Maiyuu came home about 7pm, after more than 24 hours away. I saw him briefly the day before, before he went out again. I don't know where he slept, but he did not come home, that night or the night before.
We argued about his repeated absences. How could he call himself a boyfriend, when he was hardly ever around?
Maiyuu said he was too tired to listen.
That night, I was planning to visit Muss, but the argument left me in such a sour mood that I went to Mum's shop in Thon Buri to drink with foreigner friends instead.
From my drinking spot, I sent young Muss a message.
'What are you doing?' I asked.
'Watching TV,' he replied.
In an earlier message, he told me that he was free to see me. But a visit to his place no longer held out much appeal. In another day or so, his life will have returned to normal. If I helped him with his rent - or even if I didn't - I probably wouldn't hear from him again for months.
The New Year festival frees people from their usual work commitments. Suddenly they have time to see you. However, after a few days the window closes again, and life goes back to normal.
People get on with the daily struggle. Gone is the romance and mystery, which you entertained together over the long, care-free nights of Christmas and New Year. The season of giving is over, and the Christmas spirit quickly ebbs away.
My young friends are as pretty as the baubles on any Christmas tree. When they pop up at my drinking haunt, I am always happy to see them.
Does the shimmer on those baubles ever fade? Of course it does. It would be unfair to expect them always to glitter.
We are both lucky our meetings do not last long. If we knew each other better, we might just get bored.
Ultimately the bonds of friendship - sharing the daily grind of each other's lives - matter far more. Most of my young Thai friends have known each other since childhood. I am a recent arrival – and foreign, too.
If I gave money to Muss, I would have to put the fledgling bonds of our friendship to the test - which might even be a good thing, as I would see what kind of man he really was. However, it could also be an expensive lesson. Much easier, in that case, just to say no.
My first loyalty is to Maiyuu, even if he is rarely at home.
For better or worse, I have decided to spend my life with him, not these other people. When he is not around, the balance in my life is upset.
I sent Muss a message, declining to lend him money. I did not hear from him again.
Thais like to call it a loan because this saves face for them. But I don't like to call it a loan because this implies the money will be paid back, and when it isn't paid back things turn sour.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to break this to me gently - does this mean you think the 'loan' will not get repaid? My sortie into money lending might be shortlived indeed!
ReplyDeleteYou can be sure that Thais who often need to borrow money don't often repay it. You seem to be loaning it awfully freely. Take care. Your musician friend either is lying about his salary or he has bad habits. And what are you doing supporting a "group of friends?"
ReplyDeleteI think it was a foolish 'season of giving' thing. I am not usually so carefree with my money - and boyfriend Maiyuu is even less likely to give my money away than I am.
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