My Moon, Chapter 2 pg 1
My Moon, Chapter 2 pg 1
Chapter 2:
“Klai… what’s Panli’s rank? I need to fill in the order.”
“What’s Panli’s real name, Phii Dom?”
“Oh, I totally forgot we don’t know Panli’s real name.”
“…”
“Panli’s name is Sasin Pisut.”
Last week’s conversation replayed in Klai’s mind as he picked up Phii Dom’s MacBook and hugged it. Phii Dom was part of the exhibition organizing team, tasked with arranging the order of Digital Media students participating in the exhibition, sorted by student ID for each year. Although Phii Dom already had his girlfriend helping, the list of students across all four years was overwhelming, so he called Klai for assistance.
Last week, Klai happened to be back home, so he let Phii Dom bring the work to his house, which led to Dom leaving his MacBook there. Last night, Dom called to ask when Klai would be home, as he needed the MacBook for work. Normally, Klai went home once a week, but this time he had to return earlier than usual to return the well-kept MacBook to his brother.
The small figure emerged from the bedroom with the MacBook and headed downstairs to the living room. He saw Phii Dom and Phii Babe chatting. Klai plopped down opposite the inseparable couple and handed the MacBook back to its owner. The reason he called Phii Dom and Phii Babe the “inseparable couple” was that, since they started dating, Klai had never seen them apart.
If you saw Phii Dom, you’d see Phii Babe.
If you saw Phii Babe, you’d see Phii Dom.
That’s the origin of the term “inseparable couple.”
“Thanks.”
“Thanks alone won’t cut it. You need to treat your little brother to a meal too. Last week, you had him help with work, and today you made him come home to bring you the MacBook.”
Phii Dom nodded to Phii Babe, then turned to Klai and said, “I’ll treat you to a meal later, Klai.”
“No need, Phii Dom… I was already coming back this week to pay respects to Mom before her birthday anyway.”
“Tell Uncle I miss him, okay, Klai?”
“Sure, Phii Dom.”
“Klai… the day after tomorrow is your birthday, right?” Phii Babe asked.
“Yes, Phii Babe.”
“Is you hosting at home like last year?”
“This year, I’m is planning to celebrate at a restaurant near Siam… It just so happens that on my birthday, Dad is holding an engagement party with Ms. Lin at home, so I thought it’d be better to invite everyone to eat out somewhere else,” Klai explained.
Phii Dom and Phii Babe fell silent for a moment. Klai knew they were concerned about his feelings. He gave them both a smile to reassure them that he wasn’t upset. It wasn’t just Phii Dom and Phii Babe who were worried—Klai knew that Phii Jeab, who became his nanny after his mother passed away, and many others close to him were also afraid he’d be hurt about his father’s engagement to his close secretary.
As a child, Klai feared his father would replace his mother with another woman. But as he grew older, he realized how much his father loved his mother, and those fears and sorrows faded. Now, all Klai felt was understanding… he understood that his father needed someone by his side, someone to care for him.
And of course… a man in his late forties, like his father, still needed love too.
“Are you okay, Klai? You can tell us anything,” Phii Dom said.
“Yeah, Dom and I are always here to listen,” Phii Babe added.
“I’m really okay,” Klai replied with a smile. “But if this were when I was a kid, you two would probably have to spend the whole day comforting me.” He laughed lightly before continuing, “Now I’m old enough to understand a lot of things. Dad’s decision to get engaged to Ms. Lin doesn’t make me sad like everyone thinks. It actually makes me feel relieved because, from now on, Dad will have someone to take care of him.”
“Klai… I think your mom would be so proud of you,” Phii Babe said.
“I hope I can make her even prouder,” Klai replied.
The smiles from Phii Dom and Phii Babe showed Klai that they were genuinely proud of him, just as they said. He remembered how his mother always told him to listen to Phii Dom, as he was his older cousin. His aunt, his mother’s younger sister, also told Phii Dom to take good care of him. That’s why the two of them were so close and bonded, even though they were just cousins.
“For your birthday this year… what do you want? I’ll buy it for you,” Phii Dom offered.
“You!” Phii Babe exclaimed, playfully smacking Phii Dom’s arm. “How can you ask him like that? It ruins the surprise!”
“I’m afraid of buying something he won’t like… It’s better to just ask him directly,” Phii Dom defended.
“You need to put in more effort than that! Check his Instagram or Twitter to see what he’s into lately, then get something he likes right now. That way, he’ll be surprised,” Phii Babe suggested.
“Honey, Klai barely uses social media. He only posts on Instagram once in a blue moon, and on Twitter, he just retweets posts from bookstores recommending new releases,” Phii Dom countered.
“Exactly, Dom! That should tell you what he likes,” Phii Babe pointed out.
Phii Dom furrowed his brows, seemingly deep in thought as he looked at Phii Babe. “You’re right. Klai loves books.”
Klai chuckled softly. He thought Phii Dom and Phii Babe were such an adorable couple. They were quite different from each other, but they complemented one another in an almost unbelievable way.
This must be what they call… different but perfectly matched.
“Phii Babe… I would like to invite Theerak to the birthday party too.”
Theerak was Phii Babe’s younger brother. They’d met several times already. He was studying digital media, majoring in graphics, and was in the same year as Klai. Theerak was a cute guy with a signature rosy flush on his cheeks. Whenever Klai ran into him at university, he’d often step away from his friends to greet him. Maybe it was because Theerak always spoke so sweetly and had a bright smile constantly lighting up his face, which made Klai feel especially fond of him.
But Klai thought that, besides the world being cruel at times and kind at others, it also loved to play tricks on him. Since meeting Theerak, Klai had never once seen him with Panli. But after that incident when Klai met Panli, he started noticing Theerak hanging out with Panli often.
That’s when Klai learned they were close friends…
It seemed like almost everyone around him knew Panli.
“Sure thing, I’ll invite him for you,” Phii Babe said.
“Thank you, Phii Babe.”
Phii Babe flashed him a smile before turning to Phii Dom. “Honey, let’s head back… we’ve taken up enough of his time. He’s probably got other things to do.”
“Klai’s so polite, though. Even if he had stuff to do, he’d never shoo us out,” Phii Dom said with a laugh, then added, “So we’ll just have to leave on our own.”
“It’s no trouble at all… Honestly, after paying respects to Mom today, I don’t have anything else planned,” Klai said.
“If you’re feeling lonely, come hang out at my place, Klai,” Phii Babe offered.
“I’ll definitely visit your house sometime, Phii Babe… Consider me part of the Nirand family in advance!”
“You’re always welcome!”
“Honey, let’s go.”
Phii Babe nodded to Phii Dom, who stood up to his full height. She followed suit, and Klai walked them out to the front of the house. While waiting for the driver to bring the car, Phii Dom’s eyes widened slightly, as if he’d just remembered something.
“Klai, have you seen my photography exhibit yet? They’re taking down the photos next week.”
Klai gave a small smile before replying, “I’ve seen it already. Your photos are amazing, Phii Dom.”
“Pfft… If you wanted compliments, just say so. No need to bring up the exhibit closing next week,” Phii Babe teased.
“Well, you never compliment me, so I have to get it from him!” Phii Dom shot back.
Klai laughed when he saw Phii Dom pout at his partner. “So, Phii Babe isn’t joining the photo exhibition? I didn’t see your name on the list.”
“I’m joining next year. This year, it’s Dom’s solo spotlight,” Phii Babe replied.
“And Theerak is not joining either, right?” Klai asked Phii Dom.
“Yep, he sitting this one out too. Next year, Theerak will join,” Phii Dom said.
“Oh, I see…”
“Excuse me, the car’s here,” a voice interrupted.
“I’m off, Klai,” Phii Babe said.
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