During the school break, I don't do much besides sleeping, going out with Ket, and working at the restaurant. Even though Sorn has revealed that Ning gives him money every month to take care of me, I can't help but be thoughtful of him. I think I'll let Sorn keep the rest of the money. If anyone has a hard time in the future, he can use it to help them the way he helped me.

 

After the Bangkok trip, Ket has been sleeping more. He can sleep throughout the day. He barely drinks coffee lately and only wants a blue soda like before. I think his sleeping habits are normal, since I can sleep all day as well.

 

During this school break, Ning has been acting like a spirit bound with Ket and me, even renting a car to take us out. We went to the mall, beach, mountains, Bangkok, everywhere. I haven't had a serious talk with her about how she earns enough to cover my tuition fees and other expenses. When I asked her, she'd change the subject but keep stressing, I'm not a prostitute or drug dealer. Don't worry!

 

My sister has been trying her best to earn my forgiveness, though I wish to say I'm no longer mad at her. She should thank Sorn for spilling her secret. Besides, she should let Ket and me stay home at times. It's exhausting going out every day.

 

After Sorn made a relaxing space on the rooftop, I took over it as my secret base to read manga and chill out in the breeze at night. Tong and Tou can't step inside the tent because I put Mee's whale plush there. The only people allowed in the tent are the restaurant owner, his boyfriend, Ket, and me.

 

I planned to read ten volumes of Naruto today, but Ning dragged me outside, saying, The weather is cool today. Let's go somewhere. Don't be cooped up in your room.' Subsequently, Ket and I are currently standing at the entrance of an aquarium, yawning and stretching. Others might enjoy trying new things, but Ket and I prefer sleeping.

 

"Here you go." The woman gives us a ticket each and grins.

 

"Where's yours?"

 

"I have an errand to run. You two get inside. Call me when you're done, and I'll pick you up."

 

Ning runs back to the car and accelerates away with smoke and dust trailing behind. Ket and I hold each other's gazes and sigh for the zillionth time. Regardless, we crack a smile, knowing Ning wants us to be alone together.

I actually love aquariums. I love everything about the sea, the blue colour, and the sea animals, so I won't complain this time. Ket also knows I love this, though he prefers planetariums.

 

As soon as I enter the aquarium, I'm captivated by the aquarium's blue light. I've studied at a university by the sea for over a year, but never visited an aquarium.

 

"Jellyfish."

 

Ket bends up and down in front of the glass container with blue lights. I gaze at the tall guy in a white shirt and jeans. The sight makes me burn as if I have a fever.

 

I have zero resistance to this man's attractiveness. I walk closer to Ket until our arms brush against each other before the jumping aurelias in the tank draw my

attention. Aurelias are also known as moon jellyfish. They have transparent bodies with floral-looking patterns in the middle. The gorgeous reflecting blue lights, occasionally turning pinkish-purple, look astonishing, with the dark blue ocean in the background. It feels as if we're watching creatures like stars in the sky. That's why Ket seems satisfied. He's usually not a fan of any sea animals.

 

"Aren't they cute?"

 

Ket looks at me and smiles.

 

"Yeah. Cute."

 

"The jellyfish?"

 

"Yeah. Both you and the jellyfish."

 

What a flirt. We both stroll along the purple-blue-lit path. The cool air and reflections from the small fish tanks make me feel like I'm walking underwater. The place isn't crowded as it's a weekday. I have a chance to see all kinds of fish in the tanks alongside the path, never missing a single one. I chat with the man beside me as I observe each one, laughing from time to time. The building's feeling is no different from that of a school of jellyfish floating in the water. One, two, and three scatter around and slowly gather, forming a big ball of hundreds of springing jellyfish.

 

It feels like I'm floating on the surface of the water. At some point, the tiny jellyfish pop up and squeeze against one another in a tight ball. It's probably similar to feeling butterflies in your stomach.

 

I can't deny I've fallen in love with Ket the way I did for the first time. I love him more and more every day, much more than the last time. As we reach deeper, I'm captivated again by the sea tunnel. The glass wall makes it feel like we're underwater. The sea above my head is stunning, like a painting. The blue, navy, and purple colours, and the sparkling lights, are reflecting.

 

Large fish swimming by are spectacular. I have no idea how long I've been staring at them, but I'm happy just by looking. When I turn to speak to the man beside me, he's not there. I spin toward the entrance of the tunnel and spot Ket there. His body still exudes the faint blue aura, as marvellous as the glistening lights from the massive fish tank.

 

Judging by Ket's expression, he must be too scared to enter. Ket is afraid of the sea.

 

"Scared?" I ask the person who refuses to step forward, then walk back to him. Ket is leaning against the wall.

 

"Yeah"

 

"It won't break."

 

"It feels like I'm drowning."

 

Ket strokes my cheek gently.

 

"As long as you're happy, it's enough."

 

"But we need to go this way."

 

The big guy goes pale upon hearing that. I chuckle.

 

"Just keep your eyes on my face, okay?"

 

When I'm sure no one will come here, I take both of Ket's hands and pull him gently. He fixes those beautiful dark brown eyes on me, and we slowly move forward amid the reflecting lights from the water in the giant glass tunnel.

A stingray soars above our heads. The shadow casting across my face brings a smile to Ket's face. Ket's smile is more stunning than the sea, and I can't contain myself. Since there's no one else but us, I put my hand on the back of his neck and pull him in, our breath mingling.

 

My lips touch Ket's beautiful ones, and the big guy kisses me harder. This kiss is enveloped in the smell of the sea, with a hint of blue Hawaii soda. It lasts a while before Ket withdraws his lips. Our panting is loud enough for only us to hear.

 

"Can you not seduce me, hmm?"

 

"Your lips were in the way."

 

"How mean."

 

Ket is about to slip his naughty hands into my shirt, but the sound of kids running around behind us splits us immediately. We laugh and dart out of the tunnel as if we committed a crime before resting on a bench facing an enormous fish tank. I watch huge groupers open and close their mouths, and I recall my childhood memory of buying goldfish as pets. At the time, I went to Ket's house often to feed the goldfish after school. His parents welcomed me nicely since I was his only friend.

 

We had one each. Ket's black one was Oleang. My orange one was Somcheng. It cracks me up and makes Ket curious.

 

"Why do you look so happy?"

 

"Do you remember we used to keep goldfish? Yours were jet black and called Oleang. Mine was orange, Somcheng."

 

Ket hums a response like he just remembers it.

 

"When Somcheng was sick and couldn't swim straight, it was hilarious. We even considered taking him to the hospital, or he might die."

 

"And you wanted to scoop Somcheng into a plastic bag and bring him to the hospital." Right. What a funny thought. I don't know why I thought of a plastic bag, not a can or something else.

 

"But Somcheng recovered in the morning. It turned out Oleang died first." Ket's voice turns sad.

 

"So you gave me Somcheng, and it died in a week."

 

We sit in silence to mourn Oleang and Somcheng in front of the groupers' tank.

 

"A week later, you spooned a molly fish at the temple festival and kept it in the lotus pot in my front yard," Ket says to lighten the mood. It makes me smile.

 

"Someone said he would go to the temple festival with me, but he was busy playing with Mr Coffee."

 

"I completely forgot. It was the first day Mr Coffee listened to me after months of practising. When he sat and didn't eat the cookie as told, I was so excited that I forgot our promise."

 

"How horrible."

 

I put on a bummed face at him, but I can't help laughing. Mr Coffee was a golden retriever of Ket's family. He was never interested in anything besides food. Therefore, Ket's mother sent him to be trained by an instructor. It took Mr Coffee longer than the other dogs. The instructor broke a sweat to successfully train him. He was also the reason Ket forgot to go to the temple festival with me. You damn greedy dog.

 

We watch the groupers swimming in the gigantic tank before Ket inches closer to me.

 

"When will they announce the result?"

 

"It should've been yesterday, but they announced one of the judges had been sent to the hospital for dengue fever. The result is postponed to next week."

 

"Next week?"

 

"Yeah."

 

"So long."

 

Right. I was looking forward to it, but they postponed the announcement of the results. I planned to take Fou on a trip before the school break if I was one of the top three. It's just wishful thinking now.

 

"Kieng."

 

"Hmm?'

 

"Promise me something." I turn my head to the man beside me. Ket gazes at the fish tank in front of us as if there are so many things on his mind.

 

"What?"

 

"If you're in the top three, promise me you'll study hard."

 

I purse my lips upon hearing that.

 

"What the hell?" I'd rather take it easy. I don't want to be stressed over it.

 

"I don't want you to ruin your future. Before I came to you, Ning told me you lived aimlessly with no purpose. When you said you wanted to be an art teacher, I was so happy I could change your mind."

 

"I don't know if I'll be in the top three."

 

"If you are, promise me you'll study hard."

 

Ket's eyes are more serious than ever. They always look serious when he talks about my future. I wasn't that lazy back then. I was actually overly enthusiastic. The haunting wound from the past just changed me into someone who couldn't care less about anything.

 

Nonetheless, after Ket returned, I became more productive. Fou also suddenly chose me to participate in the contest, even though he never forced me to do anything in my freshman year. When I worked on the project and helped Sorn out at the restaurant, I truly learned the word 'patience! I had to reschedule my job and projects to fit the contest artwork into the schedule. Was I tired? Yes. Did I have fun? Yes.

 

I enjoyed every moment my lips touched the canvas, despite them cracking and getting chapped. I had fun. I endured it until I finished it and submitted it to the venue in Bangkok. I was even praised by the judges. It was the first time I felt my life was becoming meaningful.

 

In conclusion, if Ket wants me to promise to study hard, I can do it since art is my favourite thing. Plus, I've changed a lot and become more responsible and diligent because of him. So, I'll promise him.

 

"Okay."

 

Ket flashes a bright smile and throws his arms around me. The passersby are as startled as I am, but I'm happy because Ket seems happy.

 

"Thank you."

I pat Ket's back.

I know.

Where the hell is Ning?

 

I yank my hair in front of the snack shelf in the convenience store. My wicked sister isn't picking up her phone. We came here to get paracetamol. When we left the aquarium, Ket collapsed on his knees. I assume it was because of the scalding sunlight that caused his headache. Even I'm confused about the weather in Thailand. There's a cool breeze in the morning, then it's sunny in the afternoon and rainy in the evening.

 

The tall guy staggers to find a chair. Sometimes I wonder if Ket has hypertension. I watch the huge guy sitting on a chair in the convenience store. Ket pops out a pill and takes it. I pass him a water bottle.

 

"Does it hurt that bad?"

 

Ket slightly nods, his expression showing he's suffering.

 

"Why does it hurt often? You're not studying."

 

"Cumulative stress, perhaps."

 

Is it that serious? Political science must be tough. Even Tong asked Sorn for painkillers every week when he first moved there. Ket looks better after resting for a while, his face not distorting like earlier. I hold out a pack of jellybeans to him. His favourite.

 

"I want to eat something else." I frown and pinch Ket's cheeks.

 

"I bought you jelly, but you wanted something else? Are you messing with me?!"

 

"I don't want jelly."

 

"But it's your favourite."

 

"Oh, yeah?" Ket seems to just realise he loves jelly.

 

"You used to have it as a meal."

 

"Oh."

 

What a pain in the ass. I squeeze Ket's cheeks for a while before Ning calls me. I immediately tell her off on the phone. Why would she own a phone if she doesn't use it? If she doesn't answer the phone, just throw it away! Ning hangs up. I exhale a soft sigh and flick my gaze to the person holding the pack of jellybeans like an allen object.

 

"Why do you act as if you've never had it?"

Ket laughs sheepishly.

 

"I prefer chocolate."

 

Ket places the pack of jellybeans on the table and grabs some chocolate to check out. He opens the package on his way back and tosses some chocolate into his mouth, then chews it in satisfaction. I pick up the pack of jellybeans in perplexity.

 

No way. I can't possibly misunderstand that he loves jelly. And there's no way I'm mistaken that Ket hates chocolate...