30
The owner of the bouquet
Dear you... who is loved
The weather changes very often during this period. Please make sure to pull the blanket over yourself when you sleep. Health is very important. Because if you're healthy, you will be in a good mood and smile so wide that the world becomes bright And if you're bright, I will be bright too.
Apple
I sent that message to Aontakarn. I'm very confused at the moment. I arrange to meet up with my friends and tell them about Aontakam's mother's picture I found as I was cleaning her room.
"I think that guidance counselor's name was Pissamai." Nat tries to remember and shrugs. "Or is it Watchara? Argh... I also don't remember. We don't talk to guidance counselors much. Like we talked before, every teacher has a role except for our guidance counselors, who just walk around and go home."
"But in other countries, guidance counselors play a big role."
"This is Thailand." Nat and Ern argue until Meen has to wave her hand to stop them and pull us back to our topic.
"What a coincidence! It's as if you two are connected in some way."
"Connected?"
"Oh. I think I remember now..." Nat looks at me, stunned. "I remember why we remember her, though we don't talk to guidance counselors much. Do you remember when we were in our junior year? There was a rumor that her daughter needed blood, and it's a rare type r
When Nat says that, I straighten my back. All my memories flood back like a raging flood.
"My blood type..."
Everyone looks at me at the same time and snaps their fingers. Ern lifts her arm to show us her goosebumps.
"Look... goosebumps. Shit! Is it too much of a coincidence? Chris was the one who donated blood to that guidance counselor's daughter. And that daughter is Aontakarn."
Nobody speaks. Everyone is having goosebumps, especially me.
"Why didn't I remember this earlier? We went to the hospital and gave the name of the person I wanted to donate blood to."
"We didn't remember because the staff at the hospital said that we couldn't specify who we wanted to donate the blood to. They gave us information on how we can switch the blood with the blood bank or something."
"I have no memory of this at all."
"It's not strange. It was a long time ago. Moreover, you donate blood regularly. Aontakarn was not the first person to whom you donated your blood."
"But this is a special case."
"It's special because it's Aontakarn?" Ern twists her mouth a bit. "Will you tell her about this coincidence?"
"To be honest, when I saw her mother's picture, I didn't dare say a word. I don't know why. I don't understand it myself."
It's as if the way I felt when I first met Aontakam is back. I don't have any confidence to tell her that I was a student at her mother's school or that I was the one who donated blood to help save her life in the past.
It's nothing bad, but I still don't dare tell her. To suddenly walk over and tell her all about this is strange. She may think that I tell her so that she feels like she owes me something.
"It's a good thing. You should tell her." Meen can guess what I'm thinking. She pats me on the shoulder to encourage me. "I think Aontakam will feel good.
Don't think in her place. Aontakarn is your lover. What could be better than having saved your lover's life in the past? Damned... it's really very romantic."
Meen generally doesn't get emotional. Yet she seems to be in a dreamy state right now. That makes me smile.
"Really? It's nothing scary, right?"
"You're overthinking. Do you overthink when you do it with... Chris! Idiot! That's a knife. Don't you dare throw it at me!" Nat, the most daring of us, screams and shouts when I unintentionally throw a knife at her (because it was the first thing I could grab).
"Okay. I will look for an opportunity to talk to Karn about this. It wouldn't be weird, right? I did a good thing. And Aontakam's mother was my guidance counselor. This is destiny."
Everyone nods in agreement.
"Yessssss."
Yes. It's nothing bad. Aontakam will be happy to find out that we are somehow connected. Destiny has brought us together. I'm so excited to tell her about this that I called her to tell her in advance that I have something to tell her.
"Kam. I have something important to tell you tomorrow."
[What is it? Why do you sound so serious?]
"Well... It's not that big of a deal. I'll tell you when we meet tomorrow."
[I really want to know what it is. Can't you tell me now?]
"I want to look at you as I tell it to you."
[You have to look at me? When you put it like this, I don't dare continue to ask you to tell me. Good. I have something to tell you too.]
"What is it?"
[I'll tell you when we meet. I want to look at you when I tell you as well.]
I think I understand how she feels when she wants to hear what I have to say. After we say goodnight, I prepare to go to bed so that I can see Aontakam again tomorrow morning.
I will tell her what happened in the past... It's a good thing. I shouldn't be shy about telling her about it.
Sec you... MY Aontakarn.
Knock Knock.
The knock on the door startles me. Puth is yelling my name as he opens the door and winks at me.
"What? Why are you winking at me? What are you doing in a cute lady's room this late at night?"
"Ew. What kind of person can ask a question and compliment herself in one sentence? I want to ask if I can borrow your red bottle of shampoo? Mine is out."
"No. It's expensive."
"Stingy. If I had known that you would grow up to be like this, when I wiped your pee and poo when you were a baby, I should have put them in your mouth."
"I was just lidding. Use it if you want." I laughed and hit Puth in the ann. "You're bigger than a buffalo. Do you have to walk over to borrow my shampoo? Wouldn't you be embarrassed if you married Earn?"
"Oh. I've never thought about getting married. What about you... When will you get married if you have a female lover?"
"Why do you have to ask me back?"
"Ah. Let me ask you something."
"What?"
"How do two women do it?"
"Geez. You, idiot!" I reach out my hand to hit him like I'm a drummer drumming on my drum until Puth, who came over without a shirt, is all red.
"Wow. I'm just teasing. Why are you so red? Hey, I've seen your clip. This is nothing."
"Mother."
"I forgot all about that. You always throw that at my face when I tease you. Geez. I'm going to wash my hair now." Puth is ready to leave, but he has to stop because I grabbed his hair. "Hey. This is your older brother's head. Have some respect."
"Puth... do you remember the guidance counselor at our high school?"
Puth frowns a bit before he shakes his head.
"I'm not close to the guidance counselor. You know that those are only there to decorate the school. Students never really ask for guidance... I don't know what it's like these days, though." Puth shrugs a bit and seems to realize something. "Oh... I suddenly remember one. I met her recently."
"Who?"
"Counselor... What's her name? I can't remember."
"Pissamai?"
"Yes. Oh? How did you know?"
"There aren't many at our school." I frown a bit and get back to the topic. "You met her recently? When?"
"Around... a year ago. I accidentally met her at a temple. I took our mother there to make merit. Your mother fervently prayed for an eye donor on your behalf. I met her there. Why do you suddenly ask about this?"
"I'm thinking about this and that. It's strange that you met her. Was she cute?"
"Why are you asking me if an old counselor is cute?" Puth scratches his head. I bare my teeth at him frustratingly. How dare he say that about the mother of my love?
"Please give her some respect. She's dead."
"Oh... really?' Puth raises his hands to his chest. "I just met her. You're giving me goosebumps."
"Don't have such a big mouth, then. She may appear in your dream."
"Idiot... But, come to think of it, we talked about you when we met. She remembers you, Chris."
My heart pounds. I can't believe Aontakarn's mother talked to my brother about me.
"Really? What did she say?"
"She asked how you were doing? Whether you were okay? I told her honestly that you were blind and were waiting for a donor. She seemed shocked. She asked how she could help."
Aontakam's mother was... such a nice person.
"What did you say?"
"I told her that we were waiting for a kind donor and have prayed at many temples. Ah, she asked if we could specify who we wanted to donate our eyes to. She acted as if she were going to donate hers to you."
Thump Thump...
"And... can you do that?"
"Of course not. If that can be done, people would be selling their organs for money." Right. We're not in a series after all.
"Then what?"
"She seemed disappointed. She hurriedly excused herself because she wanted to pray for you. The end."
"You didn't talk to her more?"
"Why would I? She's a 60-year-old counselor at our high school, not a beautiful woman that I would be chasing after in a temple. Just being at a temple with our mother made me feel like I was burning already."
"Bad person."
"Talking with you makes me feel itchy like I have skin disease. I'm leaving."
Puth meeting Aontakarn's mother and talking about me is another coincidence. But, like I've said, this is not a series. There's no way I got my eyes from Aontakarn's mother. I need to put that out of my mind and figure out what I want to say to Aontakam.
I will tell Aontakarn that I once saved her life.
Is it that important? Why should I tell her... But it's not a bad thing. Maybe she will be more impressed, and we will be in love forever. No one can separate us.
Being together is our destiny.
Okay... First of all, I will sit her down and look into her eyes. I will talk about the past and tell her that her mother and I know each other.
Ah... would it be like I'm saying that she's indebted to me if I told her?
"Chris."
Aontakam's voice comes from the parking lot. I was startled because I thought I was hearing things. I heard her voice as I was thinking about how to talk to her. The touch on my elbow makes me certain that I'm not imagining things.
"Kam... it's really you."
"Of course, it's really me. Why do you look so surprised?" Aontakarn seems worried. "You seem nervous. Is it about what you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Well... yes."
"What is it? You're making me worry."
"Are you worried? Why?"
"I don't know. You're acting like..."
"Like?"
"Like you want to break up with me."
"Crazy." I laughed out loud and hit the sweet-faced woman. "That never crossed my mind. Let's go inside and find a good place to talk. You also have something you want to talk to me about?"
"Okay."
Aontakarn and I walk side by side from the parking lot to the office. We were going to talk at the fire escape, but when we remember what happened with Puth, I change my mind and talk to her near the elevator instead.
It's surely better than talking at the office and risking that someone overhears us. Our office is too small. There's no private space to talk.
"Okay. What does Chris want to talk about?"
"Well..." I stutter. Though I've planned my speech, I go blank when it comes time to talk to her. "How should I start?"
"Is it that hard to say?"
"Ah-huh."
"Then, how about I go first?" Aontakarn knows that I'm shy and tend to overthink. To make me feel more comfortable, she offers to go first. "Let's start with what I want to tell you."
"Good." I clap my hands and smile at the sweet-faced woman. "Thank you. You can go first. Let me think about how to say what I have to say."
"Okay... An agency that produces series contacted me."
"Huh?" My eyes became wide open. Okay. I'm very excited about this. "They didn't offer me a role or anything. They just wanted me to join their agency."
"Wow. That's great."
"Yes. It's what I've always dreamed of."
"Did you say yes?"
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"I'm old, Chris. I'm 28. Ifs very late to enter the industry. What would the young actresses think of me?
And if I really get a role, it would probably be a mother role."
"Are you crazy? You're only 28, and they will have you play a mother role?"
"This is Thailand. It's not like other countries, where they look at your talent. Moreover... I'm not that talented an actress."
"Someone is overthinking more than me." I reach out my hand and hold hers to give her encouragement. "No matter your age, the opportunity to pursue your dream is invaluable. You don't need to play the lead role. Getting to do what you love is enough. Your mother will..."
I pause when I think about this. Aontakarn's mother is the topic I want to talk about.
"Now it's my turn to talk about what's on my mind. Kam... the thing is..."
Ding!
As I'm about to say what I intend to say, the elevator behind us opens. It reveals a huge bouquet that grabs our full attention. I forgot what I was about to say.
"Wow. That bouquet is huge."
Not long after that, the delivery guy walks to our office. For unknown reasons, that bouquet upsets me. And it's as I expected; the bouquet is for Aontakarn.
"It's Karn's?"
The sweet-faced woman points towards herself. She takes the white tupip bouquet into her arm, still confused. And the card shows the same initials as before.
"A... again?" I clench my teeth until my jawline is clearly visible. I try not to show any emotions, but that's that. Aontakarn, who's been observing me as diligently as I've been observing her, sees right through me. She smiles at me.
"So possessive."
"No."
"The flower is so beautiful. Apple... probably really wants to show himself or herself."
"Ifs not Apple."
"How do you know?
" I tighten my lips and shake my head.
"I just know."
As everything around us goes quiet, the phone in Aontakam's hand rings. The sweet-faced woman wouldn't pick it up. She just keeps staring at me.
"Pick it up. It's annoying." I cross my arms across my chest and look another way. Aontakarn is probably very irritated by that, so she put the bouquet in my arm to force me to hold it for her as she answered her phone.
"Aontakarn speaking... what? Who?" Aontakarn looks at the bouquet, then at me. "A?"
When I hear that name, I straighten myself up and walk closer to her, hoping to hear the person on the other side of the line. Aontakam sees that, so she turns her back to me, wanting to get back at me. I can only hear Aontakarn, but not the other person on the line.
"I got it. The previous one was also from you? Who are you?" Aontakarn sweeps her long hair and paces around. "A fan?"
When it gets to this part, the sweet-faced woman decides to put the call on speaker phone so that I can hear the conversation. I hear a man's voice.
[I've been following you for the past several months. And I've decided that I want to muster up my courage and meet you.]
"What's your name... Is it Apple?" Aontakam asks this eagerly. She glances at me from the corner of her eyes and smiles as if she's mocking me. "Are you Apple?"
[I can be anything you want me to be.]
"…"
[I If you Want me to be Apple. I will be Apple.]