Chasing Chocolate Dreams

In the eerie stillness of Lava's room at 2:30 am, darkness enveloped her as she sat on the floor, back against the bed. Beside her lay a mobile phone, a digital repository of memories from her college days with Stranger. Two tears glistened in her eyes as she uttered to herself, a blend of anguish and frustration in her voice, "Kao is not with me; he's with that Nil. He should have been with me. I want to sleep with my head on Kao's chest. Why is that damn Nil in my place? Arghhh...ahhhh."Her internal turmoil echoed in the room. After a moment, she decided to reach out to Mis. Nin, finding solace in the familiarity of a late-night conversation. However, her call was abruptly cut, leaving Lava simmering with indignation. "How dare she cut my call?" she exclaimed in a tone laced with anger.Determined, Lava dialed again, and this time, Mis. Nin answered. Yet, instead of engaging in a conversation, Mis. Nin preemptively spoke, her tone tinged with irritation, "How dare you to call me? What a girl you are; you couldn't attract a young man to yourself. But I will do what you couldn't."Perplexed, Lava inquired, "What do you want to do?" The question lingered unanswered as Mis. Nin abruptly ended the call. Frustration surged within Lava, prompting her to hurl the mobile onto the bed.As time ticked by, her mobile stirred to life with a ringing tone, eliciting a momentary excitement. Hopeful that it might be Stranger on the line, she hastily answered, only to find an unknown number on the display. With hands trembling, she reluctantly picked up the call, pondering, "Who could call from an unknown number so late at night?"In the quietude of the night, a voice pierced through the darkness, instantly recognizable as Gamora, the formidable contract killer. Her words, delivered with a stern edge, cut through the air.Gamora: "Why does it take so long to pick up the phone? I don't have much time to talk. Send me 80 thousand baht to my mobile account within 2 hours."Lava, taken aback, retorted, "What money? I've already paid you in full. Where am I supposed to get such a sum on short notice?"Gamora, unmoved, replied, "Where to bring it, what to do—it's not my headache. That's something you should have considered before hiring me to deal with Nil."Lava sighed, probing, "Are you blackmailing me?"Gamora, with a hint of indifference, affirmed, "You can take it as you wish."Growing increasingly frustrated, Lava's anger surfaced, "Youuuu..."Gamora interjected, her tone unyielding, "Look, I've been to jail numerous times. Another stint won't faze me. But imagine if Kao Neptune discovers that his best friend plotted to harm his love..."The call abruptly ended, leaving Lava angrily shouting into the phone, "Hlwww...hlwww, Gamm...youuu."Before she could say more, the call was already severed. In begrudging compliance, Lava ultimately transferred 80 thousand baht to Gamora's mobile account. As the transaction concluded, a satisfied smile crept across Gamora's face.In the tranquil depths of sleep, Stranger lay undisturbed, unaware of the burgeoning desire that stirred within Nil. As the longing for ice cream gnawed at Nil's senses, he contemplated silently, his gaze fixed on Stranger."Should I mention it to Stranger? No, I shouldn't. But I won't be able to sleep if..." Nil's internal deliberation echoed in the hushed confines of his thoughts, oscillating at least ten times before he resolved to awaken Stranger.With a gentle shake and the soft call of Stranger's name, Nil stirred him from his slumber. Startled, Stranger sat up abruptly, concern etched across his face as he examined Nil's hands, head, and neck. Nil attempted to address him, but Stranger, consumed by worry, disregarded his words."Nil, are you alright? Hopefully, nothing happened to you. Wait a minute, I'm calling the doctor right now," Stranger insisted, reaching for the phone.Undeterred, Nil seized the mobile from Stranger's grasp. Their eyes locked, Nil spoke, "Stranger, what are you doing? Give me the phone. I have to call the doctor."Yet, instead of complying, Nil abruptly embraced Stranger. In the ensuing struggle, the two tumbled backward onto the bed, Nil now atop Stranger, their positions reversed. As they lay entwined for a moment, Nil whispered, "(With a sigh) Strangerrr, calm down. I'm alright. If I had known you would react like this, I would never have woken you up."In an attempt to regain composure, Stranger, still breathless, queried in a subdued tone, "Then why did you wake me like this?"Gently lifting his head, Nil locked eyes with Stranger, a mischievous expression playing on his face as he uttered in a soft tone, "Actually, Strangerr, I want to eat ice cream very, very loudly now."They resettled on the bed, Stranger gazing at Nil with widened eyes. Nil, in response, offered a coy smile, lowering his eyelashes. After a moment, Stranger remarked, "Nil, have you seen the time now? It's almost 3:00 am, and at this hour, you want to eat ice cream."Nil hesitated, attempting to explain, "But, Strangerr, I wouldn't..."Interrupting him, Stranger asserted, "Look, the doctor forbade you to eat ice cream. Your throat will be sore. If you still want to eat, I'll bring it in the morning. But not now."Undeterred, Nil sought to persuade him, "Plz, Strangerrr, you can't do this. I would've eaten just a little bit."Stranger, resolute, insisted, "Nill, I said nooo." Nil, familiar with the art of persuasion, made a pleading face and lowered his head. After a contemplative pause, Stranger sighed and inquired, "Which flavor?"With a delighted grin, Nil raised his head, exclaiming, "Hmmm, chocolate flavourrr."Stranger rose from the bed, straightened his hair, and commented, "I've never seen someone as stubborn as you." As he headed towards the door, Nil, still amused, gave him a radiant smile. As Stranger left the room, Nil pressed the pillow to his lap, chuckling to himself, "Strangerr, I love you."The hospital corridors were eerily quiet, with occasional glimpses of one or two nurses breaking the solitude. Exiting the room, Stranger made his way to the canteen, where a nurse doubled as a shopkeeper.Spotting Stranger, the shopkeeper inquired politely, "Kao sir, how can I help you?"Stranger queried, "Do you have chocolate flavor ice cream?"The shopkeeper regretfully replied, "Sir, it's not available now, but you can try another flavor. You might find something you love."Stranger insisted, "But he specifically wants chocolate flavor."Perplexed, the shopkeeper questioned, "Who?"Stranger, realizing he'd said more than intended, dismissed it, "No one. I think I should check outside..."The shopkeeper cautioned, "I don't think you'll find any shop open at this time."Undeterred, Stranger asserted, "Let's see..." and exited the shop. As time stretched, Nil, growing slightly anxious, pondered, "Why isn't Stranger coming? It's my fault; I shouldn't have sent him out so late. Stranger, please come quickly."