WESTTHESUNFROMANOTHERSTAR, Chapter 36: Impatient

   Arthit

   He paused for a moment as if about to say something but didn’t, just pushed my head gently and then let go, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, frowning and letting out a soft sigh. After that, we didn’t talk until we reached the stationery store.    He followed me quietly. I secretly observed him, puzzled. Normally, he would at least say something.

   “I’ll wait here, a lot to buy?”

“Not a lot, it’ll be quick.”

“Hm.”

He sat down on a bench in front of the store. I went to the section with the items I wanted, picked them up and put them in the basket, paid, and then came out to find him waiting.

   “That was fast.” He looked up from his phone, took the bag from my hand, and we headed back to the car.

   The same car moved out of the stationery store’s parking lot and headed back to the condo quickly. He carried all the items we bought today to the elevator together, since he was holding some of my things, we had to put them in my room first.

   I opened my room door and as I was about to reach for the light switch, I told him…

   I was genuinely happy that he said he would try for us. At that moment, I was stunned, glad I didn’t die from the shock. That made me think if I should try to be more patient for him too, but then again, I’ve been trying to be patient all along. And I haven’t been very successful at it, so I guess I’ll have to make it a bit harder for him.

   He still doesn’t seem quite ready, but what can we do?

   He said next month, after my race, he would agree to be my boyfriend. I think that’s good because it gives the one waiting a goal. Even if I say I could wait a lifetime, like I mentioned before, with someone you love, you want to have a status, don’t you?

   I wish next month would come quickly. When will it be next month? I want to race already, I want to get the race over with.

   And I got his room keycard too.

   Damn.

   Who would be as important to him as I am? Who else would care for that short guy as much as I do?!

   “Do you have good news?”

“Finally, you ask!” I said cheerfully when Hill finally asked, because today I was really happy, because of what happened yesterday, making me smile from ear to ear since morning, even though the short guy didn’t respond to my chats.

“What’s the news?”

“Do you really want to know? You’re my true friend.”

“Then tell me already, if you want to talk about it that much, there’s no need to keep it to yourself.”

“I was waiting for you to want to know.”

“Okay, I want to know now, hurry up and tell.”

“Alright.” and then I told Hill roughly about what happened yesterday, skipping the kissing part. This kind of thing, you have to brag about it, how could you keep it to yourself? It’s a pity Direk isn’t free yet. And right now, the only one in the ward with me is Hill.

“Uh…hmm, congratulations.”

“Hill, you…sigh, you’re proud of me, right? Very proud of me?” I raised my eyebrows at him, feeling good about myself. Hill looked up from his book to meet my gaze, “Even when eating, you’re still reading?”

“I was reading while waiting for you, hurry up and eat, you’ve been playing with your phone.”

“Yeah, yeah, so are you proud of me?”

“Hm.” He nodded, “Why do you look so proud?”

“I told you, you’re my best friend. Besides you, no one else says they’re proud of me.” I said seriously, feigning a serious expression, “If anyone does anything to you, tell me, I’ll handle it myself.”

“Just messing around, hurry up and eat.”

“Okay.” I agreed and bent down to continue eating. The short guy hadn’t replied to my messages since last night, not even seen them, which made me sure he was shy and didn’t want to respond.

Last night, I couldn’t sleep well because it was unfamiliar, the warm body in my embrace was gone, making me think why the bed in his room felt so big. Even though I wanted to use the key card he gave me to open his door and go to him, I tried to resist. I thought he probably wasn’t ready to face me yet, because when we parted yesterday, his face was very red, even his ears were red, like they had been boiled in hot water.

   After I finished eating, we prepared for the afternoon ward round. While walking up the building, I kept teasing Hill without stopping, not knowing if the listener was actually listening, but I didn’t care. I’ve always been a one-way messenger.    “What do you think about the key card? Seriously, if you don’t trust someone a lot, even if you give them a key card, you wouldn’t, right? To trust someone, you need trust and heart.” while I was going on with my rant, my phone vibrated slightly. I picked it up to see that it was the short guy who sent me a Line message.

   I opened it eagerly, but the content inside made my smile fade.

   SS: I have a meeting with KhunKim this afternoon.

   ☀︎: What!?

   ☀︎: Why

   ☀︎: Why meet with him!

   SS: You said you wanted me to hurry, didn’t you?

   SS: Khun Kim said he happens to be free.

   ☀︎:. No

   ☀︎: You have to meet him when you’re with me!

   ☀︎: You can’t go alone with him!

   ☀︎: Absolutely not!

   SS: Aren’t you usually busy?

   ☀︎: Damn.

   I gritted my teeth when I thought the short guy might really go out with KhunKim. It’s fine if they just meet, but being alone together without me? No way! No! No! No! That bastard, I’ll skip out! I won’t stay in this damn ward.

“I’m skipping out this afternoon.”

“No, you can’t.”

“This is serious! I can’t let him be alone with Kim!”

“Who’s Kim?”

“I forgot to tell you, Kim is the client who hired the short guy, and he likes shorty too.”

“He really likes him?”

“Yes, really. Of course, I know by instinct, I met him when we went to eat at the mall yesterday.” I said with conviction. Hill still looked at me with an expressionless, unperturbed face.

“Don’t you trust your brother? Didn’t he say he wouldn’t open his heart to anyone? Don’t worry.”

“It’s different, like how you wouldn’t want anyone else looking at your wife.”    “Right, it’s different. I can be jealous over my boyfriend, but can you be jealous over your brother?”

“….” Hill’s words made me pause, squinting at him with a frown, letting out a heavy sigh, “Damn, I’ll pinch you.”

“He’s a client, be patient. Wait until the work is over.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“What’s he like, this Kim?”

“He’s not much, I’m better looking, even my heels look better than his.”

“And his personality?”

“Polite, easygoing. Like Fah, but the version that wants to steal my wife.”

“Really? So, between Fah and you, who would a normal person choose?”

“…Hill, why are you messing with me? Shouldn’t you be on my side?”

“Hm? No, I was just asking.” Hill gave a small, victorious smile. This damn guy must have deep grudges, he must remember and wait for the day to get back at me for messing with him before. But messing with him isn’t always successful, Fah and I, he has to choose me, where else would you find someone like me!

“Then I’ll skip the afternoon.”

“No way.”

“Damn, what should I do?” While I was pondering, an idea suddenly popped into my head. Earlier, while enjoying Instagram, I saw Meen’s IG story where she checked in at the coffee shop where she works as a server.

☀︎: Go to Coffee-Mate, behind the university.

   ☀︎: This place, right?

   *Sending location    SS: Why?

   ☀︎: Just go there.

   ☀︎: Go to this shop. Otherwise, I’ll skip the ward rounds and rush over there right now!

   SS:    

   And then I immediately called Meen.

(What do you want?)

   “Are you working at your coffee shop?”

(I am, but there are no customers right now so I’m free to answer your call.

What’s up?)

   “The short guy is going to your shop, meeting a client named Kim. Keep a close eye on him, don’t let him do anything to the short guy at all. If he looks too much, pour hot coffee on him.”

(Are you crazy, telling me to pour coffee on a customer? And who’s the short guy? Why are you calling out of the blue to tell me this?)

   “The short guy is Dao.”

(Oh, Nong Daotok, yeah, and why? Why should I keep an eye on my customer? But what customer?)

   “The one who commissions artwork.”

(And this customer likes Nong Daotok?)

   “Yeah.”

(Oh, you’re jealous, so you want me to keep an eye on them, huh?)

   “Yes.”

(Yes, you damn thing. I didn’t expect you to be so straightforward about it. This is, damn, really embarrassing. Alright, I’ll watch them and report back to you, right?)

   “Yeah, you know it.”

(Yeah, yeah, okay.)

   And then I hung up. At least having someone to watch over them is good. Before I could think further, it was time for the afternoon ward round. No matter how anxious I was, I couldn’t touch my phone, and by the time it was almost four, I was lucky the session ended early. I immediately called Miss Meen to ask how it was going, and she said the two were still at the shop.

I rushed to the shop right away, walked in, and tried to spot where they were sitting but didn’t see them until Meen nudged me first.

“Come here, you.”

Meen led me to a secluded table where the two wouldn’t notice, the short guy in his student uniform sitting across from Kim, talking with stacks of paper on their table.

“They’ve been talking since this afternoon until four, what are they talking about?” Meen whispered. I nodded in agreement while my eyes were still fixed on that small back.

“What the hell are they talking about? I want to know.” I said, frowning with curiosity.

“I messaged you, but you didn’t read it. I even eavesdropped.”

“You sneaky bastard, I was busy. I couldn’t even touch my phone.” I said, “So, what were they talking about?”

“I heard Kim invited him to go to Korea.”

“Huh!?”

“Shh, keep your voice down, or they’ll all turn around.” She said, putting her finger to her lips to signal me to be quiet, “The one you said was a client, I think he is strange. And from what I’ve observed, he’s looking at him with such sweet, gooey eyes.”

“Sweet and gooey!?”

“Yeah, but to be fair, he’s quite handsome. Seeing him makes me want a Korean husband.”

“Go for it then.” I said immediately, and Meen looked at me in surprise, “You take him as your husband, you get a husband, and I get to protect my wife. It’s a win-win.”

“Damn, I don’t want a new husband yet.”

“Close your eyes and your ears, forget about Donat in a snap, trust me.”    “You bastard. No way, everyone says I have a dog’s heart, my husband just died and you want me to get a new one.”

“Listen to me, it’s not about the time, it’s about what you want in your heart.

Donat has been dead for a long time, he’d want you to move on.”

“Damn, why are you pushing me to get a new husband?”    “You need to find a real husband now.” I said seriously.

“Why are you so insistent on this? No way.”

“One-night stands then.”

“Arthit,you are so gentlemanly, I’d choose him if I were NongDao. If you’re going to be that damn annoying.”

“You should take my side, aren’t you my friend?”

“Yes, I’m your friend, so what are we going to do? From what I see, that guy probably likes the younger one. Otherwise, he wouldn’t stare like that. And you,

Arthit, what do you have to compete with him?”

“You don’t understand how I’m above him, I’ve already won the heart of the short guy.”

“Have you really?”

“I even got his room key card, you know. Someone without feelings wouldn’t give you a key card.”

“Not strange at all, friends give them out, he sees you as a senior, doesn’t he?” “Damn, senior again? Don’t say that word where I can hear it.” I raised my middle finger at him. She laughed out loud, “Senior, my ass, I’ve done so much for him, senior and junior don’t kiss like that, damn it, I love him to death and you dare call me senior?”

“Poor you, but pitiful at the same time. Anyway, is the client named Kim?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s Kim’s full name?”

“I don’t know, can’t remember, Kim…Tae-Yang.”

“Tae-Yang?”

“Maybe.”

“Tae-Yang, meaning ‘sun’?”

“Damn, it’s not me, TaeYang is my name, that one…might be Tae Min.”    “Oh, you little brain.” Meen sighed subtly, “He’s good, you know, handsome, polite, and the fact that he’s here as a client means he has a job, while you’re still living off your father.”

“But my dad’s super rich, is his dad as rich as mine?”

“Damn, don’t compare your dad to his.”

“If he’s so great, then you take him. Don’t make me force you.”

“Damn, you can’t force me, can you?”

“Go flirt with him, get him drunk.”

“Bleh. I told you I’m not interested, stop trying to push me on him, see if he wants me first.”

“Have you tried yet, you nut, try flirting first. If it doesn’t work, then ask how much.”

“Do you understand that I’m not ready for a relationship?”

“The short one used to say that too, until he met me.”

“You’re so great that I want you in my life.”

“Hmph. No, I just forced myself on him.” I said quietly, constantly watching the two of them. It was probably time to leave, I couldn’t stand their…what was it, overly sweet gaze, like what Meen described.

“Where are you going?” Meen yanked my arm to make me sit down.

“I was just going to sit with the short one.”

“Isn’t it better to watch secretly like this? How else will you know what he’s like when you’re not around?”

“Yeah, that’s interesting, but…”

“Come on, bear with it a bit. If you go now, do you think someone as hot-headed as you can control your temper? You know how hot-headed you are, even needles would melt if they drew your blood.”

“But if I hold Dao’s hand, I’ll calm down.”

“Crazy. I don’t believe it. I remember when you went wild in the pub. No one could handle you, don’t cause a scene in my shop, please, I’ve only been working here for a few days, I don’t want to get fired.”

“Believe me, it’s true, I’m still amazed at myself.”

“Really? Alright, let’s wait and see, huh. Looks like it’s almost done.” Meen said. I turned to look and saw that the short guy was packing up. It seemed like Kim was trying to help him pack, but the short guy wouldn’t let him. “You’re weak, Kim, I’ve packed for him so many times. Can’t even pack for him, go die!”    I quickly got up from the table and walked over to them.

When he saw me, the short guy made a big surprised face. I reached out to help him pack while Kim looked confused.

After we finished packing, I put my arm around the short guy’s shoulder, then gave Kim a triumphant smile. The person in front of me slightly furrowed his brows.

The short guy said a brief goodbye to Kim before willingly walking away with me.

“Why did you talk to him for so long?” I asked, but didn’t get an answer, so I looked at the person next to me. I saw he was turning his face away, his small ears bright red. He raised his hand to cover his ear as if to hide it.

What’s this? Just because I came over, you’re already embarrassed?

   All that stiffness and coldness he had with Kim earlier was gone.

   Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but smile broadly, leaning in to press my lips hard against his cheek. He was startled and quickly turned to look at me, his cheeks flushing red.

   “Wha…what are you doing?”

“Just came to pick you up.”

 

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