A young Thai man in the local 7-11 serves me almost every day, when I order cigarettes.
I buy them not for myself, but for the boyfriend.
Sometimes young women serve me. The staff know what kind of cigarettes I buy, so I do not need to mention them by name any more.
'The cool ones,' said the young man yesterday, meaning a menthol brand.
'They are not for me,' I added. I don't want people thinking I smoke when I do not.
A brief conversation followed.
'Do you smoke?' I asked.
He looked embarrassed, as I was asking him a personal question, but quickly recovered his poise.
'No - I am too scared of what could happen!' he said animatedly, pointing to the pictures published on cigarette packets, of various smoking-related cancers.
I don't know the young man's name, but he lives in the area. On his days off, I see him walking about with a young woman.
He has a broad Esan-style face, but pale complexion and bright pink lips, which makes me think he might have Bangkok blood in him after all.
While easily excited (hormones, I suspect), my young 7-11 friend is gripped by bouts of shyness, so I keep a respectful distance.
Today I returned to the 7-11.
'That's a packet a day!' he exclaimed.
'Yes...too much,' I said.
He plucked up the courage to ask me about my life.
'Where are you from?' he asked.
'How long have you lived here?'
'Who asks you to buy the cigarettes?'
I dodged the last question. Just as I don't want people thinking I smoke, I am not keen on them knowing I have a boyfriend either.
'Where are you from?' he asked.
'How long have you lived here?'
'Who asks you to buy the cigarettes?'
I dodged the last question. Just as I don't want people thinking I smoke, I am not keen on them knowing I have a boyfriend either.
The girls know who sends me on these trips to the 7-11. Boyfriend Maiyuu visits the same branch, and orders the same brand of cigarettes for himself when I am not around to buy them for him.
They must have figured out that we live together. Girls just know these things.
I suspect the young man knows I like men too, but I don't care. We can play a cat and mouse game of pretending to chase each other. Some Thai guys like to be admired, even when they are straight.
Next time, I might have to ask him his name. He has started asking me about my life, so why not?
now, see part 2
I suspect the young man knows I like men too, but I don't care. We can play a cat and mouse game of pretending to chase each other. Some Thai guys like to be admired, even when they are straight.
Next time, I might have to ask him his name. He has started asking me about my life, so why not?
now, see part 2
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