NORTHHOWMUCHISYOURLOVE, Chapter 17 part 1
Chapter 17: Dear No One
After sitting in the car with Phii Prang for about fifteen minutes, one thing I didn’t quite understand was why the traffic was so bad. Normally, it would only take a few minutes to leave the university, but I wasn’t sure if there was some event happening today. Earlier, I saw Phii Arthit on his big bike, riding through the rain, overtaking us at a speed that made me secretly worry he might crash. He was swerving left and right as if in a rush, just like when I rode with Phii Joe, but Phii Arthit seemed even scarier.
During those fifteen minutes in the car, Phii Prang and I chatted casually until I asked about Phii Joe’s job. Honestly, I never knew the details of what he does. Through our conversation with Phii Prang, I learned that Phii Joe’s father’s company is one of the top electronics equipment manufacturers in the country, with branches both domestically and internationally. They are expanding their business, exporting to many countries, and importantly,
It’s a company I’m quite familiar with.
“I didn’t think it was Phii Joe’s company.” I said, exhaling to calm my excitement, because this company collaborates with my university specifically for producing personnel in this field. My professor mentioned this during the freshman orientation. From what I remember, the professor said something like…
It’s not just our Faculty of Engineering but also other faculties involved in the electronics market. This company provides support in terms of scholarships and educational resources to produce high-quality professionals. By the fourth year, this company becomes the most sought-after for internships, and upon graduation, it’s one of the top places students want to work at.
“North, you’re studying Electrical Engineering, right? Would you like to intern there?” Phii Prang asked.
“Yes, I’d love to. Everyone wants to intern at this company. I even want to work there right away.” I said truthfully. Having heard the teachers mention it often, it’s natural to be interested. When I asked seniors or looked up information, they all agreed it’s a great place to work, whether it’s the salary, work quality, standards, or anything else, it’s the best.
“Of course, it was tough for me to get in too. The standards are very high, you know that, right?”
“I know.” I nodded, because the company’s standards are high, so are the standards for employment, “What did you study, Phii Prang?”
“I majored in engineering too, didn’t I tell you?”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Really? I’m your senior then. What grade point average did you get?”
“I got a 3.47 GPA, Phii Prang?”
“Wow, I had a 3.34, now I feel old.” Phii Prang gave a wry smile without turning to look at me, “I did major in engineering. At first, I worked in my field, but as my position changed, I ended up working as a secretary somehow.”
“And does Phii Joe manage the company?” I asked further. “Yeah, something like that. How should I put it, he’s in the phase of proving himself to the president, I guess. So it’s really heavy for him. He’s trying to show that he has the potential to take over the company. This is the hardest time for him, the president is teaching him the ropes intensely. Going to Boston is similar.”
“What is he going to do in Boston?”
“He’s going to talk to a major client. If it goes through, we could expand the business. The client would start using our equipment primarily, oh my, it would increase the company finances by who knows how many times. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. The money the company has now could already fill Mars.”
“Wow, that’s a kind of work and money I can’t even fathom.” I said, thinking about it. For a regular person like me, tens or hundreds of thousands is already a lot. But for a company of that size, dealing with international clients…
“Hundreds of millions, or even close to a billion, I can’t imagine that much money either.” Phii Prang said, “And it’s not just the first deal. Once the investment is in, the money will keep coming, right?”
I nodded to show I understood. With such a big deal, does he feel the pressure? No, there has to be pressure. And another thing I thought of was how much Phii Johan must prove himself to show everyone he can take over. The company is full of talented, experienced people. You have to make them see that you are capable enough.
Phii Prang said it’s not easy for someone younger to become the head of hundreds or thousands, the real world is all about competition. That’s why Phii Johan works so much harder than anyone else.
And Phii Joe’s father seems to be pushing too hard. If he waited until after graduation, things wouldn’t have been this intense. Seeing that his son is capable and performs well, Phii Prang said she wasn’t sure if it was support or imposition, but she knew Phii Johan never refused.
“It’s also a matter of social prestige. As a father and CEO, he can proudly say his only son is studying medicine. Just studying medicine alone is a source of great pride, not to mention he can also brag that his son, at such a young age, is very good at work, you know? He’ll hand over the business in a few years, that’s how it goes. Do you realize that the new products everyone is using are overseen by my son in terms of design, production, and sales?”
“…”
“The latter part, I just copied from what the chairman said.”
“Wow, Phii Joe must be the son his parents are incredibly proud of.” I said, understanding from his father’s words just how much pride he takes in his son. It’s indeed something to be proud of, studying medicine for his mother and working for his father.
“Exactly. Go for it with the internship, you might want to talk to Joe about it, but flattery won’t work with him.” Phii Prang said with the utmost exasperation, “Normally, when we bring gifts, bosses tend to favor us, right? This one, nope. He told me back then, ‘Phii Prang, better spend your time doing documents for me.’“
“Really?” I couldn’t help but chuckle a little at Phii Prang’s words. That sounds like Phii Joe.
“Yes, and he’s really good at making use of people, efficiently dividing tasks, but with me, he makes me do everything. If it weren’t for the high bonuses, I’d be done for.” Phii Prang started to complain as the car pulled up near the basketball gym.
“Is Phii Joe here?” I asked.
“Yeah, I heard so. Do you have an umbrella? I don’t have one in the car.”
“It’s fine, I’ll just run for a bit.” “No, no, what if you catch a cold? I’d be in trouble, North. Joe would kill me, and I don’t want to look for a new job.” Phii Prang said with concern, “Here, take my jacket to cover up.”
“It’s okay, I won’t catch a cold from just a bit of rain.” I assured her.
“Really?”
“Really, I don’t get colds easily. I could stand in the rain for an hour and still be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
“Alright, then run carefully. If you fall, it’ll be worse. I’m the one who’s in trouble here, I should’ve driven you right to the gym.”
“No need to do that, I’m fine.” I said as I opened the car door. It was pouring heavily, the front view obscured by a curtain of rain, “I’m going now, thank you for dropping me off and thank you for the tuition as well.” I said quickly. Phii Prang nodded to show she understood. Then I ran out of the car.
Just running from the parking lot to the front of the gym made me completely soaked. Once I was out of the car, I realized how bad it was outside because of the wind too, and I didn’t have a raincoat. How ironic, the day I wear a raincoat, it doesn’t rain.
I lifted my hand to lightly shake out my hair to get rid of some water. I’ve never worried about catching a cold from the rain, because since I was born, I’ve never caught a cold from being in the rain. I wonder why people get colds from rain, it’s not different from taking a shower, you get wet either way. There was one time I rode back to the dorm in the rain with Ter’s friend, Phoon, who was sitting behind me with a raincoat, and he still got a cold. Meanwhile, I, who was driving and soaked like a drowned rat, didn’t get sick at all. It’s quite puzzling. I walked into the gym where there were lots of lively people. Some were practicing on the field, others were sitting in the stands. I scanned the area and spotted Phii Hill in the far corner, near the medical faculty banner, talking to a group of people. So, I walked over to him.
“Phii Hill.” I called out with a smile, and Phii Hill turned towards my voice.
“Oh, North, here to see Joe?” I nodded in response. Phii Hill pointed towards someone leaning against the first row of the stands, covered by a hoodie, looking like he was dozing off, not far from Phii Arthit and Phii Fah.
I smiled at Phii Hill again before mustering the courage to walk over. Phii Fah and Phii Arthit immediately looked at me.
“Nong North, did you come through the rain? You’re soaked.” Phii Fah remarked lightly. I gave a wry smile before sitting down next to Phii Joe, who was dozing off.
“Joe seems tired. He probably didn’t sleep last night, you can wake him up if you want.” Phii Fah said.
“It’s okay.” I whispered, better to let him rest.
“How do you wake him up? I tried earlier and he wouldn’t wake.” Phii Arthit said. With my wet hair, I knew I wasn’t seeing things; the person I saw riding the big bike and cutting in front of people earlier was indeed Phii Arthit. The outdoor football club must have been canceled due to this heavy rain.
“Why do you need to wake him up? Better to ask what for, to talk to you?” Phii Fah asked.
“To get my money back, he hasn’t transferred the fifteen thousand to me yet.”
“Get your money back? Joe owes you money?”
“Yes.”
“Joe? What’s fifteen thousand for?”
“A photo.” “What kind of picture?”
“I can’t tell you, Fah, it’s really a secret.”
“Whatever, do what you want.”
“Arthit.” Phii Hill shouted from where he was standing talking with someone. Phii Arthit turned towards the call.
“What?”
“Wake up Joe, he needs to practice.”
“Huh? He’s not awake yet?” Phii Arthit shouted back, “Should I check his pulse?”
“Yeah, do whatever.” Phii Hill said before turning away.
“Fah, check his pulse.”
“Arthit, he’s just sleeping deeply, not dead.”
“Not sure, he told me I was dead just for waking up late.” Phii Arthit said with a look of frustration. I held back a slight smile as I remembered.
“You really hold a grudge against him, huh?” Phii Fah said with a small laugh, “Why don’t you try waking him, North?”
“Me?”
“Yes, give it a try.”
“Okay.” I nodded slightly before reaching over to shake Phii Joe’s arm and calling his name several times. He finally opened his eyes with the most irritable look.
He always gets grumpy when woken up like this, T^T
“What?” Phii Johan furrowed his brows at me, then sat up. “Is it raining?”
“Yes, it’s raining.”
Leave a Reply