Chapter 20: Chapter 19: Do not accept

Thup was pushing a shopping cart and choosing things, followed by the person who was with him, Singha himself just looked and took things without caring what he chose, as long as it looked edible.

“How about this seasoning? It will expire in two days.”

“Phi Sing, this is not for marinating meat. I will use a different recipe now.”

Thup took out of the basket what the major had just thrown into it. He looked and knew he had to check to change some items, and return them to the shelf.

"And? You can eat the same. So, you choose.” August changed places and began to walk behind. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched as the boy in front of him carefully placed the items into the cart.

“Bring a six-pack of beer too.”

Then Thup grabbed a pack of beer he had seen in the refrigerator and put it in the cart without hesitation. “How do you know what brand I drink?”

“Well, it's the brand that's in the refrigerator.” Thup turned and looked at the older man before extending his hand to him, when suddenly a woman collided with him and pushed him into the arms of Singha, who held him by the waist to prevent him from hitting himself.

"Excuse me! “Sorry, I didn’t see you.” The woman apologized immediately, before taking the cart with which she had collided with him for being distracted.

"It is fine do not worry." Thup responded smiling. But Singha did not let go of his waist.

“Can you let go of me now?” He said, giving August a small smack on the shin, who was just smiling.

“Oh, why are you hurting me?”

“I did no such thing. Besides, you hit me more when you were boxing.”

“Do you want to do some exercise?”

"Not really."

"Then let's practice something."

“I wouldn't even know what to start with.”

“Don't you go to any gym because you see ghosts there?”

“It's not because of that, it's because of the people.”

“Everyone fears something Thup, you have to know how to live your life. How do you plan to have a boyfriend or girlfriend being like this?” August asked before putting the brand of toothpaste he usually used into the cart.

“Would you have it if you were in my place? If you can't even go out to eat something quiet for fear that someone will show up.” The two continued walking towards the fruit area, where Thup began to choose the correct apples to put in a bag, “Do you want to eat something else?”

“Have a little more of that.”

“Oh, Phi, remember those four teenagers from the other day? The one called Bomb approached me and asked me to find out when they would be released, because the police were not telling them anything.”

“The ones on the YouTube channel?”

"Yeah."

“Oh ,” Singha picked up the phone and dialed the person who should be on duty immediately.

[Yes, inspector.]

“Who is dealing with the matter of the people who invaded the crime zone?”

[Uh, me inspector, I'm Naja Mueang Kong.]

“Didn't I tell you to finish your work quickly when you came in?”

[Yes you did, Inspector. But today at the station there were many problems, first because the power went out for an hour, and the next hour the telephone signal was intermittent, and the work was delayed.]

“And where are those four people now?”

[Wait a moment.] August held the phone and waited silently. But when he turned around, he saw that Thup was standing talking to a woman, he immediately stood at attention, looked at them, and at that moment, the woman waved shyly. The two looked at him before saying goodbye, which made him even more suspicious. [There is a person in the cell at this moment. The other two people were in the reception room and the other went to the bathroom.]

“Is Lieutenant Khem still there?”

[He has already returned home.]

“Then you take charge.”

[I?!]

“Um, do you know the procedure when someone invades a crime scene without permission?”

[I understand, Inspector, but... first, should I send the person in the cell to the hospital? You don't look good inspector.]

“What's wrong with him?”

[He vomited all over the floor of the cell and keeps mumbling something.]

“And what is it that you murmur so much?”

[Well, an inspector chant. Right now, no officer wants to go through that area, they say that, instead of calling the doctor, they should call the monk.]

August sighed and went to meet Thup, who was waiting for him standing not far away.

“Call Dr. Say to come see you. And find out the boy’s story for me.”

[Yes inspector.]

“I'll go deal with it again in the morning. If you finish first, you are free and can go home.”

[Yeah.]

August hung up the phone with a sigh. Don't these guys have anything to do besides fool people?

“Are you done talking on the phone?”

“Yes, who were you talking to just now? Do you know her?”

“No,” Thup looked down and said, “He came to ask for… your number.”

"My number? Did he tell you why?”

“She said because… she likes you.”

“So, where did he go now?”

“I told him you wouldn't be interested and that you were too fierce.”

“Oh, that's good, do you have your things yet? “So we can go.”

"I already have everything.".

“Then let's go to the cash register to pay.” Singha walked towards the counter without realizing that the young man was smiling a little, seeing that the older man did not show any interest in the conversation he had with the girl. nothing else.

…

[Thup]

“Um, excuse me, you're coming with that person, right?” the woman asked timidly.

"Yeah."

“That phi, does he already have a girlfriend?” Thup turned his head and looked at the person on the phone with a solemn expression. "No, he does not have it."

“So, could I ask for your number?”

“Right now he's on a work call. Maybe it's not the best time.”

“He's really cool.”

“Yes, very cool, good at work, kind but very fierce for everything else.”

"Hey? Is it very fierce?”

"Yes a lot." They both turned to look at August, before the young woman looked back at Thup and blushed, as she noticed that Thup was looking at the older man with more than just admiration, to the point that it was noticeable to the other person.

“I think it would be better not to intrude between you then.”

"As?"

“Sorry, I'm not going to flirt with your boyfriend anymore. I'm sorry." He apologized before running off.

…

The two reached the house at 8 pm While Thup carried the things he bought to the house, Singha also carried his own beer.

“Have you downloaded everything yet?”

“Yeah Phi, well, uh, there's still something left in the car.”

“The dolls will be kept there.”

“Do you have Buddha amulets in the house?”

“Yes, in one of the rooms upstairs there is.”

"I can upload?"

“Sure, it's the room upstairs on the right.”

Thup nodded before heading up the stairs. Once there, the door to the room on the right opened, as the major indicated. Just by opening it he felt the coolness, not the coolness of the air conditioning, but a cold that made him feel light, comfortable and at ease.

Inside the room were several closets, located in several cabinets. On a multi-story shelf, he found a clean white Buddha image facing left, north, on the next, the golden Buddha image, and above, was Thao Wessuwan, a green figure holding a staff, looking into the same direction.

Thup raised his hands and placed them in the middle of his chest before placing his thumbs between his eyebrows, ready to say the words that Luang Pu taught.

“Namothassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambuddhassa Itipisobhāgava Yamamarājano Thao Vessu Vanno Marana ṃ Sukha ṃ Aha ṃ Sukato Namo Buddhaya Thao Vessu Vanno Jatumahārājikā yakkha pantābhādhabhurito vessa pu ṣ a buddha ṃ arahan buddho thao vessuvanno na mo buddhāya.

(I pay homage to the Right Buddha, the Dhamma and the Noble Sangha. I pay homage to Grandfather Thao Wessuwan. Please take care of your children and Phi Singha who lives in this house, may he be free from any danger that threatens to harm you. )

As he finished the prayer, a loud noise was heard from the front window. Thup immediately turned to look with his heart racing.

“What was that loud noise, Thup?”

“Nothing Phi.” Thup turned to look at the Buddha image and Thao Wessuwan again before paying his respects. Then he slowly walked down the stairs with a sense of relief.

“What were you doing up there that caused so much noise?”

“Please don't answer if you hear anything.”

“But I heard that.”

“Just, don't rush, unless you hear my voice, don't respond to anyone else in the middle of the night.”

“And if someone calls me, what should I do?

“If you don't see the caller first, don't answer.”

“So, what did you do up there?”

“I went to worship with Thao Wessuwan. If you see something bad, you should say it.”

"Okay, I'll go put the things in the refrigerator."

“Oh Phi, you have the image of Buddha to worship.”

“No, my mother put it there when I bought the house.”

“Oh, so your mother isn’t coming to stay with you?”

“My mother lives in the temple.” Thup He paused before looking at the person with sad eyes. “Don't think too much, my mother was ordained as a nun in the temple.”

“Oh, I feel relieved. “I thought something bad had happened.” Thup sighed, breathing a sigh of relief, before standing in front of the refrigerator to put away what they had bought, and that he wanted to eat.

“What will you prepare? “While I’ll have a beer.”

“Don't you want to go up and change your clothes first? Today you jumped into that pond, I don't want you to get sick.”

"Okay you're right. “I’ll do that first.” August then went upstairs to take a shower, leaving the young man alone to take care of dinner.

Thup finished putting things in the refrigerator and shelves, then chose to cook rice and make two simple menus. He was on his back preparing the last dish, when he heard a scream. The sound came from outside. He stopped what he was doing, and his voice softened, so he turned to look at the door.

He put down the ladle and lit the fire. Although he knew in his heart not to pay attention to any sounds, it sounded like something familiar. His feet carried him out of the kitchen, and he went to the door, following the sound.

Another loud knock made him grab the curtains, preparing to open them. But then, someone grabbed him forcefully and turned his body to look at him.

“You told me not to respond if I heard something, what are you doing?” In front of Thup, was August, wearing nothing on his upper body. He wore a white towel around his neck, and the lower part of his body was only wearing black sports pants.

“Did you hear something?”

“Yes, that's why I came down to take a look.”

“The sound is familiar.”

"Besides me, does anyone else know you're here?"

"No."

“Then let's go eat, then you take a shower and come sleep with me, okay?”

“Oh?”

“Or do you prefer to sleep downstairs, alone, waiting for a voice to call you?”

Thup denied.

“Then it is said.” August used a finger to tap the forehead of the boy in front of him without hesitation, forcefully. “Let's go see the food. “I don’t want you to burn down my house.”

It was only at that moment that Thup realized that there was not much distance between his face and the older man's. It was so close that the person's piercing eyes could be clearly seen. Then, nervously, he immediately ran to the front of the stove. His face felt so hot that he didn't know if it was because… the heat of the pot, or because of what had just happened?

…

After dinner together, Thup excused himself to take a shower. When he finished, he grabbed the pillow and blanket that were on the couch and headed back upstairs.

“Phi…” he said, slowly opening the door to the room. At that moment, he stood hard, feeling like he wanted to run, but his body didn't react. The image in front of him was the bare back of the older man, standing next to the bed.

He walked in nervously before standing in front of the door without moving. “Are you planning on staying there for a long time? Turn off the lights."

“Yes, where do you want me to sleep?” He asked before reaching up to turn off the main light.

“Do you think I would send you to the bathroom to sleep? Where else."

“Well, I prefer to sleep on the floor.”

“I don't have a mattress on the floor.”

"Not well. “I can sleep there anyway.”

“As you wish, it is up to you to sleep anywhere,” Singha said shaking his head before turning on the table lamp, and taking a file and starting to read it sitting on the bed. He was wearing black-framed glasses. Thup couldn't look away, he could see it all day.

“I don't want to bother you,” Thup said, pursing his lips tightly. He then walked over and sat cross-legged on the floor next to the bed, before placing both his arms on the mattress and placing his chin on it, looking into the beautiful pair of eyes, never looking away. If he wasn't there, I didn't know what would have happened to him right now. Perhaps he had seen a ghost until he lost his mind, or perhaps he had been made a scapegoat as in the previous case.

“Phi Sing.”

"What's going on?"

"Thank you."

"Because?

"For helping me."

“How did I help you? I haven’t done anything yet.”

"You helped me a lot. At least when you listen to what I say you already help me. Thank you."

Singha looked at the young man's face reflected in the soft light.

He looked at Thup's different colored eyes that were seen even more clearly at that moment, along with a bright and sincere smile.

It was something I could feel very rarely. Now he could see the boy directly with a more relaxed expression on his face. I didn't see fear or worry.

“Get up and lie down on the bed.”

“W…what?”

“Come up, don't make me have to repeat it.”

“But…” Thup immediately closed his mouth when he saw the person who frowned. He grabbed his blanket and pillow from the floor and climbed into bed, laying down on the edge.

“Sleep, don't ask too many questions, I'll work.”

“Okay,” Thup said quietly before looking at the older man's face. He could see the tiger tattoo on his right arm more clearly. Tonight you definitely won't have to sleep suspicious or scared. “Sweet dreams, Phi Sing.”