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Perspective Pongprot
“Nong Gok, do you want to go to my house?”
Everything starts from this single question of mine. Even though at that time Nong’s eyes went wide, when I took him into my house.... Was I making a mistake? He looked at me with extreme interest and even nodded excitedly. But on the day I am about to...
Right now, Nong Gok is pale, his lips are trembling, and his body is shaking like a baby bird. The closer we get to my house, the paler he becomes, turning this way and that as if he wants to go home already. It is obvious he is nervous. Even though I have assured him that my family has known about him for a long time, it is understandable that he is this excited.
“You can still change your mind.”
“N-no. Phîi Pong already told your grandmother. Gok does not want your grandmother to think Gok is a youth who does not keep his word.” Nong says with teary eyes, making me want to turn the car around. But it is true, as he says. I told my grandmother I would bring him. It would not be good to break my promise.
I myself want my family to like him, but if they do not.... I will not care anyway.
I love him this much. I would never let him go just because someone says they do not like him.
Smack
“Then, relax a little. I am here with you. Do not be afraid.” I reach out to hold his hand and feel it is ice cold, so I squeeze it gently, offering encouragement. This makes Nong Gok nod a few times, raise his other hand to rub his chest, and take a deep breath.
“Phîi Pong dared to face my family. Gok must be able to do it too!”
Nong’s determined expression makes me think.... he is utterly endearing.
Sigh, no matter what Nong Gok does, I find everything about him adorable.
It does not take long before I drive the car to park beside a large wall. I press the remote, and the gate opens wide, allowing me to drive into a long alley. However, the houses built at intervals within the same compound make Nong Gok look around and ask curiously.
“Phîi Pong, why are there multiple houses inside the same wall?”
“Oh, these are all my relatives' houses. This whole alley is my grandmother's land, divided into sections for her children. The eldest lives at the outermost part, moving inward to the youngest. The innermost one is my grandmother's house.” I explain without thinking much, but Nong Gok.... is gaping.
“The whole alley!!!”
“Yes, the whole alley.” I nod as a large Thai-style house comes into view.
The house has been renovated many times, so it is not purely traditional Thai, but part of it is a modern structure built to connect seamlessly with the old part. In the front yard, a few adults are busy doing something. The moment my car drives in, everyone stops and turns this way.
“This is my grandmother's house.” I turn to look at his face and am startled.
“Nong Gok! Why are you so pale!”
Smack
“Phîi Pong, Phîi Pong, why are there so many people? Why? What's happening?” He grabs my arm almost desperately, shaking it hard, looking at the strangers fearfully, so I quickly speak to comfort him.
“They are all my relatives. But it is strange, I have never seen them gather like this before.” I am also puzzled.
But he looks like he is about to lose his mind.
“Are they here to chase Gok away?” A question that makes my eyes widen. I hold his arm firmly.
“No way. No one will chase Nong Gok away.”
“But.... but Gok is a man.” I continue to insist.
“Nong Gok, do not be afraid. No one will really chase you away, because if anyone does, I will not spare them either!” I say with determination, spreading my wings to protect this youth to the utmost. That makes him bite his lip and nod a few times. But when he gets out of the car... he clings to my shirt and hides behind me.
It is an adorable manner that I normally would want to nibble on, but I guess now is not the time.
“Oh, Pong, you are here too?”
“I came to see Grandmother. What are you all doing here?” I ask my eldest aunt curiously.
“Didn't Pong come to help make Krayasath?” My aunt asks back, making me frown.
“Is it already the Krayasath season?” I completely forgot that this time of year, my family makes Krayasath for offering to monks. Even though nowadays not many people make it, my grandmother still firmly insists that the available descendants must come help. The point is, I did not think it would be today.
Because if it is today,
“And who is that young man?”
...then everyone will gather at Grandmother's house, of course.
I want to raise my hand to hold my forehead as my relatives walk over to look at the guest they have never seen, making Nong Gok hide even deeper behind me.
He may be a brave person, but he is not very familiar with older people like this.
However, since I am prepared to make everyone accept him, I state clearly.
269 “Nong Gok is my romantic partner.”
Everyone falls silent and looks at each other. Nong pulls on my shirt even harder, almost burying his face in my back. I open my mouth, ready to tell them how important he is to me, but...
“Is this the one who made our stubborn grandson Pong willing to go beg his grandmother?” My uncle asks, making me frown sharply, but my uncle just says jokingly.
“We all know you returned to Thailand to look for a youth from years ago. We also know he is a man. But we did not think the youth would be this adorable, no wonder you did not return. His Mâe has been complaining, hasn't she?” I cannot smile because everyone is laughing. Moreover, the news has spread faster than wildfire.
“So it is settled then... Is he eighteen yet? That is jailbait, Pong.”
I think I can feel relieved now. It seems I was overthinking a bit.
“Nong is almost nineteen. Nong Gok...” Once I feel relieved that he will not be bullied, I push his back a little, making Nong Gok quickly raise his hands in a wai.
“Hello.... I... I am Gok.” Then he immediately lowers his head, his hand gripping my arm firmly.
“Nong is shy.” I quickly explain on his behalf as the adults look over.
“I am sorry.” Nong Gok also quickly mumbles nervously. But before I can step in to defend him further,
“Oh, Pong, you are here? You are here, so why are you standing there? Come in, it is sunny and hot there. That young man too.” My grandmother is the one who walks out to look.
Even though she is almost eighty now, she is still healthy, able to walk around on her own. Her eyes are still clear, with no signs of aging ruining them. She is holding a few trays and beckons for us to go under the house, so I quickly comply.
“Come on, Nong Gok. Let us go meet my grandmother.” I hold his hand and follow my grandmother inside, while seeing many people simmering the Krayasath. It must have just started not long ago because it is still watery.
“Grandmother, this is Nong Gok.” I lead Nong, following my grandmother, who is overseeing the work, until she turns to look.
“Hello.” He quickly raises his hands in a wai and lowers his head again, so I quickly explain with the same sentence.
“Nong is shy.” The one person I do not want to dislike him is my grandmother, even more than my own parents, because I am very close to her. She raised me since I was young. I also started learning Thai desserts from her before turning my interest to Western pastries.
In the past, I was the one stirring the Krayasath.
My grandmother looks at him silently.
“You are still young. Do not just look at the ground. Look straight ahead.” My grandmother tells him, making Nong Gok startle slightly. I quickly speak up.
“Nong is not used to our house yet, Grandmother...”
“Maepon, come take your son for a moment. This old woman wants to talk to the youth.” My grandmother is very cunning; she even turns to call my Mâe. My Mâe walks over, smiling at the pale Nong.
“Come on, Pong, come here. We need a man's strength to help.”
“But Nong...”
“Then let Nong stay with Grandmother. Do not argue with Grandmother.” My Mâe whispers to me, making me hesitate about whether to go, but my Mâe is already trying to pull my arm, so I have to turn to make eye contact with Nong Gok. The paler he gets, the more I want to disobey my grandmother's order.
“Pong thinks Pong should stay here...”
“Phîi Pong, go help your aunt. Gok will be fine.” Suddenly, Nong takes a deep breath and says with determination, so I have to look into his eyes for confirmation.
“Are you really going to be okay?”
You look like you are about to cry.
“See, Pong, go on... Young man, have you ever eaten Krayasath?” My grandmother waves me away again. When he nods at me once more, I reluctantly follow my Mâe in another direction, but... I absolutely refuse to let him out of my sight.
“No, I have not.”
“Then you must try some today. But youths these days probably do not like it. They all like Western pastries.” I can still hear my grandmother's and his faint voices, while my Mâe hands me a large spatula to start working.
“I like sweet things. Actually, I can eat everything.” Nong Gok is still pale; it is clear he is not used to older people. I am itching to rush to him, but...
Snap
My grandmother glares at me sharply.
“Hmm, then do you want to eat pumpkin in sweet coconut cream? I made some.”
“Can I have some?” Nong Gok's voice perks up a little, making me feel a bit relieved. How could I forget that whenever sweets are mentioned, Nong Gok's eyes sparkle every time? This time is no different. He is making a face that really wants to eat, making my grandmother... laugh.
“Come, come. Stay out of Pong's sight for a bit. He is staring as if I am going to eat you.”
There, she knows I am looking. This time, she leads Nong Gok into the house, making him turn to me for help, but...
Smack
“Do not just stand there, Pong! It will burn! She has high hopes this year that it will be more delicious than other years because Pong is helping.” My Mâe slaps my shoulder loudly, making me startle. I turn my attention to the work, making others laugh. There are even teasing voices from my teenage cousins.
“Phîi Pong's mind is not here, is it? My, I saw you announcing it online that time... 'I do not want to see the tears of the person I love'.” I do not know how to react to being teased by these youths. That matter I once posted on my page, these teenagers have spread it around the house until everyone knows.
But it cannot be helped. My family really has a lot of people.
“Tease me too much and you will get the silent treatment.”
“Ooh, Phîi Pong is so embarrassed.”
I really want to grab these youths and spank them, but my uncle asks first.
“Is this one very serious?” A question to which I shake my head, making others surprised.
“It is not just 'this one'. There is only this one who is serious, sincere, and whom I love very much.” I am not ashamed to speak directly. Everyone in the house knows anyway, and the judge, my grandmother, has not said a word against me. No one else dares to either. But my answer causes...
“Haha, just as Maepon said. This son of hers is something else.”
“He is almost thirty. To dare to love a youth, you must really try hard, huh?”
“Eww, an old cow eating young grass.”
How did I end up being ganged up on?
I am relieved that no one is criticizing him, but I cannot help glancing towards where Nong Gok disappeared... How is he doing?
I know I am worrying too much... but I love what is mine.
“It is delicious, Grandmother. Very delicious! Gok likes it. This is exactly what Gok wants to eat.”
“There is more. Do you want another bowl?”
“Yes, Grandmother. Yes, yes. What is this? It is so fragrant. More fragrant than any other place I have eaten.”
I think I worry about him too much.
I do not work as labor for long. When I turn around again, I find Nong has returned under the house, but not with my grandmother alone. He is with two of my aunts. In his hand is a cup of dessert, and his mouth is munching away, looking utterly pleased with the traditional Thai sweets he rarely gets to eat. And my grandmother... is also feeding him nonstop.
“It is fragrant from pandan leaves. It contrasts with the salty and rich coconut cream... Is it too sweet?”
“No. Gok likes sweet things.”
“Good, good. Then have more. There is plenty more in the kitchen.” Judging from the remnants, he has eaten almost ten bowls already. Not to mention...
“Then on your way back, take some pumpkin with you. You like it, right?”
“I like it!” Nong smiles widely, not a trace of the shy youth from before left, making my grandmother laugh.
“I have not met a youth who likes Thai desserts in so long. Everyone just complains it is too sweet, too rich.”
My grandmother nods with satisfaction, making my cousins grumble quietly.
“Grandmother's desserts are deadly sweet. How can he eat that? It is not as delicious as the cakes Phîi Pong makes.”
“I can hear you!” Do not look down on her. Her ears and eyes are still excellent.
She turns to scold her real grandchildren before turning to look at the not-by-blood grandson who is about to become the new favorite grandson. He is looking blissful, so happy with the traditional sweetness, making my grandmother smile fondly.
“Oh, and do not just sit there. I made bael fruit juice. Go scoop some for your Phîi to drink too.” The 'Phîi' mentioned is not me... it is Nong Gok.
The new favorite grandson, who is getting along wonderfully with my grandmother.
“Actually, Gok is someone with a sweet tooth, Grandmother. But I do not get to eat things like this often; they are hard to find. So Gok usually just eats cakes, tarts. When I get to eat like this to my heart's content, Thai desserts are very delicious. Gok likes them.” Then he flashes a cute smile at everyone again. I see it; everyone is smiling along with Nong Gok.
“Then on any day I make desserts, come again.”
“Can I really come?”
“Come, come. Come help this old woman eat some.” Nong Gok turns to look at me, happy that my grandmother said this, and then nods forcefully, accepting cheerfully.
“Then Gok will have Phîi Pong bring me again.”
“Oh, you do not need Pong. He is glaring so fiercely. You can come alone.”
“Grandmother, how can you say that?!” I complain. Even though I do not complain much anymore, I really cannot help but argue. Especially when voices like this follow.
“The favorite grandson has been dethroned!”
I do not care if I am dethroned or not, but it seems Nong Gok looks troubled, turning to look at me apologetically for stealing my grandmother away so quickly. But...
In three swift steps, I am next to him. I pull him onto my lap without shame, sweep my gaze over everyone, and then stop at my grandmother.
“Even if it is you, Grandmother, I will not give him up! Nong Gok belongs to Pong!”
I declare boldly, making everyone look at each other and then... laugh.
“You should have some limit to your possessiveness.”
“You do not even spare your grandmother? That is a tough job, Gok.”
“Your name is Pongprot, not 'Possessive'. Are you too jealous, grandson?”
Various teasing voices make me pout. I hold Nong Gok tightly in both arms. The small figure looks left and right, his cheeks red, and then looks up at me.
“Is Phîi Pong possessive of Gok?”
“Yes. I am possessive of Nong Gok. Nong Gok is mine. If you want to eat anything, just say so. I will make everything for you, whether Thai or foreign. If you want anything, I will get it for you right here.” I state my intention clearly, making Nong Gok's cheeks turn bright red. He starts to lower his head again, then laughs sheepishly and raises his hands in a wai to my grandmother.
“Grandmother, Gok would like to visit, but please let Phîi Pong come with me.”
“Why bother with Pong? He is overly protective.” My grandmother says jokingly, seeming to enjoy teasing me immensely. But Nong Gok's answer makes me... thrilled.
“Because Gok likes it when Phîi Pong protects Gok.”
I am being immature today because I am smugly showing off to everyone that I have an adorable partner. My grandmother sighs, shakes her head, and waves her hand.
“Fine, fine. You are a good match. This is the only time you have truly lived up to your name.” In the end, my grandmother says that, making me smile widely. I do not reply because I know well that I have been like this since falling for this youth. And in a moment no one sees, Nong Gok whispers softly for me to hear.
“But Gok likes the protection of Phîi Pong... I love it, really.”
I really want to take him back and nibble on him heavily for his adorableness, but I suspect I must endure until evening because everyone is keeping him occupied. Even though I am unbearably thrilled that he accepts everything about this 'Pongprot' person, even if it is sometimes excessive, he accepts it... wholeheartedly
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