The whispers in the som tam shop aren't as loud as in a drama where you would know who's being slandered. Well, it's just the same as yesterday. But the point is, Laem didn't come to eat because of personal reasons, not because of Pararad sauce.
I made an excuse that I was hungry and too lazy to take a car to a restaurant. Laem is clever, huh?
And what about the other tables? Don't you want to go to another restaurant? Falling in love with Lilac's charm, such a thing. Is the som tam on the table that interesting that they can't help but look this way? Other companies probably have the same setup. There's nothing to worry about. We're just sitting at the same table, that's all. If the people at the other tables were smart, they would probably see that Lame was forced to come along.
"My treat."
"Thank you, Boss." Damn it, Jack is always like this. Normally, he's a cool guy, right? But when it comes to money or anything that he gets for free, he easily becomes submissive. It's like a kindergarten kid who gets lured onto a van to sell candies because of just one piece of candy.
"What would you like to eat today?"
"For free?"
"If you didn't have deaf ears, you might have heard what I just said."
"You keep scolding me. I was just asking again casually, okay? Hoping that Boss, being generous, would treat Jack alone. The person's eyes diverted from the pen and order book, the annoying kid was about to make him miss out on the free stuff.
"How can I be mean to you when you're my boyf--
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"..."
Everyone turned their attention back once again because of the resounding voice that made them think they were standing on Rama V Road. The owner of the golden face raised an eyebrow slightly, questioning why the kid was making such a commotion and calling for the crowds' attention, even though just a moment ago he was trying to avoid eye contact and divert his gaze.
"What the hell are you?" The question from Jack already has the answer within it. Lam sits with a stern gaze, blaming the person sitting on the opposite side, unable to turn and accuse the senior for the reason he just spoke up, not wanting anyone to blurt out the word 'lover' from their mouth.
"Boss, stepped on my foot."
"..." Laem didn't expect that Jack would turn to look at Boss with an expression of a cunning fox, as in the end, Jack just said, "Oh" and lowered his head to continue writing the menu. Lam contemplates and imagines that if Jack had a girlfriend in the future, his appearance wouldn't be much different from now.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know that was your foot." Well, you're good at accepting apologies.
"Be careful, this pair is expensive." The boss secretly smiles, glancing at the corner of the complainer's mouth that never stops whining.
Gun continues to question himself when facing this kid directly, whether it's because of loneliness that awakens the curiosity and excitement for something new entering his life, or if he's starting to change his mindset that he doesn't actually dislike people with this kind of personality. But other people who have this personality still don't appeal to him.
"So, let's go buy a new pair tonight." Jack's face brightened, thinking enviously that simply pleasing the boss with his voice could grant him such special privileges.
"Don't overdo it."
"I'm serious."
"I'm just giving a casual warning for Boss to be careful. It seems like you spend money left and right. Oh... Do you think money can buy everything?" The young boy sticks out his tongue and puffs his cheeks, boldly lecturing the adult. How cheeky.
"Sure, that's what I think."
"Well, Boss, after living for many years, you should probably know that there are many things in this world that money can't buy."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Boss."
There was a mischievous smile on his face. If I were to say that I can buy it, I would have brought Mars closer to the home to show you.
"Jack."
"Yes, Boss?"
"How much did you buy these shoes for?"
Jack bent down slightly to look at his own shoes under the table."Three thousand five hundred baht."
"Can you resell them to me?"
"Selling them?" It's not just the confused and puzzled Man that is stunned. Laem also looks equally puzzled, his eyes wide open, wondering what's so interesting about those worn-out boots that Jack has been using.
"Are you referring to this pair or the place to buy them, Boss?"
"This pair."
"But they're so worn-out, Boss."
"I can see that. Can you sell them to me?"
"What are you going to do with it, Boss? Are you planning to use it against that sharp-tongued brat? Boss, please, let me say it again. Have some pity on him. He's just a little kid, all innocent. He's already been bullied by my friends every day, and his head is bruised enough."
"I'll pay the full price."
"It's too expensive, Boss. I've been wearing this pair for years." This reason alone is not enough, Jack. Retorting, he says, 'What are you going to do with it, Boss? I've used it so much that the rubber is worn out.'
"Six thousand."
"Boss, are you really going to take it?"
"Jack!!!!!"
"We should wear the same shoe size." Not just saying it, but actually exchanging shoes under the table. Almost felt like a Hollywood movie scene, passing along confidential information. If this wasn't a som tam shop, that is. "The shoe cost, I'll transfer it to your account. As for the pair, I'll provide it."
"Thank you, Boss."
"Wait, what's going on?" Laem raised an eyebrow, not understanding. The boss in a suit and Jack's worn out sneakers, how do they fit each other? Laem wanted to know.
"Just to show you that money can buy anything."
"Geeeeeennnnnn! Jack shouldn't be counted on for anything, really. What can he do with him? It's easier to handle a wild monkey at the market than this." The person who is pointed at doesn't show any signs of being affected, but Jack's eyes seem to brighten up even though he doesn't smile.
"I feel like eating som tam now."
"Slap some money on Jack's head and let him place the order. Have you ever played Warcraft, Boss? Do you have a MAMMONITE skill?"
"I've never played, but I've heard of this game." The kid's face lights up upon hearing that the person hasn't played Warcraft. Seeing that, he person feels the urge to grab him, throw him on a bed, and spank him hard and won't stop until he's satisfied.
"You've heard everything, Boss. You're really clever."
"You're so full of yourself."
"Aren't you so full yourself? The Sharp-faced kid stared at him. If there were no mirrors, he would walk back to the office restroom so that Boss could use it to look at himself.
"Heh..."
"What's so funny?" You just couldn't handle the argument, so you resort to mocking. If it were in a stream, you'd probably curse until your voice is hoarse because you can't handle being criticized.
"As soon as I hear the word 'yourself,' it slips out of your mouth and you start joking, huh?"
"Isn't it about yourself? Boss needs to take a deep breath and regain composure. Composure, you know?" The person being looked at, flushed in embarrassment, quickly correcting the misunderstanding because he don't want Jack to misunderstand.
"Okay, I'll take a deep breath, just like when measuring a fever." The eyes are about to roll out of their sockets.
Because it's been directed at Boss for too long. Whoa, can we stop talking in that direction? It's not hurting anyone yet. It's just like being chased, it's a bit irritating. "Jack, can you order Somtam without chili for me?"
"Sure, I can do that."
"Not adding chili, how will taste good? Only the preschoolers in my neighborhood eat like this."
"I just don't like spicy food. Do you have a problem with my taste buds, Cher?" Gun stared at the troublesome kid who always finds a reason to argue, for the hundredth time.
"Somtam won't taste good that way, Boss. You're deceiving yourself."
"Really?"
"The authentic som tam must have pickled mudfish to truly access its essence. You can see the artistry in food, the Isan cuisine. Especially if you order the extremely spicy som tam that makes you feel like you're dying. Ah, just talking about it makes my mouth water."
"You don't know the word 'art' at all, do you?"
"It's not necessary, but Thai som tam without chili is trash."
"Thai som tam without chili is still delicious, and I don't understand how eating like a preschooler is deceiving oneself. Where's the logic?" I also want to know where this talkative kid is getting their reasons from.
"It's like a person eating a mango, but dipping cauliflower in batter and convincing themselves that it's fried chicken. It's like understanding that if you're craving fried chicken, you should eat fried chicken. Why dip cauliflower and deceive yourself!"
"Boss, I didn't eat the fermented fish sauce, okay? - I'm sorry, boss. Earlier, I used the expression 'just mouth-watering' too casually. Please forgive me."
Jack tilted his head after letting out those words, instead of helping to clarify the irrelevant issue for both of them. It seemed that he was afraid of being chased away instead.
*
The war ended because the boss left to make a phone call outside, and when he came back, the food was arranged on the table. Laem sensed the uneasiness in boss's gaze. Let me tell you, if the boss did ASMR, it probably wouldn't survive because, first, he chooses what to eat, second, he eats as if he's not hungry, and third, he eats in a pretentious manner. He questions everything, like wondering why there are strange vegetables everywhere, and so on.
The duties of that sharp-tongued person finally ended before the lunch break was over, because in the end, the boss had to hurry and leave. Even though he only had three bites of sticky rice, there must be some urgent work or something like that. That's how it is. Playing around in the office for three consecutive days, there must be some chaos at the hotel.
Laem told Jack about the boss's self-centeredness, including being a fan of his voice. If anyone heard it, they would be dumbfounded, like a monkey being scalded with boiling water. He explained everything without holding back. Jack is bewildered and his eyes won't stop blinking while he listened about the ASMR boyfriend thing and their Thursday to Sunday 'erotic' schedule.
"I don't know what Boss's preferences are because I've never seen them bring anyone to the office. I've only heard about him being gay, but it's a bit too much to force you to be his partner."
"Shouldn't a person who can be bought with six thousand baht and free som tam speak as if they have some decency?" Laem muttered as he walked towards the motorbike with his Phi. Today, Jack would drop him off at the dorm because he wanted to stop by a shop.
"If there's an opportunity, you have to seize it. Six thousand baht and a new pair of shoes as a bonus. This brand is no joke. You can wear them to ten more wedding events."
"At the next wedding event, I'll accuse you and Tee, of selling your Nong."
"After you accuse me, I'll let everyone know that you're now the boss's boyfriend."
"It's just over the call (ASMR boyfriend), Besides, you were also coerced. Should we report it to the police for harassment? The scene with the forehead slapping was still vivid. Oh, if that annoying brat Tee knew, he'd be ecstatic."
Where is Tee? What kind of stuff is he up to? He's good at seducing his fans because he likes to (chase). As for me, I know he's always getting involved with casual stuff, but it's never been a problem because it's not real, you know. Tee is playful and always joking around. We all know that. But with the boss, it's a different story. His gaze seems to say, "I'm not fooling around, sir."
"The boss may not understand how to approach someone who he wants to talk. It doesn't mean he doesn't care about you or doesn't want to talk. It's just in his nature to come up with something unpredictable. If the other party don't think the same, it might scare them away."
"Like you, for example."
"Your appearance doesn't suggest that at all. Besides, it's not only that you're not afraid but you also enjoy provoking him with your witty remarks." The older person stopped at a red light and turned to look at the face behind him, hidden under the helmet.
*
It's been a week since the I became the boss's ASMR boyfriend, and in reality, nothing has changed from before. I and the boss still argue over trivial matters, trying to win over the other side with logical reasoning. It breaks apart before either side falls asleep, still keeping their timelines open.
There is no romance or anything like they agreed on, because Laem only speaks to keep them distracted. Laem still finds the things the other side does annoying, but sometimes it feels strangely good to share silly stories and see that the boss is really attentive to him. However, it only feels that way for a moment because, in the end, the boss just want to hear a voice to soothe himself to sleep.
"Next Sunday, the boss has to sleep alone because I'll be going home."
"Can't we talk?"
"No, I'll sleep with my grandma"
"You look 15% more attractive when talking about your grandma"
"Sleep by yourself. Don't call me, even if you call, I won't pick up because I'll have my phone in airplane mode."
"Then I'll go with you"
"Why do you want to come with me to my hometown?"
"I'm just taking a break."
"If you're taking a break, go find something else to do. There's nothing at my house, just som tam and the smell of fermented fish."
"That's great then. I'll have a chance to try som tam with fermented fish. Let's agree on that."
"Wait a momenttttt..."
(speechless)
Laem doesn't go back home often, only once a year, because he want his grandmother to miss his a lot. At first, Laem found it annoying that the boss was only concerned about himself, but as time went by, he realized that if he could see the boss get emotional to the point of tears, it would probably be quite good. It would make his mother proud of Laem. But If the boss couldn't eat, it would be a waste of his mother's efforts. The boss needs to understand this situation.
*
(My name is Gun.)
"I already know that. Didn't the boss tested me once already? Did you forget?" The person, who was playing with their dinner and looking up at the phone screen said.
Initially I thought that the boss probably wouldn't call because the sky was dark and the moon was shining brightly above. But around three in the morning, that man called and said, "Can you talk for about twenty minutes as a friend?"
The boss's face looked disheveled like someone searching for a pillow and a blanket. It might be because last night they had a lot of meaningless conversations and couldn't sleep enough. He were still in a daze. Even though he was told to sleep, he wouldn't sleep. Laem have a good-hearted nature. So, he reluctantly accepted the offer to chat as friends on the way back to the condominium while the boss was driving.
(I'm telling you this because I want you to look.)
"Looking."
(Sure, Cher.)
There was a hint of accusation in his eyes, as he glanced from the street, satisfied with himself.
"Boss is boss, and I'm just an intern. Calling me like that doesn't suit you, believe me."
(But on Facetime, you are my boyfriend.)
"Han, stop it... And speaking with a poker face, as if it's normal to blurt things out like that. You don't worry about the listeners' well-being, whether they'll feel uncomfortable or not."
"Don't tease me about this boyfriend thing. Did you call me because you felt lonely? You stayed out late because You met a couple who told you about their long love story and you Felt like a third wheel so, now you're calling me."
(I don't want to speak like this, but regular exercise makes me feel a bit sore.)
"Hey, there's some sarcasm there. Come on, say it."
"I didn't expect you to be jealous because Gun knows the relationship between him and the stubborn kid on the phone is more one-sided."
"I feel sore too. I used up all the condoms in one night."
"Oh, so you're that good?!"
"No, there's only one condom left in the box." Laem smirked and laughed to himself. The little kid was indeed something. But he couldn't deny that from being annoyed about the condom issue, his mood had improved in the blink of an eye.
"If you want to know, you can go ask my ex."
"I'm curious, too. I want to know if you make me more tired than today's work."
"Dream on."
(Do I have to dream? Every night before bed, you tell me, 'Focus on sleeping, Boss, don't dream. Because if you dream, it means you're not sleeping well.')
"Well, it has different meanings, right? Uh..."
(Call me 'P' quickly.)
"Hey, I'm a serious. You're the boss, I'll call you boss. How can I call you 'P'? If that were to slip out, the people in the office would be upset. They have say that you are biased towards me." No doubt about it. If I were to call you 'Phi' it would have to be whispered in your ear."
("I know you won't back down.")
Boss looked confident, both in words and in his gaze. He probably thought he had figured him out completely. Oh, oh, oh.
("Because as far as I know, you're the most skilled survivor.")
"Is that considered a compliment?"
("Of course, because if I said 'I miss you,' it's an immediate declaration of love.")
"Oh... Don't say that where anyone can hear you. It might get back to me, and it'll be super embarrassing. Seriously."
(Lame, stop being a mouthpiece. You're acting like a chicken.)
(I remember that line from your boyfriend ASMR clip.)
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!"
"Damn, Boss that was intense just now. Where did he get that fierce aura from?"
(Well...)
"What now?" I'm impressed. It's great to see him bounce back and regain those high scores. He still has the fighting spirit to compete with the interns. I've accepted it.
(I've told you that you're good at surviving.)
"If I were that good, I wouldn't have to have this kind of conversation with Boss." As soon as the traffic light turned red, Boss took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on before glancing at me.
("Do you want to go play games with the team?")
"Yes."
(In that case, Get up and open the computer, then place the phone where I can hear your voice.)
"Hey, I'm actually going to play games. The sound of my keyboard is quite loud. Can Boss tolerate it?"
(I'll lower the volume then.)
"I yell and curse at people in the game, using the most vulgar language imaginable."
(Is that what you're worried about? Are you concerned about me?)
"No, I'm not concerned at all."
(Vulgar words.)
"I'm not worried." The sharp-faced kid gritted his teeth, "I told you before, playing games sounds won't help heal the Boss. Boss seems more entertained by listening to the sound of rain hitting the roof. This is the honest truth, without any ulterior motives."
("Then I'll hang up the call once you're done playing, okay?")
"Are you close to the condo yet?"
"A little more, but it's okay. You can go play the game."
"Ohhhh, it has to be like this!" The sharp-faced kid made a mocking face and clapped happily. They quickly opened his timeline to play the game, and his eyes filled with excitement. It's hard to explain. It's not like when he streams online for people to watch.
Boss is the kind of person who sets boundaries early, which is a good thing. Laem hummed a song comfortably, unaffected. He believed the elderly person who said not to open their mouth at midnight because ghosts would enter. Right now, he was in a better mood. He wondered if this world had any secrets because if he could endure being with Boss, then ghosts shouldn't be that scary anymore, right?
"I joined Discord at a moment when my teammates were already gaming together, and the person who joined today is my annoying little sister, Praew. She's the girl who shakes Jack's heart, but until now, she's still unaware."
"Holo holo, twelve!"
"What the hell are you babbling about?"
"As soon as she joined, she started insulting right away. She must have borrowed her mouth and left her brain behind. Laem thought he heard someone else's voice, but it was not Tee's voice, that's for sure. But that's it. It's easier to stop Jack's bleeding face than to stop Tee from saying something pointless."
"Is Cher here yet?"
"Well then, do you miss me, Praew?" At this point, even if Jack is in the game, Laem doesn't care. Yesterday, that brat poured fish sauce into my coffee cup. What the hell?
("Today, aren't you going to talk to Boss before bed, my dear? Like, turn on the camera and all. Oh... Boss!")
"Damn it, Tee talks too much. I'll follow him and punch him in Zo's room."
("Tee isn't staying with Zo, Laem. You can just follow and punch him in the condo.")
"Oh, wait. I'll burn down his condo with my own hands."
("Oh, I'm scared now. Boss, don't be too fierce. Griiiiid! You guys!!! You guys!!! I found it!!! Bring the saw!!! Jack...")
They sang like cows being tickled. Laem quickly went to check Twitch to see if anyone was streaming. And it turned out that they were all streaming, those damn troublemakers. Then they started joking about the boss without caring, regardless of whether Nong would lose his composure.
Tee's Channel: "So, Laem, you're an intern and already have a boss as your boyfriend? You must be a mature boy to handle that dog-mouthed guy >w<."
Jack's Channel: "Permission to donate, please. Jack, are you stressed out having to work with Laem in the same place? Don't keep your problems inside, okay? If there's anything, just complain to us. Even though I never do that, heh ;-;."
Zo's Channel: "So, you went to Japan, huh? I want to send some snacks to Zo. Who can I leave them with? Can I leave them at your shop, Tap? Is that golden head going to steal and eat them beforehand?"
Praew's Channel: "Is it okay if I leave Discord? I've already heard that annoying guy's voice, and it hurts my ears. I don't want Praew to be a coward like him, okay?"
Everyone loves Laem.
The sharp-faced kid talks nonsense and sends silly messages before starting his own livestream to mock those pathetic channels and let them know how lovable his channel's fans are.
Enjoyyy donated 100฿: "I went to watch P'Tee's channel. What is the boss? OMG! Someone took me with them. That's awesome!"
ZoomKaoPai donated 30฿: "P'Laem, which map does P'Tee say the boss spawns in? And what items does it drop? Does it drop a sword plus ten?"
Biw007 donated 30฿: "I've been here for a while today. If I go wash a sock and come back, will I still make it in time?"
YooYeez donated 50฿: "P'Jaa, show off your killer moves for me to see. I miss your fast escape skills. P'Ver ><"
Each person is good...
Laem enjoys being a streamer, but he also misses the time when he was an e-sports athlete. There's a new tournament happening now, but Tee has decided not to participate because the team members don't have time to practice. Seriously, that jerk Tee, I wonder what it takes to pursue him. It would be great if the internship ends quickly so he can focus on team training again. Then maybe he'll smoothly escape from Boss's ASMR channel thing. Even though it's just the beginning of October, time flies quickly.
Anonymous08 donated 1000฿: What is your favorite game recently?
"Thank you so much, really, for the thousand baht. What games do you like these days? I can't answer that, I'm one of those who would say love you, I miss you, my dear. But if you ask me what game I'm waiting for, I can answer it without hesitation: Half-Life 3. I don't know if we'll ever get to play it in this lifetime."
Mirana032: "Waiting to see what progress there will be at E3."
BassZa: "5555555555, true, don't know when we'll get to play. Been waiting for so long."
AumAim donates 100฿: "Little doggie, give me a quick kiss on the camera."
"Oh, I bet my weight loss with Half-Life 3 being released. What will happen first? Kiss something, no kissing, whoa."
AumAim: "Damn, give me my hundred bucks back."
"Hooray, I'm playing, n-n-n-n-n-n!" Laem makes funny faces and squints before stretching to kiss the camera, causing the girls to burst into laughter and not stop with their infectious excitement.
("What? Did you come in just in time to hear a barking dog?")
("Laem, wipe the camera, please. Zo thinks it might be blurry due to drool.")
("I didn't mean to come in at this moment, eek!")
I joined the Discord backup room filled with the voices of my teammates who had just finished playing the game. As soon as I heard their annoying banter, I swiftly pressed the mute button on my microphone. I couldn't stand it anymore and needed to calm my nerves before they exploded. I chuckled to myself amidst the continuous chat in the Twitch chatroom, where both players and spectators engaged in playful banter and senseless chatter.
But between the chaos, there was one person sitting quietly, fingers frozen on the keyboard, his gaze fixed on the face of someone in a small rectangular frame on the left side of the screen. Before he could send his second donation, the Kid made him park his car on the side of the road. If he continued driving while using his phone, he anticipated tomorrow's news headline would read, "Dead... It's insane, beyond just deleting the kissing image from the camera. He unintentionally felt a slight tremor and a jolt as if the blurry face was moving closer to kiss him like that.
The sound of water droplets fell on the car's roof, gradually merging into a storm of rain. People continued their lives amidst the chaos of Bangkok, even though the sky had darkened. Gungawin was one of them. Living stuck in traffic was no laughing matter. But today, he wasn't with his usual feeling. Amidst the heavy rainstorm, there was the sound of that child, destroying the silence until it completely disappeared. And he loved listening to it endlessly, never getting bored.
Gungawin looked at the trace of a smile and listened to the hearty laughter from the corny jokes of the person on the phone. The ordinary guy who appeared in his world that day was creating laughter for people to see. Among the seven thousand people, Gungawin thought about the monotony of life that made him feel this way. That Kid... no need to call him talented, he opened up a crazy, bizarre perspective that made people sincerely realize the need to relax a bit.
Also, arguing with each other and feeling strangely entertained, even though it was pointless, there was a subtle competition going on as to who would give in first. Gungawin enjoyed it too much, seeing the frustrated faces and furrowed brows of the dissatisfied.
It seemed that what he had never liked in the past had now become something he enjoyed at the moment.
[Message deleted ]
Anonymous08 donated 10,000฿: I think you're becoming too adorable.
Despite saying I don't like you... Looks like Gungawin has to swallow his pride.
TBC