(Nam Nuea past)
I was supposed to help my sister watch the baby while the sticky rice was steaming, but after what happened, I had to rush to the hospital. Typhoon had sent me his location and room number over Line, so I made my way to the private hospital where he was admitted.
When I opened the door, I saw the pale-faced guy lying on the bed with an IV drip attached to his arm. I rushed to his side and sat by the bed, my face written all over with guilt.
"How are you feeling, Typhoon?"
Despite his weakness, he managed a smile when he saw me. "Better now. After leaving your apartment, I could barely make it to a gas station. I had to run to the restroom several times. Once I felt a bit stable, I drove myself here."
He spoke cheerfully as if it were no big deal, which only made me feel worse.
"Typhoon... I'm so sorry," I said, looking like I was about to cry. I felt incredibly bad for playing such a prank on him.
He looked into my eyes and gave a gentle smile. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Well, I'm the one who pressured you into eating that spicy food until you got food poisoning!"
"If I had refused to eat, you couldn't have forced me, right? You didn't exactly shove it down my throat," he laughed. "I knew it was spicy and that I'd probably get sick. My friends used to challenge me back in school, and the same thing happened then."
Even though he was laughing, I couldn't join in. I just sat there feeling terrible about what I'd done. He was being way too kind to a "culprit" like me.
"I'm a grown man, Nam Nuea. I could have said no. I chose to keep eating myself."
"Typhoon..." I whispered his name, touched by his words. He didn't blame me for a single thing.
"Do you feel guilty?" he asked, as if reading my mind.
I nodded. "I'm the one who egged you on. I'm responsible for you ending up like this."
"Don't overthink it. Like I said, I chose to eat it."
His kindness didn't make me feel better about the prank, but it made me admire his big heart. "I still feel responsible. How about... let me help pay for your medical bills?"
"No, don't," he stopped me immediately.
"Why not? Is it too expensive?"
He nodded. "One night here costs over ten thousand baht."
My jaw dropped. I had no idea that just getting an IV drip for one night could cost that much.
"That much?! Then... can I pay you back in installments? Please, Typhoon."
"It's okay, Nam Nuea."
"Then what can I do to make it up to you? I have to do something, otherwise, I won't be able to sleep at night," I insisted.
Typhoon looked at me with a strange smile. "There is one thing. But before I tell you, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"You said we are very different, right?"
I nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"Yes... I admit we are different in almost every way. Is that why you think we can't be... well, friends?"
He asked with such a serious face that I didn't know how to answer. Truthfully, I wasn't so sure myself anymore.
"Can we get to know each other, Nam Nuea?" he asked again.
I hesitated. "I... I don't know."
"Answering like that... does it mean 'no'?" He started to look stressed, staring intensely at me.
"It's not exactly like that," I said non-committally.
He seemed unhappy with my answer, but after a moment, his expression softened.
"It's okay. Today is just the first day we've actually spent time together. We still have a lot to prove. But I want to tell you one thing, Nam Nuea: people shouldn't close themselves off too much. I've never had a friend from such a different background before, but I never thought it was impossible. Why don't we just try?"
"Try what?" I asked, confused. He had talked so much I couldn't keep up, and I was afraid that agreeing would lead to me digging my own grave.
Typhoon bit his lower lip, looking at me thoughtfully. I couldn't help but feel suspicious—I was already worried he was hitting on me. But strangely, even though I was afraid of being hit on by a man, I didn't run away. I was sitting right here, acting all shy. Maybe it was because of that night he gave me his umbrella and walked in the rain when we were strangers. That moment had truly won me over.
"You said you wanted to make it up to me, right?" Typhoon circled back to my earlier offer.
I nodded.
"Then... tomorrow after work, can you come see me at my condo?"
My eyes went wide. I couldn't help but think of something "shady"—was he planning something inappropriate? "Why your condo? Can't we just talk here and now?"
"Well, I'm sick."
"Wait! What are you planning to do to me?" I was shocked, my mind racing to dark places.
"No, no! Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he laughed. "It's nothing like that. I just have something I want to ask you—something long. It's not convenient tonight because the medicine is making me drowsy."
"Phew... okay," I let out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry for disturbing your rest. I should probably get going."
"Wait!"
Typhoon grabbed my wrist as I was about to stand up.
"What is it?" I looked down at his hand on my wrist and sat back down.
He slowly let go. "Promise me first that you'll come to my condo tomorrow after work."
"But I finish very late," I tried to make an excuse.
"I'll wait, no matter how late it is. Please come, Nam Nuea."
I hesitated, staying silent for a while.
"You wanted to make it up to me, didn't you? This is your chance."
I did want to make it up to him, but I didn't get why it had to be at his condo. In the end, I found myself nodding in agreement. I figured I'd use this as a test—to see if I'd actually be okay with a guy hitting on me, and to see how much I could trust Typhoon.
Typhoon smiled, satisfied with my answer. I stood up and gave him a small smile back. "Then... I'm heading home now, Typhoon."
"Okay. See you tomorrow, Nam Nuea. Don't forget."
I nodded instead of speaking. I turned and started walking away slowly.
"Thanks for visiting, Nam Nuea."
That voice made me stop in my tracks. I turned back, gave a shy smile, and stood there awkwardly for a moment before rushing out the door.
Why is my heart racing like this? Don't tell me you're starting to like him, Nam Nuea. I wasn't sure what it was, but I felt really good that Typhoon didn't blame me. If he was trying to "win my sympathy," he definitely got a hundred percent—maybe even double.
(Typhoon past)
"Nat! I did it, man!"
As soon as I drove out of the hospital late the next morning, I immediately called my best friend to report the results.
"What are you talking about, Typhoon? Make sense, will you?" Nat sounded confused; it wasn't often he saw me this excited.
"The advice your friend gave me? It worked like a charm!" I was still buzzing with excitement, forgetting that I hadn't explained anything yet.
"Wait... don't tell me it's about that guy you're chasing."
"Exactly! Nam Nuea is coming to my condo after work tomorrow!" I announced proudly.
"Whoa, Typhoon! You've only known him for a few days and you're already 'sealing the deal'? Slow down, buddy."
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Nat. I just invited him over to talk. I'm not planning anything yet."
"Oh, really? Then why not talk somewhere else? Why the condo?"
"He finishes work late—around 10 PM. Where else could we go? Plus, my condo is right near his workplace."
"Sure, sure, I believe you. So... tell me, what did you do to get him to agree?"
"Are you planning to use my moves on a guy too?" I teased him, laughing.
"Shut up! I'm not into guys. But seriously, Typhoon, are you for real about this?"
"Of course. Since when do I do things half-heartedly? You know me better than that, Nat."
"Yeah, yeah. I was just making sure. Now, are you going to answer my question? What did you do?"
I laughed, seeing how eager he was to know.
"I did exactly what your friend suggested. First: create a 'First Impression.' Second: leave something of mine with him so he thinks of me. Third: 'Win his sympathy' and prove my sincerity."
"Damn... you did the whole list. What were the specifics?"
"I'm getting there! Don't be so impatient," I said and continued the story. "First, two nights ago when it rained? I stopped by his shop. He was stuck there, unable to get home. So I walked him to the bus stop, gave him my umbrella, and walked back to my condo in the pouring rain."
"Whoa... you really went all out, Typhoon!" My friend laughed.
"Yep. Second part: my umbrella is with him. He has something of mine to look at every day. Perfect, right?" I said proudly.
"Okay, okay. Go on. I'm hooked."
"As for the third part... Nam Nuea challenged me, saying a rich guy like me couldn't eat street food. So I ate everything he suggested—fermented fish papaya salad, spicy pork, the works. I got massive food poisoning. I literally just got discharged from the hospital five minutes ago!"
"What?! You risked your life like that? You've got it bad, man," Nat exclaimed, shocked.
"Even I'm surprised at myself," I laughed. "But that advice really worked. It wasn't just following a script, though; it came from the heart."
"Well, without 'inner feelings,' you wouldn't have gone that far. Let me ask you straight: if he comes to your condo tonight, are you going to 'make a move'?"
I wanted to laugh in Slovenian at that question. "Man, I've been single and 'pure' for years. If it were a girl, I might know what to do. But with a guy? I'll be honest... I have no clue."
My friend burst into a loud laugh. "What are you laughing at, Nat?" I asked, a bit annoyed.
"I'm laughing at you! So what's the plan? You want to consult my friend again? I'm sure they can teach you a few things."
"No way!" I argued. "I can research this myself. Besides, I'm not planning anything physical yet. We need to 'study' each other first."
"Alright, alright. It's your life. Do whatever you want, whenever you want."
"Thanks anyway, Nat, for connecting me with that advice."
"No problem. Don't forget to tell my friend; they'll be happy to know it worked. Honestly, when I first heard the plan, I didn't think it stood a chance."
"When there's real feeling behind it, it's bound to work, right?" I bragged.
"I guess so..."
"Anyway, where are you now?" I changed the subject.
"Finally asking! I'm at the condo gym. What about you?"
"I have a meeting all afternoon to prepare for a training session. It's for a huge organization—over a hundred participants. I'm thinking of splitting them into three groups; I can't handle a hundred people at once."
"Whoa, sounds like a big payday."
"Yeah, it's decent. Anyway, I gotta go. My team is calling me. They probably think I forgot."
"Alright, catch you later. Good luck tonight, man!"
Nat's blessing was exactly what I needed. "Good luck finding a new girlfriend soon too, Nat!"
(Nam Nuea past)
I didn't finish work until 11 PM today. We had an unusually high number of customers, so cleaning and closing up took forever. There was way more trash than usual too. But more importantly, I got yelled at by a customer again—a foreigner this time. And the manager yelled at me on top of that. If this keeps happening, it's going to affect my job for sure.
So, I headed to Typhoon's condo with a stressed-out expression. At first, I was going to call and cancel because I wasn't in the mood, but I decided that since I'd promised, I shouldn't be flaky like a child. I didn't want to lose my credibility.
My appearance in the luxury condo lobby seemed to draw quite a bit of attention. People passing by gave me strange looks, probably wondering if someone dressed like me actually lived there or had friends there. Luckily, Typhoon was already waiting for me in the lobby. He came right over as soon as I arrived, so I didn't have to feel awkward for long.
"Nam Nuea, you're late! Did you just finish work?" was his first question.
I nodded and looked around. This place was so fancy it made me feel tiny. If I had come here alone, I wouldn't have dared to step inside.
"Shall we?" Typhoon asked when he saw me distracted by the surroundings.
I snapped out of it and followed him to the elevator. He pressed the button and led me into the metal box, and finally, we were standing in his apartment.
"Have a seat. Have you eaten anything yet?"
I sat on the sofa and looked around. The apartment was perfectly partitioned and beautifully decorated. Seeing the luxury of this room, I couldn't even imagine how expensive it was. My room couldn't even compare to a corner of this place.
"Not yet," I told him honestly.
"Want something to eat? I just finished making white sauce spaghetti. I'm not sure if you'll like it."
"You made it yourself?" I asked, impressed.
"Yeah, I like cooking for myself. Let me go get it. I haven't eaten either, so I'll join you."
I nodded and watched him disappear into the kitchen. He came back with two plates and started bragging.
"I love white sauce spaghetti. It's easy to make, and I'm actually quite good at it. Try it—the recipe and all the ingredients are from Italy. I made this especially for you."
I gave a small smile, feeling a bit touched that he was so attentive. I twirled some spaghetti with my fork and was genuinely impressed by the taste.
"Is it good?" Typhoon asked, looking hopeful.
"It's delicious," I nodded, satisfied.
Even though I usually eat basic Thai food, I'm familiar with Western food because I often get leftovers from the shop. It didn't feel foreign to me.
Typhoon ate enthusiastically as well. we chatted a little, though my mind was still troubled by work. After eating, I volunteered to wash the dishes. Typhoon resisted at first, but I took the plates and started washing them anyway. He stood beside me as I washed, striking up a conversation.
"You seem quiet today, Nam Nuea. Did someone give you a hard time again?"
Whoa, is he psychic or something?
"I got scolded a bit," I gave a dry laugh, feeling a bit pathetic.
"Once you're done with the dishes, you can tell me about it... if you want," Typhoon said, reaching out to take a plate I'd finished washing to dry it.
After the dishes were done, we sat back on the sofa. I looked around, not knowing what to talk about.
"So... do you want to tell me? I'm listening. It might make you feel better," Typhoon reminded me.
Seeing how much he wanted to hear, I decided to tell him. "A customer ordered coffee and then told me I made it wrong. He said he'd had it in America and it didn't taste like that. I tried to explain that the Thai recipe is different, but he wouldn't listen. He called me stupid."
Typhoon looked shocked at the last part. "Really? Was it a Thai person or a foreigner?"
"A foreigner. He made me call the manager. In the end, we agreed to make him a new cup, but I got scolded by the manager and told I had to pay for the wasted cup. With things like this happening, I'm not sure I'll pass my probation."
Typhoon gave me an encouraging smile. But before he could speak, I jumped in.
"Forget about that. Anyway... how do you want me to make it up to you for the food poisoning?" I wanted to get to the point. It was late, and I couldn't stay much longer.
"Oh, you want to talk about that now?" Typhoon asked.
"Yes. It's late, and I have to wake up early tomorrow."
"Right. Well, honestly, you don't have to do much. Just answer my questions honestly."
I frowned at him. He was sitting there with his hands clasped, looking at me with a mischievous grin that made me wary.
"Promise me you'll answer everything truthfully."
I agreed to the deal without knowing what it was. "Okay."
"Nam-Non isn't your son, is he?"
I knew it! I had a feeling he was suspicious. I sat there with my mouth open, my earlier sadness completely gone. But I'd made a promise, so I had to tell the truth. I swallowed hard and looked at him, gave a sheepish smile, and shook my head.
"Then why did you lie to me?" Typhoon asked immediately, not giving me a second to breathe.
"Well... uh..." I didn't know how to respond.
"Were you afraid I was hitting on you?"
I almost fell off the sofa. He hit the nail right on the head. "Uh..."
"You don't have to be afraid. If you're not interested... just tell me you don't like me. I'll just have to deal with the disappointment. You know... I used to like 'fang girls,' but after meeting a 'fang guy' like you, I completely forgot about my dream girl. I liked you from the moment I saw you. So, tell me one thing... do you want to try dating me? If you do, I'll move forward. If not... I'll back off."
That was a direct hit. I was so stunned I didn't even know if I could find my way home. If he were any other guy, I probably would have kicked him across the room. But why didn't I? I'm supposed to be a guy who likes girls, right? So why was I sitting here letting this man flirt with me? Does it mean I'm okay with this?
Fight back, Nam Nuea! Why aren't you fighting back?! Punch him! I thought to myself, but that was as far as it went.
"Well, Nam Nuea? Do you feel enough for me to give us a try?"
Typhoon moved from the opposite sofa to sit right next to me. He watched me intently. My throat was dry, my hands were cold and shaking slightly, and my heart was beating like a war drum.
"I know it's fast to ask this. But if we both feel good about each other, we can try to build something. Maybe we've both finally found the love we've been waiting for. Do you feel the same way about me... as I feel about you?"
He asked for the third time. I knew I couldn't stall any longer. It wasn't that it was hard to answer—it was that I was incredibly embarrassed. Telling a man I felt good about him was just... weird. I was shy even with girls, let alone this.
Once I gathered my courage, I finally answered...
"Why do you have to ask so many times? If I didn't feel good about you, I wouldn't be sitting here, would I?"