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Crash!!!
“Hey! You actually hit one!”
After finishing a late lunch, Pakin had indulged the stubborn youth as promised by asking what he wanted to do or where he wanted to go, with time to spare before seven. For a young man whose life revolved solely around this heartless-person, it was like asking what he was interested in besides Phîi Pakin.
Graphic was not a youth who enjoyed going out much; he just followed his friends without objection.
Graphic was not a youth who coveted expensive things; he had unlimited spending money.
Graphic was not a youth with many friends, so he didn't know where one should go for fun.
And Graphic had never had a romantic partner, so he honestly had no idea where he'd like to go on a date.
Therefore, Nai Krittitee couldn't think of anything, but he didn't want to waste time pointlessly. What they had done not long ago suddenly flashed into his head.
That's right. Going bowling with the other older male friend. So, the place the two of them ended up was the bowling alley at Paragon.
At first, he had hesitated between the racing track and here, but today was bloody fucking hot. If they went to the racing track and Phîi Pakin got irritated, he'd be in trouble again. So, this place it was.
This was the thought of someone standing there baffled about how he had thrown that heavy ball to hit the bowling pins, sending them scattering everywhere, leaving only one pin standing on each side. Even though he couldn't get the spare, he was still impressed... The method that Âi Phîi Night taught actually worked.
But then he started to worry... Would Phîi Pakin have fun with him?
The thought of someone who glanced over at the young man currently gauging the weight of a bowling ball. He couldn't read what the other was thinking, but he could guess he was definitely being looked down on as a youth for choosing such a juvenile place again... It was utterly irritating.
Given that the glances of many people on the bowling alley kept stealing looks at the handsome young man, who was dressed casually today in jeans that showed off his strong, firm thighs and his ridiculously sexy tapered hips, not to mention the black tank top that revealed those thick arm muscles—even though there was a sleeveless button-down shirt layered over it, that shirt was now taken off and draped over a chair.
Yeah, he was handsome. Handsome enough to be irritating!
Crash! Clatter!
But then, the irritation turned into wide-eyed astonishment. The handsome, bloody fucking good-at-everything guy threw the bowling ball with perfect form and with full force. But the force didn't help when the heavy ball spun wildly and then headed straight for... the gutter.
That's right. Phîi Pakin got a gutter ball.
"What a lousy shot."
Snap.
Graphic inadvertently let the words slip out in disbelief. That called forth a pair of sharp eyes that swung to look at him before the lips curled into a cold smile.
"Indeed. I'm quite lousy," the one being observed also felt the other was probably a little annoyed, and he felt no sympathy. When a group of girls not far away made sounds of regret and then cheered for him so obviously it was annoying in itself, the one who rarely won spoke in a sullen tone.
"Yeah, well, there are things I'm better at than you too," he said, then the one who had slipped up in his jealousy stepped forward to grab a bowling ball and went to stand on the lane. He heard the deep voice ask.
"Do you come play with friends often?"
"No, I don't go out with friends much."
Because I spend all my time following you. Let-me-die before I'd say that.
The thought of someone who lost a bit of concentration when he threw the ball, but still managed to pick up a 6.
He then turned to meet the pair of sharp eyes staring at him. He wanted to talk, but normally the person in front of him never listened. Today might be a good opportunity for him to talk about himself a little.
At the very least, he wanted Phîi Pakin to know what his normal life was like.
How utterly pathetic. Normally, I really have no one to talk to like this, do I?
"My friends like to skip school to go to the game shop, to play DotA. I used to like going with them, but lately Janjao won't let me go. On days I have class, Janjao asks me to go to the study room. If I skip... she nags at me until my ears go numb every time," the young man spoke in a bored tone, but he was actually more amused. Because these days, the teachers viewed him in a much better light—not just as a politician's son who only had donation money to give, so no one dared to do anything to him.
"You're quite close with that youth, aren't you?" Pakin asked.
"Yep."
"Right, Janjao is my close friend. She helps me with everything, both studies and other things."
"Even comforting me when you scold me."
Clatter.
Graphic thought this while turning to play again, imagining those pins were the face of the heartless-person who was staring at his back. And perhaps because of the vengeful energy, Graphic managed to pick up the spare quite easily. He then turned back, intending to show off that this Âi Graphic guy had his merits too, but... he was caught by the pair of sharp eyes staring at him.
"What are you looking at?"
Pakin answered the question with a question. "Do you only have one friend?"
"Hey! Are you saying no one wants to hang out with me or what?" The listener flared up immediately, but the other just waved a hand. The one who had never paid any mind to the delinquent youth over the past few years then spoke in a softer voice.
"I'm not picking a fight with you. Keep talking. So, you only have that one young woman as a friend?"
"I already said that's not right! Look at me. I do have friends, you know! Even if Janjao bloody fucking doesn't like them much. They like to skip school, drink, and are addicted to games. Sometimes they go chasing girls together."
"Some things I don't like, but being with them is comfortable. No one asks me what grade I got, if I've studied yet, where I'm thinking of going for further studies, why I'm not doing this or that. They never ask me these things. They're way better than the friends in my class," once he started talking, the young man spoke quickly, thinking of his friends from the back of the class whom everyone viewed as the school's hooligans.
But they had plenty of good points that outsiders didn't know. When he asked to crash at their place first, they didn't ask anything, agreed easily, even.
The listener just looked on silently, his tall frame still not moving from the seated chair. Even though it was his turn, he still sat cross-legged, looking over.
"So you go with those guys, not going home properly."
"Well, if I go back, who's even there? My Phô has a mistress. My Mâe only cares about charity work. It's a miracle those two haven't gotten divorced. At home, it's just full of ass-kissers. Hah! Don't think I don't know the new maid has already slept with my Phô. I absolutely hate it when she bothers me, gets involved with me. She's just hired help!" As he spoke, the youth who had kept many things bottled up in his heart blurted them out all at once.
Then he turned his face away, realizing he was still angry at the people in that house, even though he should pay no mind to people who paid no mind to him.
After staying at Phîi Pakin's house for a while, he'd only gotten two phone calls from his Mâe and one from his Phô, all emphasizing not to cause trouble for Phîi Pakin. Did they see him as such a huge problem?
The thought of someone standing still, clenching his fists tightly together, in a way that made the observer stand up and step over to stand in front of him.
"Why are you looking at me? Going to say something to me again?" The one who was feeling sorry for himself said in a sulky voice, which made Pakin laugh softly in his throat.
"You're talking a lot today."
Snap.
At the end of the words, Graphic looked up immediately, aware that they were in a public place, plus there were several pairs of eyes looking their way. But he couldn't suppress the emotions surging up.
"You're the one who hasn't paid attention to anything I've said since you came back from abroad! You haven't listened to me for years! If you won't let me talk now, then when should I talk? If not today, you wouldn't even think of listening to a nuisance like me, right?!"
Graphic said with a rising voice, which made the one who had to indulge him today fall silent for a moment. Then... he laughed.
"What the hell are you laughing at?"
"So you've been sulking at me for years, huh?"
Thud.
The young man froze on the spot immediately. He hadn't expected the heartless-person to counter like that. His fists clenched tightly because he couldn't deny it. Yeah, he was absolutely sulking. Absolutely felt sorry for himself.
"How do you want to sulk?" And when the other asked directly, the sharp eyes staring into his own made the hot-tempered person speechless.
Everything seemed stuck in his throat, even though the answer had been in his heart all along. I just want you to listen to me, that's all.
"What?" Pakin asked again.
"I... "
"Well, hello, Phîi Pakin!"
Thud.
But at the moment he was hesitating whether to speak up or not, a bright, cheerful voice suddenly rang out from behind, making Graphic himself startle and turn around immediately. But then he had to... freeze.
That woman... the one Phîi Pakin visited at the hospital!
Bloody fucking hell! Why did it have to be today? Why did they have to meet here!
Nai Krittitee almost threw the bowling ball on the ground to vent his anger. Right now, the person who was supposed to be indulging him was standing on the other side of the lane, surrounded by a group of four or five working-age women who had come together. The most striking one was none other than the long-haired, jet-black-haired beauty, who today did not look as haggard as when he had seen her at the hospital.
Plai-fah... the beautiful woman for whom Phîi Pakin had left him behind to go visit in her room. Oh, and he even brought flowers to visit the sick person too.
Therefore, the young man was both angry and resentful. He wanted to act out, wanted to be stubborn and obstinate. But because the atmosphere between him and the other had changed, when Phîi Pakin looked over and said calmly...
"I'll be right back."
He found he couldn't be stubborn, because he was afraid... afraid the good things of today would end right at this moment.
So now the delinquent youth had to press buttons on his phone, playing a game to vent his emotions, while his peripheral vision kept stealing glances over there, dying again and again in the game. He also cursed himself for being unlucky; just when things were getting better, these people showed up again. And yeah, of course he knew Phîi Pakin wanted that woman so much he was trembling.
Damn shit-lizard! Go die! The whole lot of you, go die! Everyone that man wants should just die!
The thought of someone who lost the game again, making him want to throw the device away to vent his emotions. But all he could do was stomp his heel. He thought about getting up to wash his face, but as soon as he looked up...
"Hello, Nong Graphic. Do you remember me?"
Thud.
That beautiful woman was standing there, smiling at him.
"My name is Plai-fah. We met at the hospital that day. You can just call me Phîi Fah." Before he could answer, the other continued with a pleasant smile, which made the handsome youth mumble.
"Who wants to know?"
Of course, if Pakin were here, he'd be scolded for touching the woman the other had his sights on. But right now, the other was still talking to the beautiful woman's friends, so the young man just turned his face away as if he didn't want to talk, not thinking of apologizing for his rude speech either.
"But I'd like to get to know you. I heard you're Phîi Pakin's youth, right?"
"I'm not... "
"Not what?" Plai-fah smiled, looking at the one who was about to argue but couldn't get the words out. She almost laughed out loud when the young man spoke petulantly.
"Well, if I am Phîi Pakin's youth, will you stop bothering with Phîi Pakin then?!"
"And why should I stop bothering with Phîi Pakin?" The young woman said with a smile, even though she was holding back laughter until her shoulders shook.
When the person in front of her seemed to have completely misunderstood, she didn't correct herself, because she was also curious how the man whom everyone thought had no weaknesses would handle this young man.
When Phîi Pakin was with others, that man seemed too perfect. But when he was with this youth... he started to seem a bit more like an ordinary person.
"He's... "
Graphic almost let a curse slip out, but he managed to stop himself in time when he glimpsed that someone else was walking back. If he heard him swearing, he'd undoubtedly be left here, plus get scolded until it hurt for fun. Therefore, what the young man did was simply turn his face to look elsewhere to indicate, "I don't want to talk to you."
Plai-fah didn't press further, just gave a small smile.
"My friends have been waiting. Well, I'll see you tonight then."
"Tonight?" Even though he didn't want to talk to her, the words he heard made him blurt it out. He turned back to meet her eyes, and found the other looking puzzled.
"Oh? You're not going with Phîi Pakin tonight? There's a match today... Oops, I probably said too much." The young woman raised a hand to her lips. She caught herself immediately, pretending not to see the widening eyes of the person in front of her who understood the words.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing, Phîi Pakin. Well, Fah should get going now." Just as Pakin returned, the young woman, who had excused herself from her group of friends, gave a small smile and then left. The one who normally would have followed to tease her didn't follow, just nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to look at the youth he had brought along.
The one whose fists were clenched tightly, making him curious.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing! What could be wrong with me? It's just that you brought me here, but then disappeared off with another woman."
"Watch your mouth, Graphic. If I'd disappeared, I wouldn't be standing here right now," the speaker clearly saw the eyes reflecting hurt, before they avoided his gaze. The voice was sulky.
"Your eyes were on her. On her for a long time too."
"Don't be petulant. I just went to say hello to them for a bit."
"Damn it! It's none of my business." The young man swore under his breath, but today the listener just gave him a stern look without saying anything, besides returning to the previous topic.
"You still haven't told me who you went bowling with," Pakin asked, then stepped out to throw the ball casually, for fun, not caring if he hit or missed. This time the score wasn't bad, he picked up four or five pins, not too shameful. But the answer he heard made him pause.
"Phîi Night. It's not like you're the only one I can go out with."
Thud.
That damn youth again. How the hell are you raising your Nong, you Âi'Khun!
Meeting his eyes, the one filled with a roaring authority in his throat, swung his gleaming eyes to look at the unyielding youth.
"Phîi Night is thousands of times better than you. He got a strike almost every round, picked up all the spares too. Last time I played four or five games with Phîi Night, he taught me how to play." Graphic might have been in a sarcastic mood, not realizing the listener was the type... who loved to win.
No, because he was the type who never lost, he hated being compared, especially to someone who was inferior by who-knows-how-many times like that.
Crash!
Therefore, the ball that was meant to be thrown casually picked up a full spare. Graphic just made a face.
"Just a fluke. Phîi Night is way better." The delinquent muttered under his breath, making the one who had initially been about to let the youth win turn to look at him fully, his eyebrow already twitching.
"Want to see if it's a fluke or the real deal?"
"You're challenging me? I'll win anyway. Phîi Night taught me how to play." The name that slipped from his lips made the listener's smile grow even colder... a smile that made Graphic unable to suppress a shiver down his spine. But because he'd already said it, the young man stepped forward to grab a bowling ball, full of fighting spirit, and declared outright.
"If I win, you're forbidden from bothering with that woman anymore!" He knew he was being an absolute idiot, but he couldn't stop his mouth. The other just raised an eyebrow high and uttered a single word.
"Jealous?"
Thud.
The young man froze, stunned by that one word. But after a moment, his pale cheeks flushed crimson, not knowing if he was angry or embarrassed at having his heart's secret poked. Moreover, it made him feel like he was the only one thinking like a crazy person about Phîi Pakin.
While Pakin didn't press further, he just stepped forward to stand in front of him, placed his hand over the hand holding the bowling ball, and then... leaned in close to his shoulder.
"Then, if I win... don't stop crying tonight."
"Hey!" Graphic was so startled he gasped, stepping back almost immediately. The tall man didn't care, because he just stepped back to go sit down, but the pair of sharp eyes clearly showed that he was... serious.
I won't give in. No matter what, I won't give in tonight. I refuse to be a substitute for that woman.
The young man swore in his heart that he would not lose, especially after seeing his own person go flirt with another woman like this. Other times he might give in just from being coaxed, but tonight he would not give in. He would not yield. He'd let that damn trouser snake wither!
Just wait and see, I have to win!
And so, the grand event of bullying the youth commenced.
All of which was watched by another woman with indescribable interest... Phîi Pakin, when irritated, trying to beat a youth more than ten years his junior, simply because he didn't like hearing another man's name coming from the mouth of the one he called... an annoying nuisance.
"Are you just big for your age? Losing and then taking it out on me."
"I'm not taking it out on you!"
"Then what's this?"
"I'm just angry!"
"About what?"
"You lied about not knowing how to play bowling!"
After several games had passed, Nai Krittitee, who was confident he wasn't as terrible as the first time he played, had a face as sour as a dog's butt. Because after that, he was pummeled by the subsequent scores, which then pulled ahead with... a strike... a strike, and another strike. And where did that lousy performance from the start of the game go?!
"I didn't lie. I was just warming up, because I hadn't played in a long time," Pakin said simply as they went up to the upper floor of the cinema. Meanwhile, the youth beside him still had a sullen, tense face, his eyes looking like he wanted to eat his flesh and blood, and he argued back.
"But you shouldn't be this good!"
"I used to come play more often than you in high school," the one who had a teenage life not much different from other youths said. Graphic felt frustrated and agitated, feeling he had lost face again. Not to mention... tonight.
Damn shit-lizard! I can't win against him anyway. In the end, all I can do is moan and make Phîi Pakin feel sorry for me.
"Don't be frustrated. Don't you want your reward anymore?" This time the listener turned to look at him sharply. He had forgotten about any reward, before remembering the other had promised that if he became a student that Phîi Chai would praise, he'd get a reward. He looked around and realized they had come up to the top floor, which was the location of Enigma, the cinema known as the most expensive in the country.
"Here to watch a movie?"
"Don't teenagers these days watch movies anymore?"
"Well, they do," sometimes.
Graphic couldn't help adding that last part silently. General teenagers might, but his last time in a movie theater was probably a year ago. If he remembered correctly, Janjao had dragged him to see a romance movie, and he ended up falling asleep in the theater.
"Or you don't want to? If you don't want to, we can go back."
Grab.
"Hey! I'll watch it! I'll watch, Phîi." Why would he let the reward fly away into the air? And even though Graphic didn't watch movies much, he knew what kind of place this was. The kind where the seats could recline into beds. Which, of course, 99 percent of the patrons were couples. So why would he let this opportunity slip away? Even if the word 'couple' made him feel hot and bothered.
"And why does it have to be here?" The question that Phîi Pakin answered with a straight face.
"Because I'm taking you on a date."
Thud.
The youth, who had been unsure before, felt his face grow hot instantly. His legs froze in place, and his heart started beating stubbornly and wildly. To be honest, he had never dreamed that word would come out of this man's mouth. The anger and resentment from before slowly faded away bit by bit. He felt even more like he couldn't handle it when the one who had only ever scolded him, only ever criticized him, raised a hand to hold his shoulder and guided him inside, making him feel dizzy and dazed. He was too embarrassed to look the staff in the face. The more he thought that they might be the only male-male couple watching today, the worse it got.
Therefore, Graphic just ordered food and drinks, saying... 'the same as Phîi Pakin'... and then sat quietly, not noticing that all the staff were looking at them with curious expressions.
Of course they must be curious. If they only knew what they knew.
"Where do you want to sit? Choose."
"What do you mean, 'where do I want to sit'?" Even after coming inside and seeing the 17 pairs of beds, the young man, who had never experienced being pampered before, could only ask with a dazed expression, turning to look with extreme confusion.
When he turned to make eye contact with a staff member who approached, he felt even more like a hot iron was being pressed against his face. Why are you looking at me like that?
"Because I've booked out the entire theater."
"Hah!"
That's right. The stares from the staff were fixed on the man who had booked out the most expensive movie theater for himself alone. And booked it for... another young man.
How many lifetimes of good fortune did it take to be this lucky?
"Tha... then if you've booked the whole theater, you could just watch in the home theater at your house, right?" It wasn't as if that mansion didn't have a home theater. Even if it was smaller than here, it was still a private, miniature cinema. Pakin turned to look at him, and even though the lighting inside wasn't as bright as outside, how could he not see it... the charming smile.
The smile of someone who knew exactly how to deploy it effectively.
The one who moved closer, to whisper.
"I told you, this is a date."
Of course, the listener could only stand there stunned, looking at the handsome, sharp face of the person who took his arm and decisively led him to the central pair of seats, having chosen himself. Graphic could only follow because his brain couldn't connect the dots. The only thing for sure was that his heart was pounding so loudly it was about to jump out of his chest.
He had already forgotten the jealousy born from that other woman.
He had forgotten the hurt that the other had never been nice to him.
He had forgotten the heartache all this time.
Just Phîi Pakin being nice to him like this, he forgave everything.
Grab.
Therefore, before letting himself sink into the seat, Graphic reached out to grab the hem of Pakin's shirt, calling for his attention to turn and look back. He met the eyes of the young man whom everyone called a delinquent, but who was now looking at him with a confused, uncertain gaze, and moreover... it was all too clear.
A gaze that, just by looking, you knew would cause problems later. It was too clear.
The gaze of this youth looking at him and showing that... he was in love.
"I'm sorry for taking my bad mood out on you," he then said softly, before asking in an even softer voice.
"Phîi Pakin... could you please not bother with that woman anymore?"
"Is that an order?"
An order that today Graphic had the right to give for anything.
However, Krittitee slowly shook his head. As he clutched the shirt hem tighter, looking into his eyes, he said in a low voice.
"I'm begging you instead... Since you've slept with me, please don't sleep with anyone else, Phîi."
Graphic didn't give a damn how quiet it was inside. He didn't care which staff member might hear. He didn't care how anyone looked at the two men who had booked out a theater to watch together. He just wanted to beg the person in front of him... Please don't look at anyone else anymore.
I'll agree to everything. I'll be a good youth. I'll be indulgent. I'll do anything. Just... can you look only at me?
And in place of an answer, Pakin pulled the young man down to recline on the bed.
An action that Graphic willingly complied with. Then he closed his eyes, suppressing his joy when...
"Then you come be my body pillow instead of those people."
The young man couldn't resist. He could only bury his face against the shoulder in resignation.
Even if it was just a body pillow, if he was the only one, the sole one, and there was no one else... then Âi Graphic would willingly be that body pillow without any argument.
"You promised, right?" He could only mumble, and got a reply.
"You know I never break a promise."
The young man could only hope that this promise had no expiration date... He truly hoped so.
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