18
Birthday
Dear you... who is loved
Aontakarn... do you know how you can find happiness... If you don't, try looking into the mirror and smiling.
Your smile is my happiness.
Apple
"Happy birthday, sis. EhEhEh."
Everyone at AppTalk has wished me a happy birthday since early this morning. I'm not surprised that Puth, my brother, can remember it because he's family. But... Public relations (PR) representatives from a wide range of companies, including a major mobile network and numerous gadget brands, also send me birthday presents, which include enormous cakes in a variety of forms. I've received more cakes than I've had in my entire life. I appear to be very popular.
I later found out that... PRs of those companies will give this to everyone who does websites similar to ours for connection. So, it's not really that special.
"How old are you this year?" Jeth asks before he makes a guess. "18?"
"How rude."
"You mean, how sweet!"
"HA. I mean, how sweet." I laugh merrily, feeling happy that I can tease him. The team members have become closer lately. So close that we can tease like this. Sometimes, they call me 'cool dude.' Sometimes, they speak to me rudely, forgetting that I'm a lady.
Aontakarn is the only one they respect, though I'm as beautiful as her...
I think?
"I'm 28."
"That's quite old." This time, it's Aontakarn who says that in her nasal tone of voice. I glance at the person who's teasing me and wink at her.
"We're the same age, babe."
"I have to say that I can sense that you two seem very happy lately. You look alive." Tho rubs his chin and looks as if he's examining us. "What did you two do together?"
The phrase "What did you two do together?" startles me a bit. I quickly waved my hand.
"Nothing. Our bodies can probably produce collagen well, so we look vitalized."
"Maybe it's because of beers." The sweet-faced woman says this, trying not to smile. I glance at the person who said that, feeling so embarrassed that I'm not sure if I'm blushing. But I can feel that my face is hot.
"Chris and Karn drink together very often. Maybe the yeast in the beer makes us look more alive."
She's so smooth...
"I also drink often, but why do I look older the more I drink?"
"It depends on who you drink with, Jeth."
The intern, who's been keeping his silence, interrupts. I don't know what he means by it, but I don't feel very secure, so I change the topic.
"Argh! My back hurts." I reach back and touch my back. I rub the pimple that pops up. It only hurt a bit yesterday, but it's probably inflamed today.
"Here?" Aontakarn, who's standing by my side, touches it. She knows where it is because I showed it to her. "I'll look at it in the restroom. If there's a head, I'll take it out."
"Okay."
I smile dryly, forgetting to look at everyone around us who is looking at us. Everyone goes quiet, but they can't hide their smiles. There's no teasing because they are afraid that I will lash out at them again.
"Let me excuse us." Aontakarn excuses us from everyone and drags me to the lady's restroom. We squeeze ourselves into a stall, and I lift my shirt up so we can see that pimple.
"There's a head. It's begging to be taken out." The sweet-faced woman says this with cute aggression. I'm a bit nervous.
"It will hurt."
"Of course. But it will heal faster if we take the head out. I brought a needle, so we can do it."
"You've been looking forward to this, huh?"
"I used to do this for my mother, both on her back and her face. If I didn't become a sports newscaster, I planned to work at a skin clinic."
"You're so talented."
"Stand still. I will take the pimple head out for you."
I lean on the door, with Aontakarn standing behind me. Right now, I'm not only hurt, but I'm also scared. But it's probably better than letting it be inflamed like this. That would probably hurt more.
And I feel a sharp pain in the middle of my back. It's an indication that a sharp object has penetrated my skin. It feels both good and bad. I know it's conflicting. I can't explain how it feels.
I hate pimples, but I like how I feel when I take their heads off.
"Argh..."
I unconsciously let out a cry of pain. Not only was a needle stuck in me, but the pus was also being squeezed out. At times, I cry very loud. At other times, I keep it down because I don't want to bother others who come to the restroom. It didn't take long for the pain to subside. It tells me that our mission is accomplished.
"Done."
"What would Chris do without Karn?"
Before I know it, Aontakarn hugs me from behind and leans her head on my shoulder, as if she's asking for tenderness.
"Karn liked it when Chris cried earlier."
"Huh?" I shrink my neck a little and smile dryly. I'm not sure if I heard that right. "Do you like to see me in pain?"
"I like your voice. It makes me feel..."
"Feel..."
"I can't explain it." The sweet-faced woman smiles so wide that her face wrinkles. She leans away from my back. "Happy Birthday. I took the pimple's head out as your birthday gift."
"You're so stingy." I pretend to scrunch my face. "I thought I would get to do something special."
"What did you expect to get?"
"Maybe... a smile."
Aontakarn looks at me and drops her jaw a bit before she looks down. When I see that, I can't help but lift the chin of the shy one up and laugh teasingly.
"What? Are you shy?"
"I don't know how to react. My smile can be a birthday gift?"
"You have no idea how much happiness your smile can bring."
"…"
"Ah..." I scratch my head awkwardly. "Aside from your smile, which is very special, we can do something else too. Like, drink beer..."
"We do that almost every day. And when you're drunk, you never remember what happened."
"If you can remember, tell me."
I smile slightly as I look at the person speaking to me. I expect her to let slip something, yet...
"I'm drunk as well."
"So... since today is my birthday, Chris will try not to get drunk." I say that merrily. It makes Aontakarn raise her eyebrow.
"You won't get drunk?"
"Yes. So I'm conscious at all times when I'm with Karn."
Aontakarn shrugs and opens the door. She pushes me to the side.
"What fun will it be if you're not drunk? Chris is very boring when Chris is not drunk."
I'm a bit frustrated to be put down like that. Aontakarn has no idea that beer has no impact on me anymore.
"Who knows." I follow her and stand right behind the petite woman. I then lean down to whisper into her ears. "Maybe it will be more fun when I'm not drunk."
"Savage." The sweet-faced woman turns to me and tries not to smile. She tries to give me a forceful look, but it's more cute than forceful. "I'm curious now."
"Then..."
"Then..."
"Chris will buy you beer."
"Still too boring."
"What do I have to do so that it's not boring? You're so hard to please, MY Aontakarn." I snuggle the bridge of my nose into her ear, teasing her. The reflection in the mirror allows me to see clearly that the sweet-faced woman is looking at me like she's really charmed by me. I can't take my eyes off her.
"Karn has a better plan."
"What?"
Aontakarn walks out of the restroom and turns to give me a side glance. She's trying to charm me.
"Let's drink in the car."
"Savage."
So this is how it is... there's always the last boss.
After we've made solid plans and are ready to dash to the car after the meeting is over, our team members rush over to wrap their arms around our necks when they see us waiting for the elevator. They also tell us in a very commanding way.
"Today is Chris's birthday. Don't sneak away. You have to treat us to a meal."
Tho didn't quite force me to do it, but if I refused, it would be very uncool. Yet I really don't want to go party with them right now. I want to do something else. Damned. Why didn't the elevator come sooner?
"She doesn't look like she wants to go with us." Tern, who's standing beside me, says this smilingly. "What fun would it be to drink beer in the car, just the two of you?"
Tem's words make Aontakarn and I turn to look at him so quickly that we almost break our necks. The sweet-faced woman shakes her head at me to signal that she didn't tell anyone about our plan. I know that without her having to tell me. It's an arrangement we made in secret. Why would we tell others to ruin it?
This idiot eavesdropped on us? When? I didn't notice it at all.
"What a stingy birthday! If you're going to drink, let's all drink at your place so we can have fun. Or, let's go to a restaurant around here... Let's go, everyone. Chris is buying. Yay!"
Puth closes the deal. I drop my jaw and go silent because I don't know what to do. Tem, who's still observing me, interrupts.
"Or, we can all drink in the car. We're okay with that as well. Whose car shall we use... Miss Kam's car is a bit too small."
"We can eat at a restaurant around here. We were just kidding when we said we would do it in the car." Aontakam says this flatly. But Tem continues to tease.
"What will you do?"
Thump Thump...
The double meaning in the question from the intern makes Aontakam squint and look at him furiously. Tem stares back at her without backing down. I have to clear my throat.
"Where shall we go?"
"She will treat us! Ah... such a good day. My sister is such a spender."
Everyone voted on where to go. Though they ask for my comment, in the end, the majority vote wins. Of course, Aontakam and I were not among the majority votes. We don't really want to go celebrate with so many people.
What kind of birthday is this? It's all mined!
The place picked is near the expressway. Because we are a big group, we have to put two tables together. We asked for a private corner. We order common menus and focus on the drinks. Only Aontakam and I drink beer.
"AppTalk team members drink together quite often, yeah? This is good. It will make us closer and closer and closer. Come on, cheers." Jeth initiates a cheer. Everyone puts their glasses together. Aontakarn and I do it willingly, though our glasses are filled with plain water.
"Why does the birthday girl look so moody? It's your birthday. You should be happy." Puth leans into me and laughs. I glance at my brother and bare my teeth at him.
"Of course, I'm happy. I didn't want to treat anyone, but I was kind of forced into it. Look at us. We ordered a table full of food. I'm not that rich! Geez."
"Geez. You're so stingy. We know how much money our website makes. And you never spent any money. You only go hang out at Karn's place."
Puth is babbling, but I'm startled. All the team members know about this, so they ask curiously.
"Have you ever spent the night together?" Tho asks Aontakarn, yet Puth buns in and quickly answers.
"Of course. All the time. So often I no longer ask where Chris is."
"It's not that often." I say this as I kick my brother's shin. But that doesn't help with anything.
"Ifs so often that our parents tell her to move in with Karn. But, never mind... they have to work together. It's good that they are close."
"What if you have a lover one day, sis? Will you still go spend the night with Miss Karn?"
Tem always gets right to the point. I glance at him, starting to become frustrated.
"I don't have a lover."
"What if Miss Karn has a lover?"
"She also doesn't have a lover."
"You seem so confident." Tem sips his beer. "What makes you so sure that Miss Kam will not have a lover one day?"
"…"
"Unless the two of you..."
"What a coincidence... How's it going, Chris and Kam? We haven't met for a while." The voice of someone interrupts our conversation. It's Toy; he's Aontakam and my ex-lover. He walks over and greets us, as if we're close. He didn't ask for my permission to do so at all. "Everyone is here. Happy Birthday, Chris."
I squinted at the uninvited guest. I'm a bit surprised that he can remember my birthday, though it's been many years since we were together. And my curiosity is answered quickly.
"Did you get the cake? I handpicked it for you."
Ah... he's one of the PRs who has to rely on our website. I shrug a bit, not knowing what to say.
"Thank you."
"Are you celebrating your birthday?"
"Sit with us." Tho invites him out of good manners. We all know that we don't want him to join us. But Toy is shameless. He sits on the chair next to Aontakam and smiles merrily.
Why does he sit there? Jerk!
"How old are you this year, Chris... Let me count. We broke up when you were in your freshman year, and it's been 9 years... So, you're 28. Time flies, huh?"
"Broke up?" Puth just found out about this. He asks, clearly showing his possessiveness. "You and Chris dated?"
"Yes. But it was a long time ago."
"How long?"
"9 years ago."
"I meant, how long did you two date? How far did you go?"
I know immediately what my brother means, so I hurriedly change the topic so we don't go down this line of questioning.
"It was very brief compared to when I dated Karn." Toy has been waiting to talk about this. I sit up straight, paying attention to what he has to say about this. "Between Chris and me, it was puppy love. But with Karn, it was the mature kind."
"…"
"Serious."
"…"
"I planned to marry her."
"But it's over now." I interrupted because I couldn't stand to listen any longer. "So stop talking about the past and live in the present."
"Has it been one year since you've been able to see again?"
Tem suddenly asks. It makes me look at him curiously.
"You know about that?"
"What do you mean?"
Aontakam doesn't understand what we're talking about, so she looks at me curiously. I'm not sure if I've told her about it. Probably not... or she wouldn't look lost like this.
"Sis was only able to see again recently after receiving a corneal transplant from an eye donor. You're not up to date, Miss Karm."
"Chris had corneal transplantation?" The petite one's voice becomes stem. It's a clear signal that a storm is forming inside of her. "Why doesn't Kant know about this?"
"Why do you have to know everything?" Toy asks smilingly. That makes the sweet-faced woman look over at her a-lover coldly. When the handsome guy sees that his ex does not like his teasing, he hurriedly apologizes. This is not something I normally see because he's normally full of confidence. "I'm sorry, Karm."
"Chris probably hasn't gotten to tell you this. I wasn't able to see for over two years. Someone just donated their eyes..."
"It's very important. Why haven't you told me about it?"
"Ah... it's not that important."
"Right. Not that important."
"Karn..."
"Karn is not at all important."
The sweet-faced one gets up and walks away right after she says that. Toy walks after her. I look at the sulky one as she walks away and turn to bare my teeth at Tern, furious. Yet the handsome guy just shrugs.
"What did I do wrong? I was just asking."
That's true... yet it's still frustrating. I feel like the intern has been trying to frustrate me all day today. I want to smack him in the head. Everyone looks at Aontakarn's reaction, confused. Puth leans his shoulder into me.
"Is Kam sulking?"
"I guess."
"Sulking because of you?"
"Ah... probably."
"Can women sulk at each other? I thought women only sulked at men... I guess women can act stupidly with everyone, huh?" Puth laughs mockingly, as if he's very weary. "And why are you sitting here like an idiot? Go after her and work it out. If she sulks at you, the office will be quiet again."
When I get that permission, I jump up and go after the sweet-faced woman immediately. Aontakarn has started the engine of her car. But Toy is blocking her way, so she can't go anywhere.
"Karn, we just met. Why are you leaving already... Karn!"
Yet the female announcer is too furious to care. I caught a glimpse of her looking over at me out of the corner of her eye. But she chose to look away and drive off. So now there are only Toy and me left. This is not at all a pleasant situation.
"Why is Karn so angry just because Chris didn't tell her about your blindness?"
"Karn is the sulky type."
"Sulky? No. She never sulked when we were together."
"What was she like then?"
"Ah.. there was nothing from her. She showed almost no feelings at all." Toy shrugs a little. "But I like Kam that way. She's not annoying like other women."
"Is that the same Aontakam that I know?"
"I'm shocked as well... Maybe she's lost because we broke up. Ah, she probably still has feelings for me."
"Do you have any shame in you? How can someone have this much confidence?"
"I should be, no? Both women at the party are my ex-lovers. Both you and Karn."
"Toy... Not just women, but many street dogs are your exs because you flirt with every living being as long as they don't have tails... No, even if they have tails."
"You still have a sharp tongue. That's why we broke up."
"We didn't break up because I have a sharp tongue. We broke up because I wouldn't have sex with you. Jerk!"
I curse at him frustratingly. Toy just laughs merrily as if my cursing is a fresh breath of air.
"It's what's called; we can't get along."
"But you can get along with Karn? You were dating for two years."
Toy smiles as if he holds the upper hand. His smile makes me nervous.
"Yeah... Why do you think that was the case?"