Chapter 41 Blessing

It was the first week of the first semester of college. Santichai was the oldest among the third-year students, and even so, compared to the other students in his class, Santichai still looked very young. He sat quietly in the corner of the front row, not interacting with other students. In his heart, he has a mission, that is to get a bachelor's degree in accounting. He knew he had to finish this time, because he was sure he couldn't afford to pay the college fee back to HappyCare Clinic, so his focus was on the teaching board.

After class, long after the teacher left the classroom, Santichai closed the textbook after reviewing all the notes. He reached for his bag as two female students walked past him.

Santichai saw a purse at his feet. He quickly grabbed his schoolbag and rushed out, trying to catch the two female students, but when he reached the door, he couldn't find the two female students. Instead of going to the cafeteria, he sat on a bench and started eating his home-cooked meal. When his phone vibrated, his lunch was half done. This is a text message from KK​​.

"Don't study too hard. Remember you have a follow-up appointment at three this afternoon."

Santichai smiled at the text message and wrote back 'O.K. You also remember to eat'.

After lunch, Santichai was sitting in the classroom waiting for the class to start at two when he saw two female students walking inside the classroom looking at the ground.

Pim, "Pam, you're sure you had it this morning."

Pamela said, "Yes, remember I brought us roti in front of the facility this morning." The two female students slowly walked past Santichai.

Santichai grabbed the wallet he found before lunch. He stood up and said, "Nong..."

Pamela turned around, "Pi, what's it?"

Santichai handed the wallet to Pamela and said, "Nong, this is yours."

Pamela smiled, and both dimples popped out, "Thank you so much. I've been looking for it all morning. Pi... thank you so much." Santichai turned around and started walking back to his seat. "Pi."

Santichai turned to face Pamela, "What's wrong?"

Pamela smiled and said, "Pi, what's your name?"

Santichai said, "Santichai."

Pamela smiled and said, "My name is Pamela, but you can call me Pam. This is my best friend Pim. We should have lunch together sometime. Thank you, pi Santichai."

"Nice to meet you two," Santichai said. He walked back to his seat and sat down.

After class, Pam rushed forward and caught Santichai before Santichai walked out the door. Pam asked, "Pi Santichai, what are you going to do after class? Do you want to join us for dinner?"

Santichai said, "I'm sorry, I can't, I have a doctor's appointment at three o'clock this afternoon, maybe next time."

Pam frowned in disappointment. "No problem, next time." She quickly grabbed Santichai's arm. "Pi, it's okay to add your line?"

Santichai said, "I don't use those apps."

Pam said, "Then... what's your phone number?" She felt embarrassed. "In case I have questions about homework, I can consult you." She handed the phone to Santichai.

Santichai is older than Pamela, and in his early days of college, this was the typical way to let someone know you were interested in them by asking for their line or phone number. He was in a hurry to his appointment, so he quickly entered his number on Pamela's phone.

"Here, I have to go," Santichai said. He hurried out the gate and headed for the parking lot.

Pim mocked from behind, "Nowadays is the woman who made the first move, huh?"

"What's wrong with that? This is the twenty-first century," Pamela said.

"Come on, standing here daydreaming isn't going to get him back into the classroom," Pim said, "You'll see him next Monday anyway."

Pamela looked at her friend and said, "We don't have class on Monday." She pointed to the blackboard. "Did you see that there is no class on Monday?"

Pim smiled and said, "Then you can see him on Tuesday afternoon."

Inside the hospital exam room, Sarah turned her computer around and showed Santichai the x-ray pictures. She smiled and said, "It looks like you're recovering well. Does your back hurt while sitting in the classroom?"

Santichai shook his head.

Sarah asked, "Do you have any discomfort when you walk?"

Santichai said, "No"

Sarah said, "Then we can be a little more aggressive with what you can do." She turned the computer back. "I think you can start doing light chores around the house, like doing laundry and folding clothes. Carry a light shopping bag. For now, I'm asking you to lift no more than ten pounds."

Santichai said, "I understand."

Sarah said, "This afternoon is your last day of physiotherapy and if you feel like you can continue exercising at home, there is no need to go to physiotherapy unless your condition gets worse."

"I think I can continue exercising safely at home," Santichai said.

Sarah laughed and joked, "If you are unable to carry the heavy basket, let KK help you."

Santichai blushed. "I think I can do it." He looked at Sarah, who was already giggling at him. "Doctor Lin, what type of job do you think I can do during the recovery period?"

Sarah said, "As far as the type of surgery you have, a fixed desk job is best for you."

Santichai said, "Thank you."

Sarah asked, "Do you have any questions regarding the plan of care?"

Santichai shook his head. He stood up and said, "Thank you Dr. Lin."

Sarah said, "Call me Sarah."

Santichai said, "It's a bit inappropriate to call you by your first name."

Sarah said, "You better get used to it."

"Thank you for taking the time to see me," Santichai said.

When Santichai walked out of the clinic, he picked up the phone and dialed KK, but it went directly to KK's voicemail. He thought KK might probably be working, so he decided to stop by the grocery store on the way to KK's house.

After paying for the groceries, he walked out the front door with four bags of groceries. When a woman's voice stopped him.

Mrs. Siriporn walked to Santichai, "Chai..."

Santichai looked to his left and saw Mrs. Siriporn. He lowered his head and said, "Mrs. Siriporn...Is there anything I can help you with?"

Mrs. Siriporn said, "The only thing I need your help with is to stay away from my son, but you always bewitched Asnee to come back to you."

Santichai asked, "What do you want from me?"

Mrs. Siriporn said, "Let's go have a cup of coffee with me and let's put a deal on the table."

Santichai didn't really want to talk to Mrs. Siriporn or the Siriporn family, but it was also a good time for him to cut ties with that family. He said, "Okay."

In the small café three doors from the grocery store, sat across from Mrs. Siriporn with his four bags of groceries by his feet. Santichai asked, "What does Mrs. Siriporn wants to talk about?"

Mrs. Siriporn looked at Santichai and said, "I never once thought there was something off about your friendship with Asnee in the years from junior high to high school, because I always thought you two were just normal friends like everyone else." She drank her cup of coffee, then put the cup on the table and looked at Santichai. "Do you know why Asnee had to get married and have kids?"

Santichai said, "Mrs. Siriporn, if you want to talk about this, then we have nothing to talk about. Asnee and I have broken up, and I don't plan to go back to Asnee."

Mrs. Siriporn said, "Chai, to be honest, I know now that liking the same sex is not a big issue, it's Asnee's thing. He has a bright future. If he marries khun Chongchit's daughter, it will secure the two businesses. Did you know that staying with Asnee would hurt him? If you really love him, you should stay away from him and let him live a normal life like everyone else. She sighed. "I can relocate you to another city, and I can guarantee you will have a comfortable life. I can even help you start a small business."

Santichai looked at Mrs. Siriporn and he said, "Mrs. Siriporn, thank you for your offer, but I have to decline."

Mrs. Siriporn was suddenly angry. She said angrily, "Santichai Kittibun. I took the time to explain to you the benefits of leaving Asnee, why don't you try to understand?"

"I also know better than you the benefits of staying with Asnee," Santichai said. "I know...because I've been through it, you know..." His eyes were wet with tears. "The old life living by Asnee's side is more painful than my broken back and the six hours of spine correction surgery. You and Asnee always treat me like I'm not even a person." He grabbed his grocery bags and stood up. "Mrs. Siriporn, I want to tell you that I'm a person. I have feelings. I feel pain. I have tears. I have my own dignity." His tears fell. "I may be poor, but my past love for Asnee is priceless and worth more than the sum of all the money in your bank account." He took two steps forward, then turned to look at Mrs. Siriporn. "Please tell Asnee that I wish him a happy life and I'm giving him my blessing." He walked out of the café into the crowd walking on the street.