GODDESSBLESSYOUFROMDEATH, Case File 19: Do Not Respond

Thup pushes the shopping cart and picks out items, following his older brother. Meanwhile, Singha just casually selects anything edible, not really caring about the type or brand.

“This one will expire in two days, you know.” said Singha.

“That’s not for marinating meat.”

“Phii, that’s a different formula from what I saw at home.”

It’s Thup who has to keep picking up the items the older guy throws into the basket, checking some, replacing others on the shelf. “So picky, Thup, it’s all edible anyway.”

“It’s edible, but it’s better not to eat it.”

“Then you pick everything.” Singha decides, now walking behind with his arms crossed, watching the kid in front of him carefully select items for the cart. “Grab some beer too.”

“How many packs?”

“Two.” Thup, without hesitation, picks the same brand of beer he’s seen in the fridge. “How do you know which brand I drink?”

“It’s in the fridge, isn’t it?” Thup turns back to look at the older guy before reaching out to pull Singha closer by the waist. “You’re about to bump into something.”

“Oops!! Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” a woman apologizes to both of them after nearly crashing her cart into Singha.

“It’s okay.” Thup smiles at her before continuing to walk, still not letting go of the older man’s waist.

“Can you let go now?” Singha says, lightly kicking Thup’s shin.

“Ouch, that hurt.”

“I haven’t even used any force yet. Should you start exercising?”

“Not really.”

“Then you should start.”

“Well, I don’t know how to begin.”

“There’s a gym, but is there a ghost in the gym?”

“No, there isn’t, but there are people instead.”

“Afraid of ghosts, afraid of people. How are you going to live, Thup? Don’t you think about getting a girlfriend or something?” Singha asked before picking up his usual brand of toothpaste and putting it in the shopping cart.

“How can I have a girlfriend, I can’t go out, can’t eat outside, and even if I stay with her, I scare her.” The two continued walking to the fruit section, where Thup started picking apples one by one into a bag, “Do you want anything else, Phii?”

“Just grab whatever.”

“Oh, Phii, the four people who were brought in this morning, the one guy named Bom asked if you could speed up the process. He said the police haven’t done anything yet.”

“Those four YouTubers, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, okay.” Singha picked up his phone to make a call to whoever was on duty today, “Hello, Inspector.”

“Who’s handling the case of the four who trespassed into the murder scene?”

“Uh, it should be Lieutenant Kong.”

“Didn’t I tell you to get it done by this morning?”

“Yes, Inspector, but the station today has been chaotic, with power outages lasting hours and the phone signal coming and going.”

“And where are those four now?”

“Just a moment.” Singha waited quietly on the line, but when he turned to see Thup talking to a woman, he immediately took interest. The young woman who approached to greet seemed shy, especially when both looked his way before waving goodbye, making him even more curious, “One is in the holding cell. Two are in the reception room, and one is in the bathroom.”

“Is Lieutenant Khem still there?”

“Lieutenant has gone home.”

“Then, Lieutenant, you handle it properly.”

“Me, sir?!”

“Yes, you know what to do with people who trespass into a crime scene without permission.”

“Understood, Inspector, but… should we send the one in the holding cell to the hospital? He seems… odd, Inspector.”

“Odd how?”

“He vomited all over the cell floor, sir, and he’s mumbling something.”

“Well, go listen to what he’s mumbling.”

“It’s like… it’s like he’s chanting.”

“Chanting?”

“Yes. None of the officers want to go near there now. I think instead of calling a doctor, we should call a monk.”

Singha sighed before walking towards Thup, who was waiting.

“Call Dr. Say to check on him, and get me the background of that kid.”

“Yes, Inspector.”

“I’ll deal with it again in the morning. If you manage to finish before then, you can release them.”

“Yes.”

Singha hung up and sighed, wondering if they were just fooling around with the locals.

“Have you finished your call?”

“Yeah, who was that earlier, someone you know?” These ghosts have nothing better to do.

“No.” Thup shook his head, “She asked for your number… Phii.”

“My number? For what?”

“She said… she likes you, Phii.”

“And where did she go?”

“She left. I told her you were busy with something important and not available, and also that you’re very strict.”

“Right, that’s good. Have you got everything yet? I’m heading back.”

“Yes, I’ve got everything.”

“Then let’s go pay.” Singha led the way to the cashier counter, not noticing the small smile of the young man who was relieved because this older guy didn’t seem to mind what he had said, and he didn’t dare to tell Singha the entire conversation.

“Uh, excuse me, are you with that gentleman?” a young woman asked shyly.

   “Yes.”

   “Is he… does he have a girlfriend yet?” Thup glanced at Singha, who was talking on the phone with a serious demeanor.

   “Seems like he doesn’t yet.”

   “Then… can I have his number?”

   “He’s on a business call right now, might not be the best time.”

   “He’s so cool.”

   “Yes, very cool. Great at work, kind but also very strict.”

   “Huh? Strict?”

   “Yes, extremely strict.” Both turned to look at Singha simultaneously before the woman turned back to Thup, blushing. Thup’s gaze at Singha held more than just admiration, noticeable enough for others to see. “I think I better not get involved with you guys, sorry about that, I really didn’t know.”

   “What?”

   “Sorry. I won’t flirt with your boyfriend anymore.” The woman apologized hastily and ran off.

   The two arrived home at 10 PM, with Thup carrying the purchased items into the house, while Singha carried his own beer.

“Is it finished?”

“It’s finished, uh, but there’s still some in the car…”

“Leave that doll in the car.”

“Does your house have a Buddha shelf, Phii?”

“Yes, it’s upstairs.”

“Can I go up?”

“Go ahead, it’s in the room on the right.”

Thup nodded before walking upstairs. Upon reaching the top, Thup opened the door to the right-hand room as instructed by the older guy. As soon as he entered, he felt a coolness. Not the coolness from an air conditioner, but a comforting and reassuring chill.

Inside the room, there were several cabinets, and a clean white Buddha shelf facing north, mounted on the wall. On the top shelf stood a radiant golden Buddha statue. Below it, slightly to the right, was a green statue of Thao Vaisravaṇa, the Great Guardian, holding a club, looking formidable in the Chatumaharajika pose, facing the same direction.

Thup raised his hands, pressing them together at his chest, then brought his thumbs to his forehead as he recited the words taught by the revered monk:

“Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa… Itipiso Bhagava, Yammarachaano, Thao Vaisravaṇa, Maranang, Sukhang, Ahang, Sukhatho, Namo, Buddhaya, Thao Vaisravaṇa, Chatumaharajika, Yaksa, Pantapatipurito, Wessa, Phusa, Buddhango Ahang, Phuttho, Thao Wessu, Wannano, Namo, Buddhaya.

I humbly bow to the perfectly enlightened Buddha, the Dhamma, and the noble Sangha. I seek the blessings of Grandfather Thao Vaisravaṇa, please protect me and Phii Singha, residing in this house, from all dangers that seek to harm us.”

As the chant ended, there was a loud knock on the front glass. Thup quickly turned to look, his heart pounding.

“What’s that noise, Thup?” Singha’s shout called Thup back to his senses.

“There’s nothing.” Thup turned to look at the Buddha statue and the Thao Vaisravaṇa statue once more with respect before bowing, then walked downstairs with a lighter heart.

“What were you doing up there, making noise?”

“Phii, don’t just call out like that.”

“Well, I heard it.”

“Don’t just call out randomly. At least call my name, and if someone calls at night, don’t respond.”

“What should I do if someone calls me?”

“If you don’t see who’s calling, don’t respond at all.”

“So, what did you go up there for?”

“To pay respects to the Buddha and Thao Vaisravaṇa. I came in with something bad with me, and had to inform them.”

“Alright, go put the stuff in the fridge.”

“And, the Buddha shelf upstairs, do you venerate it, Phii?”

“My mom did, she set it up when we first bought the house.”

“Oh, and your mom doesn’t stay here?”

Thup paused, looking at Singha who had sad eyes. “My mom was ordained as a nun at the temple.”

“My mom’s at the temple.”

“Stop thinking about it, you little rascal.”

“Phew, that’s a relief. I thought I was going to make you think of something bad.” Thup sighed in relief before walking to the fridge to store the purchased items. “What do you want to eat, Phii?”

“Anything, just make something. I’m going to have a beer while waiting.”

“Phii, why don’t you go take a bath and change first? You were soaking in the pond today, you might get sick.”

“Yeah, right. I’ll be back soon.” Singha went upstairs to take a shower, leaving Thup alone to handle things downstairs.

Thup organized the groceries into the refrigerator and shelves until everything was neat, then he decided to cook some rice along with preparing two simple dishes. While he was turning his back to finish the last bit of cooking, a faint call came from the direction of the house fence, making Thup pause.

‘Thup’

   The soft call with a gentle tone made Thup turn around. He put down the ladle and turned down the heat, knowing in one part of his mind that he shouldn’t, but another part felt the voice was too familiar. Thup’s toes walked out of the kitchen, following the call towards the front door.

‘Thup’

   The voice called again, louder this time, prompting him to grab the curtain ready to open it, but then someone spun him around.

“I just told you not to answer.” said Singha, standing in front of Thup, bare-chested with a white towel around his neck, wearing only black sweatpants.

“Did you hear that, Phii?”

“Yeah, so I came down to check.”

“The voice… it sounded familiar.”

“Besides me, who else knows you’re here? Finish eating, take a shower, and go to sleep upstairs.”

“Okay?”

“Or do you want to sleep downstairs and let something call you again?”

Thup shook his head vigorously.

“That’s it then.” Singha said, flicking Thup’s forehead without holding back, “Go check on the food, don’t burn my house down.”

Only now did Thup realize how close his face was to something elusive; it was near enough to see the sharp eyes of his older brother clearly. He thought it might be the heat from the pot or perhaps because he just saw the older man up close. The young man quickly ran back to the stove, his face flushed with heat, unsure of the real cause.

After having dinner together, Thup excused himself to take a shower, then he carried his pillow and blanket upstairs once again.

“Phii.” The door on the left slowly opened quietly, and Thup would have run away if he hadn’t seen the bare back of his elder walking towards the bed. Thup entered with apprehension before standing in front of the door, not moving anywhere.

“How long are you going to stand there? Turn off the light too.”

“Uh… where should I sleep, sir?” Thup asked as he reached out to turn off the light.

“Maybe in the bathroom. You ask such weird questions, come to sleep.”

“I… I’d rather sleep on the floor.”

“I don’t have a mattress for the floor.”

“It’s… it’s okay. I can sleep there.”

“Suit yourself, sleep wherever you want.” Singha dismissed, then turned on the lamp and picked up a case file from the bedside table to read, putting on his black-framed glasses again, which Thup couldn’t take his eyes off. If he could, he’d love to just sit and watch the older man all day.

“Phii Singha.”

“Don’t disturb.”

Thup immediately pressed his lips together. He walked over to sit cross-legged on the floor beside the bed, resting both arms on the bed and placing his chin on them, his beautiful eyes not leaving the older man. If not for Singha, who knows what would have happened to him now; he might have seen ghosts and lost his mind, or been arrested as a scapegoat like in the previous case. “Why are you sitting there staring at me? If you’re going to sleep, then sleep.”

“Phii.”

“What now, you do have so many issues.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For helping me.”

“Helping with what? I haven’t done anything yet.”

“You’ve helped me a lot. At least by listening to what I say, that’s helping me already. Thank you.” Singha looked at the young man’s face reflecting the soft light, Thup’s different-colored eyes clearer now, his bright and sincere smile something tangible. Truth be told, it was rare to see this kid with a relaxed expression, not scared or worried.

“Get up here and sleep on the bed.”

“Yes?!”

“Come up, don’t make me repeat myself.”

“But…” Thup quickly shut his mouth when he saw the older guy frown. He sighed, picked up his bedding from the floor, walked around to the other side of the bed, and then plopped down on the bed, hugging the edge.

“Sleep, don’t ask too much, I have work to do.”

“Alright.” Thup said softly before looking at the older guy’s face, including the tiger tattoo on his right arm. Tonight, he wouldn’t have to sleep in fear or paranoia, for sure, “Good night, Phii Singha.”

“Yeah.”

 

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