At a young age of eighteen, New was living the life of a teenage boy diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With his life hanging by a thread, he realized that it was too short to be spent on memories that will only result in melancholy, and so he chose...
After a fifteen minute ride, we stopped in front of a pink building with a huge sign that read Pink Planter Café. The whole establishment was painted in pastel pink, and clearly stood out from all the other buildings that were painted monochromatic.
"I didn't know pink was your kind of color." , I jokingly said to Tawan.
"It's also my first time here. I brought you to the place so you can have your dessert."
I blushed at what he just said. It didn't really hit me that he'd be the type to remember something I said a week ago, since he didn't really pay any attention to me when we talk.
"Aren't you gonna come in?", Tawan said, already grabbing the door handle.
I followed him and entered the café, and we were greeted by a spiral staircase that leads to the actual café. Even the interior of the place was painted in pastel pink, and the speakers played music that matched the bright theme of the café. When we reached the top, there was a small area decorated with flamingos and various plants, as well as a neon sign of the café hanging on the wall.
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"I love you so matcha", I read one of the phrases inked on the wall.
"That's smart."
We were escorted by a staff to an empty table and handed with a menu to choose from. When we completed our orders, the staff told us that it would be ready in a few minutes. Tawan took out his phone and went back to his usual routine of minding no one's business.
As I was starting to get bored of waiting, I snatched his phone and put it inside my pocket.
"Hey! Give it back!", Tawan said, completely annoyed. I chuckled and teased him a little more to see if I can get him to talk.
"I'll give it back if you play a game with me."
"No."
"Then no phone."
He wore a face that showed great annoyance, but he knew I wasn't kidding so he let out a sigh of disappointment before talking.
"What game?"
"Two truths and a lie. I'm gonna tell two truths and a lie about myself and you're going to guess which one is the lie. If you fail, you get to play next. If you win, you get your phone back. Easy right?"
"Whatever. Get it done so I can get my phone back."
"You're quite confident huh? You don't even know me that much."
"Try me.", he said as he wore a playful smirk.
"Okay. First, I love cats. Second, I'm a fan of Marvel movies. Third, I'm scared of spiders. Which one is the lie?"
"The third one."
"Wrong! It's the second one. I'm not a fan of Marvel movies."
"You've gotta be kidding. There's not a single soul on this planet that does not love Marvel movies."
"Well, I don't. I don't like the idea of fictional characters being my main interest simply because they're not real."
"That doesn't even sound like an acceptable opinion. You literally grew up watching cartoons."
"No, I grew up watching animal planet."
"Whatever."
"It's your turn now dimwit."
"What did you say?"
"I said it's your turn now."
He paused for a short while thinking of the truths that he's gonna tell. When our food came, he was still thinking.
"Earth to Tawan? The food's here. Are you still playing or I get to keep your phone for the weekend?", I said as I waved my hand at his face.
He brushed my hand off and clasped his hands, putting his elbows on the table as if he's gonna tell something serious.
"First, I like spicy food. Second, I've travelled overseas. Third, I dream to be an astronaut."
"Hmmm...first?", I guessed as I took a spoonful of the banna split in front of me.
"Wrong. It's the second one."
"But you like Thai food, which are mostly spicy!", I replied, not believing what he said.
"Not all of them. And most of the foods I like are rather salty. Your turn."
I tidied myself and wiped my mouth with a tissue. I looked at Tawan who was calmly digging onto the cheesecake.
"First, I love horror movies. Second, I have not been anywhere outside Chiang Mai."
I paused for a while and looked at Tawan. He was still eating the cheesecake, not giving a care about what I said.
"Third....I have pancreatic cancer, and I'm bound to die soon."
Just as I finished, he turned his face towards me, eyes wide open.
