My Moon, Chapter 18.2 pg 5
My Moon, Chapter 18.2 pg 5
“I’ll sit next to you, but I want to scoot a bit farther so you don’t feel cramped.”
Honestly, Panli would rather have Klaijai sit on his lap. “It’s not cramped at all. KhunKlai, sit closer to me. I’ll peel shrimp for you.”
The small guy gave a shy smile before scooting closer. As usual, Klaijai tilted his head to look at Panli and said, “Trying to lure me with shrimp, huh?”
“Did it work?”
“Seems like it did.” Klaijai said this while glancing at their knees, which had moved closer together, with his knee—cross-legged—slightly resting on Panli’s leg.
“Scoot a bit more, Panli. I forgot we need to leave space for Phii Fah and Theerak. They’re walking back now.”
Panli looked at Klaijai, who was nodding toward Phii Fah and Theerak heading their way. “Sure, KhunKlai can scoot closer if you want.”
“No, no, this should be enough for everyone to sit.”
“Shrimp!”
Someone’s shout made Panli turn away from Klaijai. Seeing Phii Hia’s gleaming eyes fixed on the big grilled shrimp on a large plate, Panli didn’t need to guess who yelled. Just Phii Hia’s expression and tone told Panli he probably wanted to devour the whole plate. Since there were only two plates of grilled shrimp, Panli reached out and slid one plate in front of them.
If the others don’t get enough, they can just order more.
But for now, Panli wants his little rascal to eat his fill.
“Here, let’s start eating. Fah and Theerak are here,” Phii Dom said.
Everyone began digging into the food. Panli glanced at Phii Fah and chubby-cheeks, who plopped down next to Klaijai, then started peeling a big shrimp for his little rascal. Klaijai must’ve felt shy because he leaned in close to Panli’s ear and whispered, “Panli, you don’t have to peel the shrimp for me. I can do it myself.”
“It’s the duty of someone close to you. KhunKlai, you can’t stop me.”
Panli doesn’t know how cheeky his words sounded, but Klaijai wrinkled his nose and lightly pinched Panli’s cheek. Klaijai’s growing boldness made Panli’s heart work overtime. Panli let out a laugh before lowering his head to keep peeling shrimp for him.
In short, Panli retreated to regroup.
Klaijai’s advances were so strong Panli couldn’t keep up.
The first shrimp was placed on Klaijai’s plate. Klaijai glanced at it for a split second, thanked Panli, and started eating. Panli finally understood the saying, “Just seeing him happy makes me happy.” Even if Panli got nothing in return, just doing something for Klaijai was enough.
This alone already makes Panli so damn happy…
And Panli started peeling the shrimp faster so his little troublemaker could keep enjoying his favorite food without a break. But while Panli was focused on peeling, he felt like someone was staring at the plate of shrimp, and Phii Hia’s words confirmed Panli wasn’t imagining it.
“Pass me some shrimp, Li…”
“All the shrimp on this plate already have an owner.”
“What the hell? Almost thirty of them?”
Panli let out a soft sigh because Phii Hia was exaggerating. Klaijai had already eaten a ton of the shrimp Panli peeled, so how could there still be thirty left on the plate? But since Panli was too lazy to argue, he just responded in a flat tone, “Mhm…”
“Who’s the owner? Come settle this with me.”
When Panli heard that, he turned to look at the small guy beside him. Klaijai looked back at Panli with a worried expression. Both Panli’s hands were dirty, so he couldn’t reach out to pat Klaijai’s head to ease his concern. All Panli could do was speak.
“Don’t overthink it, okay? Phii Hia always teases like this.”
“I’m not worried about what Phii Hia said. But I was thinking, should we share some of the shrimp with him?”
“Stop whining, I’ll order more for you…”
Before Panli could respond, Phii Fah spoke up first. Panli figured the way Phii Fah was getting ready to stand was a clear enough answer to let Klaijai know he didn’t need to share the shrimp with Phii Hia.
“No need, Fah… I’ll share with him,” Phii Real said, stopping Phii Fah before giving some shrimp from his own plate to his friend instead.
“…”
“First crab, now shrimp. Are you a glutton or what? Eating everything in sight!”
“If you’re gonna complain this much after sharing, just keep it to yourself, Real.”
“Haha!”
Everyone burst out laughing at Phii Hia and Phii Real, including Panli’s Klaijai, who covered his mouth and laughed until his eyes crinkled. Panli wasn’t smiling because of the two seniors bickering. Panli’s smile was because of Klaijai.
Panli secretly glanced at the pile of shrimp on Klaijai’s plate. Panli had peeled quite a stash for Klaijai by now. Klaijai was happily eating the shrimp and laughing while listening to the seniors talk. Then someone pulled Klaijai into the conversation.
“Klai… is it good?”
“Delicious… want some of mine, Rak? I can’t finish it all alone.”
“Klai, you eat it… I’ll wait for some from Phii Fah.”
“Okay.”
Panli sat quietly peeling shrimp, secretly listening to the conversation between the two. Klai and Theerak made Panli feel like the world revolves around the word “cute.” Panli couldn’t believe that in the life of a rough guy like him and a tough one like Phii Fah, they’d get to experience this kind of cuteness.
“Panli… peel some shrimp for Klai too. He loves shrimp.”
Panli turned to look at his close friend, who was craning his neck to look at him, and said, “The shrimp on his plate… I peeled them all.”
“Oh… I thought you peeled them yourself.”
“Panli peeled them for me…”
Good job, you little rascal.
Bragging back to that chubby-cheeked guy that Panli’s got someone peeling shrimp for him too.
Seeing that Klai’s plate had quite a few shrimps already and he probably couldn’t eat any more, Panli stopped peeling and slid the plate with the remaining grilled shrimp to share with others. Klaijai pulled a pack of tissues from his pocket and handed it to Panli.
Who said Panli’s the only one doing things for Klaijai? They take care of each other, and Panli absolutely loves this feeling. After wiping his hands clean, Panli started eating. Klai kept putting food from his side onto Panli’s plate, constantly asking if Panli wanted anything else.
Honestly…
The feeling Klaijai gives Panli…
Nothing can replace it.
And no one can replace Klai.
Cough cough
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