Chapter 21

The next morning, Tas is up early and already browsing his phone despite not yet washing up nor brushing his teeth. He is looking for food that he will bring to Sun’s house later for his birthday. A notification suddenly flashes on his screen: he has been invited in the group chat created by Mochi.

“Good morning Phunmit,” said Nom. He looks fresh and ready to start the new day.

“Sawadee Tas.” greeted Mochi, who, despite still wearing his pajamas, does not look like someone who has just woken up.

“You need some washing, and possibly tooth-brushing, Phunmit,” mocked Nom, who saw dried saliva around Tas’ mouth.

“Sawadee Nom and Mochi. Sorry about this. You guys go ahead and decide what you will bring. I will just wash up,” said Tas. He leaves the other two.

“What will you bring Nom?” asked Mochi.

“I’m planning to bring desserts – cake, cannoli, or a tub of ice cream. You, Mochi?”

“A big tray of lasagna or penne.”

“I’d prefer lasagna: that is Sun’s favorite, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I’m thinking that too. What cake will you be buying?”

“Pon and I are choosing between three variants – Purple Yam, Tiramisu, or a Cheesecake. I know Sun likes all of those. What do you think?”

“Hmmm. For me, I’ll go with the Tiramisu.”

“Okay. Tiramisu it is.”

“I see. By the way, where is he? I don’t see Pon in your screen.”

“He went off to buy the cannoli. Then, we will buy the cake en route to Sun’s house later. When do we go there, by the way?

“Maybe an hour just before lunch? You agree, Tas?” asked Mochi. He sees Tas on the screen combing his hair.

“Yup, I agree. We go there before lunch,” replied Tas.

“Yeah. Oh Tas, let me ask you – lasagna or penne?” asked Mochi.

“Well, he likes lasagna, so I’d go with that – two trays of it. Or maybe you can split – one lasagna and one penne. How about you Nom, what will you bring?”

“Desserts. Pon already went out to buy some cannoli. We’ll buy a cake and an ice cream later on our way. How about you, Tas, what will you bring?”

“Meat. I’m getting a platter of fried chicken wings and some baked ribs after this. Although, I’m surprised you’re up early on a weekend. Did you make Pon tap out the night before? Hahaha!”

Mochi lets out a soft laugh too, but this is okay with Nom. Everyone in their group is okay when talking about sex.

“Did you send spy planes here in my flat, Tas? How do you know that?” asked Nom.

“Damn bro! That was just a guess. I wonder if he can walk considering you like it, well, rough,” said Tas, with the obvious mockery.

“That is something explicit,” added Mochi.

“Actually, we were in the foreplay when…,” said Nom, unable to finish. He is thinking how the other two will respond.

“What? When what?” inquired Tas back, curious.

However, Nom only looks at the screen and answers with a heave rather than a sentence.

“No way Nom!” spat Mochi in disbelief.

“What? Oh you mean…No! Don’t…don’t tell me,” said Tas. He is shaking his head.

“Yes – my supposed ‘gift’. I heard a spirit in my room while we were doing it,” replied Nom, feeling the pang of shame.

“Can’t you do anything about that?” asked Mochi.

“Like what, Mochi? Pull it out of me like tapeworm? It doesn’t work that way. Once you have it, you have it for the rest of your life.”

“You can ignore them, can’t you? It’s not that they can attack you or something, right?” asked Mochi, trying to ease his friend.

“I can, but to hear one in a private moment and egg me to make Pon scream my name, that is just embarrassing.”

“It said that?” asked Tas, smiling despite feeling sorry for his friend.

“Yes. I stopped when I heard it said that. Good thing Pon is so understanding.”

“Then, don’t mind them,” Tas said.

“Tas is right, Nom. One can only understand so much before they give up doing so,” Mochi supported.

Nom’s gift is no news to his close friends, as they sometimes make fun of him with it. He, in return, would scare one of them as a friendly payback.

“Okay, enough of Nom’s mutant powers,” Tas said, breaking the gloom and to lighten up the visibly sad Nom. “So, we leave an hour before lunch, yes?” he continued.

“Yes,” concurred Mochi. Nom nodded in agreement as well.

“How do we go there?” asked Nom.

“I can bring the car and fetch you two,” Mochi offered.

“That is okay with me,” Tas said.

“Me too,” concurred Nom as well.

“I guess we have a plan, boys. I’ll call you later before I leave the house,” said Mochi.

“Uhm, Mochi, bring your SUV just in case some of us decides to bring our wife,” Tas said.

“Mmm,” said Mochi with a nod.

Mochi did not say a thing after: he waves goodbye and hangs up the call. His good mood changes to bad with what Tas said about bringing his seven-seater for extra passengers.

Little do they know that instead of a happy and ecstatic birthday celebrant, they could be greeting a mourning Sun.

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Mil, right after he’s done dressing up, immediately calls the number that Ren gave.

“Sawadee!” greeted Sgt. Won.

“Sawadee krap. Sergeant Marlon Wiyapong?”

“Krap. May I know who I am talking to?”

“This is Prosecutor Remil Wattana. I’d like to discuss something with you today. Can we meet in an hour?”

“That sudden? Is this about anything important?”

“I apologize if this is being hasty, but this IS of vital importance.”

“Okay, can you give me brief details on what we will be discussing?”

“I am holding strong evidence against a mob. I got it from a former member of theirs.”

“Your source, is it someone you know?”

“It’s someone close to me.”

“Okay. Where do you want to meet?”

“My house, sergeant – 36-1 Ranghong Street. We will talk here.”

“Why not here at the police station?”

“Not possible. The information I hold is sensitive, and thus, should be discussed privately.”

“I see. Can I bring my ranking officer with me?”

“Who is he?”

“Lieutenant Thanat Simaron. I am his subordinate.”

Mil pauses. The name he heard was not mentioned in Ren’s recording, so he is unsure whether to trust Sgt. Won’s senior officer or not.

“Can I trust you, sergeant?”

“Prosecutor, if you’re concerned that I am one of those cops who does one nine-to-five, yet have two payrolls, I’m not.” assured Sgt. Won to dismiss Prosecutor Mil’s doubts.

“You’re not.” Mil repeats the words with a hint of disbelief. He has met neither Sgt. Won nor Lt. Tan in his life, yet Ren trusted the sergeant like an associate.

“I cannot blame you for having doubts about me or Lieutenant Tan, prosecutor. But trust me, I won’t betray you – we will not betray you,” said Sgt. Won.

Mil suddenly remembers Ren’s recording: “Plus, Sergeant Wiyapong is not working for them – trust me, I know.”

“I’ll see you in one hour, sergeant. 36-1 Ranghong Street.”

“We’re on our way,” replied Sgt. Won, who hangs up the call.