Page 49 of Friend Ship
Miserably, I say, “Kind of. But not realistically. It’s just…something I haven’t dealt with.” I bite my lip before continuing. “But I wouldn’t feel right saying I’ll be your boyfriend when I haven’t resolved my feelings for the other person. Actually, I’m really just figuring out that I like guys.”
The twinkle returns to P’Wisit’s eyes. “Did I have anything to do with that realization?”
I nod, although it was more Sud than him.
P’Wisit hasn’t let go of my hand.
Trying for a light tone, I say, “Anyway, you don’t want a boyfriend who’s in a boys’ love drama with a shipped partner, do you?”
My attempt at humor misses its mark. Meeting my eyes, P’Wisit says, “Is that who this other person is? Sud? I thought he’s your best friend?”
I wince. “It’s complicated.” Feeling like I owe him an explanation since he’s liked me this long and I’ve been too dumb to see it, I continue, “We’ve known each other since we were kids, and acting in a romance with him is kind of confusing me.”
After a moment, P’Wisit squeezes my hand. “I get it. There are different kinds of love, and sometimes it takes time to sort them out. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stick around and be your friend. Maybe I’ll be lucky and your feelings for me will grow.”
Shocked, I don’t know what to say. I really thought P’Wisit would walk away, but I told him the truth, and he accepted it. There’s no reason we can’t be friends.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I don’t want to lead you on.”
“I’m sure. You may think I’ve dated a lot of people, and you’d be right. But there’s something different about you, Mee Noi. I noticed it the first time I saw you at the freshman orientation.I watched you after that before I finally got up the nerve to approach you.”
Floored that anyone would be afraid to approach me—especially the popular guy sitting beside me—I sit blinking at him a moment in astonishment before finally saying, “I would like us to be friends, P’Wisit.”
He smiles. “Why don’t we keep walking? It’s nice out tonight.”
I agree, but as soon as we stand, I slip my hand from P’Wisit’s grasp, serious about not wanting to lead him on.
Chapter Twenty: Sud
“Ididn’t know Mee Noi is dating P’Wisit.”
“Huh?” Only half-awake after staying up late the night before playing video games online, I stare at Tao uncomprehendingly.
Pouring orange juice into a glass, he repeats, “Mee Noi. I didn’t know he was dating P’Wisit.”
“What makes you think he is?”
Tao takes his glass of juice to the bar and sits down. “I ran into them last night at the movie theater in the mall.”
Slipping onto a stool across from him, I grab a banana out of the bowl on the bar.“They’re friends.”
“They were holding hands.”
I still, banana half-peeled in my hand. “What do you mean?”
Tao frowns. “What doyoumean, what do I mean? You know, holding hands. Like, their hands were clasped as they walked through the lobby, same as mine and Jia’s. Then later, whenwe were leaving, I saw them sitting on a bench. They were still holding hands.”
I’d told Pah I thought Noi might be dating P’Wisit, but deep down, I didn’t really believe it. Our schedule is demanding, so Noi’s with me a lot. He wouldn’t have time to be in a relationship. And would he really date someone without telling me?
Tao misunderstands my silence. “I’m not saying it’s not okay for Mee Noi to be with a guy, if that’s what you’re thinking. I was just surprised it was P’Wisit. I mean, Mee Noi doesn’t exactly put himself out there, and P’Wisit is a really popular guy.”
“Are you trying to say Noi isn’t good enough to date P’Wisit?” I ask sharply.
Tao’s eyes widen. “No. No, I’m not saying that. I guess I just, uh…”
“I have to go.” Standing, I grab my wallet and keys from my room and leave the apartment, ignoring Tao calling after me.
I speedwalk to Mee Noi’s new building. This one is across campus, and it takes longer for me to get there than it did when he lived in the dormitory. The whole way there, my mind fires off questions.
