How can I go out to eat red noodles with Khun Sam?
Since we were scheduled for the night, I first pretended to have forgotten and started getting ready to go home, but it was like she knew what she was going to do. So she texted me.
[See you in my car.]
I'm finally in his fancy car, the same one that Nop and I were talking to that day on the bus. We didn't exchange a word until the food arrived. Why is it so hard to understand?
"Khun Sam".
Khun Sam puts down his red noodles and looks at me with his beautiful brown eyes.
"Hmm?"
"You look hungry."
He said he wanted company for dinner, so he should at least talk to me.
"And you're not eating anything."
Because it's too spicy. I just look at it very hungry. On the other hand, Khun Sam puts more and more hot sauce, like he can't live without chili. From what I've seen in magazines, he can't eat spicy food.
Why are we so different?
"It is too spicy."
"Is weak".
"You come here often?"
"No. Only when I feel like eating." She puts more pepper as she answers. It's scaring me.
"It's not a type of food you eat very often."
"What you mean?"
"I guess you always go to fancy, big-name restaurants or eat some kind of special royal food."
"I'm a Mhom Luang. But that doesn't mean I eat real food. Mhom Luang is just a normal person like everyone else.
Take a few more bites, then set the chopsticks and spoon aside.
"Please don't tell anyone I ate here."
"I won't. Even if I said it, no one would believe it. Why did you invite me instead of Mr.
Church?"
"He doesn't like street food. And I don't eat that often either. It's been a long time since the last time. You like to ask questions, huh?"
"I just want to talk."
Am I being nosy again? When he sees me looking down, he hooks my leg with his under the table.
"I don't blame you for anything. I just responded. Fine⦠Go ahead and talk to me."
Khun Sam straightens up in his chair and stretches out his spine. She's so determined that it makes me feel uncomfortable.
"You're so determined to talk. I don't know what else to say."
"Whatever. Talk to me about whatever you want."
"Anything?" I smile. "Do you know the Suthat Temple?"
"I know. It's not far from here."
"You know, he has a famous restaurant that's as popular as Red Tee Noodles. They make delicious Pad Thai Pratu Pi."
"I know. I've tried it. Do you want to go there to eat? We can go, but we'll probably have to wait a long time, since a lot of people go to Pratu Pi every day."
"No, I don't want to. I was just asking." I move to make myself more comfortable. "And... do you know why they call it Pad Thai Pratu Pi?"
"I don't know."
"Because in the past, they called that area Pratu Pi (Ghost Gate). In the Reign of King Rama II, there was a pandemic. By the rules, you couldn't burn the bodies inside the city. Then they took all the bodies to the Temple Suthat. The gate they used to transport the bodies was called Pratu Pi. There were a lot of vultures all over the city. Why? Because they came for the food. I mean...for the bodies.
I told her a long story about Pratu Pi and she listened carefully so I realized how adorable she is.
Before our date, I googled where Red Tee Noodles was located and accidentally read an article about Pratu Pi. I tried to remember everything just to tell him as a horror story.
"And there is another story about the hungry ghosts in Suthat Temple. They are very tall, thin, and their mouths are so small, like a pin hole. They come out at night and make noise. Their noise sounds like hissing." I'm whistling to show you. "Also, they like humans who live in huge houses. Why? Because they're perfect for hungry ghosts to look out of the windows due to their height..."
"You know well, do you have a ghost friend?"
oops...
"No, I don't know. I'm just telling you a story."
"I don't want to know."
"Then what about Mar Nak? [A famous Thai ghost story.]
"I am going to hit you."
Khun Sam looks at me with a face that makes me burst out laughing. It was beautiful to see her say 'I'm going to hit you'.
"Okay. I won't tell any more horror stories. You're scared like a little girl. How cute." He keeps talking to her while I drink water through a straw. She puffs out her cheeks and says.
"Don't call me cute."
"So what should I call it?"
"Beautiful."
Suffocating!
I choke on the water. Some of the water ends up splashing on his face. Then she takes a tissue to wipe her face and doesn't forget to give it to me too.
"It's not nice to spit in people's faces like that."
"I'm sorry (Cough Cough)." I'm still coughing. She frowns as she looks at me with her brown eyes. He gets up and walks over to me and pats me on the back.
"You are too old to choke."
"I was surprised that you said it was beautiful."
"Everyone calls me that." She looks incomprehensibly. "Do you think I'm joking? My friends always said I suck at jokes."
"There's no need to play games. You're a prankster by nature. Deep down... deep down really."
My gagging improves as I make eye contact with Khun Sam, who continues to pat me on the back. We look at each other for like two seconds, then Miss Cute stretches her back and says, "We'd better get back on it. I'm satisfied."
"Okay, it's late. If we stay longer, we might see a real hungry ghost."
Khun Sam says nothing before leaving to pay the bill. It's almost 9 at night. When we're in the car, she remains silent. So I'm the first to start the conversation.
"You don't have to take me home. It's too far. Just drop me off at a bus stop. It's better."
"My head hurts."
"Serious?" It amazes me when I look at it.
"Are you OK?"
I am not."
"You can drop me off here. So you can go straight home."
She doesn't answer me and keeps driving.
"My head hurts a lot".
"Are you going to the hospital?"
"It should get better after taking some medicine."
"Yes, that's why I told you to leave me here, then I'll take a taxi. It's going to be expensive, but that way you'll get home sooner to rest."
"Taking a taxi is very dangerous. It's too late."
"But my house is too far away. It won't do you any good to take me there."
"I'm in a lot of pain... it must be a migraine."
Why is our conversation in a loop? It looks like he wants to say something, but he refuses to say it.
"That I have to do?"
"I can't take you home. It's too far and too dangerous for me to go back alone."
"Then, you can leave me here..."
Now it's too late.
"I will take a taxi".
"It's very dangerous."
"Okay, leave me here..."
"My head hurts."
OMG in heaven" Am I talking to a robot? I don't know how to deal with her.
"Then what should I do?"
"My head hurts."
Heavens! I'm going to cry with rage. What does she want from me? I have to do something to get out of this cycle.
"I'll stay at your house."
"You're very kind."
On the way home, we didn't say anything else. When he parks the car, I look at my watch before getting out. It's 10 pm now.
My phone is ringing. It's nope. You must have waited for me.
[Mon, where are you? This afternoon.]
"I'm at Khun Sam's house. We went out to dinner and she had a bad headache."
[Are you still there? When are you coming back? It is very far. Mon?]
"It's not much. I'll take a taxi back..."
"Headache." She interrupts me. "I will die tonight."
"Is it really that bad?"
"Horrible, I might even throw up. It happens when it gets worse." She's been telling me about her symptoms and I'm worried, while Nope is still on the line. "But you told me that even if I died, you wouldn't be interested. Why am I so miserable living here alone?"
Sad story...
"But everything will be fine. Tomorrow is a day off. I'll stay here alone if it doesn't get better. I'll take care of myself. I can."
"Wait, nope." I look empathetically at Khun Sam. "Are you alone here?"
"Ahem, look at the lights. They're all off. There's no one here."
You have a headache and you're going to stay here alone, poor thing.
"No one takes care of me." She touches her head.
"Poor me, but I need to stay strong, even if I fall down the stairs, I'll drag myself up."
"If you don't mind, can I stay here tonight to keep you company?"
"I don't mind".
He interrupts me while I'm talking, like he's been expecting this. I'm confused now because it seems like his pain is gone.
"I'll let my dad know first. My dad never lets me stay out overnight. Because he thinks if a daughter sleeps away from home, it means she's with a man."
I speak to your father for you.
She asks me for my phone number. So, I ask Nop to come into my house and pass the cell phone to my father. So Khun Sam speaks politely to my father. Finally, he hands the phone back to me.
"Your father agrees. Then you come back tomorrow."
"He accepted?"
"Yeah."
He enters his house as if he had never had a headache. Then he turns to me.
"Mon."
"Yeah?"
"Do you like me?"
I take a step back involuntarily. She looks at me and shrugs.
"Your father told me. It's a bit weird that I have a fan."
She walks into the house and leaves me outside dying of embarrassment. I knew my parents would if they had the chance to talk to her. Khun Sam acts like he has me.
I go into his house. Suddenly, she turns on a white light. The decoration of the house was designed by a professional interior designer, full of little furniture. Less is more.
It looks like your style...
"Hmm. I'm going to sleep downstairs."
"No." She is walking up the stairs while looking at me. "If you steal something, how will I know?"
"I am not a thief".
"I don't trust you. Come here. Stay with me upstairs. There's room for one more in my bed."
I don't know why I feel so embarrassed when I hear your invitation. Khun Sam, who saw that I didn't move, sneers at me without a smile.
"What's up, my fan? Why don't you follow me?"
"Are you kidding me."
"I'm surprised to know that you came to work for the company because you love me." She stands up as she speaks. I look at the sick woman in front of me and take a deep breath.
"I heard that people with migraines couldn't talk much because of the severe pain, but youâ¦look different."
"Serious?"
"You don't have any pain, do you?"
"I'm not? Then why would I call you here?"
It's my turn. I smile and cross my arms as I continue to stand.
"You're afraid of ghosts."
"Not even."
She answers me briefly. It makes me sure of the real reason I'm here...
"So, I'm going to sleep here. On this floor."
"No, You can not."
"Soâ¦" I smile. "Beg."
"That?"
"Ask me to come up with you. Then I'm leaving."
We lock eyes for a moment, but I can't resist his powerful eyes, so I look away. Because? I'm the one who always challenges her but always ends up losing.
"Please."
That?
Glanced up. And she looks at me seriously.
"I beg you to stay with me tonight, upstairs... Please."