23 Syringe Or A Vitamin Shot
It was a bright and sunny afternoon when the students gathered on the field for their Physical Education (PE) lesson. Kamon stretched her arms above her head, trying to shake off the tiredness of the day. Supaporn was standing next to her, trying to tie her sneakers as tight as possible, while across the field, Kanya was already eyeing Thanwa, who was standing with the rest of the class, preparing for the badminton session.
Kamon couldn't help but roll her eyes as Kanya immediately started adjusting her posture, even before the teacher gave the signal to start. She saw Kanya flicking her hair dramatically, trying to catch Thanwa's attention with every exaggerated move she made. Kamon knew exactly what was going on – Kanya had been trying to get Thanwa's attention all week, and today was no different. She sighed, already feeling a headache coming on.
"Do you think she'll ever take the hint?" Supaporn whispered to Kamon, watching Kanya in her relentless pursuit.
"Nope. I think she's convinced that if she just breathe-sighs hard enough, Thanwa will notice," Kamon replied with a smirk. "She's been doing that for weeks."
The PE teacher blew the whistle, signaling the start of the first activity: badminton. Kamon and Supaporn took their positions, while Kanya, in her usual dramatic style, jumped into her game, making sure to glance at Thanwa every few seconds as she swung her racket. Kamon and Supaporn exchanged knowing glances.
"I swear, it's like she's on a mission to have Thanwa notice her," Supaporn muttered, preparing to serve the shuttlecock.
But for the most part, Thanwa seemed oblivious, focused on his own game, and not once did he acknowledge Kanya's relentless efforts to capture his attention.
Next up was tennis. As the class began moving over to the courts, Kanya's attempts grew more conspicuous. She stood a little too close to Thanwa, even though they were playing doubles with other classmates. Her racket kept swishing through the air with the force of someone trying to impress, and every swing was more exaggerated than the last. Kamon couldn't even watch anymore.
As they moved into stretching exercises, Kanya decided that this was the perfect moment for the move. She attempted a graceful stretch, one that was surely designed to show off her flexibility, and of course, her movements coincided perfectly with her positioning beside Thanwa. Kamon rolled her eyes, leaning over to Supaporn.
"This is ridiculous. I can't take it. We need to put a stop to this."
Supaporn, noticing Kamon's frustration, grinned mischievously. "Let's do it. Let's finally take action."
And so they did.
The moment the PE teacher blew the whistle for the next activity—running—Kamon and Supaporn exchanged a knowing glance. Kanya, oblivious to the impending disaster, was getting ready for her next "smooth" move. As the rest of the class took off, Kamon and Supaporn executed their plan.
Kamon turned quickly, reaching out and tripping Kanya just as she began running with her usual exaggerated stride. Kanya, who had been preparing a dramatic leap of her own, went tumbling to the ground in an almost comically slow motion. Supaporn made sure that her tripping maneuver was perfectly timed.
"Oh no!" Kanya cried out dramatically as she flailed, her body crashing onto the dirt. "I can't believe this happened!"
Thanwa, who had been just a few feet ahead of her, didn't even hear her. He was too busy focusing on his own running form. Kanya groaned from the ground, trying to push herself up but failing miserably in front of the entire class.
"Do you think she'll finally get the message?" Supaporn asked, glancing over at Kamon.
Kamon couldn't help but laugh, her eyes dancing with amusement. "I'm not so sure, but at least we'll have peace for the rest of the session."
But just as the class continued to run around the track, the real drama unfolded. Parima, a student who had been quietly hanging back during the entire session, suddenly collapsed dramatically to the ground in the middle of the track. Her body twisted unnaturally, and her face contorted in a theatrical expression of agony.
"Help! Help!" Parima screamed, clutching her chest and pretending to faint. "I can't breathe!"
Kamon and Supaporn exchanged looks, and Kamon raised an eyebrow. "Is she… is she serious?"
"She's faking it, isn't she?" Supaporn replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "She probably doesn't want to run."
The class stopped in an instant, with everyone turning toward Parima. Several students rushed over to her, panicking. Kanya, who was now sitting up after her unfortunate fall, quickly noticed the commotion and shot up to join the others.
"What happened?!" Kanya shrieked, rushing over, though her first instinct was to look at Thanwa. When she saw him giving his attention to Parima, she quickly adjusted her posture, acting as if she was deeply concerned.
"She's fainted!" one of the students cried out. "Someone call the nurse!"
Without wasting any time, Parima was lifted up by a group of students and carried toward the nurse's office. Kamon and Supaporn watched the chaotic scene unfold, with a few students fanning Parima as they walked, while others offered what they thought were helpful but awkward CPR movements, some even trying to keep up the "emergency" act.
"I can't believe she's faking it," Kamon muttered. "She must really hate running."
Supaporn burst out laughing. "She's probably the first person to fake a faint in the history of PE class."
The teacher, completely oblivious to the act, seemed genuinely concerned. "Everyone, stay calm. Let's get Parima to the nurse. I'm sure she'll be fine. Class is over for today, so please proceed to the locker rooms."
Kamon turned to Supaporn, shaking her head in disbelief. "So, that's it? No more PE for today?"
"Looks like it. Parima's fainting act saved us all," Supaporn said, grinning. "Honestly, I'd be shocked if anyone actually believed it."
As the students dispersed to the locker rooms, Kamon couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer absurdity of the day. Kanya's failed attempts, Parima's dramatic fake faint—it was like watching a bizarre comedy show. At least now they could finally get some rest before the next class.
The small, air-conditioned nurse's office smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh linen. Parima was carefully laid down on the examination bed, her expression still that of a tragic heroine in distress. Around her, a handful of concerned classmates hovered, fanning her dramatically with their notebooks and whispering about how "brave" she was for enduring such a terrifying ordeal.
Kanya, who had followed in, took a seat nearby, making sure she was positioned in a way that would catch Thanwa's attention should he enter. She sighed loudly. "She must have overworked herself in PE. Running really is dangerous."
The school nurse, an older woman with glasses perched on the edge of her nose, approached with a calm, unimpressed expression. She'd seen many students fake illness to escape class before, and something about Parima's overly theatrical fainting made her skeptical.
"She still hasn't woken up?" the nurse asked dryly, pressing a cool cloth against Parima's forehead.
"No, ma'am," one of the students said with excessive concern. "She's completely out."
The nurse hummed, adjusting the clipboard in her hands. "Well, if she's that unresponsive, we might have to give her a little help. I'll just prepare a syringe or a vitamin shot—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Parima's eyes snapped open like shutters being flung apart in a storm.
"A SYRINGE?!" she shrieked, bolting upright so quickly that she nearly sent one of the students toppling over.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Parima, suddenly looking as lively as someone who had just won the lottery, scanned the room with wide, terrified eyes. "W-wait! I'm feeling much better now! Really! No need for a shot!"
Kamon and Supaporn, who had been lingering just outside the door, peeked in at the exact moment of her dramatic resurrection. Upon seeing Parima's miraculous recovery, they both burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The nurse crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? But just a second ago, you were unconscious. If you were that weak, a vitamin shot would really help."
Parima waved her hands frantically. "No, no! I suddenly… remembered my great-grandmother always said that rest is the best medicine! And look! I rested, and now I'm totally fine! No need for needles! None at all!"
Kanya, realizing what had just happened, groaned in embarrassment. "So you were faking?!"
Parima gave a nervous chuckle, scooting off the bed in record time. "Haha… I mean… I wouldn't say faking… more like, uh… method acting?"
The entire room collectively sighed.
Thanwa, who had entered just in time to witness the scene, shook his head. "Next time, just say you don't want to run."
Kamon smirked, whispering to Supaporn, "I bet she'd faint for real if the nurse actually brought the syringe."
Supaporn snickered. "Should we ask for one just to see what happens?"
Parima, sensing the dangerous idea brewing, grabbed her bag and practically ran out of the nurse's office.
"Well, that was a fast recovery," the nurse muttered, shaking her head as the students filed out, still laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.
Kamon opened her eyes to the sound of a loud vacuum cleaner humming away in the distance. The soft morning light filtered through the blinds of her room, illuminating the chaos that came with each new day. She groaned, shifting in her bed, adjusting her pillow, and pulling her blanket over her head in a futile attempt to block out the noise. But it didn't work.
Her mother was at it again.
"I told you, Mom! I told you!" her grandmother's voice echoed over the phone. Kamon could hear the high-pitched tone even from her bedroom. Her mom had the gift of being loud—not just in volume, but in the way she could talk over anyone, even if they weren't in the room. And now, she was doing that and vacuuming.
"Honestly, Grandma, I can't hear you! The vacuum is so loud!" her mom, Nanthana, yelled back, as if that would solve the problem. "Yes, yes, I know! I have to turn it off, okay? I'm getting there!"
The vacuum roared as if it were a living creature, demanding attention. Kamon groaned again, dragging herself out of bed and stumbling to the bathroom. The smell of toast and eggs wafted through the hallway, teasing her senses and dragging her into the kitchen.
"Morning," Kamon mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Tee, her younger brother by two years, was already seated at the kitchen table, scarfing down his breakfast with the urgency of someone who had been starved for a week.
"Morning," Tee muttered through a mouthful of cereal, his cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk. He barely acknowledged her, focused entirely on the bowl in front of him, except for a brief, side-eye glance. His messy hair was sticking up in every direction as if he had been awake far longer than he actually had.
Kamon rolled her eyes, amused by his unkempt appearance. "How do you always manage to look like you just rolled out of a tornado?" she asked, grabbing a piece of bread and popping it into the toaster.
Tee didn't respond immediately, instead continuing to shovel cereal into his mouth. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "You should try it sometime. You know, not caring about your hair. It's pretty liberating."
Kamon raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, maybe when I'm in kindergarten. But until then, I like to look at least halfway put together." She fluffed her hair in the mirror above the kitchen counter, taking a moment to appreciate the neatness she had achieved without much effort.
Suddenly, Nanthana stormed into the kitchen, her phone pressed to her ear and her hand gripping the vacuum like it was a weapon of war. She seemed to be talking to her mother still, but that didn't stop her from giving Kamon a look that could melt steel.
"Put away the dishes when you're done, okay?" Nanthana barked before turning to leave, her slippered feet shuffling across the floor like a hasty animal escaping its den.
Kamon blinked. "Wait, what? Where am I putting the dishes?"
Without even turning around, Nanthana waved dismissively, her voice carrying back from the hallway. "Put them on my head."
Kamon stared after her, dumbfounded. "On your head?"
"Yep. I'm sure your grandmother would agree," Nanthana called back, the sound of her footsteps growing quieter as she retreated to the living room. Kamon could hear her picking up her conversation again.
Kamon stared at Tee, who was still half-dazed from his cereal. "What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
Tee glanced up briefly, nonchalantly. "Mom's been doing weird things since... well, since forever. You should just get used to it."
"I guess…" Kamon muttered. "I really need to start questioning my life choices."
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Kamon trudged through the morning routine with all the grace of a sloth. Her mother was a whirlwind of energy, always managing to juggle three things at once, while her father—who was remarkably silent in the mornings—sat with a calm demeanor that only seemed to highlight her chaos.
After finally gathering her things, Kamon found herself walking to school, the weight of her backpack dragging her shoulders down. The usual hum of the city greeted her as she stepped outside, the sun shining down but not quite enough to burn her fair skin. She passed a few familiar faces, waving at some classmates, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the bizarre interaction with her mother and the confusing dish instructions.
"On her head?" Kamon thought, trying to wrap her mind around the odd request. It didn't make sense, not in the least. Maybe she should just leave the dishes on her mom's bed tonight. That would certainly be something.
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At school, Kamon slipped into her classroom, the bell ringing just as she entered. Her teacher, Mrs. Ivy, glanced at her with a stern, but ultimately kind, smile. "You're early today, Kamon."
"Just barely," Kamon replied with a grin. "I guess I didn't want to be late for the fun."
Kamon settled into her seat, pulling out her books and opening her notebook, ready for the day's lessons. She had just started doodling when the door to the classroom swung open, and Tanya slipped inside, looking entirely out of breath.
"Late again, Tanya," Mrs. Chan remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Tanya, with her usual flair for drama, stood tall, hands on her hips, and flashed the class a confident smile. "I'm not late," she declared, "I'm just... creating an impression."
The class stared at her, blinking in confusion. Kamon couldn't help but chuckle under her breath. Tanya was always the master of the ridiculous.
"An impression?" Mrs. Chan asked, not sure whether to be amused or annoyed.
Tanya nodded seriously. "Yes, a memorable one. It's about style, you know? A good entrance, a statement. You should try it sometime."
"You do know that being punctual is a statement, right?" Kamon chimed in from her desk, raising an eyebrow.
Tanya shot her a playful grin. "Of course, but I'm more into making an entrance that leaves people talking."
The class burst into quiet giggles as Tanya nonchalantly flopped into her seat, clearly satisfied with the chaos she had just caused. Kamon shook her head in disbelief. Some things never changed.
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The bell rang, signaling break time, and the classroom quickly buzzed to life as students gathered their things and spilled out into the hallway. Kamon stood up from her desk, stretched her arms, and glanced over at Supaporn, who was already adjusting her shoes, ready to go.
"Snack time?" Kamon asked, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
Supaporn gave her a thumbs-up. "Let's go, I'm starving!"
They made their way down the corridor, passing by students who were already gathered in little clusters, chatting or grabbing their snacks from their bags. The air was filled with the sound of laughter, the clinking of plastic wrappers, and the occasional exclamation over who had the best snack. Kamon spotted a vending machine nearby and wandered over with Supaporn.
"What do you think? Chips or candy?" Supaporn asked, peering at the machine's options.
Kamon squinted at the choices. "Hmm... chips are tempting, but I'm feeling adventurous today. Let's go with candy."
"Really?" Supaporn raised an eyebrow. "That's surprising coming from you. I thought you'd stick with the savory stuff."
"I'm feeling spontaneous," Kamon replied, pulling out her money. "Plus, if it's bad, I'll just blame it on you."
They both snickered as the machine whirred, dropping the selected candy. Kamon reached for it, and they continued on their snack hunt, eventually finding a small bench outside the school building where the sun cast a warm glow.
While they ate, a group of students passed by, chattering about an upcoming school event. Kamon spotted Chanon, Thanakon, and Jirapat, who were tossing a small ball between them with surprising precision. Their faces were set in a determined expression, as though they were preparing for some important match.
"They think they're athletes or something," Supaporn remarked, biting into her candy.
Kamon smirked. "Well, I wouldn't be too quick to judge. They're probably better than we think."
Supaporn rolled her eyes. "We can only hope. No one needs another 'sports day disaster' moment."
Kamon burst out laughing. "Don't remind me. That three-legged race was a nightmare."
Just as Kamon was about to take another bite of candy, she heard a yelp followed by an unfortunate thud. Turning her head, she saw the ball ricocheting off Kanya's head with a loud smack. The trio of boys froze, eyes wide with horror.
"Uh... we're really good at aiming," Chanon said, trying to sound casual as he adjusted his glasses. Thanakon nodded, his expression slightly embarrassed but still confident.
"Totally nailed that one," Jirapat added, grinning widely.
Kanya stood still for a moment, clearly stunned, before the anger began to bubble up. She slowly turned, a frown spreading across her face, and stomped over to the teacher's office.
Kamon leaned back on the bench, shaking her head with amusement. "Well, that's one way to make a scene."
Supaporn chuckled. "You know, I think they've got a good aim... just not in the right direction."