MYENGINEER, CHAPTER 49: The Last Rose
[Bohn]
“What’s wrong, Bohn, why that face?”
King commented when I walked into the bedroom. No one had gone home yet, even though we have to go to school tomorrow, but the guests said they would stay until morning. My parents didn’t mind, they just said if anyone was too drunk to go home, they could sleep here. Buhn and his friends were even holding a small concert by the pool, and despite everything, Buhn sings beautifully.
“I’m stressed about my siblings’ taste…” I shook my head before sitting at the edge of the bed. I don’t know if I should be happy to have such cheerful siblings, but…God, I’m stressed.
“I think they’re uniquely cool, I like it.” King said, I know you like weird stuff, but…don’t go liking Buhn’s and Bihn’s style, you’ll catch their fashion taste. Just those two are enough to stress me out. If you dress like that too, I might become a monk.
“So, we’re sleeping with you tonight, right?”
“Yeah.”
Whenever there’s a party like this, my friends usually stay in my room. There are other rooms, but they say they want to sleep together, which means everyone has to sleep on the same bed. I don’t know since when this became the norm, but it’s become a regular thing. Boss said, ‘Even if it’s cramped, we absolutely won’t let friends sleep on the floor or the sofa,’ that’s touching, don’t think I don’t know it’s because you’re all scared of ghosts, ha ha.
“Why didn’t you bring Duen along?” Bom asked while scooping some of the cake my dad made into his mouth. Actually, before coming up to my room, I had eaten a little. It was delicious, filled with chocolate and strawberries inside, Duen would have liked it, you missed out.
“He had to do house chores at his friend’s place.”
“Really. That’s why you look so flat.” Can you use ‘flat’ for people? This bastard is just lying down, go away, you don’t even have the energy to talk, his stomach is upset because he ate Tee’s tamarind paste. I actually feel sorry for him, but he deserves it more…I told him not to mess with Tee’s food.
“Better to call him.” I said softly before walking out to the balcony of the room. Those guys didn’t say anything; they were only interested in food and alcohol. It’s almost a new day; Duen must be done by now, I guess. I want to go pick him up, but he said he’d sleep at a friend’s house.
Ring, ring
(Hmm…) The voice on the other end sounded sleepy, indicating he was already asleep…no surprise, he’s very hygienic, almost to death.
“Are you asleep? Am I disturbing you?”
(No, no, let me wash my face to wake up first…)
“Are you done?” I asked, stretching my voice while looking down at the pool, where I saw my brother doing some weird dance moves before jumping into the pool…Buhn, the water is cold, man, even I feel cold with a warm shower…your balls must be shaking.
(Here I am, I’m awake now, the water’s damn cold, haha.) I smiled as soon as I heard the cheerful voice on the line. I like his sleepy voice, but I prefer his cheerful one even more.
“Video call, I want to see your face.”
(Heh, will you die if you don’t see my face for a few hours?) He cursed but still accepted the call. Duen’s face appeared on my phone screen as soon as he accepted. I thought something had changed…
“Who tied your hair like that?” I asked jokingly. Duen had his hair tied up in a fountain style, looking like he needed a slap for it. Look, it’s even reflecting light, haha.
(Why? Does it look bad? Should I take it down?)
“No need, leave it like that, it looks like a poodle.” I leaned against the balcony rail looking at the person on the screen, Duen was on a balcony too.
(Damn, I’ll take it down then.) He quickly took out the rubber band and messed up his hair. It was a Mickey Mouse hair tie, must be Tingting’s.
“Oh, it was cute like a poodle though.”
(Whose compliment is that?) Duen made a face at me. If we were close, I’d punch him so hard his lip would split…with my mouth.
“My compliment.”
(Annoying. If you were here, I’d kick you away.) I shook my head with a smile before looking up at the sky.
“I think…my eyesight is getting worse.” After saying that, I rubbed my eyes gently with my hand.
(Huh? What’s wrong, using the computer a lot? Should you see a doctor? I have class late tomorrow, we can go to the clinic in the morning. I told you not to stare at the computer screen for too long…you never listen to me, I’ll kick your ass.) Damn, will he make me smile until my cheeks crack?
“My bad eyesight isn’t from the computer.”
(Oh, then what’s it from? How do you know, are you a doctor, don’t-)
“It’s love that’s in my eyes…”
“Ughhhhhh. We can hear you!!!”
“Damn, the sweetness is piercing through the glass stronger than a sniper.”
Kiss
I turned towards the sound, seeing those guys pressed against the glass with their cheeks, oh my…your faces are the most ridiculous, even in such a state you can still crawl over to listen, you…
“Ouch, my eyes hurt!!!”
“Is it love in your eyes?!”
“No…it’s an eyelash in my eye, it hurts like hell…” I was waiting to hear something clever…
(Damn…I was worried, you crazy, does love at your dad’s house make your eyesight bad?) Don’t talk about my father-in-law like that, Nong Duen, or I’ll kill you.
“It actually makes my eyesight worse, you know.”
(How so?)
“I look at the stars and all I see is the moon.” [1] Duen means moon or month
(…)
“Damn, Bohn flirts every day, I’m sick of it, let’s go to sleep, leave him to sleep on the balcony.” Bom looked at me with disgust.
“I want to sleep on the balcony too.” King raised his hand as if asking for permission. The bedroom at the condo has a balcony, but he chose to plant trees in the room and then banish himself to sleep under a mosquito net on the balcony, whose friend is this, such a hipster.
“Stop the hipster act, damn Tee, drag him back!” After that, the hipster King was pitifully dragged back by Tee…
I kept talking with Duen, and before I knew it, it was one in the morning. I should let this health-conscious kid go to sleep; I want him to get enough rest because he’s been studying hard lately.
(One in the morning already…since I’ve been with you, I’ve become addicted to my phone, you know, Bohn.) He covered his mouth while yawning…capture, your face is so funny, Duen, ha ha ha.
“You’re not addicted to your phone…you’re addicted to me.”
(Ew, you self-absorbed jerk.) Cursing while smiling, what’s that about? Do you want me to kiss your cheek or something?
“I’m not self-absorbed…because I’m stuck on you.”
(Damn! I’m going to sleep now.) Duen covered his face with one hand, clearly embarrassed, his face turning red.
“Then I won’t disturb you…good night.” I smiled and waved goodbye. Actually, Duen has been sleepy for a while now, but he probably wanted to stay and keep me company, so he forced himself.
(Yeah, good night, you jerk.)
“Night, you little scoundrel.”
“Wow, you took your time getting back in.” Tee looked at me slyly. They were still in their drinking circle, what, are you guys part of the cirrhosis club? And what’s with drinking alcohol with cake?
“Damn, Bohn, you eat like you’re starving, drink up!” What does ‘starving like you’re starving’ even mean? The more time passes, the uglier the slang gets. But Boss…if you’re going to eat like that, let others eat properly, okay? Only he’s sitting on the floor with crossed legs, scooping cake with his hands, damn…the cream is smeared up to his eyebrows, is he eating or what?
“Merk, why do you let your wife do this?” I asked as I sat down next to
Merk. If you don’t stop her, I’ll really flirt with your husband, you bastard, Boss. After I said that, Merk looked at his wife with disgust. If you’re going to look at him like that, why not just go kick him?
“What’s wrong, dear, huh, why look at me like that, drink up, you want to eat me, huh? No, no, there are friends here, we shouldn’t like to show off.” Oh, Boss. Swallow your cake before you speak.
“Disgusting, Boss, eat properly.” The husband quietly wiped the cream off his wife’s face slowly…it would have been romantic if Merk had used his finger instead of the cake knife…
“Bohn, move, I want to sit with my husband.” Yes, sir.
We drank and chatted until past two in the morning, everyone was still there, no one was drunk…well, Bom passed out, when he’s drunk, he keeps mentioning Bohn this, Bohn that, like an old man. From last year’s events to this year…how do you remember all that?
Flicker!
“Bohn!!! Something big happened.”
“What’s going on?” I asked in shock as Ben suddenly ran into the room looking horrified. My friends were also startled; Tee jumped so much he dropped his wet tamarind…he was drinking alcohol with wet tamarind. I admire you, is there anyone normal around me?
“Come here, quick, hic.” The newcomer didn’t answer but pulled me along forcefully. I widened my eyes when I saw the clear water at the corner of my brother’s eyes, damn…he’s crying too, is it really something big?
Ben dragged me to his bedroom, sobbing the whole way but not saying a word, or is someone sick?
“Who’s sick, Ben?” Merk asked my brother. Almost everyone followed me, except for the one with diarrhea who couldn’t walk and Bom, who was too drunk to understand.
“Hic…m…mom.”
“Huh, Mom? Where is she?” I asked in urgency, I didn’t hear clearly before, but from the sound, it seemed like it starts with ‘cockro-’, and in our house, only mom fits that.
“By the…bed, hic.”
Hearing that, my friends and I immediately ran to the bedside, thinking my mom might have fallen and hit her head; the floor in her room is slippery marble. I had told Mom to use regular tiles, but she wouldn’t listen. Damn, my heart wasn’t feeling good, especially after seeing my little brother’s tears.
“Mom!!”
I shouted as loud as I could, hoping to find my mother’s body when I arrived, but…there was no one there. No one was there at all, looking left and right, no one. And there was no smell of blood, just the sweet scent filling the room.
“There’s no one here.” Merk checked under the bed; there really was no one.
“Where’s Mom, Ben?”
“No…hic, Mom.”
“Then no one is hurt?”
“Hurt…ugh.”
“Who’s hurt?” Boss crouched down, asking my little brother. Ben didn’t stop crying, and it wasn’t like he was pretending; he never cries in front of people…wait, he has before, I think I remember something. I scanned the room to make sure there was no ‘person’ there except for us.
“[sobbing]…”
“Huh?” “Daniel’s kid.” I knew it.
…how many times have I been speechless today?
“Who’s hurt? Who’s Daniel? Your relative, Bohn?” Tee asked, looking confused like the others.
“…Daniel is Ben’s close friend.” I didn’t know how to explain it. To say, ‘Daniel is Ben’s pet,’ wouldn’t be right either; that scoundrel treats Daniel like a best friend. If I say he’s a pet, he’ll definitely be mad.
“Alright, if he’s friends with Ben, they must be the same age, right? Shit, kids these days are so cool, having kids so young. But where did he go, this Daniel guy?” King looked interested as he scanned the room for Daniel.
“Hurt…he’s already dead. Hic, Bohn, help Diana, Dylan, David, quick…ugh.” Oh, seeing my little brother cry like this, my heart aches. Even though I’m worried about why he’s crying.
“Where are they?” Tee went to ask my brother, who made a face as if he was about to cry again, then pointed to the computer desk where a cake plate was sitting.
“I don’t see anyone…where are they?”
“Hic…in the cake.”
“I knew it…” I mumbled softly, I had a hunch since he said it was on the table, and there was nothing on the table except for the cake plate and a pencil case.
“Huh? What does that mean, is Daniel’s child a Smurf?” Boss asked in shock. You can think of that, you bastard, are you trying to be funny or do you really think so?
“Boss, you’re crazy. Who would be that small, right, Bohn?”
“Yeah, Daniel’s child isn’t that small.”
“See. You are…”
“It’s smaller than that.”
“Huh!”
“What’s wrong with the kids, Ben?” I bent down to ask my brother, who wiped his tears with his hand, his eyes red and swollen, so pitiful. Damn it…I’m allergic to my brother’s tears.
“I don’t know…hic…they were just eating cake…huh. Then they went still.” I went to look at the cake plate, oh my, those cockroaches, ‘eating cake’, what Ben meant by that must be they burrowed into it. No need for a doctor, I’ll do the autopsy myself. Trust me, they either died from overeating or suffocated because their air passages were blocked by cream…ha ha.
“Take heart, Ben, they’re in a better place now.” I gently stroked my brother’s head, this was a natural death. If I had killed them myself, how much more would Ben cry?
“But…hic, what will I do without them?” He buried his face in my chest, crying so much that even Tee jumped. I can’t say he’s overreacting because he’s still young and doesn’t understand these things fully. He took good care of his Daniels, like raising siblings, so when he saw them dead, he must have been heartbroken.
The matter ended with Mom taking Ben to sleep with her, leaving my brother’s room empty except for the three dead cockroaches lying in the cake…ha ha. Seeing the little rascal, I felt so sorry for him, his eyes were red and swollen from rubbing, his nose red from blowing it so much, he was sobbing until his body shook. Nothing Bihn and Buhn said was funny, oh, poor Ben, my dear brother.
“So…Daniel is a cockroach?” Boss asked when we got back to the room where Tang and Bom were lying on the bed, hugging…no, let’s say Bom was on top of Tang.
“Yeah.”
“And Daniel’s child is also…a cockroach.” King grabbed my shoulder to turn me to look, his face was shocked. Of course, who would think someone would keep cockroaches as pets…Madagascar hissing cockroaches exist, but Thai cockroaches…
“Yes.”
“Is your little brother crying because a cockroach died?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Oh. That’s…I should go to sleep, I can say that among the siblings…you’re the most normal.” I think so too.
Bon Ss: I’m at your friend’s house now.
I came to pick up Duen from his friend’s house. Tingting had already driven off. We talked a bit; his friend told me that Duen had been waiting for my call all night. So I asked why he didn’t call, and the friend said something that made me smile until my cheeks hurt, ‘He was afraid of bothering you.’
Even if you called every ten seconds, I wouldn’t be bothered.
“You’re here!” Duen said after opening the door and came to sit in the car. Even in just a tank top and shorts, he looked cute to me…even though Bihn wore the same thing last night, but the level of cuteness is worlds apart. He’s not tying his hair up now, which makes him look even cuter.
“Good morning.” I greeted before driving off, the destination being Duen’s house. Actually, I go there every day, but I’ve never seen his parents. The little scoundrel said his dad is in the military, and his mom goes to the market every morning, so we always miss each other.
“Now, uh, good morning…ah.”
“Huh?” I looked at what was in the hand of the person next to me, seeing it was a small pot with a tiny plant, just the size of Duen’s hand. No, it’s even smaller than that, with little white flowers in the pot.
“For you.”
“Why give it to me? For what occasion?”
“Today’s my last day of the month.”
“And?”
“Well, it’s the last day I’ll give you flowers.”
“Oh…and why is it a plant this time?” Others might call it something else, but at my house, we call it a miniature rose. My mom once grew them, but they were crushed to death by Bihn. Poor thing…
“I don’t want it to wilt and die like the other flowers. Take good care of it, okay? If it dies, I’ll cut off your belly.” Duen said, pointing at me accusingly. That’s terrifying, whose boyfriend is this?
“Yeah, heh heh.”
“By the way. Don’t you want to surprise me a bit, like…turn off the lights and whisper in my ear, ‘This rose represents my heart. I want you to take good care of it, my love.’ They do that kind of thing on TV all the time.”
“No, too lazy.”
“Wow, really?”
“Why? Do you have a problem with me?” He turned to ask provocatively, what can I do, I mean…
“No, khrap.”
“Then forget it.” Why are you so scary, Duen?
“This being the last rose, you won’t come to see me at the faculty in the morning then.”
“What’s the difference if I go or not?”
“Come on. My heart is with you, how can my body and heart be apart?” I pretended to look sad. I don’t know, I want him to come see me every day like before.
“It’s there.”
“How is it there, I-”
“My heart is with you.”
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