CHAPTER 46: WE BELONG TOGETHER

After we finished up at the convent, we decided to crash the grilled pork restaurant that belongs to nong Knott's family near Kaset-Nawamin Road. We go there so often that his father doesn't get bothered by all of the loud noises which we insist upon making anymore. He actually told us that he prefers having a lot of kids at the restaurant since we keep him lively.

"Heyyyy! Who the hell put beef on this grill?! Come here and lemme smack you!" Poom, who has been silent for the past hour, speaks up when he notices a piece of red meat sitting on the grill in all its glory. This is after we all agreed on a ‘no beef’ policy. He was so loud that I ended up flinching. And of course, when it comes to doing horrible stuff like this, it couldn't have been anyone else other than...

"What? That ain't beef." There he goes, the man behind this mess reveals himself. I watch Ohm while holding the chopsticks with my mouth. He slowly lifts an item Poom referred to as 'beef' and dangles it in front of the plaintiff.

"Look at this. This is clearly...spinach." This fucker! I have never seen anyone as shameless as this guy! Ohm's head turns into a trash can as the guys throw used tissues at him. You deserve it, I'm telling you this from the bottom of my heart.

Poom and Ohm argued a bit more on whether this was a piece of beef or spinach (he has the balls the dispute this?). Poom emerged victorious when he shouted for a server and asked for the grill to be replaced immediately like it's the biggest emergency ever.

We laugh among ourselves as we lift pork, chicken, bacon and a bunch of other things from the grill so they can switch it out. Meanwhile, we help ourselves with the food from the other grills. Many music club members are here today so we ended up connecting three separate tables with three stoves. We can barely walk around and eat all the food.

"Here, some more pork." I probably forgot to mention that I haven't looked up from my plate ever since we sat down. I haven't even been grilling anything either. The person who has been doing the cooking, checking to see which ones are ready and grab them from the grills for me was Phun Phumipat, also known as the student council secretary who has tagged along to the restaurant uninvited (because he tagged along with the band, also uninvited, earlier today). I guess he's the president of the music club's secretary now that he has been doting on me the entire time.

I mean, if he could chew and swallow the food for me then he would've done it.

"Hey, you should eat too. Aren't you hungry?" I quickly return the pork and the chicken to his empty plate while mine is a mountain of things like pork, mushroom, duck and chicken. (Actually, there's no duck. I just wanted things to rhyme*, haha.)

However, Phun simply smiles and continues to get me more grilled pork. Ugh, are you just messing with me now?!

At any rate, he can do whatever he wishes. It's better this way, I'll just do nothing and become a cripple. Although, it is rather fortunate that my plate is full of food that Phun gave to me since New starts messing around with his bizarre recipes not long after. (I really shouldn't explain what they entail because they're so complicated and they're something youths should not take as an example.) Heng barely dodges the terrible fate when a staff replaces the grill that Poom had asked for earlier. Otherwise, Heng would have been forced to eat the horror that was being cooked by New. I'm sitting right by where the stove is so I lean over to give some room (plus, I didn't want to get hurt). But it seems someone wants to get hurt though.

"I'd be nice to have a big sister like youuuuuu. Are you interested in adopting a high schooler?" Heh heh. I don't need to tell you that the person who is saying this is pretty drunk, do I? No sane or lucid person would say such a thing to someone carrying something burning hot in their hands.

Per's new big sister smirks a little as she moves the stove frighteningly, almost as if she wants to hit his face with it. Luckily for him, she believes in the saying of "don't mind the crazies and the drunkards" so he's getting away with this in one piece and goes back to enjoying the grilled pork while sipping some beer. (To be frank, nearly all of my friends are a bunch of crazies and drunkards anyway.)

That's right, we've ordered a ton beer no thanks to Film. He said the bargirl at Knott's restaurant is pretty (and Knott took the chance and boasted about how he chose her himself). And because the pretty bargirl has been pouring beer for my friends glass after glass (I'm not drinking tonight since I'm not in the mood for it and Phun decided not to drink along with me), each of them are getting wasted. They even lined up to sing folk songs on the stage too. But instead of folk songs, the stage has turned into...

‘The moon is no longer watching, the moon isn't watching’

‘Even if the moon isn't watching, I won't allow it’

Um...will someone, anyone, explain this tragic and dreadful scene that is taking place in front of me?

It can't possibly be that Ohm and Film are singing "A Daring Kiss Under the Moon," can it?!

Phun and I, who are the only ones still 100% sober, can do nothing but facepalm ourselves while repeating that this has to be a dream and that I'll forget this ever took place when I wake up. I surely hope I can pull that off. Somebody get me out of he-!

‘I'm not afraid of mornings.

I'm only afraid that they wouldn't come.

No matter how early it might be

I can handle it’

Thank god! My phone is ringing from inside my pants pocket! I hastily, and a little too dramatically, grab it. Phun watches me with chopsticks in hand.

Bingo! It's Yuri!

Her call is saving my life. I don't want to have to watch the grotesque scene is that taking place any longer. Nong Mum was clicking away with his camera when Film was kissing Ohm on the cheek during the song. (Barf!) So when those two see the photos when they're back to being sober...

I can just say that I didn't see anything because I was on the phone with Yuri as an excuse. Heh heh heh.

"Hello?"

"Noh, where are you? It's so loud." Yuri yells with her chirpy voice like she wants to compete with the ruckus that is going on around me. I move to the garden in order to get away from all the noise pollution as far as I can (because now Per is singing a duet with Knott's father and this is terrifying).

"The grilled pork place. Are you home yet?"

"I got here ages ago. I had dinner, did the dishes, took a shower, changed into my pajamas, went on MSN and now I'm about to sleep." Wow, what a detailed response. I chuckle silently to myself before I mess with her a little.

"Oh, you're about to sleep? Why did you call me then?" Despite knowing that she'd throw a small fit at me.

"Because! You were at my school today but we barely said 10 words to each other! So if you think that you can just chase me off and tell me to go to bed then you can keep dreaming!" She sounds serious, heh heh heh. I chuckle at Yuri's determination. I sit down on a huge rock nearby so I can chat with her properly. I guess I can consider this as a way to help digest the food since I'm feeling pretty stuffed right now.

We carried on with small talks and then we we discussed the event that happened earlier today. Yuri was spilling the beans on how each member of their music club has a huge crush on my band after we performed there last year. This was why they fought to have us play there again this year. It was funny thinking about it considering what a mess we were last year. Like, it wasn't professional and we only played for laughs. I honestly couldn't believe that the convent's music club members didn't pick up on Ohm and New playing the bass and the guitar in totally different keys. I could barely sang along.

In any case, we didn't screw up this time around (I think).

I listen to Yuri telling her stories while laughing along. Just as I am about to lose track of time, a heavy hand touches my shoulder from behind. "Phun?" I exclaim using the name of the person standing in front of me. The owner of said name sits on the rock with a plate of food in his hand.

"Want some?" Phun asks, though not too loudly (especially when we compare this with Per howling into the microphone) but it seems that Yuri can hear him.

"Phun's there too...?" She asks me softly from the other end of the line. I had suspected this as much. I knew that Yuri is still rather reluctant when it comes to Phun since he was the one who broke things off with Aim. (The first day those two broke up, I had to listen to Yuri complain about him until my ears nearly fell off. She believed wholeheartedly that Phun was at fault since he was the one that broke up with Aim first.) Only two days passed and Aim started dating a new guy which made Yuri stop making any more comments about this. I'm not sure how much she actually knows, but I think that she won't be blaming Phun like she has in the past now. However, she might find it somewhat awkward to speak to him and I would understand her as there might be some residual impressions.

"Yeah, everybody that helped out is here." I answer her while I cock my brows at Phun when he passes a plate of pork, rice crackers and green noodles my way. Yuri then responds with a bit of hesitation in her voice.

"Say hi to him or me then."

"Yuri says hi." I play the role of the mediator and pass on the message to Phun just as instructed. Phun is a bit taken aback but then he gives me a pleased smile. "Hey. You're still awake, Yuri?" Eh, now you're starting a conversation with her? I glance at my watch which tells me that it is currently past 11 pm while waiting for a reply from the other end of the line. "I was planning to talk to Noh until I fall asleep! Hehe!" That's just great.

I turn to tell Phun what Yuri said and he laughs before warning her that if she sleeps late then she'll turn into a panda with sunken eyes. He also adds that her skin will get old and wrinkly even faster too. Jeez, he's mentioning all things you shouldn't say to women! As expected, there is a big commotion coming from Yuri (because no woman would want to listen to their ill fates). She argues that there are lotions and creams that can help with that. But Phun doesn't let up and tells her that those creams are made from dead whale bladders. Yuri continues to make a fuss on the other line. In the end, I hand over the phone to Phun so they can hash this out among themselves (instead of having to rely on me as a messenger). Even so, I can still Yuri squealing away whenever Phun teases her about something or the other. The guy responsible is cheerful, likely because he is able to mess with her. Yuri isn't your little sister though, who are you to keep prodding and poking at her?

It's a slight relief to see those two joke and giggle with one another. I'm hoping that Yuri doesn't think too badly of Phun anymore. I love the two of them and if they're on bad terms because of that terrible thing that happened then I would feel awful.

Phun laughed and chatted with Yuri for a long while before he returned the phone to me. Then I had to listen to Yuri went on and on about how she had no idea he can be this insufferable (now you know, he's the worst of them all). Yuri sounded a lot more perky and cheery when she spoke about Phun, to which I couldn't help but smile along with her with him sitting right next to me.

We spoke for quite a long time (with Phun adding his two cents occasionally) until the guys came out to tell us that they were planning to leave. (They even teased Phun and I loudly too! Good thing Yuri didn't hear them.) Before I hung up the phone, Yuri asked if she could talk to Phun first. I have no idea what they spoke about, I only heard his reply to her, which was "I'll even look after him right up to when he falls asleep." Eh...what did he mean by that?

I learned the answer once we were heading home. Nong Knott's father was super nice like usual. He had an employee from the restaurant drove all of us home. Although, I didn't get why they had to drop me off first (and my house wasn't exactly closest to the restaurant). The guys in the car were hollering when Phun and I got out together. Damn these unpleasant jerks!

That's right. This is what Phun meant when he spoke to Yuri. He wanted to use that as an excuse to spend the night at my place. He claimed that the music club worked him to the bones by making him carry things, set up the sounds and even dragged him to sing and embarrassed himself on the stage too. According him, the president of the club like me needed to take responsibilities for what happened by taking a very good care of him for a night. The nerves of him to have said such a thing though. Rumor has it that he was the one that begging to go with us? Why is he complaining now? -_-"

But never mind that. If he wants to stay at my place then he can. I nod wearily and give him my permission as I wave goodbye to the guys in the car who are still teasing Phun and me. (What the hell is wrong with these guys?! No one gave a shit when Per asked nong Knott if he could spend the night at his place!) In the end, I switch from waving my hand to sticking out my middle finger instead. Even when the van is driving away, they still lower the windows and hang their heads out to make fun of us. You better watch it! It's nearly midnight, people are trying to sleep!

Phun and I chuckle to ourselves as the van leaves the street. We head inside the house which is completely dark. Phun keeps telling me that he is so full because he ate all those grilled pork and seafood. I was too exhausted so I didn't eat as much as he did. I mostly filled my stomach with the shrimps with glass noodles instead.

We turn the air conditioner on the second we step inside the bedroom. It's the beginning of the year, yet the weather is awfully hot. I walk over to put away my beloved electric guitar to where I usually keep it. I rarely ever take this anywhere unless an event requires me to do so. I asked my uncle to help me buy this from an auction in Japan and it was freaking expensive as hell. It was still cheaper from buying a brand new one though. Even so, I'd die if there were a single scratch on it.

While we are putting our own things away silently, a single thought suddenly pops into my head.

"Phun."

"What's up?" He answers me and it sounds like he's in the middle of taking off his student uniform shirt. I have no idea why I don't have the courage to look at him.

My lips are bone dry as I continue to speak. "Did you...run into Aim today...?" This is probably why I've been feeling a tightness inside my chest all day. It's probably due to this question.

Phun goes quiet after I asked my question. He isn't replying to me right away like he normally does. Still, he eventually gives me an answer. "Yeah...when I was heading to the administrative office."

"I see..." This is all I can muster up to say. I honestly don't know what else to say.

We stay quiet for a while as I pretend to wipe the guitar and then Phun begins to speak. "I tried to smile and say hello to her but she acted like she didn't see me. I'm not sure who should be mad at whom exactly, heh heh." Frankly, I don't really believe his chuckles at the end are genuine. All I can do is sit still and fret over how Phun is still hurting over what happened.

"Are you...jealous?" Suddenly, Phun's deep voice can be heard so close to me. I flinch and turn to look at his handsome face. He's grinning at me from behind and he's even trying to to pull me in by wrapping his hands around my waist too.

"Hey! What are you doing?! I'm trying to clean the guitar here, you're gonna make me leave a mark!" I complain off an on because I actually am concerned that I might damage the guitar. I'd cry until I die if that were to happen. But wait, what did Phun say? Jealous? What?

"Then say that you're jealous first. Heh heh heh. I'm not hung up on her anymore, you know. It's over between us. But you should just admit to me that you're jealous...heh heh heh." This asshole is so obnoxious. I don't even know what he's on about! My face feels very hot. It feels weird with him sitting behind me like this so I try to break free from his strong arms that are holding me increasingly tighter and tighter.

"Let go! And I don't know what the hell you're trying to say either! Let gooooo!" Here goes nothing! It's the battle of strength now! Let's see which one of us is stronger!

But after I spent 10 whole minutes struggling, pushing, shoving and squirming around, it's clear that Phun is way stronger despite being skinnier than I am. Where does he stow all his energy?! I think to myself furiously while Phun laughs heartily behind me.

"You couldn't even be jealous over me a little...? I was dying of jealousy today." And why should I be jealous over you?! Hold it, what did he say just now?!

Phun rambles on, "I really do believe it now. Dating you means having to get jealous and be more wary of the girls than the guys. Can you not act like such a cool dude so much? You're gonna give the girls a wrong impression." I can't make any sense of what he's saying right now. Wary? Jealous? He's jealous...over...me...? But why...? And wait, what does it mean when people say that they're jealous anyway?

I give him a puzzled look and he grins at me in return. "Noh..." Now he's calling my name?!

"W-what?!" Nevertheless, I'm putting on a brave face and act tough. I ask him brazenly and he lets go before he turns me around so that I'd look at his face.

His familiar sharp eyes are staring at me with a smile and I'm at a loss on what to do. "What is it?!" So all I can do is make a fuss in return.

Phun is still grinning at me. "Hey...since you're already in love with me the same way I'm in love with you...why don't we just be together?" You swear that it was a question?! It doesn't sound like a question! It sounds like you had already settled on everything!

I immediately fire back at him. "What makes you think that I'm in love with you?" He raises his brows. "I can tell just by looking into your eyes." That was so cringe worthy!

So I sit still and stare at him for a very long time while I'm pondering all of this. (So is he asking me to date him or is he forcing me to date him?) I guess I'm taking too long since Phun quickly pulls me in and holds me.

"Hey! What the heck?!" When someone is thinking about something then someone else grabs them like that, it is only normal that they're taken aback by this!

Phun snuggles up to me with his face buried into my shoulder. He's holding me so tightly that I can feel him trembling. However, I'm not sure the reason behind his trembles.

"I'm...embarrassed, okay? So answer me already! I'm dying of embarrassment here!" Oh, so he's shaking because he's shy. Hahahaha, how cute is that? Realizing that, I pretend to think a little longer. "You need to think it thoroughly when it comes to this stuff. Hm...what should I do?" Although, it seems like he isn't having fun along with me.

"You need to take that long to think about it...? Right...sorry that I put you in a difficult situation." Phun's cheery one of voice now sounds noticeably melancholy. Now I feel bad for him.

He is letting go of me but that isn't happening because now I'm the one pulling him in and embracing him.

"Fine, we can do thaaaaat." I closed my eyes and spit out the words.

"What do you mean?!" What are you even asking?! I'm the one feeling way more embarrassed now!

I smack his head lightly once, "Well, what did you ask me? Fucker."

Phun looks like someone whose light bulb just switched on inside his head once I reminded him. He quickly rubs my back and ask me a question in excitement. "Oh, you...you're talking about that?!" Why the hell are you excited now? Weren't you the one that said I was in love with you just earlier?

I didn't answer him or cuss him out. All I can do is give him a slight nod against his shoulder.

"Come on! Clarify. Yes or no?" Yet, this guy is now obnoxiously asking me in English. What does that even mean? I stay quiet for a moment before I break into a smile and whisper softly.

"Yes...so quit interrogating me already, you bastard! We're done talking about this!" I'm so embarrassed, goddamn it!

Phun seems beyond ecstatic and says something incoherent. He cries out in delight and pulls me in for a hug that I'm sure I'm getting a bruise. However, I just feel so happy and I'm pretty sure he does too.

I let him squeeze me like this while feeling like my heart is brimming with joy. Phun moves on to touching my cheek with his nose. He runs his scorching hands gently all over my back underneath my shirt. I flinch a little before he leans his face close to mine. "Now that we're together...there's no reason to hold back anymore, is there?" Um...how should I answer this?

But it seems Phun isn't expecting an answer. His thin lips curl into a smile before they kiss mine. He kisses me as makes his way to my ear. Then, he whispers something that I wanted to hear the most.

A single tear rolls down my cheek when I heard those words. Those words that I desperately wanted to hear. Those words that I wanted to say this entire time. Tonight, those words are mine. And likewise, all of what I've ever felt inside are now his. Phun kisses me and tells me how much he loves me over and over as if he wants the two of us to be certain that we will never let go of each other's hand from now on.

I allow Phun to touch me just as he desires. And I also allow own body to press up against his, to recall those feelings I once held back. As they slowly emerge, I no longer need to suppress my craving for Phun. I no longer need to keep those feelings all to myself.

And for the first time, with Phun in my embrace, he is truly mine.

---

• Well, it rhymed in Thai. “Moo, Hed, Ped, Kai.”