NORTHHOWMUCHISYOURLOVE, Chapter 3 part 2
“Yes, sir. I won’t sleep.” I said, my voice groggy as I tried to keep my eyelids from closing. So he just wants me to stay awake while he works?
“Should I talk to keep you company, sir?” I asked.
(Why?)
“I thought you might get sleepy. Normally, when someone watches over you, they would talk, right?” I said, thinking back to the times I stayed up with my ex while she studied.
(Really?)
“Um, yes, sir. When I used to keep my ex…my ex-girlfriend company, I always talked to her.”
(I’m not your ex.)
Oh, why so harsh again, T^T
“So, I shouldn’t talk then, sir?”
(Right.)
Ah…okay. I’ll just stay quiet.
…
01:17 AM
“North, I’m going to bed now.” Ter said, getting ready to turn off the light. I nodded at him. “Ah, sweet dreams then.” Ter said before turning off the light and flopping onto the bed, leaving me with just the desk lamp on, scrolling through the computer screen, feeling extremely sleepy, just listening to the sound of the keyboard.
“Phii Johan, sir.” I called out, “I’m sleepy.”
(…) Phii Joe didn’t respond, but if he did, I guessed it would be something like, “Your problem.” Would someone like this really be a playboy? I mean, with such an abrasive demeanor, do women really find that appealing? If I were a girl, I definitely wouldn’t dare approach.
“How much longer for work, sir? Just asking, don’t scold me.”
(A little while longer)
“Do you work like this every day, sir?”
(No, just some days)
“Should we take a break? Seems like you’ve been working for hours.”
(No)
“Phii?”
(What)
“Can we chat for a bit? My eyes are closing over here.”
(You’re supposed to watch over me, but I have to start the conversation?)
“Uh, I can’t think of anything to talk about.” I said with a sleepy voice. Normally, I’d be asleep by now, especially after a tiring day at work.
(Oh, then tell me about yourself.)
“Is that a good idea? I’m quite private, you know.” As I got sleepier, my speech became more rambling.
(Hmm, then something not about you.)
“But you seem so eager to know. I’ll force myself to tell you if you want.”
(No, I don’t want to know anymore.) “My name is North, my real name is Natthachanan, I’m studying Electrical Engineering, first year. I’m roommates with Ter, who’s in Veterinary Medicine, which is Phii Hill’s boyfriend, and Phii Hill is your friend, right?”
(…)
“I’m pretty laid-back, not too serious, cheerful, bright, but respectful to elders, considerate to others, and I try to be a good friend.”
(Did you get someone else to say that for you?)
“Yes, that’s what my teacher wrote in the parent-teacher notes.”
(Messy, when you’re drunk you’re messy, when you’re sleepy you’re messy.)
“Just a little, oh yeah, I’ve washed your shirt for you, when can you take it back?” I asked, referring to the shirt of Phii Joe that I borrowed to wear back.
(Don’t need it)
“What? I’ve washed it till it smells good.”
(Don’t need it)
“Can I ask why?”
(No)
Ah…okay then. If you don’t want to, you don’t want to. What’s with him anyway? His clothes are so expensive, isn’t it too much to be this annoyed? I even washed them for him.
01:36 AM
(Hey?)
“Yes, sir, I haven’t slept yet.”
(Hmm?)
“You thought I would sleep, right? Not yet, sir, you won’t charge me interest that easily.”
(That’s good.) “And how’s work going, sir?”
(A little while longer.)
“Until dawn?”
(Annoying.)
“Heh heh.” I gave a dry laugh to the person on the other end of the line. Honestly, I’m easy-going and easy to talk to. That’s probably obvious without me saying it. After talking, I didn’t feel like Phii Johan was that scary or bad. Just that some things about him were more than puzzling, like his temper and sharpness, which made my face twitch several times a day.
“I have something I want to ask, can I?”
(No, I told you to stay quiet.)
“Oh, come on, that’s going to bore someone to death watching over you.” I said, “Do others complain about being bored, sir?” I managed to ask what I was curious about. I just wondered, for someone like Phii Johan, wouldn’t there be a line of people wanting to call to keep him company? Why me? And if he didn’t want someone to talk to, why not just not call from the start, so he could work quietly?
(Not really.)
“What do you mean, sir?”
(I’ve never had anyone call to keep me company.)
“Oh, then why did you have me call?” I asked with a raised eyebrow, even though my eyes were already half-closed.
(They would call, it’s annoying.)
“Oh, so you left your phone on so when someone called, it would go through to me like this?”
(Yes.)
“And you didn’t turn it off or put it on do not disturb?”
(In case of urgent business) “Oh, so I’m like your emergency contact for dog disturbances?”
(Hmm)
“Alright, I’m also a very sleepy emergency contact.” I nodded in understanding, even though no one could see me. Wait, or could they? I turned sharply to see Ter sleeping, probably because he read too many ghost stories and got scared. …I’m the type who’s super scared of ghosts but loves to watch and read about them, so I can’t sleep alone. Ter always complains. No matter where he is in the world, he has to come back to sleep with me, or I have to crash with another friend.
“Oh, I was thinking of asking you something, I have a lot of questions.”
(Wait)
“Uh, okay.”
(Are you on your bed?)
“No, I’m sitting at the desk, about to turn off the lamp because my eyes hurt.”
(Why not go to bed?)
“I’ll fall asleep, this way is better, at least I can stay awake a bit.”
(Hmm)
02:06 AM
“Um, on another note, I won’t get beaten up by your girlfriends if they find out you’ve been on the phone with me, right? If I get ambushed, you better take responsibility.”
(…)
“Are you still there? You’re not asleep on the job, are you?”
(Still here.)
“Oh, then why aren’t you answering?”
(What did you say?) “I said; what if your girlfriend ambushes me and hits me on the head. What if she found out I was on the line with you, sir?”
(You could fight back)
“Oh, come on, sir. I wouldn’t hit a woman.” I said.
(Then just stand there.)
“That’s too much, it would still hurt, and she’d definitely call for backup to beat me up.” I said, unwittingly making a slight grimace, “Would she bring a gang to slap me like in the dramas?”
(Really nonsensical.)
“Hey, I’m serious. If I get attacked, I’ll claim damages and compensation for the scare, and deduct it from the debt.”
(Yeah, yeah.)
“That’s great, then. Tomorrow I’ll announce that I’m the one who called you. If I get threatened, I’ll come for that compensation.”
(You, my friend’s family runs a psychiatric clinic, should I get you in touch?)
“Oh, what? Just kidding. Who would do that?”
(You might.)
“I’m not that crazy, but you, sir…what made you decide to study medicine?” I tried to start a conversation, especially since I was super sleepy now. If we talked a bit more, maybe I wouldn’t be this sleepy.
(Told you to be quiet.)
“Oh, come on, people talk to pass the time. I’m sleepy, sir. Who can be a caffeine addict like you?”
(You know?) “Just guessing, especially doctors, they’re often coffee addicts. Given you work so much without getting sleepy, it’s pretty safe to assume…I also guessed you like Americano.”
(Smart.)
“Enough with the ‘smart’, thank you. I guess I’ll have to practice making coffee then.” I went on, naturally being quite talkative and good at engaging in conversation, “If I brew a good one, I’ll let you try it, sir.”
(Flattery?)
“You got me, hoping for a little kindness to reduce my debt.”
(Keeping it this low is kind enough.)
“Why, is there anything else you want to charge for?”
(Lots.)
“Okay, thanks for not charging anyway.” Initially, I wanted to say I felt bad, but on second thought, just this is enough. Thank you so much for only charging this much, T^T
(And why are you learning to make coffee?)
“Oh, well…for work. I’m looking for more jobs, got one at a coffee shop, and I’m going to start training there.”
(With Ter?)
“Yes, Ter is quite stubborn about it, he insists on doing it. I guess I’ll have to have a big talk with Phii Hill about this.”
(Hmm, and why do you need to work?)
“Uh, to make money, of course. With the increasing debt, I want to take on two or three more jobs. I’ve got a huge debt on my shoulders.”
(I’m not charging interest anymore.)
(Don’t rush.) Why does Phii Johan sound so relaxed? There’s no rush for him, he’s not the one in debt like me. How can anyone feel good with hundreds of thousands of debt? T^T
“What if one day you decide to charge interest again?” I said. It’s true, what if one fine day he decides to start charging interest or even increase it? What can I do? He’s quite capricious.
(Where are you working?)
“At a coffee shop near the university, it’s called Marry Me.”
(…) Phii Johan didn’t respond, before the sound of writing on paper came again, he must have started working again. I then scrolled through my Facebook, doing some more reading, and before I knew it, it was 2 AM. I should have been sleeping for a long time now, T^T.
I’m so sleepy, my eyelids are so heavy. I can’t take it anymore…
02:40 AM
‘End of call: 3 hours, 20 minutes’
Johan: I told you not to sleep.
Johan: Go lie down properly on your bed.
03:15 AM
Johan: Don’t take on any more part-time jobs, understand?
Johan: canceled message
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