[นิยายแปล ภาษาอังกฤษ] Noei (พี่จะตีนะเนย by Korean_rabbit)

ลำดับตอนที่ #1 : 1st Hit: "Must be the power of Brahma that wrote our fate"

♡

I walked fastly away from that tall young man and finally, I arrived and went into the shop I made an appointment with my students. I looked outside and found he walked pass through the shop. That was quite a relief. He looked like very bad news and should stay away from him. I knew he's so much younger than me, yet it didn't matter how old we are. He's probably a grade 10?

Anyhow... Ti... Forget about him already.

I decided to wait at an empty table and it was almost time for school to finish for that day. There usually were some students around in this area since this shop was in a school district. Whenever I saw these kids, they reminded me of my childhood in high school. It was boring. Nothing was interesting. Going to school, coming back home, studying in a tutoring school, or chasing for a good tutor to apply for a tutoring session with them.

"O... Hey..."

I raised my hand and called out for a young man with glasses. He's one of my students. His name is "O" and he's quite a good student. O came to sit at the table I booked then the rest of my students started to come to our appointment in about 10 minutes later. And when they were all here, I started tutoring. As usual, I used my iPad to show my slides and explained. Some of them nodded and some of them looked confused. It was quite normal. I had to keep reminding myself that not everyone had the same background of knowledge. I didn't charge them much, yet I still wanted them to feel like they gained their knowledge studying with me.

"P'Ti. Can we take a 15 minutes break, please?"

"Ok. It's a good idea. We have been sitting here for hours now."

I put my apple pen and iPad down then smiled at my students. The girls looked at each other before going to the bar to order some snacks. I stretched myself a little and came back to use my iPad. It had been 3 hours since I started the tutoring session. My students seemed to have a very good concentration. They are very dedicating students. Good kids indeed.

"Pam wouldn't like this. Trust me. The most popular girl in our school wouldn't even want to date a gangster, like him, I'm sure."

"But he follows Pam for days now. If I were her, I would have cried for days."

I paused before sipping the coffee. I didn't mean to pry but overhearing that conversation of the girls at the next few tables. 'Shouldn't be a big deal.' I presumed.

"Right? He's so scary."

"What should we feel when we know that 'Noei the tiger's blood' was asking you out?"

"Very true. And what kind of the way to ask a girl out to set up a parade like that? Singing some weird and unheard songs. How is that romantic?"

"You see? That's why Pam refused him."

"Right? Totally."

Too bad I overheard them. Even though I didn't know anyone from that conversation. I tried not to pay any more attention to that conversation and looked at my students coming back to the table. Some had snacks and some continued on their exercises.

"Any part you don't understand? O"

"Yes? Oh... Don't worry. I got them."

He moved his glasses on his face a little before giving me a smile. He went back to his exercises I gave earlier. But then, it was like he remembered something. He took out his phone and looked at it. Again, I didn't want to pry, but I saw a strange pause of O after reading the message on his phone. O turned his face from a smiling one into a very stressed and upset one. Should I pry (again)?

"Mmm... P'Ti?"

"Yes? O"

"May I leave early today?"

He asked me politely and looked like he's about to cry. I had absolutely no idea what happened and how to help him. I only nodded and guessed he must have a very important thing to do. Because he seemed upset and hurry. He grabbed everything and stormed out of the coffee shop. I hope there was nothing serious for him.

Hey... After all, I was only a tutor. And it's his personal issue. If he wanted to share I should have heard about it by now.

♡

"P'Ti..."

"Yes? O. Any question?"

"Mm... Mm... May I... leave early today?"

I stopped writing something and looked at O. He did this again. I didn't know what's going on with him lately. He asked to leave early for several times already. He never did this before. But now he never finished the session. He even asked me for another tutorial session in private. Something's wrong happening.

"P'Ti... Please..."

"P'Ti... Actually, today we have an appointment as well. May we also leave early as well? Please."

Not only O but now the other three girls wanted to leave too. I thought a little, sighed and nodded. I should stop the session because they must have to leave for real. I understood the girls, but I was curious about O. It wasn't the first time he did that. Besides, he looked like he was in a hurry every time. He always packed super fast and it was like he was running out of the shop. It looked like he was running away from something. This time as well... I had to help him pick up some stuff he dropped on the floor while running.

"O..."

"Yes? P'Ti."

"Can I ask you something? Do you have any inconvenience to come to study? You left early a lot many times."

I had to ask him. O looked shocked and seemed surprised I asked. He became clearly startled. I stopped to ask him immediately since he looked completely uncomfortable to answer.

"I... Err... "

"It's ok. Please never mind me. I'm just worried about you. That's all."

"Ok. I'll see you later, P'Ti."

"Mmm."

I nodded and watched him ran out of the shop. I'm the only last person at that table so I shut my iPad and put it back into my backpack. It's one hour earlier than normal. What could I do? Rather go back home then.

I left the coffee shop and walked through a footpath. I planned to stop at a 7-eleven to get something to eat then go back home, but my phone popped up some notification message. It was a message from friends in my major at school. Professor gave us three lectures to read before the next class. I sighed. Got some more tasks to do tonight. Even though it said the deadline had been moved further yet I still needed to get it done. I should also print these documents out tonight.

I was planning and organizing my schedule while I was walking back home. Then I saw a 'print store' right across the street, so I thought this could be so much faster to print it from the store than using my small printer at home. I didn't want to trust my printer. It worked improperly lately.

I stopped by at a 7-eleven to buy some dinner first and walked across the street to the print shop. The sign was not right in front of the shop. I needed to walk inside a small alley, which was fine, I guessed. Because I had already made up my mind to do this. So I continued walking but something stopped me. Someone familiar which he just said goodbye to me was standing right in front of me at that moment.

O?

I slowed down because O was there alone in that alley. I wasn't sure I should or shouldn't greet him, and at that moment I stopped everything I planned. Because I saw a group of high school students came into the alley with their motorcycles.

Hold on... They are the same gangster I saw at the bus stop, right?

There... There... That tall guy.

I hid behind an old big board to watch. It wasn't too far away from O, so I heard their conversation clearly. It's a small alley. Not that clouded yet not that quiet as well. Not only the print shop there are several other stores still open. O was at that moment shaken a little standing in front of this gangster.

"Hey, O. Are you sure you have done as our boss told you so?"

"M... Mmm..."

"Exactly as my boss giving you the instructions? Little dog."

"Can I have my bag back please?"

"Give it to him."

A deep tone of voice came out. A member of that gangster threw the backpack to O. He opened his bag and check to make sure everything was in the bag.

He's being bullied! How can I help?

"What did Pam say?"

O was standing there hugging his bag and surrounded by the gangster, who seemed to be at the same age as O, yet they looked so much different and absolutely fortuneless. There were two guys approaching closer to O. One of them was wearing a Jean jacket and looked familiar, he pulled O closer to him. At that moment, O's face was completely pale and legs were shaken. Clearly frightened. This made Ti feel bad immediately.

That tall guy whispered something into O's ear and that made O shaken even more. I really had no idea what to do.

"What did Pam say?"

"Sh... She said... She doesn't like you."

"What?"

"Pam doesn't..."

"Louder. I hardly hear from you."

"Pam said... She doesn't like you."

And after O yelled that sentence out loud and paused everyone, specifically that tall guy. This was not the first time I'd heard that name. But I couldn't remember when I heard that... Anyhow... At that moment, I only cared about my student who was standing and shaken there.

I needed to do something.

"How's that possible? My boss's plan was so romantic. She must be falling in love with my boss now."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"She really didn't like that kind of surprises. She's really mad as a matter of fact."

"Do you have any idea how much money he spent on that plan for Pam?"

"Yeah! Our boss was dedicating so much to this plan. Did you do something wrong with our plan?"

"ENOUGH!"

That tall guy yelled out and made everyone quiet instantly. He looked scarier and scarier.

"Call her."

"Wh... What?"

"Call Pam for me. Now."

"O... Ok..."

O decided to make a phone call as he requested. It took only about a minute before O handed his phone to him. He took O's phone, stood there quietly, took a deep breath, and spoke into the phone softly.

"I've been alone with you inside my mind...

And in my dreams, I've kissed your lips a thousand times...

I sometimes see you pass outside my door...

Hello, is it me you're looking for?"

Seriously? Lionel Richie? Was that how you flirt to a girl?

And after that... I was scared. The 80s? How could a girl say yes to that plan?!?!

"Be my girlfriend?"

[What are you talking about? And stop doing all of these. I will never like you. Never.]

Too bad that he turned on the speaker. So everyone heard that refusion. Clearly, she was super mad at O.

"!"

[Why did you do this to me? O]

"I... I'm... sorry... They forced me..."

[Don't ever talk to me ever again. I don't like him... No... Actually, I hate him... Go away.]

She yelled out and hung up after giving a very harsh rejection to that tall guy, who strongly had a dark aura coming out from him at that moment. Everyone was standing there quietly. There was no voice whatsoever. The motorcycle was shut as well. Until someone sent a signal to them to leave. Those people on the motorcycle started to leave one by one. And left that tall guy alone in the alley. It would be so perfect to have a sad song coming up at that moment.

Suddenly he grabbed O's collar and his shirt. He looked like he had no feeling at all on his face. It's too empty and scary at the same time. Even I was so scared.

Come on! An 80s song? Who used this kind of style to confess nowadays?

"N... Noei... I... I cannot force her to accept your request. If she doesn't like you, it means she doesn't like you. I cannot do anything to that... !!!"

O was trying to talk him out of this but then he looked right at O that made him shut himself up. O tried to step away from him, but he already locked O's shirt in his hand.

"It... It wasn't... that ... Er... you are not ok... B... But Pam might have a different type of guy she likes... !!!"

"Are you saying that I'm not handsome enough?"

"N... No... Noei... I didn't say that... You are... handsome... But... But you have like a bad boy look... So..."

"..."

O was about to cry when the other guy was staring at him like that. My heart rate was rising up so fast as well. I was worried that O would be slam down on the floor like he did to the other guy. I took a deep breath and decided to help O. He's my student and like a little brother to me. I couldn't just hide there and watch. Besides he's the only one there... His gang was gone.

Here we go!!!

"O..."

"P'Ti !?!?!"

I was walking out from that corner and walking toward O immediately. O looked shocked to see me there and that tall kid looked right at me immediately too. My heart rate was rising even faster.  I wasn't sure if he remembered me or not.

"Let go of him."

"Are you his older brother?"

"N... No..."

"YES! I am..."

I interrupted O's sentence. At that moment, I only wanted to get O out of that place. From my university uniform, he must know that I was older. O looked at me like he didn't know what to do. I approached more by staring at his eyes, which in fact, I was so scared. He might get mad and beat me up. I couldn't fight him back for sure.

"LET HIM GO."

"Not your business."

"He's my little brother. There is no older brother who can let someone bully his own younger brother like this."

"..."

He kept staring at me and I wasn't sure about that situation. He looked at me and O without saying a word. We were standing at an awkward moment for a few seconds. Until a guy ran to us and talked to that tall kid.

"Boss! Boss!"

"What?"

"Pam... I saw her in a coffee shop... With a guy."

"Fock!"

"So... She didn't say 'yes' to you?"

"..."

Clearly, he wasn't here when Pam rejected him.

"Boss... Boss... So she didn't accept to be your girlfriend, right? I knew it... That's why she was with that handsome guy. But you are also handsome... So she must be very picky to choose a guy to date, then? Is there anything to do with a personality? Boss... I think it is because..."

"Shut up! Go away before I killed you."

"(Screaming and running away)"

He left the alley as fast as he could. That tall kid looked back at me. I could tell from looking at his eyes that he was very mad. He let O go. So, I  hid O behind me and took O away from that kid.

"It's your day. You, little dog."

He spoke to O.

"Never ever touch him again."

"None of your business."

"..."

"Hey... HEY!"

"What?"

I was stunned after he yelled at me. My whole body was shaken when he approached me. Closer and closer.

"Where did you buy this from?"

"Wh... What?"

"I asked."

He yelled at me again. Why did he have to have that fierce look? I paused again when he touched on a key chain on my backpack. I looked at his hand and answered.

"Japan."

"Seriously? Japan?"

He replied but it sounded like he was talking to himself. I nodded. Honestly, I was confused and no idea what to say. I had completely no idea what he wanted. He looked very interested in that key chain. Did he really want to have it? Or what?!?!

"Do you want it?"

"No."

What?!?! And why was he staring at it if he didn't want it? What the heck?

"Mom."

"Hrr?"

"My mom wants it. It was like a lucky sign for her."

"What?"

"But it was too far. Japan. I rather look for something similar at the mall."

He let go of that key chain and stepped away from me and O. He looked at us a little and turned around. He kicked a little rock at the wall, scratched his head, shook his head a little, and that ruined his pompadour hairstyle, yet he seemed careless about it and he looked like he was about to leave the alley and I sighed deeply.

Until... Did he say his mom wanted it?

"Nong"

Note: Nong = Little brother (in Thai)

I stopped him. The tall kid paused and turned around slowly. He looked curious. I took a deep breath and took that key chain out from my backpack. I showed it to him. My hand was shaken.

"Take this. And leave O alone."

I gave that key chain to him. I didn't really want this one in particular because we bought several of them during a trip to Japan. So I have some back up at home. If this key chain would help me build up a good relationship with him and save O from these bullies. That tall kid stared at me and looked at the keychain. I waited and waited. He didn't take it.

"Go ahead. Take it. And stop bullying O."

I put it into his hand. More like forcing him to take it. Do not ever bully O again. That tall kid looked at the keychain in his hand, frowned, and stared at me.

"Hey... Little dog."

"!?!?"

"Never let me see your face ever again. Got it?"

"O... Ok... Got it... You won't see my face ever again..."

Wow... It worked. Indeed a lucky keychain. Truly worked like a charm.

♡

TIWAAA: Mom.

TIWAAA: Can you check if we still have another keychain we bought from Japan in my wardrobe? It should be in a red bag.

MOMMY: (Send a photo)

MOMMY: I took the last one. Sorry I didn't tell you first. They said this one will give me good luck. We need to visit Japan again.

TIWAAA: What do you mean? I took the 'good luck' one with me.

MOMMY: No... The 'good luck' one is here.

TIWAAA: What about the one I took?

MOMMY: Any girl talks to you lately?

TIWAAA: ???

MOMMY: Ti... Every charm is here in the bag... Except for the 'LOVE' charm.

MOMMY: You took the 'LOVE' one. How is it? Anyone coming into your life lately? Has anyone fallen in love with you yet?

*** TBC