You(r) Tuber Vol 1.

18 Chop-khun is a Fighter

 

[If I said I did, what would you do?]

 

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

 

A soft chuckle escaped from the person who'd just heard the teasing challenge before the call was abruptly ended. Intouch smirked slightly but decided not to call back, wanting Chop-khun to get some proper rest. However, the smile lingering on his sharp features quickly disappeared when he turned around to find his mother and younger sister standing behind him, their hands full of shopping bags. 

 

He slipped his phone into the pocket of his well-tailored trousers and took some of the bags.

 

"Do you want to look at anything else?" Intouch asked, his face now composed and serious.

 

"Let's take a break. My legs are killing me from all this walking," Ingfah complained, lightly hitting her thighs, before Ladda chimed in.

 

"In that case, let's find something to eat. What do you two feel like having?" Ladda asked her two children. Normally, Intouch would let her and Ingfah choose the restaurant, but this time, he spoke up first.

 

"I feel like having Thai food."

 

"Sure, whatever P'In wants is fine with me."

 

"Why are you agreeing so quickly?" Intouch raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes at Ingfah, who'd looped her arm through his. Usually, she'd always have suggestions. He soon found out the reason for her unusual compliance when she whispered her request for the ring she'd been eyeing earlier at the Cartier shop.

 

"Please, P'In. If you buy me that ring, I'll stop leaving teasing comments on P'Khun's channel," Ingfah whispered, making sure their mother, who was walking behind them, couldn't hear. She'd already bought a lot today, and if their mom found out, she'd definitely get scolded.

 

Meanwhile, Ladda, seeing her daughter clinging to her brother's arm as they had when they were kids, took out her phone to snap a picture and sent it to her husband.

 

"Let me see how you behave first," Intouch replied.

 

"I'm serious."

 

"I don't believe you," Intouch said, shaking his head. He knew his sister all too well.

 

"I'll even stop teasing you about being possessed," Ingfah added, her tone and expression as serious as she could muster to make herself seem more convincing.

 

"How much is it?"

 

"A little over forty thousand," she replied. Intouch thought for a moment before agreeing. "Alright, consider it a graduation gift I haven't given you yet."

 

Hearing that, Ingfah nodded enthusiastically, flashing a wide smile at her brother, but said nothing more as their mother came up beside them.

 

They took the escalator up another floor, and Intouch led the way to a Thai restaurant they'd visited a few times before, known for its delicious food. They chose a table in a corner by a large glass window. After ordering a few dishes each, including some recommended by the staff, Ladda was the first to break the

silence while they waited for their food.

 

"In."

 

"Yes, Mom?" Intouch looked up from the menu in his hands, meeting her gaze.

 

"The feedback for the hotel in Phuket has been fantastic. Many customers came because of the video you shot. Your dad couldn't stop praising you, saying you did an excellent job," Ladda said, referring to the promotional video for one of the company's hotels that had launched months ago. 

 

It was the first project Intouch had agreed to take on after not speaking to his father for a long time.

 

"Thank you. Please pass my thanks to Dad as well," he replied.

 

Ingfah didn't know the details of the issues between her father and brother, as no one had ever explained them to her. But she wished they'd reconcile soon, even though it seemed incredibly difficult, given how both her father and Intouch were equally reserved.

 

"Dad didn't tell you himself, did he? I don't know why he has to be so stubborn. Do you know, P’In? Dad always asks me about you, like how you're doing, if you're okay, this and that. Has he messaged you on LINE?"

 

"A few times," Intouch admitted.

 

"What did he say? He never tells me that he's been talking to you," Ladda interjected.

 

"Just general stuff. Nothing much," Intouch replied, knowing full well that his father was trying to make amends for past mistakes. He was old enough to understand and let go of many things, but it wasn't easy to pretend that there had never been any issues between them.

 

"Why don't we plan a trip for the four of us sometime?" Hearing that the two had made some progress, she planned to give them more time together to work things out.

 

"Will Dad even have time? He seems really busy lately," Ingfah asked, snapping a sneaky photo of her brother with her phone.

 

"Once the condo project he's working on wraps up, he should have more time. Next month, try to keep your schedules open. I'll handle your dad," Ladda said

 

"I'm free all the time right now. I was planning to take a little more time off before starting work full-time," Ingfah said.

 

"What does Dad think about you not starting work yet?" Intouch asked his sister, as if making small talk, though their mother knew the question stemmed from his own past experiences.

 

"He didn't say anything. He just suggested I work on some small projects with the company's architects first. But he said I could do whatever I wanted."

 

"That's good. Take it slow and don't pressure yourself. If you want to rest, rest now. Once you start working, you won't have time to take a break," Intouch said, feeling a bit better about his father for not treating Ingfah the way he'd treated him. At least his father was keeping his promise.

 

When it came to the relationship between father and son, Intouch had been very close to Patcharapol as a child. They went everywhere together. Back then, all he knew was that his father worked in real estate and construction. His dad often took him to see big buildings and beautiful places. That was all Intouch understood at the time.

 

As he grew older, Patcharapol explained that his work involved a real estate company and various investments. He told Intouch that he'd one day take over the company. That was something Intouch had heard repeatedly since he was young. From elementary school, Intouch had to take extra classes. By the time he reached high school, Patcharapol added even more subjects to his schedule and became stricter about his grades. If Intouch's grades dropped, he'd lose privileges like guitar lessons and other fun activities, and would have to spend that time studying instead.

 

Intouch's teenage years lacked excitement or the freedom to do what he wanted. Everything he wished to do had to be approved by his father first. While studying wasn't difficult for him because he was naturally bright, he felt stifled by the lack of freedom, and his dissatisfaction grew over time.

 

'You have to be the best, 'or 'You are expected to be able to do this, 'were the words his father constantly drilled into him. There was no room for failure or mistakes because, in Patcharapol's eyes, failure meant incompetence. Intouch's life was confined within strict boundaries, and his father's opinions always came first. Following Patcharapol's instructions was the only acceptable path. This pattern repeated itself over and over.

 

When Intouch finished high school, he casually mentioned at the dinner table that he liked photography and wanted to be a photographer. It was a passing comment, not something he was serious about, as he already knew his life path had been predetermined. But his father's response sparked a sense of rebellion in him.

 

"Why waste time on something so pointless? Just focus on your studies and aim for good grades. Trust me, it'll be worth it."

 

What started as a casual conversation turned into a heated argument, with neither side willing to back down. Intouch couldn't understand why his father had to control everything when his friends were free to pursue their interests.

 

After that day, Intouch never spoke to his father about his dreams again. In the end, he agreed to study business administration as his father wanted, knowing that if he didn't, Ingfah would likely bear the brunt of the pressure instead.

 

During university, Intouch had to maintain excellent grades while also learning the ropes of the family business under his father's watchful eye. All the expectations fell squarely on his shoulders. He was scrutinised by the company's senior staff and constantly tested by his father. No matter how challenging or overwhelming his responsibilities were, he never complained. The one time he let slip that he was tired, his father accused him of lacking patience.

 

To outsiders, Intouch seemed like a perfect individual, always praised for his capabilities. But no one knew the struggles he faced. Not even Ladda, his own mother. Intouch knew she loved him deeply, and if she found out about his struggles, it'd lead to conflicts with his

father. At the time, Ingfah was still young, and he didn't want her to witness their parents fighting, so he kept everything to himself. He decided to endure as much as he could. 

 

That was his mindset back then. The breaking point came when Patcharapol discovered that Intouch had spent his final year of university learning photography to enter a competition. The two had a massive argument, even though Intouch explained that it was just a hobby to relieve stress. Patcharapol dismissed it as a pointless distraction that would take away from his studies and work. Intouch, however, stood his ground, insisting on continuing with photography because it was something he loved.

 

His father then issued an ultimatum: if Intouch didn't win the photography competition, he had to pursue a master's degree in England immediately and give up photography entirely. And he lost.

 

For the first time in his life, Intouch cried. Even the one thing that brought him happiness was opposed by his father. If he stubbornly pursued his passion, his sister would likely face the same pressures he'd endured. At twenty-two, Intouch found himself lost, unsure of what to do with his life. Although it was his life, he barely had any chance to make his own choices. In the end, he found his answer after much reflection and a conversation with someone.

 

"I'll pursue my master's degree, but you have to promise not to pressure Ing the way you did with me. For the past ten years, I've lived my life for you, and I've never been happy. From now on, I want to live for myself, just for a few years. After that, I'll come back and take care of the company you love."

 

That was the last thing Intouch said to Patcharpol before walking over to hug his mother and sister, who were waiting at a distance. His father, seeing the cold look in his son's eyes as he walked through the airport gate to board his flight to England, felt as though he'd been slapped hard. It was only then that he realised how deeply he'd hurt his son.

 

All this time, Patcharapol had never thought he was doing it for himself. He believed that pushing his son so hard was for Intouch's own good, to make him capable, respected, and able to survive in the world. He thought everything he'd given his son was the best, based on his own life experiences.

 

Ladda learned about all of this after Intouch had left for England, through her husband's confession. At first, she was furious. She was angry with herself for being so consumed with work that she hadn't noticed, and with her husband for pressuring their son so much. She understood that Patcharapol loved and wanted the best for their children, but this wasn't the right way.

 

"Our son isn't a robot you can program to move at your command. He has a heart, his own thoughts. How could you do this to him? Do you remember what you said when he was born? You said you wanted him to be the happiest person in the world. Is this your idea of happiness for him?"

 

When Ladda finished speaking, she gave her husband an ultimatum: he was never to pressure their children again, not even a little, because she wouldn't stand for it. After resolving things with Patcharapol, she called Intouch to discuss the matter. But Intouch was still Intouch. He always approached everything with reason. He never sought attention by acting out or causing trouble. 

 

After their conversation, Intouch told her he'd continue his master's degree because it wasn't a hardship for him. He knew that one day, he'd have to take over the company anyway. However, he decided to study photography alongside his degree and try doing what he truly wanted for a change. Hearing this, Ladda fully supported him and encouraged him to live his life as he wished. Intouch told Ladda not to worry and not to share any of this with Ingfah. He only asked that she ensure their father wouldn't pressure or treat Ingfah the way he'd treated him. 

 

Ladda wept heavily when she heard her son say this, apologising repeatedly and promising that she'd never let it happen again.

 

As for Patcharapol, the more time passed, the more guilt he felt. He regretted how he'd treated his son, but nothing seemed to improve. Since Intouch had moved to England, he hadn't contacted his father even once. Patcharapol, on the other hand, didn't dare reach out, believing his son must hate him by then.

 

Though the painful events had occurred years ago, their effects still lingered. Ladda wished for father and son to reconcile, knowing that deep down, they loved and cared for each other. The father's mistakes had come at the cost of his son's pain. Perhaps only time could heal these wounds and make things better.

 

The conversation came to a halt as the waiter began placing dishes on the table. The tense discussion shifted to lighter topics. Intouch didn't say much, mostly listening instead. As they ate, Intouch's phone buzzed with a notification. When he checked, he saw that his sister had tagged him in an Instagram story. 

 

The image was of him, frowning under a white hoodie with pink bunny ears, accompanied by the caption 'Brother of the Year.' Intouch glanced up at the culprit, who was smiling sweetly at him, and shook his head slightly before adding the story to his own Instagram.

 

As they were finishing their meal, the usually quiet Intouch called the waiter over to order more food, surprising the other two at the table.

 

"I'd like to order some food to go, please. Tom yum soup, braised pork ribs with bamboo mushrooms, crab omelette, and crispy salad, make it a little spicy. Also, one extra serving of steamed rice. Thank you." Intouch gave the waiter a small smile as he handed the menu back, then added, "Oh, and please don't include any scallions or onions in any of the dishes."

 

"Got it, sir," the waiter replied before leaving. Intouch then turned to his mother and sister. "Do you two have any other plans?" Intouch asked his mother and sister.

 

"We'll probably just browse around and shop a little more. If you have something to do, you can head back first," Ladda said, knowing that the food her son had ordered wasn't for himself, as he didn't like spicy food. Ingfah, meanwhile, kept quiet, resisting the urge to tease her brother. She was determined to wait until she got the ring she wanted. Once Intouch bought it for her, she swore she'd make fun of him mercilessly.

 

Chop-khun woke up at 5 PM, as indicated by the clock on the wall. He felt much better after a full rest, but hunger was hitting him hard. Turning his head around, he looked for Kati, the puppy he remembered falling asleep with, but the dog was nowhere to be seen. He reached under the blanket but found nothing, so he called out. After a moment, Kati poked his head out from under the blanket, yawning groggily.

 

'There you are, Kati. Where did you sleep? Can you even breathe under there?"

 

Chop-khun smiled as he saw the sleepy dog struggling to keep his eyes open, trying to sit up, but eventually toppling over onto the bed again. Seeing this, Chop-khun burst out laughing before planting several kisses on the fluffy dog's forehead out of affection.

 

After cuddling Kati to his heart's content, he placed the dog on the floor and got out of bed, heading straight to the bathroom. He grabbed a simple black headband from the wall hook to keep his overgrown bangs out of his eyes. He carefully splashed water on his face, making sure not to wet his favourite pyjamas. One hand turned off the faucet while the other grabbed a towel to pat his face dry. 

 

As he did, he recalled a dream so vivid it startled him. He'd dreamt that Intouch had come to wake him up, and it felt as though Intouch's deep voice was still echoing in his ears.

 

"Time to wake up."

 

"How did you get here, In?"

 

"I came so you could hug me."

 

Looking at his own flushed face in the mirror, Chop-khun shook his head. He must've been thinking about Intouch too much, to the point of dreaming such nonsense. His hunger was making his hands tremble, so he shook off the thoughts and left the bedroom, dressed in an oversized, worn-out white T-shirt that almost covered his soft blue shorts.

 

Starving, he didn't forget to pick up Kati, who was sitting patiently on the floor, and held the dog close to his chest. As he descended the stairs, the aroma of food wafted up, making him forget all about his dream.

 

"Babe, what are you cooking? It smells amazing," he called out to his younger brother before even reaching the kitchen. It wasn't surprising that Teerak was in the kitchen, as he'd inherited their mom's cooking skills, unlike Chop-khun, who was hopeless at it.

 

"I'm warming up food for you, babe," came the reply, but the voice sounded different, causing Chop-khun to pause. Chop-khun set Kati down on the floor as he reached the bottom step. When he entered the kitchen, his eyes widened slightly in confusion. The person speaking wasn't Teerak... it was Intouch.

 

The real, flesh-and-blood Intouch, who turned to smile at him while stirring something fragrant in a pot with a ladle. The outfit, the colour. It was exactly like what Chop-khun had seen in his dream!

 

"How did you get here, In?" The question slipped out, identical to the one he'd asked in his dream. 

 

Intouch observed Chop-khun, who looked different from usual. Maybe it was the oversized T-shirt and shorts, or the fact that he'd never seen Chop-khun with a headband pulling his bangs back. Without the bangs covering his beautiful eyes, Intouch could clearly see the startled expression and the blush on his pale cheeks, which made Chop-khun look even more adorable and mischievous.

 

"You don't know why I'm here?" Intouch's voice was calm but carried a teasing undertone. He turned to face Chop-khun, leaning casually against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed and a slight tilt of his head, smiling faintly.

 

"..." Did he come here because of what I said earlier? Something about Intouch's posture and smile made Chop-khun feel as if he were being teased.

 

"I thought you'd know why I'm here."

 

That must be it. Don't back down, Chop-khun. You've already talked big; keep it up.

 

After giving himself a mental pep talk, Chop-khun mimicked Intouch's relaxed stance, crossing his arms and leaning against the kitchen counter. However, he tilted his chin up slightly to compensate for the height difference.

 

"Let me change the question. Where's Teerak?"

 

Intouch suppressed a smile before answering the obvious attempt to change the subject. 

 

"Teerak just left. He said he had something urgent to do and asked me to come wake you up."

 

"D-Did you?" Chop-khun stammered, still looking up at the taller man.

 

"I did, but you wouldn't wake up."

 

"Oh... sorry about that. I'm a heavy sleeper."

 

Intouch had gone upstairs to wake him, which meant it wasn't a dream. Chop-khun was ninety-nine per cent sure that what Intouch had said was real. Chop-khun tried to keep a straight face as if nothing had happened, but the deep blush on his cheeks didn't escape Intouch's notice. Intouch could barely hold back his smile, but he didn't want to make Chop-khun feel uncomfortable, so he decided not to tease him further.

 

"I brought some food for you. Want to eat now? It's just finished warming up," Intouch said as he turned off the electric stove, noticing that the braised pork ribs in the pot were boiling. He poured the fragrant soup into a prepared bowl, giving Chop-khun the perfect opportunity to change the subject. Chop-khun walked over to peek at the food that had already been plated.

 

"Thanks, In. You even went out of your way to bring this over and even warmed it up for me," Chop-khun said with a wide smile. "Everything looks so good. Aren't you eating with me?" he asked, noticing there was only one plate of rice.

 

"I'm still full. You go ahead," Intouch replied, pushing the plate of crab omelette aside before starting to carry the other dishes to the dining table.

 

"But you bought so much. I don't think I can finish it all," Chop-khun said as he helped carry the dishes. 

 

The table was soon filled with dishes: tom yum soup with large shrimps, braised pork ribs in clear broth, a colourful, crispy salad, and soft jasmine rice. Chop-khun's hunger grew even more as he looked at the spread, which consisted entirely of his favourite dishes.

 

Just as Chop-khun was about to start eating, he remembered there was one more dish missing from the table. He was about to get up to fetch it when the crab omelette, with its fluffy texture, was placed on the table right in front of him. To his surprise, a heart was drawn on the omelette with ketchup. Though the shape was a bit wobbly to his artist's eye, it still brought a smile to his face.

 

When he glanced at the person who'd just placed the dish and quickly walked toward the living room, he noticed Intouch's ears were red. Seeing this, Chop-khun raised a hand to cover his mouth, smiling and shaking his head slightly. He hadn't expected Intouch to do something so adorable.

 

His brown eyes flicked toward the living room as he pulled the crab omelette closer. Seeing that Intouch wasn't looking his way, he quickly snapped a few photos of the dish. Satisfied with the shots, the hungry Chop-khun finally started eating, grateful that Intouch wasn't sitting there watching him. Otherwise, he would've felt too stiff to enjoy the meal.

 

Bite after bite, he ate while occasionally glancing at Intouch, who was playing with Kati. Before he knew it, the food he thought he couldn't finish was almost gone. Chop-khun felt a bit embarrassed when Intouch returned to the table and saw how much he'd eaten. He could feel his stomach stretching to its limit.

 

"The food was amazing," Chop-khun said with a sheepish smile to the man standing across from him, holding the back of a chair. Honestly, he didn't even need to say it as the nearly empty plates spoke for themselves. He regretted saying earlier that he wouldn't be able to finish it all.

 

"I was going to tell you there's mango in syrup in the fridge if you want dessert," Intouch said.

 

"Really?" Chop-khun's eyes lit up. "I love that! Thanks!" He stood up to clear the dishes, but when he saw Intouch reaching to help, he stopped the other man. "No need to help, In. I'll take care of it myself."

 

"It's fine. If we do it together, it'll be quicker."

 

"No, nope. You go sit and watch TV," Chop-khun insisted, raising both hands to gently push the taller man away from the dining table. He pointed to the floor and drew an imaginary line with his finger. "See this line? Don't cross it until I'm done cleaning all the dishes. Got it?" Chop-khun said with a stern expression, though it wasn't intimidating in the slightest to Intouch, who was reminded of Fancy when she tried to act tough. Chop-khun was a bit like a kitten sometimes.

 

"Alright," Intouch agreed easily. Seeing this, Chop-khun smiled in satisfaction before turning to clean up the dishes himself. There was no way he could let Intouch help again. He already felt indebted enough.

 

After finishing everything, including brushing his teeth after the meal, Chop-khun sat cross-legged on the large sofa in the living room, placing a cushion on his lap.

 

"In, want to watch something together?" Chop-khun suggested, noticing it was only six in the evening and that his hangover had significantly improved. When Intouch nodded, Chop-khun browsed Netflix for a while before settling on the documentary My Octopus Teacher, a choice they both agreed on after hearing good reviews but never having time to watch it.

 

The host grabbed the remote from the table and turned off the lights, creating a movie-theatre-like atmosphere. He then returned to his cross-legged position on the sofa, placing the cushion back on his lap. Intouch sat leaning against the couch not far away.

 

The documentary told the story of Craig, a documentary filmmaker who'd lost his passion for work. Seeking inspiration, he moved to South Africa, where he spent time diving in the ocean to reconnect with nature. During one of his dives in a kelp forest, he encountered an octopus. This marked the beginning of his journey to follow the octopus's life.

 

At first, the octopus would flee whenever it saw Craig. But as the filmmaker continued diving regularly, the octopus began observing him from a distance. Craig worked to build trust with the sea creature until it grew accustomed to him and eventually reached out a tentacle to touch his hand.

 

Craig's persistence led to an extraordinary moment when the octopus climbed onto him, and he was able to touch it.

 

Intouch glanced at Chop-khun, who was engrossed in the documentary. The more he watched, the more he felt that Chop-khun resembled the octopus. 

 

When they first met, Chop-khun was friendly but cautious, wary of people. If anyone got too close, he'd retreat, drawing clear boundaries. It was as if there was an invisible wall Intouch couldn't cross. But it seemed like Chop-khun was gradually opening up to him, and Intouch felt genuinely happy about it.

 

He enjoyed being around Chop-khun. It was comforting, and the more time he spent with him, the more he liked Chop-khun. Intouch had always thought it was difficult for him to feel this way about someone, but with Chop-khun, it wasn't hard at all.

 

"Do you think it'll survive?"

 

Intouch snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Chop-khun speak softly. He turned to see him watching the scene where a shark was chasing the octopus, his eyes unblinking. What caught Intouch's attention on the TV screen's dim light was Chop-khun's posture. His arms and legs were nowhere to be seen. Upon closer inspection, he realised that Chop-khun had pulled his oversized T-shirt down to cover his feet, with his hands tucked inside the shirt. At that moment, Chop-khun looked like a little ball.

 

Seeing this, Intouch smiled to himself. Guessing that Chop-khun might be cold, he got up to grab a blanket from the cabinet, the one he often saw Chop-khun use, and handed it to him.

 

"Thanks. Are you cold, In? Want to share the blanket?" Chop-khun asked, his eyes still glued to the screen as he stretched his arms and legs out of the shirt and wrapped the blanket around himself.

 

"I'm fine," Intouch replied, sitting back down on the sofa and petting Kati, who'd settled next to him since his owner was too absorbed in the documentary.

 

As time passed, the blanket that had been covering Chop-khun was eventually used to wipe away tears. He was deeply moved by the documentary and thought about recommending it to Teerak. 

 

The lights in the living room came back on after the movie ended, and the room fell silent once more. Chop-khun glanced at Kati, who was lying on his back on the sofa, letting Intouch rub his belly until he fell asleep. He couldn't help but compare. It seemed like Intouch had already bonded with Kati, but he was nowhere near that level with Fancy.

 

"Come to think of it, I miss Fancy. How's she doing?"

 

"She's gotten a bit chubbier but is still as mischievous as ever. Want to see some pictures of her?"

 

"Yes, please!"

 

Hearing that, Intouch unlocked his phone while Chop-khun shifted, letting his feet touch the floor but keeping the cushion on his lap. They moved closer together, and Chop-khun leaned in to look at the screen. He bit his lip when he saw Intouch open an album titled 'My Baby' with a heart emoji at the end. Looks like this dad is completely smitten with his daughter.

 

And it seemed his suspicion was correct as Intouch showed him picture after picture of Fancy. There were photos of the Siamese kitten cuddling with her toy fish, lying on her back, eating, sitting, and playing with her toys. It seemed like Intouch had captured every possible moment of Fancy's life. The photo that melted Chop-khun's heart the most was one of the kitten wearing long bunny ears, tilting her head, and sticking out her tongue at the camera.

 

"This one's adorable."

 

"Ing dressed her up, but she didn't like it," Intouch replied, glancing at Chop-khun. He quickly looked away when he noticed the other's shirt had slipped off his shoulder, revealing a tattoo on his pale skin.

 

The next set of photos had Chop-khun laughing until his eyes crinkled. Fancy was dressed in a bob wig with bangs, accessorised with various hair clips that changed from picture to picture.

 

"Did Ing do this, too?" Chop-khun asked the cat's owner, a smile still lingering on his face.

 

"I did," Intouch replied.

 

The unexpected answer made him imagine Intouch's usual stoic expression as he dressed Fancy in wigs and took these photos. The thought made him burst out laughing again. Intouch was truly unpredictable.

 

Intouch sat cross-legged, his right arm resting on the back of the sofa while his left hand held his phone. He let Chop-khun scroll through the photos on his own. Occasionally, Chop-khun would zoom in on Fancy's belly or face, commenting on her cuteness. 

 

Seeing how focused Chop-khun was on the photos, Intouch grabbed a blanket from beside him and draped it over Chop-khun's shoulders, as his shirt collar kept slipping off.

 

"Her paws really do look like mangosteens," Chop-khun said, zooming in on Fancy's tiny feet. The more he looked, the more they resembled the fruit. "Now I'm craving mangosteens," he murmured, mostly to himself. Intouch smiled at the comment.

 

"What's Fancy doing here?" Chop-khun asked, pointing to a video where Fancy was sitting with her face turned toward the wall. Despite Intouch calling her name, she refused to turn around.

 

"She was sulking. She smelled Kati on me," Intouch explained.

 

"Really? Does she still sulk when she smells Kati now?"

 

"Not anymore. She's used to it. We should introduce them soon, though. It might be harder for them to get along when they're older."

 

"That's a good idea," Chop-khun agreed, nodding. As he scrolled to the next photo, he froze for a moment before quickly swiping past it.

 

It was the first clear photo of Intouch's face he'd seen. However, since Intouch was lying shirtless on a bed in the picture, Chop-khun didn't dare linger on it like the others. 

 

Fancy was curled up against Intouch's bare shoulder, looking adorably clingy, making him want to take a closer look. But even with just a few seconds of viewing, Chop-khun had to admit that Intouch, with his unstyled hair and slight smirk, looked... different. It was a smile he'd never seen before. He couldn't quite describe it. Intouch looked kind of handsomely mischievous.

 

"Do you want to keep looking at the photos?"

 

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry. Got lost in thought," Chop-khun replied, clearing his throat before looking at the next photo. It showed Intouch wearing a plain white T-shirt, with Fancy curled up against his arm.

 

"Is Fancy always this clingy?" Chop-khun asked, turning to smile widely at Intouch. 

 

He zoomed in on Fancy's face, which seemed to be staring at the camera with an expression that said, This human is mine. Don't touch him. He chuckled softly and joked with Intouch while still looking at the photo.

 

"Your daughter seems pretty possessive of her dad."

 

"She wouldn't be if it were you," Intouch replied.

 

"Why not?" Chop-khun adjusted his position, leaning back against the sofa like Intouch, as his back was starting to ache. He met Intouch's dark eyes, which were now looking directly at him.

 

"Because she likes you," Intouch said with a slight smirk.

 

"Like me? Really?" Chop-khun returned the same kind of smile.

 

"Are you asking about the cat or her owner?"

 

Chop-khun fell silent for five seconds. His fighting spirit flared up as he bit his lip, his eyes darting around as if searching for an answer. All of this was observed by Intouch, who waited patiently for his response.

 

"Well... both."

 

"And what do you think, Khun?" Intouch asked at once, his gaze fixed on Chop-khun's face, which was now flushed red, the colour spreading to his ears. Yet, Chop-khun still held his gaze.

 

"I don't know. I don't like assuming things."

 

"You can assume all you want," Intouch replied.

 

Their eyes locked, and Intouch's face slowly leaned closer. The nearer he got, the faster Chop-khun's heart raced, as if it were about to explode.

 

Intouch's sharp, glimmering eyes met Chop-khun's trembling brown ones before trailing down to his full lips. At that moment, Chop-khun saw the same mischievous smile from the earlier photo appear clearly before him.

 

Chop-khun clenched his fists tightly but didn't move away. He barely dared to breathe as he felt Intouch's soft breaths brushing against his face. Their lips were about to meet. Stay still, Chop-khun. Don't tremble.

 

Woof! Woof! Woof!

 

They both jumped back in shock as Kati's barking suddenly broke the moment. Neither of them knew when the fluffy dog had woken up, but he launched himself at Intouch with full force. Chop-khun quickly stood up, stammering,

 

"I'll, I'll go get the mango now."

 

Intouch watched as the red-faced Chop-khun hurriedly walked toward the kitchen. Then he turned his gaze to the dog, who was still pressing his head against his stomach. Kati backed up and sat down, staring at him with a huff of disapproval.

 

Intouch crossed his arms and stared back at the possessive dog. It seemed Kati was more protective of Chop-khun than he'd thought. Meanwhile, Chop-khun, who was trying to busy himself in the kitchen to shake off the awkwardness, couldn't help but chuckle softly at the scene.

 

Intouch didn't seem fazed at all by their almost-kiss. Chop-khun, on the other hand, was doing his best to act normal but could barely bring himself to look Intouch in the eye.

 

After Intouch left, Chop-khun had to spend a lot of time making it up to Kati. The dog kept avoiding him, curling up in various corners of the house. It took a lot of coaxing to get Kati to play with him again, leaving him completely exhausted.

 

After taking a shower, Chop-khun climbed into bed, feeling drained. Even though he was sleepy, he wanted to read the comments on his Q&A video for a bit. When he opened the video, he was shocked to see the number of comments and views, which were much higher than usual, even though the video had only been up for a few days.

 

'It's like they're flirting.'

 

‘The cameraman is so handsome. Oh gosh, I can't stop smiling!'

 

‘P' In is so hot! Kyaaa! Was he smiling at the camera or someone behind it?'

 

‘This video feels so relaxed. P'Khun looks so much brighter, too.'

 

‘I want to visit the park, but I'm scared of monitor lizards 😔’

 

'This channel always gives off such positive vibes. Take care and rest well!'

 

‘Such boyfriend vibes. Aww!'

 

‘I finally understand what they mean by 'so handsome it hurts' after seeing P'In's face."

 

‘In was blushing because of Khun! I swear I can feel something between them.'

 

‘It doesn't feel like work. It feels like a date, honestly.'

 

‘Sorry, but the monitor lizard scene was hilarious.'

 

'This video is amazing. The vibe is perfect. I could listen to it all day. The more I follow P'Khun, the more I like him. Never disappointed.’

 

'P'Khun is so cute I almost fainted. And I almost fainted again when I saw P'In's face.'

 

‘I love the editing, the camera angles, and the vibe. It feels like I'm a third wheel.'

 

‘I love this Q&A style. Please do it more often. Next time, can we have a duo Q&A? Let the cameraman answer too.'

 

‘The cameraman has dimples! So cute. Does he have IG?'

 

‘I want to squish Kati's cheeks.'

 

‘I almost died when I saw the cameraman's face.'

 

'Khun's mom is so thoughtful with names. I love her parenting style. No wonder Khun is so adorable. Fake mom here, thanking the real mom!'

 

‘This cameraman is so talented. He once gave a lecture at my university. He's incredibly handsome in person. By the way, are you two dating?’

 

‘It's great to find your passion early. I've been out of university for years and still don't know what I like, except sleeping.’

 

‘Make more singing videos, please. I'm waiting!'

 

As Chop-khun read through the comments, he realised why the video had more views and comments than usual. It was because of the scene where Intouch appeared on camera for the first time. Another reason was the viewers teasing them in the comments.

 

This was the first time so many people had talked about him and Intouch together. Luckily, he hadn't invited Intouch to read the comments with him earlier. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known how to react. Everything was almost fine until Chop-khun scrolled to the next comment.

 

'Kati is so cute, but I think I've seen this dog on P'Te's channel before. Is it the same one? The name is the same.'

 

Chop-khun hadn't expected this issue to come up. But it was just one comment, so it probably wouldn't be a big deal...

 

He was so sleepy that the thought quickly faded, replaced by memories of the evening when he and Intouch had almost kissed. 

 

Chop-khun pulled the blanket over his face. Just thinking about Intouch's face leaning closer with that smile made his heart race. And that's when he realised:

 

Intouch was having more and more influence over his heart every day.