MONSTERNEXTDOOR, Chapter 04: If you don’t understand ‘him’, try sitting quietly. You might understand more.
After that day, I didn’t hear any loud noises from next door anymore. I would only hear the sound of the key turning in the door at ten and the chime from the balcony, but I didn’t pay attention, just kept reading books quietly by myself.
I hadn’t gone out to talk to him on the balcony for a week. I wasn’t sure if the creature next door now hated me for slamming the door. I had never done that before in my life. That day, I just acted out of frustration from earlier.
But judging from the Post-its stuck on my door every day,
Phii Godt wasn’t angry with me at all. He was more afraid that I was angry with him.
I took out the pink Post-its from the past seven days to look at. His handwriting was like a child trying hard to write neatly.
‘I thought you wasn’t back yet, so I let them be loud, I’m really sorry for not stopping them in time.
‘I won’t let them come to the room anymore. Don’t be mad at me, okay?’
‘I’m sorry, I won’t make noise again.’
‘Can you come out to talk? You can scold me if you want.’
‘Are you very angry with me, Diew? Come out to play games with me, even if we don’t talk.’
‘Little Turtle, I bought Pocky for you.’ And then, his latest Post-it today.
‘Today I’ll be waiting at the balcony.’
I sighed deeply while closing my room door. I didn’t reply to the message but stood there, looking at the door that often slammed shut. I didn’t quite understand my neighbor.
He didn’t need to care about me at all; he has so many friends. I’m just the quiet kid next door, but his message on the Post-it made me feel a slight expectation.
Expect what? To be good neighbors to each other?
Or to keep having these bedtime talks, even though there’s no way that would happen?
I shook my head slightly to clear my thoughts, put the pink Post-it in my pocket, and walked straight to the elevator, pressing the button to go down to the first floor.
The world inside my head is very noisy.
Because I’m not the type to say what I think out loud, my thoughts whirl around inside, making a loud racket.
Unlike the creature next door who says whatever he thinks immediately, praising himself, complaining about heavy rain, or directly asking someone’s name if he wants to know them, expressing his likes and dislikes easily.
We live in completely different worlds; two types of people who hardly ever could be friends.
But he still tries to talk to me.
It’s strange, of course, because he’s a peculiar being.
I was staring at my small notebook filled with scribbled chemical formulas. Today I had an exam in the morning, so last night I pulled an all-nighter studying, thinking I had mastered everything. Now, all I needed was to anticipate any curveballs the professor might throw.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I stepped out, still gazing at my little notebook, before I bumped into something soft. I stepped back to look at the creature in front of me.
A towering bear mascot turned to look at me silently.
In its hand were balloons of various colors, and children were chattering in the lobby.
I forgot that today the dorm was celebrating a birthday for the owner’s child, and they even hired someone in a bear costume.
I stood there staring at the round-headed bear for a minute. It looked at me as if to say, ‘Hug me, hug me,’ much like any other mascot one might meet at a mall. Normally, I’d walk away, but since I had an exam today, I felt like I could use a bit of encouragement.
“Give me some luck for the exam, will you?”
I opened my arms wide and hugged the tall bear, his large arms hugging back while gently stroking my head, giving me a warm feeling.
I had to run to catch a taxi to my exam after just a brief hug.
Come to think of it, how long had it been since I last hugged someone?
The last time was when I hugged my grandfather and mother goodbye before I came to study in the suburbs of Bangkok.
My family is from Phuket, but originally, I’m from Bangkok. Both my parents are from Bangkok, they got married in Bangkok, had me in
Bangkok. After my father passed away, my mother moved from
Bangkok to Phuket because my grandfather got a permanent job there.
My family has a DNA of doctors; my father was a neurosurgeon but died in an accident. My mother is an ophthalmologist who runs a clinic in Phuket. Half of my father’s relatives are doctors, but they haven’t been involved with our family since my father passed away, only occasionally sending money to my mother. If asked where my quiet nature comes from, I’d say without hesitation, it’s from my dad.
As for my mother’s side, since my dad died when I was young, I was closer to my grandfather than any other relative. He’s a Ph.D. at a sea turtle conservation foundation, which is why my moving-in gift was YoungMaster.
YoungMaster is a red-cheeked turtle that’s as tame as a dog.
I spent two hours on my exam, and after it was over, I took a taxi back to the dorm. Since it was Sunday, I thought I’d buy some food to stock up for the next week, so I was browsing in the snack aisle at 7-Eleven for a while.
My hand, which was picking up strawberry Pocky, paused before putting it back. Since that day when I didn’t talk to the creature next door, I’ve got seven boxes of Pocky, initially from a girl, but later he must have bought out the whole rack to try and appease me.
In reality, I’m not angry at him. I just had to focus on studying for midterms, so I didn’t go out to talk on the balcony. It might seem harsh, but Phii Godt is a creature I’m not quite comfortable getting close with. He’s like a Godzilla who can invade my world at any moment. He could just break down the door to see me, so I had to set up some defenses to keep a little distance.
If we hadn’t made that three-point agreement, he might have been waiting for me outside my door by now.
After buying some snacks, I went back upstairs. The party downstairs had ended, leaving only a few kids still playing. I took the elevator up to the tenth floor, walking back to my room while looking at my phone.
And there was something strange on my door again.
A red balloon against the white door gave an odd, creepy feeling, especially since it was the only one on my door. It reminded me of a horror movie I had just watched about clowns. I didn’t know if someone was playing a prank or what, but I wasn’t cruel enough to pop it right there, so I untied the string from the doorknob and brought it inside.
As soon as I closed the door, I heard the chime ringing from the balcony next door.
I placed my things on the table, let the balloons float up to touch the ceiling, and then walked to open the glass door to the balcony because there was no reason to ignore him anymore.
He didn’t say anything, but I knew he was out there on the balcony.
He was the one who rang the bell to call me.
“Phii Godt.”
“Hmm,” he responded in a dull tone.
“What are you doing?”
“Learning how to be alone.” His voice, carried by the wind, sounded downcast, making me smile unintentionally.
To that extent…
I slumped onto my large turtle pillow, leaning against the wall that was adjacent to his room. This was the first time I came out to talk to him while it was still daylight, and the sun wasn’t even hot today. There was a gentle breeze that felt refreshing, and white clouds drifted across the sky, a scene not often seen.
“Diew…”
“Hmm.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
“Then why haven’t you come out to talk?”
“I had to focus on studying for my exam, but I’m done now. Just have to submit some work to the professor.”
“Phew, that’s a relief.” He sighed, and I could hear him moving around. “I thought you were mad and wouldn’t talk to me anymore. You never slammed the door that hard before. I was really shocked that day, even told all my friends to go home.”
“I should apologize too, I was just a bit irritated that day.”
“Irritated about what?”
I pressed my lips together tightly, unsure if I should tell him, but since we had made a pact to be bedtime chat friends, sharing this wouldn’t hurt.
“A senior from my faculty asked me to review a bag for them.”
“And then what?”
“I refused because I don’t like taking photos. After that, they’ve been taking jabs at me ever since.”
“Why do they need to take jabs at you?”
“I’m not sure, I think his last name is Thachae.”
“He always complains that, ‘He’s good-looking but so arrogant.’”
“Is he that good-looking?”
“He says so himself. I didn’t say it.”
“You’re pretty self-absorbed too, aren’t you?”
No one can be as self-absorbed as the creature next door, praising himself three times a day after meals. No matter where the conversation goes, he can always bring it back to complimenting himself by saying things like, “I’m really handsome.”
“You don’t need to pay attention to him, you know.” His words were tinged with concern, but I was okay. I didn’t take it to heart; it was just annoying to meet that guy and always get teased by him.
“Uh-huh.”
“Good-looking people are like that, everyone wants them.”
Wow, you’re something else!
“I’ve met him before, a friend asked me to review some cream for him.”
“Did you review it for him?”
“Of course, I got paid for it.”
All that coolness you accumulated is gone, just pile it on your balcony. I’ll only acknowledge that you’re the most annoying person I’ve ever met.
But in his playful words, I could clearly feel his encouragement. Even though he didn’t say it outright, his way of joking around made me feel good about talking with him because I really didn’t think too much about it nor wanted to.
“Actually, there’s a reason why I’m loud.” Suddenly, he switched to a serious mode catching me off guard.
“Do you need a reason for being loud? Loud is just loud.”
“Hear me out first,” he interjected. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Uh-huh.”
“I didn’t realize you was really in the room, it’s always quiet in there, but next door to me, it’s loud every day, so I had to compete with the noise.”
“I see.”
“The room next to mine… well, they’re having loud sex every night, so I wanted to get back at them, and it ended up being a noise competition.”
Having sex…
I massaged my temples. I’ve mentioned before that if he brought a woman up to spend the night, I’d seriously consider moving out, no matter how nice the view from this room is. I can tolerate the clinking of bottles and children’s songs, but listening to moans and the bed banging against the wall all night? I really can’t handle that.
After living here for a while, I’ve realized that this dorm’s management isn’t that great. Even though it’s an expensive place, the rooms are just square boxes, with a bathroom, a bed, a small desk, and a glass door leading to a balcony for some fresh air, but the owner doesn’t really care, so few people complain about the noise.
“Please don’t do that,” I muttered under my breath. I couldn’t handle it if he did.
“Do you want me to?”
“If you do, I won’t talk to you at all.”
“Hah, you’re thinking of something quite audacious.”
This Phii Godt… he’s vulgar!
We sat in silence again. Even though I now understood why he was being noisy, it didn’t mean I’d allow it to continue. Deep down, I kind of felt sorry for him having to listen to the neighbors’ activities.
But then, I also have to listen to his friends singing children’s songs, so I guess we’re even.
Thanks for coming out to talk,” his deep, smooth voice softened a bit, making him sound slightly more handsome.
“Uh-huh.”
“Did you see the balloons at your door? I put them there as an apology.”
I wondered who the mischief-maker was who tied red balloons to my door, turning it into some kind of horror movie scene.
I turned to look at the red balloon that should have been touching the ceiling in my room, but now it was floating at the balcony ceiling before drifting away with the breeze, causing me to grab for it.
“Ahh!” I exclaimed as the balloon floated away right in front of me, and it seemed like my neighbor noticed.
“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to let it float away right in front of me, that’s cruel.”
“I didn’t…”
“You could have just popped it in your room if you were going to refuse the gesture, what kind of heart do you have?”
“Phii…”
“Turtle-Diew, you are such a bully.”
And then he closed the glass door back into his room, leaving me to watch the red balloon float away until it was out of sight.
I didn’t mean it, I just cursed him out!
Afterward, there was another knocking sound at my door. The dark shadow in front of the door was becoming more familiar to me every day. Once he had done what he wanted, he went back inside. As soon as I heard his door close, I got up to open mine.
A pink balloon…
It was tied to the door handle again.
I carefully untied it and pulled the balloon into the room, tied it to a chair, and looked at it silently.
Where did he get so many balloons from? Did he steal them from a birthday party downstairs or what?
The pink Godzilla today…
Always so hard to understand.
In the evening, I heard voices talking next door. I glanced away from my computer screen where I had paused a documentary on sea turtles, removed one earbud, and listened to the conversation outside his door.
“Staying quiet by yourself for a whole week?”
Why, can’t I be quiet for once? I’m trying to meditate.”
“Since when do you meditate, Khun Godt?”
“That’s right, I’m the most disciplined.”
“You’re acting weird, you know. No noise, no drinking, not even watching football, so what’s the deal…”
The voices quieted down. From eavesdropping over the days, I could now distinguish the voice of Phii Godt’s friend who often sleeps over, named Phii Wan. Phii Wan has a roommate, Phii Beert, who likes to listen to The Shock radio show, so when Phii Beert is home, Phii Wan sleeps at Phii Godt’s because he’s afraid of ghosts.
Click
The sound of the glass door from the next room opened. I, who had left my glass door ajar, smelled the faint scent of cigarette smoke before hearing the sound of someone shouting from the balcony.
“Can’t smoke!”
“Again, are you afraid the room next door smells?”
“Yeah.”
“So, who lives next door? Did you meet them? Man or woman, are they cute?”
“My neighbor?” He paused for a moment, “It’s a child ghost with a pale face like Ju-on, likes to chat at night, so I have to hang a bell. If I don’t ring the bell, it won’t come out.”
“No way!”
“You offer Pocky as a tribute, because the child ghost likes to eat Pocky.”
“Damn you, Godt!”
The creature next door laughed like a madman. As for me, I squeezed the water bottle I had forgotten to drink until the cap popped off.
Not enough with just one ghost nun, now there’s a Ju-on too…
And Phii Wan, who’s scared out of his mind, I wonder if he’ll dare to stay over at Phii Godt’s place after hearing about this ghost story. He might believe Phii Godt and spread the tale to others. After that, my room would become legendary, the last room on the tenth floor, where the spirit of a dead child lingers, haunting the neighbor, with offerings of Pocky changing to garlands and three-colored cloths.
“Okay, seriously, who is it?”
“A freshman.”
Really? I’ve been here for so long and I didn’t know anyone was living there.”
“He’s not good at socializing.”
I fell silent, picking up Young-Master who was about to fall off the table.
Instead of saying “he likes to keep to himself” or “he likes being alone,” he chose to say “he’s not good at socializing.” It’s a term that doesn’t suggest I push others away, just that I’m awkward when around others.
“So, when you said you wanted to live quietly by yourself, it was because you were afraid we’d make noise?”
“Uh, partly.”
“And the other part?”
“I wanted to try living quietly for once, to understand him better.”
“That bad?”
“Yeah, the guy next door has to put up with your bottle knocking and cheering for football at three or four in the morning, and he has to wake up early to go to class every day. I can barely stand listening to the room next door arguing for one night, but he’s put up with me for a full month.”
Yes, I’ve endured you for a whole month.
It seems he’s been thinking more since he’s been quiet by himself for a week, which makes me feel a bit happy.
“If it were me, I would’ve moved rooms by now.”
“Exactly. He never came to knock and curse at me, he just stayed quiet, until that day he slammed the door in my face, I didn’t know what to do next.”
“Then you should feel guilty, make him know you’re really sorry.”
“How? All I’ve done is annoy him.”
“I don’t know, you have to decide for yourself. I can only tell the guys not to come to your room for a month.”
“And where will you guys go?”
“Save yourselves first, dude. Your other friends are fine. You’re the one who’s going to die. You’ve been here for a month and didn’t realize someone was living next door. He never made any noise for you to hear.”
“Not at all.”
You sure?”
“No… shit… shit, and what about Wan?”
“What?”
I sat waiting to see what the creature next door would say, probably as eager as Phii Wan who didn’t know what face he was making.
“Or could he really be a ghost?”
Thud
The chair I was rocking on fell to the floor, along with the shouting and yelling of Khun Godzilla and his friend.
I hate him so much, I swear!
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