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“Gaipa,” the voice echoed, calling out to the young man who had barricaded himself within his room. Like any heartbroken individual, he had no desire to venture outside or bask in the sunlight. However, he was no longer a teenager but a man in his mid-twenties. His elderly mother believed that he should not squander his life in solitude, mourning over a man who had already found his life partner. She advised her son to socialize and enjoy life like others his age, but their conversations always ended abruptly with his dramatic exit.
“Can you go to the bank for me? I need to meet with General Suphot as they want to order chickens!” she asked. Gaipa would have preferred to meet with the general himself, but the thought of encountering Li Ming, the niece of the man who broke his heart, deterred him. He found it hard to believe that a seventeen-year-old had found happiness while he was wallowing in his room.
“What time?” he inquired, knowing he couldn't refuse his mother’s request. It was crucial for them to secure the order from General Suphot, a prominent figure in their town.
“Around before noon. I want to give Mr. Alan some rice cakes that I got from the market. Don’t forget to bring the soup too! I’ve already packed everything!” Gaipa’s brows furrowed at the mention of Mr. Alan. Who was this man that his mother seemed to favor? She had even prepared a meal for him.
“Who is this man? Is he special?” Gaipa asked, walking into the kitchen to inspect the packed containers of food his mother had prepared for Mr. Alan.
“He is,” she replied. Gaipa could already predict his mother’s gushing praise for the man. “He’s been my financial advisor for years and he takes good care of my money! You should actually meet Mr. Alan so that if ever you need advice on your money, you know where to go!” Gaipa didn’t need to see his mother’s face to know the type of smile she was wearing; he knew it all too well.
“My money in my bank account is perfectly unharmed, thanks Mae,” he retorted, knowing his mother would simply shake her head in response. She often did that whenever she sensed his stubborn side emerging.
“I’ll just change my clothes and then I’ll be on my way. Be careful on your way to their house,” he added, reminding his mother to take care on her journey.
He knows his mother is aging, and all she wants is for him to settle down. She said she couldn’t believe that Gaipa is bisexual and that he could be entertaining both men and women his age. Gaipa argued that it wasn’t like that. He could be bisexual, but it didn't mean he would pursue just anyone he met.
Not particularly concerned about who he might encounter, as long as the person was a professional working in a bank, Gaipa dressed in a white tank top, six-pocket jeans, and a checkered three-fourths shirt. To appear more formal, he carried a sling bag and the packaged meal his mother had prepared for the bank employee.
Usually, Gaipa would use his car to travel to the town center, but today he decided to take his time and visit some places he had wanted to see. Initially, he had planned to visit those places with the person he loved. However, upon seeing a post of that person visiting those places with their new partner, Gaipa’s hope was shattered. He chose to accept the situation, acknowledging that he couldn’t force something that wasn’t meant to be, and he respected the relationship between the person he loved and their new partner.
Despite encountering some traffic, Gaipa arrived at his destination in less than an hour. He was relieved that the food he brought was still warm; otherwise, his mother would scold him for delivering cold food to the person she admired. Gaipa didn’t want to hear the end of it.
“Excuse me, can I know if Mr. Alan is here? I have an appointment with him on behalf of my mother, Mrs. Hong,” Gaipa inquired at the front desk. After checking something on her computer, the woman asked him to have a seat, informing him that the banker was still meeting with other clients. Gaipa glanced at his clock to check the time, seeing that it was a quarter to noon.
“Mr. Gaipa? You can come in now!” a woman called from a nearby room. Gaipa gathered his belongings and followed her inside. The room appeared to be a typical office, with awards, certificates, pictures, paintings, and a shelf of books adorning the walls. A reception table sat in the middle. Gaipa knew he would be meeting someone important in the bank, not just someone handling his mother’s money.
“Ah hello,” Mr. Alan extended his hand towards Gaipa, surprising him with the gesture. “Uhm, hello! I am Gaipa, I am here instead of my mother since she needs to attend to some business,” Gaipa replied, feeling slightly shocked by the formality of the situation. Mr. Alan nodded, gesturing for Gaipa to take a seat. Gaipa silently thanked him as he sat down, though he wasn’t entirely sure why he was there, apart from delivering the packaged food.
“So, uhh, I want to give – no, I mean, my mother said to give this to you,” Gaipa finally mustered the courage to place the food on Mr. Alan’s desk, surprising the banker.
“Uh, you shouldn’t have bothered to pack food for me, but I really appreciate it. Please let Mrs. Hong know that I am grateful for her kind gesture,” Mr. Alan responded, smiling in a way that Gaipa couldn’t believe.
Gaipa couldn’t deny that the person in front of him was the epitome of beauty, radiating hotness, cuteness, prettiness, and an ethereal, almost otherworldly charm. This person was a model-worthy individual, and Gaipa couldn’t understand why they were sitting behind a desk, dealing with numbers, rather than standing in front of millions of cameras capturing their beauty. Perhaps Gaipa was overreacting, but he knew that the person before him possessed a unique beauty unlike any other. This person wasn’t someone you would casually encounter on the street, and Gaipa was grateful to have met them today.
“By the way, do you have your IDs?” Mr. Alan’s question snapped Gaipa out of his daydreaming. Gaipa nodded and handed his IDs to the banker, believing it was for verifying his relation to the original client, his mother.
“Mrs. Hong informed me that you wanted to open another savings account, is that right?” Gaipa's jaw dropped upon hearing this, and he looked at Mr. Alan with bewildered eyes.
“Ah, no, you are mistaken. I am actually here because my mother said she–” Gaipa mentally chastised himself for not realizing sooner.
He had been so out of it, and his mother had only mentioned that he should give the food to the banker without specifying the reason.
“What is wrong, Mr. Gaipa?” Mr. Alan questioned, noticing Gaipa’s confusion. Gaipa laughed awkwardly, finally realizing the purpose of his visit. The banker looked at him with a questioning gaze.
“My mother set this up for me, I believe. I am sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Alan. I am not intending to open another savings account,” Gaipa explained. The banker appeared surprised at the revelation, taking a moment before joining in Gaipa’s laughter.
“Well, at least I got some free food from this encounter,” Mr. Alan remarked, pointing at the food now placed aside on the table. Gaipa suggested that he should eat, apologizing for his mother taking up the banker’s lunchtime. Mr. Alan shook his head, assuring Gaipa that it was alright.
“If you leave, they will let another client come,” Mr. Alan added. Gaipa glanced at the door, realizing that was how it worked.
“Then, it is better for me to stay, right Mr. Alan?” Gaipa proposed. The banker couldn't hide his smile, nodding in agreement. Gaipa took the opportunity to retrieve the packed lunch once again and placed it on the center table, waiting for Mr. Alan to join him.
“Thank you for this,” the man in the two-piece suit expressed his gratitude before devouring the food. Gaipa took the chance to appreciate the view before him. A kind man in a nice building, with a good job, a pleasant name, a warm smile, and a pleasant scent, was enjoying the food Gaipa had brought for him.
“Is there something wrong with my face?” Gaipa felt his face heat up, all the blood rushing to his cheeks. “A-ah, no! I-I am just glad you are eating!” Gaipa stumbled over his words, but it brought a smile to the man in front of him. Gaipa allowed himself to smile as well, willing to embarrass himself if it meant seeing the smile in the man’s eyes.
Their time together was cut short, both knowing that once Alan finished eating, Gaipa should take his leave to allow the banker to continue his work. Gaipa packed the containers back into the bag while Alan freshened up in the bathroom. Gaipa wanted to make a move, but he was shy. He didn’t know how to approach a man he had just met half an hour ago, unsure if Alan was even interested or if he was straight. Gaipa found it awkward to make a move on someone at Alan’s level.
“Ah, Mr. Gaipa, I am really thankful for the food and for not leaving me,” Alan expressed his gratitude, and for Gaipa, it was a simple act, but for the banker, it meant a lot. “Don't mention it, Mr. Alan,” Gaipa replied, his heart warming at the sight of Alan’s bright smile.
“Thank you because I am able to eat at the right time,” Alan said, causing worry to creep into Gaipa’s mind, though he couldn’t pinpoint the source. He felt concerned for the man.
“You should always do it. I know the bank is a busy place, but it couldn’t operate if someone as important as you falls ill,” Gaipa surprised himself with his words.
“Ah, you can just call me Alan,” Alan suggested, and Gaipa felt like they had skipped a level by using their first names. “Then, if that’s the case, I‘m just Gaipa. Nice to meet you, Alan,” Gaipa responded, gladly accepting the extended hand. He noticed how soft and warm Alan’s hand was, relishing in the touch.
“By the way, can I get your number? If ever you want to open another savings account or anything, I could guide you,” Alan asked, and Gaipa thanked all the gods and heavens for his words. He had been pondering how they could continue seeing each other, and here was Alan, dressed in a two-piece suit, with a nice smile, a nice job, a nice hand, and a nice scent, in a nice building, working in a nice job.
“Sure,” Gaipa agreed, taking Alan’s phone and entering his number. He pressed the call button to ring his own phone, saving time.
Gaipa bid farewell, exchanging pleasantries and a shy smile with Alan. As he was about to leave the bank, his phone pinged with a new notification.
From: Alan
Other than your money, I am also capable of handling your heart.
Gaipa shook his head, unable to contain his amusement. Perhaps his mother was right, maybe he did need to meet someone his own age. Someone with a nice smile, a nice voice, a nice scent, a nice laugh, nice clothes, in a nice building, working in a nice job. Clearly, he wasn’t leaving the bank hurt; instead, he was smiling and excited to visit again.
To: Dearest Mae
Mae, you can let me handle your bank appointments from now on.
Gaipa was sure his mother would agree, or perhaps it wouldn’t hurt if he opened another savings account.