Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
Since he had declared that he would make the other party fall head over heels in love with him, Rain living under the same roof counted as a good opportunity. If it weren't for... the sharp eyes that often looked down at his small hips, and the mocking smile that made him want to cover his butt all the time, that is.
He knew they were both men, what was there to be shy about? But what could he do? Once he knew Phîi Payu was okay with men, he couldn't help feeling like an innocent young woman who had never been deflowered.
Well, I did initiate it once.
Finally, unable to bear the gaze any longer, Rain announced that he would go home, in a voice as faint as a cat's meow.
So now, a large car was parked in front of the uninhabited house.
"Are your parents home?"
"Why are you asking?" Rain turned to look suspiciously, while the driver unbuckled his seatbelt.
"I have to go down and pay my respects. I took their son to stay over all night like this."
"Hey! But we were in separate rooms!"
"I didn't say we slept in the same room."
The small frame fell completely silent after arguing with a flustered face. The more he looked at Payu, who raised a puzzled eyebrow as if asking what he said wrong, the more he became stunned. It's because just now I thought of us staying over together as in... sleeping in the same bed... doing more than sleeping... like that!
How can I explain that I mistakenly thought you were going in to apologize?
So embarrassing!
"What is it?"
"Never mind. My parents aren't home. They're on a tour in Europe, back in a few days," Rain said hurriedly, making Payu... laugh.
"You're teasing me!"
"Then why make such a funny face?"
"Phîi Payu!" The embarrassed person raised his fists to cover his awkwardness, throwing wild punches at the level of a young man who had never fought with anyone. How could he possibly beat a master mechanic who had been in the racing scene for years?
Grab!
The small fist was seized firmly, forcing Rain to raise his other hand.
Of course, it was caught too.
"Whoa! Is this the only problem you have?"
"Let me go, so I can show you how much of a problem I can be!" The young man tried to pull his hands back, but they were held tightly. And when only his mouth was left, he yelled to cover up.
He didn't want to admit that just holding hands like this could make his heart race too.
"Are you sure if I let go, you'll have the sense to do more than this?" Payu asked.
If he had just asked, he could have retorted. But he leaned his whole body over, and his much larger frame, his bulging arms reaching to rest on the headrest of the door side, made Rain stiffen.
The next thing the young man knew, he was trapped under the strong arm.
"Wh...what are you going to do?" Rain asked in a trembling voice, his lips trembling even more when the sharp face was only an inch away.
Yeah, I knew you were handsome from the first time we met, you don't have to come this close!
The one who intended to conquer his heart could only avert his gaze shyly. The hawk-like sharp eyes staring at him looked profound, intense, intriguing. Not to mention the clean, fragrant breath now showering his cheeks, which were taking on a faint blush. And the lips he had tasted last night were just an inch away.
Last night he was bold enough to challenge him, but in the morning, all his courage was gone!
"What do you think I'm going to do?" Payu retorted.
Damn it!
The lump in his chest quivered because when Payu moved his mouth, his lips brushed lightly against Rain's, forcing him to quickly raise both hands to push against the broad chest. But, as they say, their builds were in different leagues. No matter how he pushed, it wouldn't budge.
"Du...don't know. Move back."
In the end, he could only squeeze his eyes shut, knowing for sure he was about to be kissed.
If anyone said closing your eyes made you feel better, no, it didn't. When one sense disappeared, he became even more aware of the warm breath blowing on his cheeks, making his hair stand on end. The hands holding his fists slid up to grip his shoulders, making his lower belly flutter. Not to mention his brain, which chose to wrongly imagine that Phîi Payu was looking at his lips again!
Eek! If you're going to kiss me, just do it already! Stop the theatrics, I'm so embarrassed I can't take it!
Click!
"Hmph. Hahaha!"
As soon as he heard the laughter, Rain opened his eyes wide. He immediately saw the other party, who had moved back to sit up straight, looking only at the smile in astonishment, until he wasn't careful of the seatbelt that Payu had unbuckled for him. It thus hit him right on the bridge of his nose. That only made the large person laugh even louder, the sound filling the car.
"You thought I was going to kiss you?"
"No!!!" the flushed person retorted in a high-pitched voice, not knowing whether to be angry or embarrassed.
If I'm going to be angry, it's at myself for letting my thoughts run wild.
"I... I know you wouldn't kiss me. You don't choose me, after all." Rain quickly turned to open the door, and, not knowing what fucking demon possessed him, brought up the matter from last week while trying to open the door to get out of the car.
Right now, I need to retreat and regroup.
Grab!
"Feeling resentful?"
"Who? Who's resentful? You're imagining things!" Rain didn't want to flinch, but now he kept shaking off the hand the other had seized as if scalded by hot water, his voice high-pitched, refusing to turn back and meet the eyes of the person enjoying teasing him.
...to the extreme.
Yeah, I'm sure. Phîi Payu is definitely teasing me!
"Do you know second year is more strenuous than this?"
But the topic, which was worlds away, made Rain turn back.
"Once you get to second year, you'll study design seriously, not just skills. It will be much more stressful. The workload will be heavier, more frequent. If you don't manage your time well, you hardly have to lift your head to do anything else." Payu continued.
"Why are you telling me this?" The listener had heard some seniors talk about this before, but what did it have to do with them right now? But what did it have to do with the two of them right now? That made Payu smile widely and release the hand he was holding.
"I'm telling Rain that if you want to court me, you have to succeed before second year starts. Oh! But judging by your current state, it probably won't be in time."
"!!!" The listener gaped, mouth open.
Yeah, I know that when you get to the upper years, the studies are so heavy you have no time to find a romantic partner. But what's with that pitying look!
It's condescending, it's condescending, it's condescending!!!
Now, only this sentence echoed in Rain's head. He might have several months before second year started, but the young man had declared right then and there that...
"Just wait and see, I'll court you successfully within one month!!!"
The listener wasn't shocked, but the one who blurted it out was, with a pale face and trembling lips, blinking rapidly, only now realizing what he had said.
"Then I'll wait and see. Aren't you going inside yet?"
Rain could only walk out of the car in a daze, his mind not on his body. The driver, for his part, still had the nerve to roll down the window and even emphasize with a chuckle.
"One month, Rain."
Then the large car drove away, leaving Nai Warain with his mouth hanging open.
"What... what did I just do?"
Exactly, what did he just blurt out!
The young man walked into the house in a daze, only hearing the sound of his own declaration echoing round and round.
One... I'll make you love me.
One... I'll make you love me.
Two... I'll court you successfully within one month.
What kind of hell is this!
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Rain would probably have sat there stiff as a log for quite a while longer if it weren't for the phone in his pants pocket vibrating buzz, buzz, buzz, making him grab it reflexively. And the name appearing on the screen slapped him awake to face...
...reality.
"Âi Sai-fah! How are you?!"
Don't call me terrible, but I only remembered just now who I went with last night.
Inside a luxurious condominium in the heart of the city, Sai-fah had just stepped out of the bathroom in the same clothes as yesterday, his cell phone held to his ear, listening to the cries of his close friend, finally able to rest assured that he was safe and sound.
"I'm fine. How about you?"
[What... What could be wrong with me? I'm fine!]
The voice on the other end defended itself shakily, making the person on this side sigh in relief. Since Âi Rain could still talk and chat, it meant Phîi Payu hadn't made mincemeat of him. Moreover, from what he had experienced with the graduated senior, Sai-fah didn't think Phîi Payu was the kind of cruel person his friend made him out to be.
"Good that you're fine. I called to tell you that you dropped your car keys, so I drove it back for you. I'll bring it over to you later."
This side didn't want his friend to ask what happened after they separated. The other side also seemed not to want to talk about it. When the topic of the car was brought up, Rain also just remembered.
"What the hell could be wrong? That's all for now."
Click!
As soon as Sai-fah hung up on his friend, a strong arm wrapped around his waist, accompanied by the naked body of a man pressing close against his back, the tip of his nose pressing down on his soft, plump cheek.
"Are you leaving already?"
"Well, there's no reason for me to stay, is there?" Sai-fah removed the hand from his waist, put his phone in his pocket, his voice cold, a world away from when he was talking to his friend just moments ago. Then he turned to look at the face of... Phra Phai.
"So cold. Last night was quite passionate, truly." The listener didn't struggle along, just shrugged and walked to pick up his friend's wallet and car keys, putting them in his pants pocket. Then he walked straight to the bedroom door, indifferent, while the room's owner sighed in regret.
"Can I have your number?" Phra Phai asked.
"Not a chance."
"Then just your name would be good."
Sai-fah pushed the bedroom door open, and when he turned back to meet his gaze...
"It's better not to know. Let it end with last night."
Slam!
The other party had stepped out, leaving only the large man, still with nothing covering his body, as he lay down on his back on the bed. His eyes clearly showed regret.
"So cold. But... I like it, dammit."
Phra Phai didn't think he'd get so lucky either. He had told Payu before that he hadn't found anyone he liked. At first, he hadn't paid much attention, seeing he was a friend of Payu's kid, so he thought he'd just help quietly. But, true to his playful nature, he asked just for fun. He didn't expect the other to be so cool, and to look at him as if he saw a worm or a centipede. He had to admit, he was seriously into it.
Once in bed, that was it. The young man, whose looks weren't as outstanding as his friend's (but still pleasant to look at), and who looked at him so coldly, was as passionate as fire.
Probably the best in several years.
"Sigh... I really want his number!"
The young man shouted in regret. But he wasn't the type to chase after someone who wasn't interested. So, he'd just consider it a good memory from the past night.
Even though... the brief glimpse of a sorrowful look in his eyes had pricked his heart a lot.
It was true that one month had thirty days, but there were only four weeks, so there were only eight days off. Not to mention subtracting the time needed to do reports, draw designs, and prepare presentations. How much time would be left!
If anyone thought Nai Warain was concentrating on his Building Technology class, that was a completely wrong thought. Because even though he had a large sheet of paper in front of him, what he was sketching wasn't a design, but a breakdown of what he should do in these thirty days to conquer the heart of a man named Payu!
Since he had declared it, he had to do it!
Rain admitted he was fucking embarrassed by what he had said. But when it came down to it, he himself didn't want to give up.
He didn't know why, but since everyone said he was stubborn, then he'd try being stubborn with this man. He'd make him so infatuated he'd lose his head.
"What's up, man?"
Gasp!
"Uh, hey, Âi Sai-fah."
The person with determination barely had time to gather the papers to his chest. He turned snap to look at his close friend who had moved to sit beside him, then gave a stiff smile as he was looking down at the paper in his hand.
"Strange. You're being diligent all of a sudden."
"A guy has to have times when he's diligent too, you know!" Rain defended himself, almost sighing in relief that his friend didn't bring up last Friday. But because he always told Sai-fah everything, now his mouth was itching terribly, wanting to ask for advice.
Should I just tell him I'm courting Phîi Payu? He'd laugh me to death.
Rain asked and answered himself. Without even saying it out loud, he already knew his friend would laugh.
Âi Sai-fah wouldn't think much of him suddenly going crazy and courting a man. But he would definitely think something if he suddenly went crazy courting someone he had declared over and over he hated to the core. This time, no matter how close they were, he wanted to preserve his meager dignity. The small person thus moved closer and poked him.
"Âi Sai-fah, if I wanted to court someone and only had thirty days, what should I do?"
"Did you get dumped by Pear?"
When his friend retorted, Warain started, glancing over at the pretty girl he had once had his eye on, but this time he didn't feel anything.
Seems like I've gone weird because of a kiss.
"Come on, just tell me."
Sai-fah could probably guess it wasn't Pear, because he'd seen Âi Rain courting her for months without success. He suspected he must have found someone else who caught his eye, making it simple.
"If it were Âi Chik or Âi Poke, they'd have plenty of time. But with you..." His friend brought up the handsome guys from their year for comparison, making Rain puff his cheeks out. "...I think all you can do is let him see your face every day. If there's a spark, he'll probably fall for you."
Sai-fah said it jokingly, relieved that his close friend had stopped thinking about taking a splinter to move a log like Phîi Payu, because it meant he wouldn't be dragged into the headache either. The world would return to peace, unaware that the person he was talking about was exactly that log he mentioned.
"That's true." This advice made Rain nod crookedly.
"But where should I go to see him?"
"Why, is he from another faculty?"
"Uh! Yeah, yeah, from another faculty. By the way, have you started the report for Current World Issues yet?"
"The report? I'm in the same group as you. Have you started yet? Get a grip, my friend, get a grip." Rain laughed several 'ha's, turned his face away, looked down at his free-time chart and decided.
Screw thinking. Just show my face for all thirty days. He'll soften up on his own.
The thoughts of someone who was starting to worry he couldn't fulfill the challenge, which, when he thought of the smile of the person who said he couldn't do it...
"I'll do it, just wait and see!" The fire lit up with a whoosh.
If Sai-fah knew what his friend was planning to do, he'd probably ask... Is this the diligence in your studies, man?!
After working almost to the point of collapsing dead because the professor said to submit it by 5 p.m., Warain rushed out of the university to carry out his plan. And his intelligent brain told him that the place with the highest chance of meeting Phîi Payu was... the auto repair shop.
Well, I only know his house and the shop, so just flip a coin.
"Oh, Khun, are you here to see Khun Payu?"
My stars must be aligned with that Âi forklift driver, damn it!
"Hello, Phîi." Rain quickly raised his hands in a wai to the person whose face was becoming familiar, but he felt a little resentful too. Wasn't it you who made me trek all the way to the race venue? But then again, I did it to myself. Who can I blame?
"Don't you think my car might be broken?" The young man couldn't resist being sarcastic.
Every time you see my face, you just think of Phîi Payu, don't you?
"Hahaha, no way. Khun Payu overhauled it for you like that. Unless you go ramming into someone's rear end, you won't need to have it lying around here."
Rain laughed 'ha, ha' along with him, then scanned the area for the person whose face he needed to be seen.
"What about Phîi Payu?"
"Over there. I knew for sure you were here to see Khun Payu."
Damn it! I forgot that he thinks there's something between me and Phîi Payu.
"Hey, Phîi, Phîi Payu and I are just senior and junior, that's all!" Rain tried to explain, pretending to forget for now why he was here. But the listener didn't seem to believe him much, because he laughed loudly while waving his hand.
"No need to be shy, Khun. Everyone knows already. Come on, if you're waiting for Khun Payu, come wait in the office."
The young man's mouth itched to argue, but the person who turned and walked ahead was too fast, forcing him to quickly run after. At least knowing someone was better than standing around furtively and having them call the police. It turned into good luck when Phîi On (he introduced himself before Rain could even ask) was an old-timer at this shop and seemed to know everything.
"What time did you arrange to meet Khun Payu?"
"Doesn't Phîi Payu come in every day?"
"No, he doesn't. Khun Payu has a regular job. He mostly comes only on his free days. Here, Khun Sai-fah is the one in charge, but he left early today, said he was going to see his romantic partner."
"Sai-fah?"
"His twin."
"Oh." The listener nodded crookedly before asking further, "Then will Phîi Payu come in today, Phîi?"
"Why don't you call and ask? You should have his number, right?"
Rain scratched his cheek, unable to answer. He did have the number, but when he thought about calling and having to hear that deep, intimate voice so close to his ear, it tickled his heart so much he didn't dare call. But it seemed if he didn't want this trip to be a waste, he had to call now.
"Oh! Or do you want to surprise him? Got it, got it. I'll call and tell him someone's waiting to see him." The other party interpreted it way too far, making the kid on this side unable to resist asking.
"Why are you so sure that Phîi Payu and I... uh, are more than just senior and junior?"
"Whoa! Because Khun Payu brought a Nông to sleep at the shop, that's why!"
"That day I was just stuck in the rain!"
"Stuck in the rain, my foot! Someone like Khun Payu, how tired would he be just driving you home? The room is just that one, the bed is just that one. How could I think anything else? I'll go call Khun Payu first." Phîi On might have said it without thinking much, but the other young man could only raise his hand mid-air.
Wait! Just seeing me and Phîi Payu sleeping in the same room made you think that far? How many people has Phîi Payu brought to sleep here anyway?!
"Damn! Annoying. He doesn't choose me, but how many has he chosen already?!"
Rain could only fume, stomping his feet thump, thump, so irritated he wanted to swing a punch at that handsome face for once.
Just what number am I?!
Payu wasn't surprised that someone from the shop called to say a kid was waiting to see him. He just didn't expect that one to dare come see him so quickly... He thought he'd have to stop by the faculty once first.
What I did before seems to have worked.
The handsome architect thus hurried to clear his work as fast as possible and drove to see the face of a certain stubborn kid. But as soon as he stepped into the office, he was met with a sulky gaze staring at him, and then the face turned away to continue talking to On.
"If you want to know anything else, just ask. If I know, I'll tell you."
"What are you talking about?" Payu came in just in time to hear the worker telling Rain.
"Oh, Khun Payu, you're here already? Rain has been waiting for you for two hours."
Two hours sounds like enough time for a kid to have pumped someone for inside information.
"Isn't today your son's birthday?" Payu stared.
"Uh! Yes, yes. Then I'd better go. I'm leaving, Phîi." The worker quickly raised his hands in a wai to Payu, waved goodbye to the young man, and shot out of the office immediately.
Of course, the boss's gaze is fucking terrifying!
Once only the two of them were left in the office, Payu turned to look at the young man's face, expecting him to be blushing or making a funny face, but instead he found sullen eyes and a mannerism of pursing his lips, imitating the expression he used to chase the worker away.
"Did an ant bite your mouth?"
"Damn shit-lizard!"
The listener frowned deeply, taking long strides towards the person sitting on the sofa.
"I thought I made it clear that I don't accept crude language."
Rain looked a bit put out, but then he stood up to his full height, snatched his bag, and slung it over his shoulder.
"Sorry. Then I'll be going."
Grab!
Of course, the large person seized his arm just in time, knowing something was wrong.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I see you came back looking tired, probably want to rest. I'd better not disturb you."
Payu still held his arm tightly.
"Don't tell me you waited two hours and are satisfied with just seeing my face for two minutes... You seem quite infatuated with me."
"I'm not infatuated with you like the other young men!"
The small frame couldn't believe anyone could be this narcissistic. Yeah, I admit a face like this has the right to be narcissistic. He accidentally let out a full sarcastic remark, making the large person's frown deepen into a knot. The hand holding his arm gripped even tighter. From experience, struggling would just be tiring. Better to just stand still.
"Are you jealous?"
"Good Lord, no!" Rain's eyes widened, while Payu released his hand and then raised them to cross over his chest.
This smile is so punchable.
"It's clear to me that Rain is jealous of me."
"I'm not jealous!" A strong voice came from the person who insisted he didn't like men. Everything he had done was hoping to win.
"Sure?"
"Sure!"
But his tone grew progressively weaker as he met the sharp eyes... He was starting to feel unsure!
Rain grew weaker and weaker. From confidently meeting his gaze, he began to lower his eyes to look at his own hands, which still held the warm touch of the other.
"Rain."
He didn't want to look at his face, but when his name was called, he looked up instinctively. That provided an opportunity for warm lips to swiftly press against his soft lips.
"Hey!" The young man recoiled in shock, but the other was faster, managing to seize his small waist just in time, and also mashing his lips down heavily, before pulling back, lightly nibbling his lip.
"If you don't like me messing with other people, then make me fall in love until there's only Rain."
Then Payu sent a fond smile that made the person who was kissed... flush red.
Rain felt that being kissed wasn't as embarrassing as the warm smile of the teaser.
"But it seems you've probably given up already."
He wasn't embarrassed for even a minute before the other disparaged him, making the person who never gave up easily grab the strong arm.
"I can do it! I can do it, you know!"
"It's difficult, you know."
"But I said I can do it!" Rain spoke louder than before, only to realize that his hot-headed nature had caused him to fall for the large person's trick again, because Payu was laughing, loudly at that. The young man then shook his hand off and turned to stride thump towards the door.
"I'm going home."
"Wait."
Not only the words stopped him, but Payu reached out to take his hand again. Then he smiled at him.
"Since you're here, have dinner with me... in case I soften up."
"Who wants to eat with you?"
Completely insane! He should shake off the hand and leave in indignation. But why... did he let himself be led away like that?
This is because I want to win, not because I 'accidentally lost my heart' to the teaser!
His heart said that, but why was his hand... flipping over to hold Phîi Payu's hand, he didn't know.
Comments
Post a Comment