"Nong In... Nong In..."
My father's calling voice and insistent ringing make me wake up with a startled. Now, both Dad and Mawin and Jenpop are looking at me with smiles on their faces, but they tried to hide it, afraid that I would complain out of embarrassment. Right now, I'm lying with my face resting on Arun BekFah's back, with one hand on her body, which was lying on her side. And the reason why I'm lying like this is because, even at three in the morning, the sweet-faced secretary couldn't sleep, worried about ghosts under the bed.
"It's already ten o'clock,"
Mawin said, pointing to the wall clock in the room we are in. Arun BekFah pulled back her hand and lay there silently, not daring to make any comment, equally embarrassed.
"Don't make that face... Jan, stop!"
I said, feeling that I couldn't blame anyone here, and ended up yelling at the subordinate who is also like a friend. If I'm going to take my frustration out on someone, it would have to be him.
"Sorry, Miss In."
"And why are you lying up there? Why are you taking Miss Arun's place?"
"Someone was scared of ghosts, so I came to sleep with her to keep her company. The idea was that when she fell asleep, I would run away to sleep on the couch. But without realizing it, I ended up falling asleep. It's always like that when the air conditioning is at the temperature I'm used to. Oh... there's a water heater here too."
I changed the subject and pointed to the bathroom. Arun BekFah, who had been quiet for a long time, tried to get up, but I grabbed her arm.
"Where are you going?"
"I want to talk properly," she replied.
"You can lie down, we can talk like this,"
I grumbled softly, not wanting the sweet-faced secretary to move.
"What do you mean?"
"I want to leave the hospital today. Please, I ask for everyone's cooperation."
Arun BekFah replied stubbornly, which made me give in. Besides, the doctor said that her injury was nothing serious. It might hurt a little, but it's not something that will kill her (the doctor was very blunt). So, she can go home to recover. I helped the sweet secretary back to her room and prepared the bed to make her comfortable.
"Didn't you like being in the hospital? There's still someone there to help you clean up. Here, how are you going to take a shower or change your clothes?"
Dad asked, completely ignoring my presence, as if I'm invisible.
"I'm fine here, Dad. Can you stop acting like I don't exist?"
"You can barely take a shower by yourself."
"Dad!"
I yelled, irritated that he kept mentioning it. Mawin turned his face away to hide his smile, while Arun BekFah remained indifferent. How absurd! I'm not a child anymore! How could he joke about something like that?
"I take a bath properly! It's only when the water is really cold that I end up being faster."
"See, that's not taking a bath properly. It's not possible... I can't trust you, Nong In."
"If I don't do it, who else will? We're all alone here, and the people around us hate me and all your friends."
I shrugged and acted as if Arun BekFah didn't have many options.
"Or are you going to let Mawin help you clean up?"
"Don't tire yourselves arguing, I'm fine."
"I'll clean you up."
