North: How much is your love?

Chapter 5: Who is he?

[>> North <<]

"Are you delivering coffee all the way to Chiang Rai?"

 

That was the first thing Ter said the moment I opened the door and walked into the cafe. I glared at him and then settled down on a chair next to the counter. It looked like he was practising making coffee following Than's instructions.

 

Can we please stop making coffee?

 

It's all Johan's fault! I don't understand why he kept making me re-brew the coffee. I've become addicted to the smell of coffee. Now, I've finally managed to brew it to his standards, so I'm finally allowed to come back here.

 

"You've been gone for so long, are you trying to skip work? I'll deduct your salary!" Than said, laughing.

 

"Oh my God, please don't do that to me!" I grimaced, trying to look as pitiful as possible. 

 

First, when I came back to work here, Johan threatened to deduct my salary, and now that I'm leaving, Than is planning to do the same...Do I have the right to choose?

 

"Come make some coffee with us, it'll be fun!" Ter excitedly urged, a stark contrast to me – someone who gets dizzy just from the smell of coffee. 😭

 

"Okay, maybe another time."

 

"Oh, North, I've already asked my family."

 

Suddenly, P’Than spoke up as if he had just remembered something, then handed me a small piece of paper with a phone number written on it.

 

"This is Chain's number; he's a relative of mine. He owns the shop. I asked him, and he said it's OK, just contact him first."

 

"Wow, thank you! You're so kind!" I pretended to be touched and took the paper.

 

"If you're going to work, let me know, and I'll give you a ride."

 

"Thank you, but I can manage on my own; no need to trouble yourself," I replied with a touch of embarrassment.

"So, is Ter going to work with you?" Than turned to ask Ter. He shook his head immediately.

 

"No way. P’Hill definitely wouldn't let me. Just getting a job here is difficult enough."

 

"It's true that those people are 'tied down'."

 

"North, are you okay doing this alone?" Than looked at me, a little worried, "Let me drive you to and from work initially? The shop also stays open quite late."

 

"Ah... so it's a bar, right?" I asked again to be sure, since I'd never worked in a bar before. 

 

"Like a pub, right?"

 

"It's not that bad, it's mostly just a place to relax. Anyway, let me take you there, you're not familiar with the area at first." He offered again. Finally, I nodded in agreement. After all, this was P’Than's family's restaurant, so it probably wouldn't be too stressful.

 

"Okay, I'll let you know after I've finished talking to P’Chain."

 

P’Than smiled kindly and patted my head. I could only smile wryly. Why does everyone like to pat my head? I'm not a dog!

 

Ter looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression, as if Than patting my head was something very strange.

 

Ting!

Who's texting again...?

 

Don't tell me it's Johan again, okay? What do you want with me next? No way! I'm exhausted from making coffee today. 😭

 

Oh… it wasn't Johan, it was Hill. P’Hill never texted me. No, never at all. What was there to talk about with him anyway?

 

Hill Ratchakit: Don't play like that anymore.

 

Huh?

What's going on here?

 

"Ter, what is this?" I held my phone screen up to Ter's face. He stared at it with a puzzled expression.

"What is that?"

 

"I don't know, your boyfriend just messaged me," I said, bewildered.

 

"What did you text my boyfriend? Are you planning to wreck my house?" Ter glared at me suspiciously, making me stare back at him in disbelief. But then he burst out laughing.

 

"What have you done again?"

 

"What could it be?" I asked myself, trying to remember. "Hill must have sent the message by mistake. Maybe he was texting some mistress and accidentally sent it to me."

 

No sooner had I finished speaking than Ter gave me a light tap on the head.

 

"That foul-mouthed person is only good at ruining other people's relationships!"

 

"Hmph!" I stuck out my tongue to tease him, then turned to see Than chuckling softly as he watched us argue.

 

"So cute."

 

"Huh?"

 

"I mean, you two, your arguments are so cute."

 

"Cute? What's so cute about it? Sharing a room is practically a death wish! This North guy is so annoying!" Ter grumbled, wiping glasses irritably as she spoke.

 

"Are you slandering me?" I smirked.

 

"What slander? I have proof!"

 

"Show me!"

 

"Give me your car keys!" Ter demanded. I chuckled, pleased I'd successfully annoyed him, but I still took out the keys and placed them on the counter as he asked. "What is this?" Than curiously asked as Ter picked up my keys, "Are we going to use matching items?"

 

My car keychain and Ter's are both shaped like little boy dolls, but they don't match!

 

"No way!" Ter retorted immediately, "That North guy, he's a real troublemaker! A professional meddler!"

 

"Oh, I was travelling in the mountains, saw this keychain and thought it was pretty, so I bought it. What's wrong with that?"

 

"The mistake is that you deliberately bought it!"

 

"What the heck? I'm confused!" Than frowned, looking utterly bewildered.

 

"It's like this..." I explained, "Ter uses this keychain as a matching item with Hill. When I was hiking in the mountains, I saw this one and thought it was nice, and it happened to be the last one, so I bought it. And unintentionally, it became a matching item with them."

 

"You bastard!"

 

"What? What if I use another one? They don't just sell two of them!"

 

"It's all your fault! I was planning to wear matching items with my boyfriend, but now I have to share them with you!"

 

"Just consider me your second boyfriend!"

 

"Hey, North, you really are..." Ter shook his head in exasperation, "I'm not surprised Sket saved your number with a lizard icon."

 

Huh? I blinked in confusion. But it's true, Sket really did save my number with that icon. I don't know why he did that. Maybe he's still angry about me secretly eating the candy he was going to give to the girl from the Agriculture department? It was just a small piece that I bit off; the girl probably wouldn't have noticed, right?

 

"Wow, I just found out North is such a goofy person," Than said, his face still showing surprise.

 

"Hey, why am I suddenly being ganged up on?" I exclaimed.

 

"Serves you right." Ter shrugged. "You keep asking why you get yelled at, so here's the reason." Then he pouted at me, "Change the keychain."

 

"You should change it. Make something special just for the two of you, like having it custom-made."

 

"Are not."

"Why?"

 

"You have to change it, I'm not going to accept that!"

 

"See? You're trying to outdo me."

 

"Hmph! Wait until you get a girlfriend, then I'll go all the way, we'll even wear matching shirts, let alone keychains!"

 

"You're a vengeful person."

 

And so the pointless argument between the two of us started again. We only stopped when we realised we were wasting our energy. Than shook his head and said that Ter and I were the messiest roommates in the world, and he might be right.

 

Finally, at eight o'clock in the evening, we finished work. The first day went smoothly, largely because I focused on supporting Ter.

 

"Drive carefully. Remember to let me know if anything happens, North," Than said before driving away. Only Ter and I were left in the parking lot in front of the cafe, getting ready to head back to the dorm.

 

"Hey," Ter called out as he climbed into the back seat of my motorbike.

 

"What?"

 

"I... find it very strange."

 

"What's so strange about that?"

 

"That guy Than... What should I say?"

 

"Are you badmouthing the owner?" I glared at him.

"No! I was just wondering. Did you notice? He keeps patting your head all the time."

 

"And then what?"

 

"Well, I think..."

 

"What are you thinking?"

 

"Are you sure your face doesn't look like his dog?"

 

"You bastard!" I sighed in frustration, started the engine, and sped off. "You were just rambling on to insult me, weren't you?"

 

"No, no!" Ter chuckled, "I'm telling the truth. He's suddenly been patting your head a lot. And he even wants to drive you to and from work."

 

"So what do you mean?"

 

"He definitely likes you."

 

"Pfft! Nonsense!"

 

"Hey, I'm serious. When you went to meet Jo, Than didn't seem happy at all. Especially when you said you'd be back to work late, he didn't like it at all."

"I'm his employee. Anyone would be angry if I skipped work."

"Really...? If it were me, I probably wouldn't be angry. Admit it, after hearing me say this, you've probably already thought about it, right?"

“…”

"But wouldn't that be a bit too narcissistic?"

 

Before long, we arrived back at the dormitory. We talked nonstop the whole way. Even after we got to my room, I was still thinking about it.

"Well...we've only just met. Probably not. I don't have anything that would make him like me anyway."

"Who knows, maybe he likes terrible people."

 

"Are you cursing at me again?"

"But he keeps saying 'cute' all the time when he's around you. Don't you realise that?"

"Well, I've noticed it too... But I don't think it's anything." I sighed. Why is Ter suddenly bringing this up?

"Actually, you know, but you don't want to admit it, right?"

"Yeah. Don't overthink it, or it'll all be awkward. Anyway, I have to work with him." I sighed again. It wasn't that I wasn't thinking about it, but rather that I was deliberately avoiding it. I wasn't sure if Than really liked me, like Ter said, because I myself felt strange about his words and actions.

But I chose to ignore it. Firstly, maybe he didn't like me, maybe it was just Ter and I imagining things. Secondly, I didn't have any feelings for him anyway, because I didn't think we could be anything more than siblings.

 

"So, that means you didn't choose Than, right?"

"Yeah... We're just brothers," I replied, feeling strange at Ter's excited expression.

"Wow, brother zone."

"What did you say?"

"So my boat won't sink then. My Johan North boat is still strong!"

"Hmph, I'll sink you with a torpedo right now." I glared at my friend with a look of displeasure. So this is why he kept trying to ship me with Jo!

"No, Captain! If I sink, I'll drown, and I don't know how to swim!"

"Annoying! If you knew what your brother Johan did to me, you wouldn't say that."

"What? What? What were you doing in his room for so long?" Ter asked eagerly. I didn't understand what was wrong with him, but I told him everything anyway. From bringing coffee to Johan, being forced to sit and watch him work, accidentally falling asleep, to being told to make coffee so badly that my head was spinning.

 

"I suddenly feel very dizzy," Ter said, grimacing.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm probably seasick... The boat was going too fast today."

"Sigh, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters."

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

Opening of the new semester.

 

Just a few days after that, I stopped talking to my creditor. Johan didn't text me, and I didn't know what to text either. Only his secretary, Prang, had added me as a friend on Line. She said she would take care of tracking my debt. If I wanted to pay, I could just let her know, or if Johan deducted money, she would record it because he was too lazy to remember these things.

 

Ms Prang complained about being ordered around, but she couldn't do anything about it because she was burdened by the demands of "monthly salary" and "bonus."

 

That's so much like me… 😭

 

MaPrang: Jo deducted 662 baht from my account twice the other day. So, the total debt is now 199,412.50 baht.
MaPrang: That's a lot. That's a scary number. Don't let it reach 200,000.
North♣: Wait, wait! Why did he deduct it twice? I remember it was only once?
MaPrang: I don't know. I'm going back to work. I heard you started your new semester, right? Good luck!
North♣: Yes, ma'am… 😭

 

I told my three friends the whole story. They looked awkward and offered to help, but I refused. Then they teased me about the new phone. At first, they thought I had stolen it or found it and refused to return it. But when I told them that Johan had thrown away my old phone and bought me a new one, they were all stunned.

 

"Our friend North has a sugar daddy now!"

"This isn't just a sugar daddy anymore, it's an entire forest! I want to kneel down and worship him. I'm so impressed!"

 

I hate it that Sket guy keeps teasing me. Can I just throw him away somewhere?

"How angry must someone be to have the nerve to throw away someone else's phone and buy a new one? Unbelievable. Hey, throw my phone away and buy me a new one!" Duen Nao chimed in.

 

"I sensed something was fishy… I'd been suspicious ever since the day he went to pick up North."

 

"Stop it, don't tease me anymore, you devils!" I frowned.

 

"How can we not tease you! Ter is on your boat, right? Then we'll join in and help row to make it faster!"

 

"You bastards! I'll kick you all into the water!" I said, shaking my head helplessly.

 

"Oh, so you admit you have a boat then!"

 

"You guys!!"

 

Before I could scold him further, the phone rang again. P’Than called…

 

"Hello, what's up?"

(Today is your first day of work, right?)

 

"Yes, that's right... But how did you know?"

(He asked Chain, "What time do you finish school today?")

 

"Around 4 PM."

(Okay, then I'll come pick you up. You study in the Engineering building, right?)

 

"Yes, that's right, but the shop opens at 6:30."

(Can I pick you up and we go out for dinner first?)

 

"Huh?… Okay, sure."

(So, try to study hard. See you later.)

 

"Yes, you too."

 

As soon as I hung up, Sket immediately started questioning me.

 

"Who called?"

 

"P’Than."

 

"Which school?"

 

"He's a third-year student in Management, the owner of the coffee shop where I work part-time. He's a relative of the owner."

 

"Hey, why did he suddenly come to pick you up? You don't usually need anyone to pick you up or drop you off."

 

"I don't know either, he said he'd come pick me up," I replied, feeling a little annoyed.

 

"So, how are you going to get back to the dorm? Is he going to wait until you're finished and then take you back?"

 

"Yeah, that's what he said. Otherwise, how would I know how to get home?"

 

"Is Than flirting with my friend?" Sket asked.

“North, please choose one of these two: a sophomore in Medicine or a junior in Administration?” He even held a pen to my mouth as if he were interviewing me. I said nothing, just stared at it with a bored expression. Why does it feel so familiar? It seems like Ter has interrogated me like this before.

 

"North, look," Sket whispered as I tried to concentrate on my studies—though that was only effective for the first few sessions of the semester. He was constantly fiddling with his phone. I turned to look at the screen he was holding up.

 

"What is it?"

 

"Look!"

 

Cute Boy & Girl – MU – just posted a new photo 15 minutes ago.

 

"Welcome to the start of the second semester, everyone! To kick off the new semester, the admin is super happy to see handsome guys and beautiful girls again! Today, I'd like to introduce a gem from the Faculty of Medicine: Johan, a second-year medical student. I've been posting a lot of his pictures lately because his bad boy vibe is driving me crazy! And these photos are amazing! How can I take pictures in Thailand that look like they were taken in Korea? How can I wear a student uniform and look like I'm wearing designer clothes? This isn't good! I'm about to faint! Johan, please trample on me! @Johan Ct."

 

The photo shows Johan wearing a student shirt, but it's not very neat – one side is sticking out of his trousers. One hand is draped over his shoulder; the other is in his pocket, his hair is slicked back messily, and his face shows weariness.

 

“That caption is really creepy, ‘Please trample me’?” Sket exclaimed. I nodded in agreement. Trample what? Because of his bad boy vibe? Lately, this fan page has been posting so many pictures of Johan, probably because the admin is still bitter about Hill having a girlfriend.

 

"These comments are really something," Sket said, then scrolled down to show me. 

 

-Oh my god, how can he be so dangerously handsome? I'm going to faint just looking at him in that coat!

 

-Johan, I love you! If I were rich, I'd buy you and make you my own!

 

-Admin, why didn't you take a picture of him running his hand through his hair? That was absolutely amazing!

 

-We're protesting against Johan having a girlfriend! We must protect the department's treasure with our lives! Hill just got a girlfriend, and our hearts are already broken, huhu!

 

-How can someone let their shirt come undone and still look so handsome? No one but Johan could do that!

 

-I love it! I want one… (attached image of a 1,000 baht banknote)

 

-I'm probably not rich enough to support Johan, so let him support me! Daydreaming! Haha!

 

-Actually, Johan was on the phone with me that day, sorry everyone! Haha

 

-At first, I was going to criticise his unstyled hair, but after looking closely, it turned out to be incredibly handsome. Okay, no more criticism, I'm in love with him!

 

-Wow, the photos are amazing, the lighting is excellent, and the model is even more stunning!

"I think many people would be happy to take on the debt for you."

 

"Wait a minute, who would want to be in debt, you idiot!" I shook my head. "Just imagine how annoyed these people would be if he provoked them as I did, and they'd want to retract all their praise immediately!"

 

"Not necessarily, people like that attitude!"

 

"Really? Girls actually like this kind of thing?"

 

"But you have to be handsome too!"

 

"Enough!" I interrupted, "In short, if he's handsome, that's it, no reason needed!"

 

Then I returned to focusing on the lecture.

 

16:08

My last class had just ended, and everyone in the class was leaving the room one by one. Just now, Than texted me to wait in front of the department and that he was on his way to pick me up. I don't know if I'm overthinking it, but it seems Than is very attentive to this, constantly texting to ask if I've finished classes yet, and saying he doesn't want me to wait too long.

 

"Did Than come to pick you up?" Ikkyu asked.

 

"Yeah." I nodded in confirmation.

 

"If he does anything wrong, call me right away!" Sket said with a chuckle, making me tap him on the head. He's always joking around. "Okay, I'm going now. Don't overwork yourself, kid!"

 

"Yeah, yeah, see you tomorrow!" I waved goodbye to my three friends and went to sit at the marble table near the faculty's iconic courtyard to wait.

 

Ting!

T-Than: The teacher is about to dismiss everyone, and I'm getting ready to leave.
T-Than: Where are you?

North♣: I'm in front of the department, near the iconic square.

T-Than: Oh, really? That's a shame, I was planning to come earlier to wait for you.

North♣: What are we waiting for? Haha

T-Than: I want to get that point! Haha
T-Than: Just kidding.
T-Than: I don't like keeping people waiting.

North♣: I can wait, I just finished work too.

T-Than: Okay, I'm going now, wait for me a bit.

North♣: Yes.
North♣: [Sends sticker]

 

Tell me, I won't think too much about it, right? 😭

He said that jokes are just jokes, no need to overthink them. Overthinking it will only make things more awkward.

 

Ting!

What now? I just sent a message.

 

Johan: Where are you?

 

Oh… Why is it Johan messaging me? I suddenly feel a little uneasy. He's not asking me to do something again, is he?

 

North♣: I'm in the department.

Johan: I'm going to buy coffee at the Engineering department.

North♣: ?
North♣: Coffee in your department?

Johan: Yes.

North♣: Yes… Don't tell me you're asking me to bring it over there, are you?

Johan: No.
Johan: I'll come pick you up.

 

Wait…

What's going on here now?!

 

North♣: Where are you taking me?
North♣: Well… I'm busy.
North♣: But let me buy you some coffee.

Johan: Why?

North♣: Because someone is coming to pick me up soon.

Johan: Who?
Johan: Screw it.
Johan: But I had to see you when I came here.

North♣: Oh my god…

Johan: Go buy some coffee, I'm on my way.

 

It feels like talking to a wall! What am I going to do now?! Than is on his way, and Johan is almost here too. But Than will probably arrive first because the Medical Faculty is on the other side of campus. What am I going to do? I can't split myself up to go with both of them! Do I have the right to choose? 😭 But first, I need to go buy some coffee.

 

I went into the coffee shop under the Faculty of Engineering building. They have a special drink called "Engineering Coffee." I don't know if they have any special recipe, but I'll order a cup anyway.

 

While waiting for my drinks, I need to tell Than right away because I can't go with him. The creditors have to come first anyway, because offending Johan is a big deal. As for Than, I can probably explain things to him later. Johan is truly the most selfish creature in the world!

 

North♣: Than, I'm sorry, but I probably can't go with you.

 

I decided to text him because he was driving, and calling wouldn't be convenient.

 

North♣: I'm a little busy right now.

T-Than: Oh, why is that?
T-Than: We had an appointment, didn't we?
T-Than: I'm just one traffic light away from here.

North♣: That's really not possible, maybe next time?

T-Than: *Sigh* I tried to run fast so you wouldn't have to wait too long…

North♣: I'm sorry 😭
North♣: [Sends sticker]

T-Than: Okay then, let's go out to eat next time.
T-Than: Really?

North♣: Yes, that's fine.

T-Than: But how will you get to the restaurant?

North♣: I can go by myself today.

T-Than: Are you sure? I can take you there.

North♣: It's alright, I'm sorry to bother you.

 

Before I could finish texting Than, I suddenly heard the screeching of tyres on the road, so loud it startled me. A luxurious sports car sped past and stopped right in front of the faculty's iconic building. Hey, we're still on campus! Why are you drifting like that?!

Johan: Let's go!

Huh!? Don't tell me that's Johan's car! Hey, how did you get here so fast? The Medical Faculty is over there. How did you get here faster than Than? Or maybe Johan studies in a different building? But no, all the medical classes are over there.

 

I put my phone in my pocket and walked towards the luxury car that had just stopped, drawing everyone's attention in the department. Was this luxury car just for Johan to show off? It looked so beautiful, I didn't dare touch it. I opened the car door next to the driver's seat and got in as Johan had instructed.

"Here's your coffee," I said, handing Johan the cup. He took it and placed it beside the steering wheel. "So... where are you going?"

 

"Who will come to pick you up initially?"

 

"Brother Than," I answered truthfully, because I was sure Johan wouldn't know. My phone in my pocket vibrated violently; I wondered if it was Brother Than texting again.

 

"Hmm, I don't know," Johan said, glancing in the rearview mirror, starting the car, turning the steering wheel, and the car sped off so fast I was startled. Oh my God, that driving is terrifying!

 

"So where are you going with him?" Johan asked, his eyes still fixed on the road. I sat beside him, my body tense, my feet pressed to the ground. I'd heard Ter say Johan was a terrible driver, and now I understood.

 

"Ah... We were going to have lunch."

 

“…”

 

Johan didn't answer. I didn't say anything more either, and inwardly I was praying. Oh God, save me, no more going, let me out. 

 

Thinking about Hill, it was completely different; Hill drove so smoothly, so smoothly you could fall asleep in his car. If I fell asleep in Johan's car, I'd probably fly out the window.

 

Before I could even look where I was going, the car stopped in front of a restaurant. Johan turned off the engine and got out. I had no choice but to follow him, even though my legs were still trembling.

 

"Going out for lunch?" I asked quietly.

 

"Yeah, you want to eat rice, right?"

 

Oh, right, I said I'd go eat with Than. I followed Johan into the restaurant. It was a casual restaurant, as I expected, not as fancy as I'd imagined. Looking at Johan, I thought he'd take me to some high-end restaurant, but this was fine, much more comfortable.

 

"Isn't the coffee at the medical department good?" I asked when I saw Johan drinking the cup of coffee I bought.

 

"Hmm."

 

"Normally, Hill takes me to places like this, and I didn't expect you to like this style too," I said, because Ter and I both agreed that these casual places are better, as there's less formality involved.

 

"Where does Hill usually take you out to eat?"

 

"It's just an ordinary shop, but I like to stop by to buy sweets, and only Ter buys them."

 

"So you're not buying it?"

 

"No, I'm shy."

 

"No wonder the money in my card is running out so slowly."

 

What's going on here...?

Is the money in my card running out slowly?

 

"Give me your phone," Johan suddenly said. I unconsciously tilted my head slightly out of curiosity.

"Yes?"

"Phone."

"Yeah, why give it to you?" Although I asked that, I still had to hand the phone to Johan. How could I stop him?  Johan took it and scrolled through my phone for a while. But wait, how did he unlock my phone with his fingerprint? When did he save his fingerprints on my phone?

 

"Where are you going?"

"Yes?"

"I was saying I'd come pick you up," Johan said, handing me my phone. It was a message from Than saying he'd take me to the store.

 

"Oh... I got a part-time job."

 

“…” 

 

I didn't know what to do when Johan suddenly seemed quite displeased. Sitting opposite each other like this, his silence only made me more tense. I was starting to worry; why was he so upset?

 

"I'm working part-time at a new place. Than is related to the owner of that place, so he'll take me there."

"So who is this Than guy?"

"He's the owner of the coffee shop where I work."

"Which is the new restaurant?"

"Slot Out," I replied softly. Why did Johan ask me in such a harsh tone?

"A bar?"

"Yes, you know it?"

"I only know a little," Johan said, then stood up, paid the waiter, and walked out of the restaurant without waiting for change. As I followed him outside, the waiter gave me the change.

 

"Are we almost home?" I asked once I was in the car. But why hadn't Johan given me back my phone yet?

"I'm taking you home."

"Going home? Taking me to the restaurant?"

"Back to the dormitory."

"No need, I'll go by myself."

 

T-Than: Are you going with Johan? Why didn't you tell me? Did he threaten you? Where are you going?
T-Than: North, I can take you to the store, don't worry.
T-Than: I'll wait to pick you up. I've already arranged my schedule.
T-Than: Let me know if anything happens.
T-Than: I'm waiting for you. I'm so worried about you.

North♣: Don't worry.
T-Than: …
T-Than: North?