Proofreader:SMV2454

[* Koreans call "wisdom teeth" the "teeth of love" (사랑니/sarangi) because they reach an age where many young boys and girls experience love for the first time (including the pain from their first love). They say, "The teeth of love (wisdom teeth) hurt like love, but once they are removed, you feel the emptiness where they used to be."
T/n: Is this a Thai novel? I'm feeling like I'm trying to become a multicultural expert. By the way, I have all four of my wisdom teeth; none have been removed but I have never experienced love 🤧]

"Come to think of it, you're pretty quick-witted, Kluen. If it were me, I wouldn't have dodged in time. It came at us so fast."

It's almost midnight, but Kluen and I are still chatting away. At first, I urged him to turn off the lights and sleep because we were exhausted from the day, but once we lay down, we ended up wide awake and talking until we weren't sleepy anymore. Now, my eyes have adjusted to the darkness.

"We were just lucky." said the guy lying next to me with his arm over his forehead. He turned to smile at me, and I smiled back.

"Anyway, thanks a lot for saving me, haha."

"Don't mention it. Has your sweetheart called you yet?"

You asshole, motherfucker, son of a bitch, Kluen! He suddenly changed the subject so abruptly that I almost fell over.

"Not yet." I replied dryly.

"Heh, by now, he probably has a new sweetheart."

Ouch, that stung. The fact that Phum hasn't called, answered the phone, or been online makes me both worried and hurt. I'm afraid he might be sick, but more than that, another equally strong feeling is rising in my heart: fear. I fear that he might have found someone new, someone to replace me. Fear that I will be abandoned. Fear that our love story isn't real.

"Peem, hey Peem, I was just joking. Don't make that face. Are you mad? I'm sorry." Kluen shook my arm gently, his eyes and voice full of concern, which was kind of annoying. Who would get mad over something like this? This guy is too nice.

"No, I'm not mad at you. I was just thinking. Hey Kluen, don't you have a faen?" I asked something I'd been curious about for a long time but never had the chance to ask.

"Hmm?" Kluen raised an eyebrow at me before turning back to stare at the ceiling. "Why are you asking all of a sudden? Do you like me?"

"You... I just want to know. A perfect guy like you shouldn't be single."

"Heh, Peem, I'm not some rare animal. I've talked to people, but nothing serious."

"So, you're saying you're too good-looking to settle down?"

"But the one I chose didn't choose me." He turned to wink at me playfully. This guy...

"Wow." I pouted and smiled at him. He always teases me, always flirting with me, but if it makes him happy, I'll let him do it. Even if I have to endure the embarrassment, I won't complain. "Seriously, I want to know. You said you'd tell me everything."

"You're really pushing it, huh? I'm serious. I don't have a faen. I'm everyone's dream single guy. You can still change your mind, Peem, haha."

"Sounds like a nightmare. But seriously, someone as handsome and rich as you doesn't have a faen? Hmm... Unbelievable."

"If I had a faen, I wouldn't be stuck here with you, would I, Ai Tiny? Humph."

Look at the way he said it. It sounds like I'm really evil and despicable. That asshole.

"Well... that's true, haha." I went along with him, and Kluen laughed heartily.

"I had one last month, but now I have none."

"What? You just broke up?"

I turned to face Kluen immediately. This new information shocked me. Did he just get his heart broken? Kluen smiled slightly, his hand moving from his forehead to push my head playfully, almost breaking my neck.

"Yeah, why are you so surprised, Peem?"

"Of course, I'm surprised. My friend got dumped. I think that girl must have been crazy to leave you."

"Did I say she left me?"

"Oh, don't tell me... Really? Why did you break up?"

"Are you sure you want to know the reason?"

"Uh..."

"Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. The point is, I'm single now, but only in name because my heart is already taken." Kluean said with a smile. Even in the dim light, it was a warm smile as always. Why does a guy like him love an ordinary person like me and do so much for me?

Yesterday, his words about being willing to die for me made me cry for the first time in years. I haven't done anything good for him, yet he treats me so well. Even though I feel good about him and consider him special, it's different from what I feel for Phum.

I'm sure I don't love Kluen like a lover. My heart still belongs to Phum alone. For Kluen, it's a good feeling that surrounds me, like a thin web that wraps around my heart.

"Kluen...loving me, is it more happiness or suffering?"

Kluen turned to lie on his side, facing me, and gave me his usual smile.

"Umm... don't know. I've never weighed and never focused on that either. I knew a long time ago that my hopes wouldn't be fulfilled. Don't think too much about it, Peem. I'm not that hurt. Even if I had you, I'd love you, but even if I don't, I can still love you. There's no difference. Just let me be someone special to you, let me love you, let me stand by your side here. That's the best thing already. Don't pity me, Peem. Don't give me your heart out of pity, because if you do, the one who will be hurt the most is you."

"Yeah, thanks again for everything."

"Can you change your thanks to something else?"

"What?"

"Kiss me once."

"You jerk! Are you serious?

Laughter exploded throughout the room, "Just kidding. From now on, if you have any worries or problems with him, I mean your boyfriend, if you don't know who to talk to or what to do, can you tell me first?"

"Sure, of course. You're my special person." In the darkness, I smiled with gratitude.

"And what can this special person do?"

He smiled widely. You should smile like this, Kluen. I don't want to see that lonely smile from earlier.

"Go eat, watch movies, travel, study together."

"Heh, just friends."

"I wasn't finished, you goose. I mean, I'll tell you first if I have anything."

"Heh, don't be too kind, Peem. I already love you so much I don't know what to do."

"..."

"..."

"I think we should sleep now."

"Cutting me off like that?"

"Don't be silly, go to sleep. Tomorrow I'll take you to pick oranges."

"Peem, I need a bolster."

"Don't lie. I saw you sleep fine last night. You just want to hug me, right? Haha."

"Ah, you caught me."

"Stop stalling. Go to sleep. Tomorrow I'll take you to the waterfall at my grandpa's farm. It's close, just a short walk."

"Really? A short walk? Don't lie, Peem. Yesterday you said the market was close, but I walked until my legs hurt. Damn."

"Haha, this time it's really close. Sleep now, I'm sleepy, and we have to wake up early tomorrow."

"..."

I closed my eyes, blocking out the soft moonlight that shone into the room. The cool breeze brought the fragrant scent of night flowers to my nose, making me drowsy.

"Peem."

"Hmm?" I opened my eyes again and turned to look at Kluen. He was already looking at me.

"Can I hug you?"

"Sleep-hug?"

"Yeah, just a hug."

"A quick hug, then you have to let go. I can only let you hold my hand. Is that okay?" It's not that I don't trust Kluen or myself, but I have no right to hug anyone if it's not that cruel guy.

"Yeah, that's good enough." Kluen moved closer, his arm wrapped around me. His hug was warm, but I didn't feel anything romantic, just the feeling of "friendship." A gentle touch on my forehead before he pulled away and held my hand all night.

"Thank you, Peem. This is more than enough for me. Sweet dreams na, my beloved shorty."
...
..
.

This morning, the weather was clear, but why was my right eye twitching? Oh well, it's probably nothing. After enjoying a delicious breakfast made by P'Ging, Kluen and I went to visit my grandfather's farm.

At the end of the farm, there is a small waterfall where P'Pat and I used to come and play together regularly. Thinking of P'Pat now doesn't hurt to the point that my heart is about to break again, but it has become a feeling of loneliness, coated with longing and empathy. P'Pat should have been able to live on this world for a long time. There are still many things that haven't been done. Why was fate so cruel to one child?

[*Readers, do you remember P'Pat, Peem's deceased cousin appeared in chapter 10.]

"Nong Peem has grown into a young man, P'Pat. If P'Pat was still alive, you would've probably been this big too, right?"

How are things now? Are you happy? Is the time in heaven like the time on earth? I hope P'Pat is fine and there is nothing to worry about, no matter where he is.

Since it's the rainy season, all the creatures that love moisture were out and about, including earthworms, snails, and millipedes.

And that's when I found out that Kluen is afraid of snails. He screamed so loudly that it almost echoed through the forest. Haha! We walked around, enjoying the nature until the afternoon, then stopped by my grandfather's house for lunch. We were served a traditional Khantoke dinner.

[*A khantoke (ขันโตก) is a pedestal tray used as a small dining table by the Lanna people, Laotians, and by people from Isan. Khantoke dinners involve different foods depending on social status. Khantoke dinners are a northern tradition, especially in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Lampang.]

After lunch, I went to pick fruit in the orchard with the workers. Today was another fun day, and I hoped Kluen felt the same. We got home around six. My mom had bought some rose plants, so she asked Kluen and me to help plant them, but it looked like the roses were getting crushed in our hands.

"Hey, have you ever planted anything, Kluen? You should put the fertilizer in first."

"Put the soil in first, then the fertilizer. And are you going to plant it without removing the black bag?"

"Just put the fertilizer in already."

"Put the plant in first." It was clear he was messing with me. Annoying.

"Kluen."

"Huh, what, Peem?"

"SHORTY!"

"You dare call me sh...Shorty?" Shorty? No way. I must have misheard. It couldn't be his voice; he's in Italy. How could he call me in Chiang Mai? I looked at Kluen to confirm that there was no one behind me, but Kluen avoided my gaze.

"Shorty."

This time, my right eye started twitching again. That voice, the person who calls me that. I let go of the plant and slowly turned around. I felt like I couldn't breathe, my hands and feet were cold, and I got goosebumps. I was about to lose my mind, guys.

"PHUM!"

Oh my god! 😱 It was really him. Phum, in the flesh, standing there with almost ten of our friends. They were all smiling brightly at me, and that smile started to disappear. As Phum walked closer, his face became more serious.

"I think you're dead meat, Dwarf." said asshole Q.

"I think both of them are dead." probably Beer.

"Who's that? He looks worse than me." said Pan, daring to say Kluen looked worse than him.

"Huh, our faculty's Moon. Well, he's on par with my little brother." said Fang, coldly.

Now I felt like the person standing behind me had stood up, and Phum stopped close enough to block the light. Trapped between Kluen and Phum again, I felt awkward and didn't know what to do. I wasn't even sure if it was real or not. Why would someone who should've been on the other side of the world suddenly appear in front of me at such a misleading time?

I looked up at Phum. The familiar face, the person I missed. I hadn't seen him in months. He was right in front of me. He was back.

"You're back?"

"Who's going to die first, you or him? CHOOSE."

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>