YOURSKY, Chapter 9
The tall man standing and smoking in the wide courtyard cast his gaze toward the large white letters displayed in front of the shop. Panli smiled as the meaning of the shop’s name flashed through his mind.
“Your Sky” was the first and only name his older brother had come up with. Before the restaurant officially opened, many names were suggested, but in the end, the owner chose this one. He had once asked about its meaning, even though he thought he already knew it well, and Phii Fah kindly explained it to him again.
“Your Sky” carried a straightforward meaning based on the phrase. The reason for choosing this name, Phii Fah said, was that most people like to look at the sky—whether they’re happy, sad, or going through something, whatever it may be. the sky remains a place everyone always seeks out. And that same sky they’ve all seen over time can evoke a range of emotions as it changes colors with the passing moments. Yet no matter how much it changes, in the end, looking at the sky makes you feel that it’s always ready to heal and bring comfort.
A place where you feel at ease.
A place where you feel warm.
That place is “Your Sky.”
The restaurant owner, Muenfah, chose this name because he wanted everyone who came to the place—whatever feelings they had, whether overwhelming joy or despair so deep they didn’t want to go on—to find comfort, even just for a moment, in a safe space for their hearts.
“Everyone wants to have the sky for themselves.”
“The sky belongs to everyone. Everyone looks at the sky—how could it belong to just one person, Phii Fah?”
“Maybe the sky doesn’t always mean the sky… it could mean someone specific.”
Panli smiled faintly as he tossed his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it with his foot to put it out. Back then, he didn’t understand the deeper meaning his older brother was conveying, but now it was crystal clear, and he wanted to respond with something. However, he could only reply in his own thoughts:
‘Always being everyone’s sky, being the sky for everyone… and today you’ve finally found your own sky, huh?’
But thinking things over on his own wasn’t a good idea. It might not be true without confirmation. Someone who wanted the definite truth didn’t hesitate any longer. Panli walked away from the open area designated for customers who wanted to smoke and headed straight toward the rooftop inside the restaurant.
Along the way, the staff, recognizing him as the younger brother of the restaurant owner, bowed their heads in respect. But he wasn’t one for titles or formalities, so he raised his hand to return a wai to everyone who showed him respect, regardless of whether they were younger than him, because he didn’t care much about such things.
“Panli, would you like something to drink? I can bring it up for you.” said a voice.
The person about to step onto the stairs paused, then turned to smile at the manager, a close acquaintance of his brother. Panli shook his head to decline the offer, gave a friendly smile, and continued up to Fah’s rooftop.
This place hadn’t changed a bit. The last time he’d come to hang out was when the restaurant had just opened. It had been so long that he could barely remember the open, airy atmosphere. Revisiting it now brought him a sense of comfort.
“Just got here?”
A deep, low voice came from behind him. Panli, who had walked over to the railing, turned around to see his older brother plop down onto a black leather sofa, silently inviting him to join without saying a word.
“Yeah, just arrived.”
“If you’ve got something to talk about, spit it out…”
The one being questioned walked over and sat across from his brother, then slid his pack of cigarettes over, noticing that Phii Fah had been drinking water from a glass several times. But the person who clearly wanted a smoke shook his head in refusal and pulled out his phone to look at instead. If you want it, don’t force yourself to hold back. People can’t quit that easily—where’s the guy who used to smoke every day? Did you go cold turkey or what, Phii Fah?”
“I’ll wait for it from Rak.”
“…” Panli shook his head lightly, thinking to himself, Wow, this guy… my brother’s something else. What’s with him and going all out? “Waiting for it from Rak, or waiting for Rak’s love?”
“You are an annoying little…”
The one being teased laughed softly before saying, “Well, I came to talk about that Rak guy anyway.”
“I’ll answer what I can. Anything too personal that you shouldn’t know yet, I won’t say.”
“Alright, I get it. If it’s something you’re not comfortable with, you don’t have to answer.” Panli knew how kind his brother was to him. He shouldn’t be too harsh on Phii Fah either, because he understood what kind of person his brother was. The question he was about to ask had to be carefully considered to avoid any awkwardness.
“Ask away…”
“Phii Fah, do you like that chubby-cheeks guy?”
“…” Phii Fah didn’t say anything, true to his quiet and sometimes stubborn nature. He merely nodded slightly while looking down at his phone screen.
“Did you just start liking him?”
“…before he got close to you.”
“Since when, huh?”
If we go that deep, I’d rather not answer… let me have some privacy, will you? Stop being so nosy, Panli.”
“Alright, alright,” Panli wasn’t mad at the scolding because right now, the tough Phii Fah seemed too embarrassed to speak. It wasn’t surprising he’d be this shy—Phii Fah wasn’t the type to fall for someone first, and he’d never been grilled face-to-face like this before either.
“Then let’s get to the point. Answer me straight, so I don’t have to keep prodding.”
“Are you my mom or something, interrogating me like this…” Muenfah grumbled softly.
“Are you serious? You know, don’t you, that I’m someone who loves and cares about my friends a lot. I don’t want to see my friend heartbroken later.”
“Stop worrying about him. Worry about your me instead—whether I’ll end up heartbroken because of him.”
“…” Damn it!!… I can’t believe Phii Fah just said that.
Phii Fah put his phone down on the glass table in the middle and looked up at him. “If someone has to shed tears, it’ll be me, not him…”
“…” Oh… another gut-punch line… “So you love him, right? Like, you’re in love with that chubby-cheeked guy? Not just a crush?”
“You’re too much, man, so damn curious…” Phii Fah sighed. He went quiet for a moment, as if reflecting on something, before continuing, “Besides his family, if anyone claims to love him a lot… I’d dare say I’m not any less than them.”
“…”
So whatever you’re overthinking about, drop it. I’m not wavering, not confused at all. I’ve already moved past all that. Right now, my feelings are solid.”
“Hearing this makes me feel a bit relieved… I thought maybe you kissed his head and got all shaken up. But deep down, I know you isn’t the type to waver easily. Plus, with everything you know about that chubby-cheeked guy, it’s obvious you’ve got feelings for Rak for sure… I just didn’t think you’d been secretly into him for so long.”
“…”
“Can I ask one more question?”
“In exchange for me kicking you off that chair, how about that?”
“Too harsh, man. I’ll just take that chubby-cheeked guy and run off—make you die of heartbreak.”
“Hurry up.”
“Does a lot of people know about this?”
“Six, including you. Don’t bother asking who they are. I won’t tell you because you’d definitely go pester them next.”
“Ugh, so annoying. You see right through me.”
“…”
“Then one last question…” Panli had to rush in like this because he could tell his brother was getting irritated. “Out of those six, who knew first?”
“You don’t need to feel salty about who I told first. I never told anyone first—they all figured it out themselves. Most of them are close people who picked up on it on their own.”
Who was the first one, Phii Fah?”
“That question comes with one request…”
“If I ask you not to have a wife, you can’t do that, right?”
“Li…”
“Okay, okay, I accept the deal.”
“Mom…”
“Mom!! Mom was the first to know? And she kept it so quiet?”
“Well, that’s our Mom for you…”
“I’ll have a long talk about this later, me and Mom.”
“No need, Li. Adult stuff—you knowing this much is enough.”
“I won’t ask then. I see you’re confessing easily this time—tricked me, huh.”
“I have one request, though. Don’t tell Rak about this just yet, okay?” “…”
“I want him to like me because he genuinely feels it in his heart, not because he knows I’ve secretly liked him first and gets swayed by that. Or even if he doesn’t feel anything for me at all, at least he won’t feel awkward and start pulling away…”
“…”
“That way, I can still be in his life, even if it’s just as someone close.” “…”
The reason I haven’t told anyone yet, or confessed to him, is because I don’t want to force my feelings on him. I want every feeling to develop slowly until he understands his own heart. But right now, I’m the only one feeling this… so I have to take responsibility for my own heart.”
“How much do you feel, big brother…?”
“A lot—enough that it’s eating me up inside.”
Panli sighed, feeling sorry for his older brother, who was walking behind him but whose feelings had raced far ahead. Meanwhile, that chubby-cheeked guy walked in front, oblivious to someone secretly watching him the whole time. Their feelings were going in opposite directions, all because of ignorance.
As he’d once heard… the one who feels more has to take responsibility for themselves.
“So why didn’t you just go for it a long time ago?”
“Have you ever felt like you weren’t right for someone? Back then, something made me feel that way. So I stepped back.”
“What was it?”
“Didn’t you say that was your last question? I’ll kick you in the face soon.”
“Fine, fine, just a little more—I’m curious…”
“When Theerak was with Mew, I thought they really liked each other, so I backed off. But after they broke up not long after, I learned something that made it impossible to hold myself back anymore. I tried getting back into his life again, even though I wasn’t sure if I was the right person for him. But because I’m the way I am, stepping into the life of someone as cheerful as him was pretty tough for me. Still, I’ve been trying all along…”
Panli wanted to ask about the truth that made his brother decide to re-enter his friend’s life, but if Phii Fah had wanted to tell him, he would’ve explained it clearly already. Knowing that, Panli didn’t press further. He chose to wait for Phii Fah to share it himself when he was ready.
“Yeah, back then, anyone would’ve backed off. A cute girl and a guy like
Phii Fah… damn, they’re on completely different levels.”
“But the main reason I wanted to step back into his life again was simply because I thought, even if I couldn’t be his lover… I’d be okay with being something in his life—anything. Even just a close friend, I’d accept that, as long as I could stay in his sight somehow.”
“…”
“…And I just wanted to be a reason he could smile sometimes.”
“Phii Fah, hearing this makes me want to cry… Don’t scold me, this is real. I never thought someone like you could secretly love someone—and it’s Li’s close friend, no less. How did you keep it in? How did you hold those feelings all by yourself?”
“The fact that he’s your close friend is exactly why I couldn’t let it spill out. Because if he doesn’t feel the same way I do, it wouldn’t just be awkward for him—you’d end up feeling uneasy too.”
Panli thought back to their childhood. He remembered the last time he had a long, serious talk with his older brother—it was when Phii Fah tutored him in math before the midterm exam. His brother wasn’t one to give long explanations unless it was necessary, but this time, with so many emotions pent up inside, he finally let them out.
“After hearing all this, I’m speechless… I feel guilty too for never noticing.”
“Keeping it hidden this well—if you figured it out, that’d be beyond impressive.”
“Then how did Mom find out?”
“Don’t pry into that.”
“Fine, fine, I won’t pry. I just feel bad for the secret admirer, you know.” Phii Fah must’ve had enough of him because he kicked his leg hard once. Panli grinned before continuing, “Even though that chubby-cheeks guy has taken the lead for now, it’s not like he’ll never look back. Be patient. Keep calling out to him. Li believes that one day he’ll definitely turn back to you,
Phii Fah.”
“Yeah, whatever happens, I’ll still be standing right here. Whenever he turns around, he’ll see me.”
Panli gave a faint smile, silently cheering his brother on in his heart. The two siblings weren’t the type to openly show their feelings for each other, but they both knew how much they loved and cared for one another.
What Phii Fah asked for reminded him of his close friend’s request. Theerak had begged him not to ask his brother about this, afraid that everything might change. But Panli went against that request because he had a hunch—and after thinking it over again, it turned out he was right.
Different people with different requests… asking for different things.
One didn’t want him to ask, the other didn’t want him to tell.
But the outcome they both wanted was the same…
They both still wanted to have each other in their lives.
And the reason Panli chose to encourage his older brother like that was because he still believed—he believed that one day the two of them would walk side by side, with no one leading and no one following. The feelings that had been going in opposite directions would eventually come together.
“Susuna, Phii Fah!”
#However Many Thousand Skies
LINE ~
“Ugh…”
The small figure sleeping comfortably on the soft bed let out a groan in his throat, disturbed by the sound of a LINE notification. Theerak squinted slightly before raising one hand to rub his eyes. The view in front of him wasn’t quite clear yet, and his eyes couldn’t handle the light streaming in from the window since he’d just woken up. Real’s eyes blinked rapidly to adjust. Once everything settled into focus, Theerak reached for the phone on the bedside table.
M.FAH: Stubborn one, are you awake yet?
The message from Muenfah instantly snapped Theerak out of his grogginess, his eyes widening.
M.FAH: I woke up to send a breakfast pic to you; the stubborn one.
M.FAH: send a photo
Theerak tapped into the chat when he saw Muenfah had sent a picture. The image showed a plate of food with some tomato sauce smeared around and a slightly undercooked fried egg.
M.FAH:…I don’t dare take the plate to wash it. I’m afraid you won’t believe me.
Theerak: Did you really eat it, Phii Fah?
…I don’t really believe it either. I mean, Panli said Phii Fah doesn’t like eating breakfast.
M.FAH: Wait a sec, okay?
Theerak absentmindedly nodded at Muenfah’s command before realizing it was just text. He shook his head lightly, thinking to himself that he’d let
Muenfah’s face and voice float into his mind while they chatted on LINE.
Both his face and voice are here, huh, Muenfah? ~
Making me all flustered first thing in the morning T___T
Not long after, the chat switched to an incoming call. Theerak swallowed hard when he saw it was Muenfah calling—and not just a voice call. M.FAH: video calling…
Theerak didn’t want to answer because he hadn’t showered yet. He was afraid Muenfah would be shocked to see his current state. When he woke up in the morning, his eyelids tended to swell abnormally, and Muenfah might think he’d been in a fight or something.
But not picking up would be rude, and it’d be even ruder if he didn’t turn on his camera too. So, he solved the problem by pulling the misty-colored blanket over his face, covering his head with its wild, frizzy hair sticking out in every direction.
[Stubborn one… why are you covering your face?]
That laugh from Muenfah…
So embarrassing
“Well, I haven’t showered yet! Who told you to call right now?!”
[Take the blanket off quick… let me see the stubborn one’s face.]
“Let’s see each other at uni instead.”
[Please, just take it off a bit. What if the one hiding under there is a fake stubborn one? What would I do then?]
“A fake? Where’s this fake coming from, Phii Fah? There’s only one stubborn one here!”
Theerak slowly pulled the blanket down, letting the other see just his eyes while still covering his nose and mouth with the fabric. Muenfah, currently wearing… what looked like a bathrobe, was sitting on a sofa, smiling at him.
That same old smile again…
[It’s really the stubborn one!]
And the smile that’s showing right now… what does this new kind of smile remind me of?
“…”
[Is it still in time for a morning right now?]
… It doesn’t remind me of anything… but it’s a smile that lets me know it’s really morning now.
“It’s only seven… still in time, right?”
[Then shall we have a morning together before showering?]
“Sure… morning, Phii Fah.”
[Morning, naughty one.]
“Phii Fah, you haven’t showered yet?”
[Not yet, just washed my face and brushed my teeth before coming out to eat breakfast.]
“…” Theerak nodded slightly. He pulled the blanket that was covering his nose down a bit because he felt like he couldn’t breathe well while talking to the other person, though he still kept his mouth covered.
[Can’t stand your own stench, so you pulled the blanket off…?]
“So, did you call to tease me into losing confidence, or to confirm that you really ate breakfast?”
[The truth is… neither of those is the reason I called little naughty you.]
Theerak furrowed his brows slightly, thinking over other possible reasons why Muenfah would call him. “Oh ~ Phii Fah’s calling to demand his cigarettes back, huh? ~”
[No, that’s not it.]
“Huh?! Then what’s the reason you called me this morning?”
[I wanted to see the sun smiling brightly in the morning… but I guess I won’t get to see it this morning.]
“…”
Muenfah gave a faint smile before tapping his index finger on his lips two or three times.
[Because the sun’s smile is hidden under that dusty-colored blanket.]
Theerak thought that the hardest person to keep a conversation going with was probably Muenfah. Some of Muenfah’s lines had such devastating power that they could make his body explode with a bang. Even though he was always prepared to handle the other person, he couldn’t resist at all—like right now, when Theerak was completely thrown off balance by Muenfah’s relentless attack.
“W-Wait, I’ll bring the cigarettes to you as promised, okay? I have morning classes today, so I’ll go shower now.”
[Alright, see you at the university.]
“Okay.”
Theerak quickly hung up on Muenfah before his calm heart could be stirred into a wild dance by the other person. He let out a soft, relieved sigh and flashed a bright smile. Theerak felt like he was starting to handle Muenfah a little better. If his heart seemed like it was about to race out of control, he’d just escape and take a break to return to normal. LINE ~
But Theerak must have forgotten that…
M.FAH: Stinky… wash your hair too, okay?
The text sent by Muenfah affected his heartbeat just as much.
And he wasn’t prepared to handle this part…
#However Many Thousand Skies
“The new assignment is due next week, students.”
“Yes, ma’am ~”
The cute-faced male student responded with a sweet smile directed at the English professor. Theerak was in an especially good mood because he had just submitted the assignment the professor assigned last week and received praise for being someone who worked with great detail and precision.
Theerak was genuinely delighted.
The little guy, who had just gotten up from his chair, bowed his head as the professor left the room. Theerak raised both arms, stretching them straight out before twisting to the left and then the right, mimicking the exercises he used to do with his grandfather.
“It’s noon already. What should we eat, chubby-cheeks?”
“What do you want to eat, dog-face Li?”
Panli, who was called that, stood up, locked his best friend’s neck, and pinched his cheeks hard as punishment. The little guy yelped loudly until Joy, who had just finished packing her things, stepped in to stop them.
“Li!! Don’t be so rough with him! Poor guy—why do you have to play so hard?” Joy grumbled before turning to the chubby-cheeked friend, reaching out to gently rub his soft cheek to comfort him. “Does it hurt?”
“A lot. Panli, that dog-face, has such heavy hands.”
“Hey, Type, take care of the one who hurt my chubby-cheeks right now!”
Type shook his head vigorously, thinking to himself that Joy always gave such ridiculous orders. Fighting Panli would be like walking straight to his death. “No way. That Li guy hits hard. Even when we’re just messing around,
I end up hurting all over.”
“You’re done for, chubby-cheeks. No bodyguard to protect those cheek puffs now…” Panli said before striding toward his best friend, who was now wide-eyed and waving his small hands in the air.
“Joy… help me!”
“When that Li gets in a teasing mood, no one can stop him.” Joy said, plopping down on a chair and letting out a big sigh. Whenever Panli wanted to mess with chubby-cheeks, everyone just had to let it happen. But every time, Panli didn’t actually do anything harsh—just pinched the little guy’s cheeks out of affection.
“Panli!! Don’t come closer…” Theerak shouted to stop the sly-eyed culprit, but Panli wasn’t fazed by him at all. He chuckled softly and kept walking closer.
“You’re done for. I’m definitely eating those cheeks.”
“I’ll tell Phii Fah!!!!”
The little guy’s outburst made Panli freeze mid-step. Joy and Type, who had been complaining about the professor assigning too much work, whipped their heads around to look at him. The few remaining classmates didn’t pay much attention—after all, the kids at the back of the room were always loud and playful.
“Tell my brother?”
The one being questioned blinked rapidly, replaying what he’d just said in his head. When he realized he’d brought up Muenfah as a shield against being teased, he quickly turned his face away. Theerak swallowed hard, knowing full well his friends were onto him, and he was scrambling for an excuse.
Back then, he was scared that Panli might play too rough and hurt him.
And in that moment when he felt unsafe… Muenfah was the only person he could think of.
But I shouldn’t have let it slip out like that
“Are you going to tattle to Phii Fah that I teased you, chubby-cheeks?”
“…N-No, not at all.”
“Joy, Type, did you just hear what I heard?”
“I heard it. Chubby-cheeks said he’s going to tell Phii Fah.”
“How close are they, huh… close enough to tattle?” Type grinned slyly.
“…” T___T.. I shouldn’t have. If I hadn’t let it slip, I wouldn’t be getting teased by my friends until I’m practically bursting with embarrassment like this.
“Go ahead and tattle… I want to see if Phii Fah will come save you…” Panli said before pouncing on the smaller guy. He pinched his cheeks out of playful annoyance, while Theerak yelped and tried to pry his hands off both cheeks.
Bzzzzt ~
The vibration of a notification sounded like a heavenly rescue, saving him from the torment. Theerak quickly pulled his phone out of his pants pocket and waved it in front of Panli’s face.
“Phii Fah’s calling on LINE… Stop it right now, you dog-faced Li!”
“…” Panli let out a low chuckle before releasing his grip on his friend’s cheeks.
Theerak didn’t waste a second and answered Muenfah’s call immediately. “Phii Fah, Phii Fah!”
[What’s up, you little troublemaker… Are you done with class yet?]
Why does Muenfah’s voice right now…
Feel so damn warm…?
“Y-Yes, I’m done.”
[So what are you doing now?]
“I’m getting teased by Panli.”
“You little snitch.” Panli said, laughing.
“I’m not a snitch! Phii Fah asked what I was doing, so I had to tell the truth.”
[What did Panli do to tease you, troublemaker?]
“He pinched my cheeks hard, both sides.”
[Then let me talk to Panli for a sec…]
“Sure.” Theerak smirked and handed the phone to Panli. Not only was he saved from the torment, but he also figured Panli wouldn’t dare tease him again.
“What’s up?”
[Do you want Mom to cut your allowance?]
“Threats, huh…”
[Don’t mess with my guy.]
“But I’ve been teasing him since freshman year, haven’t I?”
[But I’ve been watching over him even before you…]
“…”
[Now that I can protect him, I’ll do it to the fullest—even against my own brother like you.]
“Just wait, I’ll pinch his cheeks till they rip, so annoying!! Protecting him like that.”
[If Rak comes to me with handprints on his cheeks from you, I’ll really get Mom to dock your pay…]
“…” Panli smirked, amused because it seemed his older brother was quite possessive of his chubby-cheeked best friend. “Get ready to pamper him.”
Panli handed the phone back to the small guy. At first, the chubby-cheeked one flashed a triumphant smirk, but now his face paled slightly because Panli was still determined to tease him further.
“Hello, hi!”
[Stubborn one, hurry and run to me!]
“Where are you?”
[Building 5, near the smoking area…]
“…”
[The moment I hang up, you should come running, okay? I will be waiting here.]
“Y-Yes…”
[If I come to you, I’m afraid Panli might pinch your cheeks off first.
It’s faster if you run to me.]
“Y-Yes…” Theerak glanced past Panli to locate his bag. He felt a bit relieved seeing it wasn’t too far. If he hung up and dashed to grab it, it wouldn’t be too hard. “Then I’ll hang up now, Phii Fah.”
[Okay, hurry and escape to me, stubborn one!]
“Yes.”
The second Theerak ended the call with Muenfah, Panli raised his large hand, ready to squish his cheeks again. But Theerak reacted in time, snatching his leather side bag before bolting out at lightning speed. His friends in the room shouted after him loudly, but he didn’t turn back, fearing his cheeks would be pinched to pieces.
The small guy, now alone in the elevator, pressed the button for the ground floor. Theerak let out a giggle as he recalled the shocked faces of his friends when they saw him sprint away. In all the time they’d known each other, he’d never surprised them like this. They could usually predict his every thought, but this time, they clearly hadn’t expected him to pull this off.
Truthfully, being teased by Panli wasn’t that bad. His friends pinched his cheeks out of affection mixed with playful annoyance—not just Panli, but Type and Joy liked doing it too. Even his family and relatives often did the same, so Theerak was used to it. Still, sometimes he wanted to protect his chubby-cheeks for once. But every time, it was like escaping a tiger only to run into a crocodile.
For example, fleeing one person just to have someone he trusted pinch his cheeks instead…
But this time, Theerak thought it’d be different.
Muenfah would surely be a safe haven.
Theerak just wanted to hide out with Muenfah for a bit before returning to his friends—let those pranksters learn a lesson. Panli would realize how torturous it was not having this chubby-cheeked guy around.
Panli loved him to death… probably couldn’t go three minutes without him before his eyes started welling up.
This was the way to teach him—then he wouldn’t dare tease again.
The small guy stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for Building 5, as Muenfah had instructed. Along the way, Theerak’s phone buzzed nonstop with LINE notifications. When he checked it, his friends were bombarding him with messages:
‘Chubby-cheeks, did you run off to Phii Fah?’
‘You little chub, come back to me right now! I swear I’ll protect you from Panli myself.’
‘Hey, Joy, where’d you go? I’m starving—hurry back to the cafeteria with us!’
Theerak laughed until his mouth stretched wide before slipping his phone into his pants pocket. “How’s that, huh… they can barely survive without that chubby-cheeked guy, huh?”
But honestly, he couldn’t survive without those teasing friends either. So Theerak decided he’d just drop off the cigarettes to Muenfah and then hurry back to his friends at the cafeteria. His escape plan fell apart purely because of his soft heart.
Today, Theerak was wearing glasses, which helped him see everything in the distance more clearly—especially Muenfah, who was standing far off with a faint smile. He raised his hand to wave at the tall figure, who had now switched from smiling to laughing.
“Hey, who’s that guy?”
“That’s Phii Fah, a third-year in our faculty.”
“Oh, Panli’s older brother, the faculty moon from our year, right?”
“Yeah, both the older and younger brother are so handsome, huh?”
“For real, otherwise how could both of them be faculty stars…”
“Handsome like that, they’ve definitely got girlfriends already.”
“No chance. Panli once dated my friend, but I don’t know about Phii Fah. He seems quiet, but with looks like that, he probably has tons of people hitting on him.”
The conversation between the two girls walking behind him made Theerak shake his head lightly. He thought about how people always judge others by their appearance first, and it was a pity for those judged prematurely—before they even had a chance to prove themselves, their true selves were buried under such assumptions. In the end, they just became what others decided they were.
Even though that might not really be the case…
But Theerak didn’t care about what those people said. Instead, he raised his hand even higher and shouted to the tall figure waiting for him, “Phii Fah”
Muenfah gave a faint smile and started walking toward him. The two of them closed the distance quickly since they both chose to meet halfway.
Theerak glanced over at the smoking area designated for students. He spotted Phii Dom there too. The guy flashed a small smile and raised the hand holding his cigarette as if to say he’d come over once he finished smoking. Theerak nodded back and returned the smile. If you looked closely, that area was full of Muenfah’s friends. He didn’t know many seniors—only Phii Dom and Phii Tim from that group.
Even so, Theerak raised his hands to wai all the seniors smoking in the area. They all returned the gesture and smiled back warmly, especially Phii Tim, whom he’d talked to before.
“Where did Panli pinch you?”
“Here…” Theerak pointed to one cheek with his finger, then switched to the other, and even added the tip of his nose. Earlier, Panli had pinched his nose too.
“The nose too, but don’t worry, Phii Fah. I’m used to it.”
“It’s all red…” Muenfah gently brushed the back of his hand against the soft cheek. His sharp eyes stared at the red mark, which didn’t seem like it came from a pinch—more likely a mosquito bite. “There, there, you escaped to me… it doesn’t hurt anymore, right?”
It was at that moment that Theerak’s heart skipped a beat. Every movement was beyond his control, yet it was Muenfah who held the reins. His little heart would either race so fast it felt like it might burst out of his chest or slow down to a normal rhythm—all depending on Muenfah’s command…
“I, I brought cigarettes for you too.” the little guy quickly changed the subject before he lost himself even more. He bent down to pull out three cigarettes, tucked in a small plastic bag, from his side sling bag.
Muenfah furrowed his brow, puzzled that the little guy was returning only three cigarettes. He wasn’t angry that there were so few left; he just wanted to know where the rest had gone.
“Did Panli pinch your cheeks because he squeezed my cigarettes out of you, troublemaker?”
“No, no! The rest are still at my room. I only brought this much because I thought if I gave them all back, tomorrow you wouldn’t eat breakfast again since you’d have them back already. So I brought just this much for now… and also…” Theerak glanced up at the taller figure before speaking in a soft whisper, “I want you to smoke less too. I want you to stay with me for a long time. We’re just getting close. If something happened to you before we really got there, what would I do…?”
Muenfah let out a low chuckle before reaching out to gently pat the messy head. “I will smoke less, okay? So I can stay with my troublemaker for a long time.”
The listener grinned widely, his eyes squinting into crescents. That smile, bright like the sun beaming, made Muenfah unconsciously step closer to the little guy. He leaned down slightly to catch the faint, sweet scent from the jetblack hair. But the tip of his nose didn’t touch the soft strands—not even a little.
He just let the fragrance he liked waft under his nose…
But when he realized his blatant action might draw the attention of friends and make the little guy uncomfortable, Muenfah shifted the hand resting on the messy head to lightly brush the bangs of the smaller one instead.
“A bug flew onto you… I brushed it off for you.”
“Th-thank you.”
Muenfah took the three crumpled and bent cigarettes from the little guy. Theerak, who had never smoked, probably didn’t care how they should be stored. He must have shoved them into any available space, which explained why they were in such a battered state.
“Thank you…”
“No need to thank me… If you keep your promise to eat breakfast, I have to keep my promise too.”
“I’m not thanking you for bringing the cigarettes… I’m thanking you for trusting me and running to me.”
Yes… he’d asked himself several times while running to Muenfah. The answer he got made him realize he was starting to trust Muenfah for real. “I just feel like you aren’t like other people. I think I can trust you.”
“I won’t let anyone tease my troublemaker. Because I will keep you all to myself to tease.”
“Phii Fah!” It was almost sweet… but in the end, was Muenfah just as untrustworthy as everyone else?
“So, has my troublemaker eaten lunch yet?”
“Not yet. I was planning to give you the cigarettes and then go eat with my friends.”
“Oh…”
“Well, I’ll head off then. My friends might wait too long, and I have a meeting about the open house project this evening.”
“Yes.”
Theerak waved goodbye to Muenfah and Phii Dom, who were still smoking at the gazebo, before turning and walking away from there.
“Troublemaker…”
But Muenfah’s low voice always seemed to hold his steps back.
“Yes, Phii Fah?”
“I have afternoon classes… I’d really love to hear the sound of the sea right now.”
Theerak accidentally let a smile slip out. He couldn’t believe he understood what Muenfah meant, but well… “Shhh ~ Shhh ~”
He hoped his imitation of the sea would bring a bit of encouragement to the person standing there, chuckling softly.
#However Many Thousand Skies
Theerak sat in a daze in a large meeting room with a handful of sophomores. He’d been in a meeting with his classmates for a while now. They were helping plan the booth for the open house event that the professors had assigned to the second-years. Since so many people joined this meeting,
it dragged on into the evening because no one could agree on anything. But in the end, everything worked out, and now everyone was heading home.
“Chubby-cheeks, how are you getting back? It’s this late—Phii Babe’s probably gone home already, right?”
“Phii Babe didn’t come to class; she’s sick. I’ll probably head back on my own, Li.”
“Then I’ll drop you off. Joy and Type already left together anyway.”
“No need. Don’t you have plans tonight? You were rushing during the meeting.”
“I can just call my friends and tell them I’ll be a bit late. Dropping you off first won’t be a problem.”
“No, really, it’s fine…”
“Stop being so polite, or I’ll mess up your cheeks.”
Theerak laughed and nodded at his close friend, but the sound of rain seeping into the building slowly erased that smile. Even Panli, who’d been in a good mood earlier, couldn’t help but curse, realizing he’d be even later to his destination.
“Why the hell is it raining now…?”
“Then just go, Li. I can get back on my own.”
“I’m not leaving you, especially in this rain… How about this? I’ll run through the rain to get the car from the parking lot. You stay here at the front of the building to avoid the rain and wait for me to drive over. Sound good?”
“…” Theerak wanted to say it wasn’t okay to make his friend late for his plans, but Panli’s stern look forced him to nod. “Fine, okay.”
“Good boy…” Panli grinned, then glanced at a tall figure holding an umbrella at the front of the building. “But I guess I won’t need to drop you off after all.”
Theerak followed Panli’s gaze to the door and could guess what he meant.
He quickly shook his head and lightly tugged at his friend’s sleeve.
“No way, I’d feel bad for you.”
“Why feel bad? I’m free…”
“…” Panli didn’t listen to him at all and instead dragged him over to Muenfah, who was looking down at his phone. Theerak glanced at the black umbrella in the taller man’s hand, thinking it wasn’t big enough for two people to stand under without getting wet.
“Who are you waiting for, Phii Fah?”
The one being asked looked up from his phone screen. “The stubborn one…”
The person called the stubborn one froze for a moment, not expecting that Muenfah—everyone’s Muenfah—would be waiting for him. He stayed silent, caught off guard, especially because he didn’t think Muenfah would answer so directly.
“Phii Fah you are waiting for me… is something up?”
“I’m here to pick you up and take you home. Dom said Babe isn’t feeling well, so the stubborn one would have to head back alone today.”
“I can go back on my own.”
“Phii Fah… it’s getting late, so I’ll leave him with you, okay? Chubbycheeks. I’m heading out.”
“Alright.”
Panli quickly strode off without paying him any mind. Theerak wanted to call out to his friend to stay a bit longer, but it was already too late. He looked up at the tall figure who was now gazing back at him. Muenfah nodded as an invitation before opening the umbrella.
“Let’s go. I parked the car close to the building.”
“Y-Yes.”
And just as he’d thought, the umbrella wasn’t big enough to shield both of them from the rain. So, one of them got wet—and that was Muenfah. He held the umbrella more toward Theerak, leaving his right shoulder completely soaked. Yet, amidst the pouring rain, Theerak felt a warmth in his heart… probably because the thick hand of the man beside him gripped his shoulder, pulling him closer under the umbrella, even though Muenfah himself was nearly outside its cover by now.
“We’re almost there. Just a sec, stubborn one. My car is right ahead.”
“Yes.”
If you asked when Muenfah made the most use of this umbrella, Theerak would say it was when he escorted him to the car and then ran around to the driver’s side. That’s when Muenfah fully opened it for himself. But his drenched right shoulder served as a reminder of how much he’d sacrificed earlier.
Theerak looked at the man beside him, who folded the umbrella and twisted around to stow it in the back. Muenfah turned back with a small towel in hand, offering it to him even though he himself was soaked through—even his chocolate-brown hair, now darker from the wet.
“If you; the stubborn one got wet anywhere, wipe it off first, okay? Phii
Fah needs to sort himself out for a bit…” Muenfah said as he pulled his damp phone from his soggy pants pocket. “This towel’s one Phii Fah keeps in the car for soccer, but it hasn’t been used yet. The stubborn one can use it.”
Once Muenfah saw that Theerak had taken the towel, he started the engine. His large hand reached to turn on the stereo, as he always did when in the car, preparing to drive his companion out of the university.
“Phii Fah.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t drive yet. Turn to me first.”
“…”
Theerak couldn’t stand seeing Muenfah drive while still soaking wet like this. He decided to reach for a towel and gently dab at the chocolate-colored hair.
“Even if you don’t change your clothes… drying your hair a little is still better. If you get sick… who’s I going to run to, huh?”
“…”
… He didn’t know how it turned out like this… but it did. Theerak’s heart raced with his own actions, beating faster than when he saw Muenfah’s sly gaze, faster than when he heard Muenfah’s voice or read his texts.
It was faster than anything else…
He slowly wiped Muenfah’s hair, but his heart only pounded harder. Everything was at odds—his outward actions seemed gentle, but inside, his reaction was intense.
“I wouldn’t dare get sick. I’d be too worried I couldn’t help little naughty you if I did.”
“It’s not just that you wouldn’t dare, Phii Fah. You’re forbidden—I’m emphasizing forbidden—from getting sick, no exceptions.”
Muenfah chuckled in his throat before nodding in agreement. He turned his whole body toward him and lowered his head even more. The tall guy, whom he could never reach, was now shrinking himself down to make it easier for him to dry his hair. Theerak couldn’t help but smile.
Muenfah is such a good boy… so cute, .
Theerak wiped the water droplets from Muenfah’s hair. Neither of them said anything during that time. Only the soft music Muenfah had playing in the background broke the silence that tried to creep in…
This song was one Theerak used to listen to as a kid.
“Naughty one…”
“Yes?”
“I need to take a call from Real for a bit, okay?”
“Sure, Phii Fah.” Theerak was about to pull his hand away, but Muenfah held it back, shaking his head lightly and asking him to keep drying his hair. Theerak did as requested, continuing to wipe Muenfah’s hair while the latter handled his call with a friend.
Since Muenfah had someone to talk to, Theerak, sitting there drying the tall guy’s hair, stayed quiet. But it wasn’t too silent, because the music playing softly in the background started growing louder in his heart.
And it grew even louder when he saw Muenfah’s smile while talking on the phone.
Louder still when their eyes met…
“If tomorrow everything spins on, I’ll be one person standing in the same old place.”
“The same old place, Real…”
“Staying to tell you the words stuck in my heart, even if they’ll never come true, I want you to know I love you.”
“Never changing.”
Theerak didn’t know if everything would spin as the lyrics suggested, because their world shifted every day. But he felt like, right now, his entire world was orbiting slower…
So slow it was as if the world might stop spinning.
TBC
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