Love Mechanics

Chapter 36  Special Episode 1

 

[Mark Masa]

 

The bustling crowd is something I'm not used to. I'm at the airport. I have four free days before the start of

the semester, and my mom asked me to return home. Importantly, she didn't ask me to go back alone.

 

"Flying domestically is even more expensive than flying to Korea." The handsome guy beside me keeps complaining about the air ticket. He's been complaining since the day we made the reservation, and he's still complaining now.

 

"Have you been to Korea?" I ask.

 

"No. But Yeewa used to complain about it to me." He shakes his head and replies, making me giggle.

 

"Then why are you complaining? My mom offered to pay for it, but you refused." I answer back. My mom offered to buy the tickets for both of us, but once the handsome, multi-talented fella heard about it, he told me to refuse.

 

"Money's hard to come by, rich boy." P'Vee snarls back.

"Who are you calling a rich boy?" I retort.

 

'Vee's about to enter his fourth year, while I'm going into my second. He's been busy with job training, which finished just a few days ago, and he asked to come along with me, pointing out that... my mom wants to meet him and that he also wants to take a break.

 

"You're so not a rich boy. What's with that suited man and the sign with your name on it, then?" P'Vee points to a corner near the entrance.

 

"You're always exaggerating," I complain softly, and walk towards the person holding up a sign with my name on it, as if I've flown in from abroad.

 

"Hello, Master Mark. Madame asked me to come and pick you up because Uncle Sith drove Sir to the beach." The driver, whom I assume is a new hire, tells me. I nod slightly and look at the sign.

 

"And when will dad return?" I ask back.

 

"In the evening time, perhaps no later than six." He replies. I look at my watch, which shows that it's past noon. Mom has probably had lunch already.

 

"Please let me help you with your bag."

 

"It's okay. He'll carry it himself." Before I can hand over my small suitcase, P'Vee's refusal sounds out. The driver looks at me, waiting for a response, and I turn to P'Vee.

 

"It's fine. I'll carry it myself. Lead us to the car." Come to think of it, it's not that difficult. We share the same suitcase, and P'Vee prefers that I do things on my own.

 

We arrive home at nearly two o'clock. Traffic is so annoying. At university, there are sometimes traffic jams, but they're nothing compared to here.

 

"Are you hungry?" I turn to ask P'Vee, who follows behind me quietly.

 

"A bit. But man, your house is gorgeous." The handsome guy replies to me, though his eyes are observing my house. I admit that my house is beautiful, but it is not that warm. Even though I know now that dad doesn't hate me, but his coldness and the incidents in the past are still in my mind.

 

"Your house is more homely," I say to the one next to me.

"What kind of crazy ass person are you not to like your own house?"

 

"It's not that I don't like it..." I reply when P'Vee says those words. "I'm just not used to it yet." In the past, I didn't like coming back home because I was afraid of my dad, but today I don't dare to enter the house because I don't know how to deal with my emotions upon seeing him. Simply put, I'm anxious to meet him. I feel guilty for thinking he doesn't love me.

 

"Not used to what?"

 

"Seeing my dad," I answer P'Vee straightforwardly. Ever since P'Vee met my dad that day, I haven't talked to my dad. My mom just said that my dad misses me, which makes me feel bashful.

 

"I'm right here with ya," P'Vee says, and reaches out his free hand to put on my head.

"What can you possibly do? Dad doesn't even accept you yet." I reply to mess with him.

 

"Doesn't accept? Then how can he allow me to come here? This is as if I'm his son-in-law." P'Vee answers me with confidence.

 

"You're so full of yourself." I chide him. He simply shrugs, trying to convey that he's the best.

 

"Oh, you boys have arrived. Come in, come in." Mom calls out from within the house, making me turn to look. My pretty lady walks out in casual clothes. She has a bright smile and a happy expression, making me unfurl a smile as well.

 

"Hello, Madame." P'Vee raises his hands to give mom a wai, though my mom instead frowns and doesn't greet him back.

 

"Can you say that again, handsome? I prefer you to address me as mom." She walks towards us and says to P'Vee.

 

"Um...hello...mom."

 

"That's my boy." Mom lifts her hands to touch P'Vee's cheeks, then presses them gently. The handsome fella leans his face in teasingly, making her pleased. P'Vee's cheeks become reddish, which I find cute. Snap! I don't know when the photo was taken.

 

"My, my~ These days my son uploads photos on IG so often." Mom lets go of P'Vee and teases me.

 

"Well, there are nice pics to upload."

 

"It's your own IG, but the photos aren't of you." Mom teases more, till P'Vee and I become bashful.

 

"I haven't uploaded for a while now, though." Since P'Vee went to job training, I haven't uploaded many of his photos. Most of the uploads are of places we've been together. Even so, when we talk on the phone, he complains to me that he feels like I don't miss him much. The truth is, every day I'm waiting for the day he comes back.

 

"Right, why don't you upload 'Vee's pics to make my day these days?" Mom turns to ask us as we walk into the house.

 

"Make your day?" I query back.

"Don't say you're feeling jealous over him." Mom replies.

 

"I didn't upload P'Vee's photo, though," I answer sheepishly.

 

"Even though I just see his earlobe, I know it's him. Just like when you upload your photos. Even though I just saw your hand, I know that it's my son." I didn't think mom would know that each photo uploaded to my social media is of the person beside me right now. I didn't make that many uploads —only daily, though quite often. P'Vee also does so like I do.

 

"You're so observant," P'Vee says bashfully, making me also feel similar.

 

"I'm not observant or anything, but those who are in love éither post their own photos or the photos of their loved ones."

 

"Mom..." I say out to her bashfully, to which she smiles back with glee.

 

"How long has it been since I last saw you red-faced. I'm expecting a couple photo soon." Mom says smilingly.

 

"Your Masa doesn't allow me to reveal our status, Mom." I turn to PVee immediately after he finishes saying.

 

"Oh my! What's there to hide, dear?" Mom turns to ask me.

 

"It's not that I'm hiding. I'm just not telling." I reply. We don't have a couple photo, nor do we reveal our status, though most people already know.

 

"Careful now...Girls go wild for handsome guys like P'Vee." Mom turns and says to me.

 

"Mark's not so bad looking himself." The one who's complimented utters softly, though I'm sure Mom hears him, since she laughs out delightfully following 'Vee's words.

 

"This is why it's good to have young lads in the house. Go on now, unpack and take a rest. I will call you down for supper when Dad arrives." Mom says, and points to the second floor. P'Vee and acknowledge, and walk upstairs without any objection. If we stay any longer, Mom will keep poking fun at us till we have holes all over our bodies.

 

We come up to my room, put down our bags, and unpack a bit. We rest for a couple of hours before P'Vee invites me downstairs to prepare food. "Don't you wanna surprise your dad? My dad loves it when I cook for him." He says that, so I agree to come downstairs to cook with him.

 

For P'Vee, cooking may be simple, but for me it's quite difficult. There aren't many dishes I know how to make, and I'm feeling anxious now. I feel clumsy around the kitchen, as I've never cooked anything for my parents before, though this is a small matter for P'Vee.

 

"What's with you? I also don't do this often. Don't feel bashful." P'Vee says.

"I'm not feeling bashful," I reply like that, though my face heats up.

 

Our dinner preparations proceed well. P'Vee and I prepare just a few dishes, while the auntie housemaid whips up the rest. I don't dare do much or prepare everything, as I'm afraid the taste won't be to my parents' liking. The maid sets up the table. I'm sitting downstairs waiting for my parents. Beside me is P Vee, who's probably just as nervous as I am.

 

"He's here, boys." Mom calls out from the top of the stairs, prompting P'Vee and me to stand up and give him a wai.

 

"Hello," P'Vee utters softly, as Dad nods in acknowledgement and goes to his usual seat.

 

"How many days are you staying?" Dad's deep voice asks a while after we start eating.

 

"Around three or four days. We go back on Sunday." I reply just that, and Dad nods his head.

 

"You know, if I didn't tell them to come, they probably wouldn't." Mom turns to talk to Dad.

 

"So now you know how your son really is, Madame," Dad says and looks at me, to which I avoid his gaze.

 

"Don't scold our child, dear."

"I haven't said anything yet," Dad says, just that, and continues eating.

 

"What do you mean you haven't said anything? Our child almost doesn't dare to eat anymore." Mom turns to chide Dad, and then proceeds to put a portion of the omelette onto my plate.

 

"I really didn't say anything. This Massaman curry is delicious." Dad denies once again and changes the topic, while Mom flashes a little grin and P'Vee looks up at Dad.

 

"P'Vee made the curry." Dad's mouth opens in amazement as soon as Mom finishes. He glances a bit at P'Vee before grudgingly putting his spoon into his mouth again.

 

"Well, it's actually just so-so," Dad says.

 

"Is it? But I feel that you like it, Dad." P'Vee looks at Dad's face and mentions, smilingly.

 

"Who's your dad? And I don't really like it that much." Dad immediately retorts and turns his attention to other dishes.

 

"And I thought I came here as a son-in-law..." P'Vee lowers his face and utters softly, as if to remonstrate, though I'm sure that he's intentionally trying to provoke my dad.

 

"Hey! Why ya little. just eat your food." Dad loses his composure a bit. From being cold every meal, I can now see him with other emotions, too.

 

"Mark made this." P'Vee places an egg roll onto Dad's plate. The handsome fella does it so naturally, while mom looks on, pleased. However, I tremble and feel anxious when Dad looks towards me.

 

"What were you thinking, going into the kitchen like that?" Dad says and puts a spoonful of egg roll into his mouth. He doesn't compliment the taste or say any sweet words; he simply reaches out to take more until the plate is nearly empty.

 

"Dad probably won't want to eat egg rolls again for a long while." Mom jokes that after Dad finishes his plate, we start our dessert.

 

"It's just cause they're easy to chew on and don't hurt my teeth," Dad says, just that, while I don't dare to look into his eyes.

 

"It won't hurt to compliment just once, so that the person who made it can feel good." P'Vee looks up at Dad and mentions.

 

"Why do you like to talk back to me so much?"

 

"I just want the one whom I love to feel good," P'Vee replies as soon as Dad asks.

 

"Yeah, it's delicious," Dad says, glancing at me a bit, his fair-skinned, half-Japanese face colouring a bit, which makes me feel bashful as well.

 

"Tell them that it's your favourite dish, dear," Mom says and smiles happily.

 

"Make it again tomorrow, then." Dad looks at my face and speaks out. The small smile on the corner of his mouth is delivered my way, making me unfurl a smile in reply to him before he walks away.

 

"Why didn't you say anything?" P'Vee turns to ask me.

"No more. This is too much pressure." I respond.

 

"If you feel bashful, then just say so. Why do you say you feel pressure?" Mom says, smiling, prompting me to look up and, unwittingly, dart my eyes towards her.

 

"Mom..."

"My Masa is the cutest. You're even cuter when you're with P'Vee." Mom pecks me on the cheek upon saying that, before excusing herself to see Dad.

 

Once we finish dinner, P'Vee and I go up to the bedroom, while my parents also say sweet dreams to me and enter their room. Actually, the one who says sweet dreams to me is my mom, while Dad just glares sternly at P'Vee and walks straight into the room.

 

"Are you going to sleep right away?" P'Vee wipes his hair as he approaches me, and I nod and dim the lights at the head of the bed.

 

"I'm exhausted," I tell him, and twist my body back and forth.

 

"But you're happy, right? I can tell." P'Vee walks towards me and hands me the towel. I take it from him and wipe his hair gently.

"Happy about what?"

 

"You like it when your dad's like this." P'Vee leans his face in. "And you know that he likes you to be this way, too." The slender fingers touch my cheek gently, before the high-bridged nose presses against me and whispers sweet dreams.

 

I'm sleeping with P'Vee in my house, in my room. We are embracing on the bed, and it is the first night I have felt happy to sleep here. Whenever I'm here, I always encounter cold or spiteful words from dad, words of consolation from mom, or words from the housemaid telling me that my parents are away, and that I can just go straight to bed. But today it's different. I received a smile from my dad, a kiss from my mother, and warmth from P'Vee.

 

We get up early, since Dad woke us up and told us to go exercise. I'm lying there confusedly, but P'Vee gets up first and wakes me. Dad shakes his head a bit to us, as if feeling resigned upon seeing me lying there hugging P'Vee.

 

"What exercise?" I ask, as I follow Dad down to the garden.

 

"Running several laps around the swimming pool." I open my mouth agape upon hearing Dad's reply. The swimming pool isn't so small that I want to run around it several times.

 

"Isn't that a bit too much?" I ask. I don't know when I've dared to ask him in such a pleading manner like this. Dad looks at me before turning to P'Vee, who's standing there making a handsome face.

 

"Have you guys never exercised before?" I want to shout out to him so much that running around 4-5 times wouldn't bother P'Vee's feet at least. He runs around while training the juniors to play football, and he also warms up by jogging before each game. He's a strong guy with a lot of stamina who likes to exercise, which is different from me.

 

"You go ahead and run with P'Vee, Dad. I'll just sit and watch." I say, and look for a place to sit down.

 

"If you don't run too, then that kid will have to run instead of you as punishment." Dad looks at me calmly

 

"What punishment?" P'Vee asks.

"You slept with my son," Dad replies, which makes me blush, while P'Vee flashes a smile.

 

"Are you jealous of him?" 'Vee asks dad, who looks to me and sighs.

"I've only one son." He answers.

 

"Great then." P'Vee smiles before smooch~ leaning down to quickly sneak in a kiss on my cheek and turning back to smile at dad.

 

"Why you..."

"P'Vee..."

 

"As long as I can be with your son, I'm willing to run even a hundred laps," P'Vee says with a contented smile, not bothering at all about the red faces of my dad and me.. Dad's probably angry, while I'm bashful.

 

"Go run! Now!"

 

Dad and P'Vee's exercise session ends with the sixth lap, since Mom calls us inside for breakfast. Sure enough, Mom looks at Dad sternly, and Dad emits that sternness onto P'Vee.

 

Following breakfast, I bring P'Vee to the garden. We walk around the entire garden, and P'Vee says he likes it and mentions how nice it would be to raise a Husky. He feels the garden is lush and green, and could make anyone feel content.

 

"Who's been in this garden before?" P'Vee asks softly as he observes my trees.

"Not many. Just P'Pol, P'Pac, and my parents. That's all." I reply.

 

"That Pac again." The handsome guy mentions poutingly.

 

"He's like an elder brother to me. Don't worry, cause P'Pol is trying to get P'Pac, while I have you right here with me." I walk towards him and assure the one who's sulking.

 

"Yeah, just be with me, and hope your elder brothers can be an item," P'Vee replies in a bitter tone, prompting me to give out a little smile.

 

"Are you tired from running?" I ask, and bring him to sit down on the swing.

"Not that much. But it seems your dad is so freakin' strong." I giggle once he finishes his words. "What are you laughing at?" The handsome one turns and raises his brows to ask me.

 

"No one's ever talked like that about my dad before," I reply to P'Vee

"I'm just tellin' ya cause you asked," P'Vee responds in a messy tone.

 

"It's so much fun to be back home this time," I say to P'Vee, and walk over to grab hold of the swing chains.

 

"Even though it's been just a few days since I arrived."

 

"Because I'm here." I don't want to admit it, but the truth is the truth. And that is, P'Vee is a part of all my happiness.

 

"Thank you." I lower my face down to say into the ear of the one sitting on the swing. 'Vee looks up to me, before letting out a strong sigh.

 

"If I kiss you, then how many laps must I run around the pool?" P'Vee asks upon looking at my face.

 

"No need to run," I say, before slowly lowering my face down to him.

"You're always getting me in trouble."

 

"Uhh~"

 

He wraps his arm around my waist and pushes me down onto his lap before planting a kiss on me. It ends up that I sit on P'Vee's lap, as our lips mesh together, with neither yielding. Thankfully, I chose a large swing, so it sways with our movements without much trouble.

 

"Masa, oh my!"

 

"Vivas!" Mom and Dad's voices follow one after the other. P'Vee and I pull away from each other, and I quickly stand up to look at my parents.

 

"Um. Aren't you going to work, Dad?" The handsome guy sitting on the swing asks softly, before smiling sheepishly at my dad.

 

"How would I possibly know that you'd be kissing my son in the middle of our garden!" Dad says, and walks towards us, prompting P'Vee to stand up and hold my hand.

 

"Well.."

"Don't scold our son, dear." Mom gently tugs on Dad's arm.

 

"How can't I? Right in the middle of the garden, in broad daylight?" Dad walks over and says sternly.

 

"But we also kissed in the garden when we were first dating." Dad, who's about to reprimand P'Vee, opens his mouth agape once Mom finishes talking. He turns to Mom before his face turns reddish.

 

"Was it in broad daylight, too, Mom?" P'Vee asks smilingly.

"Right at noon."

 

"Madame!" Dad calls out to Mom loudly. His fair-skinned ears clearly turn to a shade of red, while mom and P'Vee giggle upon seeing dad's reaction.

 

"Why do you need to be so bashful, dear?" Mom says, and lifts her hand to gently caress Dad's cheek, while I'm unable to suppress my smile upon seeing the big man become bashful.

 

"What are you looking at?" Dad turns to me.

"Well..you're being bashful," I reply softly.

 

"So what, as if you've never felt this way before!" Dad says and walks away from the conversation. Mom lifts her hand to tag P'Vee's before following Dad out.

 

"Your dad's so freakin' cute," P'Vee says smilingly.

 

"I've just come to know," I answer back. The handsome guy turns to me and flashes me a wide grin. His smile conveys joy and happiness. It's the kind of smile that I wish to see when I bring someone I love to my house.

 

"He was worried about you in the past, that's why he behaved the way he did. It's not that he's not worried nowadays, but he knows that I can take care of you, so he's changed." P'Vee tells me as he places his warm palm on my head and gently presses it, making me feel good.

 

"Uhh.." I feel so good that I have to move in closer to P'Vee. I plant my face onto the broad shoulder of the one who's older than me, and look up at his handsome face. P'Vee responds to me with an embrace and tightens his arms so that I come even closer to him. Our heights are quite similar, so our noses touch. P'Vee doesn't move away, and I like it when that high-bridged nose touches mine.

 

"I'm happy to see you happy." The pretty lips are next to my lips. I smile uncontrollably, and we eventually end up kissing in the garden again. We kiss to tell each other how happy we are at the things that have transpired. We kiss to convey good feelings and to thank the other for fulfilling the void in our hearts. We kiss to make a promise that things will remain this way forever.