A Little Thing Called Love (2010) Plot Summary & Timeline

Nam is a 14-year-old middle school student who feels insecure about her looks, often thinking of herself as ugly. Despite this, she has developed a crush on Chon, a popular and handsome Grade 10 freshman from her school, who seems completely out of her league. Typically seen alongside her three close friends, collectively known as the Cheer Gang, Nam juggles her time between academics and assisting her mother in running their family-owned bed and breakfast. She aspires to improve her academic performance since she and her sister are promised plane tickets to visit their father, who works in the United States as a sous-chef, if they can achieve first place in school rankings.

While queuing for drinks at a school event, Nam and her friends face rudeness from two boys who cut in front of them. It’s at this moment that Chon, noticing their dilemma, steps in and kindly purchases beverages for the group. Later, as Nam heads home, she discovers that Chon got into a fight with the boys in their defense, prompting her to rush to the scene, only to find that the situation has largely resolved. In her search, she stumbles upon a bloodied button on the floor, which she assumes belongs to Chon. She decides to keep it, naming it Mr. Button.

The following day, Chon faces punishment from the school superintendent for his part in the conflict, leaving Nam feeling guilty. She approaches him with plasters, to which he responds reassuringly, expressing that it was not her fault. The moment he acknowledges her by name brings Nam immense joy, strengthening her infatuation. Encouraged by her classmates, Nam begins to follow tips from a guidebook titled Nine Recipes of Love, claiming it could help her win Chon’s heart. Although some suggestions seem odd, including spelling Chon’s name across the night sky, she is determined to try everything, which involves wearing braces and switching from glasses to contacts throughout the summer.

As the new school year begins in eighth grade, conflicts arise when Nam and her friends have a scuffle with Faye, another student, leading to their exclusion from the popular Thai Dance Club. In an unexpected twist, their English teacher, Teacher Inn, persuades them to join the English Drama Club instead, where they will perform Snow White at the upcoming fair. To Nam’s surprise, she finds that Chon is involved in the production as a stage painter, and she is cast as the lead due to her proficiency in English. Here, she also meets Pin, an upperclassman and one of Chon’s close friends, who helps give Nam a makeover. However, Chon’s underwhelming reaction leads to some disappointment for Nam.

During rehearsals, Chon rescues Nam from a near fall off the stage. Yet, on the performance day, Chon is absent, which makes Nam believe he opted to join the Thai Dance Club. In reality, he is forced to participate in a photography contest, happening concurrently with the fair. While back at the school, Nam receives an apple with a note at her station that playfully declares it is not poison, quickly garnering her attention and becoming a topic of discussion when footage of her performance circulates in the cafeteria. As the year progresses, Top, a childhood friend of Chon, happens to transfer to their school and immediately develops feelings for Nam after witnessing her performance.

Now in Grade 9, Nam experiences a surge in popularity as she is chosen again by Teacher Inn to serve as the drum major for the regional sports parade. Meanwhile, Chon, now a senior, finally showcases his soccer skills by making a penalty shot and gifting Nam a rose bush, only for her excitement to turn to disappointment when she learns it was meant from Top. Later, a mysterious note invites Nam to a meeting where she discovers Top waiting for her with a proposal to be his girlfriend. Confusion overwhelms Nam, as she feels guilty for possibly turning Top down while secretly longing for Chon. Instead, Top misinterprets her silence as acceptance and claims her as his girlfriend, intertwining their lives further.

Nam starts spending more time with Chon and his circle, which inadvertently distances her from the Cheer Gang. As their bond deepens, Chon shares personal reflections about his father’s past and how soccer has shaped his life, while Top openly expresses his feelings for Nam, which complicates matters further when he unexpectedly kisses her. Nam firmly tells Top that he cannot treat her in such a way or claim her as his girlfriend when her affections lie elsewhere. With tensions at play, Top beseeches Chon not to pursue Nam, leaving her friendless and concentrating solely on studying.

As the academic year draws to a close, Nam reconciles with her friends, only to later find out she ranked first in school, which assures her future travel to America. Her friends unite one last time to encourage her to take the bold step of confessing her love to Chon. Mustering her courage, Nam finds Chon and reveals her long-held feelings, presenting him with a rose from the bush he gifted her and the cherished Mr. Button. Suddenly, she is shattered when Chon reveals that he has started dating Pin, leaving her heartbroken. Later, as he is preparing to leave for a football training camp, Chon uncovers a diary that contains memories of Nam, conveying that he has cherished her all along without ever revealing his feelings.

Fast forward nine years later, Nam has blossomed into a successful fashion designer residing in New York. She returns to Thailand for a TV talk show, where reflections on her past emerge, especially concerning her first love. To her surprise, Chon makes a surprising appearance, having shifted his career focus from soccer to professional photography. In a heartfelt exchange, he returns Mr. Button to Nam, revealing the ongoing feelings he held for her throughout the years, while also confessing he’s been waiting for her to return.