After we end the call, I call my mom.
“Sud! Are you still coming on Tuesday?” Her voice is full of happy surprise at my call.
“Yes, Mae, I’ll leave after lunch.” The drive from Hua Hin to my parents’ house is only about fifteen or twenty minutes.
“It will be so good to see you. I wish Mee Noi was coming with you. How is he doing? I haven’t talked to him in two weeks.”
“He’s doing fine. I just got off the phone with him. He seems to be enjoying the group trip to Nakhon Pathom.”
“Is he making friends?”
“It sounds like it.”
“I just want to know he’s doing well.”
“He really seems to be, Mae. I’m watching out for him.”
“I know you are.”
“Is Pah at home?”
“No, he’s filming a TV special in Lopburi. But he’ll be home by Tuesday night. He’s looking forward to seeing you. Your brother, as well. He’s been talking nonstop about it.”
After I finish my call with my mother, I meet up with Koman for dinner. He surprises me by bringing two girls along. One is his girlfriend, Waan, but the other one I don’t know. Waan didn’t come with us on the trip, nor had he mentioned she was coming, so I can only conclude that she decided to drive there on her own.
Koman introduces the other girl as Waan’s friend, Proud. She’s small and pretty with a bubbly personality. She seems nice, but I’m a little annoyed at Koman for not warning me. It’s a little uncomfortable being coupled off with someone. When the girls go to the restroom and we have a moment alone, I tell him this.
“Sorry, mung, but Waan called me this afternoon to say she was coming. She didn’t mention Proud. You don’t like her?”
“She’s fine. I’m just not looking for a girlfriend. As long as she knows that, we’re good.”
“I’ll tell Waan. Everything’s cool; don’t worry.”
I nod. The girls come back, and, after we’ve finished our food, Waan suggests we take a walk on the beach. I have no choice but to walk with Proud, and it’s awkward because the sun is setting, making for a romantic atmosphere, and Koman and Waan are taking advantage of it by stopping every few minutes so that Proud and I have to walk ahead.
“I’ve seen you around campus, P’Sud,” Proud says over the soft lapping of the waves on the shore. “And on the Best Boys page, too,” she adds. When I only smile politely, she says, “I saw a picture with you and another boy…Mee Noi?”
“He’s my best friend.”
“He’s very cute. My friend, Cream, has a big crush on him. Do you think he would be interested in meeting her?”
“Probably not. He’s very serious about his studies,” I say frankly. Then, because I can’t be one hundred percent certain what Noi wants, I add, “I’ll mention it to him, though.”
Waan calls out to us and points to a pod of dolphins not too far from shore. As we stand near the surf watching them, Proud moves very close to me. I don’t think it’s an accident when her breast brushes against my arm, especially when it happens a second time. As casually as I can, I move away from her. Even if Koman managed to tell Waan what I said, she hasn’t had an opportunity to relay the message to Proud, so I remain silent.
At around eleven I tell everyone goodnight. Proud looks put out, but I can’t help that. Honestly, I’m kind of sorry I came on the trip. Everyone who was involved in the video has coupled off—Save even met someone at the bar the night before—and I’m on my own. A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated to hook up with Proud or someone else, just for the weekend. I’m just not interested, for some reason. I’d rather go back to the hotel, shower, and text Noi.
The following day, I bow out of the excursion to see the elephants, check out of the hotel, and drive to my family home.
Chapter Nine: Mee Noi
Before I know it, the weekend field trip is over. I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed it, which goes to show I should get out more, like Sud always says. Maybe that’s the point of going to college—it forces you to do just that. P’Film and I spent a lot of time together planting and exchanged LINE IDs before I left, so I guess I’ve made a friend. By the time I go to bed my first night back, he’s sent me several photos he took of us while I was there. I’m normally not a big Instagram person, but I’ve been posting more since my face landed on the Best Boys page and have been surprised at how many comments and likes they’ve been getting.
P’Tam confessed her feelings to Bua on day two of the trip, and Bua’s been a mess ever since. She isn’t sure she is ready for a relationship so soon after her breakup with her boyfriend, which happened just before she left for college. She also isn’t sure she could be attracted to a girl.
As soon as we arrived on campus, Bua seeks out other friends, since I couldn’t come up with any advice on the subject.
Since Jess went home for the week, I’m on my own in our dorm room.