Chem Chey: English Translation.
'Cause I'm hungry. A few pieces of KFC at Hia's old friends' reunion were digested in no time. The result? I nudged my boyfriend, yeah, he's my boyfriend now, to pull over in front of a 7-Eleven to buy grilled meatballs from my usual vendor.
"The usual, Uncle!" Akara shouted his order as soon as he stepped out of the car. The heat hit his skin, and his pale cheeks began to flush under the dim light in front of the 7-Eleven. So Akara walked over, hands on his hips, after placing his order. He turned to look at Intha, who stood behind him, casually interested in the rows of meatballs on display.
"What are you getting, Eung?"
"Four pork tendons and two of those red ones that look like dog balls. You want anythin'?"
"Four of the red balls... uh, the red ones."
"I have just two, and they're not red, y'know."
"Got it, princess." Intha looked up at Akara, and even Uncle, the meatball vendor, glanced at him. Then Uncle asked, "Is this your new boyfriend, Mr Eung?"
Akara rolled his eyes. He was just about to share a heartfelt gaze with the temple boy, and Uncle had to interrupt. Seriously, the dimly lit 7-Eleven was giving off romantic vibes, complete with a chubby brown dog as the local witness to their love. "Yup, Uncle, this is my new boyfriend."
"He's handsome, this one."
"And rich as well. Uncle, you can charge him for the meatballs," He side-eyed Intha, who only smiled softly and added cheese, sausage and crab sticks to the grill. He sure could eat. Is Hia In fuelin' up for somethin'?
"Wow, lucky you, getting a handsome and rich boyfriend."
Akara wanted to add 'who excellently fucks' to the old man's comment, but he held his tongue because a kid, no older than ten, walked out of the 7-Eleven sucking on an ice cream. There are kids here. Stay composed, Akara.
"So, how did you two meet?" Uncle asked while grilling the meatballs, striking up a conversation. He was familiar with Akara, who frequented his stall enough to be considered a regular.
"We just bumped into each other. I winked at him once, and he followed me," Akara said.
"Really?" The older man asked, clearly in doubt. Intha nodded, even though Akara's story was far from the truth. But he himself did fall for him, so that part was accurate.
"When you cross paths with the Princess of the Industry, it's only natural to fall for him," he added, glancing at his beloved wifey, who was brushing a stray lock of hair from his face: Princess, my ass. In-in wants to file a complaint with the consumer protection board!
"Uncle, I'll come back for it, okay? I'm just poppin' into the 7-Eleven for a bit. Mix the sauce for me, make it as spicy as I am."
The older man raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement. Once the deal was set, Akara grabbed Intha's wrist and pulled him into the 7-Eleven. He noticed a few people glancing their way, maybe because they were dressed similarly or because Intha had wrapped his arm around Akara's slim waist in public. They ended up standing in front of the ice cream freezer. Seeing the kid enjoying his treat made Akara crave one, too.
"You want one, Hia?" Akara asked Intha again. He picked out a Magnum Macadamia Salted Caramel-New Flavour!-reading the label but not saying it out loud.
"No, thanks. I'm not that hungry."
"Then I'll take this one. Magnum Macadamia Salted Caramel-New Flavour! Why do some foods have such long names? I don't get it."
"What I don't get is why you put so much feeling into reading it."
Akara didn't know how to respond, so he shrugged, spreading his hands out to the sides while watching the temple boy open the freezer and grab a Magnum Macadamia Salted Caramel-New Flavour!
"Do you want anything else besides ice cream?"
"Let me think."
"Eat too much, and you'll get chonky."
"Am I chonky?"
"Chonky!" Intha leaned in close to Akara's sharp face, amused by the worried look in the eyes of someone who was far from fat. With his toned muscles. What could make him chubby?
"Welp, you're the one who keeps invitin' me to eat," Akara grumbled, patting his own chubby cheeks. He turned to the glass wall, twisting left and right to check his stomach. "I need to lose weight now~."
"Then you're not eating the ice cream?"
"No, no, I'm still eatin' it. I'll start dieting tomorrow. Let's call it a cheat day today."
"So many excuses. How are you going to lose weight?" Intha didn't believe it. Tomorrow, Akara would eat just as much as today. Intha tapped the wrapped Magnum Macadamia Salted Caramel-New Flavour! against his hand, making a popping sound. His brows furrowed as Akara continued to check himself out in the glass. What a joke.
"I'll eat healthily."
"There's an easier way."
"How?"
"If you're scared of getting fat, just ride me tonight. You'll burn a ton of calories," Intha said with a sly smile before turning to the cashier to pay for the single Magnum Macadamia Salted Caramel-New Flavour!
Intha didn't take a plastic bag, doing his part to save the planet. The eco-friendly guy unwrapped the ice cream and handed it to Akara, as attentive as ever.
"Ride how?" Akara asked, dragging Intha into an inappropriate conversation they'd left unfinished. Forgetting his worries about getting fat, he took a big bite of the ice cream. I'm not sayin' 'Macadamia' or anythin' else because it's too damn long, fuck it.
"Like bottoming from the top." Intha spun his hips teasingly in front of Akara outside the 7-Eleven. The chubby brown dog transformed into an honorary member of the audience. Bottomin' from the top.
"You truly belonged to the deepest pit of hell," Akara said, but he spun his hips along as well. And so, the sight of two grown-ass men spinning their hips in front of a 7-Eleven unfolded. Spinning right round, right round, as if they had invisible hula hoops around their waists. They only stopped when Uncle called out to them.
"Hia, can you pay for the meatballs for me? I'll pay you back at home."
"Fine, I'll treat you. I've been meaning to ask, why don't you carry a wallet?" Intha asked, walking ahead but still within earshot. He pulled out money from his pocket to pay for the large bag of meatballs. He was genuinely curious why Akara never carried a wallet. Since Taiwan, Akara had been carrying cash in envelopes for trips. At home, he only took a few hundred baht when going out.
"Here's the thing. I'm the type who spends whatever I have. If I have a hundred, I spend a hundred. If I have ten thousand, I spend ten thousand. Get it, Hia? So I don't carry a wallet. I take a hundred or two at a time," Akara explained. Intha paid, but the bag of meatballs ended up in Akara's hands. Don't ask where the ice cream went. It was probably in his large intestine by now, gone after two spins.
"Ah, I see."
"If I buy too much, you can stop me. Don't spoil me."
"That's not happening. I told you, I'm the indulging type."
"Sure~," Akara drawled, snatching Intha's crab stick and eating it without hesitation. He figured a spoiling type wouldn't mind sharing food. "In other households, the wifey manages the hubby's money. But in mine, the hubby manages it. If you're my hubby, you have to be good with money."
"I get tickled by the words' hubby and wifey." The spoiling type took the remaining half of the crab stick to eat. Akara watched as Intha took a small bite and handed it back. Wow, he's considerate even when it comes to crab sticks. When you like someone, you let things slide as Buddha had taught us. Do good unto others, and good will come to you. Tonight, there's no way I'm not gettin' some action. I've got my sights set!
"So, are you my hubby?"
"What about the dowry?"
"Here it is, the meatball money."
"Wow, now I'm sad. My worth is only 120 baht," Akara held up the bag and spun it with his fingers to count the sticks inside. He knew the temple boy was jesting, but he couldn't resist pretending to be serious. Even on the car ride, he kept up the sulking act. Though the pork tendons were delicious, his face still looked downcast—all an act.
"Your love is so cheap, Hia."
"If you want it expensive, I'll give it to you all night long."
"Then I want high-end level."
"I'll add morning, noon, and evening, too. Can you handle it?"
"Bloody hell, I need to put a sticker on the back of the car to warn others now."
"I already have one. "Wat Tha Mai, Intha pulled into the parking lot across from their house. The 7-Eleven and Akara's bar weren't far apart, a short walk that wouldn't even break a sweat.
"No, it has to say, 'No one under 20 allowed in the car.’"
"I'm not talking nonsense." Intha shook his head as he turned off the engine and stepped out.
"You're the one who started it."
"Get out. I'm locking the car."
"Now that we're datin', your tone has changed. Men, when they're courtin', it's all sweet and gentle, but once they've fucked you, they turn cold."
"..."
"Go ahead! You don't love me anymore, do you?"
"I've never been romantic, except when banging."
"Hia, can I pretend to be dramatic like in Thai drama for thirty seconds? You don't have to be that blunt."
"Why? I'm just straightforward."
"Wow, my heart is in agony from your straightforwardness, Hia."
"Go open the house door, my lady. There's no maid here to do it for you. You'll have to clean the house yourself, cook for yourself."
"Ah! Don't be cruel to me, Master Akara! Don't! Don't! Don't hurt me. Just ask nicely, and I'll let you have me. Don't force me," Akara put on an act as if he deserved an award. But this time, Intha stood still and let out a big sigh.
"Look, I'm twenty-eight now. I want to indulge you and play along sometimes, but could you spare me this one thing?"
"You're the one who starts it. It's all on you, Hia," Akara turned to face him, ready to complain. But when he saw the soft smile and gentle eyes accompanied by a light ruffle of his hair, he lost, utterly defeated. He's so gentle.
"Open the door already! I'm dying to cuddle with my boyfriend!"
"Wanna bet that you're not just gonna cuddle with me?!"
Letting the temple boy shower first had become the norm for Akara because the bigger guy needed to chant prayers and meditate before bed. Of course, even though he and Intha had decided to date, the thought of joining his beloved in chanting and meditating until his legs went numb had never once crossed Akara's mind. So letting Intha shower first was a good option. While Akara was in the shower, Intha could finish his prayers and alleviate his karma. But honestly, the guy would probably have to pray into the next life to wash away all his sins. What kind of lunatic was this?
Akara sometimes thought his boyfriend was a werewolf, except that instead of changing under the full moon, his boyfriend transformed the moment they hit the bed. His hands would start wandering, grabbing, and playing with whatever he pleased.
"Eung-eung, you done in there?" Knocking on the door probably meant the prayers were done.
"Sit tight, I'm washin' my hair. Give me five more minutes."
"Okay, where's the hair dryer? I'll dry your hair for you."
"In the closet, I think." Footsteps soon faded away from the bathroom door. Akara hurried up his shower, secretly prepping himself for what was about to happen. He applied lube, kept on the counter, making sure everything was ready and slick, then got dressed and walked out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair.
Intha was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed. His bangs had grown long enough to poke into his eyes, so he had to sweep them aside. His pyjamas were just a T-shirt and shorts. Akara glanced at the auspicious colour chart taped to the wall and noticed it wasn't today's lucky colour. Welp, you can skip it when you sleep. You don't have to be lucky all the time.
"Come here."
"Mmm." Akara walked over when Intha beckoned. He sat on the floor, leaning his back against the bed and tilting his head for Intha. The hair dryer started up, its whooshing sound drowning out the faint music leaking into the room.
"Is the AC too cold?"
"Nah... it's just right."
"Once your hair's dry, I'm going to settle the score for today."
"Don't go liking anyone else that's not me."
"..."
"Let's do your hair in a dog bun, Eung-eung. Try barking for me," Intha teased... but-
"Hia, do you think my feet are pretty?" Akara stretched his legs out, wiggling his toes. "I wanna kick someone in the mouth."
"Uh, let's rewind to the romantic part."
"Too late."
"Your hair's almost dry, cupcake." Intha hastily changed the subject, focusing on the soft hair he was drying. He wasn't sure whether Akara was serious about kicking him, so it was safer not to challenge him, especially since Intha wasn't the type to fight back against his wifey. He didn't want to get hurt.
"I've never showered and gone to bed this early, y'know? When I was workin' at the bar, I'd always sleep at dawn."
"So you're not sleepy, right?"
"Nope. Not sleepy at all."
"You have pretty feet," Intha said, turning off the dryer and running his hand through Akara's hair to make sure it was really dry.
"Want your mouth to get smacked by them?" Akara pushed himself up onto the bed with Intha, but Intha pushed his head toward the foot of the bed. The temple boy moved to straddle Akara's body, lifting one of Akara's legs high and kissed the top of his foot.
"Sounds good to me," Intha said, then stuck out his tongue and licked Akara's toe. Akara squeezed his eyes shut, hissing through his teeth, his hands clutching the sheets as a jolt of pleasure shot from his toes straight up his spine. He opened his eyes again, half-lidded, and met the temple boy's smouldering gaze.
It was like Intha was having fun caressing his toes, sometimes sucking, sometimes licking, not the least bit grossed out. Akara started sweating at his temples. His free foot rested on Intha's thigh as Intha knelt there.
"Hia, that's enough."
"A guy who sucks his partner's toes is totally whipped, you know."
"You idiot," Akara grumbled, but his face was burning hot. It was time for him to pull his foot away.
"When have I ever not been whipped for you?" Intha protested sweetly, straddling Akara's body. He used his knees to spread Akara's legs apart, grinding his hips and rubbing his arousal against Akara's abs. His mouth alternated between biting Akara's lips and nipping at his nose, teasing but never giving a real, deep kiss.
"Nah, I don't see you bein' whipped at all. It's always me givin' in to you," Akara complained, lifting his head to nibble at the temple boy's lips. His hands, which had been gripping the sheets, slid to Intha's hips. The more Intha refused to give him a real kiss, the more frustrated Akara got, so he smacked Intha's butt hard, the sound echoing around the room. Intha jumped.
"You're so mean!"
"Welp, you won't get on with it..."
"Go get the lube."
"No need. I'm already good to go," Akara turned his face away, hiding his embarrassment. The lights were still on, and he felt a little awkward under Intha's gaze. Intha's soft eyes clearly showed how pleased he was. He slid down Akara's elastic waistband and took them off. His hot fingers trailed over Akara's slick entrance, checking to make sure he was really ready.
"Eung-eung, you're so cute."
"You have to use a condom."
"Already got it right here," Intha said. His shorts had pockets, and the condom was hidden inside. Clothes came off. He stripped down, stroking himself until he was hard. The teasing nips turned into a real kiss. The wet, embarrassing sounds drowned out the crinkle of the condom wrapper being torn open. Don't even ask who was more ready for battle. They both were.
"The bar next door is playing such a sad song tonight," Intha said, listening as he put on protection. He looked down at Akara's stomach, rising and falling with each breath, his cheeks flushed deep red, his eyes filled with pure ardour.
We're probably just like a dog barking at an aeroplane. Barking until we die, never getting to see it up close, I won't bother you, and if you don't love me, it's fine. Just thinking about you is enough. Oh, my heart, I'm so happy
(แค่นั้น (Just That) by Pongsit Kamphee)
"It's a sad song, but I know you're gonna fuck me good anyway."
"Yes. Here we go."
He lined himself up at Akara's entrance. Akara bit his lip, face twisting as the tip pressed in, staying there, as if Intha was teasing him.
"If you're gonna use just the tip, don't bother calling yourself my hubby."
"You're asking for it."
Thrust.
Akara flinched, letting out a moan as Intha pushed in all the way, base to tip, not a single part left out. Intha started moving, pulling out and slamming back in without holding back. Guess he's the hubby now. Akara thought to himself. Once their bodies got used to each other and things started to slide smoothly, Intha flipped the younger man onto his stomach, slid his hands under to prop him up, grabbed his round butt and kneaded it until red marks appeared, then pressed his face into Akara's tattoo, biting down hard enough to make Akara shiver and tear up. He couldn't take it. Intha was going way too hard on him.
"H-Hia... slow down, I can't take it. I'm gonna cum," Akara begged, but the pounding didn't let up, so he just had to let it happen.
For dozens of minutes, Akara was powerless to stop him. All he could do was bury his face in the bed, which seemed to make his hips lift even higher, giving Intha even more room to torment him. He was pounded until his mind went blank, his moans turning hoarse, his hole numb, his legs shaking after coming three times in a row.
"Hia... have mercy on me."
"Princess, this is just the beginning," Intha grinned wickedly, changing positions. He turned Akara onto his side, lifted the latter's leg onto his shoulder, sat angled behind him, and traced his fingers over the swollen, red entrance.
"At least give me five minutes to rest."
"But this spot is already clenching, calling for me," Intha said. The tight hole was twitching, the lube from earlier nearly gone. Intha spat and pushed himself back in right away.
"Hia... ah... " It's too much," Akara whimpered, lips trembling, tears staining the sheets and blanket. The bed was a wreck from their lovemaking. This was the first time Akara had seen the temple boy actually do what he said he would.
He said he'd fuck Akara until he was begging for his life. And yeah, he was doing just as he said!