MONSTERNEXTDOOR, Special Chapter 1: Familiar Person (part 1)
I came to the university’s veterinary hospital for the second time, but this time it wasn’t because of young-master. I came because I found a cat hit by a car on the road and rushed to bring it to the vet.
It’s been almost an hour since the white, scruffy cat was taken to the back. When the nurse came out, I could only look at it with concern. As my gaze moved away, another nurse handed me a small towel because my shirt was smeared with blood, making the red stains on my student uniform look quite scary.
“Take it, I’m giving it to you.”
“Thank you.”
I washed my hands clean, looking at my trembling hands.
I admit, at first, I was scared because I had never encountered such a situation before when I saw the cat. Besides me, there was no one else around, the sky was already dark, with only street lights providing illumination. The cat let out a meow, seeing that it was still alive, I quickly scooped it into my arms and rushed to the hospital right away.
I sighed softly looking at my disheveled reflection in the mirror, bent down to wash my face, removing the sweat stains. As for the shirt, just using a towel wouldn’t get rid of the bloodstains, so I’d have to wear it back like this.
In my mind, I thought I should call Phii Godt, but when I opened LINE, I saw he was in a meeting.
Ever since Phii Godt graduated and went out into the wide world to work, we only see each other once a week; Phii Godt works from Monday to Saturday. Plus, his workplace is all the way at Lat Phrao, it’s not reasonable for him to drive back and forth every day.
It would be another two days before Phii Godt comes over, and I feel a bit lonely without him, but because he video calls every night, it helps alleviate some of the loneliness.
I… I’m really attached to Phii Godt now.
Before, I could easily be alone, but now if I don’t hear his voice on any given day, I feel restless.
One reason is I worry about him. Did he eat well, sleep well, is he overworking?
The second reason is I feel possessive.
And it seems like Phii Godt knows I’m possessive. That’s why he always tells me whenever someone is bothering him.
At first glance, Phii Godt seems calm, stern, but once you get to know him, he’s kind, playful, and loved by many. After graduating from university and starting work, he’s become more mature, and now his charm radiates everywhere, his fan count has grown from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.
How could one not feel jealous?
I shook my head to clear my wandering thoughts. All I could do now was send a message to Phii Godt about the cat I found that was hit by a car, telling him I’d explain more when I get back to the room, as talking now wouldn’t be convenient. After sending the message, I looked at myself in the mirror once more before walking out of the bathroom and sitting quietly to wait.
The sound of the clock ticking mixed with the TV and the voices of staff preparing to go home. Apart from me, waiting for the test results, there was another woman sitting beside me playing on her phone. She didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave, as if she was waiting for someone. Next to her was a basket with a chubby gray and white cat whose round eyes looked playful. I was watching it intently until the nurse called my name.
Even though it wasn’t my own cat, and it was some stray without an owner, I couldn’t just leave it there and ignore it; it’s not in my nature. That’s why I decided I’d be the one to pay for its treatment. I’d look after it until it fully recovers.
The nurse led me into a small, square room, the only one still lit up. “Doctor will explain the condition soon, and about the expenses, I’ll bring you the bill later.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed to thank the nurse, while glancing at the back of the doctor who was busy with something. I looked over at the cat lying unconscious on the metal table, its left leg bandaged from the ankle to the hip.
Seems like it’s safe now. Earlier, because there was so much blood, I thought it might die.
“The cat is safe now, no broken bones, just a minor tear in the hip probably from trying to dodge during the run, and…”
The doctor turned around with a clipboard in hand. He looked up at me, and we both froze for a moment.
Wait a minute…
I furrowed my brows, looking at the doctor’s face, familiar under the round glasses. He was quite taller than me, the man in the short white lab coat in front of me, this person was…
“Phii Pee…”
“Diew…”
We both muttered at the same time. I quickly averted my gaze.
Why is Phii Pee here? Judging by the lab coat, is he a vet here?
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” His soft voice still had its unique charm, calming my heart every time I heard it. I looked down at the white cat, gently stroking its fur because I didn’t know what to say.
The last time we spoke, I can’t quite remember how long ago that was. I don’t really keep track of time, but I know it’s been quite a while because my memories of him aren’t as clear as before.
“Are you doing well?”
“I’m doing well…”
“I thought you would have gone to study somewhere else.” Phii Pee spoke to me as if nothing had ever happened between us. He didn’t even ask why I had cut off communication with him, why I had blocked him on all channels, why I had severed our relationship.
“I’m glad to see you wearing the uniform of this university.”
“And why… are you here?”
“Did you forget that I’m an alumnus here? Don’t you remember that I recommended studying here?” Pee’s hand touched the cat’s head, gently stroking it; his words started to jog my memory bit by bit.
Oh, that’s right… I came to study here because Phii Pee invited me to.
A university known for its medical program, but I liked both languages and chemistry, so Pee suggested I study here in the international program. At that time, we talked about how if I got accepted, he would treat me to a meal and a movie to celebrate.
In the end, we never did that.
“Don’t worry, I’m just here to help with some work.”
“Uh,” I let out a soft groan in my throat.
“The cat, did you bring it here?”
“I saw it lying by the roadside, so I picked it up.”
“Your shirt is all stained.” I didn’t see what Phii Pee was doing; my eyes were fixed on the motionless cat, but I heard the sound of fabric being shaken a few times before Pee handed me a T-shirt.
“Here, I give this to you.”
I looked up at him, frowning.
“Why give it to me?”
“Your shirt is covered in blood; if you walk out like that, people might think you’ve done something. Change into this one, you don’t have to return it.”
“But…”
“Just take it, as an apology.”
“Why apologize?”
“For betraying our friendship. I didn’t have the chance to say it back then, so I thought if I saw you again, the first thing I’d say would be ‘I’m sorry’… Honestly, I don’t expect you to forgive me. Just take the shirt, that’s enough.”
The more he acted like this, the worse I felt.
Ever since I started to let go of my prejudice against friends having feelings for each other, I’ve often come back to thinking that I was the one at fault. We had always been good friends, but when Phii Pee confessed his feelings, I cut off all contact, acting as if we had never known each other.
I remember what Phii Godt once said, “Friends… is it that easy to cut off each other?”
If I were in Pee’s place, having that kind of relationship severed, I would feel bad too.
I grabbed a large t-shirt and held it over my student uniform to cover the blood stains.
“About this cat, can you keep it in your dorm?” Phii Pee asked, leaning against the table, his warm gaze making me look away.
Just like before, he’s still as warm as ever.
“No, I can’t.”
“Then what will we do with it?”
“I don’t know either.” I still hadn’t figured out what to do.
“Then… can I have it?”
I didn’t understand what Phii Pee meant by “have it.” What does he mean by “have”?
“It’s not my cat.”
“Yes, it’s not your cat, but you saved it, and you can’t keep it. If you can’t keep it, what are you going to do, leave it by the roadside again?
Aren’t you afraid it might get hit by a car again, Diew?”
“Can you keep it then?”
“I already have one cat; adding one more isn’t a problem. Besides…”
Phii Pee walked closer. He scratched the cat’s nose a few times, and it slowly opened its eyes.
“It’s the cat you saved, just like how you once saved me.”
Phii Pee’s words made me gasp. We both fell silent, my mind processing whether it was a good idea to give this cat to him, but in the end, my answer was…
No… better not…
Phii Pee already has enough responsibilities. He has to look after his home, take care of his younger sister; giving him a cat would just add to his burden.
I picked up the cat and held it in my arms. This cat seemed quite accustomed to humans, or maybe it was just groggy from the anesthesia.
It didn’t hiss or struggle.
“Better not. I’ll try taking it back to the dorm first; maybe they’ll allow me to keep it.”
“Diew…”
“Excuse me.”
Without waiting for the nurse to bring the bill, I went to the counter and paid for the medication and treatment myself.
Even though I tried to forget the old stories, even though I thought if we met again, I wanted to say “I’m sorry,”
In the end, I didn’t dare to.
I’m such a coward.
In the end, I sat here dejectedly in front of the dorm with the white cat in a basket I got from the nurse because I didn’t want the cat to move too much or its wounds might tear open. I talked to the dorm owner, but he wouldn’t let me keep it. He said that cats and turtles are different. If I cause trouble for the other tenants, he would be in trouble too.
I didn’t argue, I accepted it willingly because I understood that keeping pets in a dorm isn’t really appropriate.
I sat looking at the disheveled cat without a solution. Right now, I could only think of one person who could help. I pulled out my phone from my back pocket after ignoring it since leaving the animal hospital, too worried about what to do with the cat to notice that Phii Godt had replied. He had also called twice.
Godzilla: Are you okay?
Wan: I’ll come to your dorm. Call me when you’re free.
I called Phii Godt back immediately, and it didn’t take long for him to answer as if he was waiting.
(“Hey?”)
“Are you coming over?”
(“Yeah, had a late meeting today, I probably won’t go to work tomorrow, I’ve been out for a while now.”)
“Uh,” I answered softly.
(“Is something wrong, little one? And how’s the cat?”)
“The cat is safe now. I brought it back to the dorm, but they won’t let me keep it, so I don’t know where to put it.”
I hesitated about whether to tell Phii Godt about Pee, but reconsidered; I’d better tell him when he gets here. If I told him while he was driving, he might hit the accelerator to a hundred and twenty, which could be dangerous.
When it comes to jealousy, Phii Godt beats me by a million to one.
When I’m jealous, I just keep it to myself, but when Phii Godt gets jealous, the spirit of Godzilla possesses him, and it’s terrifying.
(“Do you want me to help find it a home?”)
“Can you do that?”
(Take a photo for me, I’ll post it on Twitter. I’ll be there in about half an hour, wait for me, my clever one.)
“Okay, drive safely.”
(Yes, see you soon!)
“Hmm.”
(Missing you.)
Phii Godt hung up quickly, leaving me no time to respond. I sat there, scratching my neck and the back of my head out of embarrassment, before turning to look at the cat in the basket, meowing weakly as if it was out of strength.
“Sorry. I really can’t keep you.”
I opened the basket and took out my phone to take a picture of the cat. Upon closer inspection, with such a cute face, it shouldn’t be hard to find it a home, especially since it’s tame. Before I could send the picture to Phii Godt, an unfamiliar number called. I answered without giving it much thought; it might be a wrong number or maybe my mom changed her phone, because I hardly use mine, and if it weren’t for Phii Godt calling in and out, it would just be for scrolling through Twitter, playing games, setting alarms, timing things, and listening to music. That’s it.
“Hello?”
(Is this Nong Diew’s number?)
This voice…
“Phii Pee?”
(Yes, sorry, I got your number from the nurse; I wanted to talk to you but didn’t know how.)
“What’s up?”
(I want that cat. Can’t you really give it to me?)
I bit my lip tightly. Why does he want this cat so badly?
“Why do you want it so much?” Isn’t he already overwhelmed with responsibilities?
(And why don’t you want to give it to me? Haven’t you found a place for it yet?)
“How do you know I haven’t found one yet?”
(If you had, why would you be sitting in front of your dorm looking grumpy with a cat in a basket?)
I looked up in surprise; Phii Pee was standing across from me, but he wasn’t alone. He was with a woman, and if I remember correctly, she was the one who was sitting next to me at the vet hospital, playing on her phone. I’m sure I’m not mistaken because she was holding a basket with a chubby gray and white cat.
(“Can we talk for a bit? I promise not to bring up the past.”)
“I’m not worried about that.”
(“Then I’ll come over.”)
He hung up and crossed the street to me, Phii Pee sat down beside me, looking up at the sky quietly for a while.
“How did you know I was at this dorm?” I asked in confusion.
“At first, I just wanted to get your number to talk, but then I happened to see the name of the dorm.” Phii Pee laughed while looking apologetic, “I didn’t think you’d end up at the dorm I recommended.”
“I just thought it was convenient.”
“Hmm, well, that’s good then. How is it, is the food at the dorm as good as I said?”
“Yes,” I clasped my hands tightly.
“I might make you uncomfortable by coming here, but I just wanted to say thank you for everything that’s passed.”
“…”
“Do you see that woman?” The person beside me looked straight across the street where a woman was playing with her cat.
“Uh.”
“That’s Luk Kaew, my girlfriend.”
Phii Pee’s girlfriend…
“So don’t worry, I didn’t come here for that reason, but because I genuinely wanted to help.”
Phii Pee opened the basket and stroked the cat’s head; it purred in its throat, as if it knew who its savior was. It lay still, letting him scratch its head and neck. Seeing how well he got along with the cat, I knew I should let it go, but…
“Don’t you have family responsibilities to take care of?” Back then, he didn’t even dare keep one turtle, and now he wants to keep a cat that’s bigger and harder to take care of?
“Yes, but recently I’ve been able to work again. And besides, Luk
Kaew helps me with a lot of things.”
Is that so…
“You can take it then.”
The person beside me smiled happily.
“Thank you.”
“Phii Pee…” I grabbed the sleeve of the person about to walk away, making him sit back down.
If this is the last chance, I should apologize to him. If this is the last time we’ll see each other, I don’t want to keep any bad feelings inside; it’s like there’s unfinished business to resolve. So if possible, I’d rather end things with him on good terms, looking at each other, rather than parting with unresolved tension.
At least if there’s a chance to make amends, we should, right?
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me; I was the one in the wrong.”
“No… it was my fault. I’m sorry for not listening to your reasons, for judging you, for disappearing without hearing a word, even though I knew deep down you didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“Um, it’s true that in the past I liked you, but my liking was about wanting to make you happy. So even if you didn’t like me back, I still wanted to be your friend. I cried because I was sad that you hated me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t hate you. I was afraid you’d be angry at me…”
“How could I be angry at you? I was the one who broke your trust. It’s
Diew who should be angry with me.”
“I was angry, but not anymore.”
“Thank you, for me, whether it’s today, tomorrow, or any day, Diew will always be my best friend.”
As we talked, I realized tears were streaming down my face.
Why does this always happen? When I’m upset, I never cry, but when everything turns out fine, I end up crying like this. It’s so embarrassing.
I wiped away my tears awkwardly. What I said about hating and being angry at him, once I put aside my prejudices, I realized I was never truly angry at Phii Pee. He was the first one to break through the walls I had built, becoming my first real friend.
Even though there are some things I can’t remember because it’s been a long time since we talked, there are many things I do remember.
Like how he said I saved his life when he was contemplating suicide, just by telling him he was my only friend, or how well we got along, whether it was in conversation, personality, or shared interests.
Phii Pee has always been my best friend, in the past and now.
That’s why when we fought, I felt so bad that I didn’t want to be friends with anyone else again.
“Don’t cry, you’re a brave one, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Phii Pee’s hand touched my hair, and the more he comforted me, the more I couldn’t stop crying. Seeing that I was crying harder, he let me cry until I was satisfied. He sat quietly without saying anything.
Until a shout rang out.
“Diew!”
I looked up through my tears to see Phii Godt walking towards us, his face as dark as a bear that just ate honey. Without saying a word, he grabbed me and pulled me to him while giving Phii Pee an unfriendly look.
“Phii Godt.”
“What did he do to you? Who did what to you, why are you crying?” Phii Godt almost shouted in my face. I quickly objected. He must have seen the scene where Phii Pee was patting my head, which made him this angry, even though there was nothing to it.
“There’s nothing. He… he didn’t do anything.”
“Then why are you crying? Why are you sitting there letting him pat your head like that?”
The louder Phii Godt shouted, the angrier Phii Pee got. He stood up, trying to mediate.
“Sorry. I’m just a friend of Diew. I was just comforting him.”
“Who asked?” Phii Godt glared at Phii Pee, “Go up to the room now.”
Then I was grabbed by Phii Godt, who pushed me back towards the dorm. The tears that were flowing moments ago stopped abruptly; I forgot I had been sobbing, too confused about what to do first, whether to tell Phii Pee not to worry, this one’s my boyfriend, or to tell Phii Godt there’s nothing going on, that one’s my old friend.
So, I didn’t get to say goodbye to the other person with whom things were cleared up after years of misunderstanding.
A look of confusion behind round glasses was sent my way; Phii Pee seemed about to follow us, but I shook my head at him. He stopped in his tracks before shouting after us with concern.
“I’ll call you later, Diew!”
Which only added fuel to the fire for the big guy pulling me back to the room.
“Call, you want to call my wife, you piece of shit.”
Oh no, when Phii Godt gets angry, he’s scarier than anything.
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