"Who the hell is calling at this time?"
Panlee let go of the bouquet with one hand and struggled to pull out his phone out of the back pocket of his pants, worried the big bouquet cradled in his other arm might fall. When Panlee saw the name on the screen, he quickly answered the call.
"What's up, Khun Pradiphat?"
[I'm almost at the airport.]
"What? Wasn't P'Fah supposed to visit Dad tomorrow?"
[I changed my mind.]
"Actually, I wanted to visit Dad too..."
[Dad's doing much better now, so don't worry. Just focus on your exams.]
"..."
[And don't feel guilty about anything. Whether it's me or you visiting, it's all the same. We're both his sons. Do you understand what I'm saying?]
"Yeah... I understand."
[Has Dad called to talk to you yet?]
"Yes... he called and laughed with me."
[Good. Then stop overthinking. I'll call you again when I arrive in Hong Kong.]
"Okay."
Panlee ended the call with his brother and slid his phone back into his pocket. He cradled the bouquet with both arms again and moved to line up for the conference room.
"This person has a staff sign..."
A woman standing at the entrance spoke up when she noticed the Staff badge Panlee was holding. He removed it from his neck, worried it might be blocked by the bouquet.
"Please escort him to the staff seating."
"Right this way, please..."
Panlee followed a petite woman into the conference room. Inside the large room, there were different levels of seats like grandstands. There was a large stage for showing various performances.
"..."
"Whose boyfriend are you?" the petite woman asked as she stopped near a row of seats close to the stage.
"GlaiJai,"
Her eyes widened briefly before she smiled and said, "Your boyfriend will be on the left side of the stage, so you should sit at the far-left corner."
"Okay, thank you very much."
Panlee thanked her and entered the row, but a conversation between two people near the last seat caught his attention. He saw the woman who escorted him standing and chatting with her friend. Although they weren't speaking loudly, But because the two of them were not far away, he heard
"Epic, epic epic"
"What is it, Earn?! You sound possessed!"
"GlaiJai's boyfriend is so handsome! Like, ridiculously handsome! I was shocked. I tried so hard to stay composed while leading him in."
"Really?"
"Really, girl!"
"Which one?"
The woman named Earn was about to point him out, but she quickly averted her eyes when she realized he was looking at her. She then hastily dragged her friend out of the conference room.
Panlee smiled to himself, thinking...
I already said I'd be everything for GlaiJai.
Now I'm his pride, too.
Panlee sat in one of the last seats on the left side as recommended. He placed the bouquet on the empty chair to his left. Shortly after, someone occupied the seat to his right.
As the seats filled up, Panlee pulled out his phone and opened the LINE app to send an encouraging message to GlaiJai.
P.Panli: I'm sitting in the conference room now, near the stage.
P.Panli: You've got this, Khun Glai!
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen..."
Panlee quickly put his phone away when he heard someone speak into a microphone. A beautiful female MC emerged from behind the red curtain and stood centre stage.
"The next performance is titled 'Like a Dream.' ...Please enjoy the show."
As soon as the MC finished speaking, the warm yellow lights illuminating the room dimmed until the space was pitch-black. A single spotlight shone on the stage, revealing GlaiJai sitting with his zither. He wore a short-sleeved pearl-colored top and shiny silver traditional Thai trousers.
GlaiJai wasn't alone. To his left was a man with a drum, and to his right was another man holding a fiddle. Both wore traditional Thai outfits similar to GlaiJai's.
Panlee couldn't take his eyes off GlaiJai's delicate features. GlaiJai glanced his way briefly before lowering his gaze to the instrument before him.
When the sound of the zither began, it was as though everyone in the room was enchanted. The drumbeats soon joined the melody. At that moment, Panlee found himself utterly captivated by GlaiJai, his heart skipping beats whenever he saw the sweet smile on GlaiJai's face.
As the lights brightened again, a woman holding a microphone walked out from behind the curtain and began to sing:
"Fate brought us to meet, like magic... Was it destiny that brought us together, meant to give my heart solely to you?"
"..."
"Could it be you? Could it be you, the one I've been waiting for my whole life? Could it be a dream, or just a blurry image? And then that dream turned into reality."
Panlee had once thought...
Some songs might resonate with his feelings about 80%.
But they'd never reach 100%.
"Crossing the path from dreams until I met you, the wind brought hope to me today."
"..."
Until...
"No matter how far the edge of the sky, we met in the end. Whatever it takes, I am willing to do everything for you forever, until my last breath, just having you with me... that's all."
"..."
"Crossing the path from dreams until I met you, the wind brought hope to me today."
"..."
"No matter how far the edge of the sky, we met in the end. Whatever it takes, I am willing to do everything for you forever, until my last breath, just having you with me. I don't need anyone else anymore, I probably won't need anyone else anymore."
And until...
"Led to meet, encountered you... destiny brought us together... led to meet, encountered you... miraculously, I fell in love with you."
"..."
"In this life or any other, only you. I swear eternal love forever. Even if life fades, my heart will not change, dedicating unwavering love to you alone."
Until the very last moment when he sat watching GlaiJai perform the music along with this song...
"Could it be you? Could it be you, like a dream... that suddenly turned into reality."
Panlee finally realized...
The person he felt a complete 100% connection with, made this song resonate with his feelings fully, 100%.
GlaiJai put down the zither and smiled at him. Panlee smiled before clapping to show his appreciation for GlaiJai and everyone on stage. When the host stepped out from behind the red curtain, GlaiJai and his friends stood up and walked off to disappear behind the stage.
"Dude... the one playing the zither is cute."
"Yeah, really cute... are you interested?"
"Yeah, I'm interested. Your friend is in this faculty, right?... Can you get his number for me?"
"Sure, I'll ask my friend."
Panlee pushed his tongue against his cheek in frustration when he heard the conversation of the two guys sitting in the row ahead. He tried to stay calm because he didn't want to cause a scene. However, when it came to GlaiJai, he could never let it slide.
At that moment, Panlee raised one foot and kicked the back of the armchair in front of him hard enough to make the person sitting there yell and turn around with an annoyed expression.
"You want the number of the person playing the zither, huh?"
The other person, who was about to start cursing, paused and furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Yeah... what about it?"
"I know his number..."
"..."
"His number is three-nine."
"..."
"But if it's his boyfriend's number... it's four-five."
And once again, Panlee falsely claimed the status of being a boyfriend.
"..."
"Pick whichever number you want."
Panlee smirked before standing up to his full height. The other person looked displeased but had to accept that the one he was eyeing already had someone. Panlee bent down to pick up the bouquet before leaving a final remark...
"And he doesn't study in this faculty, you idiot!"
Panlee walked out of the row of seats easily even though there were quite a few people sitting because everyone was ready to make way. He carried the bouquet and stood waiting for GlaiJai in front of the conference room before sending a Line message to tell him where he was waiting.
It wasn't long before the person he was waiting for appeared. Panlee smiled at the smaller figure, now back in a student uniform. GlaiJai walked up and stopped in front of him, grinning so widely his eyes squinted as he looked at the bouquet.
"Puppy... Glai already saw the bouquet from inside the meeting hall."
"..."
"It's huge."
"And... do you like it?"
The still-smiling person nodded vigorously before saying, "I like it... a lot."
"And..."
"P'Glai!"
Panlee's question was interrupted by an uninvited guest. He sighed quietly as he saw the man who had been playing the saw u (a Thai fiddle) on stage run up to GlaiJai.
"What's up, Max?"
"Max just came to tell you...P'Glai played the zither really well today."
That...
"Oh, uh... thanks."
"P'Glai is amazing!"
That damn kid...
GlaiJai nodded lightly while glancing at Panlee before softly replying, "Max... you're great too."
"P'Glai..."
"Max, I really have to..."
"Calling P'Glai so much..."
"..."
"You're gonna get smacked in the mouth by P'Lee soon..."
"Puppy..."
Panlee stopped immediately when GlaiJai spoke to restrain him. He let out a big sigh. "Lee apologizes... I just got too jealous."
The small person smiled slightly while looking at him, shaking his head lightly before saying, "Max, I apologize on behalf of my boyfriend... he's just the jealous type."
"This person is P'Glai's boyfriend?"
"Yes..."
Panlee raised an eyebrow at the brat who tried to flirt with GlaiJai before smirking victoriously. The kid nodded with a sorrowful expression.
"Well, I wish P'Glai and your boyfriend a long-lasting relationship."
"Thank you so much, Max... I'll excuse myself now."
"Yes."
"Puppy, come here now..."
Panlee tried to suppress a smile as the small figure led him away from the area. When they both stopped in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts building, GlaiJai sighed and stared at him.
"Stubborn... very stubborn."
"..."
"And mischievous... you're a very mischievous puppy, do you know that?"
"I know... and very jealous too."
"..."
"I know that too..."
GlaiJai broke into a smile at his words. "What should Glai do..."
"..."
"...Seems like I can't handle it anymore."
"If you really can't handle it... Panlee won't be a puppy like this."
"Glai didn't mean it like that."
"Then what did you mean?"
"I mean your jealousy, Panlee."
"Lee is trying... trying to tone it down."
"..."
"But it's impossible. It's really difficult."
"..."
"Lee thinks you, Glai, should try being less cute... that might be easier."
GlaiJai smiled softly and shook his head. "A puppy."
"How about this, Lee will try to be less jealous, okay?"
"If it really doesn't work, then don't force it... just let it be natural."
"..."
"But Glai wants Panlee to know that... apart from Panlee, Glai has never looked at anyone else."
"..."
"Even though we're not officially a couple yet... Glai still tells everyone that Panlee is my boyfriend. Because Glai doesn't want anyone to hope to be more than just a senior, junior, or friend. And most importantly, Glai knows just how jealous Panlee can be."
While Panlee acted hot-headed and ready to confront anyone flirting with GlaiJai, the small figure calmly explained everything. That made his restless heart begin to settle and calm down. Panlee often heard his friends say during drinking sessions, 'If you're a hot-headed person, find a calm partner, and your temper will naturally decrease.' Now, he understood what his friends meant.
"Lee always trusts Glai, never doubting for a second. But..."
"...But Panlee doesn't trust others, right?"
Panlee nodded slightly. "Right."
"Others will always be others, no matter what. They can never become Panlee."
"..."
GlaiJai smiled softly and stepped closer to the taller figure, tiptoeing to add some height. Panlee's eyes widened when the shy little rabbit turned into a mischievous one and leaned in to kiss his cheek. The small figure laughed as Panlee blinked in surprise, standing there holding a large bouquet of flowers.
"Now do you believe that no one can replace Panlee?"
Panlee bit his lip, staring at the small figure giving him a sweet smile. GlaiJai must have thought this method would make him less jealous. But the truth was, it had the opposite effect.
"Glai, you're making me even more jealous..."
GlaiJai laughed heartily, scrunching his nose at him before saying, "Don't blame me... you're already very jealous to begin with."
At first, Panlee felt guilty for being overly jealous and making GlaiJai uncomfortable. But now he thought his jealousy wasn't nearly enough to match GlaiJai's overwhelming cuteness.
"Glai!"
"Oh... P'Em, hello!"
"Hello."
Panlee watched a good-looking guy, one of GlaiJai's seniors, approach them. He stood back, giving them space to talk privately. The small figure kept glancing at him with a worried expression. But when Panlee nodded to signal understanding, GlaiJai turned back to talk with the senior more comfortably.
The loyal puppy waited with the bouquet in his arms until the small figure waved goodbye to the good-looking senior and turned back to him. GlaiJai smiled sweetly as if trying to win him over.
"Puppy behaved so well... not jealous at all, huh."
"Not true... Lee is still just as jealous"
"..."
"But this person, Lee can tell that he didn't come to flirt, just came to greet as someone who knows each other."
"..."
"If anyone comes with that kind of intention... Lee will give them respect by not getting involved."
"This is what we call jealous with reason."
"But the reason behind the jealousy is called love."
"What did the puppy say just now?"
Panlee laughed in his throat before saying, "If you want to hear it again, there has to be a trade-off... will you agree, Khun Glai?"
"Then let the puppy offer a trade-off first..."
"Can the puppy stay overnight at your condo, Khun Glai?"
"..."
When Panlee saw the small figure frown, as if deep in thought, he quickly spoke up, "P'Fah changed his mind and flew to visit Dad in Hong Kong today. So tonight, Lee has to stay home alone."
"..."
"If I'm alone, I might start overthinking again..."
GlaiJai smiled softly while looking at him knowingly. "Even though I know how cunning the puppy is... I'm still worried that the puppy will overthink when alone."
"..."
"Then... I'll accept the offer."
Panlee smiled brightly before saying, "Tonight, Lee will say the word 'love' to you all night long."
Even if you say you're bored...
I'll keep saying over and over...
I love you...
I love you, GlaiJai.