My Moon, Chapter 29 pg 1
My Moon, Chapter 29 pg 1
Chapter 29:
“Panli, where are you now?”
“I’m driving out from the house. Had to come back to switch cars.”
“Huh? … Where did you go? Why did you need to go back to change cars?”
“I dropped off Chubby Cheeks at the airport. He wanted to pick up Phii Fah…”
“…”
“I drove Phii Fah’s car to drop him off.”
“…”
“So I had to come back to switch to your car.”
“Oh…”
“…”
“Then you don’t need to come back to pick up Klai. Just head straight to the book event. I’ll take a taxi there myself.”
“Is that okay, KhunKlai?”
“It’s fine, puppy… saves time too.”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
Cool…
“And don’t forget to send me the license plate number once you’re in the taxi.”
“Okay, got it.”
“See you at the event.”
The conversation between Klai and Panli from a while ago floated back into his mind as he stepped out of the pink taxi. The petite figure glanced at the watch on his wrist before walking into the bustling book fair.
His almond-shaped eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the atmosphere. Klai loved the book fair here so much because he’d never been to one held in such an open space before. The evening ambiance, with the sun setting, made it feel even warmer.
Seeing publishers’ staff chatting with readers with smiles, some people quietly caressing books before pulling out their wallets, others showing certain books to their companions as if recommending a favorite—these scenes made a book lover like him smile with joy.
While waiting for Panli to arrive, Klai browsed books at various booths and decided to buy a few. He wandered around the fair until he stopped at one publisher’s booth…
“This one’s really good… highly recommend it.”
Klai gave a faint smile as he shifted his gaze from a book titled A Piece of the Moon to a female staff member who had come to stand in front of him.
“I’ve seen reviews for it,” Klai said. “I’ve been meaning to buy it several times but never had the chance. It’s great that I found it today…” He reached out to pick up the book with a crescent moon on the cover. “…Where do I pay?”
“Right this way…”
The petite figure followed the staff member into the booth. Klai bowed his head slightly to thank her for leading him to the queue. He craned his neck to count the people waiting to pay when a vibration from his phone caught his attention.
Pulling out his phone, he saw the name My Moon displayed on the glass screen. Klai smiled faintly and answered the call immediately.
“Yes, puppy?”
[KhunKlai… the traffic is insane.]
Klai smiled to himself when he heard the puppy’s frustrated tone. “Puppy… take it easy, okay?”
[Have you been at the event for a while already, KhunKlai?]
“Just got here not long ago…”
[I’m so sorry… Honestly, I should’ve gotten there first. Now KhunKlai has to walk around alone.]
“No need to apologize, puppy…”
[...]
“Do you know that I go to book fairs alone almost every year?”
[...]
“I never feel lonely… Strolling around looking at books is so much fun.”
[... I believe it now that you are really happy. From the sound of your voice... if I hadn’t called, you’d probably be so engrossed in browsing books that you’d forget everything else.]
Klai chuckles softly, as if what Panli said is true. The thing that captivates him, making him forget everything and dive into another world, is books.
But The Same Moon is just as important to his passions.
No matter which world Klai sinks into,
Every world will always have this moon.
“How could I forget my date?”
[...]
“If I forgot, that’d be too cruel.”
The other end laughs before saying, [Even if you were cruel to me... I’d still love you.]
“Tone it down a bit, puppy... that kind of talk is making Klai fall for you even more.”
[How much is you falling for me right now?]
The one being asked smiles faintly while handing a book to another female staff member at the cashier. Klai nods lightly with a smile when she asks softly, “Just this one book, right?”
The big puppy’s question makes Klai feel too shy to answer in front of others. But if he doesn’t respond, he’s afraid Panli might feel hurt. Thinking back to every phone call they’ve had, Panli has never dodged his questions, no matter if he was with friends or anyone else. Panli always answers with heartfelt words.
That makes Klai realize...
The opinions of others...
They’re not as important as the feelings of the person we love.
“More than you, more than I... more than both of us combined.”
[Getting cheekier every day...]
Klai laughs softly before shifting the phone from his hand to rest against his shoulder, as he needs to pull money from his wallet for the cashier. He hands her the bill while saying...
“No need for a bag. I brought a cloth one.”
“Got it. Thank you for not taking a bag, sir.”
“You’re welcome...”
The customer nods and smiles at her before slipping the book into his white cloth bag. Klai grabs the phone again with his hand and asks the big puppy as he walks out of the book booth.
“Where’s my puppy at?”
[Klai, I’m almost there.]
“Okay…”
[Did you buy a lot of books?]
“Bought quite a few already.”
[Keep track of the total, and your puppy will take care of it.]
“No, no, I’ll pay for these myself.”
[Who’s your lover?]
Klai gave a small smile, shaking his head lightly. “Panli’s, of course.”
[Exactly… that’s why you don’t need to spend your own money.]
Klai laughed softly before saying, “Puppy, really.”
[I’ll see you at the event, okay? Gotta find a parking spot first.]
“Alright…”
[…]
“Panli, Panli!”
[Yes…]
“I’ll go wait by the stage…” he said, glancing at the small stage where a singer was chatting with the audience, “…because the live music’s about to start.”
[Okay…]
After hanging up with Panli, Klai walked toward the wide, grassy area. He stopped a fair distance from the stage and sat down on the grass, just like others waiting for the live music.
His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, a gentle smile forming as he saw quite a few people sitting around him. Some came alone, some with friends, and some with their lovers.
Klai looked up at the sky, now painted in deeper hues after the sun had dipped below the horizon. Yet, the soft yellow moon and the tiny yellow lights twinkling like stars on the big tree kept the night from being swallowed by darkness…
And Klai had escaped his own dark past.
As the music began to play…
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