NORTHHOWMUCHISYOURLOVE, Chapter 33 part 2
“You can sleep a bit longer, I will wake you up in half an hour.” and then Phii Joe loosened his arms. I went down to the kitchen and found my mom cooking, so I went to help.
“Is he here?” my mom asked while still looking at the pot in front of her. “I saw his car parked outside, I thought it looked familiar.”
“He came in the early morning, just finished work.” I said. “Wow, he drove alone for hours in the dark?” “Oh…yes.” “That’s really dangerous, have you thanked him?”
“I have. Several times.”
“And where did the vase from the living room go? Have you seen it?” My mom’s question made me pause for a moment, but I honestly answered that I used it to put the flowers Phii Joe bought for me in the morning, “There were flowers too? Is it a birthday surprise?”
“Something like that.” I said with a shy smile.
“Oh my. Who could love and be so smitten with my son like this?” Mom teased a little, “Are you two going to make merit together on your birthday?”
“Mom, you aren’t coming along?”
“No. I don’t want to be in the way too much.” Mom smiled as if she was joking with me, placing plates of food on the table, “I’ve prepared this for him too, can he eat it?”
I looked at the array of food covering the table; it looked like we had three or four guests at home. Mom had prepared a feast.
“He can eat it, he can eat everything.” I said, Phii Joe isn’t too fussy about food. He eats whatever I cook, and he isn’t allergic to anything.
“He knows it well, you’re practically his personal chef.”
“Getting better at teasing, huh?” I retorted with a chuckle. Once everything was set, I went upstairs to wake Phii Joe, telling him to wash up and come down for breakfast.
My mom really likes Phii Joe; she wouldn’t stop talking to him, almost like she was his fan. After breakfast, I took a shower, and we prepared to go make merit.
The morning atmosphere, just after the rain had stopped, was incredibly refreshing. Being in a village far from the city, the air here was especially good, and the temple was also quiet and serene. After making merit, I took Phii Joe to sit and feed the fish together.
“Are you okay?”
“Why?”
“Nothing. Just wondering if you’ve rested enough. What if you get sick?” I mentioned while tossing fish food into the pond, “If you get sick, it would be terrible.”
“I know. Don’t make that sad face.”
“North is just worried, sorry if it’s too much and it bothers you.”
Phii Joe shook his head in response, reaching up to gently stroke my head with an affectionate look. I leaned my head on his shoulder, watching the morning nature together.
“Did you make a wish earlier?”
“I didn’t make a wish.”
“I figured as much.” I said, not too surprised. “I also didn’t know what to ask for. So, I made wishes for everyone at home and for you too.”
“It’s your birthday, but you wished for me?”
“Yes.” I turned and smiled broadly, “At first, I wished for everyone at home to be happy, healthy, and actually, I wanted to wish for myself too, like every year, wishing to study well and have a good job, to be healthy, and to succeed in everything I hope for.”
“…” The other person was silent, waiting for me to continue.
“But this year, all of my wishes, you’ve made them come true.”
“Hmm?”
“Really, for instance, my wish to study well, you’ve been tutoring me. If I study well, then my job prospects will be good too. As for health, you keep pushing me to exercise regularly. And my wish for everything to go my way, you’ve made that happen for me as well.” “Oh, right.” “So I wished for you to be happy, healthy, and never to fall ill…”
“…”
“And to be with me for as long as possible.”
“If that’s the case, couldn’t you have just asked me?”
“And if I did ask, would it happen?”
“It would, is there anything in this world I can’t do for you, North?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
“Because Phii Johan, you are the person who can do everything for his North.” I said, echoing what Phii Joe once told me, that he could do everything for me.
I believe it,
that Phii Joe can do anything for me, and I can do anything for Phii Joe too.
We returned home, and I found that Mom had prepared a bag with some items for me. I didn’t understand but accepted it. Mom said Phii Joe was taking me to meet his grandparents. The bag was a gift from Mom.
Oh, meeting Grandpa and Grandma, and it seems Dad is there too…
So tense.
“You didn’t tell me three days in advance, I isn’t mentally prepared yet.” I said as the luxurious Audi was moving out of my house.
“Gene just called to say she’s here.”
“Your mom is here too?”
“Yeah.”
Great, at least Gene’s mom is there. I’ve exchanged LINE contacts with her and chatted a bit; we’ve become quite close. After getting to know her and talking, I found out that Gene’s mom is actually very sweet. She tells me a lot of stories.
Mama Gene told me that she had difficulty getting pregnant, marrying Phii Joe’s dad nearly two years before having Phii Johan, even though she had wanted a child for a long time. That made Phii Joe the only son in the family. When she was pregnant, everyone was overjoyed. No wonder everyone in the family loves and has such high expectations for Phii Joe.
I looked in awe as the car turned into a large house I had only ever passed by and peeked at from outside, this was the first time I saw its grandeur up close.
Phii Joe rolled down the window when he saw an uncle hurrying towards us.
“I’ll drive and park inside, do you have any luggage?”
It was the uncle who came to buy soy milk, when he turned and saw me sitting in the car, his eyebrows immediately raised in surprise, seeming like he wanted to say something before Phii Joe opened the door to get out. Noticing the garage was further away, if Phii Joe drove himself, he’d have had to walk back, so the uncle drove the car to park it.
I followed Phii Joe, feeling nervous, looking around with interest. Just the front garden was beautiful, and the house was as wide as a palace.
“Joe!” I turned towards the call, seeing it was Phii Joe’s mother dressed casually, calling out loudly before approaching, “You really brought the little one.”
I raised my hands to wai to the person who had just approached, and she immediately returned the wai. I didn’t forget to offer her the gift from my mom.
“Always so cute.” His mother said before reaching out to pinch my cheek lightly with a playful grin, “Oh, someone’s getting jealous again.”
“You know that, so stop it.” Phii Joe said, not sounding too pleased, “And why did Dad come to see Grandpa?”
“To visit, of course. Can’t your dad visit your Grandpa?”
“Someone like my dad?”
“Yes, you’ve been looking at your father too negatively, Joe.” my mom said cheerfully, still vibrant as ever. She once told me I was like her with my cheerful personality that dad loves, maybe that’s why Phii Joe likes me too. “Feeling nervous?” Phii Joe asked as we walked behind my mom towards the backyard where everyone was sitting and chatting.
“Uh, to be honest, very much so.” I whispered back.
“It’s okay.” Phii Joe whispered, then reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze for encouragement.
“Yeah, if you say it’s okay, then I will believe it.”
We saw three people waiting, already in conversation. As we approached, all eyes turned to us.
Phii Joe looks a lot like my dad, and my dad is really handsome, with a mature, stern charm. Unlike Phii Joe’s mom who, when I first met her, looked like she was in her late twenties. If Phii Joe ages like his dad, I bet he’ll look just as good and have that mature allure. Grandpa, who must be in his sixties, looked robust and healthy along with grandma.
As soon as we sat down on the opposite side, I quickly raised my hands in a respectful greeting, and everyone smiled back.
“Is this him?” Dad asked, “Hmm…” Then he looked at me over critically. His gaze made me hold my breath for a moment, feeling the tension build up.
“You can’t stare too much, dear, he’s protective.” Mom said.
“Come here to your grandma quickly, I can’t see your face well, I forgot my glasses.” Grandma chimed in. I looked a bit confused before standing up to approach her, seeing that she seemed to be waiting for me, “Sit right here next to grandma.”
“Yes.” I complied, sitting down beside her.
“Is this the one Gene told me about?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, your house is around here, right?” “Yes.” and then grandma started asking me all sorts of questions. I felt somewhat relieved because it seemed like both dad, grandpa, and grandma were okay with me.
“You’ve got him wrapped around your finger, huh?” Joe’s Dad asked Phii Joe, with a slight teasing tone similar to what Phii Joe often uses.
They’re really alike, father and son…
“Ha.”
“It’s good to have someone to keep you in check, I’m tired of having to follow you around.”
“I’ve told you before, if you’re tired, you don’t have to.”
“Your habit of being so smug hasn’t changed at all.”
“It’s not just being smug.”
…Are they about to argue?
I looked at the two of them with concern before his mom nudged me and whispered.
“It’s normal for these two; father and son. Don’t worry, Grandpa and Dad always talk like this, they look tough but love each other to death. Joe is exactly like his father.”
“Oh, really?” I said, feeling more relieved, he really does take after his father.
“Even the playboy nature is all from the father.”
“Ah, I see.” I nodded to show I understood. From what I can tell, his father must have been quite the charmer in his youth. We chatted for a while, and I learned that Phii Joe is very close to his family, especially his grandma.
After chatting for a bit, it was time to part ways because his father had business to attend to. Grandpa and Grandma needed to rest, and Grandma told me I could stay and wander around as I pleased. We walked his parents to the parking lot, and his mom gave Phii Joe a kiss on the cheek as a goodbye.
“Oh, it’s your birthday today, isn’t it? Happy Birthday, son. Mom didn’t bring a gift, can I send one later?” His mom asked me as if she just remembered.
“Thank you. It’s okay, you don’t have to.” I said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“So, since it’s your birthday, do you have any plans to go anywhere?”
“Do you have any?” Phii Joe turned to ask me. I shook my head in response.
“Interested in traveling anywhere? Mom can book it for you.” I was about to say it was unnecessary out of politeness when his mom interrupted, “Do you like the beach? I know a good hotel. I’ll reserve the whole place for you, so you two can have a private birthday celebration.”
“It’s not necessary…”
“It’s a good idea, can’t we just book it?”
“Didn’t you once complain about wanting to go to the beach?”
“That’s true, but renting the whole hotel…”
“It’s fine, I am a VIP anyway. It’s very easy.” Mom said casually. “I’ll book it for you, I’ll let you know later.”
“Um.”
“Come give me a kiss on the cheek before we go.”
“Not allowed.”
“You’re still being protective? I already kissed him last time.”
“Gene.” This time it was Joe’s Dad who called out, sounding like he had grown tired of waiting. “Let’s go, it’s getting late.”
“Let me talk with my son’s boyfriend for a moment.”
“Gene.”
“See, you’re just like him, always scolding.” “Well, Gene is like this, how can he not scold?” Phii Joe chimed in. “Alright, alright, I give up. If that’s the case, we’ll leave now, see you later.” Mom said, sending a sweet smile our way, her eyes clearly showing her happiness as she looked between us. I smiled back, before Mom came over to kiss Phii Joe’s cheek and whispered something to him. I watched the luxurious car drive away, and then Phii Joe took me for a walk around the house.
I looked around excitedly, like being in a drama house. It was even larger than I had imagined, decorated with elegant simplicity, until we reached Phii Joe’s bedroom. I had seen his room at his parents’ house before, but never his high school bedroom.
“Is every room this big?” I exclaimed, it was like combining four of my rooms into one. I hoped he didn’t feel too cramped when he stayed over at my place. The inside wasn’t overly decorated, and it was clean and tidy. Even though he no longer used this room, there must be someone regularly cleaning it.
“Don’t you have any photo albums? North wants to see what you looked like as a kid.”
“Why would you want to see that?”
“Just because I want to, you’ve seen my photo album.”
“If there are any, Grandma probably has them.”
“Too bad.” I said with disappointment before wandering around the room. There were so many championship medals, must be from school sports competitions, “Did you play sports in school too?”
“Yeah, surprised?”
“Not at all, it would be surprising if you didn’t.” I said. How could I be surprised about Phii Joe playing sports? I’ve seen him play basketball amazingly well before. That means he’s been into sports from the beginning.
That must be why he can drink so much and so often without losing his physique. Walking around made me think; this was Phii Joe’s room during high school. That desk is probably where he studied or worked, and that balcony, was that where he often went to smoke? The view from this window must be what Phii Joe looked at for years.
“We can go now.”
“Go where?”
“To get ready for a beach trip.”
“Oh…okay, let’s go.”
I went back home to pack, gathering clothes and essentials. This was an unplanned trip; we hadn’t decided where or how long we’d go, but Phii Joe was free now, so we could stay however long. I secretly felt that we traveled a lot, but perhaps that’s a good thing; we get to relax and experience new things.
“North.”
“Yes?” I turned at the call, seeing my mom leaning against the door frame. Phii Joe was waiting downstairs in the living room.
“Are you going to the beach?”
“Yes.”
“Travel safely, have fun, and take care of yourself.” Mom smiled, then walked over to sit on the bed. I was on the floor packing my bag, “Son.”
“Yes?”
“I am always proud of you, you know that, right?”
“Oh, why are you saying this suddenly?” I asked, puzzled, looking at her on the bed with some confusion.
“It’s your birthday, come here for a hug.” I slowly moved closer and hugged her. She hugged me tightly and gently stroked my head, “Mom loves North very much.” “Yeah, North loves Mom too, the most.” “North, you are the only pride in my life, and I believe your father feels the same way. I’m very happy that I could raise my son to be this strong.”
“Just like Mom, you’re the strongest woman in the world.”
“Because of my son.”
“Yes.” I leaned my head on Mom’s shoulder, it was so warm, Mom’s scent was one that made you nostalgic. I loved this smell so much, before we slowly loosened our embrace.
“My mischievous child.” Mom said, pinching my cheeks playfully.
“Ouch, don’t pinch.” I protested.
“Happy birthday, you’re one year older. I just want to say I’m always proud of you, and your father is too, I believe he’s the proudest of you. No matter what path you choose in life from now on, I will always support you, and I wish you all the happiness and success in everything you desire.”
“Thank you.” I smiled broadly in gratitude. Every birthday, Mom would always come to bless, hug, and say she loves me like this, along with my aunt, who, along with Night, had already wished me early the day before.
“About him.” Mom continued, “I truly feel relieved. He takes care of you well. I can see he loves you a lot. I hope you both stay in love for a long time. In the future, there might be obstacles, but don’t let go of each other, my child. Marriage is about standing by each other’s side.”
“Yes, it sounds like you’re blessing a wedding.”
“I’m just preparing for it. You’ll marry him, right?”
“Uh, if possible, I would love it to be him.”
“On your wedding day, I will give an even longer blessing.”
“Yes, please take care of us then.”
“Have a safe journey, both of you, and take care of yourselves.” Mom blessed us again as she walked us to the door, “Joe.” “Yes?”
“If North is stubborn, you can tell me.”
“Oh, come on, Mom, I am never stubborn.” I pouted, “But how would Phii Joe tell you?”
“Through LINE, of course.”
“You guys have LINE too?”
“Huh, why?” Mom asked with hands on her hips, “We’ve talked a lot already.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I made a pouting face at both of them. Why didn’t I know that Mom and Phii Joe were in contact on LINE? We chatted a bit more before leaving the house.
“Phii, what did you talk about with Mom?” I asked as we were in the car, heading to the airport.
“Do you really want to know?”
“Yeah, I’m curious.” Phii Joe didn’t say anything; he just handed me his phone. I don’t often play with his phone. I’ve never checked anything on it because I thought it wasn’t necessary.
It’s about trust.
More than that, it’s about honesty.
There are no secrets between us. There’s no need to suspect lies or constantly check up on each other, and this brings peace of mind. I believe these things will allow us to be together for a long time.
When you’re at ease with someone, you want to stay with them for a long time.
“…”
I smiled to myself, feeling a bit shy when I saw the phone’s wallpaper, which was a photo of us from our trip to Norway.
It’s the same picture I use. “I am reading your LINE text, okay?” “Go ahead.”
I opened Line and scrolled through the chats to find the one with Mom. While looking, I stumbled upon Phii Joe’s doctor friends’ group chat, which had four members. I was a bit curious about what they talked about, so I sneakily looked.
It was a very inactive group, they hardly ever chatted, mostly about work.
“Your friends…they are kind of an odd bunch, aren’t they?”
“How so?”
“Well…they don’t seem to get along much, like Phii Hill and you, you’re poles apart, and Phii Fah and Phii Arthit are the same.”
“Really?”
“I am really curious about how you all became friends.”
“We were in the same faculty, so staying with them is good enough.”
“If it weren’t for Phii Hill, I guess no one could handle your group.” I smiled and chuckled, having heard something like this before; it must take someone with Phii Hill’s level of patience to tolerate Phii Arthit and Phii Joe, “But, your friends, they all seem very mature, I think.”
“…”
“Hmm?”
“It’s true, even though they’re just a year older than me and Ter, they’re much more mature.”
“Age doesn’t matter for things like that.”
“…”
“And if it wasn’t like that, how could we be together?”
“That’s right.” I nodded in agreement, imagining if the doctors dated someone immature or childish. It wouldn’t work out. That’s probably why they get along.
I tried scrolling through the chats between Phii Joe and Mom. It was all about me; Phii Joe was asking about how I was as a child, what I liked or didn’t like. Even though we’ve been together long enough to know some things about each other, there’s still a lot more to learn.
And I couldn’t help but smile at this small concern.
We arrived in the evening because I don’t often get the chance to travel, so I rarely go to the beach. The last time was during high school, probably on a school trip. I think many people come to the beach not just to swim but to enjoy the atmosphere, the breeze, the sound of the waves, the sand, and the clear sky.
“Do you come to the beach often?” I asked while we were heading to our accommodation, having rented a car specifically for this trip.
“Not really. I don’t see much reason to come.”
“Ha, exactly. If it’s not for work, you probably won’t go on many vacations.” I said, looking out the window, thinking that driving along the beach road in the evening has its own unique charm, “Let’s consider this a vacation. You’ve been really busy with work lately.”
“Yeah.” Phii Joe simply replied, then reached over to gently stroke my head. I turned and gave him a broad smile, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
“Since we’re at the beach, we should have seafood.”
“Check which place you want to go to.”
“Okay.” I quickly took out my phone to read restaurant reviews as instructed. It didn’t take long before we arrived at our accommodation. Mama Gene said it was a private villa, very close to the beach, and there were hardly any other people around, truly private.
We walked into the villa. I looked around with interest. Most of it was clear glass to showcase the view outside, with curtains you could open or close. When you opened the curtains, the place felt very open.
“Wow.” I exclaimed in awe as I opened the bedroom curtains to see the sea view. If we left the curtains open at night, the sky with stars would be beautiful to see. The balcony was wide enough for chairs and a table. Besides a regular bathtub, there was also a hot tub. Downstairs, there was a garden for parties and a swimming pool, just like Mama Gene had mentioned.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes, a little.” I said while flopping down onto the soft bed. I really like the view from this bedroom, by the way. After we finished unpacking, we went out to eat.
“Uh, no, you can’t touch this.” I said, reaching out to take what was in Phii Joe’s hand, “I will do it.”
“Stealing the shrimp peeling duty?”
“Yes, you don’t need to peel them, I will show off my shrimp peeling skills.” I said proudly. I was quite confident in my ability to peel shrimp and crab, quickly and well, “Your job is just to eat.”
“You’re so good at this.” Phii Joe commented, lifting his chin to look at me with a clear expression of affection.
“Of course, North is a shrimp-peeling expert.” I said while we sat at the seafood restaurant. Having ordered so much food made me think of Ter, who is a real foodie. If you’re going for a buffet, you should definitely take Ter along; he’ll make sure the restaurant doesn’t go bankrupt with his non-stop eating, “Phii Hill and Ter went to Japan recently.”
“I’ve seen that.”
“Ter must have eaten all the fish on the island, how does Phii Hill keep up?”
“Why wouldn’t he manage?”
“Oh, if North ate as much as Ter?”
“That’s fine too, I can handle it.”
“Really? And what if North ate everything in the restaurant?”
“I could just buy this restaurant.” “Oh…” I was silent for a moment, pouting. Phii Joe wasn’t joking; he really could buy this place T^T
After we finished eating, I suggested to Phii Joe that we go for a walk along the beach. The sun was about to set, and the sky was changing colors. The beach was beautiful now, not too crowded, with the sea breeze blowing in, the sound of waves hitting the shore growing louder, and the cool air touching our skin.
“Feeling any better?” I asked as we reached the beach, referring to his work stress.
“Um, much better.” Phii Joe turned to say, his slight smile making my heart skip a beat again, his large hand reaching to hold mine.
The wind was gently brushing his sharp features, his jet-black hair swaying with the breeze.
“What are you looking at?”
“It’s nothing.” I smiled and shook my head slightly, and he didn’t say anything in response. We held hands and walked along the beach, the surroundings were so beautiful that we forgot the time, and before we knew it, it was getting dark.
“It’s gotten dark.” I said with a hint of disappointment since it was already evening when we arrived. Now we’d have to wait until tomorrow to explore.
“Don’t want to go back yet?”
“Not really. There should be some places to visit at night, right?”
“I heard there’s a walking street in town, want to go?”
“Yes.” I agreed immediately without hesitation, thinking it would be nice to walk around and shop, maybe find some unique items not seen back home.
After driving for a while, we reached the walking street. It wasn’t all that different from the ones back home. We decided to just wander around first, and one thing I noticed was…many people were looking at Phii Joe, especially some girls who turned around to look back at him. If it were me, if I didn’t know Phii Joe beforehand, I’d probably be looking too. From one guy to another, he’d be one of the most enviable and admired.
We returned to the villa with a lot of purchases, especially food for celebrating my birthday together, including alcohol. Speaking of which, I’ve never actually drunk with Phii Joe. We chose to sit on the balcony because the view was better, seeing the sea and the night sky. Tonight there were some stars, and the moon was particularly beautiful.
As I said, the balcony was really spacious, with a table and chairs already set up.
“Phii, if let’s say…”
“…”
“If let’s say I liked you first…”
“Huh?”
“Like, when we started university, if I had chased after you first, what would you have done?” My question made Phii Joe chuckle a bit.
“I wouldn’t have done anything.”
“How so?”
“I’d just let you pursue me.”
“Would it take me a long time to win you over?”
“Probably for a while.”
“Why not? Didn’t you say you liked me from the beginning?”
“Yes, but flirting until you win someone over to be your partner, right?” Phii Joe said, “Letting you keep flirting with me seems fun.”
“You’re the best at teasing, Phii Joe.” I said with a slight pout, imagining how it would be if the roles were reversed, with me flirting with him first, “How long would it take?”
“It depends on how you flirt, how would you do it?” “From morning till night, I would wake up early to wait for you outside your faculty, chat every hour, in the evening I’d wait to have dinner with you, and at night, I would call to talk every day.”
“That’s called being pushy, you know.”
“Oh really?” I said before letting out a smile, I was just joking. If I were to flirt with Phii Joe first, I wouldn’t go to such lengths, just approach him casually like anyone would.
“And…”
“Yes?”
“And if you didn’t approach me, could it be possible for me to like you first?”
“Uh…” I fell silent, taking a moment to think, “Probably…not.”
“Why not?”
“Oh, you shouldn’t even ask that.”
“Why?”
“If you didn’t like me beforehand, like if you never knew me, and then I liked you…would you have any feelings for me?”
“I would feel something, because it’s you.”
“…”
“Just you being North, I’m already defeated in every way.”
Oh…
That’s right.
Phii Joe likes me because I am me.
“I’m so happy.” I smiled to myself, looking up at him.
“But when you asked if I would like you first, I would say no anyway.” I said, “You were quite famous back then, I heard a lot of people talking about you, did you know how famous you were?” “Kind of.” Phii Joe replied, not too concerned, “Is that why you wouldn’t like me?”
“Partly, how should I put it…If I had liked you, it would have been hopeless, right?” I said from my perspective, “You seemed out of reach.”
“Actually, at first, I was surprised, wondering why someone like you would like me. At first, being close to you was quite confusing, but…”
“But?”
“I didn’t think much about it.” I said with a chuckle, remembering telling Ter that I didn’t really think about it, you could do what you wanted, my thoughts back then were just about debts.
“I had already thought that you wouldn’t think much about it.”
I didn’t reply, just smiled and took a sip of my drink, something like local liquor or wine, it had a unique but tasty flavor.
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s okay.” I answered, then grimaced after swallowing, feeling my throat constrict, “After a while, I’ll definitely get drunk, it’s so strong.”
When my throat feels astringent from liquor, I often think I’m particularly weak to that type of alcohol and tend to get drunk more easily than usual.
“Weakling.”
“Well, I’m not as tough as you, how do you make yourself hard to get drunk like you?”
“Don’t try.” Phii Joe said before setting his wine glass down. The balcony was wide, the view outside was beautiful, the gentle breeze, and the sound of waves hitting the shore periodically. If we lit some candles, it would be quite romantic.
“Do you like it?”
“Like what?”
“Do you like this place?” “I love it, love it a lot.” I said with a wide smile. I really liked it, the place was beautiful, the atmosphere was great, and the person I was with was someone I always wanted to be with.
“Between organizing a party and bringing someone here for a trip like this, which do you prefer?”
“Don’t ask, if you already know.”
“How did you know I knew?”
“Phii Joe, you know.” I said, “You knew what I liked, so you chose that.”
Of course, going out together like this is better than any chaotic party. Throwing a party means inviting a lot of people, and getting friends to come is already hard enough, especially since everyone goes back to their homes.
I stood up from the table when the wind started blowing stronger, leaning against the balcony rail, letting the cool breeze touch my skin. Even though it was dark, the moonlight still provided some light, allowing me to see the sea a bit.
“You knew all along, didn’t you?”
“Not everything.” Phii Joe said, before standing up beside me.
“That’s not true, you understand everything about me, you might even know what I am thinking right now.”
“There’s one thing I don’t know.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know if you will say yes.”
“Yes?”
“Marry me.”
I froze, not knowing how to react, looking at what was in Phii Joe’s hand. It took me a moment to gather my thoughts, my heart started beating wildly, and suddenly, tears I didn’t know where they came from started to flow.
“Uh…are you serious?” “Completely.”
“Phii…” My hands started trembling with surprise; it was almost unbelievable. The tears turned into sobs, and my heart felt warm and fuzzy.
“I just wanted to make it official, I’ve been trying to change myself for this.”
“…”
“To be able to take care of you North, so…let me take care of you; my North.”
“…”
“Can I take care of you for the rest of your life?”
“You already know my answer, don’t you? Mmmhpf…” I started to struggle to hold back my tears, letting them flow without any shame.
I didn’t know what this feeling was inside me now.
It must be…
Happiness.
Impression.
Joy.
And love.
“I also feel…I also know what you would say, because it’s you, huff…because it’s you, that’s why, because it’s you, Phii Johan, I am overwhelmed by all this, huff.”
“And…did you get it?”
“Yes, I did, forever, for my whole life, me too, I will take care of you for life.” I said with a voice muffled by sobs, a strong hand gently taking mine.
And slipping a ring onto my ring finger…
“Don’t cry.” Phii Johan said, gently wiping my tears away. I immediately threw myself into his embrace.
“Phii…huff.”
“You’re such a crybaby. You cried even when I asked you to be my boyfriend.” “Well…it’s just…” I hugged Phii Joe as tightly as I could. I hadn’t expected him to do something like this here.
Marriage…
Yes, I had talked about it with Mom before,
“If possible, I’d like to marry this person…”
“But…isn’t it too soon?”
“Yeah. We’ll get engaged first, and then get married after we graduate.”
“Oh…okay.” I nodded in understanding.
“By then, will you still agree?”
“Yes. Definitely.” I smiled, “For you, I wouldn’t have any other answer.”
The first time I said yes…was when we became a couple.
The second time…was when we got engaged.
And the third time…will be at our wedding.
“Then from now on…we’re not just dating, right?” I said, wiping away my tears, my heart still pounding fiercely, and my hands still trembling.
“Yes…we’re fiancés now.”
“But we should probably talk to our parents about this first, right?”
“I’ve talked to them.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve talked to both sides.”
“Really?” I asked in surprise. Did Phii Joe really talk to both my mom and his family about the engagement?
“And what did my mom say?”
“If she didn’t approve, I wouldn’t have brought the ring.”
“My mom is okay with it?”
“Yes.” Phii Joe nodded, giving me a slight smile, “At first, she seemed a bit worried, we talked about it being just an engagement for now, and that I wouldn’t pressure you. She said to go with what you want, but she also said…you probably wouldn’t refuse anyway.”
“Oh…” I drew out the word. That’s why Mom was talking about marriage and giving so many blessings – she already knew.
“And what about your family?”
“Gene is very excited, she even blessed us hoping you would agree.”
“Blessed us?”
“Yes. Before we left the house.”
That’s right, before Gene left, I saw her whispering something to Phii Joe, and she was looking at us with such joy.
“Actually, Gene said she wanted me to surprise you, but I’m not very good at surprises.”
“It’s not necessary.” I said with a sweet smile, “This alone is more than enough to make me happy.”
No need for surprises for me, as I’ve mentioned before, I prefer simplicity over extravagance. I looked down at the ring on my finger.
From now on, I’ll be wearing this for a long time.
“The ring is beautiful. Did you pick it out yourself?”
“I had it custom made.”
“Wow, it must have been quite expensive then.” I casually asked, but with Phii Joe, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was.
“I just thought it would suit you well.”
“It’s been the best birthday ever.” I mentioned, while we were still standing on the balcony, with the wine glass still in my hand, the wind blowing continuously, the soft yellow light from the side lamps, and I was starting to feel a bit drunk. The atmosphere was quite nice, “Phii.” “Hmm.” Phii Joe responded softly. “Ha-ha.” but I ended up chuckling softly. I didn’t quite understand myself, but I felt an overwhelming happiness that left me unsure what to do.
“Are you drunk?”
“No.”
“Drunk.”
“Not drunk.”
“You’re good at arguing.”
“Really not drunk, don’t believe me?” I asked, turning to smile at him, reaching out to gently touch his hand to my cheek, “Phii Joe, don’t you trust me?”
I carefully kissed his long fingers, looking up to meet his gaze. We locked eyes, and strangely, I dared to meet that look.
“I believe you.”
That’s all Phii Joe said, giving a sly smile, seemingly pleased with the way I was looking at him. He reached out with both hands to my waist, lifting me up to sit on the table.
“Ah!” I exclaimed in surprise, nearly dropping the wine glass, so I quickly set it down on the table before it fell.
His lips pressed against mine slowly, moving his body closer to me as I sat on the table, parting my legs and pressing himself closer. I could smell the alcohol from myself.
Yes…I am drunk.
“Hmm.” I moaned into his mouth as his hot tongue intensified its assault, nibbling and sucking on my lips, the kiss taking my breath away. My hands gripped his arms tightly, our tongues intertwining without pause.
He slowly pulled back from the kiss. I followed his beautiful eyes with mine, unable to look away. “Those eyes, are you teasing me?” “Uh…what if I say yes?” I asked, smiling at him, the wine giving me courage that I usually lacked, unlike my usual shy self who could barely meet his gaze. “What will you do?”
“Hmm?”
Dangerous…
Something in my body warned me that this man was dangerous.
To my heart.
Very much so…
Phii Joe ran his hand through his hair, revealing a charmingly seductive smile, his hot gaze making me melt countless times.
I shouldn’t have…said that.
“Phii…Phii can’t promise tonight…”
“…”
“That I’ll be as gentle as you want, little North.”
Because the balcony was near the bedroom, I was soon carried and laid on the bed in no time. Phii Joe took off his shirt, revealing his smooth, fair skin and beautifully toned abs.
No matter how many times I see it, it still makes my heart race every time.
Sitting on the bed, my mind somewhat hazy, I slightly squinted my eyes as they felt heavy.
“Phii…”
“Hmm?”
“Be gentle with North.” I requested; something I usually ask every time before we do this, because Phii Joe…he’s always so rough, “North is a good boy.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, very good.” “A good boy should listen to what I say, right?” “Yes, North will obey.”
“If so…undress.”
“…”
I slowly undressed as instructed, until my body was completely uncovered, the gaze upon me making me feel even more embarrassed.
“Come here.”
I moved closer to the person in front of me, Phii Joe was sitting on the bed. I was then positioned to straddle him.
“Be a good boy for me tonight.” His deep voice whispered by my ear. My face flushed with heat, and my heart started beating faster. I nodded in agreement.
I’ll be a good boy for you…
“Ah!” I exclaimed in surprise when suddenly something cold touched my entrance, it was Phii Joe’s finger, coated with lubricant, touching and circling. Just the tip of his finger touching was enough to send shivers all through my stomach, causing me to lift my hips unintentionally due to the sensation.
“Uh…” The slender finger quickly entered me. I wasn’t fully straddling him, but kneeling over him. When I felt like I was losing strength, I leaned against his chest.
The finger went in as deep as possible, not allowing me to catch my breath or get used to it before another finger, then two, then three were added.
“Ah!” I felt Phii Joe searching for my sweet spot with his fingers. It wasn’t just the rhythm of entering and exiting; he began moving his fingers inside me, “Ah…”
Wait…just with his fingers, I’m about to…
But…you said you’d be gentle.
Ouch…it hurts.
“Umm…” I clenched my lips tightly, moaning in my throat as the tip of his other finger touched my nipple, then his hot tongue began to lick and play with the other, biting and sucking until I felt shivers all over my chest, my vision blurring. I looked down at Phii Joe, who was using his tongue on my chest, sucking and leaving red marks as a sign of possession.
It made me feel even more sensitive than before.
“Uh, Phii…it feels so good.”
“Do you like it?”
“Ye…yes. Suck harder, more…Ahhh!” I moaned loudly when he complied, biting and sucking harder as I had asked. It would surely leave red marks. I wasn’t sure why I was bold enough to say such things; perhaps because my mind was no longer in control.
“Uh…North is going to…” It didn’t take long for me to reach my peak, releasing a milky white fluid all over, and as soon as I released, the intensity seemed to drop instantly.
I was startled when he suddenly turned me around.
“Ahhh!” His large member thrust into me without warning. Normally, Phii Joe wouldn’t rush like this, but with me on my knees and facing away, I could feel his full length inside me, causing a deep ache in my lower abdomen.
It’s…too big.
“Uh, uh, uh, ohhh.” I groaned into my throat as he began moving quickly, a mix of pain and pleasure. My arms were pulled back, bringing me closer to him, contrasting with the forceful thrusts.
This made him penetrate even deeper.
“Ahhh, ah, uhh!” I collapsed onto the bed, my strength gone, but I was pulled back up by the grip on my arms. Phii Joe held both my hands with one of his, while the other hand squeezed and kneaded my hips.
“Your hole is gripping me so tightly.”
“Uh, and…do you like it…uh, or not?” “You’ll find out soon.” The grip tightened, his hand roamed over my hips before moving down to grasp my hardening member again.
“Uh, no…don’t touch.”
“Cute.” Phii Joe leaned in close, whispering in my ear, the thrusts still strong enough to make my whole body tremble. He released my arms, and I placed them on the bed, gripping the sheets tightly to handle the sensations from both front and back.
His large hand moved from the tip to the base of my member, starting to stroke it rapidly.
“Ahhh, uh, ahhh.” I was moaning incoherently, my mind almost blank at this point. I couldn’t handle the sensations anymore, whether it was the warm hand moving up and down or the rhythm of his body.
All of it was driving me nearly insane.
I was breathing heavily, my chest heaving, trying to stifle my moans but failing, my breathing almost not catching up.
Phii Joe pulled my body up so I was facing upward, switching our positions so that I was kneeling and he was underneath. He thrust his hips up, pushing the length of himself into me forcefully, using his hands to guide my hips as he wanted.
“Ah, ah, ahh, uh…” Gradually, he spread my legs wider to penetrate deeper, pressing kisses along my back, and leaving bite marks to show possession. One of his hands moved to hold my erection again.
Even though it was embarrassing, it felt good…
Really good…
“I…uh, please…I, ahh…”
“Are you going to come again?”
“Yes…uh, yes, Phii, ahh…”
And I released once more, unable to hold back, the sensation was too much. This time, it left me feeling more exhausted than before, but while I had already finished again, Phii Joe hadn’t.
“Ah! Phii, what…what are you doing?”
“Want to change the scenery a bit?”
Suddenly, Phii Joe turned me to face him, lifting me up without pulling out, got off the bed, and walked towards the balcony.
The balcony…?
“No, no.” I tried to protest, but to no avail. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he walked, causing his thrusts to hit at a different angle, making me cry out again, “Ah, uh…”
The cool breeze touched my skin, and I could still hear the sound of the waves crashing. I turned to see the light from the lamps shining in.
We were doing it…
On the balcony…
“Ah! ahh, uh, uhh.” I cried out as Phii Joe started moving again, his strong arms not letting me down, making me cling to him even tighter. The thrusts felt even stronger in this position compared to when we were on the bed.
“Do you like this kind of atmosphere?”
“Ah…uh! uh, I…I like it, uh! yes.” I responded with my eyes tightly shut, my nails inadvertently digging into his neck as I tried to cope with the overwhelming pleasure, the pace quickening and intensifying, almost unbearable.
I can’t…I can’t take much more…
It’s so deep…
It felt like my heart might burst, the sensations of emptiness and intense pleasure rushing through me, the sound of flesh slapping against flesh, emphasizing the point of my sensitivity. Phii Joe leaned down, pressing his lips against mine. I responded immediately, our tongues intertwining, creating embarrassing sounds.
Before Phii Joe slowly withdrew, laid me down, and entered again from behind, taking his time to thrust all the way in once more. The motion created a friction between our bodies that was…incredibly pleasurable.
I reached up, gripping the balcony rail tightly…
“Ahhh, uh! uh, please…Phii Joe, uh…I.” I began speaking incoherently, not even knowing what I was saying.
“Do you know…”
Suddenly, his deep voice grew husky, and when it did, it sounded incredibly sexy.
Damn…this man, how can he be so sexy and alluring?
“I love it most when my little North calls my name like this, with this voice.”
“Uh, ah…”
“Say it again, please.”
“Mmm…Phii…Joe.” I called out his name with a strained voice.
“Just the name.”
“Ahhh, Johan, uh…mmm, I…Johan, inside…again…uh, deeper.”
“Mmm…” His deep voice groaned softly, “You really are a good boy, aren’t you?”
“Uh! uh! uh!” I moaned in rhythm with his forceful movements, but I had to bite my lip to keep from being too loud, afraid someone might be nearby.
Because right now, we were outside…
Even though this was a private area and no one was around or passing by.
“Your voice is so sweet.” Phii Joe said in that deep tone of his. I was almost melting with every action, Phii Johan held my chin, turned my face back, and kissed me passionately, our tongues intertwining until I had to break the kiss for air.
“Uh…” I reached my climax and released again, Phii Joe slowed down, and I slowly opened my eyes, turning to look at the person behind me.
Phii Joe smirked again, running his hand through my hair as he often liked to do. I quickly turned away, feeling embarrassed because he was still inside me, and then he thrust again with force, catching me off guard.
“Ah! Ahhh!” His hands gripped my hips to meet his thrusts, making it even more intense. I was panting, feeling like I was drowning, “Phii…Phii, oh.”
“Hmm…”
“Too…too hard…I, I…can’t, ahh!”
The rhythm was intense, hitting my sweet spot. Even though I felt like I couldn’t take much more…I wanted more…
More than this…
Even more…
Before I felt an increase in pleasure, almost reaching another peak, his body jerked slightly, and warm liquid filled me from behind, while I also came again.
The large length was slowly pulled out. I was still aware of every sensation where we were connected.
“Ah!” I cried out again when it was fully withdrawn, warm fluid flowed down my thighs, feeling it spread throughout my abdomen.
Phii Joe lifted my chin and leaned down to give me a gentle kiss, wiping away my tears with his fingers, kissing me softly and tenderly. My mind was blank, unable to form any thoughts or words, before he scooped me up and carried me inside.
I, being quite exhausted, rested my head against him, and my consciousness slipped away. I woke up again, finding myself on the bed, leaning against Phii Joe’s chest. I slowly looked up at him.
“Phii…”
“Already awake?” He asked, kissing my temple. Phii Joe had put a large shirt on me. He was only wearing pants. We were on the bed covered by a blanket.
“Yes.” I replied softly, giving a light kiss on his lips.
“You’re so handsome.”
“Hmm.”
“My boyfriend is so handsome.” I said, reaching out to caress his cheek, “No, my fiancé is really handsome.”
“And do you like that?”
“I like it…” I answered.
“I like this, Phii.” I said, touching close to his beautiful eyes, “I really like your eyes, they’re so beautiful, has anyone told you that?”
“They have.”
“But now they belong to me.”
“…”
“Your eyes are mine.”
“…”
“Your nose too.”
“…”
“And your lips.”
“…”
“Everything is mine.” I smiled, Phii Joe looked at me with eyes that seemed to adore, giving me a faint smile. “All of it belongs to me.” I smiled broadly at the reaffirmation. Yes…all mine. I don’t know where he got such charm from, but I’m already so enamored with Phii Joe that there’s no turning back.
“Yes. Definitely.”
“And North, are you mine?”
“Yes.” I raised my hand to touch my own face, “And this…this too, and this.” Touching my eyes, cheeks, and lips. Finally, stopping at my heart, “Including this, North is all Phii Joe’s, both body and heart.”
“How long have you been mine?”
“Quite a long time now.”
“How long?”
“Since…you entered my life, it didn’t take long…for me to fall deeply in love with you.” My words made him show a satisfied smile.
“Where did you get this much cuteness from?”
“Me…cute?”
“Very cute.” The deep voice whispered by my ear, moving down to kiss along my neck and shoulder, before taking my hand and kissing the ring he had just put on.
“Thank you, for the ring.” I expressed my gratitude which I seemed to have forgotten to say at first.
“Hmm.”
“It’s really beautiful, I will take very good care of it.”
“Oh…make sure to take good care of it, until we change the ring.”
“Change the ring?”
“Change it to the family ring.”
“Oh…right.” A family like Phii Joe’s must have a family ring, “This family ring must be very valuable.” “Something like that.” “Will you give it to me?”
“It won’t have value if it’s not with you.”
“…”
“At first, Gene thought that ring wouldn’t be used. Because I never thought about getting married.”
“…”
“Never thought about marriage, until I met you, North.”
“Yes, thank you, in the future, if I receive that ring, I will cherish it just as well.” I smiled, leaning into him, “Uh…but will you bathe me?”
“Not yet. Just cleaned up.”
“…”
“Oh…mmm.” I let out a shy sound in my throat, still not used to him cleaning me up after these moments.
“Does your back hurt?”
“Uh…yes.”
“Want to soak in hot water? Actually, I wanted to take you to soak from the start, but I was worried you might not feel well.”
“Hot water soaking?” I repeated the words, there’s also a hot tub here, right? “Together?”
“Yes.”
“Uh…no, thank you.”
“Come on.”
“But…but.” Soaking together would surely…lead to another round, without a doubt. Before I could brace myself, I was lifted from the bed and carried away, “No, really.” “It’s fine, like I said.” “…” “This time, I’ll be gentle.” “…”
“Okay.”
Uh…look into those eyes…
As if they could swallow me whole.
And I…succumbed.
“Uh…” I said softly, Phii Joe kissed the tips of my fingers, trailing up along them, nibbling gently before lifting my hand a little to press a kiss on the inside of my wrist.
“Huh…don’t tease me anymore.”
“Okay.”
The sound of water moved with our bodies. We were completely naked, soaking together in the hot tub, the high temperature of the water also raising our body heat.
“Mmm…” I made a sound in my throat, my eyes fluttering, as I straddled Phii Joe’s lap in the hot tub with water up to chest level. He kissed me fervently, biting my upper and lower lips, his hot tongue exploring as if trying to satisfy his overflowing desire. My breath came in rapid heaves, my chest rising and falling, my heart pounding as if it might burst out, my face and body flushed with heat.
I opened my eyes slightly to look at the person in front of me, his dark hair slicked back because it was wet, Phii Joe ran his hand through his hair in irritation as it was falling in his face. I reached out to gently caress his face, my fingers trailing down, brushing against the earring he was wearing.
Phii Joe doesn’t wear it often, but I like it when he does.
It makes him look dangerously attractive. Yet, irresistibly charming. And I’ve fallen for that charm of this man… It seems my mischievous hand was pushing his patience even further. I felt the thing below getting even bigger.
“Uh…” He moved to bite my neck and around my ear, one of his strong hands stroking my hips. The heat from his touch made my stomach and chest feel hollow and tingling more than before, his slender fingers entering me again and starting to move. This time, it wasn’t as painful. It felt like he was just preparing me for another round, “Ugh, ahh.”
His warm breath was at my ear…
“Ah!” I gasped in surprise when the finger was removed, Phii Joe pushed me against the other side of the hot tub, splashing water, then he leaned in close, spreading my legs, his large length slowly entering me under the hot water. As he began to move in and out with increasing force, the water in the tub rippled along.
“Ahh, uh…” Not sure if it was due to the water, but it felt tight…when he was entering, it was as if the sensation was emphasized even more.
“Ah! Ah! Mmm…” I clenched my lips tight as he started moving, Phii Johan used both hands to lift my legs over his shoulders, pressing on my inner thighs to allow deeper penetration.
I opened my eyes to look up at the person above, Phii Joe licked his lips slightly, his gaze was the most seductive. I saw his strong chest and muscular abdomen covered with water droplets.
Phii Joe looked incredibly intense when he’s passionate.
His handsome face and wet, slicked-back hair.
“Uh, ah! please…Phii, ah.” I called out to him with need, breathing through both my mouth and nose but still feeling like I wasn’t getting enough air, reaching out one hand towards him. Phii Joe took my hand, and kissed along my fingers. … “Uh, I guess I couldn’t be gentle.” “Did you just realize?”
“Tonight, my love…you’re adorably crazy.”
I pouted, lying in bed in the morning, Phii Joe always likes to tease, especially about things like this.
“You’re mean.” I said, burrowing into the blanket, it seemed like he woke up before me today. Well, after what happened last night, how could I wake up first?
“What do you mean by mean?”
“I don’t know, just mean.”
Before the blanket was pulled off me.
“Good morning.” That voice, smile, words, and expression made it impossible for me to stay mad. I pouted slightly before smiling without realizing it.
How could I be angry with him…
Phii Johan leaned down to gently press his lips against mine, slowly pulling away. We exchanged smiles as the morning sunlight filtered into the room.
No matter how many days pass…it will always be like this.
Waking up and finding each other like this.
“Good morning, my boyfriend.” I said, “Uh, no…fiancé.”
“Right.” Phii Joe said.
“Uh…right, I almost forgot.” I said, as if just remembering the handmade gift I intended to give Phii Joe. I reached over to my bag by the bed, took out a handmade photo box, and handed it to him, “Here’s your gift.”
“Hmm.” Phii Joe raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise, then took it and opened it immediately. It was a photo box filled with pictures of us, some slightly edited, with cute messages written on them. Phii Joe revealed a smile upon seeing the gift. “It’s your birthday, but why are you giving me a gift?” “It’s not about the birthday.” “Then what’s the special occasion?” “In honor of our day.”
“Our day?”
“Yes, every day is ours, every day we have together is the most special day.” I smiled. Phii Joe reached up to stroke my head and looked at me with affectionate eyes, leaning in for a gentle kiss.
“Thank you, for every day that’s ours.” Phii Joe said, “And I…want every day to be ours.”
“Yes.” I smiled in agreement, watching Phii Joe carefully look through my handmade gift, happy that he liked it, “I made it myself, like, from choosing the materials.”
“You did well.” Phii Joe complimented, squeezing my cheek playfully, “Can you get up now?”
“I think so.”
“Let’s rest first. I’ll take you somewhere in the afternoon.”
“Where to?”
“To choose a ring for me.”
“Oh…” I nodded in understanding. The ring should be for both of us, our engagement ring, “I will choose for you very carefully.”
“Hmm, I’m counting on you.”
“Going from boyfriend to fiancé, will anything change for us?” I asked, my question made him look back at me immediately from the gift in his hand.
“Nothing.”
“…”
“I’ve never changed, and I will never change.” Phii Joe said, kissing my forehead. I felt the warmth and tenderness he conveyed. “I won’t change either.” “Yeah, I know.” “Then…from now on, I entrust myself to you as your fiancé.”
“I will take the best care of you, thank you for letting me look after North.”
“Thank you too.”
“I love you, North.”
“North loves you too, Phii Joe.”
Love…
The most…