I am here from hooked_on_heroines. I hope this feedback is helpful, I am certain only that because of translation conventions and lack of genre knowledge I have missed a lot of context. So I am sorry in advance.
When the pair at the pool table finish their game, the woman Ratree is talking with suggests they find a fourth for doubles. Ratree laughs. “You and me against…” She looks around the room.
Characters in this paragraph: Ratree, Talking Woman, Pool Table Pair. Because Ratree describes the person she's talking to as "the woman [she] is talking with", this description in English makes me think that the person is a woman Ratree has only just met and doesn't know very well. However, later descriptions of Talking Woman (Prai) make me think she is a long term friend to Ratree.
Win puts his arm around his faen. “Oh no, Ti. I’m not playing against Prai. I don’t like losing.”
I looked up 'faen' - assuming it means girlfriend here. Characters in this paragraph: Win, Prai (Win's faen, Talking Woman from previous paragraph), Ratree/Ti. Prai is a good pool player.
“I’ll join,” a man they haven’t seen before says.
Characters now: Win, Prai, Ratree, Pool Man.
They lose, of course. Few can beat Prai and Ratree was off her game. He kept standing uncomfortably near. She’d move away and he’d be by her side before her next shot. “Bit too close, puan,” she said, putting Win in between them. But then he was back again.
Interpretation: Win and Prai just played pool against Ratree and Pool Man. Ratree lost because Prai is very good, Ratree is off her game, and Pool Man kept making her physically uncomfortable as if he's hitting on her.
Win is cheerfully talking at him, arm around his shoulders like they were old friends, their backs to the restroom door. Win can talk for days and will be enjoying the opportunity of a captive audience. Prai hands them both whisky doubles. She’s going to get him drunk.
Interpretation: Win and Prai are trying to save Ratree from Pool Man by talking to him and getting him drunk. At first I wanted to read a sinister implication that Prai wants Pool Man drunk to take advantage of him, but it seems like she is just getting him drunk to distract him from harassing Ratree. This description also makes it seem like Ratree has been friends with Win and Prai for some time, since she knows their personality and the reasons behind their actions.
Someone else catches her eye. She’s caught his. They smile at each other. Yes, there’s definitely a good vibe here tonight.
My interpretation: "Someone Else" is a new male character, not related to Pool Table Pair or Pool Man. I'll call him S.E.
He works with teens who’ve run into trouble, trying to help them get on a better path. Getting them the specialised support they need, like tutoring, counselling and addressing their addictions. Believing in them no matter what and hoping they might start to believe in themselves as well. It’s hard to see them find reasons to return to their familiar habits, but when one of them succeeds, that’s the best.
Interpretation: S.E. is talking about his job to Ratree and she likes what she hears.
He takes a deep breath. “If it’s not too rude to ask, it’s been a while. I know I’ll mess up a relationship but I’d really like to make a woman happy again. I’d like to think I’m still good at it.” His face is a fascinating mix of earnestness, hope and confidence trying to find its way out again.
Interpretation: S.E. wants a one night stand with Ratree, not a relationship. Ratree is also interested in a one night stand with him (from her next line, if this is a lie, it’s the sweetest she’s heard).
Reading this part, I felt like Win, Prai, and Pool Man had mysteriously disappeared from the story. Would Prai still be looking out for Ratree and this new man, trying to help her friend? Did Win and Prai decide to go home? Is Pool Man passed out drunk from whiskey? Was there meant to be something supernatural or mysterious happening that caused Ratree's focus to now be completely on S.E. and ignoring Win and Prai?
The narrative has become very closed in at this point, limited to only 'she' and 'he' pronouns, without even Ratree using her name.
He hesitates as he leans towards her, reaching out a hand to ever so lightly brush a finger down the side of her face and following it with a lingering haawm, slowly breathing in her scent from her ear to her jaw, setting her nerves tingling with the sensation. He brushes his finger up the centre of her chin and over her lips and then brings his to hers in the lightest of kisses, barely touching, just breathing together while time stops.
This description is sensual, but it also feels more like a deeper/romantic connection than just a one night stand. I think that is because of the "breathing together" description, as if not just their bodies but personalities are synchronising.
He has her full attention. “Bpai,” she murmurs, her voice soft and low. Come.
I read the final one word sentence as a translated double innuendo in English, relating to their decision to have a one night stand.
This feels like an interesting story set in the modern world about a character who knows what she wants and is expecting to have an enjoyable one night stand.
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Date: 2025-03-31 10:17 am (UTC)When the pair at the pool table finish their game, the woman Ratree is talking with suggests they find a fourth for doubles. Ratree laughs. “You and me against…” She looks around the room.
Characters in this paragraph: Ratree, Talking Woman, Pool Table Pair. Because Ratree describes the person she's talking to as "the woman [she] is talking with", this description in English makes me think that the person is a woman Ratree has only just met and doesn't know very well. However, later descriptions of Talking Woman (Prai) make me think she is a long term friend to Ratree.
Win puts his arm around his faen. “Oh no, Ti. I’m not playing against Prai. I don’t like losing.”
I looked up 'faen' - assuming it means girlfriend here. Characters in this paragraph: Win, Prai (Win's faen, Talking Woman from previous paragraph), Ratree/Ti. Prai is a good pool player.
“I’ll join,” a man they haven’t seen before says.
Characters now: Win, Prai, Ratree, Pool Man.
They lose, of course. Few can beat Prai and Ratree was off her game. He kept standing uncomfortably near. She’d move away and he’d be by her side before her next shot. “Bit too close, puan,” she said, putting Win in between them. But then he was back again.
Interpretation: Win and Prai just played pool against Ratree and Pool Man. Ratree lost because Prai is very good, Ratree is off her game, and Pool Man kept making her physically uncomfortable as if he's hitting on her.
Win is cheerfully talking at him, arm around his shoulders like they were old friends, their backs to the restroom door. Win can talk for days and will be enjoying the opportunity of a captive audience. Prai hands them both whisky doubles. She’s going to get him drunk.
Interpretation: Win and Prai are trying to save Ratree from Pool Man by talking to him and getting him drunk. At first I wanted to read a sinister implication that Prai wants Pool Man drunk to take advantage of him, but it seems like she is just getting him drunk to distract him from harassing Ratree. This description also makes it seem like Ratree has been friends with Win and Prai for some time, since she knows their personality and the reasons behind their actions.
Someone else catches her eye. She’s caught his. They smile at each other. Yes, there’s definitely a good vibe here tonight.
My interpretation: "Someone Else" is a new male character, not related to Pool Table Pair or Pool Man. I'll call him S.E.
He works with teens who’ve run into trouble, trying to help them get on a better path. Getting them the specialised support they need, like tutoring, counselling and addressing their addictions. Believing in them no matter what and hoping they might start to believe in themselves as well. It’s hard to see them find reasons to return to their familiar habits, but when one of them succeeds, that’s the best.
Interpretation: S.E. is talking about his job to Ratree and she likes what she hears.
He takes a deep breath. “If it’s not too rude to ask, it’s been a while. I know I’ll mess up a relationship but I’d really like to make a woman happy again. I’d like to think I’m still good at it.” His face is a fascinating mix of earnestness, hope and confidence trying to find its way out again.
Interpretation: S.E. wants a one night stand with Ratree, not a relationship. Ratree is also interested in a one night stand with him (from her next line, if this is a lie, it’s the sweetest she’s heard).
Reading this part, I felt like Win, Prai, and Pool Man had mysteriously disappeared from the story. Would Prai still be looking out for Ratree and this new man, trying to help her friend? Did Win and Prai decide to go home? Is Pool Man passed out drunk from whiskey? Was there meant to be something supernatural or mysterious happening that caused Ratree's focus to now be completely on S.E. and ignoring Win and Prai?
The narrative has become very closed in at this point, limited to only 'she' and 'he' pronouns, without even Ratree using her name.
He hesitates as he leans towards her, reaching out a hand to ever so lightly brush a finger down the side of her face and following it with a lingering haawm, slowly breathing in her scent from her ear to her jaw, setting her nerves tingling with the sensation. He brushes his finger up the centre of her chin and over her lips and then brings his to hers in the lightest of kisses, barely touching, just breathing together while time stops.
This description is sensual, but it also feels more like a deeper/romantic connection than just a one night stand. I think that is because of the "breathing together" description, as if not just their bodies but personalities are synchronising.
He has her full attention. “Bpai,” she murmurs, her voice soft and low. Come.
I read the final one word sentence as a translated double innuendo in English, relating to their decision to have a one night stand.
This feels like an interesting story set in the modern world about a character who knows what she wants and is expecting to have an enjoyable one night stand.