Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
Graph knew perfectly well that he was just being petulant. The moment he stopped being angry, after he had fled back to his own room, he had shamelessly and stubbornly returned to sleep in the original room he had occupied for the past week, even though he was secretly worried deep down... would he be kicked out or what?
Creeeak
The door swung open a crack, revealing only the eyes of the delinquent youth as he scanned the area to make sure the coast was clear. Combined with the bright bathroom light indicating the room's owner was probably still in there, he stepped in as quietly as possible, intending to rush to the large bed and force his eyes shut to sleep first.
Both Janjao and Phîi Win had said the same thing, that he didn't have to move... so he was just going to stake his claim, dammit.
"Phew." Once inside, he secretly let out a sigh of relief and slowly pushed the door closed. But...
"Since you're in, lock it too."
Slam!!!
"Hey!" But before the door could click shut properly, a deep voice sounded from behind, making him jump with a start. The hand slowly turning the doorknob twitched, causing the door to be pushed shut with full force, slamming loudly with a BANG. The young man spun around sharply to look at the owner of the voice.
"Ugh."
At this moment, Pakin had only a towel wrapped around his waist and a smaller cloth draped around his neck, revealing a broad chest and those thick muscles beaded with droplets of water. Graph himself inadvertently averted his eyes, looking away, because his heart was thumping wildly in his chest.
Sometimes I hate how good-looking Phîi Pakin is.
"I thought you weren't coming back," the speaker said, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe.
In other words... "You knew I would come?" The larger man just lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile, turned back into the dressing room, and then...
"Otherwise, why would I have left it unlocked?"
Thud.
Krittitee came to an abrupt halt, snapping his head to look at the door, and it was true. Because if Phîi Pakin was in the room, he always locked it. The last time he'd managed to sneak in was because Phîi Win had used a spare key to unlock it first. So the other party must have guessed he would come, and it made him feel hurt in an indescribable way.
It's like walking right into a trap!
"Get angry on your own, and when you stop being angry, you come back on your own. It's utterly pathetic," Graph muttered, feeling no different from before when he was the one chasing after the other party. Even though everything was changing now. It wasn't just the shameless Graph running after him alone anymore; Phîi Pakin himself was willing to speak up and appease him, but the feeling... wasn't any different from before.
He still felt the other party was superior, no different from before.
"Hah. Making me so infatuated and obsessed I can't think straight. What could your friend possibly do to you, Janjao?" The young man mumbled, shaking his head in considerable disappointment with himself. When he glanced at the bathroom door, he wanted to go back to his own room, wanted to gamble on whether someone would come after him or not. But that... remained just a thought.
In reality, Graph, already in his pajamas, walked over and dropped onto the bed, let out a heavy sigh, and picked up his phone to check his messages.
There were messages from his drinking buddies thanking him for that afternoon, and from his best friend, who had sent a million-eight stickers with a short message.
... How are you, Graph? How was dinner?...
The young man hesitated for a moment, then called Janjao.
[Graph! How are you!?!]
The girl's shrill voice came through the line, making the listener's face heat up a bit. Thinking of the dinner that started with soup, continued with a main course, and ended with dessert, he couldn't help but feel a little shy.
Phîi Pakin made it all himself.
"It's... fine."
[You made up with Phîi Pakin, right?]
"Well, I wasn't really angry in the first place."
Talking to his friend made his nervousness lessen, but this soft conversation made the person who had just stepped out of the dressing room pause. His sharp eyes swept over to look at the young man sitting cross-legged, head bowed, looking only at the bedsheet, yet with both cheeks and ears visibly red.
"And what did you eat for dinner, Janjao?" The embarrassed one tried to change the subject, but mentioning the name let the room's owner know who he was talking to.
That youth again.
Naturally, Pakin was rather displeased.
[It was nothing much. After you left, I had Phîi Sun take me on his bike to the market. We got half a fried chicken, some morning glory stir-fried in oyster sauce, and crispy catfish salad. That's about it.]
"Are you done talking? I'm going to sleep." But before Graph could reply, Pakin, who had checked his phone and saw nothing urgent, interjected, making him turn to look. He saw the man go to turn off the light.
"If you want to sleep, then sleep. I'm on the phone," Graph said, immediately wanting to slap himself for arguing back. He thought for sure he'd be met with those glinting eyes and a cold voice telling him to go talk on the phone in his own room. However, the large man just shrugged, and then...
Whoosh
"Hey! Why are you taking that off?!" The room's owner, who was only wearing a bathrobe, pulled the tie at his waist loose and took it off, tossing it carelessly at the foot of the bed. This time, it wasn't just the chest muscles; Graph saw every part of the man who could be said to have a perfectly beautiful body, every square inch, and the owner of the physique wasn't the least bit shy.
"Didn't Win tell you? I don't wear anything to sleep." As he spoke, he shrugged, making the listener's jaw drop.
"B-but today you're not sleeping alone!" Graph hurriedly argued, even as goosebumps rose all over him. He knew they had the same male body, but he couldn't look directly. The room's owner just raised an eyebrow slightly before...
Smiling.
"Whether I sleep alone or with several people, I sleep like this. Besides... " The speaker let his gaze sweep over the lanky frame of the young man and said one word.
"It's not like we haven't seen each other before."
The words made the listener's face heat up instantly. He knew they had, but he inadvertently slid back until he was pressed against the headboard as the large man moved closer. A big hand reached out, intending to touch his pale cheek, making the hand holding the phone shake violently. He was too stunned to argue, much like the person on the other end of the line.
The person on the other end who had heard every word and was already gasping.
"W-what are you doing?" Graph could only ask in a daze. He knew that just this morning he had easily agreed to sleep together, but now he wasn't fully over his irritation. Yet, as the other party moved his face close... he inadvertently shut his eyes tight.
Is he going to do it now? Right now?
Graph could feel the breath fanning across his cheek, and then...
Click
"Hmph. Did you want me to do something?" Suddenly, the light by the head of the bed went out, accompanied by a soft sound, making Graph open his eyes. He met the sharp, amused glint in the piercing eyes and the deeply mocking tone of the low voice... a voice deliberately meant to be heard by the person still holding the phone on the other end.
"Did you want me to be horny right now... "
Shove
"Wha... What kind of game are you playing?" This time, the one who had regained his senses quickly pushed the chest away, making Pakin just shrug.
"I'm not playing. I was just turning off the light. And no matter how horny I am, I haven't slept yet. Right now, I'm not in the mood to do anything. But if you want to... you can just wake me up." Pakin smiled as a finale before flipping over to lie down, leaving the young man sitting there like that, with the heat gathering and rushing up to his face.
"I d-don't want to, dammit!"
[Graph, you should try making Phîi Pakin want you!]
"That's enough!" When Janjao whispered softly, the one who had just realized his friend had heard every word shouted into the phone and hung up quickly. He also lay down, trying to shift his body close to one side of the bed. But the image of the naked body was stuck in his mind, making him almost raise his hand to slap his own face.
It's Phîi Pakin who's horny, not me!
The young man tried to tell himself, but he truly couldn't forget that the person under the same blanket, with not a single item of clothing barrier between them.
The thought easily made his mind wander. His two legs pressed together tightly, and he curled into a ball because, deep down, the young man was also harboring quite a bit of expectation... expectation about sharing a bed.
This is just the first night sleeping with Phîi Pakin and my heart is about to fail. How many nights can I, damn Graph, shamelessly sleep in this room?!
***
"Graph, Graph-jarap, Graph-ja."
"Just 'Graph' is fine. Why so many 'Graphs'?"
"Because Graph is mad at me."
"I'm not mad."
"Then why won't Graph look me in the eye?"
"Here, looking. Satisfied?"
Today, Krittitee had come to school as usual, but what was strange wasn't just that he was late, arriving just before the flag ceremony, but it also included him walking away from his incredibly cute girlfriend (in others' eyes), even though they were normally attached at the hip. Meanwhile, Janjao kept running around in front and behind him, smiling sweetly, her voice clear, her eyes sparkling brightly, making the one fleeing turn his face away even more.
Even when challenged... Graph turned to make eye contact, but only for a moment before looking away again.
"Aha, your face is red, you super-handsome guy."
"... "
The teasing remark made the young man go still as if angry, but for the observer who saw her friend covering his face... It was clearly embarrassment.
"Aw, what is Graph embarrassed about? We already know everything, don't we... But seriously, last night, did you make him want you?"
"... "
The curious glint in his best friend's eyes made the listener want to knock her head.
"Janjao, you're a girl."
"Hey, are you being sexist? I'm all theory, negative practical experience." The girl laughed softly and stopped teasing, because just seeing that her best friend's mood today was worlds apart from yesterday's, she felt relieved too.
Yesterday, Graph really didn't look good. Graph might have let Phîi Pakin see him cry a lot, but Graph never showed weakness in public. Yesterday, this friend had even hugged her and cried in the middle of the school. So, seeing him able to be embarrassed and teased like this was a relief.
"It's like I'm his Mâe, huh."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing!" The ponytailed girl shook her head quickly and changed the subject as they walked side by side to the cafeteria.
"But, Graph, have you thought about what you'll ask from Phîi Pakin?"
"Ask? Ask for what?" The handsome youth raised his eyebrows immediately, turning to look at his friend in confusion, indicating that the events had made him forget one important matter... something that made Janjao's eyes go wide before she asked back in disbelief.
"How could Graph forget? The reward Phîi Pakin is going to give you. The one where Graph said if you got better, you could ask Phîi Pakin for one thing."
"Oh, right! I forgot completely!" The moment his friend reminded him, Krittitee exclaimed loudly, immediately remembering the time he was sick. Moreover, his lips curved into a wide smile, making the underclassmen walking by blush. But after a moment, the smile gradually faded.
"But what should I ask for?"
"Ask to be his romantic partner."
Thud
The listener froze, but not because he agreed.
"Are you crazy? If I ask for that and it's not enough, I'll definitely be mocked... Someone like that would never easily agree to be anyone's romantic partner."
Even though he was a stubborn youth, it wasn't that he didn't know the other's nature. He didn't like anyone showing possessiveness over him. His best friend's expression fell a bit as they walked into the cafeteria.
"What do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you later."
"We can go together."
"No need. Just grab a seat here." But before they could continue talking, the young man headed straight for an empty table, tossed his bag down, and turned to ask his slightly hesitant friend.
"Then, what are you eating, Graph? I'll have the same as you." Once he got the answer, Graph disappeared into the crowd of students, while his mind was still on the question his best friend had asked. He really couldn't decide on the one request he had earned by risking himself. Thinking about it carefully, he truly didn't know what to ask from Phîi Pakin.
Ask him to be kind?... Would someone like that manage even two days?
Ask him to have only me?... He's already agreed to that, even if it's just for now.
Ask him to buy something expensive?... I already have more than enough money to spend.
And if I ask him to love me?... Can something like that even be asked for?
The thoughts of the person who let out a heavy sigh, then picked up the two plates of identical food and returned to the table. He saw his best friend scribbling something in a notebook.
"What are you doing, Janjao?"
"Just thinking about what Graph should ask for to get the most value." The listener leaned in to look and found the paper filled with numerous notes, some crossed out, indicating the girl had started thinking since he went to buy food. He didn't know whether to be touched or amused by his friend's seriousness.
"And what have you come up with so far?"
"I don't know. Really, Graph, you should be the one thinking about what you want. Then I can build on it." The young man was silent for a moment before...
"I want Phîi Pakin to... "
I want him to love me.
"Ahem." Before Graph could blurt out his inner thoughts, the young man stopped himself in time. He looked at his best friend, who had looked up to meet his eyes, raised her eyebrows as if to say 'what?', and then slowly shook his head, changing his answer immediately because he knew well that what he had almost said was impossible.
He's been trying for over ten years; to expect him to accept love because of a mere request is just daydreaming.
So...
"Maybe ask him to be kind... but someone like that probably won't agree easily."
"Then what if you ask Phîi Pakin to be kind for just one day?" The honor student suggested immediately, making the delinquent youth frown sharply.
"Why only one day?"
"Hmm, it's a matter of duration and a person's feelings, Graph." Upon reaching this point, the one who hadn't even picked up her chopsticks yet leaned in closer. Then she began to expound on the theory she had devised with an enthusiastic expression.
"Graph, think about it. If I told you to treat me to food for a whole week, you'd just buy me cheap rice and curry, right? Because averaging it out, it's quite a lot. But if I told you to treat me to just one meal, you'd splurge on a big meal for me because you'd think 'it's just one meal'. Similarly, if you tell Phîi Pakin to be kind for a whole week, he'll average out the kindness. But if you say just one day... Boom! He'll go all out for the whole day." The girl made an exploding gesture with her hands, indicating that if Phîi Pakin agreed, it would have to be super kind, exactly as he wished.
"... But asking him to 'be kind', I think the definition of 'kind' is too broad, Graph." The listener could only sigh, because even with something like this, she thought about the pros, cons, and returns so thoroughly that he couldn't help but admire her.
"That's amazing."
The look made the one who had been rambling... become embarrassed.
"Don't praise me. Being amazing like this is still embarrassing, you know." The girl wrinkled her nose slightly while thinking about how to make her friend's one request turn out the best.
So... "Then what should I ask for?" This time, Graph asked seriously. But before the listener could...
"This couple is being sweet again, huh? Just now I saw, damn Graph went to buy food for his Mia." The same gang from yesterday who had skipped class swooped in, putting an arm around Graph's neck and teasing him loudly, making the young man turn to greet them.
"Buying me food is better than causing trouble and ending up in the admin office," Janjao said in a sulky tone. And it seemed Krittitee could sense her displeasure, so he shoved his friend's head away with full force.
"Wherever you guys are going, just go. Can't you see I'm talking?"
"Ooh, our friend is afraid of his Mia. Is he that whipped?... Hey, hey, we're going, we're going! No need to glare at us like that. Let's go drink some other time." When the handsome friend shot them a look, the teasers raised their hands in surrender, seeming to defer to the one and only girl present here, because no matter how stupid they were, they could tell from her face that Janjao didn't like them. So they willingly walked another way. But it seemed their words had sparked an idea.
Snap!
"Graph!" Suddenly, the girl grabbed her best friend's collar and pulled him close, then bent down to whisper excitedly in his ear, making the listener's eyes widen. A moment later, the handsome face turned a deeper shade... The action of the two friends just whispering to each other, but to others... was no different from Janjao nuzzling into the crook of his neck.
An image that made many people turn to look at once, and one of them was a senior high school student who had just stepped in, his body rigid, named... Phîi Night.
The person holding an ice-cold bottle of water, having intended to use it as an excuse to approach the pretty underclassman, now could only stand frozen. And if possible, he wanted to let the bottle drop and shatter on the spot.
Why is it that every time I try to approach Nong Janjao, there's something that breaks my heart?!
But while the super cool senior was in shock, the blushing underclassman's heart was pounding because... he had it! He had the request to ask Phîi Pakin!
***
Today, Pakin had plans with a close friend. So, after clearing his work and stopping by the garage of Payu to check on the condition of his race vehicle, the supercar sped swiftly along the road at night, heading straight for a club in the city center. But having gone only halfway, the screen lit up once, and the phone in his pocket vibrated, making him fish it out to look.
That stubborn youth.
"What is it?" Pakin pressed answer and spoke flatly, even though he was surprised because he didn't often call him.
This youth usually just shows up as he pleases; it's rare for him to call.
[What time will you be back today?]
"Do I have to report to you?" The young man replied out of habit, making the other end fall silent for a moment. He didn't need to guess; that youth Graph must be making a face like he wanted to drink his blood and eat his flesh. He had to reiterate.
"If there's nothing, I'm hanging up."
[Wait, Phîi Pakin, what time will you be back?]
"Late. Go to sleep first."
[No! I won't sleep. I'll wait for you.]
Hmph.
The person controlling the steering wheel raised an eyebrow because those words sounded unlike Graph... they were strangely cute. And they also confirmed that...
[No matter how late you come back, I'll wait. I just called to tell you that.]
The listener lowered the phone but didn't relax his furrowed brows, because in the past, if this youth wanted something, he would speak more willfully than this, be more annoying than this. Like, Phîi, you have to come find me now... What time will you be back? I've been waiting so long. Or else, he'd just show up to find him without regard for the time. So, for Graph to say he'd wait no matter the time made the foot on the accelerator lift.
Pakin was silent for a moment, then decided to call his friend.
"Hey, Seen. Cancel for today. I'll come see you next week." The young man handled the cancellation and changed the direction of his beautiful vehicle, heading straight home. He told himself it wasn't because of the words 'no matter how late I'll wait', but because he wanted to know what had made Graph speak to him like this.
***
[... I know you're a man who keeps promises. You probably wouldn't break a promise to me, right?... Even though I was sick at the time, I remember your words by heart. If it's something you said, I never forget. You said you'd let me ask for anything, one thing... What the hell, Janjao? Where did the rest of your script go?!]
After hanging up from Phîi Pakin, the young man had to sit cross-legged on the bed, staring at his phone screen, sweeping his eyes over the multitude of characters he had been reciting since last evening, with the scriptwriter standing arms crossed, staring, and saying he had to say it exactly like this.
What script?... The script for asking for the reward from Phîi Pakin, of course.
And who wrote the script?... Janjao, of course.
Graph, whenever it's about Phîi Pakin, you get impatient. So, just say it as I told you. Graph must remember, Graph has to be calm. Even though he is bound by your request, Graph must know that we are the ones asking. We're younger. We have to be respectful. No adult dislikes a respectful youth.
But this isn't respectful, this is wheedling! 'Ná khráp Phîi Pakin' what the hell is that, Janjao? And what are these heart symbols!
Janjao had written the script to memorize on paper, and true to a girl's style with many colored pens, she had scribbled in every color, ending sentences with sweet, adorable pink hearts, indicating that this part should be said in a wheedling tone, drawn out softly, with eyes looking up, blinking rapidly... For heaven's sake, who could do that?
Therefore, Graph, who would definitely not bring that piece of paper home with him, had typed notes into his phone instead, selecting the sentences that wouldn't make his goosebumps rise too much, and now he had to sit here reciting them.
"'Just one day. I'm only asking for one day from you. Will you give it to me?... . Bullshit!'" Krittitee let out a long sigh before throwing his phone down onto the middle of the bed, dropping himself down to lie down, and stretching his limbs out to their full length from the stiffness after sitting reciting, memorizing, and zoning out for quite a while. And of course, the sound of the television left on for company in the room prevented him from hearing this sound.
Creak
"Who said they would wait? Hah. Can't even wait until eleven PM?" Graph jolted upright into a sitting position, snapping his head to look at the person stepping into the room, all while thinking in a tone that suggested he'd expected this, making the young man press his lips together tightly, unbearably annoyed.
Who told you to come back when I was slacking off!
"And what is your business?" The words from the mouth of the adult in front of him, who was turning off the TV, made the one trying to be calm inadvertently blurt out according to his nature.
"Well, you owe me!"
Damn it, Graph! That tone is asking for trouble.
The stubborn youth's mouth froze too late. He could only watch as the large man turned to look at him with a gaze that gave him strange goosebumps. Then the person who was confident he never owed anyone anything stepped close to the edge of the bed with a slightly threatening demeanor, a demeanor Graph could sense that if he kept talking like this, he definitely wouldn't get what he wanted.
Snap!
Therefore, Krittitee hurriedly grabbed his phone to unlock it, his mind desperately trying to dredge up the script that had flown away.
"Y-you promised me before. And you haven't given it to me yet. Someone like you keeps promises, so you probably wouldn't break your word to a youth like me, right?"
Hey, damn it, that's not right, Graph! Janjao didn't write it like this! Damn phone, where are my notes?!
The young man told himself frantically, but the listener who had been insulted as someone who breaks promises was starting to frown.
"When have I broken a promise to you... "
"Found it!... Hey, let me start over, Phîi Pakin." Graph cut off the calm, cool voice of the person in front of him when he finally found the script, realizing that what he'd just said wasn't it at all. He had to take a deep breath.
"Do you remember what you said when I was sick?"
"... " Phîi Pakin remained silent, and Graph didn't plan to let his courage run out, because he proceeded... to read directly.
Talking on my own is just asking for trouble. Reading directly is the best.
"Back then, you told me that if I got better, you would give me anything I asked for. Now I've been better for a long time. I don't know if you forgot or not. I didn't mean to demand it. I just thought it's been a long time. I was afraid if I let it go too long, it would become void. And I know you are a man who keeps promises. You probably wouldn't break a promise to a youth like me, right? Besides, even though I was sick at the time, if it's something you said, I always remember. And... "
Snatch
"What's this?"
"Hey!" Graph knew it was pathetic to have to read sentence by sentence, but he truly had no acting ability. He couldn't memorize the script, couldn't put emotion into the lines, so he could only bow his head, pretending to look at his phone to cover his nervousness. And that made the person watching... snatch it up to look.
That was it. The usually unruly youth, who had been acting meek, shouted loudly and pounced to get his phone back. But at this level, there was no way Pakin wouldn't see what was displayed on the screen.
"Give me back my stuff!" It was like a different tape. The one who had been reading in a soft voice instantly vanished, leaving only the young man with a deep voice, trying to wrestle it back. But with the taller person holding him by the waist and raising the phone to the full extent of his arm, it was pointless. Meanwhile, the sharp eyes scanned the screen until the face that had looked irritated from being accused of breaking promises... looked sinister.
His eyes grew brighter, the corners of his mouth lifted, as he finally understood what was going on.
I was wondering why the way he was talking was so strange.
"Don't shout. The last line of your note says you have to speak to me nicely. Ideally, with a wheedling tone." The young man turned back to meet his eyes, raising an eyebrow with a provoking expression, which should have made Graph angry, but right now the young man was... embarrassed.
Embarrassed to the point that both cheeks were flushed dark red from being caught.
Damn it.
"Give me back my stuff," he finally whispered softly, having no strength to wrestle it back anymore because Phîi Pakin had seen everything. The larger man laughed softly in his throat.
"That's right. I really do owe you... What do you want?"
...
"If you don't answer, I'll read it myself."
"Hey, don't read it, Phîi Pakin! Don't read it, I said!!!" The moment he uttered the threat, the youth in his embrace shouted loudly, his face panicked as he tried to reach out to cover his eyes. The room's owner dodged his face to avoid it, met his gaze, used the same sharp, piercing pair of eyes to stare at him, and uttered a single word.
"Speak!"
"I... " Graph wanted to avoid his gaze, but couldn't. He could only speak in a soft voice.
Whoosh
"I want... I want you to indulge me... for one day."
"Indulge you?" Pakin repeated the word, quite surprised by the request. But after a moment, the sharp eyes brightened with understanding.
"You want me to do everything you say for one day, is that it?"
This youth knows how to ask.
"You... you won't give it to me? Someone like you doesn't break promises." Graph looked so embarrassed he was starting to trip over his words. And for some reason, even though Pakin knew this request put him at a considerable disadvantage, the young man simply said lightly,
"Are you off-script, Graph? What are you supposed to say to me now?"
He knew that taking advantage of the youth was wrong; he should probably repay him a little.
The thought of the person staring at the young man, who still didn't understand what he was supposed to say, made the large hand scroll the phone screen to the front, let go of his waist, and used a finger to point to the line he had seen just before the last one. And it was worth the loss, because the handsome face of the delinquent youth was turning redder and redder until his whole face was deeply flushed.
"Hurry up. I don't have all night to listen to you."
The listener clenched his fists tightly, biting his lip until it was pale, but that was all he could do. In the end, he had to admit defeat.
Under the sharp gaze, he spoke out in a soft, wavering voice.
"Ná khráp Phîi Pakin, please indulge Graph a little, ná khráp... ná khráp."
The person watching almost said he couldn't hear, but seeing the usually arrogant youth standing there trembling, face red, eyes moist like he was about to cry from embarrassment, made Pakin hand the phone back. Graph snatched it back almost immediately, and before the youth could retreat...
Snap
The young man pulled him into an embrace, bending down to whisper by his ear.
"Fine! I'll indulge you until you're satisfied." The tone of voice made the hairs on his arms stand on end, and Graph could only stand still, watching the person pull away, meeting the sharp eyes that made the lump of flesh in his chest tremble, especially with that malicious yet utterly charming smile as he added,
"Since tomorrow is a holiday anyway, let's start tomorrow, shall we?"
This time, Graph could only stand still, caught off guard. No—he truly wasn't mentally prepared for Phîi Pakin saying he would... indulge him.
Comments
Post a Comment