Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
"Shorty got them Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans] with the fur~
The whole club was lookin at her~~"
Inside the sleek supercar, one of Pakin’s prized possessions, the song Low by Flo Rida blasted through the speakers, loud enough that nearby cars could likely hear the pulsing rhythm showcasing the top-notch sound system. But it only played for two verses...
Click
The car’s owner switched it off.
The passenger glanced over, then...
Click
"The whole club lookin at her
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know~"
Click
But just seconds after the music thumped, the driver reached to turn it off again, making Kritithi scowl. He turned to the driver, eyes still locked on the road, and reached to turn the music back on, but...
Grab
“Don’t touch it.” A large hand seized his wrist before his fingers could reach the stereo, paired with a deep, warning tone directed at the young man.
“I want to listen to music.”
“I don’t.”
“Then plug your ears.” The defiant young man snapped back at the restriction, yanking his hand free but not touching the stereo again—the grip on his wrist felt too hot... unnervingly hot.
Since leaving Janjao’s house, Graph had only just regained his composure, feeling like a complete dim-wit for letting himself be dragged into the car so easily. He wanted to rant but couldn’t find words; starting a conversation felt too awkward. The events that unfolded left the young man unsure how to act.
He didn’t know if he should stay angry or pretend nothing happened, as Phîi Pakin had never apologized like this before. The other might have done it to brush off irritation, but not by kissing his forehead and boldly declaring he came to make amends, as happened half an hour ago. Unsure what to do, Graph tried to distract himself by turning on music, only to be stopped again.
“I’m still pissed at you, damn it!” he finally shouted, louder than before.
The driver turned to meet his gaze, sharp eyes flashing with weary irritation, and...
“I already came to apologize.”
“If you don’t mean it, don’t bother. I didn’t ask for your apology.”
“If you don’t want one, why’d you run off?” Pakin fired back, making the resentful young man want to yell that anyone in his shoes would do the same. Even with an apology, Graph hadn’t forgotten that Pakin had been with someone else before coming to him.
The thought alone was revolting.
He despised the idea of Phîi Pakin sleeping around, his voice slipping through clenched teeth.
“You’re a damned shit-lizard.”
Screech
“Hey!” The young man yelped in alarm as the sleek car suddenly swerved to the roadside at high speed, halting abruptly. Before he could protest, the chiseled face leaned in close, mere breaths apart. Normally, he’d freeze in shock, but those sharp eyes, gleaming yet icy like flames in a blizzard, made the young man tremble.
The other spoke in a low, menacing tone.
“If I hear you call me a shit-lizard again...” The man with overwhelming authority stopped there, but for someone who’d defied danger for ten years, Graph held his nerve and pressed on.
“What if I do?”
Thud
Gasp!
Graph flinched hard as both forearms slammed against his seat, the handsome face closing in until their lips nearly brushed. Then Pakin curled one corner of his mouth.
“No more taking your car or stuff as punishment. I...” The chiseled face moved to his ear.
“...will take it out on the bed.”
Gulp
With that, Pakin eased back slightly, eyeing the young man whose face paled, then flushed red, likely realizing this wasn’t a bluff—he meant it.
No matter how badly Graph acted, he wouldn’t stop, so switching to a method Pakin enjoyed wouldn’t hurt. It made the young man’s eyes flash as he shouted.
“You’re just a greedy person."
“Yes, and I promised to take that greed out on you.”
The retort came swift. The large hand on the seat, almost threatening, slid around Graph’s waist, pulling him close until their bodies pressed together. Graph’s eyes widened, darting in fear. With only two real experiences, the young man was scared... scared Pakin would act on the threat right here, in this car, on a roadside bustling with traffic.
Smack
“Let go, damn it!” Both hands shoved against the broad chest, pushing hard, his shout a desperate lifeline. This time, Pakin relented, releasing him, giving a fleeting glance before steering the car back onto the road.
“Get ready, then.”
“Why should I? It’s just... just sex.” Graph nearly slapped himself for his trembling voice, the one facing this romantic tension gripped by fear... that drunken night had warned him how terrifying Phîi Pakin could be when serious.
The listener only chuckled, glancing over.
“Keep that in mind... What do you want for dinner?” The abrupt topic shift made Graph speak firmly.
He got it, but Pakin laughed, finding the young man’s voice like a puppy’s whine, craving attention. “Don’t dodge the issue. We’re not done, and I’m still pissed at you... really pissed.” The listener should’ve been annoyed by the relentless “still pissed, really pissed,” but he’d heard it already.
“Hurry, decide before I do.” The young man insisted on the dinner topic, making the passenger clench his fists.
“I’m not eating. I’m not hungry!”
“Graph.”
“Calling my name won’t make me hungry, and I’m not eating.” Despite the older man’s low tone, the young man crossed his arms, staring out the window.
“If you don’t eat today, I won’t take you out again.”
“Fine, you’re selfish and only care about yourself anyway.” The driving mood faltered briefly but cooled before escalating, as Pakin likely knew this damned young man acted defiant when upset or thwarted. Normally, he’d leave him here to find his own way home, but he wasn’t so cruel as to ignore his role in Graph’s foolish antics.
Damn, sleeping with someone never caused this much hassle.
“Then a selfish guy like me is going to bed.” As the young man threw a fit, Pakin said just that, abandoning plans to head to the reserved restaurant.
His long legs hit the gas, driving straight home, ignoring the resentful glare of the young man beside him, who clearly didn’t want to return despite his words.
If he didn’t want to eat out, Pakin would just give him what he wanted.
Click
Before the sleek car fully stopped, the passenger door flew open, and the passenger, arms crossed and head down the whole way, bolted out, sprinting into the house without a glance at the driver, who stepped out, leaned against the car, and watched with displeased eyes.
Phîi Pakin didn’t care about me opening the door before stopping—he was worried about his precious car’s door hitting something.
Thud, thud, thud
“Khun Graph! Khun Graph is back!”
Kritithi nearly dashed to his room, but a voice stopped him. Turning, he saw the head housekeeper hurrying over, almost running, her aged face etched with worry, melting his earlier anger into guilt.
Aunt Kaew genuinely cared, yet this morning Graph had snapped at her, and now made her rush to him, despite the risk of falling at her age.
“Is Khun Graph okay? This morning, I was worried sick when you left like that.” Graph had called plenty of people fake—nannies hired by his father never truly cared, just feared scolding, pay cuts, or firing. But with Phîi Pakin’s longtime housekeeper, Graph bowed his head lower.
Aunt Kaew had helped him countless times, even enduring Phîi Pakin’s scolding to do so.
She ran to him, looking at him like a grandchild, prompting him to say...
“Sorry... I’m sorry.”
“Why is Khun Graph apologizing to me?” she asked, surprised, as the defiant young man gripped his own hand tightly.
“I spoke rudely to you this morning. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, that? It’s fine, Khun Graph.” The older woman smiled, shaking her head gently, unoffended, which only deepened his guilt.
Aunt Kaew cared for him most in this house, followed by Phîi Win. The house’s owner... ever check on him?
“That’s not fine. Spoiling him like this only makes him worse.”
Gulp
Before he could continue, the man following spoke calmly, making the wayward young man grit his teeth, refusing to yield or turn back. Aunt Kaew glanced over, gave a small smile, then continued speaking to Graph.
“Next time, don’t do that, okay, Khun Graph? It’s not good. I was worried to death when you stormed out.” If anyone else scolded him, Graph would bare his teeth, but her soft tone and warm eyes made the young man, stubborn with everyone else, say only...
“I’m sorry, khrap.”
Aunt Kaew was one of the few whose changed gaze Graph feared... an older woman who handled his clothes, food, and even woke him for school daily, despite not needing to. She tolerated his selfish nature without ever raising her voice, unlike someone else.
Pakin’s brows furrowed sharply.
“Khun-chai Kritithi knows how to apologize?”
Grab
At those words, Graph clenched his fist and quickly told the housekeeper.
“I’m going to my room.”
“Won’t you eat something, Khun Graph? You haven’t eaten since morning.”
“No... I want to sleep.” He nearly said he didn’t want to see that other face but caught himself, turning to head to his room—not the bedroom he fled this morning, but the guest room he’d claimed from the start. Two older people watched him go with different expressions.
One... concerned.
One... unreadable.
Then the unreadable one turned to the housekeeper.
“Spoiling him until he’s used to it.”
“Khun Pakin is too harsh with Khun Graph, that’s what he’s used to.” The listener’s face hardened, but the housekeeper offered a gentle smile, repeating a familiar sentiment.
“Khun Graph is pitiable. If Khun Pakin showed him a bit of kindness, he’d be well behaved for you to see.” Pakin shook his head, not arguing further, only asking about something else.
“What’s the kitchen making today?”
“Green curry chicken, baked snakehead fish with herbs, shrimp cakes, chili relish with boat, and fresh vegetables.” Though the boss initially said no dinner was needed, when both returned, Aunt Kaew swiftly planned the menu, prompting Pakin’s calm order.
“Cancel it all.”
“What? But Khun Pakin and Khun Graph are back, and...”
“Cancel it. Whatever’s being made, stop it. No need for anything.” The young man said only that. Though confused, she could only comply, watching her young boss head to his room without a thought of approaching the young man who’d retreated to his. She sighed.
Both so stubborn. “Sigh, can’t you be a bit kinder, Khun Pakin? You went to bring Khun Graph back, after all. A little kindness...” She trailed off, having raised them herself. How could she not know who was truly at fault?
Though he fled to his room, flopped face-down on the bed, and tried to force sleep, Graph only tossed and turned, like in the infirmary, fixating on that shirt. Finally, unwilling to wallow, he called someone... someone he’d parted from less than two hours ago.
[In my opinion, Graph, Phîi Pakin’s changed. You’re still mad at him, but think about it—before, you said he pushed you away, but today he came to apologize at your friend’s house. I’m telling you, the guy you said doesn’t care about anyone came to make amends.]
Exactly—his personal analyst, Janjao.
Her words calmed him slightly.
“It’s just about sex,” the young man said firmly, attributing the change to their physical intimacy. The line went quiet for a moment until he realized.
“Sorry, forgot you’re a young woman. You probably don’t want to hear this...”
[I do! I totally want to hear it. Honestly, Graph, I’m dying to know about your bedroom life. I’m pinching my arm not to ask what he did to you this morning... anyway, back to it. You say it’s about sex, and yeah, it stings me too, but he said while he’s with you, he won’t be with others, which means...]
“When he’s bored, he’ll drop me.” Graph snorted as his friend paused, clearly uncomfortable.
[Well, before he gets bored, make Phîi Pakin so crazy for you he can’t think straight.]
“Me? Janjao, me?” He immediately protested, not out of self-doubt but because he had no confidence in that. A few nights together, and Phîi Pakin was probably already bored. Yet his close friend stayed optimistic.
[Come on, you never know. You might be perfectly compatible with Phîi Pakin in bed. Plenty of couples start physical and end up in love. You’ve got a shot—go all in.]
“Plenty of couples? How many romance novels is that?” Graph saw through her, making the girl who brought yaoi novels to school huff.
[Ugh, Graph, trust me. If you’re clueless, ask Phîi Win—he seems spicy.] Her whisper ended with a giggle, hinting she’d love to grill the model about bedroom details down to the pillow fibers. Fibers
Graph shook his head, chuckling along.
[See? You laughed. Listen, Graph, you’re still mad, but I want you to start fresh now. Forget who Phîi Pakin was with before. Focus on his promise not to sleep with others now, and work to win his heart, okay?]
Easier said than done.
He wanted to snap back, but he stayed silent, knowing she was right. He should stop dwelling on Pakin’s past and focus on the present, but the brain and heart aren’t the same. His mind agreed, but his heart... could it stop being jealous?
“I’ll try,” he said softly, just as a knock came at the door.
“Khun Graph, dinner’s ready,” the head housekeeper announced, stepping in. Graph shook his head.
“I’m not hungry.” Aunt Kaew gave a small smile and approached.
“Even if you’re not hungry, come down for a bit.”
“I’m really not hungry.” Having eaten nothing since morning, he stood firm. Her smile turned sly.
“Please, I’m begging you. Tonight’s meal was made with real effort.”
[Go eat, Graph. I’m about to eat too. Oh, and you said you’d try—going down to face Phîi Pakin is a start.]
The older woman’s urging wasn’t enough; his friend piled on too, making him grumble, “Are you my friend or my Mâe, Janjao?”
She giggled and hung up. Graph reluctantly got up, asking hesitantly.
“Is Phîi Pakin there?” Aunt Kaew’s smile widened, sticking to her earlier words.
“See for yourself, Khun Graph. I think you’ll have an appetite tonight.”
No way, bloody fucking no way!
Khun Kritithi stood frozen at a door near the main kitchen, stunned, staring at the tall figure behind the black granite counter. That build could only be one person... Phîi Pakin.
Graph was already shocked when he reached the dining room and found it empty. Aunt Kaew had directed him to the kitchen, but instead of the chaotic one he’d once helped in, she led him to a medium-sized, beautifully decorated kitchen, like something from a home decor magazine.
It had dual counters—one with an electric stove, oven, and fridge, the other waist-high to Pakin, with just a sink and open space, lined with chairs.
Really?
The main kitchen was practical, worn from years of use, but this one felt like a showpiece. It made Graph doubt even more that the man at the stove was Phîi Pakin.
Dressed in casual long pants and a t-shirt, perfect for home, he looked nothing like the commanding figure on the racetrack. It shouldn’t suit him, but when Pakin glanced over, Graph averted his eyes, heart pounding like it might give out.
Sleep?
No way, I’m dreaming. This isn’t real.
“Come sit.”
Graph wanted to argue, to be stubborn as usual, but his legs carried him to sit as told, eyes unable to look away from the broad back of the man who’d said he’d head to bed.
Phîi Pakin didn’t sleep—he’s cooking dinner... no way... am I hallucinating, damn it?
Still wide-eyed, Graph watched the older man ladle vibrant soup into a fine porcelain bowl, drizzling thick white cream over the red tomato soup, finishing with a basil leaf. Pakin turned, setting the bowl before him, and Graph pressed his lips together.
“You made this... yourself?”
“Me cooking something, is that unbelievable?”
“You don’t seem like the type.” The defiant young man argued, though his hand shook holding the soup spoon. Pakin shrugged.
“I’m not you, helpless at everything.”
Graph bristled instantly.
“You’re just as spoiled, with others doing everything for you.” Pakin tilted his head slightly, leaning a hip against the counter, arms crossed. Though more relaxed than usual, standing in a kitchen, not a racetrack, his intimidating presence didn’t waver.
Yet this Pakin wasn’t threatening—he seemed to tease.
“At least I never wrecked anyone’s kitchen.” Mention of Graph’s past kitchen disaster silenced him. He looked down at the vibrant soup, perfectly contrasted with cream. Part of him refused to believe someone like Phîi Pakin made it, but another part hoped it was true.
First time tasting Phîi Pakin’s cooking.
“Stop staring and eat.” Though he wanted to argue, Kritithi gave in and took a bite.
Gulp
Damn, it’s good.
Graph admitted to himself as the creamy flavor hit his tongue, fresh and aromatic, perfectly suited to his taste. The defiant young man took two more spoonfuls before asking.
“Why?”
Why go through the effort for him?
The chef gave a faint smirk and answered simply.
“I don’t break my word.”
He’d promised dinner, and since this stubborn young man refused to go out, he kept his word at home.
“You didn’t have to care.” Graph countered.
True, this man didn’t need to honor promises to a young man like him, but looking back, no matter how harsh Phîi Pakin was, he never broke a promise. Said he’d visit, he visited; said he’d get something, he did; said he’d pick him up from school, he showed. If he said he’d do it, he did. If he said no, no amount of defiance softened him.
This time, the older man didn’t reply, just glanced at the working oven, opened it, and checked a pan. The aroma of steak filled the room. With a quick look, he pulled it out to rest on a heat pad.
“I don’t care. Think of it as me wanting to cook, like back in school, and I happened to promise you.” That was the answer as he sliced medium-rare steak into bite-sized pieces, arranging them on a plate with mashed cauliflower, drizzling sauce over it, ready to serve the main course.
“And I’m not letting you starve under my care. Eat, before it gets cold.” The handsome chef spoke, watching Graph finish the soup with satisfied eyes, quietly confident.
In America, Pakin partied as much as Siraphop, but not always out. Friday parties at friends’ houses taught him cooking wasn’t a loss, handy when he didn’t want to go out.
Years alone made it second nature. Now, he rarely cooked, but at least he didn’t drag the young man up at 3 or 4 AM for snacks. When the damned young man acted out, Pakin figured this wasn’t bad. From Graph’s face, glancing at him skeptically, it seemed to work.
“And you haven’t eaten since morning.”
“How’d you know?” Graph looked up suspiciously. The older man met his gaze steadily, then... smiled.
A knowing smile that gave Graph chills.
“Crying all morning leaves no time to eat.”
“I wasn’t!” Graph shot back, refusing to admit he’d cried, as it showed weakness. Pakin leaned both arms on the counter, his sharp face nearly crossing to Graph’s side as he ate. Graph almost flinched, but those dark eyes held him.
Pat
Gasp!
Graph didn’t even notice the hand until a fingertip touched his eye’s corner. The man who saw through everything chuckled.
“Your eyes give you away.”
Heart racing, the defiant young man jerked his face away, words tumbling out.
“My eyes are red from lack of sleep, not crying. Someone messed with me all morning.”
“I didn’t say your eyes were red. Getting defensive?”
Gulp
“I said I didn’t!” Losing the argument, Graph looked up—a grave mistake. Locking eyes, he felt himself sinking into those sharp, piercing gazes.
The man reached for a diced steak piece with bare hands, bringing it to Graph’s lips.
Their eyes met, and Graph couldn’t resist, opening his mouth to take the tender meat, nearly jolting as his tongue brushed Pakin’s sauce-dampened finger. Pakin showed no reaction, pulling his finger back... and licking it.
Graph sat, face burning, watching this charismatic man lick his own finger while staring at him. No wonder everyone fell for Phîi Pakin’s charm, despite his ruthless edge.
One sentence erased Graph’s anger and resentment.
“I’ve gone this far to apologize. Forgive me, Graph.”
The soft tone wasn’t much, but for a man like this to cook for him, disappointment vanished, leaving only his heart’s rapid beat, struggling to keep up.
Why, damn it, why do I always lose to damned Phîi Pakin?
Why... did I nod so easily, muttering.
“I... wasn’t even mad at you.”
No matter how angry, he surrendered to his heart in the end.
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