Helping hand (2, final)

'Why are you single now?' I asked the young Vietnamese.

'I can barely earn enough to look after myself. I can't look after a woman as well. I have nothing to offer her,' said Kai.

Kai is not gay, nor looks it. But he needs money, like anyone else. That's why he was showing an interest in me.

His male Vietnamese friend, Nam Kaeng, has been here about a month, though this is his second visit. He was last here three years ago.

Nam Plao, the girl, has lived in Thailand about a year. All speak good Thai, which they say they learnt from friends.

'Why are you still here if you earn so little?' I asked Kai.

Kai says he wants to go back to Vietnam. He was trying to save the B6000 fare, but it was hard.

That's when he asked me if I would like to travel to Vietnam with him.

I did not reply. Kai turned to Pao, and mouthed the words, 'It won't work.'

Naughty Pao had probably suggested that Kai try chatting me up, to see if I would help with the return fare.

I am not made of money. I had just bought the group a bottle of whisky, and before the night ended, gave Pao B1000 to buy himself new shoes and clothes.

'I saw that...that's not a nice thing to do,' I said to Kai, crossly.

'How can you carry on like that in front of me, and think I won't understand?'

Kai looked unhappy, and apologised. He went to another part of the restaurant and sulked for 10 minutes.

When he came back we chatted some more. Then his Vietnamese friends declared it was time to go home to bed.

As they prepared to leave, Kai asked if I have a cellphone number.

'I do have a cellphone,' I said, without giving the number.

'Will you be here tomorrow?' he asked.

'No. I'll be here next week. I'll see you then.'

We said our goodbyes.

Now there were just three: me, Pao, and the cook at the eatery where he works.

The day before, I had suggested to Lek, the cook, that I entrust to him the money that I wanted to give Pao for new clothes. Then the two lads could go shopping.

Lek is older, so I thought he would be safe with the money.

However, when he saw me pull B1000 out of my wallet, his mood changed.

'Can I have money to fix my cellphone?' he asked.

'No. I've just met you,' I said.

Pao jumped in.

'That's right - we've known each other about a year now,' he said.

Lek looked miserable, and asked me another half dozen times.

I gave up on the idea of entrusting the money to the cook. I gave Pao the money directly, then went home.

Now I know why I do not live close to Mum's shop. I would never have any money if I did.