Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
Perspective - Third Person
"YOU! Will you practice seriously or not, Pheuak Monkey?"
"Ohhh, Phii No is so serious! You'll age quickly from that, you know! Look, look, playing football should be done like this." With that, Pheuak Monkey, who is violating the rules, stops his feet, lifts the ball to dribble under his feet, and then begins alternating between his left and right feet. This makes the team captain want to kick the ball into Khaen's face for real.
The coach said he had some business today, so he couldn't come to observe. That gives Ai'Khaen this opportunity.
"Stop! Other people are trying to practice. Are you going to compete in the world dribbling championship or what?" Techno shouts truly loudly.
You can't blame Ai'Khaen, though, because he is so crazy that the seniors all adore him and back him up to annoy people endlessly.
"Come on, man. It's rare for the teacher to be away. Relax, friend, relax." Then, P'No's close friend, Ai'Type, says with laughter, making the team captain's face turn fierce.
"Argh! So no one will take this seriously with me, right?" As soon as he finishes, Khaen, who is dribbling the ball, places his toe on it and stops it under his foot. Then he begins.
"No one takes it seriously like Phii. Have you ever heard this…?" With that, Pheuak Monkey clasps his legs together and starts dancing.
"Nobody, nobody…"
He mimics the moves, pointing his fingers here and there before continuing with:"…but you."
Then he jumps, bends his knees, points two fingers toward the senior, and winks. This completes his parody of the song Nobody and successfully annoys the fourth-year senior to the point that Techno throws his whistle onto the field.
"I can't take it anymore! If I don't kick your butt today, don't call me Techno!" shouts the team captain, who is trying to be serious. He then runs onto the field, chasing Khaen, who runs away, laughing loudly. Khaen even stops to wiggle his hips to provoke the senior further, making the onlookers' face turn red with anger.
As expected, amidst the loud laughter of the teammates, Khaen's antics always succeed in drawing laughter.
"Hey, Phii New! Hey, Ai'Ae?" But then someone familiar, Pond, appears at the sideline and calls out to the senior warmly. This makes New, a third-year senior from the Faculty of Environment, turn and smile broadly, showing his braces, before pointing in another direction.
"I saw him calling someone, not sure who. By the way, I was going to ask—does Ai'Ae have a romantic partner? Recently, he has been acting strange." P'New says.
At these words, Pond smiles faintly. Of course, who would Ai'Ae call, if not the person he disappeared with all night without notifying anyone? It was fortunate that Pond was smart enough to figure out that Ae must have been replenishing his blood (?) for sure.
"Whether it's a romantic partner or not, I can't say. I can only say he didn't return to the dorm last night."
"You didn't tell us anything, huh?" Type interrupts, laughing as Pond walks to find his friend.
Just a little turn around the corner, and a voice came on the wind.
"Then after I finish practice, I'll pick you up at your room. Let's go eat near the university."
Wow, Ai'Ae, do you even realize how much you adore your romantic partner?
"Alright, I'll pick you up…fine, I'll bring my car."
Ai'Ae nods repeatedly to the voice over the line, and the nosy Pond walks closer. He is planning to tease Ai'Ae, who looks serious, but he can't help noticing Ai'Ae's ears are bright red.
Hmm, what happened under the blanket last night that I don't know about? Pond thinks.
So Pond says: "I'll go with you, too."
Bang!
Stunned.
Pond here. Are you curious about what the hell that sound was? It was Ae elbowing me hard in the neck until I nearly fell to the ground, coughing and holding his throat tightly, feeling like I just caught a glimpse of heaven.
Then Ae does not show any concern. Instead, he puts on a serious face and asks in a voice even more serious. "What the hell are you doing behind me?"
Pond: My face must look all twisted now, and I'm not handsome anymore. If Chae-em leaves me, it is thanks to Ae!
"Cough! Ouch! Are you trying to be as obnoxious as possible? If you elbow me like this again, do you want Hanuman to offer a ring for you? Bloody hell, did I dislocate my neck or what?" The mixed-race guy holds his throat tightly.
That expression calms Ae down a bit. "I'm sorry. What are you doing behind me?"
"I just heard you talking to Pete, and I wanted to join. Who knew you'd elbow me in the neck? Seriously, did Pete top you or something for you to be this paranoid?" Pond complains.
Pond: Do you understand? Ae is really fiery. He's shorter than me by over ten centimeters, but I swear I won't use a log to confront a stick like him.
"Bloody fucking shit-lizard! You don't need to pick at my business. I'm not like you, thinking about such trashy things."
"I'm about to transform into a monitor lizard! You keep insulting me like that!" The mixed-race boy says, sounding annoyed, before narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Wait, didn't you say you wouldn't do things like me? Then you and Pete…" Before he can finish, Inthach points to his own cleated shoes and asks calmly.
"Before I ask, do you know what 'batana rub phak' means?" Of course, the person being asked goes silent. Even if they don't know the art of Muay Thai, and even if they can't remember strange Thai phrases, "bata" means foot, and "rub phak" must translate to face. So, roughly translating it according to Pond's brilliant brain, that means… foot rub on the face.
Pond: If I stand, I'm not scared at all. Rolling around on the ground, Ae will definitely rub my face with his foot and stomp on it.
"I don't know what that is. I'm Italian. I'm old enough to see you. I can change the subject. I'll say I'm going with you. I was planning to go home, but everyone in my family ran off for a trip, so I have no one to eat with. Chae-em went home too. So, I'm going with you… okay?" Then the mixed-race guy starts to plead with his friend, giving a cute look that only lifts the corner of my mouth.
"No… where was I? Oh, right, Pete." With that, the guy with the romantic partner goes back to talking on the phone.
He's not being stingy. He's just confident that if Pond goes with him, he'll definitely squeeze Pete until he spills the details from last night.
"Yeah, you ditch your friends when you have a partner!" Upon seeing this, the listener complains lightly, while...
"Hey, hey, Ai Khaen! Ai Ae invited us to eat steak in front of the university! Want to come along?" Pond turns to the center of the field and shouts at their overly-alert friend, who is currently being wrestled down with a leg hold by Phii Techno. Despite being at a disadvantage, the friend still manages to shout back.
"I'm cominggg! I'm freeee—Ahhh! Phii No! I was wrong! I won’t do a nobody-butt-you move on you againnn! Ahhh—my leggg!" The cries of pain echo back again, causing the senior students to burst into laughter at the fate of the Pheuak Monkey. Only one person sighs deeply.
"Ai Pete, can my friend come along?" Ae asks the person he is on the phone with.
The question makes the meddler perk up, barely suppressing his laughter.
Pond: Ai Ae, of all people? Ai Ae, who rarely cares what others think and usually goes in a big group wherever he goes, is now asking his romantic partner if a friend could tag along? Wow, that's quite a departure from the fierce demeanor of the guy who threatened me with a foot-to-face move.
Pond smirks. It's clear that Inthach is starting to reveal a side that no one has ever seen, little by little.
~~~
"I'm sitting here!"
"Ai Khaen, look at Ai Ae’s friend. Do they even want to sit next to you?" Techno comments with exasperation when they arrive at the steakhouse near the university.
Ai Ae's friend, Pete, is already waiting. Meanwhile, the junior immediately runs to grab the seat next to Ai Ae's friend without even asking for their consent.
"Do I need to ask, Phii?... Uh, Pete, I'm sitting here, okay? Is that fine? Alright, thanks, thanks! So, what should I eat?" Before the person he is asking can even open their mouth, the questioner is already nodding to himself, pulling out the menu from the table centerpiece.
Type couldn’t help but laugh. "You already asked."
"I asked, Phii! Pete already said yes, too. Pete is kind, not like his friend."
"Ouch! Why’d you knock my head, Phii?" The chatterbox protested softly, looking up at Phii Type, who had tapped his knuckles sharply against the junior’s head, causing him to grimace.
"I’m going to teach you something, Ai Khaen."
"Teach me what?” The listener immediately perked up with curiosity.
What is it? Beware of Phii Techno’s flying kicks? Be cautious of seniors hazing freshmen? Beware of unwashed laundry causing itchiness? Beware of damp clothes giving rise to rashes? Or...
"If you hate something intensely, it’ll creep up on you before you know it."
The one who had been lost in his wild thoughts scratches his head in confusion.
"And what exactly will creep up on me?" The question makes Techno laugh loudly.
"Here we go again, Ai Type’s life motto. Say it one more time."
"Hate something too much, and you’ll end up getting it," Type replies in a tone of mild annoyance before changing the subject, as he has no desire to explain further to the Pheuak Monkey.
Instead, he turns to the international junior.
"Are you ready yet, Nong? Looks like you can’t keep up with Ai Khaen. Want to order now?"
"Hey, Phii Type, don’t change the subject! Explain it to me first!" Khaen complains.
"I’ll explain once you’ve run three laps around the football field while dodging Ai No," Type says, turning to call the restaurant staff to take their orders.
Ae sighs at the chaos on the table. Originally, he had invited only Ai Khaen, but now Ai Pond has tagged along, and somehow Phii No, Phii Type, and Phii Champ have joined in as well.
Though, in truth, it isn’t so bad. After all, he didn’t know what to say to Ai Pete after their discussion about peeling shrimp earlier that morning.
"What are you eating?"
"What about you, Ae? What are you eating?"
"I ask you first," Ae says with a slight tilt of his head, prompting Pete, who avoids eye contact, to quickly look down at the menu again.
"Uh... So, what is Ae eating?" Pete asks again, as though, when flustered, he can only respond by saying something—anything.
What he doesn’t realize is that his flustered state only makes it more obvious to Ae how embarrassed he truly is.
"I ask you first, Ai Pete," Ae insists, his tone firm.
Pond, watching the exchange, leans back slightly and lets out a soft chuckle. "How long are you two going to keep playing mumi-mumi? Everyone else has already ordered, you know."
It isn’t entirely true, though, as Khaen is still trying to strong-arm a senior into treating him. Techno, unimpressed, has already declared, "Don’t even dream of eating for free, not even a single French fry."
Nevertheless, the two mumi-mumi culprits turn to look at each other.
"I’m not acting like an idiot, as you said," Pete mutters defensively.
"I didn’t call you an idiot. I just said you’re being mumi-mumi," Pond replies with a smirk. "See? You’re mumi-mumi with Ai Pete, and then you’re mumi-mumi..."
"Damn it, how much longer are you going to keep saying mumi!" Ae swears softly, clearly trying to cover his awkwardness.
While he doesn’t entirely understand Pond’s alien jargon of mumi-mumi, it isn’t as if he’s clueless. He has always thought those lovey-dovey couples are ridiculously silly. Now though, are he and Ai Pete acting like that too?
"I’ll have a black pepper pork steak with an extra ham steak," Ae blurts out, breaking the awkwardness.
Pete quickly chimes in, "Then I’ll have the same..."
"You’re not going to finish that. Just pick one," Ae interrupts immediately, knowing full well that Pete doesn’t have the appetite of his football team.
His gaze is firm, making Pete even more flustered as their table-mates turn to look at him expectantly.
"Uh... this one then," Pete stammers, randomly pointing at the menu.
Ae nods and turns to the restaurant staff. "One pork steak set with an extra ham steak, and one chicken steak with silly sauce... What drink are you having?"
"Uh... plain water is fine," Pete says softly.
"What about you guys?" Ae asks, turning to the seniors, who all stare back at him in unison—unlike his close friend, who is chuckling quietly.
Damn it, does Ai Ae really not notice that everyone at the table is staring at him being mumi-mumi with Ai Pete?
"Uh, I’ll have Coke... probably Coke for everyone," one of the seniors replies.
"Alright, one liter of Coke and one bottle of plain water," Ae tells the staff before turning his attention back to the person next to him.
"Do you want anything else?"
"Uh... no," Pete replies in a small voice, his heart pounding and his body trembling from the way Ae takes care of everything for him.
Meanwhile, Champ, a fourth-year senior, seems to notice Ae slipping further into his private world with the younger student and can’t help but comment.
"Are you always this attentive, Ai Ae?" Champ asks, prompting Ae to pause immediately and raise an eyebrow slightly.
The senior waves his hand dismissively, as if to say he means no harm. After all, despite being a junior, no one dares mess with Ae.
"I didn’t mean anything weird. I'm just surprised at how well you take care of Pete," Champ adds, glancing at Pete before meeting Ae's gaze again.
"There’s nothing strange about it. This is just how I am," Ae responds calmly.
"Oh, really? You take care of me this well too, do you? Funny, I just recall you elbowing me not long ago. I’d bet you’ve never left a mark on Pete," Champ teases.
At those words, Ae's foot stomps heavily on his friend’s foot under the table. The culprit merely lets out a low laugh.
"Big mouth," Ae mutters.
It’s not that he doesn’t want to explain, but seeing Pete now avoiding everyone’s gaze makes him hold back. He wonders what this group of seniors—who seem relatively harmless—would think if they knew he and Pete are more than just friends.
And he has to admit it: he does take care of Pete more than anyone else.
"Hey, Phii Champ, don't dwell on it. Ai'Ae is such a genuinely good person. He once carried me, completely drunk, to stay overnight at his dorm!" However, just as everyone focuses on the short guy, Pheuak Monkey interjects immediately and starts recounting the story to his favorite international friend.
Wow, having a handsome, rich friend with such a great personality? Ai'Khaen is all for it.
"Ai'Ae ever tell you this? The first time I met him was during the freshman initiation. We ran into each other at a bar, and my senior warned me not to get close to those engineering students. So, naturally, I couldn't stand the sight of him. That same night, I tried picking a fight with him. But as soon as I got drunk, all my other friends disappeared. Only Ai'Ae was there to drag me back to the dorm. He's such a genuinely good guy!" The one recounting, initially casual, changes his tone suddenly, offering exaggerated praise for Ae, which makes everyone laugh.
Ai'Khaen has probably told this story dozens of times already.
"I did helped you too, though." Pond interjects.
"I never said you didn't help, Ai'Pond. You're just as amazing!" The optimistic one laughs heartily, entirely unbothered by anything, even after hearing Tinn's disgust earlier.
The abrupt topic change doesn’t surprise anyone; they simply go along with Khaen's habit of jumping between subjects, leaving even Pete feeling at ease.
Perhaps this chaotic style is for the best?
The thought of someone seemingly recovering from embarrassment comes with a newfound appreciation for Ae's football teammates, letting go of what happened in the morning—at least until…
"Hey, this fried shrimp salad still has its shells on!"
"Just eat it as it is; the shells are full of calcium!" But Type shakes his head and comments to himself.
"When eating shrimp, you have to peel the shells. Eating them whole is unpleasant. It needs to be peeled—soft meat, unmatched by anything." The one speaking means nothing more than sharing his personal preference.
Yet, from one corner of the table, someone seems to drift into thoughts of something else. And at that exact moment, Pheuak Monkey calls out.
"Hey, Pete, are you hot or something? Your face is so red!" The question leaves Pete offering a dry smile while Pond nearly bursts out laughing.
Pond: Ai'Pete's face turns red, but Ai'Ae's face is so dark it's almost black. Oh, I really want to know how you all managed to peel the shrimp in such a way that you jumped like this. Still, no matter how curious I am, I won't ask because I genuinely fear the sight of Ai'Ae's foot rubbing my face.
~~~
"Nobody else but you. Ha, nobody else but you~"
On a bright Monday morning, Ai'Khaen has just arrived at the university before strolling along the quiet walkway. Noticing the time, which shows he still has plenty of time left, he hums happily as he walks. "Aah, how does this go again? All I can sing is 'nobody, nobody,'" he says, scratching his head. Then, someone who can only remember classic songs starts pulling out other songs to mumble along to. As he passes by the International Studies building, Khaen can't help but smile widely.
"Does Ai'Pete have class today? I really need to thank him. Last Friday, I was so full," Khaen says, laughing to himself.
Last Friday, he was broke and had run out of money, sharing everything with Ai'Pete because he had spent all his cash on snacks. When he wanted to hint for his older friends to treat him to a meal, nobody was kind enough to do so, and then Ai'Pete came to the rescue.
At first, he thought he would have to withdraw money to pay for his steak, but Ai'Pete said he would treat him instead.
"Hey, Ai'Pete, don't treat him. Ai'Khaen eats like he's a vacuum."
"He doesn't even know how to be considerate. Soon enough, he'll order every menu item."
Wow, what do they think I am? Khaen thinks.
The older students who have treated him to meals say things like that, leaving him with a pitiful expression as he replies softly.
"I'm not doing that, really. Ai'Pete, you don't have to treat me. I can cover my own share."
What he says is genuinely considerate, given that they've only met a few times. They aren't that close, but Ai'Pete still smiles that handsome smile that makes even a straight guy like him melt. It's no surprise that the girls are practically drooling over him, thanking him as well.
"I still haven't treated Khaen to thank him for helping me that day."
As soon as Khaen mentions it, Ai'Pete goes, "Oh," and readily agrees to be treated, with the older students pestering them about what's going on. Ai'Ae simply cuts in that it's just a little matter.
By the way, I haven't asked what this little matter is. Ai'Pete doesn't seem like the type to get into trouble. Or is it that he's so handsome that someone is jealous? Hmm, or is it a girl issue? Nah, Ai'Pete doesn't seem like that kind of guy. He's too good for that, Khaen thinks restlessly, pondering what could have gotten his polite friend into a fight that day.
"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. Ai'Pete is my friend. If there's an issue, I have to help," he concludes, chuckling to himself as he prepares to hum a tune while heading to his department, until...
Bang!
"Get out of the way!"
Whoa, who said that!?!
As he turns back, Khaen bumps into someone who speaks to him in an annoyed tone, and he has to look over confrontationally. His eyes widen when he sees who stands before him.
"It's you, you fucking shit-lizard!" He exclaims thinking, It's Ai'Pete's international friend! Damn, seeing his face sets me off.
Meanwhile, Tinn frowns sharply at the name Khaen calls him. The irritation he's built up throughout the semester break intensifies, making his sharp features even more rigid. His piercing gaze seems frightening, yet there's nothing Ai'Khaen can do as he continues to point a finger accusingly.
"What are you doing here?" Khaen asks, irritated, as he struggles to find the words, but the annoyance spills out.
"My faculty is here. What are you Thai commoners doing around here?" Somehow, the phrase Thai commoners fuels Khaen's anger even more.
Khaen's the type who holds strong grudges. If he thinks someone is bad and that person treats him poorly, he'll hate them even more. Hearing this guy speak like he's drawing a line between the two programs annoys him enough that he nearly wants to kick him. However, he quickly realizes that starting a fight would be a terrible idea right now, so he decides to curse instead.
"So what? Is your dad the owner of the university or something? I'll walk wherever I want. Pete is such a good guy. How does he have a fucking shit-lizard for a friend like you? He should just cut ties already. Pete would probably be better off." Khaen fires off, without even looking at the person he's insulting.
Tinn stays silent for a moment before he lets out a mocking smile. "Don't you know who my father is?"
"As long as your dad isn't the prime minister, I don't care. Even if he were, I still wouldn't know! I'm out of touch with society!" Khaen says loudly, making Tinn furrow his brows in a way that seems to miraculously lessen his previous irritation.
"My last name is Metthanun."
It's a well-known surname that should have made the other guy's eyes go wide, but Khaen only responds with: "So what?"
His aggressive stance, coupled with the genuine lack of recognition in his eyes, surprises Tinn. It even sparks a bit of curiosity in him. Khaen might not know now, but once he finds out later, he'll probably react just like everyone else.
"Talking to a nitwit won't get me anywhere." Tinn says coolly before turning to walk into the faculty building, if not for…
Grab.
"Did you just call me a nitwit? Fine, I'm a nitwit! But don't you dare insult Phii Pete again. Ai'Ae doesn't want him upset, and neither do I. Pete is my friend!" Khaen grabs Tinn's wrist right then, making him stop and glance down at his wrist before meeting Khaen's eyes with a look that says…
"Is that all you wanted to say?"
"Damn it!" Khaen shakes his hand with a gesture as if to push something away, cursing under his breath.
Khaen's good mood vanishes instantly thanks to the arrogance of this bloody fucking cur. This only makes Tinn smirk before turning into the faculty building, even as his irritation returns to him.
He's so protective, it's laughable. Everyone in this world is selfish. They might say they care, but when push comes to shove, they only care about themselves!
A thought crosses his mind, recalling an incident from a few weeks ago.
"I want to intern at the company." He had told his brother one morning, but what he received in return was a smile and a gentle tone that made him want to vomit.
"No, your job is to focus on your studies."
"I'm eighteen now! You started interning at eighteen too!"
"As a messenger boy? That's not for you, Tinn. Let's talk about it in a couple more years."
"I can do it! I'll deliver documents or do whatever the hell needs to be done." Tinn clearly remembers how he had said this to his brother in a defiant tone.
Yet the other man had only smiled, though his eyes held no hint of that smile. Even though his voice sounded like a caring older brother, the meaning behind his words…
I'm telling you now, no matter how hard you try, even if you die trying… you'll never catch up to me. If you don't even have the chance to catch up, the day you beat me will never come!
This thought makes Tinn curse to himself as he clenches his fists tightly. His trust in people long since vanished. It's been gone ever since he learned certain truths. Seeing people who trust their friends, side with them, and look at the world with such naïve optimism irritates him so much that he feels like doing something about it.
He's curious to see what will happen.
Thus, the young man walks toward the classroom, and as expected, someone is quietly listening to music in the corner. He steps forward and sits down beside them.
"Oh, hello, Tinn," Pete greets him with the same friendly expression as always, an expression that makes Tinn feel more at ease than when he is with anyone else, prompting him to speak.
"If you're thinking of dating a guy, wouldn't it be better to date me instead of that Thai commoner, Pete?"
Tinn says it, genuinely curious about who Pete would choose between him, someone who has everything, and that Thai commoner who has nothing. After all, in the end, humans always choose the best, even Pete.
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