69. Lek’s denial
- Lek my sweet pie, said Larson. The necklace I gave you yesterday is beautiful. I want to hold it in my hand again.
- Tomorrow, said Lek.
- Why tomorrow? I want to see it now, said Larson.
- Tomorrow better.
- I want to hold it, said Larson. Give it to me please.
- No have.
- Where is it?
- Noi have. Him borrow. Only one day. Him give back tomorrow. Sure.
- Tell me the truth, Lek, said Larson and fixed his eyes on Lek.
- Is true, said Lek stubbornly.
- I don’t believe you.
- Is true 200 percent.
- You sold it.
- No no no. No sell. Have. Tomorrow I show you. OK? You not worry.
He is lying, thought Larson. He is lying and that only makes it worse.
Larson noticed that the expensive mobile phone was gone too. Lek had replaced it with an old and well-worn model that Noi had brought.
- Lek, said Larson. I gave you the necklace so you could use it if you were in a traffic accident or some other emergency. You promised to keep it. But you sold it right away. Or your brother sold it. One of you did. Do you know what this means? It means I can’t trust you. You lied.
Lek said nothing. He froze and pretended Larson didn’t exist. Then he left the room.
*
Noi’s head was filled with dreams. What would he do when he became rich? He would buy a big Mercedes Benz. Or maybe a BMW. Benz was for Thai-Chinese men. A BMW was better to impress the ladies with. He would build a house for mother and father in the village. Noi would give them the biggest and best house in the district. They could have servants and air condition. The house would be so big and beautiful that everyone would come to see it. Noi imagined his mother and father on the balcony, waving to the crowds that came to see the house.
Noi wanted to do something for Lek. He would give Lek a car too, and money so Lek could stop going with farang. Noi didn’t like farang. Lek had told him that farang didn’t have good heart and didn’t understand Thai people. It would be better for Lek not to mix with foreigners, thought Noi.
When Noi told Lek about the lottery win Lek was speechless.
- Six thousand baht? asked Lek in disbelief.
- Yes big brother. Six thousand baht.
- On the number the letter told you to bet on?
- The oracle was right. Now do you believe it?
- I guess I have to, said Lek. But I don’t understand this. If this man who writes to you knows the numbers before they are drawn why doesn’t he keep the money for himself?
- Pui is guided by spiritual interests, said Noi. Don’t insult him by saying he wants money.
- I don’t believe in this, said Lek. It is too good to be true. There must be a trap somewhere. Be very careful Noi. Don’t do anything rushed.
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