Love Mechanics

Chapter 11.Lets keep a Distance for a While,my Love.

[Vee Vivis] 

I look at the one lying down on the bed and shake my head slightly, before pulling up the blanket for him. He shifts into a more comfortable sleeping position and takes the blanket from me to wrap himself.

It's exam week. After a semester of studies and preparation, it's time to test ourselves. I don't know why this nerdy guy is pushing himself so hard. He's up late every night studying and even gets up early to study more. He's been doing this repeatedly for a while now. As for me, I've got just two subjects left. I don't have as many consecutive exams compared to the first year, but that doesn't mean it's a cakewalk.

I've been with Mark for a week or so already. We haven't been together the whole time. Each time I go back to Ploy's room, she's not there, or when she is, I'm busy studying with my friends or engaged in something else. Whenever I'm ready to call it a day, I knock on Mark's room instead of Ploy's.

I admit that the matter of Ploy hanging out with someone else is still on my mind. I admit that I'm still very upset and hurt. Another thing is the guilty feeling I have towards her. Having Mark while also being in a relationship with Ploy is something I'm not proud of. I want to stop, but I cannot resist my feelings. I admit that being with Mark makes me feel good.

"Uhh..." I approach the one who's moaning in his throat, reaching out to touch his pretty forehead before raising my brows.

"How's it going?" I greet him as he opens his eyes and looks at me. His sharp eyes glare at me from top to bottom, before letting out a soft sigh.

"I'm gonna sleep. Don't bother me." He says sternly and covers himself with the blanket.

"Who sleeps at 5 pm? Wake up." I say, and pull the blanket away from him.

"I've been doing it for weeks. Bugger off!" Hey...I'm taken aback upon hearing the last word. Short but effective.

"Who's forcing you to do this? How many subjects have you got left?" I complain and ask.

"Just one. The day after tomorrow." He says, while I nod and caress him one more time before getting up.

It's not that I've never experienced this before. Exam time can be the most excruciating period for us. It's a written exam, so if we don't know the material, it's game over. This guy is a good student type, and he must be quite concerned about his grades.

I walk into the kitchen area to fix something simple for him. Mark will wake up again at around 9-10 pm to eat something, before hitting the books again till morning. If he has an exam in the morning, he'll take it, but if not, he'll sleep again in the late afternoon until 9 pm. He's been getting just a few hours of sleep, and it's showing on his face.

I whip up a simple pork boiled rice dish, not intending to wake him up to eat, but because I am hungry myself. He can warm it up whenever he wants to eat it. If I wake him up now, it'll take away his valuable rest time.

I sit down and eat quietly, observing things around me. The room is designed in the same mould as Ploy's, but strangely, I feel stuffy in Ploy's room.

Nuea asked me why I don't call it quits with her, or at least talk things through. I do want to speak...but each time I open my mouth, she's the one who doesn't talk to me. I'd decided to break up with her, but each time we met, she would express her love and longing for me as usual.

I scroll down my phone while eating the boiled rice, before pausing at the status page of Dew, who posted something just a few minutes ago. Dew and I know each other, though we aren't that close. Dew is Yeewa's friend.

Dew Dely

8 mins

I used to wonder why the Prom King of Kings, like Vee Vivas, doesn't come hang out at the Arts Faculty. Is this the answer? What's going on?

The legendary Prom King and Queen couple might have to clarify their status. Many people wonder why Ploy Ploynapas gets in this car so often. Please come and clear things up for your followers. If you really end up breaking up, then I'd get in line...oh sorry, that's out of line.

56 likes 31 comments

The status posted is accompanied by a photo taken at Ploy's faculty. Ploy is standing and smiling at a guy I remember well, as he's the same guy from the photo Nuea sent me.

I enter the comments section and read the comments from my fan club. Some mention that they don't see Ploy and me together as much these days, speculating about various things. The friends tag me in the comments section, though I don't reply to anything, not even pressing Like.

Rrrr~

I look down at my phone again after having tossed it away. The screen shows that Ploy, my beautiful girlfriend whom I had just read gossip about, is calling.

"Yes?" I pick up the phone and greet her like usual. I'm not one of those handsome jerks. If I love someone... I treat them nicely.

[Vee...] The sweet voice calls out to me softly, before falling silent.

[Have you seen Dew's newsfeed?]

"...Yeah." I fall quiet for a moment before replying to Ploy. Silence overcomes us after my answer. Ploy doesn't say anything, and I don't know what to say either.

[Well...]

"Shall we meet, Ploy? Where are you now? I'll go see you." I decide to interject before she can finish her sentence. I want to meet her in person, so we can make eye contact and embrace one another. No matter how this ends up, we should talk things through.

[I'm...at P'Ton's house.] I tighten my grip on the phone upon hearing the faint voice at the other end of the line.

"When are you coming back...shall I go pick you up?" I converse with Ploy using the same tone of voice, even though my heartstrings have been severely tugged at.

[Vee...]

"I'll be waiting in the room," I say to the other person. 

Ploy acknowledges and hangs up. There's no expression of love, even though it's been a long while since she mentioned it. No expression of yearning, even though we haven't talked much lately. Isn't it already plain to see, Vee...?

"When are you going?" I turn to the origin of the voice, who's leaning beside the door, asking me. I raise my brows upon seeing him, and really wonder when he got there.

"Why are you up so early?" I ask, since it's only 6.

"Who'd be able to sleep after getting bugged by you so much like that?" He says and sits on the sofa with me, taking my bowl of boiled rice and eating it himself.

"I'll get you a new bowl," I say as I take my bowl away from him.

Mark looks up at me, his sharp eyes emitting rays of discontent as well as annoyance, before he snatches the bowl back.

"When are you going?" He asks calmly, his eyes not looking at me, though I'm looking at him.

"You're hustling me?" I raise my brows and ask. He looks up at me.

"Well...seems you've sorted things out." He replies and gets back to eating.

"It doesn't mean the nice words have solved everything," I claim.

Mark then stretches his body and sits up properly. He looks at me, and I make eye contact with him to say that I haven't decided yet. I look at him pleadingly, to ask him to wait for me, even though I shouldn't ask.

"Get me some more. It's all finished." He says as he looks at the bowl. I grin immediately without having to think, and extend my hand out to rub his unkempt hair and lift the empty bowl.

"Wait for me a bit..." I said to him, He looks up at me, and we both make eye contact as he mumbles from his throat.

"Yeah...just be quick about it."

I sit in the familiar room, the one I've been coming and going from for over a year now. Every nook and cranny of this room elicits fond memories of Ploy and me. As I reminisce, I feel a sense of lament. I courted her in the first year, and we became an item in the second year. I admit that, come to think about it, we're still both young and don't know much about the word love yet. I'm not thinking about marriage with Ploy yet, but spending time with her certainly makes me happy —so happy that I don't want those happy moments to be for nought.

We love each other a lot, and it would be quite surprising if this were to end because of a third person. If it were due to our own incompatibility or because Ploy had stopped loving me, then I could accept that. After all, if the other person doesn't love us, then what do we do?

I turn to look at the door, which my girlfriend swings open, smiling lightly in her student uniform, before she puts down her purse and sits beside me. We lock eyes for a long while before Ploy's tears start streaming down.

"I'm sorry..." Upon seeing the teary eyes, my own tears also began to flow. I rub my face strongly before reaching out to wipe Ploy's tears.

"No...don't cry. I haven't even said anything yet."

"Hick! I'm sorry..." Ploy sobs and throws her body to embrace me, her face plants onto my chest. The sobs grow louder and louder till I feel hurt along with her.

"Now, now, sweetie...don't cry." I rub her back and console her with my embrace. The little one shakes her face against my chest as her lips babble some jumbled words. I can only make out that she's apologising.

"Hick...I didn't mean to." Ploy withdraws from me and says softly.

"I...didn't want things to be like this. He approached me and I...hick!"

..." I nod in acknowledgement, though I don't reply. I hold the pretty hand of the one who's owned my heart for around a year, and move closer to her.

"I still love you, Vee. I love you, but..."

"You feel good when you're with him?" 

The feelings of both Ploy and me right now are not dissimilar. Ploy still feels very confused and guilty. I understand her feelings. I still love her...if one were to ask me who I love, then I would immediately reply that it's Ploy. If the question is how I feel about the other person, I can say right away that I feel good.

"I'm sorry..." The sweet voice apologises, while her eyes look up at me.

I look at the red lips that she bites while sobbing, as well as her red eyes, and hold my hand up to brush against her pretty cheek. I use my thumb to circle it, staring deep into her eyes, which convey the same feelings as mine. Her tears stream down once again. I lean down to kiss her round forehead and then move down to her red eyes. I kiss to soak up the tears, before softly pecking at her cheeks and then withdraw.

"I'm also sorry," I say, before pulling the little one in for another embrace. I press my nose against her pleasant-smelling hair and then retract.

"I don't know what to do, Vee. I don't know how to talk to you about this...I feel guilty." Ploy speaks slowly, while I nod along. As I mentioned, I can totally empathise with the things she says.

"I also feel in the wrong... I haven't been taking care of you much recently. And I've also been...misbehaving." 

Ploy looks up at me, her round eyes conveying curiosity, though she doesn't press the matter further.

"Vee... but you still love me, right? You don't hate me, do you?" The sweet, hoarse voice asks.

"Love... love you, Ploy," I say and then kiss her pretty forehead.

Ploy closes her eyes and accepts the kiss before lifting her face. We then lock lips and kiss, communicating our love and sorrow and conveying our feelings to each other.

"Let's lie down and cuddle tonight, Vee..."

I lie holding Ploy till morning, embracing her in my chest. Her warm breath brushes against me all night, and at some moments, I can feel her trembling. I know....my beautiful darling is sobbing.

I cannot fall asleep, just like she cannot either. But I lay still like that, closed my eyes, and absorbed our moment as much as possible. I don't know what she will decide, even for me...it's a difficult choice to make. Far more difficult than the exams we've just finished.

The movement in my chest indicates that Ploy is about to stand up. I want to get up to look at the pretty face of the one I love, the one who's always beautiful in my eyes, but the lips that are locked against mine make me not want to open my eyes.

"I love you, Vee. I really do..." The bright voice falls silent, before I feel a kiss on my cheek. "With P'Ton...I don't love him as much as you, Vee. " But...he makes me feel good. He gives me everything and takes good care of me. He lets me have my way till I..."

Rer~

The ringing phone interrupts Ploy's talking, but it saves me from having a bad feeling, which I felt the latter part of her sentence would give me. I glance at the pretty girl who looks down at her phone, and close my eyes when Ploy slowly looks up at me.

"Yes, P'Ton..." That name makes my heart tighten again. "I'm about to head back...I can go there by myself. Please wait for me." 

This time...the tightening leads to heartache. The conversation falls silent, but Ploy's sobbing begins again. I'm not sure if Ploy is aware that I'm awake, but whether she is or not, I know what her answer is.

"Vee...hick!" She whispers in my ear. "I feel better that your eyes are closed now, as I can't bear to look you in the eye at the moment." 

The sweet voice speaks up as she kisses my ear. "Let me think about the situation between me and him again...my love...let's keep a distance for a while."

Following the words that pierce through my heart, Ploy plants a kiss on my temple. One teardrop trickles down onto my face before she gets up and leaves.

Ploy has left, but I'm still lying motionless. My eyes are closed… along with tears that begin to flow increasingly more.

I spent the entire day lying stupidly on the bed like that. I flip my phone, but dare not call anyone. I scan my eyes across the room, and tears simply continue to flow down. Over the past year, we have expressed our love to one another. Ploy expressed her love to me every day. But today... she wants to keep a distance.

Rrrr~

"...uhh", I speak hoarsely into the phone upon seeing that my brother has called. He remains silent for a moment before saying slowly.

[Are you coming home?]

"Why do I have to?" I ask back.

[I know about Dew's post about you on Facebook.] He says irritably, though he tries to keep his emotions in check.

"About what? If it's about Ploy and that senior, then we've already cleared things up." I say to him, not wanting anyone to worry.

Everyone who knows me knows that I love Ploy so much. I've even brought her to meet my parents. The only thing we haven't discussed is marriage, as I want us to be a little older first. But right now.../ don't think we will be able to discuss such matters.

[The fuck you cleared up about? Dew was just posting a photo of Ploy and Ton. I know you're able to cope, but sometimes you also need someone to console you. I'm your brother, Vee.] Yoo says, while feeling all numb.

"Yoo...l..hick!.."

[Where are you now?] The voice asks sternly and anxiously.

"Ploy's room..."

[Get your ass down here right now, ya stupid brother!]

Yoo brings me back home, and I've been licking my wounds here for the past 3-4 days. When my brother got me back, my mother looked at me oddly and raised her brows, as I don't come home often.

He sent me off to bed, while he himself went downstairs to talk to my mother. I spent an entire day staring up at the ceiling of my bedroom, reminiscing about all the things that had transpired, trying to make sense of it all. No matter what, Ploy requested some time to keep a distance for a while, which is good since it gives me time to think about my feelings towards her.

On the second and third day, I help my dad with work and do some reading to take my mind off things. Even though the contents are already in my head, I cram the information back in once again. I admit that I do this so as not to think about Ploy. I haven't checked Facebook or any application that follows Ploy. I refused to pick up any phone calls, whether it's from Dew or any of my other friends who've called. After a while, once I believe my mind has settled, I then check my phone again.

Numerous social media notifications pop up consecutively, making me frown. The stories must be about Ploy and me. There are many incoming calls and messages, mostly from my friends. Ploy and I did not keep in touch. She didn't call me, and neither did I call her. It's sad...But I understand.

Dew dely

2 hrs

Hey, y'all, so the conclusion of the legendary Prom King-Queen saga is upon us. Continuing from my post a few days ago, I've got some fresh updates to share from my faculty's former Prom Queen herself. Ploy Ploynapas updated her status by showing that she went to have breakfast with a handsome senior from her faculty. Oh, my! Where's my Vee, Vivas?

My chest is aching and I'm sighing out loud. Don't you care about what you post on social media, girl? Or is it that you don't care for Vee's feelings anymore?

1872 likes 1659 comments 781 shared

That's all I read, as it pops up on my feed. Many friends sent me messages, but I chose to ignore them. Many comments mention me, but I'm not interested in reading them. I turn off the signal and throw the phone aside before lying down again. So much for settling my mind.

Vee... would you like to have dinner?" My mom calls out to me from the bedroom door. I don't feel like meeting anyone now, but I want to hug this person.

"Mom..." I call out to my mother before embracing her with my whole body. She rubs my back with her hands, while I plant my face onto her shoulder and tighten my embrace.

"It's okay, son. My handsome boy is so capable. You'll get over this..." My mom consoles me and rubs my head.

"I don't want to eat. I'm not hungry." I wheedle after withdrawing myself from her.

"How can you not eat? Both Nuea and Pond came to see you downstairs." My mom says while pointing downstairs, prompting me to let out a long sigh.

"Tell them that..."

"No need to tell them anything, ya bastard. Hurry downstairs and talk to Yeewa, man. She's about to drag your girlfriend over to slap her silly!" Pond shouts out from the foot of the stairs, prompting me to pull away from my mother and head downstairs.

"Slap her silly for what? She didn't do anything wrong." I stand and stare, and Yeewa, whose angry expression changes upon seeing me. My pretty friend cries out and embraces me.

"I'm sorry...hick!" She says, sobbing. "I saw her going with that bastard...since the Prom contest."  She says as she plants her head into my chest. I look up at the ceiling, trying to prevent more tears from flowing down, as I've cried enough already.

"It's ok, girl... I've already cleared things up with Ploy." I say, and rub Yeewa's back.

"Cleared thing up about what?" Nuea asks.

"Well...keeping a distance," I answer him. They all fall silent. My father comes over to pat my shoulder softly before heading towards the dinner table, while my mom smiles at me, though my friends are all taken aback.

"And you're okay with that?" Pond continues asking.

"It seems that's what she wants... I can't stop her even if I decided to." I say this before heading over to my seat and looking at the simple dishes my mom prepared, which makes me grin.

I'm...just a common dude. No big house, no car of my own. It's different from Ploy, who's beautiful, rich, and from a good family. These things crossed my mind before, but Ploy told me not to overthink. Love is love. No need to consider other factors. But that's not the case anymore... things have changed."

"She's the one who wants to keep a distance, or so do you?" My brother's deep voice booms out, interrupting my thoughts. I turn to him, though his face remains calm as he comes to sit down opposite me.

"Whaddaya mean, P'Yoo?" Nuea asks as he approaches me.

"Ask your friend yourselves." He says and looks at me as if he knows something other people don't.

"What do you know about me?" I query.

"I just know."

"Don't mess with your brother, Yoo. He's not in the mood." My mother turns to reprimand Yoo, while my brother flashes me a devious grin and brushes his hair back before starting his meal.

"I'm going out with my friends," I tell my parents. My dad looks at me wearily, while my mom smiles.

"Don't come back too late, dear." My mom says to me and rubs my head. I plant a kiss on her pretty face.

"You let him have his way, so he becomes a spoiled brat. He's out drinking every day. Who'd want to date him?" My dad says sternly, looking towards me as he finishes the sentence.

"Weren't you the one who told me to let him have his way? You told me that if he came back, we should dote on him." My mom counters, while letting out a small grin...my dad is so stubborn.

"Hey! Why you..."

"Both of you let him have your way. Just ignore me, y'all." Yoo says as he makes a wheedling face towards mom and dad. I make a frowning face at my brother, while he flashes his canine teeth back at me.

"Of course, I love you the most in the world, Yoo," Dad says as he reaches out and pats Yoo's head.

"You don't really mean what you say. I'm not talking to you anymore, Dad." He says and continues eating.

"What does P'Yoo mean, man?" Pond walks towards me and asks.

"It's nothing...he's just imagining things..." I reply slowly, while Yoo looks up at me, his sharp eyes glaring at me before looking down.

"Well, I'm probably not the only one imagining things..." The deep voice utters, though I don't reply. I simply embrace Nuea and Pond's shoulders and walk outside.

Same old restaurant, same old atmosphere, but my feelings are different. I used to like phrases such as "let's keep a distance," "let's have time to think for ourselves," or something along those lines. It is a good way to reassure everyone, and it's beneficial for all sides. But when it's something that happens to me, I have no idea how to react. I thought I'd know what to do, but I simply don't.

Yoo's words from a while ago remain in my head. Ploy's words about keeping a distance remain stuck in my mind. Every step I take seems heavy. I lift my glass up and take another shot before putting it back down to allow Nuea to mix another drink for me. My friends don't pester or say anything to me; they just accompany me like that.

"The boys are coming soon," Yeewa says after hanging up the phone.

"What boys?" Nuea asks as he hands over a drink to me.

"Your boy Mark and his crew."

"Ya crazy...how's he my boy?" I scoff in my mind upon seeing Nuea's reaction. I want to lift my foot and kick him all the way to the front of the stage.

Soon enough, the handsome face of Fuse, this year's faculty Prom King, appears, followed by Kamphan and another guy I'm familiar with. Mark sits opposite me, while beside him sits Nuea. I look at my friend's hand, who slides over a drink to the junior, before looking up at him. Mark looks directly at me, though I cannot read his eyes. It could be because I've had a glass too many, or I cannot decipher what's on his mind.

"Are you done with the exams?" Yeewa's bright voice asks. The boys nod in reply.

"Two days ago. The exam was...bloody difficult. But this dude managed to ace it." Kamphan answers while pointing at Mark.

"Of course, my junior line is not good only for his looks, right, Nuea?"

"That's right....we gotta give him a reward." I turn to my friend once he mentions a prize. I want to chide him for his silliness, but my pretty friend is up for it too, different from Pond, who sits calmly to preserve his image of the head of the cheer team.

"And the reward is..."

"My pure and unadulterated love"

Thump!

I place my empty glass hard onto the table. 

Everyone around the table looks at me, including the one seated opposite me. I glance my eyes at Nuea sternly, though he simply raises his brows and pretends not to notice.

"Nuea! You fucker!" Your friend's hurting, and you dare talk about love? You're gonna get it. Yeewa slaps Nuea's shoulder and bellows out.

"Hey... they said they've cleared things up already," Nuea says and looks towards me.

"Well, there's gotta be some feelings that linger on. How can you expect him to get over it within a few days?" Pond says as he raises his hand to whack Nuea in the head, though the rascal manages to avoid it: no idea whether it's intentional, but his head brushes against Mark's shoulder.

"Mark...cover me. They're hurting me." Nuea says as he smiles at Mark. The boy grins back and complies. I don't think anything of it...but just look at him disappointingly. I'm the heartbroken one! Shouldn't you guys be consoling me?

"I...l'd like to go to the toilet," Mark says with a smile before standing up, prompting Nuea to sit up straight.

"The bird flew away?" Yeewa asks.

"Nah. He's probably just playing hard to get." Nuea answers confidently, making me flinch over and over. Hard to get, my ass, ya bastard!

"I'm not sure if Mark is playing hard to get with you, but at 11 o'clock over there, I'm certain." Pond suggests, while looking towards the direction he mentioned. Nuea and the others at the table follow his eyes.

"My friend's heartbroken, but it seems I've found my true love, bros." He says, before lifting his glass to acknowledge the girl, who then smiles back in reply.

"My bro's gonna catch a nice one there." Kamphan teases.

"I only catch the nice ones."

"I'm going to the toilet," I say in a deadpan tone. 

They look at me as if they've just noticed that I'm also here. Excuse me...but weren't you guys the ones who invited me out?

"You okay?" Pond asks.

"I ain't drunk yet," I answer, before standing up and walking away.

The entrance to the toilet is rather dark and spacious, with many smokers in the area. Some are making out, which is not a strange sight for me, but what's weird is the looks they give me. I wanna yell out, do whatever you want, why look at me? But I cannot. I just kept walking until I saw the guy who came out here earlier having a smoke beside the wall.

Mark looks up at me when I stand in front of him. He looks at me with trembling eyes, in a way that I never thought I'd see.

"Why are you looking at me that way?" I ask him calmly.

"How could you come so late?" The hoarse voice utters.

"Hmm?"

"That day when you told me to wait...I waited for so long." His words pull at my heartstrings, but his eyes make my heart race. His oval eyes look at me in an upset and disappointed manner, while his lips tighten up after he pulls his cigarette out. 

"Mark.. you really waited for me?"

"What the hell do you mean?!" He raises his voice slightly. The people nearby stare, though at the moment I don't care if they look at us.

"l...Can I really go see you?" I continue asking him after a long silence. I briefly look into the pretty pair of eyes I have fallen for, to determine whether I've just fallen for them or am addicted to them. His words and stare in reply to my question make me come to a decision. It's something that makes me grateful for Ploy's request to maintain a distance.

"Well...I thought I'd wait for you no matter."