But before he could even start running, a slender finger grabbed his collar from behind, pulling him back into the room and shutting the door immediately!
Khem wanted to cry but didn't dare. He could only steel himself, close his eyes, and slowly turn around to face the master.
"Ma-, Master, it's me..." Pharan didn't wait for Khem to finish speaking, and with a steady voice, still unable to open his eyes, he said, "Go get a damp cloth to wipe my face."
Khem bit his lip and nodded, feeling immediate shame because instead of accepting responsibility, he had thought about running away.
"Ye-, Yes, sorry, Master. Please sit and wait for me." Khem quickly supported the master to sit on the edge of the large bed, then walked around the room looking for a clean cloth.
The master's bedroom was spacious, with few pieces of furniture, and it looked very clean. Once he found a clean cloth, he rushed into the bathroom inside the room.
So that's why he had never seen the master use the downstairs bathroom.
Khem dampened the clean cloth, wrung it out, and walked back to the master. He quickly knelt down and shuffled over to where the master was sitting with his eyes closed, waiting. He stopped at a respectful distance, still hesitating to take action.
"Um...Ma-, master, would you like to wipe your own face?"
Pharan furrowed his brows before shaking his head slightly, speaking with a slightly irritated tone.
"You wipe it, come closer."
Khem swallowed hard, then slowly shuffled forward on his knees.
As he got closer than usual, Khem's heart started beating faster,overwhelmed by the mysterious, cool scent emanating from the priest, theundone buttons of the priest's long-sleeved nightshirt revealing a cleartattoo of a pair of magpies with lotuses, and his well-proportioned,handsome features...
Khem took a deep breath, softly asked for the priest's permission, thencautiously reached out his trembling hand to wipe the powder from thepriest's face.
Pharan leaned his head down, allowing Khem to sit and wipecomfortably without having to stand and strain his knees. The cool dampcloth worked well with the cooling powder, numbing his face.
"What were you mumbling outside my door just now?"
Still shocked from the priest leaning so close earlier, Khem's face quickly changed from red to pale.
Khem closed his eyes tightly, thinking his end was near. He didn't want to tell the truth, but at this moment, he couldn't lie because he was not good at it...
His clear round eyes flickered hesitantly for a moment before answering,
"Well, uh, just a regular Buddhist chant, master." Pharan slowly opened his deep onyx eyes, looking into Khem's light brown, large eyes for a moment before asking in a whisper that was loud enough for both to hear,
"What was it?"
As if time had stopped, Khem felt frozen in place. The master's sharp eyes, now glazed with a clear, sweet look, were so beautiful that Khem felt he could stare at them all day and night.
Now he understood why Jett had warned him not to make eye contact with the priest, and why the priest often wore sunglasses to hide his eyes when out and about.
Because the master's eyes were this beautiful...
"What did Grandma-Si teach you?"
Khem bit his lip gently, his cheeks turning red as if teased, knowing that the priest was fully aware of the truth...
But since he was already caught, what harm would there be in reciting it aloud?
"Metta, Karuna, Buddha Pranee, Thayindee, Yen-doo, with Namo Buddhaya."
Pharan looked at the small lips that had just recited a spell directed at him, his eyes, though not full of affection, surveyed the sweet face that still bore the resemblance of their past life down to every detail. Yet, in the likeness, there were differences.
It was an endearing difference.
"Um." Pharan inadvertently responded, realizing only after he had already been enchanted by Khem's lips that he had thought something inappropriate. He then lowered his gaze and nodded.
"You may go and rest now."
Khem, still blushing, nodded awkwardly, slowly stood up, and walked out of the room in a daze, closing the door behind him for the master. But he couldn't help but stand there, confused, with furrowed brows.
Did the master just say, "Um"?
However, because there were more pressing matters at hand, his anger surged from his toes to the top of his head when he remembered, quickly dismissing the master's suspicious response from his mind.
"Jett, you're dead!"
Jett and Chan hadn't actually run away; they had just retreated to a strategic distance. They were confident that even if caught, Khem would be safe, but they knew they wouldn't be!
Pong had recovered after receiving treatment at the hospital. Not even two days had passed before he was back to his robust self. After the doctor allowed him to go home, he changed into new clothes his mother had sent with his father, and then went out to wait for his medication.
"Dad, I'm going to pick up the armband from the master's house. It should be ready by now." Pong said after leaving the hospital, since they were driving back in separate cars anyway. He planned to go there directly.
Chief Chang nodded.
"Yeah. It's good that you're going to get it yourself, saves the master from having to send it by mail. We've already troubled him enough." Instead of feeling scolded, Pong grinned, quickly bowed in respect, and got into his car.
Picking up the armband was just part of it; in reality, Pong just wanted to see Khem.
During the two days in the hospital, whether eating, walking, sitting, or sleeping, Pong couldn't stop thinking about Khem's face. His confession of love had yet to receive an answer, leaving everything hanging in his heart to the point where he could barely eat or sleep.
Pong didn't know if Khem would reciprocate his feelings, but he just wanted to try something. If it didn't work out, he would just go home and cry to his mother for comfort.
At that time, Khem was sitting on a bamboo bench under a mango tree, folding coins for the alms-giving ceremony for the master. The bench had been moved there by Jett and Chan to provide shade. After setting it up, they went inside to practice their skills. These coins that Khem was folding were meant for merit-making during ordination ceremonies in the village.
After sitting there for a while, a familiar four-door car pulled up and parked nearby. Phii Pong stepped out of the car.
"Hello, Phii Pong." Khem greeted with a wai, making Pong's heart beat faster with longing, though he tried not to show it too much. He smiled and walked over, stopping at a respectful distance.
"Hello, Nong Khem, what are you doing?" Khem smiled, showing Pong the coin he had folded into the shape of a rose with a ribbon, his cute demeanor nearly making Pong unsteady on his feet.
"I'm folding coins for the master's alms-giving ceremony. Phii Pong, did you come to see the master?"
In his heart, Pong wanted to say he had come to see Khem, but he restrained himself and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, I came to pick up the armband that the master promised to make for me. So, I'll go up to see the master first." Khem nodded slightly, quickly got up from the bench, put on his shoes, and turned to Pong with a smile,
"Alright, Phii Pong, go ahead. I'll bring some water up." Hearing this, Pong felt his heart swell, and he nodded quickly, not realizing that Khem just wanted an excuse to go up to the master...
Khem brought two glasses of cold pandan water; one he gave to Phii Pong, and the other he carried over to the master.
"Here you go." When the master didn't acknowledge him but instead scolded,
"You left the money on the bench like that. Aren't you afraid someone will steal it?" Khem looked a little embarrassed, quickly apologized to the master, and hurried past Pong down the stairs, not noticing Pong's concerned look.
Pharan cleared his throat lightly to get Pong's attention, then handed him a wooden box containing the magically enhanced armband.
"Master, my father said he'd like you to come to the boxing match with us. He's worried that Klaa's uncle might be there. Uh...but if you're not available, it's okay." When he saw Pharan thinking for a while, Pong quickly added, not expecting that the master would nod in agreement.
"If there's no urgent business, I'll be on my way." Pong smiled, his spirits lifted a bit. Not only did he have the master's support if the other side played any tricks, but he also had Khem nearby.
With all this encouragement, Pong felt certain he wouldn't lose to the likes of Klaa and his dirty tricks.
Pong chatted with the master for a few more sentences before bowing in farewell and heading downstairs to find Khem. Seeing Pong approach, Khem, who had been sitting idly, quickly smiled and greeted him with politeness.
"Phii Pong, you are leaving already?" Pong took a soft breath in, though he didn't want to leave, he had to. But before going, he wanted to mention something important, something he had intended to say from the start.
"Nong Khem, I'm fighting in two days. I'd really like for you to come watch. Would you?" Khem looked into Phii Pong's eyes, swallowing lightly because he thought he could read the other's intentions.
Previously, Khem hadn't responded to Phii Pong's advances, but to outright reject him now didn't feel right.
Though it was difficult, Khem didn't want to discourage Phii Pong, so he smiled and nodded.
"Of course, I'll come."
Pong's smile widened, showing both dimples, nodding with joy.
"Thank you. I'll be going then, see you there."
"Goodbye, drive safely, Phii Pong."
"I will, I'll drive very carefully." Khem smiled, chuckling softly at Phii Pong's earnest demeanor, waiting until he drove away before sitting back down, sighing with his thoughts in a muddle.
How does one reject someone without hurting them...
At that moment, Khem didn't realize he was being watched from a window above.
Two days later, Jett, Khem, and Chan got up early to clean, making a racket as usual, which woke Pharan earlier than he would have liked (again).
Over those two days, Khem and Pharan had barely seen each other. This was partly because Pharan was rushing to teach the remaining lessons to Chan and Jett. Despite their strong spirits, their training time hadn't been sufficient to easily handle a ghost like Madam Ramphueng.
Secondly, Pharan felt he was losing his focus because of Khem, so he tried to avoid him to fully concentrate on teaching his two students.
Meanwhile, Khem was still preoccupied with thoughts about Pong, which resulted in them both inadvertently keeping their distance from each other.
After they had showered, dressed, and eaten, Uncle-Chai brought the car for the master, with Auntie-Kaew following behind on her sidecar motorcycle to take them back.
The car for today was a black sedan, driven by Jett, with the master sitting beside him, while Chan and Khem sat in the back.
They soon arrived at the venue hosting the boxing match. The boxing ring was outdoors, surrounded by numerous stalls, mostly food vendors.
This event was also being broadcast live on television.
Today, the master was dressed in a long-sleeved white silk shirt, black slacks, and his usual sunglasses. Jett, Khem, and Chan trailed behind the master until they reached the boxing ring area, where the village chief, upon noticing them, immediately invited the group to sit in the front row.
Upon sitting down, Pharan spotted the sorcerer, "Krailert, the one with mystical powers from the southern district." and as soon as the other saw him, he began to silently chant spells. Of course, Pharan did the same, but only with protective spells...
So, they started their confrontation right upon arrival, indicating that the other party knew he would be attending this event.
Soon it was time for the fight. The armband that Pharan had made was now wrapped around Pong's right bicep. First, there was the traditional Thai dance to pay respects to the master, and then, as the bell rang, the fight began.
Throughout the match, Pharan silently chanted spells to counteract any magical tricks or mental manipulation from the opposing sorcerer aimed at Pong. Any venomous creatures conjured up were instantly reduced to ashes, though no one noticed this anomaly because everyone was focused on the fight.
Ding!
After a prolonged exchange of blows, the bell signaling the end of the round rang. Pong knocked out Klaa, his opponent, despite both being in rough shape, eliciting a roar from the crowd because this year, the district led by the village chief had won.
Once Klaa, Pong's opponent, was helped off the ring, the sorcerer, who was Klaa's uncle, Krailert, stood up from his chair and sent a smile Pharan's way, seemingly enjoying the magical confrontation. He had no intention of causing real harm or taking lives, knowing well that someone like Pharan wouldn't stoop to black magic, especially since it was his nephew who started the trouble last time.
It was good that Pharan hadn't turned to dark magic as well; otherwise, it would have been tough for everyone.
After receiving his award, Pong quickly left the stage to change clothes and then walked over to Khem, who was sitting beside the master.
"Nong Khem, can I have a moment of your time?" Khem glanced at the master, Jett, and Chan briefly. The master was still watching the new fighters on the stage without turning his attention to Khem, but seeing his friends nod, Khem stood up and walked away with Pong.
Pong led Khem to sit on a bench under a tree, then pulled out a small velvet box the size of a fist. Opening it, he revealed a luxurious rose gold bracelet, and then spoke directly to Khem.
"Nong Khem, I stand by what I said before. I like you. Would you give me a chance?" Khem pressed his lips together, took a deep breath in, and slowly reached out to close the velvet box.
"Phii Pong, thank you for your kind feelings, but I...I already like someone else." He said almost in a whisper, lowering his gaze, unable to look at Pong.
Pong pressed his lips with disappointment but nodded in understanding.
He had an inkling of who that person might be, but he had been trying to fool himself.
"I'm sorry, Phii Pong, please don't be angry, and don't hate me." Khem said with a trembling voice, seeing Pong's prolonged silence.
Pong sighed, disappointed, but then gave a small smile, not wanting Khem to overthink.
"I understand. Don't worry about it, I'm not angry. I don't hate you, Nong Khem." Hearing this, Khem felt relieved and quickly smiled back.
"Thank you, Phii Pong." Seeing Khem's expression, Pong couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain, playfully tilting his head as he teased,
"Then...would it be okay if I asked for something else?" Khem blinked, nodding once more.
"We can be Phii-Nong then." Pong laughed, not quite crying, feeling cornered into this option by Khem, who left him no other choice.
"But it's better than having no choice at all."
"Alright, Phii-Niong then. Oh well, such a pity. Could you come and walk with me to get some food?" Khem nodded eagerly, wanting to buy something for the master and his two friends to eat too, so he replied evasively,
"Hold on, I will treat you to some blended drinks to soothe your spirits."
Cut back to the scene at the front of the stage, where Pharan was still watching the boxing match, albeit with less concentration.
"Master, Phii Khem and Phii Pong are walking together to buy food.
They look so happy and close, don't they, Thong?"
"Yes, yes, Phii Pong even wiped Phii Khem's sweat for him, master. Isn't that enviable, Ekk?"
Pharan regretted not bringing a switch with him today.