Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
“Yay, the exams are finally over!!!”
“It is excellent. We will not have to endure tutoring from the ruthless professor for the whole week anymore.”
“Wow, Graph, are you saying I am heartless!!!”
“Hahaha, I was joking. Who would dare say that to Janjao?”
The area in front of the classroom was filled with the loud, chaotic chatter of the Mattayom 5 students. Some were talking about the final subject exam they had just finished, while others discussed activities for the school break. Similarly, the young man and young woman whom everyone thought were the most loving romantic partners were talking and laughing together. When one of them almost threw his study notes out the window, the other found it amusing and teased him until the tutor made a sullen face.
Graph could definitively say that his ability to complete the exam was due to Janjao's efforts in cramming the material into him throughout the entire week.
He still maintained that he was a person who disliked studying, and if his Phô and Mâe forced him to take extra classes, he would undoubtedly skip them. But seeing the dedication of his close friend, who said she would help raise his grades for the benefit of his future university entrance exams, the young man stated frankly that he could not refuse. Therefore, the past week had been all studying, which was good because it helped drive away his longing for a certain someone.
Who else... but Phîi Pakin.
The former heartless-person had gone south to prepare several days ago. There was only a brief phone call every evening, a moment the young man eagerly awaited.
At first, he admitted he felt lonely, because he had started getting used to having someone sleep beside him, having someone to eat dinner with, having someone who would scold him with eyes that seemed to burn everything when he did something wrong. But because he had both Phîi Win and Uncle Pong, especially the latter who often invited him here and there with the reason that he had not returned to Thailand for a long time, his loneliness subsided a bit.
Most recently, Uncle took him to an event. Although it was boring, being next to Pakin's Phô made his perspective on these kinds of events begin to change.
“Do not view it as boring. Make it fun. Look, see those two young women over there? What do you think they are talking about?”
“I do not know, Uncle. Maybe they are talking about money.”
And then Uncle Pong said with a deadpan expression.
“No, they are actually arguing about how best to charm me.”
He laughed out loud at the egotistical older person, but he was left gaping when those young women actually came over to greet Uncle. They looked at him with such sweet, syrupy eyes that he had to blink repeatedly, and could only make a peculiar face when Uncle Pong winked, as if to say 'I told you so'.
The young man found that spending time with Uncle Pong was quite fun. Especially when the man told him to try observing how he talked to different people, Graph noticed that it varied from person to person, as if this man knew how to handle people. And he never failed to gossip about his own son.
“Âi Pakin only uses authority. He will not succeed, I tell you.”
So Graph began to look at everything with a changed perspective. These events were still boring in his eyes, but additionally, they were the best training ground for himself to learn how to manage many types of people. In conclusion, these past few days had not been too lonely.
“Graph, you are the one who said I was heartless. Hey, should we break up now?”
The young man turned his attention to his close friend who was still puffing her cheeks, but her eyes sparkled, showing a mischievous glint. She was teasing him fully, saying he should break up with her and go be with someone who could make Graph smile. This made Krittitee shake his head slowly and raise his hand to hug her neck, causing the young woman to pretend to shriek.
“I will not break up. Janjao belongs to me. I refuse to break up.”
“Wow, you dare to say that. I belong to Graph, but does Graph belong to me or not? And let go now. Are you touching me inappropriately? I will tell Phîi.”
“Go ahead and tell him, Khrap. Go ahead and tell him. Maybe one day I will go and offer myself to be a son-in-law,” the slender figure played along amusingly, because it seemed her family already knew they did not have the relationship that Phîi Sun was suspicious of, but were close friends of the opposite sex which many people said was impossible.
Some people had said that men and women could not be friends, but if the man had never looked at the woman like a romantic partner, was that not an exception?
“Just wait. I will have my family demand a huge dowry, plus the tutoring fees.”
“Do not add too much. I am broke right now.”
Even though at first she was shocked to hear her friend's funding had been cut and did not know how to help, when she heard that Phîi Pakin was covering all his expenses, Janjao giggled. Then the fujoshi queen squealed, almost stamping her feet with glee.
Just think about it, he is providing for him and supporting him. If I do not fangirl now, when will I?
“Ouch, that couple. Please be considerate of the public. Those of us without partners, can you not make us so jealous?” Suddenly, a teasing voice came from another direction, causing the pair to turn and look. They found their classmates all turning to look at them simultaneously, gossiping from a close distance.
“We are jealous, so jealous. They are even talking about marriage proposals. You two act like you have been together for ten years. Let me remind you again that you just finished Mattayom 5.”
“But you never know, soon we might see them sending out wedding cards.” From simple teasing, the conversation went far, until the two friends looked at each other and then turned away to laugh in different directions, because they thought that a wedding was just a fantasy, since the popular young man Krittitee already had an owner.
An owner who was extremely ruthless.
“Hey, since exams are over, are you all going to celebrate together?” another friend asked.
“Ouch, do not invite them, do not invite them. They will probably celebrate just the two of them.”
Even though they said that, they turned to look as if asking 'are you two coming?'
Every time, Janjao would go with her group of friends. The previous time she had dragged Graph along too.
But this time she had plans with her family, so she could only look up at her close friend, who shook his head slowly, leaned down, and whispered by her ear.
“Phîi Win is coming to pick me up today,” so she turned to answer their friends for him.
“Graph and I are busy.”
“If you want to go by yourselves, just say so... Come on, everyone, let us not be the third wheel. They say it is a sin.”
Their friends continued teasing without end, before agreeing that they would call if anything came up. After that, they disbanded, separating into groups while talking excitedly about the school break. This made Janjao ask a question.
“So what are you going to do during this break anyway?”
“I do not know yet. Phîi Win mentioned that he will have to fly back to Korea soon. I might go with him.”
“That is good, I want to go too. I also want to go visit my aunt and everything,” the young woman said dreamily as they walked side by side out the school gate. But at that moment.
“Nong Janjao, Khrap! Nong Janjao!!!”
Snap
“Oh, Phîi Night, hello,” the moon-like young woman turned to look towards the voice calling her, until she saw the senior from Mattayom 6 running towards them at full speed. He was in such a hurry that sweat covered his handsome, sharp face, prompting her to give a faint smile.
“Congratulations to you too, Phîi Mattayom 6.”
Today they were finishing Mattayom 5, which meant Phîi Night was also finishing Mattayom 6. She could only say cheerfully, making the other party scratch his head awkwardly. He wanted to see her look a little sad, just a little bit, like being sorry that they would not see each other at school like this every day. But it seemed Night was asking for too much, because the young woman remained smiling, her hand holding onto the arm of her other junior.
These two said they were not romantic partners, but their behavior suggested otherwise, did it not?
The thoughts of the person who had pursued every avenue but faced rejection every time, looked towards the other junior, then turned back to look at the young woman's face which still held a questioning expression as to why he had called her, and then he decided.
After finishing high school, Night would fly to America to further his studies. Therefore, if he was going to speak, this was the final opportunity.
“I have something I want to talk to you about, Nong Janjao. Can you spare a moment?” The young woman frowned immediately, but when she saw the serious look in the other person's eyes, she could only nod.
“Then I will wait here.”
Graph may not have been wary of this senior anymore, but he did not feel comfortable leaving his close female friend alone with the other party. Because these days he had started to think it was better to prevent problems than to solve them. And furthermore, the slender figure was beginning to grasp the feelings the other young man had for his friend.
Every time Phîi Night came around causing a fuss, Janjao's name was usually involved.
“Just a moment, Graph,” the young woman nodded, then followed the senior to almost the other side of the building. It was far enough that Graph could not hear, but she was still within his line of sight.
Even though he could not hear, Krittitee thought he knew what Phîi Night was saying. It might have been because of Uncle Pong, who taught him to pay attention to everything around him, not just the man named Pakin alone. Therefore, the young man had to turn his face away in another direction when he saw Janjao's smile fade gradually, her two hands clasping together tightly, and then she shook her head slowly.
How painful. It is not strange that my friend would refuse. But for someone who has been rejected their whole life, I know how much it hurts.
The answer made Phîi Night just give a faint smile, his shoulders slumping, making Graph feel happy about his own current situation.
His gaze... Even though Phîi Pakin has never said what we are to each other, the other party has not pushed me away.
Now he had an opportunity. He would hold onto this opportunity as tightly as possible. He would struggle to make the other party know that even if he was a not-good youth with an annoying personality, this youth loved Phîi Pakin more than anyone else.
When will you see me?
“Graph... ” The thoughts that needed to be quickly stored away, he turned to look at the sound of his name being called.
“Do not cry,” Janjao came back with reddened eyes, so he spoke to comfort her.
“But... but I did not know Phîi Night liked me.”
“Then why did you not say yes?” The young woman shook her head vigorously, blinking repeatedly, trying to push the tears back in, and then said in a faint, wavering voice.
“I... I do not see Phîi Night in that way. I just... just feel guilty for not knowing. Besides, he has to go study further. He should not like me. There are many other people waiting in Phîi Night's future.” Janjao's voice was strained, because the more she thought about the sad look in his eyes when he heard her rejection, the lump in her chest filled with guilt.
All this time, Janjao thought the other party approached her because he liked Graph, but she never once thought that he liked her. Until the feeling of guilt came rushing in, condensing into tears that made the person looking at her...
Thud
“It is all right, do not cry. Janjao, you are not at fault,” a warm hug enveloped her shoulders, and the red-eyed person buried her face in his chest, shaking her head against her friend's chest several times before pushing away.
“Do not act all manly on me. What if I accidentally develop feelings for Graph?” The ponytailed young woman tried to say with a humorous tone, feeling a bit better, which made the listener smile widely and place a hand on her head.
“I am not surprised at all that Phîi Night would like Janjao, because if I had not met Phîi Pakin first, I would probably have fallen for Janjao beyond recovery.”
“Well, do not sweet-talk me. Because Graph met Phîi Pakin first and has already given his whole heart to him.” The fujoshi knew her friend wanted to make her feel better, so she responded with a smile, saying she did not want her friend to worry. She used her fingertips to gently wipe away her tears as they walked out to the front of the school together, but she could not help turning back to look in the direction where the other senior had been standing.
I am sorry, Janjao cannot accept Phîi Night's feelings.
The young woman's thoughts showed she did not know that right now the moon was not paired with the night, but that did not mean it was impossible in the future.
***
[The exams are finished today, right?]
“They are finished, Phîi. All subjects are done. Just waiting for the grades to come out.”
[That is good. Are you going to celebrate with friends?]
“Are you allowing me to go? Wow, just think about it. I go to sing karaoke with friends, but someone stands guard outside the room. Later they will think some mafia's son is celebrating the end of exams.”
[Not the son, but the Mia of a mafia.]
Thud
Graph was stepping down from the young model's car while talking on the phone with the person who had gone south. His mouth spoke in a good mood, but he did not think his legs would halt in their tracks when the other party uttered a word he never expected to have the chance to hear... Mia.
Phîi Pakin had said he was Phîi's youth, but never once had he spoken of a status beyond that.
[Hey, have you gone quiet or something?]
“It... it is your fault!”
The young man argued with a strong voice, trying to cover up the heat rushing to his cheeks. The lump in his chest beat rapidly, shaking to the hand holding the phone. His lips, which were about to break into a wide smile, were restrained until it became a peculiar smiling expression. He only knew that... he was bloody fucking happy.
[What did I do?]
“I do not know! Let us just say I finished my exams.” Graph could only deflect to another topic, not used to this kind of talk at all. Because this was not the kind of charm he had asked for that day; it seemed more like Phîi Pakin had let it slip out. But it was a slip that made this youth almost crazily happy.
[I know. How many more times are you going to say the exams are finished?]
“Phîi Win is taking me out to celebrate today too. Uncle Pong also called saying he finished his round and will join later.”
[That sounds fun.]
“Are you jealous? If you are jealous, then hurry back,” Graph could not help but feel the other party's voice was stiff, probably because Phîi Pakin was busy with a big project. But on this end, he was quite happy, so he blurted it out. He heard a low laugh that sounded incredibly dangerous no matter how he listened.
[Hey, when I get back, do not get sick again.]
Thud
I know exactly what I want.
“I am not your outlet for sexual desire.”
[And since when did I ever say you were?]
The young man fell silent again, before his handsome face showed a wide smile. He felt indescribably good, knowing that the person down south did not see him as just a sexual outlet. At the very least, this Graph had heard the word Mia from the mouth of the man who had never acknowledged any relationship.
Did this mean he was more special than other partners?
[I have to go now.]
“Are you hanging up already?” Graph could not stop himself in time, and could only whine in a pleading tone, admitting he wanted to talk more. And how could the person on the other end not know? So the other party said with an amused voice.
[Do not be stubborn. I will call you again late tonight. Go open your present and see if you like it or not. I am hanging up now.]
As soon as he finished, Pakin hung up, making the listener blink repeatedly, because if he heard correctly...
“What present?”
“Oh, the present from down south was delivered this afternoon,” the young model who had followed behind him said with a laugh in his voice, as if he wanted to laugh at the person who was not home. Because when he called to say the youth around here was about to finish Mattayom 5, someone just retorted with... so what?
But on the day school finished, someone had to send a present right to the front of the house.
“Phîi Pakin has a present for me?”
“Right there.”
The young man could only make a confused sound, making Phawit nod towards the entrance to the house, so he had to turn back to look again. Then Graph could not help but curse himself for not noticing it earlier.
A large present was placed in front of the entrance to the house, covered with a silver bike cover, making the lump in his chest beat strongly. His legs rushed towards it, accompanied by the sound of barking from the Ruthless one who ran out to greet him. It was this very barking that made the person delivering the bike step out.
“Oh, you are back, my student.”
“Phîi Sai-fah,” the slender figure called the other's name in confusion, wondering how he got here. The person who had come to deliver the bike on behalf of his older Phîi who had gone south stepped close to the bike cover. Then the younger twin smiled widely, his eyes excited, his voice even more excited.
“Are you ready to see your present?”
“Ready!!!” Of course, the young man nodded so hard his neck almost broke, watching the large hands that were pulling the cover off. And...
His two eyes widened in shock, letting the person who brought the present describe its features.
"A fresh, hot Ducati Scrambler Special Edition Mike Hailwood, 2016 model, four-cylinder, 803 cc engine, 45 mm fuel injection, braking system like the old model. It is a mid-sized sport bike, but its awesomeness is no less than the bigger models. It is smaller than your blue one, but I guarantee it is easier to ride. Phîi Pakin urgently ordered me to find it the other day. Once we got the bike, that Payu jumped the queue to tune it up for you. Oh, Phîi Pakin also asked me to tell you that if you do not like the color, if you want any color, I will take it back and handle it for you.”
Graph could not believe his ears. He could only place his hands on the seat while his eyes widened even more. The more he learned that someone had rushed to find this for him... he was extremely bloody fucking happy.
“Oh, but he said if you are going to take it to the track, it would be good to call me first. He probably does not want you to crash like last time,” Sai-fah continued, all while smiling widely, happy on behalf of his student who could not hold back his smile. It was obvious he was extremely excited, and he also could not believe that the person who once declared that if he saw that youth on the track, he would cancel the race, was now so infatuated with the youth that he was willing to spend however much money to find this bike as a present... a present just for finishing Mattayom 5.
“Do you like it?” When asked, the youth turned to him with shining eyes.
“How could I not, Phîi? I like it. I bloody fucking love it.”
Graph exclaimed excitedly. He never thought the other party would allow him to touch a bike again. But this was not just allowing him to touch it; he bought him a brand new one.
“Then do not forget to call and thank him. He is probably waiting for your call.” Win himself tapped his shoulder, reminding his memory, until the stubborn youth nodded vigorously, promising he would definitely call, and then went back to gently caress his new baby, with the Ruthless one running circles around the bike, making him tell it with a strong voice.
“If you scratch this bike, prepare to be buried, you Ruthless one.”
Anyone who saw the scene would laugh, because they could feel how happy the youth, who once had only a tense face and lonely eyes, was now. Furthermore, the person who had been so cruel to him that he was called black-hearted and ferocious was now taking care of this youth so attentively that one could almost forget the past images.
It was a relationship that anyone could see... had gone far beyond mere duty.
***
“Khun Pakin, the ship delivering the cars has arrived.”
“Hmm, check the count too. I do not want any errors for the event.”
Pakin nodded in acknowledgment, while looking through the clear glass wall at the dock where a large ship was moored. Inside it were hundreds of cars that would participate in the event, their value so immense he did not want to calculate the number. Because these were not just the cars he had prepared alone, but also included those from sponsors who all wanted to send their own people to participate.
This event was not just about closing an island for a race; it was about building an island specifically for it.
The dream was getting closer to reality, making the person's eyes gleam brilliantly. The blood in his veins boiled, excited for what he had invested his effort in. Just thinking about how many high-speed cars would be able to reach the finish line made the young man almost unable to wait for the day of the event.
That youth would probably like it too.
Suddenly, a thought flashed into his head, along with the face of the arrogant youth appearing before him. The person who called him yesterday was so excited and happy it was ear-splitting, but strangely, he was willing to sacrifice his scarce sleep time to listen to that youth talk for hours. Even though he did not respond much, he was willing to stop and listen.
He was happy with that present... Makes it somewhat worth ordering it for him.
Pakin knew that youth was into bikes because of him, was trying to keep up with him, was trying to make him see that he was interested in the same things. And these things had genuinely molded his interest in bikes, which made the easily-annoyed person feel deeply satisfied, because Graph would understand what he was feeling right now. What was strange was that...
He wanted that youth to see it with his own eyes.
He wanted him to share the feeling, was that it?
The person thinking knitted his brows together, not quite believing himself that the youth could have this much influence on his thoughts and feelings. From before, when he saw his face he almost wanted to drag him by the scruff of his neck and throw him out in front of the house, until now, when he listened, he understood, he stopped arguing, he allowed him to stay by his side. But since when had his smile made him... miss him?
“I seem tired.”
Pakin shook his head slowly. Yes, he was tired, but it was a tiredness that did not make him want to curl up in bed or find someone to relax with. Rather, it was a tiredness that made him want to see someone else's face.
He wanted to see his expression when he saw the present.
The feeling the young man sensed was how dangerous this was for him, but this time, Pakin did not care. The thought that that youth was under his protection was more important.
He would stay right here, for as long as he continued to protect him.
It was this kind of thought that made him feel at ease.
Whap-whap-whap-whap
However, his thoughts had to be shaken away. His pair of sharp eyes narrowed when he saw a small dot moving closer into his line of sight, accompanied by the sound of rotor blades cutting through the air, causing a large wind to swirl and blow everything around. His two legs carried himself to the building's rooftop, which served as a helicopter landing pad. He was displeased that anyone would show up before the day of the event.
But his dark brows relaxed when he saw the man with ash-blonde hair stepping down briskly.
“Do not tell me you are here to disrupt this event.” The helicopter engine had cut off, allowing the wind to return to calm and quiet once more. The island owner stepped forward to greet his Phô with a question that made Phanupong shake his head, though his eyes still held a cunning glint that made him curious.
“Who said I would disrupt it? I brought someone to cheer you on.”
Snap
Pakin almost opened his mouth to ask, but a premonition made him snap his head back to look at the helicopter again, until he saw his close relative stepping down. But that was not the main issue compared to the other youth who stepped down with a pale face, holding tightly onto the door, making it obvious it was probably his first time, which caused the pair of sharp eyes to widen.
“Oh, do not be angry at the youth. I dragged him here myself this morning.”
This was one of the few times he was angry with his Phô. And this was one of the few times he could not restrain himself... The tall figure strode directly towards the pale-faced person who hurriedly stammered out.
“Phîi, I did not know Uncle Pong would bring me here. I did not disobey orders.”
Thud
“I miss you.”
A warm hug tightened around his waist, along with the words whispered by his ear.
A single word that made everything around them instantly fall silent. There was no sound of the wind, no sound of the beach, no sound of birds singing, no sound of anything at all, except for the deep, thick voice that said... I miss you.
Thud
Graph did not even realize he had put his arms around the broad back in return, burying his face in the heartless-person's shoulder, and could only answer.
“I miss you too, Phîi.”
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