North: How much is your love?
Chapter 6: Anxious.
[>> North <<]
Finally, I returned to the dormitory in a state of confusion. Although I had initially planned to go to work, Johan forbade me from going. I tried to argue and negotiate! But after being threatened about money...Well, if I don't go, then I don't go 😭
I don't understand why he's so against me going to work. Is he playing a trick on me? What reason would that give? If I don't work, where will the money come from to pay off the debt? Wouldn't it be better to let me work and pay off the debt quickly?
I sighed and wearily went upstairs to my room. Thinking about it wouldn't do any good, because who could understand Johan anyway? As soon as I entered my room, I put my bag on the chair and turned on my computer to browse the internet to pass the time. I was scrolling through Facebook randomly when I came across a new post from that fan page featuring Johan's picture again.
Cute Boy & Girl – MU – added new images about an hour ago.
"We met again today, it must be fate, right? I've been thinking about Dr Jo all day. So lucky, we met again in the medical school parking lot (actually, someone secretly took a picture and sent it to me, haha). He looked so hurried, I wondered where he was going. And Dr Jo's Audi is absolutely stunning, so luxurious and classy, truly my Johan. Both the man and the car are perfect, huhu, I wish I could sit in one just once. Actually, this picture is a bit blurry, but I just wanted to show off the car and my husband's wealth! Oh, wait, I accidentally called him my husband, so now everyone knows about us. What should I do?’ @Johan Ct.
It's a side-angle photo of Johan getting into the car – the same car that picked me up the other day. I'm not sure if he was picking me up then. The car is really nice, I have to admit. The fan page said it's an Audi, but I'm not very knowledgeable about cars, so I think it's beautiful. Riding in such a luxurious car is truly a blessing.
-That's a really beautiful car! I'd love to sit in one. I don't usually see him driving Audis, do I? I only ever see him driving Benzs. Oh, maybe that Benz belongs to Hill?
-This angle is amazing, man! The tilted shot makes the facial features stand out so sharply. If I tried to stroke it, I'd probably cut my finger! Haha. The person and the car match perfectly.
-I saw him near the medical building today, too; his charisma was absolutely breathtaking.
-Everyone he was with was handsome; I melted right there on the street, bowing my head in admiration of his wealth.
-I saw the car speeding past, going really fast.
-If I were sitting there, I'd probably faint from a heart attack.
-Huhu, he's such a bad boy, I can't stand bad boys like this. Johan is the real husband. Don't fall in love with anyone, stay and be a national treasure of our school first!
-I saw this car near the Engineering department too; it seems like it was picking someone up.
-@comment above: Please be clear instead of dropping bombs like this!!!
-Really? What are you going to do at the engineering department? And who are you picking up? Johan, do you have a new person in the engineering department?
-I heard they're picking up someone whose initials are A., a third-year engineering student. Johan broke up with her, or so people said.
-Huh, who's in that picture? How did I miss out? I knew it all along, but I still fell for his handsome looks and ruthlessness. I give up. You can do whatever you want to me; I'll accept it all!
-Transfer me to another school. I'm numb to the pain, Johan. You can do whatever you want to me. I've already given up on you. Please torment me a little more.
I was giggling as I read it. Why are the comments under Johan's picture so intense? Are people really that smitten with his grumpy personality? But Johan is truly fierce. I've never met anyone this fierce before. Just look at what he did to me 😭
Oh, Hill commented too!
Hill Ratchakit: Is the coffee at the department not good? Do you have to go all the way to the engineering department to drink it? @Johan Ct.
He even tagged Johan directly. Hill's comment was like a bombshell. The comments below went into a frenzy.
@Hill Ratchakit: *Sob sob* Hill has appeared! Let me snuggle in your arms for a bit. Johan is so cruel, I'll tell on him! Why can't he be as gentle as Hill?!
-My husband, Dr Hill. I miss him so much.
-Lately, the page has been posting only Johan's pictures. I'm angry at the admin for that!
-It feels like my ex-husband is back to claim him, and I've already fallen head over heels for Johan, the bad boy. What do I do now?
-So, Johan went to the engineering department to buy coffee? That far away? Is the coffee there really that good? I have to try it.
-Looks like the engineering department's coffee shop is about to become a hot spot. If Johan likes it, we like it too. We'll definitely come and support them next time.
Powarut Tf: @Johan Ct. Are you going to buy coffee? Afraid it'll run out? You're leaving your work for me!
This guy must be Tonfah – Hill's close friend and Johan's friend. I heard there are four of them in the group, plus Arthit.
Powarut Tf: @Hill Ratchakit, You too, where are you?
Hill Ratchakit: @Powarut Tf. I'm eating, wait a bit, I'll be there.
Wow, suddenly it turned into a private conversation, with people replying back and forth right in the comments section.
Arthit Sw: @Hill Ratchakit @Johan Ct. Hurry up, Fah is getting angry, you guys quit your jobs!
-Oh my god, they've all shown up! I don't know who to yell for first anymore >///< Fah, my good guy, please don't be angry~
-Dr Hill and Dr Johan quit? Can I fill in for them? 😝
-I saw Fah and Arthit sitting under the Medical building; they're probably waiting for Dr Hill and Dr Johan.
-Do you need any help? I'd be happy to volunteer.
Hill Ratchakit: @Arthit Sw Okay, okay, I'll be right back. Let me take Ter back to the dorm first.
Arthit Sw: @Hill Ratchakit, I understand you went out to eat with your boyfriend, but I don't understand about that other guy. You went to buy coffee? @Johan Ct.
Arthit Sw: You rushed like the house was on fire; the coffee wasn't going to sell out that quickly. And where did you disappear to for the whole afternoon?
Arthit Sw: @Johan Ct. Fah asked if you were in a hurry to buy coffee or to pick someone up?
Hill Ratchakit: @Johan Ct. Yeah, what's your relationship with them that you're going to pick them up?
Wait…
I think Hill already knows about Johan coming to pick me up. So why did Hill say that? Don't tell me Ter instigated him to ship me with Johan again! 😭
Johan Ct. : @Hill Ratchakit, What do you hate me for?
Johan Ct. : @Powarut Tf. Almost at school, stuck at a red light.
Powarut Tf .: Is anyone free to buy something and bring it over? I'm starving, please buy a lot.
Johan Ct.: What do you want to buy?
Powarut Tf.: Anything, as long as it's available, I'll pay for it.
Hill Ratchakit: Jo, you already stopped by to buy something? Then I don't need to stop by.
Johan Ct.: No, Hill! Turn the car around and help me choose some things.
Arthit Sw: @Hill Ratchakit @Johan Ct. Oh, are you two living together?
Hill Ratchakit: @Arthit Sw Yeah, I ran into him just as I was dropping Ter off at the dorm.
Johan Ct .: Hill! Turn the car around immediately!!
Hill Ratchakit: Calm down!!
Arthit Sw: @Johan Ct. So what were you doing near Hill’s boyfriend's dorm?
-Kyaaa~ Johan called Hill Han too …Who wants to join the #HillHan ship with me, let me hear your screams!!
Johan Ct .: Never mind, you don't need to come.
Hill Ratchakit: Okay, then I'll go first.
Click!
════[changbins_delulu_wife]════
Ter opened the door and walked in with a mischievous grin at the corner of his mouth. He stared at me until he closed the door.
"That kind of smile is really annoying," I said, but he didn't pay any attention, put his bag down, and plopped down next to me.
"Nothing."
"I haven't even asked anything yet!!"
"That voice is incredibly high-pitched."
"So what! Tell me about it. At first, you said Than would come to pick you up."
That's right… This morning, when Than said he would pick me up, I also messaged Ter to let him know. He was complaining so much, saying he'd rather have Johan pick me up.
"Wait... Don't tell me you're going to tell Johan to come pick me up, are you?"
"Are you crazy? I was joking. Why would you suddenly ask him to pick you up?" Ter said, shaking his head repeatedly.
"But actually, when I found out Johan was going to pick you up, I was like… yyyy, my ship."
I sighed softly at his attitude. It felt like no matter how many times I sighed, I wouldn't get rid of my annoyance with this guy. Then I told him everything that had happened.
"Huhu, I'm so happy you chose my captain!" Ter said, pulling my sleeve back and forth as if to hide his embarrassment. What kind of person is he, always shifting his embarrassment onto someone else? "No matter how much you complain, you still chose Johan in the end."
"I think it's more accurate to say I couldn't choose," I said dejectedly. "And then you went and egged Hill on, didn't you?"
"Absolutely! A useful member of the crew, right? But hey, why won't Johan let you go to work?"
"I'd like to know that too."
"Aren't you going to ask?"
"I asked him, but he didn't answer."
"So you're not going either?"
“What can I do… but I really want to go. Maybe I should sneak out? Thinking about it, I’m not happy with the owner. We’ve already talked to him nicely, and now suddenly he’s not going anymore.” I voiced my thoughts. Johan didn’t explain why he wouldn’t let me go.
"Sneaking out? If Johan finds out, he'll be furious."
"No way. It's work, there's really no reason to forbid me."
"Yes, he's probably worried about you," Ter said after a moment of thought. "He's definitely worried about you. You're tired from work, and he's afraid you might come home late and run into bad people. Johan must be so worried he can't sleep."
"Good heavens, you're pushing the boat so hard!" I said, shaking my head slightly. To me... the word "worry" still sounded so distant.
"Well, I'm a crew member, you know. Rowing alone in the vast ocean, in a tiny boat with an amazing captain. Not only am I not rowing, but I'm also even kicking the water!"
"That guy Sket even said he'd go on the boat with you. I don't know what kind of game it is."
"Oh, I almost forgot, Than also messaged me asking about you. He said you didn't reply to his messages," Ter said, making me suddenly remember that I hadn't replied to Than's message yet.
"He even said he was worried about you, because you responded to him strangely."
"I didn't answer anything," I frowned, puzzled. The last time I answered was before getting into Johan's car...
North♣: Never mind.
T-Than: …
T-Than: North?
Damned…Johan...But he said he didn't know P’Than at all. So why did he answer like that? More importantly, it was my phone!
T-Than: Is that North typing?
T-Than: Or is it Johan?
T-Than: It's not North, is it? It's not nice to do that using someone else's phone.
T-Than: So, where is North?
T-Than: Answer me, I'm worried.
T-Than: Where are you?
T-Than: Missing completely?
T-Than: If you read this, please answer me.
Sigh... could Johan really be deliberately teasing me?
North♣: I'm back.
T-Than: Is that really North?
North♣: Yes.
T-Than: Then what about that message?
North♣: Uh…
North♣: I sent it to the wrong person.
North♣: Sorry.
I decided to lie and say it was a wrong number. If I said Johan sent it, it would definitely cause a huge fuss. It might even lead to a conflict.
T-Than: Ah, yes, okay. So where are you?
North♣: I'm at the dorm.
T-Than: Then let me come pick you up for work.
North♣: I probably can't go to work anymore, hyung… 😭
North♣: Let me call and apologise to Chain Hyung again.
T-Than: Huh? Why?
T-Than: Is something wrong?
North♣: Nothing, hyung.
"What did Than say?" Ter asked after secretly glancing at my phone screen. "Why are you making that face?"
"I'm so bored. I want to go to work too," I said, pouting slightly.
While I was still thinking about it, Chain, the restaurant's owner, called and asked me to come in and help out because they were really short-staffed. And since I'd wanted to work anyway, I finally agreed.
"Ter..."
"What?"
"Ter..."
"No... don't look at me like that." The person called by name shook their head repeatedly as if they knew what I was about to say, "I won't be your accomplice."
"No accomplices needed, just don't tell anyone I'm going to work."
“Are you serious?” Ter asked again to make sure, while I was packing my things into my bag, ready for work. “Honestly, Johan must have a reason for not letting you go. I’m a little worried about you. It’s a bar.”
"It's okay, I can take care of myself," I said confidently.
"Hopefully it's true. Will Than come to pick me up?"
"No, I'll go by myself. I'm too embarrassed to bother him; I'm afraid he'll have to wait for me to finish work again."
"Okay, okay, drive carefully. Remember to text me when you get there."
Okay, bye!
════[changbins_delulu_wife]════
@Soul out!
Although it was called a bar, it was quite different from what I imagined. It wasn't really a drinking establishment, but rather a place more suited for relaxing and enjoying the view. It was an outdoor space, decorated with strings of lights connecting trees. A live band was playing, and customers came and went steadily. What surprised me was why such a fancy place was so understaffed.
“Just relax, it’s nothing much, just serving and clearing tables,” said Chain, the owner, patting me lightly on the shoulder. He was a bit overweight, probably in his thirties. I nodded in reply, “If you need anything, just ask Pan at the cashier.”
After he finished speaking, he left, and I immediately approached Pan, who was sitting there fiddling with her phone.
"Oh, are you new here?" I greeted her with clasped hands, and she smiled and returned my greeting. During our brief chat, I learned that the staff shortage stemmed from the restaurant's poor profitability and from old employees not being paid on time, so they all quit. Ms Pan said that it had been like this since P’Chain took over because he wasn't very good at managing. Oh no, am I even getting paid?
"Things will probably get better eventually, I hope so too. I'm just trying to make do, because I don't have much money."
"Oh, that's so hard work... Do you get paid for it, sister?"
"Yes, but it would be better if it changed owners. I don't know what they're throwing money at. Oh dear, I shouldn't say that out loud." Pan said, quickly covering her mouth with her hand. I chuckled softly at her reaction.
22:04
"Are you tired? It was so crowded tonight," Pan asked as I sat resting by the counter. "It's only your first day, and you're already exhausted. Why are you looking for a part-time job? Isn't it tough studying and working at the same time?"
"I want to work too, sister. I've worked part-time before."
"So, what major are you studying?"
"Yes, I'm studying engineering."
"Wow, that sounds really hot!"
"Honestly, nobody likes me," I said, being completely honest. Who said studying engineering automatically made me attractive to girls? I felt like I was withering away.
"Really? You don't have a girlfriend?"
"No."
"I guess you're just too picky, aren't you?"
"Oh my God, if someone came along, I wouldn't dare be picky," I said, laughing shyly.
Ting!
The phone notification startled me. I had the ringtone on loud, not for any particular reason, but because some people would get annoyed if I answered slowly…I checked my phone, hoping it wasn't the name I was hiding while sneaking off to work…
God must really hate me 😭
Johan: Where are you?
I started noticing that Johan's texts always began with "Where are you?", as if he didn't care what I was doing. For example, this afternoon, he asked me where I was. I said I was at the department, and then he just sent me to buy coffee without even asking if I was free...But saying I'm in the dorm right now wouldn't be a good idea. What if he calls and makes me work overtime? And the place is as noisy as a marketplace.
North♣: I'm outside.
Johan:?
North♣: I'm just going out.
Johan: With whom?
Oh no… what do we do now?
North♣: With friends.
Johan: 10 PM?
Johan: Where are you?
Johan: Why aren't you answering?
North♣: Calm down.
Johan: Where are you finally?
Johan is texting non-stop, at a speed that suggests he's very angry. No, he's definitely angry. Why? Can't I even go out with my friends? 😭
"Take this to table number six and clear table number eight, new customers have arrived!" A waiter's voice rang out, causing me and another server to jump up and get to work immediately. I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket and continued my task. While I was busy, another phone notification rang, forcing me to silence it quickly as a reminder.
════[changbins_delulu_wife]════
00:22
I returned to the dorm completely exhausted. It was quite tiring, but still bearable. However, if I had to do this every day, I probably wouldn't have the energy to get out of bed and go to class. Luckily, I decided only to do it for a few days.
"You're really late," Ter complained.
"The shop closed at midnight, and I had to drive home. And driving home was terrifying. I was afraid someone might have followed me on the back of my motorbike!" I said, then flopped down on the bed. Honestly, it was a really scary feeling.
"Your mouth is really something."
"Well, I'm telling the truth."
"Yeah, look at this. Johan's out and about," Ter showed me his phone. It was a picture of Johan, chin resting on his hand, looking away with a bored expression. Next to him was Hill, playing on his phone. In the background, it was probably a cafe or a chill spot.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know what kind of place it is, but it's definitely not where you work. If Johan sees you working there, you're in big trouble."
"Thank goodness it wasn't him." I breathed a sigh of relief. "Is P’Hill going too?"
"Yeah, three of them. Arthit is there too. I heard Johan dragged him along."
"And you just let him go? You're such an easygoing boyfriend. Aren't you afraid someone will try to woo Hill?" I asked.
"No way, I trust him." I nodded in agreement. If even Ter's friend Hill isn't trustworthy, then surely no one else in the world is. Who could love Ter like Hill does, seriously!
"Besides, I also want to let him hang out with his friends. And I need to keep an eye on Johan, in case he gets involved with some girls and comes home."
"What if Johan has a girlfriend?" I asked, tilting my head, and he gave me a tap on the head.
"Wake him up! My Johan-North is about to sink, you can't let this happen!"
Oh… now that I think about it, I haven’t replied to Johan’s message since 10 PM. Oh no…But it's probably okay, right? He's probably busy having fun, he probably won't even think about being angry with me.
"But it's strange, Johan invited Hill to a bar around 10 p.m, even though work was finished long ago. Hill said Johan looked rather bored while they were sitting at the bar."
It looks really boring. You can see it clearly in the picture. That picture was posted by Arthit on his Instagram story.
"Hey, is anyone following us to the cafe?" I asked, raising my eyebrows, and handed the phone back to Ter.
"There are many. P’Hill said he found it troublesome, but the Black man is probably Johan."
"Why?"
"Train collision."
"Oh, really." I drawled, "So how do we resolve this?"
"I don't know. P’Hill said it's normal for Johan. And they don't even talk to each other. Now we're waiting for P’Hill to drive back to the apartment."
"Just got back?"
"Yeah. Oh, by the way, I just checked Johan's Instagram," Ter said, scrolling through his phone. "Someone tagged him in a photo, it's a girl named Pang or something, the one Than mentioned before." He continued, handing me his phone to look at it.
Jao.pangg – about an hour ago
This is a picture of Pang and Johan taken at the same restaurant, probably at the same table. Johan is sitting exactly like in the old picture, only this time he's glancing at Pang's camera, but not smiling; his face looks like he doesn't really want to be photographed. The caption reads:
"Guy like you ; ) miss you soooo bad, chance encounter."
"I don't like it at all, I feel jealous."
"Jealous of Johan?" I teased, raising my eyebrows. "I'll tell Hill now."
"No! I mean, I'm the shipper! I'm the captain! Johan has to be yours, this is no way! Don't even bother replying to his messages, show him what you're made of!"
"You really are..." Actually, I haven't actually replied to Johan yet. He hasn't answered since 10 PM.
"Damn, I told you I'd let you row, but you're getting in the way."
"Huh? So it's my fault?"
"Yeah. Hill called." Ter quickly answered the phone as soon as the call came in, even putting it on speakerphone. But why would he put it on speakerphone anyway?
"P’Hill, you've arrived?"
(YES)
"Are you happy?"
(Not very happy either)
"What's up?"
(The person who invited him just made a bored face, like they were inviting him to switch places to play on their phone...)
"Honestly, when I saw Arthit taking those photos, Johan looked completely despondent," Ter said into the phone.
I whispered softly to it, "Should we turn the speakers off?"
But he wouldn't cooperate, probably intentionally letting me hear the conversation with P’Hill. Normally, he uses headphones.
"I don't want to know what you said to your boyfriend," I whispered softly.
"Yeah, I didn't want you to know either, but let me ask about Jo first," Ter whispered back.
"I don't want to know that either," I whispered back, but Ter didn't seem to care.
(What are you doing?) P’Hill asked.
That's the way to ask, "What are you doing?" That's much cuter. Unlike some people who only ask "Where are you?"
"I'm just playing a game."
(What about North?)
I was surprised when P’Hill asked about me.
"I'm here too. Is there anything you need?"
(Nothing, just a little curious.)
"What is it?"
(I'll explain later.)
"Ah... yes. But what happened when Jo was involved in the 'train collision'?"
(Huh? Why are you asking?)
"I just want to know. Please tell me."
(Well, that's normal for Jo. He gets bumped into even while walking around school.)
"That's terrible! And then what?"
(Jo doesn't really care. If it's too noisy, he'll just break up. There are people he can't even remember the names of. Like today, he didn't seem to care much and just pulled her to sit with him without even talking much.)
"Oh, really? Is that how Jo usually is?"
(Yeah. It depends on his mood. He's probably thinking about something today; he's usually like that, he always acts like that when he's unhappy.)
"Ah... So, P’Hill, do you know P’Pang? I heard she spoke with P’Jo before."
(Don't know.)
"Aren't you curious at all?"
(I can't remember the names of the people who talked to Jo. It's a waste of time. And why are you asking?)
"Well... I was just a little curious, wanting to gather information."
(To cheer on Jo and North?)
"Um, yes. That's right."
(What time is your class tomorrow?)
"Nine thirty, please."
(I'll come pick you up.)
"Yes."
(Then go to bed early. You're staying up late again.)
"I'm not sleepy yet."
In the end, I had to sit and listen to this couple having a sweet, romantic conversation. The conversation had veered off to something else. It felt like Hill was no longer interested in talking about Jo, and only wanted to chat with Ter.
Oh my god, the smell of love is filling the whole room, I'm about to suffocate and die.
"Ter" I whispered, making him jump as if he had just remembered something.
"I was going to ask about Pang but Hill suddenly changed the subject," Ter said into the phone.
(Ah, I should ask which Pang it is first.)
"The person who took the picture with Jo today. I saw Jo tagged on Instagram."
(It wasn't just one person who asked to take a picture with Jo, you know. Besides, he didn't really care much about that.)
Wait, Jo doesn't care about Hill, and Hill doesn't care about Jo either? What kind of friends are they?
"So, did anyone ask to take a picture with P’Hill?"
(Yes, but he refused. He already has a girlfriend.)
"Ummm."
"Ow, Mom!!" I screamed as Ter slapped my arm hard. What the heck? He's so shy, yet he takes it out on me. The smell of love is already unbearable, and now I have to endure the pain too 😭
"So, is anyone sitting next to Jo today? Or are they just here to ask for a photo?"
(A few people were sitting there, but they all got up and left after a while.)
"Huh, what's wrong?"
(Jo probably wasn't very enthusiastic about it.)
"What about Arthit then?"
(Ter asks so many questions that he's starting to get jealous.)
"No, I was just asking for fun. Don't be angry, okay?" Ter replied softly. Oh my god, Hill is so incredibly jealous.
(Well, Arthit just talks normally, probably just exchanges Line messages with a few people.)
"So, today Johan was practically ignoring everyone, just sitting there with a bored expression on his face, only taking pictures with anyone who asked, like he wasn't very enthusiastic, right?"
(Yeah, something like that.)
As soon as P’Hill finished speaking, Ter turned and winked at me, then switched off the speakerphone and put on his headphones.
"See, I told you. I'm the best crew member. Nobody supports you more than me!" Ter said with a proud expression.
"Hey, don't be angry with him. Johan doesn't talk to anyone, the photos aren't anything special, and he doesn't even care about the 'train collision' incident."
"Oh really? But I was never angry anyway," I thought to myself. Did Ter really think I'd care about those things?
Then he got up and went out onto the balcony to continue his phone call, his face beaming with a cheerful smile, like a young boy in love. Honestly, why do people in love shine so brightly? 😭
Suddenly remembering I hadn't replied to Johan's message, I took out my phone to check…There are no messages.
I only saw 3 missed calls. Huh? Isn't he angry, or is he so angry that he doesn't even want to talk to me? I decided to text Prang to ask her about it.
North♣: Prang unnie, are you asleep yet?
MaPrang: Not yet. What is it?
North♣: Did Jo deduct money from my account today?
MaPrang: He didn't say anything.
MaPrang: What did you do to him? Haha
North♣: Nothing, I just didn't reply to his message.
MaPrang: Didn't reply to his message?
MaPrang: Don't overthink it, it's just a message, it's okay.
North♣: But last time he deducted money from my account because I didn't reply to his message 😭
MaPrang: Really?
MaPrang: I once ignored his messages all day and he didn't say anything.
MaPrang: If it's urgent, he'll call.
MaPrang: But strangely, no matter how urgent it is, he only calls once.
MaPrang: I once forgot something extremely important and he only called once, never repeatedly.
MaPrang: He said he was lazy.
Huh? Then why did he call me three times? Is it something urgent?
While I was hesitating whether to call back or not, Ter rushed into the room looking frantic, handing me his phone to look at.
"Look at this, look at this!!"
J.han – 5 minutes ago
It's a black and white photo of a hand holding a glass, with the caption: "anxious".
Johan : I'm in front of the dorm.
Johan : Come down here.
Johan : I told you not to go anywhere, right?