The summer night was unforgiving. The sweat streamed down Kin's face, drenching his sheets. The air conditioner in his room had failed him, leaving him in the humid embrace of the night. The whirring fans did little to alleviate the heat that clung to his skin like a second layer. Sleep was a distant luxury, elusive in the sweltering heat of the night.
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The next morning, the technician arrived, his tool bag in tow.
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"It seems like there's an issue with the electrical system and some parts have been damaged due to a shortage," he informed Kin, his gaze inspecting the dysfunctional air conditioner.
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"And what do we do now?" Kin asked, beads of sweat trickling down his temples.
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"We'll have to replace the damaged parts. However, due to a recent increase in similar cases, there might be a wait of about two weeks."
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"Two weeks?”
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Kin echoed, trying to suppress his shock. The thought of enduring the unbearable heat for two weeks was daunting.
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"I'm afraid so. There's a shortage of parts due to the high demand. We apologize for the inconvenience," the technician offered.
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"Alright. Thank you," Kin nodded, acknowledging the situation.
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Later, Kin shared his predicament with Jirat, his white uniform clinging to his damp skin. "How am I supposed to survive this heat without AC?" he groaned, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
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"Well, you can always use a fan," Jirat suggested, observing his friend's discomfort. "You've always been sensitive to the heat."
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"Yeah, I know, but fans only circulate hot air during this kind of weather," Kin replied, grimacing at the thought. "How do you manage to live without AC?"
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Jirat chuckled, "I'm a southern boy. I'm used to the heat, the wind, the humidity. Sure, it can get uncomfortable at times, but this is Thailand."
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Kin nodded, acknowledging the truth in Jirat's words. "I suppose I'll have to get used to it too."
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"Have you considered staying with one of your juniors for a while?" Jirat asked, a hint of teasing in his tone.
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Kin contemplated the suggestion, "I've thought about it, but I don't want to impose on anyone. Maybe I'll just bear with it for now."
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He wiped the sweat from his brow, a picture of fortitude in the face of discomfort. Jirat looked on, his eyes filled with compassionate understanding.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUn6Y1iOzY
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………………………………………..
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As Kin and Jirat carried on with their conversation, strolling along, a familiar silhouette caught their attention. It was Than, his lively spirit palpable and shimmering around him as he made his way toward them.
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"P'Kin, P'Jirat, how's it going?" he greeted, his voice warm and friendly.
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"Doing great, Nong-Than,” Jirat responded with a smile, before shooting a knowing glance at Kin.
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"But this guy here...he's got a bit of a problem."
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Than followed Jirat's gaze, noticing Kin's white uniform drenched in sweat. The fabric clung to his body, revealing the contours of his muscular figure underneath.
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"P'Kin, you're sweating a lot. You seem uncomfortable," Than commented, his voice filled with concern.
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"Yeah... I've always been extremely sensitive to heat," Kin confessed, his forehead glistening with sweat, his discomfort evident.
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"Hey, do you know what happened to P'Kin, Nong-Than?” Jirat teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief, yet showing a tinge of compassion. "His AC at his condo broke down.”
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Kin nodded in confirmation, fanning his shirt in an attempt to relieve himself from the heat.
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"It's going to be tough for you, P'Kin," Than commented sympathetically.
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"Yeah, it is," Kin confirmed with a strained smile. "And the worst part is, I have to wait in this cruel heat without AC for two weeks!" His frustration was palpable as he recalled the unfortunate circumstance.
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"Two weeks?" Than echoed in surprise, his eyes widening at the news. Jirat nodded at him in affirmation, his concern for his friend evident.
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"But it's okay. Sometimes life is tough," Kin said half-jokingly, trying to play off his predicament lightly.
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Than fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. After a beat, he finally spoke,
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"How about you live with me during this period?”
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"Live with you?" Kin echoed, his brows shot up in surprise. The idea catching him off-guard. He hesitated, not wanting to impose, but Than was quick to reassure him.
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"It's totally fine, P'Kin. I live alone in a house that my family bought for me to use during my campus life so I don't have to travel across the city. It has three bedrooms, and I only occupy one."
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"But..." Kin trailed off, still hesitant.
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"Come on, P'Kin, don't think too much about it," Than encouraged him, "I'm happy to help, and it's no trouble at all.”
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Kin exchanged a glance with Jirat, who nodded encouragingly.
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"Alright, Nong-Than. Thank you very much. You're very generous," he finally agreed, to which Than shook his head dismissively, brushing off the compliment.
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"It's located four Skytrain stations away from the campus," Than informed him, concern lacing his voice. "But from there, it's another 10 minutes' drive. It might be a bit inconvenient for you...Or maybe we can look at our schedules, and I can drive you sometimes.”
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Kin quickly dismissed Than's concerns. "Don't worry, Nong-Than, you've been too kind already. I can manage to call a motorcycle taxi or a Grab-taxi." His gratitude was evident in his voice.
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"Alright then," Than said, sounding relieved. His eyes lit up with excitement as he added, "You can move in today if you want."
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………………………………………..
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Following their conversation, Kin found himself walking alongside Than as they left the university grounds, the cool afternoon breeze sweeping through the trees around them. Than, with his hands tucked into his pockets, turned to Kin with a question.
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"So, have you decided to move in today, P'Kin?" Than asked, his eyes full of anticipation, "It's entirely up to you, though."
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Kin paused to consider Than's question. He glanced at his watch, weighing the time constraints in his mind.
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"Well, I can move today," he agreed finally, "but I have to collect my stuff and some clothes from my condo first. Maybe after that, we can meet at your place?" He suggested, his brows furrowed in thought, "You can send me the location on my phone."
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"Alright," Than replied, his voice carrying a note of acceptance. He was silent for a few moments before an idea dawned on him.
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"Actually, how about I go with you to your place? We can collect your stuff together and then head to my place. I don't have any appointments or anything else planned for the evening."
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Kin looked at Than, surprised yet again by his kindness. "Are you sure, Nong Than?" he asked, needing affirmation.
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Than nodded, his smile firm. "Absolutely, P'Kin."
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"Alright, then let's go to my place first,"
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Kin agreed, returning Than's smile. Little did Kin know how much his smile meant to Than, how it caused the younger man's heart to flutter every time.
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A short walk of less than ten minutes led them to Kin's condominium, a low-rise building that exuded a cosy and homely vibe.
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"This place is quite close to the university, isn't it?" Than remarked, looking around in appreciation.
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"Yeah, it's conveniently located," Kin agreed, "And it's just a 4-minute walk to the Skytrain station.”
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They entered Kin's condo and Than was instantly hit by the distinct scent of Kin's living space, a mix of earthy incense and the faint aroma of coffee.
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Kin excused himself, retreating into his bedroom to gather his clothes. Meanwhile, Than found himself in the living room, surrounded by an array of personal items that reflected Kin's interests - scenic photographs, cat photos, textbooks, and an aroma diffuser.
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These items painted a vivid picture of Kin's life and interests. Than's eyes fell on a dried rose sitting on a shelf. It was the white rose he had given to Kin on Rose Junction Day, almost three weeks ago. Beside it lay a dried red rose, its significance unknown to Than.
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The sight of the dried roses drew Than into a maelstrom of curiosity, the unanswered questions nagging at him. He found himself murmuring,
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“P'Kin still kept it, who gave him the red one... or maybe he just kept them without any special reason..." But just as quickly as it started, Than shook off his speculations.
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Moments later, Kin emerged from his bedroom, a gym bag bulging with clothes in his hand. The bag's design was sleek and practical, catching Than's attention.
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"That bag suits you, P'Kin," Than commented, admiring the design.
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"Yeah, it's pretty, and I love using it," Kin replied, shouldering the bag. "I have a couple of these. They're convenient for the gym and even for travelling."
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"Any more stuff you want to collect?" Than asked, his gaze scanning the room.
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"Yes, a few more," Kin answered. He then quickly gathered some personal items, textbooks, and his laptop.
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"Okay, we can go now, Nong-Than."
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With that, they left Kin's condo, hailed a taxi and began their 20-minute drive to Than's place.
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