Chapter 1: Khao Kang (Curry Rice/ Kang’s Name)
“I am not selling.”
“Oh-hor, darling
“I’m not your darling!”
“Why are you being like this to me? Are you still angry at me?”
Kang tightens his grip on the ladle, resisting the urge to knock the boy’s head with it. Since he was young, he has helped his mom to sell curry rice, and being courteous to customers is ingrained in him from an early age. But with this kid, he really can’t stand it any longer!
“What do you want? Stop wasting time.” He holds out the ladle at the boy.
“Fried pork sausage represents my heart.”
“....”
“Sweet son-in-law's steamed egg is stewed with a touch of love's sweetness.”
“....”
“I am begging you. Can you at least be a little flustered? I spent all night thinking of these jokes.”
“If it takes you all night to think of these, I think it would be better if you use the time to sleep, Moo.”
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“Yik~ Yik~”
Moo imitates the voice of Siri and breaks into a wide grin. Kang gives a deadpan look at this final-year high schooler. Kang’s so beyond annoyed that he can scold him in three languages - Thai, English, Chinese.
“My usual order will do.”
“Who remembers your usual order?”
“Whatever then. I can eat everything.”
Kang wants to thank the Gods (or the devil?) that the boy decided to come earlier for his lunch. With all the commotion he makes whenever he buys lunch, the students would have to line for a long time. But he’s not difficult to deal with since he only eats curry rice, no matter morning or afternoon.
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"20.”
“You give me so much rice. You are so cute and kind!
“There are still many steamed eggs left. I’ll give you more. It’s a waste to throw it away.” Kang pretends to wipe everything down as he waits for the boy to retrieve his money from his pants pocket.
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Been telling him so many times that his pants are too short, Kang thinks. Talking to him is like talking to a goldfish. He just doesn’t remember.
“You said you don’t remember my order. You do remember I like to eat steamed egg.”
“I think you are dreaming, Moo. You can wake up now.”
“I’m awake! Do you know that I daren’t sleep too much? Because I want to wake up to see P’Kang’s face.”
“Get lost! You can keep the change.”
“That’s fine.” He’s grinning again.
To be honest, the boy’s odd choice of attire matches with his crazy personality; he’s abnormal from head to toe. It's as hot as a fiery inferno at noon, but he wears a black and white jacket with the zipper all the way up. The heels of his shoes are also worn down.
Where are his parents? Kang would like his parents to see for themselves their son’s antics.
“Do you think you are rich? You are still living off your family. Please take your things and leave quickly. Stop bothering here. You are interrupting me. Others are still waiting to buy food.”
“I just want to talk to you…”
“Do me a favor. Please go eat your lunch quickly.”
“It would be even better to save the favor for our wedding day.”
“Moo, I’m begging you.”
“Darling, you are so adorable!”
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Oh-hor! I really hate talking to you Moo!
Kang loses count of how many times he breaks down over Moo’s antics. He constantly reminds himself that he only needs to see him twice a day—morning and afternoon. He can do this.
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“I can leave. I don’t want to disturb P’Kang from working.”
“Okay! Go!”
“Later I'll buy drinks and come over to flirt with you. Or do you want some bread instead?"
“You don’t need to buy me anything. Save up the money and get cleaning service for your room that hasn't had any chores done in it!"
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“See, you do care about me. You even know that I don’t do house chores.”
“I just know by the look of your face.”
“You… How am I not to think of you? You even studied my face.”
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Kang is about to scold the imaginative child before him, but he swallows his words because someone gives a sharp tap on Moo’s head.
“Damn Moo, you are here again!
“Shit! You’ve ruined my image in front of my future wife.”
“Stop messing with him. P’Kang’s going to be annoyed to tears. Let’s go Moo! Let’s eat! Faster! We still need to finish up Teacher Derek’s work.”
Kang releases a deep, long sigh, relieved that the kid is finally dragged away by his friend. Standing all day selling curry rice is not as tiring as arguing with the kid Moo.
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How did it all start? To answer that, we have to rewind time to two months ago…
“Phi,”
“Hm?”
“Why are you selling instead of Aunty Kai?”
His name is Khao Kang (Curry Rice). But he prefers people to call him Kang. The origin of his name is simple - his mother sells curry rice. She started from a small roadside stall and now she is the canteen operator at a boys’ school, selling curry rice, usually from morning until two in the afternoon.
Right now, he’s helping his mother sell curry rice because his mother’s backache has been troubling her. The doctor has advised her to rest at home and avoid any heavy chores. His father is out of the picture, having passed away when Kang was very young. For Kang, nothing is more important than his mother. Regardless of what it is, as long as he can help his mother, he will not hesitate to take on the responsibility.
“Green curry chicken but without the chicken. Thank you.”
“.....”
“I only want pork’s blood and curry.” One student who’s slightly taller than the canteen counter sniffles.
An interesting fact about selling curry rice in a boys’ school is that Kang gets to see how each student wants to get their money’s worth of what they like to eat. Kang carefully selects the largest and most appetizing pork blood for the eager child waiting for his food.
Kang smiles as he accepts his payment from another kid.
One might think that he doesn’t have a job and helps his mother to sell curry rice because of that. But he actually does have a job. He can work anywhere he wants as long as he meets his deadline. He is a subtitler working for a website that provides subtitles to popular movies or TV shows. Even though he’s exhausted from selling chicken rice the entire day, he gets to go home and watch new movie releases. Subtitling makes his eyes hurt, and tires him too, but he still enjoys it nevertheless.
“The usual order today?”
“The usual, Phi.”
“I’ll add some pork sausage. I’m scared you don’t feel full.”
“Thank you.”
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Kang once read in author Roundfinger’s book:
“If you are fortunate enough to do what you like, do your best. If you are unfortunate enough to do what you don’t like, do your best even more.”
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Kang smiles as he passes the plate to another student in line. His mother’s cooking has always been the best. Among the dishes served, some are made by his mother, but there are also some made by Kang himself. His mother said that curry rice is better when served hot, and thanks to her constant teaching, he’s able to recreate the dish just like she does.
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One of the canteen employees wipes his sweat from his brow. This area, unlike the student cafeteria, doesn’t have air conditioning to keep the area cool and offer comfort to the students.
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Kang feels joy whenever he sees kids this age. He gets inspired by them like how he is of colors. To him, as a person grows, their colors change - from sky blue, to indigo, dark blue, gray blue and finally black.
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High schoolers, they are interesting. Some of them are intellectuals, while most are athletes. There are good looking boys and cute young girls that charm the next door noodle stall owner with their sweet words.
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Youth—
“P’Kang!”
— it’s certainly an age worth remembering.
“What?”
“Pandan juice.”
“....”
“I know this is your favorite.”
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Each day, as he lies on his bed, his mind can’t shake off the image of a boy with a bright smile - sporting a buzz cut, khaki shorts, and a warm jacket even in the hot weather.
“Phi, what’s your name? I am Moo!”
“Moo hello there~”
"That's not funny anymore. This joke is overused.
“Damn.”
“Hey, how can you curse?!!!”
“Why?”
“Cute. I’m feeling butterflies in my stomach.”
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“Phi, are you tired? I saw the line to buy curry rice was so long. I waited until the line was clear before giving you the juice. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Kang shakes his head. Kang’s not tired from scooping curry all day. He’s tired because Moo’s like that all the time.
“What time are you closing the stall today? Can I come over to help?”
What is he expecting from a 26-year-old? What could he possibly want from someone who has been single their entire life?
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“Please go and study! You are a student Moo!”
“Being a student is my main job. Loving you is my passion.”
What exactly are you hoping to get from someone who is indifferent to you? Kang’s curious to know what Moo sees in him. Life? It hasn’t been all that good. Studies? He doesn’t do well in exams. His face is round, and he wasn’t born with a silver spoon. If he had to compare himself to a type of soup, he’d probably be plain broth.
“Has anyone told you that you dress up really unusually?”
“No. The girls from the block scream for me until they lose their voice.”
“I’m serious.”
“I’m serious too.”
“.... They must be blind. They should come to my stall and try my fried water-spinach to improve their sight.”
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Kang really, really doesn’t know what an almost 18-year-old boy wants from him, but their relationship is not uncomfortable. Even though the boy can be annoying, Kang feels that something amiss when he’s not around.
“How am I supposed to stop liking you when you are this cute?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Noticing Moo’s bright eager eyes, Kang sighs, reprimanding himself for speaking before thinking it through.
“You are going to say I’m a kid again, aren’t you?”
“You are a kid.”
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“A kid has a heart too!”
Kang’s about to put down the ladle when he stops in his tracks.
Kang locks his gaze on the boy whom he has been arguing constantly over the past two months. He can’t understand why this boy, who always throws one question after another, irritates him so much. Is it really necessary to be so bothered by someone who’s only here to buy curry rice?
This is crazy…
“Phi, have you ever fallen for someone?”
“....”
“That’s a yes right?”
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This… This is really crazy. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5FNsYZRQK
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