Until We Meet Again - Red Thread

Chapter 2: When The Clock's Hand Moves

Bang!

Crash! Bugh!

"Oi, Shia!" The boy fell off his bed, tangled in his blanket, after the room beside his apartment sounded with the slamming of a door. Cursing, he patted his injured butt.

It was the beginning of his first year at the university, and the 18-year old Parm, a student of the Faculty of Economics, stretched and then lied down on the floor, hugging his chest as he held his palpitating heart. Since as far back as he could remember, he had always been afraid of loud sounds. Whether it's thunder, firecrackers, or just like now, the banging of doors, they all caused him to panic. He doesn't know what had caused this and it had always been embarrassing. His phobia was pretty uncommon. Because of this, at first, his friends would laugh at him. When they saw him shaking in fear, though, his face pale and drained of blood, they would begin to worry and try to help.

Once he calmed down a bit, he glanced at the clock: 6 a.m. He walked towards the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and drank some water to finish calming down.

Parm lived alone-- it was the first time in his life that he had been given the opportunity to live by himself. His father died when he was 10, leaving his mother and a little brother, both of which were now living in America. He himself chose to go to a university in Thailand. He became so adamant about it until his mother gave in and allowed him to live in the small studio apartment of a relative.

When the clock's hand pointed at the seventh hour mark, the pale boy was startled out of his thoughts and rushed to the bathroom. Wearing a brand new student uniform, he left his apartment. It was Orientation Day for new students at 8 o'clock and he can not be late.

***

"Haah..."

Parm sighed when he reached the large gym. According to the schedule, the orientation was to begin in 10 minutes. He had to look for a place among all the milling students.

The boy walked to the table with a sign that said "REGISTRATION". He was given some documents and was shown by the seniors to a place where he could sit.

"Thank God!" he said as he rushed towards the sitting area where a few other students lingered. Glancing at those nearest him, he smiled.

"watdee, I'm Parm," he greeted. [*short from sawatdee, Thai people usually use "watdee" or just "dee"]

"I'm Team." Said a boy who was seated beside him.

"I am ManNow" a girl said from beside Team, a sweet smile on her face.

Team was a tall boy, neither fat nor thin, but his dark skin showed that he loved outdoor activities. ManNow was a petite girl. Her hair, shoulder length, waved like a doll's. Smiling to himself, Parm thought he was lucky to seemingly make friends on the very first day.

They continued to talk until the opening ceremony began. The director gave a long, boring speech that only managed to make the students sleepy. But, the assembly became a little more cheerful when the Student's President came up.

"Next, we will ask the representatives of each club to come up and introduce their clubs to the new students. After orientation is finished, whoever is interested can join any of the clubs and apply at the activity area, where there will be seniors to assist you.”

Representatives from the different clubs began to come up with their own ways to entice the first years to join them. The Music Club presented a rock n' roll band and the Basketball Club brought their national team and held a popularity vote. There was also an Acting Club that called up their members to the stage; some of the most good-looking students among the different faculties in the university.

Parm looked around the gym with interest. Ever since he was a child, he had always had the habit of looking around, as if missing something and/or someone. But now, at age 18, he has never really found what he was looking for.

"Ai Team, Ai Parm, what clubs will you be joining?" ManNow asked.

"I was thinking about joining the swimming club," Team answered quickly, as if he had already decided.

"I ... am still not sure," Parm hesitated. He had a club he was interested in, but was embarrassed to tell his new friends.

"Next, let us call onstage the swimming club," the voice of the M.C. broke through their conversation, followed by the shrill sound of girls from all over the gym.

A young man, his hair dyed golden blonde, went forward with two other young men in bathrobes. As soon as they reached the middle of the stage, they shrugged off the robes and stood like demigods. Now half-naked, the three young men showed off wide pectorals and hard, defined washboard abs. The screams in the gym were deafening!

"Sawatdee khrab, I am Win from the swimming club. Anyone who is interested to have these muscles ..." he gestured to the two other young men who flexed and posed like mannequins.

"There you have it, sexy dudes with straining abs. Please join us at the swimming club, and for the girls who want to see this view, you are also most welcome to come and watch our practices." Win teased, raising his eyebrows in a tantalizing way.

Parm and ManNow stared at Team who was gawking, his mouth wide open. He saw

his friends looking at him and quickly shook his head, "It's not like that! I just like swimming."

"If you’re still not convinced, please welcome our beloved club president, Dean from the Faculty of Management."

The sound was deafening. It resonated and echoed all throughout the gym, indicating that the person called was very famous. The girls around Parm began to gossip as someone tall was pushed to the stage, a deep male voice coming from the sound system, "I am Ratthanon Wongnate, the president of the swimming club."

ManNow grabbed at her friends’ sleeves, her high-pitched scream just one of the innumerable screams that filled the air.

"I see him often; he joined so many swimming competitions," Team acted smug.

The sound of Parm's heartbeat echoed in his chest.

The tall man looked even taller on stage, with his bright eyes, sharp face, thick eyebrows, and an aquiline nose, he looked like he had mixed-blood. However, it was not the appearance that made Parm gawk. Something stirred inside his chest, making him feel strange as he looked at the young man on stage; his eyes filling with warmth.

The boy hurriedly wiped at tears that had suddenly and uncontrollably escaped his eyes. Parm bowed his head to hide the tears that unwittingly continued to flow. He frowned, not understanding why his heart was suddenly thrilled, as if something grand was happening. As soon as he saw the Swimming Club president, it was as if he had found something he had been searching for for a long, long time.

"Phi Dean?"

"Parm! Hoiii, what's going on?" Team slapped him gently, waking him up from his trance.

"Is it finished?" Parm asked, looking around at the people who were leaving the gym.

"What the hell! Team’s going to join the Swimming Club and I’m joining the acting club!" ManNow explained.

Parm scratched his cheek. He had already decided as soon as one club was introduced.

"I ... will join the Thai Dessert Club."

"Huh?!" His surprised friends exclaimed.

"You can cook?" Team asked, his eyes wide as the small boy nodded.

"Yes, my family runs a Thai restaurant. Since I was a child, I often helped in the kitchen, but I'm more skilled in desserts and food carving," Parm explained, and told them about the shop that his mother used to own. Now, both his Mom and brother had moved to America.

"I wanted to join the Cooking Club at first, but when I found out they had a Thai Dessert Club, I just found myself interested."

"Uuiii.... can we try your cooking? I like KaNomChan and lookchub" ManNow excitedly said, as only girls could be overly excited by sweets*. [*This rewrite of the translation may be incorrect or interpreted incorrectly]

"Hey, I like ryokan pumpkin custard," Team added to the list of food.

"Hah. For now, I don't have the proper equipment, but the club should have them. I'll try next time."

"Talking about food is making me hungry. Let's join our clubs first and then meet at the gym again to eat together," Team waved the other two off and then turned away. When ManNow saw Team leave, she excused herself to go to the Acting Club, where the applicants must be overwhelming because one of their members was already a well-known celebrity.

Parm walked around a little dazed and confused, trying to run away from clubs that used force to recruit new members. Finally, he found a tent where beautifully carved fruits were displayed on small tables outside, right beside many Thai desserts.

"Excuse me?" the young first year called out.

A girl with short hair who was carving a cucumber stopped and looked up.

"This is the Thai Dessert Club, right? I would like to join," Parm smiled, a little amused, when the girl dropped the carving knife, looking at him with wide eyes. Without a word, she grabbed an application and handed it to Parm. As soon as he finished filling it out, he held it out to her, where she snatched it like it was a treasure.

"Ohhh," the girl squealed. "There is a man here who just applied for the club," she gushed. "My name is P'Goong, second year. Giffy! P' Oom!! we have a new member!!!"

As her scream ended, two girls appeared from the back. Parm knew that the Cooking Club and the Thai Dessert Club were next to each other, so he also knew the two clubs must be fairly well acquainted.

"I'm dead! Welcome Nong! my name is P'Giffy. I'm a second year," said another girl. She was wearing cosmetics, making her look quite organized and pleasant, but when he looked at her hands, Parm noticed that her nails were clean and clipped short. She was definitely a cook.

"I'm P'Oom, third year," the last girl said. P'Oom was beautiful. She had curly hair and looked quite kind hearted.

"We have a total of 9 members in our club. Normally, we do activities together. I'm really happy to have a young boy like yourself apply," Khun Oom explained with bright eyes as she held the young boy's hand.

Parm laughed gently, "Just let me know what you need from me, if I can help. I can also make food carvings."

"Perfect!!" P'Giffy raised her hands like she won the lottery.

"Other clubs often ask us to prepare food for them. Sometimes, even the University calls and asks, too. Having additional help is really great!" The girls began to dance around. The senior of the three pulled the rest of her friends forward, the other club’s members, to introduce them. There were two other boys that for some reason, made Parm feel some relief. This was good.

...

The University had cafeterias, cafes, restaurants, and other shops that were open 24 hours a day during exams, especially the cafes around the Architecture Faculty. They were open so long because students from the faculties often had projects and other important school work. In one of these shops, the newly acquainted friends were eating.

"Our club members are mostly girls," ManNow complained. She held a fork and stabbed at a piece of garlic pork. They were eating in an air-conditioned restaurant to cool off from the heat outside and to avoid the riots in the cafeteria.

"Well, the Acting Club has a male star as a member, so it's not so strange. If you really want to meet a lot of men, come to the Swimming Club." Team said. “But there are so many girls who come just to see the handsome prince, P'Dean ... I'm so jealous," he added.

The fork in Parm's hand fell with a clatter.

Team, hearing the sound, smiled to the waiter and asked for a new fork. Parm's heart began to race.

"Parm, why did you eat so little?" ManNow asked, noticing he had barely touched his food.

"Stomach ache." Parm replied, "I can't eat late, my gastritis will relapse."

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Team frowned "Had I known, we could have eaten first before going to our clubs. You’re very thin and pale; do you have other diseases or conditions besides gastritis?"

"Yes, loud sounds frighten me."

"You're afraid of loud sounds?" ManNow repeated. She put down her spoon and focused all her attention on Parm.

Parm nodded, "Thunder, firecrackers, popping balloons, slamming doors, and explosions," he explained.

"If you hear a loud noise, what will happen?" Team asked, in a not so polite way. Realizing his mistake, he immediately apologized.

"Don't worry, I'm a little too blunt sometimes, too," Parm laughed at Team who kept on punishing himself. "Ummm, when I hear loud sounds, I suddenly find myself trembling, crying, and in the worst situations, hyperventilating and fainting.”

"Shia!" Team cursed.

"It's dangerous."

"It's a good thing you told us this so we can be ready."

Seeing his friends' panicked faces, Parm smiled widely and said, "Calm down will you. The sound has to be really loud to affect me. If it's just a little firecracker or balloon, I can avoid panicking. If I can’t avoid it, I'll just cover my ears. I'm always on guard, so no need to worry."

"Hey, it seems like I’m stronger than Parm," ManNow suddenly scrutinized him from head to toe.

"What?"

"He's just a little taller than I am. Probably a little heavier. When I see him ... it kinda makes me want to protect him."

"Huh?!" Parm felt like he seemed too weak.

"Yeah! Originally, I wanted us to help each other in protecting ManNow from bad guys, but it seems I have to protect both of you now." Team joked with ManNow, but it was far from funny to Parm.

Parm couldn't join any sports because of this condition. Most used guns, or noises reminiscent of guns, as the starting signal for races and such and It made his parents worry, so an activity that made unexpectedly loud, startling noises like athletics is a big no no.

"Hey Parm, I ask this seriously," Team whispered, causing ManNow to move closer. Their heads were near enough to almost stick together. "D'you like boys or girls?"

ManNow’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth, holding in a scream.

"I have no problem either way. I was just asking so I can prepare to act accordingly, to protect you from whoever. So, boys or girls?" Team asked in all seriousness.

Parm blushed. "I ... don't know."

"Oh!" Both friends were shocked.

"Are you bi?" ManNow asked, curiosity brightening her face.

Parm shook his head. "I really don't know. I’ve never thought about it, before. If they’re the right person, gender doesn’t really matter to me," he said. He’s never had a lover before, so he didn’t really know how to respond properly.

"Okay, okay. Now I understand." Team straightened his back. "I'll protect you from any boys who may flirt with you, too ... should I start to grow a beard?" He mumbled loud enough for both Parm and ManNow to hear, causing them to laugh.

"Someone like Parm ... should be paired with P'Dean," ManNow screamed happily. "Soft and gentle with someone so masculine, just like in novels!"

A bright red blush bloomed across Parm's face.

"What are you talking about, ManNow? What pair?" Parm hurriedly took a drink of water, his hand shaking.

"Wait ..." ManNow and Team said together, both of them with smiles, teasing Parm.

"Please stop ... enough ... why are we talking about this? Damn" Parm swore, wanting to change the topic. Nevertheless, his heart continued to beat a fast, staccato rhythm in his chest.