Chem Chey: English Translation.
"We're homeee!" Akara shouted loudly inside the cramped pink taxi, where he and Intha were squeezed together in the backseat along with several shopping bags. As soon as the car came to a stop in front of the house, Akara, with his tattooed arm, grabbed the front seat and leaned forward to check the fare.
189 baht.
Akara pulled out a hundred-baht bill and handed it to Intha before grabbing several shopping bags and stepping out of the car.
"Keep the change. I'll open the house door. Don't forget the beer crates in the trunk, Hia."
"Got it," Intha replied, watching Akara hop out of the car. He slapped his own cheeks lightly to wake himself up. He'd dozed off and only woke up when Akara's loud voice announced their arrival.
Intha didn't use the hundred-baht bill Akara had given him to pay the fare. Instead, he held onto it and pulled out his own wallet to cover the entire taxi fare. After asking the driver to open the trunk, he gathered the remaining bags and carried the beer crates out of the car.
He lugged two beer crates into the house, feeling a bit foolish, while Akara placed the bags on the glass table inside the bar area. The young man then nimbly jumped onto the stage, which was nearly a meter above the ground. That little cupcake... uh, he sure can jump.
"What are you doing?" Intha asked, setting the beer crates down in an empty spot. He then plopped onto the sofa, rummaging through a snack bag to find something to eat. His eyes stayed on Akara, who was plugging in cords, pulling out others, turning on some lights, and kicking a stray cable here and there. Soon, a sweet melody filled the air.
Lovin' you is easy 'cause you're beautiful
Makin' love with you is all I wanna do
Lovin' you is more than just a dream come true
And everything that I do is out of lovin' you
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Do do do do do
(Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton)
"Playin' some music," Akara said with a wide grin from the stage. The lighting was dim since he'd only turned on a few of the lights.
"I thought you liked country music," Intha teased.
"The playlist is already in the system. This is for early evenings, slow songs first. Later at night, we'll switch it up," Akara explained.
"Too slow. I want something more of a Last Boss's theme song."
"Bring it on!" Akara laughed, flashing his bright white teeth. Despite Intha's words, when Akara turned to look, the so-called tough guy was sending him a mini heart with his fingers, winking, and beckoning him with a playful finger wave.
"Eung-eung, come here for a sec."
"That tone is kinda scary."
"Come on, I've got something for you," Intha said, trying to sound convincing.
"What is it now?" Akara was suspicious but still hopping off the stage. He walked over to Intha and sat down beside him, watching as the older man reached into his pocket.
A moment later, a hundred-baht bill was held out in front of Akara. Instinctively, he grabbed it.
"It's yours," Intha said
"For the taxi fare?" Akara asked.
"No, go buy some ice."
".."
"Go on. And bring out the pot, too. I'll handle the veggies and meat here."
"Hurry up. I want cold drinks."
"I don't feel like goin' out again. Can't you go? I'm too small to carry ice."
"..."
This time, it was Intha who fell silent. He glanced at Akara's muscular arms and blinked owlishly. You got the muscles the size of a kid's head... but can't carry ice?
"Pretty please?"
"Fine... but who's going to prep everything here? I'm starving." They were so hungry that both of their stomachs growled in unison, a result of wasting time waiting for a pink taxi. It wasn't Intha's idea to wait for the bright pink taxi for good luck-it was Akara's challenge. "If you're so confident, wait for a pink taxi, for the sake of good luck."
Well, they waited. Good luck came with gastritis.
"I can do it. I'm great at cookin'. If you didn't know, I'm tellin' you now. Besides, you don't even know where anything is. Let me handle the housework. I'm the perfect homemaker... okay?"
"Fine, fine. Be back," Intha replied, snatching the hundred-baht bill back from Akara's hand. He stood up, stretched his legs, and shook off the stiffness.
"Take the motorbike. It's parked behind the bar. Wait, I'll grab the keys for you."
"You have a motorbike?" Intha asked, surprised.
"Of course. It's for quick trips to the end of the alley. A car's no good, especially late at night when the alley gets jammed with traffic."
Intha nodded and caught the keychain Akara tossed to him at the perfect moment. The area grew more congested as the night went on, as Akara had said. The alley was packed with clubs and bars, their lights and music competing to outshine the night's darkness.
The bright lights were almost blinding, and the faint music could already be heard in the early evening. Intha figured it'd only get louder as the night deepened. He walked closer to Akara, resting his chin on the younger's shoulder from behind just as Akara turned to head into the kitchen to prepare the food. The tattooed man froze for a moment, startled, and turned slightly to glance at Intha.
"What's up with you, Hia?"
"Don't be naughty while you're home alone. I'll be back soon. Just wait a bit."
"And how should I respond to that?"
"Try saying, 'Yes, Daddy..." Intha whispered in a sultry tone near Akara's ear. The result? Akara shoved his head away and muttered a curse under his breath.
"That's so sinful," Akara grumbled.
"Twink boy and his daddy," Intha joked further.
"Just go buy the ice already."
"Alright, alright."
"And hurry back to the monk's quarter, temple boy. Don't wander around."
"A monk's quarter with free Wi-Fi?"
"Yes, yes. The temple food is delicious, but not as delicious as me. Jeez, one more step, and the ground will swallow me straight to hell," Akara shook his head at their bizarre conversation. He watched Intha smile so brightly his eyes disappeared, not moving an inch. Akara had to remind him again, "The ice..."
"I'm heading off now!" Intha said, jogging in place for dramatic effect. He looked so tired, so out of breath, so fast. "Eung-eung, look! No matter how much I run, I can't seem to get anywhere!"
"Give me back the impression I had of you when we first met... Now you're just batshit crazy."
"Hahaha!" The guy only laughed as Akara walked into the kitchen, leaving him grinning like a fool at his successful teasing. Intha stopped his fake running and walked normally to the back of the bar to get the motorbike. He needed to buy ice, two packets of antacid, just in case they overate... No condoms today, because there
was already a giant box in the car...
The ice arrived before the shabu pot even started boiling. Intha watched Akara move the beer crates from the table to the floor. The tattooed man wiped the sweat from his brow, his shirt already removed, revealing his toned muscles and tattoos. Sweat glistened on his skin... so hot. Made In-in wants to pounce! But Intha kept a straight face and uttered softly, The ice is here."
"Perfect. I'm so thirsty. A cold beer will be refreshin'." Akara grinned, taking the ice bag from Intha. He tossed the unopened bag into the cooler and slammed the other on the ground to break up the ice chunks. Those muscles, so beefy...
"Poor ice," Intha commented.
"Do I look that rough?" Akara asked.
"Not too much. You just dented the floor a little."
"Drama queen."
"Is it ready to eat yet?"
"Almost. Here are your chopsticks. The broth tastes great," Akara said, handing over a pair of chopsticks.
"You mean your cooking is great, right?" Intha clarified, sitting down at the table across from Akara with the shabu pot between them. He leaned forward to peek inside and saw the pot divided into two sections-one with vegetables and one without.
"Nope. I just added a whole pack of flavour enhancer."
"My wifey's cooking skills. Better start saving for a hair transplant course."
"What did you just call me?"
"Nothing."
"I heard that, y'know." Intha tapped his chopsticks on the edge of the pot. His face felt hot, unsure if it was from the steam or embarrassment. The white steam Intha blew toward Akara's face might've helped hide his reddening cheeks.
"Your hearing's too good. Take the steam on your side."
"Wow, bullyin' me now? I'm sulkin', hmph."
"My little buttercup, you're so cute when you're sulking... I could just eat you."
"Stop grindin' your teeth while you talk. You're so fake. Be sincere, please," Akara chided, holding his chopsticks out across the pot like a microphone for Intha, who was adding meat to the pot.
With a deadpan expression, Intha said, "I want to eat you out."
The chopsticks nearly slipped from Akara's hand as he hastily pulled them back.
I knew it.
I fuckin' knew it.
"Does your mom know you're like this?"
"Like what?"
"Like how you're with me right now."
"My mom's been using the hashtag '#TherelsNoOneBetterThanMyChild' since I was three. But she always writes 'their' instead of "there.' No matter how much I correct her, she never changes. When I point it out, she just says, 'Sorry, I forgot.'
"That sounds kinda cute."
"No, I have a rule not to talk to people who use 'there' incorrectly. I even blocked friends on Facebook for it. But in the end, it's my mom. I can't block her... so frustrating. I should just run away from home."
"Run away then. The abbot at the temple nearby is kind. He'll let you share a room in the monk's quarters."
"Nope... not good. No Wi-Fi,"
"And?" Akara raised an eyebrow, taking a big gulp of beer from his can. Let's just say... It tasted like beer.
"I want to stay in a cosy monk's quarters with Wi-Fi. I don't want to stay here," Intha said, stirring the pork in the pot with his chopsticks while sneaking a coquettish glance at Akara.
"Just say you wanna sleep with me tonight. No need to pretend you want a good monk's quarters with Wi-Fi. I can see right through you... sinner." Intha choked.
Well... he's not wrong.
But damn... Eung-eung knows too much.
"Chokin'? Is sin stuck in your throat?"
"No, it's your beauty"
"Ew, cheesy," Akara wrinkled his nose, and the conversation quieted as they started eating. Intha picked up some pork for Akara, while the latter poured beer into the matching ceramic mugs they'd bought together.
There was a loud clink as their glasses met... and bottoms up. Intha was the first to break the silence.
"So, can I stay over tonight?" Intha began.
"Do you have a toothbrush?"
"I bought one earlier at the mall."
"Wow, you're prepared," Akara said, unable to hold back his comment.. "You really planned this out, huh?"
"I'll do the dishes later."
"No need. Just don't run off to host another Kathin ceremony."
"No, just a robe offering ceremony."
"I'm kidding."
Intha lowered his head to eat a meatball from his bowl, pretending to act nonchalant toward Akara while secretly smiling to himself. You're in for it. Ten rounds... no breaks!
After finishing their meal, the two moved upstairs to the third floor of the house. Akara carried two or three more cans of beer with him, insisting that Intha shower first because he was feeling too lazy to go himself. Akara sat on the balcony, sipping his beer. The familiar sounds of music surrounded him, along with the bright lights from the nearby bars and clubs.
To be honest, at this time of night, he shouldn't have been sitting in a dark room drinking beer. He should've been downstairs, walking around the bar, managing things, and kicking out customers when it was closing time. It's kinda... sad. Nothin' is the same anymore.
Click...
The presence of the person sharing this moment with him confirmed that everything had indeed changed.
"Rode down the highway. Broke the limit, we hit the town. Went through to Texas, yeah, Texas, and we had some fun~" Akara suddenly sang out loud.
"What?" Intha asked, drying his damp hair with a towel. He looked at Akara, who'd randomly burst into song. The dim light from outside cast a shadow over Akara's face, which was flushed red from the alcohol. The room was completely dark, with all the lights turned off, an indie vibe with an energy-saving twist.
Come to think of it, Akara had drunk quite a lot already. But judging by his conversation, he wasn't drunk. He seemed perfectly normal. What a high tolerance...
"AC/DC, y'know? Probably comin' from the bar across the street."
Listening closely, Intha could indeed hear the song playing. He stepped outside, tucking the rock band-printed tank top Akara had handed him for sleeping into his elastic-waist sweatpants. He pulled the pants up high, almost to his chest... thinking it
looked super cool.
"That's hilarious. I was about to get into a sad mood," Akara said, shaking his head.
"And who's stopping you from being sad?" Intha raised an eyebrow, then plopped down to rest his head on Akara's lap as he sat on the floor.
"You are. Get up, you're heavy."
"What did I do?"
"You dressed like a clown. I saw it, and I couldn't stop laughin'. I can't even feel sad anymore," Akara pushed Intha's head and body away before standing up. The older one glared at him, annoyed, as Akara announced,
"I'm gonna shower first. I feel sticky."
"Alright."
"Please take your shirt out of your pants, Hia."
"No, it's a style," Intha argued, sitting stubbornly on the floor with his arms crossed, his frown signalling that he wasn't going to change his mind. Akara pouted dramatically. "Then pull your pants down."
"Do you have a problem with my pants?"
"Because they're ridin' up, I can see your groin... It's this big."
"You're such a perv," Intha muttered, glancing down at his own crotch while sitting cross-legged. He scolded Akara, but his eyes sparkled mischievously as the other raised his own fist and said, ' This big.' So Intha brought up his own fist as well.
"Whatever size it is, it's all yours."
Akara shook his head, avoiding eye contact with the cheeky Intha as he walked into the bathroom. Intha was definitely messing with him. Akara knew it. When they were out shopping earlier, the man had seemed normal, calm, even kind. Why is it that when he's with me, he's both batshit and sinful? Seriously, is he possessed?
"Are you cursing me out in your head?"
"None of your business!" Akara shouted back, loud and clear. His tone sounded frustrated, but the reflection in the mirror showed a wide grin on his face. He had to clean himself up and get ready, just in case... he ended up letting Intha stay the night.
I'm eatin' well tonight!
When Akara stepped out of the bathroom, smelling fresh and clean, he frowned. The moderately sized room was still pitch dark, even darker than before. Intha had closed the glass door and drawn the curtains, blocking out the light from outside.
"Hia.." Akara called out, unable to see Intha. He cautiously moved around, wondering what kind of prank Intha was planning this time. Is he tryin' to scare me? Bring it on. I'll jump on him and cling to him until his back breaks. But no matter how long he waited, Intha didn't respond. The only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner. Akara decided to walk to the door and turn on the lights. Once the room was illuminated, his sharp eyes immediately spotted the person he'd been looking for.
Intha hadn't run off to host a Kathin ceremony. Instead...He was meditating by the bed. Yup... his right leg over his left, hands resting on his lap, breathing in and out steadily. Puttho... thoput...
"Hia!!!" Akara yelled his lungs out. Oh my god, I'm goin' crazy! Meditatin' in the middle of a bar district with loud music blarin' Barbie Girl' and live bands screamin' "Kiss me here, touch me there?!"
"Yes?" Intha's thick lashes fluttered open. His demeanour was the complete opposite of Akara's- calm and serene. He seemed to radiate a soft, starry glow. Unbothered. Moisturized. Happy. In his lane. Focused. Flourishing.
"What are you doin'?" Akara asked, trying to calm himself. He knew the answer, but still asked. Was he drunk, or was he just seeing things? Why did Intha seem to be glowing? Ah... must be the merit.
"Meditating... can't I?"
"It's not that you can't, but why didn't you answer when I called you?"
"I was using AirPods," Intha said, brushing his bowl-cut bangs aside to reveal the AirPods in his ears. He pulled them out and showed them to Akara, shaking his head slightly as if it were no big deal. "I was listening to relaxing music. I feel better now."
"Somethin' is botherin' you?" Akara exhaled through his nose, trying to calm himself as he quickly walked over to open the curtains. He preferred having some light from outside streaming in and only closed the curtains when it was time to sleep.
"There's something I want to ask, but I'm anxious, so I haven't said it."
"Ask me?"
"Yeah," Intha said, playing with a strand of his soft hair. He bit his lip, hesitating, as he locked eyes with Akara, who'd turned to face him. The light from outside was beautiful. It made Akara look even more mysterious and intriguing.
"Just say it. What do you wanna ask?"
"Well..."
"I want to challenge the stars a little."
"The hell are you babblin' about? The more you talk, the more confused I get." Akara started to get a little annoyed. He leaned against the glass door, watching as Intha stood up to his full height. At least he'd taken his shirt out of his pants, and his dry hair no longer looked flat. Intha looked attractive in his own way. The more Akara stared at him, the more he got used to it. It wasn't as striking as when they first met.
"I want to try..."
"When you're ready to talk, call me. I'll be waitin' in bed..."
"..want to try doing it on the balcony!" Intha blurted out, finally completing his sentence.
Akara froze, his face pale, his body stiff. His mind went blank for a moment after hearing those words. Oh my fuckin' God. He's not flashy when it comes to looks, but when it comes to sex, he's always full of surprises. Challengin' the goddamn heavens and the stars?!
What do I do? What do I do...
Fuck. If he dares to ask, I'll fucking give it to him.
With that, Akara pulled off his fitted T-shirt and tossed it to the floor. He slid the glass door open with trembling hands.
"Turn off the lights first... then c'mon, fuck me hard."
Intha leapt with all his might.