KEV FELL SOLIDLY AND soundly asleep! He was tired from the day's activity, not forgetting the very early start. He now awoke bright and with a clear head at ten oʼclock. Thinking Nick would be 'occupied', he ate breakfast in the small coffee shop. Entering an otherwise empty cafe, he saw the sad sight of a big man in a slump. Poor old Nick looked a mess. Still in last night's clothes, he had nothing else to change into. His hair and beard were aiming in all directions, with empty coffee mugs around him as Nick slept on folded arms. Kev left him there while he built up the strength he felt he would need with a hearty breakfast.
Disappointment landed on the table. The toast was barely warm. It was white and made of thin bread; the sausages were an inch long and pink, but the eggs and the bacon were excellent. Hot steaming coffee arrived as Nick stirred.
'Good morning mate, let me eat this and then tell me all about it. Looking at you, I feel you need to gather your wits and strength?'
Nick, as Kev predicted, would need a few minutes to get himself together. He needed food. Nick ordered two breakfasts, no more coffee, but a large pot of tea.
To surmise, it did not go well with Nong. She has a Canadian boyfriend who sends her monthly money. Therefore, she did not need to work or take on private 'customers'. But she likes the friendship of the other girls at the bar and enjoys living in Bangkok.
Nick said, 'On a scale of 0 to 10, my chance of making Nong my long-term girlfriend is about minus five.' He continued, 'She went off with her friend about ten minutes after you left. As you can imagine, I was unhappy, so I visited the tailors.'
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'Oh, no,' wailed Kev.
'Donʼt worry, I did nothing as much as I felt like it. He was not there. His shop was not there. All closed up and gone. A drunken Brit told me they would knock the Soi down and build condos starting today.'
Nick scratched his beard.
'I needed more beer and could not wake you, so I wandered and found a place called "Thermae" or something like that. Yes, and guess who was in there?'
'Don't tell me it was Skylab?'
'No, don't be daft. Remember the gingery blonde at the Embassy? She was arm-in-arm with a Thai lass. When she saw me, she dumped the girl and asked me what we were doing. She had a lot of questions, and I was glad to be rid of her. I thought she would never stop with the inquisition. Other than her, you would have loved it in that bar, full of characters like me.' He cheered at the memory, only briefly.
Nick returned to his problems finding a suitable girlfriend, Nong in particular.
'Look, mate, as beautiful as she is. You had a lucky escape. She would have cost you a fortune and broken your heart. Aim lower. That is all Iʼm saying.'
Nick, for the first time, left his food and stormed out.
Kev hated hurting his friend's feelings, but he felt Nick had to get real. Besides, Kev had more important things to worry about.
Kev hung about for a while. He read the Bangkok Post. Usually, Roger Crutchleyʼs column would bring a smile to his face. But, unfortunately, the humour today did not cheer him. No sign of Nick, so Kev paid for their rooms and checked out.
Kev did not expect Nick to return to Hua Hin before him; sure enough, there was no sign of him. Kev had explained to Skylab and Dam what he had said and how bad he felt. It was clear who they felt for, and it was not Kev.
Kev felt like a scolded puppy, except Kev did not get away with a tidbit. He thought he was doing the right thing. The last thing he wanted was an unhappy partner. But, on the other hand, he would love it if Nick could find a soul mate. So Kev put his mind to finding the perfect woman.
It is funny how life turns out.