You(r) Tuber Vol 1.

10 Chop-khun Won't Give Up

"I don't like women."

 

"Oh, okay," Chop-khun replied, not saying anything further. He wasn't surprised that Intouch liked men, but he was more taken aback that Intouch chose to share this with him.

 

Unable to sleep, Chop-khun blinked in the darkness, his mind running through various possibilities. Was Intouch telling him this because they worked together? Was that it? Even though he wasn't sure of Intouch's reasons, deep down, Chop-khun was glad that Intouch trusted him enough to share something so personal. It felt like they'd grown a little closer.

 

As his thoughts wandered and he began to drift off, he heard a faint voice from the man beside him, whom he thought had already fallen asleep.

 

"Are you asleep yet?" Intouch asked, lying on his back with both hands resting at his sides.

 

"Almost. My eyes are about to close. Aren't you sleepy yet?" Chop-khun replied groggily.

 

"I'm getting there. Goodnight."

 

"Goodnight, In," Chop-khun murmured before falling asleep from exhaustion. Some time passed, and the tent grew silent. So silent that Intouch began to drift off.

 

Just as he was slipping into slumber, he became aware of a hand resting on his stomach and a face nestled against his shoulder. Chop-khun's familiar fragrance became more noticeable as they grew closer. It was likely the baby soap he'd seen in Chop-khun's shower basket earlier.

 

Intouch could barely see anything, but the steady warmth of Chop-khun's breath against his upper arm told him that Chop-khun was fast asleep. It was late, and Intouch hesitated to move the other's hand for fear of waking him. Not knowing what else to do, he decided to let it be. Instead, he pulled the blanket up to cover the person snuggled beside him before closing his eyes again.

 

The bare white foot sticking out from under the thick blanket felt the chill of the early morning air. Still half-asleep, Chop-khun pulled his leg back under the soft quilt. His pale eyelids fluttered open and shut slowly. Though he didn't want to wake up, the soft sunlight streaming through the tent's window hit his face, making it impossible to stay asleep. Once his vision adjusted, Chop-khun's eyes widened in surprise.

 

The first thing he saw was Intouch's face, turned toward him as he slept! Their heads were practically sharing the same pillow. Fully awake, Chop-khun became acutely aware of their proximity. What startled him even more was realising that his hand was resting on Intouch's waist, and his leg was draped over the other man. When did this even happen? I seriously have no idea.

 

Holding his breath, Chop-khun carefully and slowly lifted his hand and leg off Intouch, afraid of waking him. His eyes couldn't help but take in the sharp, well-defined features of Intouch's face. In looks like the lead actor in one of those dramas I'm obsessed with. It's not fair. He's still that handsome even when he's sleeping.

 

Chop-khun sighed in relief once his hand and leg were no longer on Intouch. He was about to slip out from under the blanket when his gaze met a pair of dark eyes. For five seconds, their eyes locked, blinking slowly at each other. Then, Chop-khun shot up into a sitting position, his thoughts scattering in every direction. Waking up like this felt like a scene straight out of a Korean drama. But this was real life. He didn't even know what state he was in. He hadn't brushed his teeth, washed his face, or checked if he had eye crust or morning breath like that one time.

 

"Are you okay? Getting up so quickly like that might make you dizzy," Intouch said, sitting up as well, his curiosity piqued by Chop-khun's sudden movement.

 

"No, no, I just thought it might be late already," Chop-khun stammered, sitting still and rubbing his temples because, as Intouch had predicted, he was actually feeling a bit dizzy.

 

"It's not late yet. The alarm hasn't gone off. Did you sleep well last night?" Intouch asked.

 

"I slept fine. What about you?" Chop-khun replied, his voice muffled as he looked down.

 

"I slept soundly."

 

"I was really cold. Weren't you cold?" For Chop-khun, last night's temperature had been freezing. He hadn't wanted to stick even a toe out from under the blanket.

 

"Not really. I felt warm," Intouch replied.

 

Chop-khun forgot his embarrassment and turned to look at Intouch in surprise. Warm? When it's colder than air conditioning out here? Maybe he just likes the cold. Once his dizziness subsided, Chop-khun stood up and walked over to grab his shower basket from the corner of the tent.

 

"I'm going to wash up first. See you by the water, In."

 

"What about the gecko in the tent?"

 

"I'll ask the staff to handle it. Sorry if I moved around too much in my sleep or anything like that last night."

 

"I slept just fine. Don't worry about it," Intouch reassured him. Chop-khun nodded before stepping out of the tent.

 

After taking care of his personal business, Chop-khun quickly informed the staff that a gecko had gotten into his tent. It didn't take long for the troublesome, large gecko to be caught and removed. The staff apologised profusely, but Chop-khun wasn't upset since it was an unavoidable situation. After all, no one could control geckos.

 

With the gecko gone, Chop-khun hurried back into the tent to change into a blue crew-neck T-shirt and knee-length brown shorts. Then, he briskly walked to the stream to continue filming with Intouch. They started filming on a bamboo platform that extended into the water. Chop-khun sat down on the platform, dipping his legs into the clear, gently flowing stream.

 

"The water's so cold. There are fish as well," Chop-khun said, leaning forward to look at the tiny fish swimming around his feet. “In, why don't you try sitting and soaking your feet? It's really nice."

 

Intouch, who was busy capturing footage of Chop-khun, sat down beside him and dipped his feet into the water as suggested. The camera in his hand panned from Chop-khun's face to his slender legs, which were gently swaying in the clear water.

 

"Do you want to play in the water, In?"

 

"No, thank you."

 

Chop-khun nodded and didn't press further. He sat quietly for a while before grabbing the GoPro camera Intouch had given him and wading into the knee-deep water.

 

"It's almost eight in the morning, and the air is still a bit chilly. I'm about to play in the water, but it's so cold!"

 

Chop-khun exaggerated, dragging out his words for emphasis as he spoke to the GoPro in his hand. Intouch watched Chop-khun record for a while before stepping into the water to capture footage. After Chop-khun returned the GoPro to its owner, he floated on his back, arms and legs spread wide.

 

"Do you think I look like a jellyfish like this?" Chop-khun asked the cameraman standing nearby, filming the serene surroundings.

 

"Hmm," Intouch tilted his head, looking down at the floating figure. "You look more like a starfish."

 

"You're right! This pose does look more like a starfish."

 

"Are you cold? Your lips are starting to turn pale."

 

"A little, but I can handle it."

 

Intouch nodded and continued filming the starfish-like Chop-khun as he floated around. But it wasn't long before the icy water made Chop-khun shiver and his lips turn blue. Seeing this, Intouch suggested that the shivering man get out, shower, and change into dry clothes. Chop-khun agreed without protest, even though he wanted to keep playing. The cold had become unbearable, and they'd likely captured enough footage anyway.

 

After showering, packing up, eating breakfast, and checking out, they set off for Bangkok around midday.

 

Vrrr... Vrrr...

 

The international music playing in the car, connected via Bluetooth to the driver's phone, paused as an incoming call came through.

 

"In, can you check who's calling for me?" Chop-khun asked while keeping his eyes on the road. Intouch picked up the vibrating phone from the centre console, his thick brows furrowing slightly when he saw the name on the screen: "Teerak."

 

"It's Teerak," Intouch read aloud.

 

"Oh, could you answer it for me? I'll take the call real quick," Chop-khun said.

 

"Sure," Intouch replied.

 

Chop-khun reached into his shirt pocket but couldn't find his AirPods. He suddenly remembered they were in the bag in the trunk. Before he could tell Intouch not to answer, it was too late. The voice of his younger brother came through the car's speakers.

 

[Babe, what are you doing?]

 

"I'm driving. You're on speaker," Chop-khun informed his brother, letting him know others could hear the conversation. 

 

[Who are you with?]

 

"With my cameraman," Chop-khun said, glancing at Intouch, who was looking out the window. "What's up, babe?"

 

[It's a long story. I'll tell you when you get home. Make sure to call me, okay?] The stern tone in his brother's voice made Chop-khun curious, but it wasn't convenient to talk now.

 

"Alright, I'll call you when I get home."

 

[Okay. Drive safely.]

 

After Teerak hung up, the music resumed. They drove in silence for a while before Chop-khun noticed that Intouch was unusually quiet. Intouch was always on the quieter side, but now he seemed lost in thought, staring out the window.

 

"Was that your boyfriend?"

 

"Huh?" Chop-khun raised an eyebrow, surprised by the unexpected question.

 

"The person who called earlier," Intouch clarified.

 

"Ohhh," Chop-khun drew out the word as he realised Intouch must've seen the name Teerak' on the phone screen. "That's my little brother," he said with a small smile. Intouch wasn't the first person to misunderstand.

 

"Your younger brother? You two talk to each other so sweetly."

 

"We've talked like that since he was little, so we just kept doing it."

 

Teerak is the younger brother, and Chop-khun is the older one. Why didn't I notice that sooner?

 

Intouch thought the two siblings must've faced plenty of misunderstandings because of their names. He shook his head at himself, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

 

The return trip was quicker than the journey there, so they arrived in Bangkok earlier than expected. After parting ways with Intouch in front of his house, Chop-khun hurriedly carried his bags inside, eager to head to the main house to pick up Kati. While driving, he slipped in his AirPods and called his younger brother.

 

"So, what's up?" Chop-khun got straight to the point.

 

[I want to drop out,] came the dejected voice on the other end. [I don't think studying medicine is for me.]

 

"You're not happy, are you?"

 

[No, it's not that I can't handle it. But the more I study, the more I realise it's not for me. The workload is one thing, but I want to work in a different field. Still, I'm scared of disappointing Mom and Dad if I transfer.]

 

"They never forced you to study medicine. Remember when you got accepted? Dad told you to think carefully about whether you really liked it before making a choice. They won't be disappointed. It's your life. Do you want me to talk to them first?"

 

[No, no, I'll talk to them myself.]

 

"Alright. Have you decided what you want to do next? Which faculty do you want to join?" Chop-khun asked with genuine interest. He knew his brother was talented in many areas and could excel at anything he set his mind to.

 

I want to study communication arts. I've been looking into it, and there are several fields I'm interested in. If I really drop out, I'll need to start studying for the entrance exams since I come from a science background.]

 

"Go for it. You can do it."

 

[You're not mad at me, are you?]

 

Chop-khun hadn't expected Teerak to be so worried. Normally, his younger brother was confident and had a strong sense of self.

 

"Mad? Why would I be mad, babe? I support you doing what you love. You're the one studying, not Dad, Mom, or me. If you've thought it through, call them and explain. If you want to transfer, then go ahead and start the process."

 

[Thanks.]

 

"It'll be nice if you study in Bangkok. I'll be able to keep tabs on you more easily," Chop-khun teased.

 

[You? Keep tabs on me? Not a chance.]

 

"Then who can?"

 

[No one, obviously.]

 

They joked around for a while until the sadness in Teerak's voice disappeared. Chop-khun ended the call, needing to focus on driving. The roads were busier than usual, and by the time he reached the main house, it was already late in the afternoon.

 

As he arrived at the house, the automatic gate opened. The silver Benz didn't pull into the garage as usual. Chop-khun parked in front of the house instead, as he was in a hurry and needed to leave quickly to finish some work. His brown eyes noticed an unfamiliar car parked nearby, and he frowned.

 

Whose car is that? Do we have guests? As he stepped into the house, Chop-khun saw someone he hadn't expected to see. Just from the back, he instantly recognised who it was. That jerk, Tewit, was playing with Kati and Mantou in the living room. How dare he set foot in this house again?!

 

"Where are Mom and Dad?" Chop-khun asked Nim, the housekeeper, who approached him as soon as she saw him.

 

"They went out for dinner," she replied, her expression uneasy.

 

"If they're not home, how did that guy get into the house?" Chop-khun asked in a calm tone, nodding toward the uninvited guest.

 

"Uncle Cham let him in because he recognised Mr Te. I didn't have a chance to stop him. By the time I noticed, he was already inside," Nim explained.

 

Chop-khun nodded. Cham, the gardener, had let Tewit in because he was familiar with him. It wasn't anyone's fault, since Chop-khun hadn't told anyone about their breakup. Only Nim knew, having heard it from Phomlaphat herself.

 

"It's alright. I'll handle it. Auntie Nim, could you please pack Kati's things for me? I'm in a hurry today and won't have time to do it myself."

 

"Of course. I'm so sorry about this."

 

"It's not your fault, so don't worry about it. Please don't make that face," Chop-khun comforted the woman with a small smile, patting her arm reassuringly. She'd been working with them for a long time, and he understood her discomfort well. This was entirely Tewit's fault for showing up here.

 

Seeing Kati and Mantou playing with Tewit as if nothing had happened, Chop-khun let out a long sigh. He had to admit, Tewit was great with animals. It was one thing he could never criticise him for. Tewit had always been attentive and caring when it came to pets. But since their breakup had been far from amicable, Chop-khun couldn't accept this guy coming and going as he pleased, as if they were still together.

 

"Kati, Mantou," Chop-khun called softly. The two dogs, hearing the familiar voice, immediately ran to him, tails wagging with excitement. The tall man, who'd been standing with his back turned, turned around with a smile.

 

"I didn't expect to see Kati and you here," Tewit said.

 

"Why are you here?" Chop-khun asked, crouching to pick up Kati and hold him close. With his free hand, he petted and scratched Mantou's neck.

 

"I came to visit your parents, but they weren't home," Tewit replied with a smile. "Lucky for me, I got to see you instead." 

 

"Why would you visit them? We're not together anymore, in case you forgot," Chop-khun said coldly, standing up to face Tewit. His sharp gaze showed no hint of playfulness. 

 

"Don't come to this house again."

 

"What about your house? The one you wanted us to live in together, can I go there?" 

 

Tewit stepped closer, reaching out to brush aside the bangs covering Chop-khun's face. But he failed as Chop-khun stepped back, avoiding his touch. It felt like a thousand needles were piercing Tewit's heart. What he used to do so easily was now met with rejection. Regret was building in his chest with every passing moment. The more he saw Chop-khun, the more he missed him.

 

"That's ridiculous. You have no right to go to any of my places."

 

"I saw the video of that house of yours. It's a shame, really. We should've been living there together, as we planned."

 

Chop-khun let out a bitter laugh. "I don't regret it one bit. And let me warn you: stay in your lane. Don't cross the line again. We're done."

 

The distant tone Chop-khun used stung Tewit deeply. Though his face burned with embarrassment, he quickly followed behind as Chop-khun walked away with Kati in his arms.

 

"Your channel's subscriber count is still low. If you want to grow your channel like mine, I can help. It might improve. You can't do it alone. Your speaking skills still need work. People won't watch if you're not engaging," Tewit said, thinking his offer might pique Chop-khun's interest. After all, Chop-khun had once asked for his advice on public speaking when they were together, though Tewit hadn't paid much attention back then.

 

Chop-khun ignored both the seemingly helpful words and the man who spoke them. It was too late now. Saying such things at this point was meaningless. He walked over to Nim, who was waiting at the front of the house with his backpack.

 

"Thank you, Auntie Nim. From now on, please let everyone in the house know that he and I are no longer together. No one is allowed to let anyone into the house without permission. I'm leaving now. Goodbye," Chop-khun said, bowing slightly to the housekeeper before heading to his car.

 

Tewit wasn't ready to give up. He followed and grabbed the car door as Chop-khun opened it to place his belongings inside.

 

"Can you not do this, Khun? At least we can be friends, can't we?" Tewit pleaded. Chop-khun frowned, turning to look at Tewit in disbelief. How could he even say such a thing? Friends? Really?

 

"You're more pathetic than I thought. Move."

 

"Don't be like this. Let's talk properly," Tewit tried again.

 

"Move," Chop-khun repeated.

 

Seeing the serious expression and unwavering gaze, Tewit finally stepped back. Without another word, Chop-khun carried Kati to the driver's side, got in, and drove off, leaving Tewit standing there, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. Chop-khun in this version is truly difficult to deal with. What should I do now?

 

The evening's events left Chop-khun irritated. He couldn't stop thinking about Tewit meddling in his life again and the comment that his speaking skills were unpolished and unappealing. Chop-khun had thought he'd improved. Even Intouch said he was doing better!

 

Determined, Chop-khun decided to watch his own YouTube videos again to identify areas for improvement. Afterwards, he scrolled through comments, both positive and critical, as well as feedback from viewers on various platforms. He jotted down notes on what needed fixing in his notebook, planning to improve for his next video. His subscriber count had grown to 3,500. It's still low, as Tewit pointed out, but gaining 500 subscribers in just a few days isn't too bad... right?

 

Chop-khun pulled out a calculator. If he gained 500 subscribers a day, it'd take 1,800 days to reach 900,000 subscribers. That was nearly five years. A curse slipped out as he finished calculating. That's way too long.

 

Shaking his head, Chop-khun refocused. He had to stay confident. He couldn't let someone like Tewit discourage him again.

 

"You're doing great, Chop-khun," he told himself, patting his head a few times for encouragement. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Chop-khun realised it was already late. He closed his MacBook, tidied up his desk, and bent down to pick up Kati, who'd fallen fast asleep. Carrying the little dog to his bedroom, he gently placed him on his dog bed before collapsing onto his own bed. The first thing he did was set his alarm. The lesson from oversleeping last time was one he didn't want to repeat.

 

Chop-khun had a work appointment with Intouch at his house the next day. There was no way he was going to let history repeat itself. The automatic gate was opened for Intouch at 9:50 AM, just as a black Porsche pulled into the driveway next to the silver Benz. 

 

Intouch stepped out of the car, wearing a long-sleeved black mandarin-collar shirt with the top two buttons undone due to the sweltering heat. He paired it with well-fitting light-brown slacks and wore his favourite silver Patek Philippe watch on his wrist. In one hand, he carried a work bag and a bag of crispy banana chips he'd bought as a gift for the homeowner. Chop-khun opened the front door, as per usual, with Kati trailing behind him after hearing the doorbell.

 

"Hey, In. Have you eaten yet?"

 

"Hey, yeah, I have. I brought you something," Intouch replied, handing over the bag of snacks to Chop-khun, who was dressed in an oversized white T-shirt and loose brown slacks.

 

Chop-khun accepted the bag and peeked inside. "Thanks. Why'd you buy so many? You didn't have to."

 

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it," Intouch said as he took off his white sneakers, placed them in the shoe cabinet, and slipped on a pair of house slippers.

 

"Let's share them later, then."

 

"Sure," Intouch agreed with a small smile, following Chop-khun into the workspace.

 

"Do you think we should include this in the intro?" Chop-khun asked, seeking Intouch's opinion as they sat side by side. Intouch scooted his chair closer, looking at the MacBook screen.

 

"It's good, but I think we should cut down on the road scenes and add more of the beautiful shots from Suan Phueng," Intouch suggested.

 

"Got it. This part won't take long. I plan to keep the narration here under a minute. Too much talking might make it boring. How's your part coming along?"

 

"I should finish selecting the footage by noon. I'll probably start editing in the afternoon."

 

"Alright. Once I'm done here, I'll work on the thumbnail. Could you send me the remaining image files?"

 

The two of them were engrossed in editing. Even with a guideline, the amount of footage this time exceeded expectations, and selecting the right ones took hours. Chop-khun doubted they'd finish everything today.

 

Typically, a YouTube channel should post videos consistently. Posting frequently, especially in the beginning, was ideal. But that kind of pressure was too much for Chop-khun. He decided to aim for one or two videos a week instead.

 

While waiting for the main video with Intouch, Chop-khun planned to upload solo videos he'd pre-recorded. This time, he had to do just that, as he wanted the collaborative video to be perfect. Staring at the screen for so long was straining his eyes. Chop-khun glanced at Intouch, who was deeply focused on editing. They'd taken a lunch break at noon but had been working nonstop since then.

 

"In, why don't you give your eyes a break?"

 

"Just let me finish this part first. You go ahead and rest," Intouch replied without looking away from the screen.

 

"I'll wait and rest with you," Chop-khun said, returning to his work.

 

The clicking of the mouse suddenly stopped. "Alright, let's take a break," Intouch said, pushing his chair back and spinning it to face Chop-khun.

 

"Didn't you just say you wanted to finish that part?" Chop-khun asked, pausing his work to look at him.

 

"I changed my mind. I want to rest now."

 

"Can I just finish this one? You go ahead and rest first."

 

"Then I'll wait and rest with you."

 

Chop-khun couldn't help but laugh when Intouch threw his words right back at him.

 

"Fine. Let me save my work real quick."

 

The two of them moved to the living room, sipping on chilled chrysanthemum tea. On the table sat the opened bag of crispy banana chips. Chop-khun used chopsticks to pick up a piece, glancing at Intouch, who was petting Kati. Chop-khun was a bit bewildered to see how much more comfortable Intouch had become with Kati. The fluffy dog closed his eyes contentedly after a few strokes, rolling onto his back on the floor. In has clearly fallen for Kati. But who wouldn't? My dog is just that adorable.

 

"We can call it a day if you want. It's almost the end of your work hours anyway," Chop-khun said.

 

"It's fine. I'll finish a bit more before I leave."

 

"Don't overwork yourself. I'm not in a rush. I'll upload another video tonight. I've got plenty pre-recorded."

 

"Alright. You take care of yourself, too. Do you ever take breaks? I've noticed you're always working."

 

Having known each other for a while now, Intouch had observed that if Chop-khun wasn't in his workspace, he was in his art studio all day.

 

"Not much time for breaks right now. I'm trying to wrap up all the projects I've taken on. But next month, I won't take on as much. My back can't handle it anymore. Plus, I'll have more time for the channel."

 

"Got it," Intouch nodded, mentally noting Chop-khun's back pain.

 

After resting for a while, they returned to the workspace to continue working. Later that night, just before bed, Chop-khun received a message on LINE from the cameraman.

 

IN: https://youtu.be/Sf_zlwYT3SE

5 Exercises to Relieve Back and Waist Pain

Give it a try. It might help.

 

From that day on, he and Intouch worked tirelessly. After reviewing everything, the video was posted three days later, a day later than planned. But the result was satisfying. Once the video had been up for 24 hours, Chop-khun braced himself to read the comments. 

 

Excited, he leaned against the headboard of his bed and clicked on the video thumbnail. The thumbnail featured a candid shot of him sketching by a stream, taken by Intouch without his knowledge. It was a photo he'd loved at first sight.

 

He titled the video, 'Breeze, Stream, Stars | Camping in Suan Phueng, Ratchaburi.

 

Let's watch it one more time.

 

"Have you ever felt this way..? The older we get, the more responsibilities we have, and the less time we have to relax. When was the last time you looked up at the stars, felt the breeze, breathed fresh air, or let yourself unwind by listening to the sound of a flowing stream? Today, I'll take you to experience that."

 

As the narration played over beautiful scenes from the trip, the intro ended, and the video transitioned to their journey from start to finish. After watching the video, Chop-khun scrolled through the comments, his heart pounding.

 

‘I want to treat the channel owner to a pork barbecue. I cracked up when I saw the barbecue shot.'

 

‘I love your voice, P'Khun. It's so soothing. You sing beautifully, and your narration is so pleasant to listen to.'

 

‘Thank you for making such a wonderful video. It really healed my heart. After a tiring day at work, watching something light and relaxing like this truly comforts me. I'm looking forward to your next video. Keep up the great work.'

 

‘The cameraman is sooooo amazing! The angles are perfect. Watching this makes me want to visit the same places.'

 

'The editing is fantastic. It feels like watching a movie.’

 

‘Do you want more mommy fans, Chop-khun? Watching your video made me smile nonstop. My baby's smile is so heart-melting'

 

‘I love the mood and tone of this video. It's so well thought out. I'm glad I found this channel. I loved the part where you soaked your feet. The sound of the stream was so clear. It felt like I was right there with you.'

 

Chop-khun smiled and laughed as he read through the comments. The praise made all his exhaustion vanish. He was thrilled that people appreciated the effort he and Intouch had put into the video. They'd carefully chosen every scene. As he continued scrolling, one comment caught him off guard.

 

'Is the cameraman your boyfriend? He even fed you. Will we get to see the cameraman in the next video? The vibe feels so romantic, like a couple's trip.'