Invisible Moon
Chapter 9
Close to the Moon
“The moon looked so bright tonight,
If I got closer, would it be warmer?”
#WINisWIND
Since a rock couldn’t fly upon the sky, unlike the moon that could rise from the horizon. In that way, the wish of being by the moon’s side would be just an unimaginable dream.
Nevertheless, right now, the invisible air like me was walking by the famous Moon’s side - the UNISTAR Moon. I almost couldn’t believe it. Only wish it wasn’t a dream. Only if I woke up, I would be disappointed.
No, that was just my imagination, but this was real.
I glanced at P’In, excitedly. He was walking beside me. I tried to take my attention away but failed. I couldn’t take my eyes off P’In. And I just realised, I thoughtlessly looked at P’In too often. However, P’In didn’t say a word, didn’t even turn to me. He was only looking forward.
I was amazed, seriously, because of our true invisibility. We both were walking along, passed through many people, but no one noticed us, not even a single one.
As if...there were only us in this whole world, two of us.
Wait...What was I thinking? I cleared out my silly thoughts.
“Where you like to eat?” P’In asked when we were outside the university.
“Um...” Actually, I was too excited to think about food.
“How about the place where you usually go?” I suggested. I also wondered what kind of food that P’In like to eat.
P’In stayed still, then, asked me back.
“Really want to go there?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
Having the Unistar Moon treat a meal, was indeed good enough. Whatever he chose, would be certainly perfect.
“It isn't expensive,” P’In said, monotone voice.
“I don’t mind, I’m fine with anything.” I didn’t have an expensive taste, I meant high-priced food wasn’t always tasty food for me.
“No air-condition.” P’In continued.
“I’m okay with hot weather.” I was too delighted to worry about the heat.
“Alright.” P’In led the way, then.
He didn’t drive, nor called a taxi, nor took the bus. Only walking.
“Is the restaurant nearby?” I asked curiously.
“Uh-huh.” P’In made a response sound.
We were walking together toward the temple where P’In always gave the alms. I noticed that there were small tenement houses nearby. The restaurant was a traditional local Thai style, still using a charcoal stove. The owner was a grandpa-old man, and most of the customers were elderly. Seemingly, this restaurant was founded for many decades.
“Oh, little IN! You came today. Take a seat.” The grandpa greeted P’In, very friendly. Later, he turned to me and narrowed his eyes.
“I haven’t seen you accompany anyone before. Are you dating?”
I almost stumbled my feet from what he said.
“Buddy-code brother.” P’In corrected it.
“I’m kidding. I’ve never seen you bring any friend, any senior, or any brother before. He’s the first one. Really. So I just asked.”
Was it true? I was the only one coming to this place with P’In. I looked at P’In, surprisingly. However, his face was still emotionless, no response as always.
The grandpa arranged the table for us. We sat and looked at the board menu on the wall. Mostly, there were common Thai a la carte dishes, various options. I had no idea which one was nice. So I asked P’In.
“P’In krub, which dish is recommended here?”
P’In was thinking for a while.
“Stir-fried suki in a clay pot.”
“Alright.” I nodded.
I also saw many customers ordering these dishes.
“Okay, I’ll order that one.”
“Meat?” P’In asked.
“Huh? Meat?” I was confused for a second.
He was asking what kind of meat I would like to order, right?
“I’d like...seafood...krub. Thank you, P’In.”
P’In nodded, stood up, and walked to the grandpa.
“Clay pot suki - seafood and no meat.”
“No problem, little IN. Finally, you had changed your order. You always ordered the coconut-milk dishes.”
P’In didn’t answer. He just moved to the wood counter, picked up two metal cups, poured the water in, and backed to our table.
He took a cup of water for me.
“Thank you so much.” I was considerate of his kindness. P’In was such a nice person.
P’In only nodded to me.
Our table was too quiet while waiting for the food. P’In was watching grandpa cooking, in the meantime, he was folding tissues into a carp fish. I was amazed that P’In didn’t even look at it, but the carp was folded out beautifully.
“Do you like folding the carp fish?” I asked.
P’In shifted his eyes to me, later, backed to the fish.
He looked dazed. Perhaps, he didn’t even realise either.
“Sometimes, when I miss.” He said while looking at the carp. His eyes reflected a slight sadness.
This was the first time that I had seen P’In with a different expression, other than emotionless. I was silent. At first, I had thought P’In liked folding carp fish. After seeing his expression now, I was aware that carp fish might be meaningful for him in some way— very significant meaning.
I should change the topic.
“Uh...P’In krub. Is there any other senior in our 101 buddy-code?”
“No.” P’In placed the finished carp on the table. I was staring at it. If P’In didn’t take it, should I snatch it into my bag? It was the carp fish from Unistar Moon!
I already had one, but still wanted more.
Wait...What did he just answer?
“No way! Our buddy-code family only has you and me?” I was shocked.
“Yes.” He nodded, calmly.
“Oh no...Were you alright at that time? Kind of...you didn’t have any buddy-code senior at all.”
I had thought that I would be so unlucky if I didn’t have any buddy-code senior. However, it wasn’t me. It was P’In, who didn’t even have a single one.
“I was alright,” P’In replied flatly.
I couldn’t even guess how he felt — it was really alright for him or he had no choice.
“P’In...can I...have this, please?” My voice trembled as I pointed to the tissue carp.
P’In followed my direction, then looked up at me.
“That time, didn’t take it?
“Huh?” I was jumbled. Later, I realised he was asking about that Unistar’s event where P’In had made paper carps for his fans.
“Oh, I took it, but...I want more.” I scratched my head, felt a bit bashful.
“Okay.” P’In nodded slightly. His hand laid the carp on the table into my front.
“Thank you krub, P’In.” I was so happy as I hurriedly kept it into my bag.
“P’In...at that time, did you see me from the stage?”
When having a chance to talk, I couldn’t stop my chatty mouth. I barely had someone to talk to. I was probably repressed for not being socialising for my whole life.
“Yes.” P’In gave his nod.
“Oh, but there were a lot of people. How could you see me?” I couldn’t help but ask, reassuring that I didn’t presume it.
Because I was extremely fading, and couldn't believe that P’In could see me.
“Then how could you?” P’In asked back.
“Huh?” I was numb for a second.
P’In was probably asking how I could see the invisible Moon like him.
“Well, I don’t know. I just saw. I couldn’t explain.” I told the truth.
“’Neither.” P’In said while sipping water.
“Uh...” I blinked.
His way of speaking was too short, always leading listeners became confused. I had to think. Hardly. Until I could get what he meant.
My question about how P’In could see me even I was so fading — He didn’t know either — this was his answer.
“And why did you point me to take the carp paper?” I continued.
“You came.” He said.
“What?” I was confused, again.
“Are you a fan?” He asked.
“Oh...” I was stunned. His question was so direct.
Was I one of the UNISTAR fans?
Well, was I? Recently I had searched about Unistar so often. However, it was a little embarrassing to admit that I was a fan too. Since most of the Unistar fans were female, besides the pretty-face P’Sea who had some male fans.
“Which dom?” P’In asked again.
I thereby widen my eyes.
Dom?! Fandom?! P’In wanted to know who my bias was.
Then...who? What should I reply?
“Well...that time, I just coincidentally went there...”
I didn’t know how to answer either. It was the truth. At first, I didn’t intend to go anyway. But after hearing everyone talking about, then I was just in, that’s it.
P’In was listening and glancing at me, he seemed to have something in his mind.
“Your order was done.”
The grandpa served the clay pot suki at the right time. So our conversation had been distracted.
Now my attention turned to the food in front of me. It was indeed appetising with the charcoal smell, giving a very Thai local scent.
P’In handed the spoon and fork, and also moved the sauce jar toward me.
“Thank you krub.” I said.
After that, we both ate together. I was eating while watching P’In as well.
It was surreal that the person sitting opposite me was the popular P’In — the greatly famous Unistar member.
From far away, he was handsome, from a close distance, he was even more handsome. He must be an angel of heaven in his previous life, so that he was born with such a perfectly gorgeous appearance.
“’Getting cold.” P’In suddenly spoke. Still focus on his meal.
“Huh? Yes?”
He shifted up his eyes, beckoned toward the clay pot in front of me.
“Alright, I’ll eat now.” I was embarrassed. I was thoughtlessly looking at P’In for too long again. Shame on me.
Now I was going to eat.
And with only one spoon taken, my eyes widened.
Wow! so amazing! The taste was pleasantly mellow and palatable, It was well-cooked as the vermicelli, vegetable and meat all absorbed the suki sauce and charcoal savour. This stir-fried suki was the most delicious suki that I had ever eaten.
“This’s so yummy, P’In.” I told him joyfully. He also nodded slightly.
While eating, I saw a group of high-school girls hanging out around here, they were watching the grandpa cooking suki in the clay pot. The girls were discussing whether they would eat here or not. They had never tried, but it smelled good and looked delicious.
Everything was alright until —
“Little IN!” The grandpa suddenly shouted.
“Today I made the jujube juice for you, don’t forget to take it back home.”
The grandpa’s voice was loud enough to get those girls’ attention.
“Eh? P’In?” the girls seemed confused until one of them pointed toward us then screamed.
“Ahhh that’s P’In!”
“Ahhh P’In — UNISTAR!”
So screwed…I swallowed hard. Now then, no matter how good of our invisibility. It was unavoidable now.
By that time I was shocked. My arm was grasped, I was being pulled and run out from the diner.
“Ahhh P’In! wait for me~” The girls’ voice left behind.
Everything had happened so quickly before I could even realise.
I widened my eyes, astonishingly. P’In was grabbing my arm, leading me to run away from the chasing girl fans.
I eventually understood how P’In could do the teleport movement so perfectly. No wonder he was literally fast, he could find the right spot to hide and ran just in a few seconds. Now the screaming sound of those girls was fading away.
P’In was running very fast, I thereby became exhausted. Anyhow, it was the first time that I could feel his touch.
So I wasn't sure that I was really fatigued or my heart was beating too fast.
His hand was warm. I thought. P’In grasped my arm hastily but not forcefully. He was gentle, apparently.
I couldn’t help smiling while running.
Afterwards, I found myself at the riverfront behind the market. As soon as P’In let go of my arm, I was panting, bent over and rested my hands on the knees. While P’In still swept his eyes over to reassure that no one was following.
“Sorry,” P’In said.
I waved my hand, implying I was fine.
“Please don’t worry about it, I totally understand.”
It wasn’t his fault at all. Well, it was the celebrity way of living. Whenever or wherever he would always be in the centre of attention.
“But…we haven’t paid for the meal.” I was worried. As we ran out in the middle of eating.
“Paid on table.” P’In said flatly.
“Huh?” I was blinking.
Wait…What?!
P’In could put his money on the table even when he was that rush?
But if the meal was already paid, then all should be fine.
“But…too bad. I haven’t finished my suki yet.” I mumbled.
That clay pot suki was indeed tasty. Unfortunately, it was such a waste.
“Here you go.”
P’In handed the clay pot to me.
“Huh? What?!” I was shocked.
I just noticed, he was holding the clay pot’s handle all along!
What did he just do?!
Not only ‘paid on table’ but also — ‘here you go’ — the tasty suki which hadn’t finished eating. Only in a few seconds of escaping, he even took the clay pot and ran all the way.
Plus, with a fork and spoon, and no spill.
It was the best of the incredible. How could he do that?
“But…could take only one. Go ahead.” P’In still gave me that clay pot suki.
He took mine but didn’t bring his.
“Uhh…what about grandpa’s clay pot…” I was a bit concerned.
“Return it later.” He said.
“Okay, thank you krub. What’s about yours? Would you mind eating together?”
I invited him. Still, a little hesitant, I wasn’t sure that P’In would mind eating with me.
“No, but treat.” He said.
“Huh? Treat?”
“Yes. It’s a treat.” He nodded.
It took me a while to understand.
Now I was speechless with gratitude. P’In said he treated me a meal. So I should eat it all up.
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