Chapter 1

Flight THMO-6184 involving an Airbus A380plus lands safely in the tarmac despite a thunderstorm in the area, which has been going on for already an hour. It endured an 18-hour flight from Morocco to Thailand, inclusive of one stopover and a two-hour delay. The plane landing in one piece offers a sort of respite to everyone inside – short and incomplete but very much relieving.

The ensemble in the flight ranges from the handsome triumvirate of the pilot and his two co-pilots; the youthful men and women of the cabin crew; excited tourists; agitated businessmen trying to negotiate a deal from a client in a different time zone; foreign dignitaries that have booked a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Royal Family; or exhausted, simple residents coming back to their loved ones. Among them is Dr. Exeter Helman, a botanist who had attended a conference in Morocco.

Dr. Helman is among those looking at their phone while walking at the sky bridge towards the inside of the airport. He is not manipulating equations in his mobile but is rather looking for something – a contact. When the correct name shows on the screen, he dials the number without hesitation. His smile grows bigger; his excitement becomes uncontainable; and his longing for the person on the opposite line amplifies as each ring resonates in his ears.

“Hel…lo…Kraaahp,” said a groggy voice to him. It is only 4 a.m. currently, so he is not surprised to be answered in that manner.

“Sawadee krap Snobby! Rise and Shine!” Dr. Helman answered back.

“Sawadee krap…Grum…py,” said Snobby. He is too weak to even hold his cellular: he puts it down near his mouth and sets it to speaker mode, talking to it like an inanimate companion. “What time did you land?” he continued, letting out a silent yawn.

“Just now. I just got off the sky bridge,” Dr. Helman replied as he takes out his boarding pass and passport from his inner coat pocket. “I’m on my way to the immigration for processing,” he continued.

Snobby, who seems to have gotten out of his sleepiness, takes his phone and sits by the bed side. “I miss you Grumpy,” said he to his boyfriend.

“Out of a hundred, how much do you miss me?”

“A thousand.” Dr. Helman feels ecstatic.

“The limit is only one hundred.”

“My love for you shatters all limits.”

“Likewise from me to you Snobby.”

“I know that,” answered Snobby. He is now fully awake – all senses online – as his Grumpy’s answers are like hot coffee to him.

Dr. Helman, however, has to turn serious and cut their sweet talk. “I’m afraid I will have to excite you a wee bit more Snobby,” he started.

“Why?” Snobby asked, a bit irked. He lets out an exhausted exhale that Dr. Helman hears despite the noise around.

“I have to drop by the lab and meet with Dr. Seb to discuss the result of the conference.”

Snobby pouts at Dr. Helman’s response. “You have Pat and Arthit with you. Can’t they do it? I’m already pouting,” said he. He, then, takes a picture of him doing it and immediately sends it over.

Dr. Helman sees the picture. He knows that when his Snobby pouts, he should concede to him, or bear with his sulking – something that doesn’t go away easily. However, today is an exception.

“Snobby, Pat and Arthit can’t do it on their own,” explained Dr. Helman. “Don’t be mad, na. I will be with you tomorrow on your birthday. Please Snobby, don’t be mad,” the botanist continued.

Snobby is silent. He misses his Grumpy, yet this is about work. He can be mad at him all he wants, but he knows that Dr. Helman’s work is more important. It took a while before he responded, and he could hear his Grumpy saying “Na…na…na. Please don’t get mad Snobby” several times.

“Alright, alright. I can still endure another day, but you better be at my birthday tomorrow!” Snobby finally said, sounding like a commanding officer giving a direct order to a subordinate.

“Yup, I will be there tomorrow, and I have a surprise for you.”

“Really? Okay, don’t spoil it for me. Where are you now?”

“I just got in line at the Immigration Lane. After this, Pat, Arthit, and I will be going to the lab: that is another hour of travel,”

“By cab?”

“No. There is a shuttle waiting for us – a van from the lab,” answered Dr. Helman, letting out a little yawn.

“Get some sleep while on the trip,” said Snobby after hearing from his obviously tired boyfriend.

“Yes. I will.”

“Have you had your breakfast?”

“Yes, they served us food in-flight; I’m still full.”

“Get a full rest later, okay?”

“I will,” replied Dr. Helman. After which, he lets out a kissing sound, not minding the other people with him in the queue.

“Okay, call me when you get to the lab,” said Snobby, kissing back on his phone.

“I will. What will you do now? Your class is not in three hours, and it’s only quarter-to-five?” asked Dr. Helman.

“Prepare breakfast, and maybe think of you while I’m doing it. How’s that?”

At this, Dr. Helman feels a little guilty: he misses his wife just as much as Snobby misses him. This makes him want to take a detour, and maybe, do the presentation to Dr. Seb after Snobby’s birthday, but he cannot. He knows his boyfriend can wait, but what he has to discuss to Dr. Seb – his boss – cannot. He simply answered, “I love you so much Snobby.”

“I love you so much more Grumpy”.

“Snobby, I have to go now. It’s my turn at the Immigration Lane,” said Dr. Helman as the lady in front of him is already clutching her bag and preparing to drag her luggage away.

“Okay. Bye Grumpy,”

“Goodbye Snobby,” said Dr. Helman as he starts walking towards the booth.

Snobby, who is wide awake now, lies back to bed after the call. As he closes his eyes, images of him and Grumpy form in his head: they are at a beach; he is holding Grumpy on one hand while his other hand is on his shoulder. Grumpy, on the other hand, is gently holding him back. They are both dancing to the tune of a Walt Disney film – an old one but is certainly his favorite. This is the scenario that Dr. Helman promised Snobby for his birthday this year – a promise he made before he went to Morocco.

Snobby lies in the bed for a while with this mirage in his head, unaware of the time, to which he really doesn’t care.