WESTTHESUNFROMANOTHERSTAR, Chapter 18: Crossing The Line
Daotok
Through the clear glass balcony door, I saw the homeowner talking on the phone with a troubled expression, pacing back and forth on the balcony. His demeanor suggested he was busy, making me hesitant to interrupt. From where I stood, I couldn’t hear what was being said, but it seemed like he was arguing with someone on the other end of the line.
I was here because I was starting to get hungry. I intended to ask him when we would go out to eat since the bread in the kitchen was gone. If I don’t eat on time, I get stomach aches.
His attitude made me hesitate to open the door, but just standing here would look worse, like I was intentionally eavesdropping on someone’s phone conversation.
Even though I couldn’t hear anything.
I decided to open the door and step out, looking up at the person who was holding the phone to his ear, clearly not in a good mood as he was arguing with the person on the line. They must really be fighting, huh?
“No, Fah, you’re wrong.” The person in front of me ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Hey.” I called out, but it seemed he didn’t hear me.
“I told you it’s not like that! What the hell, who would…!!”
It seemed like he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye first, stopping midsentence and turning sharply to look at me with an annoyed expression, then his face changed to one of surprise when he saw me standing there.
“When did you get here?!”
“Just now.”
“Just now?! Were you eavesdropping on my call?”
“No. I just wanted to ask when we would go out to eat.” I said, and he furrowed his brows even more, looking displeased, before putting the phone back to his ear.
“We’ll talk later.” He said before hanging up and turning back to look at me.
“What did you hear?”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“Seriously.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Huh, damn it.” He sighed heavily and ran his hand through his hair again,
“What’s up?”
“Let’s eat.”
“Yeah, you go wait downstairs first.” He said before hanging up. So I turned around and walked out from the balcony to the couch downstairs as he directed. I waited downstairs for almost ten minutes before he came down. He didn’t seem in a better mood. I followed him to the car, and the atmosphere inside was silent, not even music like usual, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable. Even though the person next to me was radiating a tense vibe.
It seemed like he had argued with someone on the phone; I thought it might have been Cat’s boyfriend because I heard the name. If they really fought, I hope it doesn’t make Cat worry too.
But what time is it in Thailand now? Isn’t it pretty late? Mr. Jeon might be with Cat, they could be fast asleep by now.
The car stopped at a restaurant. I followed him inside before we ordered our food. Since we were sitting at the very edge by the glass door, I found myself gazing outside until I felt like someone was staring, and that someone was none other than the person sitting across from me.
“What?” I asked because he was sitting with his chin on his hand, frowning, and giving me a scary look, staring unblinkingly. What did that look mean? Was he trying to catch me out or was he unhappy with me?
“Hey.”
“…”
“Hey.”
“What?”
“Why?”
“What?”
He didn’t answer and sighed again, his expression turning to one of boredom, looking away for a moment but his eyes came back to me.
What’s his deal…
Sigh, whatever.
I took out my phone, plugged in my earbuds, and ignored him, watching drum videos with interest. Soon, the food was served, so I took off my earbuds.
Come to think of it…today is Tuesday, isn’t it?
I ate all the vegetables on my plate before leaving the expensive meat, because I forgot that today is Tuesday. Every Tuesday, I eat vegetarian because I made a vow when my grandmother was about to have surgery; since her birthday is on a Tuesday, I vowed that if her surgery went well, I would eat vegetarian every Tuesday.
“I won’t eat meat.” I shook my head.
“Eat it, make it worth it for the one paying, like me.”
“Want to?”
“…”
“Huh?”
“The meat.” I said, glancing at the vegetables still covering his plate, “I can trade for the vegetables.”
“What’s with you, trading meat for vegetables?”
“I’m eating vegetarian today.”
“Today? Why today?”
“I eat vegetarian every Tuesday, do you want to trade?”
“Okay, sure.” He said before scooping vegetables onto my plate and taking the meat. “Is the vegetable good?”
“It’s fine.”
“I don’t like it at all.”
“You don’t eat vegetables?”
“I can eat them, but if I have a choice, I won’t. I’m a hunter by nature.” He said, raising one eyebrow, probably feeling a bit better if he could joke like this again.
“You’re good, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“You like eating vegetables.”
“…”
“I’ll appoint you as my official vegetable eater then.”
“Forget it.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“…” I stayed silent without responding, whatever his problem was, I didn’t care. I finished all the vegetables on my plate since it was the only thing I could eat a lot of without feeling too full, and it tasted good too. When I looked up from my plate, I found the person in front of me still staring, but not in a way that seemed like he was trying to catch me out or showing annoyance anymore, “Are you unhappy about something?”
“…”
My question made him let out a small laugh.
“That’s quite the thug-like question.”
“No. Just asking straightforwardly, since you’re staring.”
“I was just looking.” He said, slightly raising his eyebrows in a nonchalant manner, “You’re sitting across from me, what else am I supposed to look at?”
“…”
“You’re quite the sight for sore eyes.”
After saying that, he looked surprised at his own words.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked what I should have. The person across from me didn’t respond, just sat there frowning as if deep in thought, not paying attention to what I had said. Silence enveloped us for nearly five minutes. “Indeed.”
“…”
“I don’t know either.” He answered with a bored expression, as if he couldn’t be bothered to think about it anymore.
“Oh, uh-huh.” I nodded at the answer I received. It seemed even he didn’t understand what he meant or why he said it. If that’s the case, let it go. He called the server over to pay for the meal before we walked back to the same car. I stood smoking on the same balcony, letting the little guy continue drumming alone in the practice room. The small incident that happened in the restaurant kept replaying in my head.
Quite the sight for sore eyes.
Why…
I mean, why did I even say something like that? And I don’t really understand its meaning either, like, is it something that’s easy on the eyes or something like that?
Yeah, that’s it, that word.
Easy on the eyes.
Like when you look at the sky, trees, the sea, things like that, it’s nature that’s pleasing to the eyes. There’s nothing about it that feels jarring at all; it’s someone who gives off the feeling of looking at a calm sea all the time.
When something is easy on the eyes, people tend to want to look at it, right? So, it wouldn’t be strange if I spent an hour staring at that short guy in the restaurant.
That’s right. It’s not strange at all, why would it be strange? That short guy didn’t even complain once, or maybe he did, but I didn’t hear it.
Even though just an hour ago, I was arguing with Fah, insisting I didn’t like him. Someone like me, liking someone like that short guy, and Fah didn’t force the issue much either; his tone sounded more resigned. It might have sounded like we were arguing, but in reality, I was the only one making a fuss.
Fah said we should talk about it properly once we’re back in Thailand; talking on the phone won’t resolve anything. Once we get back, there will be a lot more to discuss with Fah. Fah might start to understand why I’ve made things so complicated because, for me, this whole love thing has always seemed distant. I never paid attention to it because I thought it wasn’t interesting at all, or even annoying. I’ve always overlooked what everyone else looks for.
When it gets close for the first time, I just don’t understand it. Don’t know how to deal with it. It probably starts with a thin line called accepting your feelings, and from there, it might bring a lot of chaos if I let myself sink deeper. Would I not be able to live without him like I can’t live without Direk and Mom?
And if I had to lose him, what would happen then?
Instead of preparing for just one heartbreak, would it be two?
No way.
Then, it might be easier to stop myself from crossing that line from the start.
“If you miss this one, you won’t find another like him.”
Fah’s words echoed in my mind. He’s probably right; you couldn’t find someone like that even if you searched the whole world, but so what? If I get him and then have to lose him one day, it’s better not to have him in the first place.
Damn, that’s the thinking of a coward, isn’t it?
Sigh. I don’t like myself for being this way.
“Hey.”
I turned around at the voice from behind; it was the little guy who was messing with my thoughts, peeking out from the balcony door.
“What?”
“I want to ask about the drums, could you help me out?”
“…” I didn’t respond, just looked away and continued smoking, “Not now.” “Okay.” He didn’t insist further. I heard the soft sound of the door closing, and I sighed without realizing it. If I stayed away from him, things would probably get better, no need to sit here and complicate things in my head. No need for the hassle or to deal with unfamiliar feelings, also avoiding any potential hurt.
Having decided that, I didn’t talk to him again until the morning of the next day. Even though we didn’t talk much normally, I didn’t initiate any conversation like I usually would. We had nothing to say to each other, from getting to the airport, stopping for a meal, to boarding the plane back to Thailand.
I took out my new headphones, searched for some music, and then remembered that the little guy had sent me his playlist because I’d asked for it before. When I tried listening, I still found myself liking it a lot.
The person sitting next to me was reading a new horror novel we had bought together. I was never into novels, but since I saw him reading, I decided to give it a try, and I found out novels can be quite fun too.
“…” He looked at me with slight confusion when I handed him the novel.
“Here.”
“You’re not reading it?”
“Too lazy.” I answered. It was the novel I had just bought. I probably wouldn’t have time to read it anyway, so I might as well give it to him. He seemed hesitant to take it, so I placed it on his lap before turning to look out the window. Time passed until the surroundings started to darken. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the person next to me had dozed off, still holding the book.
He enjoyed it so much he didn’t want to let go of the book, huh?
I sighed again without realizing it. At first, I thought about taking the book to put it away, but then decided against it. I went back to focusing on something else and soon dozed off myself.
I woke up with a start, surprised to find the little guy leaning against me. Looking at him up close like this felt different from usual. Most importantly, he was incredibly warm and smelled nice.
I pushed him aside and went to the bathroom to wash my face, his scent still lingered. He doesn’t use cologne; someone like that short guy wouldn’t use cologne, right? The scent on my shirt must be a faint shampoo smell. I don’t remember my shampoo at home smelling like this; it must be because of him.
If that’s the case, he must smell really good.
Damn.
Shit.
Fucking hell.
What are you thinking, Arthit? You’re acting like a creep, damn it! Enough, stop thinking about that short guy, stop finding reasons to torture yourself!
I looked at myself in the mirror and saw that my expression was awful, like I was angry. No wonder the guy washing his hands next to me looked scared of something earlier; he quickly washed his hands and ran off.
It’s because that short guy leaned against me and got a shampoo smell on my shirt, that’s why I got weird looks!
I went back to sit down and found that the short guy had woken up and was reading the same novel. I sat down, not paying much attention, until he nudged me.
“What?”
“The story, it’s good.”
“No thanks.” I replied without looking at him. He didn’t say anything more. Why didn’t he buy it or ask about it at all? You’re too indifferent, I went out of my way to take you to buy it.
…And why should I care? I don’t even want to read it anymore!
When we got back to Thailand, I led the short guy to the car, he looked a bit tired. I drove back to the condo right away. I didn’t say a single word to him and went into my room, only to find out he was going to stay in the room next to mine.
What’s the big deal about being in adjacent rooms?
Not long after, I heard a knock at the door. I went to open it immediately to find Meen standing there.
“Arthit, are you okay?”
“What?”
“You look really irritated. Are you okay?”
“Irritated about what? Why would I be irritated?”
“Are you going to be mad at me for…”
“I’m not mad, I just…yeah, why did you knock on my door?”
“Just knocking on the door earns me a curse?” Meen said with a bored look. To be honest, she didn’t look so good, with dark circles under her eyes like someone who’s been on drugs, “I heard the door open, so I knew you were back and wanted to invite you for drinks.”
“I’m not drinking.” I replied before turning around and closing the door in her face, but she stuck her arm out to stop it.
“Ouch! Don’t close the door on my arm!”
“You put it there, what do you expect?”
“Drink with me, please, please, please.”
“I’m not drinking, I’ve quit.”
“Quit tomorrow, please, I can’t take it anymore.” Meen said, making a sad face with tears welling up. I raised my eyebrows in surprise at her shaky voice.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you later, just drink with me, my other friends can’t keep up, I’ve been drinking for several days straight.” She said, shaking my arm vigorously. I sighed heavily before nodding in agreement.
“Okay, okay. Fine, I’ll shower first, what time is it?”
“After you shower, we’ll go. I’m ready. You can invite someone else too. Yeah, I’ll invite Nong Dao as well.” She said, reaching out to knock on the next door. I slapped her hand down first. She looked at me, confused immediately, “Why slap my hand away?”
“Don’t invite him.”
“Why not?”
“Just don’t.”
“Come on, what’s up? It’s more fun with more people, I owe him for helping me with the cooking issue.”
“He can come, I won’t.”
“Damn, what’s wrong? Did you two fight?”
“We didn’t fight.” I said. I’ve decided to keep my distance from him, so why would you invite him to drink?
“You don’t like him or something? I thought you two would get closer after going abroad together.”
“We’re not close, nothing like that. Go wait in your room, I’ll come get you after I shower.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m going to shower.”
“Okay.” I said before closing the door. After finishing my shower, I got a call from North. What’s with all these people bothering me as soon as I get back, and I’m already in a bad mood.
“What’s up?”
(You’re back from San Francisco, right?)
“How did you know?”
(I talked to Phipungto.)
“Yeah, what’s up?”
(Let’s play a game.)
“I’m about to go out for drinks.”
(Oh, really, that’s too bad. But drinks, huh? With whom?)
“Choose.”
(I kind of feel like drinking too. Can I join? How many people?)
“There’s me, my friend named Man, two people.”
(Oh, fuck, I’ll join.)
“Come then, but get Jo first.”
(One sec) North said before the line went silent for a moment, (Okay, Phii Jo says he’ll come too.)
“Oh, yeah. That’s good, I’ll send you the location of the place.”
(Four people then, can we invite anyone else?)
“Up to you.”
(Then let’s invite Phipungto too, he’s in the room next to yours, so he can come out with us.)
“No need to invite him.”
(Why not?)
“Come on, no need to invite him.” I said, why are they all about inviting that short guy?
(I’ll invite him.)
“Fuck off, North, I told you not to invite him.”
(Oh, calm down, why? Did you guys fight in San Francisco or what?)
“We didn’t fight, you bastard, why do you think we fought?”
(Then why can’t I invite him? It won’t be a problem for you on the way back, if he gets drunk, I’ll carry him back for you.)
“Sigh, I told you not to invite him, you little shit.”
(You must hate my friend for some reason, what did he do to you?) North started asking so much that I sighed heavily, indicating I’m annoyed to respond, but the person on the line doesn’t care. (Even if he can talk to ghosts, he shouldn’t have done anything to make you angry. He’s so quiet, nice too, he even helped you at the cemetery. Do you really hate my friend now?)
“…”
(Fuck you, you ungrateful bastard. People like you aren’t good, huh.)
“Why the fuck am I being cursed out?”
(Don’t do anything to my friend, please.)
“Hey, what the fuck is wrong with you? I didn’t do anything.”
(Oh, so why can’t I invite him?)
“He’s jet-lagged.”
(Oh. That’s all, I was speechless. Then let’s meet at the shop, you can send the location to Phii Jo’s Line.)
“Yeah.” I hung up the phone with a sigh of frustration, deciding to lie about the jet lag to end it. Who knows, maybe he’s really jet-lagged, he looked tired at the airport.
…he looked tired.
At first, I didn’t think much of it, but what if he gets sick? He looked quite weak.
Ah, fuck it. It’s none of my business anyway!
Let’s go, let’s go, drinking will calm my nerves!
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Jo asked as soon as he arrived, before sitting down on the sofa next to me.
“Nothing’s wrong with me.”
“Eat my foot, you’re fucked up.”
Me and Meen had been waiting for a while, coming in separate cars because we heard he was going to sleep somewhere else tonight.
Meen is in a terrible state, she said she would tell me the story later but once we got to the bar, she just kept chugging booze non-stop. She wouldn’t tell any damn thing because she clearly didn’t want to talk, so I didn’t ask further and just focused on my own glass of liquor.
I drank my glass dry in one go even though I hadn’t been at the bar for long, I had already slammed down quite a bit.
At first, Meen and this married couple from hell didn’t know each other, but that wasn’t a problem, not for North who could befriend even aliens.
Aliens…like that short guy.
Weird people doing weird things.
Like aliens, like people from another Dao planet, Daotok’s name isn’t because his parents prayed to Daotok for a child, it’s because he definitely came to this world with Daotok.
The story might be something like something fell from the sky, his parents found a capsule with a baby boy inside, took him in, and named him Daotok because they initially thought he was a fallen star.
…What a dumbass.
Does this shitty booze make people dumber?
We kept drinking and chatting, the one who drank heavily just kept repeating the same words, going in circles, probably trying to accept the truth. I understand him, because accepting the truth is the hardest thing.
Yeah, accepting the truth is hard. Whether it’s about Mom or that short guy, the same goes for Mom, it took years to get better. I probably made the right choice not to let anyone into my life again.
Yeah, I chose right.
But why does it still hurt?
I kept drinking glass after glass until I started feeling woozy, wanted to smoke, so I got up from the table to go to the smoking area outside the bar. After a while,
Jo came to lean against the balcony railing next to me, reaching out his hand towards me. So I handed him the cigarette and lighter with an understanding gesture.
I remember Jo quit smoking after North asked him to, but there are times when North allows him to smoke, it’s not easy for someone like Jo, but he’s trying to quit both booze and cigs for North.
Pretty surprising. I didn’t think someone like him would go that far, love is really scary shit.
“Are you still drinking even after being there?” the person next to me asked while gazing off into the distance, the breeze lazily carrying the gray cigarette smoke away.
“I’ve had enough, but I can drink more.” my words made Jo flash a grin.
“You could die, you know.”
“I know, I’m a doctor.” I said, “I thought I would rest for real. After tonight.”
“But for some reason, I feel like tonight won’t be enough for you.” “…” I looked at him, puzzled, after hearing that.
“You still don’t look okay.”
“Before this, before coming back, I was okay.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” I avoided answering. Earlier, I accidentally spoke out of drunkenness; I meant that the issue with my mother was settled, everything was okay before I came back until it was about that short one. I started feeling not so okay.
Because I can’t get him out of my mind…
Can it really just be a secret that goes away like this?
“Jo.”
“What?”
“Have you ever been like this?”
“Like what?”
“Trying to get something out of your head, but you can’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“Answer first.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“When I tried to get over North.”
“Oh, you told me you liked him and tried to move on but couldn’t, right?” “Right.”
“And what did you do?”
“Nothing could be done, I couldn’t get over it.”
“How many years has it been?”
“Three.”
“Shit, three years.” I let out a big sigh after picturing it, “You didn’t go after him at first because he had a boyfriend, right?”
“Right, but why are you asking?”
“Just curious.” I replied, “but one day you’ll lose her anyway. Will you be able to handle it when that day comes?”
“No way.” the person next to me said. I replied, “But without North, I wouldn’t be able to handle it either. It might even hurt more.”
“Why’s that? Wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have her from the start?” “Do you really think so?” I said to the person next to me, exhaling cigarette smoke, “Try asking yourself properly.” “Why do I have to ask myself?”
“Who else then, the kid you went with?”
“…Shit.” I muttered quietly. It wasn’t surprising that he knew because it wasn’t hard to guess. Hearing this, Jo let out a small laugh.
“It happened to you too, huh?”
“Yeah, it happened to me, it’s fucking terrible.”
“Might not be that terrible.”
“It’s terrible. I feel terrible right now.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to cross that line.”
“You’ve already crossed that line, Arthit.”
“What do you mean?”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t be thinking like this.”
I glanced at the person standing beside me smoking, seemingly without a care,
“When you first liked North, did you feel terrible like this too?”
“No.” Jo replied, “I felt terrible when I found out North had a boyfriend, and it got worse when I realized there was nothing I could do.”
“Oh.”
“I never thought one day I’d be listening to love stories from someone like you.”
“Fah said the same thing.”
“Hill probably wouldn’t even know what to say, I can imagine his face, complaining about you and your friends messing with my partner’s friends again.”
“I didn’t do anything, don’t tell Hill.”
“That would be fun, I want to see Hill when he’s stressed, especially if he knows it’s you.”
“I wouldn’t find it fun, you got cursed out so badly, what would be left for me?” I said, remembering when Hill found out Jo was going to hit on North; Jo got cursed out to the point of feeling like a dog, and what would be left for me, the idiot.
“No way, Hill might help.”
“He’ll definitely help me sleep peacefully.” I said with a sigh, “Forget it, it’s so complicated, you know, these feelings, I can’t handle them.”
“What kind of feelings?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
“You’re so surprised you don’t know how to act.” Jo said with a smirk, “But didn’t you say you were going to back off?”
“Yeah.”
“I understand why you’re scared.” Jo said softly, “At first, I also thought that once I got over it, everything would be easier. When I decided to move on, I was just like you are now.” “Like me?”
“Drunk and rambling.”
“Fuck…I don’t want to loop like you did.”
“You might not be like me. If you can get over it.”
“I should be able to.” I said. Even though I couldn’t get him out of my head all day. Just thinking about backing off hurts, but time should make it better, and then I’ll go back to how I was before I met him, “I have to be able to. It’s just that short one, what’s the big deal?”
“Yeah.” Jo nodded slightly, “But if there’s a day you realize you can’t back off, you better move forward before it’s too late.”
“…”
“Because if he can make someone like you fall for him, others won’t stand a chance either.”
“No, that short guy has nothing special about him, man.”
“You say that like you don’t want anyone to look at him that way.”
“…”
“Because right now he’s single, you don’t feel anything, but if you’re going to back off, do it before he gets taken, because if that happens, you might not even have the right to look.”
“But he’s my eye candy, man.”
“Yours?”
“Fuck. Yeah. I just find it pleasing to look at him, others probably don’t feel the same way when they look at him.”
“Oh, are you sure? And what does it matter that you find him pleasing to look at when he already has someone with the exclusive right to look?”
“Yeah, fuck, damn annoying.” I said, somewhat irritated. Why, man? I just find that short guy pleasing to look at, why does some asshole have to stop me from looking? I was looking at him before you were.
“Jealous, huh?”
“Jealous my ass.”
“So, if it were you, you wouldn’t be annoyed? Would you share him or let others look at him?”
“Why would they look? There’s nothing worth looking at.”
“Sigh.” Jo exhaled in boredom, “Then you better stop looking before he gets taken. Don’t argue with me about him being your eye candy or whatever, I’ve told you, you won’t have the right.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. By then, I probably won’t want to look at him anymore anyway.”
“Good, hurry up then, because I heard North gave that kid’s Line ID to several of his engineering friends.”
“Huh?” I immediately furrowed my brows and turned to ask him after hearing that sentence, “North’s engineering friends? Wait, what the hell is your wife doing?”
“Just introducing his friend to other friends, what’s your problem with that?” “…Nothing. No problem, why would I have a problem? But are North’s friends really that great?”
“Better than you, because compared to you; everyone on this planet is better.”
“Fuck, Johan, you bastard.”
“I’m going back inside, man.”
“Yeah, I’ll follow you.” I answered, then turned to finish my cigarette.
Meanwhile, Jo, who hadn’t even finished his, had already gone back inside. During that time, I couldn’t help but think about all sorts of shit. Why the hell would that little shit North do that? I knew you’d betray me, I should have stopped you and Jo. No, why would I stop you? He gave his Line to that engineering friend, engineers aren’t good, as a junior who knows me, I don’t want him to end up with someone bad. Yeah, that’s right, it’s definitely like that.
“North.”
“What, Phii?”
“You gave your Line to that alien friend of yours?”
“Alien?”
“That short one.”
“Short?”
“North, you idiot. I mean the kid from the room next to mine.” “Oh, you should have said that from the start, bro. Yeah, I did. Why?”
The damn kid took a bite of some snack, looking at me with confusion.
“Why did you give it? Your friend is no good.”
“Huh? What’s wrong with my friend? Do you know him too?”
“He’s an engineer, that’s why.”
“And?”
“There’s nothing good about them except gears.”
“I’m also an engineer, you asshole, Arthit.” North said with an annoyed look,
“What’s your problem? Are you his guardian or something?”
“I’m just looking out for him, your friend isn’t right for him.”
“Huh? What do you care anyway? Do you like my friend or something?”
“Fuck off! Who would like him!” I accidentally raised my voice a bit, North looked even more confused, Jo was secretly laughing and shaking his head slightly. It was a good thing that the drunk one didn’t understand anymore. North looked at Jo, who was laughing, then made a surprised face, “Fuck, is it true?” “No, it’s not.”
“Phii…fuck.” North was stunned, his mouth open, unable to say anything. “I told you it’s not, you bastard.” I lowered my voice and tried to keep a straight face.
“Fuck, why, man, why?”
“What’s it to you?”
“Why does it have to be my friend?”
“Yeah, I want to know too…damn.” I sighed again after I accidentally spoke out loud. Fuck. No matter how many times, this drunkenness always comes back to bite me.
“…Oh, shit, I’m stunned, Phii Jo, what should North do?” Are you so lost that you have to ask your husband?
“He’s going to give up.” Jo replied.
“Why?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Why did you end up liking him?” North muttered, raising a hand to lightly scratch his head, “Giving up might be good, Phii, your chances of success are very low.”
“Am I that bad?”
“Yeah, all my friends got blocked on LINE by Phipungto.” “Really?” I asked to confirm, and North nodded in reply.
“You seem a bit happy about it, or am I imagining things?”
“You’re imagining it.”
“But are you really going to give up?”
“Yes.”
“Is it your first love?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s a shame.” North said with a slight pout, looking regretful, “If the person you liked was someone else, I would help out as much as I could, but I also want my friend to find someone good.”
“Fuck.”
“I’m just kidding, but you’re going to give up now. No matter the reason, I’ll support you.”
“Thanks.”
“Cheers! To forget about Phipungto!” North said, raising his glass of liquor. I lifted my glass to clink with his and drank it all down, letting the familiar bitter taste flow down my throat, through several more glasses until my vision started to blur. From being a bit dizzy at the start, now I couldn’t even walk straight. Meen, who had been drunk for a while, had her friends take her to stay somewhere else. As for me, Jo supported me in the car.
“You’re this drunk and still chose to drive?”
“…At first, I didn’t think it would be this bad.”
“Then leave the car at the shop.”
“Sorry, Jo, please.”
“Sigh.”
The next thing I knew, someone was shaking me awake. Slowly, I managed to get up and get out of the car, wanting to walk to my room myself, but my eyes were completely crossed now.
It seemed like Jo was the one supporting me to walk to my room, with North leading the way.
“This should be the room, fuck. Just passing by the ghost’s room gives me goosebumps.” I heard North complain, “Where’s the key card, Phii?” “Maybe in the left pocket of my pants.” I answered groggily. North carefully reached into my pants pocket, “Don’t touch my little brother, okay?”
“If he does I’ll cut your thing off then.” Johan, who was nearby, said. I let out a small laugh.
“It’s not here.”
“Really? Check the right side.”
“It’s not there either.”
“Did it fall in the car?”
“I checked before getting out.”
“Ha ha, damn it, I lost my key card again.” I said resignedly. Every time I get drunk, it goes missing. I’ll definitely have to fight with the condo management tomorrow or I’ll have to find another place to crash tonight.
“Sigh.” North sighed before going to knock on the door next door. I looked up to see the short guy with blue hair, the face that’s been spinning in my mind making me drink without savoring the taste, appearing at the door.
“What’s up, why are you coming so late?” He said before looking at me.
“Can we bother you? Arthit lost his key card again.”
“…” He didn’t answer, looked slightly uncomfortable, hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh, “Okay.” I knew he wouldn’t refuse. It’s North asking, after all. If it were me asking alone, you’d probably leave me to be drained dry by mosquitoes outside.
“Thanks, sorry for the trouble.”
Then Jo dragged me inside the room.
“Where do I put you?” Jo asked. “Uh…if possible…can it be on the floor?” Damn…
“Can’t you get a bed?”
“Don’t be difficult, man.” Jo said before throwing me onto the floor. He just threw me down, not caring at all if I; his friend would get hurt.
I heard some muffled conversation for a while before hearing the door close; that hellish couple must have left.
Damn, Meen, you’re hopeless, I’m so thirsty.
“Hey.” I called out with a hoarse voice.
“What?”
“Water, please.”
After a while, he brought water and set it down. I tried to prop myself up to sit and drank the plain water, glancing at the room’s owner standing there; everything in front of me was blurred.
“You.”
“What?”
“Engineers are only good for gears, keep that in mind.”
“…”
“If you have a choice, go for a doctor, trust me.”
“…”
Leave a Reply