Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
At Suvarnabhumi Airport, a man and a woman were pushing a cart out through the arrivals gate. Even after a flight of over ten hours, the faces of the pair were still bright, fitting for those who hadn't returned to Thailand for almost a year.
“Hurry up, Auntie, Máa wants to go home so badly.”
“And wasn't it good that I didn't call our child to pick us up? Otherwise, that Dream of yours would be making a fuss again, saying why didn't we tell him in advance,” the middle-aged man argued lightheartedly, which made his beloved Miia glare at him and retort.
“Don't you even start, Bpǎa. Máa knows you're going to take Dream's side. Coming back without telling them is good. We'll get to see what tasks Dream uses his younger sibling for. If we told them in advance, Dream would probably have Dear clean the entire house. Coming without notice like this, both of them will have to help with work equally.” The Mâe, who knew the nature of both her children well, and who secretly sided with her younger son a bit more, argued with her Phûa, making the listener laugh.
“As if you can order Dream around.”
“That's right. Well, Dream is your child, isn't he?” The Miia, who still maintained a graceful beauty, said somewhat petulantly, clearly choosing sides.
Dream is your child, but Dear is my child. It's been like this since forever.
“Saying that, Dream will be so heartbroken.”
“Heartbroken where? He's happy, I have no doubt. I even told him the inheritance is in your hands. Being your child, that's just right.” The listener laughed out loud, then suggested it was better to just go home. Because in the end, whoever was whose child, right now, they missed both their children so much their hearts were about to break.
The return of these two individuals, which surely no one expected.
“Phîi Porsche... I want to take a bath.”
“Take a bath again?... You just took one a moment ago.”
“Salad! You know I just took a bath, so why did Phîi make Dear all dirty again, Wá!!!”
Almost three weeks had passed since the midterm exams. And because during the recent end-of-year period, Purin had spent too much of his work time with his little puppy, for over a week now he had been catching up on the piled-up work until his Phôo almost sent him a white envelope. After managing to clear some of it, just as he was planning to cuddle his little puppy to his heart's content, it coincidentally was the weekend... when Darinphan dragged her younger sibling by the head to put him to work.
At New Year, I tied it with a bow and gave it to you. Now it's my slave!
That was the reason Purin had to follow and stay over at his close friend's house. So much so that Dream complained.
There you go. You have a home but don't know to go back. Your life really can't lack a dog. You're so infatuated with him you've lost your head.
And what could he reply except...
Hmm, I am infatuated with Dear to the point of losing my head, really.
Therefore, right now Purin was lying hugging his little puppy in his bright blue bedroom. And just hugging probably wasn't like him, so when he encountered the little one snuggling and nuzzling, even whining that...
Phîi Porsche hug Dear tightly, too, Wôoi. Lately, my owner just works all the time, the dog is lacking warmth to the damned point of death.
Faced with him whining like this, what could he do except... give him what he wanted? Right now, this little puppy, after having released his pent-up frustration, was coming to whimper to him that he wanted to take a bath, this was it.
When we were doing it, you didn't object. After finishing and satisfying your desire, you always throw the blame.
The young man thought amusedly as he hugged the little one's warm body a bit tighter, raising a finger to lightly poke the cute, prominent nose.
“Our language isn't very polite.”
“Where is 'Salad' not polite? Wooow, slander.” Dear protested. He was quite polite, never cursed at Phîi website's feet even once (?) To be told his language isn't polite, this is irritating, Wôoi.
“Who said Phîi said 'Salad' isn't polite? Phîi meant the sentence endings, that's all.” And then the listener couldn't help but tease the person baring his fangs at him. The hand poking the nose moved to stroke the white cheek playfully, making the person lying pillowed on his arm turn to face him with a sulky expression, really wanting to bite the hand playing with his cheek.
“Do you want Dear to be the young boy Dranphat like before, huh?”
“That would be good. So cute it's deadly. Everything was 'Phîi Porsche' this and that. Like... look, Dear made a dinosaur for Phîi Porsche, Ná.” The little one could only pout, even as his white cheeks grew progressively redder, looking at the person who was mocking him by putting on a childish voice imitating the time when his everything was Phîi Porsche.
“That Dear fellow died a damned death.”
“Hehe... Really?...” The Phîi laughed softly, then leaned his face close until their foreheads touched. The hand holding the cheek moved to touch the neck, and the deep voice whispered softly.
“Phîi thinks that Dear is still inside you. Come on, try saying it... 'Phîi Porsche, Dear wants to take a bath. Let's go take a bath, Há'... ”
“Dim-wit.” That Dear fellow's face flushed crimson, looking at the person mocking him. How dare he make such a cute voice without considering his own age and face? It didn't suit him at all. Just thinking about having to comply made his face hot for some reason.
The little one's manner, starting to look for an escape route by burrowing into his chest, made Purin even more amused. Seeing Dear act like this was indescribably enjoyable, so much that he had to bend down to whisper by his ear.
“Who says Phîi Porsche is a dim-wit, Kâ? Nông Dear is so heartless to Phîi Porsche.”
Damned death. Don't talk like I (Kuu) am a young woman. 'Kâ' what? No, I (Kuu) won't listen. Yaakkkkkk!
Dear even raised his hands to cover his own hot ears. That soft, warm voice that made one's heart itch, combined with the sentence ending that sounded like talking to little Nông Alich, made the hairs on his arms stand on end, a hot flush spreading all over his body. He didn't dare raise his head to look at the speaker's face. But it must be making him blush like a damned animal.
“Dim-wit. A total dim-wit.”
“Calling Phîi a dim-wit, then why are you blushing?”
Got me, cornering me (Kuu), huh? Eek!
Dear could only grumble to himself, wanting to win some too, until he had to take a deep breath. They'd been together for over half a year. Why should I (Kuu) be the only one blushing? This is unacceptable!
“Phîi Porsche.” Therefore, having settled his thoughts, Dear took a deep breath and then called out in a whiny voice that made the teaser start to feel the tables were about to turn. The pair of sharp eyes looked at the person who glanced up. Two hands reached out to hug his arm. Sharp teeth lightly bit his lower lip.
“Why is Porsche so heartless... Why tease Dear, Há?”
Stunned... stunned... and stunned.
Purin could only sit completely still, looking at the red-cheeked person in the light shining in. Not to mention the pair of round eyes that could soften anyone's heart were now shining with a whiny glint. Two hands hugged his arm, making such an adorable, pitiful face that the teaser started to feel... his heart was being attacked somehow.
“Just this won't make me unable to do anything, you know.” But still, he couldn't help but put on an act of feeling nothing, making the whiner puff air into his mouth, then lean his face to rub lightly against his shoulder.
“Not even a little bit, Há? Don't you feel anything at all...”
Aakkk! I (Kuu) am about to die. Rhino shit-lizard!
Even thinking that, Dear still tried to continue acting cute, both rubbing and nuzzling against the shoulder, trying to use the whining tactics he had used on his Phîi's leg for years. It could be said he was upgrading on the spot right now. And that made the person being whined at pause for a moment before flipping the blanket up.
“Better stop playing. Phîi is going to take a bath now.”
“Hey, why...” Dear, who was released from the embrace, almost protested out loud, if not for seeing the Phîi's ears redder than before, and also not turning to look directly at his face, but getting up and walking towards the bathroom, making him have to follow.
“Phîi Porsche is blushing. Hey, is Phîi Porsche blushing, Wá? Hahahahaha. Really? Dear really did it.” The little puppy ran circling around his owner who was covering his mouth, leaving only sharp eyes, making Purin, who was about to step into the bathroom, say flatly.
“If you follow me in, I can't guarantee your safety.” Having said that, he stepped in first, leaving Dear frozen at the doorframe.
Seeing Phîi Porsche blush because of me (Kuu) is tiring... What to choose, Wá?
The thoughts of the person who started processing... And what if Phîi Porsche gets really flustered and takes revenge on him? Just thinking about it is totally tiring... Therefore, the little one walked back to the bed, grabbed a tissue to wipe the messy stuff, and also glanced warily at the bathroom door a bit. After finishing, he grabbed that very Phîi Porsche's shirt to put on.
Dear had discovered since the day Phîi returned from Switzerland that Phîi Porsche's shirt was totally comfortable to wear. Because he was shorter by a head, the shirt was big on him like a youth stealing his Phôo's shirt to wear. After finishing their business, just this one shirt thrown on loosely, snuggling under the blanket... comfortable sleep.
He wouldn't take another bath. The AC blew until his sweat dried. Therefore.
“Goodnight, Khráp-phŏm.” He said to the bathroom door and then shuffled back to flop onto the bed. It wasn't long before he went to meet the Sandman. Therefore, by the time Purin came out, the little puppy was already sound asleep, hugging a pillow neatly.
The manner of the young man moving to stand by the bed, sharp eyes looking at the white face that no matter how you looked at it was more cute than handsome, with fondness, made him unable to hold back a laugh.
“So wicked, making Phîi blush like that.” Having said that, the large hand pulled the pillow the little one was hugging firmly and threw it to the side of the bed, replacing the pillow with himself by burying his head to use his arm as a pillow. The other hand hugged the small waist loosely.
“Goodnight, my beloved.”
Purin whispered softly, seeing Dear squirm a little as if finding a comfortable position before relaxing his breathing, making him break into a wider and wider smile. Who would have thought his heart would fall for this neighbor's Nông? The person he had seen since he was little. The person who was now more than a Nông.
Right now he loved Dear... loved him as much as one man could love another man.
A taxi stopped in front of the large house with all lights off, while the Phûa and Miia opened the gate door with the softest sound possible, carried their luggage inside, and decided to split up to surprise both children. Khun Yutthachai went to his daughter's room, while Khun Dara went to his son's room.
Creak.
“This daughter of mine, locking her bedroom door like this, how is Auntie supposed to get in?” the Phôo said amusedly before knocking on the door loudly, picturing his beautiful daughter rushing to hug him along with the first question... 'Where are my presents, Dream?'
The thought made the knocker even more amused, then he knocked harder. The sound of shuffling in the room was heard, followed by a sharp, angry yell.
“Do you want to die, Âi'Dear!!! It's three in the morning!” The listener laughed out loud. It was just as his Miia had said. Looks like his daughter had been oppressing his son heavily all year. This whole month, they'd probably get to see Dear whining to his Mâe for fun.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
However, the knocker still knocked heavily, with no sign of calling out to the person in the room. And that seemed to make Dream even more irritated. Who came back?
“Romantic partner!!!” “Ouch! If it's not urgent, just you wait. I will kill you, bury you in the forest, and make you... with your...”
Hmm? Romantic partner? Does that Dear have a romantic partner already?
Yutthachai thought with surprise, then broke into a smile. He really wanted to see the face of his son's romantic partner, to see if he could find anyone as beautiful as his Mâe. But before he could think anything more, the bedroom door swung wide open, along with the person whose hair was messy, face a bit crumpled, about to burst out.
“Bpǎa!!!” Dream, who was at the peak of anger, opened his eyes wide, staring at the man whose face was exactly like the photo on the wall at home. And that made this word escape the beautiful person's mouth.
“Damned!”
“What's with us, Chao Dream? Seeing Bpǎa's face and you say 'damned' to my face?” The Phôo frowned slightly, looking at his daughter who made a face as if it were a matter of life and death, and also asked in a panicked voice.
“Auntie, where is Máa?”
“In Dear's room...”
Whoosh.
“Screwed, screwed, screwed!!!” Dream didn't answer her Phôo, except to immediately run to the other side of the house, still muttering to herself repeatedly. But before she could take more than three steps, this sound followed.
“Kreeeeeeddddddddddddd!!!”
It's over, Âi'Dear.
The beautiful person almost collapsed to the floor. Because this sound... was definitely her Mâe's voice. Therefore, Darinphan hurried her steps further, and then saw her Mâe standing pointing a finger at the door. And inside there... evidence as big as a buffalo wearing only pajama bottoms appeared. Next to him was that Nông wearing Purin's shirt.
“No... way...” The last sound escaped Dara's mouth, and then she fainted, collapsing immediately, just as Purin rushed in to catch her in time. But the scariest person wasn't the one who fainted, but
“What is this crazy story, Hâ? Dream Dear... Porsche is here, in my son's room? How can this be?!!!”
The thunderous voice that echoed throughout the house made Dear's face turn pale as a sheet, same as his sister who for the first time didn't know what to do.
“Auntie, Bpǎa, calm down first... calm down...” Dream told her Phôo in a trembling voice, holding his arm tightly, but was brushed off. Moreover, Yutthachai's steps stomped towards his friend's son with a furious expression, eyes clearly showing extreme anger, looking into the messy bedroom before turning back to his son wearing the oversized shirt.
“Bpǎa...”
“Quiet!!!” The Phôo yelled at his son loudly, before swiveling his gaze to look at his nephew.
“Go call your Phôo and Mâe right now!!!” The eyes of the two men of different generations met silently, and then Purin accepted the order in a heavy voice.
“Khráp. I will go call my Phôo and Mâe right now... Dear, take care of Aunt Dara for a bit.” The young man said, handing the fainted person to the two siblings who rushed to receive her. But Dear's pale face and eyes that looked like they were about to cry made him touch his hand lightly, as if giving encouragement.
“It's okay, Dear... it's okay.” The young man whispered, before turning to meet the extremely angry man's gaze and raising his hands in a wai.
“I will return and explain what happened.” Having said that, the tall person promptly left the two siblings' house, heading straight home. His sharp face was tense.
Silence covered the entire house as no one dared to say anything. And it was Dear, who was almost crying, who called his Phôo first.
“Bpǎa...”
“Take Máa to sleep in the room. Get dressed properly. Then follow Auntie downstairs, both of you.”
“But Bpǎa...”
Thud
But before Dear could say anything more, his Phîi instead grabbed his shoulder firmly, shaking her head forcefully as a prohibition. She looked at her Phôo who turned and went downstairs rapidly, then said softly.
“Do as Auntie says.”
“But Chao Dream, what should Dear do... what to do? Bpǎa and Máa know about Dear and Phîi Porsche...” Dear said in a trembling voice, making his Phîi quickly stride to open the door to the large master bedroom that hadn't been used for almost a year, before returning to help her sibling support their Mâe. Dear's expression and manner were ready to burst into sobs like a little youth at any moment. But she could only say.
“Believe Porsche. Believe that he can handle it.”
At this time, the atmosphere in the living room of the two siblings' house was filled with tension. While Purin's parents, who still couldn't grasp the head or tail of what was happening, were sitting on the sofa, looking like they had just woken up and hurried over at their son's call, the person who somewhat knew the story, Yutthachai, was sitting on a single sofa.
“Wait a minute, Âi'Yut. Let me (Kuu) understand first. Did you miss seeing your friends so much upon returning to Thailand that you made my son go call them at three in the morning, Wá?!” Sak would be happy that his close friend was back, but what the hell kind of story is this that requires waking someone up just to say your close friend is back in Thailand?
The words made his close friend turn to stare at Purin silently, before saying in a strong voice.
“Your son didn't tell you at all, did he? What he has done!”
“My son?” The person who was woken up was still confused, then turned to his son.
“What kind of thing have you done, Chao Porsche?” The question that Purin still had enough composure to not panic, unlike the person next to him who just kept his head bowed silently, holding his sister's hand tightly.
“What kind of thing, you say...” However, this question seemed to ignite the anger of the two siblings' Phôo even more, because Yutthachai stood up immediately. His eyes shone with extreme anger. The image of his son in a disheveled state, together with his friend's son, what else could he think?
“It's your son, what kind of thing has he done? What the hell kind of story is this where I (Kuu) return home and find my son sleeping in my son's room... You listen to me (Kuu) well... Âi'Dear's room, not Âi'Dream's room!!!”
“Good grief... Porsche, what is this?” Dear almost cried out loud when Auntie Nee turned sharply to ask her son in a trembling voice. The manner of all the adults, showing that what he did was wrong, was unforgivable, made the little heart almost go crazy with fear, shaking and trembling all over.
What to do... what to do?
“But wait, Phîi Yut, it might not be what we think.”
“Then what am I supposed to think, Hâ? Your son is wearing only pajama bottoms! What else can I think?! What possible reason is there for Porsche to sleep in Chao Dear's room? If it were Chao Lex, that's one thing. This is just the neighbor's Phîi staying over in his room. What else can I think, Hâ?!” The extremely angry person roared. Anyone who saw the image he saw would think the same.
But he didn't want to believe it at all. Didn't want to believe that his younger son, who was always more cute than handsome, would become like this.
“But Porsche and Dear are very close. Not to mention they live together in a condo.” Auntie Nee still tried to argue, even though she herself looked like she was about to cry. The manner of all the adults made Dear bow his head completely, two hands clenched tightly together. Tears were about to flow from his eyes.
Why, Wá? Why does it have to be like this? Why?
“May I say something, Khráp...”
“Phîi Porsche.” Dear almost lunged to grab his romantic partner's arm, but Purin instead met the gaze of all the adults, before speaking in a heavy voice.
“Dear and I haven't been just siblings for many months now.” Purin had intended to tell both sides anyway. He knew it was a difficult thing to accept. But he had to make it. He had intended to make both sides accept from the day he decided to love Dear.
No matter how hard the path, he had to push through it.
Whoosh
However, at that moment, Sak, who had been quiet all along, stepped towards his son and asked in a strong voice.
“What did you say?!” The question that Purin answered his Phôo with an equally serious tone.
“Dear and I... we love each other...”
Whack!!!
“Phîi Porsche!!! / Porsche!!!”
Both Dear and Dream shouted out loud when Sak's warm fist slammed full force into his son's face, making Purin dizzy. However, the young man raised a hand to stop them, then turned back to his Phôo.
“Father... understand me, Khráp. Dear and I...”
Whack!
“Shut your mouth!!! What have you done, Hâ, Âi'Porsche? How could you do this? Dear is your younger sibling. I (chǎn) also see him as my child. But you did this to your Nông? How will his parents face each other? Use your head a little. I (chǎn) can't believe I (chǎn) wasted money raising a buffalo until it grew up this big!!!!” This time, the person who had been quiet became the one who yelled at his son so loudly it echoed throughout the house.
“Do you have any brains?! Have you thought about your parents' faces, how they will look at other people?! Hâ, Âi'Purin!!! Answer me (chǎn)... answer me (chǎn), what should I (chǎn) do?!!!”
“...” At this time, Purin still bowed his head from the force of the punch, able to taste the metallic taste in his mouth, same as knowing how disappointed his Phôo's voice was. Not far away, he also knew Dear was about to cry.
Whap
“It's my fault, Father. This matter is my fault. Father can do anything to me... I just want Father to accept...”
“No way!!!” However, the most desired thing was answered with a refusal. And that made Dear, who was bowing his head, let tears fall to hit his cheeks.
No way, right? No way for two men to love each other, right?
“Hic...” The person trying to hold back a sob closed his eyes tightly, his whole body trembling. His ears heard Uncle Sak's scolding voice continuously berating Phîi Porsche. No matter how hard Phîi Porsche tried. He was the dim-witted one. He comforted himself that it was okay, even though all of this was his fault.
If he hadn't fallen in love with Phîi Porsche. If he had been pure-hearted towards Phîi Porsche from the start, it wouldn't be like this. It was his own fault. His alone.
Why did he foolishly think just love was okay? That Phîi Porsche and he just loving each other was enough. Why didn't he think further that there was no way the adults would accept? This was reality, not the Sailor Moon partner novels his Phîi liked to read. There was no way parents would accept their son having a relationship with a man.
If I (Kuu) had been born a woman. If I (Kuu) were a woman, could I (Kuu) love Porsche? Why aren't I (Kuu)? Why can't I (Kuu) love Phîi Porsche?
The question made Dear sob out loud, before jolting hard when his only Phîi reached out to hold his hand, making him have to look up.
“Chao Dream...”
Right, Chao Dream. Chao Dream is a woman.
The thoughts of the person who didn't think before or after, then decided at that moment. The only way for Phîi Porsche to not be disowned by Uncle Sak. The only way to not disappoint any adult... the only way to solve this problem.
“That's enough!!!”
Thud
Dear shouted out amidst everyone's scolding voices, making everyone turn sharply to look at him unanimously. The youth wiped his tears roughly and then said in a trembling voice.
“Phîi Porsche... tell everyone the truth, Khráp...”
“What truth?” Purin could only ask suspiciously, even as he was sensing something. Dear's expression made him distrust what Dear was about to say. And that made the dim-witted puppy continue in a trembling voice.
“The truth about Phîi and Chao Dream.”
“Âi'Dear!!!” Even Dream turned sharply to look at her younger sibling and shouted out loud, her small mouth agape at what he uttered.
What is he about to do?
“Auntie, Khráp. It's not as Auntie sees, Khráp. Bpǎa, listen to Dear... Uncle Sak, Auntie Nee, listen to Dear. Dear will tell everything...” The little one took a deep breath, looking at all the adults even though he himself was trembling with fear. However, just looking at Phîi Porsche's face, he forced the words out.
“The people who have something going on are Phîi Porsche and Chao Dream. Not Dear, Khráp.”
“Dear!!!”
“It's true, Khráp. It's the truth. Dear can't bear to let everyone scold like this anymore. Dear is not gay. Didn't have anything with Phîi Porsche at all. Everyone must believe Dear. Everything that happened is because Phîi Porsche and Chao Dream love each other. It's them who didn't want anyone to know. Phîi Porsche didn't want Chao Dream to get hurt. And Chao Dream wasn't ready to tell anyone about this. Dear is just the middleman. Because if everyone knew, everyone would definitely make Phîi Porsche and Chao Dream get married. But they weren't sure of their own feelings yet, so they said if anyone caught them, to say it was Dear who had something with Phîi Porsche... That Phîi Porsche came to sleep in Dear's room was just... just came to tutor Dear, that's all. There's nothing at all...”
Thud
“Dear, that's enough. Enough!!!”
“Everyone believe Dear, Khráp. There's really nothing! Nothing!!!” Dear poured out the lies almost without pausing for breath. And that made Purin, who had been shocked into stillness, finally regain his composure. His tall frame grabbed the little one's arm, making the little one shake him off, still telling the adults with tears, pleading for them to believe his words.
“Believe Dear, Khráp... Hic... It's not Dear... not Dear, not Dear. Believe Dear, Khráp... Phîi Porsche is not... Phîi Porsche didn't do wrong... It's not Phîi Porsche... not at all.”
It's Dear who is wrong. Dear was wrong from the start for loving Phîi Porsche.
The little one's manner, as if about to break down, made everyone just stand stunned. And that made Purin push himself to block in front immediately.
“No, Khráp! Dear and I, we are the ones who love each other...”
“That's enough, Chao Porsche!!!!” However, at that moment, Uncle Sak instead said in a strong voice, and also stepped forward, then turned to ask Dear who was trembling.
“Are you speaking the truth, Dear?”
“Khráp, Khráp, Khráp, Khráp!” The youth nodded vigorously. And that made the listener announce immediately.
“Then you must marry Nông Dream, Âi'Porsche!!!”
“Father!!!” Instead of a word of protest, the Phôo turned to point at his friend immediately, then asked in a heavy voice.
“Agreed, Âi'Yut?”
“Agreed.”
Click
The adults' words made clear teardrops immediately wash over Dear's cheeks hidden behind Purin, along with him telling himself.
It should have been like this. Should have been like this from the start.
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