Chapter 10 Care

The line at the market was long, but Santichai finally got all the food he planned for next week. He plans to stay home and lock himself in his apartment until he returns to work next week. He called Fon early that morning to say he wanted to take off, and as a good employee who never called in sick or was late for work, Fon had no problem letting Santichai take a week off of work.

Just as Santichai was struggling with his grocery bags, he slowly turned the corner and saw someone sitting in front of his door. His heart skipped a few beats, and his heartbeat accelerated. He decided to retrieve slowly to a corner then sit on the ground He wondered if the man sitting in front of his door, was Asnee. He stood and hid, hoping that the man guarding his door would eventually decide to leave.

"Why are you hiding here?" Santichai's heart froze, and so did his body. He couldn't even look up at the person who was speaking to him. "Why don't you go home?"

After the man said the second sentence, Santichai looked up, only to see KK looking down at him.

KK said, "Mrs. Pricha says you are sick?" He looked at the many grocery bags in Santichai's hands. "You look strong for someone who is sick."

Santichai tripped over his words, "I..."

KK said, "I have confirmed with Mrs. Pricha that your mobile number is correct." He looked at Santichai. "Why didn't you answer my call?"

Santichai said, I didn't know you were calling me?"

KK said, "I texted and called, and you replied that I got the wrong number."

Santichai said, "I didn't know it was you who called."

KK said, "Are we standing here or are you going to invite me inside."

Santichai said, "I'm sorry..." He went to his room. When he was about to put his shopping bags on the floor, KK quickly took the bags from Santichai.

KK asked, "Where do you want me to put these bags?"

"Put them on the coffee table over there," Santichai said.

KK put the grocery bags on the coffee table and walked out of the door. He grabbed the fan still on the box and started opening the box.

Santichai walked into the living room with a glass of water. He saw that KK was putting the fans together. He held the glass of water tightly in his hand. There was a time, when someone was sitting on the couch trying to fix his old fan.

(Memory)

It was mid-June, and the heat wave that swept across Asia was unusually hot. During that time, Santichai and Asnee lived in a small apartment with no air conditioning. This is the only apartment that is within Santichai's budget. Asnee's parents refuse to support Asnee when they find out about their relationship. To support Asnee and himself, Santichai dropped out of college and took two jobs to pay rent, food and Asnee's tuition.

Asnee frowned frantically, "Chai, this stupid fan isn't working anymore, do you want to buy another one? I can't fix this piece of shit anymore."

Santichai hands Asnee a glass of cold water. "Asnee, we don't have the money to buy a new one. I can take it to the store tomorrow," he said.

Asnee madly said, "People bring cars or other things to shop, not fans."

Santichai smiled and said, "Asnee, don't be angry, the first thing I do when I get the money, I'll buy a fan." He picked up the newspaper on the coffee table and started fanning Asnee with it.

Asnee pulled Santichai into his arms and kissed him on the forehead. He smiled and said, "Santichai... I'm sorry..." He patted Santichai on the head lightly. "Thank you."

Santichai asked, "For what?"

Asnee said, "We both went to study accounting, but you dropped out because of me."

Santichai said, "Your success is like mine."

Asnee smiled, "Ah...I want you to know that no matter what happens in the future, I will not leave you." He kissed Santichai's forehead. "Your sacrifice today will not be in vain."

Santichai said, "You cut ties with your family to be with me, how can my sacrifice be compared to yours."

Asnee kissed Santichai again on the forehead. "Of course, it's because I love you." He pulled away. "Chai, I'm hungry, what do we have for dinner tonight?"

Santichai smiled and said, "You can choose between Mama with boiled egg or fried cabbage with boiled egg."

Asnee smiled and said, "Well... I pick boiled eggs and fried cabbage."

Santichai smiled and said, "Okay...I'll cook, and you continue to work on this old non-functional fan."

(End Of Memory)

KK looked at Santichai who was standing not far from him with a glass of water. He said, "Will you give me that glass of water or not?"

Santichai said, "Oh...sorry..." He handed KK the cold glass of water. "Since you're here, do you want to have dinner together?"

KK said, "Of course."

Santichai said, "Wait, I'm going to cook something."

KK said, "Since you are sick." He stood up and pushed Santichai on the sofa. "I'm going to cook; you sit on this sofa and enjoy this fan." He grabbed the glass of water from the coffee table and put it back in Santichai's hands. He smiled. "What do you want to eat?"

Santichai watched KK smile handsomely at him. This question surprised Santichai, because no one had asked him what he wanted since he could remember. Santichai didn't know how to answer the question KK had just asked, the question was harder than the question when Asnee asked him to be Asnee's boyfriend.

Santichai hesitated for a moment and said, "I...I... don't know...I just bought the groceries, you can cook whatever you want."

Santichai was sitting on their little sofa, watching KK put away his groceries and start cooking. He wondered what kind of food KK would make. He knows KK is a general surgeon, but other than that, he doesn't know much about KK, or maybe because he doesn't really care about knowing KK. He continued to look at KK, not knowing when he fell asleep, only remembered when KK woke him up to eat. He slowly opened his eyes and found a damp, cool towel on his forehead. He opened his eyes and sat up slowly.

"Sorry, I fell asleep," Santichai said.

KK said, "You have a fever and fell asleep." He handed him a small bowl of white porridge. "Drink this before taking the medicine."

Santichai looks at KK and the table. He saw two pills and a glass of water on the table. He looked at KK again, and suddenly tears came to his eyes. It was also the first time someone cared for him when he was sick.

Santichai has been sick in the past. Back then, Asnee and he had moved into their new apartment. He was injured on a construction site, causing back pain. He had to quit that job and began working at the sewing company. He also worked part-time as a dishwasher at a nearby gay bar. At the time, there was a flu at the sewing company where he worked, and he happened to be one of those people who got the flu.

(Memory)

Santichai was sick all day. He had a high fever and was dizzy. He had been lying in bed all day when the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Asnee looked at Santichai and said, "Chai, I'm hungry. Why don't you cook for me?"

Santichai slowly opened his eyes, "Asnee, I'm dizzy. I feel dizzy every time I try to get up. I can order takeout."

Asnee sighed displeased and said, "Why didn't you call me ahead of time and let me know you didn't prepare dinner for me. I could have eaten with my colleagues."

Santichai murmured, "I'm sorry, I'll call next time."

Asnee slammed the door and walked out. Santichai lay in bed when he heard Asnee slam the front door shut.

When Santichai woke up again, he heard loud TV. He walked slowly out of the bedroom, into the living room, and saw Asnee watching TV. He sat down on the sofa beside Asnee and asked, "Asnee, I feel better, I'll go and cook for you." To be honest, he wasn't feeling well at all, but he was afraid that Asnee was hungry, so he dragged his sick body out of bed.

Asnee opened a bag of chips and shoved the chips into his mouth. He said, "No... I just went out to dinner with Frank and his friends." He chewed the chip, then swallowed. "You can cook for yourself." He picked up the remote control and turned off the TV. "I'm going to take a shower and then go to bed. Oh, by the way, my parents are coming to see me this weekend."

Santichai said sadly, "Okay...I'll book the usual hotel." Every time he had to call to book a hotel room, his heart ached.

Asnee said, "Mmm..." He got up and walked to the bathroom. He stopped. "Remember to tape all the boxes before you leave."

Santichai's tears slowly flowed down his cheeks and nodded, "Mmm."

(Memory End)

KK looked at Santichai and asked, "Hey...why are you crying?"

Santichai said, "It's nothing, I think my fever is getting higher and higher, there are tears because of the burning fever."

After Santichai finished his bowl of porridge, KK handed him a glass of water and two pills. Santichai took the two pills and put the half empty glass of water on the coffee table. He looked at KK and said, "Mr. KK, can we just be friends?"

KK said, "I said I wanted to chase you, that's my intention."

Santichai burst into tears and said, "Love relationship is only a short-lived happiness. Once the affection dies, so is love. On the contrary, friendship lasts longer, perhaps a lifetime."

KK sat next to Santichai. He held Santichai's hand and said, "Santichai Kittibun, I don't know what you have been through in the past, but please give me a chance and give myself a chance to love again. Sometimes, one in a billion chances, the grass is greener on the other side. I know this is true because the grass on my side has started to turn green."