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One -
Dissaya heard about this website from a close friend. Having a big desktop computer was something new for people to have in their houses, Dissaya hadn’t thought about getting one but this could change her mind. Apparently, she had put her daughters name and details into it with her best friends son and it had showed the two young children had an 89% chance of being soulmates.
Dissaya had been interested but tried not to show it too much, as she nodded along to the story of how they were now having more play dates between both children to make their connection grow stronger.
Dissaya thought of her Pran, only four years old but so quiet and shy around other children she wasn’t sure he’d be able to make friends when he went to school at the end of the summer. He was quiet around her friends children and mostly hid between her legs clutching at her trousers when she tried to leave him to get to know other children while the adults had coffee.
It had led to many play dates where Pran ended up sitting in her husbands lap while he drew in his colouring in books, instead of playing with the other children. This website would be able to tell her if any of the children she knew would be compatible with her sweet shy boy.
The thought of putting her friends children's names into this website and then forcing Pran to play with the one that had the highest score felt off to her. Never the less she didn’t say this to her friend but when she left the cafe that had met up in, she wondered if it would be worth Pran even finding a good friend though this websites scores.
When she returned home, Dissaya found Pran in his room learning some easy songs on the little keyboard they had gotten him for his fourth birthday. Her husband was showing Pran the keys he needed to press letting Pran slowly learn the order and play by himself.
When she finally had her husbands attention from where she was standing at the door, she gestured for him to go and make dinner and replaced him on his spot on the carpet in front of Pran sitting crossed legged.
“Pran, if mae could find out who you would get on with the most out of all of the girls and boys we’ve met to play with, would you want to know who that was? Then you could maybe make a best friend?” She asks him softly, while watching him stick his tongue out a little as he concentrated on the white and black keys.
“No.” Pran answered honestly. “I’ve already got a best friend. I don’t need another one.” Pran tells her while shakily giving her a run through of chopsticks. Dissaya smiled and clapped when he finished making him beam up at her with a softly dimpled smile.
“And who is your best friend? I didn’t know you had one.” She tells him and Pran nods sombrely looking back down at the keys. “I can’t tell you. We’re not supposed to play together, we’ll get in trouble.” Pran answers secretively, like Dissaya couldn’t guess the only child that she had told Pran not to play with.
Dissaya took a moment to digest. She had no idea when Pran and Pat had played together, but she has a suspicion that it has something to do with Pran wanted to play out in the garden more this summer and constantly going straight to the back corner with his football where their neighbours garden backs onto theirs.
“What if I could organise a play date with you and your best friend? I could…” Dissaya swallows thickly, it would be hard for her but she doesn’t want to raise her child to be alone because of her problems. “I could talk to Pat’s dad and we could maybe go to the park together one day with his Mae.” She suggest, and seeing Pran’s face light up is enough to let her know she’s made the right choice.
This love percentage website might be accurate for finding soulmates but Dissaya doesn’t want to force her son to be with anyone he isn’t happy with. Maybe when he’s older she could change his mind.
Two -
Ink watched as Pat and Pran argued over who’s turn it was to get drinks from the stall that was in their cafeteria. Pran argued that Pat got them last time, where Pat argued that he might have picked them up but Pran had given him money to pay for them.
It was all ridiculous in Ink’s eyes, especially when most of the time she doesn’t even get a drink out of it. Pat had stopped buying her drinks every time he went after she had softly rejected his advances. She knows exactly who she likes and she knows exactly how compatible she is with this person.
Not that she had told Pat who she liked, just that it wasn’t him. Not that she thought that Pat would have a problem with it, she just wanted to she how things moved with Pa first before telling anyone about her crush.
Back to the issue at hand, she was starting to get a headache with the bickering and she also now wanted a drink so someone needed to hurry up and decide. “Pran you did pay for them last week. Pat you did go up and get them last week. So I’ll pay for our drinks and Pran can be the one to go get them. All square and you can start again next Friday when you argue over the same thing.” She says forcefully giving Pran money and shoving him from the seat.
Pran glares at her but makes his way to the stall to get all three of them drinks anyway and Ink turns to Pat who is watching him go. Ink sometimes felt like a third wheel to Pat and Pran. They had known each other all their lives and anyone could tell by the way they acted how close they were but Ink had been drawn to them as friends when she first arrive and she wasn’t leaving her boys now.
“Has anyone ever mentioned that you both act like an old married couple?” Ink asks, bringing Pat’s attention back to her. “Because I think you both would be quite compatible.” She says offhandedly, making Pat roll his eyes.
“We do get told that all the time, and no we haven’t put our names in the love percentage website, and yes we know it can be platonic soulmates not just romantic love.” Pat recites in a monotone voice.
Ink snorts and kicks her legs out to hit Pat’s under the table who kicks her back. “I’m just saying, I think you two would be a high percentage. 80’s maybe even 90’s if I had to guess.” Ink watches as something small flickers on Pat’s face. It doesn’t give anything away and Pat doesn’t even look like anything has changed but maybe Ink is somewhat right. Platonic soulmates are a thing and the website can tell you if a high score is romantic or not, so maybe they are soulmates in a way.
Pran comes back carefully juggling the three plastic cups of coffee and Pat instantly helps by taking two and putting them down on the table in front of Ink and himself. Pran smiles back thankfully and gives Ink her change before asking her about her plans for the summer before university.
Three -
Wai wondered how Pran could ever get on with Pat. They were the complete opposite in every way. Pran was organised, tidy, kind and snarky. Pat was a disorganised mess who annoyed everyone around him (especially Wai) and didn’t know how to do anything for himself, constantly clinging to Pran for help.
Wai found it frustrating whenever Pat, who is very clearly an engineering student, decided he could just wandered into the architecture department and bother Pran in a library or sit with them at lunch, hanging all over Pran like a limpet.
Pran didn’t seem to understand the problem and Pat was always smug when Pran told Wai to leave him alone. As if Wai wasn’t also his best friend and should also be given special friend privileges like Pat gets. Every time Wai complains about Pat and Pran defends him, Pat will stick his tongue out and sling his arm around Pran like it’s meant to be there.
“I just don’t know how you and him are best friends!” Wai cries out one day after Pat had paraded his way into the cafeteria, begged Pran to share his lunch because he had forgotten to bring his wallet and then left again with a teasing pinch of Pran’s dimpled cheek and a promise to repay him in dinner.
“I swear, if you two were to put your names into the love percentage thing, your names would be in the minuses because there is no way you two should be friends.” Wai adds, earning him a punch to each shoulder and a smack up side the head from Safe, Louis and Pran.
“Don’t say things like that. He’s my best friend and I want you both to get along but don’t say things like we aren’t compatible as friends. The website is ridiculous stop bringing us into it because your crush on P’Fran was only 24% compatible.” Pran snaps, shutting his books and gathering his stuff, stalking out of the cafeteria.
Safe and Louis both glare at him but he ignores them in favour of sulking, his chin resting on his folded arms. He’ll apologise later, he just doesn’t understand.
Four -
Chai watches fondly as Pat and Pran fuss over his daughter. She was only a month old but both boys had made sure to take time between their exam prep to meet her.
He has been in both boys lives since they were young, working between both parents and helping between the businesses, and he wanted to share moments with his daughter with them too.
Film was being held so gently by Pran who looked enamoured with her, while Pat sat closely next to him, wiggling his fingers in her face as she watched them move in front of her eyes. She’s been a calm baby so far, which Chai is glad for, but seeing her nearly nodding off in Pran’s arm gives him comfort that they would be there for her when she’s older.
“She’s so lovely. She looks just like your wife, but the hair is all you.” Pat says loudly and Pran shushes him with a glare as Film yawns, holding tightly to Pat’s finger as she closes her eyes.
If Chai was a stranger he might look at this scene and think that it is an average couple and their new baby. Chai was glad when they had become friends when they were so young, despite their families still being on hostile terms at the time and even now only having progressed to a civil understanding. Seeing them both friends many years later Chai can’t help but wonder if there is more to them.
Chai tilts his head and smiles. “I think she’s going to grow up looking just as beautiful as her mae, she’ll be fighting off all the attention she’ll get.” Chai jokes and both boys laugh quietly, so not to disturb her. Chai comes to sit down on Pran’s other side, adjusting Films blanket so it isn’t a bunched up as much.
“Chai, would you ever consider using the love percentage calculator for your daughter? Like when she’s young, school age?” Pran asks softly, looking over to Chai. It’s an odd question, he’s a little old for the generation that is using the love percentage website but also feels too young to be trying to find his daughter a suitor with it.
“No, I don’t think so. If she wants to use it when she’s older she can, but trying to find the best match for her should be her choice not mine or my wife’s.” Chai answers honestly. Pat looks between them both and Chai shrugs a little, unsure where the question came from.
Pat offers to take Film, when Pran’s arms start to get tired and the carefully swap her over and Pat holds her close, thought it takes him a moment to remember that though she is rugby ball size, she should not be held like one. Chai can see Pran tittering at the moment of awkwardness in Pat’s grip but once he realises she’s happy to sleep, and not too fussy about the position he relaxes.
Chai thinks that if Pran was to take the test with his and Pat’s name that they would max out 100% in platonic relationship but is there more, he’s not sure. As long as both the boys are happy and content Chai doesn’t mind.
Five -
Junior watched as Pat and Pran tries to cook a meal together like they did every summer they come to the village. Like every summer, Pran did most of the cooking and gave Pat the easiest job that Junior still had to help him with.
Junior knew that this might be the last year he sees them for a while. Pat and Pran are just waiting for their final exam results before they go off and get jobs. Pran has been talking about a job in Singapore that he is going to apply for if he gets marks high enough. Pat wants to start his own company and Junior knows that would take up time as well.
He'll miss them coming by each summer, working at the bar and getting free beers for waiting tables and helping out with fishing and staying in the guest house. They are the only ones that looked out for him out of the trips that had come through the village and even returned to see them.
“Pat, stop. You’re supposed to be cutting up carrots, not hacking them to death. Look, you are being shown up by a teenager, Junior show him please.” Pran sighs exasperated, glaring at Pat. Junior laughs when he looks at the chunks that Pat had been cutting.
“I still don’t know how you can’t cut vegetables after all these years. How are you going to be a good husband when you can’t even cook a simple meal?” Junior asks, holding up one of his perfectly cut carrot circles next to Pat’s misshapen chunk.
“I’ll just get Pran to cook for me and I’ll wash the dishes.” Pat says automatically and Junior can feel the tension. Junior had always thought they were a couple, it was his uncle that said they weren’t and Junior really doesn’t understand why.
“You don’t even do the dishes when Pran cooks for you now.” Junior protests, taking the knife and showing Pat what he should be doing, hoping that they will go back to cooking, and ignore the implication. Junior glances up and sees Pran pointedly look at the wok where he’s cooking the fish they caught earlier.
His uncle always said that people find each other in this life and it just works, it’s all fate and natural. People at his new school use a love website to try and weed out the useless crushes from the important ones. Junior thinks it’s silly to leave someone over a percentage, when you can still love someone even if they aren’t your soulmate. Junior thinks that Pat and Pran might be soulmates though.
Pran is glaring at Pat again for now mutilating the peppers and Pat is pretending he doesn’t see the looks he’s getting from Pran. “So Junior, what is your high school like? Are the kids nice?” Pat asks him and Pran turns to listen to his answer too.
“Alright dad.” Junior jokes rolling his eyes making Pran laugh and Pat pout. “It’s fine, being in Bangkok is weird compared to here. It’s nosy and the kids don’t care much about the work uncle does here like I do but it’s okay. They all seem obsessed with using this love calculator thing.” He mentions, pretending he doesn’t hear the awkward coughs and the looks that Pat and Pran avoid giving each other.
“You don’t want to find your soulmate?” Pran asks, flipping the fish over and pretending that it needs all his attention. Junior thinks about the question, nobody had really asked him. His uncle didn’t care much for the internet and believed in destiny and hard work and his mae just wanted him to have the best opportunities in life and be happy, whether that is with someone or not.
“I guess, but if I like someone and they I used the percentage website and it has a low percentage it’s not going to make a difference to me. I like them so, they don’t need to be perfect for me. Mae says being with someone takes work and compromise, so even if they were perfect I would still have to put time and effort into that person.” Junior shrugs, glancing between them both.
Junior can see Pat and Pran looking at each other with soft looks on their faces. Pran ruffles his hair and Junior shoves him away. “When did you get so smart? I think you’ve gone soft now that you’re a teenager.” Pran jokes, and Junior rolls his eyes again and shoves him again.
“Not as soft as you both! Look you’re burning the fish and Pat’s vegetable cutting is somehow getting worse. Focus on dinner!” Junior orders and Pran goes back to shouting at Pat about his cooking skills while trying to save the lightly burnt fish.
+One -
Pat and Pran look at the website that is loaded up in front of them. Pran had gotten good marks and managed to get the job in Singapore and Pat was so proud of him. The only problem was that it meant he was leaving and wouldn’t be by Pat’s side or even within driving distance.
This realisation had ended in a very dramatic confession on their dorm rooftop after a night at the bar and a kiss that still makes Pat’s lips tingle just thinking about it. It had also lead to them not talking for a few days while they both figured out what they were going to do and how their relationship was going to change.
In classic Pat and Pran style it had come down to a bet. People had said they would score high on this, others had said they would score low. Juniors advice that didn’t matter if they weren’t perfect had also stuck somewhere in their brains, but a bet was a bet.
“Higher than 50% we become boyfriends. Lower than 50% we stay friends.” Pat reiterates nervously as they look at the screen. All their information was inputted they just needed to hit the big red ‘CALCULATE’ button on the screen. Pran nods, nervously itching to take Pat’s hand.
Pat took a deep breath and leaned forward finger hovering over the mouse clicker. Pat glances to Pran one last time, who nods and he clicks the button, watching the circle turn.
‘100% Platonic Match. 50% Romantic Match. You both have chemistry and potential to be more, that is undeniable, but are you meant to be? You both have similarities that bring you closer together, such as your hard work, your morals and your feelings. You also have differences that work against each other and could easily tear you apart such as lifestyles, careers and families. The choice is up to you, take the chance or leave it be?’
Pat and Pran look at the screen in shock. Nobody had accounted for their percentage to be exactly 50%. Pat chewed his lip and looked at Pran who was looking back, just nervous. Pat swallows thickly, trying to think of the best way to move forward. Pat opens his mouth but before he can say anything Pran beats him to it.
“If you go by the rules of maths 50 is always rounded up right? So technically that would make it closer to 100% than 0% so really to play this right we should just become boyfriends.” Pran explains confidently, like Pat can’t see the fear and uncertainty in his huge eyes.
Pat nods so eagerly, he feels a little dizzy. “Yes! Yes, that would only be right. It’s how the system works and obviously we just balance each other out so well that it couldn’t give us a score too high or it would go to our heads.” Pat argues and Pran laughs, yanking Pat forward for a kiss that is more smile than anything else.
Maybe everyone was right, they were and they weren’t compatible, and relationships do take work. Luckily Pran and Pat have had years of practice putting up with each other and they will have years to work on their relationship as well.