How can I just go out for red curry noodles with Khun Sam?

We said we were eating out tonight, but I pretended to have forgotten about it and started to get ready to go home. But it was as if Khun Sam knew what I was going to do. She texted me.

[See you in my car.]

And tonight, I'm in her luxurious car worth millions, the same one Nop was jealous of and we were talking about that day on the bus. We didn’t exchange a word until the food arrived. Why is it so difficult to get along with her?

“Khun Sam.”

Khun Sam puts her red curry noodles aside and looks at me with her beautiful brown eyes.

“Hm.”

“You look very hungry.”

She didn't invite me but she said that dining alone wasn't nice. Cannot she at least show a little interest in the person having a conversation with her?

“And you barely touched anything.”

That's because it’s too spicy for me. I’m just looking at the food with a lot of craving. On the other hand, Khun Sam adds more chili sauce on her food, as if she can’t live without chili. From what I’ve read in magazines, she can’t eat spicy food.

Why is she so different?

“It is too spicy.”

“It is not spicy at all.”

“Do you come here often?”

“Not really. But today I felt like eating here.” She answers as she puts more chili, making me swallow down hard. She is scaring me.

“It doesn't look like the type of food you would eat.”

“What do you mean?”

“I assumed you would eat at expensive and renowned restaurants, things like that. Or eat royal food.”

“I am a Mom Luang but it doesn’t mean I only eat royal food. The hierarchy starts from M.R.* and people below are considered commoners. I'm a normal person, like everyone else. In case you don't know. Haven't you ever watched Juthathep**?"

*TL Note: M.R. short for "Mom Rajawongse" – Title given to the sovereign's great-grandchildren, in English it translates to "His Excellency/His Grace"

**TL Note: Suphapburut Juthathep – A Thai lakorn series about 5 brothers holding the M.R titles.

"I've only seen the episodes about Lady Taew."

She takes a few more bites and then puts the chopsticks and spoon aside.

“Please don’t tell anyone that I eat here.”

“I will not. Even if I told people, no one would believe that Khun Sam eats here. But why didn't you invite Mr. Kirk to eat with you?”

“He doesn’t like street food. And I don’t often eat it either. It has been a long time since I last had some. You have a lot of questions.”

“I am just trying to make conversation.”

Am I being nosy again? When she sees me looking down, she kicks my leg under the table.

“I’m not blaming you or anything. I was just answering. Right… Let's talk.”

Khun Sam straightens up in her chair and looks at me intently. She's focused to the point that I am feeling tense all over. When you invite someone to talk, you'd think you'd make them feel comfortable. What is this?

“You look so serious. I don’t know what to talk about.”

“Anything. Talk to me about whatever you want.”

“Anything?” I smile softly and throw a glance behind me. “Do you know the Suthat Temple?”

“I do. It’s not far from here.”

“Do you know that there is a restaurant there in Pratu Pi as popular as Red Tee Noodles. They make delicious Pad Thai.”

“I know. I’ve been there before. Do you want to go eat there? We could go, but we will probably have to wait in line for a long time, there is always so many people going to Pratu Pi every day.”

“No, I was just asking.” I shake my head. “Do you know why they call it Pad Thai Pratu Pi?”

“I don’t know."

“Because in the past, they called that area Pratu Pi. During the Reign of King Rama II, there was a pandemic. Since it was forbidden to cremate the bodies inside the city, they took all the bodies to the Suthat Temple. The door they went through to transport the bodies was called Pratu Pi*. There were many vultures flying above the procession and coming for the food- I mean graves.”

*TL Note: Pratu Pi – Ghost Gate

I told a long story about Pratu Pi and she listened to me carefully. I realised how adorable she is. Before our dinner, I googled where Red Tee Noodles was located and accidentally read an article about Pratu Pi. I tried to remember everything that I read about it just to tell her like it was a horror story.

“And there’s another story about the hungry ghosts of Suthat Temple. They are very tall and skinny. Their mouths are the size of a pinhole. They come out at night and make noise which sounds like whistles.” I’m whistling to show her. “They like humans who live in huge houses. Why you ask? Because they are perfect for hungry ghosts, they can easily look in from outside the windows with their height.”

“You know a lot, as if you had a ghost friend?”

Oops.

“No, I don’t. I’m just telling you a story.”

“I do not want to hear about it.”

“Then I'll tell you about Mar Nak**?"

**TL Note: Mar Nak – famous ghost Thai story.

“I’m going to hit you.”

Khun Sam looks at me with a face that makes me burst out laughing. It was delightful to see her saying ‘I’m going to hit you.’

“Alright. I won’t tell any more horror stories. You’re scared like a little kid. So cute.” I keep talking to her while sipping on water with a straw. She puffs her cheeks out and says.

“Don’t call me cute.”

“What should I call you then?”

“Beautiful.”

I'm choking!

I spray water on her face as I choke on water. She takes a tissue to wipe her face and doesn’t forget to give one to me too.

“It’s not nice to spit on people’s face like that."

“I’m sorry, I'm sorry.” I couldn't stop coughing. She frowns as she looks at me with her chocolate eyes. She gets up and walks towards me and pats my back lightly.

“Why are you choking?”

“I was just surprised you told me to call you beautiful. You can compliment yourself too.”

“It's not like I am complimenting myself. Everyone calls me that.” She looks impassible. “You think I’m kidding? My friends always say that I am terrible at telling jokes.”

“No need for you to tell jokes. You are naturally funny. It's just a little deep.”

I recover from my choking at the same time that I make eye contact with Khun Sam, who continues to pat me lightly on the back. We stare at each other for like two seconds. Then, Miss Cutie stretches her back.

“We better get back. I am full.”

“Yeah, it’s late. If we stay any longer, we might see a real hungry ghost.”

“…”

Khun Sam doesn’t say anything before leaving to pay. It’s almost 9 p.m. After sitting in the car with her pretty face, she still refuses to speak. So I’m the first to start the conversation.

“You don’t have to take me home. It's very far. Is there a bus stop around? You can drop me here."

“I have a headache.”

“Really?” I’m surprised as I look at her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m not.”

“You can leave me here. So you can go straight to your house.”

She doesn’t answer me and continues driving.

“My head is hurting a lot.”

“Want to go to the hospital?”

“I should feel better after I take medicine.”

“Yeah, that’s why I'm telling you to leave me here, I’ll take a taxi. It’s going to be expensive, but that way you’ll get home earlier to rest.”

“Taking a taxi is very dangerous. It’s so late now.”

“But my home is too far away. It won’t do you any good to take me there.”

“I’m in a lot of pain. It must be a migraine.”

Why is our conversation in a loop? She looks like she wants to say something, but she refuses to say it.

“What should I do?”

“I can’t take you home. It’s too far and it’s too dangerous for me to go back home alone.”

“Then, leave me here.”

“It is very late now.”

“I’ll take a taxi.”

“It’s very dangerous.”

“Okay, just leave me here.”

“I have a headache.”

"Oh my God.” Am I talking to a robot? I don’t know how to deal with her.

“So, what should I do?”

“I have a headache.”

Gosh! I'm about to cry. What does she want from me? There has to be something I can say to break out of this never ending conversation.

“I can come over to your place.”

“You are so kind.”

On the way to her house, we didn’t say anything else. When she parks the car, I glance at my watch before stepping outside. It’s 10 p.m. now.

My phone rings. It’s Nop. He must be waiting for me at home.

[Mon, where are you? It’s night already.]

“I’m at Khun Sam’s house. We went out to have dinner and she had a bad headache.

[Are you still there? When are you going to be home? It's very far.]

“It’s not that far. I’ll take a taxi…”

“My head hurts.” She interrupts me and presses her face against the roof of her car. “I am going to die tonight.”

“Does it hurt that much?”

“Horrible, I might even throw up. It happens when it worsens.” She’s been telling me about her symptoms and I get even more worried while Nop is still on the line. “But you told me that even if I were dying in front of you, you wouldn’t care. Why do I have to stay in this house alone. No one cares about me.” The ultimate circle of life... “But everything will be fine. Tomorrow is a day off. I’ll stay here and lay alone sick in bed even if it doesn’t get better. I will take care of myself. I can.”

“Hold on, Nop.” I leave the call with my friend to look at the sick woman with sympathy. “Are you alone here?”

“Um, look at the lights. They’re all off. There is nobody here.”

“You have a headache and you’re going to be here alone, poor thing.”

“Nobody cares about me.” She touches her head. “Poor me. But I need to stay strong, even if I fall down the stairs, I’ll crawl my way back up.”

“If you don’t mind, can I stay here tonight to keep you company?”

“I do not mind.”

She interrupts me while I’m talking, as if she’s been waiting for this. I’m confused now because it seems like her illness is suddenly gone.

“I need to talk to my father first. My father never lets me stay out overnight, he believes that if a daughter sleeps away from home, it means she is staying with a man.”

“I will talk to your father for you.”

She asks for his phone number. Instead, I ask Nop to go to my house and hand the phone over to my father. So Khun Sam speaks to my father. Finally, she gives my phone back.

“Your father agrees. You can sleep over tonight.”

“My father didn't mind?”

“Not at all.”

She walks into her house like she’s never had a headache. Then she turns towards me.

“Mon.”

“Yes?”

“Do you like me?”

I take a step back involuntarily. She looks at me and shrugs.

“Your father told me. It’s kind of weird that I have a secret fan.”

She walks into the house and leaves me dying of embarrassment outside. I knew my parents would do this if they had the opportunity to talk to Khun Sam. Now she acts like she got me.

I enter her house and she turns on all the lights. The house decoration seem to be designed by a professional interior designer, filled with brand few furnitures, simple and elegant. Less is more.

Looks like her style…

“Hm. I can sleep here downstairs.”

“No.” She is walking up the stairs while looking at me. “If you steal something, how will I know?”

“I am not a thief.”

“I do not trust you. Come here. Stay upstairs with me. My bed is big enough for us two.”

I don’t know why I feel so embarrassed when I hear her invitation to sleep on her bed. When Khun Sam saw that I wasn’t moving, she teases me without cracking a smile even though she should have been.

“What is it, my fan? Why don’t you follow me?”

“You are mocking me.”

“I am surprised to learn that you came to work for the company because you love me.” She straightens her back as she speaks brightly. I notice the expression of the person who said they were sick and I narrowed my eyes.

“I heard people with migraines couldn’t talk much because of the severe pain, but you.. it looks like it is the opposite.”

“Really?”

“Khun Sam, you really don't have a headache, right?”

“If I didn't have a headache, why would I invite you to sleep over with me?”

This time, it's me who smiles and I cross my arms. I continue to refuse to follow her into sleeping with her.

“You are afraid of ghosts.”

“Not at all.”

She answers me curtly. It makes me certain of the real reason why I’m here.

“Then, I’m going to sleep downstairs.”

“No. You cannot.”

“Then.” I purse my lips a little and smile nervously at the other woman. “Beg.”

“What?”

“Beg me to go sleep upstairs with you. Then I will come with you.”

We stare at each other for a moment. But I can’t resist her powerful eyes, they are able to destroy me, so I turn to look away. Why? I’m the one who challenged her but I am the one who is losing.

“Please.”

Eh?

I look up at her. And she’s staring at me seriously.

“Please, please. I bet you to sleep with me tonight.”