Until We Meet Again - Red Thread

Chapter 5: Moving in ... Near the Heart

"What is it?" Korn stared at the black, menacing thing on his plate.

"...Omelette" In answered, looking dejected.

"What the hell did you do to it?" Korn poked it with a fork; he is clearly in a 'devil boyfriend mode' right now*

(*nay pen ngai: what are you doing? So it means Korn is asking 'what did you do to make it burnt like this)

"When I fried it, it stuck to the pan, so I couldn't flip it." In explained "Here!" He turned and picked up a plastic box, giving it to Korn.

"Huh? Dessert?" Korn opened the lid and looked inside. It was a bright and colorful Thai dessert called lookchub.

"I helped my mother make it." He reaches his hand out to point at a star-shaped lookchub, "Especially this one, it is the hardest to make." In picks one up and holds it to Korn’s mouth, "Aaa ... Open your mouth!"

Korn made a disgruntled face, but opened his mouth to eat the lookchub anyway. When chewed, the fragrant aroma spread throughout his mouth.

"Tastes like aromatic jelly."

"This one tastes good." Korn bent down and kissed In’s thin lips and whispered, "But the omelette, can I skip it?"

***

Dean slowly comes into consciousness. The feelings from the sweet dream still linger at the forefront of his thoughts, causing him to show a rare, genuine smile. Since he was a child, he would often dream about someone he could never remember, because when he woke up, all the important details would fade from his memory. Every single time, without fail, he would wake up crying and scared with no concrete explanation, leaving him to speculate the reasons why. Were these feelings what made him constantly search for a person he didn’t even know existed? Could they tell him why he felt this way? Did they feel the same emotions-- have the same dreams?

Although, as he grew up, the dreams became less and less frequent. They would happen about every week, then every two weeks; then two weeks became a month, etc.Today, in a significant paradigm shift, the tears aren’t from sadness or fear, but from happiness.

In an Instant, the happiness from said dream is quickly and completely evaporated as his cell phone blares the sound of an alarm. Dean sits up and rubs his face, his brain still trying to wake up.

Dean slowly turns and rolls out of bed. To help himself wake up, he decides to take a bath. While washing his face, he stares at his reflection in the mirror, examining the dark circles underneath his eyes. The person in the mirror looks like a stranger to him, barely recognizable, as if looking at a twin he had never met. Dean shakes his head, swearing softly, then goes to take his bath.

He’s just too exhausted.*

[*This originally said “he is too drunk”, but I wasn’t quite sure if that was actually what was supposed to be interpreted from the scene, because to me, it doesn’t make much sense. I changed it to be “he’s just too exhausted” because I think, in context, it makes much more sense. If there was an original meaning to this, meaning I shouldn’t have changed it, please let me know and explain the context so I may better correct it.]

Dean's family consists of 5 members, excluding the families two maids. His parents often go abroad for work, leaving him and his two younger siblings alone. He seems to always quarrel with his father, so they aren’t on the best of terms, anyway.

As usual, breakfast conversation between the siblings at the dining table is practically nonexistent, with only the sounds of his younger sister eating her breakfast and his younger brother talking on the phone. Dean looks at the simple breakfast consisting of sausage, bread, and a single fried egg, all prepared by the maids, sipping at a glass of orange juice.

"P’, today, I'm going to be home late because I have to do a project with my friends." Don, the younger brother, addresses Dean politely, who just nods his head without answering.

Both of Dean’s siblings act very awkward around him and he knows it's because they’re afraid of him. Most likely, it is due to them not growing up together since childhood. He was sent to live with his grandmother when he was very small. He only returned home after he'd turned 18 years old, when both siblings had already grown up. He has tried to breach the gap between them many times throughout the years, but there's always something making them keep their distance. Maybe because he is too introverted. He never really did care much about family bonds until theirs had gotten so bad.

"Saturday night, I will be going to a camp with members of the club and I won’t be home until late Sunday.”

"Del is okay to be home alone, P’." Del informs her brother, worried that P’Don might not get permission.

"No!" Dean exclaimed. "A girl alone at home is very dangerous. I will call to check." Then, he walks away after taking the keys and his phone from the table.

Del’s eyes widen. “What about breakfast?!”

He shakes his head and walks out the door.

...

Dean, in his black Sedan, pulls into the school parking lot. After he parks, he sits in the car and deliberates what to do now. He left home too early to go to class, he doesn't have the spirit to go to the club, and he wants to take care of the bulletin board, but doesn’t feel like meeting anybody at the moment. In the end, his stomach decides for him. Even though he doesn't really feel like eating, he’s really hungry.

The main cafeteria in the University is the biggest building and has many food stalls to choose from. Dean goes to one and places an order. Luckily, it is very early in the morning, so there are not many people in line to wait behind.

Dean ordered the first dish that comes to mind. "Par*, omelette rice please!"

(*Par: aunt/uncle who are not related by blood)

Only one minute later, his food is ready. He scans the cafeteria for a seat, sits, and starts to enjoy his breakfast. Omelette rice is the same everywhere, but strangely ... he can’t get the thought of a burnt omelette out of his head. Dean doesn't know where the thought came from; he had never eaten a burnt omelette in his entire life.

The sound of a phone ringing and vibrating breaks through his reverie. His sharp eyes glance down at the name on the display screen, where he’s greeted with a picture of Win. It annoys him so much, he debates just ignoring the call and turning his phone off. He really doesn't want to be bothered.

"What's up?" Dean grumbles, tone cold.

"Just asking, when will you arrive at the University?"

"I've arrived. What's the matter?"

"Ah, no. You're so early. That’s good, then. The Cooking Club's president came and wanted to discuss the snack order. So, I want you to come and listen in too."

Dean decides, instead of possibly incurring Win’s wrath by ignoring or denying him, to hurriedly finish his breakfast.

He stands up and returns the empty plate to the food stall, his other hand otherwise preoccupied holding the phone. While bickering on the phone with Win, without looking back, he rushes to make it to the club. A few seconds after he walks away, someone else holding a plate sits at the table.

"Ah, I am just going to eat. Yes, the middle restaurant. Yes, I'll wait for you." Parm appeases Team through line, putting his omelette rice on the table.

Parm had decided to eat omelette rice after a memory from childhood forced itself to the forefront of his thoughts. Parm laughs, remembering when he secretly climbed onto a chair and tried to fry an egg. At that time, they had an electric stove and, being the kid that he was, didn't know how to work it properly. As a result, his first omelette was scorched black. When his mother found out, his butt was s*****d numb. Afterwards, though, he begged his mom to teach him how to cook. That was the starting point of his passion for the culinary arts. This lead to him also helping out at his mother’s restaurant. She used to tease him, saying it was as if he was in a hurry to be somebody's wife.

His thoughts take on a melancholy tone as he reminisces. He moves to lay his head on the table, but stops when his hand brushes against an odd packet of paper.

"Oh, what is this?" Parm mumbles. It looks like someone left their sheets behind.

"Hooiii," Team suddenly leans over his shoulder, stealing a bite of his breakfast.

"Team!!! My rice!!!" Parm smacks his hand, hard.

"It was just one scoop! Okay, okay ... I'll go and buy my own food first." He walks away, shaking his injured hand.

Parm shakes his head in exasperation. He puts his schoolwork on the table, forgetting that he now has someone else's, as well.

"What does P’Dean's post yesterday mean? Has Parm ever met P’Dean before?" ManNow appears and waves around her phone, the screenshot Team sent last night through the group Line in full view. Now that he thinks about it, he doesn't understand what Dean meant by the caption, 'never forget'.

Parm shakes his head and assures them confidently, "I've never met him before."

***

After eating, it’s time for English. There's an English lecturer with a native British accent explaining how to make correct reports. Team, who does not understand foreign languages at all, could only sit with a pout while ManNow and Parm, who had both studied in an International school, followed without any trouble. They both start talking in a low voice while holding their cellphones under the table.

"Everyone is so surprised about his post. It’s his first status in half a year! And it’s so strange!" ManNow exclaims, exasperated. What is the real meaning? She wants to know both of her friends speculations as well, to help develop her own theory.

"Maybe he had eaten that snack before, so he wanted to take the picture as a memento. " Parm answers. He really didn’t want to contribute to ManNow’s machinations, but if he refused to answer, ManNow wouldn’t stop bugging him with her curiosity.

ManNow pouts. "No, I refuse to believe that!* I think Parm and P’Dean have something linking you two together!”

[*This used to say, “No, how is it possible?” but I changed it to this because I thought it made more sense in context.]

"That’s such a yaoi fangirl's instinct.**" Team, who had been quiet, suddenly joins the conversation.

"Yaoi fangirl? What’s that?**" Parm asks, extremely confused.

“Those girls who like to ship guys together.**” Team explains, trying to laugh quietly when Pharm's eyes widen in shock.

"Haa.. Even though I’m a 'fujoshi', in real life, I wouldn’t ever force my friend to be with another guy if they didn’t want it. And please, keep your eyes on the board.**” ManNow scolds Team. “Are you uncomfortable, Parm? If you don't like it, just tell us, we won't talk about it anymore." She says with a straight face full of honesty.

Hesmiles widely and shakes his head, tapping his pen against ManNow's gently, "Don't overthink. If I really didn’t like it, I'd tell you upfront.”

"So you like him?"

Parm gapes at her, stunned by the abruptness of the question. He lets out a sigh and reluctantly answers, low and uncertain, " … not … sure."

Both Team and ManNow stare at him in shock, jaws dropped. He isn’t sure if he should tell them, but thinking about how much his friends care, he knows he can trust them.

"If I tell you, don't laugh at me, na?" Parm feels he could burn a hole into his notebook with the intensity of his stare. "Ever since I can remember, I’ve been having dreams about someone. It’s always the same person, but I don't know what he looks like because everything's blurred and I can barely remember the details of the dreams after fully waking. I just feel very happy and very much in love with him." Parm says in a low tone.

"That person ... is a boy?" Team asks.

Parm nods "Khrab … This is why I’m so confused about my s****l orientation." He says slowly, twisting his fingers. "I feel like I’ve always been searching for that person … until … the orientation day where I saw P’Dean."

ManNow raises her hands to cover her cheeks, smiling shyly, while Team gapes and tries to process the story.

"Yes … Yes, that person is Phi Dean right?" She asks, looking as if she’s about to scream. She manages to hold it in so as not to be heard by the whole room, but just barely.

"I'm not sure as I haven't really met him." Parm clenches his fist around his pen, "but I also feel sad every time I hear his voice or see his picture."

"So, why don’t you meet with him? I'll find a way for you!" Team says, starting to get really excited. He also wants to know what the result will be when the two meet.

"No … " Parm shakes his head, his hands trembling. "I'm so afraid."

"No need to be afraid, just calm down. Just meet Team at his club! There, you'll meet P’Dean!" ManNow coaxed, but he just keeps shaking his head. His eyes started to tear up as he worked himself towards a panic attack.

"It's not like that, I mean I am very afraid … afraid to meet … " Parm closes his eyes, unable to explain further. His true fear is having to be separated after properly meeting him.

On seeing Parm's face become very pale, ManNow and Team look at each other, take his hands, and squeeze them tightly, rubbing his back to help calm him down.

"You haven’t met him yet, so calm down. ManNow and Team are here encouraging you." ManNow says with a smile, causing him to start to relax.

"Right, you haven’t met him yet, so it's okay. You still have a chance to make delicious snacks and I'll take them for P’Dean to eat." Team wriggles his eyebrows and smiles, his bold words making them laugh.

" Miss Marrisa!! Mister Parm!! Mister Teerayu!!! *" The lecturer yells, startling them nearly out of their seats.

(*The lecturer's words are written in English like that, not in Thai.)

" I'm sorry !*" They apologize loudly.

In the end, they are assigned a 3 page report as punishment.

(*the original words are "แอม ซอรี่" which are read as "aem so ri" and have no meaning if directly translated, while "I'm sorry" in Thai is “khod thod” or “khod thi”)

***

The clock chimes as the hour hand passes 9 o’clock. Parm had just finished taking a bath. In the afternoon, after their club activities, the club's president wanted to discuss what still required preparation for the snacks the Swimming Club requested. The snacks are due to the club by Saturday, so it is essential to start planning and preparing now, on Monday. They will have to go and buy the groceries on Friday and stay at the club room to prepare everything, then take the snacks to the swimming club Saturday morning.

Parm opens his computer and stares at his English assignment. How can he finish a 3 page report in English by tomorrow? His friends also have the same punishment, but it's their fault he was even talking in the first place.

Even though he was disgruntled by the extra work, Parm couldn't keep a smile from spreading across his face. He had finally told someone about the dreams after keeping them to himself for his entire life. He felt so light.

Enough reminiscing, I have to finish this report, Parm thought, lipping through his English notes.

"Found it … aww."

Under the notes, he finds the packet he had accidently acquired at the cafeteria this morning.

"I must have taken them without realizing." Parm mumbles to himself. When he glances at the scribbled name on the top corner of the first page, his eyes widen in disbelief.

Dean 571-xxxx5

".... " Parm freezes momentarily and then laughs "Maybe it’s just a coincidence. It isn’t the same person, the names are just the same." He mumbles again, but his heart is beating so fast. The student's code definitely shows that the person is a third year. Parm sighs and opens his computer, entering the University's website, and navigates to the student's search system. His hands shake while entering the code.

The small boy bites his lip before clicking enter, and the name shown on the screen is none other than Dean, third year Swim Club president, and possible person in Parm’s dreams.

571-xxxx Ratthanon Wongnate, Management faculty.

Crump.

The papers in his hand flutter to the floor as he throws them.

"Eeiii!!!!" He screams unconsciously, scrambling away from the table as if seeing a scary monster.

"How luckyyyyy .... But how will I give it back to P’?" Parm is beginning to confuse himself. He sits back down, then gets up and paces around the room. He stares at the f*******: page open on another tab and frowns. "Should I add him as a friend and tell him? Eeiii … or should I ask Team to give it to him tomorrow? Aww, that’s not viable. Team said he won’t be at his apartment tonight. Aaaah, I really can't think of anything else?"

Parm mumbles to himself continuously for half an hour, until he finally decides there is no other way but to give them back personally.

" … but what will I say … "

...

The clock now says it’s 11 p.m. Parm prints his now finished report, yawns, shuts down his computer, and starts to get ready for bed. But before he stands up, he stares once again at the papers that had caused him so much trouble. Unconsciously, a slight smile spreads across his face as his hand caresses the name scribbled on the paper. His slender fingers trace each letter tenderly and he whispers softly, as if afraid that someone might overhear,

"Good night, P’Dean.”

***

"Parm, do you have any club activity today?" ManNow asks while hugging her friend's arm, her eyes sharp.

"Nope! But I have to go to the library for a while. Yesterday, P’Oom said that there's still some money left from the Swimming Club's snack budget and she allowed us to make additional treats. So, I want to search for a recipe book." Parm explains.

"We will be very happy." Team rushes to join the conversation when it involves the food he’ll be eating.

"Umh … I still have to talk with her and get her permission on what to make, first.”

ManNow asks for a share of the snacks before they finally go their separate ways. She seems to be busy with her own club, as well, because the acting club agreed to work together with the movie club to make a drama. She acted so pitiful when explaining, it actually started to make him feel bad, so he decided to make some extra snacks to boost both friends’ moods.

At the library, while searching for books, Parm contemplates on the packet still in his possession. He has had P’Dean's work for 3 days, now. He hasn’t worked up the courage to return them, yet; still overwhelmed by the fear of their potential first meeting. Although, he is also worried that Dean won't have the materials needed to study for the exam. Parm heaves a sigh, his mind tearing itself apart with indecision.

He distracts himself by continuing to search for recipe books about all kinds of sandwiches and Thai desserts, which are then spread out on the table. After being asked by P’Oom to make a Thai dessert, he readily agreed to do it. But he just realized how difficult it will be, because he will have to be careful about the coconut cream and the other ingredients which will spoil easily.

He deliberates making mini hamburgers with a Thai dessert, but it could be said to be a very weird combination.

"First, ManNow is on a diet, so an avocado chicken sandwich seems good." He turns the colorful pages to continue reading. The menus are so incredible-- they completely captivate him. While laughing to himself, he thinks about how he should have just taken the Home Economics major, which he could have easily found a life-long job.

"I have to make something for Team, too. Making a tomato tuna sandwich sounds good. Then, I just need to make a list of Thai desserts which are not difficult to make and could be stored all night."

Parm continues to write down and study recipes, enjoying his time, until he realizes that an hour had gone by. He yawns, then gets up and collects the scattered books before deciding what he is going to do next. When he walks slowly through the other reading tables, his feet freeze his body in place.

… what is this?

His damn heart is dancing.

Parm slowly steps back and stops at one of the tables, where only one person occupies it. To be precise, he’s sleeping on it with his face covered, where just his side profile is shown.

P’Dean!!!!!

Why? When? How? Dean's body is just a meter away from where he is standing right now!

Parm frantically shakes his head, looking left and right, Is it okay to wake up P’Dean and give back his papers? Or should I pretend as if I didn’t see him and walk away? It's just a few papers anyway, he can get them again.

While staring, he gets lost in the sharp face, pointy nose, and long eyelashes of Dean’s features. He is sure that …

Wait!! Shia Ai Parm!!! What are you doing, approaching him like this?! He quickly turns around and practically sprints back to his own table after realizing he had been reaching towards Dean’s face.

The confused boy rubs his cheeks violently, turning them more red than they already were.

"Damn, just being this close to him already makes my heart feel like it’ll explode." he whispers. A sharp pain quickly flashes through his chest, causing him to double over, clutching at the area.

"Hu ..." hot tears flow like tiny waterfalls down his cheeks. The feelings inside his mind and heart are exploding uncontrollably like fireworks. Parm rubs his eyes with his sleeves, trying to stop the tears to no avail. He feels as if he’s going crazy. Why does just seeing him make me this happy?

Then, he realizes, this is his opportunity. The red-eyed boy takes out Dean’s schoolwork, takes a post-it note, and writes a brief explanation on it as to why he had the packet. At first, he writes his name, but decides to erase it. Quietly, he sneaks around to put the papers near the sleeping man. With what little courage he has left, he takes a quick picture to keep as a souvenir.

"Have a nice sleep … P’Dean." Parm whispers so quietly, it could’ve been mistaken as just the whistling of the wind.

The young man wakes up upon hearing quiet laughter. He rubs his face and then looks around and finds a girl smiling at him. Dean holds his head in his hands. He lacks sleep. At first, he just wanted to read a book for a while before going to club activities. But, it seems he fell asleep until 6:00 pm. When he checks his phone, he sees many missed calls and messages in LINE from his friend, including a reminder that was sent to him asking whether he had gone home.

His eyes widen when spotting something that previously was not on the table. It was his missing schoolwork! He quickly looks around to see if the person was still near, before giving up and picking up the papers. He carefully peels the post-it note off to read it.

I accidentally picked this up from the cafeteria. I'm sorry if it's been too long to give back.

Under the sentence, there seems to be a name written, but it had been erased. Though, the faint marks can still be seen and read. Dean’s heart skips a beat in his chest. This was such a nice surprise to wake up to. Confidence restored, he smiles, grabs his wallet and carefully places the post-it note inside.

Then puts the wallet into his shirt pocket.

… Nearest to his heart.