My Moon, Chapter 5 pg 12
My Moon, Chapter 5 pg 12
confirms that the shrimp are indeed still hot.
I guess Sasin really wants to eat shrimp… to peel them even though they’re still hot.
“Li! Are you eating that many shrimp?”
Theerak, who just arrived at the table after getting drinks with Phii Fah, asks with wide eyes, seemingly surprised at the large number of peeled shrimps on his friend’s plate.
“Don’t overdo it, chubby cheeks… it’s just a little bit.”
“Don’t be so greedy, come on, have some respect for Klai. He went out of his way to treat us. Peel some for the birthday boy… and share with his friends too…”
Hearing Rak say that, Klai wanted to tell them there was no need for Panli to peel shrimp for him. Not because he was afraid he’d be too shy to hide his feelings, or because he didn’t want to eat shrimp peeled by Panli himself.
But because… Klai didn’t want to thank the moon any more than he already had.
He was already so fond of Moon.
“You mean share with you too, right?”
“Yeah…”
Moon shook his head, glancing at the chubby-cheeked one laughing. “Seriously, chubby cheeks.”
Klai watched the lively atmosphere of his birthday party, filled with smiles and laughter. He felt this year’s celebration was true happiness, and he wanted to give that joy back to everyone wholeheartedly, as a birthday boy should.
“Eat up, guys. If anyone wants more seafood, go for it. We’ve already set the seafood budget… it’s no extra cost.”
Let everyone eat to their heart’s content without worrying about him.
“Klai, you are so generous.”
Klai smiled at the chubby-cheeked one who praised him. But at that moment, he felt something being held out in front of him. He shifted his gaze from Rak to Moon instead. Klai stared at the large plate of shrimp Panli was offering.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
“A… birthday gift.”
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
He understood. If that person didn’t affect his heart, Klai believed his heart wouldn’t clamor needlessly, nor would it pound so loudly as if it wanted the world to know something.
But in reality…
Panli probably didn’t affect his heart.
“Earlier, I asked Phii Dom what Klai likes so I could get a belated gift, but Phii Dom said Klai loves shrimp. So, I’ll peel shrimp as a birthday gift for now… You’re turning twenty today, right?”
Because Panli is the moon…
The most influential force in Klai’s universe.
“Uh, yeah.”
“There are twenty shrimp on the plate, one for each year. Happy birthday, and nice to meet you.”
“Thank you so much, and nice to meet you too.”
“You’re welcome.”
When Klai took the plate of shrimp, he felt guilty for not being able to find better words to thank Moon, despite how much the gesture touched him. Looking back, his words as someone with a crush were so curt. Klai should’ve added a “krub” at the end of his sentence. But he understood he was so shocked at the time that he wasn’t thinking clearly. If Klai got the chance to be close to Panli again, next time he’d try to say more and make Panli feel impressed by him too.
Klai looked at the twenty shrimp on the plate and couldn’t help but smile before picking up a large shrimp with his chopsticks and putting it in his mouth. While chewing the sweet shrimp, he stole a glance at Panli, who had started wiping his hands with a tissue.
Klai thought…
Panli’s birthday gift and way of introducing himself
made the phrase “so much” multiply exponentially.
Klai had once said… he didn’t want to thank Moon any more than he already had.
But now…
Klai likes Panli more than “so much” already.
:)
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