Behind the Scenes

SCENE FOUR: PAT TALKS

I like the atmosphere in Pran's room.

The sunlight hits my eyes as the blackout curtains are tied to a side of the window, even though I made sure to draw them before going to bed. The AC has been turned off but the fan is still working. I turned the temperature down to 20 degrees Celsius last night while waiting for Pran to finish showering. On a six-foot bed lie only me and my plush bunny Nong Hom that I cuddled all night. The guy, who kicked me off the mattress over and over again, who eventually gave in to my effort to climb back up and let me sleep on the bed, disappeared. His pillow has gotten cold, no warmth left, leaving only his scent. This points to the fact that he left a long time ago.

He went to the uni and didn't care to tell me.

I pull the plush bunny into a hug and nuzzle it. I don't remember where or when I got this plush bunny. But before I knew it, it became my comfort object. I washed it every week at first and extended the schedule once its ears looked worn. It got patched countless times but still looks good. The plush bunny smells different today. I know because I sniff it every day. Yes, it's the same scent as the one on Pran's pillow and blanket.

"You gave it a scornful look but you must've hugged it at night. That's why it has your smell on it."

I talk to Nong Hom and bite its ear. I love how rabbits have long ears that I can nibble. The color faded, unlike when I first got it. Well, it now has a classic ashy color. People are into vintage stuff these days anyway.

I like the atmosphere in Pran's room.

Let's go back to this topic after I've rolled around on this large bed to my heart's content. On a shelf lie a house model and his well-arranged textbooks. Most furniture pieces are provided, yet an artistic guy like Pran still managed to organize this simple room to be more comfy and appealing than anywhere I've ever crashed. He's an organized guy. He washes the dishes after meals and sweeps the floor every night. Maybe it's because of his projects that require sawing wood strips and cutting acrylic. Since the process dirties the floor, he needs to clean up before starting to work. On the contrary, I've never dirtied my room, so there's no need to clean it up.

Okay, I admit it. Another thing that makes this room appealing is Pran.

I know I'm a lonely guy. Besides being a gentle person and clingy to the plush bunny named Nong Hom, I am an extrovert. Pa's not. I used to share a room with Gon in the building two alleys away. But when Pa got into the same university, I moved to live with her around a year ago. Pran had always lived here. I swear I didn't mean to get a room next to his door on purpose. But Pa had this one condition. Since she had grown up now, she demanded her personal space. And the only available apartment with two separate bedrooms was this one. The way I've spent each day close to Pran is merely fate.

There's a limit to my loneliness. The longer Pa keeps to herself, the lonelier I feel.

Well, since god sent me right next to Pran's door, it should be fine if I sleep over at his place a few days a week to chase my loneliness away.

Pran's fridge is full of all kinds of food like instant porridge, eggs, instant noodles, milk, bacon, and bread. No condensed milk. I told him to store it. I hope he knows what he should buy before coming back this evening.

His apartment has one bedroom and an open kitchen connecting to the living room and the dining area. I spot a nonstick pan hung peacefully on the wall and hear a growling sound from my stomach. Since there is no condensed milk and my cooking skills aren't so awful, I decide to make fried instant noodles. It's not perfect yet edible. The dish works as a meal before I return to my apartment. I'll bring my toothbrush and blanket here tomorrow so that I won't have to go back and forth. Pran's shower cream smells nice, cool, and fresh. When I sniff my armpit, it clears my nose better than Pa's floral-scented shower cream.