You(r) Tuber Vol 2.

29 Chop-khun's Important Thing

 

After the whirlwind of drama had passed, Chop-khun threw himself into work without taking a single day off. He dedicated his time to illustrating for the music video of a rising female rapper and editing the 'One Day with Kati' clip, which had already been filmed. Over the past week, he'd been holed up at home, while Intouch was busy with photography assignments at various locations. Intouch had been selected as the photographer whose work would be featured in a major mobile phone brand's advertisement. During this time, they could only communicate by phone.

 

[be back in Bangkok late tonight. You can go to bed first if you're tired.]

 

"Are you coming back with Kay?" Chop-khun asked while sending a revised file to a client.

 

[Yes, and Gee, too.]

 

"Alright. How's your hand? Does it still hurt?"

 

[Not much anymore, just a bit sore and numb.]

 

"Keep an eye on it, okay? If it still hurts, let's go see a doctor."

 

[Don't worry about me. It's much better now.]

 

"How can I not worry? I have to worry a lot," Chop-khun said softly, just as Kay's voice chimed in from the background.

 

[My, my, In, I didn't know you could smile this much.]

 

Chop-khun beamed to himself, wondering what Intouch's expression was like when teased. He'd never seen Intouch interact with his friends before, only hearing about them from Intouch's stories. From what he knew, Kay was Intouch's close friend and business partner in their production house, while Gee was a junior team member who'd been working with Intouch for over a year.

 

"Are you guys in the car now? Drive safely. I miss you, In."

 

[I miss you too. / Wow, Gee, did you hear that? / I'll hang up now. See you tomorrow.]

 

"Bye-bye. Drive carefully."

 

Chop-khun ended the call with a smile on his face. He'd been eagerly waiting for tomorrow all week, not only because he'd see Intouch but also because Kati and Fancy would meet for the first time. They'd planned to let the two spend a couple of days together. He wasn't sure how it'd turn out, though. The thought made him both excited and nervous. Kati had never had a cat friend, and Fancy had never met a dog. He didn't know if they'd get along or end up fighting.

 

Is this how parents feel when they take their kids to school for the first time? But there was no point in overthinking it. Chop-khun decided to wait and see what would happen tomorrow.

 

Chop-khun shook off his wandering thoughts and pulled out his planner from the drawer, placing it in front of him. He flipped to the latest page, where his to-do list was neatly written in clear handwriting. He'd been crossing off tasks one by one, leaving only the last item unchecked.

 

Water the plants.

Order food and toys for Kati.

Book a hotel in Chiang Mai.

Prepare Fancy's space.

Submit the book cover design.

Upload Kati's video.

Practice hand massage.

 

Seeing the unfinished task, Chop-khun opened a hand massage tutorial on his MacBook and watched intently. He jotted down key points on his iPad whenever something important came up. 

 

A few days ago, Intouch had mentioned his hand was sore and slightly numb, so Chop-khun wanted to try massaging it to see if it'd help. After watching the video repeatedly until he memorised the techniques, he called Kati, who was chewing on a toy under the table. He got up and flopped onto the large beanbag sofa in the corner of his workspace. When Kati jumped onto his stomach, he played with the dog for a while before sitting up straight and placing Kati on his lap.

 

"P'Khun needs to borrow your paw for a bit, alright?"

 

Chop-khun began gently massaging Kati's tiny paws, following the techniques he'd learned. Kati lay still, letting his owner touch him as he pleased. As the massage continued, the little dog's eyes grew heavy, almost drifting off to sleep. But Chop-khun's voice snapped him back to attention.

 

"Tomorrow, you'll meet a new friend. Fancy is a cat, younger than you. Be open-minded, understand?"

 

Kati tilted his head, listening, his pink tongue sticking out. His adorable face, which seemed to be smiling, made Chop-khun lean in to plant kisses on his forehead and cheeks, unable to resist.

 

"P'Khun loves you, Kati. Do you love P'Khun?" Chop-khun asked, gazing into the dog's shiny black eyes that stared back unwaveringly. He tapped Kati's soft nose with his finger. "If only you could talk, right?"

 

Kati licked his owner's hand before snuggling into his warm embrace. Soon, he fell asleep, leaving Chop-khun to quietly scratch his neck and drift into his own thoughts. Honestly, Chop-khun was a bit worried that Fancy might scratch Kati, given how unpredictable cats could be. But Intouch had assured him that Fancy was affectionate and friendly, so there shouldn't be any problems. If they got along well and became playmates, that would be wonderful. But deep down, he was afraid. Afraid that if they grew attached, would they have to separate them again...?

 

"Kati, do you miss P'In that much?" Chop-khun spoke to the little dog, who was wagging his tail excitedly by the front door. Kati had been thrilled ever since hearing the familiar sound of Intouch's Porsche pulling into the driveway. 

 

The moment Intouch stepped inside, Kati ran to him, jumping up to greet him with overwhelming joy. But as soon as he caught the scent of Fancy in the large pet carrier, his attention shifted entirely to the source of the smell. Kati pawed at Intouch's legs all the way to the living room, whining persistently to see what was inside the bag

 

"Kati, sit down," his owner commanded. Reluctantly, Kati obeyed. "Be patient."

 

After speaking to his dog, Chop-khun walked around to the other side of Intouch, waving at the ten-month-old cat through the transparent carrier window. Fancy had grown bigger, and the black markings on her fur had darkened. "l missed you, Fancy. You've gotten so big. Do you remember P'Khun?"

 

Fancy looked at the smiling man and rubbed her cheek against the carrier wall, her behaviour affectionate and relaxed, which reassured Chop-khun. At least she didn't seem alarmed by the unfamiliar surroundings.

 

Woof... woof... woof...

 

But one little dog seemed more alarmed than anyone else. Kati barked sharply, demanding attention, unable to contain his curiosity about what his owner was greeting so warmly.

 

"Should we let them see each other first?" Intouch suggested.

 

"Good idea. Kati wants to know who's in there so bad," Chop-khun said, sitting on the floor next to his dog, who was wagging his tail furiously. He patted Kati's head, telling him to calm down. Intouch glanced at Kati, who was rubbing his head against his owner's hand. When Kati looked up at him with excitement, Intouch shifted his gaze to Chop-khun, who was looking back at him with the same eager expression. The older man pressed his lips together, hiding a smile at the adorable sight, before reaching out to gently ruffle Chop-khun's soft brown hair with affection and longing.

 

"Take it easy," he couldn't help but tease his boyfriend.

 

"Yes, boss," Chop-khun replied mirthfully without thinking, but Intouch was momentarily at a loss for words when he heard the response, which came with Chop-khun rubbing his head against his hand.

 

Kati's barking broke the moment, snapping Intouch out of his thoughts. He tentatively placed the carrier on the floor and sat down beside the person who'd unknowingly made his heart race.

 

When Kati finally got a clear view of Fancy, he backed away and sat on his owner's lap, while Fancy froze like a statue. They stared at each other for about five seconds before Fancy suddenly started pawing at the carrier, causing Kati to flinch and scurry under the coffee table in the living room.

 

"Let's give them a bit more time to see each other before taking Fancy out," Intouch said.

 

"Will Fancy feel cramped?"

 

"It's fine. Just for a little while. There's a fan inside, and it's well-ventilated."

 

Chop-khun nodded. The two of them sat back and observed quietly. Before long, the Pomeranian peeked out from under the table. They couldn't help but laugh when they saw him slowly crawl closer to the carrier, sneaking glances at Fancy.

 

Meow... meow...

 

Kati's ears perked up at the sound of a cat's meow for the first time. He looked at his owner in surprise before walking over to stand in front of Fancy. He nudged the clear plastic with his nose, and the Siamese cat swatted at the moving nose, which darted left and right.

 

"Do you think they're playing or fighting?" Chop-khun asked, his eyes fixed on the scene.

 

"Probably playing. Neither of them is hissing."

 

Seeing Kati sniffing at the ventilation holes while Fancy did the same, Intouch decided to pick up his cat and place her on the floor, keeping an eye on Kati's reaction. When they finally faced each other directly, they were astonishingly calm. Both sat still, cautiously observing each other without moving.

 

"Fancy, come here," Intouch called, tapping the floor in front of Kati a few times. Fancy cautiously crept closer, each step deliberate.

 

"Why are you acting so aloof, Kati?" Chop-khun chuckled, noticing how Kati sat with his head held high, pretending to look around nonchalantly while sneaking glances at the kitten.

 

"Fancy likes Kati," Intouch declared, prompting Chop-khun to meet his gaze.

 

"I don't know why Kati's acting like this. Maybe he's still scared," Chop-khun replied. Fancy seemed fine, as Intouch had claimed, but Kati's behaviour was unusual. It was the first time he'd seen him act this way.

 

"They probably just need more time."

Chop-khun nodded in agreement with Intouch. 

 

When he looked back, he saw Fancy tentatively pawing at Kati's leg, while the Pomeranian simply sat and stared at the cat without looking away.

 

"Play with her, Kati. Fancy's inviting you to play with her. It's okay, you can do it."

 

Kati glanced at his owner before turning back to Fancy with a doubtful look. He'd never played with a cat before. Their sounds were different, but seeing that the creature in front of him showed no signs of aggression, he felt a little less anxious.

 

Chop-khun exchanged a wide smile with Intouch as they watched the two animals sniff each other without any issues. When Fancy rolled onto her back, exposing her belly and meowing playfully, Kati began to open up even more. The tiny dog started bringing his favourite toys one by one to show off, though he wouldn't let Fancy touch them. Then, he asserted his dominance by leading Fancy around the house, showing her different corners. However, in areas he was particularly possessive of, he'd let out a low growl, refusing to let the cat get too close.

 

Although they were still a bit wary of each other, things were going better than expected. In fact, it was much better than Chop-khun had anticipated. In less than an hour, the two were running around the house, playing together and causing quite a bit of chaos.

 

Chop-khun left Intouch to keep an eye on them while he headed to the kitchen to prepare chicken soup with winter melon and preserved lime for lunch. He'd learned from Ing that this was one of Intouch's favourite dishes, so he'd asked his mother for the recipe and bought the ingredients earlier that morning.

 

He laid out all the ingredients on the kitchen counter and reviewed the recipe on his iPad. Once he was confident in the steps, he began washing the vegetables one by one. As he was washing the winter melon, he suddenly felt a strong body press against his back and arms wrap around his waist.

 

"How did you know I like this dish?" Intouch asked, resting his chin on his boyfriend's shoulder.

 

"Take a guess."

 

"Did Ing tell you?"

 

"How did you know?" Chop-khun placed the winter melon in a basket and started washing the shiitake mushrooms.

 

"Ing's been bragging lately about how she talks to you all the time now, saying you're so sweet and adorable. She even claimed P'Khun is stealing my heart. Looks like I'm getting left behind."

 

Chop-khun laughed at Intouch's playful imitation of Ingfah.

 

"And how are you going to argue with that? Ing's just telling the truth," Chop-khun said, turning his head slightly to meet Intouch's eyes with a small smile.

 

Intouch grinned back and leaned down to plant a big kiss on Chop-khun's soft cheek. "Let me help you cut the winter melon."

 

"No need. You should rest your hand. I'll do it." Chop-khun noticed how Intouch occasionally clenched and shook his hand, likely still feeling some discomfort.

 

"It's just a bit numb, not aching anymore," the older man replied, grabbing the basket of winter melon and starting to peel it on the kitchen counter.

 

"You're so stubborn."

 

"I'm not."

 

"You are. See? You're being stubborn right now." 

 

Chop-khun scrunched his nose as he picked up the basket of mushrooms and moved to stand beside Intouch. He continued to grumble, "Let's go see a doctor tomorrow. I'll take the brat there myself."

 

Intouch chuckled softly at the way Chop-khun emphasised 'brat.' No one had ever called him that before. People usually said he was a good boy.

 

"I already consulted a doctor friend. They said it's probably because I've been working in the same position for too long. It's nothing serious."

 

"And how should you take care of it?" Chop-khun asked, concerned, knowing how long Intouch had to hold a camera in the same position during shoots.

 

"I just need to change positions more often, do some wrist exercises, and take vitamins."

 

Chop-khun nodded as he chopped mushrooms, mentally noting to find time to give Intouch a massage using the techniques he'd practised.

 

They worked together to prepare the ingredients until everything was ready to go into the pot. When it came time to season the soup, Chop-khun hesitated and asked Intouch to do it, but Intouch encouraged him to trust himself and give it a try.

 

Chop-khun measured the seasonings precisely according to the recipe, not daring to deviate for fear that Intouch wouldn't be able to eat it if he improvised.

 

"In, taste this. Is it good yet?" he asked, scooping some broth into a spoon and holding it out to Intouch, his heart pounding with anticipation.

 

"It's delicious. I love it. You did great."

 

"Really?" Chop-khun tasted the broth himself with the same spoon. "It really is good. Mom's recipe never disappoints. If you like it, I'll make it for you again. I'll try other dishes too, but I'll start with simple ones so they're edible."

 

Intouch watched as Chop-khun skimmed the white foam off the soup while it simmered. "Thank you for putting so much effort into this for me."

 

Chop-khun turned to meet his gaze and nodded with a faint smile.

 

After finishing lunch and cleaning up the kitchen together, they spent the rest of the afternoon and evening playing with Kati and Fancy, who were particularly energetic. It wasn't until the two animals were completely exhausted that they finally calmed down, each retreating to their own space, Kati to his bed and Fancy to the cat condo that Chop-khun had prepared especially for her.

 

As for the two humans.. They were busy carrying pillows, blankets, and bedding from the second floor down to the living room. They'd agreed to sleep there for the night, not wanting Kati to feel like his territory was being invaded too quickly and giving Fancy time to get used to the house.

 

Once they'd set up the sofa bed into a five-foot sleeping space, they took turns showering, as they still didn't fully trust leaving Kati and Fancy alone together. Intouch finished his shower first and grabbed a book from Chop-khun's shelf to read while waiting.

 

After a while, Chop-khun entered the living room in his light yellow fitted T-shirt and cream-colored shorts, only to find Intouch already asleep on the sofa. Quietly, he climbed onto the makeshift bed and gently removed the book, titled 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982',

from Intouch's chest, marking the page with a bookmark. As he stared at Intouch's sleeping face, a soft smile spread across his lips.

"Sweet dreams, Mr In," Chop-khun whispered, but suddenly, Intouch opened his eyes.

 

"Staring at me like that makes me feel shy," Intouch said, adjusting the recliner to a semi-upright position. Chop-khun squinted at him. "No way. You're not shy."

 

"Why don't you keep staring and find out?"

 

Intouch wasn't embarrassed at all. If anything, he was the one making Chop-khun blush.

 

"If you're not going to sleep," Chop-khun smirked, tracing his finger along Intouch's lips, "let's find something to do."

 

"What do you have in mind?" Intouch asked, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

 

"Curious, are you?" Chop-khun tilted his head. "Give me your hand."

 

Without hesitation, Intouch placed his hand in Chop-khun's open palm. Chop-khun shifted into a cross-legged position and said, "I'm going to give you a massage."

 

"Huh?" Intouch quirked an eyebrow. Chop-khun almost burst out laughing at Intouch's bewildered expression. He deserved a little payback for all his teasing.

 

"Your hand's been numb, so I'm going to massage it for you," Chop-khun explained with a smile before starting to work on Intouch's hand.

 

"Where did you learn this?"

 

"I watched a tutorial. They said it helps with numbness. Let me know if it hurts."

 

"It doesn't."

 

"Does this feel good?" Chop-khun asked as he used his thumbs to knead from Intouch's wrist down to the centre of his palm.

 

"It feels great," Intouch replied, warmth spreading through his heart at the care he was receiving. Chop-khun nodded and continued massaging. "Did you know? I'm the number one masseuse in my family. Even my grandparents love it. They always ask me to massage them when I visit."

 

"What if I end up loving it, too?"

 

"Then you'll need to give me a reward."

 

"What do you want?"

 

Chop-khun pretended to think for a moment before leaning his left cheek toward Intouch. When Intouch didn't move, he puffed out his cheek. Intouch couldn't hold back his smile and leaned in to plant a kiss.

 

"This side as well." Chop-khun offered his right cheek, and Intouch obliged

 

"How about here?" Intouch tapped the tip of Chop-khun's nose with his finger. The younger man nodded, smiling so wide his eyes crinkled. He pointed to his forehead and then his lips.

 

"Here and here, too."

 

Intouch complied without hesitation. After pulling back from the kiss, they locked eyes and shared a quiet smile.

 

"Do you remember when we went to Suan Phueng for the first time? You said one day, Kati and Fancy might meet. Now they've actually met, and they've become friends so fast. I never thought Kati would have a cat as a friend."

 

"You've never had a cat, have you?"

 

"No, my family's always had dogs. But back in uni, I used to play with cats sometimes. We weren't close, but I saw them often. By the way, do you know Somjeed and Somjook?"

 

"Who?"

 

"The orange mother-and-daughter cats that used to hang around your faculty and mine. Somjeed was the mom, and Somjook was the kitten. They were pretty famous, always being fought over. At first, they stayed at my faculty, but one day they stopped showing up. There was a rumour they'd fallen for a guy from the business faculty. Josh, my friend, was the most heartbroken because he'd been taking care of Somjook since she was born. To this day, he still wonders where they went."

 

Intouch listened to Chop-khun's animated storytelling with a soft, affectionate gaze.

 

"But I think the rumour's probably true," Chop-khun said earnestly, massaging each of Intouch's fingers in turn.

 

"Why do you think that?"

 

"Because the last time I saw Somjook, she was at the business faculty, cosying up to some guy. She looked really happy. Have you ever seen two chubby orange cats at your faculty?"

 

The more Intouch listened, the more familiar the story seemed.

 

"Did you see the guy's face?"

 

Chop-khun shook his head, trying to recall memories from nearly ten years ago. "I didn't see his face back then. He was sitting with his back to me, but I overheard him talking to his friend about how his dad was a guest lecturer at your faculty."

 

"Was it the day someone was handing out Chiang Dao posters?"

 

"Yes. How did you know?" Chop-khun paused his hands, piecing the story together. "Don't tell me... that guy was you?"

 

Intouch nodded, equally astounded.

"So, we actually met before the Chiang Dao trip? What are the odds?"

 

"Stuffed omelette with lots of minced pork," Intouch said with a small smile.

 

Chop-khun couldn't help but laugh, remembering the conversation he had with his father that day. "How do you even remember that? It's been so long."

 

"I remember because when I heard you talking to your dad on the phone, I thought you were so lucky to have that kind of relationship. I've never really had casual conversations with mine like that," Intouch said in an even tone.

 

Chop-khun hesitated for a moment before continuing the massage. "And how's your relationship with your dad now?"

 

"It's better than it used to be. He messages me sometimes, calls every now and then. We don't fight anymore, but we don't talk much either."

 

".." Their eyes met in silence.

 

"As I've grown older, I've come to understand a lot more, though not everything. I try to remind myself that parents are just people, like me. Sometimes they make mistakes, make bad decisions, or unintentionally hurt us," Intouch swallowed hard, pausing briefly. "But I'm lucky my dad realised it, even if it took a long time."

 

Chop-khun felt a deep ache in his chest. It mustn't have been easy for young Intouch to endure that pain and misunderstanding. Even now, at thirty, carrying those memories, Intouch might still feel the weight of it, despite saying he understood and was okay.

 

Chop-khun listened quietly, trying to contain all the emotions stirring inside him. He didn't want to show anything that might make Intouch feel worse...

 

Chop-khun longed to be strong so that Intouch could have the space to be vulnerable. He longed to be someone who could listen to both Intouch's joys and sorrows without judgment.

 

"Do you want to reconcile with your dad?"

 

Intouch nodded slowly. "I know he feels remorseful now and is trying to make amends for the past. But we've been distant for so long. Having casual conversations like that seems hard."

 

"Maybe not," Chop-khun said kindly. "If you and your dad take small steps toward each other, the distance you're talking about might disappear entirely."

 

"You think so?"

 

"Yeah. If it's hard for you to make the first move, why not give your dad a chance to try? See how far he's willing to go. Maybe... he wants to have casual talks with you too."

 

Intouch nodded with a faint smile. He hadn't realised how much he'd shared until now, but he didn't regret it. Instead, he felt relieved. Perhaps it was because Chop-khun was the one person he wanted to share every corner and story of his life with.

 

"I'll give it a try. Thank you." 

 

He met Chop-khun's attentive gaze before shifting the conversation to something unresolved "About the cats, I never knew their names or that two faculties were fighting over them. They used to come play with me often, so I started feeding them regularly, and we became close. One day, the mom-Somjeed, right?-got hit by a car and lost a leg. I happened to find her and took her to the vet. After she recovered, I contacted the faculty, and they said she was a stray with no owner. So, I took them to live with my grandparents in Kanchanaburi before I went to England. I thought they'd be better off with someone to care for them."

 

"So, they're with your grandparents now?"

 

"Yes. Somjeed is a grandma now, and Somjook has had several kittens. If you want to meet them, I can take you there sometime."

 

"Sure, I'd love to. By the way, what are their names now?"

 

"My grandma named the mom Madee, and the daughter Shokun. I actually have pictures of them. My grandma sends them to me. Want to see?"

 

Chop-khun nodded enthusiastically.

 

After finishing the massage, they continued talking, but they shifted from sitting to lying face-to-face. The conversation also lightened up, turning into a game of short questions, an idea Chop-khun came up with.

 

"Beach or mountains?" Chop-khun asked while playing with Intouch's earlobe.

 

"Beach. Americano or cappuccino?" Intouch shot back.

 

"Cappuccino for me, but I like people who drink Americano," They both grin. "Cockroach or gecko?"

 

"Gecko. No cockroaches," Intouch said, shuddering.

 

"You're afraid of cockroaches?"

 

"Yes. Are you?"

 

"No. If we see one, I'll catch it for you. But if it flies... let's run away together," Chop-khun joked, making them both laugh before Intouch asked the next question.

 

"Do you like being pampered or pampering someone?" Intouch asked, putting his leg over the other.

 

"Pampering. What about you?"

 

"Being pampered," Intouch answered immediately. "Pamper me."

 

"I'm not good at pampering. I'm tough and unapologetic," Chop-khun said in a mock-serious tone, mimicking a clip he'd seen before.

 

Intouch stifled a laugh. "Show me how tough you are."

 

"Like this," Chop-khun said, putting on his most intimidating face, which to Intouch looked more like a pouting cat.

 

"That's not tough. That's totally cute."

 

Chop-khun's ears turned red as he leaned in to playfully nip at Intouch's chin. "How about now? Fierce enough?"

 

"Sure, if you say so," Intouch replied with a smile before asking, "Singer or your own art exhibition?"

 

"Wow, both are my dreams," Chop-khun said, thinking hard. "I'll go with my own exhibition. Film camera or digital?"

 

"Digital. Sunrise or sunset?"

 

"I can't choose. I love both."

 

"But you said you have to pick one." Intouch gently pinched his boyfriend's soft cheek. 

 

"You're cheating."

 

Chop-khun chuckled. "But I really can't choose this time. It's too hard. Let me off the hook for this one, pretty please?"

 

"Fine, but you have to choose for the next one."

 

"Okay, deal," Chop-khun said, holding up three fingers and locking eyes with Intouch.

 

"Role play or dirty talk?"

 

Chop-khun's face turned bright red, and goosebumps rose on his skin as he felt Intouch's large hand slip under his shirt, gently stroking his side while waiting for an answer.

 

"I... I don't know. I've never tried either."

 

He stared into Intouch's eyes as the other man leaned closer, their breaths mingling. Seeing the impish glint in Intouch's gaze made Chop-khun's face burn even hotter.

 

"Do you want to try?" Intouch's deep voice whispered, his lips brushing against Chop-khun's as his hand began to tease a sensitive spot on his chest.

 

"Ah..." Chop-khun let out a soft moan before nodding in response.

 

"Hug or kiss?" Intouch asked, his nose grazing Chop-khun's, their lips barely touching.

 

"Both."

 

"Cheating again."

 

"And do I get them both?" Chop-khun asked breathlessly, his legs shifting restlessly as Intouch's touch sent shivers through him.

 

Without a word, Intouch climbed over him, pressing their lips together in a deep kiss. He answered the question with action...

 

By the time they had to change the sheets and shower again, it was already midnight. That night, Chop-khun discovered what Intouch's version of dirty talk was: polite in every word, yet leaving him feeling more than he ever thought possible. Just thinking about it made his heart race...

 

The next morning, Intouch woke up first, startled by Fancy sitting on his chest and pawing at his face incessantly. He hugged her close, scratching her neck to calm her down. 

 

Once fully awake, he sat up and looked around. Kati was already awake, chewing on a toy in his bed, while his owner was still sound asleep, snoring softly.

 

Intouch's sharp eyes lingered on Chop-khun, whose shirt had ridden up to reveal smooth, pale skin with faint pink marks. He leaned down to place a tender kiss on Chop-khun's forehead before pulling the shirt down and tucking the blanket around the other carefully.

 

Almost an hour later, Chop-khun finally stirred awake, stretching lazily. He couldn't help but notice how unusually quiet the house was.

 

"Where did everyone go?" he mumbled.

 

Still half-asleep, he heard Kati barking outside in the garden. He quickly got up and walked to the study. Pulling back the curtains of the large window, he saw Intouch playing with the two animals, hiding behind a potted plant that barely concealed him. When Kati first found him, the dog barked excitedly.

 

"Kati, shh..." Intouch raised a finger to his lips, signalling for silence. "P'Khun is still sleeping. Don't be loud, okay?"

 

When Kati obediently quieted down, he was rewarded with a head pat and a small treat. The wide grin and dimples on Intouch's face made Chop-khun smile unconsciously. The more time we spend together, the more I see these precious sides of him.

 

Chop-khun left the study to wash up and tidy the house. He wanted to finish as soon as possible so he could join them in the garden. The first task on his list was to wash the clothes and sheets that had gotten messy the night before.

 

"Where are the sheets?"

 

He wandered around until he found them already spinning in the washing machine. Not only that, but the toys and stuffed animals that Fancy and Kati had scattered all over the floor were cleaned and neatly arranged in the cabinet. Even Kati's pee pad had been replaced. 

 

When he walked into the kitchen, he saw a bag of dim sum from the restaurant he'd been craving last night sitting on the table. Chop-khun smiled to himself before heading out to the front yard. But before he could join in the fun, a sudden downpour forced them all to run back inside. They swiftly caught and dried the two furballs with pet towels until they were clean, then let them play freely again.

 

"Want to work out?"

 

Chop-khun shook his head. "No way. I already worked out plenty last night."

 

The listener nearly choked on his water. Sometimes, Chop-khun said things that caught him completely off guard.

 

"You go ahead, In. Today's my cheat day. I'll sit here, eat ice cream, and cheer you on."

 

And true to his word, Chop-khun did just that. While Intouch was doing push-ups in the middle of the living room, Chop-khun sat cross-legged in front of him, spooning ice cream into his mouth and chatting about random topics.

 

"When we go to Prae's wedding, don't be nervous. My friends are all super friendly. And if you see Josh, help me convince him that Somjeed and Somjook are at your grandma's house. He's never going to believe me."

 

Intouch nodded, panting heavily, glancing at Kati and Fancy, who'd wandered over to sit and play with Chop-khun.

 

"Fancy," Chop-khun said, setting his ice cream bowl aside to scratch the Siamese cat's neck. 

 

"You have to go home today. Don't forget to miss P'Khun and Kati. Come visit again soon. Hey, Kati, stop that!"

 

Before he could finish talking to Fancy, Chop-khun turned to scold his dog, who was happily licking his vanilla ice cream. The Pomeranian's mouth was a sticky mess, and the dog acted as if nothing was wrong.

 

"So that's why you were so quiet," the dog's owner said in a resigned tone. Usually, Kati wouldn't let him pay more attention to Fancy, but as soon as food was involved... "All you care about is eating. Who do you take after, Kati? Such a waste; there was still half a bowl left."

 

Intouch almost burst out laughing at that last comment. Chop-khun got up to throw the ice cream away, refusing to let Kati finish it since it wasn't healthy for dogs.

 

When he returned to his spot, he saw Fancy leap onto Intouch's back, lying down as if it were a regular occurrence. Kati, seeing this, walked over and placed his paws on Intouch's back, which was moving up and down, but didn't dare climb up. Chop-khun immediately grabbed his phone to record the scene, clearly amused, before joking about wanting to sit on Intouch's back as well.

 

The said person, having just finished his set of push-ups, sat up and locked eyes with him.

 

"Do you really want to? Should we try?"

 

"Huh? I don't think that's a good idea."

 

"I didn't mean on my back. I meant here," Intouch said, patting his lap with a sly grin. 

 

"We've never done that before, have we?"

 

Chop-khun's face turned bright red as he hastily stood up. He shooed the cheeky man off to take a shower before retreating to the kitchen to heat up some food, his heart racing.

Good grief. He couldn't stop imagining what Intouch had just suggested.

 

They spent time together until about two in the afternoon, when Intouch had to leave to pack for his late-night flight to Japan for a five-day work trip.

 

When Intouch got back to his condo, he opened the paper bag Chop-khun had handed him as he walked him to the car. Inside, he found a bottle of vitamin B with a sticky note attached: 'Don't forget to take these. And if there's no one to massage you, don't forget to stretch your wrists:)

 

At the bottom of the bag was a small wooden box. When the man opened it, he found a keychain with two keys and a round metal tag. Flipping it over, he saw his name engraved on it, followed by a tiny heart. Intouch's heart raced. He'd seen a similar keychain before, the only difference being the name engraved on it.

This was Chop-khun's house key...