EASTTAGYOUREMINE, Chapter 20: Interview

   “Are you…going to tell others?” I asked while Phii Hill was flipping through TV channels to find something to watch. He turned to look at me with a concerned expression.

“Are you worried?”

“Uh…yeah.” I admitted with a slight nod, a bit worried because it seems everyone is very curious about who it is. Part of me is secretly scared. What will happen if everyone finds out?

“A little bit.” I answered.

“There’s nothing you need to worry about, trust me.” Phii Hill said with a firm tone while reaching out to gently pat my head.

“I won’t tell others.”

“…”

“Not until I’ve won you over.”

Ohhh, here we go. He still hasn’t stopped flirting! How can someone make others so flustered?

“Phii, you weren’t this annoying before.” I murmured to myself. Phii Hill seemed to hear it but just gave a soft chuckle without saying anything.

I looked out the window to see the sky darkening again, indicating that it might rain tonight, which reminded me of North. I should head back.

“Are you leaving already?” When I said I had to go, Phii Hill asked with a slightly displeased look, sigh, don’t make that face.

“Yeah, it’ll rain soon.”

“Won’t you stay over?” Phii Hill asked seriously.

“Uh…no way, I’m worried about North.” I said, genuinely concerned. He called saying he can’t live alone.

“Alright then. Let’s eat together first.” Phii Hill turned off the TV. That sentence was clearly an order, then he stood up and extended his hand to me.

I took Phii Hill’s outstretched hand and pulled myself up.

I could’ve stood up by myself…

Still, Phii Hill always pays attention to these little things that always make me feel warm inside.

He didn’t let go of my hand even as we went down the elevator to the ground floor and walked past several people, some of whom turned to look at us. I felt a bit embarrassed, but I didn’t want to pull my hand away like I usually would.    We went to eat at a restaurant under the condo, probably made for the residents here.

“Let’s order takeout for one more person.” Phii Hill told the staff after we had ordered our food. I raised my eyebrows in curiosity about why he was ordering more.

“For Nong North, I’m treating him.” Phii Hill said, giving a sweet smile with kindness. Huuuh, why is he so nice?

“Thank you on behalf of North.” I nodded, giving a dry smile. I wasn’t sure how to smile about that. If it’s free food, North would love it, especially since he’s been complaining about being broke lately. And now, the tired look on his face was gone. He was back to the usual Phii Hill, did he sneak in a nap or something?

Soon the food was served, including a takeout box for our busy roommate.

“What time is your first class tomorrow?”

“Um…” I went silent to think, I think I checked my schedule, “Nine-thirty, I guess.”

“How are you getting to class?”

“Well…not sure, maybe a friend will pick me up. Or I might go by myself.” I said. I hadn’t even thought about how I’d get to class, might get lost for all I know. I’ll ask Foam and Phoon where it is, and if North is free, I might hitch a ride on his motorbike.

“Okay.” Phii Hill nodded, “If you can’t make it, call me.”

“You won’t miss class?”

“I will.”

“But I can come get you.”

Another heart-stopping moment!

I didn’t ask. I didn’t say anything, or else I’d die another round, I should be a bit concerned about my own heart health. After eating, I had to rush to pay because I heard thunder again!

“I’ll pay for my part.” I said, feeling guilty that he always has to treat me. So, I quickly took out my wallet.

“It’s okay.” Phii Hill said, “We’ll split the bill once we’re officially dating, you know?” And he gave a gentle smile, sighhh. I made a sour face and stuffed my wallet back, so annoying.

The waiter gave Phii Hill a sweet smile, looking like they were about to say something, but when Phii Hill took my hand and led me out of the restaurant, the waiter was left speechless.

Then we got into the same luxurious car. As we slowly moved out of the parking lot, Phii Hill drove much smoother than Phii Johan, by about ten million times. My dad used to say that how someone drives can reflect their personality, which might be true. That means Phii Johan must be quite impulsive.    “Is it okay if I greet you when I see you at the university?”

“Huh?” I raised my eyebrows in confusion, why ask such a thing? “Of course, you can greet me, why wouldn’t you?”

“I thought you might not want others to know.”

“Just greet me normally.”

“Oh…okay.” He then turned his attention back to the road ahead. If it’s just a normal greeting, there’s no problem, but absolutely no flirting like in those beauty pageants. Absolutely not…

The car came to a gentle stop in front of my dorm. I opened the door to get out, not forgetting to thank him for the ride.

“Thanks for the ride, be careful, it looks like it’s going to rain.” I said. If it rains, the roads will be slippery and dangerous for both motorcycles and cars. Phii Hill smiled.

“See you later.” He said. I smiled back, closed the car door properly, and headed straight to my room.

“I’m back.” I shouted as I opened my door, seeing North playing on his phone on the bed, “I brought food too.” Hearing that, the person on the bed quickly jumped up with shining eyes.

“Really? I’m starving.”

“Here.” I handed it over, and North took it happily.

“Thanks, man, how much was it? I’ll pay you back.”

“It’s fine, Phii Hill paid for it.”

“What!?” North exclaimed so loudly that I flinched in surprise, “The doctor treated me? Woah, he’s really pulling out all the stops, is he trying to score points through friends or what? That’s a high-level strategy.”

“Uh, I was just talking randomly.”

Phii Hill probably isn’t trying to score points, I think, because he genuinely cares about everyone around me. North quickly opened the food container and started eating with enjoyment.

“It’s raining.” North said while looking out the window, “Ter, go close the window, or rain will get in.” Being told so, I had to go close the window, and part of me was worried about the person who just drove back to the condo.

“It’s so cold, with the cold weather and the rain. Will it be like this tomorrow?” I asked.

“I think it’ll be like this for several days, better take an umbrella and a jacket.” North replied.

Sigh, the weather is being harsh. And on the first day of the term too.    “Oh, Ter, remember you said you wanted to do part-time work with me? Well, it’s arranged for you, you will be serving at a Japanese restaurant. From six in the evening to midnight.”    “Until midnight, huh?”

“Yeah, people around there stay out late, but it’s good, you won’t have to work every day after class. If you want a day off, you can swap with someone else, but you can’t take Friday off because it’s busy, and we start this Friday, but…”    “But?” I echoed the question.

“Friday, we have to go to the club.”

“Oh right, I saw the announcement, haven’t decided which club to join yet.” I said, thinking about it, because I’m not much into activities.

“First years have to join one sports club and another club of any kind. I’ve looked into it, most clubs end late, only a few end early so we can go to work after.”

“Really, I have to join two clubs, huh.”

“Yeah, and people like us who want something easy and quick are plenty. So most clubs are full.”

“Oh, then what do we do?”

“There’s one club that doesn’t have many members…the Art Club.”

“Huh!?” I furrowed my brows in surprise, the Art Club?? Usually, clubs like that have a decent number of members, right?

“I read the reviews, they said the club advisor is super strict, so not many people sign up. Plus, they don’t allow people already studying art or from the art faculty to join, saying they have enough drawing assignments anyway. They want people to try something new.”

“And I’ve already signed us up for the art club.”

“Hey, North, ask me first, I can’t draw at all!” I protested, oh my, drawing is something I’m absolutely not good at.

“But I had to sign up quickly before it got full.”

“Sigh, my life is over. The teacher is super tough. I bet every Friday will be my personal hell.” I said, letting out a big sigh.

“What about the sports club? What did you sign up for?” I asked.

“Football. Don’t know what else to join, I can’t play anything else.” North said. I agreed with that, since I can’t play other sports either, football.

But I think Phii Hill is in the basketball club.

Uh, football is good then. Joining a club with him would just be risking my heart for no reason.

Ding!

A notification from Messenger.

I immediately checked my phone.

Hill, Ratchakit: Arrived at the condo 🙂

   Ohhhh, sigh. They say when someone goes somewhere, does something, or arrives, they should let others know…That’s kind of cute. I think it’s true.

Nghhhhhhhhhh

Easter Panupong: sends sticker

   I didn’t know what to reply, so I just sent back a smiling sticker.

“You are smiling so much, lovebirds are so annoying.” North teased, then turned his attention back to his boxed meal, “Oh, by the way, thank him for me for the meal.”

“Okay.” I agreed.

Easter Panupong: North says thank you for the food.

   Hill, Ratchakit: No problem.

   Hill, Ratchakit: Was it good?

   “Phii Hill asked if it was good.” I asked North, who nodded in response with his mouth full of rice.

Easter Panupong: He says it’s delicious.

   Hill Ratchakit: That’s good then. If I feed the freshmen something bad, I might get reprimanded.

   Easter Panupong: Who would?

   Hill Ratchakit: No one.

   What’s up with Phii Hill now? Things have been weird since this morning. Could it…be related to Phii Johan?

   “North”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know Phii Johan, the one who came this morning?”

“No idea, isn’t he?”

“You really don’t know him? He’s pretty famous.” I said.

“I’ve seen him around, but that was the first time seeing him in person.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, why would I lie to you?”

“And what do you think?”

“Think about what?”

“Like, what’s he like?”

“Well…he definitely doesn’t look like he should be studying medicine, with his piercings, tattoos, and rough look.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” What North said was spot on, he’s definitely not your typical doctor, more like a rogue Phii Johan.

Hill Ratchakit: I’m going to prepare for the lab now. Don’t stay up late.

   Easter Panupong: Yes, good luck.

   Hill Ratchakit: See you tomorrow 🙂 

   Easter Panupong: sends sticker

   In the end, we wrapped up with a goodnight sticker from me. That’s probably why doctors study so hard; they have to work through the night like this. I hope my faculty isn’t as grueling.

Next Day

   – START OF THE SEMESTER-

   “You’re late, you animal!” North’s voice boomed out at eight in the morning, making me wake up annoyed, seeing the source of the irritating noise already getting dressed.

“What? You have an eight o’clock class?”

“No, nine o’clock.”

“Asshole! Then why are you making a fuss at eight, let me sleep!” I shot back at him before lying down again, only to feel a tug on my arm.

“Wake up, Ter, or you’ll be late.”

“Late for what? I start at half past nine.”

“Just trust me, go shower.” In the end, my good roommate dragged me out of bed. So I quickly showered, got dressed as North urged, and left the dorm.

“Which building are you in?”

“Me? Probably at the faculty building.” I answered.

“Okay, I’ll drop you off first, your faculty is closer.” Then North started up his motorcycle. I almost wanted to bow in thanks for him taking the time to drop me off.

Now I understand why North said we’d be late; the university was packed with traffic, more crowded than I’ve ever seen, both with people rushing on foot and vehicles jammed up.

“Should I wake up at five next time?” I jokingly asked North.

“If you can, that’d be great.”

We arrived at my faculty just before eight forty. North had to ride off to his own faculty building, which I heard was on the opposite side of the university. I stepped into my faculty, already feeling tired. I didn’t know why, but seeing North’s hurried yet futile attempt to speed through the traffic made me feel exhausted on his behalf.

“Hey, Ter, why are you standing there looking confused?” Phoon called out to me, walking over by himself, which was odd because I thought he’d be with Foam.

“Hey, where’s Foam?”

“He’s a traitor, who went to drop off some girl from the Science faculty instead of picking me up.” Phoon said with a sulk. From what I gathered, Foam met a girl from the same dorm and decided to drop her off at class instead of coming for Phoon. Wow…now that’s what you call ditching a friend. It’s not me and Phoon this time.

“And how did you get here?”

“Come alone, it’s good our university has shuttles, but it was crowded so it took me a while to get here, I’ve been waiting since eight.” Phoon complained, “Come on, let’s find our classroom.”

“Where are you going? Our faculty building is this way.” I corrected him, noticing he was heading the wrong way.

“Huh? Did you even check the schedule? The first class is a lab at the medical faculty building.” Phoon said.

Oh no…looks like the first day of the term is already tough.

When we got to the area in front of the medical faculty building, there were quite a few people around, probably because some foundational health science classes are held here, making the building huge. I could confidently say here that Phoon and I were definitely lost.

Yes, me and Phoon, because no one trusts either of us with directions.    “Oh right, I wanted to ask about the clubs. Have you joined any?” Phoon asked me.

“Yeah, the Art Club, with North.”

“That’s great, put my name down too, but not Foam, he’s gone with a girl from the science faculty.”

“You want to join the Art Club with us?”

“Yeah, sign me up too.”

“Alright, I’ll tell North, and for the sports club, I’m thinking of joining football.”    “I’ll join too, I can’t play anything else anyway.” So, it’s me, North, and Phoon, all in the same club. As for Foam, he’s chasing girls, what a pity, he’s the first to abandon his friends.

My first day of classes was filled with struggles. Foam made his entrance by being almost ten minutes late to the first class, luckily the teacher didn’t say anything. I haven’t even seen Phii Hill today. Plus, I didn’t dare to send him any messages because I was afraid he’d be in class. It seems like he’s busy too.

Even though we finished at 4 PM, just like in high school, the level of tiredness was significantly different. I nearly became a vegetable. Initially, I was attentive, but some subjects were really tough to handle.

And then there’s the dissection lab…

No, not the little frogs in formaldehyde.

Since North finishes around the same time, I asked him to swing by and pick me up. North also complained that engineering was just as brutal, just passing is enough for him, no more aspirations for honors.

Well, to have our dreams crushed on the first day like this.

So, is the person who got first place in the medical faculty still human?    I returned to the dorm in such a dilapidated state that I could barely climb the stairs with North. It must be because I’m not used to university life yet. All I could manage was to open the door and collapse onto the bed.

Immediately.

“Hey, hey Ter, look at this, Cute Boy Live is on.” North shoved his phone at me. I raised an eyebrow and looked, and indeed, the page was live-streaming something.

“Hello everyone, this is Emmy, one of the admins of Cute Boy Cute Girl. I’m here to interview Dr. Hill as promised. Here’s thirty thousand baht, count the stars.” and then Emmy pulled out a wad of thousand-baht notes and handed them to Phii Napdao. The comments were all about how this fan page really pampers their idols.

“Don’t spend it on buying followers, okay, Phii Dao? Let’s go see Dr. Hill.”    “I wonder if Dr. Hill will agree to the interview. He seems to be in a bad mood today.”

“Why is that?”

“Dr. Hill is like this when he hasn’t slept. Probably pulled an all-nighter with work last night.” Phii Napdao explained. I got up to turn on my computer thinking it would be more comfortable to watch from there. The viewership was climbing, almost a thousand people now.

: Screaming, Here he comes, Orange, Doctor please, Ohhh, Missed the doctor so much, didn’t get to sneak a peek during the break.

   : Looks grumpy, Still handsome though, I’ve seen him like this before, How?, Want to see more.

   Go for the interview, we’ve been waiting for ages. We’ve donated so much.    “Uh. Looks like everyone’s demanding an interview. Let’s go, hope the doctor doesn’t kill me.” Emmy said, and they headed into the rehearsal area which was in full swing.

A bit further away,

“We’ll start rehearsing in thirty minutes, so ask your questions quickly.”    “Oh no, Dr. Mild is here too. Should we do the interview another day?” Emmy looked slightly worried, turning the camera to show Phii Thanmild sitting with the group of stars.

I, for one, wasn’t feeling very good about this.

Have Phii Baifern and Phii Fon given up? No one’s talking about them anymore.    : Maybe they’ve moved on, Doctor Hill made it pretty clear, but we don’t know about Doctor Mild yet.

   Will there be an interview another day, or is it too much to interview in front of Phii Mild, our queen?

   : Waited so long, do we have to postpone because of Mild? That’s ridiculous.    “What should we do, E-Dao, I’m not going to be free often, I’ve come all the way here.” Emmy turned to speak to Phii Napdao, who looked thoughtful for a moment.

“Let’s just go ahead, Emmy, Doctor Mild will see it eventually, it’ll be on your page anyway, right?”

“Yeah, okay, then let’s go find Doctor Hill.” The two of them walked on until they found four people sitting at a marble table not far from the Star Moon competition venue, it was Phii Hill and Phii Johan. They seemed to be deeply engrossed in their work.

Phii Hill looked up with slightly messy hair and an extremely irritated look like I had never seen before, his eyes were fierce. If it were me, I wouldn’t dare get too close.

“Oh my, huuuh, E-Dao, the doctor’s glaring at me, I’m scared, huuuh, but he’s still so hot, he’s making my heart race.” Emmy said, making a weak gesture before slumping into a nearby chair.

:

   : Wow, that’s intense, my heart’s fluttering, Doctor, don’t make that face.    My heart’s confused, huuuh, Doctor, just take a knife and cut me open, right through my heart.

   Doesn’t Phii Tonfa care about the camera at all? LOL

   Isn’t Phii Johan going to flirt with the girls today? Surprised to see him working with friends, LOL

   : I watched Phii Arthit in the last football match, so cool.

   : I’m melting away, help me!

   “We are here for an interview, Doctor. Do you have some free time?”

“Yes.” Phii Hill replied with a small smile to the camera, setting down the pen he was writing with, but his eyes still showed irritation. What they say about Phii Hill being irritable when he hasn’t slept much seems to be true.    “Don’t make that fierce face, Doctor, it’s not good for my heart.”

“That’s how it is, he has been irritated since morning, too much work, he hasn’t even talked to…his prospective partner.” Phii Johan teased, what prospective partner?

“Sure.” Phii Hill said with a slight smile to the camera, putting down the pen he was using to write something earlier, but his eyes still showed irritation. The idea that Phii Hill would be irritable if he didn’t get enough sleep was indeed true.

“Don’t look so fierce, doctor, it’s a bit off-putting.”

“That’s just how it is, irritable since morning, too much work to even talk to my…prospective partner.” Phii Johan teased, what’s this prospective partner?

“Oh, really? That’s tough, having a doctor as a partner.” The viewership increased again. The comments were full of hearts, with a few sad faces mixed in.

Not sure what they were sad about.

“Is the homework done yet?” Phii Napdao asked as well.

“Almost, but we can take a break first.” Phii Johan said, turning to ask someone else. Phii Arthit didn’t seem too interested in the camera. Meanwhile, Phii Tonfa kept his head down, continuing to write.

“Just kidding, should we move to another table then, so we don’t bother Dr. Fah?” Phii Hill nodded in agreement, and they moved to sit at another table a couple away.

“Then let’s start, how many minutes do we have left?”

“Fifteen.” Phii Napdao answered.

“Then let’s hurry. What do the comments want us to ask first?”

“Ask if it’s true that you like someone, straightforward.” Emmy read from the comments and turned to ask Phii Hill, who nodded in response. Wow, going straight to the point might be too much, right?

I was watching the live intently on my computer screen when after a while, North came to sit with me. Honestly, I was quite excited about what they would ask and how Phii Hill would respond, hoping it wouldn’t be too direct.    “About the prospective partner, you’re currently getting to know each other, right?”

“I’m just courting him casually.” He said, revealing a faint smile to the camera, which caused the comments to flood in so much that Emmy had to scold them, saying the live might crash.

“Can you tell us why it has to be this person? Before this, you didn’t seem interested in anyone despite many people liking you.”

“…”

“Why does it have to be this person…”

“It’s been this person from the start.”

“…”

“And…it’s never changed to someone else.”

Even though we’re not together! Just watching the live, I felt like I could die. This person’s damage is insane, oh my…North laughed awkwardly before nudging my arm.

“You’re crazy, man, your doctor is something else, I’m embarrassed for you.”

“Yeah, I feel like I’m dying too.” I said and turned back to watch the live stream. Phii Hill’s words just now made Emmy scream so loud, and the comment section was also in an uproar.

: Ohhh, I’m dead, I’m so dead, my heart, I’m so jealous.

   : I’m melting, what kind of doctor is this, I’ve turned into liquid.    “Okay, I’m going to end the interview here because my heart can’t take it anymore. Oh, can’t I? Oh well, they’ve donated thirty thousand, so I can ask one more thing, right?”

“So you’re saying, Doctor, you liked this person from the start?”

“Yes.”

“Ohhh, it hurts, so everyone who likes you loses right from the start.”

“Something like that.”

“Scream! Who is that freshman, you cheater! How did you win the doctor’s heart from the beginning? We lost even before we started, huuuh.” Emmy protested, making me chuckle a bit.

“Do you think that person is watching the live stream?”

“Um…probably.”

“Then do you want to leave a message for that person? You said you haven’t talked today.”

Emmy’s words made Phii Hill turn to look seriously at the camera as if he really wanted to say something to me.

“I miss you.”

Huuuh, I’m dead in every possible way, the look in his eyes was just like when Phii Hill looks at me for real, gentle yet serious.

   “Ohhh, what was that look just now, Doctor, are you trying to melt the whole university? I give up, I admit it, okay, let’s continue. So, Doctor, you came out with this now because that person just started studying here, right? So it’s a first-year junior?”    “Yes.”

“Oh, cradle robber, which faculty are they from? Can you give us a hint?”

“It’s better if you guess. Guess five faculties.”

“Oh, well, if someone guesses my faculty, what should I do?” T^T

“Then, Nursing.”

“No.”

“Business Administration?”

“No.”

“Ohhh, I’ve guessed wrong twice now. What do you all think?” Emmy read the comments, where there were numerous guesses about the faculty, making it hard to choose.

“Engineering?”

“No.”

: Hey, you idiot, how could it be engineering, guess another faculty.

   : Only two left, what should we do, I thought it was Pharmacy.

   “Okay, then Pharmacy?”    “No.”

“Ohhh, can’t guess right at all.” I was watching and getting anxious, hoping my faculty wouldn’t come up.

“Alright, last guess, let’s just go wild.”

“Veterinary Medicine?”

“Yes.”

Hey, how did they manage to guess my faculty on the last try, and when Emmy guessed correctly, she let out another loud scream, and the comments kept flowing.

“Screaming, Veterinary faculty, Veterinary Medicine. You guys are confused. We’ve got an important clue now, the vet faculty isn’t that big, we’ll definitely find out soon. We’ll finally know who has been monopolizing our Dr. Hill.”    Ohhh, for heaven’s sake, mentioning the faculty like this is just awful, T^T

“Just kidding, so when will you reveal the freshman identity?”

“When he’s ready.”

“Wow, what’s he not ready for? If you were to court me, I’d announce it to the whole country, I would be super proud.”

Phii Hill just gave a small smile as a response.

“And you’ve known each other for a long time, right? Was he a junior from your old school?”

“Yes.”

“I heard they’re from the countryside, is that right? Did you both plan to study here?”

“No, it was more of a coincidence.”

“Oh, fate then, really strong. So, what kind of person is he to you, Doctor?”

“Well…he’s cute, a bit whiny and pouts easily. Sometimes he’s stubborn too.”

“He pouts a lot? Isn’t that troublesome?”

“It’s okay, I’ll always find a way to appease him.”

Huuuh, here we go again, T^T, doesn’t he feel embarrassed saying these things? Look at North, he’s curled up like a shrimp.

   “Right. Lucky him, what did he do in his past life to deserve this? If I knew who it was, I’d really squeeze it out of him, wanting to know the secret to making the doctor love and adore like this.”

“Uh, continue, can you tell us where you met, how you started liking him, and how long you’ve liked him?”

“I can’t tell that, but I’ve liked him for five years.”

“Oh.”

“Doctor Hill, the steadfast in love, has never even dated anyone for a year, right? You just like him, not dating, you’ve liked him for five years, all my hopes are dashed, we’re all defeated, I surrender, Doctor, huuuh.”

“Okay, we’re almost out of time. The doctor needs to get back to work and practice for the Star Moon event. Let me ask one more thing. If you were to become his boyfriend, what would you say to him?”

“I’ll take the best care of him. :)”

 

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