YOURSKY, Chapter 12
“Grandpa, how long did you secretly love Grandma?”
“Quite a while, you know. Secretly loving a friend is like that, Rak. You have to keep it hidden until you’re sure the feelings are mutual. If she didn’t like me back, I’d have kept it hidden forever so I wouldn’t lose her.”
“Lucky for you, Grandma felt the same way.”
“Actually, Grandma confessed to me after we’d already started dating. She said she’d felt the same as I did, but she let things play out naturally without showing it at first because she wanted to be certain her feelings matched mine—not just a fleeting moment of attraction that would fade away.”
“…”
“I still remember what your Grandma said. She told me that when we want to know if someone secretly likes us or has fallen for us, it means we’re ready to take responsibility for their feelings. If you’re not sure you feel the same way they do, don’t go digging for answers. Make sure of your own heart first—whether you truly feel the same or not. Otherwise, you might end up regretting losing someone, and that person might feel heartbroken knowing the relationship can’t go any further.”
“But what if we don’t ask, and they confess on their own, Grandpa?”
“Hmm… your Grandma didn’t mention that scenario, but in my opinion, I think someone who’s brave enough to confess is hoping that, at the very least, the other person will know how they feel. For them, winning over their own heart might be enough.”
“So if Grandma hadn’t asked how you felt about her, would you have confessed your love, Grandpa?”
“Probably not, because I didn’t want to lose her… Your Grandma was amazing at hiding her feelings. But one thing she did that gave me a sliver of hope was that she never paid attention to anyone else. Guys would try to court her, but she didn’t care. And what kept my hopes alive was how differently she treated me. I always got something special compared to her other friends—whether it was her smile, the look in her eyes, or her care. It made me feel special.”
“Love from back then really warms the heart, doesn’t it? Taking the time to learn about each other slowly.”
“Yeah, it was steady, slow, but it filled the heart in a way that’s hard to describe.”
“…”
“If I were to put it in a modern way, I’d say… take it step by step, but every step is solid.”
“Oh… evening dramas have got Grandpa coming up with deep, teenagestyle lines like that!”
“Haha, I pick up a few things here and there. Dramas are a companion for lonely old folks, Rak.” “…”
“Dear Rak… if one day your heart starts racing for someone, don’t fight it. Let it happen, and slowly let time confirm those feelings. Let time tell us whether this wavering will last just a moment or forever…”
“Yes… Grandpa.”
The conversation between Theerak and his grandfather from that night they lay talking came back to him again. He didn’t know why it resurfaced when he hadn’t called for it. It wasn’t because he was in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere that allowed memories to creep in—Phii Dom was playing music loud enough to chase away any silence in the car.
But still… it looped back into his thoughts.
Phii Dom was driving him to Muenfah’s condo to work on a photography assignment. They’d left the house at 4:30 AM to reach the condo by 5:30 AM. Phii Dom and Phii Babe had said it was better to arrive early and have time to prepare. Getting there ahead of schedule was better than being late and missing the first shot. Theerak figured it was best to trust the seniors with more experience.
The first shot they needed was the sunrise breaking over Fah’s horizon at 6:00 AM, which was why he’d only gotten a few hours of sleep.
Honestly, he had to blame himself for being too excited to sleep.
Even now, Theerak was still thrilled about spending time alone with Muenfah from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sure, they’d met and hung out one-onone plenty of times before, but he’d never spent this many hours with Muenfah. He wondered how hard that familiar fluttering would hit his body and heart this time, especially since he’d barely have a chance to step away from Muenfah to catch his breath.
“Sorry, Rak, that me and Babe can’t stay with you.”
“It’s fine, Phii Dom. Phii Babe’s fever is pretty bad.”
“Yesterday at the birthday party, she was still fine. I thought she’d fully recovered.”
“After dropping me off, you’re picking up Phii Babe to see the doctor, right, Phii Dom?”
“Yeah. If Babe gets better, I might come back to keep you company.”
“Just take care of Phii Babe, Phii Dom. I can handle myself. I probably won’t bother Phii Fah too much anyway—I already feel bad enough just asking to shoot at his condo.”
Phii Dom chuckled softly while keeping his eyes on the road. “No need to feel bad. He’s happy to help. Who knows, he might even pitch in with the shooting.”
“Teaching me some good techniques would be enough. He doesn’t need to trouble himself shooting for me…”
As soon as he finished speaking, the car turned into a luxurious condo complex. Phii Dom called Muenfah to let him know they’d arrived before parking in the lot. Not long after, Muenfah appeared. Theerak quickly grabbed his camera bag and leather side bag to get out of the car.
“Do your best, chubby-cheeks.”
“Yes, Phii Dom.” He nodded before stepping out. Theerak stood waving goodbye to Phii Dom, who rolled down the window and poked his head out slightly. He waved back and pointed to the tall figure standing beside him.
“Don’t tease my little bro in law, Fah. Take good care of him.”
“Yeah… don’t worry.”
Phii Dom gave a faint smile and nodded at Muenfah. Theerak watched until the BMW disappeared from sight. Now it was just him and Muenfah, alone.
“Did I come too early?”
… Even though Muenfah’s face didn’t look like he’d just woken up, and his chocolate-colored hair wasn’t messy, his outfit—different from what he usually wore—made Theerak think he probably hadn’t showered or gotten ready to welcome him yet. Muenfah was dressed only in a plain white roundneck t-shirt and gray sweatpants. Yet, as always, he still looked flawlessly handsome.
Theerak secretly envied Muenfah’s good looks again.
Muenfah never looked less handsome… even right after waking up!
“No matter how early it is, if the sea king comes to visit, I’d have to get up…”
Theerak took a small step back as the taller figure leaned down toward him.
“…”
“Because I’m scared of a tsunami.”
“Phii Fah! Teasing me again, huh!”
“Heh…” Muenfah chuckled low in his throat before grabbing the camera bag from his hand to carry it for him. He tried to snatch the leather bag too, but Theerak held it back.
“It’s fine, Phii Fah. I can carry it myself… I can handle my camera bag too.” he said, reaching out to Muenfah to take it back. Just coming to work at his condo was enough—he didn’t want to trouble Muenfah any further.
“Let’s go up to the room first. I will give it back then.”
“Phii Fah! Why are you being so stubborn?”
Theerak’s eyes widened as the taller guy swiped the other leather bag he was holding right in front of him. Now, all he could do was follow Muenfah, who was walking quickly ahead, as if afraid he’d try to grab the bags back. For the first time, Muenfah walked ahead without looking back at him, though he was still kind enough to hold the elevator for him.
As soon as they stepped into the elevator, Theerak turned to glare at the stubborn Muenfah, who was pressing the floor button. When he turned around and saw him, he laughed softly before stepping around to stand behind him. Theerak frowned, watching Muenfah through the reflection on the elevator doors. The taller guy stepped close behind him, resting his heavy chin on top of his head.
Good thing it was just the two of them…
Theerak could see every move Muenfah made through the reflection in front of him. And now, he saw Muenfah laughing, clearly enjoying teasing him. Theerak couldn’t deny it…
Muenfah was so darn cute! T___T
“Our heights match perfectly, troublemaker…”
“…”
“Perfect for me to rest and shake off the tiredness.”
“If you want to trick me into thinking I’m short, just say it!”
“Little one…”
Theerak furrowed his brow, staring at the figure in the reflection. Muenfah smirked, refusing to lift his chin off his head. “You don’t need to comfort Rak about it.”
“I’m not comforting you. Look, troublemaker… short where?” Muenfah said, pointing at the elevator doors to make him see their clear reflection.
“Little one and big one.”
…It’s unclear whether it was because Theerak stared at the reflection in front of him too long or because of Muenfah’s words that made his heart start beating out of rhythm. He quickly lowered his eyes, hoping it wouldn’t speed up even more, but the low chuckle from the tall guy—who was still resting his chin where it had been—stirred his heart into a loud protest.
“Phii Fah… can you take your chin off now?”
“Is it heavy for the little one? I’m not putting much weight on it, you know.”
“…” He could handle being called a troublemaker, but “little one” felt so endearing it made his heart flutter uncontrollably. Maybe Muenfah should stop using such cute terms already. T___T
“Guess it really is heavy—you went quiet.”
Muenfah lifted his chin off his head, slinging both bags over one arm before using his free hand to smooth out Theerak’s hair. Theerak sighed, feeling like he was Muenfah’s little puppy.
“I didn’t wash my hair today, you know. Aren’t you afraid the smell will stick to your hand, Phii Fah?”
“Nope…”
Maybe it was because Muenfah leaned down and pressed his nose into his hair. The memory of that day from the security camera footage replayed in his mind like a movie on loop. Theerak looked up at the tall guy, caught off guard.
“Lying little troublemaker… I don’t smell anything bad at all.” “…”
And right then, his grandpa’s voice echoed in his mind. If his heart raced for someone, he should let it happen naturally without resisting, then wait for time to confirm the feelings that arose.
Or maybe he shouldn’t resist it, like Grandpa said…
#However Many Thousand Skies
After Muenfah helped him store his things in the room, he took him up to the condo’s rooftop to set up the camera for shooting the sky at 6 a.m. The rooftop had a small garden area for relaxing, and when you walked up to the chest-high barrier, you could see a wide, expansive view. Now Theerak wasn’t surprised at all that Phii Dom had insisted on shooting the project at Muenfah’s condo—it really was perfect for this assignment, just as he’d said.
“Let’s set up the camera here, okay? Once we’re done, we’ll go down for breakfast, then come back up to take the photos when it’s time.”
“Okay, Phii Fah…”
Theerak pulled the tripod out of his bag. He positioned it where Muenfah suggested, and with the more experienced senior’s help, Theerak managed to set everything up in less than an hour. After double-checking everything, the two of them headed back to the room to wait.
Theerak plopped down on the large black leather sofa and scanned the room. The first time he’d come in, he’d been in such a rush—worried about not setting up the camera in time—that he hadn’t noticed much about Muenfah’s place. But now, with plenty of time, he could take in every detail of every nook and cranny.
Muenfah’s room was fairly spacious. It had two separate bedrooms, a guest bathroom, a living room, a kitchen, a laundry room, and a balcony that served as a prime viewing spot.
If he had to pick his favorite part of this room, Theerak would choose the balcony because of the wooden table with several cactus plants on it. He couldn’t believe Muenfah would have a corner like this, and it was probably that unexpectedness that left such an impression on him.
Truthfully, there were many things about Muenfah that impressed him.
But seeing yet another side of him… it made Theerak even more captivated.
The cactus plants made the stubborn Muenfah seem adorably charming in heaps, .
“Phii Fah, do you like cacti?”
Muenfah shook his head while heading to the fridge to grab ingredients for breakfast. “They’re Panli’s. He bought them and left them in the backyard garden, then abandoned them without care. I felt bad, so I brought them to the condo.”
“Panli, huh? Totally hopeless. I’ll have to give him a lecture when I see him.”
“Stubborn one, want a fried egg?”
“Sure, Phii Fah…”
Theerak watched the tall figure still in the same outfit. Muenfah tied a gray apron around his waist before starting to cook. Whenever Muenfah focused on something other than talking to him, his face would immediately turn calm and neutral—like now, as he cooked with that same expression. Theerak decided to have some fun and tease him, hoping to see a different reaction.
“Phii Fah, haven’t you showered yet?”
The one being asked shifted his gaze from the pan to look at him. “Not yet, but before picking up the stubborn one, Phii Fah washed his face and brushed his teeth.”
“I knew it ~ Turns out the stinky head smell is coming from you after all…”
“Heh.”
Theerak laughed delightedly when he saw the other break into a chuckle. He moved from the sofa to sit at the dining table as Muenfah took off the apron and brought over breakfast. A white ceramic plate with two slices of bread, fried bacon, and a fried egg was placed in front of him, followed by Muenfah setting a bottle of ketchup beside it.
After preparing everything for him, Muenfah went into the bedroom and came back with a MacBook. He placed it across from Theerak, then returned to the kitchen to brew himself some coffee. While doing so, he talked on the phone with a friend about some group project their professor had assigned. Theerak quietly watched the tall figure, thinking to himself that Muenfah was someone worth looking up to. He had so many responsibilities—studies, work—and yet he managed his time flawlessly.
“Don’t like it?”
“N-No, it’s fine.”
“I haven’t seen you eat at all.” Muenfah said, sitting down across from him and opening his MacBook. He glanced away from the rectangular screen to look at him again. “Does the stubborn one not like this kind of breakfast?
Should Phii Fah go buy something else?”
“It’s okay, I can eat it… But Phii Fah, are you just having coffee?”
The one being asked, who’d just set down his coffee mug, nodded. Muenfah gave him a small smile. “I was planning to eat breakfast after we finish taking that first photo. For now, stubborn one, you eat first… I need to tweak some work real quick, okay?” After speaking, Muenfah’s fingers danced across the keyboard, unaware that a pair of eyes was watching him intently.
“Lots of work, huh, Phii Fah?” Theerak asked while stuffing a piece of toast into his mouth. Muenfah nodded, glancing at the clock on the wall. Though he was more focused on his work, Theerak didn’t feel ignored even a bit, because Muenfah kept sending him smiles—like right now, when he caught him sneaking a peek at him working.
The tall guy, whose smile resembled the morning sunlight, chuckled in his throat as usual. He reached out a big hand to gently pat Theerak’s head before asking in a soft tone “What are you looking at me for, naughty one?”
“…” The one being asked leaned back slightly to slip his head out from under the touch. It wasn’t that he disliked Muenfah’s touch—his heart just started racing because of it, so he had to pull away to steady himself. Theerak lowered his head to keep eating breakfast without answering. He didn’t have an answer for the other anyway, because he’d only just realized it himself…
realized he’d been staring at Muenfah too much.
“I’ll go shower and get ready first, okay?”
“Okay.”
Theerak glanced at the tall figure as he got up from the table and disappeared into the bedroom. He let out a big sigh before slumping his face onto the dining table. The fluttering in his stomach was spreading through his whole body, making him feel weak all over. He’d have to endure this feeling all day. The only way to get back to normal was to distance himself from Muenfah.
But how could he distance himself now?! There was work to do! T___T
A moment later, a loud crack startled the small guy, who’d been resting his face on the table, making him sit up straight immediately. But the sight before him made Theerak want to faceplant onto the table again.
Muenfah, smelling fresh from a shower, walked out of the bedroom shirtless, revealing a tattoo on his chest clearly. The tall guy was wearing only faded jeans. Theerak wasn’t sure if he’d forgotten he was there, since Muenfah was talking on the phone with someone. Maybe he was just used to going shirtless in his own place.
But he confirmed Theerak’s presence by walking over, picking up a coffee mug to sip, and raising an eyebrow at him when he looked up. Theerak retreated by lowering his eyes as usual. Whether Muenfah moved forward or stepped back, he always had to wave the white flag in surrender.
It was Muenfah’s very essence that made him lose every time.
Each of Muenfah’s weapons was lethal.
Especially when he raised that eyebrow… it turned Theerak’s heart to mush. T___T
Theerak swallowed hard and mentally apologized to the fried egg he couldn’t bring himself to eat. It’d have to stay lonely on the plate as usual. The bacon and toast, though, were probably happy in his stomach. He glanced at the room’s owner, who was watering a cactus while talking on the phone, and thought that Muenfah really did have the great physique he’d imagined.
Muenfah’s body is amazing…
How does he get abs like that?
Theerak’s eyes darted between his own little belly and Muenfah’s toned abs. He nodded to himself and rubbed his stomach lightly to console it.
When we’re hungry, we’ve got to eat, right?
… It’s okay, little coconut belly… Even though we’d love to have abs like Phii Fah we won’t abandon you…
Because he couldn’t bring himself to ditch his little tummy, the lonely fried egg left on the plate was scooped into his mouth once more. Since he couldn’t build abs like others, he figured he should at least enjoy eating. But Theerak knew he should eat in moderation—not so much that it harmed his health. He just absolutely refused to starve himself.
While Theerak was chomping away at the fried egg, a conversation between Muenfah and someone else drifted into his ears. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but Muenfah wasn’t exactly speaking quietly, so he caught every word.
“It still hurts… I just got it done after coming back from Siam.” “…”
“Yeah, the usual place…”
“…”
“Yep… that’s it. I’ve got stuff to do. Check the work I helped fix and get some rest—you’ll collapse from sleep deprivation otherwise.”
“…”
“Yeah.”
Theerak didn’t turn to look at Muenfah after he ended the call. But the familiar scent of Muenfah’s cologne let him know the taller guy was standing behind him now. Theerak sat stiffly, lifting his glass of water and gulping it down to cool the burning heat spreading across both cheeks.
Just smelling his cologne made his face flush…
“Finished everything, huh?”
“…”
Theerak was about to turn to the voice behind him, but Muenfah leaned down toward him, resting both arms on the back of his chair. It was only when he tilted his head up that he realized he was trapped within Muenfah’s encirclement.
Their eyes didn’t meet directly because of the angle, but Theerak pursed his lips while staring at Muenfah’s. He didn’t want to look, but it was hard to avoid since those lips were the only thing at eye level. And Theerak figured Muenfah must have noticed him pressing his lips tightly, because that familiar smile spread across his face again.
That smile, like the morning sunlight…
“Great job, little one of the big one.”
It probably wasn’t the unbearably cute words from Muenfah that nearly made Theerak stop breathing. It was when that handsome face moved even closer, replacing the warm smile with a lip-bite, as if teasingly annoyed. That action stole his breath for a moment, only for Muenfah to give it back by pulling away.
“It’s almost time. I will go change first. Get ready and wait for me, okay, troublemaker?”
“…”
Theerak didn’t reply verbally. He just nodded in response. Muenfah smirked before heading toward the bedroom door. In the moment he turned his back, Theerak caught sight of black English letters on that broad back. The faint red marks still lingering on pale skin made him think it must be the new tattoo Muenfah had mentioned on the phone.
The sentence on Muenfah’s back:
I’m your Sky &
You’re my Sea made him feel something.
#However Many Thousand Skies
“Is it okay, troublemaker?”
“It’s okay now, Phii Fah.”
“Let me take a look.”
Theerak stepped back from the camera setup to let Muenfah check the photos they’d just taken. While Muenfah reviewed the images on the camera, Theerak let his gaze drift to the large sun peeking over the sky horizon. If the clock hands moved just a bit faster, that round, orange orb would break free from being obscured and float prominently in the sky.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a sunrise, but the one thing he did recall was feeling warm when he watched the morning sun. And now, the gentle sunlight brushing against his skin revived that memory, reminding Theerak that the warmth he’d once felt hadn’t changed at all.
And Muenfah’s smile, like the morning sunlight, wasn’t an exaggeration in the slightest…
“All set.”
“Okay, Phii Fah. Then we’ll come back up in half an hour to shoot again.”
“Are you going down to rest in the room first, troublemaker?”
“Yes, I going to take stubborn you to have breakfast first.”
“Can’t you forget about that?”
“No way.”
“But I’m not really hungry yet.”
“Even if you’re not hungry, you have to eat.”
After saying that, Theerak grabbed the big hand to lead him back to the room. Muenfah followed along easily without resisting, despite initially showing signs of stubbornness about not wanting to come back for breakfast. Once they reached the room, Theerak ordered Muenfah to sit at the dining table before opening the fridge to check for ingredients to cook with.
“Phii Fah… what’s even in your fridge?”
“Troublemaker, come sit. I will handle it.”
“No, no, sit down—don’t get up!” Theerak narrowed his eyes and pointed, ordering stubborn Muenfah, who was about to stand, to sit back down. “Ever since we met, I’ve done nothing but bother you… Let me do something for you in return, okay?”
“I don’t want you to trouble yourself or get tired.”
“Taking care of you isn’t a hassle or tiring at all. I want to do it for you.” “…”
Theerak sent a smile to Muenfah, who was sitting at the dining table. He truly felt what he had said—Muenfah had never once shown exhaustion or made it seem like helping and taking care of him was a burden. So how could Theerak feel otherwise?
“From what I’ve seen in the fridge, I think I can only make two dishes.”
“Both dishes are probably egg-based.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Then make whatever’s not too troublesome for this stubborn guy.”
“How about fried rice with eggs, Phii Fah? I’m not making it because it’s easy, but because it’s probably the best option.”
“…”
“Is your stomach okay, Fah?”
“It’s fine.”
As soon as Fah confirmed, Theerak began preparing the ingredients for fried rice with eggs. In Muenfah’s fridge, there was cooked rice neatly stored in a container, and plenty of eggs. However, the bacon he thought would be there was completely gone—Muenfah must have used it all to make breakfast for him.
“It’s a good thing there’s still rice.”
“The maid just brought it for me yesterday.”
Theerak turned his gaze from the pan to look at Muenfah before asking,
“Normally, you don’t eat at home, right, Phii Fah?”
“Normally, I eat at the restaurant, but lately, I’ve been having breakfast more often, so the maid cooked rice and put it in containers for me to heat up in the morning.”
“See? Everyone wants this stubborn Muenfah to eat breakfast, to the point they even cook rice for you. Who else could be as pampered as you, Phii
Fah?”
Theerak glanced at Muenfah, who walked over to the fridge to get some water. Besides his characteristically calm expression, Muenfah tended to make a confused face whenever he disagreed with something.
That confused look would return whenever Muenfah wanted to be stubborn with him…
“…”
“You have to eat breakfast every day, got it, Fah?”
“I don’t know…” Muenfah replied before pushing himself up to sit on the counter behind him. The stubborn posture of the tall man made Theerak feel annoyed enough to want to pinch his arm hard until he cried.
“Fah… don’t be stubborn!”
Muenfah gave a small smile when he saw Theerak cross his arms and glare at him. It seemed Muenfah enjoyed being scolded, which was why he liked to provoke him. He nodded in agreement and moved his lips to speak without sound, but Theerak managed to read his lips:
“I won’t be stubborn anymore.”
“No need to act cute, Phii Fah.”
Muenfah burst into laughter when he said that. Theerak’s heart raced as he saw Muenfah’s wide smile—it was the brightest smile he had ever seen. Everyone always said that his own smile was as bright as the sun, but now Theerak wasn’t sure whose smile was brighter, his or Muenfah’s.
But if he had to choose… it would definitely be Muenfah’s smile.
“I’m not playful anymore, and I’m not naughty either.”
“…”
“Phii Fah, I’ve stopped being naughty. Can you praise me a little, please?”
Theerak shook his head slightly while holding back a smile. In truth, Muenfah was a big, clingy guy. So, he said, “Good job, Muenfah. You’re a good boy.”
#However Many Thousand Skies
After finishing breakfast, we went back up to Fah’s rooftop to continue taking photos. The two of us sat at a long wooden table in a garden area with decent shade. The weather up here wasn’t as hot as they’d expected; instead, a breeze blew through, making it feel cool and comfortable. Theerak decided to invite Muenfah to stay up here until the afternoon rolled around. The early conversation topics revolved around studies and work at university. Theerak gained quite a bit of knowledge about various subjects from Muenfah.
At first, Theerak was worried that he wouldn’t have anything to talk about with Muenfah, and that it might make the other feel bored. But thankfully, we managed to keep the conversation going. Even though there were moments when both of us fell silent, searching for the next topic, that silence didn’t feel awkward at all.
“Let’s go take more photos in another thirty minutes.”
“Okay… I have already set the alarm.”
Theerak glanced at the camera still in its original spot while thinking of a new conversation topic to discuss with Muenfah while waiting to continue the photoshoot. During that time, something popped into his mind. It was an idea he thought he should carefully consider before bringing up. After reflecting on it thoroughly, he decided to use this topic to start our conversation.
“Phii Fah…”
“Yes?”
“I think I should promote you to be my close friend… because we see each other all the time and talk a lot too.”
“…”
“But there’s one problem.”
“…”
“I don’t know much about you at all… even though you know so much about me.”
“…”
“If I want to know more about you… would you be willing to share more about yourself with me?”
“Of course, I can. What does little naughty you want to know about me?”
In truth, Theerak didn’t want to overstep Muenfah’s privacy. Asking about personal matters might make him feel like his boundaries were being crossed. But as close friends, he felt he should at least know some basic information about the other person—like what Muenfah likes and dislikes—just as Muenfah already knows a lot about him.
“What’s your favorite thing?”
“I don’t have one, but if it’s something I eat often, it’s crispy pork basil with fried egg.”
“That’s the same as me, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Theerak furrowed his brows in curiosity before continuing to ask, “Why do you eat it so often?”
“It’s because of nostalgia as a factor.”
“What do you mean, Phii Fah?”
“It means that if I miss it a lot, I’ll eat it often. If I miss it less, I won’t eat it as often, but most of the time, I eat it every day because the feeling of missing it never lessens.”
“Oh, it’s probably like how I love thinking before bed about what I’ll eat for breakfast tomorrow, and the first dish that comes to mind is crispy pork stir-fried with basil and a fried egg. Is it something like that?”
“Something like that.”
Then what don’t you like to eat, Phii Fah?”
“Durian. It’s not that I can’t eat it, but if I can choose, I’d rather not.”
“Because of the smell, right?”
“Yes.”
“What color do you like, Phii Fah?”
“Gray.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Because it’s in the middle between white and black, just like me.”
“I love the color of the sky… like sky blue, because it feels comforting to look at.”
“…”
“Between mountains and the sea, which do you prefer, Phii Fah?”
“I like the sea.”
“What kind of person do you dislike the most, Phii Fah?”
“People who belittle others’ efforts.”
He wanted to immediately promote Muenfah to a closer acquaintance because of this answer, but he held back the thought since there were still many questions waiting. Learning about Muenfah’s personality and perspectives through these answers made Theerak feel fortunate to have met someone like him.
“If you were stranded on an island and could bring three things, including a person if you wanted—not just objects—what would you take, Phii Fah?”
A lighter or matches, since there’d probably be some food on the island…” Muenfah paused, slightly furrowing his brows as if deep in thought, before continuing, “The watch I’m wearing, and my wallet.”
“I understand the watch; you’d want it to keep track of time. But the wallet… why would you bring that, Phii Fah? You don’t need money on a deserted island.”
“To look at pictures. I keep family photos in my wallet.”
“I secretly thought you might bring someone along to the island to keep you company.”
“Just hearing the phrase ‘stranded on an island’ makes me think of hardship, so I wouldn’t want to drag anyone along to suffer with me.”
“But it’d be lonely, Phii Fah.”
“I don’t usually talk to people much anyway, so it wouldn’t be too lonely for me.”
Theerak burst into laughter, his mouth stretching wide after hearing that response. Muenfah was unexpectedly funny, wasn’t he? “If you could have one thing in the world, what would you ask for, Phii Fah?”
“May the sky horizon and the edge of the sea truly meet someday, for real, not just appear to converge with the naked eye.”
“Seriously, khrap. If we look with our bare eyes, it seems like these two things touch, but in reality, they are far apart—the sky up above and the sea down below.”
“Yes. I don’t know how long it will take for them to have a chance to truly be close, just once.”
“Not even a minute.”
Muenfah furrowed his brow at him, while Theerak gave a faint smile before scooting closer until their arms touched. “They’ve converged now.”
“…”
“I am like the sea, and Phii Fah you’re the sky… With this, the sky and the sea can finally be close, for real, just once.” “…”
Muenfah chuckled in his throat before raising his hand to ruffle his hair.
When Theerak saw Muenfah smile, he moved back to a comfortable distance. Just a moment ago, when the other spoke about the sky and the sea never being able to meet, he had seemed a little sad, unusually so, which made him feel uneasy too. But now that Muenfah could smile, he felt a bit more at ease.
“I have already gotten quite a bit of information from you, so now share something about yourself—something you thinks someone as close to I should know.”
“This is something I’ve never told anyone, but I want to tell this stubborn one.”
“…”
“The origin of the name, Muenfah…”
“…”
“My Ma told me that when she was five months pregnant with me, Pa had to go back to Hong Kong to take care of the hotel in place of Grandpa because he was starting to get sick… Ma stayed in Thailand and didn’t go with Pa. When she missed him, all she could do was call. Ma said she’s not usually a petty woman, but one day she asked Pa how much he loved her. The answer Pa always gave was, ‘As much as the sky,’ but that day Ma felt that ‘as much as the sky’ wasn’t enough. So, she said, sounding a bit upset, ‘Just one sky, that’s so little…’“
“…”
“Pa replied, ‘If one sky is too little, then I’ll love you as much as ten thousand skies… From now on, I’ll love you as much as ten thousand skies, more than I love myself.’ Ma took those words to heart, and that’s how I got the name Muenfah.”
“I couldn’t help but smile while listening, sir. Your Pa and Ma are so cute together… But I have one question: Since your grandpa has a hotel in Hong
Kong, does that mean…”
“Khrapom. My Grandpa is from Hong Kong. Grandma is Thai with
Chinese ancestry. My Pa is half, while me and Panli are quarter. But I looks more like Ma, so people don’t usually realize I have Chinese ancestry.”
“That’s true, sir. You don’t have the sharp, narrow-eyed look of other Thais with Chinese ancestry. Panli looks more noticeably Chinese.”
“My Ma is a Thai person of Chinese descent with fairly large eyes, so when I came along, I was different from the rest of the siblings in the family.”
“Oh, so besides you and Panli, does the Pisut family have a lot of siblings?”
“Quite a few, yes, but the ones we’re really close to are just a handful of families. I am close to the son of an uncle who’s a police officer. That family has twin brothers named Hem and Hiran, but I call them both ‘Hia’ because they’re older than me.”
“It seems like it’s mostly guys, huh?”
“Mostly guys, yes. There are girls too, but fewer of them.”
“What about Panli’s name? Does it have a story behind it like your name?” “Panli’s name is somewhat similar. When he was born, Ma was close to giving birth to him, but Pa had to suddenly return to Hong Kong because Grandpa was seriously ill and near death. During that time apart, Ma said she missed Pa so much. When they talked on the phone, Pa told Ma that longing couldn’t be measured, but if it had to be compared to a distance, his longing would stretch as far as ‘thousand miles.’ So Ma took the word ‘Panli’ and used it as his name.”
“Wow… really? The origins of your and Panli’s names are so deep and meaningful. When I first met Panli, I thought his parents just wanted to give him a unique name, something different from everyone else. I didn’t expect there’d be such a touching story behind it.”
“Actually, Ma said that the names Muenfah and Panli mean the same thing.”
“…”
“Ma gave them her own meaning… ‘steadfast love.’”
“Truly steadfast. Your Ma is such a strong woman, and your Pa is so devoted to her.”
“I think so too.”
Theerak felt warmed by Muenfah’s story. He had never imagined that the names of the two siblings would carry such profound stories. Hearing it made him want to experience steadfast love for himself. Theerak thought that feeling must be something truly special.
“Thank you, Phii Fah, for sharing this story with me.”
“You’re welcome.”
Muenfah nodded before gently patting Theerak’s head. Theerak stared at the tattoo under Muenfah’s forearm for a moment before asking “If I want to know about your tattoo, Phii Fah… would that be okay?”
“…”
“But if it’s too personal, it’s fine. I understand.”
“I can tell you… The first tattoo is here…” Muenfah pointed to his chest before unbuttoning his white shirt to reveal an English phrase inside. “It’s the real names of my Pa and Ma. The Chinese characters were the second tattoo…” Muenfah rubbed the Chinese characters under his forearm. “My real name is Pradipat. One of the meanings of the name includes the word ‘love,’ so I got this tattooed. Another reason was that, at the time, I was losing faith in love—probably during the first semester of my second year. But thankfully, just a few weeks after getting this tattoo, it helped me regain my faith in love again.”
“That’s great that you regained your faith in love, Phii Fah… You won’t lose it again now, right?”
“Yes… I won’t lose it anymore.”
“Good job. I am here to support you, okay? Fah, you must never lose faith in love.”
Muenfah gave a small smile when he saw the worried look in the other’s eyes light up again, just like before, upon realizing that he had regained his faith in love. “As for the third tattoo, it’s on my back. I got it done shortly after returning from a birthday event… It’s a sentence that means a lot to me.”
“…”
“Every tattoo has been carefully thought out and holds its own meaning.
It’s just that I don’t often share it with others.”
“You might get tired of hearing ‘thank you’ from me over and over, but please don’t get annoyed just yet… because I really want to thank you for trusting me enough to share such personal things. Thank you, Phii Fah.”
“I’m not annoyed.”
“I think it’s time now.”
“It hasn’t even been thirty minutes yet, you naughty one.”
“No, no, not about the photos.”
“…”
Theerak took a deep breath before speaking, “I would like to promote you,
Pradipat Pisut, to be a close friend of Rak Niran…”
“Thank you.”
“Heh, the promotion ceremony feels pretty serious, doesn’t it, Phii Fah?
You’re laughing so cutely.”
Muenfah chuckled in his throat as usual, but his expression and the look in his eyes were utterly adorable at that moment. The typically calm and stoic face, his signature trait, was completely swept away by the promotion to close friend, leaving only a smile that others weren’t used to seeing.
But he was familiar with it.
#However Many Thousand Skies
[There’s only one can of Coke left. Can you drink it? Otherwise, I will go down to the store to buy more.]
“It’s fine, Phii Fah. I can drink it… What about you, Phii Fah?”
[I will just drink water.]
“Okay, Phii Fah. Hurry back up, okay? It’s almost time for the last shoot.”
[Okay, I will hurry back up.]
Theerak hung up the call with Muenfah, who had excused himself to use the restroom and offered to get drinks for him. Initially, Theerak had planned to go get water for Muenfah since he’d mentioned being thirsty, but since Muenfah needed to use the restroom anyway, he offered to handle it himself.
It was now past 5 PM, and just a few minutes remained before the final hour of this photoshoot. Theerak couldn’t believe the day had gone so smoothly when it had seemed doomed at first. Spending time alone with Muenfah wasn’t as difficult as he’d thought. He felt at ease the entire time he was with Muenfah. Theerak admitted to himself that there were moments when his heart raced because of the other, but it would soon return to normal.
“Here you go…”
“Thank you, Phii Fah.” Theerak said as he accepted an opened can of Coke from the tall man who had just sat down beside him. The two of them had moved to sit at a long wooden table near the camera setup area since the sun was no longer harsh. He raised the red can to take a sip while glancing at the person beside him who was looking at his watch.
“Five more minutes until the last photo, naughty one.”
“Yes, Phii Fah.”
“During our Q&A earlier, I told you that you could ask for one thing in the world… Can you still change your answer now, Phii Fah?”
…Even though he knew that everything Muenfah might ask for was impossible, Theerak chose to nod in agreement. “Sure, maybe I can make it come true, just like how I brought the sea and the sky together.”
“Can I steal the sun and hide it?”
Theerak burst into laughter at Muenfah’s request. “That’s a tough one. I might need some time for this because I’d have to figure out how to help you steal the sun.”
“It probably won’t be in time, because I’d need to steal and hide it before taking the last photo.”
Theerak furrowed his brows, staring at the person beside him who let out a small smile. “…”
“Because if there’s no sunset photo at six o’clock… you would have to stay with me for another day to wait and photograph the sunset tomorrow.”
“…”
“I’d like you to stay and keep me company for a bit longer. We’re having such a fun conversation.”
“…”
Theerak sat silently, staring at the red can in his hand. Muenfah’s words always seemed to seep into his emotions, and what Muenfah had just said turned Theerak into a madman—
A madman who was seriously thinking of ways to steal the sun, even though he knew it was impossible.
But if it could make Muenfah smile a little longer… he was willing to be mad.
“It’s time, naughty one.”
“Yes.”
He stood up and followed the taller man to the camera setup spot in front of them. Theerak took his position, preparing to press the shutter as usual. The large, round sun in front of him cast a reddish-orange light through the camera lens. The colorful sky stirred a variety of emotions within him. Theerak realized that the sky at every moment… had an influence on his feelings.
Realizing this, he stepped back from his position without pressing the shutter. Muenfah, standing beside him, furrowed his brows slightly before asking why he wasn’t taking the photo. Theerak knew that this photograph was important and time-sensitive, but he was confident that this decision wouldn’t be a mistake because Muenfah was with him.
“Stealing the sun might be impossible, but if you help take this photo for me, Phii Fah… I’ll extend my time with you by another hour.”
Muenfah gave a faint smile and quickly took his position to photograph the sunset. It didn’t take long for him to successfully capture the final shot.
Theerak walked over to look at the photo Muenfah had taken before saying, “Don’t tell the professor that I let you take the last photo for me…”
“Are you afraid of losing points?”
“I know it’s not right. Honestly, it’s completely wrong to ask a senior to help take the photos, sir. But when I think about it and look at it, I want you to be a part of the memory of this project… Even though I feel guilty toward the professor, if it means I will remember this moment every time I see the picture, I think it’s worth it.”
“…”
“It’s just one picture, right? It’s not a big deal,” Theerak was consoling himself. A kid like him, who doesn’t like breaking rules or stepping out of line, was feeling worried.
“This matter is only known by you, the sky, and you, the sea… It’s not a big deal, sir.”
“Khrapom.” From being extremely worried, Theerak could now smile because Muenfah helped comfort him with words.
“Will you stay for another hour, sir?”
“Khrapom. I’ll stay with you for a bit, but I need to call Phii Dom first, sir, because Phii Dom is coming to pick me up at six.”
“Wait, I will LINE Dom and tell him myself, sir.”
“Okay, sir.”
Theerak went back to sit and wait for Muenfah at the long wooden table. He looked at the tall figure standing there, alternating between tapping on his phone and watching the sun disappear beyond the horizon of Fah. The sight in front of him made him smile faintly as he thought that, in truth, Muenfah was just as clingy and lonely as anyone else.
“I already told Dom, sir.”
“Phii Dom didn’t say anything, right, sir?”
“No, sir. I told him I’d take you back myself, sir.”
“Actually, I can go back on my own, sir, in case you want to rest.”
“It’s fine, sir. I can take you back.”
Theerak nodded in acknowledgment before saying, “The remaining hour…
I give it all to you, sir.”
Muenfah laughed. He probably recalled the first time we met. Theerak also let out a smile because he intentionally brought up that memory for the other.
“What should we do with the remaining hour, sir? Honestly, I just want to chat with you endlessly, but I’m worried you might get bored.”
“I won’t get bored, sir. But if you want a change from just talking… how about we share songs, sir?”
“…”
“Share the songs we like with each other. I like doing this with Panli when there’s nothing to do.”
“Sure, sir…”
“Let’s share the songs we like listening to right now, sir.”
“Khrapom.”
“Right now, I like listening to the song ‘Love’ by Infamous.”
“I like listening to ‘Eternal Love’ by Scrubb, sir.”
“I have heard that song before, sir.”
“Pa sang this song for Ma at their wedding anniversary last year, so I have been listening to it ever since.”
“Pa and Ma are always so sweet together, sir.”
Muenfah gave a faint smile before saying, “Would you like to listen, sir?”
“Yes, I’d like to, Phii Fah.”
Muenfah picked up his phone and tapped something before the song
Eternal Love began to play softly. Just the melody alone brought a smile to Theerak’s face. He had listened to this song with his grandfather last year, but hadn’t heard it again since then.
“Stubborn one…”
“Yes, Phii Fah?”
“Can I have some Coke, please?”
“Uh, sure!”
Theerak handed a red can to Muenfah, who gave a small smile before taking it. Theerak stole a glance at Muenfah as he stared at the Coke can for a moment before tilting it back to drink. It was at that moment that Theerak’s heart raced again, after having been calm for half the day. Especially when Muenfah turned to meet his gaze, that red lump in his chest pounded so hard it felt like his whole body was trembling.
“Heart reaches heart, hands hold each other, eyes meet and understand… no words needed.”
“…”
“Walking arm in arm, sharing love, don’t mind anyone else, I’m close to you, filled with love… for you…”
“…”
The two of them didn’t say a word, as if allowing themselves to linger in a single moment. It was during this time that a certain feeling, one that had been forming, began to surface. Theerak realized that something was happening to him.
At that moment, his grandfather’s words floated back to him. Theerak thought his grandmother was right—he should make sure of his own feelings before wanting to know someone else’s. And he shouldn’t force himself, as his grandfather had said. Though he wasn’t yet certain whether this feeling would last only for a moment or forever Theerak wanted to let go…
Let his heart race as much as it wanted.
Let time confirm whether this fluttering feeling could become something eternal…
He never imagined that becoming closer today would also cause certain feelings to grow. And no matter the outcome—whether Muenfah felt the same or not—Theerak was ready to take responsibility for his own emotions.
Theerak turned to look at the tall figure sitting beside him, gazing at the moon rising to replace the sun. Not long after, the person next to him shifted his gaze from the sky in front of them and met his eyes.
“When you put the song titles together, it all circles back to you, doesn’t it?”
“Uh, yes.”
“May the love that has arisen last forever, may the love that has arisen be eternal.”
“Love… eternal love.”
“May the love that has arisen last forever, may the love that has arisen be eternal.”
“You’re right, it’s all love.”
TBC
Leave a Reply