YOURSKY, Special Chapter 1: Merit Partners
On a holiday…
Which is the day off for the restaurant, Your, Sky
The restaurant owner, Muenfah, usually rests at home, while his lover, Theerak, who has become the manager of the restaurant, Your, Sky, fully takes on the role of being Pradipat’s lover during the holidays.
The holiday activities for a couple like them, who have been together for over two years, probably aren’t anything too exciting anymore. They’ve long passed the phase of discovering new things and feeling the thrill in their relationship. Now, their relationship has grown steadily, just like Grandpa’s blessing: ‘Grandpa wishes for Muenfah to be the strong and stable roots, for Theerak to be the thriving trunk… and finally, Grandpa wishes for both of them to nurture this tree of love to keep growing forever.’
But even though their relationship has grown in a simple way, the love they have for each other hasn’t diminished or grown cold at all. Muenfah is still the sky who flirts with his lover every single day.
This Theerak still gets shy around his sky just like always,
How could love ever get used to it…
When Phii Fah keeps finding new ways to flirt with him all the time?
So their relationship feels like they’re flirting anew every day.
But more important than the fact that they keep filling each other with love is this: Muenfah remains a steady, caring lover, unchanged in every way. He’s a partner who’s consistent from start to finish, and that makes Theerak strive to be a better lover every day to repay him.
Today, Muenfah woke him up early to take him to make merit at the temple, because he’d been complaining about wanting to go for days. Theerak knows Muenfah has been tired all week, and on a rare day off, he probably wanted to sleep in. But Muenfah still considers even his small, trivial matters as something important.
Theerak, already bathed and dressed, sat waiting for his lover on the kingsized bed. He slowly broke into a smile when he saw the tall figure stride out of the bathroom. Muenfah was wearing a casual long-sleeved white shirt, still unbuttoned, revealing a strong chest and beautifully toned abs, paired with long black jeans.
The tall man stepped over to stand in front of the glass cabinet that held no fewer than twenty expensive watches. He picked up his favorite watch, the one he wore regularly on his wrist. Seeing this, Theerak let out a wide smile and sprang up from the bed.
He walked over to stand in front of the tall man, reaching out with both hands to button up his lover’s shirt while Muenfah put on his favorite watch.
Theerak looked up, meeting those sharp eyes, and said…
“I see you standing and choosing watches every day, but you still end up wearing the one Mom gave as a gift anyway…”
Muenfah, having finished putting on the watch, revealed a warm smile—a smile like the soft morning sunlight. His sharp eyes gazed at him for just a moment before his handsome face leaned closer. The sky-like figure gently pressed his full lips onto his forehead, then pulled away the next second…
“I spends time choosing a watch every day because I want to see if I’d ever feel like switching to another one. But no, I still love and want to wear the same old watch again and again.”
“…”
“It’s probably like how I love you… and wants only you forever.”
Theerak smiled faintly while buttoning the last button on his shirt. He looked up to meet his lover’s eyes and said, “Flirting so early in the morning, huh, Phii Fah… You’re making me shy right from the start.”
“Heh,” the taller man chuckled in his throat before wrapping both arms around his waist, pulling him even closer. But in the next moment, those warm eyes turned mischievous. “I am getting older every year, while you’re still so young… If I don’t flirt often and my wife starts feeling bored, what would I do then?”
Theerak burst out laughing when he heard Muenfah’s words. He’d always known that what his lover feared most was “you getting bored of me or loving me less,” but he didn’t expect him to still be so deeply worried about it even now.
“Phii Fah you know that me could never get bored of you, right? And I’d never love you any less either.”
“…”
“I love you… I love Phii Fah more than the sky and the sea combined, just like always.”
After saying those words of love—not just empty words, but filled with a love greater than the sky and sea combined—the slightly shorter Theerak stood on his tiptoes and leaned in to peck those full lips once.
Chu…
Muenfah smiled with satisfaction as he pulled his lips away. Those sharp, mischievous eyes were still fixed on him as always. Then the taller man spoke in a coaxing tone “Can I have one more, please?”
“…”
“I want another kiss from you.”
The one being coaxed grinned so wide his cheeks nearly split. He stood on his tiptoes again to gain some height, leaned in, and pecked those full lips twice. After pulling back, Theerak flashed a bright smile and said “Rak gave you two this time!”
“Heh,” Muenfah chuckled in his throat again. That smile told Theerak that “Muenfah was very satisfied.” The taller man leaned down, pressing his nose to smell his head once, then moved the tip of his nose to his forehead, his cheek, and finally his neck.
Smack~
Muenfah kissed every spot with a loud smack before tightening his hug, resting his chin on his shoulder. Theerak wrapped his arms around him in return. Not long after, the taller man, who was coaxing love from him as he did every day, spoke up.
“How far will you make me fall for you?”
“…”
“I am so smitten with you, it’s almost too much.”
The listener laughed while gently rubbing the broad back. “We’ve been together for a long time now, Phii Fah… haven’t you gotten tired of being infatuated with me yet?”
“Telling me to stop being smitten with you is like telling Thailand to not have sunlight—it’s impossible.”
Theerak laughed until his eyes squinted, then said, “Sky, you’re really such a sweet-talker.”
“And do you like it?…When I sweet-talk you like this?”
The younger one grinned widely, then turned to press a loud kiss on
Muenfah’s cheek. “I like it a lot.”
“Heh.”
The familiar chuckle in his throat let it be known that Muenfah was pleased with the answer, and he was in a very good mood too. Theerak was the one to pull away from the embrace first. He looked up to meet Muenfah’s eyes before suggesting…
“Phii Fah, I think we should hurry and go make merit first. Otherwise, the monks won’t wait for us to offer alms. After we get back from making merit, I’ll let you cuddle me all day.”
Muenfah flashed his usual smile, the kind that was like soft morning sunlight, before nodding in agreement. “Okay.”
“Let’s go.”
After saying that, Muenfah let him go free. Theerak went to prepare the essentials, stuffing his phone and wallet into his pants pocket. Meanwhile, Muenfah got dressed properly and gathered his own necessities too.
It didn’t take long before the two of them held hands and walked out to the garage in front of the house. Inside the garage were several black sports cars parked, and as usual, his lover, Muenfah, turned to ask him first.
“Little one, which car do you want to ride in today?”
And, as always, the good boy, Theerak, replied… “Anything’s fine with me, as long as you, my dear, are the one driving. I’m happy to ride in any of them.”
Muenfah smiled with satisfaction before choosing the car—a black 2020
Ford Mustang. Theerak walked over to open the door of his lover’s favorite car and climbed into the passenger seat. As he twisted to pull the seatbelt across his body, Muenfah, who had already settled in, kept watching him closely and asked periodically.
“Can you manage it, Theerak?”
“I can do it…”
Muenfah gave a faint smile upon hearing his reply. Theerak beamed widely, eyes squinting, once he’d fastened the seatbelt, then said…
“I’m ready, Phii Fah.”
“But I’m not ready yet.”
Theerak furrowed his brows slightly before bursting into laughter when he saw Muenfah raise his index finger to touch his own lips, playfully coaxing a kiss from him. Theerak leaned forward and pecked his full lips once more.
“Are you ready this time, Phii Fah?”
“Ready.” he replied.
Theerak flashed a bright smile and nodded. “Okay, let’s go then…”
#However Many Thousand Skies
“Here, let me do it.” Muenfah offered.
“No need, Phii Fah. I can do it myself…”
He replied like that while trying to light the incense and candle with the oil lamp. Because Muenfah was worried that his beloved might burn his fingers with the blazing flame of the lamp, he offered to help. But Theerak, ever the capable one, insisted on doing everything himself, always proving to him, “I have gotten better at everything, so you don’t need to worry about me, okay?”
Even so… Muenfah couldn’t help but worry about him with all his heart. If anyone said he pampered Theerak like he was a child, so be it—Muenfah didn’t care one bit. He knew full well that no one could love Theerak as much as he did.
If you don’t love him as much as I do, don’t you dare open your mouth…
Muenfah handed the incense and candle he was holding into the same oil lamp as his beloved. His gaze shifted upward to the owner of the faintly flushed cheeks. He couldn’t help but smile a little, feeling fond of the one nicknamed “Chubby-cheeks.” The reason those smooth, white cheeks had turned rosy was that, before entering the well-ventilated and pleasantly shaded temple, Theerak had to walk through increasingly harsh sunlight from the parking lot to the temple grounds.
…Even though Muenfah had used his hands and body to shield his beloved from the sun, the intense rays still kissed that fair skin until it turned a soft red like this.
“What’s you smiling about?” the smaller figure asked, looking up at him with a curious expression while lighting the incense and candle.
“I am smiling because I finds you adorable. Your cheeks are so red.”
Theerak gave a shy smile before saying softly, almost embarrassed, “Phii
Fah, we’re in a temple. Stop flirting with me for now.”
“Heh.”
Muenfah, who had been gently scolded, chuckled in his throat. He thought to himself that if they weren’t in a temple right now, Theerak’s cheeks would already be bruised from being “devoured.” Whenever Muenfah felt this fondness for him, Theerak rarely escaped being “loved.”
Their incense and candles caught fire at the same time and were removed from the oil lamp together. Muenfah let his beloved walk ahead toward the large Buddha statue, following closely behind.
…No matter how much time passed, he always wanted to be the one
Theerak could look back and see whenever he turned around. That’s why
Muenfah never walked ahead of him. But if there ever came a day when Theerak was too tired to take another step, Muenfah was ready to carry him on his back and walk together.
…There was no way he’d ever walk ahead of Theerak…
After he and Theerak placed the candles on the metal stand, they both knelt before the large golden Buddha statue. Muenfah recited the prayer inscribed on the clean white marble until the end, then made a wish to the sacred presence before him.
However, his desires in life were not many, and after Muenfah fell in love with Theerak, he never wanted anything else. As time passed minute by minute, there was only emptiness—until he turned to look at the person beside him. Theerak sat with his hands clasped together in the shape of a beautiful lotus bud, holding incense with smoke swirling around. That could have disrupted his focus considerably, but seeing the small figure sitting still, eyes fixed solely on the large Buddha statue, Muenfah immediately knew that nothing could break his concentration.
And as his lover, he could also guess that… every wish Theerak asked of the sacred beings included nothing for himself. He must have prayed only for the people around him, never thinking of himself first.
Muenfah gazed at his lover for just a moment before looking away, turning his attention back to the large Buddha statue in front of him. Then, he silently said in his heart…
‘I don’t have any special desires, nor do I want anything beyond what I have now. But what I would like to ask is… please let all the sacred beings protect my lover. Please watch over him on the days when I may no longer be in this world. Let him remain beloved to everyone forever, and grant him a strong heart so he can face the obstacles and hardships that may come into
his life.’
He raised his hands to pay respects three times before moving to place the incense in the sand of a rectangular iron tray. He then bowed to the ground three more times before stepping back slightly, away from his lover, so as not to make him feel pressured.
Not long after, Theerak placed his incense in the iron tray as well, bowed to the Buddha, and moved closer to him. Muenfah nodded as an invitation to stand up, and Theerak rose to his full height alongside him.
After that, the two of them went to offer alms to the monks. Since they were both born on a Friday, Theerak told him to pick just one set of alms associated with their birth day so they could offer it together. But Muenfah secretly noticed him donating money to the temple’s box—an amount greater than the cost of two sets of alms.
Because he’s such a good person like this; That’s why he’s beloved to everyone.
As the two of them walked to join the others at the pavilion, Muenfah asked the person beside him…
“What did you wish for from the Buddha just now?”
He smiled, looking content, before saying, “I wished for everyone I loves to be happy, to have good days, and to have strong health. And I wished for everyone to receive good love, like I has. But I asked for something extra special for you Phii Fah.”
“…”
“I wished for you to travel safely and for you to succeed in everything.”
Muenfah smiled before saying, “Thank you, Theerak.”
Theerak didn’t reply, but he simply gave a smile that conveyed, “No need to thank me, because I do it willingly for you Phii Fah,” back to him.
The two of them went to sit and wait to offer alms with the others in the pavilion. Soon, the monks began chanting and performing the rituals. They offered the alms to the monks together before returning to their seats and starting the water-pouring ceremony.
The hand, which had been touching his, pulled away the moment the water in the brass bottle ran out to its last drop. Muenfah set the brass bottle down, raised his hands to his chest in a prayer-like gesture, and slightly bowed his head as the monk began sprinkling holy water.
The monk chanted prayers continuously while sprinkling holy water on everyone. But when he reached Theerak, he gently tapped the brass conc on his head two or three times. Muenfah looked up at the monk and saw a smile and a fond gaze.
Theerak tilted his head up, beaming with a joyful smile, before bowing his head again with hands pressed together. The monk then moved on. The small figure sitting beside him turned to look at him.
“My head is completely soaked, Phii Fah.”
“Heh,” Muenfah chuckled fondly in his throat, reaching out a hand to ruffle the damp, jet-black hair before continuing, “Truly living up to being everyone’s beloved, huh?”
Theerak didn’t say anything in response, only flashing him a bright smile. Muenfah gazed at that heartwarming smile, storing it in his memory, hoping this moment would remain like a photograph that never fades.
“Theerak…”
“Yes, Phii Fah?”
“I love you so much.”
Theerak grinned so wide his eyes squinted, then said, “I love you Phii Fah too.”
Phii Fah hoped…
That they’d be together forever…no matter which lifetime
#However Many Thousand Skies
After the two of them finished making merit, Muenfah took him to have lunch. But since it was a holiday, the traffic on the road wasn’t exactly smooth. His favorite sports car had been stuck on the road for almost half an hour already.
Muenfah shifted his gaze from the road ahead and glanced down at Real’s hand—his lover’s hand—moving to hold his. When he turned to look at the person beside him, he saw his lover’s smile.
“Phii Fah…”
“Yes?”
“Are you annoyed?” Theerak asked knowingly. If Theerak weren’t with him right now, Muenfah would probably be quite irritated. But because every second that passed had Theerak by his side, he didn’t feel that way at all. “No,” Muenfah replied, shaking his head slightly before leaning in to bury his nose in the fluffy hair. “…Because you are here with me, I don’t feel annoyed at all.”
Theerak smiled faintly, then leaned in to peck his lips once. “This is why life with each other feels so good.”
“my life with you is so wonderful, and you know that, right?”
His lover laughed until his eyes squinted, clearly delighted by his words. Seeing him smile so happily like this, Muenfah wanted to keep saying sweet things to please him even more.
“I know…”
“…”
“And I also know… how wonderful life is with you in it.”
“…”
“Phii Fah…”
He spoke in a soft voice, his eyes reflecting a serious glint, before the smile that felt like his entire world appeared once more.
“Thank you, I love you. Thank you for still being the same good Muenfah as always.”
“…”
“Thank you that no matter how much time passes… Phii Fah, you are still the sky for me, Theerak, to love just the same.”
Muenfah revealed a faint smile before leaning in to tightly embrace his lover. He buried his nose into his lover’s shoulder while gently rubbing their slender back, then spoke in a soft but emotionally firm voice.
“Thank you too, Theerak.”
“…”
“Thank you that we’re still each other’s sky, like this.”
“I love you Phii Fah so much.”
“I love you so much too.”
The wish that; Theerak Niran asked for… I wish it for everyone too
And we’ll meet again,
On the day when our hearts miss each other To the readers, Theerak
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