Khaofang Can't Love

tention on that small bright green star. She spent the whole night waking up from nightmares that boiled down to a single unusual situatio

alf past five in the morning, she was fully awake, even if she was still lying down. Khaofang got up and went towards the bathroom of her roo

short hair. The most she did was go to the hairdresser once every three times to remove the dry ends; all she could do to her liking was cut a short

r mother was finishing setting the coffee table and her sisters were finishing getting ready. It was a typical country family: father Jorge owned a greengrocer's n

the company announced bankruptcy, Jorge decided to return to the city of Caruana, in the south of the country, t

Fangfang. Usually

before my

help your mother in the kitchen, — said Jorge, not taking

ell, especially since she will take the univ

hard, take advantage tha

you don't have

ow he allowed her to date Nathan, even though they were not constant churchgoers in the town? Maybe the charisma of the Gray

get a h

ch and eat on the way, okay? — declared Fangfan

ss and a long hug to her mother and father, and headed towards the exit. Khaofang was a dreamy girl: she imagined being able to leave Jacksdale, to experien

athan Gray

to go to college. Initially, her father wanted her to just get an ordinary job in the city, because the idea of leaving a daughter alone in the big city was too much for him,

for several years in a matter of months, so she was very gratefu

er two years ago; he was a tall boy with pale skin, black hair and calm, unassuming eyes. He was a quiet,

st day of school; passion came quickly: Khaofang used to stay after school in the library because she liked to read; Nathan and

as incredible as it sounds, that brought them together. They saw each other in the youth group, or during the services; in a few months they established a good friendship, until Nathan confessed to her. Their parents already

e also liked Nathan a lot, and knowing that their families accepted that relation

the relationship as an almost engagement. Nathan was like a true gentleman: he was kind, affectionate, always carried things so that Khaofang would not m

y, which went to South Pearly, forty minutes away from Jacksdale. Of those three, Khaofang

ut on her headset, hit play on the random, and opened the novel she was reading on the marked page; she w

watching the messy-haired boy and the boy's clothes, which were as plain as his hair: he wore a white button-down shirt that could easily be the shirt of the college, outside the trousers, which was how students usually wore it for t

ly? — She asked the boy, clos

Wh

he only one that leaves town, but it r

and low, coarse and threatening. — I know exactly where this bus goes,

of course, although he sounded very rude... She wasn't annoying,

n you on this bus before, so

ow. Fangfang followed the boy with her eyes and kept staring at him, a little indignant at having been cut off so abruptly. He leaned against the window and turned his attention b

sist but couldn't in looking at him again, but he already seemed to have forgotten the quick exchange of word

ng for his friends who were already heading for the classroom. Nathan should already be in his class, so s

up immediately and smiled broadly. The ginger

the fact that he always seemed so pass

hem, almost in love, because her eyes were sparkling. — Nathan is perfe

ly at the boys playing in the back of the room, but

odded positively, preferring to ignore the

bout you

e will live in a kitnet by himself, my parents said he doesn't

Al

I unders

d. I'm sure you'l

the other was always there, neither spoke louder than the other. They never fought, they were

cry from the ru

fang's smile sud

ave suddenly

Julia asked me to copy my Sociology assignment, she didn

truth, they hardly touched each other. Even kisses were sent with some distance, as had been the case there: she sent him a l

comparing Nathan t

ed dating the year before, the first time she had thought of

came into the room, holding the handles of the blu

ut sighs, Fangfang put the bag on her usual chair and went to Alicia, who was calling her ex

t? Is someo

that! It's a

t into the courtyard, batting he

boy fro

ieve the sentence that had escaped her mouth, even more so for ev

looked different from minutes ago, when he looked frownier. The girls looked over and watched Fangfang t

uld be better not to se

his chair, where the girls rushed towards him, throwing

two know

is hi

e is h

have a g

oked him? — I saw him on the bus. I thought he was new and had taken the wrong bus, but

e gave, that they wanted to know more, so they just w

tell me, no need to hide it! —

ause of earlier. I met him on the bus, and realized that I had never seen him before. So, I asked him if he was going to S

a cut in, stepping closer to her best friend. — I th

do something abou

our class. That way I keep only his beauty a

teacher came in seconds later, already removing his bag and putting it

he table, I want to see if everyone rea

h, did you? — Whined Fangfang to

hard? I did it easy...

to read it again and see if

it is a basic subject for those who want to study nursing in college, but she hat

— said a voic

you

ah,

nt? Ve.

's voice, slurred, lazy, deep. Irritating.

his shoulder frantically and exc

student, Noah Vernon.

he know in that tiny town? Fangfang didn't want to risk looking ahead and meeting his eyes again, a

— he said

ve a book, you can join someone, if you know or have any questions, just raise your ha

e room, four rows away from where Fangfang sat, yet he made a point of going through her row, and stopping right next to her; he ben

om and taking a seat in the empty chair available at the end of the first row

quickly, but before she could even walk, Noah ap

ive me a

need to

ay — he smiled,

r a moment. It woul

rticula

But I forgive you just because you'r

ept smiling back at the girl, but Alicia was cont

fang asked,

in front of him. — I just wanted to apologize for the

en seemed friendlier; he propped his chin on the palm of his hand waiting for her to sit down as well. Now that he was not being rude, he even seemed handsome. His skin

— she said, while she sat down in her chair. —

led in

ch lighter than before, than the quick exchange of words on the bus, than the pinprick in the courtyard. He really could

, much more excited than before, because she loved m

ur name, Jac

began to lose strength on his face and his expression began to cha

re you Kha

? Because

No

know that his best friend had finally left the house after almost a week in his room; he was going

on his face and so he stood up and

ace for longer than expected, but something in Khaofang had locked up. She was happy, wasn't she? After all, she had finally met that Noah guy h

gh

an remarked, pulling his friend cl

rlfriend? That you

d she not have connected the name to the person before

already met — Nathan let

was just talk

g — the g

te someone with such a limited brain, did yo

h

d at her boyfriend, who soon smiled in reply and a

was

inally understanding each other... Or did that conversation only exist in his head? How could he

ong with

's mother asked after dinner, while the girl was

ther asked after dinner, while the girl was reading a

nnoying, — Khaofang let out,

father hears you tal

right. He won't hear people tal

his boy re

been the first time she had been treated rudely by a person, the first time she had shouted through a second—floor window to try t

t bad. — I think he is still absorbing the

new the basics, would know that his situation is extremely complicated, even though she did not know exactly what had happened to

his f

e girl. — Even if he is not a b

ask for your help? — The g

— Fangfang whispered to her mother who immediat

voice entered the room, making the atmosphere heavy; it was always like this when his father ap

. It was j

hanging the peaceful atmosphere that had settled in before. — Shouldn't you be studying? Go to your room and stop read

s and heading towards his room at the end of the

hen she felt comfortable in his presence, which was always so strong and authoritari

and looked at the ceiling, wondering if she should just sleep at once, but she heard the phone

Lawa

nong? — Fangfang frowned and

when you don't call me. How are thi

ity — Lawan was talking with such excitement to his younger sister. — Whe

ng to let me go, P'. You k

ou'll see, someday we'll be here together, enjoying

yed her hair green in her last year and took the university entrance exam without her father knowing; she ran away from home and went to study gastronomy in London, with the whole

angfang, so that she would never have to ask her father, besides a

uy you told me about in yo

such an idiot, y

of a nightmare she had had in the early hours of the mornin

ndcuffs, he wanted to lock me in bed and never let me out again. The

; did he say anythi

d to her again about cutting my hair. He fou

understand why he won't le

Fangfang, who looked strange, but he still offered t

e used her hands to show where her fr

won't yo

doesn't le

se, turning his face and f

ofang asked, brushing a strand of

when he wants a haircut? — Kha

't unde

t let your father control your hair, it makes

as easy a

issors and cut it. He won't do anyth

t kil

and on his shoulder. — He

him for the rest of my life and he'l

vestibular comes around, he'll manage to stop you from going. Here, I have a pa

tting Noah on the arm and making

derstand? I have parents who care about me and my future; they know what's

ppeared into the sea of students that was forming at the