REVERSE 4 YOU

11 The Moon on Probation

"Is this your new hideout?"

I've lost count of how many nights I've battled mosquitoes up here. Usually, drowsiness tries to claim me, but I manage to resist falling asleep in this chair. However, on the most crucial night, the night when P'Four makes her appearance, I doze off beforehand. I awaken to the sound of her teasing voice, taunting me with its monotone melody. She leans against the edge of the rooftop, arms crossed.

Her captivating almond eyes fix on me.

Damn it! I had intended to hide and observe her, but now she's caught me red-handed.

"You rent the room but never sleep in it. That's quite peculiar." And now she can't contain her nagging nature... Yeah, she's certainly good at it.

"The view from here is much better." I scratch my arm awkwardly, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. Did I accidentally let a droplet of saliva escape down my chin? No way, that couldn't have happened, right? "You also come up here. Rent a room but never sleep in it."

"Well," She retorts sharply. "So what?"

"Why can't you speak nicely? Others might think you're picking on them."

P'Four furrows her exquisite eyebrows, her voice softening. "Well, maybe I am picking on you."

I can't help but think that it's my fault for not being intimidated or speechless like when we first met. Instead, I find her feeble attempt at a threat quite amusing. I rise from my foldable chair and stand beside her, feeling a twinge in my neck from the prolonged nap.

I notice a notebook in her right hand. It looks like a diary.

"Once you're done with your sightseeing, just leave," she says, lowering the notebook as if trying to hide it. It's clear she's trying to chase me away.

"The rooftop is a public space for all the tenants."

"But I don't allow you to stand next to me."

Her remark momentarily leaves me at a loss for words. My mind goes blank. But then I recall a silly joke I saw on Khun's Twitter: "If I can't stand by you, please let me sit." Encouraging myself to go with the flow, I gingerly settle down on the cool floor, lifting my face to meet P'Four 's gaze with a playful smile.

"I'm not standing. I'm sitting, okay?" Please chat with me a bit more.

"You're so annoying, Jattawa."

She emphasizes my name while averting her gaze. Her perfect, flawless face lets out a deep sigh of annoyance. After a moment of contemplation, the tall girl sits down next to me, placing her crimson diary beside her. Her legs are incredibly long, which explains her past as an athlete. I try to stop myself from observing her too intently, as she might not feel the same way I do.

"Have you applied for the curator position? Any luck?"

"Not yet."

I nod in understanding, even though she doesn't look my way. I don't dare to probe further. The only reason I've been waiting here is...

"Why'd you come up here?" I actually want to ask her, 'You didn't come up here to jump off the roof, did you?' My brain tells me not to be too direct. It won't do any good.

"Sightseeing, just like you?" She replies, her head leaning against the wall, which now towers above us. Her eyes, filled with a small universe, look at me. "Bring the mosquito repellent over here. There's a swarm of those suckers."

"It's my mosquito repellent. I shelled out 20 baht for it at 7/11."

"So what? You ain't gonna share? Or do I need to pay to share it with you?"