Chapter 13
Mochi doesn’t really eat desserts, but today, he needs one to get over the fact that his friend is going on a date with a pharmacist.
The restaurant where Tas and Gan have gone to is simply named Steaks, and their main menu are different cuts of it. Other things that they serve are burgers, seafoods, soups, and other western dishes. Since the place has just opened, they will offer discounts on their first two weeks in business. Had Mochi agreed to dine out with them, their total tab would have been reduced by twenty percent.
With the pace of his strides, Mochi reaches his house ten minutes earlier than what Waze shows him. His mother opens the gate after him pressing the doorbell.
“Sawadee krap Ma. You are back quite early,” greeted Mochi.
“Sawadee nong. It was a rare day at work without too many meetings. That’s why.”
As Vice-President for Operations of their airline company, this is one of those days when Mrs. Frigga Orochi got home before dinner. This is a blessing because in most days of the week, she arrives at their house at the time when a late-night snack is usually taken.
“How’s school?”
“Good, Ma.” He could’ve answered narratively, but he just doesn’t have the will.
“Are you alright, Michael?” asked his mom, seeing that his son is obviously not in his usual mood when she is with him.
“I’m fine, Ma.”
“Why didn’t you bring your car? You should’ve taken a cab or a Grab.”
“I don’t feel like driving today. Besides, I need to warm up before my workout, so I thought some brisk walking will do,” answered he. Indeed, he needs a workout today to completely forget about Tas and Gan.
“Okay. Don’t tire yourself too much, nong.”
“Krap, Ma. I’ll close the gate.”
They walk to the house together, with one of Mochi’s arm around his mom’s back. He goes to his room first to change into his training attire and drink some supplements, while his mom proceeded to the kitchen to prep dinner with their maid – Ani.
“What do you want for dinner? Ani and I are just starting to cook.” asked Mrs. Orochi as he sees Mochi coming down the stairs.
“Crab and egg soup.”
“You will be lifting weights, nong. A bowl of soup won’t be enough dinner for you.”
“I’ll order something from the outside, Ma. I just want a soup to match with what I will buy.”
“Okay, then. Be careful in your workout.”
“Krap, Ma.”
His phone rings as he walks towards a room beside their garage.
“Are you home now?” asked Tas, calling from the restaurant.
“Yes. Gotta workout. Talk to you later.”
“Okay. Too bad you didn’t join us here at Steaks. After all, steak is one of your favourite dishes.”
“Some other time, perhaps. Gotta go now,” said Mochi, hanging up the call before Tas can even reply. He hears a beep after getting inside their home gym, which he ignored.
Their gym is a small room with a rack of dumbbells from a 5-lb pair to a 60-lb one in increments of 5 lbs. It also has two treadmills, two stationary bikes, a squat rack with barbell plates of different weights, three moveable and adjustable benches, and a cable machine that doubles as a pullup machine as well. It has a bathroom but without a shower in it. The gym also has an intercom, so he needs not to worry if someone from the house has to call him.
Halfway through his routine, he picks up his phone and sees a message from Tas that came an hour ago.
“Careful on your workout.”
Mochi did not respond to it anymore and just goes on to rest before proceeding to his last sets of exercises. After his workout, he calls the number he saved from the ad that Tas showed him a couple of days earlier – the one from Steaks.
“N’Mochi, someone is at the gate looking for you,” called Ani, using the intercom to reach Mochi, who is resting in his room.
“Thank you, khun. I’ll be right down.”
He pays the rider 400 Baht, and an additional 50 as tip. He proceeds to the dining table where his parents are already sitting.
“Just in time, nong. Come sit so we can all start,” said Mr. Don Orochi, Mochi’s Dad and the owner-slash-CEO of their company. To Mochi, today may have been a blessing in disguise because by not going with Tas, he is able to be with his parents for dinner. However, there is still gloom in his face.
“Is that the dinner you ordered?” asked Mrs. Frigga.
“Yes, Ma. It’s from Steaks, a new restaurant around here.”
He places his food on a plate, and Mr. and Mrs. Orochi stares at the size of the serving.
“That looks succulent, son” said Mr. Don, looking at the thick cut of porterhouse as he scoops some rice from a bowl and into his own plate.
“If you want some, just get from here, Ma, Pa.”
“Do they have seafoods there?” inquired his mom. She takes up a slice of the porterhouse in the plate that Mochi indicated.
“Yes, Ma.”
“If my schedule is free, I’ll take us there. It’s called Steaks, right?” verified Mr. Don.
Mochi nods. He can’t help but think of Tas, which somehow makes him unable to fully enjoy his food.
He goes to the balcony of his room after dinner with a cup of tea. As he gazes at the stars and the moon on the clear night's sky, all he can do is hope that Tas will see him other than a classmate – other than a friend. He won’t compete with Gan, he told himself; he will still do what he does normally when at Tas’ company. However, no matter how painful it is for him, he promises to accept whatever happens.
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“Sawadee Tas,” greeted Sun while at a convenience store. He stops over there to have his car’s fuel refilled at the gas station next to it.
“Sawadee Sun. One question though.”
“Yes? Go ahead.”
“How old are you?”
“You called just to ask me my age?”
“Are you a centenarian hiding in a body of a young medical student?”
“What? What are you saying? I don’t understand.”
“My book – Circe – you did not return it to me while we were at school.”
“Ha? I handed it to you before we left the campus.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I did!”
“Then, why is it not in my bag? Did it jump out while we were leaving? Enlighted me.”
“Wait.”
Sun looks inside his bag. “Ahhhh. He..he…” is all Sun can say as he sees Tas’ book from inside it.
“Hehe,” replied Tas, incontrovertibly forced. “So, it’s with you?” he continued.
“Sorry about that, Tas. I’ll hand it to you tomorrow when you get here for my birthday.”
“I am going to lend it to a friend today, you know.”
“I’m so sorry. Tomorrow, I promise.”
“Okay. Okay. Don’t forget.”
“I won’t. Apologies again.”
“Alright. Are you home already?”
“No, I’m going to Exeter’s house.”
“What? Why there?”
“Something’s wrong, Tas. Exeter told me to go to their house, and he just composed his last will and testament, and that they made a mistake in their res…”
“Woooh! Wait. Stop. I don’t get it: I don’t follow. What are you talking about? His last will? A mistake?” Tas cut Sun.
“I don’t know too. That is why I am going to their house. I’ll meet him there to get some answers.”
“Okay. I thought you were at home. I was going to ask you to screencap the notes on our last subject. I did not get all of it.”
“I’ll send it to you later.”
“Thanks. Drive safely.”
“I’m scared, Tas.”
“Hey! Don’t flood your head with so many thoughts. When you get to his house, ask P’Exeter everything you need to know. Thinking aimlessly like that can get you into trouble.”
“I’ll try. It just feels that something is not right.”
“Sun, just get to his house safely first. Stop worrying for now,” said Tas, sounding firm to help his friend calm down.
“Okay Tas. Thanks.”
However, the encouragement from his friend did little to lessen Sun’s concern. He gets out of the store and drives to Exeter’s house.
“Who’s that?” asked Gan, looking snappish at Tas while holding his fork with a piece of meat impaled on it.
“That’s Sun – my friend and classmate. What’s wrong Gan? What’s with that look?”
“Nothing. Let’s eat,” Gan replied. Tas adheres, but there is a little concern in him. He hopes that this is not something he overlooked from the guy that has just become his boyfriend a few minutes ago.