Chapter 21 Wound Heal, Scar Doesn't Heal

Waking up in the morning, KK found himself lying on the small sofa in the living room. He sat up and looked around the small apartment, only to find that he was alone. He stood up slowly, his neck sore. He craned his neck and walked into the small kitchen, only to find a plate of food on the counter. He lifted another plate that was covered the plate with the food in it. On the plate KK saw a fried egg with fried cabbage. Santichai wrote: 'Eat before you leave. I have to go to work'.

After walking into the bathroom, KK found another sticky note in the mirror. It reads; the pink toothbrush is new; you can use it. KK picked up the pink toothbrush and smiled.

After washing his face and brushing his teeth, KK sat down at the small table and began to eat. He found that there wasn't much in Santichai's small apartment. The setting is very simple. Everything in the room is old but cozy. He found himself happier in this small apartment than in his big house by the sea.

Then he finally understood that it wasn't the size of the house that made him happy, but because he knew there was Santichai in this little place that was why he felt happier.

The Siriporn are having dinner at a restaurant after signing a contract with a local real estate agent. Everyone at the table was having dinner when Asnee's phone rang. He stood up and said, "I'll take the call."

Tipkamol asked, "Who is it?"

Asnee said, "Business related."

Tipkamol smiled, "Don't be too long."

Asnee walked out of the room and into the hallway. He pressed the phone, "Speak."

May said, "Mr. Siriporn, I know where the debtor lives. I will send you, his address. His apartment number is 52."

Asnee said, "Send me the address."

May said, "I'll send it to you now."

Asnee said, "May, you take the remaining two weeks off with pay."

May, "Thank you Mr. Siriporn, is there anything else?"

Asnee, "No." He hung up. He gritted his teeth. "Santichai Kittibun, I won't let you go easily." Asnee saw KK carrying two takeout bags and walked out the door. He hurriedly stopped KK. "Pi K, are you eating here too?"

KK said, "No, I ordered takeout. I'm going to a friend's house."

Asnee, "Would you like to join us?"

KK said, "Maybe next time. Say hello to your parents."

Asnee, "That's too bad. There's always a next time."

KK smiled, "Bye."

When KK approached Santichai's apartment building, he dialed Santichai's number twice, but went to voicemail both times. He grabbed the takeout bags, walked to the third floor, stood outside the door, and his phone rang.

KK picked up, "Hello."

Santichai said, "KK, I saw two missed calls from you?"

KK said, "I told you to call me Hinata."

Santichai said, "Sorry, I'm not good at other languages. Can I call you KK like everyone else?"

KK chuckled, "Okay."

Santichai asked, "Why did you call me?"

KK asked, "Have you eaten?"

Santichai said, "Not yet, but I did cook some noodles."

KK said, "Santichai, open the door for me."

Santichai dropped the spoon on the floor. He was taken aback, "You... are you here? Why are you not going home?"

KK said, "I didn't go home, but I'm standing outside your door right now."

Santichai walked quickly to the door and opened it. He saw KK standing there with two white plastic bags in his left hand and a mobile phone on his right.

Santichai stepped aside and KK walked in. Santichai said, "Why didn't you tell me you were at my door?"

KK said, "I just wanted to chat with you a little longer."

Santichai walked to the table and saw that KK had poured the food he got into the plate.

KK said, "Did you say you were about to eat?"

Santichai looks at the steak with steamed sweet peas, carrots and mashed potatoes. He sat across from KK and lifted the lid of the instant noodle bowl. He stood up, "I have cold water and room temperature water, which one do you want?"

KK said, "Cold."

Santichai got up and walked to the refrigerator, grabbing two bottles of cold mineral water. He walked to the table and saw that KK had exchanged food with him. He handed KK a bottle of water.

Santichai stares at the steak, then at KK. He said, "KK, you eat the steak you bought." He pushed the plate of steak, steamed sweet peas, carrots and mashed potatoes into the center of the table. "I can eat the bow of noodles."

KK asked, "You don't like it?"

Santichai said, "I don't know."

KK, "What do you mean?"

Santichai said, "I've never eaten it before, so I don't know if I like it or not."

KK sighed, pushed the plate back to Santichai and said, "How do you know if you like it or not, if you don't try it?"

Santichai said, "Food is like cigarettes, I'm afraid to try it because it's addictive."

KK smiled and grabbed Santichai's right hand, "Actually I want some noodles. When I saw your bowl of noodles, I thought it was delicious, so I changed the food with you. I just want to share with you the good things I have, don't think too much, okay?" KK picked up the knife, cut a small piece of steak, and put it in his mouth. "Santichai, the steak tasted very good, you must try it." He pushed the plate back to Santichai and began to eat the bowl of noodles.

It's not that Santichai doesn't want to eat steak, he always wanted to try it, but he didn't have enough money to buy it for Asnee and himself, so in the end he always only brought it for Asnee.

Santichai fell into contemplation, and KK's voice pulled him back from the sadness in his heart. Without KK's voice, he could have drowned in this river of sadness for days until he slowly pulls himself out.

KK asked, "Is the steak delicious?"

Santichai looked at KK and questioned, "Huh?"

KK asked again, "Is the steak delicious?

Santichai cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. He nodded and said, "It's very good."

KK smiled and said, "You said before that food is as addictive as cigarettes, I think I agree with you, but you don't have to worry, if in the future, if I have to wash dishes to trade for a bowl of rice, I will let you eat first."

Santichai suddenly felt a commotion all over his body. He recalled that he had said these exact words to Asnee. In their ten-year relationship, he had done his part, but whatever he had done to keep his relationship with Asnee was not enough to make Asnee stay by his side.

As he ate the steak and chewed the meat slowly, many thoughts swirled in his mind, bringing him back to the night he wanted to wipe out from his memory completely. On that night, Santichai needed someone most, and Asnee left him, making him feel worthless and unworthy. Asnee chose him over his family's wishes, and in the end, he couldn't even provide Asnee with a decent meal. With a throbbing pain in his back, he slowly got up, took out his mobile phone and dialed a number.

(Memory)

"Hello."

Santichai bit his lower lip and said, "Pi Tee, it's me Santichai"

Kantee said, "Chai, is there anything I can help you with?"

Santichai said, "Pi Tee, do you still need a dishwasher?"

Kantee said, "Yes, yes tonight, Santichai, you want to work as a casual dishwasher? Tonight, I have a lot of customers, if you are free, I would very much appreciate your help tonight."

Santichai said, "Okay, I'll come now."

Kantee said, "I won't be able to pay you a monthly salary, but I'll pay you three hundred baht on nights you help wash dishes."

Santichai, "Thank you, Pi Tee."

That night, Santichai spent the whole night washing dishes and cups. At the end of the night when it was time for Santichai to leave, Kantee handed over the money to Santichai.

Kantee, "Here."

Santichai asked, "Pi Tee, can I buy steak with that money?"

Kantee said, "Of course." He took two hundred baht and gave one hundred baht back to Santichai.

Santichai took the hundred baht and said with a smile, "Thank you."

(Memory End)

The old images of the past slowly disappeared from his mind, but the thoughts were still tormenting Santichai. Santichai still remembers that night, Asnee was not home when Santichai walked into the apartment he shared with Asnee. Santichai took a shower, washed his shirt and pants, and hung it up in the bathroom to dry. Santichai walked back to the living room and pulled out the sofa bed. Santichai made the bed, turned off the light, and climbed into it. Santichai waited a long time, but Asnee did not come home. Santichai even called their best friend Decha, but Decha told him Asnee didn't go to his bar. It wasn't until later, close to the morning, that Asnee came home and broke up with him.

That night, Asnee left a big wound on Santichai's heart, and even after Asnee and Santichai got back together, the wound left on Santichai's heart healed, but the scar never faded over time. Santichai knows that his love for Asnee has no limits, but Asnee's love for him has limits, and that limit stops when hardships cross their path.