EASTTAGYOUREMINE, Chapter 24: Under the Light
I looked out through the car window to see a place bustling with people, bright with lights all around. It was nearly dark now, and the lights made the scene even more beautiful.
“Is that the market?” I asked the person in the driver’s seat.
“Yes, the walking street market.” Phii Hill answered, his eyes still fixed on the road ahead, where traffic was slightly congested because of the nearby walking street. “Do you want to stop by?”
“Ah, uh, sure.” I agreed immediately. I remembered North mentioning he wanted to take me there, boasting about how delicious the food was and how many things there were to buy, probably even some exotic items I’d never seen before. That’s why there were so many people strolling around.
The luxurious car turned into the parking area. It seemed like my plan to eat ramen would have to be put on hold. Phii Hill took off his blazer and placed it on the back seat before reaching out to hold my hand and leading me out.
“Do we have to hold hands?” I asked with a slightly worried look. Holding his hand in such a crowded place felt somehow embarrassing.
“Otherwise, you might get lost.” Phii Hill said, before gently guiding me across the street to the market side.
“Don’t you want others to see?” the person next to me asked softly.
“No…not at all.” I replied hesitantly. I wasn’t too concerned about what others at the university would think since they probably knew already, thanks to North’s clear statements about Phii Hill. I thought I should be more clear and courageous myself, especially since many people already knew.
Now that it was getting dark, the lights from the surrounding decorations lit up, creating a beautiful atmosphere. It was a pity I didn’t bring my camera. When I looked at the person whose hand was holding mine, I wasn’t sure if it was the soft light reflecting off him or something else, but the sight of him now was so captivating that I could hardly look away.
After that, we wandered around, looking at various items, buying some food and some household items. Phii Hill paid for everything, which made me feel a bit awkward.
“Let’s split the cost.” I suggested as he was pulling out money to pay for the snacks we had just picked.
“It’s okay.” Phii Hill said, taking the items to carry them.
“I feel bad about this.”
“If so…can I ask for something else in return?”
“What is it?” I asked back, hoping it wasn’t something impossible.
“I’ll tell you later, do you want to buy anything else?”
“Uh…” I fell silent, thinking while looking around. Even though the market was large, we had been walking for a while and bought quite a lot already. “No, I’m good.”
“Then, let’s find a place to sit and rest.” Phii Hill suggested, leading me in another direction. Not far from there, we found a spacious area set up with tables for people to sit, and there was even a small stage where a band was playing northern Thai music. I didn’t understand much, but the melody was beautiful, and it felt romantic, matching perfectly with the surrounding ambiance.
This area isn’t just decorated with lights; there are lanterns placed around the tables, and even small candles. Observing, there are hardly any light bulbs here, which is exactly what I love about the atmosphere of the northern towns. Luckily, there was still an empty table. We chose to sit at the furthest one. After placing everything down, I immediately started dealing with the food. Sigh, I had been starving for so long.
“Is it good?” the person next to me asked when he saw me putting a meatball into my mouth.
“Yeah, aren’t you going to eat?” I asked.
“Of course, I will.”
“Feed me then.” Phii Hill raised his hand to touch his chin and turned to look at me.
“Uh…no, there are too many people watching.” I said, feeling embarrassed with so many people around.
“Come on.”
Eventually, I had to feed him. I couldn’t resist that deep, soft voice, I swear, my ears might melt, T^T.
“It smells nice.” I mentioned when suddenly a pleasant scent wafted up to my nose, like a faint floral fragrance. I like it; this kind of scent really relaxes you.
“That’s the scented candle.”
Oh…right. I just noticed that the candles on the table were scented. Not only do they provide a nice atmosphere, but they also smell good, huh? They might even help keep mosquitoes away, maybe…does that really work?
“With light this beautiful…I don’t want to look away.” Phii Hill said, his face lit up with his usual gentle smile, and those beautiful eyes that often looked at me…
Just that…
My heart felt all warm…
I myself…didn’t want to look away either.
But I could only meet his gaze for a few moments before, as usual, I was the one to look away first…otherwise, my heart might melt like the scented candle in front of us.
“Tell me about it.”
“Tell you what?” I asked, still chewing my snack.
“About when you first liked me.”
“…”
“Asking so directly like this…who would dare to answer?” I said. I was so shocked just now that I nearly choked on my snack. Why suddenly bring up this topic? T^T
“Tell me, please.”
“Why would you want to know?”
“Hmm…when someone you like likes you back, wouldn’t anyone want to know who that person is?” Well, he himself hasn’t even told me, insisting I become his partner first, or whatever.
“Consider it as your way of paying me back for treating you, how about that?” Phii Hill proposed. I let out a soft sigh, oh well, I guess I’ll have to tell him. “…But wait, you said you’ve liked me since five years ago, right?” I asked to confirm, remembering suddenly.
“Yes.”
“So, you’ve liked me since I was in high school?”
“Yes, why?”
“…”
“Really? So, you’ve known me from the start then.”
“Yes.” Phii Hill confirmed, raising an eyebrow in surprise, probably not understanding why I was asking. But thinking about it, while many girls at school had crushes on Phii Hill, he was liking me. Phii Hill, whom my female friends often talked about as being so good in this way or that, excelling at everything, and yet turning down everyone who approached him.
The one everyone said was out of reach…
But actually…
He liked me…
!!!
“I had no idea.” I said, my face showing genuine surprise, “Did you start liking me when I returned your notebook?”
“Yes.”
Hey! Back then, I had no clue at all. The teacher just asked me to return the notebook, and I did just that, T^T
“Even during the sports day?”
“Yes, even then.”
Even though Phii Hill is on the sports committee, he helped out with the parade too. Was it because he was looking after me?
“So when you said…someone had to look after me during that time, you meant me, right?”
“Yes.”
Oh my God, how come I didn’t know any of this? Was Phii Hill’s liking for me that subtle!! At that time, I just thought he was one of the caring senior staff members.
“Why didn’t I know any of this?” I asked while making a sulky face at him.
“Hmm…it’s not strange. We didn’t really know each other back then.” Phii Hill said casually, contrasting with my fluster as if I was on fire.
“You never showed it or even talked to me.” I stated the truth. Back then, we were really in different worlds. I didn’t think Phii Hill even noticed me. “Hmm?”
“Seeing this, I guess you can get embarrassed too.” Phii Hill said with a slight chuckle.
He’s embarrassed?
That’s cute…
Oh my, this isn’t good for my heart again, sigh. How can someone be so perfect in every aspect?
“And what about you, Ter?”
“Well…from the very beginning.”
“The beginning?”
“Yes, when we first met.”
“Ter, you remember that too?” The person next to me raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“When you helped me in front of the school.” I replied, puzzled. Who could forget something so significant? Before that, I just admired him casually, but after that day, I really started liking Phii Hill.
“Hmm…I don’t think so.” What’s that?
“Oh, not that?” Oh…the five years that Phii Hill mentioned. I really don’t remember, no matter how hard I try to recall, could it be possible that I met him before and forgot?
“You liked me since then?” I asked, my eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Uh…yeah.”
…
On an ordinary day for a high school student like me, in my fifth year. After school, I was heading home as usual, but since it was my library duty day, I ended up leaving later than everyone else. When the pedestrian crossing light turned green, I quickly stepped off the sidewalk to cross the road.
Rrrrrrrrr
Who’s calling now? I pulled out my phone to check the screen.
Prinnnnn!! Prinnnnn!!
“Watch out!!” I heard someone shout, before feeling a strong pull on my arm that made me stumble backward with the force. Just before that, I thought I saw a motorcycle cut in front of me.
Wait…a moment…
My shoelace came undone.
Oh no!
“Ouch!” I couldn’t help but yelp when I fell onto the road, sigh, my butt, T^T, huh…but it didn’t hurt that much.
“Are you okay?” I quickly turned around.
Phii Hill!!
I looked around in confusion, guessing that I had walked out too fast earlier. Plus, I was looking at my phone and didn’t see the car that ran the red light. Phii Hill had pulled me back to avoid being hit by the car.
But then I stepped on my own shoelace, causing both of us to fall.
It didn’t hurt because I fell onto him, right? T^T
“Sorry, sorry.” I immediately got up when I realized I was on top of him. Phii Hill made a slight pained face before slowly getting up. People around us were crowding to look.
“Don’t stand in the middle of the road, it’s dangerous. Hurry up and cross!” one of the teachers shouted, making everyone move back, “Are you hurt? Injured?” Both of us shook our heads.
“We’re fine.”
“Yes.” Phii Hill answered.
“Okay, make sure you go home safely, I’ll deal with the motorbike from earlier. They drive recklessly around the school area, even with the pedestrian crossing lights on. Be careful on your way home.” The teacher reiterated before walking off.
“Thank you, and I’m sorry, are you okay?” I asked worriedly, sigh, it was entirely my fault. I shouldn’t have been careless; made others suffer because of it. “I’m fine, what about you?” “I’m fine too.” I replied.
“Your hand is bleeding.” Phii Hill said, pointing at my left hand. True enough, seeing the wound made it start to hurt immediately. I must have grazed it on a stone when I fell.
“Oh, it’s nothing, just a little.” I looked at him, considering. Phii Hill seemed fine, but I was worried that maybe his bones were hurt. Especially since I’m not light, T^T, and I got his school uniform dirty too, sigh, Ter, oh Ter.
“Should we wash the wound first?”
“Yes, I’ll wash it myself at the—” Before I could finish my sentence, the other person grabbed my hand and led me directly to the nurse’s office. Why doesn’t he listen to me?
I let him take my hand and wash the wound at the sink. Right now, there was no one else around except the nurse’s daughter.
“Mommy went to buy snacks for me.”
That’s what she said, so we took the liberty to wash the wound first.
I felt somehow embarrassed as someone was holding my hand and washing my wound. Even though it stung, I had to make sure all the dirt was cleaned out of the wound.
“You can sit and wait, I’ll go get some saline to clean the wound.” Phii Hill said. I followed his instructions easily, settling down into a chair, and not only had I troubled him, but now he had to dress my wound too, sigh, why is he so kind? I was already very impressed with him from the sports day, T^T.
He returned with a large bottle of saline, sat down on the chair opposite me, and immediately started cleaning my wound.
I should probably start a conversation. After all, he’s helped me this much. “Uh…it’s Hill, right?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. I just felt like asking, he probably doesn’t know me.
“Yes.” He replied without looking up.
“Do you remember me?” As soon as I finished my question, Phii Hill looked up, furrowing his brows in confusion. “I was the one holding the sign during the sports day, when you helped me carry it.” “Oh…yes, you’re…?”
“My name is Easter, you can just call me Ter.” I said, sending him a friendly smile. Phii Hill smiled back before continuing to dress my wound. “Be more careful next time.”
“Uh, yes. Next time I’ll be careful, sorry about that.” I apologized again, feeling quite guilty, “Thank you for your help.” and I accidentally thanked him again.
“No problem, are you heading home now?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you going back so late?”
“I was on library duty. And what about you?” “I had a little tutoring session with friends.”
“Wow…that’s nice. I’ve never had a study session with friends.” I said. Not studying wasn’t because I was already good at it, but because studying often didn’t help much, T^T.
“And what class are you in?” he asked.
“I’m in M.5/7.”
“Class seven…that’s science major, right?”
“Yes.”
“Is it tough?”
“Some subjects are hard, especially the ones I’m not good at, those are really tough.” I said with a dry smile, scratching my head in embarrassment.
“Which subjects are you not good at?”
“Well…” I paused to think, “Physics, Chemistry, Math, I’m okay with Biology.”
“Hmm…aren’t those the main subjects for the science stream?”
Oh yeah…
Can I still switch streams, T^T?
“What about you?” I asked back. When I talk about studies with someone smart, it always feels strange like this. I don’t know why. It’s the same when I talk with the smart kids in my class.
“Me? Well…nothing in particular.” Phii Hill replied.
Wow. Nothing in particular because he’s good at all subjects, sigh, I wish I could have a moment to answer like that at least once in my life.
“And how’s M.6? Is it tough?”
“It’s more about preparing for exams than the actual learning.”
“That sounds tough, so what faculty are you planning to apply for?” This is a classic question I believe every M.6 student gets asked at least ten times, but I still wanted to ask. I was curious to know what someone as smart as Phii Hill wants to study.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, Nong Ter, do you have any faculty to recommend for me?” he asked, perhaps because he genuinely didn’t know what to study and was now asking for my opinion, someone he just met.
“Well…I don’t know, it depends on what you’re good at.”
But the problem with him is that he’s good at everything…
“Maybe a doctor, I think you’d be suitable for that.” I suggested, recalling how well Phii Hill would fit the role of a doctor, especially seeing him dress my wound now.
“Hmm…” Phii Hill looked up to meet my eyes, then seemed to ponder for a moment.
“If I get patients like you every day…”
“I’d like to be a doctor too, : )” Thump! Thump!
Thump! Thump!
:
Why all of a sudden…
Do I feel like my heart is melting like this…
“I was impressed because you’re kind, you’ve helped me since the sports day.” I said, accidentally holding my breath, sigh, it’s embarrassing, why do I have to tell him all this, T^T
“And…you also saved me from getting hit by a car, and you dressed my wound…so…that’s why”
“Do you like me?”
!!!!
“…Uh!”
I lowered my head, not daring to meet his gaze, Phii Hill seemed really pleased that I had told him.
“I’m so glad. If I had known you liked me from back then, that would have been great.”
“You don’t have to say it…” I said in a softer tone, then slowly looked up, and grabbed some snacks to hide my embarrassment. So it turns out we liked each other, but no one said anything for a year? How comically tragic is this? “Then, can we start over?” the person beside me asked, reaching out to hold my hand.
“I love you, Ter.”
Phii Hill gently kissed my hand, as if the scene in front of me was reflected in the soft glow of candlelight, accompanied by the gentle music I was hearing, everything here seemed to stand still…
PhiiHill gently pressed his lips against my hand, as if the scene before us was a reflection of the gentle glow of candlelight, accompanied by the soft melody I heard. Everything in this moment seemed to freeze…
To let me…
Remember this touch forever…
“I love you too.”
This was the first time…
I dared to express my feelings…
“Your face is so red!” North immediately remarked as I entered the room. I wasn’t here to deal with the cold air conditioning alone, sigh. Well, maybe it would help cool me down a bit, T^T.
“How was the eggplant?” he teased, referring to the incident at lunchtime. My embarrassment now seemed trivial compared to what just happened.
“Stop teasing already,” I sighed, flopping onto the bed.
“Why’s your face so red? Did the doctor confess his love to you?”
“Oh shit!” North exclaimed when I threw a pillow at him with force. Is that something you should even say? I couldn’t take it anymore, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to explode. After I confessed my love, Phii Hill made me repeat it several times.
What kind of person is that? Doesn’t he think about others’ feelings? Oh, but then again, he’s never been gentle with my feelings anyway, T^T.
“Really?” the guy messing with his computer turned to ask me.
“…Yeah,” I answered quietly.
“Tell me more.”
“Well…we confessed our love to each other,” I stammered, my voice shaking,
“Why are my lips trembling now?”
“Seriously, wow, you’re blushing, so are you guys dating now?”
“No.”
“What? Why?” North asked, looking frustrated.
“Well…he didn’t mention anything about being in a relationship,” I said.
Honestly, I was too embarrassed at the time to even think about that part.
“You confessed to each other, but you’re not dating? Is he going to ask later or what?”
“I don’t know, I really don’t know!” I exclaimed, pulling the blanket over me and rolling around on the bed, “Sigh, North, I feel like my heart is going to burst!” “Good for you, man. You should be clear about your feelings, so the doctor knows you love him too.”
“Ugh, that’s why I told him, clear like you said.” I mumbled from under the blanket, but then someone yanked the blanket off me.
“You did well, I’m happy for the doctor, he must be thrilled, I’m telling you.” “Really?”
“Seriously, he’s been the only one confessing for so long.”
“Ah, uh…”
“Keep it up, soon everyone at school will know.”
“Is that so…” I asked absentmindedly, my mind replaying the scene over and over as if my brain had captured it on a loop, that moment when Phii Hill kissed my hand…sigh.
“Yeah, someone must have seen you with him, it’ll spread online for sure, trust me, everyone at school will know it’s you.”
“…Hmm, I guess so.” I sighed softly.
“Are you ready to go public?”
“What can I do?”
“See, no reason to hide anymore.”
“Uh-huh.”
Ding!
The notification sound from my phone made me quickly check it. Has Phii Hill reached his condo already? Why so fast?
Oh…it’s not Phii Hill.
Who is it?
Night Natthagorn – tagged you in a photo.
Oh…it’s the dentist who asked to take a photo with me. It’s a picture of me in an eggplant devil costume standing next to Night and smiling at the camera, with the caption, “The eggplant devil, danced so cutely : )”
How did Night get my face? I don’t remember adding him or accepting his friend request.
Uh…well,
I’m in trouble now.
Will Phii Hill be mad?
Would it be rude to remove the tag?
“Ter, Ter, look at this!” While I was still contemplating whether to remove the tag, part of me was worried about being rude, but I didn’t want Phii Hill to be angry more than anything, and just as I was about to click on the tag to remove it…
“What’s up?” I got up to look at North’s computer screen.
“Here, I think it’s not even a minute since it was posted.”
Cute Boy & Girl – MU – has added a new photo – 1 minute ago
Scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was crying and rolling on the floor. This is a photo our paparazzi sneakily took; the incident happened at today’s walking street market. Our paparazzi said they saw our Dr. Hill holding hands with someone, so they followed until…as you all can see in the picture. This shot had to be taken for real, it’s so scream-worthy, so heart-meltingly good, the doctor is so handsome, everything is perfect from the lighting, the colors, the background, the timing of the shot, oh my God, so romantic. Should we be happy to know who the doctor’s person is?
Or should we mourn the loss of another school husband? T_T @Hill,
Ratchakit
The photo shows Phii Hill leaning down to kiss my hand, taken from behind so our faces aren’t very clear, but you could guess who it was. The lighting from the lanterns and candles made the picture look warm, with a small stage in the background where a northern Thai band was playing.
Sigh, they took a photo like this!
“Ter, Ter! What does Emmy mean, why didn’t you tell me he kissed your hand too, so romantic!” North was yelling and shaking me vigorously. I was also stunned. I didn’t think anyone would take this photo.
As for the comments and shares, no need to mention, the social media went wilder than during an interview.
Ding!
Another notification?
Cute Boy & Girl – MU – has mentioned you in a comment Huh!!!?
@Easter Panupong, may I tag you, because we investigated who the person in the photo is, and now we know who the culprit is…I mean, Hill’s soon-to-be partner. Just want to say I’m super jealous, wish you both a long-lasting love, you’ve won him, be lucky. I’ll excuse myself to go cry and come to terms with it, T____T. P.S. The doctor has allowed us to tag you, but with the condition that absolutely no one is allowed to say anything bad about or to you, which I agree with. Let’s all be gentle, give them some respect, okay?
They tagged me again, for real!!!
Luckily, Phii Hill stopped it in time. Otherwise, I might have been overwhelmed by Phii Hill’s fans, T^T
“Wow, the launch was epic, so many shares, just posted too, the angle’s great, the lighting is beautiful, why is the market so stunning?” North exclaimed loudly with excitement.
“Hey, Ter, still got your senses, huh?” North shook my arm hard again, seeing I wasn’t responding. At that moment, my senses were just starting to come back. I thought everyone would find out, but I never imagined the page would post the picture like this, T^T
Cute Boy & Girl – MU, –. Just moments ago
Everyone, please don’t fuss, my computer’s completely frozen, there are so many questions about what’s going on, if it’s really him, and who he is. It’s better if he answers himself, right @Hill, Ratchakit?
Hill Ratchakit: It’s really me, he’s mine. Please, if you know, kindly remove the picture, 🙂
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