[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Chapter 8: Service After the Battle
“If the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, it would be beautiful,” “You know this is a cherry blossom too?”
“I asked someone in your house, and they nodded when I asked if it was a cherry blossom.”
It's the second night that the Thai guy, whose heart belongs to the mixed-race young man, is sitting on the balcony in a yukata, with the sliding door fully open, looking at the beautiful Japanese garden with a prominent large tree. Earlier in the evening, he had asked the person who prepared the bedding if it was indeed a cherry blossom tree, making Oat wonder how beautiful it would be when the flowers are in full bloom.
“Yeah, that's a cherry blossom.”
Shin, wearing a similar outfit, moves to sit beside him, but today there's no acoustic guitar, just cold beers, a whole pack placed between them.
“If you had come a month earlier, you would've seen it.” The speaker hands him a beer.
“Was it beautiful?”
“Probably. People here wait to see it every year.” Oat looks at the speaker and sees Shin hasn't opened his beer yet, just resting his hands on the balcony floor, looking up at the tree, now only branches spreading out, expression unreadable.
“You don't like it.”
The mixed-race young man is silent for a moment before turning to open his beer.
“They say cherry blossoms signify the arrival of spring, but if I could choose...I wouldn't choose to be a cherry blossom. It's like waiting all year just to meet for two weeks. Heh...I'd rather be something tangible, something you can touch all year round...no matter how beautiful it is.” Shin shrugged, took a sip of the icy beer, and gazed at the old tree that has stood there for decades.
“Waiting makes everything meaningful.”
“But the joy of being together is definitely better.”
Oat glanced at the handsome, somewhat roguish profile of the person beside him, and he sensed something, like...a surge of turbulent waves indicating Shin's unstable mood.
“Just another year and a half.”
Thud.
Suddenly, Shin paused, his hand holding a beer can frozen in mid-air, then turned to meet the sharp, earnest gaze, laughing softly.
“I can't wait that long.”
In truth...they might not be discussing the meaning of flowers or the arrival of spring, but Shin was thinking about another cold season, over a year away, before he could return to the warmth of Thailand, another...almost a year and a half.
How did the past half-year go by so fast?
A thought that made him shake his head, because now he might be Shin...to someone, someone who rushed to see him almost every weekend.
If those things disappeared, I myself...huh, someone like Shin sitting around moping?
He shook his head slowly, then took a swig of his beer.
“A year and a half...it's not that long.”
Even though he said that, how could his heart not worry? Just like Oat, who was also pondering this matter. He took the opportunity to come here for work for two months, which meant, in another year and a half, there was no way Oat could come here. Unless he took vacation leave, and meeting for just a few days might be sweet, but the parting...it's torturous.
Just like now, as Oat felt a tightness in his chest just thinking about the day he had to return to Thailand.
In a few weeks, in a few days...we'll be in different countries again.
“When are you going back to Thailand, Phii?”
“In a little over two weeks.”
The listener nodded twice, then smiled.
“I won't see you off that day.”
Shin said this while glancing to meet his eyes, before turning to look at the trimmed sakura tree once more. If it were someone else, or some woman, they might have complained that their boyfriend didn't care, but for Oat, he understood.
“No need to see me off.”
Those words were enough when Shin flew here once.
Oat himself didn't want to say “good luck” again, because this time it would be more painful than the last, so he nodded slowly and changed the subject.
“The last week before returning to Thailand...I probably won't be able to visit.”
“Got the report summary?”
“Something like that.”
The young Thai man, having finished his first can of beer, acknowledged this because he had to summarize his study visit and present it in a meeting, which, although in English and not Japanese, was still stressful. From now on, he had to start working on what to say, practicing. So, there wouldn't be time to meet up.
Meanwhile, Shin said with a chuckle,
“So, we only have a little over a week left.”
“Yep.” Oat quickly responded while opening another can of beer, “Feeling lonely, Phii?”
Suddenly, the person sitting next to him said, looking at him knowingly, but for Oat, there was nothing to hide, so he just replied...
“Yeah, lonely, with my boyfriend not nearby.”
Oh, nowadays he dares to say it out loud.
The listener chuckled in his throat, then retorted,
“Let's say I'm giving you time to think it over, another year and a half, whether you'll continue to put up with my brother or...”
“Don't chase me away, Shin.”
Clink.
Suddenly, the playful person fell silent, locking eyes with a sharp gaze that noticeably intensified. Then, Oat repeated in a firm tone, as if knowing what the other was thinking:
“Don't chase me away. You're the one who made me realize what I want. So, don't push me away. A year and a half isn't enough to change someone like me...I followed you here, and if I can wait...why couldn't I do it?”
The older man spoke with a resolute voice, so serious that Shin squinted, questioning himself:
Phii Oat, are you stupid or crazy? You had the chance to escape from someone like me, and you still don't take it.
Yet, the mixed-race young man had his own answer:
If Phii Oat is stupid, then I'm stupid too. If Phii Oat is crazy, then I'm crazy too...I did everything to make this senior mine.
“Consider this my final offer, Phii Oat. If you complain later, it'll be too late.”
“It's been too late for four years now.” Oat retorted, confident since he chased the other here. So if you're going to say it's too late...now it's so late that there's no turning back. There's only the path forward, and he just wants this Japanese young man to walk beside him.
The firm and serious words made Shin...sigh.
He was pitying himself for falling in love with this earnest person for who knows how many times.
“Phii Oat, you really are Phii Oat.”
“And you really are Channon,” the serious one countered, recalling times when the other got angry and called his real name with such intensity, and did Shin ever listen? No, not once, but he loved provoking to be called by his real name regularly.
So, Shin fell silent, turning to quietly drink his beer until it was gone.
The air at this time might not be cold enough to shiver, but it was cool enough to make someone drinking cold beer shiver a bit. Meanwhile, Oat asked once more:
“So, after this trip, we might not have time to meet again, right?”
“See you in Thailand then, Phii Oat.”
“Just a year and a half.” The older man reiterated, but it was more to reassure himself. Then he chugged the rest of his beer, placed the can down beside him, just as...
Snap
“Oh...Shin.”
“Heh heh, then let's have a last hurrah before we leave Kyoto.”
How could Oat not sigh at this event, when the boyfriend beside him didn't hesitate to grab at the lower part of his body. Laughing pleasantly, and indeed, he himself was never able to stop it even once. This time was no different; even though the atmosphere was somewhat somber, his body...still responded to the other provocations.
“You know, actually...I once thought I'd like to see my boyfriend wearing a yukata.” Shin nodded towards the Japanese outfit on the other. While his other hand hooked onto the hem, pulling gently. The sight of the darker skin inside was tempting, and he said with a chuckle,
“But my ex broke up before we could do cosplay.”
Oat furrowed his brows instantly...So, the reason he brought this outfit for him to wear after the bath was for his playful whim from the start.
“And then you actually wore it, but this morning you said...you didn't want to do anything grown-up like under the elders' noses, right?”
“...”
The person about to swallow his own saliva fell silent immediately, and Shin...let go just as quickly.
“Then let's stop, let's just go to sleep.”
Snap
“If you won't do it...I'll do it myself.”
Chuckle
The mixed-race young man laughed in his throat, smiling with amusement, as he looked at the person who had just drunk beer, quietly, but only for a moment, because under the yukata, something had hardened up. Moreover, his deep voice was a bit more hoarse, his eyes gleaming with desire, because of the words saying they might not meet until he graduates.
That kind of thought was like a fire consuming his own body as well.
“Try it then.”...Of course, Shin smiled challengingly at the person staring back at him, and then Phii Oat...moved closer.
The person holding onto the yukata, letting it slip off the shoulder that the mixed-race young man wanted to shake his head at, because it was devoid of any arousal, even though he had dressed unusually. Phii Oat still did the same old thing, by undressing first, then moving in to plant kisses at the nape, the neck, until he tilted his head back slightly.
The same old thing, but it never diminished the desire.
Hmph
Shin thought as he slid his hand to grasp the other's hair gently, while the warm mouth was kissing at his neck, the tip of the tongue licking along the skin, dragging down to just above the chest, then glancing up, revealing eyes filled with desire, and then Phii Oat...pulled him down for a kiss.
“Mmm...smooch...”
Lips pressed together tightly, and it was doing its job of slowly stirring up the emotions of both, their breaths starting to grow hot, as their tongues intertwined, twining until they created a melody so tantalizing, piercing the silence of the night, accompanied by the rustling of leaves.
Hmph
Shin took the initiative, his tongue exploring inside Phii Oat's mouth, alternating between sucking on the older man's lips intensely, while the other didn't back down, moving his hand to grasp at the midsection, massaging with his fingertips, making the mixed-race young man moan with satisfaction in his throat.
“Shin! You're not wearing...
Suddenly, the person who was massaging the hot flesh below pulled away with a startled, shocked expression upon realizing that the homeowner was wearing only a single yukata draped over his body, without any underwear or boxers underneath, which made Shin wink his eyebrows.
“Waste of time to take off.”
“You're something else!”
That almost drove the listener crazy, his serious eyes turning fiery with desire, his hand gripping the hot shaft tightly, making the recipient flinch, but no, the boyfriend who was massaging skillfully, his warm lips returned to suck heavily on the chest, leaving vivid red kiss marks.
“It's worth it, isn't it?”
“Damn it, Shin!”
The former head-hazer moaned in his throat. Ignoring the other's low laughter, he was tracing his lips down to the chest, sucking and nibbling on the light-colored nipple uncontrollably, and the sensation of the soft yet hardening nub in his mouth made his tongue flick it heavily, sucking hard, feeling Shin arch his body in a shiver of pleasure.
“You've gotten a lot better at sucking, Phii Oat.” The teasing voice still hovered above, prompting Oat to slip his hand into the gap of the robe, to touch the warm heat hidden inside, his large hand grasping the hot rod entirely.
“Mmm...ugh...”
Oat slowly stroked it up and down, but just that was enough to make the recipient moan in his throat, pleased with his fingertips pressing hard on the tip, having to control his breathing to curb his desire.
“I can do better than this.”
Suddenly, the sash holding everything together was quickly pulled away, and with nothing to hold it, the overlapping sides of the robe fell apart, revealing the strong, beautiful body of the man, like a meticulously painted picture, with the moon prominently floating above, against the sky, and a beautiful Japanese garden in the background.
All of which made Shin...even more captivating to look at.
Now, the lower part of the body is fully expanded and floating prominently above, the person sitting cross-legged, because Shin is kneeling on both knees...The view that makes Oat hold, the flesh under his palm, moving slowly, watching the tip that appears and disappears with the rhythm of movement, hands, with soft panting sounds, from the person being pampered.
Kiss.
“Ummmmm.”
Suddenly, the head-hazer leans down to kiss the tip, then circles the tip of the tongue, caressing...the head, then slowly moves to the side. Sucking hard, which made Shin himself pant in his throat, clutching his hand tighter in the dark hair, yet the Half Thai Half Japanese young man still sits on his knees, bending down to watch the person, who is slowly taking in his son.
The sharp, dark face that is being pampered, which causes...
Smack.
“Cough-cough!”
“Haha, haha, come on bro, consider it even.”
Suddenly, Shin pushes his shaft into the warm, hot mouth immediately, making the other party scream, his voice distorted, but the person with beautiful hair doesn't care. He just gently runs his hand through the dark hair, clutching softly, as he slowly moves his hips in and out, the handsome face tilts up, eyes closed, feeling the pleasure of the lips sweeping across every part of the hot flesh.
“Umm...good...good Phii...suck some more...” Shin said with a blurred voice, before jolting, when the other sucked with full force, the sharp face twisted more, sweat drops trickling down his temple. Meanwhile, feeling the tingling thrill running throughout his body, until he has to lick his dry lips until they're wet, feeling the urge now.
Wanting to get revenge on Shin.
“Phii Oat, enough...enough for now.”
The person doing it didn't think to stop, still taking in the hot flesh and moving his mouth harder, until Shin grimaces, his waist jerks, and that makes...
Slap.
“Ouch. Shin, that hurts.”
The mixed-race young man slammed the edge of his hand down hard on the other's back, looking at the person who barely managed to release what was in his mouth in time, still protesting in a deep voice, but he didn't care, because...
Crash!
“My eyes, Phii!”
Now, Shin pushed the other down to lie on the balcony floor, then straddled him, but...not head to head.
He was straddling his crotch.
“Don't have fun all by yourself.”
The speaker said while pulling apart the hem of Oat’s outfit, revealing the hot flesh that had expanded until its tip poked above the dark underwear, then he bent down...to suck.
“Ugh.”
His tongue ran along the length of the hot flesh through the fabric, while his hand worked heavily on the tip, making Oat grit his teeth tightly, but he wasn't going to lose alone, because the young man returned to his original position, taking the hardened heat into his mouth again, sucking hard, feeling Shin himself panting until he trembled.
“Smooch...slurp...slurp...”
At this moment, inside the guest room, there was only the sound of wet slurping echoing all around as the two men took turns pleasuring each other, hands gripping and stroking the hot flesh, helping, sliding, mouths licking and sucking until moans filled every sense.
“Uh...ugh...”
Swerp-swerp-swerp.
The lips moved more intensely, as if whoever could make the other release first would be the winner. Meanwhile, the temperature in the room was rising, the moans growing louder in their throats, and then Oat pulled away to whisper,
“Shin...hah...hah...let's go inside...please...”
The listener didn't think to argue, because this time, Shin let out the heat in his mouth, then stood up quickly, flicked the outfit he was wearing to the other side, and stepped towards the soft mattress which the people in the house had laid out before they went out for dinner. Then, Shin's hands stretched forward.
“Come on, Phii Oat.”
The one who followed with gleaming eyes, tore off his outfit. As he moved in, between the legs of his lover, to let the two hot rods rub against each other rhythmically, heavily. Their lips met once again, exchanging clear fluid until it was unclear whose was whose, only knowing...there was more.
Fap, fap, fap.
Shin was the one who held both rods together. While Oat was the one moving his hips to grind them hard against each other, until moans echoed loudly in their mouths.
“Shin...I want you.”
The one asking whispered pleadingly by the ear, his sharp teeth clenched tightly showing he couldn't hold back anymore. This made Shin laugh huskily, but he spread his legs, revealing the narrow passage that only Oat had the privilege to explore inside.
“Give me all you've got.”
This time, Shin was ready to be at the bottom as well.
“You really like to challenge yourself, don't you?”
“I know you like it...ah, mmm.”
The words were cut off as the listener leaned in to seal his lips again. Meanwhile, he guided the wet tip slowly rubbing against the tight passage.
Gasp!
The hot rod slowly began its initial breach into the warm, narrow channel, but it made the one underneath thrust his hips forward, breathing heavily in his throat, legs spread wide, as that part was touching, grinding inside almost driving him mad.
Damn, being breached by Phii Oat, is it this intense?
Shin asked himself, before all thoughts slipped away from his mind, there was only an intense, burning sensation crashing in, slowly at first, then becoming more forceful, pushing deep inside, until he could only reach out to grab Phii Oat's shoulders, squeezing with all his might, as if it could help lessen the overwhelming pleasure he felt right now.
“Good...ah...so good...fucking good...Phii...”
The speaker gritted his teeth, moving his hips to meet the thrusts that came in so deeply. Shin was overwhelmed by the sheer size that entered without stopping. He then pulled the other into a heavy kiss, looking at the sharp face, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily until his body shook, both hands pushing Shin's legs up higher.
“Good...ugh...yours thing is good...hah, hah...my Phii Oat is great, are you...hah...”
“Good, damn it!”
Thrust, thrust, thrust.
“Ugh, hah...hah...slow...slow down a bit...”
The one on top couldn't hold back anymore. His hips were thrusting forcefully, both hands braced beside Shin's head, to push his body harder, more intensely, following the surge of emotions boiling inside.
Emotions that weren't just physical desire, but from the thought that...a year and a half.
This embrace, this body, this touch, wouldn't be felt again for over a year and a half.
For them, this wasn't just sex; it was more than that. It was an expression of feelings, a reaffirmation that we belong to each other, and they both were ready to give it their all as if to say...don't forget me.
In over a year's time, don't forget, don't be with anyone else, remember well how much we...love each other.
The feeling transmitted through their bodies made Shin's head shake, but the request to slow down made the listener ease up by pulling out almost completely, then...thrusting in all the way.
“Ugh! You're...ugh...damn. If you're going to be gentle like this, I...won't be able to take it...”
The gentle rhythm meant each thrust was more forceful, until Shin had to grab his own heated flesh, stroking in sync, his face tilted back seeing the moon prominently above the open balcony, moaning through clenched teeth, feeling like he might lose his breath with this person, who was once bad at this but now unbelievably good.
“Shin...I love you...love you...so much...”
“Ugh...Ha...Hack, hack...”
The once harsh person whispers with a trembling voice, filled with overwhelming emotions, until Shin had to lower his gaze, looking at the senior hazer who was making a pained face.
Sniff
“Wait for me...Phii Oat...wait for me, okay...”
The mixed-race young man grabbed the other's neck and hugged him tightly, pulling him to rest against his own shoulder, speaking in a firm voice, feeling no different himself.
Not much time...please, wait for me.
The feelings conveyed through lips that met again and again, the embrace, clinging to each other, as their bodies moved with intense emotion, until the sound of skin against the soft mattress echoed around, the sound of breathless gasps vibrating, which if listened closely, sounded like...tearful.
Tears of those who must stay apart for another year or so.
Swish, swish, swish
“Shin...Shin! Ugh...Shin...”
The large senior roared the other's name. While his body slammed forward, he reached out, embracing the strong part that was soaked wet from the clear fluid dripping from the tip.
“I am going to...”
“Ah...Hack...inside...Phii Oat...inside me.”
The one who usually didn't like his partner to release inside said in a stern voice, closing his eyes, as the desire was just within reach, his body twisting in tension, tightly constricting the hot flesh, his hips eagerly accepting the warm thrust, heart pounding rapidly, both hands raised to hug the other.
“Shin...Shin!!!”
Spurt
The body that opened up to receive love until it overflowed, messing up the bedsheet, and that made him...climax.
“Hack, hack...to death, finished because of you...hack...let it out.”
What Shin himself laughed hoarsely at, patted his lover's shoulder to pull away, which Oat reluctantly did, slowly pulling out, looking at the person frowning with pleasure, before collapsing beside him, exhausted, yet the big hand didn't hesitate to drape over the mixed-race young man lying sprawled out, exhausted.
Then, the sound of panting filled the room for quite some time before it reduced to normal breathing.
“...”
“...”
Even though they had recovered a bit from the exhaustion, the room still remained silent until Mister Arthit said softly,
“I'll wait.”
Oat was answering a previous question.
He would wait for Shin to return to Thailand.
The answer made the person lying sprawled out, staring at the ceiling, smile, because it seemed that once back in Thailand, he would understand why people wait all year to see the cherry blossoms bloom.
When he next returned to Thailand, he would feel the same.
“Then I'll be the cherry blossom that blooms all year, okay?”
But he wouldn't wither in just two weeks; whenever he returned...Shin himself wouldn't let this senior hazer turn his back either.
But for now...
“And if you're still not recovered, should I take care of it for you?”
Phew.
Just like that, the person lying next to him got up immediately, his face serious adorned with a determined smile, then he said in a firm voice,
“Don't even hope, Shin.”
Don't even hope that tonight will turn around.
Then, body to body, lips to lips...the heat rubbing against each other, just like their hearts...closely attached.
After that, moans like beautiful music resonated along with the sound of the soft mattress, breaking the silence of the night, with Oat having no idea why Shin...intentionally started on the balcony. And left the door open like this.
Not because I forgot, but to let everyone in the house know...whose person this is.
Since the young master of the house is about to introduce his boyfriend, it has to be grand, befitting Shin, indeed.
The event was so grand that even Oat couldn't look anyone in the eye the next morning.
Chapter 9: Caring from Afar
“Hey, Oat, eat up, don't let your hands be idle, drink it strong.”
“Saifah, we have work tomorrow.”
“On a Saturday, what work does the company have?”
“My company, that's what!”
Friday night at the end of the month is like a ghost-release night for workers. Many pubs are packed with customers from early evening until closing time, just like a restaurant downtown where a group of friends who haven't met in months gathered.
The group of friends, who worked on their final project together, includes the handsome former head-hazer.
“My work isn't done; I have to go to the office tomorrow!” said the one trying to refuse his close friend's urging to drink.
“Come on, just get a bit drunk, you'll sleep well, man.” The loud friend named Saifah means thunder, whose voice matches his name.
“Don't force him to drink, dude. If you get drunk, Oat, I'll drag you to wrestle tonight!” said the only girl in the group, Dokkhem.
“Hey, hey, hey...don't...you're married now. Forgot, huh?” said the woman who now has another title...Saifah's wife.
How these two started dating is anyone's guess; they only got together last year.
Three close friends who've been together since the first year, but this time, there's an extra guy tagging along.
No, not the Half Japanese guy still diligently studying in the land of the samurai, but a handsome guy from the Faculty of Architecture, with a stern look and sharp eyes, vastly different from his twin, Saifah...Phayu.
The four close friends planned to gather for a meal together, but as it goes, the engineering and architecture students meeting without some golden yellow liquid would be off-concept. So...now Saifah is trying to force liquor on the former head-hazer who firmly declined saying he has work.
But would this group ever listen?
“Drink up, Oat, so Saifah can stop early.” Phayu chimes where he was sitting, to the person who just rushed from the office on his new superbike, nodding vaguely, accepting a strong mixed drink that could knock one out with one gulp.
“I know, Oat, even if you want to drink...thinking about that mixed-race kid, huh?”
Suddenly, Saifah wrapped his arm around the shoulder, teasing with full knowledge of his friend's love life, causing the girlfriend beside to shake her head slightly, her hand reaching under the table...not for a caress, but...
“Ouch, Dokkhem! That hurts!”
“Yeah, I pinched you to hurt, look at Oat for a bit, will you? And don't call my Shin a mixed-race kid, he's half human, half angel.” Dokkhem steps in, even though Shin once famously cursed out seniors on a contest stage to defend the moon of the faculty. But that...was super cool.
Saifah turned with a wide smile, pointing at his own rugged face.
“And what about me?”
Dokkhem smiles sweetly.
“Here's a mirror, compare yourself, darling, and you'll see what half you are.” Then the woman handed her powder compact to her boyfriend, speaking in an overly sweet voice that made Saifah pout, but he still opened the mirror to check himself out with a cheeky attitude.
“And what about Phayu?”
“Your brother is dashingly handsome.”
“Yeah, yeah, then I'm dashing too, we're twins.” Saifah says with a laugh, closing the compact and handing it back to his girlfriend, making Dok Khem laugh and nod.
“Yeah, it's quite the style. You're handsome in a different way...When are you going to shave?”
“It's a beard, not just hair, it's actually cool.” Saifah confidently stroked his beard, prompting the person next to him to reach out and touch it too.
“Yeah, it is cool.”
“Right, right, am I handsome or what?” The listener smiled sweetly once again, and then...
“Ouch, my beard!!!”
The woman yanked his beard with full force, making him cry out. He barely managed to cover his chin in time, but she didn't relent, adding a stomp for good measure.
“Beards are cool. But on someone else's face, remember that!” The demeanor of the two friends who had become lovers didn't differ much from years ago, to the point where an image from their school days in their shop shirt flashed into Oat's mind, making him laugh in exasperation at them. Now, Mister Arthit had returned from a work trip in Japan three months ago. Those three months, especially at first, he missed someone so much it drove him crazy, even though in Japan he woke up in a small staff room, worked from morning till night, only meeting Shin on weekends. Back in Thailand, they called each other more often, saw each other via Skype more frequently, and even maintained their usual behaviors, like Oat always informing the other where he was going or what he was doing.
However, distance made...loneliness.
Yes. He was feeling lonely, very lonely in fact. So, when his close friend called him for a meal, he came without thinking much about it. At least watching them argue made him forget about someone for a bit.
“By the way, your car doesn't have any issues, right?”
Phayu turned to ask, because even though the young man graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, the other party was a mechanic for the owner of an illegal racing track that Oat hadn't participated in much. The car he was using was recommended by him, who also checked the engine and painted it.
“Good, pity it doesn't get to race much.”
“So when are you going back to racing, huh? Phakin's been asking when the skilled racer will return to the track.”
Phakin...an influential figure in Thailand, the owner of a city-center racing track that was built in two hours and disappeared before the police arrived in a split second. The races weren't just kids with motorcycles competing for speed, but car races with high-performance vehicles, well-tuned, with high-stakes betting, accessible only to those with an invitation, and Oat had been participating since he was still in school, only recently he's been too busy with work to show his face there.
“I've got no time, man.”
“You can actually resist not racing, Oat?” Suddenly, Saifah appeared, joining the group despite having a reddened chin from having his beard pulled.
“If I can resist thinking about Shin, I can resist anything.”
Thud.
As soon as the serious tone ended, the entire table went...silent.
Right, the former fierce head-hazer who used to scold his juniors was now openly talking with deep, heartfelt eyes about missing the kid he once punished in the middle of the cheer room.
However, this silence wasn't due to savoring the love of a friend.
“Oh, my friend is under the spell of love, need some antidote?” Saifah offered his glass. Meanwhile, Dokkhem covered her mouth, making a face like a beauty queen who just won a pageant, Miss Universe, then wiped away a tear.
“My friend knows sweetness like everyone else now…I am happy.” Dokkhem said.
“You guys tease him, Oat really loves his thing.”
While Phayu seemed to scold, it was more like rubbing salt on a wound with a playful smile, making the whole group burst into laughter, until Oat sighed, knowing he couldn't stop them, especially after a few drinks.
“By the way, Nong Shin of mine has gotten even more handsome, hasn't he?”
“Dokkhem.” Saifah admonished with a stern voice.
“Come on. You know I'm just following the news about our junior. I'm not really thinking anything about him.” the woman said, before turning to look at her close friend with sparkling eyes, because even though Oat was handsome, to the point where shaving his beard would cause a stir in the cheer room, he wasn't the one. That bad boy, Shin, was much more captivating.
But she was only interested in the sense of having a handsome junior to talk about.
“Where did you see him?”
“I've been your boyfriend's fan for ages, haven't I?” Dokkhem said with a laugh, because actually...she was friends with Shin on Facebook even before there was news about those two dating.
“Just like you saw.”
“I like this hair color on Shin, damn, it suits him. Before, when he dyed red, it was too bold, a bit scary. Now with this blackish-blue man, the girls in our year, they were screaming all over, saying this color...it's mysterious and charming!” Oat could only make a strange face. He knew his girlfriend was popular, always on the list of handsome guys the university students made, but he didn't think even after graduation, people would still follow his news.
“I don't know, I like every color.” Oat said as he thought, making the listener smile teasingly.
“Oh, didn't you say red was against the rules? Now you like it, huh? You're smitten with your boyfriend, huh?” the woman teased playfully, causing the teased one to sigh, raising both hands in a gesture of surrender...if they were going to tease anyway, he'd let them.
“Hey, hey. Dokkhem, ask Phayu about his kid, will you?”
Saifah and Dokkhem might argue about everything, but they got along like a house on fire, agreeing on almost everything, even about his twin brother, until Oat laughed, looking at his friend from a different faculty who was now being interrogated. As he sipped his drink slowly, trying not to pick up his phone to check for new messages, his sharp eyes glanced at the large screen broadcasting a football match.
“Which team are you rooting for, Oat?”
“Saifah, don't change the subject.” Phayu didn't care, turning to look at the head-hazer of the engineering faculty who was intensely staring at the screen with an increasingly tense expression, his sharp eyes narrowing, then looking back at the screen in surprise at what Oat was focusing on.
“Hey, Saifah! Look at the news!”
At that moment, another couple also turned to look, and Dokkhem almost dug her nails into her boyfriend's hand, shaking him to look at the small running text at the bottom of the screen. Meanwhile, Saifah read out loud:
“An earthquake has occurred north of Tokyo, estimated to be 5.7 on the Richter scale, causing several tall buildings in the city to shake, but there is no risk of a tsunami...Uh, Oat.” The whole group turned to look at their friend, who had turned pale.
“...”
“Oat!”
The person who jolted as if his consciousness had just returned to his body because of his friend's loud call. He quickly grabbed his mobile phone, but...it was shaking.
His hands were trembling terribly.
“Calm down, Oat, calm down, there are no damage reports yet, so try to contact Shin.” Saifah said in a firm voice, to the one trying to make a call with shaky hands, taking a deep breath, holding the phone to his ear with a serious face, listening to the ringing tone that felt like waiting for a death sentence.
Just a brief moment, but it felt like an eternity to someone almost mad with worry!
“Shin, pick up, please pick up, pick up my call, please.”
Oat muttered to himself, shaking his leg vigorously, and it was about to turn into stomping the floor when the call...couldn't get through.
Snatch
Of course, the young man pressed to call again.
“Pick up, Shin, pick up, damn it!”
Oat was burning with anxiety, thinking why he hadn't called the other person since leaving the office, only planning to talk tonight, and what if the other person didn't have a chance to answer...
“Damn it!!!!”
The usually calm man swore loudly, causing Phayu to grab his hand.
“Calm down, Oat, you need to stay calm, the news didn't mention any injuries or deaths, man.” His words made the listener clench his fist, but his face didn't show any less shock. Meanwhile, Dokkhem was quick to comfort him, scrolling through news on her phone.
“Yeah, see, both on Facebook and Twitter, there's only news about the earthquake, they haven't said anyone's been hurt yet.”
Despite his friends' reassurances, the news was fresh, possibly meaning that help hadn't reached the injured yet. He was angry at himself for being too intimidated by Shin's brother to ask for his contact number. So, the only number he had was his boyfriend's, whose condition was now unknown!
“Don't you have Shin's parents' contact number?” Dokkhem asked.
Sigh.
The question prompted Oat to pick up his phone again, calling someone who might know what was happening.
[Oat...]
“Mom, Mom, can you contact Shin?!”
He didn't wait for the elder to finish calling his name, his deep voice urgently cutting in, prompting his boyfriend's mother to soothe him with her voice.
[Oat, calm down first. You've seen the earthquake news, right, dear?]
“Yes, Mom.”
[Then listen carefully...Right now, I can't contact Shin either, but I want you to believe that Shin will be safe. Earthquakes are common in Japan, and there's no warning signal for anything worse coming. So, Oat, you must stay calm. I'm also keeping an eye on the news about Shin.]
“So, you can't contact Shin either, Mom?”
Even though the other person said everything was normal, his heart was not normal at all. He was worried, almost going crazy, feeling like he wanted to fly to the other person right now. And it seemed like the person on the other end knew it too, because their voice was soft and pleasant in response:
[Shin might not be available to take the call, but I've already contacted the main house. They are sending the nearest person to check on him. So, Oat, stay calm, okay? Nothing serious has happened yet.]
“I...am worried about him.”
The voice that came out was hoarse and trembling, clearly expressing the speaker's feelings.
Oat knew he couldn't do anything. He was here. He couldn't go check on Shin, but his mind wasn't at peace, it was restless, filled with fear and worst-case scenarios, one of which was that Shin might not come back to see him again. His large hands clenched until they turned white.
[I know, son, I know that you are worried about Shin...just like all of us.]
“Mother...I don't know what to do...I can't just stay still.” Oat said, his voice shaky, causing a moment of silence on the other end.
[Then why don't you come to my house, son, come and wait for news together with me?]
Swipe
“Yes, yes, I'll go...I'll go right now.”
The speaker almost dashed out of the shop, but Saifah, Phayu’s twin, grabbed his arm firmly and asked with a stern voice:
“I'm asking you first, are you sure you can ride the bike? Shin definitely wouldn't like it if his situation caused you to crash somewhere.”
The look in his eyes showed his concern as a friend, which made Oat take a deep breath, pull his friend's hand off his arm, and squeeze it hard to assure him he was still in control.
“I can, I can handle it, thanks a lot...sorry for not staying to eat till the end.”
The head-hazer turned to meet the eyes of his other friends who said in unison:
“Go. It's okay.”
“If you're okay, just call and let us know...we're worried about him too.”
The listener nodded vigorously, then stepped out of the shop as fast as Phayu, heading towards his powerful superbike, put on his helmet, and rode off into the night streets of Bangkok, thinking of only one thing, just one thing.
Shin, you must be safe...You must be safe.
The thoughts of the man gripping the handlebars tightly, leaning forward, revving the engine to match the urgency in his heart at this moment, until the engine's roar fills the air. The superbike, speeding faster than when it races on the track, indicates just how worried Oat is.
Mister Arthit took only a short time to arrive at a large village in Bang Na, where his boyfriend's house is located. At this time, the entire house was brightly lit. Just hearing the sound of his engine approaching, the gate opened, and the people inside quickly stepped out to greet him.
“Oat.”
“Hello, Mom.”
Shin's mother, a small Japanese woman with a gentle and sweet demeanor, understands her son the best. Her face was filled with concern as she returned his greeting and invited him inside.
“Come in first, dear. I've already contacted Akira. But they can't reach Shin either; it seems like Shin has turned off his phone.” The listener's face grew even more serious as he followed her inside, asking in a heavy tone.
“So, no one can go check on Shin at all?”
“Not yet, and besides, I just found out it wasn't that strong...”
“Over five on the Richter scale, you mean!” Oat objected, momentarily forgetting himself, which made the homeowner give a faint smile, pulling his arm to sit him down while accepting water from the maid to hand to him.
“Drink some water and calm down, Oat.”
“...Yes.”
Although his heart couldn't calm down as promised, the tall man quieted down, gulping down the water in one go, feeling slightly cooler in the head...When he looked up to meet the eyes of the homeowner, who had now become the one comforting him, he felt guilty and said,
“I'm sorry...I shouldn't have raised my voice at you, Mom.”
“I know you are worried. I am even glad that you rushed here immediately because you were concerned about Shin, but as far as I called to ask someone over there...right now, there's nothing severe, it was a strong tremor, but not to the point of causing damage. From what I know, the building shook, and the apartment where Shin lives was recently built, so it has an earthquake protection system anyway. I think he'll probably get in touch soon.”...Even though the speaker said that, how could Oat not see the worry of a mother?
He was still worried about Shin almost to death, and wouldn't the other party be even more worried?
“When was the last time you talked to Shin, son?”
“Last evening, I overslept this morning so I didn't call him.” The responder said with a strained voice.
“I haven't talked to Shin for almost a week now. He didn't tell you he had to go somewhere today, did he?”
Oat shook his head immediately because that guy doesn't like to tell where he's going or what he's doing; at most, he would talk about his studies or things he wanted to complain about. He doesn't really share his daily life. So...until now.
It was at this moment the young man realized he didn't know Shin's emergency contact number at all. He didn't know any of Shin's friends in Japan, and he had no idea where to direct this concern.
RRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrr
Suddenly, the phone screamed, prompting the homeowner to quickly step in to answer the call, with Oat looking up hopefully, and that hope shine even brighter in his heart when the beloved mother mouthed who was calling.
“Akira.”
This time, the young man felt a fondness for his boyfriend's brother who had once beaten him up, as long as the other party could give him good news.
During the phone conversation where Oat had to try hard to listen to the other side rapidly speaking Japanese to the point he could barely catch anything, he only heard Shin's name, his own name, and the name of the person on the other end. His two hands clenched together tightly, his eyes fixed on the homeowner without looking away.
Please be safe...Please be safe!
Until the homeowner hung up the phone...
“Mom, how is it? Is Shin safe?”
The listener almost smiled. When the other party nodded with a relieved smile, but...“Akira sent someone in Tokyo to check the room. He said the building is fine, but when they contacted, it seemed like Shin wasn't in his room...He's probably out celebrating with his friends. This child, really. He should be reachable if he's not home; everyone is worried.” The speaker shook her head, but the emerging smile seemed relieved, in contrast to the onlooker.
The one who furrowed his brows sharply.
“Mom, but we still don't know how Shin is.”
“But at least we know Shin wasn't in the building when the earthquake hit, and Akira said he'll have someone watch the apartment entrance, and they'll contact us as soon as they find him...For now, Mom thinks Oat should go take a shower and rest, dear.”
The homeowner spoke with a soft voice, soothing him to relax, until Oat clenched his fists, wanting to argue, to say no, but...what would be the point?
I can't go see for myself.
He could only wait like everyone else, but at least, the homeowner didn't send him back home, because she probably knew...knew that Oat would stay waiting for news until the very end.
“Yes...I'll excuse myself.”
“Feel free, Oat, you can use Shin's clothes.”
“Yes.”
In the end, the guest could only walk up to his boyfriend's room as he had done many times before, but this time, he could only sit quietly, feeling stifled at the edge of the bed, scanning the numerous nanoblocks Shin displayed in a cabinet, three guitars standing in one corner, several gaming consoles in the cabinet under the television.
He remembered this room well, but...there was no familiar scent.
The room's owner hadn't been here for almost a year, so that unique scent had faded away, making Oat even more uneasy. He feared...what if it disappeared forever?
The young man realized at this moment that being in different countries wasn't just about the fear of the other finding someone new, but also about facing the fear with the words...he couldn't go to Shin...he couldn't make sure he was safe...he could do nothing at all.
So this is the worry that comes from caring from afar.
Ahem.
Two hands placed on knees, clasped tightly, squeezing until it hurts, trying to use the pain to drive away the growing anxiety every second. Sharp eyes glance at the clock, indicating it's past four in the evening here, which means it must be past midnight in Tokyo. And where is Shin? He might be out, maybe celebrating, perhaps drinking, but he never misses the last train.
“Damn it, where are you, Shin, where are you?” The young man growls under his breath, turns, and looks at the phone he had thrown beside him, staring at it hoping it would ring. Shin would call back, would tell him he's worrying like a fool for nothing.
Oat is willing to be that fool. If only, he's safe.
The young man presses his lips together tightly. As dark thoughts flash through his mind, they would probably stay there all night. If not for...
RRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Startled.
“Shin!!!” As soon as he sees whose name is on the screen, Oat almost lunges to answer the call, his heart pounding, his deep voice shouting the other's name, hoping to hear the familiar voice, and then...
[My ear's ringing now, Phii.]
The teasing, annoying tone crosses over from another country, making Oat...raise his hand to cover his face.
So this is relief, this is reassurance, this is...
“Why didn't you answer your phone? Do you have any idea how worried I was about to die? Did you even realize?!!”
Anger surges within him as he yells into the phone.
[Hold on, what's going on, Phii?]
The question made the young man clench his fist.
“I heard there was an earthquake there...I was worried sick about you, Shin...I was worried to death, but you, you turned off your phone. Did you think at all about how I would feel here? Do you know how I...I...” His loud voice gradually softens. Not because he's tired. Not because he's annoyed. Not because he's too angry to speak, but...
[Phii Oat…are you crying?]