Finally, the semester had started.
Khemjira adjusted the collar of his university uniform, eyeing his reflection with a sense of pride. Slinging his tote bag over his shoulder, he left his apartment, ready for the day ahead.
It took him precisely an hour to walk from his apartment to the university. By the time he arrived, a dull exhaustion had settled in his limbs, so he stopped by a stall near the faculty building to buy a bottle of water. He had plenty of time before his first class began.
“No straw, please,” he told the vendor, waving away the plastic straw offered to him. Khemjira rarely used straws unless they were biodegradable. If he could do even a small part to protect the environment, he would.
He stood beside the stall, lifting the bottle to his lips, when his gaze shifted just in time to catch sight of the bottom of a potted plant tipping over from a high ledge.
Oh, shit.
“Look out!” someone shouted, but before Khemjira could react, his body seemed frozen in place, rooted to the ground. In the split second before the pot shattered on him, a figure lunged forward and knocked him to the ground.
Crash!
The sound of the pot breaking filled the air, followed by startled cries from the people around them.
“Are you okay!?” the man who’d saved him asked, his expression laced with concern. Khemjira looked up, taking in his honey-colored skin, golden-dyed hair, and a small black headband perched on his head.
For a moment, Khemjira could only stare at the broken pot in shock, his face pale. “Th-thank you for helping me,” he stammered, finally finding his voice. He winced as the man abruptly pulled him to his feet.
“Wait, wait, where are you taking me?” Khemjira asked as he was tugged along. The man’s serious expression left him too startled to resist, so he obediently followed him.
They stopped beneath a plumeria tree behind one of the study buildings, away from the crowd. The man looked around cautiously before turning to Khemjira and locking eyes with him.
“You’re being haunted by a ghost,” he said.
“...”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0plMRS8Gpi
“If we don’t do something, you’re definitely gonna die,” Jhettana said bluntly. Khemjira’s mouth fell open in shock. Being told something like this out of the blue by a stranger would startle anyone. He furrowed his brows, curiosity overtaking his fear.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbf8HNRjG4
“How do you know that?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRG6v7UgOj
“When that pot fell earlier, I saw it from the third floor. It pushed the pot down.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3OIyhtMBg
Khemjira wasn’t ready to fully believe him, though a part of him had already accepted it. Strange things had been happening ever since he arrived.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMSnNd6ysn
“It’s fine if you don’t believe me. I just wanted to warn you to be careful.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqkgQUyAbj
Khemjira hesitated, then sighed. “No, it’s not that I don’t believe you. I just don’t want to accept it.” He seemed to be speaking more to himself. “But thanks, anyway. If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve definitely gotten hurt.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOTVt9DhP1
The man shrugged. “It’s nothing. I’m Jhet. Jhettana. You?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcRSnYrOO0
“I’m Khem… Khemjira.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9vvSfRTjd
Jhettana blinked in surprise and gave him a quick once-over. Khemjira managed a dry smile.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvnofaeuNA
“My mom gave me a girl name to ward off bad luck.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO5PYJrEdt
Jhettana looked a bit bewildered before scratching his head awkwardly. “Sorry, your face kinda looks like a girl.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHaWHEV1WL
“It’s okay. I looked even more like one when I was a kid.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lSddzWSdR
Jhettana nodded, as if that made perfect sense, before continuing, “So, which faculty are you in?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1ug4X1LXZ
“Fine and Applied Arts.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdGtNe10AR
“Hey, me too! You’re a freshman, right?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CJLFG2cyE
Khemjira’s eyes widened, and he nodded eagerly. “Y…yeah.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtUSONRUYn
Jhettana laughed at the coincidence. “Great, then let’s be friends. First off, can I get your LINE?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGiNNiXDhB
Khemjira quickly pulled out his phone to add Jhettana’s LINE ID, feeling a strange sense of relief.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreszHspa2i
“Let’s get to class first. We’ll talk about your situation later.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aOsxizf0G
Khemjira nodded slightly in agreement, pressing his lips together.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBbEmepZaX
They had classes until three in the afternoon. After class, Jhettana took Khemjira back to the marble table behind the building—the same spot where they’d talked that morning.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWTr9vzmF8
“Do you fucking realize you’re being haunted by a goddamn squadron of ghosts?” Jhettana spoke bluntly, giving Khemjira no chance to prepare himself. Earlier, he’d asked to speak informally, feeling it was more natural. Khemjira had agreed but still preferred using a milder tone himself.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwm3OCzx3T
Khemjira answered with a mumble, “I don’t know… but there’ve been times I felt like I wasn’t alone.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0twpw1uX3
“...”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFwOTpiCKp
“And lately, I keep seeing strange things.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvpjdLj4TH
“Ghosts?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgYeO9N8ID
Khemjira was stunned by Jhettana’s blunt question before nodding in agreement. Jhettana raised an eyebrow.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCs2vVO0NN
“So, you see other ghosts but can’t see the ones close to you?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEX6SmziFz
Khemjira’s eyes widened in shock. “You can see them?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgL2MTja5L
“Yeah, but not clearly. Sometimes, it’s like gray smoke; other times, they’re dark shadows.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGDxFvS329
“...”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zOaB8Rwub
“Like the first time I saw you, there was both smoke and dark shadows swirling all around you.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqN1fdb2St
“...”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3QjJIq1eA
“Serious question, dude. What the fuck did you do?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkZfNUM778
Khemjira swallowed hard. He couldn’t fully deny doing nothing, so he decided to tell Jhettana about the family curse. Seeing Jhettana fall silent upon hearing it, Khemjira felt dejected.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2AN5m0hxW
“Sorry, I didn’t tell you from the start.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAuZLiWdcq
“...”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fFcb6rYce
“Jhet, if you want to stop being friends with me, that’s okay.” He winced as Jhettana thumped him on the head, his expression confused and awkward.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp3wZdUE7k
“Bullshit. Who the fuck would stop being friends with someone for a silly reason like that?” Jhettana frowned, and Khemjira thought of his high school friends. Plenty of them, he thought, but he kept silent. He smiled at Jhettana.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbrgPCBsDi
“Thanks.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHyFQEo4Rz
“If I don’t stay friends with you, I probably wouldn’t have anyone else to be friends with.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fnLBQHNyv
“Ugh, Jhet, I was almost touched.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqs019WQ7v
“Haha, your face is hilarious.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2XNNmEfWF
Khemjira scowled. “Can you continue?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwdBadpEJk
“It’s you who’s getting us off track. Anyway, there are ghosts following you, fucking lots of them.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYXnw1gl2p
Hearing that, Khemjira felt a shiver run down his spine.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x5GXvol1r
“Even now?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYb3gEbzj2
Jhettana frowned, looking around. “Uh-huh, but they’re hiding, not coming close.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrrV0gOzLO
Khemjira pursed his lips, feeling a surge of fear.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnyxGDudnK
“It’s like you have some powerful protection, or something is protecting you. That’s why they can’t do much.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS4VAYFSKM
Khemjira unbuttoned his top button, loosened his tie slightly, and reached in to pull out the takrut, showing it to Jhettana.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR4s2svtr5
“I have this. I’ve been wearing it since I was a kid.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwTFnoW1Bh
Jhettana leaned in to take a closer look, clearly intrigued, though he refrained from touching it.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI42miFTkDX
“Good stuff, but the magic has worn off.”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjCpfAgP5E
“What?” Khemjira was shocked. “How do you know that?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn06RblUsXQ
“These are my stuff. I grew up with these kinds of things,” Jhettana replied. The more Khemjira heard, the more anxious he felt. Could it be that the magic of his takrut was waning, causing him to see increasingly strange things these days?
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UwX4hlWUk
“So, what should I do now?”
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUKaHEYqR4
“Calm down, dude, no need to be stressed.”"Just give me your full name, date of birth, and something you use regularly."
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlLf918FVf
"Anything at all?"
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7Cn2x3wWa
"Except your underwear."
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5jdxU51U2
Khemjira’s face flushed, but seeing Jhettana’s serious expression, he knew the request was no joke. Reluctantly, he grabbed a notebook and pen, quickly scribbling down the details Jhettana had asked for. Then, he handed over a white handkerchief embroidered with his name, a cherished item his mother had made for him before she passed away.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7vRRJy34P
"Okay. And hey, don't just give stuff like this to anyone so easily next time," Jhettana said, his tone suddenly serious. Khemjira frowned.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDkCs8XfSY
"But you told me to give them to you, didn't you?"
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kou531tmW
"How can you be sure I won't use it for something bad?"
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK1SMAuUd5
Khemjira’s stomach churned as he processed Jhettana’s words. He hadn’t thought of it that way.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWDGrfNMFG
"Oh..." Khemjira mumbled.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8LJnO71K5
"I'm just saying. You can trust me, but others, not so much. I just want to warn you. What if someone put even more curses on you?"
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PHIpwHMD3
Khemjira went pale, nodding immediately.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A9pxwysy2
"Good. I'll be going back to my hometown over the holiday. I'll talk to Por Kru to see if he can help with your situation."
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTTWArmtdK
"Thanks," Khemjira said, feeling a small wave of relief.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaelBcnB9VY
"Sure. If you die, I'll have no friends left."
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJVelbarXq
Khemjira couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Jhettana’s bluntness. "Jhet, you fucking bastard, this is the second time already."
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uHrB73wJD
"Ha ha ha! You're cursing at me now, you little shit?"
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZqxMG4TIv
Khemjira scowled. "Stop annoying me. I’m stressed, you know?"
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KZbxOY2UI
"Aww. There, there. Let’s go. I'll take you for some shaved ice. I heard the place in front of the uni is good."
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8b190uLDvE
Though still irritated, Khemjira reluctantly agreed. He followed Jhettana, trailing behind like a duckling following its mother, though a part of him wondered if they had become too close too quickly. They had known each other for less than a day, but somehow it felt much longer.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs7IcnrFlP
Khemjira now felt certain that spirits were following him. After all, Jhettana had said that when he was around, the spirits stayed away, protected by some magical item he carried. Since that day, Khemjira had been glued to Jhettana. The only time they didn’t see each other was when they returned to their apartments, but even then, no problems arose.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClb7bb7awS
Still, Khemjira’s nights were filled with lingering unease. He saw strange things out of the corner of his eye, heard creaks and objects falling, but nothing that was enough to completely break his focus. He tried to distract himself by watching movies or reading books.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE19PDUYIx
Tonight, Khemjira had just finished reading a book and decided to work on his sketch for class. He moved his chair to the easel, which was set up with a drawing board. The next lesson would be to assess their skill level by sketching something they were good at—whether it be landscapes, people, animals, or objects. Khemjira was good at drawing people, and he intended to draw a picture of his late mother, as he had always found it to be his best subject.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ezy8GqPnO
With a steady hand, he picked up a 2B pencil, holding it perpendicular to the paper. He squinted to gauge the distance before starting to sketch the outline of a face with thin, delicate lines. His mother’s face was forever etched in his memory, and he could recreate it without even needing a reference.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRojStc44U
"I miss you so much," Khemjira whispered softly, a smile tugging at his lips as he worked on the details of her face. But as he continued to sketch, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, and he fought to keep his eyes open.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjvlLJ72af
Come on, just a little bit more, he told himself, trying to stave off the sleepiness creeping up on him. He tried to push through, but it was no use. His hand began to fall, and within moments, Khemjira succumbed to the sleep that overtook him.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkK4NibiKa
He jolted awake several hours later, glancing at the wall clock. It was past two in the morning. He shook his head at his own exhaustion, then began to pack away the easel. But as he turned to gather his things, his eyes fell upon the sketch of his mother, and his blood ran cold.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeKf8zOZsJ
"Shit!" Khemjira gasped, stumbling backward as his hips slammed against the table behind him. The sketch that once depicted his mother’s smiling face now showed a grotesque, terrifying image. Her eyes were entirely black, and her smile had twisted into a monstrous grin, her mouth torn open at the corners, stretching to her ears.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiVcQTsT3P
Khemjira’s heart raced as he stared at the horrifying image, unable to tear his gaze away. The warmth and nostalgia he had once felt while drawing his mother now turned to dread, as if the very essence of her had been replaced with something sinister.
646Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSFlss36mc
