[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Chapter 20:
As soon as I returned to my room, the first thing I did was run the bath, with no intention of watching any series or anything similar. It could be due to accumulated fatigue and the troubling incidents that had occurred earlier
But as is human nature, being alone began to calm my mood. I lay under the warm, fluffy blankets, enjoying the cool air while thinking. The thoughts of Nubsib and Nong Aey lingered, but due to fatigue, I fell asleep without even realizing. Waking up again, I glanced out the window to see that the sky had already darkened. The clock indicated it was past midnight
I opened the glass door to the balcony to let the air circulate. Leaving it slightly ajar to prevent insects from entering, I walked to make instant noodles and sat quietly in the kitchen. When I picked up my phone, I saw a message from Nubsib
nubsib: Have your meal. Don't eat instant noodles
nubsib: I'll be back soon
It was sent three minutes ago. That kid probably guessed that I would wake up around this time. I took a little breath, but still replied.
Gene: Ate already. Too lazy to go down and buy.
Nubsib was worried about me. I know. Before we argued, it was just a matter of annoyance. Seeing Nubsib and NongAey talking to each other made me even more irritated, especially when it was related to me.
Even though I know that Nubsib doesn't like or care about himself, but...
“Because Aey is interested in you, Khun Gene.”
“Crazy...”
Thinking of the sentence Nubsib said, I shook my head. Yeah, even smart people like that kid have moments when they're crazy.
I have my own eyes. I've known and seen Nong Aey since the casting day. He didn't show any strange or interesting behavior towards me. Even though I don't have much experience in this, I have intuition.
LINE! LINE!
Being silent with the phone ringing made me jump.
I thought Nubsib would reply to the message, but when I checked, it was a name I wasn't familiar with.
OEI: (Sending stickers)
“…”
OEI: Phii Gene
The message sent from a person who hasn't been added to my friend’s list yet is a cute sticker with my name. The profile picture is a sweet face, with red lips leaning close. Just by this, I knew who the other party was.
OEI: Guess who I am.
Gene: NongAey.
OEI: (Sending stickers)
OEI: Correct.
“...”
I looked at the cheerful message and felt my heart ache.
We had an argument in the bathroom before. His changing of things made me unable to keep up.
Gene: How did you get my Line?
OFT: Secretly looked at the director's phone and saved it.
OEI: Let's meet up.
OEI: We didn't finish our previous conversation.
OEI: I am at the underground level of Hotel W.
Gene: Didn't you go to the party?
OEI: I didn't agree to go in the first place, I am alone, why? Do you dare not come?
Really?
OEI: (sending a picture)
OEI: Before this conversation, I was very upset
Gene: Who is beside you?
I saw the picture that Nong Aey sent. Besides the drinking glass and some small wrists, I also saw thick arms and a slightly sullen face of someone else in the frame. So I frowned and almost raised my eyebrows while typing to ask.
OEI: So jealous, it's not Sib.
Gene: No, I didn't think it was Nubsib either
OEI: Haha, no one knows. He just came to drink. If you want to drink, come. Phii Gene, I'm going to pay for you myself
Gene: If you can't find it, call or LINE me
I put my phone back in its original place, got up to pick up the cup and put it on the sink, then went in to change my shirt quickly, combing my hair a little without taking off my glasses, putting on contact lenses at the same time before leaving the room
Before this, I really was mad at Nong Aey
But because I understand that he was upset and hurt by Nubsib, I let emotions prevail over reason, so I let go of the matter without etiquette. Seeing him say that he was alone but taking pictures with someone else, I thought about it and worried. I am not his parent, but if I let it go, I feel uneasy
The hotel that Nong Aey said was not hard to find. There are quite a lot of foreigners in this area. You can see both foot massage parlors and Thai massage parlors on both sides of the road when parking and asking the regular hotel staff. He walked me to the hotel restaurant area, but there was still a door leading to the underground floor.
Below is a bar. It is an underground bar decorated to look like a snack bar. The counter is long and shaped like a zigzag. Behind the bar counter, there are shelves and all the liquor bottles to decorate it full
There are not many people in this place. Just a quick glance, I saw Nong Aey immediately. It's a bit good that there are no other men with him, the one who were here were probably just here to drink
“...” I sat down on a round chair quietly, but had to remain slightly still because I saw him hesitate
Nong Aey frowned, but when he turned around and saw me, his eyes widened. “You wore glasses too.”
“...”
“And came for real too.”
“...”
When I didn't respond, he continued, "Do you want to drink something? I said I'll pay for it."
“No. Pay up. I'll send you off. We can chat on the way.”
“Don't rush. After all, everyone's already left.” Nong Aey smiled, then turned to the bartender and pointed at me, “Mojito, one extra special, please.”
I took a deep breath, but didn't stop the bartender from mixing the drink.
“Come see me, didn't Sib say anything?”
“...”
When Nong Aey asked, I suddenly remembered.
Indeed, I had forgotten because I was preoccupied with thoughts of Nong Aey and others. Plus, before this, I had replied to Nubsib but he hadn't responded yet. I thought he must be busy talking to the higher-ups who attended the event and didn't have time to play on his phone, so I didn't really think about it.
The person speaking seemed a bit more composed and calm now, compared to when we met in front of the bathroom. Because the younger one didn't act annoyed or disrespectful towards me anymore, I raised my glass in front of myself and took a sip, speaking casually, “Nong Aey, are you gay?”
“Yes. I don't like women, they are messy. And...I'm cuter than them.”
“...”
“Phii Gene, you have such a funny face.”
“How much have you had to drink before this?”
“It's been a moderate amount.”
Nong Aey...he's really drunk and tipsy right now.
Perhaps he's upset about Nubsib, so he drank more before arriving here. I thought the situation wouldn't be like when we were in front of the bathroom, but it turned out to be different. When Nong Aey was in an intoxicated state, he started talking openly about why he likes men, and about himself and Nubsib at university.
I ended up being the one having to sit and listen to his rambling.
Almost an hour later, I left him with the bartender and went to the bathroom. After taking care of things, I returned to the counter and saw that Nong Aey had ordered another drink.
“Nong Aey. That's enough.”
“It's okay, my throat's stiff. I'm just tipsy.” He slid the cocktail glass towards me, “The Mojito I ordered for you, Phii Gene, you haven't had it yet.”
“No...”
“Your cute expression is back.”
I rolled my eyes, “Nong Aey, aren't you the cute one? You were just talking about it earlier.”
“Phii Gene, if you were not so cute, why would Sib like you?”
Before cutting in again, I took a deep breath, turned to grab a bottle of water. Meanwhile, he continued to look at me intently without stopping.
“I'm here, there's no one who loves me, even my parents...”
“...”
“I envy you Phii Gene and want to hate you... but I can't hate you completely. You are arrogant, but kind. You agreed to come see me because you saw that I was drinking alone, right?”
“Hey...!”
My voice turned into a startled whisper, I raised my hand that was still free to cover the small shoulder of the person next to me, holding him close just before our lips were about to touch. Suddenly, Nong Aey, who was sitting a little further away, moved closer. In a split second, we were almost touching.
“Phii Gene.”
“Yes? Wait, back off, I can't handle it.”
“A kind person like you Phii Gene wouldn't despise me, right?”
“What!?”
“Stop liking Sib and like me instead.”
“...”
“I'm lovable too. I'm good at things in bed too.”
“Nong Aey, stop joking and drink some water. I want to go back.”
“No need to go back, I want to stay with you tonight.”
“Hey... hey, hey... Nong Aey.” I tried to evade, feeling all the blood drain from my face as I looked into the big eyes of the person in front of me staring at my lips. “Stop...”
What madness is this?
I widened my eyes at the situation unfolding, thinking that he must be drunk and confused. Nong Aey was smaller than me, but his firm body posture prevented us from falling over. I had to support his body before we both collapsed to the floor. I had not enough strength to push him away, no hand to lift and pull Nong Aey's hand that was reaching towards my face.
As we struggled back and forth, Aey suddenly leaned in, our lips almost touching.
“...”
Is this a joke!? Is this a joke, I was confused, my eyes widened almost in shock.
“Let's...”
Silence!
Someone's thick hand gently covered my mouth.
Both I and NongAey, who were leaning close and about to speak, stopped at the same time. Then, when he saw someone interceding, his face quickly changed and a muffled sound escaped.
“What the hell?...Sib!?”
“...”
“...”
The person standing behind me is the tall, well-proportioned figure of Nubsib, with a handsome and composed front face, with eyes so intimidating that I sit still, afraid to move. Nong Aey, who had raised his face to see, also hesitated, frozen in place.
Almost a minute passed, with Nong Aey removing his hand from my cheek as the other side, which was empty, was brushed away by Nubsib. The expression still showed clear signs of surprise and confusion from encountering a stranger's unexpected behavior.
“What are you doing here?” His voice was barely audible.
I myself was shocked as well, not at seeing Nubsib, as I had informed him beforehand where I would be and what I would be doing when I went to the bathroom, but rather because all of a sudden, NongAey declared his affection and lunged forward to kiss me, with a face of agitation and a rude gesture that I never thought a person with his personality would exhibit.
“...”
Nubsib did not respond to Nong Aey, his gaze fixed on something behind me. When I followed his gaze, I saw someone else whom I never expected to see.
“Causing trouble again, aren't you?”
Nong Aey glanced back and muttered, “Damn it.”
It wasn't just Nubsib, but also Saimok. The fashionably dressed Saimok was probably from the previous dinner party. As he scanned the surroundings, he snorted, raised his face, exhaled heavily in frustration, and placed his hand on Nong Aey's small shoulder, pulling him away. At that moment, Nong Aey expressed his displeasure with a grimace and rude snort.
He turned towards me. As our eyes met, his expression changed to one of loneliness and desolation, while muttering, “Phii Gene, did you call these guys again? Why did you call them here? Just to have a drink together and you can't even do that.”
I was still perplexed, furrowing my brows and blinking. I glanced at Nong Aey, who was trying to free himself from Saimok's grasp, his face agitated as he muttered, “Oh! Phii Gene, you haven't even taken a sip of the drink I offered yet.”
“I...”
“Aey.” As I was about to reply, Saimok abruptly interjected, calling out Nong Aey's name with a heavy sigh and forcefully exhaling in frustration.
“You don't have to pull me away, do you? I already know I'm about to leave!”
The small figure got up, raised his hand to grab his wallet and walked away, heading towards the stairs leading to the upper floor, with barely a glance back at me and Nubsib. He shrugged his shoulders and turned his body upward, leaving me and Nubsib starting after him with faces that still hadn't eased. My mind felt like it had been hit with a giant hammer repeatedly, leaving me feeling dizzy and seeing stars.
“...”
When I turned to look at Nubsib, I saw that he was already staring at me. His gaze made my mouth that was about to speak to freeze.
I didn't dare to stare for too long and quickly turned back to the counter bar table in front of me. I saw the untouched glass of Mojito that Nong Aey ordered to be placed there for an hour, with two or three thousand baht banknotes placed next to it. It must be the money from Nong Aey, who said he would treat me.
Thinking like that, I felt sympathetic and empathetic towards the other party who had invited me. Along with regretting the expensive drinks. I reached out to grab the glass, but before I could even touch the rim with my lips, a thick hand pulled mine away. I leaned back and looked as Nubsib drank it down as if he could read my mind clearly now.
“...”
“We can go back now.” His calm voice, although showing no emotions, made me feel that Nubsib was quite dissatisfied with what was happening.
“Uh... um.”
He walked straight towards the stairs, I looked after his wide back as he was about to go upstairs and followed along. Trying to keep a distance from the other party. Suddenly, Nubsib abruptly stopped walking.
He turned and stared at me with sharp eyes.
He didn't say anything, but his thick hand, the same one that covered my mouth earlier, was extended to me. I didn't feel much now, but what was certain was that I quickly reached out to hold the warm hand of the other party tightly.
Earlier, as I was going to the bathroom, I had just had time to check my phone. As soon as I saw the message and missed the call from Nubsib on the screen, I hurriedly contacted him back. Nubsib asked where I was. Once I told him the location, he just instructed me to wait and not go anywhere, then ended the call.
So now I knew he was coming to see me, but I didn't expect him to come right at that moment.
“...”
As he got into the luxurious car, Nubsib didn't say anything. As for me, I kept looking around at the people surrounding us.
The tall figure started the car. Once the air conditioner started working, he didn't step on the gas pedal.
“Khun Gene”
“Huh?... Um!”
As soon as I turned to the voice calling me, Nubsib's thick hand quickly moved to grab the back of my head, pulling me in before I could react. His handsome face leaned close before pressing his lips against mine.
The intense pressure made me feel a slight tingling sensation, but a gentle and painful feeling as the lower edge of my lips was pulled and pressed.
“What should I do with you, Khun Gene...”
“...”
“Why are you so kind to everyone else like this?” Nubsib whispered softly by the corner of my mouth.
He made me want to say something wrong, and when he saw me go silent, he moved his body back and distanced himself. Nubsib's face showed a hint of displeasure, but he was controlling his emotions. I glanced briefly at him and then looked down at my feet.
“Do you realize what you did wrong?”
“....” I hesitated softly, “Um, I don't think...”
“Hmm?”
“I... made a mistake.”
Nubsib slowly turned his handsome face towards me, “What did you do wrong? Tell me.”
“I shouldn't have talked to Nong Aey even though you told me not to.”
“That's not it.”
“...”
“I was wrong to make you worry.”
“....” I listened and felt a sense of calmness wash over me automatically.
“When I couldn't contact you, do you know how worried I was?”
“Um, but...” At first, I hesitated, but when I saw the dark brows furrow slightly on Nubsib's forehead, I chose not to explain further to avoid causing him more worry, “I just went outside to meet Nong Aey, didn't go anywhere else, and I came back quickly. Nong Aey is your friend too. I am grown up. You don't have to worry so much.”
“I told you it's not about being grown up or not.”
“...”
“Being important to someone makes them worry about you.”
“...”
“...”
He was worried...
“...I'm sorry.” I said softly, lowering my gaze.
After a moment of silence, Nubsib, who had been quiet, let out a sigh and gently touched my cheek. As he tilted his head up, Nubsib lightly brushed his lips at the corner of my mouth before pulling away, looking apologetic.
“Don't forget about this next time.”
“Okay, I won't forget.”
The listener nodded in satisfaction, but I still had a lingering worry about the conversation I had with Nong Aey.
“Yes?”
“You're not happy about it, right?”
“I'm not happy about it.”
I fell silent immediately, a certain feeling creeping in that I couldn't ignore.
“I'm not happy that my Khun Gene was touched by someone else.” Nubsib used his sharp eyes to glare at me, then moved towards my cheek. He squeezed my cheek with his fingers, “Your soft cheek was also touched by Aey, right?”
“...”
“Besides worrying, I'm also jealous.”
Nubsib made me quiet again, the suffocating feeling overwhelmed my heart and almost made me lose my composure. I awkwardly reached out to remove his hand from my cheek because I wasn't good at speaking, “I...I thought you were afraid that I would come and confront NongAey, that's why you were a little upset.”
“What does that mean, do you know?”
The question from his lips, along with his puzzled expression, “What does it mean? Well, it means that I am not happy.”
“So that means you're jealous of me?”
“...”
I didn't answer, but turned my face in another direction. I didn't deny it because upon reflection, I also understood myself. Maybe it was because of jealousy that I changed the subject.
“I didn't think Nong Aey would do that.”
In fact, I was still confused about Nong Aey's behavior. Previously, Sib said that his friend was interested in me, while Nong Aey said he liked my lips. I still couldn't tell if he really liked me.
One thing I was sure of was that the anger and teasing behavior of NongAey were his true nature, not the cute and polite facade he usually showed. And when I thought back to how he always presented himself as a well-behaved child, I felt a chill run down my spine.
Both Nubsib and NongAey, these kids these days are really something.
Thinking like that, I released my hand from Nubsib's hand as he looked away, his eyelashes fluttering slightly.
“...”
“Um...” but I had to grab hold of the other hand tightly when the other side looked at the corner of my mouth and leaned in closer.
That's it. Just like this, my heart will probably die right here.
“Let's exchange, okay?”
“Huh?”
“From now on, wherever I go, I won't forget to tell you Khun Gene, and Khun Gene, you shouldn't forget to tell me too, okay?”
“Okay, I'll tell him.”
Seeing me nod and respond with a firm voice, the scary atmosphere surrounding Nubsib gradually disappeared as he relaxed and took a deep breath.
I looked at the handsome face of the person next to me, then turned to look elsewhere. For a moment, I couldn't get Aey out of my mind.
“Hey, can I ask you about Nong Aey?”
“If it doesn't bother you, go ahead and ask.”
I almost choked on my own saliva at his casual response. “Are Nong Aey and Saimok close?”
“Saimok is a friend of Aey’s older sister.”
“Friend of his older sister?” My face immediately turned puzzled. “I don't see them act like they know each other at all.”
“It's... a personal matter for them both.”
My eyebrows furrowed, but upon hearing this response, I understood that it must be someone else's private matter. So I chose not to pay any attention to it, “So, is Nong Aey actually gay?”
“Yes.”
After listening to his answer, I turned my face in another direction, feeling like my face was being engulfed by flames. Though I didn't say anything, I couldn't deny that besides feeling a strong denial, I also felt a slight sense of relief.
After a moment, I finally mustered the courage to pull my hand out because I knew that the longer I waited, the harder it would be to keep my emotions in check. I softly said, “I want to go back.”
“Sure. Let's head back then.”
Nubsib raised an eyebrow, but still didn't step on the accelerator. He picked up his phone to make a call, trying to pass the time by calling someone. At that moment, as I turned to look at him, he hadn't even opened his mouth before he quickly handed me the car keys and got out of the car.
Number Eighteen slightly smiled at me, then he bent down towards me to have our noses close together, cheek to cheek, before gently patting my head and opening the car door to get down from the car. I still thought about the soft male voice at the hotel and how my car keys were still with him.
“...”
I only squinted warmly to follow behind.
A heavy sigh escaped through the corner of my mouth. I turned back and leaned my body against the curved part of the genuine leather seat on the Aston Martin. I sighed as I leaned out of the small car window. Couldn't calm down for less than five minutes. The phone in my pocket shook.
LINE! LINE!
OEI: Sorry, Gene, I didn't get to say goodbye.
OEI: Because I was upset, I couldn't come back.
NongAey...
The relief I had felt within less than five minutes turned back into anxiety and tension. I looked out the window to avoid Nubsib seeing my expression just right. But Nubsib was still on the phone, so I twisted and changed my sitting position to look at myself.
OEI: Next time, I'll treat you to a new drink.
I stared at all the letters that were gradually sent to me. At first, I intended not to respond, but I thought that whatever I do, it must be clear. So, I chose to respond back.
Gene: It's okay. I finished drinking.
OEI: Finished? Did Sib give you a drink?
OEI: Are you lying or not?
Gene: I can't drink alcohol, so Sib helped me finish it.
I decided to print honestly without hurting his feelings, so I just replied before immediately closing the app.
OEI: Did Sib get you a drink? Really?
OEI: Phii Gene
OEI: Sib made me angry. Ask him what he talked to that Ai’Mok guy for.
OEI: Phii Gene, are you not going to answer?
OEI: Okay
OEI: Did you know that the glass of water I actually mixed it with sleep viagra?
OFI: If you've drunk it, tell AiSib to soak in cold water all night. Its power is strong.
My phone still vibrates and sounds several times, so I have to pick it up to prepare to silence it. But the last message that appeared on the screen, accompanied by a bright light, made me freeze.
The phone almost slipped from the table.
Viagra? Sex pills?
Seriously!?
Fuck...