You(r) Tuber Vol 1.

13 Chop-khun and the Tattoo's Meaning

 

"It's a phrase I like. Want to see it up close?" 

 

Intouch brushed back the hair that had fallen over his face, raising an eyebrow as he waited for a response from the person beside him. Without thinking much, Chop-khun nodded eagerly at the invitation. "Sure, that'd be great. I want to see a text, only design too, it might help me decide what I want."

 

With that answer, Intouch leaned back slightly, resting his left arm on the back of the sofa. His other hand lifted the hem of his white T-shirt on the left side, revealing a glimpse of toned abs, a faint V-line, and an English tattoo on his fair skin. Chop-khun rubbed his nose with the back of his hand a few times, stealing a quick glance at the tattoo before his eyes darted elsewhere in the room. His face began to flush, and the sight made Intouch smile faintly.

 

"Can you see it clearly? Should I stand up?" Intouch asked.

 

"No, no, that's fine!" Chop-khun stammered, quickly waving off the suggestion. "I can see it clearly enough."

 

"But I didn't see you actually look at it. Didn't you say you wanted to see the design?" Intouch's deep voice carried a teasing undertone, making Chop-khun's heart skip a beat.

 

Chop-khun tried to compose himself, even though his face felt like it was on fire. His brown eyes focused intently on the letters inked on Intouch's side, determined not to let his gaze wander. The tattoo consisted of two uppercase English words stacked vertically, easy to read without straining his eyes:

 

INTEGRITY

INSPIRATION

 

Once he got a clear look at the tattoo's design, his earlier nervousness began to fade. Chop-khun's mind began to imagine his own potential design.

 

"It's nice. I like this font," he said. The font was simple and slightly bold-not overly stylised like graffiti, but more like clean, readable handwriting. It suited Intouch perfectly.

 

"This tattoo is actually my own handwriting. I just had the shop adjust it to make it a bit bolder and larger."

 

"Oh, I was thinking of using my own handwriting too, but I want to add a flower I like behind the text... Will it look good?" 

 

Chop-khun furrowed his brows, tilting his head as he studied the tattoo in front of him, imagining the design he had in mind. His last sentence was more of a mumble to himself than a question.

 

"Where do you plan to add the flower?" Intouch asked, watching as Chop-khun absentmindedly played with his own soft-looking lips. It was a habit Intouch had noticed Chop-khun did whenever he was deep in thought.

 

"Right here," Chop-khun replied, moving closer to Intouch. The other person's subtle scent became more noticeable as he leaned in. Intouch momentarily froze and instinctively leaned back against the sofa.

 

"I'll draw a thin stem connecting to the last letter, about this long," Chop-khun explained, tracing a line along Intouch's tattoo with his finger. "Then add one flower I like, about this size." He made a small circular motion with his finger on Intouch's skin to indicate the flower's size. "And maybe have a few smaller flowers floating around," he added, tapping lightly in a few spots as he visualised the design. When he finished, he looked up to ask for Intouch's opinion.

 

"What do you think?"

 

But as his eyes met Intouch's steady gaze, and he realised his finger was still on the other man's body, Chop-khun quickly pulled his hand back and scooted away as if he'd touched something hot. Oh shit, does he think I was trying to take advantage of him?

 

"Sorry, I got carried away thinking about the design," Chop-khun apologised, glancing at Intouch's face briefly before looking away, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

 

"It's fine. That actually gave me a clear picture," Intouch said, sitting up straight and letting his shirt fall back into place. He watched as Chop-khun's face turned redder and redder. Chop-khun reached for his glass of water to distract himself, only to realise it was empty, which made him feel even more awkward. Great, just great.

 

"Let me refill that for you," Intouch offered, picking up the tall water pitcher from the table. He poured water into Chop-khun's glass as the flustered man held it out. Noticing how uneasy Chop-khun seemed, Intouch decided to keep the conversation going. "Your design sounds like it'll turn out really nice. Where are you thinking of getting it?"

 

"At first, I wanted it on my side, like yours. But I heard that spot is really painful. Was it painful for you?"

 

"Do you want the comforting answer or the honest one?" Intouch jested.

 

"The honest one. Just tell me if it hurts. I've been mentally preparing for this for a while now."

 

"Are you scared?"

 

"Not really, but the thought of needles poking into my skin does make me a little nervous. I read reviews where some people said they wanted to go home after the first needle. So, how did it go for you?"

 

"I think it depends on the person. For some, this spot might hurt a lot. For others, not so much. For me, it hurt a lot. But it was bearable."

 

"Well, pain is part of the process, right? You just have to endure it. Actually, I have another spot in mind, here." Chop-khun pointed to the area above his chest, near his shoulder. "I think it'd suit the design I have in mind."

 

"That spot would work well with your design. You could discuss it with the artist when he's placing the stencil," Intouch suggested.

 

"Yeah, I was thinking the same. I'll probably tweak it a bit when I meet the artist. By the way, can I ask why you chose those two words for your tattoo? Did you pick them because they include your name?"

 

"Yes, I played around with my name, but they're also words that hold meaning for me."

 

"Oh, so your tattoo has a story behind it?" Chop-khun asked, intrigued.

 

"It does. Want to hear it?"

 

"Of course! I love hearing the stories behind tattoos-they're always so interesting."

 

"I got both words tattooed at the same time, right after I graduated. The word 'Integrity' doesn't have a particularly deep story; I just really like its meaning."

 

"What does it mean? I'm not familiar with that word."

 

"It's hard to translate directly into Thai, but it generally means honesty, stability, and holding onto what's right. I got it to remind myself to strive to be that kind of person."

 

"Oh, that's a great meaning. Very cool."

 

"As for the other word, 'Inspiration,' it has a more personal story. Around the time I was about to graduate, something happened that made me consider giving up photography. I was unsure about what I was doing and didn't know what direction to take in life. But then, someone said something to me that reignited my passion for photography. His words became my inspiration, so I got this tattoo to represent what he said."

 

"Wow, that's a meaningful story. It's a good thing his words kept you going; otherwise, you wouldn't be the talented photographer you are today."

 

"Yeah, I've always been grateful to him. He's part of the reason I was able to achieve my dream."

 

"Is he your boyfriend?" Chop-khun asked, assuming the person must've been someone significant. Intouch shook his head. "No, not at all. We don't even know each other."

 

"Really?" Chop-khun raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That's hard to believe. If that person knew how much his words meant to you, he'd definitely be happy."

 

"You think so?" Intouch's face showed a hint of hesitation, and his voice carried a trace of uncertainty.

 

"Of course. Helping someone achieve their dream is something to be proud of, isn't it?" Chop-khun smiled warmly before continuing. "But you should also thank yourself. Getting to where you are now couldn't have been easy, right? I'm sure you worked really hard. And if that person knew his words inspired you, he'd definitely be proud."

 

The living room fell silent for a moment.

 

"So, does that mean I'm part of your dream now, Khun?" Intouch's sharp eyes scanned Chop-khun's bright face before settling on his eyes.

 

"Of course. You've been part of it since the day you applied to work with me. Come to think of it, I should thank that person too. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have met you." Chop-khun's genuine smile reached his eyes as he spoke. 

 

Meanwhile, Intouch's gaze held a deeper meaning, though it seemed Chop-khun didn't notice.

 

Meow... Meow...

 

The soft cries of a kitten drew their attention. Both turned their heads toward the sound to see Fancy sleepily making her way toward them, meowing softly as she walked. When she reached her owner, the little kitten began rubbing against Intouch's legs as usual before hopping onto the sofa to sit between the two of them.

 

"Are you ready to play, Fancy?" Chop-khun asked the kitten, gently tapping her tiny cheek like he did when playing with Kati. But he flinched when Fancy playfully nipped his finger. That startled me. Intouch took Chop-khun's hand to inspect it, using his thumb to rub over the small indent left by Fancy's teeth.

 

"Does it hurt? She likes to nibble fingers sometimes, but she can get a bit rough."

 

"No, it doesn't hurt. She just nipped lightly; I was just surprised."

 

"Maybe she wants to watch TV," Intouch noted, grabbing the remote with his other hand. He turned on the TV and searched for bird videos on YouTube. Meanwhile, his other hand still held Chop-khun's. When the screen displayed a few birds flying around, Fancy jumped off the sofa and onto the table in front of it, sitting intently as she watched the birds with full concentration.

 

"In, I'm fine now," Chop-khun said, noticing that Intouch was still rubbing the spot on his finger.

 

"Oh, okay. I'll be right back," Intouch replied.

 

"Alright," Chop-khun nodded, pulling out his phone from his pocket. He opened an app connected to the security camera in his living room to check on Kati. Seeing the tiny dog sound asleep on his bed brought a smile to his face. Kati sleeps all day. Who does he take after to be this good at napping?

 

The sound of a ceramic plate hitting the table made Chop-khun look up from his phone. He saw a bottle of his favourite strawberry milk and a plate of delicious-looking raisin cookies, along with a pair of chopsticks, placed in front of him.

 

"These cookies are really good. You should try them. I just got an urgent task, so I'll need to talk with my team for a bit," Intouch said.

 

"Thanks. I'll be fine. Take your time," Chop-khun replied.

 

As Intouch walked into the glass-walled office at the back, Chop-khun picked up a nearby cat toy and tried to play with the kitten again.

 

"Fancy, meow meow, want to play with me?" But Fancy didn't respond at all, ignoring the toy in his hand. Seeing this, Chop-khun decided not to disturb the kitten, who was fully engrossed in watching the birds on TV, turning her head from side to side.

 

He set the cat toy down and reached for the chopsticks to pick up a cookie, popping it into his mouth. As he chewed the cookie, his eyes wandered to the documentary playing on the screen. The cookies were indeed delicious. 

 

Before he knew it, he'd eaten several. While munching on another cookie, he suddenly noticed the chopsticks in his hand. A small smile formed on his lips as he recalled a conversation he'd had with Intouch the first time he used chopsticks to eat snacks.

 

"Why do you use chopsticks to eat snacks?"

 

"Sometimes I play with Kati while snacking, and I don't always wash my hands thoroughly. Plus, eating like this keeps my hands clean. I've just gotten used to it."

 

Thinking of Intouch, Chop-khun turned to the glass-walled office. Intouch was deeply focused on his work, staring intently at his MacBook as he discussed something with his team. That saying is true. People look most attractive when they're fully immersed in something.

 

Meow...

 

Chop-khun's gaze shifted from the tall man to the kitten, who'd jumped up to sit beside him, rubbing her cheek against his thigh. He quickly grabbed his phone to capture the golden moment.

 

Fancy is being affectionate with me!

 

He uploaded the story to Instagram with the caption, 'My heart melted. Getting love from a cat.' After putting his phone down, he moved on to Fancy's favourite activity, scratching her neck.

 

"Is your daddy busy? Don't worry, I'll keep you company," Chop-khun cooed in a soft, playful voice, a tone he unconsciously used whenever talking to animals. As he scratched and chatted with Fancy, both the man and the kitten began to close their eyes, drifting off…

 

Even though Intouch had hurried, it still took him a while to finish his urgent work. When he returned to the living room, he found Chop-khun fast asleep, his head tilted to the side, while Fancy was curled up next to him on the sofa. The tall man shook his head slightly. Chop-khun must be really tired these days.

 

After standing there for a moment, he decided to take care of his kitten first. He gently picked up Fancy and placed her in her hammock-style cat bed. After scratching her neck lightly until she fell back into a deep sleep, he returned to Chop-khun. Carefully, he lifted the man's legs onto the sofa and adjusted his head to rest on a cushion. He didn't forget to go upstairs to grab a blanket, which he draped over the sleeping figure.

 

A small smile appeared on his lips as he watched Chop-khun instinctively snuggle into the blanket. His sharp eyes lingered on the sleeping face for a moment before shifting to an empty picture frame hanging on the wall.

 

Chop-khun's eyelashes fluttered open slowly, still groggy. Why is it dark already? The newly awakened man sat up, noticing the blanket draped over him. How long was I asleep? He looked around and saw that the room was dim because the dark UV-blocking curtains, which had been open earlier, were now drawn shut, leaving almost no light. The kitten that had been beside him was gone, along with her owner. He'd intended to scratch Fancy's neck to lull her to sleep, but instead, he'd dozed off himself. Now he understood who Kati took after with his impressive napping skills.

 

"You're awake?" Intouch's voice broke the silence as he slightly opened the outer layer of the dark curtains, leaving the sheer white inner layer closed. The light filtering into the room wasn't too harsh.

 

"Yeah, sorry about that. I fell asleep without realising it. What time is it?" Chop-khun squinted slightly.

 

"It's just past 2 PM, a little after lunch. Are you hungry?"

 

"It's fine. I'll just eat at home. I've already taken up enough of your time," Chop-khun replied politely.

 

"You're not bothering me. I've already made some food. You should eat before you go, or you might get a stomachache."

 

"Alright, if you insist," Chop-khun agreed, not wanting to refuse Intouch's kind gesture.

 

"This way," Intouch said, leading him to the kitchen at the back. Inside, he found a medium-sized Western- style kitchen and a dining table for four. On the table were clear tom yum soup with shrimp, stir-fried melinjo leaves with egg, and a minced pork omelette. 

 

Chop-khun's stomach growled at the sight of the delicious-looking food. Normally, he only had proper meals like this when he visited his family home or when his mom sent him food. Most of the time, he relied on ready-made meals or quick single-dish orders to save time for work.

 

"This looks amazing. You can cook, too?"

 

"I learned when I was studying in England. But I'm not sure if it tastes good," Intouch said with a small smile as he opened the rice cooker. Chop-khun followed him.

 

"It's definitely better than anything I could make. I can't cook at all," Chop-khun admitted, handing a plate to Intouch. Once the rice was served, he took the plate back, noticing a certain sparkle in Intouch's eyes as he handed it over.

 

"That's okay. I can cook for you."

 

Chop-khun pressed his lips together slightly, glancing up at Intouch a little bit, but said nothing. He carried the two plates of rice to the dining table. The host and his special guest sat across from each other and began eating.

 

After finishing the meal, which Chop-khun praised multiple times, he helped wash the dishes while discussing work with Intouch. When it was time to leave, he said goodbye to both the host and the kitten, who was nestled in her owner's arms. But as he opened the door to leave, he encountered a cute young woman in a black T-shirt and shorts. Her long, ash-grey hair was tied up in a messy bun. If he remembered correctly, this must be Intouch's sister, whom he'd seen from a distance before. Both siblings were incredibly tall. At 170 centimetres tall, Chop-khun felt like those two easily surpassed 180 centimetres.

 

"Hello, P'Khun," Ingfah greeted him with a wide smile.

 

"Hello, Ingfah," Chop-khun replied. Her friendly demeanour made him feel less awkward than when he first met Intouch.

 

"Oh! You know me?"

 

"Yes, In has mentioned you often," Chop-khun said with a small smile that Ingfah found incredibly charming. He's even cuter in person than in the videos. So soft and fluffy!

 

"That's great! I've watched all your clips because P'In made me. And not just me, he made Mom watch too and even told us to like and subscribe," Ingfah said, sneaking a glance at her brother, who was giving her a stern look. She ignored him completely. Wait, didn't In tell me it was his sister who made their mom watch? Or did I remember wrong? Chop-khun wondered quietly.

 

"What are you doing up here, Ing?" Intouch asked in an even voice.

 

"I came to play with Fancy. But if you're busy, it's okay. I won't bother you," Ingfah replied before turning back to Chop-khun. "Normally, he doesn't invite anyone over. He's super protective of his space. You must be really important-or, I mean, there must be something really important going on. Anyway, I'll leave you two to it."

 

"It's quite all right. I was just about to leave. Please feel free to stay and make yourself comfortable, Ingfah," Chop-khun said.

 

"Why so formal, P'Khun? We're all friends here. Just think of me as your little sister, okay?" Ingfah said with a sweet smile, determined to get closer to him. 

 

Her brother rarely shared anything with her, but she was sure there was something going on between these two. She couldn't tell what Chop-khun was thinking, but she could definitely read her brother like a book!

 

"Alright, I'll be going now," Chop-khun said. Having never met someone this friendly before, felt like he'd gained a new little sister in just five minutes. He couldn't help but think that Ingfah and Teerak would get along well; they were both so talkative. Come to think of it, her way of speaking felt oddly familiar.

 

"Go play with Fancy in the room. I'll walk Khun out," Intouch said, handing the kitten to his sister. Ingfah took Fancy, played with her a bit, but did not go into the room as instructed.

 

"You don't have to. I can go down on my own, In."

 

"It's no trouble. I'll walk you out."

 

Seeing Intouch's insistence, Chop-khun didn't argue further. He turned to say goodbye to Ingfah. "I'll be going now, Ingfah... I mean, Ing. See you next time."

 

"Okay, bye-bye, P'Khun."

 

"Bye, Fancy. I'll come visit you again," Chop-khun said, patting the kitten's head before stepping into the elevator with Intouch. Ingfah waved until the elevator doors closed completely. P'Khun seems a bit naive. Can he really keep up with my brother?

—————

"P'Te, I can't find that man anywhere. Is he some kind of no-name? No one seems to know this alias," Tae said as he approached Tewit's desk after spending an entire day searching for information. "It's fine. It's not that important. Thanks a lot," Tewit said, glancing at Pluem, who was sitting next to him playing a game. Seeing that Pluem didn't seem to notice anything, Tewit felt relieved. Although he was frustrated by not knowing who the man was, he didn't let it show, avoiding the risk of raising his boyfriend's suspicions.

 

"Te, how about sushi tonight? I want to go back to that place," Pluem said, looking up from his phone and glancing at Tewit's profile.

 

"I'm busy. I have work to do. Just order it here instead," Tewit replied flatly, his eyes glued to the computer screen as if the work in front of him was of utmost importance, even though it wasn't. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Chop-khun and that mysterious cameraman.

 

"But we haven't gone out together in a long time," Pluem muttered softly. "Can't we just go for a little while?"

 

"I said I'm busy, Pluem. Why do you keep pushing?!" Tewit snapped, raising his voice. His outburst drew the attention of everyone in the office, who turned to look at the pair. Pluem pressed his lips together tightly, both shocked and embarrassed. Tewit had never spoken to him like this before.

 

"I'm sorry, Pluem. I've been stressed about work lately. Go wait for me at the condo, and I'll pick you up later. Then we'll go for sushi," Tewit said, regaining his composure when he saw Pluem's face. Pluem didn't respond, not wanting to argue in front of others. His eyes welled up with tears as he grabbed his bag and left the studio, hoping Tewit would follow to make amends. But there was no sign of him…

—————

Chop-khun arrived home around 4 PM, thankful that the traffic wasn't too bad on the way back. As soon as he stepped inside, Kati perked up, sniffing him all over. After placing his belongings on the table, Chop-khun scooped up the small dog, planting kisses on both cheeks before playfully nuzzling his soft belly.

 

"I missed you so much! Do I smell weird, Kati? That's Fancy's scent. Do you want to have a cat friend?" he said, holding the puppy close to his chest. But Kati continued sniffing him relentlessly.

 

"It's good to get used to the smell now, so you won't fight when you meet." 

 

Chop-khun stepped over to grab a ball from Kati's bed. He then set the puppy down on the floor, and as soon as Kati heard the squeaky sound of the ball, his tiny ears perked up. His eyes locked onto the ball in Chop-khun's hand, ready to dash after it with determination. The sight made Chop-khun laugh out loud

 

After playing with Kati for a while, Chop-khun went upstairs to shower and change. He then headed to his art studio, where he began browsing reviews of tattoo parlours. Eventually, he decided on a shop owned by Intouch, whose tattoo style and designs matched what he was looking for. After calling to schedule an appointment and discuss the details, Chop-khun set up his cameras to film an intro clip as planned with Intouch.

 

One camera was positioned on the table in front of him, focused on his face, while another was set to capture his hands as he drew. Once he adjusted the angles and lighting, he hit the record button.

 

"Hello, everyone. Today, I'm going to share my first tattoo experience with you. I have to admit, I'm really excited because this is something I've wanted to do since I was a teenager. For me, tattoos are a form of art, a personal expression that brings personal happiness. They're beautiful and meaningful," Chop-khun said, looking into the camera. He didn't have a script prepared for today.

 

"But first, I want to tell those under 18 that I'm not encouraging or recommending tattoos. When you're young, your preferences can change. Tattoos are permanent, and although they can be removed nowadays, the process is painful. Also... If you're unsure how a tattoo might affect your future career, it's better to wait until the right time. There are plenty of temporary tattoo stickers and beautiful body paints available. You can try those first. When I was a kid, I loved sticking them all over myself. One day, when you're ready and confident, it won't be too late," he said with a small smile to the camera.

 

"Personally, I've wanted a tattoo since my early twenties, but I wanted to be sure about it first. Time passed, and now I'm 29, and the desire to get a tattoo has never gone away. So, I think it's finally time. I've found a design I'm truly confident in, and I want it to be a part of me. Today, I'll show you the design I've created and explain why I chose it."

 

Chop-khun glanced away from the camera, picking up his iPad and opening a drawing app. After adjusting the second camera to focus clearly on the iPad screen, he began sketching quietly.

 

The phrase 'Love yourself first, ' written in reverse, was the first thing he drew. It was a connected cursive script with thin, flowing lines. A flower stem extended from the horizontal line of it, followed by a dandelion with seeds floating away, as if carried by the wind, taking shape around it. The design was a minimalist black line drawing with no colours.

 

Once the sketch was complete, Chop-khun spoke to the camera again, using the pen in his hand to point out and explain each element.

 

"The phrase I'm getting tattooed on is pretty straightforward: ‘Love yourself first.' I wrote it in reverse so that when I look in the mirror, I'll be the one who can read it. It's a message I'm tattooing for myself. As I've grown older, I've realised how important it is to love and value yourself. Loving yourself makes life so much happier. And I believe that when you truly love yourself, you can love others more understandingly."

 

He pointed the pen at the flower before turning back to the camera.

 

"As for the flower, it's a dandelion. I've loved dandelions since I was a kid. I chose to depict it with its fluffy seeds floating away because it symbolises them being carried by the wind to a new place and growing into another flower. To me, it represents new beginnings. Also, dandelions symbolise hope and happiness, which I think has a beautiful meaning."

 

He glanced at the clock briefly.

 

"So, that's the design I've come up with. I've talked a lot today-hope you're not bored. Stay tuned to see how it turns out when I get it done."

 

He turned off the camera, feeling like he might've rambled a bit and wasn't sure if his speech made sense. He might need to edit out some parts, depending on how much footage Intouch would shoot for the next segment. 

 

Thinking about the upcoming content after the tattoo review episode, Chop-khun picked up his phone and typed a question into his social media platforms, including his fan page and Instagram.

 

Q&A: Answering your questions! I'll be doing an episode where I answer any questions you have. Leave your questions below!

 

After posting, he opened LINE to message Intouch about scheduling the filming date. He then scrolled through all the unread messages, including those from his family group chat and his friends' group chat, which he rarely had time to check. That's when he found out his university friends were planning a reunion next month. 

 

After confirming he'd be going, he exited the chat. Glancing at the clock again, he saw it was only 9 PM. It wasn't too late, so he decided to binge-watch a series since it'd been ages since he'd last done so. While browsing for something to watch, a message from the cameraman popped up.

 

IN: Okay, see you then.

(sent a photo)

 

Chop-khun smiled when Intouch sent a picture of Fancy resting her head on her flopping fish toy. His smile grew wider as he read the next message.

 

Looks like Fancy misses you.