"I'll have shrimp fried rice, no tomatoes."
"No tomatoes, right?"
"Yes."
Glai shifted his gaze away from the young waitress who was busy jotting down the order on a small piece of paper after confirming it. The person sitting across from him, staring intently at his phone with a serious expression, seemed to have forgotten to order. Instead, he kept scrolling on the glass screen nonstop. Glai didn't want to disturb Panlee, who appeared quite focused, but the waitress kept glancing between him and the other person as if silently asking for help in getting his order.
So, Glai asked, "Panlee, what would you like to eat?"
"Lee will have the same as you ~" Panlee replied without taking his eyes off the phone. His expression looked somewhat uneasy, but his tone remained cheerful as always.
"I'll have another one of the same."
"Alright... and what would you like to drink?"
"Just water..." Glai looked again at the person sitting opposite him. Seeing Panlee still engrossed in his phone, he decided to order for them. "...One bottle of water and two glasses of ice, please."
"Okay, please wait a moment."
"Thank you." Glai handed the menu back to the waitress, who then walked away to take the order to the counter.
Glai sat quietly, not wanting to disturb the person across from him, who was absorbed in something important. Panlee had brought him to eat at the restaurant owned by the P'Hia's mother. This restaurant was located a fair distance from the first football field. Since Khun Prachan had chosen a table near the glass window, Glai took the opportunity to glance around.
He admired the expansive area, which featured four artificial grass football fields, one badminton court, a saltwater pool behind the shower rooms, and a fitness centre—a true heaven for sports enthusiasts. Glai believed that anyone visiting this place would be impressed by its complete facilities. If hungry, they could always drop by this restaurant. Panlee had mentioned earlier that this was the family business of his senior, who loved sports so much that they transitioned from running a market to building artificial football fields, eventually expanding into other ventures.
It was quite an inspiring business. Still, whatever one does... everything should stem from the word "love."
Because no matter how many obstacles we face...
The word "discouragement" will transform into "rising again."
"Yes, P'Pee... Lee has read everything in the group chat already."
"..."
"The problem lies in the type of fabric. Based on what F told me, I think the shop recorded the wrong details, so the result didn't meet our expectations."
"..."
"That's probably it... Let's do this: tonight, I'll go to your house so we can think together about how to solve the problem."
"..."
"It's no trouble. I'm free later tonight, but right now, I'm not available."
"..."
"Okay, okay. You're not planning to sleep yet, are you?"
"..."
"Alright, see you later."
The person who had just placed his phone on the table smiled at Glai and then let out a small sigh. "Lee left you sitting here bored for so long. I'm sorry."
"No worries. I wasn't bored at all."
"There was a small problem with my work. My friend and senior, who's also a business partner, were asking for advice in the group chat."
"Oh..." At first, Glai assumed it was university work, but judging by Panlee's explanation, he figured it must be an issue with Khun Prachan's personal business.
Still, he didn't dare ask too much, for fear of overstepping. He preferred to let Panlee bring it up on his own. "...But you seem less stressed now."
"Yes... but I'm still tired. This week has been exhausting, with so much university work and personal business issues." Panlee's voice softened, almost as if drained of energy, but his eyes carried a mischievous glint.
Khun Prachan pushed the empty plate to the side and rested his head on the table, turning to face Glai. One hand moved to grasp Glai's, pulling it close. Warm breath lightly brushed the back of Glai's hand. "...I'm so tired, Khun Glai."
Glai couldn't help but smile. He never thought Khun Prachan could be this affectionate. And he wondered—when Khun Prachan felt this exhausted, did he seek comfort from everyone?
But seeing Panlee, eyes closed and gently squeezing his hand as if waiting for words of encouragement, Glai realized...
When we're this tired...
When we're almost out of strength...
Not everyone can recharge us.
It's only certain people... the ones who are truly important. His free hand reached out to gently stroke Panlee's blond hair. Glai noticed a faint smile forming as Panlee kept his eyes closed. His thumb softly stroked the back of Glai's hand before he whispered, "You're such a kind person..."
Glai didn't know how much Panlee valued him, given how short time they had known each other. But one thing he was sure of was... since they got closer, Panlee had always been kind.
Even though past experiences reminded Glai to be cautious of overly kind people, Panlee's actions and words made him feel sincerity. And because of that, Glai let his guard down.
He had encountered many people pretending to be kind before, but this time felt different. Glai trusted himself to discern genuine kindness. If he allowed himself to hope again, even if disappointment awaited...
No, this time was different because it was Panlee. Glai believed that with Panlee, he wouldn't experience heartbreak. Not because he thought Khun Prachan wouldn't hurt him, but because he trusted himself to nurture and develop his relationship better than before.
Through this connection with Panlee, Glai realized something profound...
No matter what happens in the future...
Whether Panlee acknowledges the feelings hidden in his heart or not...
Panlee will always remain "the same moon" to Glai Jai. He will never feel lost in the vast universe alone...
"I always cheer for Panlee,"
The person who still pressed his face to the table and stroked his hand smiled faintly before saying, "Thank you."
Glai was thankful... that in this café, there was no one else but the staff, who is more engrossed in her white phone than in the two of us. If there were other customers, Khun Prachan wouldn't have dared to act so affectionate with him. And Glai wouldn't have had the opportunity to unlock his feelings and dare to hope for more.
He wanted to thank every moment of today that allowed him to...step closer to Khun Prachan,
and believe that someday... 'GlaiJai will be alongside the moon.'
When Glai saw the waitress holding a tray with steaming shrimp fried rice, a glass of ice, and a bottle of water walking toward their table, he gently moved the hand that was being held to signal. Khun Prachan, being clever, released his hand and sat upright.
"Shrimp fried rice," the waitress announced.
"Yes," Glai nodded as he watched two plates of shrimp fried rice without tomatoes placed in front of them. The waitress then set down glasses of ice and poured water.
Glai nodded again, signalling thanks before saying, "Thank you."
The waitress smiled and returned to the counter. Glai looked at the identical plates of fried rice. However, in the next second, the owner of the plate of fried rice with shrimp without tomatoes sitting opposite him was making them difference.. Khun Prachan used a spoon to transfer five shrimp from his plate into Glai's. Now... Glai's plate had ten shrimp.
"Pa-Panlee... Even though I love shrimp, you don't have to share them with me. Please, keep some for yourself..." Glai said, attempting to return the shrimp, but Panlee looked at him seriously and shook their head softly.
"No, Khun Glai, please eat them. Don't worry about me."
"I..." Whether it was the serious gaze or the ten shrimp, Glai hesitated to speak his next words. "...I feel bad."
"Don't feel bad at all... I intended to order the same dish as you from the start."
"..."
"Because I planned that if you ordered a dish with shrimp, I'd give you the shrimp from my plate... so you could enjoy your favourite food."
Glai smiled. ".."
"When someone does something willingly for you... You don't need to feel bad or indebted," Khun Prachan said with a smile, continuing, "Just accept it sincerely."
"..."
"Okay?"
Glai nodded firmly, "Yes."
The owner of the bright smile, that even sunlight couldn't beat, averted his gaze and began eating. Glai, who had dared to step closer to Khun Prachan, watched him and thought...
Whoever ends up with Khun Prachan as his partner will be so lucky. Khun Prachan is gentle, lovely, and always considerate of others. But at this moment, Glai believed he wasn't wrong to allow himself to hope to be with the moon. Because not everyone gets to meet their moon, just as some people have their own sky.
Now that he's found it...
GlaiJai must fight a little. It wouldn't be wrong... if he allowed himself to hope just a bit more. To be that lucky person...
Even though overcoming the deeply buried feelings in his heart was difficult, Glai admitted that he felt fear and anxiety every time he thought about it. But he often said this phrase whenever he faced his inner fears.
GlaiJai...
The scariest thing is...
letting yourself remain afraid of the same things. Backing away every time something deeply ingrained approaches. This is the scariest thing... because it won't let you escape your fears. And the self-reminder to overcome fear always worked. Because now, Glai had shed a bit of the fear of disappointment. Even though those feelings lingered, he believed they would fade away soon enough.
However, at this moment, Glai was wondering how to keep the 1% chance he had alive. Of course, if he wanted to be the lucky one standing beside Khun Prachan, he had to fight. But how should he fight?
While taking a bite of rice, Glai pondered ways to win the moon. Suddenly, his eyes widened as an idea popped into his head. Chewing thoughtfully, he nodded in agreement with what he'd just thought.
"Because Panlee is such a good-hearted person..." Glai looked at the other person who had just looked up, "...I want to keep someone as kind as Panlee in a safe at home."
It was as if Glai heard cheering, loud and encouraging, for the shy guy who dared to say that line. Glai felt he had to make Khun Prachan waver, and the silence that followed as the other gazed at him proved...
GlaiJai wasn't a loser boy...
who only blushed and avoided Panlee's gaze anymore. GlaiJai had become much braver. Soon, he might be bold enough to pursue Khun Prachan more openly. And GlaiJai could become The Winner, claiming The Moon as his prize.
But Khun Prachan responded to his words with a soft laugh, biting his lower lip slightly as if amused. He probably hadn't expected the guard to share that story with him. At this moment, GlaiJai felt like he held the upper hand against Khun Prachan. He could use this to make him waver... a little (perhaps).
"Great... we can stay in the safe together," Panlee replied playfully. Everything... was completely unexpected. The teasing remark, known only to the two of them, made the person who had just escaped the status of loser boy almost retreat to reclaim his old title. Glai let the metaphorical cards he held in his hands drop to the floor, unwilling to pick them up.
The small figure blinked repeatedly before lowering his head, unable to resist the mischievous smile and flirtatious gaze of Khun Prachan. Fully returned to his previous status, Glai looked at his plate of rice and thought...
Glai shouldn't have said that to Panlee. When he countered... GlaiJai was completely thrown off.
"Is that good?"
The one being asked looked up at Khun Prachan. "P-Panlee means..."
"I mean... us being together in a safe. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"It wouldn't be good... it'd be so cramped," Glai replied, shaking his head in denial.
"Can I be upset about this... You just said being with me is suffocating." Khun Prachan spoke with a sorrowful look in his eyes before lowering his gaze to his plate.
By now, Glai had figured out that Khun Prachan, despite being grown-up, was incredibly sensitive. What he just said might have upset him, and he felt it was his responsibility to make him smile again.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"..."
"Panlee... there, there now"
Khun Prachan looked up at him before saying, "You're okay with me now, Khun Glai?... Why do I still feel hurt then?"
Hearing Panlee say that, Glai reached out to gently pat his head to comfort him.
"There, there, Glaijai's clever Panlee"
And as he pulled his hand back, he realized...
Wait a second...
What did I just blurt out? GlaiJai thought.
;______;
"I stopped feeling upset because I got to be GlaiJai's Panlee," he said.
Oh no!
GlaiJai is absolutely losing it.
Blushing furiously over the phrase "GlaiJai's Panlee."
"Besides comforting me for being upset, could you also comfort someone who lost a football match one more time?"
Glai tried to hold back his embarrassment before asking him, "How do you want me to comfort you, Panlee?"
At this moment, Khun Prachan moved his plate of fried rice slightly to the right. Then his hand reached out to take Glai's hand, lowering his head just a little—just like when he saw him reach out earlier. He placed Glai's hand on his golden blond hair.
"Khun Glai, just pat my head like before... and tell me, 'There, there. You did well, Glajai's Panlee.'"
GlaiJai smiled softly while looking at him. He's always been Glaijai's good boy.
"There, there. You did well, Glaijai's Panlee."
And Glai hoped...
That Khun Prachan would remain...
GlaiJai's Panlee for a long, long time.