WHYARU, Special Chapter 1:
“What’s with the sour face?” Dew plopped down beside Fighter, following his friend’s gaze, which was fixed on something. “Oh, that’s Tor. Not gonna go say hi?”
“He told me to sit here.”
“Why’s that?”
“He said I was disturbing his work. Probably rushing to finish translating a journal for that honest Tum guy. Said he’s coming to pick up the file today.”
“Can’t he just email it?”
“Right? That’s what I thought. What era is this? Why’s he still using a flash drive to pick up files in person?”
“Or maybe there’s something more to it.”
“Jerk!” Fighter snapped, smacking Dew on the head.
“Hey! How would I know? I’m just guessing,” Dew rubbed his head sheepishly, glancing at Tutor, who was typing away with a serious expression.
“But that assumption is nonsense, because my boyfriend would never think anything of someone named Tum. That jerk, though, I bet he’s got something going on and wants to have something too.” Thinking about it gave him a headache. The past few weeks, when he and Tutor had issues, so many things had piled up.
Other stuff, like Tutor helping out at Phii Kae’s shop or taking on extra translation work, he could understand.
But this Tum guy sniffing around? That, he was not okay with.
“Whoa, look at you, throwing around the word ‘boyfriend’ so confidently now, Fai. What’s gotten into you?” Dew teased. “The guy sitting three tables away from us,” Fighter said, his eyes fixed on Tutor, who was typing with intense focus. Those red lips were bitten absentmindedly whenever Tutor was stressed. It made Fighter want to kiss him again, to remind him to look only at him. Could he not turn those adorable eyes toward anyone else?
He’d admit it—he was head over heels for Tutor. Maybe it was the time they’d spent apart that sparked this intensity, but he never wanted to go through that again. That’s why, at the beach, he asked Tutor to be his boyfriend, promising they’d talk things out if anything came up.
He didn’t expect it to last forever. As Tutor said during their first beach trip, no one knows what the future holds. But right now, in this moment, he loved him, wanted to care for him, wanted to build something stable together. Like Tutor said, focus on making the present good, and a better future would follow.
“So, about tonight’s meetup—is he coming?” Dew asked, curiosity in his voice.
It was Fighter’s birthday today. Normally, for someone’s birthday in their high school friend group, they’d meet at the usual spot. Fighter had never brought anyone to these birthday gatherings with his close friends—not even Hwahwa.
As for Tutor… Dew wasn’t sure if Fighter would bring him along.
“No clue,” Fighter replied, sounding dejected. “Honestly, I don’t even know if he knows it’s my birthday today.”
Fighter hadn’t told Tutor his birth date. Even during the Krabi trip, which was supposedly for his birthday, it wasn’t actually on his birthday. Tutor knew the trip wasn’t on the exact day, but Fighter wasn’t sure if he knew it was today.
From the moment he woke up until now, Tutor hadn’t mentioned his birthday once.
“I bet he knows,” Dew said, as if to reassure him, before his eyes caught someone entering the library. “Fai, that jerk’s here.”
Fighter looked up at the person Dew was referring to. The guy walked straight toward Tutor with a grin that screamed how thrilled he was to approach him. It irritated Fighter to no end, but there was nothing he could do.
“Gonna go stake your claim?” Dew teased.
“Nah,” Fighter replied. He was mature enough not to do something petty like that, even if he hated it deep down.
He looked ahead, watching Tutor’s cute smile as he talked with Tum. When Tutor mentioned that a work file was nearly done, Tum practically lunged to sit beside him, reaching for the mouse almost at the same time as Tutor, who was still holding it.
It was infuriating to see, but at least Tutor pulled his hand away. That awkward expression—couldn’t anyone tell how uncomfortable Tutor was?
Whatever. Fighter knew Tutor was a guy who could protect himself in his own way.
He also knew he was too jealous. So, all he could do was stand up and walk out to wait for Tutor outside.
“Hey, Fai, wait for me!” a voice called out, prompting the librarian to shush the two hurrying out. One of them was Fighter, his face clearly showing his displeasure with Tutor. Part of that irritation likely stemmed from Phii Tum.
It’s not like Tutor didn’t notice. He wasn’t clueless enough to miss Phii Tum’s unusual behavior toward him.
He’d let things slide a bit, thinking it was just guys being guys.
But lately, it had gotten worse. Even though he hadn’t given Phii Tum his Line ID, the guy still called him sometimes. If it wasn’t work-related, Tutor often chose not to answer.
But what Phii Tum did just now was too much. Tutor was annoyed too—Phii Tum had sat down without warning and even pretended to casually grab his hand while he was clicking the mouse.
That was so not okay.
“Thanks, Tor. I’ve already transferred the payment to you,” Phii Tum said.
“Thank you, Phii Tum,” Tutor replied.
Brrt, brrt.
Tutor glanced at his phone, seeing a message from someone— Phii Fai, saying he’d wait in the car parked in front of the library.
“By the way… are you free this evening, Tor? Wanna grab dinner together?”
“Sorry, Phii Tum, I’ve already got plans,” Tutor said, turning to pack his things and laptop into his bag. The laptop was a gift from Phii Tongtaa last year. She’d said it couldn’t handle modern design or programming software, but Tutor knew deep down she just wanted him to have a laptop so he wouldn’t have to use the computers at the shop.
“Where’re you headed? Want me to drop you off?”
“No need, Phii Tum. I can go myself,” Tutor said with a smile, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“But you’re heading downstairs, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s go together. I’m heading down too.” Tutor nodded reluctantly. They walked and talked until they reached the front of the library building. Phii Tum asked a lot of questions. Though none were overtly uncomfortable, it wasn’t hard to tell he was prying too much into Tutor’s personal life.
“Thanks again for hiring me, Phii Tum. Please thank your friends too.”
“No problem at all. If there’s more translation work, I’ll contact you again, Tor.”
“Alright, I’m heading out then,” Tutor raised his hand, signaling to the person in front of him that he was leaving.
“Wait, Tor,” one of Tutor’s hands was grabbed before he could go. “I’m sorry…”
Tum hurriedly apologized, catching the displeased look in Tutor’s eyes.
“I just… I have something to ask you, Tor.”
“Go ahead, ask…”
“Well… you probably know that I, uh…”
“…”
“I…”
“You’re hitting on me.”
“Tor!” Phii Tum’s voice was laced with shock at his bluntness, his face flushing with embarrassment as he scratched the back of his neck.
“But I already have a boyfriend, Phii Tum,” Tutor stated plainly. “And he’s the jealous type.”
“…”
“I want you to stop doing this.”
“I just…”
“I know you’re someone who understands things easily, Phii Tum. So please don’t make this harder for me. My boyfriend’s already frustrated as it is, and in the future, he might not let me take translation jobs anymore.”
“Why does being in a relationship mean controlling each other like that? I think—”
“Because I love him,” Tutor cut in. “In the end, if he asks me to do something, I’ll do it the way he wants.”
“…”
“So, Phii Tum, it’d be great if you could keep your distance— a lot of distance. I don’t want us to end up unable to look each other in the eye.” Tutor was always straightforward, and Fighter knew that, but he hadn’t expected him to be this blunt.
In Fighter’s hand was a video call clip that Dew had sent him, stirring a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite name. He’d left the library just minutes ago, parting ways with Dew, who must’ve still been nearby and caught this perfect moment, filming it and sending it to him right on time.
And of course, seeing the clip, the smile already on Fighter’s lips stretched so wide it nearly reached his ears. He didn’t know what to say except— The kid’s so damn cute! How does he keep making me fall for him more every day?
Deww: What’s up, Fai? Dead yet? Your boyfriend’s freaking awesome.
If I were you, I’d be so smitten I wouldn’t know which way is up.
Deawdry: Shut up, Dew.
TOMON: Normally, you’re already a lost cause, but with that video you sent this time, I swear you’re done for—see you in the next life, bro!
TOMON: But seriously, Dew,
I love how you chose to call in the group chat like that.
Thanks for being so kind to nosy people like us!
Keep being this awesome, and maybe you will treat us to a few drinks.
Deawdry: Why the hell do I have to treat anyone?
When you’re grinning like an idiot because your lover’s head over heels, shouldn’t you be the one treating us?
Fighter: You guys talk too much.
Can I skip the party tonight?
Let’s meet up another day, and I’ll treat you all to make up for it.
Deawdry: Chill, we’re not that serious about it.
I was even wondering if you’d really treat us today.
A lovesick guy like you probably wants to spend time with your boyfriend more.
Fighter: I was planning to bring him to hang out with you guys, you know.
But now I’m thinking otherwise. I just wanna celebrate with him, just the two of us.
TOMON: Lovestruck as hell, huh?!
So damn lovestruck!
Fighter: Yeah, I admit it.
Deawdry: That’s the spirit, my man!
Alright, let’s do it like this. Just let us know in the group chat when you’re ready to treat us.
After that, his friends flooded the chat with annoying stickers, teasing him relentlessly. He grinned at his phone like a fool, regretting that he forgot to record the video call Dew had sent earlier. It would’ve been perfect to tease Tutor with it and make him blush.
Knock, knock, knock.
A soft tap on the car window pulled him from his thoughts. Fighter looked up at the person waiting outside and pressed the button to unlock the door.
“Done?”
“Done,” Tutor said, sliding into the car. He placed his things on the back seat before turning to fasten his seatbelt.
“Does you want to eat anything special today?”
“No,” Tutor replied, turning to frown at the driver starting the car in front of the library. “Why’re you suddenly being so sweet?”
“I always talk like this,” Fighter said.
“No way, this isn’t normal. What’s up?” Fighter didn’t answer, just gave a sly grin that left the person beside him guessing. “Phii Fai, didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”
“I’ll tell you when we get to the dorm.”
“Can’t you tell me now?”
“Nope.”
“What’s that about?” Tutor grumbled, his voice tinged with frustration.
“Oh, Tor, I’m not going to the hangout with the guys tonight,” Fighter said.
“Huh? Why not?”
“They had other plans, so I canceled.” He didn’t want to tell Tutor it was because he wanted to spend this special day just the two of them. Fighter wasn’t even sure if Tutor knew it was his birthday, but he’d tell him once they got to the dorm. At this point, he wasn’t hung up on birthday gifts or whether Tutor knew about his birthday.
Because hearing Tutor clearly tell that Tum guy about having a boyfriend today was more than enough for someone like him.
“Oh,” Tutor nodded lightly. “That’s good then.”
“What’d you say, Tor?”
“Nothing, just saying I’m sleepy.”
“Well, you stayed up so late last night, how could you not be? From now on, can you cut back on the translation work if it’s too much, Tor?” Fighter’s voice was laced with concern.
“Yeah, I probably won’t take on translation work for a while. As for the side gigs, I already talked to the boss and said I’d cut down to just two days a week.”
“Really? That’s awesome!” Fighter grinned widely, genuinely happy. Tutor had cut back on side work before, but during their rough patch, he went back to working every day. When things settled, Fighter brought it up again, asking him to reduce his hours. He even got Phii Tongtaa to call and talk to him, worried that Tutor’s body was being pushed too hard. He wasn’t doing it for anyone but Tutor himself.
“Look at that smug face,” Tutor teased.
“Of course! Now we’ll have more time to spend together.”
“You don’t get tired of me?”
“No way…”
“…”
“Who’d ever get bored of their own boyfriend?” Tutor looked at the mischievous smile Fighter sent his way, unable to deny that he loved him more every day. He loved how Fighter teased him until he blushed, scolded him, or taught him things he didn’t know.
“Exactly. You think like me. Who could ever get bored of their boyfriend, right… babe?”
“Uh… yeah, right,” Tutor stammered.
And he loved how, when he teased Fighter back like this, the older guy got adorably shy.
He loved every single moment that was Fighter.
Truly loved him.
Leave a Reply