You(r) Tuber Vol 1.

11 Chop-khun's Cooking

 

"Lately, Te has been acting so strange. He gets irritated so easily, like he's possessed or something. No one can even approach him. The atmosphere in the studio is so tense. If it weren't for the contract, I would've quit a long time ago."

 

Chop-khun had been listening to Khim complain about Tewit for a while now. The wagyu beef in his favourite shabu-shabu pot no longer tasted as good. He felt uncomfortable having to sit through a conversation about his ex, especially when he didn't want to know anything about Tewit anymore. These days, he didn't even check out that channel's videos. If it weren't for the fact that this involved Khim, he wouldn't have listened. Seeing the stressed expression on her face, he chose to remain silent, avoiding any mention of his ex.

 

"How many months are left on your contract, P'Khim?" Chop-khun set his chopsticks down and looked at the petite woman sitting across from him.

 

"Six months. I just have to endure it for now. Oh, by the way, did you see the video celebrating 900,000 subscribers? The behind-the-scenes was so awkward. Te told us not to mention you, but I didn't care and talked about you anyway. I mean, we worked together; how could I not? In the end, Te had Ball cut all my scenes out. So, I was just left sitting there, looking all gloomy."

 

That explained it. Chop-khun had wondered why Khim seemed so quiet in that video. As for the part about not mentioning him, Chop-khun had already guessed that from the start.

 

"And about the content, ever since you left, everything's been a mess. Viewers are starting to complain that it's no longer as fun. Every suggestion I make gets shot down. I'm the only one who dares to speak up. Everyone else just goes along with whatever Te says. I really miss when you were still there. At least Te would listen to you. Did you know even Pluem can't say much? Whenever he does, they just end up arguing all the time..." Khim trailed off, noticing the stoic expression on her junior's face. Realising she'd brought up someone she shouldn't have, she hurriedly changed the subject.

 

"So, how's your channel doing, Khun? I've been watching almost every video."

 

"It's starting to come together, but the subscriber count isn't that high yet. I'm trying to create content I think is interesting. Some get good feedback, some don't. What do you think I should improve, P'Khim?"

 

"I think it's great as it is. The filming, sound, and editing are all smooth and cohesive. The content is perfect for someone like me, whose life is full of chaos, and just wants to watch something calming. But maybe you should post videos more frequently in the beginning?"

 

"I can't. I only have another team member to help me, and I've got a lot of illustration work right now. If I take on less work next month, I might be able to post more often."

 

"That's fine. Take it slow. Your health is important as well."

 

"Yeah," Chop-khun nodded, picking up another piece of tender meat. He felt more at ease now that the conversation had shifted to a more pleasant topic.

 

"Are you planning to make new ASMR videos? I listen to your bedtime story whispering videos all the time. They help me fall asleep so easily. I've listened to them so much that my husband asks me what I'm listening to every night. I made him listen too, and now we're both hooked."

 

"I'm planning to make a new video in the next day or two, but it won't be a bedtime story. I'm thinking of narrating while cooking. Not sure if it'll be boring."

 

"That sounds interesting. I think trying different things is a good idea. Your voice is so pleasant that even if you were chanting, it'd still be nice to listen to. My husband and I can vouch for that. Oh, by the way, I've been meaning to ask-who's your cameraman? The visuals are stunning. I feel like I've seen their work before."

 

"Sorry, P'Khim, I can't say. He asked me not to tell anyone."

 

"Why not?"

 

"I don't know. He didn't say."

 

"Alright, no problem. I just really like his work. It's amazing. Are you having dessert? Time's almost up."

 

"I'm thinking of ordering Häagen-Dazs. Do you want anything? I'll let the staff know."

 

"I'll have a green tea scoop," Khim said, relieved to see her junior looking more relaxed. She wished to smack herself for bringing up an inappropriate topic earlier.

 

"You always forget. Why don't you carry it with you when it's close to the time?" Intouch handed a paper bag to his younger sister, who was waiting near the entrance of the women's restroom in a bustling mall.

 

"This time I didn't forget. It came earlier than usual. Can you check if my skirt is stained?" Ingfah turned her back to her brother.

 

"It's fine. No stains. Should you see a doctor about this?"

 

"No need. It happens sometimes," Ingfah said, peeking into the bag. Seeing her usual brand of sanitary pads, she looked up at her brother with a sweet smile. "Good job, Mr Intouch. You got the right brand."

 

"It'd be weird if I didn't remember. You forget all the time. I'll wait outside," Intouch said, noticing a woman approaching the restroom.

 

"Okay. Hold my bag for me," she said, handing over her Chanel purse. Intouch took it and stepped outside to wait for his twenty-two-year-old sister. That's when the man spotted someone he didn't expect to see there. A bright smile, one he hadn't seen in a week, greeted him immediately.

 

"Oh, In! What are you doing here?" Chop-khun, who'd been standing there, greeted him cheerfully, looking up at the taller man as he approached. The familiar scent of Intouch's cologne wafted over.

 

"I brought my sister shopping. What about you?"

 

"I brought Kati for a bath and grooming. While waiting, I had shabu-shabu with a senior. Don't you have a shoot today?"

 

They hadn't seen each other because Chop-khun had been so busy with his illustration work that he barely had time to eat. Intouch had been busy shooting a car commercial. Both had been so occupied that they hadn't even video-called to discuss work like before. This week, they'd only communicated through messages.

 

"No, today's my mom's birthday. We're having a family dinner."

 

"Oh, really? Wish her a happy birthday for me. I hope she stays healthy," Chop-khun said.

 

"I'll let her know."

 

"But won't she be confused about who I am?" Chop-khun asked, realising he'd never met Intouch's mom.

 

"She won't be. She knows you."

 

"How does she know me?" Chop-khun raised an eyebrow, tilting his head in curiosity.

 

"She's seen you from your videos. My sister showed them to her."

 

"Oh, for real? Please thank your mom and sister for me."

 

"Will do," Intouch nodded. He noticed that Chop-khun looked thinner, his cheeks noticeably less full. Before he could say anything, a voice interrupted from behind.

 

"Khun, guess who I just ran into? I saw.." Khim, who'd just exited the restroom, stopped mid-sentence when she saw who was standing with her junior.

 

"Who did you see, P'Khim?" Chop-khun asked, puzzled by her sudden silence. "Who?"

 

"Oh, nothing," she said, fidgeting and tapping his back repeatedly. "It's nothing. Carry on." Chop-khun nodded, still confused.

 

"In, this is P'Khim, my senior. P'Khim, this is In. He's my..." Chop-khun caught himself before he could say "cameraman.' "...my friend."

 

"Hello. We just saw each other outside the restroom, right?" Intouch greeted first.

 

"Hi, yes. What a coincidence," Khim replied before falling silent. Chop-khun smirked, noticing how uncharacteristically quiet his senior was. He understood her feelings well. When he first met Intouch, he'd been just as nervous.

 

"I'll get going now. I need to pick up Kati. See you later." Chop-khun bid Intouch farewell.

 

"Alright, see you," Intouch replied with a small smile to both of them.

 

Not long after they walked away, Khim excused herself to take a phone call. Left standing alone, Chop-khun glanced back at where Intouch had been. He saw a tall, fair-skinned woman accepting a bag from the man. It wasn't hard to guess that she was Intouch's sister.

 

Just as he was about to look away, he noticed Intouch glancing back at him, raising a hand to chest level and waving lightly. Was he waving goodbye to me? Seeing this, Chop-khun couldn't help but smile. He waved back gently and greeted Intouch's sister with a nod. She smiled in return.

 

I'm going to faint. Mr In is so handsome. I mean, really handsome. When I saw him outside the restroom, I was so flustered. It felt like I was walking in heaven. Just two seconds of eye contact, and I forgot I ever had a husband," Khim said dramatically, placing a hand over her chest.

 

Chop-khun laughed at her over-the-top reaction, knowing she was just joking.

 

"How do you know this cameraman? Wait, don't tell me he's the cameraman for your channel?"

 

Chop-khun froze, his eyes darting nervously. 

 

"How do you know him, P'Khim?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

 

"I follow his work on Instagram. A friend of mine has worked with him before. In the photography and editing world, almost everyone knows him. So, is he your channel's cameraman or not?"

 

Chop-khun tried to think of a way to dodge the question. When nothing came to mind, he changed the subject again, putting on his most serious face.

 

"Want some cake, P'Khim?"

 

"You're so sus, Khun. It's definitely him. I recognise his style! His works scream his name."

 

Chop-khun sighed, dropping his serious act. Realising he couldn't hide it anymore, he admitted, "P'Khim, please don't tell anyone."

 

"Don't worry. I won't. So, how did he end up working with you?"

 

"He applied after I posted a job ad."

 

"Really? Mr In? You're so lucky. In the photography industry, he's one of the hottest names right now. Everyone respects his skills. He's young, yet he has so much experience. I'd love to work with him and learn from him. Do you remember that viral hotel commercial in Phuket last month? That was his work."

 

Chop-khun knew a bit about his colleague's profile from the submitted resume, but he never imagined Intouch would be this famous. The work samples Intouch had sent must've been just a fraction of his portfolio.

 

"What's he like in the industry? Is he nice?" Chop-khun couldn't help but ask, seeing that Khim seemed to know quite a bit about Intouch.

 

"I'm not sure about him being nice and all, but I've heard he's very private. However, he's polite, humble, and respectful to his colleagues. Everyone who works with him wants to work with him again. But when it comes to work, he's known for being meticulous and very strict. He doesn't let anything slide. Even the smallest mistake needs to be corrected. My friend who worked with him said they had to prepare things so thoroughly. Overall, he's a good person."

 

Chop-khun nodded. It didn't surprise him that everything about Intouch was positive. Intouch truly seemed like someone great to work with.

 

"Does he ever scold you?" Khim turned the question back to her junior.

 

"Never. Not even once."

 

After releasing several ASMR bedtime story videos and receiving positive feedback, Chop-khun decided to try something different for this episode. He chose to make an ASMR cooking video for the first time.

 

The dish he picked was sukiyaki rolls, a recipe his mom often made for him. He chose this dish because it was one of his favourites, quite easy to make, and perfect for a beginner like him.

 

For this video, he and Intouch had agreed to capture the sounds of the cooking process as clearly as possible, like the sound of washing vegetables, peeling, chopping, and boiling water. Chop-khun would whisper rather than speak normally. These sounds were known to help many viewers relax.

 

The kitchen, which had never really been used, was about to be used for the first time. Chop-khun glanced at the kitchen counter, which was filled with various ingredients. The meat and vegetables had already been neatly arranged on plates.

 

"In, I'm ready," Chop-khun called out to Intouch, who was setting up equipment at the dining table in front of the kitchen counter.

 

"Attach the mic first. I'll test the sound," Intouch said, handing Chop-khun a wireless mic. "Can you attach it yourself?"

 

"Yeah, I can."

 

After setting up the equipment, lighting, and sound, Chop-khun took his place behind the counter. The house fell silent as they prepared to start filming. When he saw Intouch's signal, Chop-khun began whispering softly.

 

"Hello, everyone. Today, I'm going to try cooking for the first time. The dish I've chosen is sukiyaki rolls. It's one of my favourite dishes, as it's delicious, easy to make, and healthy. Here are the ingredients you'll need.”

 

Intouch panned the camera over the ingredients on the table as Chop-khun introduced them.

 

"We have a medium-sized Chinese cabbage, with the stems removed for easier washing. Then there's carrot, morning glory, and enoki mushrooms. For the meat, we have seasoned minced pork that I marinated for about thirty minutes in the fridge. It's a recipe my mom has been making for me since I was a kid, and I guarantee it's delicious. I'll include the recipe below the video. Other meats include imitation crab, chicken, and shrimp. You can substitute the vegetables and meats with whatever you like. If you prefer glass noodles, green onions, or celery, feel free to add those too."

 

His soft, rhythmic whispers continued as he explained each step.

 

"First, let's wash the vegetables thoroughly," he said, placing them in a basket and rinsing them under running water. Intouch captured the sound of water flowing over the vegetables and the sight of Chop-khun's pale hands scrubbing them clean before setting them aside to drain.

 

The filming continued quietly. Intouch recorded the sounds of peeling carrots and chopping vegetables. The rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the wooden cutting board was captured in full. Once all the ingredients were prepared, Chop-khun turned on the electric stove and waited for the water in the pot to boil.

 

"Now we're going to blanch the vegetables. Don't blanch them for too long, just for thirty seconds, enough to cook them. And it's important to immediately submerge them in cold water afterwards to preserve their colour and stop the cooking process."

 

Chop-khun began placing the cabbage leaves into the pot one by one. Once they softened, he transferred them to a bowl of ice water before blanching the other vegetables.

 

"Okay, now that everything is blanched, let's start wrapping. First, lay a cabbage leaf flat like this, then start layering the vegetables."

 

After putting on gloves, Chop-khun spread out a cabbage leaf and placed slices of carrot, morning glory, and enoki mushrooms in a row on top.

 

"Once the vegetables are in place, add your choice of meat. For the first roll, I'll use the seasoned minced pork. It has corn mixed in because I loved eating it as a kid, so my mom added it. If you don't like it, you can leave it out. Don't add too much meat, or the roll might break when you wrap it. Just enough to fit the leaf."

 

After placing all the fillings, Chop-khun began rolling the cabbage leaf. "Roll it tightly like this, and don't forget to tuck the sides in."

 

He made each sukiyaki roll one by one, alternating the meats, and arranged them neatly on a plate as he finished each one.

 

"Next, steam them for about ten minutes," he said, placing the completed rolls into a steamer that was already on the stove. After ten minutes, the perfectly cooked sukiyaki rolls were placed on a clean cutting board to cool slightly before being sliced into bite-sized pieces.

 

Intouch zoomed in on the tightly packed rolls, revealing the seasoned pork and colourful vegetables inside the cabbage. They looked delicious.

 

"All done! They look so good. You can use any brand of sukiyaki sauce you like. This one is a homemade sauce from my mom's recipe, which I've included below as usual. If you like it spicy like I do, you can add some crushed chilli. I'm going to add a bit more chilli to mine."

 

Chop-khun poured the sukiyaki sauce over a large roll, picked it up with chopsticks, and took a bite. The softness of the pork and the well-balanced flavour of the sauce tasted just like his mom's cooking.

 

"It's so good. I bet everyone will think I'm exaggerating. Mr Cameraman, why don't you try it and tell them how it tastes?" Chop-khun leaned toward the camera, offering a piece to Intouch. When Intouch nodded, he picked up a bite-sized piece and fed it to him.

 

Suddenly, a comment he'd read before popped into his head. ‘Is the cameraman your boyfriend? He even fed you.' Chop-khun felt his face heat up uncontrollably. He snapped back to reality when he heard Intouch's deep, soft voice whisper in response. 

 

"It's delicious."

 

"The cameraman says it's delicious too. Everyone, give it a try and let me know how it turns out in the comments. That's it for today. See you in the next video. Bye-bye."

 

"Why is your face so red? Is it too spicy?" Intouch asked right away after the camera was turned off. Chop-khun lowered his gaze, looking around the table. "Yeah, maybe I added too much chilli. Are you going to shoot more footage?"

 

"Yes, I'll set up my equipment first. Do you want some water? Your face is still red."

 

Seeing Intouch's serious demeanour while working reminded Chop-khun of what Khim had said about Intouch being meticulous. He could confirm it was absolutely true. Even though his channel was small, Intouch never did anything half-heartedly. Like now.

 

Intouch brought several props for the food photos. After setting up the scene, he arranged the food like a professional food stylist. While working, he also shared tips on lighting and photography angles with Chop-khun.

 

"When photographing food, always check for cleanliness. There shouldn't be any water droplets, grease stains, or tiny food scraps. This is very important."

 

"..."

 

"Lighting is also crucial. If you don't have studio lights, use natural light. Try to find a spot near a window. As you experiment with different setups, you'll learn which lighting looks best. But if you want to use studio lights, just let me know. I can bring them for you."

 

"For angles, you need to know what kind of shot you want. Consider the dish, the setup, and the arrangement. If you want to show the entire dish, go for a top-down angle. But if you're focusing on specific details, a 45-degree angle works well. Do you want to try taking some shots, Khun? I'll guide you."

 

Chop-khun turned to look at the cameraman, who'd been acting as his teacher for a while now. "Sure."

 

"Here, give it a try," Intouch said, handing him the camera. Intouch was incredibly thorough in his teaching. At first, Chop-khun thought Intouch would just give him a quick overview, but instead, he explained everything in detail. 

 

They spent quite some time taking photos before finally sitting down to eat the sukiyaki rolls together. Of course, they had to reheat the rolls because they'd been photographed until they were cold. 

 

While eating, they discussed the video. Intouch said the editing would only take a day since it wasn't too complicated, while Chop-khun would handle the thumbnail and video decorations as usual. 

 

After eating, it was time to clean up and pack away the equipment. Chop-khun thought the other would head home immediately after filming, but he was wrong. When he looked up from scraping food scraps into a bag, he saw Intouch carrying the steamer to the sink.

 

"Hey, you don't have to wash those. You can head home now. The traffic shouldn't be bad yet. I'll handle it myself."

 

"It's fine."

 

"No, really, I'll do it myself," Chop-khun insisted, reaching for the sponge, but Intouch grabbed it first. "If you get stuck in traffic, don't blame me," Chop-khun teased, glancing at him.

 

"I'm not in a hurry," Intouch said, pumping dish soap onto the sponge. As Intouch began scrubbing a pot, Chop-khun gave up. However, he wasn't about to let the older man do all the work alone.

 

"Alright, then I'll rinse them," Chop-khun offered.

 

"Okay."

 

The pile of dishes and cooking utensils was gradually cleaned as they worked quietly side by side. An unexpected question from Chop-khun eventually broke the silence.

 

"Are you afraid of ghosts?" he asked while rinsing a soapy plate Intouch handed him.

 

"Huh? No. Are you?"

 

"Not usually, but last night I was looking for something to listen to while drawing. I was really sleepy, so I wanted something exciting to wake me up. I ended up listening to a ghost story that people said was super scary."

 

"Oh? Was it scary?"

 

"Terrifying. It woke me right up. I got goosebumps listening to it, but I couldn't finish it. I was too scared to listen alone. I really want to know how it ends, though. Do you want to listen to it?"

 

"Right now?" Intouch raised an eyebrow, glancing at Chop-khun.

 

"Yeah, can you listen with me?"

 

And so, after finishing the dishes, the homeowner and his frequent guest moved to the living room. They sat on the long sofa, not too far apart. Intouch sat with one leg crossed over the other, while Chop-khun sat cross-legged. Between them, Kati lay chewing on a toy.

 

On the large smart TV screen, the title 'The Unlucky Night' from a famous ghost-story radio show appeared, accompanied by the narrator's voice echoing through the speakers. Intouch glanced at Chop-khun, who'd shifted from sitting cross-legged to hugging his knees. When the story reached a scary part, Chop-khun covered his ears and turned to him.

 

"You listen for me, okay? But if it's too scary, don't tell me," he said.

 

Intouch smiled faintly and nodded. By the end of the thirty-minute clip, Chop-khun had spent nearly half the time with his ears covered.

 

"That was so scary. Good thing I didn't finish it last night. I wouldn't have been able to sleep. Just imagining it gives me chills." Chop-khun turned to Intouch, who was now petting Kati, who'd somehow climbed onto his lap to chew her toy.

 

"Will you be able to sleep tonight?"

 

"Of course. I'll just keep myself busy and forget about it. Kati seems to like you, by the way," Chop-khun said, nodding toward the young dog.

 

"Yeah, he's adorable."

 

"Right? He's so cuddly. I love playing with his ears and paws because they're so soft." Chop-khun shifted to sit sideways, propping his chin on the sofa's backrest as he faced Intouch.

 

"Cats are cute too, but they don't like being touched as much," Intouch commented.

 

"I'm not used to cats. I feel like they're very independent."

 

"That's true. Some are very independent," Intouch said, meeting Chop-khun's gaze. "But if they like someone, they can be incredibly affectionate."

 

After Intouch left, Chop-khun got caught up in work with a few old clients, revising and reworking projects until his head hurt. By the time he finally took a break, it was nearly PM. No more overloading myself like this. My body won't be able to take it one day.

 

Looking down at Kati, who was sleeping on his lap, he felt a bit more at ease. The little dog had been bathed and groomed the day before and smelled wonderfully fresh. He gently picked up one of his tiny paws, rubbing it lightly while silently admiring his cuteness.

 

One of Chop-khun's small joys was quietly spending time with Kati. If he lived in this house alone, he'd definitely feel lonely.

 

After leaning back and resting his eyes, playing with Kati's paws for a while, he picked up his phone and started scrolling aimlessly. When nothing caught his interest, he opened his personal Facebook account, which he hadn't checked in ages. He liked a family photo his mother had posted from their trip to Hua Hin last year and commented, "Want to go on a trip” He decided that once Teerak returned from Chiang Mai, he'd make time for a family trip.

 

As he continued scrolling, his Facebook feed refreshed, and he saw a new post from Tewit, uploaded just a minute ago.

 

Dreaming Of A Past Love (ฝันถึงแฟนเก่า)' by Three Man Down Official MV 

 

Chop-khun froze for a moment before blocking his ex's Facebook account. Before he could put his phone down, an incoming call appeared on the screen.

 

"Hello, In," he answered.

 

[Are you free to talk?]

 

"I am. What's up?"

 

[My mom wanted me to thank you for the birthday wishes, but I forgot to tell you yesterday.]

 

"Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know," Chop-khun said, thinking the call would end there. But Intouch continued the conversation.

 

[What are you doing?]

 

"Talking to you," Chop-khun replied, hearing a soft chuckle from the other end. "And you? What are you doing? Why aren't you asleep yet?"

 

[I'm talking to you, too.]

 

Chop-khun couldn't help but smile, his hand gently stroking Kati. "You always copy what I say." You can copy me too, you know.]

 

"What would I copy? Are you going to trick me into saying something embarrassing?" Chop-khun joked.

 

The line went silent for a moment, prompting Chop-khun to check his screen to see if Intouch had hung up. Seeing the call timer still running, he brought the phone back to his ear just as Intouch's voice came through again.

 

[Chop-khun.]

 

He smiled slightly. "Yes?"

 

[Do you want to meet Fancy?]