EASTTAGYOUREMINE, Chapter 26: Hill
“The person with the highest score is Ratchakit, getting a perfect sixty points.
Everyone, give him a round of applause.” The voice of the math teacher rang out in the classroom, followed by applause.
“Wow, he’s super smart, how did he do that, he got a perfect score, our class barely passed half.”
“That’s impressive, indeed.”
The chatter in the classroom rose for a moment before the teacher called for silence and continued announcing the exam scores of the other students.
“Ratchakit, come here for a moment.”
“Yes.” I turned towards the voice.
“You did very well, you’re the only one who got a perfect score in class. This exam was really tough. Keep up the good work.” The teacher gave me a slight smile, but I didn’t smile back.
I can’t remember when the last time was…
“Have you thought about what you want to study in high school? What program are you planning to enter?”
“Science-Math.”
“That’s right. You’re already doing well, and you’ll continue here, right?” “Yes.”
“Great, keep pushing. I’ll send your scores to your grandfather, have the other teachers sent theirs?”
“They have.”
“Then I’ll send mine promptly, and have a safe journey home.”
This school is the largest private school in the province, with high standards which is why my grandfather sent me here. I’m currently in the third year of middle school, about to take entrance exams for high school, and I’ll probably continue here anyway. My grandfather is friends with the principal and a major shareholder. He’s instructed all my teachers to report on my behavior and academic performance.
“You must be above everyone else. No need to pay attention to those who are inferior.” My grandfather’s words are deeply ingrained in my mind. He’s very strict and stubborn. Because my father and grandfather have different views, my father wants me to do things like any other child, which often leads to arguments at home.
“If I do what you say, will Dad and you stop fighting?” I, at six years old, witnessed a heated argument between my father and grandfather at the dining table, with my mother and grandmother trying to intervene. I asked this question when I saw my father sitting alone, looking stressed, at the back of the house. Before this, my parents had just started a new business, and it seemed to be going well, which meant they had less time for me. As a result, I spent more time with my grandfather, who made me do exercises and practice beyond what other children were expected to. I barely had time to play with friends.
Because of this, I had almost no friends during my childhood, and it affects me even now. I have significant problems with socializing. I’m too shy to even talk to others. My grandfather told me not to bother, friends aren’t necessary, they might just weigh me down.
“No, not like that, my child. I don’t want you to be like how I was when I was young. I want you to enjoy and play like an ordinary kid.” Dad said with warm eyes and gently patted my head with affection.
“It’s okay.”
This was my own decision.
When I was in grade 9.
Even now, I still don’t have friends, because of my grandfather’s influence and our family’s reputation, rumors spread all over the school, so hardly anyone talks to me, which is fine. Because I don’t know how to act when I’m in front of others. At school, it’s okay, I’m used to it. But at cram school, facing strangers makes me nervous. I wear a mask. If anyone asks why, I’ll say I’m sick.
“Today, we’ll close half an hour earlier than usual.” announced the tutor in charge, causing the students to start leaving one by one. Normally, I book lessons until 10 PM and tell the driver to pick me up at 10 PM every day, but now it’s only 9:30 PM, leaving me with half an hour to kill. What should I do? I don’t have a phone because Grandpa doesn’t allow it, saying it would distract me from my studies.
I walked along the path, an area I’ve never been to before. Usually, I only go as far as the cram school, so I’ll have to find somewhere to wait.
“Little one, why are you walking alone this late? Are you waiting for your parents to pick you up?” asked an auntie in an apron who was clearing dishes. This must be a restaurant, offering drinks and desserts too. Is this her home turned into a restaurant?
I nodded.
“Why don’t you come inside and wait in my shop? It’s dark around here, it could be dangerous.”
I hesitated for a moment before deciding to step into the shop. Sitting here to wait is indeed better.
“Would you like something to eat? I have desserts too.” she said, handing me a menu. I wasn’t really hungry at the moment, but sitting here without ordering anything might look odd, so I decided to order something sweet to take home.
“How about coconut cake? Not sure if we have any left though.” she pondered for a moment, “Ter! Check if we have any coconut cake left in the fridge!” she shouted to someone, probably her son.
“We have one, just one left actually.” said a boy about my age, entering from the back door with a tray of cake.
“How many pieces do you want, dear?” the auntie turned to ask me.
“One piece, please, to take home.” I replied softly.
The boy then packed the cake in a box and brought it over to me.
“Here you go.” The cheerful voice and innocent, wide smile made me pause for a moment before I took out the money to pay for the cake.
“This kid is waiting for his parents, could you keep him company for a bit? You two are probably around the same age. I’ll be back after handling some errands.” The aunt said before taking off her apron and heading out the back of the shop.
Ter sat down across from me.
“Hey, hello.” Now what…
This is the situation I dislike the most.
I’ve said it before, I get awkward when strangers try to talk to me.
“…Um.” I replied softly, sigh, this is terrible, can’t my uncle come pick me up soon?
“What’s your name?”
“…”
“Um, my name is Easter, you can just call me Ter.” Why does he smile so well…
“I’m in middle school year two, what about you?” “…” So, he’s my junior by a year?
“…?” Ter must have noticed I wasn’t responding, so he looked surprised.
“Are you not feeling well? That’s why you have your mouth covered?” I nodded.
“Oh, does your throat hurt so you can’t speak?” I nodded again.
He’ll probably stop trying to talk to me soon. No one wants to keep talking to someone who doesn’t respond. That’s fine…because right now, I’m feeling incredibly awkward.
“Then can you write it down? I’ll go get some paper for you.” Before he even finished his sentence, he stood up and ran off. After a while, he came back with paper and a pencil.
Is he serious?
“What school do you go to?” he asked with a wide smile, his eyes always bright and full of life. It seemed like he was really determined to talk to me.
I wrote down the name of my school.
“Wow, the most expensive private school, that’s amazing. I just go to the school near my house. I heard your school has a swimming pool, right?” I nodded.
“That’s nice. I’ve only swum in a pool a few times. But your handwriting is so beautiful, how do you write like that? My handwriting is terrible, even though I can’t read it sometimes.”
And how should I respond to that?
Or maybe I don’t need to respond. He just wants to talk, doesn’t he?
And how is that any different from talking to oneself? How strange…
“And why are you getting home so late?” I wrote down on the piece of paper:
‘Extra classes’
“Oh, at the tutoring center nearby? You’re so diligent. My parents force me to go, but I still refuse, even though our house is so close, hahaha.”
“Do you like coconut cake?”
“No, it’s for someone at home.”
“Oh, then do you want to try the cocoa I made? I’ll treat you. My mom doesn’t let me serve it to the customers, but I’ve practiced a lot. It’s definitely delicious, you’ll be the first to try it.” With that, he got up and went to the counter.
It feels like I’m a test subject…
It didn’t take long for the cocoa, which Ter made for me as the first taster, to be placed in front of me.
I have no choice…
I slightly adjusted the mask over my mouth to drink more comfortably.
It’s not good…
“So, how is it? Is it delicious?” Ter asked with an excited look, “Oh right, I’m sorry, I forgot you have a sore throat, you don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to.”
“It’s not good anyway, isn’t it?” he said, clearly making a disappointed face.
Um…
“But…”
“…”
“Maybe it would be better if you added more milk.”
“Really? Then I’ll try that next time. Come back as the taste-tester…I mean, come back to taste it again, after your throat gets better.”
“Ter, your dad’s calling you.” The aunt said as she returned.
“Yes.” Ter acknowledged before standing up, “I’ll be right back.”
After a while, a familiar car pulled up across the street from the shop. A middleaged woman with neatly tied-up hair, wearing a suit and high heels, whose sweet face broke into a smile upon seeing me, hurried into the shop.
“Hill, here you are. I went to the cram school, saw it was closed, but I didn’t see you there.” my mom came in and hugged me lightly, clearly very happy, “Luckily, I had some free time today, so I decided to pick you up myself.” “Are you his mother?” the auntie asked.
“Yes, hello.” my mom greeted with a respectful nod, which the auntie returned with a smile, “Did my son cause any trouble?”
“No, he was just waiting for his guardian and ordered a piece of cake.” The auntie said.
“Really? Let’s see, wow, coconut cake? I just found out my son likes cake.” my mom said, slightly surprised after looking at the cake box.
“I bought it to take home for you.” I replied.
“Oh, thank you.” my mom said, then turned to thank the auntie, “Thank you so much, we’ll be heading back now.”
“Sure, come by again, you can just sit and hang out.” The auntie invited.
“Yes.” I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I would come again.
“What’s your name, dear? I haven’t asked yet.” The auntie asked.
I didn’t answer, at least I didn’t want the boy to know. If Ter found out and heard the rumors about me at school, he might not want to talk to me anymore.
“His name is Hill.” seeing that I was silent, my mom answered for me, “We’ll be going now.” she said, excusing us again before leading me by the hand back to the car.
“Next time, you can wait here, it’s better than waiting alone in front of the cram school, it could be dangerous, I’ll let the driver know.” my mom suggested.
“…”
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“There was a boy earlier, the shop owner’s son.”
“…Did he say anything bad to you?”
My mom is the only one who knows about the gossip and how I have no one to talk to at school because she’s the one who attends every parent-teacher meeting. She’s very worried about me not having friends, but I’ve told her I’m okay, though she’s not convinced at all.
“No.”
“And how was he?”
“He talked to me a lot even though I didn’t respond much. He’s a bit of an odd one, but in a good way.”
“He seems like a nice person, cheerful, and he smiles a lot.”
Small, fair-skinned, with big eyes that looked more cute than anything spectacular, and many aspects of him were quite ordinary.
But that smile…
It’s like it’s slowly breaking down the walls of my personal world. With a smile so bright as if it genuinely reflected what he felt inside, never thinking ill of anyone, always ready to share his positive energy.
“I’m not sure.”
Even though I never smiled, looking at him made me feel like smiling back. “Hill…how long has it been since I last saw you smile like that?” Mom said as she turned to look at me from the driver’s seat. I only then realized that I was smiling. Even though it wasn’t a big smile, it was probably the most genuine one in years.
“You…my son is quite handsome, aren’t ya? Anyone can see it clearly without the mask.” Mom said proudly. I had taken off my mask right after getting into the car. “I am happy, that kid might be your first real friend. Next time before you go home, why don’t you stop by that shop again? Grandpa definitely won’t know.” “…Would that be okay?”
“It’s fine, you can wait for your driver there. Next time, Mom will bring some snacks for you to give him, okay?”
“Yes.”
“By the way, what’s his name?”
“Easter, but he said you can just call him Ter.”
“Easter, huh? Cute name. I really want to meet him, what kind of kid is he that makes my son smile?”
…
“Oh, did he leave already?” I asked Mom when we went back to the shop and didn’t see anyone. I had just gone to see Dad for a moment.
“He’s gone. His mom came to pick him up.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t even get to say goodbye.” I said, disappointed. The person from just now was somehow strange; his eyes were very cold, like he didn’t want to talk to anyone in the world, but deep down there was a sense of loneliness. I couldn’t describe it either.
I usually talk a lot. Even if he didn’t respond, he didn’t seem too annoyed. He looked uncomfortable, probably doesn’t like talking to strangers, which is why I wanted to talk, to get to know him better, maybe to fill some void he might have. But what is that void? I don’t really know either, maybe it’s someone who could take away the deep-seated loneliness.
I’m just guessing here. My habit of worrying about others is really something that can’t be changed.
“His mother is so beautiful. At first, I thought she was his sister, how old could she be? Why does she look so young?” My mom grumbled while cleaning up at the counter. It was almost time to close the shop.
“Mom, if you weren’t always complaining, you’d look even younger.” I teased.
“Enough, come help me clear the tables.”
“Yes, yes. Mom, will he come back?”
“I don’t know, but I told him to come again, and he agreed.”
“Really? That’s strange, I didn’t even get a good look at his face, and don’t know his name. He seems mysterious.” I said as I straightened out the chairs in the shop.
“Oh, but I know his name now. His mom told me earlier.”
“Really? What’s his name?”
“Er…”
“…?”
“If I heard correctly…”
“It’s Newt, I guess.”
After that, Newt dropped by the shop quite often, about once every two or three times. Every time he came, he still wore the mask, sometimes adding glasses. I concluded by myself that he probably had some chronic condition, so I never asked or pried. Even though I’ve never seen his full face.
I noticed we talked more, as if Newt was slowly opening up to me bit by bit, until I assumed we were getting close. I saw him smiling more often. Even if I only saw his eyes, the sadness or loneliness I had noticed when we first met was slowly fading away.
Newt is truly an all-around talented person, especially when it comes to academics. Even in games he’s never played before, I only had to teach him once, and he could beat me. If I ever got sulky about losing, he wouldn’t let me win in the next game.
Aside from this, I don’t know much about Newt’s other affairs, and it seems he doesn’t want to share either. The person who picks him up every day is an old driver. Therefore, I never got a chance to meet Newt’s parents. The driver thanked me for being friends with Newt, and I’m thankful as well because Newt is one of my good friends.
We’ve known each other for over a month when one day I had to work late and stayed over at a friend’s house. The next morning when I returned home, my mom told me…
“Newt has gone to Singapore, my dear.” she said with a slightly troubled look on her face, probably because she didn’t really want to tell me about it. “What!?” I exclaimed in shock, “Singapore!?”
“Yes, dear.” she continued, “Yesterday, Newt and his mother came to say goodbye. It’s a pity you weren’t here. He said it was very sudden, so he couldn’t tell you beforehand. His mother has some urgent business there, and they’ll be staying for a while.”
“Oh…” I sighed disappointedly, regretting not being able to say goodbye or wish him well. I hoped he would find good friends there, that everything would go smoothly, and that he wouldn’t forget about me, even if we only knew each other for a month.
…
“Why didn’t you correct me that your name isn’t Newt?” I complained when Phii Hill finished the story. He gave a slight smile and handed me a freshly brewed cup of coffee. It was now morning after we…uh, became a couple last night. Phii Hill promised to tell me everything in the morning, which is now.
The early morning brought a slight chill due to the rain almost all night, with soft sunlight streaming through the window. I like this atmosphere, but I thought it was too early for Arthit’s day. Why wake up so early, I wondered.
“Well, I didn’t know how to bring it up then.” Phii Hill said, giving me a faint smile before sitting down beside me on the sofa.
“Oh, it’s been a misunderstanding for so long, no wonder. Who would remember?” I muttered to myself with a disappointed look. At first, I was wracking my brain trying to figure out where I might have met Phii Hill before, but now…it turns out he’s the friend I thought had moved to Singapore. “And when you said you were going to Singapore…” I asked.
“I studied there for a year, then I asked to come back to Thailand for high school.” Phii Hill explained calmly while sipping his aromatic coffee, unlike me who was quite shocked by what I had just heard.
I thought…I understand now why Phii Hill is so different from Newt, perhaps because he spent a year abroad, away from his grandfather. With no one to control him, and being with his mother, who probably didn’t want Phii Hill to stay a quiet kid.
“At first, when you said you were there and didn’t contact anyone, I thought you might have forgotten about me.” I said, lifting ovaltine to sip from it. Why do you drink coffee while you offer me ovaltine? I want coffee too, especially when I’m sleepy. After finishing, I placed the cup back on the table.
“I didn’t forget.” The person next to me said softly.
“I always missed you, Ter.”
“Just that I wanted to come back to Thailand quickly.”
“Uh…okay.” I felt like hiding my face in the ovaltine cup from embarrassment. Oh, I told you not to look at me like that, sigh, are we going to have another killing moment, T^T?
“So, that’s why you came back to study at the same school as me?”
“Yes.” Phii Hill gave me a sweet, endearing smile and gently patted my head.
When did I start liking it when he pats my head? Why does it feel so warm, I don’t know.
“Alright then…” Phii Hill put his coffee cup down and moved closer to me. His handsome face gradually got closer until I forgot to breathe.
“Wait…what…what is it?” I asked in a trembling voice, feeling a rush of heat on my face and ears, making him chuckle slightly at my reaction.
“Why are your cheeks so red?” Phii Hill teased, seemingly enjoying my embarrassment. I quickly looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. T^T
“Well…”
“…”
“Why did you suddenly move closer?” I asked, my voice stuttering.
“Do you remember last night?”
“Huh?” I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“Well…” He paused. I turned back to look, noticing Phii Hill was staring at my lips, which made my face even redder. What…what’s this?
“Wait…” Why are you looking? I instinctively put both hands on his chest to push him away, but it was ineffective. Phii Hill slowly moved closer…
Too close…
I closed my eyes tightly and clenched my teeth as if I realized it was too close. My chest felt a sudden warmth as if my heart was about to escape, my hands and body trembling all over.
Soon, I felt the warm breath of the person in front of me, followed by a gentle, soft touch on my lips, my hands subconsciously gripping tightly. I didn’t dare to breathe or even open my eyes, the touch lasted only a fleeting moment…just that, really, as if my heart had melted and drifted away.
Phii Hill pulled his lips away. I slowly opened my eyes to see him smiling contentedly. I took a deep breath because my heart was racing no less than his, feeling a flush of warmth spread across my chest, to my face, and my ears. I could only guess how red my face must have turned.
“What…what was that?” I asked, frowning in surprise, like…at least ask first. Or give some warning!
“It’s a morning kiss.” Phii Hill said casually, but his smile indicated he was pleased with what he had just done, showing no signs of concern, unlike me who was almost fainting from the shock.
“What…what do you mean, all of a sudden…” I muttered, feeling annoyed…no, embarrassed…very embarrassed. It counts as…uh, a kiss, right? It’s true that I’ve kissed Phii Hill before, but that time we were drunk…and there were unexpected events too, so this would be our first intentional kiss.
“Ter , you gave permission last night.” “What!?” I exclaimed loudly.
“Yes.”
I tried to remember last night…what happened? I recall going to bed early because Phii Hill had work, um…nothing happened, right?
Or did it?
“Can I kiss you goodnight?” …I didn’t reply because I was very sleepy, it seemed like I heard a voice…oh, Phii Hill’s voice, right? I was so sleepy, don’t try to talk to me.
“Why…” I asked without thinking.
“So you can have sweet dreams, and it gives me encouragement for work too.” “Understand?”
“Uh.” I let out a sound from my throat, then felt a gentle touch on my lips again. At that moment, my mind was completely blank.
“Sweet dreams.”
“Uh…”
“Can I have a morning kiss tomorrow?”
“Uh…”
This isn’t a dream, is it!!!
But…I remember last night I had such a good dream, like dreaming something really nice but I can’t remember it now.
“Cheater. I was so sleepy back then, ask me when I’m awake!” I protested. “Consider this as permission granted. From now on, I’ll ask again, okay? It really boosts my work motivation.” Phii Hill said with a playful tone, smiling until his eyes crinkled, then turned his attention back to the stack of documents on the table.
“You harass someone and then say something like that.” I mumbled to myself, loud enough for him to hear, with a slight sulky tone.
“I tried my best.” Phii Hill said playfully as before.
“ …?” I furrowed my brows, looking puzzled.
“Tried not to do anything more to you, Ter.” He said before letting out a small laugh. Seeing my genuinely sulky face, he exclaimed, “Oh, teasing you is so fun!” Sigh, here we go, North, clearly a den of lions, how could you say it was safe!
“If you don’t stop making that cute face, I’ll really kiss you.” He said in a normal tone, but why did it feel like a threat to me! Not just an empty threat, he leaned closer, “Hey, this isn’t just a threat anymore. You’re going to do it for real, aren’t you!” My eyes widened in surprise.
Oh my. I can’t take it anymore, don’t come so close like that, there’s no way I can ever get used to this, sigh, I told you to spare my heart, didn’t I?!
“Got it, got it. Move back then.” I said before avoiding his gaze, this person is such a tease. Doesn’t he know I’m already embarrassed to the point of breaking! Heh, so annoying! Phii Hill gave a sly smile before scooting back.
“Are you hungry yet?” Phii Hill asked without taking his eyes off the papers in his hand. I peeked and saw it was study sheets, how hardworking can he be, can I have half of that motivation? T^T
“Not yet.” I replied, thinking it was too early for breakfast, “What’s this?” I asked curiously, pointing at an image on the sheet. It looked odd. Very unfamiliar.
Will I get to learn something like this?
Phii Hill then gave me a brief explanation. It sounded like what I would be learning was completely different from medicine, but he said he could probably skim over it for me without much change since he’d been tutoring me since I was in middle school, through high school, and even university. Thinking about it, I’ve relied on Phii Hill a lot, huh.
I found myself staring at the person explaining the content I had asked about, feeling incredibly lucky, like I was living a dream being with Phii Hill like this.
“Anything else?” Phii Hill asked when he noticed I was staring instead of paying attention.
“Uh…no.” I looked away to hide my embarrassment, giving him a dry smile,
“Just that…it feels like a dream.”
“Being in a relationship like this.” I said softly while scratching my cheek because I didn’t know where else to put my hands, Phii Hill let out a small laugh and gently patted my head.
“I feel the same, I thought I was dreaming.” He said.
“Maybe we both dreamed it.” I chuckled.
“That’s it, then…Can I choose not to wake up?”
“Then…me too.” I gave Phii Hill a wide smile, something I didn’t usually dare to do because I was shy, but for some reason, I felt like I could keep smiling like this forever.
“Oh…right, can I have your phone for a second?” Phii Hill asked as if he just remembered something. I handed him my phone, a bit confused.
“What are you going to do with it?” I asked.
“Update our relationship status on my Facebook.”
“…”
“So nobody bothers you anymore.”
“…”
“You are my boyfriend…”
“…”
“I have to be protective, right?”
Oh, my…Phii Hill has always been like this…
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