“ ...what about the painting ?..”
“ ...what painting ?..”
“...you were going paint a portrait of me , remember ?..”
“ ..o’ yes …um....” he almost forgot about his brother project ! But if she goes to his house and model --- the real Tong is there!!
“…I’ll be at your house around 6 pm , ok ? ..”
“…I..I…be waiting. ..” he reply nervously
“ …you look…tense ? is there something wrong ? ..”
“ ..no , not at all!! I’ll see you after work then ..”
She stare at him doubly and sense his uneasiness , “…you can let me go now ..”
He unwrap his arm and step backward , “ ….baby, you really don’t like the stuff animal ? ..” he look over her shoulder and found the stuff monkey on the floor .
“ …no , it ugly …”
“ ..do you like flower ? ..”
“ ..no, i seen enough it everyday .”
“…candy ? ? …”
“ ..no ..”
“..what kind of woman are you ? those are what man give to their lover …”
“ …im not a woman ..”
“ . you’re a woman ! ..”
“ …I have a girlfriend ..”
“ ..that ---- what her ..name again ??..”
“ ..Linda , I thought you know her ? ..”
“ ..I-I ---I…do ! Don’t try to change the subject !!!
“ ..think what ever you want , to me you’re just …an experimental . Right now im exploring my woman side but afterward you are --- through …” she smile deviously
“….experimental? you mean my popsicle is just a hamster on a spinning wheel ?! baby, a lady shouldn’t say such a thing …”
“ …why are you so serious about this relationship all the sudden ? we make an agreement for 2 months, remember . you have nothing to lose , you’re a man . beside , you should be happy . you don’t have to take any responsible ”
“ ..holy…cow, you even sound like a man ..” Pholdee felt his body fall into a bottomless pit and no way of retreating. He turn around and cross over Peter’s body, walking lifelessly out the shop and into the parking lot, at first it might seen like game and fun to him but now …he isn’t sure anymore. He felt like a use woman being toss a side like some fish bone after her lover is full! So, this is how the other side of the shoe feel like ? He tip his head back and scream into the open sky “ ….she is too cruel!!!!...” and stood there for the remaining time…..
“ ..excuse me young man ..” said an old lady
“ …huh ? ..” Pholdee snap his head back in place and turn his attention to the old lady in front of him , apparently he is outside in the parking lot and had stood there for nearly 15 minute under the blazing sun like a status !
“ … poor soul , here take this....” the old lady handed him a some tissue paper.
Pholdee receive it and was nearly in tear, even an stranger can tell he is in despair!!! There must be tear in his eye for this old lady to hand him some tissue, he thought and said “ …thank you , …”
“ ….do you need more ? ..”
“ …my tear is probable dry be now , so it ok ..”
“ …tear ? no young man , you didn’t shred any tear …”
“ …huh ? then what this tissue for ? …”
“ …you had bird poop all over your face . next time if you want to sight see , don’t stand in one spot like that …” the old lady walk pass him
He touch his forehead and felt something sticky , he bring forward the hand and stare at the white stinky poop . He bend down to gag and then use the tissue to clean his mouth but he forgotten about the mess on his face. Shit!
Later that night while Tong was in the studio setting up the art supply he receive a call from his brother , “ ..what ? why do I have to wait till you come home ? --- Ok, fine but don’t take to long ..” he hung up and continue to set up the back drop , the scenery in the back will be nature and he had order several pot of wild plant and rearrange them neatly around the red sofa that he recently brought because the old one he had it throw out – who knows what happen on that old sofa when he was away and after finding condom on the floor , he already had doubt !
“ …tong , im here ..” said a voice .
He turn around , “ Bopa!! Great ! ..” he approach the woman and handed to her a shopping bag , “ ..change into this while I finish setting up the stage , ok ? ..”
“ …alright ..” she grab the bag and headed toward the bathroom, then stop to turn around and watch the man – why is he so …workaholic all the sudden ?
Tong stop what he was doing and look up, “ ..yes ? is there something wrong ? ..”
“ ..nothing ..” she reply and went into the bathroom
Tong shrugs it off and continues his work. Nearly 20 minutes later she came out the bathroom full dress in a Thai traditional dress. The top fabric is green , half-moon cut exposing one side of her shoulder and arm , the pattern was sparkler gold and sliver running like tire mark . The sarong she wore was creamy solid white and the whole outfit was tightly fit her body curve, the only thing left undone is her …hair.
“ ..wow , you’re beautiful !!..” Tong exclaimed
“ ..it a little too tight ..”
“ …it suppose to be like that , don’t worry . just bear with me for 2 hrs only , ok ? ..” he rub his chin while scanning her up and down , “ …your neck is too empty and you hair …not a problem !..” he went inside a room for several minutes and then return with a huge diamond necklace .
“ ..is it real? ..”
“ …yes , it my mother . I’ll put it on for you , ok ? ..” Tong took step closer , their body was only a breath away and he look down to fumble with the hook on the necklaces while she stare at his doing . Strangely it might seen but – she doesn’t smell any strawberry scent from him? The new fragrance smell like fresh lemon or was it lime? She ...miss the old scent.
“ … will she mind ? …”
Tong remove the hook from the necklace and turns his head up, their eye meet for the first time – he flushed and adjust his glasses. He didn’t realize the closeness and couldn’t help but lower his eye while swinging his arm around her neck and snap the two end of the necklace together. He step back to get a full view , “ ..perfect ..” his hand reach out to trace diamond , suddenly the cellular phone ring
“ ..hey ! is she there yet ! ..” said Pholdee from the other end of the phone
“ ..yes , im standing in front of her right now ..” reply Tong , smiling at his friend and then back to the conversation “ …I haven’t start painting yet , she just change that all …”
“ ….change ? you mean …take off her clothes ??...”
“ ..of course , what kind of question is that ?” Tong laughed ,
“ …Man!!! Tong …stop right there, don’t touch her !..”
“ …what are you talking about ? …Pholdee ? Pholdee ? ..” he heard the operation talking and wonder why his brother all the sudden hang up ?
“ ..your brother call ? ..”
“ ..yes , he told me to wait till he get here and then start painting ..”
“ …o’ ? is he planning to make funny of me in this outfit ? if so , do start now ! I don’t want to see his face …”
“ …but ..”
“ …now , tong ..” she was serious ,
And her expression silent him , it always been like this since they were little kid and he always yield to her – only pholdee can stand up against her while Tong remain the quiet one and let the two bicker at each other . Tong decided to start and signal his friend to go sit on the sofa while he paint. She move according …
“ ..hummm…sit up straight – humm….something isn’t right ..” Tong cross his arm , he walk toward the sofa and sat down beside her , “ …the hair !..” he reach for the band that tie her pony tail and pull it out , letting the hair come loose . He brush it lightly to the back of her shoulder …
“ …you seen so difference , not so cocky but instead calm ..” she search his face as his hand run through the thickness of her hair
“ …me cocky ? really ? ..” he laugh , then smile warmly into her eye and couldn’t help but flush in front of her . He was never this close to any woman before and the way she stare at him is making him nervous.
“ …kiss me ..”
“ ….what ? are you serious ? stop joking ..” he chuckle
“ ….if you don’t kiss me , I’ll kiss you ..”
“ …don’t be silly, we are friend and nothing more ...”
“ …you said im beautiful , so why don’t touch me or kiss me ?..”
“…it not right to display affection so openly . you’re a woman, you have to be stingy with your body..”
“ ..y-you..” she was heated ! why is he acting like they are stranger in intimacy ? is he trying to get back at her for saying he…an experimental and nothing more to her ? is that why he not responding because he refuse to be her experimental ? IS HE PLAYING HARD TO GET -- AGAIN !!
“ ..you look mad ? is there something wrong ? ..”
There was angry in her eye, she doesn’t like his clueless attitude and his calmness is killing her . She push him hard till his body fall on the sofa and she move to straddle him ….
“ …holy …shit !!..” Pholdee shouted, while holding his wig in place from all the running he did but only to barge into the room to witness this !!! He was in traffic and drive as fast as he can down the street of Bankok but fate have it ….there was an accident in the turning street to his house and he have no choice but to run the rest of the way home !!!! Ahhh… sweet …lesbian of his !! She….on top of his brother like a cherry on a banana split !!!
“ ..Pholdee ..it not what you think ..” said Tong
“ …ahhh….get off !! get off ..” Pholdee pull the tomboy to her feet and turn her to face him , “ …monkey girl!! He is not a tree ! Don’t ever climb him again !!..”
“ ..shut up , dirt bag ..”
Pholdee turn to his brother , “ and you ! …be a man for once ! don’t let a girl take advantage of you this way !!..” he then return his attention back to the tomboy with sad puppy eye and pouting lip , “ ..baby , don’t scar me like that !..”