1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfflJDM0o7
As the start of the semester approached, Khemjira moved his belongings to an apartment that was quite affordable, although it was a fair distance from the university. However, this wasn’t a problem for him, as he preferred walking to driving or taking public transportation, as long as the distance was manageable. It just meant that he had to wake up a little earlier to go to class.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71NtFDkfbk
One might wonder why he came to study in Bangkok alone, without a single friend to accompany him.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslUteFyogp
The answer was that Khemjira never had any friends due to the curse on his family. Living in the countryside, everyone in the area knew about it, and no one dared to associate with him for fear that bad luck would befall them as well.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrvMF0n5L1
Khemjira understood this well; everyone loved their own lives. If he were in their shoes, he would do the same.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cEwuP1r2g
But that didn't mean he was bullied or boycotted by others. They could still talk. They just weren't close enough to call each other friends.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapZXRJiJwN
This was one of the reasons why Khemjira wanted to study in Bangkok. He wanted to have friends and be in a new environment.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRCMjCRKgZ
After settling in, he went out to look for something to eat. Not only was the apartment affordable, but it was also close to a market, so there was no worry about not having anything to eat.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqFYsGc98J
Wow, this Pad Thai looks delicious.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S2Wvra0hB
The aroma of Pad Thai wafting through the air made Khemjira stop and make an order.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPMEONqelY
"A Pad Thai to go, please."
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3atEYc9zSC
"Just one, dear?" the salesman asked.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMChjU2xEt
"Krap."
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuNxlBlbJE
"And your friend there?"
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdg9d9J9d7
Khemjira paused, slowly looking around before asking,
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkQ8IYK2gJ
"Who?"
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jLmQXMSDn
Noise!
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmPZAAG7nM
The saleswoman accidentally dropped her spatula, her face turned pale before she forced a weak smile and said:
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcOkPXLfwV
"Oh, my eyes must be playing tricks on me. Never mind. This will cost forty baht."
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGAfKCS3sC
Khemjira paid for the Pad Thai and took it with a confused expression.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjqixLuSRd
As he was about to cross the street, he accidentally stepped on his shoelace, tripped on the street, and quickly walked back to the curb. He then bent down to tie his shoelace.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkWcBeDfjs
Scream!
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthxRBJCcIy
Collide!!
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9R1z9b3X5
Before Khemjira could crouch down, a loud crash sounded nearby, forcing him to quickly raise his head. His light brown eyes widened in shock as he saw a sports bike crashing and pinned under a bus that was stopping to pick up passengers...
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsqAYrt5y5
...right in front of him.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IiGOqC5HT
It all happened in a split second. If he hadn't bent down to tie his shoelaces...
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6X9iP0g4B
Khemjira's thoughts turned to the curse, but he shook his head, trying to comfort himself with positive thoughts.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn41IL8SXr
It was just a coincidence. Nothing had happened before.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUeu6UHiLF
Without realizing it, his hand was grabbing the takrut hanging around his neck. He retreated from the chaos and immediately ran back to his room.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjwp1ujgc1
The next day, the accident made the news on television. Khemjira, on her way from the apartment lobby to her room, stopped to look at the community TV broadcasting the scene of the accident.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhI3BI20mM
'Last night, a tragic accident occurred when a sports bike with license plate กข XXX collided with the rear of a bus waiting to pick up passengers, resulting in the instant death of the rider... The rider was a senior student at XXX University who had just returned from a party with friends.'
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNncf1o7VV
Khemjira’s heart sank when he heard that the boy had died on the spot. His arms tightly wrapped around a water bottle he had just filled, as if he was going to use it as emotional support. He couldn’t help but think that if his shoelace hadn’t come undone at that moment, there might have been more than one death…
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKUX0TgeMx
With just over a week to go before the start of the university semester, Khemjira tried to live normally, despite the haunting images of that accident. It would not do to dwell on it any longer.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMs0wex2KF
He decided that he would have to be more aware and cautious from now on.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTjdRsJoAa
“Done,” Khemjira said to himself after he finished buying items to zone his new room and make it more livable. Most of the items were second-hand.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4w0bhjdPa
He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The wall clock showed that it was almost eight o'clock at night.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPdqAx6i0b
"Time to get the books out," he thought. With just over a week to go before the start of the university semester, Khemjira tried to live normally, despite the haunting images of that accident. It wouldn't do to keep dwelling on it.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcbj5ZFpV1
He decided that he would have to be more aware and cautious from now on.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZOVRjoJRD
“Done,” Khemjira said to himself after he finished buying items to zone his new room and make it more livable. Most of the items were second-hand.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoLvfl0pvp
He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The wall clock showed that it was almost eight o'clock at night. Time to get the books, he thought, quickly sweeping the trash into a trash bag to take downstairs. The trash can was located in a deserted alley near his apartment. The only light in the alley came from a streetlight in the middle, which kept flickering...
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGzDNJ3aoD
...like a scene from a horror movie.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw3zJ3vMLY
The somewhat creepy atmosphere made Khemjira look left and right before hurriedly throwing the trash bag into the trash can. But just as he was turning to leave, something caught his attention from the corner of his eye, making his legs freeze. His brain struggled to process what it was.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRe0jX1NIM
Curiosity got the better of him, and Khemjira decided to take a closer look. He saw the figure of a child wearing a dirty, tattered white shirt, crouching with his head down next to the large trash can...
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jlfq8d4jQ
Khemjira was sure it wasn't a human because he hadn't seen anyone there when he arrived.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JChcUKrly
The cold was gradually taking over his skin.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDGhEiRxea
What kind of person would be sitting next to a trash can in a dark, deserted alley at night?
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3va0682oG
He swallowed hard before looking away and taking a hurried step forward, practically running.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSzbKgoMzN
"So it was a ghost?"
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgjtx0Qi2W
In his nineteen years of life, Khemjira had never seen one until now.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVBibJzB5L
Just as Khemjira was about to run away, that thing slowly raised its head.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eiyLbdcWc
His mouth slowly spread into a smile before he stood up and staggered after the young man.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeVLfczFrX
After that day, Khemjira began to experience more and more strange occurrences.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ2Jl3RwAI
The first thing was that he had three accidents in one week, which had never happened to him before. For example, he was just walking and suddenly tripped and fell. The worst was when he almost fell down nearly twenty steps. Fortunately, that day, he managed to grab the railing in time. Otherwise, it wouldn't have happened.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FDnQFzorU
Secondly, Khemjira started seeing spirits more frequently...
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E79GA1NQn
In fact, he was seeing one right now.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocIDSuVNWJ
Khemjira took a deep breath, pretending not to see the feeble spirit of a woman in work uniform, standing with her head bowed in front of the door next to his.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa7qzyAVr6
She had been there for three days.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK1r32C6ra
The owner of the room next to hers was a man who lived alone with his son. When Khemjira first saw her, he almost asked her if she needed help or why she didn’t want to go into the room. But when he saw that she had no feet… he quickly opened his own door and went in.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AGjPmnB47
Khemjira thought she might be the wife of the man who lived there; she must still be worried about him and not ready to move on...
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWaofOjKJc
"Don't... Hurt... My... Son..."
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBonuhAIOC
Her voice was shaky and chilled to the bone. Khemjira’s heart dropped, and his hands shook uncontrollably as he fumbled with his keys. It took forever to open the door, and he nearly wet himself in the process.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs5Gfl4CTV
His legs gave way and he fell to the ground, his eyes burning with heat.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0TJnENeY1
Did she just say, "Don't hurt my son"?
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ee4y6LoVD
Is something happening to her son?
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkeSXjLZFR
That night, Khemjira could barely sleep, haunted by what the spirit had said. Part of him didn't want to get involved, as he had enough problems already, but another part was worried that something bad might happen to the boy.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPwrZvypAG
The next morning, around eight o'clock, after the man next door had left for work, Khemjira stood in front of his neighbor's door, hesitating for a long time before deciding to knock.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfhI3vUv1e
The lady's spirit was still there, right beside him, but this time, she was so close that their shoulders almost touched.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd10oNToIdl
The door slowly creaked open, revealing the small figure of a six or seven year old boy. However, because of the door’s chain, it only opened enough to see the boy’s face.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WdyRMlZA0
“Hello,” Khemjira said with a smile, crouching down to be eye level with the boy. “My name is Khem. I just moved in next door.” The boy didn’t respond, but nodded in acknowledgement.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHMZuPIk0v
Khemjira peeked furtively through the crack and saw several beer bottles lined up and a general disarray of belongings.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80fzaD5Mvj
What the hell...
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyVgrIrj8s
"Have you eaten anything yet?"
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtxibojpYI
This time the boy shook his head, and Khemjira felt his eyelid twitch.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQkMXjXIYi
Did the father go to work without making sure his son had eaten?
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA8f7RGup9
This time the boy shook his head, and Khemjira felt his eyelid twitch.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZLUOcaoqf
Did the father go to work without making sure his son had eaten?
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrAtBoae8p
At the same time, a shiver ran down his spine, causing an uncomfortable pressure.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtle0QMx3Qy
"How about you come eat with me? It's on me. After we eat, I'll bring you back," Khemjira offered. The boy shook his head more vigorously than before.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3nzodRmwc
It was then that Khemjira noticed the chain tightly wrapped around the boy's ankle, the skin beneath it badly bruised.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg514v1Y3W
He slowly forced a smile as he said to the boy:
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDJuUynLo8
"Wait here for me a moment, okay?"
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQDT4fagLg
Khemjira went down, bought rice soup, water and snacks and brought everything for the boy to eat.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQqvhcF50t
The boy hesitated, but eventually his hunger won out and he reached out for the food.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKSZITyIVr
“P… Please don’t tell my father that I ate your food,” the boy begged with a desperate face. This made Khemjira feel both hurt and angry, but he nodded in agreement.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXBIwonvqF
"Okay, I won't."
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GdqKyvTmg
That night, after Khemjira reported the situation to the landlord, police raided the premises and arrested the man next door, who was drunk and beating his son.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ3XmNDUVO
Upon questioning, it was revealed that the boy was the son of the man's girlfriend, who had died in an accident a month earlier. The man was now burdened with a
huge debt. With his girlfriend dead, there was no one to help pay it off, leaving him with the responsibility and stress that he took out on the boy.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt2c8MZNbM
Khemjira did not know what kind of punishment the man had received. He only knew that the boy was now safely in the care of his maternal relatives.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NtWQwbHi9
I hoped he could live a happy life.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39J3l6Q64z
Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard a whisper in his ear. But because he was too sleepy, he didn't open his eyes.
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsmRrzNk2V
"Thanks."
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFLWOoTiuy
"...."
1150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmD8dAuC1V
"And be careful."
ns18.188.92.213da2
