2013
(K19, A18)

People rising all around town getting ready for another day of hustle and bustle. Everyone is looking for a meal to start their day on a full stomach. On the streets of Thonglor road, breakfast is abundant in all sorts of varieties. The wonderful smell of fresh bread in the air, and the sound of woks sizzling stretched down the mile. People don't mind standing in long queues waiting for their favorite breakfast food even in the early hours.

Ugh. Not again. "Mom!"

I peeked my head out of the kitchen to see if help was on the way. I can see my mom collecting a few dishes from a table that just vacated since Ranee was busy taking orders. The breakfast rush hour had started dying down. So, my mom turned around to make her way to me.

"Kong, how much longer are you going to play around in my kitchen? You've wasted five eggs already. Why don't you just let me make the pancake? Huh?" My mom bumped my shoulder.

"I almost had it, mom. I just flipped it too early on my last try."

"Then what did you call me for? How may I be of service, my prince?" My mom stood akimbo looking at me stretching the roti.

"I can't get the roti to thin out just right. It's either too thick, or it gets too thin, and it ends up tearing when I lift it. Can you show me again?" I've seriously tried like a million times. It just keeps tearing. The last one was okay, but I just had to flip it too early, and it fell apart on the pan. Why is this so hard?

"Baby, why don't you just let me make it?"

"No, mom. Please just help me stretch it. I really want to make it myself."

"Who is this for, baby?" My mom stared at me with a little smirk.

"I never said it was for anyone." I quickly turned back to my roti. Well, more like just a lump of dough right now.

"Baby, I wasn't born yesterday. Besides, you've already eaten all your failed attempts. You can't possibly still be hungry. So, who's the lucky girl? Is it Jane?" My mom asked as she rested her chin on my shoulder, looking at me.

"No. It's not like that, and Jane is just a friend. I just want to learn from the best. My mom makes the best pancakes. Please." I tried to distract her from further questions.

"So, if it's not Jane, then who is it? You've never even made one for Aim." My mom reached for the lump of dough in my hand.

Shoot. She didn't fall for it. "It's for a good friend that likes pancakes." Actually, I don't even know if Arthit likes pancakes at all. All I know is banana egg pancakes make me smile like he does.

"Is she pretty?" My mom asked as she thinned the dough perfectly without tearing it.

"It's a he." Crap. Why did I say that? "Ah, that's so perfect. Thanks mom."

I avoided looking into my mom's eyes. She stood aside letting me pick up the roti off the counter to put it on top of the oiled pan.

"Baby, you know I'm happy as long as you are happy, right?" My mom said.

"Mmm." I tried to focus on cracking the egg into the center of the roti. I don't want eggshells to fall into it like my second and third attempt.

"Baby, I was really just teasing. I didn't think you are actually involved with anyone. I thought you said you didn't want to start dating before you finish your studies in the US. Is this new?" My mom asked, sounding very serious.

"I know, but it kind of just happened. Are you disappointed in me?" I nervously spooned the banana mixture in.

"Of course not. Baby, I'm just worried that now you will be sad when you leave. Also, I'm afraid you will be distracted from your studies. You've worked so hard to get into that program." My mom guides my hand to flip the edges of the pancake.

"I promise to not be distracted from my studies. But are you disappointed that it's a boy?" I had to clarify. There's no point in hiding or lying to my mom. I can never lie to her even if I tried. I know Arthit and I wanted to keep it a secret, but I can't lie to my mom's face.

My mom takes my free hand into hers. "Baby, look at me."

I slowly turned, and looked at her. I can feel my eyes start to go blurry as I stare into her warm eyes looking back at me.

"Baby, you have never disappointed me. I love you so much. I'm so so proud of you. Don't ever forget that. I will love anyone that loves you right, and makes you happy."

My tears start falling. "Mom, why did you have to make me cry?" I put down the spatula, and used the back of my hand to wipe the tear that had fallen. "I love you too."

"Okay, baby. You need to flip it again. Unless, your boyfriend likes it burnt." My mom chuckled.

"Mom! No teasing. Or I'm never telling you anything again." I quickly flipped the pancake before it really got burnt. "Are you going to tell dad?"

My mom brought over the paper container for me to put the pancake in. I'm so relieved that it's finally done, and it looks perfect. I hope Arthit likes it.

"I don't believe in lying in a relationship, but I suppose if he doesn't ask, I don't have to say anything about it. But baby, I know your dad would be okay too. Just know that you can always talk to us. Don't keep everything to yourself. You have always been so well behaved that I feel like I had it too easy. Now, in a blink of an eye, you are about to leave home. So far away from me." My mom drizzled some condensed milk and chocolate on top of the pancake as tears started streaming down her cheeks.

"Mom, please stop crying. If you ruin your makeup, don't blame me." I laughed, and quickly dodged her hand that I knew was coming to swat me.

"Aish...you little brat. Now, get out of my kitchen with your boyfriend's pancake."

I snuck a kiss on my mom's cheek as she was cleaning the mess I made to her kitchen. "Okay, I'm leaving." I stuffed the pancake inside a paper bag and grabbed a bottle of fresh soy milk on my way out.

I checked the time, and I was cutting it close. I need to get to the station right away. I don't want Arthit to have to wait for me too long. Just as the locals are done with their breakfast, and busy heading to work, a bunch of tourists start making their way into these streets. I had to be careful to not let Arthit's pancake get squished as I squeezed through groups of people left and right. I want it to be perfect.

~~~~~~

"Arthit, eat some breakfast. Honey, you can't lock yourself in your room all day. You have to eat something." My mom kept nagging, and rapping on my door.

I have been trying to ignore her all morning. She didn't say anything while dad was yelling at me last night. So, why is she saying so much now? It's so annoying. I can't even read my manga in peace.

"I have to take Krystal out to buy something, and she says she needs a haircut. Do you need anything? I can go to the bookstore, and pick up a manga for you if you want. Honey?"

I'm almost tempted to answer her bribe, but I already have the latest volume of the manga I'm reading. So, I continued to ignore her. I looked at the clock, and it's almost nine thirty. I really need to get going. Can't they leave the house already? I hope Krystal can get me my phone.

"Mom! I'm ready. Let's go!"

I heard Krystal say outside the hallway.

"Uh, sure. Let me grab my purse."

I heard my mom's slippers skedaddled away down the hallway. Then I heard some weird noises by my door. I quickly jumped from the head end of my bed to the foot end, and peered at the door. I saw my phone on the floor. Yes! Krystal, I owe you one.

I instantly opened my messages to see if Kongpob had sent me anything. And yes there was.

Messages

Kongpob: Good morning. See you soon.
8:45 am

I smiled seeing a picture of him. He looks so handsome.

"Honey, we are leaving. Please come out, and eat something. The food is still warm. I will be back as soon as possible. You behave now. I love you." My mom said for the last time before finally leaving. I wanted to reply to her that I love her too, but I'm still too mad. She never stands up for me when I need her. Whatever. I need to get out of here.

I quickly changed into the outfit I had picked out earlier. I looked in the mirror, and thought about gelling my hair or not. I squirted a little bit of gell, and just randomly teased my hair to give it some spikes. I checked the time, and shit! I have to get going. I grabbed my things, and headed out the door. I hope the bus won't take too long to come. It takes a good thirty minutes to get to Thong Lo, and that's without too much traffic.

I started jogging towards the bus stop that's still another two blocks away. It's so hot today, I'm sure my hair is melting already. Oh no, I can see the bus coming a few streets down at a red light. I have to run fast to meet it at the stop before it leaves. I don't want to wait for the next one. I can make it! I can make it! Please!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Oh no! "Wait! Wait! Wait for me!" I cried out. My hand banged on the side of the bus as it started driving away. I'm heaving trying to catch my breath, and almost folding over. My legs are tired from my zero to sixty sprint. My lungs can't seem to get enough air. I looked at myself, and I'm completely drenched in my own sweat. So much for looking nice. There's no time to go back and change, so hopefully I don't stink. The next bus will take at least another ten minutes. At this rate, I might be late.

I anxiously checked my watch every few minutes, and counted down to how many more stops till I reached Thong Lo. The girl sitting across from me kept looking at me shyly. I smiled when our eyes met. She must think I'm looking at her when I'm really just looking at the route map behind her. I hope I'm not giving her any wrong ideas. I don't even know why I'm looking at the route when I know where my stop is. I just can't help it though. I had texted Kongpob that I might be a few minutes late, but he hasn't texted back. I ended up staring at his picture for the rest of the way to my stop.

Thong Lo Station!

I immediately got up. I was just about to get off the bus when I felt something holding me back. I turned to see the girl that sat across from me tugging my shirt. I frowned at her curiously. "Uhm, yes miss?"

"Please take this." The girl gave me a piece of folded paper.

"Thanks. I'm in a hurry." I took the piece of paper, and quickly got off before the bus closed its doors. I looked around, and I didn't see Kongpob. So, I stepped aside to wait for him in the shade. I opened the piece of paper the girl on the bus gave me. It was a little cartoon sketch of me with her name and number on it. So, that's why she kept looking at me. Whatever. There was a trash bin nearby, and that's where the piece of paper went.

"Arthit!"

"Kongpob!" I turned around and jumped on my boyfriend. I wrapped my arms around him tightly. He has no idea what I had to go through to be here. Eh, what's this warm crunchy thing between us?

~~~~~~
AN: Hello Sweets, I'm early with this update. Yay! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. What do you think of Kongpob vs Arthit's character?

I have recently written another one-shot called My Sotus (II) - Confession. It's based on the farewell party scene from Sotus S. Please check that out if you haven't already. ☺️

Love you lots,
Lana ❤️