941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN4uBbPuhi
As the start of the semester approached, Khemjira moved his belongings to an apartment that was quite affordable, although it was a fair distance from the university. However, this wasn’t a problem for him, as he preferred walking to driving or taking public transportation, as long as the distance was manageable. It just meant that he had to wake up a little earlier to go to class.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6Xzbds3eh
One might wonder why he came to study in Bangkok alone, without a single friend to accompany him.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGqIutaPYq
The answer was that Khemjira never had any friends due to the curse on his family. Living in the countryside, everyone in the area knew about it, and no one dared to associate with him for fear that bad luck would befall them as well.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaCq5f1xwQ
Khemjira understood this well; everyone loved their own lives. If he were in their shoes, he would do the same.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSHTyjdw3j
But that didn't mean he was bullied or boycotted by others. They could still talk. They just weren't close enough to call each other friends.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF41RCn0GWD
This was one of the reasons why Khemjira wanted to study in Bangkok. He wanted to have friends and be in a new environment.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SAMvVQchh
After settling in, he went out to look for something to eat. Not only was the apartment affordable, but it was also close to a market, so there was no worry about not having anything to eat.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIJ9belBL8
Wow, this Pad Thai looks delicious.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UIsgP8fPZ
The aroma of Pad Thai wafting through the air made Khemjira stop and make an order.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmz3WEQj9n
"A Pad Thai to go, please."
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGbOfbmo4h
"Just one, dear?" the salesman asked.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcpG9l6KqC
"Krap."
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbfXtkhctp
"And your friend there?"
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6naGVBrAna
Khemjira paused, slowly looking around before asking,
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnvSkzln4j
"Who?"
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApLYrab6Pm
Noise!
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneJLXZaRBc
The saleswoman accidentally dropped her spatula, her face turned pale before she forced a weak smile and said:
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DMvD1L7cu
"Oh, my eyes must be playing tricks on me. Never mind. This will cost forty baht."
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1T5p43q6I
Khemjira paid for the Pad Thai and took it with a confused expression.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eP24oHMXw
As he was about to cross the street, he accidentally stepped on his shoelace, tripped on the street, and quickly walked back to the curb. He then bent down to tie his shoelace.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jtVxPcqa8
Scream!
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtRAxPyFwz
Collide!!
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY9kNxUo27
Before Khemjira could crouch down, a loud crash sounded nearby, forcing him to quickly raise his head. His light brown eyes widened in shock as he saw a sports bike crashing and pinned under a bus that was stopping to pick up passengers...
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWyoMJHaOa
...right in front of him.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0z8wuFq49
It all happened in a split second. If he hadn't bent down to tie his shoelaces...
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6o1bcwiXP
Khemjira's thoughts turned to the curse, but he shook his head, trying to comfort himself with positive thoughts.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eZhPu4MQq
It was just a coincidence. Nothing had happened before.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dXxfFvtHg
Without realizing it, his hand was grabbing the takrut hanging around his neck. He retreated from the chaos and immediately ran back to his room.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnfyszOFpJ
The next day, the accident made the news on television. Khemjira, on her way from the apartment lobby to her room, stopped to look at the community TV broadcasting the scene of the accident.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI266XhfBL
'Last night, a tragic accident occurred when a sports bike with license plate กข XXX collided with the rear of a bus waiting to pick up passengers, resulting in the instant death of the rider... The rider was a senior student at XXX University who had just returned from a party with friends.'
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8JRc5mLwQ
Khemjira’s heart sank when he heard that the boy had died on the spot. His arms tightly wrapped around a water bottle he had just filled, as if he was going to use it as emotional support. He couldn’t help but think that if his shoelace hadn’t come undone at that moment, there might have been more than one death…
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4n3TnZklr
With just over a week to go before the start of the university semester, Khemjira tried to live normally, despite the haunting images of that accident. It would not do to dwell on it any longer.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwhlYmDTu6
He decided that he would have to be more aware and cautious from now on.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqxsfaIeL8
“Done,” Khemjira said to himself after he finished buying items to zone his new room and make it more livable. Most of the items were second-hand.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhaFIPNEOk
He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The wall clock showed that it was almost eight o'clock at night.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o2jtPr89N
"Time to get the books out," he thought. With just over a week to go before the start of the university semester, Khemjira tried to live normally, despite the haunting images of that accident. It wouldn't do to keep dwelling on it.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMJVd67Iki
He decided that he would have to be more aware and cautious from now on.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaB4utmEMj
“Done,” Khemjira said to himself after he finished buying items to zone his new room and make it more livable. Most of the items were second-hand.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB70qMxQJUr
He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The wall clock showed that it was almost eight o'clock at night. Time to get the books, he thought, quickly sweeping the trash into a trash bag to take downstairs. The trash can was located in a deserted alley near his apartment. The only light in the alley came from a streetlight in the middle, which kept flickering...
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfDQEqVwb3
...like a scene from a horror movie.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn2NOPjnEW
The somewhat creepy atmosphere made Khemjira look left and right before hurriedly throwing the trash bag into the trash can. But just as he was turning to leave, something caught his attention from the corner of his eye, making his legs freeze. His brain struggled to process what it was.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBZOObxt0N
Curiosity got the better of him, and Khemjira decided to take a closer look. He saw the figure of a child wearing a dirty, tattered white shirt, crouching with his head down next to the large trash can...
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQdsXCiSWr
Khemjira was sure it wasn't a human because he hadn't seen anyone there when he arrived.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUju2hjOov
The cold was gradually taking over his skin.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQgk4Omtvv
What kind of person would be sitting next to a trash can in a dark, deserted alley at night?
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMFjYXjfwl
He swallowed hard before looking away and taking a hurried step forward, practically running.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoPJQl4Nd8
"So it was a ghost?"
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8s2oUX6Rg
In his nineteen years of life, Khemjira had never seen one until now.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLv4KgAgWa
Just as Khemjira was about to run away, that thing slowly raised its head.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2y3zmnueI
His mouth slowly spread into a smile before he stood up and staggered after the young man.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnPD4ILgZ9
After that day, Khemjira began to experience more and more strange occurrences.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL1eV9gcF1
The first thing was that he had three accidents in one week, which had never happened to him before. For example, he was just walking and suddenly tripped and fell. The worst was when he almost fell down nearly twenty steps. Fortunately, that day, he managed to grab the railing in time. Otherwise, it wouldn't have happened.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj1dJqvasG
Secondly, Khemjira started seeing spirits more frequently...
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QRRW0enpf
In fact, he was seeing one right now.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz28ZlFHYKY
Khemjira took a deep breath, pretending not to see the feeble spirit of a woman in work uniform, standing with her head bowed in front of the door next to his.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2wnwTbjpC
She had been there for three days.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp91hA10f47
The owner of the room next to hers was a man who lived alone with his son. When Khemjira first saw her, he almost asked her if she needed help or why she didn’t want to go into the room. But when he saw that she had no feet… he quickly opened his own door and went in.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicgS16aD2N
Khemjira thought she might be the wife of the man who lived there; she must still be worried about him and not ready to move on...
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOsN84t0sc
"Don't... Hurt... My... Son..."
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPHJ6Qt6zL
Her voice was shaky and chilled to the bone. Khemjira’s heart dropped, and his hands shook uncontrollably as he fumbled with his keys. It took forever to open the door, and he nearly wet himself in the process.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL0XkV3J9C
His legs gave way and he fell to the ground, his eyes burning with heat.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4dobvii8i
Did she just say, "Don't hurt my son"?
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGOaRjIEEk
Is something happening to her son?
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlyJxbcEII
That night, Khemjira could barely sleep, haunted by what the spirit had said. Part of him didn't want to get involved, as he had enough problems already, but another part was worried that something bad might happen to the boy.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oTN56rSAT
The next morning, around eight o'clock, after the man next door had left for work, Khemjira stood in front of his neighbor's door, hesitating for a long time before deciding to knock.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfgCJ2lDMO
The lady's spirit was still there, right beside him, but this time, she was so close that their shoulders almost touched.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7vLRtwzaN
The door slowly creaked open, revealing the small figure of a six or seven year old boy. However, because of the door’s chain, it only opened enough to see the boy’s face.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeu1BUAXWu
“Hello,” Khemjira said with a smile, crouching down to be eye level with the boy. “My name is Khem. I just moved in next door.” The boy didn’t respond, but nodded in acknowledgement.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsThXGFObVi
Khemjira peeked furtively through the crack and saw several beer bottles lined up and a general disarray of belongings.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NskZpb5rl
What the hell...
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUtpCWUnfh
"Have you eaten anything yet?"
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupqBVXCfQK
This time the boy shook his head, and Khemjira felt his eyelid twitch.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4c0KG0vd6
Did the father go to work without making sure his son had eaten?
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR1UQ99gBu
This time the boy shook his head, and Khemjira felt his eyelid twitch.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgGebap89L
Did the father go to work without making sure his son had eaten?
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYBtq2DweH
At the same time, a shiver ran down his spine, causing an uncomfortable pressure.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURMT6VtIyo
"How about you come eat with me? It's on me. After we eat, I'll bring you back," Khemjira offered. The boy shook his head more vigorously than before.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JPhDKEGoZ
It was then that Khemjira noticed the chain tightly wrapped around the boy's ankle, the skin beneath it badly bruised.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5bvDRdQeP
He slowly forced a smile as he said to the boy:
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOkb2vVOEn
"Wait here for me a moment, okay?"
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2WVRNWSvB
Khemjira went down, bought rice soup, water and snacks and brought everything for the boy to eat.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf87MRzOGQ
The boy hesitated, but eventually his hunger won out and he reached out for the food.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJETSpeyMTE
“P… Please don’t tell my father that I ate your food,” the boy begged with a desperate face. This made Khemjira feel both hurt and angry, but he nodded in agreement.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ6yjEodZN
"Okay, I won't."
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf8gteXS3q
That night, after Khemjira reported the situation to the landlord, police raided the premises and arrested the man next door, who was drunk and beating his son.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5ObbVDgvW
Upon questioning, it was revealed that the boy was the son of the man's girlfriend, who had died in an accident a month earlier. The man was now burdened with a
huge debt. With his girlfriend dead, there was no one to help pay it off, leaving him with the responsibility and stress that he took out on the boy.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pQpu24rRV
Khemjira did not know what kind of punishment the man had received. He only knew that the boy was now safely in the care of his maternal relatives.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMhxsatDjI
I hoped he could live a happy life.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLplw8kexa
Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard a whisper in his ear. But because he was too sleepy, he didn't open his eyes.
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sw0dLfkaN
"Thanks."
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZLeLvZuSY
"...."
941Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAajRl0uYM
"And be careful."
ns18.116.21.127da2
