Oooh, a new character's POV. I love Phichit so much tbh.

...

I appear to have met the most beautiful, incredible man in existence.

It is Friday now, and I have not seen him before anywhere- oh I would remember a face like that- and I suspect he has not left his cabin before. I wonder why. I know this is selfish and completely idiotic, but I resent how he has denied me the pleasure of his presence before. How dare he.

I was in the general room again, looking after the little Nishigori girls, quite the challenge given there are three of them and they constantly move from place to place. Not to mention the room is rather dingy at times, and loud with people playing music and men crowded around tables to play cards. And other people's children running around.

In fact, when I first saw him- sitting on a bench in the corner and glaring at a wall-, I was so distracted little Lutz ran off and hid under another one of the benches in the span of two seconds, and it took five minutes of full panic to find her again. Why do these children insist on running off all the time? Why make my life so difficult? Mr and Mrs Nishigori seem stressed enough looking after them, and there is two of them to care for them. I suppose even two pairs of eyes and keep track of three little girls.

I asked them, and Yuuri, to look after the girls whilst I made time to talk to this stranger. He seemed lonely, after all, and that is something I cannot allow so easily. Alone? Not on my watch. Especially not someone so mesmerising.

His eyebrows were like the inky ocean at night, the eyes themselves cold and spearing me as he watched me approach. I suppose it was a silent message for me to stay away, that he was not interested in conversation or friendship, but I just wanted to get to know him, and hear him speak even if it was simply to tell me to leave him alone. I needed to be near him in ways I did not- and do not- understand. He was so mysterious, sitting by himself like that

I sat next to him, said hello in the best French I could muster, and hoped he could understand me. I did not know where he was from, but something suggested me may be Japanese- he bore some slight resemblance to Yuuri, in my defense.

This beauty broke my heart by pretending I did not exist.

I tried again, introducing myself and asking if he could speak French at all. I even tried in Siamese- in the hopes that by some slim chance he could understand me.

He told me, in plain French, to leave him alone and to go away.

I should have. I should have respected his wishes and respected the fact that he was completely antisocial and probably hated me, judging by the glare. But I was fixated. I thought maybe I could get through to him, if I pushed hard enough and started up a conversation. People talked to me when I made no effort, so with a little I would surely win him over.

I started by introducing myself, nice and simple. If I smiled, I would warm this man's heart.

He stated what I assumed to be his name: Seung Gil Lee. That was a start, at least.

I asked him to come with me. He told me to go away. I added a please. He said there was nothing that would make him follow me.

It was a long shot, but by then I was desperate, thus decided to make my true intentions known. People usually caved then. I pulled out my Brownie and explained I wanted to take his picture, that I wanted a record of everyone I met on this ship, including him.

He tried to keep looking disinterested, to his credit. It lasted all of a minute as he eyed my little black box, I twiddling on the film advance and opening the shutters to be ready for whenever he gave in, which would happen soon. I mentioned it would take only a few moments.

After what must have been an intense, mental debate, he gave a tiny, tiny nod and my eye was in the viewfinder before he could change his mind.

I know that, to get the best pictures, a camera must be placed on a flat surface, but my steady hand normally kept still enough to get a good shot, and why would now be any different? Looking at Mr Seung Gil though, my hands trembled with feelings I could not name for the life of me, and I struggled to keep the thing still.

I doubt the picture I took will come out satisfactory, but maybe that would be for the best. I will just have to meet with him and take another picture sometime. Oh no, how terrible.

I thanked him for his time, and it was then that Mr Seung Gil seemed to warm up, and start talking to me properly, about where I was from and why I was travelling. He even gave the smallest smiles.

But his French and mine were both… substandard. We could not move past introductions and pleasantries, and I did not even recognise where he said he was from, so the conversation soon dried up, more to my discomfort than his. Mr Seung Gil did not really seem to mind sitting in silence, but it would not do for me, so I elected to find Yuuri, and failing that, one of the Nishigoris.

When I beckoned for him to follow, he seemed reluctant, naturally. But this stranger let me lead him to my friends, not saying a word as I pulled Yuuri to one side; however, he gave a scowl when I introduced him to my best friend, unfortunately.

I have trouble liking people who dislike Yuuri.

I asked Yuuri if he could translate for me, that I would like to have a conversation with Mr Seung Gil here but my French and Japanese were both lacking and need his time for just a few minutes.

Unfortunately, the conversation never happened; in fact, I doubt there was even time for Yuuri to think of a reply before Mr Seung Gil had stormed out of the general room, not looking back, though I may have heard a sob.

It was Yuuri that explained he was actually Korean- the name gave it away, apparently- and not Japanese, and that by mistaking his ethnicity in such a way I had likely offended him, and quite deeply too. He apologised for my bad luck, and wished me well if I were to see this man again. He also hoped Mr Seung Gil would understand if I explained I was simply ignorant and apologised.

It upsets me that I upset him though, more so than I would imagine. I never like to be rude, or disrespectful, but something about Mr Seung Gil… I cannot think of anything else right now, and my hands shake so much I can barely write. Something draws me to him, those eyes, that face: thick eyebrows and thin lips, and his inky hair. My heart stops, then beats like I ran the length of the ship. I fear I will be sick. I do not understand it, so I will just tell my little notebook, as opposed to the three others in the cabin with me, because something tells me these are not positive feelings and I might appear mad, or worse.

Maybe, because of that, I should try my best not to see Mr Seung Gil again, but I need to try and understand my fascination better, and apologise. Maybe when I see him next my feelings will become clear.

It is painful to have a secret; oh how will I last?

…

Minami's notes:

The 'Mr' title is a translation of 'Khun', as written in Mr Phichit's notes. Very little of his notes were neat enough to be translated correctly, and others appeared to have been partially destroyed, both by time and deliberate self-censorship.

…

Apparently Thailand introduced surnames... the year after this is set. So I gotta make sure I accidentally don't use 'Chulanont' at any time.