Chem Chey: English Translation.
"Why are you suddenly casting spells?" Intha asked as he handed Akara the food bag after they both walked into the kitchen. Standing close behind Akara, he leaned into whisper near his pale ear and even planted a kiss on the nape of his neck.
"Go ask P'Thon."
"You bitch!"
"Whoa, what did you just call me?"Akara snapped his head back to glare at the person standing behind him. Intha immediately stepped back, offering a sheepish smile and tenderly correcting himself.
"I called you 'baby'!"
"Don't bother lyin'. I heard you loud and clear. Welp, P'Thon was askin' me earlier if I'd cast some kind of spell on you to make you so smitten with me." Akara smirked as he untied the rubber band from the bag of noodles, skillfully preparing lunch while Intha lightly kicked him in the rear.
"Oh, really?" Intha, now understanding the context, lost interest in the topic and focused more on kicking Akara's backside. The more he kicked, the more fun it became, and the more fun it was, the more he kicked.
"Enough already, will you? Quit kickin' my ass." Akara silently counted to ten in his head. One, two...
"But it's fun!" Intha kicked harder, oblivious to Akara's growing impatience. His tattooed hand stretched the red rubber band, counting seven, eight, nine, but the relentless kicking showed no signs of stopping. The more he kicked, the more entertaining it was.
By the time Akara reached ten, he instantly snapped the rubber band right at Intha.
"Yip! Meow!"
Bullseye. It hit Intha squarely on the thigh. Since he was wearing shorts, the rubber band left a clear red mark on his skin. His ears turned bright red as he glared at Akara. Does he think Eung-eung would feel sorry for him?
"Serves you right. You started it."
"And what was that sound you just made? Are you a dog or a cat?"
"You're so dead tonight."
"Bring it on." Akara glanced at the red mark on Intha's thigh. Seeing him rub it, Akara felt a tiny bit of sympathy-but only for a moment. Three seconds later, Intha smacked his backside again. "Ouch! Are you crazy, Hia?!"
"I can't help it; you're just too endearing."
"I already know I'm adorable, but you don't have to poke me so much!" Akara grumbled, emphasising the word 'poke' through gritted teeth. Yet, the young man continued preparing the food expertly, transferring the noodles and chicken soup into bowls and arranging everything neatly on a tray, including a whole pitcher of water.
Akara effortlessly lifted the tray. When he noticed Intha watching him, he puffed out his cheeks dramatically.
"Wow, this is so heavy-"
"If only someone would help me carry it."
"Why aren't you playin' along today?"
"I'm not playing along, but if you want me to play around, I could do that. They say it makes relationships more exciting."
"How many flings then? Seven?"
"Nah, three sounds perfect-like the Buddha, the Dharma, and the..."
"Enough, before we get pulled into hell," Akara declared, balancing the tray with one hand while raising the other to signal Intha to stop.
"I'll carry this tray myself. You just hold the water pitcher and follow me carefully. Watch out for the gate of hell."
"If there's a gate, I'm dragging you through it with me," Intha retorted, shaking his head as he grabbed the water pitcher. Despite his words, he still wore his usual soft smile.
"Hubbies and wifeys are supposed to share everything-whether it's heaven or hell, we go together."
"I'm officially endin' this hubby-and-wifey relationship right here!"
"You lost that right the moment you asked me to be your hubby," Intha quipped, mirthfully smacking Akara on the head for even suggesting such a thing. He quickly smiled nervously when Akara turned to glare at him.
"Boyfriend. I only asked to be your boyfriend," Akara corrected.
"Hubby," Intha insisted.
"Boyfriend!"
"I said hubby. You asked me to be your hubby."
"Boyfriend!!!" Akara's voice grew hoarse as he refused to back down. Intha pressed a finger to his lips, signalling him to lower his voice, and whispered again with a smirk.
"Hubby."
"Do you wanna try bein' the wifey, then?" Akara growled, clearly exasperated by Inha's relentless teasing.
"Sure, I can do that. I've heard that a good hubby should also be able to be a wifey."
Akara stopped in his tracks, turning to look at Intha from head to toe. Wait. I was jokin' about him bein' the wifey, wasn't I? Bloody hell, this guy is a real deal.
"I'm just imaginin' if you were my wifey and I... y'know..." Akara trailed off, shuddering at the thought. "It's horrifyin'."
"I'm great at moaning, so that you know."
"Shut your damn mouth already," Akara muttered, resuming his walk. He spoke softly as they approached the marble table behind the bar, which they were using as a temporary dining area. He didn't want Thon-hon and Chonlatee to overhear their inappropriate conversation.
"Just so y'know, there's no switching roles. I was born knowin' I'm the prettiest in the village, a princess. And princesses don't fuck people's ass. You get it, Hia?"
"I do. I was just picturing you, and yeah, it's horrifying."
"Let's drop this topic, then. Lunch is served!" Akara announced, placing the tray on the table and arranging the bowls in front of their special guests. He moved his hands with exaggerated flair, mimicking a beer girl, and smirked at Thon-hon as he teased him about casting spells.
Thon-hon frowned, pointing his finger in the air as if searching for a comeback but ultimately saying nothing. What a troublemaker!
"And this is for my dearest boyfriend-chicken noodles with extra chicken feet," Akara said, sliding a bowl toward Intha.
"Do you want chicken feet, too?" Intha asked.
"Sure, give me two," Akara replied.
"Trade me the egg from your noodles. I only eat the yolk, not the white." Intha peered into Akara's bowl as he sat down beside him. He accepted the chopsticks Akara had unwrapped and wiped his forehead, sweating from the heat.
The weather was scorching that day. Even with a fan running, eating lunch in the garden was still hot. Intha, who'd just returned from a motorcycle ride, seemed to be the hottest of all. The cold water Akara handed him was a much-needed relief. Ah, refreshing... My wifey takes such good care of me.
"You only eat the yolk? It's like you knew I don't eat yolks and only eat the whites, Hia."
"I didn't know. Really? I don't eat the whites."
"That's true. This is great-now I don't have to waste yolks, and I get extra whites. Bein' your boyfriend is amazin'." Akara's ears turned slightly red as Intha rubbed his face to hide his embarrassment.
"We must be soulmates. Everything about us just fits," Intha said with a grin.
"Ugh, I'm so sick of the love in the air," said Thon-hon.
"Ugh, someone get me out of here," said Thon-hon again.
After Thon-hon and Chonlatee left, the renovations at the bar progressed quickly, thanks to Akara personally overseeing the work. Now, all that was left was for the paint to dry and for the tables and chairs to be arranged before the bar could officially open. Intha was quite pleased with the new design.
The combination of leather and wood complemented the bar's retro-style sign, which he'd fought with Akara over for half a day. In the end, Intha won and kept the old-fashioned sign, which he now cherished.
"I absolutely fucking hate the bar sign." Akara tilted his head slightly as he crossed his arms and stared at the newly installed sign. He tested the lights that the workers had set up. The sign was undeniably dorky, but it perfectly matched the bar's new vibe.
The young man glanced at Intha, who was standing beside him, admiring the lights. Even though it was evening, the area was brightly lit. The lively music from a nearby bar hinted that the nightlife was about to begin.
"Look closely, Eung. Our bar got the best vibe in the area."
"I know," Akara spun in a circle as Intha grabbed his shoulders and turned him around. Akara must've known that the surrounding shops all had modern designs like his old bar. The retro vibe of their bar now stood out, just as Intha had said. From the entrance of the alley, the bar's sign was so eye-catching that people would stop and stare, thinking a pawnshop had popped up among the bars.
"Are the lights okay?" Intha began.
"They're fine, I guess. What do you think?" Akara asked him back.
"They're good. You can turn them off now. Let's go find something to eat; I'm starting to get hungry," the temple boy said. Noticing Akara's distracted expression, Intha ran his fingers through Akara's fluffy hair. "Aren't you tired? You've been working so hard, your hair's all messy now. You don't have to rush so much."
"I told you before, I'm a workaholic. You might see me in full work mode, completely forgettin' about my hubby-like today," Akara gently pulled Intha's hand away from his hair. He intertwined their fingers, realising he hadn't spent much time with his new boyfriend that day. Feeling a bit guilty, he squeezed Inha's hand slightly and led him to turn off the bar's lights. They then walked back into the quiet house, which still smelled of fresh paint.
"But I haven't forgotten about you. Whenever you're free, come over and bother me. Besides, watching you work is pretty enjoyable."
"You'd better keep sayin' things like that forever."
"Alright, if there's anything I need to do, just let me know," Intha said. His work experience was limited to flying planes, and when it came to running a bar, he was totally at a loss. So, most of the responsibilities naturally fell on Akara, while Intha played the role of the financial backer, lazily counting money in the background.
"Then tonight, you can go to the market. I'll write down a list for you... What do you wanna eat?" Akara said, releasing his grip on Intha's hand and pacing around a bit to find paper and a pen.
"Let's go together. I don't even know where the market is."
"Oh, right. You've never been to the market." Akara realised he'd never taken Intha to a wet market before. Instead of grabbing the notebook and pen, he grabbed the car keys.
"So, what's for dinner?"
"Anything's fine."
"There's no menu called 'anythin',"
"Then what do you want to eat?"
"Anythin'.." Akara's eyes widened as he covered his mouth, realising he'd just said the very thing he'd scolded Intha for. The usually kind-looking Intha chuckled softly, grabbed Akara's arm to turn him sideways, and smacked his backside with a loud smack.
"That hurt!"
"The 'anything' menu doesn't exist. No one's allowed to say it. If you do, you get your butt smacked."
"Fine... How about this: do you wanna eat out or cook at home?"
"You cook, Eung-eung," Intha replied decisively. "I want to eat my lovely wifey's cooking."
"Omelette." And this was Akara's answer.
"If it's just an omelette, we don't need to go to the market. There are eggs in the fridge."
"I wasn't done talkin'! You're so argumentative; I should slap your mouth. I was gonna say omelette, stir-fried squid with basil, and some kind of clear soup...?"
"Pickled lettuce? Pickled lettuce soup sounds good," Intha clapped his hands in delight and pressed them to his chest. Akara couldn't help but think Intha had a childlike charm when he talked about his favourite dishes. His eyes sparkled with excitement. So easy to please.
"But it has to have meat since I don't eat vegetables. I like the sour broth."
"How about we add pork ribs? Do you like that?"
"Love it!"
"So, who's gonna be the biker?"
"Eung-eung, of course," Intha said, grabbing his wallet and stuffing it into his pocket. He then slung an arm around Akara's neck and leaned in to plant a big kiss on his cheek. Akara scrunched his neck, tickled, before returning the gesture with a kiss on Intha's chin. Their playful banter was so endearing.
With his bangs covering his forehead, Intha leaned his head on Akara's shoulder. He tightly shut his eyes as he rode pillion on Akara's motorcycle. Barely two minutes into the ride, Intha wished he could go back in time to when Akara had asked who should drive... He should've said, 'Me. Me, me, me. I'll drive.'
Because his beloved Eung-eung drove like a street racer, weaving through two lanes, sometimes three, and then darting into narrow alleys without considering their size. Both of them were big enough that their legs were nearly scraping the walls.
"Why are you holdin' onto my waist so tightly, Hia?"
"I'm dizzy."
"Are you feelin' sick from the paint fumes at the bar?"
"No, I'm sick from your driving."
"I'm drivin' like a pro here!"
Intha pressed his face against Akara's back, trying to hear his voice over the wind. He noticed that sweet, gentle Eung-eung had eased off the throttle, and the bike was now moving more slowly. That was a good thing. A very good thing.
"Next time, I'll drive. You just sit there and look pretty."
"Sure, sure.. Hey, have you ever been to a wet market before?"
"Never. I usually buy groceries at the mall," Intha admitted, sitting up straight and running a hand through his hair as he looked around. The slower pace and the cool breeze against his face made him feel much better.
"Then stick close to me when we're shoppin'. Don't get lost, especially since you're so scatterbrained."
"Wow, as if you're so put-together," Intha narrowed his eyes, wanting to smack Akara's head but holding back since the younger was still driving. He wasn't ready to test the pavement's durability just yet. "Eung-eung, I think we could've just taken the main road, you know."
After observing their surroundings for a bit, Intha realised Akara had already brought them out to the other side of the main road. He remembered driving past this road often and knew there was no need to take the narrow alleys.
"It's a shortcut. The traffic was bad. Why? Got a problem?"
"Absolutely not. Whatever you say, I'll follow," Intha replied, wiping the sweat off his forehead. The word 'problem' came from Akara as he let go of one handlebar to roll up his sleeve. "No problem at all. Just focus on driving."
Not long after, the large PCX motorcycle was parked in the designated motorcycle area near the wet market. Even in the evening, the market was bustling. Intha felt as if he were exploring a whole new world he'd never thought of visiting.
‘Goddamn. What's that store selling? Looks delicious. Oh, coconut bua loi. Wow, it looks so appetising.
Standing at the market entrance, Intha smiled to himself after hopping off the bike while Akara went to park. His large eyes landed on the coconut bua loi shop, and he exchanged a couple of blinks with the fair-skinned vendor. He was just about to step forward to order, planning to take two bags home. But then-
Smack!
"You think I don't know what you're lookin' at?" Akara said, smacking the back of Intha's head hard enough to make his bangs flop forward. It was worse than the time at the som tam restaurant a few days ago. Got smacked again. My bangs are ruined. My good looks are gone!
"What? I just wanted to eat coconut bua loi! I wasn't looking at anything else!"
"Yup, you weren't lookin', you just wanna smash."
"Smash?" Intha was utterly dumbfounded.
What's with Eung-eung's slang?
"You dunno? Good. Now take this eco-friendly basket and carry it."
"Are you mad?"
"Nope!"
"Your tone says otherwise." Intha glanced longingly at the coconut bua loi shop one last time before deciding to let it go. He quickly followed Akara, smirking a little at how jealous Akara had gotten.
"Oh, my poor, sweet bua loi, why did you leave me so soon? Where are you now? Do you ever think of me? Because I'm always thinking of you~"
"Do you really want those bua loi that badly?"
"Not anymore." Intha twisted his body slightly and bit his lip. Akara shot him a sharp glare, clearly aggravated.
Oops, I think I went a bit overboard with the acting... just a bit. When Intha claimed he didn't want the bua loi anymore, Akara fell silent, his steps quickening as his face darkened with irritation. Intha, who'd planned to yank him back to clear the air, froze when Akara shook him off. The young man's sharp eyes glared at him, as if he were ready to beat him to a pulp.
Wait, is he mad at me...?
He's mad at me!
On the way home, Intha took over driving. Despite his attempts to nudge the other a few times, Akara remained silent, his expression indifferent. At least Akara still cooked dinner. The omelette was delicious, and though the stir-fried squid with basil was a bit too spicy, Intha finished it all to please him. He even volunteered to do the dishes, letting Akara relax.
After finishing the dishes, Intha followed his partner into the bedroom. The first thing he noticed was the faint smell of nicotine wafting in from the balcony. He decided to step outside. It seemed that after a full meal, Akara's mood had improved by about 10%. The young man was now sitting on the balcony, smoking a cigarette and strumming a guitar, with a can of beer beside him. He almost looked cool if not for the fact that he'd tied a unicorn plushie he'd received from Chonlatee around his waist.
"What's my gorgeous muffin up to?"
"Taking care of my daughter." Akara drawled, glancing at Intha as he approached. He patted the plushie's head for emphasis. Intha sat down beside him, his eyes scanning the lights around them. He pulled a cigarette from the pack and lit it.
Akara wasn't mad at him anymore. His earlier irritation might've been due to hunger. He felt a little guilty, realising he shouldn't have taken his hunger out on anyone.
"What's your daughter's name?" Intha asked, blowing out a puff of white smoke. He smiled at the plushie. If it were a real child, it would've choked on the cigarette smoke and died by now.
"Dunno. I haven't thought of one yet. Help me name her."
"Eun. N'Eun-eun."
"You combined 'In' and 'Eung?'"
"Yeah.." Intha nodded, feeling a bit shy. He quickly changed the subject. "I didn't know you could play the guitar."
"I can play a few songs. Sorry for bein' grumpy earlier. I was probably just hungry."
Intha pressed his lips together slightly. He liked Akara even more now. Why was he apologising first when he hadn't done anything wrong? My sweet little piggy boo-boo, why are you so cute? :)
"You don't need to apologise. You didn't do anything wrong."
"Maybe, or maybe not. But if you wanna maintain a relationship, you should know how to apologise, right?"
"Then I'm sorry, too. Sorry, sorry.." Intha said, nudging Akara's thigh with his toe as he sat cross-legged.
"Hey, don't poke me. Hia, do you want me to sing? It might be a bit off-key, but do you want to hear my song?" Akara offered, plucking a few strings on the guitar.
"Sure, I'd love to. I'm a fan of private live music." Intha cracked open a can of beer. The bitter taste slid down his throat, but life lately didn't feel bitter at all. It was too sweet. My sweet little piggy boo-boo:)
Intha shifted, preparing to listen to Akara sing. He rested his head on one arm as he lay down, the other hand still holding a cigarette between his fingers. His eyes wandered to the sky, ears attuned to the strumming of the guitar and Akara's raspy voice. He thought Akara might sing a Thai folk song, but it wasn't. Just don't be this cute with anyone else
Could you save it just for me?
When you look at someone, I'm scared they'll take it the wrong way with glee.
Could you? Not that I can call you mine
I'm afraid you'll meet someone, and I'll lose your shine
Because, as far as I can see, there's no one
Who won't waver, no matter how long
But for you, I'll stay true
Just look around you
Oh baby...
(You're Mine) by Earth Patravee)
"I really love this song," Intha said, springing up from his reclined position. He flicked the cigarette into an empty beer can and swiftly took the guitar from Akara's hands. Without giving the younger man a chance to react, he leaned in, pressing his weight against him.
With a flirtatious nip at Akara's soft earlobe, Intha whispered gently, his voice cutting through the lively nighttime ambience. Even though the neighbouring bar continued to play its usual folk rock tunes, Akara could hear nothing but Intha's voice resonating in his ears.
"Why are you this adorable? There's no escaping now. I've completely fallen for you, my sweet Eung."
"..' I'm so embarrassed.
"Let's fuck, Eung-eung :)"
"-_-Ughhhhh!