Today is a hot day. The heat burns almost every particle inside the small eatery at the outskirts of the town. The Sun shines so bright that it almost blinds the eyes.
"Fan, Table 1!"
"Coming!" Fan replies with a chime in her voice. She hops from her spot to Table 1, only to spot a man in a green polo T-shirt waiting for her with a wide smile stamped on his face.
"Uncle Pran! Hi! Long time no see..."
"Yeah. I was away for a while..."
"Usual, eh?" Fan scribbles something on a paper cube. "What about your... friend?" The pen points at the man who sits next to Pran.
"Same," he replies shortly.
Okay, he's not that friendly! The fan squirms a bit before continuing with the order.
"For Uncle Pran..." she passes the note to the kitchen crew.
"Eh, he's here today?" Misaku comes out of the kitchen in a hurry. She bats her lashes, watching the elderly from afar with her flowery heart.
"Ah... yeah... he told me he's away for a while..."
"Why don't you ask him where he went, huh?"
"Like my business anyway! Go ask yourself!"
Misaku fans her hot face. "Can't do that! I'm so shy!"
Fan smirks before she slaps on Misaku's rear. The middle-aged woman jolts in shock before she swats Fan with the back of her hand. Fan yeets out of there after she sticks out her tongue at Misaku; teasing her boss for her eccentric action.
That's how close Fan and Misaku are. Four years ago, the younger met Misaku while a group of stray dogs was chasing her. She hid herself in Misaku's eatery, while watching the woman ponder alone. During that time, Misaku had just gotten divorced and lacked the motivation to continue her business. With some praise from Fan after tasting some of her food, Misaku finally got back on her feet and decided to hire Fan as her assistant.
"It's ready, Uncle Pran..." Fan carefully places the food in front of Pran—just a smile pad khra pao with white rice and sunny side egg. But, that alone can make Pran smile all day. Sometimes, Fan is eager to ask; what's so special about the food anyway?
"Taste just like usual; not too salty, not too oily, not too sweet. Just nice!" Pran praises the food. Fan nods with a smile—she has to deliver this praise to Misaku at once and watch the woman float like a balloon.
"Did you enjoy the food, sir?" The fan asks the man who sits next to Pran. He nods humbly, but is still wearing his resting bitch face.
Well, if you say so! Fan dismisses herself to give room for her customers to eat.
***
As the late night arrived, Fan closed the shutter door of the shop. Misaku left early today, as she had to attend her niece's wedding. So, Fan casually leaves the shop as it is without any bugging by the chatterbox Misaku.
Fan starts her bike after having some thoughts on where she should have her supper today.
"Whoa!" Fan presses the brake when a car swiftly—and rudely—stops right in front of her.
"Ai shia! Who is this idiot!" Fan unbuckles her helmet, taking it off as she walks towards the black car. Her steps gradually stop when a man comes out of the car.
So, this is the idiot...
"Oi, are you blind or what? Can you see I'm coming from this direction? Why did you park your car here, ai kwaii!"
The man stunts and halts. He stands in his spot, wearing the most annoying face ever seen by Fan. With a cocky face—head up, and a hand in his black leather pants—his eyes lurk at Fan in a sinister way.
"Tsk! Crazy girl!"
"Alaiwa? Crazy?" Fan can't stop the fury inside her. She stomps her feet towards the man, face all red. "You're the stupid one! Can't even read the road properly! How did you get your license, eh? Did you bribe the driving school? With that car, I guess my accusation is true!"
"What, did you think all rich people would do that?"
"Yes. Definitely. That's your kind."
"Judgmental. As expected from a low-class girl like you..."
Fan pokes her cheek with her tongue. "Look. At least we work hard and sincerely about our lives. Not like you! You see, I met a lot of sutt like you; almost every day! Well, except for Uncle Pran..."
The man squints his eyes.
"Uncle... Pran?"
"Yes. He's my close friend. A regular customer. He is way richer than you! But, he chose our place rather than some high-class restaurants. That's the kind of rich man that I respect with all my heart..." Fan eyed the man up and down. "Compared to you... Well, I guess earning by working is different than having rich parents!"
The man shuts his eyes, as if he wants to vent out but he can't. Slowly, he takes a deep breath.
"Are you done?"
Fan takes aback by the question. "Huh?"
The man suddenly grabs her wrist and pulls her stubbornly towards his car. No matter how much Fan resists, the man simply tosses her inside, pulls the safety buckle, and... just practically confines her.
"Are you crazy?"
"Stay still and hush."
Fan's gut churns when the man gives her a sharp glare. It's the sharpest and most dangerous look Fan has ever seen in her life. The way those black pupils stare down at her makes her heart almost zapped, like having cardiac arrest.
The car swiftly slices through the chilly night. Both of them stay silent and on guard. Fan can't help but feeling as if she got kidnapped. A lot of scenarios play up in her mind.
Should I make an emergency call to Misaku? Or, perhaps call the police? He might kill me if I dared to do that!
As the car stops right in front of a huge, white building, Fan is still in a daze and full of thoughts.
"Out," the man commands her. But, Fan is still in fear. That feeling blocks away everything, even the husky voice that rings inside her ears.
The man sighs, again. He then snaps his finger right in front of her.
"Please don't kill me—!"
"I will kill you if you're not get out of my car!" the man growls in anger. Fan quickly unbuckles her seat, opens the door and hop out.
"Wait. Is this... a hospital?"
The man—already outside the car—answers her with a simple nod. He scribbles something on a piece of a small paper and hands it to Fan.
"VIP Suites 3..."
Fan takes the paper, even if she feels hesitant.
"Wait. This is really a hospital, right? Not some kind of con... building. I'm telling you, if you're having a malice, I'll burn the whole building. Seriously..."
"You do talk a lot, don't you?" the man gushes. He shakes his head faintly, before gets back into the car and drives away, leaving Fan in confused.
"Rude!" Fan curses under her breath.