[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Chapter 2: For Sale, Wanna Buy
“Phii Mut, hello.”
“Hello, many guests today?”
“Not too many.”
“Hey, Phii Mut, there's a guest asking about diving, are you taking bookings?”
“I've been booked for two weeks, I told Phii Arm already.”
“Mut, last night a guest asked about you too.”
“Ha ha, well, that's how it is, when I’ve got the charm.”
Even though it was the low season for the island, the famous resort which had guests year-round was still bustling as always. However, the hustle and bustle stopped when the island's celebrity appeared, causing everyone to pause and greet him warmly. Indeed, even though Mahasamut wasn't an employee here, he was always coming and going.
What does he do here, you ask? Well, he takes tourists diving to see the coral reefs.
Plus, most of the workers here are locals, having known each other since they were kids. It's not surprising that he knows everyone, and Mut is friendly with everyone. Wherever there's work, there's Mut. Some even say that Mut is good because he managed to place his boat brochures at the famous resort. Well, if you want money, you've got to be bold-faced.
The young man thought with a chuckle as he waved to greet the staff passing by in good spirits.
And his spirits lifted even more when he looked at what was in his hand...a key card.
He didn't steal it. He didn't trick anyone or use any cunning to get it. It was given to him by the one who loves him.
Yesterday, after opening the room, inserting the key card, and leaving a phone number on the bedside table, he had intended to return the extra key card. But whether it was intentional to make the other ride the cart or not, that beautiful face stared at him fiercely, pushing and shoving him out of the room. Mut, being the gentleman, easily complied when the other insisted (otherwise, what could he do with his size?), and seeing the other didn't want to talk, he left. And he just pocketed the key card.
See, Mut didn't steal anything; Khun Tongrak gave it to him clearly.
The big man thought this and chuckled, recalling the incident about a week ago.
[I'm leaving a friend in your care for about two weeks.]
When Connor, Warrington, or his notable brother-in-law called, Mahasamut couldn't help but wonder if he was being asked to look after a dog or a cat because aside from the laughter in the voice, the words didn't differ much from...uh, could you look after this for a bit? So he had to ask who this friend was.
[My friend is stubborn, self-centered, but happens to be the kind that gets lonely. If I leave him alone for a month, he'll die of boredom.]
“So, is it a tiger or a cat?”
[You'll find out when you meet it.]
“Khun Connor, you talk like I've already agreed to take it in.”
Mahasamut smirked slyly, knowing that KhunConnor understood his implication.
[I'll transfer the care fee to you.]
That's right, money comes, work goes, that's Mut's motto.
“Are there any restrictions?”
[No, just don't let it die of loneliness, it gets lonely easily.]
Once again, the person on the line emphasized how lonely the creature he was leaving was, but not without a warning.
[Just be careful not to get scratched.]
And how did Mahasamut respond?
“I never let anyone have anything for free.”
That was enough to make the cheerful foreigner laugh heartily, unsure if he was happy to be rid of a burden or worried about the one he left behind. But this made Mahasamut suddenly eager to see Connor's cat.
Such a lonely creature would need to be well taken care of, indeed.
“Ha ha.”
Thinking back to the conversation from two weeks ago, Mahasamut couldn't help but laugh. His large hand reached for his phone to open the pictures his friend-in-law had sent. His fingers couldn't resist swiping through the three images with delight.
“A real cat, huh?” He muttered in a deep voice.
The first picture Connor sent was of a handsome young man dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, topped with a blazer, standing on stage at some event. His fair face looked annoyed as if he was forced to speak, his large eyes reflecting irritation, though his lips were slightly upturned.
The next image made Mahasamut's lips twitch with amusement. The same man with a sour face was now dressed in a red shirt and high-waisted pants, adorned with several leather necklaces, mingling among the crowd in a fancy bar. His face was strikingly beautiful, his gaze defiant yet smoldering.
But it was the last picture that made Mahasamut pause.
A picture of...a kitten.
Who would believe that the same man from the first two photos would now be wearing a large white shirt down to his knees, short shorts revealing his fair legs, and curled up on the sofa, living up to the definition Connor gave him...an arrogant cat.
The first time he saw him, Mut burst out laughing. He never thought this person could have such different personalities, to the point where he actually wanted to meet him in person. He didn't really want to tease much, but upon learning he was like a cat, he wanted to see this cat's claws come out. When the other party complained about his suitcase, he decided to tease just a little.
And, for heaven's sake, when he made an arrogant face, he wondered if his jaw wasn't tired.
He was a country boy, loud, boisterous, cheerful, laughing when something was funny, and smiling when he was having fun. But look at this pretty boy, his smile didn't seem genuine, his laughter not full-hearted. So, he wondered what would happen if he could break through that facade.
The answer was, it would be a sight to behold.
So Mahasamut had a new goal for this two-week stint: he was going to make Khun Tongrak lose his cool. Life is too short not to have fun with the cat.
As for whether he was worried that Tongrak might leave, the answer was...no.
Why would he be scared? The one who left him in charge, or rather, hired him, was Khun Connor, and the employer said to take care of him however he saw fit. So, Mut decided to look after him in his own unique way.
“Alright, time to go feed the cat.”
It was time to open the 'cage' in the morning.
…
For a writer who lived more during the night than the day, the seven o'clock sunlight was like a formidable enemy. Tongrak didn't forget to close all the curtains, leaving the luxurious room in complete darkness, while his slender figure was tucked under a thick blanket, the air conditioning making it cold enough to shiver.
It should have stayed like that until eleven, but...
Beep...
On the dark screen of the door lock, a green light flashed briefly, and then the heavy wooden door is opened silently.
The intruder walked in with steps lighter than his size would suggest.
His sharp eyes adjusted to the darkness for a moment, then he glanced at his glow-in-the-dark diving watch.
Still not awake, huh?
This thought made Mahasamut smirk, and he moved into the inner bedroom, looking at the round bundle completely wrapped in the bed, and smiling even wider. Then...
Woosh!!
“Good morning, my dear.”
Mahasamut pushed aside the curtains completely, letting the arch-nemesis of a beautiful writer's sleep invade the bed, shining down on the fair, peaceful face of the sleeping man, causing his fine brows to furrow in annoyance even before waking up, uttering a disgruntled groan, and then...he turned over to the other side.
Of course, Tongrak pulled the blanket over his head as well.
Hilarious.
Mahasamut suppressed a chuckle and approached the edge of the bed.
“Time to wake up, Khun Rak. It's morning already. The weather today is great, perfect for going out.”
“...go away...”
He heard a muffled grumble from under the blanket, so he leaned in closer.
“What was that? I couldn't hear clearly.”
Instead of asking Tongrak to speak up, Mahasamut raised his own volume several levels louder, practically shouting at the still-sleeping man, causing the figure under the blanket to pull it over his ears even more, curling up tighter.
“Go...away...”
Once again, he caught a faint but clearly angry murmur from under the blanket, but nothing could dampen the cheerful man's smile.
“What was that, sir! I can't hear you!”
This time, Mahasamut shouted at the top of his lungs and then waited with a suppressed smile.
Thud!!
“Fuck off!”
It wasn't long before the blanket was thrown off, coinciding with the beautiful man sitting up straight, yelling out with all his might. His pale face was contorted with rage, his eyes red from lack of sleep, his hair a mess, his white shirt crumpled, and he wore a look that could kill.
Of course, that target of his glare was none other than Mahasamut.
“Good morning, sir.” The big Southern guy just flashed a wide smile.
“What nonsense are you spouting, and how did you get in here? Get out of my room!” Tongrak lost all composure, looking ready to throw a pillow at the person who dared to wake him, but he was met with an innocent, bright smile.
“Oh, because I have a room card, sir.”
Mahasamut held up the key card for Tongrak to see, leaving him speechless.
“How did you get my room card?”
“Oh, well, you gave it to me yourself!”
“When did you take it?” Nope, didn't really understand, just knew I had to complain.
While Mahasamut grinned even wider, his eyes clearer, his voice even more cheerful:
“Yesterday, of course, when you threw me out of the room. You seemed like you didn't want it, so I kept it for you. I meant well, you know?” Then he flashed a smile so bright it could make the sun shy away.
“You're nuts!”
“Calling someone else nuts means you're nuts too.”
What kind of crazy talk is this? Can't make sense of it!
However, this response seemed to fray Tongrak's patience. He cursed some more and lunged to grab the key card from Mahasamut's hand.
Thud
What kind of crazy talk is this? Can't make sense of it!
---
But it seemed this response might have snapped the last thread of Tongrak's patience because the smaller figure swore several times and lunged to grab the key card from Mahasamut's hand.
Slip!
"Ouch!"
Already alert, Mahasamut stepped back several paces, barely containing his laughter as the beautiful man tripped over the blanket. Instead of charging at the big man, the smaller one...fell face-first onto the soft bed.
"..."
Mahasamut was almost dying from holding back his laughter.
"..."
The man who fell on his face was shaking slightly.
"Stupid blanket!"
If heard correctly, the haughty beautiful person seemed...embarrassed.
The writer tried to kick off the blanket while his cheeks turned bright red, the color spreading to his ears. His eyes, which used to be defiant and unyielding, now trembled slightly. His hands pushed and shoved to free himself from the tangled mess of the blanket from last night, and by the time he managed to do so, he was panting. He didn't care one bit about his disheveled state.
"Oh ho, is this skin or cotton?"
Tongrak furrowed his brows sharply, looking up at the one who teased him in confusion, then looked down at himself.
He had completely forgotten.
He had a habit when sleeping...wearing just one piece of clothing.
At this moment, the talented writer only had a soft nightshirt on, which wasn't buttoned up because it probably came undone while he was struggling with the blanket. The shirt was now widely open, revealing smooth, unblemished skin that looked like cotton, with no scars except for a small mole under his right nipple, adorned with a light-colored nipple that seemed tempting due to the cool air from the air conditioner.
His flat stomach led to a cute, lighter part that sagged slightly due to gravity, and his smooth, white legs that had no fine hair to cover any part.
All these combined with his disheveled hair, flushed face, and trembling eyes, made Tongrak look...delectable.
The kind that if others saw, they might imagine the young man spreading his legs wide and being edged with until he was drenched.
If this had happened to anyone else, they'd be so embarrassed they'd want to crawl into the ground, but Tongrak isn't like others. Compared to the embarrassment of face-planting into a bed, his current state is still quite presentable, so much so that an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.
He would get even!
Quite the playful one, isn't he? Alright then!
“You want to see?”
Tongrak slowly sat up, deliberately stretching out his long legs, his shirt falling just to his thighs, asking in a husky voice...Lucky for him, he had just woken up, making his voice even huskier and sexier. He ran his white hand through his hair, pulling it back from his face, causing the shirt to ride up to the edge of his chest.
Even though he might be annoyed with this guy, Tongrak didn't mind showing off his proud physique, especially if it could turn that wide, crazy smile into one of desire for him, which would be even better. Of course, he wouldn't count on it; the moment the guy charged at him, he'd grab his phone to call reception.
And if it's a guy, no problem, Tongrak was confident he was second to none.
Thus, what the young man glanced at was the phone by the bedside.
Throw him in jail for messing with his sleep time!
“Khun Rak you want me to watch, don't you? Good, good...I'd like to watch too.”
Huh?!
But then Tongrak jolted when suddenly, the young man from the south approached the bed and then...squatted down.
Not only that, he also reached out to stroke Tongrak's chin!
“White…so white, very white, white like you've been bleached by chemicals.”
Instead of Mahasamut rushing at him or moving onto the bed, the southern guy used sharp eyes to scrutinize him thoroughly.
“Sorry, not a single hair was left. Laser or shaved, don't you feel itchy when it grows back? I'm itchy all over, excuse me, Khun Tongrak.”
Poom!
Tongrak jumped, startled when his wrist was grabbed and lifted high, revealing his smooth underarms.
“Ha, just like a peeled apple!”
What, peeled?!
“And are you itchy? You must be, right? Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever, Khun Tongrak? Should I get you some medicine?”
Thump!
That was it; Tongrak grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it at the cheeky young man. He stood up in anger, his cheeks turning even redder from both anger and embarrassment, his hands clenched together, trembling slightly, wanting to slap the face of this troublemaker.
In his thirty years, he had never encountered such a man!
He was Tongrak, after all, the one who made men beg to share his bed, the center of attention, confident in his appearance, expecting to evoke desire in anyone who looked at him. He had looked at him with the hope of seeing a less desirable side come out, but instead, this happened.
It was utterly humiliating!
He wasn't sexy at all. Not even a bit!
Tongrak had never felt so insecure before, but just as he was thinking of how to chase him away, the big guy pulled the pillow off his face and asked with a chuckle,
“Why are you angry with me, Khun Tongrak?”
It was then that Mahasamut stepped closer. Khom's eyes met the honey-colored gaze, making Tongrak's heart soften. The large hand grabbed his white wrist, the fingertips pressing into the soft skin, a touch Tongrak was familiar with, causing him to look up, trying to send a teasing glance.
See? Who could resist him?
Eh!
But the moment their eyes met, the man in front of him...laughed.
“I think you're too thin now, huh, let me help you take a bath, and then I'll take you to eat something delicious.”
Help me take a bath?!
Tongrak questioned himself, sure he hadn't heard wrong, even with the hard-to-understand southern accent, and in that moment, he immediately understood what the look meant. It was like looking at...a pet.
Since when has he asked to be taken care of by this guy!
“Come on, let's go take a bath.”
When his hand was grabbed and led towards the bathroom, Tongrak clenched his teeth until his lips turned pale, and then...
Thump!
He grabbed the nearest pillow and slammed it hard on the big guy's head. Then, with utmost embarrassment, he pulled his shirt tight around him, his legs moving quickly towards the bathroom. At the same time, the other guy shouted at the top of his lungs, completely shedding any trace of Khun Tongrak's usual cool demeanor.
“Fuck off!”
Bang!
Followed by the loud sound of the bathroom door slamming shut, but not before...
“Ha ha, are you sure you don't want me to help you bathe?”
“Shut up!”
The laughter echoed loudly enough to make Tongrak shout back in frustration.
This guy had gone mad. Absolutely mad. He had never met anyone like this in his entire life.
Angry to the point of heavy breathing, his chest heaving, he was so mad he wanted to throw the laundry basket at the source of the laughter. His beautiful eyes looked at his reflection in the mirror, seeing the disheveled state he was in, which only made him more furious.
It had been so long since he was this angry!
Don't even think about it; even if he wanted it, Tongrak wouldn't give in. No way.
“Even if he were the last man on earth, I wouldn't have slept with him!”
Tongrak vowed to himself right then, no matter how hungry or parched he might be, he would not let this annoying individual into his bed. No way. Never.
If Mahasamut heard this thought, he would probably give a sly look and ask, “Really?”
“Wouldn't let me in your bed, but I'm pretty good at scratching a cat's chin. Want to give it a try?”
If Tongrak heard this, he'd probably have a vein in his temple burst.
“Leave me alone.”
“I can't help it, I've been paid already.”
“I don't understand, did you hear? I-don't-understand-you.”
Tongrak wanted to shake this nuisance off, but first, he had to communicate with this a-hole before anything else!
Tongrak never thought the Southern dialect was hard to understand, perhaps because he had no friends from the South. With Khom, they usually spoke in standard Thai, so this was the first time he had to deal with the full, fast-paced, hard-to-understand Southern dialect with its distinct pronunciation ending in 'ha'. And this person in front of him was not cooperative at all.
If he couldn't speak, that would be one thing, but he could...he just wouldn't speak to him.
“What's so hard, let's just go eat.”
Thump!
Tongrak wanted to sulk, wanted to turn away, wanted to scold the other person to shame, but the morning's events taught him that doing so would only make the other party laugh joyously instead of being bothered. It would take a long time for him to compose himself and walk out of the bathroom pretending not to care about what had happened, so Tongrak told himself to stay calm and cool. He'd chase him away soon enough.
Really?
“I won't eat porridge.”
As soon as he sat down in the breakfast room, Tongrak crossed his arms and lifted his chin, ordering firmly.
Alright, you want to take care of me, huh? Let's see how you do.
Mahasamut, who was about to place a bowl of porridge in front of him, paused for a moment, then shrugged. The big man didn't say anything, just left the bowl there and walked away again.
“I don't want to eat fried eggs with sausage.”
Again, before the plate could even be set down, Tongrak said calmly, turning his face away.
“I don't eat rice in the morning, it's too heavy for my stomach.”
As the rice topped with sweet and sour stir-fry and chicken with holy basil was placed down, Tongrak gave a cold smile, his round eyes gleaming with challenge.
Let's see how long he can last.
He was full of stories, stubborn, and willful...but Tongrak could do more than that.
“So, salad?”
When the large salad bowl was set down in front of him, Tongrak glanced at it briefly before picking up a fork to pop a cherry tomato into his mouth.
“Do you like it...”
“I'm full.”
Tongrak didn't even let the big guy finish speaking, as he looked up at him, simply stating, and then pushed the salad bowl back to the center of the table. He didn't even care about the remaining food like porridge, sausage with fried egg, and the untouched rice with curry. Then, with his arms crossed, the pale guy smiled and said,
“Well...since you've been paid to take care of me...then you might as well eat what's left.”
He wanted to see the man in front of him lose his cool, even just a little. It wasn't...
“Oh, what a stroke of luck, Khun Tongrak. You are so kind, truly magnificent, how did you know I was hungry?” Tongrak couldn't help but frown sharply, watching the man who willingly pulled the rice bowl towards himself, still praising Tongrak's kindness.
“...”
“And being so beautiful and kind, not only are you white to your clothes but also white to your heart, I must have done something good in my past life to be able to look after Khun Tongrak like this...oops.”
“Can you not speak so loudly?!”
Praising is one thing, but why shout like a madman!
Now, half the restaurant had turned to look at them in unison. It wasn't that Tongrak didn't understand every word, but the people here certainly did. So, catching the gist of the 'white' comment, he glared, but the man didn't stop, until Tongrak's pale hand instinctively moved to cover his mouth.
“How much will it take for you to stop bothering me?!” The pale man continued to glare, speaking with an annoyed tone.
Smack!
Gasp!
That's when the slender figure jolted, feeling the softness press against the center of his palm, the moment a warm hand grabbed his wrist and pulled, revealing the beautifully colored lips that had just touched his palm...and the sharp eyes, daring and deeply intense, much like Mahasamut's gaze.
“Money can't buy me.” Came the hoarse whisper as the owner of the voice moved closer.
“If it's not enough...”
Suddenly, the hair on his arms stood up, causing Tongrak to quickly pull his hand away from the grasp, his round eyes inadvertently avoiding the other's, his heart pounding fiercely, knowing this wasn't just a fleeting thrill or love. It wasn't falling in love, but that brief, wild look in the eyes had sent a hot rush through his body, unspent for days, making the grasped wrist feel hot to the point of discomfort.
Tongrak wasn't blind.
He might not have liked Mahasamut from the moment they met, but that was only because he was irritated. However, he couldn't deny that the man's appearance was worthy of the reputation of being the best on this island.
Whether it was his well-built body, his dark but not black skin, or his face that matched his thick, strong eyebrows. This man didn't give off the vibe of the gym-going urbanites he was used to; instead, he seemed to have earned his physique through hard work, exuding strength, raw, and rugged.
It's not like you could find such a man around his neighborhood anytime.
And this man was suggesting...that he could be bought, right?
Just pay and get him.
The two pairs of eyes met, one challenging, the other hesitant.
“Can I have your number?”
Out of the blue, Tongrak changed the subject abruptly, to the surprise of even Mahasamut. The big man let go of his hand without resistance and gave the phone number he knew full well had been ignored by Tongrak the previous day.
“Feeling a bit disappointed...I've given you my number. Khun Tongrak, don't you care?”
Ding!
Suddenly, Mahasamut's phone alerted him of an incoming message, but before the dark-skinned young man could check the screen...
“Is five thousand enough?”
“Eh?”
“For you talking to me in standard Thai.”
Tongrak asked with a pleasant tone while looking at the banking app that had just transferred money via PromptPay to the number of the man in front of him, and continued,
“Seven thousand then.”
Ding!
Another two thousand baht popped into Mahasamut's account.
“Or...ten thousand.”
Ding!
Another three thousand baht bounced into Mahasamut's account without waiting for his response, and a sweet smile adorned the face that was too beautiful for a man, his fingertip moving to press another amount.
“Or fifteen thousand.”
Alright, since you said money can't buy you, then how much would it take?
Tongrak kept his sweet smile, watching the man in front of him who remained expressionless, waiting to see when the other would start to protest after being insulted like this. Who could keep smiling after being looked down upon like this?
Thud!
“Why, is it too little?”
Tongrak lifted his face to ask in an endearing tone, as the big hand reached out to cover the screen of his phone, observing the reaction of the man who had embarrassed him from the moment they met.
The one who smiled...huh, smiled?
And then said in a gentle voice...
“Five thousand is good enough for me, sir.”
And yes, it was in standard Thai!
Tongrak was stunned, staring at the man who smiled brightly until he asked in a dazed voice,
“Aren't you insulted by being looked down upon like this?”
“And why should I feel anything about that, sir?” Mahasamut asked with a teasing tone before waving his own phone around.
“Thank you for buying me, Khun Tongrak. From now on, I will serve you without taking my eyes off you.”
It ended with a broad smile that threw Tongrak off.
Chapter 3: This Guy Must Be Insane!
“You really won't buy me, huh?”
“...”
“Come on, just buy me. Five thousand more and I'm yours.”
“...”
“My services are quite popular, you know.”
“...”
Tongrak, who was walking away along the soft sandy beach, stopped in frustration and turned to face the annoying man who followed him while rummaging through his pockets. His honey-colored eyes gleamed with seriousness.
How could this guy be so shameless!
The young man admitted he was the one trying to escape because when Mahasamut started speaking directly, he immediately declared that from then on, they should stop interacting. And how did Mahasamut respond?
“I can't do that, sir...I've been paid. Khun Connor is a regular customer, not a one-time visitor. No matter how you look at it, I have to prioritize my regulars...right?”
The last sentence he asked back seemed to say, why don't you understand such a simple thing? This made Tongrak even more frustrated until the writer stood up from his seat, not wanting to talk further. Since this guy wouldn't leave, he would!
But instead of finding peace, the annoying man who should have been eating the leftovers hurried after him, turning the beach into a chase scene. It seemed like he thought Tongrak wasn't annoyed enough because the big guy continued to sell himself.
“When goods are sold, it means there must be buyers.”
“That's right.”
“But there are none here, so no need to sell.”
Tongrak said coldly, looking up at the tall man, feeling somewhat inferior in height, which was frustrating. He wondered if he had ever felt inferior in his life...even with the giant-like Connor, he wasn't afraid, but why did he feel this mix of irritation and something else with the playful look in this country bumpkin's eyes?
“Are you tired?” Asked Mahasamut, answering a question with a question.
Tongrak, with his icy gaze, furrowed his brows in confusion over what he meant.
Mahasamut gave a soft chuckle, his deep voice seeming to vibrate in the listener's ears, and then he took another step closer to Tongrak, until the fresh scent of the sea wafted up to his nose.
This man's scent matched his name perfectly.
Jolt!
“I mean, you're holding your head high so much, doesn't your neck hurt, sir?”
“...”
How could Tongrak not be startled when that big hand poked his...cheek?
He was thirty years old. No one had treated him like a child like this in a long time. And then there was that question...does your neck hurt from holding it high?
Smack!
“That's my business.”
“Oh...I was just worried...Ever since I've met you, I've seen you make two types of faces.” Mahasamut lifted his hand to count on his fingers.
“One, haughty. Two, embarrassed.”
“Who's embarrassed!” With that, Tongrak snapped back, losing his composure.
“Oh, three, angry, very angry. Watch out, or you'll get wrinkles, sir.”
“It's my business.”
But the man arguing couldn't help but grab his cheek again.
“Says who? Khun Tongrak, your business is my business...I'm the one looking after you while you're here. I need to take care and make sure you're feeling okay, I was just worried about your neck getting sore, but you think otherwise. Poor me here, trying to be nice but you think I'm up to no good, sigh.” At the end of his sentence, the big man intentionally let out a long sigh and shook his head as if he was the scapegoat.
His demeanor was mischievous no matter how you looked at it...until Tongrak bared his teeth at him.
Why couldn't he understand him even when he spoke standard Thai?
“Ah, okay, okay, for the sake of your neck...I'll explain it simply...
“I'm not listening!” Don't say he was acting like a child, but it was truly unbearable.
“Sigh, such a stubborn person.” Again, Mahasamut sighed, looking at Tongrak as if he were three years old, which made Tongrak open his mouth to curse, but he was faster.
“You came here to work, right?”
“And then what?”
“I'll take you to gather information wherever you want. Whether it's in the water, on land, anywhere on this island, I know all the places. Having a local with you is more reassuring, isn't it?”
“No...”
“And as you know, Donner hired me to take care of you, and I've taken the payment. And I live by the principle of 'money in, work done'. If you don't let me work...I'll have to return the money to Khun Connor, but I've already told everyone I'm booked for two weeks, and by now, they've all hired someone else. Don't you have any sympathy for a hardworking man who earns a living day by day?”
While Tongrak wanted to argue from the very beginning, he started to fall silent now.
No...anyone can pity this guy, but not him.
“And importantly, can you ride a motorcycle?”
Tongrak's expression probably answered that question better than words.
There, Mahasamut put on an even more pitiful face.
“Do you know that there are no cars for rent here, only motorcycles, so...it looks like without me, you won't be able to go anywhere.”
Can he just punch him in the face?
The pale man clenched his fists tight, trying to think of some insult that might affect the guy, but before he could...
Swoosh!!
The tall man took another step closer, their faces now close, with a hint of laughter crossing the pitch-black eyes like the sea at night, and Khom leaned in, his deep voice speaking,
“And who said there are no buyers here...I can do more than that, you know.”
He must be crazy. Why did his heart just skip a beat?
He definitely hadn't let loose for too long.
Tongrak reassured himself, still meeting the gaze...even though he knew those eyes in front of him were scanning his face, from the tip of his nose to his lips, then back to his eyes.
He knew what that look meant.
Want to play?
One part of his mind was still hesitant, but his body moved first, as the white hand was about to place itself on the broad chest, at the moment when...
Swoosh!!
“See, you want to buy me, don't you?”
Mahasamut leaned towards his ear and teased with a barely contained laugh.
Smack!
And with that, heat rushed to Tongrak's face. Not out of embarrassment, not out of being swayed, but out of the embarrassment of having let his guard down for a split second, and look at him, those eyes sparkling so brightly they seemed to beg to be poked out, not to mention the teasing tone that seemed to know he was almost convinced, making Tongrak smell defeat once again.
And it was enough for Tongrak to push with all his might.
Then, the owner of the flushed face said loudly and clearly,
“Even if you were the last man on earth, I wouldn't take you!”
With that said, Tongrak turned and walked away, wanting to get as far from this man as possible, but his ears still caught the sound of laughter that followed, shaking his very core.
“I'll remember that, sir.”
Yes, remember it well!
“Hey, hey, walking like that, you'll fall, sir.”
“It's my business!”
Yes, it was his business, don't interfere...
Thud!
That was the moment he turned to walk back, his unfortunate leg caught on the hem of his pants, causing the beautiful man to fall face-first onto the sandy ground, not even finishing his thought in his mind.
“...”
“...”
This time, silence enveloped the entire beach, so much so that if a fish jumped, Tongrak would hear it with both ears. But what could compare to...
“Ha ha, let's catch the big frog first, shall we, sir?”
The loud laughter that echoed across the beach made Tongrak's face burn with embarrassment, his whole body trembling. The blush crept up to his ears, knowing he must be as red as...
That damn guy, what was he teasing about now!
Tongrak thought irritably, but he didn't plan to wait for the big guy to add more to his embarrassment. He quickly stood up, not caring about the sand all over him, and walked away in another direction.
“Oh, embarrassed and running away already, sir?”
Who's embarrassed? Just going to regroup!
Of course, Tongrak didn't intend to turn around and respond; he just quickened his pace, leaving behind a trail of red and a pair of round eyes filled with frustration.
Even as Tongrak walked out of sight, the one watching the flustered figure burst into laughter again, his large hand running through his dark hair that partially hid his face.
“Adorably hopeless.”
Whether it was the puffed cheeks, the red lips, or the teary eyes, he looked just like a child holding back tears.
Khom had told him that Phii Tongrak was this great, that skilled, respectable, and mature, but from what he had seen, all he saw was an irritable cat that only knew how to hiss and threaten.
He rather liked fierce cats.
The thoughts of the man who walked back to the dining room to continue with the meal at a leisurely pace.
Let's give the beautiful one some time to regroup. Mut is kind-hearted, after all. Heh heh.
Bang!
“You damn unlovable leg, why fall where you shouldn't?”
As soon as he stepped into the room, the beautiful man many admired covered his face with his hands and rubbed vigorously, overwhelmed by embarrassment. The feeling when his face hit the sandy ground was clear, and he even saw a slow-motion replay of himself, like a movie shot at fifty frames per second.
“Why did I have to fall in front of that guy!”
Tongrak lamented, sitting down on the floor with his legs bent.
"Enough, Rak, stop thinking, work, channel your frustration into your work." After trying to convince himself that he hadn't fallen, hadn't lost, and hadn't been laughed at, Tongrak stepped over to sit in front of the vanity table, booting up his computer to adjust his mood because he had just found a new antagonist for his story.
A guy so irritating he deserved to be eaten by a shark.
Tongrak thought bitterly, ready to let his fingers dance on the keyboard, but as soon as he opened his unfinished work, the fire of vengeance in his eyes extinguished instantly, because he had forgotten...
"The love scene."
Yes. He had left off at the love scene.
The thought made Tongrak sigh wearily.
Here comes another one of those scenes.
"Shall we call a truce, Khun Tongrak?"
After the face-plant incident on the beach, time had moved on to the second day. For two days, Mahasamut had been both amused and fond of the handsome man who tried his best to ignore his existence.
No matter how close the rugged face of Mahasamut got, the handsome man, whom Mut had described as beautiful, didn't even glance his way, as if to say, "If you can stand it, then stand it, but don't expect Khun Tongrak to care." Now, the big man was sitting at the same dining table, watching the beautiful one who was intensely focused on his personal laptop.
Not even turning to look.
Seemed like he was still embarrassed.
"Khun Tongrak, woo, Khun Tongrak, can you hear me?"
Despite Mut being a pain, a real thorn in the side, with a mouth that could talk, he wasn't the type to bother someone who was working. When he first saw the beauty bring his laptop into the dining room with the beach view, he thought the other would work, but aside from staring at the screen and re-reading, Mut saw those slender fingers touch the keyboard very few times.
So this is what Khom was praising as beautiful.
It wasn't just the well-shaped face or the slender figure that was a blessing to behold.
The sharp eyes traced down to the white neck, which seemed even more delicate as it moved during work, the disheveled hair that brushed past the face, caressing the beautiful frame of the glasses that matched the smooth, white facial contours. His gaze continued down to the enticing collarbones that dipped in, with slender fingertips resting on the keyboard.
Would it be wrong...if he felt like kissing those beautiful fingertips, just once, oh...and maybe nibbling on them a couple more times?
However, even as Mahasamut made a noise, the beautiful man who was still staring at the screen showed no reaction, only his fine brows furrowed together, and Khom bit his lower lip until it turned a deep red.
Tongrak, upset by something, didn't think to blame himself for it.
This prompted the observer to move closer to look at the computer screen with a sense of entitlement.
...The sharp eyes fixed on the beautiful tear that rolled down the rosy cheek, a sharp pain in his chest for no apparent reason. He didn't understand why it hurt, why he wanted to reach out and pull the slender figure into an embrace, why he couldn't bear to see this young man's tears. He understood nothing at all...
Mahasamut read the last paragraph Tongrak had left hanging.
The sharp gaze returned to the writer, still sitting motionless as if his mind was far away.
“What exactly is love?” He murmured to himself.
That was the final sentence the fingertips had crafted.
The beautiful face showed frustration, the honey-colored eyes staring at the screen as if lost deep in thought.
Beep!
Gasp!
The moment someone closed the screen in front of him, Tongrak gave a slight start, like waking from a dream, his honey-colored eyes blinking, the lashes brushing against his white cheeks, and he glanced around to see who dared to interrupt him while working, which made the beautiful man pause.
Why was this guy making that kind of face?
The sharp eyes showed...concern.
But it was just for a moment, only a fleeting second before that annoying smile reappeared on Khom's face again, and the deep voice mixed with teasing returned.
“My hand slipped.”
Tongrak blinked to regain his focus, and realized he should be angry at this guy for disturbing him while he was working.
But somehow...he couldn't muster the anger.
“Has anyone ever told you not to disturb people when they're working? You don't even know basic manners.”
And did the listener look remorseful? Not at all, instead of looking remorseful, he smiled even broader.
“I'm just a country bumpkin, Khun Tongrak...Who cares about manners and etiquette, and besides, you didn't even care about what I was saying, how cruel.”
That's what made Tongrak realize he was dealing with this annoying person right now.
The thought made Tongrak want to open his laptop again, but...
Thump!
The big hand pressed down on him before Tongrak could react, causing his eyebrows to twitch.
“Let go. I need to work!”
“Doing what? All I see is you leaving the laptop on to waste electricity.”
“It’s my business.”
He argued back, but then he stopped short when he saw the man in front of him looking as if he was searching for something.
The gaze that seemed to read his mind made Tongrak inadvertently look away.
“You need to take a break sometimes.”
“...”
No need to pay attention. No need to respond, he'll get bored eventually.
Mahasamut just shrugged, seemingly indifferent.
“Let's go out and have some fun instead.”
Just talking wouldn't be Mahasamut's style; instead, the young man stood up and dragged Tongrak to his feet without waiting for any protest, and with his other hand, he swiftly grabbed the laptop.
"Give me back my work!"
"I told you, you need a break, come on, I'll show you something good."
He didn't just speak; the big man swiftly escorted the writer outside, knowing well why he was doing this.
He just didn't like the look of pain in those eyes when this man stared at the screen.
If you're tormented by what you're doing, then I'd find something else for you to do.
While Tongrak was both angry and frustrated, strangely, he didn't resist much. In fact, he felt somewhat relieved to have someone annoying right beside him.
Perhaps it was because of that sentence.
The sentence he himself had written.
What exactly is love?
It's quite pitiful that a romance novelist like him didn't even know.
Tongrak came to this island for two reasons.
One...he was tricked by a friend.
Two...he intended to find inspiration for his latest novel.
The young man admitted he wasn't expecting much; the sea was just the sea, even if it were the Maldives, it would still just be the sea, and he wasn't the type to be enchanted by the sea like his close friend. So, he felt annoyed when he was thrown onto the boat, (yes, he was literally thrown onto it), his pale face contorted with irritation, ready to grumble about whether this was all there was, as he had seen prettier seas and was tired of them.
However, every complaint, every disparagement was swallowed back down when the medium-sized boat sped out of the fishing port, slicing through water as clear as glass, revealing the deep coral reefs below. The fresh sea breeze brought a sense of rejuvenation, washing away the irritation from his mind in an unbelievable way.
The view of the vast sea against the bright blue horizon was beautiful.
So beautiful that the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve up.
Strange, indeed. Just the wind brushing past his face felt incredibly good.
"Sit still, please, this boat is only this big, keep your balance."
He had just leaned over to look at the sea for a moment when the boat driver shouted at him, making him scowl and roll his eyes. If it weren't for the fact that they were alone together in the middle of the sea, he would have rocked the boat just to show him.
Tongrak chose to remain silent as he had for the past few days. He just turned to look at the sea, closing his eyes slightly, enjoying the cool breeze that inexplicably improved his mood.
The sight of this made the observer smile to himself.
It was much better than staring at a computer screen.
Mahasamut told himself with satisfaction, wanting to tease the other to lighten his mood a bit, but seeing the small smile on those lips, he decided it wouldn't hurt to just watch it a little longer.
Maybe it was time to call a temporary truce.
Rrrr
Just then, Tongrak's phone screeched, startling him. He quickly grabbed it to check the screen, his brows furrowing together.
"What's up, Muk?"
Who?
Don't get me wrong, but it sounded like an insult.
"What, the signal's bad, say it again.” Tongrak tried to move around to find a better signal, but the voice on the other end still sounded muffled and then cut off, prompting him to head towards the bow of the boat.
"There's no signal anywhere here, we're in the middle of the sea after all."
"Annoying."
Tongrak shot him a glare.
"Fine, I was just trying to be nice."
"Who wants to talk to you?"
"If you don't want to talk, then don't.” Mahasamut shrugged and kept quiet, watching the beautiful man continue his futile attempt to find a signal. No matter how hard he tried, the call kept dropping, leading to several attempts to call back.
Tongrak was so focused on his phone he didn't notice...the boat had come to a stop in the middle of the sea.
Bam!
At that moment, a sound like something large falling into the water caught Tongrak's attention, causing him to look over. His eyes widened in shock because the man who should have been at the helm of the boat had plunged into the cold water. Tongrak quickly pocketed his phone and hurried to the back of the boat, but all he saw were ripples forming on the water's surface.
Did he fall in?
“Impossible, he wouldn't fall into the water.” Tongrak felt his heart racing with worry.
Although part of him thought Mahasamut was a sea child, boasting about how skilled he was and how well he knew the sea, a person like that wouldn't just fall into the sea, or could it be that he was left here alone?
The young man tried to stay calm, but a minute felt like an eternity.
Has it been just a minute or several minutes since he disappeared?
“Mahasamut, this isn't funny.”
Tongrak leaned out over the side of the boat, but there was no sign of the big man, his voice starting to quiver noticeably.
Thump! Thump!
He quickly returned to the front of the boat, trying to look over the side to see where the big man had gone, his heart pounding.
There was no signal here. Who could he call for help?
Tongrak scanned around and found nothing but sea, sea, and more sea, making his heart beat faster with fear.
“This game...isn't fun.” Tongrak bit his lip.
“Where are you!”
“Mahasamut! Mut!”
This might have been the first time he called out the name of that annoying man.
Even if he didn't like him, he certainly didn't wish for him to drown.
Turning left, only sea; turning right, just sea, and the worry turned into...tears.
Splash...splash...
But there was only silence answering his calls, accompanied by the sound of the waves whispering in his ears.
“Mahasamut, come out now!”
Splash!
That's when Tongrak heard the sound of water splashing from the other side of the boat and rushed over to look. Not minding the rocking of the boat at all, his only hope was to see the annoying man emerge from the water.
“Have you ever eaten sea snails in the middle of the sea?”
And there, the same man still sent a teasing smile his way, holding up a net bag filled with several sea urchins above the water.
But Tongrak didn't respond, only silence answered back because...
“Are you crying?”
The sight of the handsome young man whose eyes were glistening with clear drops made the man who had dived into the sea to fetch snails stop in his tracks. Mahasamut quickly threw the net bag aboard first, then grabbed the side of the boat, pulling himself up out of the water, swinging his legs over to board swiftly.
Splash...
The cool sea water dripping from Mahasamut splattered onto the deck, some of it even hitting Tongrak, but no one paid attention to that now, because the clear tears in those eyes drew all the attention away.
Mahasamut began to realize.
“See, were you worried about me? I saw you were on the phone, so I didn't disturb you. Wouldn't want you to think I have no manners.” The big man tried to tease as he had done in the past few days, but the honey-colored eyes still stared intently at him, the lips pressed thin and pale, making the Southern man aware of the situation.
His deep voice softened.
“Were you startled?”
“...”
“I'm fine.”
“...”
“See, I'm perfectly okay.”
“...”
When Tongrak didn't respond, Mahasamut spoke even more gently.
“I'm sorry. Don't cry.”
That's when Tongrak realized he was about to cry.
“Let me wipe your tears.”
Mahasamut reached out to wipe away the tears, but then...
Slap!
A white hand struck Mahasamut full in the face with force, followed by a loud shout:
“I thought you...d-a-m-n it, thought you wouldn't come back up, thought you were...dead.” Tongrak managed to say, the fear from that moment still echoing in his chest.
“...”
“Is this kind of game fun for you? Just because I hate your face doesn't mean I want to see you dead, and do you want to give me a heart attack, huh? You crazy guy, don't hold me, let go!” Tongrak, who was shouting at him, squirmed when suddenly, the cold body pulled him into an embrace, holding his slender waist tightly, while another hand pressed his head down onto a wet shoulder.
“I'm sorry...I was wrong.”
He didn't care if Mahasamut would be angry for the slap, didn't mind if he would retaliate. He just wanted to vent his anger at this man for playing such a stupid game, but the response from the big man was just a deep, guilty whisper by his ear.
“I apologize, Khun Tongrak.”
And that changed the struggle into a limp form that pressed his face against the broad shoulder, accompanied by a deep, whispering apology:
“I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
Amidst the sea waves, Tongrak allowed himself to stay in the embrace of the man he had once declared he wouldn't take even if he were the last person on earth.
“Were you worried about me?”
“Not worried.”
“Really? But just now you were crying.”
“I wasn't crying. I didn't cry.”