TL Chapter 8

“Wooow, I'm so sleepy.”

In the backyard area designated as the laundry room, the young man who had woken up at the crack of dawn was bending and straightening in front of the finished washing machine. He tossed the clothes into a basket listlessly, yawning so wide his eyes watered. His large eyes glanced sideways at the pile of clothes. You could definitely say... there wasn't a single piece of his clothing in there.

If you're free tomorrow, do my laundry for me a bit, will you, Dear? This week my head's been spinning.

The words from his beloved older sister, not a request, not a plea, but an order, rang out just before he went upstairs last night. And the one who said their head was spinning... the sun wasn't even at its zenith yet, and you hadn't lifted your dim-wit head from the pile of blankets, Khrap.

“Lucky I washed my own underwear,” Dear grumbled under his breath, then grabbed the laundry basket and went through the back door. He couldn't help but think of all his university shirts. Even though Jae Dream had firmly and insistently stated that Phîi Porsche had said the maid who comes to pick up Phîi Porsche's clothes for washing and ironing could take his along too... believe it or not... Jae Dream definitely strong-armed Phîi Porsche.

“My older sister really doesn't know how to spell the word 'consideration', does she?” He muttered and shook out a shirt to hang on the clothesline. Just then, a faint voice came from the other side of the wall.

“Daeng, Daeng, can you go out to the market for me?”

“Yes, Khun Phuying. What would you like?” The snippet of conversation drifting over the fence made the young man in shorts and a t-shirt break into a wide grin. He quickly stepped closer to the long wall separating his house from the (enormous) big house and was about to stand on tiptoe to call a greeting like a well-mannered kid, if not for...

“Hmm, I'll jot it down for you. Porsche is staying over tonight, you see. Gotta make his favorites. Gotta butter up the Phô kon dtoh a bit, otherwise he hardly ever comes back to show his face... ”

[[Translator's Note: พ่อคนโต (phô khon tòh) means Eldest Father, but culturally it means “eldest son” or “firstborn male child.” In Thai familial structure, it indicates the son born first into the family and carries strong cultural weight. Traditionally, the phô khon tòh is expected to assume responsibility for younger siblings, act as the second authority figure after the father, and eventually care for parents in old age.]]

Fweep

The moment just one person's name was mentioned, the one about to open his mouth to greet them instead ducked down phùup behind the high wall immediately. He didn't understand why he was hiding like an idiot either, but his heart was pounding thuk-thuk upon hearing the name of the person he secretly loved. He'd been trying so hard to push thoughts of Phîi Porsche out of his mind, so how come on his day off he still couldn't escape Phîi, huh?

"By the way, are Dream and Dear still not awake? I was going to invite them for dinner."

Not awake, Khrap, not awake. I'm dead to the world, Khrap, Auntie.

“Oh, Daeng saw Khun Dear just now. When I came in, he was out watering the plants.”

Holy shit, why did you have to say that, Phîi Daeng, whhhyyy Khrap?!

Dear jolted violently, screaming internally. He wasn't eavesdropping now. Besides crouching down as low as possible—maybe the first advantage of being born short was that he could sneak into the house without anyone calling out from behind—he also dragged the laundry basket in with him.

Well, how could he not run away? Straight up, I'm really not ready to see Phîi Porsche. Therefore... must flee!

Out of ideas, Dear quickly hung the clothes on the indoor line [like you do when it's raining].

Then he ran to grab his wallet, stuffed his phone into his shorts pocket, didn't forget to write a note and stick it on the fridge to ward off his tyrannical older sister, slipped on his favorite flip-flops, and immediately hailed a motorbike taxi in front of the house. No way was he sticking around to be invited to dinner by the kind-hearted auntie next door.

Normally, when I see you, Phîi Porsche, I can't even look you in the face, seriously. Give me two days and I'll act super...

In the end, the dim-wit could only think of a place not far away... Âi'Sun's house.

Well, it is the closest house to his, after all.

Dear sighed as he stood like an idiot under the blazing hot sun in front of the large house. How could he have forgotten that his shitty friend was out drinking like it was water with his seniors from the seniors-juniors bonding group last night? Plus, he hadn't asked for a ride back (but that was predictable anyway; that Âi'Sun, if he can get away from Jae Dream, he'd say it's thanks to merit from a past life). By now, he was probably still dead drunk in his dorm.

“Oh, Dear, come on in, junior.” But then, the voice of a middle-aged woman who was about to drive out rang out, making him quickly raise his hands in a respectful wai.

“Hello, Mâe.”

“Here to see Sun? Sun didn't come home last night, junior. But I heard him talking with that Janjao and that Bulan that he'd come stay here tonight. He should be here soon. Oh, or did you have an appointment?” His friend's Mâe asked and answered herself, leaving the listener just nodding repeatedly. Whether that dog-mouthed friend of his was coming back or not, he didn't care. Dear just needed a place to hide first.

“Yes, Mâe. I did arrange to meet him, Khrap.” He quickly accepted, then even helped pull the gate open for his friend's Mâe to drive out. Acting like a good kid, he closed the large gate like he was the guard of the house, something the homeowner didn't mind at all. Of course, he came over so often that even without the homeowner guiding him, he could walk up to Âi'Sun's room without anyone yelling "thief!"

But, being a good, polite person, he could call him first (or not).

***

“Hmm, Hellooo, Who is iiiiiit?” After listening to the ringtone for the third time, the guy on the other end answered in a drawn-out, lazy voice. He was absolutely sure he was currently burying his head in the pillow, ready to go back to sleep.

“It's me.”

“Which 'me'? I don't know anyone named 'It's me'.”

Tch, you're still drowsy and can annoy the hell out of me, huh.

“Not funny. It's Dear. Where are you now?”

“My business.”

It's like this every time. Yeah, such an asshole. Normally, he's all smiles and gets along with everyone, but when he wants to sleep, he's...

“Yeah, your business, fine. I just called to say I'm in front of your house now. I'm about to go up to your room. I'm gonna play games. I'm gonna turn on the AC. I'm gonna sleep in your bed. I'm gonna read your comics... ”

“Yeah, do whatever. I'm sleeping. See you tonight. Bye.” He'd gone to the trouble of annoying him to wake up and talk, but Âi'Sun just cut in flatly, rattling it off and then hanging up outright.

“Consider that permission granted. I'm sleeping here and not going home, just you wait.” Dear sighed heavily. A genuine day off, he thought he'd get to laze around in his own room. Who'd want to go bury themselves at someone else's house like this? But his options were limited. Calling other friends... he couldn't be bothered.

And worrying again. “Argh, why am I so stupid? Clearly crazy. He expressed himself like that and I'm still a dim-wit.”

But then, the moment he stepped foot into the house, the frustrated cry of someone rang out, making him think he was being cursed at or something. Well, the moment he entered, the word 'stupid' was floating around him. And the sight made Dear just furrow his brows together.

Because, the short-haired girl in house loungewear who looked like she was about to slam the laptop on her lap with an irritated expression... wasn't that Bulan, the youngest of the house?

“What's wrong?”

Snap

“Eeeevil! Phîi Deeear! Phîi Dear, my brother-in-laaaw!”

The cute part is Nong remembers me, but the not cute part is since when did I become Âi'Sun's Mia?

The girl in front of him put the laptop down immediately and jumped to stand in front of him, smiling sweetly, chirping a loud greeting—did she want the whole house to know he'd gotten with Âi'Sun (?) or something.

“Is Phîi Dear here to see Phîi Sun? Phîi Sun isn't back yet. But he said he'd be back tonight. We talked on Line yesterday. Ah, but Phîi Dear probably knows already, right? You're romantic partners, after all,” Bulan said, beaming an ecstatic smile, making the one being imposed upon daily sigh heavily.

“How many times have I told you I'm not romantic partners with Âi'Sun?”

“Huh? But Phîi Sun said you're together.”

Damn it, Sun! How many times have I told you to stop indulging your sister? That Âi' asks something, you just say 'yeah, yeah, later.' Do you know how hard it is for me? Can't you learn to refuse your sister a little, huh?

“We are not together. And we are not romantic partners either. Okay?” Dear explained for what felt like the hundredth time. And the cute, adorable-looking short-haired girl—you could tell she'd grow up to be beautiful—just shook her head snap-snap and smiled sweetly.

“Not okay. Heh, Phîi Dear, don't be stubborn. You two are close friends, clearly not thinking straight. Phîi Janjao confirmed it too. No need to worry that Mâe can't accept it. Mâe likes Phîi Dear to death. Our house is open, Khrap.”

You're the only one who's open!

Dear sighed another heavy breath. He understood his close friend instantly. If his sister believed it this seriously, no wonder he'd just say 'yeah, yeah' to cut the annoyance. It's a good thing only Bulan was here. If that Janjao was here too...

“Oh, how did Phîi Dear get here?” A new voice cut in.

Ouch, shouldn't have thought of her.

But then, the sweet voice of the long-haired girl walking from the back of the house with a big bag of snacks called out a greeting, making the greeted person want to die, since...

“Here to see Phîi Sun? Phîi Sun isn't back yet. Phîi Dear can go wait in his room. Phîi Sun will be happy when he gets back. Romantic partner waiting on the bed. Keke.”

If the younger sister's level of shipping was a ten, the older sister's was hitting a hundred. Dear couldn't help but doubt himself.

How have I not accidentally followed these two kids' lead for several years? They managed to psyche him out every time they met.

“By the way, what are you guys doing?” Not wanting to acknowledge it and unable to bear his friend's sisters' darting glances, he changed the subject. Bulan's eyes went wide, and the younger girl came over and pulled his arm to sit together on the sofa.

“Here, here, Phîi Dear. Bulan is reading a new novel. It's so frustrating, Phîi! Here, here, the male lead 'kissed his mouth... "

Gasp

"... and then the 'male lead' is so stupid, right?... ”

Gasp

"... thinks to himself that he did it accidentally, and then 'runs away from him' too. It's the most frustrating thing eeever. The absolute worst.”

No way, I'm not feeling targeted at all. Not feeling targeted at all, that I jolted three times. I'm not.

Dear told himself in a faint, weak voice. He couldn't really meet the eyes of the two girls in front of him, could only turn his face to look at the screen Bulan was pointing at. His eyes inadvertently followed the text, and his face paled slightly.

Did you think something of me? Or were you just... accidental...

Ew, yuck, why is the situation exactly like mine?

He asked himself in an even quieter voice, then gave a dry smile, listening to the two girls critique the novel passionately, praying they wouldn't turn and ask him anything right now. Because he himself was currently... running... running away from Phîi Porsche.

“But Phîi Dear wouldn't be like this, right? Phîi Sun loves Phîi Dear to death. He must have gotten more than a kiss, right? Keke.” She even had the nerve to keke at him. How many times had he said they weren't romantic partners, weren't dating, hadn't 'gotten' anything either.

“Uh... then let me ask, what would you two do if it were us two? Meeting a guy who kissed like this?” What was he asking them?

Dear sighed another heavy breath, waiting to hear the opinions of the two girls who looked at each other before Janjao gave him a sweet smile and said with extreme enthusiasm.

“If it were me, Janjao? I wouldn't run, Phîi. Here, here, the male lead secretly has feelings for her. If she didn't like him, didn't feel stirred, why would she kiss him? If it were me, I'd tease back, flirt back to teach him a lesson. Make him lose his composure on one side. It's obvious they like each other, why be stubborn?”

“Right, right, I, Bulan, agree. If he didn't love or like her, why would he kiss her? The male lead in this story overthought it. If he kisses, just kiss him back. Simple.” The two girls nodded vigorously and smiled sweetly, making the listener scratch his cheek lightly. He didn't want to shatter the kids' dreams, but...

A guy can do things with someone he doesn't love. Not every guy is like the male lead in a novel. And Phîi Porsche... What kind of guy is he?

Dear shook his head quickly, swatting away the crazy, stupid thoughts of the older boy next door again. But his brain memorized the advice of the two sisters without even trying.

Flirt back, huh? Or should I try it out... wait, Âi'Dear, are you really going to take advice from a fourteen and a sixteen year old?

He asked himself, but he listened to the two girls talk without missing a single sentence.

***

In the dining room of the Akramethakorn house, the eldest son of the house was frowning intensely upon seeing only his close friend chatting with his Phô and Mâe, but lacking the shadow of the little one, the owner of the red mouth he had kissed the other day.

“Oh, Porsche, come sit, quick! I'm hungry!” The moment she saw him, Dream called out as if it were her own house, making the listener burst out laughing.

“Heh, who's the owner's daughter here?”

“Me, of course. You're just the guard. Don't you know how to go home? Don't you know Auntie Ni is worried?” The moment she got an opening, would Nai Darinphan not score points for herself? Even though both his parents already doted on her immensely.

The thought made him just shake his head and return to the original topic.

“And where's Dear?” he said, slumping into a chair, prompting his Mâe to chime in support.

“Yes, where's the younger sibling, Dream?” The question made the one who said she was hungry, but was stabbing a shrimp fritter into her mouth without waiting for anyone, look up and smile politely at the adults.

“I forgot to tell you, Auntie. This afternoon when you came to invite me, I thought Nong was upstairs playing games. Then I just saw the Post-it on the fridge. Dear went to a friend's house today. Seems he'll be back in the evening. So I came to fill my stomach alone.” She said, smiling sweetly at the adults again, without turning to look at Purin, who had fallen silent immediately.

“But it's strange, Khrap. Earlier, Dear said he'd be home all day. And it's not even raining, yet he hung the laundry inside. It's like he's running away from someone.” She complained in her usual manner, making Purin's ears grow even quieter. His sharp eyes looked at his close friend's face, then turned away elsewhere as a feeling of guilt seized his heart.

Dream entrusted him to look after her younger sibling, but he went and did that. The young man pushed away the thought, even though he was sure.

The little one is running away from him.

***

“Half past eight. Âi'Dear, you're acting like you're running from debt.”

The young man who had just paid the motorbike taxi fare muttered to himself. He'd been at Âi'Sun's house since before noon, then stayed for dinner out of consideration for their family, until he rode pillion on his drunk friend—who didn't get home until almost three in the afternoon—out to find something to eat near the mouth of the soi, sat and played Winning Eleven with him for a bit more, before finally dragging himself home.

Absolutely confident he wouldn't run into Phîi Porsche.

Creeak

“Jae Dream must be complaining to death by now... ”

“Why are you only just getting home?”

Thud

The person who was opening the gate to enter the house froze on the spot. If the one asking him was his older sister, it wouldn't be like this. But the deep, soft voice he used to hear right by his ear—that was what made his eyes pop open. He looked up and met a pair of sharp, still eyes.

“Phîi Porsche... ”

Dear murmured softly, looking at the tall man sitting on the same stone bench... the stone bench that had once made him fall in love with this Phîi. And now Phîi Porsche was looking straight at him as if he had done something wrong.

Meanwhile, the little one's posture, frozen stiff right in front of the gate, made Purin stand up and stride over to the person who was making frantic eyes, as if afraid of something.

“Why are you running from me, Dear?”

“N-no... I'm not running.”

“Then what's this about not staying to see me?”

“I-I went to a friend's house.”

“Isn't it because you knew I'd be coming home?”

“Th-that's crazy! Phîi Porsche is definitely crazy! Who would know which day you're coming home?”

For now, he'd be stubborn. He could deal with the rest later. Dear could only keep his head down and answer rapidly, not daring to meet the eyes of the older boy next door who seemed to be narrowing his eyes suspiciously. And it sent a shiver through him—the feeling was like his dad catching him throwing away the wine he'd bought to save.

“Isn't it... because of that kiss?”

Thud

His whole body went numb. His heart almost stopped at the person who suddenly brought this up. His head snapped up to meet the eyes of the tall man looking at him with an unreadable expression. But for sure, the lips that usually held a smile were set in a straight line, making it all so serious it was frightening.

... the male lead secretly has feelings for her. If she didn't like him, didn't feel stirred, why would he kiss her?...

The words of the good-natured younger sister rang in his head again, making him purse his lips tight, then quickly swat them away. No way. Don't side with yourself like that, Dear. Phîi Porsche isn't gay. How could he have feelings for you?

The thought made Dear finally take a deep breath, then quickly say with a smile.

“Hey, Phîi, come on. Dear isn't so childish as to run from you over something like that. I know you didn't mean it. Just lips touching a little. I am not over-concerned about it.”

Yeah, right. Getting yelled at by Phîi, spacing out all day, then running off to hole up at a friend's house... so not overthinking, Âi'Dear.

The little one's answer made Purin frown even more sharply. He felt an indescribable dissatisfaction.

“Not thinking anything?”

“Uh... hmm.” Even though he noticed Phîi Porsche's face looked so still it was scary, he nodded for survival's sake anyway. His eyes also tried to avoid the well-shaped lips right in front of him. They were running from the truth like crazy, that it wasn't just a touch that day. Phîi Porsche fucking bit his lips.

“Is that so? Dear isn't thinking anything, then.”

“Hmm, no, not thinking, not thinking at all... Mmph!!!”

The one still insisting on his own train of thought could only widen his eyes to twice their size as the scorching warm lips of the person in front of him pressed down on his mouth quickly. Like if the previous time was an accidental touch of lips, this time was fucking intentionally kissing him right in plain sight, leaving the recipient just frozen in shock.

A kiss that might not be called a full kiss, as it was just Purin's lips pressing firmly against the mouth of the little kid next door, staying still like that. The field light shining in allowed the one with wide eyes to see only the bridge of the nose of the person tilting their head to kiss him.

He didn't know how long it lasted, only that it felt long... so long in Dranphat's perception. “Can you still call this Phîi not meaning it this time?”

Purin pulled away. But the shocked one was still in shock until the deep voice spoke up to ask, making him jolt violently. He looked up at the large man with incomprehensible eyes. By the time he could force a sound out, Dear felt like he'd been mute for several minutes.

“Why... Why did you kiss me?” A question that even Purin didn't understand himself. He didn't understand, just like the person asking, why he did this. He only knew he was displeased, dissatisfied, irritated with Dear saying that kiss meant nothing, was just lip-to-lip contact. So what was all his concern for its feelings these past few days?

Therefore, Purin didn't know. He didn't know if that night he'd been careless or actually wanted to test the softness of these red lips. But for sure, he knew why he kissed Dear tonight.

Since Dear said it wasn't intentional, he'd be intentional so they could talk this out clearly.

He was someone who disliked unresolved feelings.

“Not over-concerend, right?” The listener pursed his lips tight, looking up at the large older brother with annoyance. How could he not think a good deal after being intentionally kissed like this?

“Phîi Porsche, why did you do that?” The sulky demeanor of the person who had been trying to avoid his gaze the whole time made the irritated person feel strangely better. He liked seeing his little brother trying to act tough again, so a smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

“What are you smiling like a crazy person for? Okay, I ran away to your heart's content, right? So this time, look at me. Why did you kiss me, huh?” The angry one who started raising his voice at the person he'd always respected made Purin laugh out loud.

This was more like the Dear he knew.

Pat

The one about to complain fell silent immediately when a large palm landed on his well-shaped head and shook it gently, as if he were just a little kid. His large eyes still showed a sulky glint, even though the warmth of the hand was easing his anger until almost none remained.

Phîi Porsche is always fucking cheating. When you do this, I can't stay mad at you.

“Seriously, though, Dear... I don't know.”

“Huh?” The listener could only make a sound in his throat, looking at the person confessing so directly, who then continued in a slightly troubled voice that quickly relaxed.

“I really don't know why I kissed you.” An answer that made Dear go quiet for a moment before speaking up with his own conclusion.

“Probably because you're not dating anyone right now. Dear was close by, so you just did that, right?” He tried to make it a joke by shrugging a little, quirking his lips a little, but the hand shaking his head stopped immediately before Purin spoke in a heavy tone.

“I don't see Dear as a substitute for anyone. And yes, that night... I wanted to kiss you, Dear.”

Thud

The listener bit his own lips even tighter. He didn't know if he was trying to stop a smile from forming or the anger. He didn't know if Phîi Porsche was teasing him, so he could only look up and meet his eyes.

“Is Phîi Porsche gay?”

“No.” He barely had to think about this question, as Purin answered it immediately.

The large hand began stroking Dear's soft hair, something the owner of the hair didn't even notice, besides using his large, round, wide eyes to look up endearingly. No wonder his Mâe doted on this kid next door. When off guard, Dear made a cuter, more pleading face than Dream's pretending expressions.

“Then, exactly why did you kiss me?”

“Well, your mouth is red.”

“Hah!” The answer that slipped out of the mouth of the man known as utterly perfect made the young man just exclaim loudly, looking in disbelief. And that made Purin break into a wide smile, returning to the original teasing yet caring Phîi Porsche, who added.

“Well, your mouth is so red that I wanted to kiss it. Okay?”

Not okay. Not okay at all.

Dear bit his lips tight, as the not-okay thing was his own heart pounding violently from the affectionate gaze of the person in front of him, and also those words that made him think things. And that was enough to make him tilt his head away and take two steps back, escaping his own hot cheeks. His mouth also cursed.

“Phîi Porsche is fucking crazy.” Having said that, he turned to go back into the house, but had to stop his feet when the large older brother spoke up again.

“Dear.” And the damned heart ordered him to turn and look, completely losing his cool, like someone who had utterly adored Phîi Porsche since childhood. And that was a monumental mistake, because...

“It's not just red. I think it's very soft too.”

Gah

“Phîi Porsche is fucking crazy!!!”

This time he yelled loudly, then ran into the house immediately, not wanting anyone else to see that his cheeks were burning hot. The demeanor made Purin watch after him, amused, then laugh out loud.

Okay, it wasn't clear what was happening, but he figured at the very least, this kid wouldn't avoid him after returning to the condo. Even though he couldn't answer his own question about that kiss and this kiss either.

“Whatever.” Purin brushed away his own thoughts as he walked to the gate to return to his own house. But it seemed his hours of waiting weren't in vain, because the person who should have hidden his face and disappeared instead popped his head out and yelled.

“After Phîi Porsche leaves, close the gate for me, will you? Otherwise Jae Dream will scold me. Thank you, Khrap!” Having said that, he went back inside and locked the door quickly.

Meanwhile, Purin laughed out loud.

Well, he was back to being his good kid again. Where else would you get thanked by the thief who stole a kiss?

As for whatever he was thinking about, he'd let it go for now.

***

Ding-ding-dong

The soft chime indicating a message made the person sitting in the luxury car, staring intently at the large building signposted as a famous tutoring institute, look down, grab it, and open it to look.

Focus T^T 最愛の人 : Phîi Shin, today Mom said she'll pick me up. Probably won't get to see you for sure.

Just that. The message made the person sitting behind the steering wheel just look at it silently, then decide to type.

...It's okay...

He pressed send. It showed the other party had read the message but didn't reply, making Shin just smile faintly before placing it back where it was. His sharp eyes stared in the same direction, even though his peripheral vision saw a familiar, beautiful motorbike turn in and park not far from the front of the tutoring institute.

And soon enough, the person he had been waiting for since last week came out... a boy in the uniform of a famous all-boys school, smiling widely. The moment the person straddling the motorbike took off his helmet, he walked over and hugged the boy's shoulders, not caring about anyone's gaze.

If that boy had shied away even a little, Shin wouldn't have felt anything. But at this time, the two hands gripping the steering wheel clenched tightly. He watched the cute-looking boy lower his head shyly as the other put a helmet on him and then got on the back. A clear laugh probably rang out when his hand was pulled to tightly wrap around the driver's waist.

The motorbike drove off, but Shin clenched his jaw tightly and closed his eyes.

Phîi Shin, what does 'Phîi member Focus' mean? Focus can't read it.

Oh, this? 'Saiai no hito'

What does it mean? Focus isn't half-Japanese like you, you know. He still remembered the cute, pouty expression of his "romantic partner," making him lean in to press a kiss on the soft mouth, causing the other to widen his eyes before he told him the meaning of the name he'd saved himself.

It means... Most beloved person.

“Heh, most beloved person. I'm just a stupid fool who got cuckolded by a close friend.”

Having said that, Shin took a deep breath before shifting gears and driving off quickly. Even though his eyes were tearless, he was... in pain.