Chapter 18 Boyfriend

It was already past two o'clock in the afternoon when Santichai took a break. He bought a box of fried rice and sat on a bench outside the back door of the kitchen. He was eating when he saw KK walking towards him. When KK called his name, he quickly put the lid on the box and got ready to go back to the kitchen. Santichai pretended not to hear KK's voice and continued to the back door of the kitchen.

KK shouted, "Santichai Kittibun, stop there. I know you heard me."

Santichai stopped and turned to face KK. He looked at KK and said, "Mr. KK, you should still be on vacation."

KK approached Santichai closer. He said, "You are supposed to be on vacation too."

Santichai said, "We were understaffed, so I volunteered."

KK looked at Santichai and asked, "You wanted to avoid me just now, why did you avoid me?"

Santichai lowered his head and said, "I have nothing to talk to you."

KK said, "After what happened last night, do you really have nothing to talk with me?"

Santichai said, "I... I'm still processing my thoughts."

KK said, "I've processed mine."

Santichai asked, "What do you want?"

KK, "A Chance to love you."

Santichai said, "I... I will consider it."

KK asked, "How long do you need?"

Santichai said, "I don't know, I don't think I'll be in a relationship again."

KK said, "How about we have a three-month dating try out?"

Santichai asked, "What do you mean?"

KK said, "Date me for three months, and if you haven't fallen in love with me after three months, then I'll give up."

Santichai was speechless. His mind went blank because no one had ever asked him that question, and he had never dated anyone beside Asnee. He looked at KK who was being very serious. He didn't want to fall in love again and get hurt again. He does not believe that there is everlasting love waiting for him. He was about to say no to KK's proposal when he suddenly realized that Asnee knew where he was, and sooner or later Asnee would catch up to him. He loves his crappy apartment and his job. Most importantly, he was tired of running away. Before Asnee gets married, he needs someone to be his shield.

Santichai said, "Mmm...only three months."

KK said, "After three months, you still can't find yourself falling in love with me, I will quit, I promise." KK looked at Santichai. "You haven't finished your lunch yet. Are you really trying that hard to get away from me?"

Santichai said, "Mr. KK, I really have nothing to say to you."

KK smiled, "Really, after what happened between us last night, you have nothing to say."

Santichai looked around and said shyly, "Mr. KK, can you please be quieter?"

KK smiled and said, "Alright, I'll keep my mouth seal." He sat on the bench. "Would you like to continue eating? I bought you something to eat."

Santichai said "I've already bought some food." He sat down.

"I called and you didn't answer, so I left the lunch meeting," KK said, grabbing a sandwich. He looked at Santichai. "Your fried rice looks delicious."

Santichai turned around and asked, "Would you like to have some?"

KK said, "Yes."

Santichai said, "Mr. KK, I'll go get another spoon."

KK said, "Don't call me Mr. KK, it's annoying. Just call me KK from now on." He grabbed Santichai's hand. "Just feed me with your spoon."

Santichai said, "But I have already used this spoon."

KK turned his head to look at Santichai, "You shouldn't mind because we kissed last night, our tongues were touching, and we had oral..."

Santichai quickly scooped a spoonful of rice and stuffed it into KK's mouth. Santichai said shyly, "About last night, I told you not to mention it." KK smiled at Santichai. "Eat more here, it seems you still have some room in your mouth." He continued to feed KK.

KK turned his head to the other side and covered his mouth with his right hand. He muttered with a mouthful of fried rice, "My mouth is full...stop..."

The door swung open, Fon rushed out and shouted, "Santichai, are you still eating?" She saw KK, and she lowered her voice. "Santichai?" She looked at KK. "Doctor Suwannarat...I'm sorry, Santichai, there's a man in the cafeteria who wants to see you."

KK looked at Fon, he said, "A man?"

Fon said, "Yes, he said he wanted to see Santichai."

Santichai knew he was going to face Asnee sooner or later. Now that Asnee is here and KK is here, he will tell Asnee that KK is his new boyfriend, and with Asnee's temperament, he will cut off relations with Santichai.

Santichai said, "Pi Fon, if you don't mind, can I have ten minutes with that person?"

Fon said, "I don't mind." She went back into the kitchen.

KK stood up and said, "Should I leave?"

Santichai said, "You could stay if you want."

KK asked madly, "Your ex?"

Santichai said, "I don't know. Maybe."

From the process of observing Santichai in the past few months, KK was sure that Santichai must have an ugly break up with his ex-boyfriend. He wanted to stand by Santichai just in case things got bad. He looked at Santichai and said, "If you don't mind, I'm willing to stay."

Santichai also wants KK to stay so that he can freely announce to Asnee that KK is his new boyfriend, which will definitely stop Asnee not to bother him in the future. He said, "As long as you don't mind, I don't mind."

Santichai and KK stood at the door waiting, and when the door opened, Decha walked out of the kitchen door.

Decha smiled and said, "Chai."

Santichai asked, "Why are you here?"

Decha said, "Ai Nee said you might be here."

Santichai asked, "Frank, can you stop invading my privacy?"

Decha said, "Chai, can I have a moment with you?" He looked at KK. "He is...?"

Santichai said with hesitation, "He...he... is..."

KK stepped forward and stretched out his right hand, "Hello, Hinata Suwannarat, I'm Santichai's boyfriend."

Decha was taken aback. He reached out and shook KK's hand. He smiled and said, "Hello, Decha Frank Dudar, Santichai's good friend." He looked at Santichai, then at KK. "I never thought you would actually move on in a million years. I think I was wrong." He smiled. "Ai Chai, I'm happy for you."

Santichai said, "Frank can you please tell him I've moved on?"

Decha said, "I'll tell him you did a great job living on your own." He chuckled. "I think you did a lot of things that surprised me. I never thought you would lie. It really makes me happy to see you healthy and happy." He walked to the door, grabbed the handle, and turned. "Oh, by the way, what's your new number?"

Santichai said, "If you promise not to give him my number, I will give it to you."

Decha said, "I promise."

Santichai looked at Decha and asked, "Has your number changed?"

Decha said, "No, it's the same number." Santichai took out his mobile phone and dialed Decha's number. Decha looked at Santichai's hand holding the iPhone, chuckled, then sighed. "You really moved on." He opened the door and walked in.

KK looked at Santichai and asked, "Isn't he your ex-boyfriend?"

"No, he's a very good friend of mine," Santichai said, looking at KK. "It's a good thing that you gave a false name."

KK said, "I didn't give your friend a false name?"

Santichai, "Your name is Klaew Kla Suwannarat not Hinata Suwannarat."

KK laughed, "You don't believe me?"

Santichai said, "It's okay, I'm not angry."

KK took out his wallet and showed Santichai his ID card. He said, "You, see? Hinata Klaew Kla Suwannarat."

Santichai said, "You have a Japanese name?"

KK laughed and said, "Ah...ha...in my school year they called me HK, but HK is the initials of Hong Kong. So, I told my good friends to call me KK."

Santichai, "Why do you have a Japanese name?"

KK said, "My maternal grandfather named me."

Santichai, "Is he Japanese?"

"Yes, he's Japanese," KK said. "My two grandfathers were very good friends and business partners. That's how my parents met and got married."

Santichai, "Your maternal grandparents live in Japan or here?

"They used to live in Japan, but now they're watching me from heaven," KK said.

Santichai said, "I'm sorry."

KK smiled and said, "No problem. Many years ago, my grandparents were in a car accident and my maternal grandparents were killed." He scoffed. "They're really lucky to be able to leave this world behind together. Sometimes I wish I could die together with the person I love." He looked at Santichai. "To love and cherish, in life and in death. Until death do us part." He chuckled. "It's my grandfather's favorite line to coax grandmother when she's sulking."

Santichai felt wrong for asking too many personal questions. He said, "I'm sorry."

KK said, "It's okay. I'm willing to share any information with you. If you want to know, just ask."

Santichai said, "I have to go back to work."

KK asked, "Do you want me to pick you up?'

Santichai said, "No, I rode my bike here."

On the opposite side of the field, Decha looked at the happy conversation between Santichai and KK. He recalled the days Santichai spent with Asnee, and Santichai had never talked so freely with anyone. He smiled and murmured, "Ai Chai, I'm very happy for you, you finally know how to love yourself." He took out his cellphone and called Asnee, after two rings, Asnee picked up.

Asnee, "Frank, did you see Chai?"

Decha said, "I've seen him."

Asnee asked, "Is he still mad at me?"

Decha said, "Ai Nee, maybe."

Asnee asked, "Frank, I don't need any advice right now. Do you know his phone number? Where does he live?"

Decha said, "I got his number, but he told me not to share it with you. Ai Nee, you should let Ai Chai go, you're engaged."

Asnee said, "No...I love him too much to let him go."

Decha said, "He has let you go."

Asnee said, "What do you mean?"

Decha sighed and said, "Ai Nee, he already has a new boyfriend, and he is very happy. If he is satisfied with his life, shouldn't you support his decision? This is good for everyone, your parents, you, and Chai."

Asnee frantically said, "Frank, I don't want to hear that from you again." He was breathing hard. "Santichai is mine."