CHAPTER 10: ALL I CAN DO
I feel like my life is a rerun episode of some show because I am back here again, even though I was here just yesterday.
There are a lot of students and various types of workers nearby that are strolling around Siam Square, the trendiest and busiest spot in Bangkok. To be honest, the next thing I dislike most after snakes is actually walking around Siam Square because it's just so chaotic.
And really, if it weren't for the fact that this is important then I wouldn't have come here. However, I waved goodbye to Phun about half an hour ago and I have been secretly following him since.
I complain in my head as I keep tabs on Phun, who is not too far from where I am. I keep having to dodge him so he wouldn't see me. And since I'm tailing behind him, I can see all the girls that walk past him looking back and giggling among their friends. This is kind of funny. I wouldn't have known that he is such a hot commodity if I hadn't been following him like this.
I continue following him until he arrives at the place where he's meeting...her.
But it seems like Aim isn't here yet. I watch as Phun walks into the newly opened Starbucks next to Pachino restaurant. I can see him clearly as he sits down next to the glass walls. (Well, technically all their walls are transparent glass.) So I decide to pretend to walk around in the area near Jousse store so I can keep an eye on Phun. He cannot see me though, he has his back to me.
I get angrier seeing Phun sitting there reading while he waits for Aim. That woman forces my friend (who is sick) to come out and see her, yet she has the nerves to show up late? This is just too frustrating.
I keep pacing back and forth around that area so many times that one of the shopkeepers there is getting suspicious, so I decide to walk to a booth and buy a drink. I come back and Phun is still sitting there in the exact same spot. Is he meeting his girlfriend or just looking a new spot to read?
Half an hour later, I finally see Aim walking up to Starbucks, still wearing her school uniform. Luckily, her skin is so bright that I spot her just in time to get out of her sight. I immediately pretend to be a shopper at Jousse. (The shopkeeper is probably bewildered since I kept walking in front of the store for ages before actually coming inside.) Because I know that my bright blue pants stands out as much as she does. These convent girls are quick to spot our blue pants that we wear.
I pretend to check out the clothes in the store (all women stuff) while glancing back occasionally to check on them. On the surface, they seem pretty cheerful. But I remember that before Phun left his house, his fever was already returning.
That's why I'm so concerned.
I patiently wait for those two to finish their coffees and cakes. It is a long while before they finally leave. Following them is easier than watching them in one place. At the very least, I won't have a shopkeeper giving me weird looks. I continue to follow them on the bypass. I recall that Aim wants to buy some shoes.
But once I pop out of the bypass, I am startled by the sheer amount of people parading around this place. There are so many people that I'm starting to fear that Phun won't last. There are so many women stopping by to shop before they head home. The pathway to walk is already narrow as it is. I anxiously keep an eye on Phun. Not only he's still sick, but I see him carrying Aim's school bag and another tote bag too. I really want to smack him in the head for being unreasonably courteous.
I watch as Aim enters and exits stores after stores. But it doesn't seem like she has bought any shoes, or anything for that matter. What? Is it that difficult to shop for shoes? Is she trying to searching for a pair of Cinderella's glass slippers? Why didn't she think about what kind of shoes or which stores to visit before hand? Why is she dragging my friend around like this?
I admit, I'm incredibly annoyed at this point. I continue to chew on the straw as I follow them for a long while that I'm starting to get sore myself. Plus, the sky is now turning dark purple too.
At last, the three of us arrive to the bonanza area, which is even more crowded than the previous area. -_-" Why is everybody here? Is there a store giving free stuff? I'll bring some back home for Ma. I doubt that someone like Aim would ever buy anything from this place though.
Just as I suspected, those two walked around aimlessly. (I almost lost them a bunch of times.) From the first floor to the third floor, then they went through to 29 Plaza. They leave without buying anything at all. I still see only the school bag and a tote bag in Phun's hand. (How is he lasting this long?)
Phun is practically dying, can't you fucking see that, Aim?!
I get more and more frustrated the longer I follow these two. We continue along the side streets near Siam Square for a while before Aim takes Phun inside a women's clothing store.
I look up and read the store's sign. This is one of Yuri's favorite stores as well. I shake my head, there's no way I'm going inside such a tiny store. I decide to walk over to Dokya bookstore and wait there while checking out some books.
After a long while, long enough for me to finish about three comic books, I see that those two finally leave the clothing store. (Of course, I had already ducked inside the bookstore.) I can't help but wonder if she actually bought everything in that store because what I see in front of me is a huge bag in Phun's hand. I have no idea if they are clothes or shoes. I just hope that she'd let my friend go home now.
But...why are they heading towards Siam Paragon?! -_-"
I haul myself after those two loving couple without giving up. Jeez. I'm pretty tired, I can't imagine what condition Phun is in. He's still sick and he's being ordered to continue with this marathon. If I could then I'd run over, grab him by the collar and drag him home myself. But I don't think Phun would be cool with that.
Siam Paragon isn't as busy as the other areas, but this place is gigantic. I'm already feeling tired thinking about how massive this place is. Don't tell me that she intends to make my friend walk all over this place too. He's gonna die! (If not him, then me.)
I keep tailing them until they enter a fancy brand name store. (My aunt is a regular at this place.) Okay, then. There's no way I'm following them in there.
I'm circling around that area while practically going nuts because I'm getting really worried about Phun. I saw his face before he went inside. He was almost as pale as he was this afternoon.
'Who can be nice at every hour? I'm a person, not a character in a drama on TV.'
Holy shit! My phone is ringing loudly in my pants pocket. I quickly answers without even looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Whatcha doing, Noh?"
It's Yuri!
I stammer, but then I realize that I'm not even doing anything wrong. "Just running an errand, what's up?"
"Not much, I heard that you didn't go to school today so I called to see how you're doing. I was worried because I thought you might be sick." Those words actually made me smile.
"Who reported all this to you?"
"I got people, hehe. I'm glad that you're not sick though. Where are you right now? It's so loud." If I tell her I'm at Siam Paragon, she would want to come see me. She usually spends her time here after school. The little gears in my brain begin to spin.
"Just running an errand, I gotta go. Bye." And there I go! I don't care of someone will accuse me of being too cruel, I just need to save myself in my current situation ^^"
Phun and Aim show up only a few moments after I hung up the phone. I see a bright red bag with the store's logo on it. I watch them agree on something before they head to the mall's entrance.
They're finally leaving?! That's more like it! I throw my first into the air and almost forget to run after those two.
Phun is standing in front of the mall while carrying everything (a school bag, a tote bag, and two more shopping bags) as he waits for a taxi with Aim who is holding a smoothie that she bought from the food hall in Siam Paragon. The line to catch the cab is pretty long as if people are waiting in line to buy p'Bird Thongchai concert tickets. I notice that Phun is swaying back and forth.
I squint at my friend's tall figure leaning back and forth. Even from this distance, I can see that he's white as a paper. I'm starting to get really scared. And then, what I've been so afraid might happen actually happens.
All the items Phun is holding fall to the ground along with his body. I refuse to let this scene continue so I rush over to catch him with my entire body before gravity can take control and cause his head to hit the pavement.
Phun is burning as if he's on fire. "Phun! You okay?!" I ask even though I'm not expecting any answers. I shoot a panic look at the nearby security guard so that he can get us a taxi.
"Noh?!" I hear Aim's puzzling voice, but I don't care about anything else. I drag Phun from the taxi queue so he can sit near the waterfall. I loosen his belt and grab all of Aim's bags that were on the ground.
Aim walks over next to me. But as of now, I don't even look at this woman's face. I knew I shouldn't have let this happen. To be honest, I should be hating myself for allowing this to happen to Phun because I was the one who let him to leave the house.
"Phun hasn't been feeling well today." I tell her without looking at her so I have no idea how she's reacting to this whole thing. I'm finding it difficult to control my emotions right now.
"Noh!" Holy shit! I flinch with all my might when I hear a sharp voice calling my name. I don't need to look to see who it is. Why does she have to show up now of all times?!
"How come you didn't tell me you were around here, Noh? Oh, Aim? Phun?" She asks as she rushes over to where I am. She's smart enough to catch on when she sees an unconscious Phun sitting near me and decides to stop talking.
"I told you I was running an errand. You and Aim can get yourselves home, right? I'm gonna get Phun out of here first." I'm not sticking around to wait for an answer and shove all the bags to Aim before I help an unconscious Phun into a taxi with much difficulty.
It'd be bad if I take him to his house. I guess I'll take him to mine for now.
