Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
Perspective - Third Person
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Pant... pant... "You must be out of your mind, no doubt about it!"
Right now, Kirakorn is splashing water on his face, scooping it up from the faucet until his face, hair, and even his t-shirt are soaking wet. He doesn't care if anyone calls him crazy, as both his hands grip the edge of the sink tightly. The reflection in the mirror shows his face... flushed red.
My face is really red! Damn it, go back to normal!
With that thought, Khaen splashes water on his face several more times, panting heavily, and then tries to collect himself.
Just now, Ai'Tinn had leaned over the table to embrace me, brought his face close to mine, and even said... he'd give me a three-month anniversary gift. Come on, Khaen, laugh it off! Laugh at how ridiculous he's being.
It's not... because my face is hot.
"Damn it," Khaen mutters, realizing what is happening. The moment he grasps the thought, the madman who has soaked the floor sinks to a squat, vigorously rubbing his drenched hair with both hands.
Because the moment Tinn said he was flirting, I... got flustered. Great, now I've gone and fallen for a guy!
"Uhm, are you okay, Nong...?"
Whoosh.
As someone walks in to ask if Khaen is alright, he suddenly springs up, standing straight and inhaling the bathroom's scent deeply before rallying his spirits.
"Don't let yourself fall for it. Not creeped out, not disgusted, but don't fall for it. I just told him I don't know anything, and now that I realize he's flirting with me, I'm blushing like this. Too quick, Khaen!"
After scolding himself, he walks out of the bathroom after hiding for over fifteen minutes. Before leaving though, he turns to the person who spoke to him.
"I'm fine, Phii. Thanks for asking," he says, walking out of the bathroom, leaving many confused as to whether this kid... is all there.
Once outside, Khaen pats his cheeks to gather his nerves, which scattered the moment Ai'Tinn leaned in earlier. Khaen tries to regain his composure, even though his face and hair are still wet, and his t-shirt is soaked halfway.
When Khaen reaches the front of the store, he sees that the person who invited him on this date (fine, he admits it, Tinn is being very forward) isn't alone.
Who are they?
Two well-dressed men are talking to Tinn, and Khaen furrows his brow. At first, he thinks they might be Tinn's friends, but judging by their appearance... they seem to be from a different generation.
"Ugh, walking in now would be embarrassing." No matter how bold he is, Khaen knows that looking like he just fought with a stray dog isn't the best time to stand next to Ai'Tinn. So, he wanders over to lean on the railing, idly glancing around.
Tinn's back to his deadpan face again.
People can't help but gossip in their minds. After all, Ai'Tinn, who has been smiling more often recently, has gone back to his coldly aloof expression while talking to those two. He even seems a little stuck-up, which clearly makes him irritating to the pair. Tinn seems to cut the conversation short because the two look slightly displeased for a moment.
Ah, I'm pretty observant, huh?
The one who doesn't even realize he's practically glaring at Tinn looks strangely proud of his own observational skills. As soon as he sees the two men walk away, he plans to walk over to the person waiting for him. However, he overhears something.
"Why even bother talking nicely to him?"
"Come on, if he didn't have Metthanun attached to his name, he'd just be another drug-addicted rich kid. Don't waste your time on him."
Drug-addicted rich kid!!!
Khaen immediately turns to look at the two men, his eyebrows furrowed as he clearly hears every word. There's no doubt about who they are talking about...
"Where have you been? And why are you so soaked?"
Whip.
"Ai'Tinn, what did they mean by that?" Khaen doesn't even notice the person walking over to him is carrying a bag. Instead, he turns to Tinn with a sharp voice, pointing back at the two jerks now walking further away.
Tinn only raises an eyebrow slightly, his eyes flashing with mockery, and calmly asks: "What did they say about me?"
"They called you a drug-addicted rich kid. Are you doing drugs or what!?!"
Thud.
As Khaen asks in disbelief, the listener falls silent. The sharp eyes, which had just softened, harden once more, staring straight ahead before asking, "Do you believe them?"
"If I believed them, would I be asking you right now, you damn fool? Don't look at me like that! I'm here waiting to hear from you, so you'd better tell me right now what they meant!" Even though the speaker does not think about anything beyond an immediate question, for the listener, these words are a balm on the wound reopened by what he just heard.
"If you really want to listen, let's find somewhere to sit and talk."
"Let's go!" Khaen agrees immediately, not wanting his suspicions to grow any further.
~~~
Even though they agreed to sit and talk, Tinn seems more focused on just sitting and not talking.
"When are you going to finish that coffee? Hurry up, will you?"
After following him into a café and sitting in a quiet corner, Khaen's itching to ask but holds back several times. Tinn orders coffee, the waiter serves it, and seriously, does he drink one drop at a time? How has he not finished the cup yet!?!
"There's... nothing interesting about it."
"I'll decide whether it's interesting or not. Your job is to tell me. So, hurry up and finish. My time is money... But if you buy me another piece of pie, I'll wait for you."
That last line isn't about greed. It's just that this pie is bloody delicious, and I definitely don't have enough for the ride home if I pay. So, this time, he'll have to treat... I'll take getting bribed with food.
After Khaen says that, the sharp-tongued Khun-chai casually orders it, then turns back to meet those single-lidded eyes staring him down, even though... his hand still hasn't let go of the pie.
In the end, the observer decides. "Do you want to try listening to a story?"
"I don't want to listen to a story; I want to hear about you!" Even though Khaen says that, the person who places the coffee cup down on the saucer begins anyway.
"Once upon a time, there were two siblings..." The listener wants to complain about what a terrible story this is and that he doesn't want to listen, but seeing the eyes fixed on the coffee cup as if recalling something makes him hold his tongue.
"In a big house where the younger brother thinks he is all alone, the father works, and the mother attends social events, there is only the older brother who caters to him in every way. If he wants something, the brother finds it for him. If he wants to do something, the older brother lets him do it. But when he turns eight... The younger brother is sent to study abroad, throwing a tantrum, complaining, and making a fuss about not wanting to go, but no one listens. Only one person talks about the necessity..."
"Tinn, Tinn, listen to your brother. You have to go study, do you know? You will become good at it. Your father and mother love you and care for you, which is why they want you to study."
"Then why doesn't Phii Tul have to go?"
"Because no one loves your brother. No one wants your brother to do well. Tinn has people who love him though. Don't disappoint them." The image in his memory seems to appear again, causing the person holding the coffee cup to squeeze it tighter.
"…The older brother accompanies the younger brother to the boarding school, stays as a friend, and looks after him before flying back. At that time, the younger brother thinks of the older brother as everything to him. He is the only one he will listen to. If anyone speaks ill of the older brother, the younger brother will not stand idly by. Even when friends tease about the older brother, he never doubts, until trouble arises, resulting in the school's reprimands frequently."
Tinn looks up at the person quietly listening to him. Khaen does not interrupt, even though he usually would not sit still like this, and he smiles… a smile that he knows without looking in a mirror what kind of smile it is.
"...because the younger brother was abandoned by his parents, because the older brother contacted him rarely, the younger brother became attached to friends, and started to behave recklessly. Before he was 15, the younger brother was invited by friends to a party at the house of someone they knew. They snuck out of the dorm and found out that it was not an ordinary party... It was a party where everyone was using drugs. Strangely enough, even though they held these parties every week, as soon as the younger brother attended just once, the police raided the place. Everyone was arrested, and there was a small headline in the news in Thailand that read "High-Society Drug Users Arrested Abroad."
Tinn laughs, but it is not a laugh of joy.
"Even though a drug test found nothing in the younger brother's system and he was not charged, he was called back to Thailand. His father looked at him in disappointment, and his mother was furious, saying he was ungrateful. It was a disgrace to the family. Only the older brother comforted him on the day the society ridiculed the youngest heir of a billionaire. The younger brother thought the older brother was the only one by his side. But then…"
As he reaches this point, Tinn's hands holding the coffee cup tremble, and he did not know if it was from anger or sadness.
"…the younger brother, who was about to be sent back abroad because his mother could no longer bear to look at him, learned the truth... That day, the older brother was heavily drunk and revealed everything. The older brother was the one who persuaded their parents to send the younger brother to study abroad. The older brother hired the younger brother's friends to take him to that party. The older brother was the one who informed the police. The older brother tipped off the reporters in Thailand. The older brother was the one who sensationalized the news. Behind the scenes, the older brother did everything to make the younger brother feel worthless. And that day, the older brother said..."
Tinn saw his reflection in the dark coffee, recalling the words from that day that made him... fall apart.
"You should just die and get it over with."
Tinn spreads his hands in the air, smiles, and simply says, "It's over. This story ends here."
Having finished, Tinn looks at the person who has been quietly staring down for who knows how long. He wants to see the reaction of the person across from him, but when he sees them keep their head down in silence, he almost says it is a joke.
"Khaen?" Suddenly, the person sitting opposite him stands up abruptly, prompting him to call out. Then he sees something he never expected to see.
"Why are you crying?"
Yes, right now, Kirakorn has tears streamed down his cheeks, and he has to use one hand to wipe them away clumsily.
Thud.
Then suddenly, he grabs Tinn's hand and shouts. "Take me to your house right now!"
"Why are we going?"
This time, Kirakorn turns around angrily, and his voice becomes louder. "I'm going to punch your brother in the face, that fucking shit-lizard! The term fucking shit-lizard is still too mild for someone like him! How could he do this to you? Does he even have any humanity left!!!"
It is almost frightening, except that Khaen is using the back of his hand to wipe away tears from his face, sobbing so much that everyone in the café turns to look.
Thud.
"Sit down first."
"I won't sit! I'm going to beat your brother up!" The speaker can only shout in anger.
Instead of feeling embarrassed by the whispers around him, Tinn smiles... a smile filled with relief, and simply says… "Thank you."
"I don't understand. Why are you thanking me?" Tinn, after expressing his gratitude, simply pulls Khaen back down to sit again. Although Khaen grumbles, he eventually complies, sitting down and taking a tissue to blow his nose loudly. He even uses the same tissue to wipe his face.
Khaen's adorable behavior, trying so hard to make a scene but ending up crying, makes Tinn, who feels as if he was drowning moments ago, feel like he can breathe again. Tinn has never been able to think of the past and smile like this before. It has always left him breathless. He always sees his brother's angry and hateful eyes. Not this time. Not with Khaen sitting by his side...
For the first time in years, Tinn feels at peace.
"I want to kill your brother. How can he do this to you?" Khaen says, still not letting it go, and Tinn calmly replies.
"I tell you, it's just a story."
"But your face isn't telling me it's just a story. I may be a pea-brain, but if you tell me it's true, even if you pretend it's a story, I'll still believe you!"
Again, Khaen's straightforward words make Tinn feel like he isn't just the worthless trash his brother tries to make him feel like.
"You know, if you punch Tul Metthanun, you might end up spending some time in jail. Then who knows what could happen to your parents... Is it really worth it?" Khaen clenches his fists tightly, wanting to shout, Don't threaten me! Don't make up excuses! I don't believe you! If Tul can do this to his own brother though, what will he do to others?
"But I hate him. Just hearing about him makes me hate him!"
Tinn laughs, surprised that in this lifetime, someone can hate the monster his brother has become. If his brother doesn't get drunk that night because he found out P'Wadi was pregnant... Tinn would still be a fool like everyone else.
"Promise me one thing."
"What?" Khaen, his nose red from crying, asks in an aggressive tone, though he seems angrier at the person being talked about rather than at Tinn.
"If you meet my brother, don't cause any trouble."
"Why?" Khaen snaps back, his tone just as annoyed.
If Tinn ever felt any hesitation about pursuing a guy, today's events make it clear to him... It's Khaen. Only this Khaen-ta-lup will do.
"I like you."
Thunk.
Khaen immediately spins around, mouth agape, staring at Tinn, who casually drops the word "like" as if it's nothing. Is this the right time to say something like that, in the middle of a serious conversation? Has being hurt by his brother messed him up in the head?
"So, because I like you, don't go throwing yourself into danger, understand?" Tinn's sharp eyes are firm and commanding, but Khaen isn't afraid. In fact, he thinks there's no way he can stop himself from punching Tinn's brother in the face.
"No."
"Then you're paying for both pies."
"Hey! Don't mess with me like that. You know I've got no money left, not even for the bus home! How am I supposed to get back now?" Khaen, realizing the conversation is over, immediately switches from determination to full-on whining. If he could dump his last bit of change out to show Tinn, he would.
"Promise."
"No."
"The cost of the pie..."
"Fine, fine, I promise! What kind of person are you? After all your brother did, and I still can't get back at him!" In the end, Khaen gives in and agrees. Tinn smiles slightly, even though deep down, he doesn't want to stop Khaen from getting revenge. The problem is, there's no way to get back at his brother. It would only cause more trouble.
Even though Tinn tries everything to expose his brother's actions, he hasn't found any evidence. When he returns to Thailand, he discovers... nothing belongs to him anymore. Not a single thing.
"I just don't get rich people. You're real siblings, yet he can hurt you like this? And your parents... they're so dumb, letting him fool them like that! Ugh, the more I think about it, the more pissed off I get. And on top of that, he accuses you of doing drugs. What kind of nonsense is that? Honestly, shit-lizard doesn't even cover it. There should be something worse. Like double shit-lizard or something…"
As Khaen takes a bite of pie, he continues to rant, while Tinn, who's just recounted his past, quietly sips his coffee, feeling happier than ever before when talking about this.
Once Khaen runs out of things to complain about, Tinn places the bag he brought in the center of the table and pushes it forward.
"What's this?"
"It's for you." Khaen is about to snap that he's trying to hit him over the head again, but then he notices the logo on the bag. He peeks inside and, upon seeing the contents, looks up at Tinn in disbelief. He pulls out a rectangular box, sets it on the table, and opens it.
"Hey! What is this, Tinn?!"
"It's yours." Even though Khaen is trembling with excitement, especially at the sight of the gadget in his favorite color that he's wanted for ages, he shakes his head vigorously, almost gritting his teeth as he pushes the item back. Now he understands why people want to be someone's kept lover. This is what it feels like—getting exactly what you've always wanted, only to have to return it.
"No, no, no! I'm not taking it. Don't you dare flash that in front of me. I won't let myself be bought! No way!" As he speaks, he even raises his hands to cover his eyes, which looks adorably endearing to Tinn, who can't help but smile again. He knew Khaen would react like this.
"Who said I'm giving it to you for free?"
"Huh?" Khaen peeks through his fingers, watching as Tinn casually sips his coffee again.
Seriously, can that cup refill itself? How is it still not empty?!
"I'm letting you pay for it in installments." The more confused Khaen looks, the more amused Tinn seems to get.
"You said you'd ask your mom to charge it to her card and then pay her back, right? What if, instead of your mom, it's me? I buy it for you now, and you pay me back a thousand baht per month. This way, I'm not just throwing money at you, and you don't get it for free." Because Tinn has started to figure out the strange person that is Khaen-ta-lup Kirakorn, Tinn said this more seriously, making the listener feel that it makes sense.
"But then I'm still in debt to you."
"No, because the device is in my name, so how can it be a debt? Ever heard of a hire purchase?"
"Uh, like paying off a car." When Tinn nods, Khaen, who has been wanting it all along, finally reaches out to touch the gadget as if afraid it might bite. Then, he grabs it, looking up at Tinn, who is finally acting decently. He asks one more question.
"You're sure?"
"If you don't take it, I won't use it either. I already have one device and two tablets. What would I need another one for?"
Ugh, bloody rich kid!
His heart may resist, but his hands swiftly grab the device, turning it on to admire its beauty. If he could, he'd probably plant a kiss on it. As he listens to the person in front of him, they add more details.
"I bought it with a package deal to lower the price. You'll owe me less, but you'll have to change your number."
"No problem! My old SIM? I'm ready to toss it!" Khaen cheers enthusiastically, only to pause for a moment when he opens the contacts and sees a single name standing out, making him look up again.
"You can pay off your debt over time."
"So..." Khaen-ta-lup starts to realize that what he's been using as leverage doesn't seem to be working anymore, especially when the other person lifts a phone of the exact same color and says...
"Your number's already in my phone."
How on earth am I supposed to send Tinn's picture to Lemon now?
Hearing that, Khaen lets out a groan, imagining his sister's face as she's ready to tear his throat out. His brain works overtime as he glances at the device in his hand.
"Well, can I take a picture of you then? I'll set it as your caller ID for when you call."
I just want to smack my mouth until it rips.
The football player mutters to himself about his stiff, robotic line delivery. It sounded suspicious no matter how he phrased it. The person listening raises an eyebrow slightly before standing up and walking behind Khaen. Then, they lean down until their face is almost touching his.
"Wha... what are you doing?"
"Taking a picture, of course. I don't like solo pictures. Let's take one together instead."
"But I don't want to!" the listener firmly insists, making it easy for the person who went through the effort to walk behind him to stop.
"Then we won't take one."
Grab.
"Fine! Fine, we'll take it together. Bloody high-maintenance! Can't even take a solo picture, has to take it together. Hurry up! Smile quickly. I'm about to take it." Khaen grumbles endlessly, pulling Tinn's arm to bring him closer—maybe a little too close.
"Hurry up, are we taking it or not?" Just as he's about to complain more, the other person cuts him off. So, Khaen turns to look at the camera, quickly snaps the picture, and beams with pride at its HD clarity. He completely forgets the dangerous figure standing nearby. Meanwhile, Tinn glances at Khaen's bright, happy face, focused entirely on the device in his hand, and nearly presses his nose against him—if it weren't for that joyful smile, which he doesn't want to ruin.
~~~
If I want to court him, I have to accept him the way he is. Tinn tells himself.
"Here, here, the house up ahead."
In truth, Khun-chAi'Tinn had planned to drive Khaen home from the beginning, thinking that along the way, he might open up and talk to him more. However, from the city center mall all the way to his house, the doll sitting next to him just kept playing with his phone, only looking up to give directions. Tinn ends up shaking his head in disbelief.
"Ah, we've arrived. Thanks for the ride." Khaen looks up again as the car stops, carefully placing the brand-new smartphone, which he just put a glass screen protector on and a case bought (adding another twelve hundred to his debts), into the box with care. With one hand, he unbuckles his seatbelt while quickly stating that he is getting out, showing no regard for the driver.
His attitude causes Ai'Tinn, who covers all expenses, to frown.
Grab.
"Is that all for a farewell?"
"Well, what do you expect me to say? I'm Thai. Should I give you a kiss on the cheek? A peck on the lips?"
"Fine. I've lived abroad for a long time. I don't mind." The listener's mouth hangs open in disbelief, wanting to slap himself, and he quickly retorts, "But I do mind! You've already kissed me twice, and now you want more..."
"Let's make it a third time." Although Khaen is being ridiculous, seeing the handsome guy with a smart mouth speaking seriously and staring with sparkling eyes leaves him at a loss. He still feels grateful that he bothered to give him a ride.
"Um... can we skip the kiss?" Khaen starts to negotiate.
"Pay me for the pie."
"Not that, Ai'Tinn."
"Pay for the new device."
"Ai'Tinn!"
"The fare for the ride back!"
"Fine!!! You really want to kiss that badly, huh, you fucking shit-lizard? Come on, come kiss me!" After arguing with him for a while, and with him bringing up all sorts of excuses, the person who doesn't want to feel indebted shouts out, filling the car with his voice, even with his face flushed. However, someone like Khaen speaks his mind, and as soon as he finishes, he looks up and closes his eyes.
His posture prevents him from seeing the smile of the person looking at him, who is grinning wide. Khaen only knows that a fingertip is gently touching his cheek, making him speak even with his eyes shut.
"Are you... sure?" Flirt!
Not sure about it, warm lips press against his mouth, grinding and gently rubbing. The receiver jolts in surprise but still manages to keep his eyes closed, telling himself that there's nothing embarrassing about it between two guys. This prompts Tinn to move his hand to support the back of Khaen's neck, then press his mouth down firmly.
Once pressed together, their bodies start to shift, and Tinn's tongue begins to work. What begins as a lick turns into gentle nudges at the corners of Khaen's mouth, making the one with closed eyes feel strangely different. Despite having been kissed twice before, this one feels completely different because it... feels good.
Warm, wet lips with gentle touches feel incredibly nice.
Hmm, wet?
"Enough already! Why are you licking my lips? Are you a dog or something?!" The person whose lips were licked pushes Tinn away with all his might, his face flushed as he shouts in the car, glaring at the one who seems oblivious and continues licking his own lips.
"How can it be called a kiss if you don't use your tongue?"
"Just touching lips is still a kiss!" Khaen argues back, prompting the listener to shake his head.
"Too childish."
"Ew, then you can go kiss like an adult with someone else! You take an inch and want a mile. You flirt just to kiss? I'm done talking to you! I'm going home." Khaen says, quickly opening the door to get out of the car, fearing that a fourth kiss might begin the moment after this.
The driver merely watches him go, having no intention of following him out for more teasing, considering that today has already been more than he expected. However, just before Tinn drives off, the door suddenly swings open again.
"Anyway, thanks a lot for today! I'll take good care of it," Khaen leans in, holding up a bag with his new device and flashing a wide smile.
Then, the Pheuak Monkey shuts the door without noticing the stunned expression on the driver's face. For a moment, Tinn tells himself, "I should be the one thanking you."
With that, Tinn firmly resolves that he will not let Khaen slip away from him.
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