32
Dinner
It's so frustrating... It's clear that the guy is making advances on Aontakarn. Since Aontakarn excused herself, I sat quietly through dinner. Puth kicks my shin when he sees that I just sit there quietly.
"What is it? Your wife was just here to see you, and you're still moody?"
I bare my teeth at him as I look around. It's lucky that my father has already left the table to go watch TV, and my mother is busy washing the dishes. If they heard him, I would need to give some explanation.
"Stop teasing like this, Puth. Okay... Aontakarn and I are together. But we don't want to announce that to the world."
"Idiot. You're her lover, but you don't want the world to know that? Then why do you want to be her lover? If you don't want her, hand her over. I'm ready to take your position and announce that she's my wife to show her respect. HA HA... Ouch. Idiot. Why are you splashing water on me?"
"Stop your big mouth. Did you forget that Earn is working with us? I haven't talked to you about you hitting on Aontakarn a while back." I remind Puth of the early days. He makes an awkward expression and shrugs.
"I would feel awkward if you caught me earlier. But after I see you moan in that clip, I feel nothing. That was past tense. It doesn't mean anything."
"Did you forget that I heard you moan "mother?""
"We will never talk about this again. That's it for today. Good bye." Puth raises his hands, copying a news announcer, as he says that. I laugh in my throat a bit and cross my arms across my chest as I continue to think about what's on my mind. "She came here, and you're still fighting? You two were so quiet when you were in your room for several hours."
I blushed a bit when I realized that he was timing me. And he knew that we were quiet... It's good that we didn't make any noise. I need to do as Aontakarn said, which is that we will never do it here again. It's so uncomfortable. We couldn't breathe or make any noise, though we were very excited.
"I have something on my mind."
"The guy who gave her flowers... If she came here to make up with you, it means that that's nothing."
"The guy is making advances on Aontakam with an offer she can't turn down." I press my lips together tightly and sigh. "Aside from hitting on Karn, he owns an agency that produces series. He can fulfill Aontakarn's dream of becoming an actress. That weighs heavily on me, Puth."
"Guys are like this. They are willing to give everything to get what they want. But if he's insincere, he will go away after a while. You don't need to worry if your partner is firm. Or is Aontakarn the easily swayed type?"
"It's not like that."
"So, stop worrying already."
It's strange that I was uneasy for a very long time, but after talking to my brother, who I thought was a silly person, he gave me advice that makes me feel better.
"Why aren't you possessive of me like when all the guys hit on me'
"It's not that I don't feel anything. But... you and her have been together for a while now. I have been suspecting it for a while, so I kind of got used to the idea. So... I'm not as possessive as I used to be."
"Good. If you don't like her, we would have to fight."
"This doesn't mean that she can hurt your feelings. If you're hurt, I won't have it."
"You don't look like someone who's warm at all."
"I'm not warm. I'm hot."
I try to be open-minded. What breaks couples up is distrust and a lack of confidence in a partner. So I keep telling myself that my lover is as stable and firm as a mountain. Otherwise, she would have gone far with Toy.
But all the external factors make me worry.
"His family has been in the industry for a long time, including his parents, uncles, and aunts. So, of course, he has to work in the industry... His family is loaded."
Natty knows a lot about the entertainment industry (from doing a lot of online research on Pantip). She tells me all about A. I listen quietly as Ern, who also did some research, adds on to Natty.
"Aside from owning the agency, he also has a modeling agency that focuses on recruiting people to push to the other agencies for a fee. It's a very one-stop service Giving his own actress work and getting a fee for it. Cool."
"Don't make that face. Don't overthink. Nothing's happened yet." Meen, who's been listening in, pats me on the shoulder to console me. She knows that I'm stressed. "If you're all stressed like this, it will put pressure on Aontakam. And it's very annoying."
"I know."
Because I know that my fear and suspicion will make our relationship uncomfortable, I decide to act as if I don't feel anything when I'm with Aontakarn. But behind her back, I'm very stressed. How do people outside the entertainment industry handle having lovers who are in the industry? My lover hasn't started her career yet, and I'm already going crazy...
Ding!
There's a message notification from my phone to interrupt us as we're talking about Aontakam. I glance at it, then put the phone face down because I'm not in the mood to talk.
"You know, but you're acting like an idiot." Meen sighs. She probably saw that the message was from Aontakarn. "You normally get very excited when you receive a message from her."
"I don't want to dump my bad mood on her. I don't want to fight. It's not her fault. But this is the best opportunity that she's got to follow her dream. If I get in the way because I'm too narrow-minded, what kind of lover would that make me?"
"You can think for yourself." Ern says that as she shrugs.
"But her heart doesn't go with her head." Natty understands my sensitivity well. She makes an excuse for me, which makes me look at her gratefully.
"I will be a good lover so that Karn doesn't feel uncomfortable."
"Actually, Aontakarn needs to help you out a little rather than let you feel down all by yourself like this. If you don't want her to be too involved with that guy, she should stop." Natty is the only person who really understands me today. Meen looks at her friend and drops her jaw. The same goes for Em.
"You're the queen today."
"Pay me some respect." The friend with the best advice straightens herself up and tries to look cool as she waves her hand before she continues on. "I don't agree with being a good lover but feeling uncomfortable all by yourself. You're lovers. You love each other. You should be able to talk about everything. Tell her that you're uncomfortable. Or just tell her that you're Apple."
At this point, all my friends give me a hard stare.
"I can't understand why you have to hide the fact that you're Apple from her? Are you afraid that the grand opening won't be grand?" Ern asks me that, which makes me sigh as I explain it to her.
"Kam doesn't have many fans. Apple was her first... If she knows that Apple is me, Apple will no longer be special to her."
"All you think about is Aontakam." Meen says as she laughs at me mockingly, like she's annoyed with me. "You won't do this. You can't do that. If you continue on this path, you will be the one who is sad and disappointed. You don't have to tell her about
Apple, but what about her mother being your guidance counselor? Have you told her that?"
"No..."
"You're very annoying. I can't take it anymore." Ern shakes her head and plays with her phone instead of paying attention to me. Natty looks another way as well. Meen is my last hope.
"Don't look at me. You're really very annoying. Pm surprised you've grown to be this age rather than died from going insane because you're so annoying."
I'm the annoying friend to everyone now...
When I see that no one pays attention to me anymore, I turn my attention to my phone. I read the messages that the petite woman sent to me around five minutes ago.
Aontakarn : What are you doing?
Think Chris Kitkat : I'm with my friends. Where are you?
Aontakarn : You forget all about me when you're with your friend, huh?
Think Chris Kitkat : Aren't you reading the news?
Aontakarn : You knoss that. Then Is It) did you ask where I was?
Think Chris Kitkat : Are you sulking?
Aontakarn : Nah. I just wanted to talk to you.
Aontakarn : I feel that you've been too quiet lately. Is everything okay?
The petite one probably sensed that I wasn't my usual self I don't want the sweet-faced woman to feel uncomfortable, so I try to ease her mind. But I'm also being somewhat honest.
Think Chris Kitkat : Actually, I'm thinking about you. I'm a bit jealous.
Aontakarn : I knew that it must be about this.
Aontakarn goes quiet for a bit before she sends me another message.
Aontakarn : Let's go out for dinner and have a talk tomorrow.
Think Chris Kitkat : Are we fighting? Why do we need to have a talk? I'm not that silly.
Aontakarn : Okay. We don't need to talk. But let's have dinner.
Aontakarn : Then we can end the date in bed.
I try not to smile as I immediately reply to her.
Think Chris Kitkat : Crazy.
Aontakarn : Don't you like that idea? Geez... Am I the only one who likes that? Just thinking about you separating my legs and going down to taste...
Aontakarn : I have goosebumps. I want...
Think Chris Kitkat : Naughty!
Think Chris Kitkat : I'll go for your moans.
Think Chris Kitkat : And your great taste when your body is really yearning.
Think Chris Kitkat : Now that I think about it, I really want to taste it.
Aontakarn : Crazy!
Aontakarn is the one to retreat when I make aggressive advances. After I finish chatting with the sweet-faced woman, I twist and turn. I had no idea that my friends were standing behind me and reading everything that I chatted with Aontakarn. All three's faces are bright red.
"You... gals."
"You two are so hot." Meen puts her hand on her chest. "My god."
"Damned. When were you here?"
"When you get to end the date in bed, oh... I can hear your moans." Natty covers her ears. "Please... get it out of my head."
"Damned!"
And the day of our date arrives...
I intend to tell Aontakarn about my being a student at the high school where her mother counseled and that I donated blood to her. We are meeting at an Italian restaurant. It's quite fancy. It's a bit dim but very romantic.
"Why are you inviting me to dinner... Wow, the place is very beautiful."
I look around, impressed with the ambience of the place. The sweet-faced woman, who's sitting by my side rather than opposite me, smiles.
"Actually, tonight..."
"Huh?"
"It's not just the two of us."
"Oh? Who will we have dinner with?"
"A."
I straighten myself up when I hear that. Every muscle in my body tightens, as if I'm a lion ready to pounce at my enemy, no matter what it may be. I twist my face a bit as I look at Aontakarn, confused.
"Aren't we ending our date in bed? Why did you invite someone else to dinner with us?"
"I want to clear things up with you and make everything clear. A is not a bad person."
"So what? He shouldn't be here tonight!"
My voice is so loud that Aontakarn has to reach for my arm to calm me down. The petite one's touch makes me regain my composure and lower my voice.
"I'm sorry. I just don't understand what you're trying to do."
"If I have to work with him, I want you to get to know him and know how I act towards him. If you don't trust him, at least trust me... Here he comes."
The guy who used the alias 'A' and has the nick name 'A' walks into the restaurant with a large bouquet of flowers in his arm. He hands the bouquet to Aontakarn, who stands up to greet him, as if he's the ambassador visiting Thailand's Durian Fair.
"Flowers for Miss Kant Nice to meet you, Miss Chris."
I raised my eyebrow a bit in surprise. I didn't think that he knew my name.
"Nice to meet you."
Though I didn't mean a word I just said (because I'm not happy to meet him at all), what choice do I have but to say that?
"Miss Kam speaks of you often."
"Often?"
I glance at Aontakarn a bit to tell her that the word 'often' means that they didn't talk only once, but a lot. And I was never informed about that by her.
Damned... I'm being an idiot again. I have to keep my composure.
"What did she say about me?"
"She said that you may look arrogant, but actually, you're very cute and shy. She wants to introduce you as her close friend."
The word 'close friend' makes me breathe heavily. Aontakam can sense it, so she gets up and excuses herself to go to the restroom.
"Please have a chat. I'll be back in a bit."
Everything goes quiet when I'm alone with A. Because I don't know what to do, I send the sweet-faced woman, who just left the table, a message.
Think Chris Kitkat : Why did you suddenly walk away? What do you want by leaving me here alone with him?
I didn't get any response. Aontakarn doesn't even read my message. I glance at her purse on her chair. There are lights coming out of it, meaning she didn't take her phone with her.
Great...
"Are you Aontakarn's fan?" I initiate a conversation. A, who's been quiet for a while, smiled politely at me when I asked that.
"You can say that."
"How long ago?"
"Ah... I have seen her as a news announcer on a digital channel for a while now. But I've become interested in her and followed her more closely since she became the announcer for AppTalk. She has a very beautiful smile. Her eyes are beautiful. She can communicate with the audience well. She's very charming."
"Why did you decide to reveal yourself to her? Normally, fans tend to stay in a quiet corner."
That's the reason I've never told her that I'm Apple. This guy breaks all the sacred rules of being a good fan.
"I guess I want to exist in her life. I want to communicate with her."
So you used her dream as bait... Men can do everything when they want something.
And this man wants Aontakarn.
"And is 'A' your real name?"
"Yes, my name is A."
"Have you heard of the name Apple?"
The person in front of me, who's about to sip water, pauses a bit as if he's thinking about something. He then continues to sip his water and nod.
"Yes, I do. Miss Kam told me about that."
I will know what kind of man lie really is with my next question.
"Then I will ask you frankly. Please tell me the truth, and it will be only between us. Okay?"
"What is it?"
"Are you Apple?"
Thump Thump...
On this table, I'm the only one to know the truth. It's like I'm tossing a coin. There can only be two answers: the truth and bullshit.
him.
As soon as he answers... I can immediately judge
"Yes... I'm Apple."