MYENGINEER, CHAPTER 36: Lively
[Bohn]
“Um…so, is Nong Duen going to the camp with us?”
“Damn, Boss, finish chewing before you talk…I don’t know, he said he’d consider it.” I’ve asked him before, but he just said he’d think about it and kept putting it off.
“I think he’ll go anyway, um.” What makes you so sure, Boss? Duen is extremely lazy; on weekends, if he doesn’t have work, he just eats and sleeps, doing only those two things.
“Why do I have such ugly friends… how can you be so sure?”
“Uhh. It’s just my code junior husband.”
“You said the right thing, I’ll give you ten baht, hehe.”
Me, Tang, Merk, and Boss were sitting at the faculty cafeteria eating snacks. Yesterday, Tang and Phu weren’t flirting in front of us, but it seems Tang knew what we were thinking. Before we parted ways, he whispered to me, “You’ve got quite the imagination. Just to clarify, Phu and I are just Phii Nong,” then he explained that Phu touched his cheek because he said his face was stiff, so he asked for skincare advice.
That might be true, but I’m still not entirely convinced they’re just code siblings.
Even if it seems that way.
“Did your junior bring you flowers today?” The person I was thinking about asked, like he had something to prove. Whenever I gossip about him or when someone talks about him, he shows up or does something to say, ‘I’m here.’
“Not yet, he said he’ll come later.”
“Oh, really…tell me more. How did you ask him to be your boyfriend?” Boss nudged my shoulder with a mischievous look. I was about to answer but then thought of something fun.
“I’ll tell you if you tell me… how you and Merk became boyfriends.”
After saying that, I grinned. Boss and Merk aren’t really anything, I just love to tease them. Not just me, all the friends and people in our faculty do too. When someone teases Yod and he stays silent with a straight face, it’s really funny.
“I’ll tell you… That day, it was pouring rain. I found Merk shivering in the opulent bedroom of my buffalo, Sbai Plio, adorned with gold and diamond horns. I felt sorry for him and let him stay with me. After that, we became husband and wife, and that’s the end of it.” Thanarit said, raising his hand to link arms with
Merk, who sat next to him with a stoic face, then playfully rested his head on Merk’s shoulder.
Sbai Plio is actually his buffalo. Its horns aren’t adorned with gold and diamonds like he claimed. My friend keeps it on his strawberry farm in Chiang Rai. When he said he was going to buy a buffalo, we all thought it was a joke because we couldn’t see how a buffalo would be useful for his home business. If it was a rice farm, I wouldn’t say anything, but his place is a strawberry farm and resort. Plus, his parents are civil servants… What’s the point of having a buffalo?
His parents didn’t even complain though.
“How much was the dowry?” Tang asked, amused. I bet Boss would say ten million or a hundred million; who would value themselves so low…
“Two stalks of dried mushrooms and one grilled mangosteen.” That’s my friend right there.
“Swear that’s the dowry…damn, Merk, you’re so extravagant. If it were me, I’d just give ground salt.”
“Why would you give ground salt?”
“So we wouldn’t have to bite into a block of salt to eat, hehe.”
“Sigh.” All of us, including Merk, sighed in unison. Tang didn’t look disappointed that his own joke didn’t land; instead, he smiled and raised his hand to pose handsomely.
“Come on, seriously. How did you ask him to be your boyfriend?”
“I just asked if he wanted to be tied down and become my wife or if he wanted to be my boyfriend properly.”
“You bastard…you’re such a brute.”
“Obviously.” After saying that, I shrugged nonchalantly. Boss and Tang had looks of disgust on their faces, but I’ve never cared about that.
“And did he let you tie him down?”
“If he did, that would be great.”
“You’re a brute and still cocky about it.”
“Hehe.”
In the evening, I planned to ask Duen to pick up the kids together, but he definitely wouldn’t agree since he brought a bike. Should I make him leave his bike at home and pick him up every day? That’s what couples should do, right? Speaking of being a couple…I haven’t even announced it to the world yet. Before we were officially a couple, I thought I’d update my status on Facebook as soon as we became one, but in reality, I was too busy paying attention to the fool to bother with anything else…wait, I haven’t told Phii Diao yet.
Bon Ss: Phii Diao, I have a boyfriend now.
Phii Diao: I figured. That hot guy who brought Yakult into the pub?
Bon Ss: How did you know?
Phii Diao: I have strong senses. At first, I thought it was just for fun, but when I saw you two sitting sweet on the sofa, not caring about the girls at our table, I started to see the signs that the world would lose two handsome resources because they’re eating each other.
Bon Ss: Thanks for complimenting me and my wife, lol.
Phii Diao: Are you the husband, then?
Bon Ss: Huh, what do you mean by that, Phii?
Phii Diao: That guy is better looking than you.
Bon Ss: I’m better looking. No matter how good-looking he is, I’ll still have the upper hand.
Phii Diao: If that kid gets the upper hand on you, I’ll give you twelve thousand.
Bon Ss: And if I get the upper hand on him?
Phii Diao: Then I won’t give you anything because I won’t root for that.
Bon Ss: Wow. I’m not talking to you anymore.
After typing that, I pouted and locked the screen. As if Duen could get the better of me. Sure, he’s good-looking and tall, but I’m taller. Even if height doesn’t matter on a horizontal level.
Rrrrr
‘Duen’
Just thinking about him made him call, the cutest boyfriend ever.
“Hello.” I answered with a smile, I’ve been smiling a lot lately…but not smiling at everyone, just at Duen, with others, I keep my usual straight face.
(Where are you?)
“At the cafeteria, you’ll see me as soon as you come in.” I said that because he told me he was bringing flowers. He must have arrived by now. The cafeteria at my faculty is big, but I’m sitting near the entrance; you’d see me right away.
Because I’m so strikingly handsome, hehe.
(…)
“Is something wrong?” I raised my eyebrows, surprised when I didn’t hear any response. Normally, he’d complain, saying, “I’m too lazy to go!” or something like that.
(Can you come find me…?)
“Duen, what’s wrong with you?” His voice was faint, like he didn’t have much energy, something must be wrong.
(I’m by your car, come find me…alone, please.) My car is parked in front of the faculty, or could it be that my ex-flames have done something to him…Thinking that, I stood up immediately.
“Wait there, I’ll be right there.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the front of the faculty, Duen doesn’t seem okay.”
“What’s wrong? Want me to come with you?”
“It’s nothing, he said not to bring anyone.” After saying that, I quickly left the cafeteria. My legs changed from walking fast to running when I thought about the sound of my lover’s voice I heard earlier; he’d never made a sound like that before.
I don’t know if it was out of concern or what else that made me run faster than usual, and finally, I reached my destination.
“Duen, are you okay? Are you sick?” I was panting heavily from the run, placing the back of my hand on his forehead to check his temperature; his body wasn’t hot…so why was his face red? There were no bruises or signs of harm around him.
“No…”
“Then what’s wrong? Your voice didn’t sound good.”
“Do you have class next?”
“Huh…yeah, I do.” I answered, not really understanding.
“I do too…”
“Huh?”
The future doctor didn’t say anything more; he handed me a bouquet of flowers. I took them without examining their shape because right now, my mind was only on the person in front of me. Was he threatened or something?
“I’m going to class now.” After saying that, he seemed like he was about to run off, but I reached out to grab his shoulder, making him turn to face me.
“Hey, Duen, you’re really okay, right?”
“Yeah, I’m going now.”
“…Want me to walk you there?” I still wasn’t quite reassured, even if he said he was fine.
“No need, I brought my bike…Bohn.” My conversation partner ran a few steps, then turned his face back to look at me before saying something I didn’t understand.
“Huh?”
“I’m not good at talking…so I will let the flowers speak for me.”
I watched the retreating back of my lover, my brain still processing what he’d just said. Not good at talking? You, not good at talking? Oh, please. Whoever’s messing with my boyfriend, I’ll go slap some sense into them.
“What was that all about?”
“Really???”
“Who brought a bouquet of flowers for you Bohn?” The teasing shout that echoed through the cafeteria snapped me out of my reverie. Why are you guys laughing, it’s not like you’ve never seen flowers from Duen before.
“Is it Doctor Duen?”
“…Yeah, how did you know?”
Ah, the bouquet?
That’s when I finally noticed, looking down at the flowers in my hand for the first time because I was too worried about Duen when I received them to pay attention.
It was a medium-sized bouquet wrapped in some kind of net. It seemed to be made from natural materials. I don’t know much about these things, but I know it’s beautiful; the flowers inside gave off a fragrant scent as if inviting me to lean in and smell them. It’s the same plant my mom uses in her grilled meat, but she uses the leaves without flowers or dried ones, while these in my hand were fresh with purple blossoms all over.
“Oh, you’d be crazy not to know, Night posted it on his Facebook.” Tang, the Electric Engineering one, spoke while looking at the bouquet in my hand with envy, the scent reaching my nose even when it was just by my side.
“Ha, posted what?”
“A picture of the doctor giving you the bouquet in front of the faculty.”
“Where?” I pulled out my phone and checked Night’s, my friend from another department’s, recent post on his Facebook after waiting for it to load.
There was only one picture, the location was in front of the Faculty of Engineering. The focus was on two guys, one holding the bouquet that I now had in my hand. The other had a concerned look, with his large hand touching the other’s forehead…it was a picture of me and Duen.
Night, eiei
So sweet, this is in front of the faculty, sir!!! Today, it’s a whole bouquet, my god.
With rosemary too #BohnDuen #I’mTeamDoctor, #NongDuenSoCute, #IWantOne, #JealousMonkeyThaiMenInPain, #Engineering, the rough senior with the first-year doctor, #NoTagsPleaseTheyMightNoticeHaha
Oh my, I didn’t even notice, your hashtags don’t mention anyone’s name…
After reading, I nodded at them and walked back to the table in a daze…Could something be wrong with Duen?
“Why don’t you look happy?” Merk asked, holding a large book he had just borrowed from the library for tonight’s report.
“Duen is acting strange, he might be sick; his face is red, and he’s talking weirdly.” I lifted my hand to my chin, thinking back to how Duen was acting earlier.
Or maybe he’s pregnant and too shy to say…Daddy, Bohn.
Daddy, I apologize.
“What?”
“Well, like…he said to come see him alone, then before leaving, he said he wasn’t good at talking and to let the flowers speak for him.”
“Heh-heh.” Tang looked at me with his chin in his hand, a smile appearing on his handsome face. Merk did the same but didn’t rest his chin on his hand.
“What?”
“It seems like Duen has caught some of your mischievous habits. And you’ve picked up some of his naive ones.”
“What are you talking about?”
Before I could ask more, a sound from the cafeteria entrance interrupted us. I swear you’re not using a megaphone, your voice is so loud. I clearly remember who that voice belongs to; who else but Night, his voice is very distinctive.
“Rosemary flowers mean…your presence in my life has made my life more vibrant.”
“Really?????!”
“Oh, so romantic!!”
It didn’t take long for me to process this before I had to raise one hand to loosely cover my mouth. I didn’t want anyone to see how wide I was smiling…can you stop being cute for just one second, Duen?
I called the foolish doctor, but he didn’t pick up. No, not that he didn’t pick up, he just hung up. Maybe he was embarrassed, or maybe he was in class.
Bon Ss: Why didn’t you answer the call?
Duen: I’m in class.
Bon Ss: Oh really?
Duen: Yeah, I’m going to return to paying attention in class.
“Look at you, can’t stop smiling.”
“I’m happy.” I shrugged at my close friend before lifting the bouquet of purple flowers to look at them, then brought the tips to my nose to inhale their faint, sweet scent. I’ve heard they help with relaxation too.
…I never thought there could be this side to him.
“Nong Duen is super cute; he doesn’t seem as clueless lately.”
“Yeah, he said it’s because he’s been hanging out with me a lot.” I laughed so hard when he shouted that.
“That’s good then.”
“It is good, but there are so many people hitting on him now.” As I said that, the image from yesterday came to mind. At the Japanese restaurant, I pretended to be upset to make Duen coax me playfully, and he did it so well, probably never having coaxed anyone before. After he coaxed me, I wanted to tease him even more. So, at the cinema, I chose an erotic movie because I thought there wouldn’t be many people there, making it easier for us to do something. I didn’t let him buy the tickets because I didn’t want him to see my amused smile, but my good mood didn’t last long when we got back and I saw some young guy flirting with him.
After that, my anger really flared up when he said he didn’t have a boyfriend yet, planning to stay mad for a while…but when he gave me that final coaxing, I softened up. No, not softened, more like I lost my temper, damn…he’s so adorable, even kissed my cheek.
“People say that having a boyfriend makes you more attractive.” Merk spoke while still reading his book, damn, Merk is somewhat like Ram, except that kid doesn’t smile much.
“Really? Then why don’t I see any girls coming to flirt with me?” Before, there were tons, but after I decided to pursue Duen, not a single one came. Or maybe I just stopped paying attention?
“I don’t know, hey, that thing about being more attractive when you have a boyfriend, it’s only for those who’ve just got their first boyfriend, right?”
“Then that’s true because I’m Duen’s first boyfriend, heh heh.” Thinking about this makes me so happy, but even if he’d had a hundred boyfriends before, I wouldn’t mind.
…because I’ll be his last.
“Hey, really?”
“Yeah.” I puffed out my chest, giving them a playful smirk to tease them. These guys always say there are no single guys left in university…well, you’re wrong. My boyfriend breaks all your theories and beliefs.
All of them.
“Wow…there are really guys nearly twenty who are still single in this world?”
“He’s my boyfriend.” I winked mischievously.
“I’m jealous…” Merk said with a straight face.
“I am single, my dear.” Boss quietly hugged his boyfriend’s arm, acting all coy until my feet twitched. If he did it well, without being too prissy, I wouldn’t say anything.
“You’re not sincere…”
“Damn, Merk, according to the rules, you should say, ‘My love, you are the most adorable person I’ve ever seen.’ That would be right.”
“You’re not sincere…because I’ve already seen through your pretense.”
“I…hashtag teamMerk.” I said in a flat voice, Merk, you’re something else. I’ll use this line on Duen sometime…wait. I haven’t actually done anything with him yet, so I’ll save it for later, I’ll use it eventually, heh.
“I’m teamBoss.” Tang raised his hand to his eyebrow level while continuously typing something on his phone. Who are you talking to? I don’t know if it’s a girl or not just because you say it is.
“You can stay quiet like before, Merk.” Boss said with his arms crossed. When he said that, Merk feigned surprise by raising his eyebrows.
“Why? Didn’t you used to tell me to play along?” True, before, Boss was playing alone; he would always say, ‘Play with the wife a bit, husband.’ Now he’s playing. How is it, huh?
“Well, not anymore. Let Phii Tang play husband for you, Merk.” Damn, is the husband position that easily interchangeable? Do you think you’re some hot girl with her own harem or what, you bastard?
“Hmph. No thanks, I don’t want to get involved with husband and wife stuff.” Thanarit looked up from his phone, shaking his head in boredom. I took that chance to glance at his screen to see who he was talking to, but he quickly turned his phone face down. Did you do that on purpose or just by luck?
“What? Then you can have Bohn.”
“I already have a wife. Your husband and wife issues, you sort them out.” I replied with a deadpan face, but even if I didn’t have a wife, I wouldn’t want to play this game. It’s much more fun to watch than to play, I’ll support your couple.
“Why bother others? Isn’t having me as your only husband enough?”
“Wow…Merk, you nailed that role.” Tang clapped his hands. I agree, Merk really nailed it; his face was all serious, wait, was his face always like this?
“A silent, fierce, gloomy, handsome husband…a wild, chaotic, scattered-thinking but not listening wife.” I came up with a slogan for the silent husband and wild wife; these two fit them perfectly.
“Your ‘thing’ isn’t big enough.” The wild, chaotic, scattered-thinking but not listening wife grabbed the chin of his silent, fierce, gloomy, handsome husband, then forcefully turned his face to the side, making the silent, fierce, gloomy, handsome husband turn his head.
“Not big enough? You scream every time you get hit.” the calm, cruel, and handsome husband turned around with a malicious grin at his playful, scatterbrained wife, whose thoughts were all over the place but not entirely off…If I hadn’t known beforehand that you guys were just playing, I’d think you were really together.
“You’ve got such an imagination, shut up, you asshole, I’m not talking to you anymore.” the playful wife…enough already, you’re wasting too much paper.
“Are you embarrassed, my love, huh?” Merk raised his chin to look at the other. Just raising his chin and looking, without anything inappropriate…I used a harsh word, sorry.
“Your love, my ass.”
“What? Are the husband and wife fighting?” Someone’s teasing voice came from behind, and upon turning around, I saw it was Tee walking up, with King, and Bom by his side.
“Tee, you’ve come at the right time, I won’t play with Merk anymore, come be my husband.” You scoundrel! Your father never taught you to be like this, damn it. Since I’ve been with Duen, I feel like I’ve gone a bit crazy.
“Um…sure, I’m free, haha.” Wow, Economy guy…you give in so easily.
“Boss’s new guy has legs.” Boss…damn, it’s too long, I can’t remember, whatever, let’s just say he hugged the Economy guy’s arm, leaning his head on the broad shoulder with a gentle, coy gesture…I should write a novel.
“Watch out, Tee…Merk might punch you.” King raised his chin, looking at both friends before pointing at Boss’s ex-husband.
“Merk, you have to understand that Boss chose me. Not you.” The Economy guy raised his hand to stroke Boss’s head as if proud to have him as his wife.
“You’ve changed, Boss.” Merk said with a sad expression, looking at his former lover with longing.
“People change with time, Merk. You’re no different.” Boss said, feigning sadness.
“But my love is valuable. It doesn’t change with time; I can laugh, cry, feel pain, and be sad just like anyone else…”
Oscar!!
“Damn…Boss, go coax your husband, I won’t get involved anymore.” The Economy guy detached Boss’s arm before moving closer to me, as if not wanting to be involved.
“Oh, the playful husband and wife.” Boss moved to hug Merk’s arm, lifting his lower lip over his upper, blinking rapidly, as if about to cry.
“Enough with the dramatics.”
“Okay, from now on, I’ll only be dramatic with my husband.”
“Good, don’t let me see this again. Otherwise, I’ll chain you up at home.”
“Yay, I like it.” After finishing the sentence with a goofy head tilt, he leaned on the tall figure’s shoulder.
“You bastards, hahahaha.” We all laughed loudly; the table next to us, who heard our cheesy drama, laughed along. We talked and played around for quite a while, and when I checked the time again, it was already noon…I really want Duen to come eat with me. With that thought, I immediately called him.
(Beep)
(Hello)
“It’s noon, where are you eating?” I asked over the phone, looking at the bouquet he gave me this morning. It’s still fresh now, but in three or four days, it will start to wilt or dry up. I want to keep it forever without it wilting.
(Probably at the cafeteria. Don’t feel like eating outside the university.) Not just him, I don’t feel like going far either; the sun is insanely hot. Yesterday, Bihn left an egg on the street in front of our house, and by the time he came back, it had turned into a boiled egg. Am I in Thailand or hell?
“Want to eat at the engineering cafeteria?” I said with a smile, even though I knew the person on the other end wouldn’t see it. I should have made it a video call…but then again, I decided not to because my good friend wouldn’t let me have a peaceful conversation.
“Ohhh, I’m so jealous.” See, I hadn’t even finished my thought. I turned to look at Boss and raised my eyebrows a couple of times to tease him, and he pouted, clearly jealous.
“Damn, Bohn, we’re so jealous we could die, hah.”
“Heh-heh. So, what’s your answer?” I turned back to continue talking with Duen.
(Dream on, I won’t go to be teased//Where are you going?) The first sentence was from Duen, the second probably from Tang. Looks like I still don’t have a role…so I’ll stay quiet for now.
(Bohn invited me to eat at their faculty’s cafeteria//Won’t you go?) This time it was Tingting.
(Yeah, hey!//Phii Bohn, I’ll be there with Tang, see you in ten minutes.)
Click
“Uh…” I looked down at my phone, stunned. It’s not that I didn’t understand what they were saying. I was just a bit shocked at how things turned out, but whatever, I’m the one who benefits, heh-heh.
“So, what’s the decision? Is Duen coming?” Bom asked. Ever since he helped bring Duen to the gear plaza that day, they’ve been talking non-stop, closer than me, even though I’m his boyfriend…
“He’s coming. With Tang.”
“Great, are we talking about Ting; the cute faculty star from the medical school, and the cute Nong Tang?” Tee asked, looking very excited. How do you know them?
“Uh-huh, you know them?”
“Yeah, there are only a handful of good-looking people in our university, why wouldn’t I know them?”
“So do you know Fuin, the one from the Faculty of Science?”
“I know him, friend, you’re talking about this guy?”
I wasn’t paying attention to my friends but turned to look at the bouquet in my hand, waiting for the fool. After a while, I started hearing an excited murmur, making me look up. At the entrance, there was a group of five people walking in. They wouldn’t have caused such a stir if they weren’t all good-looking. I recognize every face…how could I not, that’s Duen’s group.
“Oh my, Nong Duen’s group is so cool, they can turn the cafeteria into a catwalk.” Tee watched with interest, interested in Tingting, not anyone else, lighten up, friend.
“So? Aren’t you going to meet your boyfriend, Bohn?” King raised his chin, pointing it towards Duen.
“Yeah, right…huh.” After saying that, I stood up and walked closer to my beloved until I was right in front of him.
“Who is it, Phii Bohn? They all look so cute I could eat them up.”
One of the young women clasped her hands, daydreaming. Her name is May, she’s my code junior. This one is no ordinary girl; her entrance exam score was the second highest since the university was founded (the first being my friend King). So I don’t worry much about her studies, I only give her a few lectures because I don’t have many myself.
Even if she’s smart, don’t think she’s a nerd…
“My boyfriend.” I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow at my code junior. She smiled before clutching her heart and making a loud noise, causing everyone in the cafeteria to look.
“Oh, oh my!”
“What’s wrong, May?” Payong, another friend of May’s, asked. She’s a very beautiful transgender woman; I think her name before her debut was Phayong-Sak.
“I’m hurt.” my code junior clutched her heart, acting like she was struggling to breathe.
“Hurt where?”
“My heart hurts…I like a guy, but he’s already taken…but it’s okay because his husband is my code senior!”
“Hi, hi, hi, hi-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!” After my code junior finished speaking, everyone in the cafeteria hooted and teased until Duen jumped, his face turning red. He moved his lips, mumbling something. If I had to guess, he must be cursing at me, I know because he was looking at me with irritation, heh heh.
“This is why I don’t want to come to your faculty.” Duen whispered. I raised my hand to ruffle his hair, teasing him.
“I’m hurt too.” Ting turned to say to my code junior, the group of girls looked at him in confusion, mixed with surprise because they didn’t expect him to come talk to them.
“Hurt where?” Payong asked back.
“My uterus hurts…Chibiko-chan is vibrating, saying, ‘You can cut it off now.
This lifetime, it won’t be used anyway; men are all eating each other.’“
Poor girl…
After the conversation ended, I led Duen’s group to the table. Everyone sat down neatly, but no one said anything. Here’s how the seating was arranged: On my side, there’s Duen, me, Bom, Boss, Merk, King. On the other side, there’s Tang, Tee, Tang, Phu, Ting, Ram. At first, Duen wanted to sit with his friends, but did he think I would allow that…no way.
“Hey, Boss!” Tiger’s loud voice from the nearby table made us all turn to look, even though it wasn’t our business. Have you ever done that? When you don’t know what to do, you just look around.
“Shut up!” It’s not like the cafeteria is that loud. You guys could have just walked over to talk; I wouldn’t mind.
“What’s this! Did the people at your table fall from heaven, or did they just finish a fashion show and come here to eat?”
“I was wondering the same thing! I’ve never felt this out of place before!”
“And how did you guys get here?” Tang asked Phu and Ram who were sitting on the same side.
“Ting followed us here, said she wanted to eat with us.”
“Uh…I’ll introduce those two to you. That’s Ting. This is Tee, this is Nong Duen,
Nong Ting Nong Tang.” They got to know each other, smiling and nodding. They might have heard of each other before, especially when they teased me and Duen on Facebook, but this was the first time they actually met.
“Is Phii Tee, Ram’s code senior?” Tingting asked, and when he was questioned, Tee perked up like a dog wagging its tail. Dude, could you please tone it down a bit?
“Yes, did Ram tell you about me?” Tee rubbed the back of his neck while making eye contact with the person he was talking to.
“No, Phu told me.” Silence…
“Damn, Ram, I’m your senior. Have you ever mentioned me?” Tee said, looking annoyed. His junior looked at him for a moment before Ben turned his face away.
“Ha?”
“Ugh, you’ve ruined my mood.”
“That’s your business…” Ram answered with a straight face, he really is silent.
“Your junior is super quiet.” King raised his chin, looking at the half-Thai guy sitting across from him. The person in question barely glanced up. Our King likes peculiar or interesting things, and I guess the half-Thai guy who speaks only a few sentences fits into that category.
“Want to swap juniors? I want to have Nong Wad.” Tee said. Wad is King’s code junior, quite cute.
“Dream on…hey, Tee’s code junior.” King raised his chin to call out to the person in front of him. From where I was sitting, I couldn’t see King’s face clearly, but I could see Ram’s face clearly…silent.
“?” Ram didn’t respond or say anything, just raised an eyebrow as if asking what was up.
“Why don’t you talk much?” The speaker tilted his head, examining his conversation partner. I was doing the same; today I got a chance to look at Ram up close. I’ve had opportunities before, but I never really scrutinized him, just glanced. He’s handsome…he is handsome. As I’ve said, I look at every good-looking foreigner. Even though Ram is half-Thai, he looks the most foreign.
“…”
Again, Tee’s code junior chose silence. Did I ever mention that my friend, King, likes not only the unusual but also the challenging…when ignored, he got up and sat next to Ram, raising his chin to get a better look at him. Hold on, friends.
“Talk to me a bit.”
“Yes.” Too short an answer, isn’t it?
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
“Say something longer, come on.” King leaned in to look at the beautiful tattoo on the half-Thai guy’s neck. Ram is too dark. Even though I’m rough, I’m clean rough, understand? I mean, I don’t have tattoos. I look clean and rough, but Ram looks ruggedly intense.
“Longer.” Ram said with a straight face.
“Wow! A sentence, I want a sentence.”
“Sentence.”
“…” Oh here we go, is King going to hit the kid or what? It seems like everyone at the table understands my feelings. Merk, who’s closest to them, was already preparing to intervene.
“…”
“You’re funny, ha ha ha.”
“Huh? Ha…”
The slender figure burst out laughing, patting the shoulder of his conversation partner a few times. He was genuinely laughing, not faking it, laughing to death.
“Really?” I whispered to Duen who was sitting next to me.
“I don’t know…”
“What do you want to eat? I’ll go buy it for you.” I just remembered that we hadn’t eaten yet, but I wanted to go buy food for him first.
“I’ll go buy it myself.” The slender figure tried to stand up, but I grabbed his arm, making him turn back and raise his eyebrows in confusion.
“I want to take care of my boyfriend.”
Hearing that, he lowered his head, his ears turning red with embarrassment. Damn…it feels like a mission accomplished. What is this fluffy feeling in my heart?
“…”
“Let’s go together then.”
“No, I said I want to take care of you.”
“That’s why I said I’ll go with you.” Duen looked up to say to me.
“…”
“I’ll translate…he also wants to take care of you.”
The voice of interruption came from the small figure of Tang, who smirked while playing a game on his phone, even though his head was down. Did Tang mean Duen just now?
“Tang! That’s not what I meant at all.”
“Oh, you want to take care? Why didn’t you say so from the start?” I nodded awkwardly, pulling my lover along to our usual shop, which I like because it’s delicious.
“Why weren’t the flowers today roses, huh?” I asked while we were in line, with him standing in front of me.
“…roses…are out of stock.” I saw them on the shelf the other day.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you get a bouquet today?” I continued to press.
“Well…rosemary has small flowers. If I gave just one stem, it would look ugly.” Your excuse, Duen…
“Really…can I get the truth?”
“Today was the first time I gave you flowers…as your boyfriend.”
“…”
“Ha.”
“I knew you’d laugh because I’m an idiot.”
“I’m not laughing because you’re an idiot, I’m laughing because you’re cute.”
“…”
“Having you in my life, it makes my life lively too, Duenhaw.”
Leave a Reply