Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
The dinner prepared by Khun-chai Krittithee had passed, amidst the anxious gazes of everyone in the house, utterly baffled as to why the master agreed to eat it. Even they, who had seen the entire cooking process, dared not taste it, giving rise to the question of just who this guest was.
It was not that others had never seen Graph before. They had, but what they always saw was the master’s irritable attitude toward him.
Thump
“Here. Yours.”
Meanwhile, after finishing his second can of beer to cleanse his palate, Pakin walked back into the living room and tossed a bag at Krittithee’s feet, speaking in a flat tone that left the listener, whose mind was still scattered, unable to compose himself.
Reflecting, Graph himself never expected Phîi Pakin to eat his cooking. It really was not delicious.
“What is it?” The other shrugged, his expression signaling to open it and see, prompting Krittithee to reach out and unzip the bag.
“My uniform.”
“Yes. Were you going to school in jeans and a T-shirt or what?” Pakin said, as if it were obvious, something one should figure out, while dropping onto the sofa, taking another large swig of beer, and eyeing Krittithee, who made a face as he pulled out the school uniform and various school supplies.
“Did Phîi get this for me?”
“Do you think I have that much free time?”
Guk
Yes, I know you’re busy. Couldn’t even say yes to make me happy.
Krittithee muttered under his breath. He knew better than to expect anything, but after receiving kindness for two days, he had let his guard down slightly. Pakin’s blunt response, still seeming displeased about dinner, meant that no matter how much Graph was scolded, he could not muster anger.
If Phîi Pakin gets diarrhea… Janjao, do you want to see your friend thrown out of the house?
Not knowing whom else to blame, Graph blamed his close friend. If Janjao heard, she would likely sulk, saying she went to the trouble of devising a plan.
“Chai went to get it,” Pakin said, making the effort to clarify who deserved the credit.
“Where is Phîi Chai? Doesn’t Phîi Chai sleep here?” Graph was certain Panchai often stayed over, as he always saw him standing behind Phîi Pakin no matter the time. Yet today, he had not seen him all day, nor had Panchai appeared at dinner, despite Graph’s intent to thank him.
“Why do you need to know?” Pakin retorted, prompting Krittithee to speak firmly.
“I want to thank him. Even if I’m a stubborn and foolish youth in Phîi’s eyes, I know how to say thank you.”
“Hmm.” This statement made Pakin raise an eyebrow, emit a sound from his throat, and smirk.
“Before you thank him, shouldn’t you thank me first?”
“Why should I thank Phîi?” Graph was puzzled, intending to thank Phîi Chai for retrieving his bag of clothes. Since Phîi Pakin said it was not his doing, not his concern, and he did not fetch it, why thank him only to be told to keep his thanks far away?
Pakin rolled his eyes and waved a hand, slightly irritated.
Yesterday, he had nearly bolted from a meeting upon learning this youth had been harassed for hours, dealt with those damned nuisances, suppressed the news, tracked down Graph’s father, and brought him to his house. Yet Graph did not think to thank him once. What could he expect from this youth?
“Forget it,” Pakin said dismissively, his tone annoyed.
Graph could only stare, not understanding, though he never understood Phîi Pakin anyway.
“Is your fever down?”
“It’s down. I’m fine,” Graph replied quickly, fearing he would be forced to take medicine again. Speaking of this reminded him of the fever’s cause.
“Who were they?”
Guk
Pakin, finishing his third beer and about to open a fourth, paused and met Krittithee’s questioning gaze. Krittithee pressed on, eager to know.
“They called Phîi Âi'Pakin, too. They seemed to despise Phîi. No, more like they held a grudge. What did Phîi do to them, and why did they bother me?” Graph asked, confused but certain he heard Pakin’s name clearly, and their vengeful demeanor was no ordinary anger, causing Pakin to fall silent.
If he told this youth he had obstructed their boss’s interests and slept with Âi Gra’s female romantic partner, what expression would Graph make?
Obstructing interests was deliberate, but sleeping with Âi Gra’s female romantic partner was unintentional. When she offered, he obliged, only learning later that Âi Gra was furious for being dumped. That was the extent of it, but the grudge persisted.
Since I slept with your female romantic partner, you messed with my junior, is that it?
Guk
Pakin faltered upon thinking my junior, a phrase he had never considered before.
When others suggested Graph was his junior, Pakin never acknowledged it and had no intention of doing so. Yet deep down, he knew whose junior this was—not in that sense, but as a youth he had to protect.
“There are some issues right now, and you showed up at the perfect time.”
“When did I show up?”
“When you poked your head out after I told you to stay away,” Pakin said sternly. He had chased this youth away repeatedly, but Graph never gave up, always reappearing. Previously, a single incident would keep him away for weeks. Only recently had frequent encounters occurred, noticed by those damned nuisances.
Krittithee pressed his lips tightly and turned his face away.
Unconcerned with soothing the sulking youth, Pakin continued firmly.
“So, while you’re here, don’t cause trouble anywhere. Be a well mannered youth to make me pleased for once.”
“Phîi should be good to me first,” Graph retorted, making Pakin shake his head.
Asking Graph to be a well mannered youth was like asking a buffalo to birth a cow.
“Stay here for now,” Pakin concluded, prompting Graph to counter.
“How long must I stay here?”
“Until I say so,” Pakin replied dismissively, causing Graph to look ready to protest but then close his mouth, sit with arms crossed, and fall silent, as if trying to be a good youth, slightly easing Pakin’s displeasure. However, cohabitation required rules, especially with this utterly stubborn youth.
“While you’re here, you must follow my orders,” Pakin said without waiting for a response, his tone commanding.
“From now on, wherever you go, have someone from here pick you up and drop you off.”
“But—”
“Or do you want to return home?”
Pakin’s gaze held suppressed anger, but Graph did not argue further, only shutting his mouth and listening as the deep voice continued.
“That includes school. I’ll have Chai assign you a dedicated driver. If the driver doesn’t look like this, don’t be dim-witted and get in, no matter their claim that I sent them. And when you want to go somewhere, tell me first—or Chai, or Pa Kaew, the head cook from earlier,” Pakin finished, prompting Graph, feeling his rights curtailed, to ask.
“What about my bike?”
“Scraped for parts. It only causes trouble.”
“Hey!” Graph’s eyes nearly bulged, but Pakin showed no sign of jest, returning to the main topic.
“And the most important thing…”
“There’s more?” Graph exclaimed, but Pakin ignored the sarcasm, fixing him with an intense gaze, compelling him to listen.
“You are forbidden—”
But then, Pakin’s phone rang sharply, halting both. He pulled it out, frowning slightly at the caller’s name.
“What is it?”
“Come pick me up.”
“What?” Pakin asked sternly, as the caller said only that, seemingly uninterested in a long conversation.
“Suvarnabhumi. Seven-thirty. That’s all.” Beep beep beep
“Good Lord!” Before Pakin could ask details, the call ended, making him curse and turn to Graph’s curious face.
“Go to school tomorrow. Don’t wait up like yesterday. I’ll be back late,” Pakin said, swiftly exiting the living room without further explanation, while calling his close associate.
“Chai…Win is back,” he said, shaking his head.
Was his life lately nothing but trouble?
***
“See? I told you this plan would work!”
“Work, my ass! It tasted so bad even a dog wouldn’t eat it.”
“Even if a dog wouldn’t eat it, your Phîi Pakin ate it! Heehee!”
After the master stormed out, Graph suppressed his curiosity about whom Pakin rushed to pursue. That man was never idle. Having followed his life for years, Graph knew returning home at seven-thirty was utterly bizarre.
Phîi Pakin preferred nightlife to daytime. Everyone knew that.
Perhaps he went to embrace some young woman or man.
This thought made Graph grimace in frustration, return to his room, and call his close friend to avoid dwelling on it. Janjao seemed to be waiting, answering before the ringtone finished, rapidly asking how things went, forcing Graph to recount the evening, omitting only how long he spent in the kitchen.
Telling her was embarrassing. Just one dish, pad kra pao, attempted over ten times, each a disaster.
“It’s okay! People must learn. Graph, keep practicing. It’ll taste good someday!”
“Someday in the next life,” Graph retorted, confidence shattered by the master’s harsh words, making Janjao laugh brightly—a laugh Graph felt was more mocking.
Chuckle
“But Graph will keep trying, right?”
“Know-it-all!” Seeing Janjao read his easily provoked nature, Graph snapped back, but she was unfazed, laughing again.
“Heehee, shy?”
“Stop teasing, or I’ll hang up.”
“No, don’t! We haven’t discussed the next plan!”
“Plan?” Krittithee raised his eyebrows high, wary, as Janjao’s plans often led to him being scolded, though over half succeeded surprisingly. Their success made him listen quietly to her bright voice.
“Yes! The plan to win the heart of your Ultimate Mafia Man!”
“Watched too many Korean dramas?”
“Don’t mock Korean dramas! They’re full of great work. Especially with BL couples—oh, the best! But rare… Off-topic. Graph should sleep early and wake early because tomorrow you have tasks.”
“Say it all at once,” Graph urged, picturing Janjao’s sly smile.
“Okay, all at once. Tomorrow, Graph must wake early, sneak into his room, and slip into bed. Done.”
“What?”
“No joke! I’m serious. Graph has a chance to stay at Phîi Pakin’s house. How can you just sleep in your own room? That’s no different from separate houses. You must take the offensive!”
“You’re crazy. Tackle Phîi Pakin? I’ll get killed.”
“Hey! Who said tackle? Graph, you’re thinking dirty. I didn’t say tackle.”
Graph wanted to argue, recalling Janjao’s words.
Slip into bed… Right, she didn’t say tackle.
“Caught you daydreaming!”
“…” Janjao’s words silenced Graph, his pale cheeks reddening until his face was uniformly flushed. She said slip into bed, but he thought of slipping under covers. Sensing his embarrassment, Janjao spoke with a laugh.
“When I said slip into bed, I didn’t mean tackle. I meant Graph should sleep beside him. Picture it: he’s sleeping, Graph pulls his hand to your waist. When he wakes, you act sleepy, waking too, with bleary eyes, wearing a wide-necked pajama top, lips slightly parted. Oh, sexy!”
Janjao’s imagination soared, but Graph’s face was horrified.
What crazy thing was that? Bleary, dewy eyes? Just woke up or took some drug?
“No way,” Krittithee refused, prompting Janjao to unleash every persuasive tactic.
“Graph, you have a chance to enter his house! Will you let it slip? When will you progress? If he handles that adversary issue, you’ll go home. Without action, you’ll return to being the annoying youth ignored by Phîi Pakin, sad over his cruelty, right?”
Graph was speechless, envisioning the scenario, clenching his jaw.
Return to being ignored… An annoying youth not in Phîi Pakin’s sight.
“What… should I do?”
Finally, he spoke softly, hearing Janjao exclaim gleefully that this was the way. She stuffed theoretical knowledge—never practiced—into his head, scripting dialogues and actions. Graph’s sole task was to invade Phîi Pakin’s bed.
Though he dreaded the new morning, time marched to waking hours.
At five-thirty, Krittithee, sleepless from worry, sat up with messy hair, clutching his head in stress.
Can I do this? Sleep cutely like a Kitty doll? I’m afraid Phîi Pakin will think I’m filth.
Graph sighed deeply, took a breath, having come this far with nothing to lose. He shook off the blanket, washed his face, brushed his teeth, combed his hair, and rubbed his eyes lightly, as Janjao advised, to make his hair slightly fluffy, as if he had slept.
He undid the second pajama button, looked at his flat chest, and wanted to clutch his temples.
“Do I really have to do this?” he said, but the stubborn youth who annoyed Pakin persisted. He left the room, heading to the mansion’s other side, as the guest and master bedrooms were opposite.
Though the house was vast and dark, too early for workers to clean, Graph feared not the silence or eeriness but the reaction of the person behind the pearlescent door.
“If it’s locked, it’s over,” Graph hoped, equally wanting it locked and unlocked. If locked, he could abandon today’s plan, scheme for a spare key with Janjao’s help, delaying but still needing to act.
Creeak
His heart nearly leapt out when the expensive, thick door slid open silently, without a creak.
Gasp
Krittithee inhaled deeply, catching a faint cologne scent, making his small heart race. His eyes, adjusting to the dark, saw the large bed deep inside, past the study and lounge area.
His steps felt heavy as he approached the large bed where Pakin’s tall figure lay stretched out, only his sharp face and shoulders visible above the covers. Seeing that even someone like Phîi Pakin hugged a pillow gave Graph inexplicable relief.
In the dim light, Krittithee saw a pillow tucked under the covers near one shoulder. He moved there, reached under to pull it out, and followed Janjao’s advice—slipping into its place.
Thump
“Ugh.”
But he felt not fabric’s softness but human warmth.
The act of grabbing and pulling drew a sleepy sound from under the comforter, which parted, revealing a naked person.
Krittithee’s eyes widened as if seeing a ghost, his racing heart stopping momentarily. He stepped back in shock.
Crash!
Smash!
Gasp!
Stepping back blindly, Graph hit the bedside table, toppling and shattering the lamp. The noise made the bed’s occupant jolt upright.
Thump
Click
“Who’s there?” Pakin yanked open the bedside drawer, grabbed a gun, and switched on his lamp, swiftly aiming at the intruder disturbing his rest.
He saw a youth frozen, pale, looking as if he had seen life’s most terrifying sight.
And that was…
“What’s all the noise? People are trying to sleep!” A slender figure beside Pakin sat up, revealing a flawless, unclothed white body, like Pakin’s.
The powerful master’s naked form displayed a muscular, masculine physique. His irritated face, messy hair, and gleaming eyes, ready to tear the intruder apart, exuded dangerous charm throughout the room.
Graph feared this danger less than the person sitting up.
A young woman—no, a man with slightly wavy, shoulder-length hair, looking feminine at first glance. Though messy, it made him effortlessly sexy. His delicate, beautiful face, mistakable for a woman’s without seeing his body, and his sleepy, irritated expression enhanced his allure.
Yes, this man wore nothing!!!
His naked form showed a slender build, broad yet rounded shoulders, deep, enticing collarbones, a flat chest with light nipples, and a smooth, white stomach. Though masculine, he was strikingly beautiful.
Graph would have felt nothing, but this man tilted his head toward Pakin, who frowned intently.
“What is it, Kin?”
“Don’t call me that. How did you get in here?” Graph had never heard anyone call Phîi Pakin that, certain they would not get a second chance. Yet Pakin showed no anger, only asking, prompting the other to roll his eyes, recalling something annoying.
“You didn’t pick me up last night.”
“Hmph. Pick you up? You said seven-thirty, but the flight left Korea at seven-thirty. Who’d wait six or seven hours?”
“Because you didn’t pick me up, I asked a housekeeper for a key. Just wanted to say hi, but when I woke Kin up, he pulled me down to hug and wouldn’t let go—said we’d talk in the morning,” the sexy man pouted, resting his chin on his knee under the comforter, turning to the lamp-breaker.
“Who’s this youth? Kin, are you raising a youth in the house now?”
The question snapped Graph from his shock. His limbs felt heavy, unable to move. Though he had seen Phîi Pakin with men and women countless times, never had he seen post-act like this.
The truth struck him hard.
While he was the annoying youth never to reach that bed, this kind of person could.
His eyes burned, and he shouted, “Phîi is a damned shit-lizard!”
A damned shit-lizard who brought a romantic partner to sleep over after bringing him into the house.
Click
“Damned shit-lizard!” Graph barely felt the lamp shards underfoot, only turning and stomping out, anger surging, tempted to grab that damned nuisance by the neck and throw him out. If he did, he would never see such a damned shit-lizard again.
Stare
Slam!
The door slammed shut loudly. The man on the bed, chin on knee, tilted his head toward Pakin.
“Seems like a misunderstanding. Not going after him?”
“No need,” Pakin replied.
“Wow, cold-cold man.”
“Not amusing, Âi Win,” Pakin said sternly, making the man playing the seductive romantic partner chuckle, shrug, and sit upright.
“Not my fault. Phîi pulled me down to sleep,” Win, or Phawit, said, looking at his cousin.
Yes, they were relatives.
“You come and go as you please. What did you fight with Khun Mâe about?” Pakin asked, rising from the bed, revealing a perfect, unclothed male form, then walking to a corner to don a bathrobe loosely.
Phawit sighed, opened a drawer, and found a cigarette.
He lit it and inhaled deeply.
“Bored. I returned because I was ordered home, or I’d quit the job,” said the top-tier model, signed by foreign agencies, in a bored tone, prompting Pakin to turn.
“But that’s not why you returned, is it?”
Win paused, then changed topics.
“Contract ended. Not ready to sign with anyone, so I’m resting in Thailand. Might take local jobs. Showing my face to Khun Mâe to stop her nagging.”
“Hmph,” Pakin smiled knowingly, saying no more.
“What about you? Who’s that youth?” Win, newly returned, asked, certain his cousin did not keep romantic partners or youths in the house. At his level, youths lined up without needing to be kept.
“Junior of an acquaintance. Staying here awhile.”
“Really? Odd… What’s his name?”
“Graph.”
Hearing the name, Phawit raised an eyebrow, smiled, and stood, revealing small boxers under the comforter.
He extinguished his cigarette, turned, leaned on the desk, and eyed his bad-boy cousin turned reluctant babysitter.
“Heard his name forever. First time seeing him. Probably crying with snot bubbles now.”
“If he’s that age and still cries, he should learn to wipe his own tears. I’m not a tissue,” Pakin shrugged indifferently, noted by Phawit, who smiled.
“Let me tease him then,” Win said, as if requesting a toy, earning a glance from Pakin.
Knock knock knock
A sudden knock sounded, and the outsider opened the door.
“I passed Khun Graph and wanted to ask Khun Pakin if something happened, Khrap,” Panchai said, entering, looking only at his employer’s face. Pakin pointed to the bed.
“He broke the lamp,” Pakin said, returning the gun to the bedside drawer.
Phawit eyed the newcomer, then stood upright.
“Let me stay here awhile, Phîi. I’ll sleep till afternoon. Tell your people not to disturb me,” Win said, passing Panchai in short boxers without a glance.
“Wait, Khun Win,” Panchai called, picking up a black robe from the floor.
“Wear this, or you might catch a cold, Khrap.”
Win glanced over and said, “Put it on for me.”
“…” The command froze Panchai, who stood still, prompting Phawit to smirk.
“If you don’t put it on me, I won’t wear it,” Win said, walking to the opposite bedroom he used here. Passing Pakin’s associate, his confident smile faded.
“If I said I returned to Thailand to see your face… daydreaming again, Win.”
A daydream remains a daydream, never to become reality.
Comments
Post a Comment