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It was a regular Monday, nothing to be happy about in particular. Pran was already feeling the Monday blues about having to go to the school. It had been just a week since his 11th grade classes had begun. He didn’t understand why his Mom was looking so happy while talking to someone on her phone in the morning. After she hung up, Dissaya called out to Pran. Curiously, Pran asked “Who was it on the call?”
She replied “Pran, do you remember Uncle Ming? My best friend from my school days?” Pran nodded, expressing that he remembered. She continued, “Then you also might remember that all these years he was in Chiang Mai. But now he is moving back to Bangkok”. Oh, so that was why his mom seemed so happy. Dissaya added, “he is moving for his son Pat’s education. You know him! In a couple of years, you guys will be going to university. Ming wants to ensure that Pat gets into a good university”. Feeling nothing in particular about it, Pran replied “oh that’s great”.
Little did Pran know his day was about to get worse. Dissaya informed him that Pat will be joining Pran’s school and that he should help Pat around the school and catch up with whatever he has missed out on. Pat would be joining two weeks later, as Ming was stuck in Chiang Mai wrapping up some things related to his business. Pran was an ambivert by nature. He had his own group of friends with whom he had grown close over years of developing friendship. However, talking to new people didn’t come to him easily. Although, Pat wasn’t new to him, it had been years since he last saw him.
When they were kids, Dissaya and Ming would visit each other. Pran remembers how Pat was a hyperactive and jumpy kid. Pran was a quiet kid who would like to play with his toys and read books. So whenever they got together, they would hardly play together. In fact, Pran got along well with Pat’s sister Paa who was just a year younger than them. When they were five years old, Ming moved to Chiang Mai, along with his family, as a good business opportunity arose there.
After Pat moved, Pran didn’t have any reason to keep in touch with him. Sure their parents were best friends and kept in touch but that didn’t mean they also had to be friends. His mom would some times show him Uncle Ming's family pictures but it had been a while now since he saw any pictures. Now that he is in 11th grade and is set in his ways, meeting Pat after such a long time means it is going to be awkward as hell for him. But he couldn’t say anything in front of his mom so he just nodded and smiled hesitantly.
Two weeks later, Pran couldn’t stop feeling nervous. Internally he cried, “why does it have to be me?” When Pat entered the classroom, Pran’s jaw dropped. Pat looked so good with his bangs covering his forehead and spotless, slightly tanned skin. It was only last year that Pran had realised that he is gay. It was a gradual process for him. He started to question his sexuality when he started finding the actors more attractive than actresses while watching the movies. Ever the perfectionist, Pran did his research about sexualities and what that meant for him and he came to accept over time that he is gay. He cringed at his own reaction to seeing Pat. He was already feeling a little uncomfortable about having to help Pat and to top it, his good looks made him even more nervous.
During the classes, there was not much scope anyway to talk to Pat. Pran decided that he will try talking to him during lunch break. As soon as the bell rang for the break, Pat was surrounded by girls. The girls in his class couldn’t keep themselves from fangirling over Pat. It also looked like Pat was enjoying all the attention as he smiled along. While one of the girls offered him her notes, other offered to show him around the school. And with that, the girls pulled along Pat. Pran was put off by how Pat looked like an attention lover. When the lunch break was about to end and everyone was returning to the class, Pat came and stood near Pran’s desk. Pran looked up as Pat said “Hi Pran! It is so nice meeting you after such a long time. Sorry, I couldn’t approach you before. You saw how it was, right?” Pat smiled sheepishly as he finished his sentence. Pran couldn’t help but wonder if Pat was gloating about the attention he was getting. He replied, “Ah, it’s no problem. Let me know if you need any help with anything”, hoping he wouldn’t actually need any help!
When Pran returned home from the school, his mom asked him about Pat and if he helped him. Pran scoffed, “I don’t think he needs my help. There are many others who want to help him” and just like that he went to his room. Dissaya was left confused by Pran’s reply, but didn’t think much about it. Later that night, as Pran was having dinner with his parents, his mom announced that she has invited Ming’s family over for dinner tomorrow. Pran’s dad also seemed happy about it and asked Pran “Aren’t you and Pat the same age? It will be nice for Pat to have someone familiar at the school”. Pran groaned internally at that.
When Pran went to school the next day, it looked like Pat had already formed a group of friends. Pran didn’t think it was necessary for him to extend his help, now that Pat had his own friends. During the break time, Pat came to Pran and said “sooo, we are invited at your place tonight”. Pran didn’t know what to reply to the rhetorical question or was it even a question? So he just replied “yeah”. Pat added “I guess I will see you tonight then” and then went back to his desk. Well, that was a weird interaction!
The dinner that night at Pran’s place was nothing short of awkward. While Dissaya, her husband Passin, Ming, and his wife Kaew had a good time among themselves, Pran and Pat were just awkwardly sitting next to each other. Paa’s presence definitely helped with diffusing some of the weird energy between them.
The rest of the month at the school went as usual, except for Pran’s interactions with Pat. Pran kept his distance from Pat thinking he doesn’t need him to be his friend since he already has so many of them. However, sometimes Pat threw a smile at him and Pran didn't understand how to react so he just smiled back awkwardly at him.
Another dinner was planned between the two families, again at Pran’s place. This time Paa didn’t accompany Pat because she had a sleepover planned at her friend’s place. After the dinner, Pran’s and Pat’s family were chilling in the front yard. Again, Pat and Pran were just sitting quietly on the chairs. Passin and Kaew were drinking wine and talking while Dissaya and Ming looked like they were trying to record themselves on the phone while dancing. When Pran and Pat saw that, they both cringed so hard and looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Pat quipped, “Parents these days! Tables have turned now. Children have to tell their parents to stay away from phones”.
Pran agreed, “I swear! My Mom is addicted to Facebook and Instagram these days. And now look at this! I can’t believe they are trying to make reels!” Pat had to facepalm himself at that.
For the first time, things didn’t feel awkward or weird between them. Realising they had nothing to do here with their parents, Pran asked Pat, “hey, do you want to play games or sit here and cringe while looking at our parents?”
Pat chuckled at that, “sure, games would be great!”
Pat and Pran realised that they liked same kind of games. First they played FIFA, where Pran beat Pat’s ass. They followed it by F1, where Pat took revenge for his loss in the first game. Soon, it was time for Pat and his family to leave. When the parents were exchanging goodbyes at the gate, Pat came closer to Pran and shyly said “tonight was fun, I will see you in school”. Smiling, he waved a big goodbye. Pran felt something warm inside his chest as he saw Pat smile. Well, that has never happened before. Pran wondered what was the weird feeling he felt just now. That night, he went to bed with a smile on his face.
The next day in school, when Pran saw Pat enter the class, he smiled at him without even realising. And Pat made sure to return that smile with his own. It was science period and the teacher was returning the answer sheets to the students for the test that was conducted yesterday. When Pran saw Pat’s sad face after receiving the score, he realised that may be Pat hadn’t done so well. During the lunch time, Pat came to Pran’s desk and sighed a little “I didn’t do that well in the science test and it looks like you are a genius with what you being number one in the class! I have so much to catch up with. Do you mind helping me with some of the concepts?” Pran agreed “sure, you can come over to my house on the weekend”. Pat seemed very happy at Pran’s suggestion.
It was Saturday. Pat was supposed to come in the afternoon. Pran spent his whole morning cleaning and organising his already clean and organized room. When Pat arrived, Dissaya greeted him and told him that he could go upstairs to Pran’s room. When Pat knocked on the door, Pran opened it with a smile on his face, dimples on full display, again without realising! Pran cursed his facial muscles. He didn’t want to come across as too eager to Pat. When Pat entered the room, he took it in with a curious look and gasped “your room is so neat and clean!”. Pran sheepishly confessed, “yeah well, I have a bit of an OCD”.
Soon, they got to studying. Pat is impressed by how easy Pran made learning science. He was able to grasp it quicker as Pran broke down the complex concepts into simple layman terms. Pran gave him a problem to solve as he got up to go to the washroom. As he returned, he saw Pat’s head falling off his rested arm on the table, as he was dozing off. Pran couldn't help but laugh at that silently. He found Pat adorable trying to balance his head on his hand while dozing off. He went to sit beside him and looked at him fondly. He didn't realise how many minutes had passed but Pat suddenly woke up and to save himself from not getting caught at staring, he immediately stood up from the chair.
Pat sleepily croaked “sorry I fell asleep. I usually sleep in the afternoon on weekends so my body couldn’t help it”.
Pran stutters out “uh, it’s okay. It wasn’t that long anyway. You can go home. Anyway we are done with most of the stuff. I can teach you the remaining concepts later”.
Pat agreed with that because he was really feeling very sleepy and couldn’t study any further. As soon as Pat left the room, Pran shut his door and just leaned his back on it, letting out a huge breath and murmured to himself “what the fuck is happening to me? Am I developing a crush on him?”
Christmas was coming near and Pran’s school had organised a concert for the occasion. The class teacher had selected Pran as the lead vocalist and Pat as the drummer along with few other boys and girls on other instruments. Practicing for the concert meant Pran got to spend more time with Pat. He started looking forward to concert practices. It was kind of unsaid between them but both of them would wait after everyone left just so that they could play music and be with each other.
It was Maths period and the students were supposed to submit an assignment on probability. The teacher had told the students to keep the assignment ready on their desks. Pat saw Pran panicking as he rummaged through his bag to find his assignment sheet. Turns out, Pran had somehow forgotten his assignment at home.
As the teacher neared his row for collecting the assignment, Pat was quick to write Pran's name on his own sheet and place it on Pran’s desk. Pran’s eyes grew wide and he couldn’t believe Pat would do this for him without even giving it a second thought. Not wanting to put Pat in trouble because of his mistake, he immediately placed the sheet back on Pat’s desk and signalled with his eyes which translated to something like “are you crazy?” However, Pat was not having it and he placed the sheet back on Pran’s desk. Before Pran could do anything, the teacher had come to his desk and collected it. Pat, of course, received an earful from the teacher.
Pran felt bad, but at the same time his heart felt like it would explode because of the selfless thing Pat did for him. Yup, his crush was definitely soaring through the roof now. The next day Pran bought a chocolate bar and before Pat reached the school, placed it on his desk with a note that said thank you. When Pat came and saw the chocolate and the note, he instantly knew it was from Pran and smiled at him.
One day, the class teacher introduced a new student to them. Her name was Ink. She seemed like a genuinely nice person. All the guys couldn’t stop fanboying over Ink, just like girls couldn’t fangirling over Pat when he had joined the school. Pran also found Ink cute. He noticed that Pat was smiling at Ink and something about that made him feel unsettled.
It was easy to talk to Ink. She made sure that the person in front of her felt comfortable. Ink and Pat got along so well. She could match Pat’s energy and tease him like any guy would. Suddenly Pran felt like Pat’s attention had been divided and he couldn’t help but feel jealous. However, Ink wasn’t far behind in befriending Pran and he knew he was wrong to feel jealous of such a nice person. Ink’s dynamic with Pran was much different from that with Pat.
It was during lunch break that Pran saw Ink sitting on a bench in the small garden on their school premises. She looked forlornly and lost in thought. Pran went to sit beside her.
“Hey, Ink. Everything alright?”
“Oh. It’s just…”, Ink couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence as she gulped down a lump in her throat.
“It’s okay, Ink. You know you can tell me about anything. And even if you don’t want to I can just give you company if you would like”.
“I guess I can share it with you. It’s just that I have discovered something about myself recently and I don’t know how to deal with it. It is just too overwhelming for me”.
“What is it?”
“I have a crush on someone”.
“And you are overwhelmed because of your crush?”
“Yeah. Well, not exactly. I have a crush on a girl”.
“Oh! I understand, Ink”. Pran couldn’t relate more to Ink’s turmoil.
“You do?” Ink looked up at Pran and he just nodded at her. Ink immediately understood what Pran meant and she sighed in relief because there was someone who could actually understand what she was going through.
“Trust me. I have been through this. It takes some time to accept it but you will eventually. Until then don’t force yourself. Just go with the flow”. Pran also felt some sort of relied that Ink couldn’t like Pat, but still he wondered what if Pat liked Ink.
Ink felt better after hearing that, so much that she hugged Pran. Unbeknownst to them, Pat was watching them from a distance and his face looked like a mix of confusion and sadness.
For the concert, Pran was entrusted with writing the song as well. He was having a hard time coming up with ideas for the song. He was sitting on a bench trying to scribble some ideas. After a while, he was joined by Pat who suggested “why don’t you write a love song?”
Pran scoffed at that, “easy for you to say. But even within the love genre, I am not sure what I could write about”.
Pat scratched his head, as if to show he is thinking and then carefully spoke “Umm…how about what you feel when you have a crush on someone and are trying to figure out what they feel?”
Pran looked up at Pat, panic in his eyes and wondered “does he know I have a crush on him?”
Pat didn’t fail to notice Pran’s reaction and he asked “Why are you looking like a deer caught in headlights? Do you have a crush on someone?”
Pran knew saying no was not an option because his face had given away the answer. He thought he could say yes and just not tell him who that person is. Blushing, he admitted “yes, I have a crush on someone and no I am not gonna-"
Pat’s face dropped suddenly and he didn’t even let Pran finish his sentence.
“Uh I just remembered that I have some notes to compile urgently, so I am gonna leave now”.
Pran was baffled by Pat’s reaction. “What just happened? I thought he would be curious to know the name of the person”.
The next day, Pran noticed that Pat seemed to keep his distance from him. Pran tried to revisit the events from yesterday but couldn’t think of why Pat was behaving the way he was. When the school ended for the day, Pran left with his friend. As they were walking towards the corner of the street, he saw Pat in a fight with a senior. From the words they were throwing along with punches, it looked like the senior had kicked a dog on the street and Pat was infuriated at that. As Pran was about to go help, he saw that the senior had called for a backup and a gang of big burly guys was coming from the opposite end of the street.
Pran knew Pat was a strong guy and could take on the senior but even he wouldn’t be able to fight all of the gang. Pran had to think really fast. He decided he had to go back to the school and get a teacher with him. They weren’t really far from the school so he could make it quick. He told his friend to go where Pat was and try to help him while he went back to the school. Soon after, Pran returned with a teacher, thankfully before the gang could come. The teacher was able to break the fight.
The teacher seemed really angry and told the students to go to their houses and asked them to come to the principal’s cabin the next morning. Before Pran could say anything to Pat, he had already left in anger.
The visit to the principal obviously didn’t go well. The senior got suspended for a few days and Pat was put on cleaning duty for two days. During the lunch break, after everyone had left the class, Pran approached Pat.
“Hey”.
Without caring for heys and hellos, Pat looked at Pran with fierce eyes and asked “Why did you do it, Pran?”
“Did what?”
Pat yelled “Why did you go and bring the teacher? I know you like to be in teacher’s good books but you didn’t have to rat me out to her. I wouldn’t have got punished had it not been for you. Anyway I would have been able to take on the gang”.
Pran was shocked to hear that. It was the first time Pat had spoken so rudely to him. Pran felt infuriated at that, “You know what, fuck you! I don’t need to explain myself to you”.
After that day, Pat and Pran stopped talking to each other. Both of them were miserable but neither of them could bring themselves to talk to the other first. The Christmas concert also happened without them talking to each other. However, while performing Pran couldn’t help but look at Pat, for whom he had written the song. The lyrics were on the lines of what Pat had suggested. Pran missed Pat but he was also very hurt by what Pat had said to him the last time they spoke or rather fought.
Pran’s mom also noticed that something was off about Pran. Casually wondering, she asked “How’s Pat these days? Haven’t heard his name from you in a long time. He also hasn’t visited our place”.
Pran didn’t want to tell his mom about the fight between them, so he just mentioned that study load was higher than usual and they didn’t have time to hang out.
On a random Monday, the school announced that it will be sending selected students to a camp which will be like a counselling for students who want to pursue arts/architecture after school. Pran wanted to study architecture and so he was also selected. The camp was going to be a week-long affair wherein the students would be introduced to the courses and tested for their aptitude.
Pran was happy that he would get a change of scenery at the camp. Things had been tense at school, since he had the fight with Pat. Pran felt suffocated in Pat’s presence in the class. He needed a break from his crush.
When Pran was at the camp, his friend Dunk approached Pat at school.
“Hey, Pat. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure, Dunk. What’s up?”
“I know you and Pran have not been talking since that day but I just wanted to tell you-"
“Look Dunk, I don’t want to hear anything about that day”
“No! You have to know what happened that day! Actually Pran had stopped me from revealing it to you but I think you should know”.
At that revelation, Pat got curious, “What is it?”
“Well, you know that the senior had called for a backup when he was fighting with you. But you don’t know is that he had actually called his elder brother and his friends who were actually really big guys! You wouldn’t have been able to protect yourself Pat. Pran realised that and he did what felt right in the moment. It was never his intention to tell on you to the teacher”.
Pat felt like shit after hearing that. He had spoken so rudely to Pran when all Pran wanted to do was to protect Pat. He wanted to apologise to Pran but damn it, he had to be at a camp!
It was a day of revelations for Pat. After school, Ink came to Pat saying she wanted to talk to him.
“What’s up, Ink?”
“Sooo, the thing is I have a crush on someone and I think you should know about it”.
Pat froze. He is not sure how but the words that came out of his mouth were “is it Pran?”
Ink looked confused at the question, “What? No!”
Pat let out a sigh of relief and Ink noticed it but she didn’t say anything about it. She continued “It’s your sister, Paa”.
Pat was shocked on hearing that “WHAT?!”
Ink was blushing, “Well, yeah. It’s not like I am asking for your permission or anything but I just didn’t want to keep you in dark, now that I have finally accepted it”.
Pat asked “what do you mean?”
“Well, I had a hard time coming to terms with my sexuality. But then I spoke with Pran and he told me some things from his own experience which helped me accept myself.”
Pat realised what a huge fool he was! The day he saw Pran and Ink hugging was probably about this conversation and he had thought Ink and Pran had a crush on each other. And wait, did Ink say “from his own experience”? Does that mean….Pran is gay?
Pat couldn’t wait to talk to Pran now. He had been harbouring a crush on him since he had seen him the first time, at the school. He still remembers how when his dad would show some of the pics Dissaya sent him before they had moved back to Bangkok, he had thought Pran looked cute. But he wasn’t ready for what hit him when he saw Pran in person. Just before entering the class, he had seen Pran laughing with his friends and his dimples were popping out. It was like love at first sight for him. Well, not technically since he had seen Pran as a kid before.
He had been so excited to visit Pran at his place, when they were invited for dinner. He had made a bumbling awkward mess out of himself in front of Pran, while trying to talk to him. The second time they were invited, he had pleaded to Paa to make some excuse and not come with them because he wanted to spend some time with Pran alone. And that had been one of the happiest times for him, playing video games with Pran. Before going for studying at Pran's place, he had spent an hour on deciding what to wear.
Pat would look forward to practicing for Christmas concert, those times when they would linger a little longer than others after the practice was done. Pat treasured those moments. And then, Pat had ruined it for himself when he had seen Pran and Ink hugging and jumped to an absurd conclusion. He hadn't let Pran finish his answer when he had asked about his crush, assuming it was Ink. It was also why he had channeled his anger on Pran, after he had come to talk to him, the day after he got into fight with the senior. Pat had felt miserable during the Christmas concert. After enjoying the practice so much, the concert had just not felt right with him not talking to Pran. Wait, the lyrics of the song that Pran sung and wrote for the concert, were they for him? Now that Pat knew Pran was into guys, he had to talk to Pran and clear the air between them.
The week couldn’t go any slower for him. When Pran, finally, arrived at the school next week, Pat couldn’t help but grin at him widely. Pran just gave him a weird look that said weren’t we fighting, why are you smiling at me now. Pat chuckled at Pran’s confused expressions. He was determined to make things right with Pran.
When school finished for the day, Pat went to Pran and said “I want to talk to you”. Pran was adamant, “but I don’t” and started to walk away. Pat whined “Praaan, please. Just hear me out once. I won’t ask anything more from you. I know I have been an asshole for the last couple of weeks and I want to apologise for that”.
Pran saw a desperate plea in Pat’s words and his eyes softened at that. Pat was happy to see those soft eyes. Pran replied “fine”.
Pat took Pran to a nearby park. He sat on a bench in a secluded area and motioned for Pran to sit beside him. Pran sat but left as much distance as possible between them. Pat felt a little sad and guilty for that but he wanted to close this physical as well as emotional distance.
Pat apologised, “I am so sorry, Pran. I shouldn’t have spoken to you the way I did. I know what you did was to protect me. Dunk told me what actually happened. In any case, I shouldn’t have been so rude. It was shitty of me to do that. I was frustrated and angry at you because of something else and it just came out all in a wrong way”.
Pran whipped his head in Pat’s direction at the last sentence, “you were frustrated because of me? What are you saying?”
Pat took a deep breath, he could do this! “So yeah, I was frustrated because I thought you and Ink had a crush on each other”.
Pran’s face did something undecipherable. Pat was afraid he had messed it up again.
Pran asked “Why? Do you like Ink?”
Pat laughed at that. He couldn’t stop laughing while Pran just looked at him like he had lost his marbles.
Holding his stomach, Pat finally made himself stop. “No dummy, I don’t like Ink. Even if I did, I know it is not possible for anything to happen between Ink and I”.
Pran didn’t understand why Pat was so frustrated then “oh, you know! Then what was the reason?”
Pat found it cute how Pran was still not able to guess. He decided not to beat around the bush anymore, “It is because I like you! Have so, since I saw you for the first time after years, on the first day of the school!”
Pran’s eyes grew so big at the confession, it felt like they could pop out any time. Pat thought he should give a moment to Pran to gather his bearings.
“What did you just say? You…like…me?”
“Yes, that’s what I said.”
“No, that can’t be it.”
“What do you mean? I literally just confessed to you”.
“No, you are just kidding”.
Pat was at a loss now, so he just held Pran’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes, hoping his sincerity would show “I meant every word of what I said, Pran”.
It felt like Pat’s sincerity had reached through to Pran, as a smile started to slowly form on his face. Pat sighed in relief “don’t you have anything to say to my confession?”
Pran’s cheeks flushed at that. Gulping down air, Pran finally said “I like you too, idiot! Have so, for a while now! And I thought you liked Ink! We both are such idiots.”
Pat gasped at that, “What? You too?”
Pran shyly replied “Well, yeah. The first time I saw you in school, I found you damn good looking but then I was immediately put off by how much you were enjoying the attention from the girls. And it looked like you got along so well with Ink. Of course, I wasn't thinking logically. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusion that you liked Ink”.
Pat pouted at that, “Hey! I was just being nice and polite. Also, I was just happy to have a girl best friend in Ink. I never liked her that way.”
Pran chuckled at that “I know, it was just my jealousy actually which I tried to deny”. Pran looked away in embarrassment.
Pat found him too adorable and couldn’t stop himself from kissing his cheek, where his dimple would form. The kiss took Pran by surprise and a smile formed on his face along with the dimples.
Pat grinned at that “There they are, my favourite – your dimples! It was what made me fall in love with you.”
Pran just whined in embarrassment “Paaat!”
Pat continued “Do you remember how awkward I was around you in the initial days? It was because I didn’t know how to be around you. I was just too nervous. You might have even thought why am I so weird. You have no idea how excited I was every time I came to your place and got to spend time with you, outside of school.”
Pran’s stomach flipped at that confession. He felt overcome with emotions and with nothing to say, he just pressed his lips against Pat’s.
Pat gasped at that unexpected kiss, but soon he was kissing back. The kiss just felt perfect, there was so much of longing in it. It felt like fireworks were exploding in Pat’s heart. They separated only after they couldn’t breathe! They both laughed at that.
Pat was curious about the Christmas concert song and he had to ask Pran about it. Pat used his cute tone “Praaan, can I ask you something?”
Pran knew Pat was using his puppy dog eyes and he hated how he melted at those, “what is it?”
“The song that you wrote for Christmas concert, did you write it for me specifically?”
Pran thought everything is out in the open, might as well accept that. Smiling he answered, “yes, I wrote it for you”.
Pat’s heart filled with joy at those words and he launched himself on Pran to hug him tightly. Laughing, Pran complained “Paaat! You are squeezing my lungs!”
That day, Pran returned home with a skip in his step. Dissaya was quick to note it. At the dinner table, his parents saw in amusement as he smiled like an idiot replying to Pat’s cheesy messages.
Dissaya couldn’t control herself anymore, “Pran, who is it? Is it someone you are dating?’
Pran looked up immediately at that and said “it’s just a friend” but he knew his face had given away the truth.
His dad added “come on, Pran. You can tell us!”
Pran whined “it’s nothing!” He hadn’t discussed it yet with Pat if they were going to tell their parents. While their parents wouldn’t be against it, it was all still new to them.
Later that night, Dissaya received a call from Ming. It was just a catch up call, since they hadn’t spoken in a long time.
Dissaya asked Ming about how Pat was doing, since he hadn’t visited their place in a long time. Ming replied “Oh, Pat is doing fine. I don’t understand teenagers these days. Until yesterday, it felt like something was off with him since last month and today he seems so happy. Just some time ago, he was smiling looking at his phone and when I asked him who it was, he said it was nothing”.
Dissaya was taken aback and started to put the pieces together, “wait a minute, we had a similar situation here. Pran was also blushing looking at his phone. You don’t think they are dating, right?”
Ming gasped in disbelief “Pat and Pran?!”
Dissaya continued, “Yeah. It is adding up now. I am guessing they both had a fight some time ago which is why Pat stopped coming to our place and Pran stopped talking about him suddenly. I think they have made up now. I am betting Pat’s visits to our place are gonna be very frequent now”.
Ming replied, “no way!”
Dissaya laughed at that, “Let’s have some fun. Why don’t you come to our place and we will catch them red handed?”
Ming snorted, “Sure! How about this weekend?”
Dissaya confirmed the plan for Saturday.
When Ming and his family arrived at their place, Dissaya had to hide her laughter when she noticed how Pat smiled brightly at Pran.
At the dinner table, Dissaya indicatively looked at Ming and then cleared her throat as she said “Pran, you are not dating anyone, are you?”
Pran choked a little on his food at that. Where did that come from!
Dissaya continued, “Oh, the reason I am asking is because I have a friend in my pottery class and she has a daughter of your age. I feel like you would be a great match for each other. Should I set you up on a date with her?”
Pran choked more and had to drink water. He subtly looked at Pat and Pat looked equally dumbfounded. He replied, ”that won’t be necessary, mom. With studies and all, I don’t think I have time for dating”.
Dissaya was having too much fun. Just to make it more difficult, she asked “Are you sure? She is very pretty. I can show you her picture”. Pat looked at him like he was going crazy with jealousy over this non-existent girl. Pran found it too adorable and decided to have his own fun. “On second thoughts, may be I can at least see her picture. Show it to me later”.
Dissaya almost looked proud at how Pran was having fun at Pat’s expense. Like mother, like son she thought!
But it was too soon for Pran to have fun. Ming interjected, “Speaking of dating, my friend Pakorn expressed to me that his daughter is interested in Pat”. It was now Pran’s turn to be jealous! Pat also couldn't resist getting revenge. As he was going to say "Yes, I would li-", Pran hit Pat’s foot with his own, under the table. Pat cried out "Ow!"
Scrambling to cover up, he said, “Uh, no, Dad. I am really not in that space, right now”.
Dissaya and Ming burst out laughing and the rest of them looked at them in confusion. What the hell was happening!
After she controlled her laughter, Dissaya quipped “sure, you are not in the space. How would you be, when you barely have space from holding hands with Pran under the table”.
Pran and Pat looked at each other, with confusion and panic in eyes. Immediately, unclasping their hands, Pran stuttered, “what do you mean, mom?”
Dissaya replied, “we know you both are together”.
Pran’s father and Pat’s mom were also shocked but also seemed happy at the news.
It looked like Pran’s words had got stuck in his throat, “How? How did you know?”
Dissaya held her son’s cheek and fondly said, “it’s written all over your face, son. Even if you try to, you can’t hide your happiness. And from what I know from Ming, Pat is the same too”.
Pat and Pran were now blushing and couldn’t stop smiling at each other. Paa chirped “omg, I am so happy that Hia and p’Pran are together! Although, I don’t see what p’Pran saw in Hia”.
Pat smacked her head lightly at that and everyone erupted into laughter.
Pran again intertwined his fingers with Pat’s and this time they didn’t need to hide it under the table. They could do it openly now.