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Home alone

Part 8

The "stealing" incident and problems with both Daniel and Kongpob had me seriously think about the inconveniences of staying with others. I suddenly felt an urge to see if the repairs on our house has already been completed, so we could move out as soon as possible.

After my lessons were over, May and Aya both accompanied me as they lived near my previous home. I was expecting to see builders, trucks and tractors buzzing all around the place, working on a nearly completed new building. To our surprise, the place was strangely silent — there was not a single construction worker around.

What made it worse was that the repair was obviously at most half done. The entire roof was still missing and only the wooden frames could be seen. I swallowed hard to get rid of the lump that rose in my throat at the sad sight of my previously loved home.

It would be a while before we could move back in here again.

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"Papa, why is the repair on our house not completed yet?" The question popped out of my mouth during dinner. "Do you know that there are no workers around at all? The roof is completely missing!" My voice grew in volume as I was starting to get a bit upset.

"I promise you I'll call up the engineer and find out what's happening, okay?" Dad said soothingly as he stroked my head gently. I nodded, pouting slightly. I was quite sure I saw Daniel glowing with happiness at the chance of us leaving soon.

"Please do so."

"Kongpob, how was your tennis practice?" Dad turned to Kongpob instead. I could tell that he was trying to change the subject and I understood why when I turned to look at Mrs Suthiluck. She was looking a bit upset at the hint that we might be leaving soon.

"It was fine," Kongpob answered politely.

After dinner, Kongpob's father and my Dad quickly got ready to leave the house. Apparently they were having a class reunion. Mrs Suthiluck was also supposed to go, but she decided not to so that she could look after us. Auntie, Daniel and myself went to send them off. Kongpob had turned back to answer the phone that was ringing persistently.

"Mum," for once there was an almost anxious tone in Kongpob's voice when he joined us after Mr Kongpob and Dad had driven off. "Grandma is sick and she needs you to go look after her." For a moment, the panic on Auntie's face was evident.

"Oh dear, your Dad has gone off already. What should I do?"

"Look mum, why don't you go and pack whatever you need. I'll get a cab for you." Kongpob said with just the slightest trace of impatience and she seemed to snap of her daze.

"Yes, please do that. Daniel, you're coming with me too."

"Mum! I don't want to!" Ignoring his protests, she swept into their rooms and finished packing their clothes in record time. When the taxi drove up to the house, she and Daniel were already dressed in their traveling clothes and we helped to put the luggage into the boot. Taking no notice of Daniel's sulks, she pulled him out of the door. Then she paused as she looked back at both of us.

"I trust that you two will behave by yourselves eh? Don't get into too much hanky panky!" She added with a wink and there was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she looked at both of us. "Arthit, ganbette (good luck!)."

I flushed bright red at her words and although I didn't even dare to glance in Kongpob Suthiluck's direction, I'm sure he was just as embarrassed as I was. You could actually hear the exasperation in his voice.

"MUM! How can you be thinking of such things at this point in time! Just go. I hope grandma will be better soon..."

Then they finally left. I started feeling very uncomfortable at being alone with Kongpob Suthiluck when we walked in and he locked the door behind us.

"I... I'll go and start preparing dinner," I stammered a little and thankfully escaped into the kitchen when he only nodded.

Standing in the middle of the sparkling kitchen, I rolled up my sleeves and flexed my fingers in determination. Yeeeeesssssh! Finally, I am given an opportunity to impress Kongpob Suthiluck with my cooking skills and I aim to do so by preparing a wonderful dinner.

A huge grin appeared on my face as I opened the fridge with determination.

However, a few hours later I was in complete despair and about to cry — for the fourth time, I had burned the saucepan with the vegetables that had now turned black. I quickly dropped the hot pot into the sink, almost burning my hand in the process. Unfortunately, I had forgotten about the potatoes baking (or should I say turning into charcoal) in the oven. By the time I remembered and rushed to open door of the oven, they were beyond hope and black puffs of smoke drifted into the kitchen as I started coughing.

"What on earth are you doing???"

Through the smoke, I could see vaguely see Kongpob Suthiluck's tall figure standing at the door. He quickly ran to the stove and turned off the fire — apparently the sauce was getting burnt as well. Then he opened all the windows and the door, letting the smoke out of the kitchen, so that the fire alarm wouldn't go off. He looked around the messy kitchen and a frown ceased his forehead.

"What were you trying to cook?" He finally turned to me with a sigh, it was obvious that he had labeled me as a hopeless case. I showed him the recipe meekly. His eyes ran down the page rapidly before turning to me with a slightly surprised look.

"Doesn't look too difficult," he gestured me aside and started taking over the cooking. I watched in amazement as he scraped the remains of the burnt food on the pan and threw my mess into the rubbish bin, Within moments he was busy chopping onions, slicing meat, beating up the eggs and dicing the vegetables skillfully.

Even more impressively, he was doing several things at the same time and he didn't even have to look at the recipe!

He really is the best in everything!!!

Soon, he was frying the onions with the meat and eggs, tossing the completed mouth-watering product onto two plates, sampling the soup and adding additional seasonings. In no time, the meal was cooked and ready to be eaten.

I was in total awe — frankly the only help that I contributed was washing up the mess I'd made before and helping to set the tables. Instead of impressing him, I ended up being the one getting impressed and falling (alas!) more deeply for him than ever.

We sat down behind the table, started eating and the food was just as delicious as it looked. I snuck a glance at him as he just sat there and ate slowly without talking. I felt that the silence was a bit awkward and decided to be conversational.

"This is simply delicious!" I beamed at him. He looked at me coolly.

"I've never met a person who can't cook. Especially since your dad is a chef," he actually looked amused as he stared at me. However, I must say that I didn't find it all too amusing. Better change the subject fast.

"So...Did you receive a lot of homework for the holidays?"

"I finished it all yesterday." Yesterday? Already? But...but holidays only started yesterday. That means he actually finished all his homework within one day!

O_O I gaped at him in shock.

"I haven't touched mine yet." I couldn't help but mutter with regret. Then a bright idea struck me as I glanced at him. "Can you help me with mine?"

"I don't feel like it," he said coolly as he finished his last bit of rice and simply left. Fine! I was fuming as I cleaned up the kitchen and washed the plates.

I'll show him that I don't need his help to do my homework!

Brave words, but I was forced to eat them hours later when I was still struggling with the questions at 4am. I need his help...

This was my last thought when I finally fell asleep as the new day begun.

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There were dark circles around my eyes when I walked into the dining room afternoon the next day. Kongpob Suthiluck had already prepared lunch without even asking me to help. I guessed that he had totally given up after seeing my disastrous attempts yesterday. I sat opposite him.

"Hi." He just nodded at me, so I decided to come straight to the point. "I was trying to do my homework yesterday and I'm having a lot of problems. Could you help me with it... please?" I looked at him pleading.

"I can't, I meeting my friends for a tennis practice in about half an hour. I have to get going."

I huffed disappointingly as I watched him left the house.

Then, a great idea struck me!

I would simply "borrow" Kongpob Suthiluck's homework!

Hahaha yes, that's the plan!

I tiptoed into his room and started looking through his study table.

Suddenly, I came across a diary and flipped open, noting that it was Daniel's. Although I knew it was wrong, I couldn't help but start to read it. When I came across several highly untrue and unflattering descriptions of myself, I started to fume. How could he insult me consistently and repeatedly call me a slobbering idiot?

I banged his diary shut and threw it back into the drawer. Well, it's true that eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves — I mean I'm not eavesdropping but in a way I'm prying and I guess the same theory applies to...

Bingo!

My search finally paid off as I found Kongpob Suthiluck's notebook. I opened and saw the answers written methodologically in his neat handwriting.

With a much lightened heart, I was about to walk out of the door when I suddenly found myself looking at a familiar good-looking face that made my heart race. I grinned a bit sheepishly as I froze for a second, before trying to slither past Kongpob standing in the doorway.

As I was about to pass him, I felt his hand grab mine as he pulled me back into his room in one swift movement. I gasped as I dropped his notebook. His large hand was surprisingly warm around mine. I had expected that it would have been as cold as he always appeared to be.

"So what are you doing in my room? Do you miss me that much?"

I looked at him stunned. He seemed to be enjoying himself, his lips were twisted into a smirk. My heart was beating very fast at his proximity. I could feel his warm breath on my face.

"Or did you want to spend the night with me?"

My jaw dropped, then I glanced at his window — twilight had indeed fallen. I started blushing and stammering.

"I...I er...I really like you...Kongpob Suthiluck, but ... but this is really ... really too fast!" I somehow managed to get the words out, but my heart was beating wildly against my chest and I felt like I was about to pass out.

The next thing I knew, I heard him laughing heartily as he let me go and stepped away. That arrogant idiot was only making fun of me!

I stormed out of his room in a huff.

"Hey." I stopped in my tracks when he called for me.

"Yes?" I said stiffly, not turning around.

"You don't want my notebook?" He bent to pick up the book that I had dropped when he pulled me back by my hand again.

"No," my answer was short and cold yet my cheeks were red and warm.

Damn Kongpob Suthiluck!

Damn you...

"Okay then," he said coolly and let me go.

With an inward sigh, I swallowed my pride the best I could and turned to face him with a bright smile on my face.

"Could you teach me please? Pleeeeease?"

Finally, he nodded and I felt my heart leap in my chest.

"Seeing that you are so hopeless..."

Before he could finish his sentence, I jumped in delight and pulled him into my room where he resumed the familiar role of being my tutor again.

So instead of getting to any hanky-panky as Mrs Suthiluck had hoped, we actually spent most of the night studying together.

Still, it was enough to make me feel all giddy and warm inside to match the heat in my cheeks.

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