Love Upon a Time: Special Edition.

Chapter 8- I want to be your partner.

"P’Thi"

 

"..."

 

"P'Thi, wake up!"

 

A soft, pleasant voice whispered in his ear, causing the heavy eyelids of the young man in the room to flutter open slightly. Although his vision was still blurry, it felt like a bright light was radiating around the person who woke him up. As a deeply in love person, he was pretty sure it was his boyfriend's aura. After all, Pun was a little angel. It wasn't because the curtains were open, letting the light in. But his eyelids refused to obey easily. Thi buried his face in the pillow, his voice hoarse and groggy, "You... I want ten more minutes..."

 

"It's almost ten o'clock. Are you really going to sleep in on a day like this?"

 

"Huh..." That sentence made Thi wake up slightly. Because one leg was still in a deep sleep, it took him several seconds to realise what was happening. What is Pun talking about?

 

Realising this, Thi turned over onto his back, opened his eyes, and looked at the person who was already dressed and staring intently at him. He then raised both arms and smiled. Feeling sleepy

 

"Can I have a gift, babe?"

 

"He won't get up just to get a gift. Ugh, I'll only let him have it today." Pun slumped down onto the bed, sighing, but eventually leaned into the embrace of the person lying there. He hugged him around the slender waist and leaned in to kiss his lover's cheek.

 

"Happy birthday, P'Thi."

 

"Ah, that feels so good," Thi chuckled softly, tightening his embrace around the smaller figure and closing his eyes in contentment. Three months had passed since he and Pun officially became a couple, and Thi felt it was all worth the three years of effort. Normally, Pun was already very sweet, even though he was a bit reserved during the time they were dating. But after they became a couple, he changed. The distance between them decreased, and Pun, as a boyfriend, was unexpectedly affectionate, making Thi feel as if happiness were overflowing from his mouth every single day.

 

Adjusting to each other hasn't been a big problem; there are just minor disagreements here and there, as is typical in any couple. However, we've never been angry with each other for long, simply because when his boyfriend made a grumpy face at him, Thi flustered and quickly tried to make amends. Both families were okay with things going on. As for what happened in bed, he wouldn't describe it, but let's just say it was amazing. Overall, it was a hundred times better than anything Thi had ever imagined. Sometimes he even wondered if he was dreaming, but he was sure he wasn't. Even in a dream, hugging Pun’s smooth, fragrant skin like this wasn't as good. Whose boyfriend is this? He's so incredibly cute and cuddly!

 

"And can I have another gift?" Thi asked in a husky voice, turning over to gaze at his lover held captive in his arms with a sparkling glint in his eyes. The slightly rolled-up neckline revealed the faint rose-colored mark he had left on Pun's shoulder the night before. The young man's breath quickened as he leaned down to kiss along the pale neck, emphasising the mark. Pun flinched slightly. The other person quickly raised their hand to push him away, speaking shyly as if to stop him, "But Pun has already made breakfast. Pun woke up and prepared everything before six o'clock."

 

"That's it."

 

"Hmm." Thi, who was about to give in to his desires, started to think hard. Last night, he had kept Pun up late, yet the other still made an effort to wake up early to be with him and made breakfast for his birthday. But if he indulges himself and eats the chef before the meal, maybe he'll feel comfortable but unhappy? Pun will definitely be sulking tonight and won't let me hug him.

 

Seeing that he was indecisive, Pun took the initiative and made the choice for him.

 

"Don't think about it anymore, get up and eat quickly."

 

The petite figure quickly pulled away from his boyfriend's embrace, stood up, straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes, and glanced at the person on the bed who had just sat up, showing off. A perfect physique, shirtless from the waist up, along with a longing gaze. In fact, Pun had always been the one who succumbed to Thi’s gaze like this. Before they were dating, he could manage to be strong-willed and accept it, but after they became a couple, he discovered it's very difficult not to give in. If I indulge him too often, P'Thi will be spoiled and become completely ill-mannered. But today is his birthday, so let's be a little nice.

 

"Eat first. As for the cook... if you want to eat, wait until nighttime."

 

"You promised," the other person smiled brightly, the dejected puppy-dog look vanishing in an instant as they walked over and wrapped their arms around his waist. The taller figure's warm breath brushed against his ear. His lips, curved in a smile, took over, and he whispered, "I'm not letting Punn go home today."

"I'm not running away," Pun mumbled before pushing his overly affectionate boyfriend away and walking out of the bedroom towards the kitchen, while ThI went to open the cupboard.

 

The man grabbed a t-shirt, put it on, and followed out, whistling cheerfully. It's common for couples to have overnight stays at each other's houses, but since Pun still lives with his family and is shy about bringing Thi home to stay overnight,

Therefore, he occasionally chose to stay overnight at his condo. In fact, Thi wanted Pun to move in with him permanently, but it seemed Pun still wanted his personal space, so he didn't want to rush things. Even lovers need time to be alone sometimes, right? Besides...they've only been dating for three months, so Thi thought there was plenty of time to discuss this.

 

But even so, he managed to persuade Pun to stay overnight at least three or four days a week. Someone like Pun wouldn't agree unless he really wanted to. That means...Pun just wanted to be close to him; that alone made Thi very happy, and he was eagerly anticipating the gift tonight.

 

"Wow, it smells so good!" As soon as Thi opened the bedroom door, he was greeted by the fragrant aroma of food wafting through the air, prompting him to exclaim. Pun nudged him to sit at the table, instructing him not to get up to help, while he himself busied himself preparing to serve the food before returning with an extremely proud expression.

 

"This one...."

 

"It's macaroni soup with minced pork. Didn't P'Thi say he wanted to eat it the other day? I'm not a very good cook, so I just made something simple like this. But it's delicious, try it."

 

"Look," Pun presented enthusiastically. He had woken up before dawn to make this bowl of soup for the person who usually only ate bread and coffee for breakfast. Thi looked at the food in front of him with pride. Even though he said it was just a simple meal, it still took a long time to prepare.

 

"Is it delicious?"

 

"Delicious! My babe put a lot of effort into making this; it's really tasty," Thi smiled sweetly at the person who was anxiously watching after taking a big bite.

 

"Don't try to comfort me, just be honest."

 

"I'm serious, the taste is just right. Pun, you're a good cook; have some confidence in yourself."

Pun looked greatly relieved when he said that. The slender figure walked over and hugged Thi from behind, burying his face in his shoulder and saying with a smile, "That's better. Then eat."

 

"Lots of it! And there's dessert too!"

 

"The dessert is made by the person who made it; that one is the best!"

 

"Not for you," Pun refused, quickly walking to sit opposite him before Thi could change his mind and want a different dessert instead of what he had gone to so much trouble for.

 

The two young men sat eating and chatting in the warm atmosphere of a Saturday morning. Thi finished his soup, making the cook beam with pride. Then Pun opened the cupboard and took out the cupcakes.

 

Thi blinked repeatedly. "Wow, you made this yourself, little one?"

 

"Yeah, I just started learning how to make cakes last month. They might not be that delicious yet. I'm not very good at piping cream, so they look a little strange, but they're edible. I ate a piece."

 

"Here's one," the slender figure said, handing Thi a plate with two cupcakes, each with candles on top and the words "Happy" and "Birthday" in cream, along with a lighter to light them.

 

Thi sat, watching his lover light a candle for him, a focused, deep expression in his eyes.

 

"Brother Thi, make a wish."

 

"Okay," Thi closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again and blowing out the candles, accompanied by applause from Pun, who was smiling broadly and adorably. Seeing that, Thi couldn't resist. Unable to resist, he reached out, grabbed the other's waist, pulled them onto his lap, and began showering them with kisses and hugs until Pun burst into uncontrollable laughter.

 

"Eat the cake quickly. How are you going to eat it sitting like this?"

 

"You feed me," Thi rested his chin on Pun's shoulder, giving him his most pleading look. Pun picked up the cake, offered the birthday boy a bite, and took a bite himself.

 

"Is that okay?"

 

"It's the most delicious thing in the world!"

 

"Exaggerated"

 

"It's not an exaggeration. This is a cake that Pun made especially for me. With all that effort, it's bound to be the most delicious," Thi said with a smile, as Pun picked up a tissue to wipe the corner of a smeared mouth.

 

Thi sat gazing at his lover, who was showing him affection, with a dreamy look in his eyes. No matter how many thousands of times he had seen it, Pun was still so adorable and charming that Thi didn't want to look away. That was a really sad moment.

 

"Pun, don't you want to know what I prayed for just now?"

 

"Even if I wanted to know, I wouldn't ask. They say that if you speak it out, your prayers won't come true."

 

"But I want to tell you something," Thi grabbed one of the other's hands, held it gently, and kissed the back of it softly, tightening his embrace, "I wish we could love each other forever."

 

"Every nation."

 

"I'm bragging."

 

"No exaggeration, I'm serious," Thi said earnestly. Ever since meeting Pun, he's felt a deep connection, as if they've known each other for a very long time. Since Buddhism has its own...Through the cycle of rebirth and any karmic connections, it's possible that he may have met Pun before in previous lives. Therefore, in the next life and all lives to come, Thi still wants to love this person again.

 

"If I pursue you again in the next life, please accept my love."

 

"I don't know. Let's see how he behaves in this life first," Pun wrinkled his nose, moving his hand to pinch the cheek of the person who liked to overact. Thi then playfully nipped Pun's shoulder. It was a form of revenge. In short, it turned into a late breakfast filled with sweet laughter.

 

"It's your birthday today, don't you want to go anywhere?" Pun asked when his lover, who had finished showering and getting dressed, walked out of the bedroom. 

Thi slumped down on the sofa, pulling his smaller boyfriend to sit with him, wrapping his arm around his waist with a thoughtful expression. "That's true..." 

 

One funny thing about Thi, who usually has a rather flamboyant lifestyle, is that he often spends his birthday at home because his parents used to throw parties. For his birthday, Thi usually invited friends to his house instead. However, when he entered university, his birthday fell on the day of his final exams. Forget going anywhere, he just wanted to survive the exams first.

 

Last year for his birthday, he went to Hokkaido with his family. This was the first year Thi had spent his birthday with Pun, but lately he's been so busy with work at the company that he forgot. Then, realising his birthday was approaching and that he had to make plans at short notice, Thi thought hard.

 

"So, where would you like to go, my little one?"

 

"Comfort Thi," she said. "He's the birthday boy after all."

 

"Anywhere is fine. Just being with Pun is a gift in itself," Thi said, looking at his lover with sweet eyes.

 

Pun took a deep breath. "You're too sweet-talking!"

 

"That's the truth," Thi said, leaning in and giving the smaller man a big kiss on the cheek. 

 

Actually, just being like this felt good, and it seemed like Pun felt the same way.

Because the other party suggested it.

 

"Or we could just chill in the room, watch a movie, and then around 4 pm go to the mall to grab something to eat. After that, we can walk around and look at the Christmas lights in the evening. That way, I can rest."

 

"You're really busy with work these days, aren't you?"

 

"Yeah...then let's do that. What should we watch?" Thi grabbed the remote and turned on the television, searching for a movie to watch together on the same streaming app. Thi wasn't a homebody, but now that he was out of school and into the working world, he began to long for the time when he could be himself without having to Facing the hustle and bustle of the outside world, I thought studying was tiring, but once I entered the working world, I found it even more exhausting, both physically and mentally. There were so many more duties and responsibilities. By the time work ended, I was practically completely drained. So, instead of going out on weekends as usual, lately I've found that staying home, relaxing, and finding things to do isn't so bad after all.

As for Pun, he'll soon be studying abroad alone, so he wants to spend as much of the remaining time with Thi as possible, cuddling and watching movies together.

 

Spending time in the living room with his lover on vacation never bored him. In short, they finished watching two movies. Around four o'clock in the afternoon, they both got up to change their clothes to go to a shopping mall in the city centre together. With Christmas and New Year approaching, landmarks throughout Bangkok were beautifully decorated with Christmas trees and dazzling lights to attract tourists, offering lots of feasts for the eyes. No one can resist the magical, joyful atmosphere of the end of the year. Thi and Pun were no exception. After dinner, they strolled hand in hand, enjoying the scenery, taking Christmas-themed photos, and chatting amid beautiful music and a cool breeze. Even Bangkok this year felt a touch of winter charm.

 

While resting and looking up at the towering Christmas tree in front of them, Pun suddenly nudged Thi's arm.

 

"Peetheer, Pun has a gift for you."

 

"Wow, you're giving me so many gifts today," Thi said with a smile, watching his lover open his bag and take out gifts with interest.

 

"It's a birthday promotion," Pun smiled brightly, pulling out a velvet box containing jewellery. Thi took the box and opened it. Inside was a necklace from a luxury brand with a simple yet stylish design that complemented many looks—one he preferred.

I glanced at my lover's expectant face, who was starting off with a voice that clearly showed he was trying to suppress his excitement.

 

"It's simple but cool. It reminds me of my brother. I wonder if you'll like it."

 

"I like it," Thi smiled broadly. "Thank you very much."

 

"Let me put it on for you." The smaller figure stood up, extended his hand to take the necklace from Thi, and carefully put it on. Thi then reached out and hugged his slender waist, causing Pun to lightly tap his shoulder.

 

"Let go," he told him, but the young man ignored him. "Let them stare. Haven't they ever seen a couple being sweet to each other before?"

 

Finally, Thi loosened his embrace when Pun whined that he wanted to sit back down. If they were in their room, he would have definitely held him on his lap, but it wasn't convenient to do so outside.

 

"It suits you so well," Pun smiled contentedly as he saw the jewellery he had carefully chosen on his lover's body. He had been thinking for months about what to give him for his birthday until he fell in love with this necklace, which had only recently arrived in Thailand. It looked even cooler on P’Thi. "If you wear it often, I'll be so happy," Pun added

 

"I never take it off. I wear it twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a week."

 

"No need to go to that extent. You can take it off sometimes; otherwise it'll get old faster."

 

"Okay, thank you so much," Thi said, chuckling, pulling the other's hand to his lips and holding it tightly, intertwining their ten fingers together.

 

They both looked up at the sky. Although the stars were obscured, the festival lights still twinkled, creating a bright and lively atmosphere. Music filled the air. The sounds of conversation from the people around him were relaxing, yet at the same time, Cheew couldn't help but feel lonely because soon he wouldn't be holding Pun's hand almost every day like this anymore.

 

"Just three more months..."

 

"Pun's only studying for one year, really. Even including the foundation course time, it's only a year and a half," Wanglek comforted her boyfriend, who looked visibly downcast. Thi sighed, "I must feel like it's been ten years."

 

"Come on," Pun hugged the other's arm, leaning his head against the broad shoulder and saying, "It's not like I'm going away and never coming back. I do come back to Thailand sometimes, you know. We video call."

 

"Every day is fine, I won't be lonely anyway. My brother said he's going to fly to see Punn."

 

Even though he had planned everything out, Thi still couldn't help but feel sad. He really couldn't abandon the work he was learning to take over the hotel business. Otherwise...I guess I'll go and keep Pun company.

 

Pun looked up, reaching out to pinch his grumpy boyfriend's cheek. "Let's think about where we should go on a date when I come to visit you there. I'll tell you later.  Let's make a plan."

 

"...Okay," Thi sighed, putting his arm around the other's waist before saying, "Pun, if you finish your studies and come back to Thailand..."

"Huh?"

 

"Marry me."

 

That sentence made the listener freeze, their heart pounding. Although P’Thii had been pursuing him for three years, they had only been dating for three months. Pun therefore didn't think that this conversation would arrive soon, but when he heard the simple invitation, his heart swelled with joy.

 

"Well...if...if by then you haven't changed your mind," the small figure stammered slightly, his face turning bright red. Seeing that adorable reaction, Thi couldn't resist leaning in and giving him a big kiss on the cheek, making Pun's eyes widen and his face turn even redder.

 

"I haven't changed my mind. From the first time I met Pun, I've never changed my mind," Thi said. It might sound like the sweet talk of a flirtatious guy, even to Pun.

That's what they might think, but this is how he truly feels. And it will be like that for the rest of my life.

 

"Just saying this for now; I'll formally confirm it later. Would you like the fruit to grow thicker?"

 

"Mm-hmm," Pun mumbled, lowering his head to look at his feet, too embarrassed to make eye contact.

 

"Shall we go back to the room?" Thi suggested to the person sitting silently with a flushed face, a mischievous smile on his face. "I want to hug you," Pun grumbled, fidgeting. "Aren't you already hugging me?"

 

"Hug me tighter, hug me all the way inside—" Before Thi could finish speaking, a slender hand covered his mouth. Pun looked left and right before glaring at him for what he had said. It was embarrassing in public, but when that fierce gaze came from the sweet-faced person, their cheeks flushed all the way to their neck, it only made Thi want to tease them even more.

 

"Come on, let's go back to the room and have some dessert," Thi said casually, covering Pun's mouth with his hand, giving him a mischievous smile. Although Pun made a slightly grumpy face, he eventually got up, hugged Thi's arm, and walked away with him. Even though Pun had given him many gifts throughout the day.

But if you ask me which one I like the most, it would probably be the last gift, which was so sweet and I loved it the most.

 

"Thank you," Thi whispered to the person he had been acting spoiled with for hours, who was now nestled against his chest. Pun was too exhausted to hear.

Despite what he said, Thi still wanted to tell him. "I love you, Pun. Good night."

 

For Thi, this year's birthday was an incredibly special and unforgettable memory.