I sat there, sipping my coffee while enjoyably watching Nam Nuea serve customers at the counter. He wasn't exactly "handsome" in a traditional way. His skin wasn't dark, but not super fair either. But when he smiled and showed those fangs, he looked incredibly cute. His quick, energetic movements and cheerful attitude kept me staring without even realizing it. My heart practically melted every time he smiled and showed off those charming fangs.
To be honest, it's not weird to like someone cute. But the weird part was that the cute person I was checking out happened to be a guy. I've never liked guys before—the thought had never even crossed my mind for a split second. But suddenly, here I was, falling for a guy with fangs. If my friends found out, they'd probably laugh their heads off. And who could blame them? My "dream girl" had turned into her complete opposite. The image of that girl from years ago was almost fading from my memory, replaced entirely by Nam Nuea's charming fangs right in front of me.
I looked away from Nam Nuea, used a knife to cut my bread into bite-sized pieces, and took a bite. After a few mouthfuls, I looked for him again, but he wasn't at the counter anymore. Someone else had taken his place.
I craned my neck to look for him for a bit before giving up. I turned back to finish my coffee and my favorite French-style bread. A moment later, I heard a loud commotion from the table next to me. It sounded like a woman who was clearly unhappy about something.
"Are you blind?! Can't you see I'm sitting right here? This is a trash bag! How could you let it touch a customer? Gross!"
"I am very sorry, ma'am," Nam Nuea apologized.
"I don't accept apologies from uneducated people doing low-level jobs like this! Where is the manager? If you don't want to get into real trouble, go call your manager out here right now!"
Her screaming echoed through the entire shop. Everyone turned to look at the same time, including me. When I looked over, I saw Nam Nuea. His face was pale with fear. He was holding what looked like a trash bag; he was probably on his way to take it out.
"Go call the manager! Why are you just standing there acting stupid?!"
Her harsh shouting made my "charming fangs" guy look so pale and scared that I felt really sorry for him. I've been coming to this coffee shop for years, and this was the first time I'd ever seen something like this happen. I couldn't believe that someone who looked so well-dressed and educated would dare to insult another person so badly in public.
"Yes, ma'am... I'll go call the manager for you right now," Nam Nuea said.
Before he headed inside to get the manager, our eyes happened to meet for a split second. In that short moment, I saw the sadness in his eyes. I gave him a gentle, sympathetic smile. He must have been so embarrassed to be insulted like that in public by a total stranger.
Soon, the store manager came out to meet the two middle-aged women with a worried look on his face.
"How do you even train your staff? He's so rude and unprofessional! We were sitting right here, but he wasn't careful at all. That was a trash bag! It should never come near a customer!"
The woman showed no signs of calming down. The young manager's face turned pale as he took the heat as well.
"We are truly sorry, ma'am. He's a new employee."
"Doesn't this shop train people before they start? Such a simple thing shouldn't have happened. If the service is this bad, we're never coming back here again!"
Those two women took turns yelling at the young manager for a long time before storming out of the shop in a bad mood. Soon, the shop returned to normal, but Nam Nuea was nowhere to be seen. He was probably getting a lecture from the manager in the back.
I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. I wondered if this was serious enough for him to get fired or if it would affect his probation. But then again... why was I so worried about a stranger? I didn't even know who he was. Yet, I couldn't stop thinking about the sad look in Nam Nuea's eyes. He must have been so shaken up. I just hoped he would still be there so I could see him again. Stay strong, Nam Nuea. This will pass.
After finishing my coffee, I walked back to my condo. It took less than five minutes since my condo is very close—just a short walk to the main road and I'm already at my favorite cafe.
Once I got back inside the building, I still couldn't stop thinking about the poor "charming fangs" guy. If I were him, I would have been so embarrassed that I'd want to disappear into the ground. I might have even handed in my resignation the very next day. Those two women were really too much.
Instead of going to my room, I headed up to the parking garage. Soon, I was driving out in my favorite white BMW. Whenever I'm feeling down or need someone to talk to, I usually go to see one of my best friends. I wasn't sure if he was at his condo or not, but I usually show up with less than thirty minutes' notice. My friend never complains, though. He even lets me crash in his room and hang out there all day.
When I arrived at his place, I threw myself onto the sofa like I always do and grabbed a pillow to hug. My friend walked over and sat down, smiling at me. He was probably amused by how I acted like I owned the place.
"It's a good thing I don't have any plans today," Nut said.
"Well, I come to see you like this all the time anyway, and you're always here."
"So, aren't you doing anything today?"
"Nah. Actually, I have something I want to talk to you about, Nut."
My friend's name is Nut. We actually have the same nickname, but I don't like using mine. I prefer to just call him Nut.
"What is it now? Don't tell me it's about that 'girl with fangs' again," Nut said, reading my mind. "I've seen you obsessed with this since 9th grade and you haven't found a single soul. I think your luck just doesn't work with fanged people, Typhoon. Just find a normal girlfriend already. Why stay lonely for so long?"
"I think I found her," I said, suddenly sitting up. Nut looked totally shocked.
"For real?!"
I nodded but kept a troubled look on my face. "Yeah... I think so."
"Then why the long face? Aren't you happy you finally found her? You've been searching for ten years, man!"
"I mean, I'm happy, but... I don't know how to tell you."
"Why? Does she have fangs but is missing other teeth?" Nut joked and laughed.
"No, it's not like that. Look, let me ask you something." I paused, not knowing how to start. "Nut... you've known me for a long time, right?"
"Yeah," Nut nodded, tilting his head in curiosity.
"And have you ever seen me... how should I say this?"
I tried to find the right words, but I felt even more nervous because I was afraid of shocking him. But since I had already dragged myself all the way here, I wasn't going to let my gas money go to waste.
"Look, when you're with me... have you ever felt like I was acting weird?"
Nut frowned. "What do you mean, Typhoon? I don't see anything weird about you at all."
"Really? Not weird at all?"
Nut shook his head, but I still didn't quite believe him.
"Okay... this is really hard to say. Have you ever seen me do anything that's... you know... not like what other guys do?"
I finally held my breath and asked. Nut practically jumped out of his seat, looking as shocked as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Whoa! Why are you asking me something like that, Typhoon?!"
"Just answer me first," I said, frowning as I set the pillow down beside me.
"Well, no. You look just like any other normal guy."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," Nut confirmed.
I let out a sigh and looked stressed. After thinking it over, I knew I just had to tell my best friend the truth.
"It's just... the reason I'm asking you this is... I'm only telling you, okay? Don't tell anyone else. You're the friend I trust the most, Nut. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here talking to you about this."
"Yeah, yeah. I've never stabbed you in the back, Typhoon. But what is it? Why do you look so worried?"
"How can I not be stressed? Today... I went to the coffee shop near my place and met a new employee."
"Was it a girl with fangs?!" Nut asked excitedly.
"No."
"Wait, what?"
I hesitated. Even though I wanted to tell him straight out, I was still afraid that my friend might not understand.
"If it's not a girl... then it must be a guy!"
I was totally stunned that Nut guessed it right, but in the end, I gave a shy nod.
"A guy with fangs?" Nut asked to make sure.
I nodded again. Honestly, it was pretty embarrassing having my best friend find out about this.
"I think... I might actually like this new employee."
"You like a guy?!" Nut shouted, his eyes wide in shock.
"Hey! Why the hell are you shouting?" I snapped at him, but not seriously.
"Typhoon, are you sure about this?" Nut asked with a skeptical look.
"I don't know, man. But my heart was racing when I saw him. When I was in line for coffee and he asked for my order, I didn't even hear him. I was so dazed that the person behind me had to tap my shoulder! I was staring at him that hard. What else am I supposed to think? Plus, while I was sitting there drinking my coffee, I couldn't keep my eyes off him."
"For real, Typhoon? You've got it that bad?" Nut looked like he couldn't believe it.
"Yeah! Why would I lie to you about this?"
I looked stressed and stared at my friend's stunned face nervously before deciding to ask another question.
"Nut... would you be okay with it if I... actually liked a guy? Not you, though! Don't worry."
I quickly cleared that up before he started getting suspicious of me. My best friend went quiet, thinking hard for a moment, before he finally smirked.
"Of course I'm okay with it. It's not like you're hitting on me."
"It's that easy for you?" I raised an eyebrow.
Nut nodded. "Yeah. Why should I overthink it? I'm not the one who likes guys."
"You jerk," I joked, then continued. "But I've never liked a guy before, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. So... are you going to hit on him?"
"I don't know. Probably. I mean... his face is just floating around in my head right now."
"And do you even know how to hit on a guy?"
I froze instantly and shook my head. "Nope! I've never even hit on a girl before, how would I know how to hit on a guy?"
"Don't tell me you came here today to ask me for advice on how to pick up a guy."
Nut saw right through me. I nodded shyly. "Yeah..."
"You're crazy! I've never hit on a guy either. I have no idea how to do it!"
"Then do you know anyone who does?"
Nut thought for a bit before an idea popped up. "I have two or three gay friends—at least the ones who are out. I don't know about the ones who are still in the closet."
I flinched a little, worried I might be one of those "closeted" friends.
"That's perfect!" I said excitedly. "Can you set up a meeting? I want to ask them for advice."
"Today?" Nut was shocked that I was being this impatient.
"Yeah, today! I'll buy dinner for everyone. My treat. I really want to win this guy over. It's not often I find someone I like this much. Help me out, man. Don't you want to see me finally have a boyfriend?"
"You've got it bad, man. Fine, fine. Let me try calling them first. If they're not free today, can it be another day?"
"As soon as possible," I said firmly.
Nut picked up his phone and called his friend. They talked for a while, then he hung up and gave me a big grin.
"He's free this evening! Which restaurant are you thinking of? I'll call him back and let him know," Nut said.
"You're the best, man!" I shouted in excitement, almost jumping to hug him.
"You're overreacting, Typhoon. Is it that big of a deal? Do you really want to hit on a guy that badly?"
I gave a shy, awkward laugh. I didn't realize I'd lose my cool this much. "Yeah... I guess so."
It felt like there was no turning back for me now. I'd never had it this bad before. Still, I couldn't help but wonder: between a girl with fangs and a guy with fangs, who would actually make my heart race faster?!
I spent the evening talking to Nut's friend until 9 PM. I got a lot of great advice, and we talked for so long that the mall almost closed. I got back to my condo around 10 PM, only to find that it was pouring rain the second I turned into my street. The seasons in our country are getting really weird lately—it's supposed to be winter, but it's raining like there's a storm coming.
As I got out of my car and was about to head up to my room as usual, I suddenly thought of Nam Nuea for no reason. So, I grabbed an umbrella from my car, took the elevator back down to the lobby, and walked out toward the main road.
Soon, I arrived at my favorite famous coffee shop. The shop usually closes at 8 PM, but it probably takes the staff much longer to clear everything and finish cleaning up.
The rain had slowed down a bit, but it was still coming down pretty hard. The wet sidewalk reflected the colorful city lights, making them sparkle. There weren't many people out; everyone was either rushing home or looking for a place to hide from the rain. It was a struggle for them since most people hadn't brought umbrellas, probably because no one expected it to rain tonight.
I looked around for the person I wanted to see, but I didn't see him. The lights inside the shop were all out—the staff had likely all gone home. Knowing there was no hope, I decided to head back, but then my eyes caught a dark shadow not too far away.
I squinted at the figure standing under a large green outdoor umbrella meant for customers who like to sit outside. Once I realized it was the person I was looking for, I smiled happily and quickly walked toward him, calling out his name.
"Nam Nuea, you're not home yet?"
He turned to look at me with a surprised face, then gave me a small, shy smile. I wasn't sure if he was nervous because he saw me as a high-end customer or not.
"I'm waiting for the rain to stop," he replied. "I didn't bring an umbrella. I never thought it would rain tonight."
"Oh, where are you headed? Want me to walk you there? I have an umbrella," I offered.
Looking at his sad face reminded me of what happened earlier today. I really wanted to comfort him, even though we were practically strangers.
"That's okay. The rain will stop soon."
"Don't be shy. How do you usually get home?" I asked, raising my voice to compete with the sound of the rain.
Nam Nuea still looked nervous. Usually, the people who visit the cafes in this street are wealthy or have high salaries, while the staff are just ordinary people. It wasn't strange that he felt a distance between us.
"By bus," Nam Nuea finally answered.
"Then let me walk you to the bus stop."
"It's really okay, Khun Typhoon."
I couldn't help but smile, happy that he remembered my name. It meant that I must have done something important enough for him to notice.
"Come on, don't worry about it. It's late; you should get home and rest. You have to work again tomorrow."
Since I insisted, Nam Nuea finally nodded in agreement, though he still looked a bit hesitant.
As he stepped under my umbrella, my heart started racing. Anyone who saw my face and my smile right now could easily guess how I felt about the person standing next to me.
While we walked to the bus stop, which was a few hundred meters away, I started a conversation.
"Where are your coworkers? Did they all go home? Why are you the only one left?"
"They've all gone home."
"Oh? Then why are you leaving later than everyone else?"
Nam Nuea let out a soft, dry laugh. "It's because of what happened this morning. I was punished and told to take out the trash by myself all day. That's why I'm the last one to leave."
I stopped walking and looked at him with sympathy. Even though I've never struggled like that, today's incident made me understand how hard life can be for someone with fewer opportunities. It's not just about the hard work, but also about being insulted by narrow-minded people.
"Those two women were terrible. It was such a small thing; they didn't need to make a big deal out of it. Is your manager very angry?"
Nam Nuea gave a sad smile and another dry laugh. "He was pretty upset. I don't even know if I'll pass my probation."
"Hang in there, Nam Nuea."
I gave him an encouraging smile. We weren't close enough for me to say much more. Nam Nuea nodded and smiled back, revealing those charming fangs that made my heart race so fast I almost forgot to breathe.
"Have you been working here long? Probably not, right? I come here often but only saw you for the first time today."
I walked slowly, trying to stall for as much time as possible.
"Just a week. I wanted to be a barista, so I applied. But in reality, I don't just make coffee. Sometimes I have to help with other things—like taking out the trash."
I nodded understandingly.
"And you, Khun Typhoon? Do you live around here?" Nam Nuea asked me back.
"Yes, my condo is just down this street. It's less than a five-minute walk."
"Whoa... a condo around here?" Nam Nuea's eyes went wide. "I heard they cost tens of millions!"
I nodded and laughed softly. "Don't worry about that. What about you? Where do you stay?"
"An apartment in the Lat Phrao area. But... the rent is only a few thousand baht."
"Does the subway go there? Why don't you take the MRT? It's faster."
"It's expensive," he said.
Hearing that made me pause for a second.
"Oh."
I realized it must be expensive for someone with his income, even though it felt very cheap to me—I even use it more often than my car.
As we reached the bus stop, his bus arrived exactly as if we had planned it.
"Take the umbrella with you, Nam Nuea."
"No, it's okay, Khun Typhoon," he said politely.
I grabbed his hand and pressed the white umbrella into it. Before he could refuse, I started jogging away and turned back to wave.
"Just return it to me later! See you, Nam Nuea!" I shouted, just loud enough for him to hear.
Nam Nuea stood there looking confused, but he didn't have much time to think before he had to hop onto the bus before it pulled away. Otherwise, he would have had to wait a long time for the next one.
I stood and watched the bus slowly drive off. The guy with the charming fangs turned and saw me. He gave me a shy smile, which made me smile back without even realizing it. We waved to each other for a brief moment until the bus disappeared into the rain.
I'll leave my umbrella as a token of my love for now, Nam Nuea. I'll be back to get it—and you—later!