9
Apple
Grasp!
I feel like there's something heavy on top of me. I slowly open my eyes to see a ceiling that I'm not familiar with.
Gasp!
When I realize that, I startle and sit up. I look at my clothes and sigh with relief when I see that everything is where it should be. Wait... my last memory was of me sipping beer and chatting with Aontakarn. And who's bed am I on now?
A cute, rather than scary, soft snore catches my ear. I glance at the person next to me. Aontakarn is wearing the same clothes that she was wearing yesterday. She's lying on her side, facing me. She's snoring softly, which indicates that she's relaxed. It makes me cover my mouth in panic.
"My chest is bursting like Koko Krunch."
Okay... I think I can put the dots together as to why I'm lying here now.
I got drunk and went blank again!
Let's just say that I know where I am and have regained my consciousness almost fully. I need to get out of here ASAP before Aontakarn wakes up and is shocked, thinking that we had a one-night stand.
By that, I mean we both don't remember anything when we get drunk. We couldn't possibly really have had a one-night stand.
My shirt is grabbed as I cautiously make my way off the queen-size bed so as not to disturb the woman with the most beautiful eyes, who is having a sweet dream. With it comes a soft murmur in Aontakarn's throat. She seems to be talking in her sleep.
"Mom."
I, who was ready to get going, immediately paused and turned to look at her. Though she seems strong on the outside, as if nothing can do harm to her, she's probably very lonely.
From thinking of leaving, I slowly lie back down like I was and slip my arms under the petite woman's neck. She's still murmuring in her sleep. After a little while, Aontakarn probably felt comfortable enough to slowly move closer to me. She snuggles into my breasts and hugs me tightly.
Actually, this is quite... nice.
Buzz Buzz...
The vibration from the phone startled me awake. And I'm startled again when I wake up to find that I'm not in the bedroom I've been familiar with since I was born. I then realized that... I fell back asleep in Aontakarn's bedroom when I intended only to accompany her for a little bit longer.
What's more awkward is that the sweet-faced woman just walks out of the bathroom, like she just finished her shower and got dressed.
"You're awake?" Aontakarn asks with a smile on her face. The cream-colored suit tells me that she's heading to work. So I immediately got up, not wanting to disturb her.
"I'm sorry. I slept like a log. I acted as if this were my house."
"You're acting formal again. We're already close, remember?" The sweet-faced woman winks at me cutely. I can only close my eyes to happily accept my defeat.
Wait. This is not the time to be happy. I have to be active and alert!
"I remember that we drank beer, and... what happened next?"
"We talked and fell asleep. You don't remember?"
I shake my head.
"Then there's no need to."
"Did I do or say anything strange?"
Aontakarn smiles slightly when I ask that. Of course... I did something, for sure. If not, she would have said something already.
"Whichever Chris it is, it's still Chris, right? So, there was nothing strange... It was kind of cute."
Cute? Karakate came out, for sure. But if Karakate did something strange, the sweet-faced woman should be angry or frustrated, no?
After a bit of dead air as I'm lost in my own thoughts, I look at the clock from the corner of my eye. I then look back at the owner of this room, who's dressed and ready to leave for work. I panic because I don't want to keep her waiting, so I jump out of bed and speak quickly.
"Let me freshen up a bit, and I can leave."
"There's no need to rush... Karn will drop Chris off at home first."
"It's okay."
"So we're not close again..." The sweet-faced woman mutters. Yet her words, which she says to herself, hit me straight in the face, as if she intended for that to happen. "Were back to the starting point, though, last night..."
"Last night..." I drag my voice, as I want to see what Aontakarn will say next. She seems down, like an Awww (a seal) that doesn't get to swim in Antarctica anymore.
Gosh! I can't stand it. Please don't look so sad in front of me!
"We're still close!"
"If we are, then why are you so afraid of bothering me? It was not like this last night."
"What was it like last night?"
"We exchanged our life experiences. And Chris was not this polite."
"Chris... what was Chris like?"
"It was probably not that important. That's why Chris can easily forget all about it."
When she whines like that, I wave my hand in the air. I don't want the situation to get any worse, so I stupidly pretend to remember everything.
"I remember, of course. When I think about it, we're really close... Hey dude. You're so cute when you wake up, honey."
"…"
This is not close enough? Okay, let's try again.
"Hey. I was kidding, bitch. I wanted to act like a dude. You're dressed up so nicely today. It's as if you're going to walk on the catwalk for miu miu. The theme must be dogs in December12. All the men will have to turn their heads to look at you. All the dogs will howl, for sure."
"Ah…"
12 December Dog is a term used to call someone a slut, as it is believed that dogs heat and mate in December, so they will go around looking to mate without caring about anything else.
There is dead air. Both Aontakarn and I stare at each other. No one says a word.
That was too close? Damned... Now what? How close were we last night? I'm trying to be as close as I can be. Sob.
"Chris was kidding. HAHA."
"You're not quite right in the head, huh?" Aontakarn covers her mouth and loughs out loud. "Korn is dressed like December's dogs?"
"N... no. Chris was kidding." I jump up and down in panic. "It was a joke."
"It was really funny. Karn was kidding as well." Aontakarn giggles, as if someone is tickling her waist. I'm frozen.
"Last night, we drank beer and talked nonsense. When I said that we are close, it was because we hugged each other all night. Don't you remember that?"
"If Chris were a man, you'd be hitting and running right now."
"A... ah..."
"Karn never had any friends sleepover at my place. You're the first." The sweet-faced woman says that with a smile. She picks up her purse and points to the bathroom. "Freshen yourself up. I'll drop you off at home."
"Ah-huh."
Aontakarn is heading down to wait for me downstairs. She pauses for a bit and turns to tell me something.
"Chris."
"Huh?"
"Chris is special to Karn."
"…"
"That's all I want to say."
And the owner of the house walks downstairs. She left me standing frozen in place, as if my soul had left me. I drop down on the bed and lie still because I can't move.
Ouch... my heart.
It took me a while to be able to act normal and get in Aontakarn's car. The sweet-faced woman drives a compact car that is not too expensive but fits her perfectly. Everything is well organized inside the car. It shows that the owner is very organized. She really looks good with every movement.
"Actually, Karn can head straight to work and park there. Chris can take the motorcycle bike home."
"It's okay. There's plenty of time until it's time for me to work. Don't you want me to drop you off?"
"I just don't want to bother you..."
"…"
"Okay. I won't be so polite."
We're already close... But I still feel a bit embarrassed. Come to think of it, my relationship with Aontakarn is very odd. She's someone I have a crush on, whom I only saw on TV. Yet now she's right in front of me. I can reach my hand out to touch her. And we want to get close so much that we put in the effort to do so. How can I not feel that it's kind of odd?
"You only work at AppTalk now?"
"Yeah. I don't have a full-time job yet. I was going to look for one, but if I get one, I'm afraid that I won't have time to work on AppTalk."
"Then there's no need to get one. Just go on like this. We're starting to have income. It will get better."
"But one source of income is not stable. I don't know what the future holds. Karn is also still working as an announcer. I heard you were going to resign at first?"
"Yes. I was going to resign, but when I think about it... if Karn resigns, Apple would be so lonely."
Gasp!
I startle a little when she mentions 'Apple'. But I have to quickly act as if everything is normal.
"Who's Apple?"
"The person Karn talked about yesterday... you don't remember again?"
"Every time I'm drunk, I go blank." I confess honestly. It's lucky that Aontakarn doesn't think much of it. She retells me the story about what we talked about last night concerning Apple.
"Apple is my fan who sends me letters of encouragement."
"Ah..." I pretend to know nothing, though my heart is popping out. "Karn has fans."
"Yes." The petite one drags her voice happily. The car comes to a red light. Aontakarn puts her chin on the steering wheel and continues to tell her story. "Apple is the only encouragement that comes at my worst time."
"Ah-huh."
"Karn was going to resign from being an announcer at that time. Karn was going to look for another job—a job that's not in the entertainment or media industry. I was at my lowest. I was disappointed with everything in my life... My mother just passed away, and my love just ended because I caught Toy taking a woman into a hotel."
"Bastard. I know it was something concerning this." I mutter. Aontakarn just giggles cutely.
"Chris said that last night as well. You get angry every time Toy's name comes up."
"Really... It's a profound hatred. Let's talk about Apple. Let's not bring that bastard into our beautiful conversation."
"Jeth invited me to join AppTalk at that time. I wasn't going to do it because I was very discouraged at the time. Nothing was going well for me. Then, one morning, I got a mysterious letter from Apple. The letter started with a sentence that makes my heart race... Dear you, who is loved."
"Wow... so romantic." I pretend to tease her, but I'm actually feeling very proud of my creativity.
"Yes... the person who wrote the letter is very romantic. Karn never thought that I had a follower. I'm just a news announcer. Most viewers are men. They're only interested in sports news. They don't pay any attention to the announcer. But Apple wrote to describe how impressive my work is. It's good motivation. My burden slowly disperses. It makes me want to create more creative work because I look forward to the next letter."
"So, there was a next letter?"
"Yes, but not frequently. Apple made me decide to agree to work with Jeth, so Apple was the key person who brought us together."
"Wow..." I'm thankful to Apple, as if Apple is not me. "That's really impressive."
"Chris."
"Huh?"
"I'm asking you as a friend... We're friends, right?"
"Ah-huh. Ask. What is it?"
Aontakarn seems embarrassed about what she's about to say. It's as if she's hesitating whether she should say it. But in the end, when she sees that I am really listening, she decides to ask.
"Can people fall in love through letters?"
"Oh? Why do you suddenly..." My eyes are wide open. I ask in panic. "Don't tell me that, Karn... ah... Apple?"
"I'm just asking." The sweet-faced woman looks out on the road when the traffic light turns yellow and then green. She continues to drive. "Karn doesn't even know if Apple is a man or a woman."
"A… ah".
"And Apple disappeared. There's been no letter or anything lately. Kant put both my Twitter account and email in public, in case Apple contacts Karn."
I listen quietly without saying more, as I'm thinking about what Aontakarn really wants to tell me.
What does she mean by that? She asked, but didn't care to listen to my response. "Can people fall in love through letters?" She said that as if she'd fallen in love with the person who wrote her those letters, Apple.
And Apple is me!