Chapter 8: Tensions rise from the start
Jack stopped and looked left and right at his comrades to see if anyone had suffered the same fate. However, he realized that he was the only one who had been called into the room, greeted by a gloomy atmosphere in the afternoon. Jack was sure that the dark clouds floating in the sky were not formed from accumulated steam, but came from the man who had been his boss since Monday.
Stay calm. Maybe the boss wants his shoes back from him.
"I'm here and--"
"Late."
The tall man, over 180 centimeters tall, bent slightly and lowered his head in apology. He walked to the chair across from the boss's desk and sat down, afraid that a white envelope would come if things didn't speed up.
"How far along is your new idea?" Normally, the boss would give advance warning regarding work reviews on a certain day, but today something unusual happened, causing a bit of tension. This kind of expression.
"Progress is steady, Boss. I've prepared it for this Friday. You don't need to worry."
"Am I worried about you?" It wasn't just his words, his gaze and tone made it clear that he wasn't joking. If he had brought a white envelope, he would not have had to think about his fate. The boss, on the other hand, would not put himself through such hardships for the sake of someone. However, if it was a woman, he would probably bring up the topic of alimony.
"Do you have any concerns?"
"Explain your new idea." The gloomy person sat cross-legged, leaning against the back of the sofa, with his elbows resting on the armrest, his index finger tapping his lips as if he was thinking about something that had nothing to do with the topic being discussed.
"The project is already underway, boss."
"Mm."
"If I explain it now, Mr. Gun, there won't be anything to talk about on Friday. I had planned to have an intern present some impressive works for you to listen to. It should be that way, and I think you'll like it."
Negotiation wasn't Jack's strong suit, but that didn't mean he couldn't do it. Especially if it needs to be used to survive when facing natural disasters. Yes, the boss is observant. The internship is a very valuable asset, to the point where they fly to get a scholarship but don't know how much they will have to pay when they return home. That's the time to throw this bait to the Gun.
"You like it, huh?" It doesn't seem to be improving, and it also seems to be doing harm. Is the sharp-tongued Laem sleeping or tucking his boss in or something? Anything that could prevent him from being in this state. "Hah."
There was only laughter. At this point, Jack could start to find out where the hot issue on Monday afternoon came from. It's you, damn Laem. Drought on the Wang Wa Canal.
"Boss, I think we should get straight to the point now." The employee joined hands on the table, ready with a serious face, engaging the boss in different topics to escape from the military. No ideas at the moment. Even the Bangkok Metropolitan Water Authority has started water rationing. As for Friday, let it be the topic of Wednesday and Thursday. Ask for ideas from friends on previous teams.
"..."
"I want to know if my subordinate annoyed you, boss. If you are annoyed because of something, please tell me. I will come back and teach him properly."
"Not that." He said that, but his face looked as blank as the street on a Sunday.
I want you to participate in this brainstorming session. If I tell the boss, and then on Friday, what will happen when the boss says, 'I heard that from Jack'?"
"Can he think of anything else besides courting girls, my dear?"
"#Boss Explodes"
"I'm not kidding, Jack. I want a game that is different from the others. Do you want our company to go further than this?" No matter how they viewed the boss as a freak, the employees had already viewed Gun Guwin as such from the start. Seeing him again would make no difference.
"Sometimes there might be nothing in the bamboo flat, Boss. It was just an expression of consolation from a secretary who didn't want the atmosphere in the hotel to become bad because of him."
"Is it good to be confused like this? I don't think that little kid, Cher, will challenge the boss."
Yes, you are right about everything. That kid wouldn't dare challenge. Until he has to reveal his vulnerable side and act like a kindergarten child who misses his toys.
"He's my little brother."
"Don't talk about him anymore. I don't want to hear anything about him."
"Just now, when we were having lunch together, he told me how nice it was to stay with the boss for the past two days."
"..."
It's like pouring water on a forest fire, making a loud crackling sound. The person who usually acted as if he wanted to kill someone while changing his expression suddenly turned his head, wanting to know more, wanting to see.
Laem said it was really fun. But what makes it fun is the fact that he can tease his boss. He wasn't lying, not one bit.
"That's all he said?"
"There's more to it than that, boss. But I don't remember. What have you done together? I think it's fun. The two people get along well. But if the boss doesn't want me to mention it again, that's fine." .I'll take the file. As for next Friday's presentation, I'll tell them myself. Laem wouldn't mind. My little brother is strong."
"..."
"Before, I never easily felt wronged by anyone, but when it came to that feisty child, Gun Guwin couldn't speak either. Sitting together, playing and chatting like old friends, and Jack in the restaurant, talking about him. It felt good.
"I'll be back, boss."
"Too much."
Jack stopped, turned and turned around. The skills he learned from Laem proved to be very effective.
"Surely he wants to present your idea sincerely. Or... I mean, he just wants to show off in front of the interns, or..."
"He was the one who helped me think, Boss. He would have liked it."
"He never told me anything about it," Gun muttered while furrowing his brows. As long as the camera is open to chat, they often exchange ideas about various topics, including games they like or want to play. But he couldn't remember if he had ever ruined anything for his.
"When I want to surprise someone, I won't tell them either, boss."
"..."
Gun paused for a moment before feeling warmth on both sides of his cheeks. It was a shame that he felt fine despite being upset all day and night. The young man gestured, covering his mouth with his hand, gesturing for Gun to leave before the employee who managed to survive the real life killer raised his hand in respect and quickly left, not wanting to be called again.
*
"Damn, I was hit in the head with the door!"
"Shouldn't I be the one surprised?" Jack looked at the sneaky kid eavesdropping by the door, almost poking his nose when he opened the door.
"What happened? Were you caught red-handed?" Laem whispered softly. He glanced inside, but it was only a glance. Jack closed the door to his boss's office.
"Come here."
"Wow!"
The younger ignored the tug on his shoulder, being dragged out of the office before stopping at a designated smoking area, where only the two of them stepped out for some fresh air.
"It's tough, half human, half human, isn't it?" Jack didn't answer. He just took a cigarette out of the pack and pressed it to his lips, as if inhaling the smoke into his lungs was the most important thing, especially when Laem had plenty of time to turn cancer into his brother.
" I apologize."
"I'm carrying something heavy. I'm listening."
"The boss is angry. Did you know?"
"Yeah. Don't tell me that Gun found out and called you to discuss this matter." Jack frowned and looked at the person next to him without any emotion. The conversation ends. Laem thought he would hear something interesting, something acceptable to the employees, but where could he? Disappointed.
"He didn't say it directly, but I could see it."
"You're good at guessing, aren't you?" Laem pouted before lighting his cigarette and exhaling the smoke into the hot air.
"Even if you and the boss become vocal lovers, at least show him some empathy. You shouldn't flirt with a girl to his face."
"Okay. I've been doing things like that all along. It's not like I've never made him see. I just realized that maybe I should be angry. Then, I awkwardly walked in, acting like a status-conscious lover, with this ridiculous tone. Computerize it. "
"No matter what happens, the first thing you have to remember is not to make the boss's mood bad because what you do will affect me too."
"What's so scary about that? Aren't we brave bullshit warriors? Which girl can give us peace, serenity? Ha! I'm going home to worship dog pillows. That's better." He finished speaking and was smacked in the face, the smoke from the cigarette wafting through the air.
"What I'm trying to say is that when you're with the boss, try to restrain yourself a little."
"Sure, and what's the next step? Should I go in and massage the boss's calves and feet to make things better?"
"Alright, come in and do it now."
"Wait a minute, you looked annoyed. Are you serious?"
"But I'm not playing around, Laem. Listen to me, I prepared a red carpet for you earlier and said you were very happy when you were with him in Udon Thani." Phi Jack opened the door before pushing him back inside and didn't forget to take out his cigarette.
"That red carpet in front of you, what should I say when I walk in? Are you crazy?!" The younger man tried to push open the door to get out and endure the sweltering heat once more, but Phi kept pushing, fighting like a thug in a game that left his teammates stranded in the middle of the battlefield.
"Say anything, just open your mouth and talk to him, and everything will be fine."
"Phi Jack?!" The younger man stared wide-eyed, pounding on the window until his fingers left marks.
"May the monks protect you." Phi Jack ended the conversation and made a peace sign, disappearing into thin air. How could they face the boss just because of a silly argument? Is their daughter a street vendor or something?!
50%
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Gun Guwin: Porsche
P: Ya.
Gun Guwin: I have som tam poo pla ra. I saved it to eat together in Thailand.
Gun Guwin: In corporate alley, it's a nice, nice place. The employees go there to eat at lunch. Porsche would love it.
Q: Wait.
P: I told you that if there's anything, you can send me a message, no need to mess around. Ha ha ha.
Gun Guwin: I'm not kidding. Surprisingly delicious, not as bad as I thought. But you have to add no more than two chilies, otherwise you will die of sweat.
P: OK, got it. But why do you think so much about what to eat?
Q: Are you stressed, Gun? Should I come and look for you?
Gun Guwin: There are some things that are stressful, but they have nothing to do with som tam.
Q: I'm going back to Thailand next week, but if you can't wait, we can Facetime.
Q: Why do you think so much about friends?
Gun Guwin: No, it's not about that.
Gun Guwin: Right now, I'm being harassed by a man.
Q: Is he someone new you're talking to?
Gun Guwin: Not really. I tried making his my girlfriend by force, it seemed like a better approach.
P: you will kill him. Gun, are you so lonely that you resort to threatening and intimidating others? Ha ha ha. Apart from me, you have many other friends, right?
Gun Guwin: I stopped doing that when I said it's better to be good friends.
Gun Guwin: Porsche, that child is very stubborn, very stubborn.
Q: Ah, tell me more.
Gun Guwin: I don't understand why he likes things like that. I don't know, it's like a contradiction in his heart. He said the opposite of what he actually meant. Sometimes I feel happy when teased because I like the feeling of being chased.
Q: Except for work matters, Gun doesn't like things going according to plan. I know it.
Gun Guwin: But if I get teased too much, I get annoyed, like I'm tired. I've never tried this hard with anyone before.
Q: Are you playing with small children?
P: What this means is that you have to be an accomplished person, someone who is often targeted. This is not easy when the choices are abundant.
Gun Guwin: Quite the opposite. He was just an ordinary apprentice, ordinary looking.
P: Oh...interesting...
Gun Guwin: We connect through sound.
P: Gun, I'm really laughing now.
Gun Guwin: Laugh if you want, I can't see your face anyway.
Gun Guwin: Oh...
Q: You play like a child, but cute in a different way. I rarely see this side of Gun.
Gun Guwin: He doesn't seem to care about this agreement. As if we were just friends playing and entertaining each other. Just that. Recently, I flew to his hometown yesterday and we spent almost twenty-four hours together, doing things we had never done before.
Q: Did you have fun, Gun?
Gun Guwin: Yes.
Gun Guwin: The time I spent doing things with him made me feel special, safe, at least eased the fear in my heart.
P: He wasn't a spectacle, Gun, but now you see him as a safe zone.
Q: But he doesn't have a girlfriend?
Gun Guwin: Even without it, it looks like he has it.
Gun Guwin: I've been acting like a child in front of him since yesterday because he bought dessert for a girl he seems to have a deep relationship with.
P: Oh really? Is he interested in men?
Gungawan: Um.
P: Tsk, Gun, you can conquer whatever you want, but don't reject certain things. It's just a waste of our time.
P: There are indeed things that can be changed, but changing someone's heart is not easy.
Gun Guwin: I think so too.
Gun Guwin: But I'm starting to like him more and more every day, and every time I feel like that, I feel stupid.
Q: Did you fall in love with him?
Gun Guwin: That's possible. Recently, he approached me like this.
[you sent a picture...]
P: Hahaha!
Q: What is this? "When my mother wasn't as naive as the boss. The ultimate loser."
P: "Tonight, I will sleep alone with a lonely gaze. See you."
P: Just kidding, haha.
Gun Guwin: How funny, Porsche?
Q: Based on the picture you took, I think the kid has something.
Gun Guwin: If he is a real boyfriend, I will keep fighting until he asks for commitment.
P: Oh...to the point of even thinking about being a girlfriend, that shows that you're not joking.
Q: But earlier, it seemed like you caught a glimpse of someone who wanted to break up?
Gun Guwin: Not broken yet. There's still plenty of time before the new year.
Q: Did you force him to date until then, Gun?
Gungawan: Um.
P: So cute <3
Gun Guwin: If he doesn't want to fight, it looks like tomorrow I'll have to disappear myself.
I threw my phone on the bed and lay on my back, staring at the ceiling. Another day has passed, but the pain still hasn't gone away. I refused by pretending not to care. Who told Jack he was having fun with his, and why did he post a photo an hour ago, sitting at a table with his friends, as if to show how content he was without having to call his tonight?
"very annoying."
I think someone from another dimension might understand this behavior. He had thought about changing his habits many times but never succeeded. Until someone like Cher comes along, teasing him and making him feel that if he behaves badly, he won't receive love from someone who feels good to him.
Expressing emotions is difficult. Why does such a small child have such a big influence that Gun questions himself? He had even planned beforehand how to create a casual meeting to talk as if nothing had happened. He never thought about how severe his symptoms were.
He was just a rough boy who might not see gender the same way, but he was adorable.
When the protagonist is drunk, the person Gun misses most can only watch his old clips and play them. Gun looked at both sides of the screen, full of food and inadvertently smiled. He thought he might fall asleep while watching this clip, but just as his heart calmed down, the screen went black, along with the phone number of the person he missed.
Gun doesn't want to say goodbye because he's afraid Cher won't wait. So he coughed softly and cleared his throat before answering the call.
(Bos)
"Of?"
(Come see me for a moment.)
The young man had to restrain himself from saying provocative words. No matter how drunk the kid was, he couldn't find his way back to the dorm or if he was drunk and wanted to play around. Gun quickly took his glasses and car keys.
"Where are you?"
(In dorm.)
*
Even though several hours had passed, he still felt like he had just met the Cher he was sitting with five minutes ago. Gun remembered the couple's blank look, no one wanted to sit here. Cher sat quietly while everyone else explained themselves. This kid didn't even try to apologize to exonerate himself.
This was not a child who was naughty and laughed uncontrollably. Gan felt that Cher was someone he had never known before.
"Should I call Jack?"
"NO."
"..."
"I don't want those people to know this. They will think too much."
"Then I will take you to the dormitory."
"I don't want to go back."
"..."
"Can you keep driving? Take me anywhere, far from here."
That was the last sentence they said after finishing their conversation with the other person. Gun wasn't too surprised that the other party would argue and fight after drinking, but once they knew it was a friend, the question came to mind again.
"I'll tell the truth, and you know it best, Cher."
The ensuing scream silenced Cher for a moment, and the person decided to walk away from the station. The police took a moment to respond before they turned around to answer, blood dripping like before.
“Go anywhere,” is what he said. Gun didn't know where it was. The condo itself may not be an option for the other party. They want to leave, so Gun keeps driving. Suddenly, they arrived at Bangsaen.
The two of them let the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline break the silence. In Gun's hand was a can of beer which he offered to the person next to him to drink and drown their problems. Gun wanted to know if there was something more to it than what the boy described. If it's about fighting, because of drunkenness, maybe that's not the reason Cher doesn't want to come back. But asking now will probably bring nothing but silence.
"This is not the boss I know."
"What?" The young man raised his eyebrows and turned to look at the person next to him, whose gaze was fixed on the dark sea at night. Then, the person raised his beer and took a sip before turning his gaze to his.
"The boss I knew had to scold me until I was locked up."
"Well, then you're not the Cher I know either."
"..."
"I don't want to scold you. Something like that shouldn't happen right here, right now. And you... Do you want to say something to me?"
It's like throwing eco into the ocean and letting emotions towards others do the work. During the time spent together, in a state of mutual misunderstanding, it would be better if he tried to follow his own heart without worrying too much.
"That's my friend." It was more than enough. Gun wanted to thank himself for being willing to let go of that crazy ego. Then, lay it on the soft side and it works. "Not college friends, but old school friends."
"Why are you fighting with him?"
"He said something unpleasant." Laem lowered his gaze and looked at his own hand which was being held by someone else. The boss was no longer holding the beer can. Now, the fool turned around to take out the plastic bag he bought on the trip, took out water, tissue, iodine, and gauze to treat it.
"Is he drunk and not talking well?"
"..."
The young man raised his face and looked at the person who did not answer the question.
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine." Gun was not skilled at treating wounds, but the rebellious child agreed to sit still. He tried to be gentle when blowing air during the iodine administration, but the person who was supposed to be screaming in pain reacted indifferently, as if not feeling the signs of fading.
"He insulted a certain woman."
"..."
"The woman who has been talked about badly. I don't like his."
"Because it's not the truth that makes you angry, or is there something more to it?"
The sound of waves crashing against the shore combined with the sound of exhaling. The young man thought back to a few hours ago, remembering the face of an old friend he had not seen for a long time. So he went to greet his out of habit, but when he touched the glass and started talking about old things that had passed almost three years ago, the memories that had been buried suddenly burst out.
"I like a certain woman. His name is Tien."
Gun stopped suddenly, still staring at the red mark on the back of the other person's hand. He didn't lift his face or look up to confirm whether the statement was true or just a playful joke. Because at this moment, no one thinks like that.
"We've known each other since the beginning of high school, but we became close in fourth year. We were in the same class, sitting next to each other. I was someone who got along easily with others, and the boss seemed to notice. But Tien was the only one female friend who caught my attention."
"Hey, long time no see. Have you been working as an intern lately?"
"Tien's family doesn't have much money. When there are activities or things he wants to buy, he barely has anything to donate. When I offered to pay for it, he refused. But when I didn't have any money, he was scolded by his teacher. So, I found a way to help by hiring a tutor. Only then did Tien agree."
"I've been interning continuously, and it's almost finished. What about you? Didn't you originally say you wanted to study abroad?"
"I just realized that I liked Tien in the second semester of fourth year. I'm not the type of person who wants to enter the friend zone, boss. I frankly told him how I felt. But he smiled awkwardly and said to me, 'Sorry, Cher, I just can be your best friend.'"
"At first I thought so too. But I wanted to go out and experience life outside my hometown. After my mother agreed, I packed my bags and came to Bangkok. And what about you, Cher? It must have been hard for you since that incident. Right?"
"I didn't want to be in the friend zone, but I stayed in that zone until sixth year. I realized that Tien liked me too, but it seemed like he had some kind of barrier that he didn't want me to cross. 555555, I don't know, boss. Sometimes his gaze to me felt more than just friendship. Sometimes, I thought we'd hold hands, sync fingers, and then he'd turn and smile at me."
"What happened?"
"You've been burying your feelings all this time."
"No, not because the incident seemed to go beyond friendship but was still in the friend zone. No, not at all," Laem shook his head and looked at the person who was now looking down, deliberately causing injury, and he knew his boss wasn't feeling well.
"And what happened after that?"
"People think you're the father of Tien's unborn child, right? You must be having a hard time being accused of being irresponsible."
"She's pregnant."
"..."
Gun felt that it must be very burdensome for him. If Cher answered, "The child in his womb is my baby."
"I'm not having a hard life because of that. I'm fine."
"I know... No, everyone knows that the body found floating in the pool was him."
It's so hard, but it's not him... It's this kid.
"On Wednesday, during English class, he didn't come, and I called him but he didn't answer. When class was about to end, someone came in and said that Tien drowned."
"..."
"I don't know how it happened. At that time, my legs couldn't move. I didn't know if I was still breathing. It felt unreal. I wanted to slap myself to wake me up if that happened." just a dream."
At that time I saw the two of you so close, but everyone knew that Tien was a problem child, selling himself since childhood. No one knows who he slept with, who protected him, who abandoned him. His pregnancy was also strange. When I saw you being abused, I felt sorry for you."
"I rushed to the hospital, beaten by Tien's mother. He bLaemd me for causing Tien's death. Was it me who made Tien pregnant? How could that happen if all we did as friends was hold hands, and that only happened once?"
"You caused my child to die, you bastard who destroyed everything!"
"Tien is not a problem child."
"Tien's birth canal was torn. Tien was sexually assaulted, and I was the first to be suspected because the night before someone saw Tien on my motorbike. It became a big rumor, spreading from school to the neighborhood. My mother was given strange glances because his son was a bad person. I felt sorry for my mother. I could only tell his, 'Mother, I didn't do it.' And I'm so relieved that my mother believes me more than anyone else's words."
"Forget it. I know you two are close, but sometimes we can accept the truth, bro."
"I told you, Tien never did anything like that!!!"
"The chaotic situation passed with an emotional toll. There were no warning signs beforehand that Tien would no longer sit next to me in class. We would not see each other again."
"Tien is a much better person than this foul-mouthed, ignorant person who doesn't even know him!!!"
"I never deleted the YouTube channel we created together. That was the channel I suggested to Tien to earn income. If he sings well and gets a lot of views, he can earn additional income from YouTube. But it looks like I took him there." point of no return."
Gun had never been a good listener before. He looked at the other person who had his head lowered and used his other hand to wipe his tears before reaching out to hold his hand.
The two stared at each other amidst the sound of waves crashing against the shore. The young man released his grip from his wrist before slowly reaching out to embrace the other person, bringing their heads together. He knew that Cher had tried, tried so hard to be strong, tried to endure this pain, and Gun Guwin felt guilty for doubting his like that.
"The night before, you told me you wanted to drink cold bubble tea. So, I went back to get it. But before I could, you said you were going to sleep, so I didn't surprise you."
"It's not your fault."
"I feel guilty for not being able to help in any way. It's so frustrating. No one knows who the child's father is, and that bastard, the one who violated you, the one who died and came back to save himself. Yet they idiots continue slander you, right? Eat curry, right?
The child in his arms trembled, causing him to hold tighter and gently stroke their head. Cher looked like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode this weekday. His clothes were wet with tears. Gun Guwin never knew how much pain someone who appeared cheerful in the eyes of others could endure. This is another lesson he learned from Cher, growing beyond the child stage into adulthood.
Amidst the faint smell of alcohol and the sound of waves lapping the shore, Gun Guwin continued to carry Cher, providing comfort to someone for the first time in his life.