My Moon, Chapter 19.2 pg 5
My Moon, Chapter 19.2 pg 5
Panli didn’t know if it started the first time they met or when their eyes locked.
“Thank you so much, and I’m happy to meet you too.”
“You’re welcome.”
It’s beating so hard…
They only locked eyes for a split second when Klai took the plate of shrimp. Panli watched him break into a smile as he looked at the shrimp he peeled for him, before he picked up a big one with his chopsticks and chewed happily.
It’s crazy to think that the thoughts he had hours ago changed just from meeting Klai’s gaze. Panli tried to push away the truth Phii Dom told him, wanting to hold onto his feelings alone. And it’s even crazier that, even with just his feelings left, he still chose to feel this way…
He’s not ready for the 101st heartbreak.
And if it’s possible…
Can you stop all the pain at this one?
5:30 p.m.
The numbers glowed on Panli’s phone screen. He didn’t mean to find himself standing here at this time every day. But every time he walked to the parking lot in front of the tall building after class, it just happened to be 5:30 p.m.
Yesterday, after Klai’s birthday party ended, everyone went their separate ways. Panli stopped by the mall to look for a gift, thinking the twenty shrimp he gave weren’t impressive enough. But after wandering around, he couldn’t find anything that felt right for Klai. It wasn’t until he was heading out to the parking lot that he spotted a small plant shop.
He thought this was perfect for him.
Panli felt something calming to look at.
Even though he knew it wasn’t expensive, and his gift might not compare to the others Klai received, when it comes to sentimental value, he believed nothing in this world was worth less than another. Everything has its own value.
Panli decided to buy a cactus. He looked up the meaning of plants on his phone before choosing, and the meaning of the cactus reminded him of something Phii Dom said:
“All this time, my little brother has only met bad people—friends he’s been close to, and even people he’s secretly liked.”
While he was driving home, Panli happened to see Klai waiting for a ride. He offered to drive him to his condo, which gave him the chance to give him the gift. The look in Klai’s eyes, the tone of his voice, and the tears welling up around his eyes made him wonder what Klai must have been through. He remembered asking him something then…
“Klai… are you okay?”
“It’s just… I love this gift so much. When I’m really touched by something, I can’t help but cry.”
Klai’s response made Panli realize how much he already felt for him.
“So adorable.”
“I am sorry… for startling Panli.”
No need to apologize… it’s just a small thing.
And because he knew that…
“Then should you like this gift a little less?”
“No way… I’ll keep loving this gift a lot, just like this.”
“If loving it so much makes you cry… maybe tone it down a bit. I won’t mind, really.”
He didn’t want to be someone who made Klai cry…
Panli also remembered… they talked quite a bit while stuck in traffic. He saw Klai’s gentle smile, the kind that always felt soothing every time he saw it. He couldn’t believe anyone could hurt Klai’s heart, and he didn’t want to think about how many trials the world had thrown at him for him to become this strong.
And he quietly admired Klai in his heart…
He’s just this small person… but so incredibly strong.
When Panli drove to Klai’s condo, he had already gotten out of the car but didn’t walk inside. He just stood there, smiling at him. In that moment, he didn’t want to let Klai go. He didn’t know when they’d see each other again, and he thought someone like Klai, who loved secretly without expecting anything, would probably just keep watching from afar like always. There was no way he’d come closer to him.
Back then, Panli wasn’t sure if the flood of feelings in his heart could be summed up as “liking” him. But he chose to roll down the window and say something to the small figure standing there, smiling at him.
“Klai…”
“…”
Even though he wasn’t certain…
“If you see me at uni… feel free to come say hi.”
“…”
But Panli still wanted to make a promise…
“And if I sees you first… I’ll come say hi to you myself.”
“Mhm… I’ll come say hi to Panli then.”
“Alright, sounds good.”
And Klai’s smile in that final moment made him determined to bring himself to this parking lot right now. Last night, Panli thought long and hard about his feelings. Now, he’s certain that all those feelings can be summed up in one word: “like.” And Klai made him realize…
Panli knew sometimes, matters of the heart are incredibly simple.
Sometimes, true feelings are just…
Like, or… don’t like.
No need to search for reasons why he liked someone.
Right, or… not right.
That’s all there was to it.
And yes… he liked Klai.
But when Panli looked up at the fourth floor of Building Eleven, he didn’t see any sign of that someone he’d been secretly watching. Peering through the clear glass barrier, he saw only empty tables and chairs. So, he waited until six o’clock.
But he didn’t see Klai at all.
They didn’t meet…
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