“Mild, are you busy this Sunday? Let’s watch a movie.” Victor said.

“Sure!” Mild said. “Apple, we are going to watch a movie this Sunday with Victor.”

Apple looks at Victor.

“I…” Apple said. “I can’t. I need to do something on Sunday.”

“Oh I see.” Mild said.

“Is Mek there?” Mild heard Alice’s voice outside the classroom.

“There he is. Why?” Proud asks.

Mild looks at Alice who just get inside their classroom and walk towards Mek.

“Mek. I want to talk to you later. See me this lunch at the rooftop.” Alice said and left.

“Wow… It seems that the two are close, too.” Victor said.

Mild is curious of Alice. Why Alice would want to talk to Mek?

                         …………………………………………………

Lunch Break…

Bambam came to their class with a bouquet of red roses.

“P’Mild, someone asked me to give this to you.” Bambam said.

“Who?” Mild asks.

“Can’t tell you. Just read the card.” Bambam said.

Mild accepts the flowers.

“Thanks, Bambam.” Mild said.

Bambam left.

Mild checks the card.

“Who’s the sender?” Victor asks.

“P’Krist.” Mild said.

“The gangster? How did you know each other?” Victor asks.

“It’s a long story.” Mild said.

“What is in the card?” Victor asks.

“He’s inviting me to P’Sita’s Art Gallery this Saturday.” Mild said.

“It seems that you are close now.” Victor said.

“Not really. We just have a common interest and that is art.” Mild said. “He is nice.”

“Still he is a gangster. Don’t hang out with him too often.” Victor said.

“I won’t.” Mild said.

                         …………………………………………………

Saturday…

“I thought you will reject my invitation.” Krist said.

Krist and Mild are in the Red Blood Gang’s hangout place at the top floor of the Art Gallery.

“My friend, Victor, doesn’t want me to come but I told him that you are nice.” Mild said.

“Wow… Never thought someone will say that to me.” Krist said.

“Well, you are really nice.” Mild said. “So, what are we going to do here?”

“Well, I have a favor to ask.” Krist said. “I don’t know if you will accept the favor.”

“It depends on the favor.” Mild said. “What is it?”

“I would like you to be a model for a photo shoot.” Krist said.

“Photo shoot? I didn’t know you are also on photography.” Mild said.

“I wasn’t actually but it is a group project of the graduating students of Fine Arts and Mass Communication.” Krist said. “We make a magazine and we need models that are not working as models. I suddenly thought of you.”

“But I don’t know about being a model.” Mild said.

“You have a friend that is working as a model. You can ask her help.” Krist said.

“Esther and I are kinda not in good terms.” Mild said. “I know! I’ll ask Nanan.”

“So, are you going to be our model?” Krist asks.

“Yes.” Mild said.

“Great! I’ll inform the others. Also, you need to fill up this form. This form will be your excuse letter to the principal so any time you can be excuse in your classes.” Krist said.

“Ok.” Mild said and starts filling up the form.

Gunsmile and Indy came.

“Boss, Sky is lurking outside the academy.” Gunsmile whispered to Krist.

“Tsk! It is their turn now to spy on us, huh?” Krist said.

“If a member of a Hormone Gang is spying on us, isn’t it better to let Singto stay in their dorm at night?” Indy asks.

“You’re right.” Krist said.

“P’Krist, I’m done.” Mild said.

Krist went to Mild and take the form.

“Thanks, Mild. I’ll call you when our next meeting.” Krist said.

“Ok.” Mild said. “Can I go now?”

“Yeah. Sure.” Krist said.

“Bye, P’Krist, P’Gunsmile and P’Indy.” Mild said and left.

“Boss, what is your plan to her? You’re not falling in love to her, right?” Gunsmile asks.

“No. I am just using her so Mek will come to us.” Krist said.

“He always come to us even without her.” Gunsmile said.

“Not the way he come to us. I want him to realize that we are not the enemies here.” Krist said.

                         …………………………………………………

Mild is walking on the street back to her house when a motorbike block her path.

“What the-” Mild said.

Mek removes his helmet.

“Mek! Are you crazy?! Are you trying to kill me?! What’s wrong with you?! If I got hurt, will you pay my medical bills?! You are not thinking! You doesn’t care if you got hurt or-”

Mild’s nagging got cut off when Mek put on a helmet on her head.

“What are you doing? Get this off of me!” Mild said.

“Mook needs you. She got hurt.” Mek said.

“Eh? Mook? What happened to her? Where is she?” Mild asks.

“Get on.” Mek said.

Mild get on the motorbike.

                         …………………………………………………

Mek brought Mild at the cemetery.

“What are we doing here? Where’s Mook?” Mild asks when she got off from the motorbike.

“Mook is in the house.” Mek said.

“What? You lied to me?” Mild asks.

“If I tell you the truth, you will not come. And since we are already here, follow me.” Mek said.

“No! Bring me back to my house!” Mild is starting to nag.

“Shut up! Does your mouth never get tired of nagging?” Mek asks.

Mild shuts up and decided to follow Mek.

Mek doesn’t know why he need to bring Mild here but after Alice told him that Krist is making a move on Mild and a while ago Mild and Krist are together, he decided to tell her the truth.

They are now getting closer to the tomb of James when he saw a suspicious guy standing at the front of the tomb of James.

“Hey! Who are you?” Mek shouts.

The suspicious guy quickly left.

Mek runs after him.

“Oi! Mek! Where are you going?” Mild shouts and run after him.

The guy runs fast and Mek wasn’t able to catch him.

Mild finally catch on Mek who already stopped from running.

“Who was that?” Mild asks.

“I don’t know.” Mek said. “Let’s go. I’ll bring you back to your house.”

                         …………………………………………………

Mild is silent when they finally got back.

She just returned the helmet and get inside the house.

She is removing her shoes now when her aunt came with a loud voice.

“Mild! Mild!” she shouts while hurrying to get inside the house while holding two big plastic of groceries.

“Aunt Kik, why are you so loud?” Mild asks.

“I saw you getting off from a motorbike. Who is he? He looks handsome even though I only saw his back.” Kik said.

“He is Mook’s twin brother. He just brought me back home.” Mild said.

“The gangster? I thought you hate him. Are you two dating?” Kik asks.

“No! He is crazy!” Mild said and went to her room.

Kik let her niece and she went to the kitchen.

                         …………………………………………………

Sunday…

Victor and Mild went to watch a movie.

“Apple should watch with us. She will enjoy the movie too.” Mild said while they are having dinner.

“So, why Krist asked you to see him yesterday?” Victor asks.

“It was nothing. He just showed me his new paintings.” Mild lied.

“New paintings? I didn’t know a gangster can paint.” Victor said.

“A gangster doesn’t mean that he can only do is to fight.” Mild said.

“So, that’s why you know him, you both love arts.” Victor said.

“P’Krist is the vice-president of Art Club in College Town.” Mild said.

“Oh wow… How come a gangster became the vice-president of the club?” Victor asks.

“You know what? What I really hate about a person is being judgmental. You don’t know P’Krist so stop criticizing him.” Mild said and walks out.

Victor left some money for their food and quickly followed Mild.

“Mild, I’m sorry.” Victor said when he caught up with her.

Mild ignores him and continue to walk towards the bus stop.

Just in time, a bus stops. Mild quickly get in the bus.

Victor stops following her.

“So much for you first date, Victor.” Victor said and just went back to the parking lot where he left his motorbike.

                         …………………………………………………

Mild went home after their ruined date.

“Oh? You’re early? How’s the date?” Kik asks.

“If Victor comes or calls, I am out.” Mild said and went upstairs.

“What it is wrong with that child?” Kik asks and just continue watching the drama she is watching.

Just then, her cellphone rings. She recognizes that number.

“What does he want now?” Kik asks before answering the call.

                         …………………………………………………

It is still dark outside when Kik left her room. She quietly walk down the stairs and went to the kitchen.

She prepares Mild’s breakfast and after that she leaves a note.

She quietly left the house with her car.

                         …………………………………………………

Mild woke up with her alarm.

“Auntie, what’s for breakfast?” Mild asks while entering the kitchen.

But all she see is the quiet kitchen.

She walks towards the refrigerator and saw the note that Kik left.

I need to go somewhere. Just microwave your breakfast. Don’t forget to lock the doors when you leave.

Kik

“Where did she go now?” Mild asks.

Mild is already used to it. Since last year, her aunt is always going somewhere then will be back after 3 days.

Once she asked her where she went, she just answered that she is visiting a friend from Chiang Mai.

                         …………………………………………………

Mild went to the favorite hangout place of the LesGay Group.

“Nanan, can you help me how to pose?” Mild asks.

“What kind of pose?” Nanan asks.

“Any pose like how you do in photo shoots.” Mild said.

“Mild, I am a tom. I do pose like a man.” Nanan said.

“Why don’t you ask Esther?” Tina asks.

“I can’t. She is busy earning money.” Mild said.

“I know why! She got punished because she ruined Gypsy’s car.” Bee said and laughed.

“Shut up, Bee!” Mild said. “Can’t you really help me?”

“Why do you want to learn? Are you a model now?” Nanan asks.

“P’Krist asked me to be the model in their project.” Mild said.

“P’Krist? The gangster?” Tum asks.

Mild nodded.

“Mild, what’s up with you and the gangsters?” Bee asks.

“Nothing. P’Krist is just a friend.” Mild said.

“And what about Mek?” Gun asks. “I saw you getting off from his motorbike last Saturday.”

“Oh wow! Two gangsters fighting over for one girl.” Bee said. “Just like before.”

“What do you mean?” Mild asks.

Everyone glares at Bee.

“N-Nothing.” Bee said.

“Bee!” Mild shouts.

“I know something but I can’t tell you because I promised Alice. In fact, we all promised to Alice.” Bee said.

“I see.” Mild said.

“But Mild if those two gangsters are fighting over you, you should stay away from them. You’ll be in danger if you stay close to them.” Bee said.

Mild stands up.

“Where are you going?” Bee asks.

“To the lake. I need to paint.” Mild said and left.

                         …………………………………………………

When Mild arrived at the lake, she saw Alice there.

She is about to leave but Alice saw her.

“You can stay here. I don’t mind since this isn’t my property.” Alice said.

Mild sat on the grass and starts bringing out her materials.

Mild wants to start with her painting but she can’t since she is still curious of what Bee said.

“You want to ask something, right?” Alice said. “Better say it now since my friends aren’t here.”

“Bee told me to stay away from P’Krist and Mek.” Mild said.

“He’s right.” Alice said.

“Because they are gangsters?” Mild asks.

“Not only that. There are more in the story. If you want to know. Meet me at the cemetery on Friday after class. The faculty will have a meeting on Friday so the classes will end early.” Alice said and left.

                         …………………………………………………

That night, Mild is thinking whether she will meet Alice in the cemetery or night.

“Mild, Victor is inviting us out on Friday after class.” Apple said.

“I can’t. I am going out with Alice on Friday.” Mild said.

Apple is shocked.

“What’s with your reaction?” Mild asks.

“Well, you hate Alice. I thought that the last thing you will do is to be friends with the popular girls.” Apple said.

“I am not being friendly. I need to know the truth and Alice will be the one who will give me the truth.” Mild said.

“Is this about the gangsters? Mild, I think you should stop getting involve with them.” Apple said.

“I can’t. I want Mook to be happy and it will only happen if Mek graduates.” Mild said.

“But he is a gangster.” Apple said.

“Who says gangster can’t graduate in school?” Mild asks.

She remembers what Krist said to her.

“There are some successful people that were used to be gangsters.” Mild said.

“Name one.” Apple said.

“Well, P’Krist knows some.” Mild said.

“Mild, do you trust P’Krist?” Apple asks.

“Not really but he is nice unlike Mek.” Mild said.

“Are you starting to like P’Krist?” Apple asks.

“No. I am doing all of this because of Mook.” Mild said. “Let’s just go to sleep, ok?”

“Ok.” Apple said.

Mild knew that Apple is worried for her but she needs to this.

                         …………………………………………………

Mild doesn’t understand why she believes on Alice.

Right after the class, she went to the cemetery where Mek brought her few days ago.

She didn’t wait long and Alice arrived.

“Sorry. Had a meeting with the Student Councils.” Alice said. “Let’s go.”

Alice starts to walk first.

Mild follow her.

Alice stops at the front of James’ tomb.

‘This is where the suspicious guy standing when we saw him.’ Mild’s thought.

“Hey, P’James, how are you? Sorry if I can’t visit you often.” Alice said.

Mild reads the name on the tombstone.

“James Thawornwong? Mek and Mook’s brother?” Mild said.

“It’s time for you to know the truth.” Alice said. “And please, question later.”

Mild nodded.