You(r) Tuber Vol 1.

16 Chop-khun and Alcohol

 

"Who says I haven't noticed? Maybe I'm just waiting for you to say it outright."

 

I said it. I actually said it.

 

After speaking, Chop-khun pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on the evening sky ahead. He didn't dare look at the person beside him, so he missed the sight of Intouch's ears turning red from the heart-racing sentence.

 

"Looks like it's going to rain," Chop-khun remarked as the sky suddenly darkened. Intouch shifted his gaze from Chop-khun to the sky above.

 

"We should head back. It looks like the rain's about to start," Intouch said, quickly packing his camera and equipment into his bag. But as soon as he stood up, the rain began to fall in light droplets. 

 

The two of them hurried to find shelter, as it seemed the rain would turn heavy in just a few minutes. They were still quite far from the exit gate. A large wooden pavilion in the distance became their refuge. Intouch raised his hand to shield Chop-khun's head as they ran toward it. It didn't take long for them to reach the pavilion, where a few others were already taking shelter. They made it just in time before the downpour began in earnest. Luckily, they only got a little wet.

 

"Is your camera wet?" Chop-khun asked, looking up at Intouch with concern, worried that his equipment might've been damaged.

 

"No, my bag's waterproof."

 

Chop-khun nodded, relieved to hear that. With his rain-soaked hands, he pulled a tissue from his bag and handed it to the taller man. Both of them used the tissues to dab the raindrops from their faces as they watched the heavy rain pour outside the pavilion.

 

"Looks like it's going to rain for a while. We should've grabbed the umbrella," Chop-khun uttered, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the sound of rain hitting the roof.

 

"There's a shop near the entrance that sells umbrellas. You wait here. I'll go buy one," Intouch offered, stepping toward the edge of the pavilion. But before he could leave, Chop-khun grabbed his wrist.

 

"No, don't. It's still raining heavily. Let's wait until it eases up. You'll get sick."

 

"It's just a little rain. I'll be fine," Intouch replied. He was used to working in the field 

and didn't see getting wet as a big deal.

 

"We still have a long car ride ahead with the AC on. And with this rain, there's bound to be traffic," Chop-khun reasoned, trying to persuade him.

 

"Alright," Intouch relented, noticing the worried look on Chop-khun's face. He gently patted Chop-khun's shoulder, guiding him to sit on the long wooden bench before sitting down beside him. Silence followed, each of them caught in their own thoughts about the conversation that lingered between them.

 

Sitting side by side, they had a clear view of the garden outside the pavilion. The sky had turned a deep grey, and the trees swayed in the wind. The rain continued to pour steadily, and more people ran into the pavilion for shelter.

 

The wooden benches around the pavilion were nearly full, prompting Chop-khun and Intouch to scoot closer together to make room for others. Little by little, they moved closer until there was no space left between them. Their bodies pressed together, and the warmth from their proximity made their hearts beat faster. The closeness brought a subtle comfort amidst the cold rain.

 

After sitting quietly for a while, Intouch spoke softly, breaking the silence.

 

"Want to listen to some music?"

 

"Sure," Chop-khun replied.

 

Intouch pulled his iPhone from his pocket and handed Chop-khun one of his AirPods. Once he had his own AirPods in place, he opened Spotify and typed the name of a song into the search bar.

 

Just You and the Waves (แค่มีเธอไปเดินเตะคลื่นทะเลด้วยกัน) by No One Else'

 

"This song reminds me of you," Intouch said as the cheerful melody began to play. The soothing voice of the male singer followed, and perhaps because of Intouch's earlier words, Chop-khun paid extra attention to the lyrics.

 

As the song played, Chop-khun's brown eyes gazed at the rain, which had softened to a light drizzle. The lyrics brought an involuntary smile to his face, and by the time the song ended, he had a new favourite to add to his playlist.

 

When the song ended, the rain stopped as well. Only the two of them remained on the bench, but neither made a move to leave.

 

"The rain interrupted me earlier, so I didn't get to tell you." Intouch's deep voice broke the silence, and Chop-khun turned to meet his gaze.

 

"I'm courting you," Intouch said, catching Chop-khun completely off guard. A soft pink blush spread across Chop-khun's pale cheeks.

 

"You don't have to answer me right now. I just wanted you to know."

 

".." Chop-khun listened quietly, his expression calm, though his heart was racing so fast he feared Intouch might hear it.

 

"I know we haven't known each other for long but can I have the chance to get to know you better?"

 

Chop-khun kept his gaze on Intouch's face, taking in the soft curve of his eyes and the warmth of his smile. After a moment, he nodded and returned a small smile of his own.

 

[A Week Later]

 

Today, Chop-khun had a reunion dinner with his university friends at a restaurant in Thonglor at 7 PM. When Teerak arrived at his house to watch over Kati for the night, Chop-khun quickly booked a Grab ride, worried about being late. He didn't want to drive himself, knowing there would be plenty of drinking involved.

 

Chop-khun expected he might get drunk, just like in previous years. It wasn't often he got to see his friends, so he planned to enjoy himself to the fullest. Besides, the Q&A video he'd worked on with Intouch for days had been uploaded yesterday. With no pending work, he had the day completely to himself.

 

"Babe, how are you getting back?" Teerak asked as Chop-khun stood by the entrance, putting on his sneakers. In his brother's arms was a fluffy Pomeranian.

 

"I'll call a car or maybe get a friend to drop me off. You go to bed. I've got the house key."

 

"Why not have P'In pick you up?" Teerak teased, unable to resist poking fun at his brother, knowing the two had taken their relationship to the next level.

 

"No way. I don't want to bother him. I'm off now. My ride's almost here. Bye, Kati," Chop-khun said, patting the dog's head a few times before heading out to wait for his ride.

 

Remembering that Intouch had texted him earlier asking what he was up to, Chop-khun typed a reply, letting the older man know he was heading to a reunion dinner and would be back late. Chop-khun turned to meet his gaze and messed up Kim's hair in return. 

 

"See? Now your hair's a mess too. Serves you right."

 

The fine arts class from their year had only about twenty students, so they'd all been quite close during their studies. But as they grew older, responsibilities piled up, and everyone went their separate ways. They rarely kept in touch. Yet, when they gathered like this, the old camaraderie and memories came rushing back effortlessly. It felt like being a teenager again.

 

After that, Chop-khun chatted with a few other friends for a while before being dragged by Praewa, a university friend, to sit beside her on the innermost sofa.

 

"Khun, come sit here," the woman in a black strapless top and dark jeans patted the seat next to her. She flipped her long, wavy hair over her shoulder and said, "It's been forever since I've seen you. I've missed you so much," while mixing liquor with Coke.

 

"I've missed you, too. How long are you in Bangkok this time?" Chop-khun asked, spearing a piece of fried sausage with his fork and popping it into his mouth.

 

"I'm heading back the day after tomorrow. I don't have much time this trip, but in two months, you have to come to Chiang Mai," she said.

 

"Why?"

 

"Here," Praewa handed him a wedding invitation card. The front was beautifully printed with the names Phee & Prae.

 

"Whoa, you're getting married?!" Chop-khun's face lit up with excitement and joy. Praewa was the first in their group to tie the knot.

Chop-khun knew Praewa had been dating her boyfriend since high school. Over the years, they'd faced many challenges-family issues, long-distance struggles, and even a breakup due to misunderstandings. But they reconciled and worked things out. He knew Phee loved Praewa deeply, and Praewa loved Phee just as much.

 

"I'm so happy for you. I'll definitely be there."

 

"You better be there! If you don't come, I'll leave nasty comments on your YouTube channel for seven days straight," she jested, handing him the mixed drink she'd just prepared.

 

"You're ruthless," Chop-khun laughed, taking the glass. Then he added, "Do you remember when you broke up with P'Phee and got drunk? You video-called him and shouted in the middle of the bar that you wouldn't marry anyone else but him." He burst into laughter, recalling the scene he'd witnessed firsthand.

 

"Of course, I remember. It's hilarious. P'Phee still makes fun of me about it to this day. So embarrassing"

 

"I'm really happy for you. In the end, you ended up with your first love and someone who loves you so much,"

 

Chop-khun told her, meeting his friend's eyes. Both of them had tears welling up.

 

"I have to thank you, too. I got back together with him because of you. If you hadn't knocked some sense into me back then, I might've lost the man who loves me the most."

 

"You were so stubborn back then."

 

"I can't argue with that. But I've changed now. I'm P'Phee's good girl. Anyway, enough about me. What about you? How's everything going?"

 

"Same old, same old."

 

"Same old' doesn't tell me much. I haven't talked to you in ages. Give me an update. Are you seeing anyone?"

 

"Yeah, kind of," Chop-khun said, munching on some fried peanuts.

 

"Who? Show me a picture," Praewa scooted closer.

 

"You wouldn't know him," he said, taking a sip of his drink after finishing the peanuts.

 

"Just show me. I'll help you screen him. You know me, I can tell if someone's a player just by looking at them."

 

"Oh, please. Do you have psychic poets now?" Chop-khun shook his head, giving her a sceptical look. After listening to her persistent reasoning for a while, he finally gave in and opened Intouch's Instagram to show her a picture.

 

The moment Praewa saw the photo, she recognised him immediately.

 

"Chop-khun, are you talking to P'In?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and excitement.

 

"You know In?" Chop-khun raised an eyebrow.

 

"Why are you calling him just 'In'? He's a year ahead of us, you know."

 

"How do you know him?" Chop-khun didn't elaborate, but was curious how she knew Intouch.

 

"Well, back in university, I kind of had a crush on him because he was so attractive. I used to secretly watch him whenever I ate at the business faculty cafeteria. Small world, huh? 

 

How did you meet him?"

 

"We worked together."

 

"Ah..." Praewa nodded, about to say more when Namwan's voice interrupted.

 

"Prae, Khun, are you going to sing or not? Come pick a song! Josh has already queued up like ten songs!"

 

"This one's a keeper- 100 per cent approval: great personality, premium looks, top-notch profile. I'm telling you, he's the best," Praewa declared before getting up to choose her song. 

 

Chop-khun didn't want to sing and continued eating and sharing funny university memories with other friends. The lively atmosphere carried on for a while until the door opened again, and someone new walked in. The room fell silent as everyone turned to see who it was. It was Pluem and Tewit.

 

Praewa and a few others who knew the history between the three of them exchanged glances. It'd been a hot topic for a while when Pluem publicly announced his relationship with Tewit. Some people were in the know, while others, like Josh, who couldn't care less about social media and was currently holding the mic, had no clue.

 

"Hey, Pluem! Why are you so late? Khun's sitting over there."

 

Praewa wasn't surprised by Josh's comment. Every year, Chop-khun and Pluem would sit next to each other. Everyone in their major knew how close the two had been since university. The two were even closer than she was with Chop-khun.

 

"Why is everyone so quiet? Whose turn is it to sing? Get up already, so I can go next. Okay, are you ready?

 

Whoa-oh-oh! Come on, let's go!" Josh's loud singing brought the room back to life.

 

"You can talk to him if you want. I don't mind," Chop-khun mumbled when he noticed Praewa looking uneasy as Pluem and Tewit walked toward the sofa across from them.

 

Chop-khun, Pluem, Praewa, and Fai, another friend who wasn't here today, had been part of the same close-knit group in university. They'd worked and hung out together all the time. Even now, they still meet up occasionally. Chop-khun didn't want his friends to feel pressured to take sides or to be uncomfortable because of his personal issues.

 

"Are you okay?" Praewa asked.

 

"Honestly, I don't feel anything about it anymore. And I wouldn't be upset if you talked to them."

 

Despite his words, Praewa didn't engage with either of them. Even though she'd met Tewit several times during her visits to Bangkok and was familiar with him, she couldn't bring herself to talk to someone who'd hurt a person as kind as Chop-khun. The same went for Pluem. When everything had happened, Chop-khun hadn't shared much with their friends. But after seeing the announcement video Pluem had posted on Facebook, Praewa pieced together what had happened. She'd even messaged Pluem angrily, but he never responded. Praewa wasn't even sure whether to give Pluem the wedding invitation.

 

Praewa briefly made eye contact with Pluem before glancing at Tewit, who hadn't stopped staring at Chop-khun since he arrived. Chop-khun, however, paid them no attention.

 

"Prae, I want more steamed squid with lime. Do you want anything else?" Chop-khun asked, noticing the squid on the plate was gone. He'd only managed to eat one piece, but he wanted more because it was so delicious.

 

"I want some glass noodle salad too. Let's order more. Does anyone else want anything?" Praewa called out to the group and began jotting down the orders.

 

"More liquor, Miss Prae. My body needs it."

 

"Beer too!"

 

"Fried chicken cartilage!"

 

“Tom yum soup!"

 

Tewit glanced at Pluem, who was chatting with friends, then turned his eyes back to Chop-khun, who was drinking nonstop. He knew Chop-khun could hold his liquor, but drinking that much would surely get him drunk soon. Normally, if Chop-khun got drunk at reunions, either he or Pluem would take him home. But this year, that wasn't an option. He couldn't even say anything to stop Chop-khun like he used to. If he gets drunk, who's going to take him home?

 

Seeing Kim sitting next to Chop-khun, chatting and clinking glasses like they were close, only made Tewit more irritated.

 

"Te, if you don't want to sing, it's okay. Someone else can go," Pluem said after finishing his conversation with Namwan. He'd noticed Josh pestering Tewit to pick a song earlier and thought it might've annoyed him.

 

"It's fine. I'll sing," Tewit replied.

 

"Not shy anymore? What song did you pick?" Pluem asked.

 

"Not telling. I'm singing it for you. Just wait and see."

 

Pluem nodded, smiling back faintly. Pluem had allowed Tewit to come tonight because he wanted to observe how things would play out between the three of them. But seeing Tewit act normal and Chop-khun completely ignoring them eased his earlier suspicions… Just slightly, though.

 

After eating and chatting for a while, the main activities shifted to karaoke and heavy drinking. The bright lights were dimmed, leaving the room darker but still visible. The colourful, flashing lights enhanced the atmosphere, making it feel like Chop-khun was in a nightclub.

 

Upbeat songs, rock anthems, country tunes, K-pop hits, and other genres were in rotation. When the familiar intro of a popular song began to play, Praewa quickly stood up, raising her hand to claim it as her pick before anyone else could. Her long legs carried her to the front, and she grabbed the mic from someone, as nearly everyone had gotten up to dance when the song started. Only a few people remained seated, one of whom was Chop-khun. He felt a bit dizzy from all the drinking, but when the chorus hit, he couldn't resist. He got up and joined the others on the dance floor.

 

The iconic dance moves of the 90s, known by everyone, were performed in perfect unison as if they'd rehearsed beforehand. During the instrumental break, each person showed off their moves, trying to outdo one another, including Chop-khun. 

 

The alcohol in his system was starting to take effect. While some danced wildly, others who stayed seated pulled out their phones to record the chaos. When the song ended, Chop-khun stumbled back to his seat, collapsing into it as he panted heavily, having danced so hard he was nearly out of breath.

 

The atmosphere in the room shifted again when the opening notes of 'Stop (19) by Groove Rider began to play, and Tewit stood up to take the mic. The slightly tipsy crowd waved their hands in the air, some teasing Pluem with animated cheers. 

 

Meanwhile, Chop-khun picked up his phone, showing no reaction, not wanting to stir up any drama. He noticed several friends had tagged him in their Instagram stories, clips of him dancing and photos of him goofing around with others. With a few taps, he added all the tags to his own story, then continued sipping the amber liquid in his glass, grimacing slightly when the chorus played. Tewit had once sent him this song.

 

Intouch only saw Chop-khun's reply around ten at night after wrapping up a magazine cover shoot. Once free, he checked Chop-khun's Instagram stories and noticed that Chop-khun was holding a drink in almost every clip. Glancing at the clock on his office wall, he saw it was nearly midnight. He wasn't sure if Chop-khun had made it home yet. Though he didn't want to intrude on Chop-khun's personal life, he couldn't help but worry. Finally, he decided to message him on LINE to ask if he was drunk. The reply he received was full of typos, making it clear that Chop-khun was indeed drunk. Should I call him?

 

After a moment, Intouch pressed the call button. It didn't take long for the sound of people singing loudly to come through the line.

 

"Khun, are you drunk?"

 

[Naaaaaaah. Whoooo?]

 

"It's me, In."

 

[Which In? The one with the cute dimples?] 

 

The slurred voice and unexpected comment brought a smile to Intouch's lips. Under normal circumstances, Chop-khun would never say something like that.

 

"Yes, the one with the dimples. You're drunk. How are you getting home?" Intouch asked.

 

[I dunnooo. Prae, where's my house? / What? You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask, Khun? You're wasted. Stop drinking already. / I'm noooot! Just one more glass.]

 

Intouch overheard the conversation between Chop-khun and his friends. Concerned, he stood up from his desk and grabbed his car keys from the drawer. It seemed Chop-khun was more intoxicated than he'd thought.

 

"I'll come pick you up," he said

 

[You're coming to get me?]

 

"Yes, I'll come get you. Don't go anywhere."

 

[Okay, I'll wait riggggght here. I won't move at all.] The slightly whiny tone in Chop-khun's voice made Intouch's heart skip a beat.

 

[Khun, who are you talking to? / The guy I'm seeing. He's coming to pick me up. / You mean, P'In?]

 

Intouch couldn't help but smile when he heard Chop-khun talking to his friends like a child showing off a new toy.

 

"Can I talk to your friend?" Intouch asked, realising that Chop-khun was probably too out of it to give him the location of the place.

 

[Prae, In wants to talk to you. / Really? Give it here. Hello!]

 

"Hello. I'm coming to pick Khun up. Could you tell me the name of the place?"

 

[Oh, sure!]

 

The restaurant wasn't far from Intouch's condo. Following the GPS directions, it took less than fifteen minutes for his Porsche to arrive at the place. However, finding a parking spot proved challenging. He had to circle for a while before finally securing a spot when another car pulled out right in front of the restaurant.

 

After confirming the room number with the staff, Intouch made his way to the private karaoke room. He knocked on the door a few times, but the noise inside was so loud that no one seemed to hear. Taking the liberty to enter, the first thing he saw was the person who'd promised to wait for him 'without moving' now standing, singing, and dancing with a few friends.  Intouch stood with his arms crossed, observing silently. 

 

He didn't announce his presence, seeing how much fun Chop-khun was having. He chuckled softly when he noticed Chop-khun and two others performing synchronised dance moves as if they'd rehearsed. Just then, the drunk man turned and locked eyes with him before stumbling over. But before Chop-khun could reach him, he swayed unsteadily. Intouch quickly stepped forward to steady him, drawing the attention of everyone in the room to the unfamiliar face. 

 

The drunk man, however, paid no mind to anything else. Even as he struggled to stand, he continued singing, his sweet, drowsy eyes looking up at Intouch as he slurred the next line of the song.

 

"If I hug you, you won't mind, righttt?"

 

"I wouldn't mind," Intouch whispered teasingly into his ear. "But for now, we need to get you home. I'm here to take you home."

 

"Are you really In? The real In has dimples," Chop-khun said, frowning as he scrutinised the taller man's face.

 

"Smile for me."

 

Intouch gave a small smile at his request.

 

"You do have dimples!" Chop-khun turned to his friend. "Prae, did you see In's dimples? Aren't they cute?"

 

"Yeah, I saw them," Praewa replied.

 

"Are you sure you saw them? Look closely," Chop-khun insisted, leaning his head against Intouch's broad shoulder.

 

"I saw them, don't worry. Not just me, everyone here saw them," Praewa said with a laugh, imagining how funny it'd be when Chop-khun sobered up and realised what he'd done.

 

"Hello," Praewa greeted Intouch.

 

"Hello."

 

"Let me help," she offered, intending to assist in supporting Chop-khun, but Intouch politely declined

 

"It's okay. I've got him. You can enjoy the party with your friends. My car's parked nearby."

 

"Alright, I'll leave him to you. Let me grab his bag," Praewa said, feeling a small sense of relief and happiness. She was glad Chop-khun had moved on from someone like Tewit and found someone like Intouch.

 

"How are you getting home? Should I drop you off?" Intouch asked, noticing that Praewa seemed a bit tipsy herself.

 

"No, thank you. My boyfriend's coming to pick me up," she replied, barely able to hide her admiration for Intouch's courtesy and kindness. P'In was already impressive back in university, but now he is even more so. Thirty-year-old men are truly irresistible!

 

"Why are we leaving already?" Tewit asked Pluem irritably. He'd just gotten a clear look at the man named Intouch, only to be dragged outside by Pluem.

 

"Te, you're disgusting." Pluem crossed his arms and looked at him with disappointment. At first, he thought everything was going well. But seeing Tewit's displeasure when another man helped Chop-khun was too much for him.

 

"What are you talking about, Pluem? What did I do?" Tewit replied, exasperated.

 

"You still love Khun, don't you? Can't stand seeing him with someone new?"

 

"That's ridiculous, Pluem."

 

"Ridiculous? What about the soap you always insisted I use? It's the same one Khun uses. Is that ridiculous, too?"

 

Pluem had been holding in his feelings of hurt and resentment for a while, but tonight, he couldn't bear it anymore. He'd never thought much about the soap until he saw a skincare video Chop-khun posted. The pink baby soap Tewit had stocked in their bathroom and insisted he use was the same one Chop-khun liked.

 

"And the songs you posted, pining for your ex, while blocking me from seeing them... Don't think I didn't notice. I'm not stupid. Can you deny it? Say something. Anything!" Pluem lightly pushed Tewit's chest. Despite his anger, he didn't want to hurt Tewit.

 

"If you love Khun that much, why did you make me fall for you? Why did you come to me?" Tears streamed down Plum's face.

 

"Tell me honestly, did you ever love me? Or was I only worth something when you were horny?"

 

"You're being ridiculous, Pluem. Are you getting in the car or not?" Tewit's voice grew harsher. Meanwhile, Intouch was struggling to support Chop-khun as they made their way to the car. Chop-khun could barely stand, forcing Intouch to tighten his grip to keep him from collapsing. As they neared the car, Intouch noticed two men standing beside it, seemingly in the middle of an argument.

 

"Answer me! Do you love me, or do you want to go back to Khun? Make a choice now. If you want to go back to him, I won't stop you." 

 

Pluem's sobbing voice reached Intouch's ears. The familiar name in their conversation made Intouch glance at the two men. When he saw the taller man's face, he recognised him right away. He'd seen this man in a sticker photo Chop-khun had thrown away—Chop-khun's ex. And the other man, a friend of Chop-khun's, he'd seen the guy in a framed photo.

 

"Woo-woo, da-da-da!"

 

Chop-khun's drunken singing broke the tension, drawing the attention of the arguing pair. When they saw who was approaching, their reactions were starkly different. Tewit frowned, clearly peeved to see Chop-khun in someone else's arms, while Pluem turned away, wiping his tears before muttering softly to Tewit.

 

"It's too late to go back to Khun now, don't you think?" Pluem let out a bitter laugh. Noticing more people gathering as the restaurant neared closing time, Tewit softened his tone, urging Pluem to get in the car to avoid drawing further attention. He didn't want to risk being recognised and causing a scene.

 

"I'm sorry, Pluem. Let's talk at the condo, okay? Just get in the car," Tewit said, holding onto Pluem's wrist. But Pluem pulled his hand away and strode off toward the street. Intouch paid little attention to the commotion nearby. He opened the car door for Chop-khun, helping the drunken man into the seat. 

 

After fastening his seatbelt securely, Intouch closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. He got in and drove away from the scene without a second glance. From what he'd overheard earlier, Intouch could easily piece together what had transpired between the three of them. However, his train of thought was abruptly interrupted as he drove. Not long into the ride, his drunken passenger muttered something.

 

"I'm gonna throw up."