MA Prologue

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Perspective Chôoe-Tǎem

I think that every person has multiple personalities. With family, I am one person. With friends, I am another person. But why is it? Why does everyone who knows me tell me that my personality does not match my face!

Thump

"Here, your Western History report. I thought two thousand, but I'm reducing it to one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine." [2000 baht is about $60 US.]

"Âi'Shit-lizard Chôoe-Tǎem! Does your bloody fucking house call reducing one baht a reduction or what!?"

[[Translator's Note: The Thai word ไอ้ (Âi) is a versatile and frequently informal prefix. When used before a person's name, noun, or pronoun, it is often derogatory, rude, or conveys strong disrespect, similar to adding " bloody" or "fucking." However, it can also be used neutrally or affectionately among very close friends, or when referring to objects and animals, where it simply functions as a casual demonstrative without negative intent. The tone is entirely dependent on context.]]

"Whether I reduce one baht or fifty baht, I still call it a reduction. Hurry up and pay. If you're late, I charge interest."

"Âi'Misser!!!"

"My house calls it knowing the value of money."

I am not the least bit indifferent when my classmate yells at me, after I walked over and threw the large, winged-report onto the wooden table where he was sitting. After I wasted the entire night finding information, analyzing, and typing it onto paper, how kind am I for not charging for the printing cost, the cover cost, the binding cost? Does he not know how expensive things are now? And I am absolutely not reducing my brain's value from two thousand.

"So, are you going to pay or not? If you don't pay... "

Slap

"I'm paying! Âi'Chôoe-Tǎem, I'm paying, I'm paying! My midterm exam score was damned-animal shit. If I didn't get a report from a god-tier faculty member like you, this elective would turn into choosing to drag me down to hell, wouldn't it!"

I just give a cold smile as he takes out his wallet and pulls out a thousand-baht bill. While I, too, reach into my trouser pocket and take out a one-baht coin to place in the middle of the table. It is an equal exchange of brain for report. But before I can turn around to go back to my close friend who is greeting a junior in another direction...

"Your face is damned cute, but why are you a complete misser, huh?"

I scowl immediately, shaking my head in utter exasperation that someone is talking about my face again.

And... comparing my face to my personality so much!!!

"What my face is like has nothing to do with you. I'm going now. Âi'Ker is waiting."

[[Translator's note: เคอร์ is the Thai spelling of the English word Ker. Therefore although the correct transliteration according to the RTGS would be something like Khôe, I will be using the original English spelling.]]

After that, I don't wait for his answer, turning around immediately to go find my tall friend. Oh, and it's not that I am short or anything. I myself am not considered a short youth either. Height 178 [5'10"]. But my friend here, he's over 180 [5'11] already. The person who turned to look at me after receiving the junior's wai.

Slap

"Is anyone bullying Nông Chôoe-Tǎem of Phîi Ker? Your face is scrunched up like a dog's ass."

[[Translator's Note: The Thai word พี่ (Pîi or Phîi ) is a kinship term for an older sibling but is used much more broadly as a polite, gender-neutral title for anyone slightly to significantly older than the speaker, including friends, colleagues, and service staff. It signifies respect and familiarity, creating an immediate social hierarchy. It can be used alone or as a prefix to a name (e.g., P'Jack or Phîi Jack).]]

"I don't find it funny, Âi'Ker."

My friend immediately puts his arm around my shoulder, still speaking laughingly until his voice becomes strong.

But, "Don't puff your cheeks. Just this, people in the university already say your face is like a goddess's, but your personality is like a demon's heir."

"So funny. Is it so funny to you?"

Shake Shake

My friend bursts out laughing immediately, also nodding vigorously until his handsome face...

Âi'Ker has been my friend since high school, who knows my temperament better than anything. He is as tall as 183 cm [6'], with fair, pleasant-looking skin, long limbs that look good with every outfit, not to mention eyes that sparkle like a good-humored person, plus his easygoing personality that makes girls flock to him in droves.

As for me?

Slap

"Aw, don't make a pouting face. You're already cute enough, you know."

My close friend not only puts his hands on my cheeks, he pinches them. He twists them around as if my cheeks are a stuffed cotton doll.

"Here, look. Your cheeks are pink, your skin is a white rice type that girls say you are damned fair, not to mention when you smile, your eyes are so sweet, your nose is so cuuute, your lips are pink like a baby's bottom, and look at how slim and petite you are... Ooh, will you be my good Mia?"

[[Translator's Note: The Thai word เมีย (Mia) means "Wife" though not always legally married. It is a direct, informal, and very common term. While neutral in many contexts, it can be perceived as blunt or possessive compared to the more formal term ภรรยา (pan-ra-yaa). It is also used in the possessive structure "เมียเขา" (mia kǎo) to mean "his Mia" or, more idiomatically, "someone else's Mia," often implying an extramarital affair. In Thai it can be used in same-sex relationships to indicate the bottom or little spoon, this is not typically meant in a the demeaning way.]]

Âi'Ker just talking probably doesn't paint the picture, right? He both grabs and touches until I make an even sterner face, but my friend laughs even louder. It must mean I accidentally made a pouting face again. I can only pull my cheek from his hand and turn away to...

"What exactly is going on with Phîi Ker and Phîi Chôoe-Tǎem? Look, they're grabbing each other's cheeks playfully again."

"Shhh, he's looking."

"I just want to know. If they're romantic partners, I can give up hope. Because even if I died and was reborn, I couldn't be as cute as Phîi Chôoe-Tǎem!"

I really cannot force a smile, but whatever. Because we are this close, it's not strange if anyone thinks we are romantic partners. Besides, people believing this also allows me to make money.

"But you got two thousand, right? Treat me to a meal."

I turn to look at the speaker, before slapping his shoulder loudly.

"A rich person like you asking me to treat you? This is my fee. This month, I don't even have money to pay for my own meals yet." I say this and walk ahead first, as Âi'Ker runs after me.

"Aww, I'm sorry. Do you want to take my money first?"

"No, you know I don't take anyone's money for free."

"So you sell yourself instead, is that it?"

If anyone thinks I will get angry, then you are completely wrong, because I only answer...

"Yeah!"

However anyone defines the word 'sell myself,' I don't give a bloody fucking, because I myself also have my own definition of what my 'selling myself' sells.

"So, do you want me to give you a ride?"

"Yeah. I need to save. I don't want to pay for bus fare."

"Well, then, you say you sell yourself for money, but I give you a ride for free, you know."

Âi'Ker says this laughingly, as I immediately turn to snarl at him.

"Free ride where? Last semester, whose fault was it that your grades were so pretty? Answer!"

The question makes him walk over and put his arm around my neck as we walk to the parking lot for youths from the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, while he answers in full words...

"It was you, Khráp."

[[Translator's Note: The Thai word ครับ (Khráp) is a polite particle used by male speakers. It is appended to statements and questions, or used as a standalone "yes," to show formality and respect. It has no direct English equivalent but indicates a polite, male tone.]]

Well, you remember, don't you? So why do you make me repeat it often, for!

I can only turn to roll my eyes at him, which makes today's driver laugh loudly.

This is what everyone says about me. Whether I am a misser or not, whether my face is an angel's or a demon's, I don't see it being anyone else's burden at all, as long as I am not holding out my hand begging anyone for food!!!

"Thanks. Drop me off right here. There's no parking in the dorm."

"Okay. Hey, Âi'Chôoe-Tǎem!"

I am about to get out of my close friend's car when he calls out to me, making me turn back and raise my eyebrows slightly instead of asking the question, making him smile widely and ask simply,

"Are you making money tonight?"

"Yes! You're coming with me tonight. Don't be late."

The question I answer with a heavy voice, looking at my close friend who laughs amusedly and then nods vigorously, saying with a full mouth, in a way that if anyone heard, they would misunderstand greatly.

"When you're selling yourself, why would I miss it?"

While I do not take it seriously at all, I laugh, on the contrary. I look at the handsome, attractive face of my close friend, and he also smiles, understanding that I myself have necessary reasons for doing that, and he has always helped. Until I can only say...

"Thanks, Wá."

[[Translator's Note: The Thai particle วะ (Wá) is a strongly informal and masculine word used at the end of statements or questions. It primarily conveys roughness, irritation, or defiance. While it can express camaraderie among very close male friends, it is overwhelmingly rude and confrontational in most contexts, similar to English expletives (fuck/fucking) used as adverbs. Its use signals a very low level of politeness.]]

"Repay me by tutoring me to get pretty grades, that's enough."

I laugh in response, because he is teasing me... Everything in this world is given and repaid. Therefore, we help each other equally.

"Then I'm going. I'm going up to my room to sleep. Last night I almost stayed up all night."

I wave goodbye to Âi'Ker, get out of the car, and walk into the dorm alley where I don't want him to drive in because it's hard to turn around. But the moment I see the dorm door...

"Whoa, a damned dilapidated dorm. Who has the means to buy a Mini, Wá?"

I really stop in my tracks when a beautiful, brand-new Mini Cooper is parked prominently at the dorm entrance. Not to mention the beautiful golden brown color that perfectly contrasts with the black and white trim. The more I look, the more beautiful it is. The more I look, the more majestic it is. It doesn't look too youthful like the ones people in the faculty drive. And to be honest... I like it, Wá.

"But I like gray bills more, before using them to buy it."

The thought makes me shake my head immediately. If you ask if I want a car like this, of course. It's this beautiful and classy. But if I have to choose, I choose money over an object whose only merit is being able to move, when a beautiful car or a bus reaches the destination just the same. Until I cannot help but feel annoyed at the car's owner, even without seeing his face yet.

Having money and living in a dorm just like this, but you go and use money to buy a car? Is your bloody fucking Phôo some Khun-chai from a noble family who wants to send his son down to wallow in the dust and smell of sand or what!!

[[Translator's Note: The Thai word พ่อ (Phôo) means "father." It is a familiar and affectionate term used when speaking to or about one's own father.]]

I shake my head immediately, brushing the beautiful Mini out of my heart, and walk up the dorm stairs. I turn another time and reach my room, which...

"Why are you only coming back now?"

Thud

I am truly stunned when a young man is leaning against the wall edge, waiting for me in front of my room!

A young man so tall that even Âi'Ker cannot compete. The owner of a sharp, bold face that looks mixed with many ethnicities, fair-skinned but not excessively so. He looks like those main leads in movies who have an aura radiating from them. Not to mention the neatly cut, jet-black short hair that partly covers his face, further accentuating his intensely sharp, dark, deep, glinting eyes. They are also full of captivating charm, as if about to suck the onlooker into a turbulent vortex. Combined with thick, dark, slanting eyebrows that make this young man like a charismatic villain!

I almost step back warily from the person who is looking at me with those deep, glinting eyes, as he shifts to stand up straight, in a way that I...

Of course I am wary! However handsome he is, he looks damned menacing!

"Who told you to wait?"

I ask with a voice trying to be firm, in a way that makes the guy there raise the corner of his mouth slightly, making him look damned scary, as he takes another step toward me.

You take another step and I'm running away, Wôoi!

[[Translator's Note: The Thai word เว้ย (Wôoi) is a strongly informal, masculine interjection. It is used to call for someone's attention, often abruptly, similar to "hey!" or "oy!". It can express annoyance or be used casually among close male friends. While not as inherently rude as some other particles, its tone is always forceful and very casual.]]

The thought makes me... step back already.

They say surviving is the ultimate skill!

"I have something to give you."

I frown sharply, about to ask what that something is, but...

Fwp

A large hand extends straight in front of me, making me afraid for a moment. But on that palm is a black object, which I do not need to peer at for long.

I really glare because... a car key!!

"Take it and use it."

Wait, what does this mean? What does this mean, Wá?

I ask myself loudly, looking at the person who looks annoyed with me, as he turns toward the balcony where you can see the dorm entrance, and...

Beep Beep

That shit-lizard Cooper, isn't it?!

The moment this villain guy turns to press the unlock signal, I am stunned, gaping, making eye contact with the person who looks at me with a damned contemptuous gaze, and he simply reiterates,

"This one is for you to use. If you don't like it, tell me. I'll find another one for you."

Words that make me only curse in my heart.

Don't you think that just because you have money, you can buy me, Wôoi!!!