, adorable, and attentive to others.
But in that moment, Klai felt he hadn’t made a mistake in allowing himself to hope alongside the moon. Not everyone gets to find their own moon, just like some people have the whole sky to themselves.
Now that he’d found it…
Klai had to fight for it a little.
It wouldn’t be wrong… if Klai allowed himself to hope just a bit more.
To be that lucky person…
Even though overcoming certain deep-seated feelings in his heart was difficult, Klai admitted he felt scared and anxious every time he thought about it. But he always repeated this phrase whenever he faced the fears within his mind:
Klai…
The scariest thing is…
Letting ourselves stay afraid of the same old things.
Backing away every time those haunting memories start creeping in.
That’s the scariest thing… because it won’t let us break free from fear.
And that self-reminding phrase always worked to pull him out of fear.
Because now, Klai had managed to shake off a bit of his fear of disappointment. Though some of those feelings still lingered, Klai believed it wouldn’t be long before they faded away completely.
But right now, Klai was thinking about how to keep the 1% chance he had alive. Of course, to be the lucky one standing by Moon’s side, he had to fight.
But how should he fight?
While spooning rice into his mouth and pondering ways to win the moon, Klai’s eyes widened as an idea popped into his head. The small figure chewed his rice eagerly, nodding in agreement with the sentence he’d just thought of.
“Because Panli is such a kind person…” Klai locked eyes with the other, who had just looked up, “I want to keep someone as kind as Panli locked in a safe at home.”
It was as if Klai could hear a cheering crowd clapping loudly, encouraging the shy boy who dared to say such a line. Klai had to make a move to shake Moon up a bit, and the other’s silence while holding his gaze told him…
Klaijai was no longer a loser boy…
No more blushing and avoiding Panli’s eyes. Klaijai had leveled up big time.
Soon, he’d be able to make even bolder moves on Moon.
And Klaijai might just become The Winner,
Claiming The Moon as his prize.
But Moon responded with a soft laugh, looking at him while lightly biting their lower lip, as if feeling mischievous. They probably didn’t expect the guard to tell him that story.
Right now, Klaijai felt like he held the upper hand over Moon.
Because Klai could probably use this to make the other waver a little. (Maybe.)
“Great… then we’d be locked in the safe together, just the two of us.”
Everything… went completely off-script. The teasing remark, known only to the two of them, sent the boy who had just escaped loser boy status sprinting back to reclaim it. Klai let the cards he was holding slip to the floor, not bothering to pick them up.
The small figure blinked rapidly before lowering his head to avoid the other’s gaze, unable to withstand Moon’s charming smile and slightly flirty eyes. Fully back in his original status, he stared at his plate of rice, thinking…
I shouldn’t have said that to Panli.
One counterattack… and Klaijai was floored.
“What was that?”
The one being questioned looked up at Moon. “Uh, what does Panli mean…”
“I mean… just the two of us in the safe together. Sounds good, right?” “No way… it’d be so cramped,” Klai said, shaking his head in refusal.
“Can I feel a bit upset about this? … KhunKlai said being with me feels stifling,” Moon says with a sad look in his eyes, before lowering his gaze to the plate of food.
By now, Klai has realized that Moon, despite his tall stature, is incredibly sensitive. His earlier words might have hurt Moon’s feelings, and he knows he should take responsibility for his words by cheering him up again.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“…”
“Panli… there, there, okay?”
Moon looks up at him and says, “Is KhunKlai comforting me already?
… Why do I still feel a bit upset?”
Because Moon says this, Klai reaches out to gently pat his head, soothing him. “There, there, Panli, my amazing person.”
As he pulls his hand back, it suddenly hits him…
Wait a second…
What did I just say, Klaijai?
“I’m not upset anymore because I get to be your person,” Moon says.
Darn it!
Klaijai, you absolute fool.
Getting flustered over the phrase “Your person.”
“Besides comforting me to feel better, could KhunKlai also cheer up someone who lost a football match one more time?”
Klai tries to hide his embarrassment before asking, “How does Panli want me to cheer you up?”
At that moment, Moon slides the plate of fried rice to the right. His large hand reaches for Klai’s, pulling it closer. Moon lowers his head slightly, just like when he saw Klai reach out earlier, and places Klai’s hand on his golden-blonde hair. “KhunKlai, just pat my head like you did before… and say, ‘There, there, you did great, Panli, my person.’” Klai smiles softly while looking at him. He’s always been Panli’s good boy, hasn’t he? “There, there, you did great, Panli, Klaijai’s person.”
And Klai hopes…
That Moon will be…
“Panli, my person,” for a long, long time.
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