Page 53 of Baby Love

Later that night, while a few of the guys play a board game and the rest watch television, I change into my pajamas and lie down on the bed to read.

A quarter of an hour later, P’Korn pops his head into the room. In his late twenties, P’Korn is tall and has an engaging smile. I’ve talked to him a few times and we get along well.

“Nong, we’re going to do karaoke. Want to join?” he asks me.

Wrinkling my nose, I decline. “I’ve never enjoyed singing in front of people.”

“That bad at it?” he asks, chuckling.

“I can hold a tune, but just barely.”

“Okay. Just thought I’d ask.”

He disappears, and I go back to reading. Laughter and cheers erupt downstairs after someone belts out a song.

When I hear footsteps, I finish the sentence I’m reading and look up.

“Oh, hi, P’Daeng.”

“Hi, Nong.” PDaeng stretches out on the bed beside me. The first night at the house, I noticed when I woke up the next morning that I was on the opposite side of the bed than I was when I went to sleep. I wasn’t sure how that happened, but the next night, when P’Park told me he wanted to sleep on the inside, I assumed he must have moved me. Imagining him picking me up while I was asleep makes me blush.

“What are you reading?” P’Daeng asks me.

I hold up the book, showing him the cover.

“You like mysteries? So do I,” he says. “I haven’t read that one, though.”

“You can read it after me if you want,” I offer.

“Thanks. You like it?”

“So far it’s really good.”

More loud singing erupts downstairs.

“Can I ask you something?” P’Daeng says after a moment.

I look up from my book. “Sure.”

“It’s none of my business, but I was wondering if everything’s okay with you. You know, after your father made that scene at the studio.”

Face heating, I look away, fiddling with the corner of a page of my book.

“You don’t have to answer,” P’Daeng says. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“All right, then.”

I go back to reading. Beside me, P’Daeng snores quietly. The singing downstairs stops, and I hear the back door slide open and close. Some of the guys are probably going to sit out by the pool. Reaching for my water bottle, I take a long sip from it, but I’m reclining and wind up swallowing it the wrong way. Chocking, I sit up and try to cough but have trouble catching my breath.

P’Daeng wakes up and begins pounding me lightly on the back. Gradually, I’m able to pull in enough air to cough properly, tears running down my face. P’Daeng holds me, his patting turning to gentle rubs on my back as I calm down. Then he’s just holding me, and I’m about to pull away when he’s jerked away from me, causing me to fall onto my back.

“Get the fuck off him!” P’Park’s face is a mask of fury.

“I was just–” P’Daeng starts to explain, but P’Park interrupts.

“I know what you were fucking doing. You never stop, do you? Do we have to put you in the closet for the night to keep you from groping people?” Backing up, I scramble to my feet. He’s yelling, and I hate yelling. Several of the other guys stand watching at the door.

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