Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
"Is Purin alright? You look kinda pale."
"Just a slight headache. It's nothing serious."
Purin turned to talk to his trusted secretary with a smile, suppressing the rising irritation that was getting stronger every minute. He thought back to this morning when his little one was going on about... Phîi Oat. He admitted he only half-listened, just catching that today he'd return the jacket, and that Phîi had also promised to take him out for a meal.
The more he listened, the more irritated he became. The more he listened, the more ticked off he felt, until he could only nod in acknowledgment when Dear got out of the car. He knew he was acting like a jealous kid, but he admitted he was... damn jealous.
Dear probably had no idea what that Phîi was thinking. He didn't plan to say anything either, but he admitted he was secretly worried that if that guy confessed to his little one... what would Dear do?
Good Lord, so damn irritating!
Just thinking about it made Purin inadvertently frown. His strong voice tightened slightly as he asked.
"Anything else today?"
"Nothing else for today, Khrap. But tomorrow morning you have an appointment with Khun Saiki at nine." Purin nodded while letting out a heavy sigh. Every time he met this important client, he got a throbbing headache. The nine AM appointment likely meant meeting at the golf course, and it would drag on all day.
"If there's nothing else today, I'll head out then. I've had a headache since morning." Purin said, massaging his temples gently. He thought Jae Dream's punishment was hitting him harder every day, but what made it lousiest was the headache from seeing his beloved little one being... hit on by some guy.
"Should I reschedule tomorrow's appointment, Khrap?"
"No need. I don't want problems later." Having said that, Purin gathered the documents he'd been reading, holding them in one hand while grabbing his car keys with the other, planning to go home and catch some shut-eye before picking up the little one, before that Phîi could whisk him away.
"Phîi Oat, over here!"
Dear, sitting and sipping his chocolate smoothie on a stone bench in front of the drink shop, waved to the young man approaching from another direction. The young man, whose face was stiff and tense, walked over. The damn intense expression of the young man staring right at him made Dear force a weak smile.
What's with Phîi Oat? Possessed by the Phîi wák's spirit? Dear thought.
"Uh, Phîi Oat, did I bother you by calling? I brought your jacket back. And you said yourself to call you if anything came up." Dear said in a soft, hesitant voice, unable to shake the feeling that his Phîi looked damn stressed. Oat let out a heavy sigh; his sharp, strong eyes clearly showed disappointment, making Dear start to feel uneasy.
Did I do something to make him hate me? Or is it about him treating me to a meal? Dear thought.
"Um... here's your top." Dear said, handing over the bag containing the neatly folded fine leather top, intending to split quick, feeling oddly uncomfortable.
Slam
"Dear, I have something to ask."
"Uh, what is it? You look pretty damn serious." This time, Dear was startled when Phîi Oat grabbed his wrist.
The tall young man slumped down to sit beside him, his expression so serious it was pretty freaky. His strong voice was damn intense, making Dear only nod like a dim-wit.
"The young man named Porsche... he's more than just an older brother to you, isn't he?"
Thud
Dear could only freeze, his small mouth agape, looking at the young man's serious face before his pale cheeks began to heat up, heat up, then flush bright red.
"N...No..."
"I saw you kissing him yesterday."
This time, Dear was damn well startled. He didn't think anyone saw yesterday, and the one who saw turned out to be Phîi Oat. That meant this Phîi must know he was going with a young man. His heart feared being looked down on. He didn't know why he thought that, but he didn't want the Phîi in front of him to look at him with weird eyes.
"It's just that I..." The flustered demeanor of Dear in front of him made Oat grip the small wrist tighter. His sharp, strong eyes were serious as he spoke, but his words made Dear feel like he was about to keel over from shock.
"I like you, Dear."
"Phîi Oat!!"
"I've liked you since the first time we met, and I've liked you more and more since that day you helped your friend cheer. Didn't you notice at all? No, I have liked you all along. Haven't I made it clear that I like you?" Throughout his speech, Phîi Oat spoke with a seriousness that was freaky, even though it should have made Dear uncomfortable, his small heart instead... beat faster, faster every damn minute.
"You.... like.... me?" Dear asked in a faint, breathy voice, his cheeks red as hell, his hands trembling slightly, pointing at himself, making Oat pause thoughtfully for a split second, and then...
"Hey... Phîi Oat, don't..." Dear could only cry out softly in shock as he pushed the broad shoulders away, when warm lips touched his mouth, pressing softly, making him tremble slightly. But just as he was about to push away, the big-ass Phîi cupped his cheeks and leaned down to press another kiss onto his red lips.
"Give me a chance, will you..... please, Khrap?" Phîi Oat said in a pleading voice that Dear should have pushed away, but it instead made Dear soften more and more. The more he looked into Oat's eyes, the more Oat pressed down with another kiss. The hand that should have pushed away instead... clenched Oat's student uniform tightly, his voice faint and breathy.
"I... already have someone I love."
"I don't care. I just want you to give me a chance." The whisper was close to his lips before Phîi Oat kissed him again, his hand locking firmly around Dear's neck. At first, Dear struggled to escape, but after a while, Dear became more soft... more soft every damn minute.
A reaction that seemed to say even if his heart belonged to someone else, it didn't mean he couldn't feel damn good about this Phîi wák.
The entire scene fell into the sight of... Purin.
Purin, who had rushed from his condo to pick up his little one. At first, he was going to call, but because he ran into Dear's two close friends, he decided to walk over to pick him up. But instead, he was met with the gut-punching sight of his roommate kissing... someone else.
Slam
"I have no right to interfere between those two." But just as Purin was about to lunge forward to pull that Phîi away from his little one, his shoulder was gripped tightly, followed by Sun's strong voice. Then Shin stepped forward to block his way.
"Move aside!" Purin roared, pushing Dear's friend's shoulder out of the way, making Sun stagger slightly. But Shin quickly locked the arms of Purin about to charge forward, which made Sun come help his friend pull him back.
"Move aside, bloody fucking hell!"
"Hey, Porsche! What right do you have? Don't forget how much you made Âi Dear suffer. Why can't he give a chance to someone else who likes him?" Sun said with a strong voice, still trying to restrain Purin who wanted to lunge forward, followed by Shin's voice, which sounded pretty damn displeased.
"Damn straight. At the very least, our Phîis have never moaned another young woman's name in bed and made Âi Dear upset."
"That's not it! I don't love Jae Dream like that!"
"And can you deny it and say you didn't moan Jae Dream's name? How damn low. Having sex with your junior but moaning his sister's name."
"Don't you think it's better to let Dear meet someone better than you?" The strong voices of Dear's two close friends, holding Purin still, saying those things, forced his sharp eyes to look at his little one, who was letting the big Phîi hold him, the lips he had kissed this morning now swapping spit with someone else.
A sight that was driving Purin damn near crazy with pain.
"No! I won't allow it. Let me go... Let me go!" Purin yanked his arm with all his might but was held firmly by the two young men who were slimmer than him. His sharp eyes were red as hell as he turned to look at the scene of his little one.
"Dear, stop! I'm telling you to stop! You said you loved me, right? Stop, bloody fucking hell!"
A roaring shout that no one paid any attention to, not even a single damn person...
"Hey, Porsche! Wake up! What's wrong with you?"
Inside the large bedroom of the fancy condo, Dear, who had nearly croaked from shock a minute ago upon seeing his big Phîi lying face down across the bed like a dead guy, quickly ran out of the bathroom with a basin of water and a small towel. He placed everything by the bed, then leaped onto the soft bed, both hands quickly shaking the shoulders of Purin thrashing his hands in the air, sweat beading all over his face.
Yes... Porsche had a fever... a damn high one at that.
At first, Dear had already felt something was wrong when the usually early-riser Porsche didn't even notice him sneaking into the room, seeing him lying lifeless. He first thought it might be a trick to pull him into a hug, but he just lay there as if struggling to breathe. The moment Dear touched him, he was burning like hell!
And now he was babbling in his sleep too!
What do I do? Should I call an ambulance? No, no, Âi Dear, don't freak out! Act like you've never had a fever before! Dear urgently told himself, then shook the shoulders of Purin he'd turned onto his back forcefully. But the pained expression of the good-looking young man, pale as a sheet, drenched in sweat, made Dear even more freaked out.
"Porsche... Wake up, please. I'm getting worried, you know. Huu, wake up, please, wake up." This time, Dear shook the shoulders even harder. If he remained unconscious like this, he'd probably have to call someone to help carry him to the hospital.
The thought made Dear press his lips tightly together. His pale hand gently stroked Purin's cheek, then he turned to grab the small towel to wipe away the sweat, feeling the heat radiating from him.
"Dear or not Dear, Dear."
Slam
"I'm right here. If you're dreaming of me, wake up and find me! If you don't wake up, I'll really cry." Dear quickly grabbed Purin's hand, which was flailing about, and held it tightly, his strong voice growing louder.
It was as if the touch of their two hands clasped together made Purin asleep from the fever's poison slowly open his heavy, drowsy eyes.
"Dear..." A hoarse, faint voice made Dear almost sigh with relief, looking at the eyes red from fever, still gazing at him with a weird, longing look.
"Porsche, how are you? You have a damn high fever. I just got back from the uni and found you passed out in the room... Hey!" Before Dear could finish describing the symptoms, Purin used all his strength to pull Dear into a tight hug.
An embrace so sudden Dear could only squirm.
"What's wrong with you..."
"Don't... go... Don't go anywhere... Don't get mixed up with anyone... okay, Dear... please, Khrap." The hoarse strong voice sounded above his head. The two hands of the red-hot young man held Dear's waist tightly. The words made Dear feel his cheeks heat up. He could tell Porsche was delirious from the fever, but hearing them made his heart flutter like hell.
"Porsche, your fever must have made you crazy. Why would I get mixed up with anyone?" Dear complained softly, easily pushing the large young man up since Purin lacked the strength to hold on.
A condition that indicated Porsche's... condition was damn bad.
"Dear, you said you loved me... Why are you getting mixed up with someone else...
"Hey, me?!" This time, Dear's mouth fell open. He pointed at himself, wondering in his head... When did I get mixed up with anyone?
"Crazy, damn well crazy. Porsche, who would I get mixed up with? You're so delirious, maybe I should call someone to take you to the hospital."
Slam
"Dear, it's just that I saw..."
"Saw what, Phîi? You were just dreaming! I'm not mixed up with anyone anywhere!" Dear wanted to chew him out good, but seeing Purin's condition—pale face, red eyes, parched lips, and a hoarse strong voice—he could only explain in a softer tone, making Purin raise a hand to his forehead.
"I... have a fever..."
"Damn straight!" Dear nodded in confirmation, making Purin let out a huge-ass gasp, feeling his whole body hot as hell, his mind foggy, starting to lose track of what was happening to him.
He'd come back from the company with a headache about to explode, so he'd collapsed onto the bed, thinking he'd catch a quick nap before going to pick up his little one. And then... the dreams had hit hard.
A damn awful nightmare, too.
"Dear, you really don't like any other young men, right?"
Good Lord, what's with Porsche lately? First, he asks weird-ass questions, and now, even with a fever, he's asking this shit. Dear thought.
Dear really wanted to yell in his face, but feeling sorry for his condition, he just sighed softly and spoke in a tone to humor the sick guy.
"I don't like other young men... I only like you. Porsche only, get it, Khrap?" Good thing Porsche was sick, so Dear dared to say it outright. And it was the right decision, as Porsche gave him a pale, weak smile. The expression made Dear smile back, then he moved to the head of the bed.
Slam
"Where are you going?"
"To wipe you down. I'm not going anywhere, 'kay?" Dear said, cheeks red. Even if his EQ was a bit low, he was smart about Porsche-related things. And now he'd figured it out, that Porsche was... whining. Whining with a look that seemed afraid of being ditched, making him quickly wring the towel damp and return to his spot.
"Let me wipe you down first. You're drenched in sweat." As Dear spoke, he undid the buttons of the dress shirt. Porsche watched with fever-red eyes, not looking away, making Dear feel embarrassed. His mouth started to...
Gripe.
"I told you the day before yesterday that you felt warm. Hmph. And said that I made you hot. Yesterday was the same, told you to take preventive medicine. You didn't take it, did you? Before that, you stayed at Shin's house watching over me all night. See? Did you think a big, tough guy like you couldn't get sick?"
All the griping was because Dear didn't want Porsche to know... his hands were shaking.
And of course, Purin didn't know now because the large dress shirt was pulled off. His sharp eyes listened to the gripes. The heavy feeling from the dream faded little by little.
"Why are you smiling?"
I'm annoyed, you know. I'm griping because I'm worried. What's there to smile about? Dear thought.
"It's just that you're... attractive."
Bloody fucking hell, even a sick guy can make me blush. Dear thought.
The thought of Dear who started wiping him down, but seemingly because he was embarrassed, the pressure of the towel drag was a bit hard. But Purin didn't gripe at all, watching Dear diligently wiping him down—his arms, neck, chest, stomach—and even moving to wipe his sweat-drenched back.
"Let me wipe your face, then I'll get you medicine." Dear said worried, grabbing a larger towel to gently, carefully wipe Purin's face, then went to get a large shirt for him to wear. Feeling he was still hot as hell, Dear hurried.
"Porsche, should you change your pants? Sleeping in these won't be comfortable." Purin with a near-exploding headache shook his head slowly.
"No strength."
"I'll change them for you. Just lie still." Dear said, quickly undoing Purin's belt, wanting to finish quickly so he could get the medicine. But he remembered as he pulled Purin's pants down to a pile at his feet and looked up.
Oh, damned shit-lizard, I recognize the big gun under that. Dear thought.
Dear told himself, swallowing hard again, glancing at something lying dormant because Purin was sick, beneath dark-colored underwear. He swore he wasn't being pervy, but... his imagination chose to picture it without anything covering it.
How could I! We're both young men, what's there to be shy about! Yeah, but that thing has been inside me, you know! I should be shy. Dear thought.
The two thoughts fought in his head as Dear quickly put the pants back on Purin. Since Porsche had no strength, it took some effort, and he was slightly panting by the time he finished.
"I want to hug you, Dear."
"Are you crazy?! You're sick! How could you do anything?!" Dear yelled out, his cheeks red as hell, his mind going to all sorts of places. But it made Purin look at him with a weirdly hurt expression.
"Just a hug... isn't allowed?"
"Just a hug?"
"Mhm."
Yeah, Âi Dear, where's your mind going? Who would think of doing anything while sick? Dear thought.
Dear thought, his cheeks red as hell, then walked out dazed to the kitchen, rummaged for the medicine box Purin had mentioned, got another pack of fever reducers, and returned to the bedroom to see... Porsche lying with his back turned.
"Porsche, take your medicine."
"..."
Purin remained silent. Dear put the glass of water on the bedside table and shook his shoulder gently.
"Porsche, get up and take your medicine first."
"No.... You won't let me hug you."
Jeez, the sick buffalo is acting hurt too. Dear thought.
Dear's small mouth fell open before he suppressed a full-on laugh, leaning over to look at Purin who had his eyes closed, brows furrowed, hands clutching his broad shoulders, his chin resting on his shoulder.
"Who said no hugs? I just went to get medicine for you."
Had to humor the sick guy a bit. Dear thought.
"Just an excuse."
Yeah, Porsche gets whiny when he's sick. I'll remember that. Dear thought.
Dear held back a laugh, then inadvertently blurted out in the manner of someone in a good mood seeing a side he'd never seen before.
"How about this: if Porsche agrees to do what I say, once you're better, I'll give you anything you want." There, upon saying this, Purin turned to look a little, opening his eyes slightly, asking for confirmation.
"You mean it?"
"Why would I joke with you? Hugs, kisses, whatever you want. Take your medicine first."
"Bring it." Just like that, Purin propped himself up against the pillows, took the two pills thrown into his mouth, swallowed them down with water quickly, and then lay back down flat.
"You promised, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, promised. You sleep first. I'll make something for you to eat. Eating after medicine should be fine, right? With a fever this high, if you don't take medicine, you'll just have weird-ass dreams and make me take care of you again." Dear mumbled his gripes, making a move to leave the room, which made Purin quickly grab his student uniform.
"Hmph."
"Sleep together first.... 'kay, Khrap?" Dear could only press his lips together tightly, looking at Purin who was whining at him until he had to relent and move to lie on the same bed, mumbling softly.
"Has anyone told you, Porsche, that when you're sick, you're like a giant kid?" And Porsche's answer, which was to tighten his hug, made Dear blush.
"I've never whined to anyone when I'm sick like I whine to you, Dear."
Bloody fucking hell, he knows he's whining. Yeah, whine away! I'm happy to let you whine! Dear thought.
"Jae Dream, you have to understand, Porsche is sick. Would you have me go home and leave him all alone?"
Purin woke up again when he heard Dear's voice arguing with someone outside the room. He had drowsily gotten up once to eat the porridge Dear made for him. He propped himself up and glanced at the clock... past ten PM.
"Yeah, a damn high fever. Delirious, talking who knows what." Dear walked into the room, making Purin lie down again. His drowsy eyes opened to see Dear holding a phone to his ear.
"Mhm, okay, I'm not coming back. Yeah, Jae Dream, tell Aunt Ni that Porsche is sick."
"She's not home. This morning she said she was going on a trip with friends, won't be back until the day after tomorrow." Jae Dream's voice came through the line, making Dear frown slightly. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and used the back of his hand to feel the forehead of Purin.
"Oh, then what to do? Porsche can't go to work tomorrow."
"I'll call Uncle Sak myself. But what about you? If you're not coming home, what about your student uniform? It's all at home, you know." Jae Dream asked in a worried tone, making Dear give a dry smile.
"Tomorrow I'll just shake out and wear the same one. But the rest, heh, Jae, can you bring them for me?"
"How damn fine, little brother. Not only is Jae punishing Porsche unsatisfactorily, but you also need me to bring your things over there?!"
"Well... consider it Jae Dream visiting Porsche too." Dear could only make excuses.
"I bet he'd want me to visit. To be honest, I'm the reason he's sick."
Yeah, Jae Dream is self-aware too. Dear thought.
Of course, Dear didn't say it out loud, only thought it in his head as Jae Dream sighed into the phone.
"Yeah, fine. Tell him he can have you back. Since he's sick, I feel sorry for him..."
"No need, Jae. Just tell me straight, Jae Dream: since Porsche is sick, you'd probably have to drive me to the uni, right? Or wake up early to take me to the skytrain. That's why you're letting me stay here." Dear had gotten smarter somehow. He knew his Jae's habits best, which made Jae Dream make a ticked-off sound in her throat, then answer with damn straight sincerity.
"Yeah!"
Wow, my Jae is really so attractive. Dear thought.
"That's all then, Jae. It's time to wake Porsche up for his medicine."
"Tch! Go take care of him. Tell him not to worry about work; I'll contact his Phôo." Even though Jae Dream sounded damn fed up with him, the last sentence clearly showed worry, making Dear smile. He said goodbye to his Jae with a few more words and hung up, but upon turning to look at Purin whose forehead he was still touching, he started slightly.
"How long have you been awake, Porsche?"
"Heh, just now." Purin said in a dry, hoarse strong voice, making Dear who'd been talking damn loud on the phone just laugh.
"I woke you up, didn't I? I'll go get you some water, Khrap." Dear said quickly, trying to pull his hand away from the forehead, but Purin held it tightly. His sharp eyes stared into Dear's round ones with a gaze that made Dear's cheeks grow hotter and hotter. Then, Purin said in a whining voice.
"Sleep together tonight, okay?"
"Just... sleeping."
"Mhm, just sleeping." Purin nodded repeatedly like a little kid begging his parents for something, making Dear smile.
"Aren't you afraid I'll catch your cold?"
"But I want to hug you, Dear."
If he's going to be this whiny when he's sick, how can I harden my heart? Dear thought.
"Alright. But first, I'll get you water and medicine." As soon as Dear finished speaking, he could only nod vigorously, pulling his hand free from the grip. This time, Purin gave in easily, watching Dear walk out of the room. And amidst the damn bad headache, Purin remembered clearly.
Dear said he'd agree to anything I want. Purin thought.
"Let's skip the afternoon."
"Hey, Âi Dear! It's the afternoon session!"
"I'll skip it. I'm going. Porsche is sick."
In front of the classroom, Sun could only yell his question down the hallway as Dear slung his bag over his shoulder and spoke quickly, looking rushed. Sun quickly added.
"But this is the last class before midterms!"
"Record the lecture on your iPhone. I'll transcribe the tape and make notes for you to read later. I'm going. Porsche was still feverish this morning." Dear said, knowing damn well his cheater friend had been relying on his notes since high school straight through the uni. This time, Sun laughed and waved him off.
"Yeah, fine, go take care of your Phûa. Tell Porsche to get well soon." Dear could only shake his head as he hurried off in the other direction. Sun turned to look at Shin and said with a grin.
"Don't you think? Anyone can see Âi Dear has a Phûa now."
"Heh, speaking of which, I remember when he misunderstood Porsche. You should have seen it; made me hold my temples."
"Ugh, don't bring that up. It makes me think of Jae Dream. Gives me the creeps!" Sun made a slightly freaked-out face, then burst out laughing. But before the two friends could head to the cafeteria together, Oat turned the corner of the building and approached, making Sun grimace.
"I really hate this Phîi wák's face. Has he been around us too damn often lately?" The question made Shin just shrug, watching Oat with a stressed expression approach.
"Where's Dear?" Oat asked with a strong voice, his eyes scanning the area, as everywhere he saw these two, he expected to see Dear too.
"He went back. Do you have business with him? About the top? I gave it to Phîi Sai-fah for you. Did you get it?"
"I got it."
"Then what business do you have with my friend?" Sun was the one who asked again, making Phîi Oat pause for a moment before shaking his head slowly. Just as Shin, who was checking his phone because of a notification, muttered offhand.
"Don't even try, Phîi. He's already taken."
Thud
Oat shot a glance at Shin, his hands clenched into fists. He'd known since that day what was what, like being in the Phîi wák session room. Then he turned to this year's faculty heartthrob with a cool, still expression.
"Thanks for telling me." Having said that, he walked off in another direction, making Sun narrow his eyes slightly. He turned to look at Shin, who was tapping on his phone, and asked probingly.
"What did you mean by that just now?"
"Don't play dim-wit. I know you understood." Shin said simply, then stuffed his phone into his pants pocket, standing still. He swung an arm around the neck of Sun and walked him towards the cafeteria, hearing him mumble softly.
"I knew it was weird. Hey, I'm not cheering for this! I'm cheering for Porsche... I'll cheer for the side I know will win." Sun declared his allegiance to himself, then laughed loud, unlike Shin, who raised a corner of his mouth in a smile and shook his head slowly.
"This matter is up to Dear. But for sure... it hurts like a damned animal." Of course, that day Shin saw the look in Phîi Oat's eyes clearly when he saw Dear kissing his romantic partner. It was a look Shin understood. But as they say, if you get mixed up with someone who's already taken, you have to get hurt like this.
Shin let the thought vanish with the wind, leaving the damn love triangle for the three of them to sort out themselves. But one thing was for sure: Porsche would damn well never let his Mia near Phîi Oat again.
Comments
Post a Comment