EXTERN

Chapter 16

 

I walked alongside my slender female friend, following the path back towards the accommodation. It wasn’t very far, but it was dark, and I’d consider it dangerous for a woman to walk this way alone. Even if Natcha had come with May-I, as her friend, I’d still have worried about her.

 

“Are you really dating Per?”

 

She turned and asked me after we’d been walking in silence for quite a while. Ever since that day backstage at the charity play, I’d never spoken to her again about what had happened between us. Actually, it would be more accurate to say we’d barely spoken at all.

 

“Mm… yeah. We’re dating.”

 

Even though I hadn’t exactly announced it to the whole world (like that bloody snake), I wasn’t hiding it either if anyone asked.

 

“A man?”

 

She stopped walking and turned to me seriously. We were only a few steps away from the house now, and there was enough light spilling over from the pathway lamps for me to see her face and the sadness in her eyes.

 

“…It doesn’t matter whether I’m dating a man or a woman. What matters is that I genuinely like him. The feelings I have for Per… that’s what matters.”

 

Grab!

 

She suddenly pulled me into a hug and pressed her face against my chest. I simply stood there without moving.

 

“I love you…”

 

“…”

 

I remained silent and listened. I was listening.

 

“I understand that you can’t love me… but I just wanted you to know… I love you so much. I’ve waited for you for such a long time.”

 

“…”

 

All I could do was listen to her. But I truly couldn’t accept the feelings she had for me.

 

“…But you’ve never once looked my way…”

 

“Natcha…”

 

She pulled away from me and hurried into the house. I took the opportunity to go back to my bedroom and grab a torch. Carrying one would definitely be safer than wandering around in the dark. Just in case that poisonous snake got drunk, rolled down the mountainside and I had to go looking for him.

 

Bang! Thud!

I spun around towards the bedroom door. My female friend was standing there. Inside my room.

 

Click!

 

“…”

 

My eyes widened slightly as her pale hand pressed down the lock.

 

“…”

 

We stood silently staring at each other until she began walking closer and closer.

 

“What are you planning to do?”

 

I raised an eyebrow and asked her. My friend’s face had gone completely stiff now, utterly expressionless as she strode towards me without the slightest fear that what she was about to do might destroy our relationship completely.

 

“I want you to know… HOW A WOMAN IS BETTER!!!”

 

Thud!

I had no idea where someone with such a slender body had been hiding that much strength. Combined with the fact that I hadn’t even thought about defending myself, I went tumbling onto the bed like something straight out of a melodramatic Thai soap opera.

 

“Stop!!”

 

I struggled and twisted away from Natcha as she tried to climb on top of me.

 

“No! I love you! Why can’t you love me back?!”

 

I turned my face away from the kiss she tried to force on me. Why did it make me feel even more disgusted than I could explain? How many times had she tried to do something stupid like this already?

 

“DON’T BE STUPID!!!”

 

THUD!!!

 

I used all my strength to shove her down onto the bed. I gripped both of her arms tightly in my hands and used my legs to pin hers against the mattress, glaring furiously down at her. I wasn’t some weak man who had to let people do whatever they wanted to me. Everything I’d tolerated from her until now had been for one reason only. Because she was my friend.

 

“!!!”

 

“I have never thought about loving you. Not even once! And if you’re still going to behave this pathetically, don’t expect a second chance from me!”

 

I squeezed her arms hard enough that her slender face twisted in pain. They were probably going numb and losing their strength.

Then I released her and walked out of the room.

 

“Oh! Where’s Natcha?”

 

I passed May-I, Guide and Great on my way out. Guide and Great were both drunk, so they were probably heading back to sleep. We still had responsibilities tomorrow, after all.

 

“…May-I… look after Natcha for me.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Everyone fell silent, almost as though they knew something must have happened to me.

 

“She probably forgot to take her medicine…”

May-I murmured quietly.

 

“We’re about to graduate. I don’t want her to throw away her future because of me.”

 

That was all I said before walking away.

 

“I thought I was about to get cheated on.”

 

The moustached bastard spoke sarcastically before turning his head away and apparently deciding the wind was a better conversation partner than me. So he really was sulking.

 

“Do I look like some weak, helpless man who can’t protect himself, Per?”

 

I dropped down beside him. It must have been pretty late by now because the younger students were gradually disappearing into their tents and accommodation. Only the fourth-year engineering gang remained, still sitting around clutching their bottles of booze.

 

“But Kan looked like you were letting her do it!”

 

Still going.

Still being bloody dramatic.

Should I smack him round the head?

 

Especially while he was tipsy like this. Once he sobered up, he probably wouldn’t even remember what I’d done to him anyway.

 

“She’s my friend.”

 

“But I’m your husband!”

 

SMACK!

I slapped him on the head hard enough to make him spill his drink. The moustached bastard turned and glared at me resentfully.

 

“Stop drinking already. I want to sleep.”

 

“Hmph!”

 

He must genuinely have been offended that I’d smacked him, because he shuffled around and presented his broad back to me instead, acting as though he’d completely lost interest.

 

“Fine, suit yourself. Anyway… which tent is yours?”

 

“?”

 

Moustache turned around and stared at me in confusion.

 

“Is it the one with the trainers outside?”

 

I pointed towards one of the tents at the far end of the fourth-year engineering students’ row. I remembered those were the trainers he’d been wearing that morning. 

 

“Wait…”

 

Whoosh!

I jumped to my feet and headed straight for that tent. I was absolutely exhausted and more than ready for bed. I’d planned on going to sleep three hours ago, but instead I’d been dragged off to drink.

 

Rustle, rustle, rustle—grab!

I frowned and turned towards the owner of the large hand gripping my arm and pulling me around.

 

“What?”

 

I raised an eyebrow at him. He was staring at me with an expression of utter shock, as though he’d only just discovered that Hat Yai doesn’t have a beach.

 

“Y-you’re going to… sleep with me?”

 

I swear, Gear Boy looked completely wide awake now. Were you shocked? Scared? What the hell was wrong with you?

 

“Nong Per, mate… I’ve walked all the way over here. Did you think I was going inside to ask if I could sit down and eat instant noodles? Of course I’m sleeping here!”

 

With that, I crawled inside the two-person tent. Although, considering the size of that moustached brat, it would probably have been better to let him have the whole thing to himself.

 

“Kaaaaaaan—”

 

“What is it noooooow!?”

 

I shook my head and grabbed the blanket, pulling it over myself. It was getting colder and colder now, while a gentle breeze drifted outside, making the weather perfect for sleeping.

 

“Do you know how long it’s been since we saw each other?”

 

“Three months.”

 

I answered casually and turned to look at him. His eyes were sparkling like a kitten that had just spotted a particularly appealing gecko… And why the hell did I just compare myself to a gecko?!

 

“And do you know how much I missed you?”

 

“…How the hell would I know?”

 

I shook my head resignedly and tugged the blanket a little higher. The weather was good. It smelled good. And the atmosphere was so bloody good that I was already drifting off.

 

“…And do you know that we’re boyfriends now?”

 

“Yes! I bloody know that I—mmph!”

 

I didn’t even get to finish my sentence before Mr Bloody-Cool crushed his lips against mine like a starving man.

 

“Mmph!”

 

His tongue slipped into my mouth, relentlessly pursuing mine until I found myself getting swept along with him and returning the heated kiss. That poisonous snake immediately climbed on top of me.

 

“Nggh… mmph!”

 

I squirmed beneath his heavy body, trying to escape. But apparently he really had missed me as much as he claimed, because both his mouth and his wandering hands moved over me until it felt as though my entire body might burn away beneath his touch.

 

“Haah! Per!!”

 

I finally managed to summon enough strength to push his face away before I ran out of air.

 

“…But Doctor started it.”

 

Look at him! Accusing me with that innocent expression on his face!

 

“What the hell did I start?!”

 

Now I was shouting at him. When exactly had I flirted with him or given him any kind of signal? Were you a boastful drunk now too, Moustache?

 

“You came to sleep with me. Did you really think I’d be able to control myself?”

 

“I just didn’t want to sleep in the house. I wanted to experience nature. Got a problem with that?”

 

I raised my eyebrows repeatedly at the younger man as he finally dropped down beside me. Besides, the tent walls were far too thin to block the sounds if our activities became particularly… rhythmic.

 

“Then take your clothes off.”

 

He shuffled closer and pulled me into his arms, slipping one arm underneath my neck in place of a pillow. His embrace tightened around me until warmth spread through my body.

 

“Why would I take them off?”

 

“My darling wants to experience nature… so why don’t we sleep naked?”

 

BONK!

I lightly rapped my knuckles against his forehead again. When it came to dirty thoughts, you really could rely on this poisonous snake.

 

“Ow! That hurts.”

 

Was I allowed to be irritated by how bloody coquettish he was acting? It really didn’t match that rough moustache of his.

 

“Can you try thinking like a normal person for once? Do you seriously think fifteen-degree weather is suitable for sleeping naked?! Huh?!”

 

Not even slightly discouraged. Mr Moustache merely gave me another wicked grin.

 

“That’s exactly why we should sleep naked and exercise. Then we won’t be cold.”

 

I let out a long sigh and immediately rolled over, turning my back on his sly face.

 

“I’m tired. I’m going to sleep.”

 

It was basically my way of saying goodnight. I genuinely was exhausted, and my eyes were barely staying open anymore.

 

“Kan.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

I answered even though my eyes were already closed. I could feel warmth spreading across my back as his arms tightened around me, making me feel safe.

 

“I’m happy we’re here together now.”

 

“Mm… me too.”

 

It felt so good that it almost seemed like a dream. And it was one hell of a beautiful dream.

 

“I love you, Kan.”

 

“…”

 

We both fell silent.

 

After saying it, Moustache simply held me tighter and buried his face against the crook of my neck, breathing in my scent softly. He was probably almost asleep too.

 

“…I love you too, Per…”

 

It wasn’t merely our arms holding our bodies together…It was love itself, binding us so closely that we could no longer be pulled apart.

 

…and I swear every word of this on my own honour. I’ve completely fallen in love with this engineering brat!