MYENGINEER, CHAPTER 32: Reserved.
[Bohn]
“What would Daonuea like to eat?”
“Dao would like to have…steamed sea bass with soy sauce.”
“Then we’ll have steamed sea bass with soy sauce.”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me? I’m your child too.”
“Huh. No.”
That was a conversation I had with the kids earlier. I went with Duen to pick up the kids and we went to eat at Hia Ta’s restaurant. He was shocked to the point of nearly fainting, thinking that Duen and I actually had kids together. Well, you see, Dao looks like Duen, and Ben looks somewhat like me.
“What would you like to eat, mom?” Daonuea turned to ask Duen. It looks like this little girl likes playing house, calling us ‘dad’ and ‘mom’ non-stop, maybe it’s become a habit, I’m not sure. And now, Duen doesn’t look bored with the world when he’s called that anymore, he seems to have come to terms with it.
“Whatever you want, Dao.” Upon hearing that, Daonuea ordered so much food for her brother that Duen had to tell her it was enough, kid, it was pretty funny.
“Your daughter is so cute, Nong Bohn.” I immediately smiled when the waiter said that.
“Uh…she’s—”
“Thank you.” I replied, not forgetting to raise an eyebrow at the person who was baring his teeth at me. Well, she’s really my child, right?
“Haven’t seen you for just a few weeks and now you have two kids, huh?” the restaurant owner teased, making Duen pout. The kids didn’t quite get it; they just kept smiling when they heard that.
Sweet.
“Well, that’s what good medicine does, huh huh.”
“Bohn, be quiet…you pervert.”
“I didn’t even say what kind of medicine.”
“Huff!”
We chatted for a while before Hia excused himself to attend to other customers. Soon, the food we ordered was served. Throughout the meal, Duen continued to play the role of a good mother excellently, serving food to the mischievous one and Daonuea, wiping their mouths, he was just awesome, I was totally impressed.
“Ah.”
I served some of my favorite ginger stir-fry to him, not forgetting to smile. Instead of getting embarrassed, he raised his eyebrows and then burst into laughter so hard he was shaking.
“…Pfft.”
“You’re not eating it?” Why are you laughing, I went out of my way to serve it to you.
“I’d die if I ate that, you bastard, I’m allergic to ginger, hahaha.”
“Oh…I forgot.” I said softly, feeling guilty. On the first day we met, he told me, but I forgot…should you be mad at me for real?
“It’s fine, I was just joking, ha ha.”
“Joking about what…I’m sorry.” I genuinely feel guilty, trying to court him without knowing anything about him, not even what he’s allergic to.
“Chill out, I said it’s fine.” He smiled at me before reaching out to scoop some ginger stir-fry. At first, I was confused, hey, you said you’re allergic, why scoop it up to eat?
“Ah, I know you like it.” Is he in an unusually good mood today? Just because he got good grades.
I smiled back and continued eating. Soon, we were full. I and Duen split the bill fifty-fifty. At first, I wanted to treat him, but since he wouldn’t accept it, we had to split the cost.
“Are you sleepy, Daonuea?” Duen asked his younger sister who was leaning back to sleep on the back seat because my little brother was also looking gloomy by the door; he had some upsetting experiences today.
“Uh-huh.”
Daonuea nodded, her eyes almost closed, Duen gave a playful smile and returned to his seat. Seeing there was nothing more to do, I started the car, the destination being the home of the siblings, Dao and Duen. I was excited to drop him off at his house for the first time…we argued to death before I could even drop him off. Funny, I wouldn’t go out of my way to please anyone else, but for Duen, I’m dying to do it though he doesn’t want me to.
“When you get to that point, turn right.”
“Yes, sir.” I turned the steering wheel as he instructed; his house isn’t that far from the university. I’ve picked up Bihn around here before when he came to do housework at a friend’s place.
“Why is your brother so quiet today?”
“I don’t know, he feels guilty because he stepped on a cockroach and killed it.” I answered truthfully; my brother might seem cunning, but he’s quite sensitive. He loves animals a lot, always rushing to help when he sees one in trouble, but this morning he accidentally stepped on a cockroach he kept in his storage room, so he’s very upset. I woke up with a start when he was shouting through the house, I think that cockroach was named Daniel because I heard him yell,
‘Don’t, die, Daniel!!!!’ = =…
“Huh?”
“Ben is sensitive about animals.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
The person next to me nodded slowly at me before turning to look at the person being talked about with disbelief. No one would believe it because his look doesn’t match that, he seems like a young master who dislikes this kind of thing, but his true self is quite different from what others think.
I drove at a speed below the standard…really, I just wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. Oh, and Phii Moss brought the CBR and handed it over to him already, he works really fast.
“That one.” I followed the white finger to find a house…quite big but not extravagantly so, it was a two-story contemporary style house.
Well, he’s really rich like he said.
Not that it matters, Duen likes to keep things down-to-earth. He doesn’t use branded or expensive items much, except for his phone and car, which somewhat show his status. Otherwise, he uses ordinary stuff, his bag is just a simple black backpack alternating with an ordinary cloth bag for reducing global warming, with a hole at the letter ‘o’ in ‘reduce’, and he tied it with rubber bands…which looks terrible because it reads ‘reduce world heat’.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh, nothing.”
“Okay, I’m going then.” As Duen was about to open the door, I reached out to hold his arm back. Duen looked confused, not understanding, but he sat back down.
“Hey, Duen.”
“Hmm?”
“Want to go on a date?”
“Cough, cough…” Duen choked on…something I think was his own saliva.
Wow, even your saliva can choke you, you little idiot.
“I’m serious.”
“You’re acting strange today, Bohn.” That’s because of you, you fool.
“I’m trying to hit on you, but I don’t know anything about you except your name is Duenhaw, you’re a first-year medical student at the same university as me, you like sour stuff, you’re allergic to ginger, you like green, you’re a cat lover, you have a sister named Daonuea who’s a bit slow, not as quick as others, and…you’re cute.”
“…You’re crazy.” My conversation partner looked down. I leaned back against the seat and turned to look outside, not wanting him to see my face right now…the face of someone who lacks self-confidence.
“I’m serious…”
I feel like I lose to everyone who’s interested in Duen. Even though the popular guy backed off on his own, I still feel like I’ve lost…he backed off because he thought Duen and I were dating, which we’re not, but I chose to be selfish and not tell the truth because I was afraid of losing him.
I’m really pathetic.
He has a good nature, always good news about him. On the other hand, I’m all about bad news, and my character is just as bad.
He seems to get along well with Duen, always laughing together, unlike me who’s always arguing with Duen.
In the end, what do I have to compete with Frong? What’s worse is that during dinner, I almost killed Duen with something he’s allergic to. I’m such a…
“Want…to…”
“What?” I turned to ask him, he said something earlier, but I didn’t hear it clearly, I only made out the first and the last word, “want” and “to.”
“If you want to know something, just ask!”
“…”
“How would you know if you don’t ask!”
“…”
I stared at him in amazement before smiling once I regained my composure. What he said meant he was giving me a chance to get to know him, right? Does he realize what he’s doing, or am I just imagining things?
“…What’s your real name?”
“Kritsada.”
“What’s your last name?”
“Rattanawanamchok.”
“Do you want to change your surname?” I asked with a smile. When it’s time to flirt, you’ve got to flirt, otherwise, he might think my service is poor. Inconsistent.
“No need to make up excuses to flirt, just ask if you’re going to ask. If you don’t, I’m going home.”
“Ask, ask.” I can’t help but smile.
“Go on.”
“What do you like?”
“What do you mean?”
“The person, the one you said you liked, who is it?” I remember him mentioning he liked a girl, and I’ve met her too. After sitting and thinking about it, the only girl that matches his description is Tingting.
“Why do you want to know?”
“I’ll go kill her, then you’ll only have me.”
“…”
“Answer me.”
“No way.” Why not, just with that one woman, why can’t you say it, is it that important, dating a woman is so annoying, you should date me instead, it’s much better.
“Come on, tell me how you’re going to answer.”
“I’ll only answer the questions I want to answer.”
“Then…what’s her personality like?” I sighed and changed the question when I saw that Duen definitely wouldn’t answer, his face blank but stubborn, he won’t talk about things he doesn’t want to, no matter how much you ask, it’s just wasted effort.
“Who?”
“The one you like.”
“She’s…well-mannered.”
“Well-mannered? Ha, that’s boring and not exciting at all.”
“Does it have to be wild, rough, like you?”
“Exactly.” I puffed out my chest, how can a well-mannered girl compete with Phii Bohn’s thirty thousand fierce moves, all prim and proper, smiling, being together would only lead to awkwardness, it’d be suffocating.
“You’re so full of yourself, -.”
“What don’t you like?”
“If it’s food…raisins and ginger, I hate them so much.”
“Really, anything else?”
“That’s all, I can eat everything else.”
Doesn’t like raisins, allergic to ginger. Just these two things I need to be careful about, the more I think about it, the more different we are. I like ginger and raisins while he’s allergic to ginger and doesn’t like eating raisins. I like tough people while he likes well-mannered ones. I’m straightforward, while Duen is a bit slow and gloomy.
Contrast, perfectly…
“That’s all you want to ask?”
“Yep.”
“I thought there’d be more, I’m too lazy to answer, well, I’m off then, Da-” Duen said goodbye, reaching out to wake Daonuea, but I stopped him again.
“Duen.”
“Huh?”
“Will you go to the camp with me?” I really want you to come with me, you know. It’s my first time volunteering at a camp. I want it to be memorable, and what would make my first camp experience memorable is having Duen by my side.
“Want me to go with you?” He asked with a mocking look, thinking I’m some kind of tough-talking hero from a drama, huh, Duen? Trying to tease me, are you?
You won’t get me, dear.
“Uh-huh.” I smiled back.
“…Sometimes you’re too straightforward, Bohn.”
“I am straightforward, huh.”
“Will it be okay, I mean me going?”
“Are you free?”
“Yeah, I’m free, but I don’t know if the old man will take us anywhere.”
“By ‘old man’ you mean your dad?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Is he kind?” I think he probably isn’t cruel. From the last time your mom called, he seemed kind and even a bit shy, like Duen. If I had to guess, your dad is probably honest, smiling, you know.
“Dad, huh…I don’t know, he might be kind. He likes giving me money and telling me to go out to pubs. Plus, he threatens that if I don’t drink, King and his gang will force-feed me, and he often asks me when he’ll start smoking. Recently, he told me to take a girl to a hotel…Oh, and he once punched a kid who was bullying Daonuea.”
Damn, not funny anymore.
I went silent upon hearing that, wow, so different from what I thought. So, the family members all have different personalities, the son is clueless, the daughter is playful, the mom is kind, and the dad is strange and brutally harsh…
“Really…Okay, let’s go on a date then.” I changed the subject, let me flirt with you first, we can sort out the family stuff later…
“No.”
“Duen, let’s go, you can bring your sister too.” I grabbed his hand, his slender figure glared at me, trying to pull his hand back…but no way I would let go.
“Is that what you call a date?” I know it’s more like going out together, but…
“Or do you want to go with me, just the two of us?”
“No way.”
“See. Well, whatever, I’ve already told Daonuea that I’ll pick her up at home on
Saturday.” This Saturday I’m free, and the preparations for the camp should be done before then, there shouldn’t be any urgent work either.
“Heh, do whatever you want then.” Duen said nonchalantly, with a disgusted look on his face. I know he mostly agrees because I forced him, but eventually, he’ll agree on his own.
“Want to go anywhere?”
“…The floating market.”
“Ayutthaya?”
I asked in surprise; when I ask girls, they usually choose to go to the mall or some romantic places like restaurants by the river, amusement parks, hotels, (?) and look at this guy.
“Yep. Don’t want to go far, be considerate of you.”
“If you want to go…even if it’s across the continent, I’ll take you.”
“Can you stop flirting for one day?”
“Heh heh.”
How would a business faculty guy like him flirt with Duen, would he flirt morning and night like I do, or would he do something better? I don’t know how to start flirting with Duen, it wasn’t hard with others, just buy flowers, give gifts, say sweet words, and that’s enough to win them over.
But Duen isn’t like that, he won’t let me buy expensive things for him, and when I flirt, he doesn’t show any reaction.
I’ve never taken anyone to my condo because I don’t like anyone entering my personal space; I’m very territorial, possessive about everything that’s mine, but how much I show it depends on how important it is. If it’s not very important, I don’t care much, but if it’s important…I won’t let anyone touch it.
And since when did I start to feel so possessive about Duen as if he were something important…
I’m insanely possessive about him, but what about him? Does he feel anything for me? I don’t want to be the crazy one chasing after something that doesn’t exist, does he feel anything for me…
“Duen…”
“Hmm?”
“Are you at all moved by me…?”
“…”
“Frankly speaking, at first, I was sure I could make you like me, but seeing the people who like you, I got scared, especially since you’ve shown no signs of liking me, which made me lose confidence…”
“…”
“Duen, do you have any feelings for me at all…?”
“…”
“I’m not a good person like Frong. I’m not as smart as Phii Thara. I’m not tidy like the people you like, my personality isn’t great, and there are only rumors about fighting and womanizing. If you don’t like me, I will stop doing this pointless thing…”
“…”
“You don’t like me, do you…” I said, feeling dejected when I saw that the slender figure went silent. I had already anticipated this, Duen had clearly said he likes women, but I was still stubborn about pursuing him.
Poke!
“Ouch, damn, Duen, after hurting my feelings, you’re going to hurt my body too?”
“What the hell is wrong with you, always jumping to conclusions, Bohn?”
“What?”
“Even though I don’t really want to admit it…you know I’m clueless, I don’t really understand these things, I’ve never even had a first love, but…”
“…”
“When I’m with you, it’s different from being with others, my heart beats when you flirt with me, your smile makes me blush. I feel at ease when you’re around, I wake up in the morning always thinking if you’ve messaged me yet, what you’ll say, what flower I should buy for you today. How long are you going to keep flirting with me…and are you really just flirting with me?”
“…”
“I’m not gay…I never thought a guy would come and pursue me.”
“…”
“If any other guy came to pursue me, I definitely wouldn’t like it…but what you’re doing now…”
“…”
“…I don’t hate it, you know.”
His face turned red, right? Or was it just my imagination that from his long speech earlier, it seemed like Duen was saying, if not me, then nobody else should flirt with him? …That’s what you call being moved, isn’t it? I smiled happily. Meanwhile, the person next to me turned to look out the window, clearly embarrassed.
“Then I’ll keep flirting with you, Duen.”
I reached out to grab his pale hand, slowly kissing the ring finger on his left hand, wanting him to remember…
‘This finger, I’ve claimed it. And it will be mine alone.’
“It’s your business, you overthink…”
“Don’t let anyone else flirt with you.” I made a stern face, raising my finger in warning to say, ‘If I see anyone flirting with you, I’ll kill them,’ Duen probably understood because he looked at me with annoyance.
“Only you would be foolish enough to flirt with me.”
“It’s not foolish…I just have the courage to flirt with you.”
“So you’re shameless, huh?”
“Yep.” I puffed out my chest, I do have shameless pride.
“Tch.”
“Can I see your face?” I asked because I wanted to see how red his face was; he said that when I flirt, his face would turn red and his heart would beat fast, but I’ve never seen that happen. Did I not notice, or is he good at hiding it?
“No.”
“But I want to see.” I didn’t just say it, I reached out one hand to hold his handsome face still, then with the other hand, I tried to turn on the car light, but Duen stopped me.
“Ugh! Bohn, the kid is sleeping!” He was probably trying to cover up his embarrassment with annoyance, always a bad liar, Duenhaw…
“She won’t wake up. I just want to look at your face.” I smirked mischievously, trying to reach for the light switch again.
“If you turn on the light…the kid might wake up.” What kind of excuse is that? This is typical of him, when he lies, he comes up with weird reasons like, ‘I’ve had enough air,’ or something like that, it’s quite funny to hear.
“Are you afraid the kid will wake up, or are you afraid I’ll see you blushing?”
“I’m not blushing!”
The more I get to know him, the more I like him. At first, I just wanted to test if ‘special’ could turn into something else. Now I know it can evolve, and it won’t stop at just ‘like.’ For sure…
“Can I kiss you?”
“…You’re crazy. No way.” The slender figure widened his eyes, leaning back against the car window.
“Have you had your first kiss yet?” I asked, part of me thinking he might have already. Because of his handsome looks, another part of me argued that Duen definitely hadn’t kissed anyone yet.
“Asking about what, you creep…”
“You haven’t, huh?” I was teasing him to admit the truth; he had said he’d never had a boyfriend. Not having a boyfriend doesn’t mean he hasn’t had his first kiss, but I thought he probably hadn’t…
“So what if I haven’t!”
You haven’t, huh…
Do you know what, Duen…
“I just want to say, your ring finger, your first kiss, the position of your first boyfriend, everything on you…I’ve claimed them all.”
“You bastard, Bohn!”
“Oh, there’s one more thing…”
“What now, want my balls too?”
“The position of your last boyfriend…I’ve claimed that too.”
He was stunned for a moment before he opened the door of my Mercedes and scooped up Daonuea, getting out of the car with the speed of a turbo-charged cheetah, damn, he’s so shy, hehe.
“I thought I’d get to see a love scene in the car.”
“Have you been awake for a long time?” I hugged the steering wheel, looking at my little brother through the rearview mirror. He must have been awake for a while because he didn’t look like someone who just woke up; his eyes weren’t red, he wasn’t groggy, and he was still annoying.
“Not that long. Just in time for the sentence…’Want to go on a date?’ hehe.”
“Ha. From the very beginning, wasn’t it?”
It didn’t take me long to drive back home, shower, and get dressed. Now I’m sitting at my desk, reading a book. Even though I don’t have much work right now, I still need to study for exams. The content I’m studying is vast, and the professor is clever, managing to combine all the topics into one question, damn…kill me, kill me, death might be better.
This is too hard to study…better to chat with Duen.
Bon Ss: I miss you
Duen: You’re crazy. You’ve only been gone for 41 minutes.
If you’re going to reply this fast…or are you waiting for me? Wait, the important question is, does it count the time?
Bon Ss: Does it count the time?
Duen: It doesn’t count, Daonuea remembers.
She’s crazy, Daonuea sleeps like the dead, she probably woke up just to check the time.
Bon Ss: You can believe it if you want.
Duen: Wow.
Bon Ss: Don’t forget our appointment on Saturday.
Duen: Yeah.
Bon Ss: Video call, want to see your face before sleep.
Duen: Are you crazy? I’m about to sleep.
I chose to use a laptop because I’m too lazy to hold a phone, holding it for long makes it fall on my face, which is a painful moment. Once I had the communication device in hand, I called the other person immediately. At first, I thought he wouldn’t answer…
“Curse first, then answer?”
(His hand accidentally pressed it.) The other end looked away. He’s wearing the same pajamas he wore when he visited me at the faculty last time, Duen probably plays on his laptop too. And he’s lying on the bed.
“Really, huh?”
(Are you going to talk?) He made a face before looking down to do something.
“Talk, what are you doing?” I craned my neck to look, even though I knew I wouldn’t see anything.
(Working, it’s so hard) The future doctor showed me his work. What the hell are you studying? I don’t understand a single sentence. It’s not hard though.
…I can’t read Duen’s handwriting.
“Really, am I bothering you?” I asked while leaning back on the bed, lifting the laptop onto my stomach, this position is super comfortable. I know everyone has done this.
(If you’re bothering, would I answer?)
“How did your hand accidentally press it?” I smirked mischievously, my conversation partner paused with his hand, his face slightly red, snap…
(I…damn you, Bohn! If you knew, don’t tease me!)” He was upset before turning his face away, muttering Bohn under his breath.
“Ha ha ha.”
(I’m not doing homework anymore.) The slender figure walked out of the camera frame, probably to put away his work. Once he moved to another area, I could see the room more clearly. Not all of it, just the bookshelf behind him and the end of the bed. Does he like reading books? That’s different from me; my bookshelf, whether at home or in the condo, only has a few books. I don’t really like reading unless it’s necessary.
“…Nothing to talk about, huh?” I said quietly when Duen came back.
(Just put it down.)
“No, I want to see your face as the last thing before I sleep. And as the first thing when I wake up.”
(Weirdo.)
“Your face is red.” I teased with a smile, and upon hearing that, Duen turned the camera away. This time, I saw his wardrobe, it was huge, like a shed. I just found out he likes fashion.
(Shut up, you bastard.)
“Okay, okay. No more teasing, come back quickly, good person.” I said with a smile. I didn’t know if it was just me smiling a lot these days or if Duen was doing the same. Before, I wasn’t much of a smiler, always keeping a straight, emotionless face like I was Merk’s twin, sometimes getting into trouble because of my facial expressions.
And look at me now…
(Damn you.) The person on the other end finally turned the camera back.
We chatted for a while, about this and that, even gossiped about teachers. Duen told me about his studies, and I shared a bit about my faculty, in case he was interested. I didn’t realize how long we had been talking until I checked the time again…
22:07 PM
Wow. Have we been talking for three and a half hours?
“Duen.” I called him, and the clueless guy put his laptop aside and turned to talk to me, looking very sleepy but still trying to stay awake to talk to me. His voice was so cute…like a kitten.
(Uh-huh…)
“Are you going to sleep?” I smiled when I saw him nod, even though his handsome face was buried in a big pillow.
“(Yeah.)”
“Leave the camera on, okay?”
(Why did you leave it open…) He opened his eyes, what’s this, I wanted to see Duen being all cute, like earlier.
“I want to watch until you fall asleep.”
(You’re a psycho, Bohn.)
“Have you ever video-called someone until they fell asleep?” I’ve never done that. Normally, I don’t talk to anyone late at night like this. The only ones would be Boss and Tang talking about this person or that in the group chat, but that’s just text.
(Heh. No, when I get sleepy, I hang up.) He yawned, slowly closing his eyes as if he couldn’t resist gravity anymore.
“Good.”
(Huh?)
“I want to be the only one who does this.”
(Oh, fuck, Bohn, you woke me up, you damn…!)
“Heh heh.”
(I’m going to sleep. Whether you hang up or not is your business.) He closed his eyes again, even though his eyebrows were still furrowed. If I were closer, I’d poke hard between his eyebrows.
“And you won’t hang up?” I asked with a mischievous tone, Duen opened his eyes again, making a disgruntled face.
(I…need to charge my battery.) Has anyone ever told you that your lies are not convincing at all…
“Really, charging the battery, huh?” I’ll pretend to believe you, heh heh.
(Tch.)
After that, Duen closed his eyes again, this time really falling asleep. I lay there watching him before smiling. I like watching him sleep; he’s charming to look at, making me want to take a picture. I decided to capture the screen and post it on Facebook, not forgetting to tag the person in the photo.
Bon Ss
I’m afraid to close my eyes, scared that the image of you will disappear.
Why do you have to be so adorably hard working for others to like you all the time? Being cute for me to look at alone is enough.
#BohnDuen with Krisda Duennhaw