180. In Duff’s room
- This is a bad time, said Duff. - A really bad time.
The boy standing outside didn’t wait for Duff to invite him in. He just stepped around Duff and entered the room.
- Bia, said Duff. - I have a guest. Could you come visit me some other day please?
Bia didn’t want to hear this. He had stopped in the middle of the room when he saw Noi in the bed. A frosty silence followed. Bia pretended not to notice Noi and Noi avoided looking at Bia.
Noi reached for his clothes and began to dress.
- No, no, said Duff. - Bia is leaving. Right Bia?
Bia said nothing.
- Noi, said Duff. - Please don’t go. I want you to stay.
- Why? said Noi. - You have boy already.
- No, no. It is not what you think, said Duff. - I didn’t know Bia would come. I haven’t invited him. Actually I don’t know what he is here for. And he is going home right now.
Bia did not move.
Noi went past Duff without looking at him. He left the room and slammed the door.
Duff opened the door and shouted:
- Call me tomorrow?
Noi did not reply. Duff only saw the back of the boy as Noi entered the lift.
Duff sat down on the edge of the bed. He sighed deeply.
- And you, my little Miss Trouble. Why are you here? What gives you the right to barge in and ruin my date?
Bia sat down in a chair. He seemed unmoved by Noi’s depature.
- Him no good boy, said Bia.
- I will be the judge of that, said Duff.
- Him low class. Dark skin. Speak no polite.
- Oh please.
- Is true.
- He was in my bed and I was just about to score. And here you come and screw up everything. And you are not even sorry you did it!
- I wan stay room you.
- Oh you do? What makes you think you are welcome?
- I no room sleep.
- No room? What happened to Peter’s apartment?
- Peter no good heart.
- I see. You ran away again? What is it this time?
- Peter no understand Thai people.
- Nobody understands Thai people. And that includes Thai people themselves.
- I angry him. Break up.
- Yea sure whatever. Does Peter know you are here?
- Up to him.
- I have to call him and tell him you are here. He will be worried about you.
- No call.
- If I don’t tell him he might think I am shagging you.
- Him not think same that.
- I don’t want to take any chances. And shagging you is the last thing on my mind anyway.
Bia didn’t like the verbal rejection and went quiet.
Duff picked up the phone and called Peter.
- Guess who is here? said Duff.
- Is he with you? I should have guessed.
- Your boyfriend has an amazing talent for popping up at the worst possible moment.
- That’s true. It is one of the few things he is good at. What is he doing?
- He wants to sleep over. But I am tired of being Bia’s emergency shelter. I am kicking him out.
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