Chem Chey: English Translation.
When Akara left Intha's house, he noticed how chilly the evening had become. He also realised they were heading back a bit late because of the traffic. Twisting his large black wristwatch slightly, he checked the time-it was just past nine at night, yet the traffic was still crawling... barely moving at all. They were stuck on the road together, so Intha leaned back toward the rear seat and grabbed a mysterious package, placing it on his lap.
Akara glanced at it from the corner of his eye, blinking curiously. His gaze didn't waver until the flap of the box was opened. Akara was genuinely astonished to find that the contents weren't some sacred amulet, but rather an adorable A5 notebook and a collection of decorative scrapbooking supplies.
"Isn't it adorable?" The temple boy grinned as he asked, holding up the items from the box for Akara to see. Akara reached out to take them, quickly picking up the cute items from the box. "It's so cute!"
"I knew you'd like it." Intha ruffled Akara's already messy hair, making it even more dishevelled. When Akara turned to glare at him with a look of annoyance, Intha let go and offered a sheepish smile. He leaned his head on Akara's shoulder for a moment before sitting back upright… Then leaned his head on Akara's shoulder again before sitting back upright… And once more, leaning his head on Akara's shoulder before sitting back upright… And leaning his head on Akara's shoulder again...
"Enough! The light's green, the cars are movin!"
At the young man's exasperated reminder that the traffic ahead had started to move, Intha immediately straightened up again. He smiled slightly as he slowly drove forward, glancing at Akara, who was stroking the soft, fluffy cover of the rainbow colored Smiggle notebook. It was a perfect solution to the issue of auspicious colours.
I ordered a rainbow-coloured one; no need to worry about auspicious colours. With all the colours in one, if this isn't auspicious, then I don't know what is.
"Hia, did you buy this notebook for me?"
"No..."
"Oh, then whose is it? Which shop did you get it from? I want one too. I'm gonna order it myself."
"This notebook is ours," Intha said, rubbing his nose with his finger, his cheeks turning slightly red from embarrassment. Usually, if he wasn't being stoic, he was being cheeky. Saying something this amorous wasn't really his style.
"Huh?"
"It's for recording the moments we share. Like the places we go, the meals we eat at the same table, the dates we start dating-things like that."
"Oh, that actually sounds kinda romantic." After Intha explained, Akara immediately turned his face away to glance at the car next to them. He shifted slightly in his seat, exhaling to cool the heat rising to his cheeks.
The car fell silent for a moment before Intha broke the quiet.
"Do you still have the plane ticket from when we went to Taiwan?"
"I haven't thrown it away. It should still be in my suitcase."
"Find it... let's stick it in the notebook as a record of our first meeting."
"Sure. What about yours?"
"I already have it. It's in my wallet, along with the receipt from the shabu-shabu restaurant. That'll be our record of the first meal we had together."
"Then let's work on the notebook tonight. I'll write about how I went to your house today, how sweet your mom is, and how Ong is a bit of lil' shit but still a nice guy."
"Okay." The one who'd suggested the idea of documenting their memories responded softly, reaching out to place his hand over Akara's. He was determined that tonight they'd create a Smiggle of Memories, one that would include both Intha and Akara. And this first notebook would surely give birth to many more Smiggles in the future, just wait and see!
The belongings Intha brought from his house weren't too much for him to carry on his own, though it did make him look a bit overloaded. With his eyes sparkling, he glanced at Akara, who stood by the car, watching him carry his things. The younger man puffed his cheeks, refusing to help carry anything. The only thing he held close to his chest was the Smiggle notebook, teasing Intha by handing him the house keys.
"You're the one openin' the door. My back hurts; I'm not bendin' down."
"Fine, fine. Whatever you ask, I'm happy and willing to oblige. If you want me to open the door, I'll open it even if my hands are full, even if I trip and fall, even if I get hit by a car and lose a leg, I'll still do it."
"Because I love you, that's why. Mwah!" Akara puckered his lips and blew a loud kiss.
One look was enough to tell that he was purposely being... a little shit.
"Not only are you clingy, but you're also annoyin'," Intha grumbled, watching Akara make a mini heart gesture and wink after his exaggerated kiss. Akara decided to snatch the house keys back and also grabbed the backpack slung over Intha's shoulder.
Then he crossed the street, with Intha running alongside him, staying on his left, the side where the cars were coming. He never lacked care and attention. Oh no... he's impressed me again.
"This is so heavy. Did you pack the whole house in here?" Intha complained as they stopped in front of the house. He crouched down to unlock the door, but kept talking dramatically. "I'm just a little cupcake. How could you make me carry something this heavy?"
"What do you mean by 'little'? How small are we talking? Muscles the size of a kid's head or a coconut?"
"About E-cup."
".." Intha stayed silent, wanting so badly to argue that it was bullshit. But when he saw the other man's intimidating tattoos, he decided it was better to keep quiet.
"Do you like it? Oh, yay! Do you like it?"
"I lovin' it~ Seeing it makes me want to give you ten.."
"If you're gonna say ten rounds, then go to bed... three from the other night were already too much for my delicate self."
"Uh..."
"Get inside already. I wanna shower. I feel so sticky." Akara gestured toward the door, signalling Intha to go in first so he could lock up. Intha walked past Akara but stopped to wait until Akara had finished securing everything.
The sounds of the night were as loud as the previous evening. Intha had to move closer to Akara so they could talk. They were very close. Or perhaps it was just an excuse. His face brushed against Akara's, his sharp nose nudging Akara's chin, before Intha quickly pressed his lips to him in a kiss.
It was a sudden, ambush move, but Akara didn't resist. Instead, he placed both hands on Intha's waist, returning the fiery kiss with equal intensity before pulling away when they were both out of breath. Their eyes met, and it was like electricity was sparking between them. Akara's body was pushed further into the house, their belongings scattering onto the floor. The sofa became their landing spot, their large bodies pressed together. Heavy breaths echoed near Akara's ear, and his neck was left wet with Intha's kisses.
The younger man spread his legs slightly, but Intha, who was straddling him, froze when an interrupting sound broke the moment.
"Eung, you cunt!"
They both jolted. Out of shock, Intha pushed Akara away. Akara sat up on the sofa, hurriedly straightening his rumpled clothes, and looked toward the source of the voice. Even though the house lights were off, the glow from outside revealed a silhouette.
"Bomb...?"
When Intha realised who it was, his fists clenched, his eyes darting between the two men.
"Eung... tell me, who's this twink?"
"Mind your own goddamn business."
The figure in the shadows stepped forward, revealing a sharp, rugged face. His demeanour was that of a streetwise thug, a stark contrast to Intha. It wasn't unpredictable that he referred to Intha as "twink.' Akara moved closer to Intha, his hand trembling as it reached out to hold Intha's. He wasn't sure what emotion was causing it.
"A new boyfriend?"
"What are you doin' here again?" This was what Akara wondered about, and he didn't hesitate to ask.
"I saw you changed the bar's name on the Page, so I thought I'd drop by... You lock your doors now, huh?"
"Just leave," Akara said, standing up to face Bomb, meeting his gaze directly. "Don't make me feel worse about you than I already do. Let's go our separate ways. I've moved on, Bomb."
"Are you sure you've moved on? I don't believe it... Eung, tell me, have you slept with this guy yet?"
"Butt out."
"Come with me." Bomb reached out to grab Akara's arm, seemingly ignoring Intha, who was quietly trying to keep his composure. But he underestimated the so-called "twink.' The moment his fingers touched Akara, a heavy punch landed on his face, followed by a kick to his chest that sent him sprawling.
"Hia?!" Akara's voice was the only one that rang out as the other two men began brawling on the floor. It was a battle for love, and the hero was bound to win. The fight ended with Intha dragging Bomb's battered body out of the bar and then pulling Akara upstairs to their room. Gosh, I feel beautiful again, two men fighting over me.
"Hia.."
"You're not going back to him," Intha declared, slamming Akara's back against the cold bathroom wall. He'd thrown Akara in with such force, his eyes blazing with unresolved anger from the earlier incident.
"Go clean up your wounds first," Akara said, noticing the bruises on Intha's face. He tried to stay calm and urged Intha to tend to his injuries, but Intha shook his head, trapping Akara in his arms. The once-gentle eyes now scanned Akara from head to toe, unblinking, unyielding-he didn't seem like the same person Akara knew. "Hia... don't be like this."
"Just take a shower. I'll wait outside."
"In-in, we can shower together," Akara said, using Intha's cute nickname, tugging at his shirt to keep him from leaving, refusing to let him escape to the other side of the door.
"I know you're feelin' uneasy, and I knew somethin' like this would happen... This mightn't even be the last time. Bomb might come back to antagonise us again."
"Would it be selfish of me to ask you... to endure it and stay with me?"
"Answer me first. If he comes back begging, pleading for you to return to him, will you go?"
"I swear fuckin' right here, no. I'm not that much of an idiot." Akara shifted his stance slightly, planting his feet firmly to steady himself. He bore the weight of Intha's head resting on his shoulder. The mix of sweat and cologne became more noticeable in the bathroom's cramped space.
"Would it be exaggeratin' if I said I feel really good about you? You're attentive, you indulge me, and it makes me feel incredibly lucky to have met you. You don't hide from anyone that you're courtin' me. You make me feel important, special." Akara paused, pressing his forehead against Intha's head again. "But everythin' is happening too fast. Too fast for me to be certain I won't be dumped again."
"Eung..."
"Can I trust you? Can I take a risk with you?"
"I swear, if you're hesitating, Eung..."
"..." Akara bit his lip, waiting intently for the next words.
"I'll tell you this, you'd be making a huge mistake. No one's going to treat you as well as I do." Intha's hardened gaze softened as he looked up at Akara's conflicted expression. He smiled after hearing Akara's heartfelt words. He pressed Akara closer to the wall, gripping his waist and slipping his hand under Akara's shirt.
"But there are plenty of people better than you, aren't there...? I'm hesitatin' cause your head is all 'bout screwin' me."
"Well, you were the one who invited me to shower just now."
"Your memory's too sharp."
"Of course... I also recall planning to give you ten rounds, Eung-eung."
".."
"My little cupcake: )"
Akara couldn't help but smile, wrapping his arms around the other's neck. He grinned widely, his white teeth showing, as he pressed his forehead against Intha's. He let Intha adjust their faces so they aligned perfectly for a kiss that was both sweet and fiery. The old Intha was back...:D
Water from the shower rained down from above, just like in the movies. It was his own doing, adding a bit of atmosphere. Maybe it's okay to take a risk with this man.
Maybe it's okay to give everythin' to this new love, like someone unafraid of gettin' hurt. Those who give their all to love deserve to receive kind love in return, don't they?
"Eung-eung, can you take off your pants yourself? They're too tight... I can't get them off properly."
For fuck's sake, can't we stay romantic for even half a minute? Akara sighed and let go of Intha's neck, pulling his lightweight T-shirt over his head. The orange light in the
bathroom revealed his well-defined muscles and the deep, dark tattoos on his shoulders and arms, fully visible to Intha. The taller man leaned in for a frenzied kiss, his hands roaming to urge Akara to remove his pants. It was a bit of a struggle since they were wet, but soon enough, the cutie patootie Eung-eung was completely naked. Intha's face flushed as he hastily stripped off his own clothes as well.
A pink mushroom popped up, catching Akara's eye. He glanced at it and couldn't help but chuckle softly, only to be pushed against the wall, his face meeting the cold surface.
"Looking at my dick? You naughty boy," Intha said with an impish grin, smacking Akara's firm backside several times, the sound echoing loudly. He smirked wickedly as he saw the red handprints on Akara's skin. Ignoring Akara's protests, he spat into his hand, spreading it along the crevice, preparing the soft entrance for what was to come.
"Ah... take it easy," Akara groaned.
"Spread your legs a bit wider. The mushroom's about to enter the cave," Intha teased.
"Thanks for comin' into my life... If we hadn't met, I wouldn't know what sin feels like."
"Glad to hear that. Welcome to hell, babe."
"Please just shut your damn mouth."
"Too bad, because I'm good at using tongue."
"Fine, fine. I give up. C'mon in."
Akara was too tired to argue with the pure sinner further. He placed his hands on the wall, spreading his legs as instructed, arching his hips slightly. He felt kisses trailing down his back, a hot tongue leaving a trail that sent shivers through his body. When the wet sensation disappeared, a warm pressure took its place, teasing the entrance before pushing in.
"Ah... In... In-in, Intha."
"Yes? What is it, Mr Akara?"
"Go all the way in... deeper."
Intha obliged, fulfilling the request. One round in the bathroom first, then the remaining nine, an auspicious number, could wait for the bed. On a night when the starlight was faint, Akara ended up showering twice. The first time was with Intha, and the second was after he'd rested on the bed for a while. He got up to shower again.
The clock read 4 AM. The surrounding music had nearly faded away. The young man used a towel to dry his damp hair as he walked over to sit across from Intha, who was focused on cutting and pasting paper into the Smiggle notebook. The taller man, with his bangs tied up, looked up and smiled at him. His lips and the corners of his eyes were bruised, but it didn't seem too serious. Intha had already showered, and his earlier attempt to get Akara to shower had involved chanting mock prayers into his ear. But Akara was too exhausted to argue, simply kicking Intha off the bed instead.
Intha had thrown a hissy fit but didn't retaliate...
After sitting down, Akara handed over the plane ticket he'd just retrieved to Intha. It'd been trimmed slightly and was now pasted next to another ticket. Different airlines, different dates and times-perhaps fate had brought them together.
"It's done. Look, I even drew a picture of you."
"Why do I look so ugly?" Akara frowned at the stick figure drawing but noticed the colored details Intha had added to match the clothes he'd worn when they first met.
See...? So attentive to details.
"But this is the best drawing I've ever done," Intha said, holding up the notebook to show Akara, clearly proud. The latter nodded rapidly, conceding that it was, indeed, picturesque.
"Fine, fine, it's beautiful. Are you gonna sleep now? I'm exhausted."
"I was about to, but I was waiting for you to finish showering."
"Then let's go to bed." Akara stood up shortly after sitting down. He extended a hand to help Intha up. Once Intha was on his feet, Akara walked over and flopped onto the bed with a loud thud, calling out loudly even though they were the only two in the room. "Hia, turn off the lights!"
He pulled the blanket up to his chin, his sharp eyes following Intha's broad back as he walked over to turn off the lights. Once the room was dark, the glow from Intha's phone lit up briefly. The taller man climbed into bed next to Akara, draping an arm and a leg over him, causing the younger to protest loudly from the discomfort.
Intha teased Akara a bit more before finally letting him sleep peacefully.
He placed the Smiggle notebook in the bedside drawer. When he lay down again, Akara adjusted the blanket over him. Under the blanket, their hands found each other and intertwined. Intha kissed Akara's forehead, nuzzled his cheek, kissed his lips, and pressed their cheeks together.
"Goodnight, Eung-eung."
"Night to you, too... In-in."
Intha let out a soft laugh. And before falling asleep... he held Akara's hand even tighter.