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“I will not comply! I absolutely will not comply!” Graph declared adamantly.
“Oh, Graph, I said I would try,” Janjao replied earnestly.
“I will not do it. It is impossible. I would rather perish than say those words,” Graph insisted firmly.
“It is not a matter of life or death,” Janjao countered calmly.
“I shall perish! I am certain of it!” Graph exclaimed passionately.
Within a confectionery shop near the school, a young man and a young woman engaged in a heated dispute, as though their lives depended upon it. One adamantly refused, his language growing increasingly coarse, while the other pleaded, gently shaking his arm. To an observer, it appeared as though a delinquent youth was distressing his romantic partner.
“Please, Graph, I promise,” Janjao urged softly.
“No,” Graph began to respond.
“Hey, Nong! Your romantic partner pleads so earnestly; how heartless can you be?” interrupted the shop’s owner, who approached with two milkshakes, reproving Graph, prompting him to turn sharply and glare.
Ouch! Graph exclaimed, rubbing his leg.
“Indeed, Phîi, I intended only goodwill. Don't doubt my sincerity,” Janjao said politely. Yet before the young man could retort against the intrusion, Janjao delivered a forceful kick beneath the table. She then turned, blinking with feigned sorrow at the shop’s owner, her voice laden with sadness, her face mournful. This caused the kicked youth to abandon his retort, lacking time to address the meddlesome older person.
“There, Nong, you have an attractive romantic partner; you should cherish her. What am I pleading for?” The owner persisted, wanting to act as a kind Phîi before the high school young woman, and inquired further. This caused Janjao to smile and open her mouth.
“I asked him to…”
“Very well! Very well! I will do it! I consent! Are you satisfied?” Graph exclaimed loudly, eyes wide, nodding vigorously, before he realized he had been outwitted.
This made Janjao grin triumphantly, immediately ignoring the shop’s older person and turning to her notebook, filled with pink ink.
I had just written it moments ago, Janjao thought.
“Very well. First, I must say this line, followed by this one…”
“No! No! Not this line! I would rather perish, bloody fucking hell! This is overly sentimental, Janjao… ‘I know Phîi is busy, Phîi has work to do, but I can wait until Phîi completes his tasks. No matter when, I will wait. I only ask that Phîi comes to retrieve me.’ No! Merely reading it causes goosebumps across my entire body. To say it to his face… I will not do it!” Graph gritted his teeth, glaring at the freshly written script and striking the page.
Indeed, Janjao was enjoying crafting lines for me to recite.
The method she claimed would ensure Phîi Pakin came to retrieve Graph… Call and plead.
Graph thought, I will not do it. Does she wish to see me reprimanded? Âi Phîi Pakin will never come due to these theatrical lines.
His resolute refusal caused the young woman to pout slightly, gazing at the newly written script.
“It usually succeeds, however,” Janjao said.
“What?” When she let that slip, Graph, who had refused, turned to face her. Janjao, who nearly revealed that it succeeded in nearly every manga, closed her mouth abruptly and sought evidence to support her idea.
“Such lines truly succeed! If you do not believe me, I shall call my Phîi now!” When she proposed this, Graph fell silent momentarily. She promptly attempted to persuade him, proceeding to call her elder brother.
Her second elder brother, whose romantic partner was male.
“What is it, Sailor Moon?” Sun asked over the phone.
Janjao activated the speakerphone for Graph to hear, until they heard Sun’s voice.
“Phîi Sun, I wish to ask something,” Janjao said.
“What is it?” Sun replied.
The question prompted Janjao to glance at the paper again.
“If Phîi Ryu spoke to you sweetly… ‘Please come retrieve me. No matter how late, I will wait. I absolutely refuse to go with anyone else. I will wait until Phîi arrives’… Would you come?”
“I would go! Moreover, if Phîi Ryu added ‘Na Sun,’ even if I were in Bangkok, I would fly to Chiang Mai to meet him!” Sun replied, laughing, clearly delighted by the notion, prompting Janjao to face Graph, as if to say, “See? I told you.”
“But why? What is happening? Wait—did someone say that to you, Âi Janjao?” Sun asked.
“Oh, I must end the call now. The signal is poor. Static noises… Click,” Janjao said, hanging up.
As her brother grew protective, Janjao terminated the call, dismissing the notion that poor signals exist nowadays. She then turned to smile sweetly at Graph, pointing at the paper.
“Very well! Call him now and read it!” Her words caused Graph to grit his teeth, desperately wishing to refuse.
“Please, can we avoid this dramatic performance?” Graph pleaded.
“Very well, I can revise it,” Janjao agreed. Once Graph consented, the young woman (who relished tales of men pleading with each other) swiftly amended the script. Graph wished the process would take longer, feeling as though he were approaching an execution.
Soon, the stubborn youth (who could not resist this young woman) steeled himself and called the Âi-heartless person. He inhaled deeply, staring at the daunting script, barely able to accept it.
I shall surely be reprimanded, Graph thought.
Ring ring. Click.
“I am occupied,” Pakin said coldly.
After a brief ringtone, a cold voice resounded, causing Graph to grit his teeth.
“You are lying!” Graph exclaimed.
“Graph!” Janjao glared, jabbing her pen forcefully onto the paper.
“Remain calm. Speak courteously,” Janjao whispered, as Graph noted the clearly annoyed tone.
“I sent Chai to fetch you, did I not? If you do not wish to return, then do not. I informed you I have work. I lack time to play shop with you daily,” Pakin said coldly.
The voice was so cold it was palpable. Graph felt a surge of defiance, scanning the script’s letters.
“I am sorry…” Graph began.
“What did you say?” Pakin responded, surprised.
“I am sorry, Khrap. I regret troubling Phîi. I know I am selfish. I am stubborn. Yet I truly desire Phîi to retrieve me… Is it not possible, Khrap?” Graph said.
This time, the other end fell silent. Graph continued without pause, as Janjao underlined for him to proceed.
***
“I sincerely regret yesterday’s actions. I know Phîi dislikes it. I still caused Phîi trouble. Yet I did not intend for events to unfold like that. I only wished for Phîi to retrieve me, to accompany me to the hospital. Phîi knows I detest doctors and nurses. I dislike the smell. Merely thinking of it makes me reluctant to go. Thus, I wished for Phîi to accompany me, just until the treatment is complete and we can return…” Graph lowered his head, speaking reluctantly, his voice soft.
“Na Khrap, Phîi Pakin. I… I beg you,” Graph said.
I shall kill Janjao and dispose of her in a latrine someday! Graph thought.
The listener remained silent, observing the problematic youth with bowed head, disbelieving his eyes. Pakin also distrusted that this was not a scheme to provoke him later. Yet Graph’s overly courteous speech caused Pakin to question its normalcy.
Grab.
Thus, Pakin’s large hand pressed against Graph’s forehead, causing him to startle.
“Bloody fucking hell, you troublesome youth, why have you not taken medicine for your fever?” Pakin said wearily. Graph’s forehead was warmer than normal, suggesting last night’s condition persisted, prompting Pakin to sigh heavily, speaking with considerable irritation.
“I have an appointment with a client at seven precisely. Thus, behave yourself. Do not cause me distress or waste my time as you did yesterday,” Pakin said in a strong voice, seizing Graph’s shoulder and pulling firmly, startling the unaware ill youth.
“Does Phîi mean…” Graph began.
Snap.
“Do not be foolish. We are going to the hospital, naturally. I am too lazy to deal with your dead body,” Pakin said flatly, preparing to exit the shop swiftly.
Gulp. That is terrifying, Janjao thought.
Pakin’s sharp, glinting eyes glanced at Janjao, who lowered her notebook, pretending to wipe a nearby table. The gaze caused her hair to stand on end, goosebumps covering her body. Her back felt cold, damp with fear’s sweat. Yet soon, Pakin merely…
“Heh,” he uttered, a chilling sound, then dragged Graph from the shop, allowing Janjao to exhale in relief.
“Khun Graph has a commendable friend, Khrap,” Panchai remarked, remaining and chuckling softly, prompting Janjao to turn sharply, nearly striking her forehead.
I wrote the script to conceal it from Graph’s Phîi, yet I overlooked that his associate stood beside Graph! Janjao thought.
“Khrap… I mean, it is not so… I did not do anything, truly,” Janjao stammered, her voice softening, glancing at the large man whose daunting face bore a slight smile.
“I do not blame you, Khrap. Regardless, thank you for reducing my tasks by one… a challenging one,” Panchai said, smiling again, then paid for both milkshakes, ordered a coffee, raised the cup as if to say, “I depart now, Khrap,” and left the shop, leaving Janjao nearly enchanted.
“Graph! This Phîi, though not as handsome, is remarkably kind! Why not choose him?” Janjao exclaimed inwardly, stomping her feet and spinning in frustration.
If Graph chose this Phîi, his life would be far simpler! Janjao thought.
Yet none knew that a car in the student pickup area lowered its window, staring at the splendid Maserati, murmuring softly.
“Who is that youth? Why did Âi Pakin pick him up personally? I must report this to Khun,” the observer said.
Thus, what Pakin wished to avoid was approaching.
***
“They are quite perceptive,” Pakin remarked.
“Perceptive about what?” Graph asked.
Within the splendid car, Graph turned to Pakin in confusion when he commented casually. Pakin was thinking of the young woman with this youth.
“That young woman… She will likely become beautiful when grown,” Pakin said.
Thud.
“Phîi, do not meddle with Janjao!” Graph froze momentarily, then, realizing Pakin meant his close friend, spoke sternly, glaring sharply. Pakin merely shrugged.
“I am not interested in youths,” Pakin replied.
“Yet Phîi said if she grows…” Graph countered.
“I referred to you. It is well. If you're involved with someone, you will not trouble me further,” Pakin said. Graph clenched his fists, as Pakin misunderstood that he was involved with Janjao. Yet Pakin showed no possessiveness, instead pushing Graph toward his friend.
“Even if I were with Janjao, I would not stop interfering in Phîi’s affairs,” Graph declared firmly, causing Pakin to frown and roll his eyes in annoyance.
“You have reached the age for frivolous involvements, have you?” Pakin asked.
“I am not being frivolous!” Graph retorted swiftly, glaring intensely. Pakin responded simply.
“If you intend a serious involvement, focus on that young woman. Women do not favor childish youths like you,” Pakin said.
“And Phîi is entirely mature, then?” Graph countered.
“Heh. At your age, I had experienced far more than you,” Pakin said simply, glancing at Graph, causing him to frown further.
“Desire experience? I shall send a kind elder sister to you,” Pakin offered.
Thud.
“I do not…” Graph began.
“Or will you claim that a youth like you has shared a bed with anyone?” Pakin challenged.
Graph fell silent, turning to the window, struck by this sensitive topic.
Indeed, at eighteen, Graph had never shared a bed with anyone, having given his heart to someone at seven… the person now urging him toward another.
“Will you not argue?” Pakin pressed.
Graph remained silent, his pale cheeks reddening slightly. Pakin, glancing at him at a red light, smiled pityingly, knowing Graph lacked the experience he portrayed as a bold youth.
Graph attempted to emulate Pakin at the same age but could not compare.
Pakin discerned Graph’s inexperience with a glance. He detested this, as sharing a bed required someone skilled to make it the most intense, exceptional experience. Yet Graph’s silent, flushed demeanor caused Pakin to consider something novel.
When the stubborn youth appeared innocent and inexperienced, he was more appealing than Pakin had anticipated.
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