We Are Our Love Story Novel Translation
Hello hello~ new chapter finally! Very long one too. Sorry for the long wait. Enjoy ;)
Today is December 31st, the last day of the year 2010. Normally, I would celebrate the New Year festival with my family and relatives. But since my parents are in Chiang Mai, they couldn't come to Bangkok often. The first year, they came back to celebrate with me in Bangkok. The second year, I brought my friends up north to celebrate in Chiang Mai.
Starting the third year, we celebrated separately because the dad went one way, the mom went another, and the son ended up drunk in a pit. Last year, I celebrated Countdown with my 4 friends at Thaen's home. But this year, I wasn't with family, wasn't getting wasted with friends, wasn't going anywhere. I was at home, celebrating a special night with a special someone.I'm bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one with Phum, just us two.Everyone places so much importance on New Year's Day, organizing various activities and celebrations. But being with Phum made me realize that today isn't any different from any other day; because every day with that special someone is incredibly special to me."Phum, I'm hungry""Call for delivery" Phum replied. His mind was set on watching Conan solving a case. He was more interested in Conan than me and didn't even blink once at the TV. I wish Conan's anesthetic needle shoot out and stab you in the eyes!"I don't want to wait, I want to cook by myself. Come help me. I'll make authentic Hong Kong-style dishes. Come on, hurry up!" Finally, I managed to drag him into the kitchen.I don't want to brag, but I learned how to cook from Paul the Octopus* (a distant relative of Chef Muek Daeng). Haha! Just kidding, it's Ah'Pui who taught me. The menu that I'm most proud of is...instant noodles with boiled egg and stir fry morning glory. Super delicious!*Paul the Octopus was an octopus known for making accurate predictions of 2010 World Cup results. Chef Muek Daeng is a professional chef in Thailand."Hey, you said you were going to make authentic Hong Kong-style dishes. This is just instant noodles" Phum stood and shook my head since I started tearing open the noodle packet, my brain had been rolling like a ball."Just MAMA first for now. It's done, bring some water" I put the pot on the low table in the living room. Phum fetched chopsticks, a spoon, and a bottle of water, sitting down beside me. Allow me to eat straight from the pot to avoid washing up.Ai'Phum! He grabbed all the meat and eggs to eat by himself. So I had to use my special skills and stick my head into the pot to prevent him from stealing my share. But that guy won't lose to me, he stuck his head in as well. So now we both ate like this, head to head. We fought from the first bite to the last, until we were full.After we finished, we went to my room, played games, and watched cartoons, while waiting for the countdown."What time is it, Peem?" Phum was playing games at the end of the bed while I sat leaning against the headboard playing with his iPhone 4. I heard him asking, but I didn't want to answer because I was busy wondering about something."Peem, Ai'Peem! I asked what time is it?" Bastard Phum, my head wasn't the place for you to vent your frustration. I took my eyes off the iPhone and looked at the time."10 pm, but Phum, you don't save my number""Well, you're not that important, heh heh" Not important??? He turned and smirked mischievously at me without stopping his game.I threw a pillow at Phum's head in annoyance. Damn it, he laughed, didn't care, and happily turned back to fighting the bugs in his game."Peem, get the sparklers ready""Why? Rush to get back to your wife and kid?" Who's irritated? Who's annoyed? Not me, definitely not, just a higher voice a bit."Stop messing around, Pim." "Hey!!!" Phum grabbed my ankle and pulled until I fell onto the mattress. Ouch! My head banged against the bed frame. Ai'Phum! You're rough with me every single day. I retaliated by kicking him back. He chuckled and pulled my arm to sit next to him."I don't save your number because I memorized it, Shorty. And remember this, in this world, the only number I memorize is yours" Phum closed his game, turned off the lights, took the iPhone from my hand, and pulled me out to sit on the balcony, preparing the sparklers.It's only 10 pm, what are you rushing for? But it's okay, let him have his way for a bit. He managed to memorize my number while I didn't remember one number of his, haha. (Don't tell him though, or I'll get a good smack)"I stopped playing with sparklers since 6th grade, Phum""Then I'll play. When will it be midnight?""Heh heh, it'll be 12 soon" Phum and I sat, quietly gazing at the stars, waiting for midnight to come. I looked at the light decorations on the trees in front of the house that the coffee shop employees had beautifully arranged.I could hear the neighbors singing out of tune which got me missing those guys. They all probably reached their places because they all traveled to different provinces. Fine, enjoy your trips, friends."Are you cold Phum?""A little""Do you want a long-sleeved shirt?" Phum shook his head and picked up Vitamilk to drink. Yes, you didn't hear wrong. Phum and I were drinking Vitamilk because we didn't want to start a new year with alcohol so I grabbed 2 Vitamilk from the fridge to drink together.Sitting on the balcony allowed the mosquitoes to feast on us, but they were picky - they didn't bite the homeowner. I suspect these must be female mosquitoes with a taste for handsome guys. I had to apply repellent for Phum 3 times already. Mosquitoes are difficult to understand, but Phum is even more difficult to understand. Normally he's a straightforward person, doing whatever he wants. But today, right now, he's acting strangely. I've noticed him staring at my hand for a while now, making awkward gestures as if trying to grab but then stop. Honestly, it's annoying."My hand is free, you can hold," I said sarcastically, pointing out the obvious. Phum smiled and quickly moved his hand to hold mine. "3 baht for the first minute. 25 cents per minute after for both left and right hands.""Huh, what a deal. How much is the membership fee?" Phum played along."I see you are handsome so I gave you a discount, but you have to exchange with your heart." I joked, mimicking a Thai matchmaking agency."Once you give it, you can't take it back""Um, guarantee for lifetime use" We both laughed, probably drunk on soy milk. We stared at each other, I'm not sure what Phum said but when our lips were inches apart, I didn't care. I don't know how long the kiss lasted, but what I do know is that I couldn't catch my breath. I can taste the sweet taste of soy milk on the tip of my tongue."Wow!! Woohoo!" Cheers echoed loudly from the front yard. Phum and I quickly separated from each other. Oh, my goodness! What on earth is going on below us? It felt like we were being transported to a third-country refugee camp.I peeked down and saw about 10 men laughing and teasing Phum and me, alcohol and snacks in hand. Didn't you guys leave the city? Wtf???"So sweet! Sugar is melting all over the balcony!!""I recorded a video. If you don't want to be famous on YouTube, pay 200 baht" They kept teasing relentlessly. I thought today would be a no-alcohol day. Looks like I misspoke.----------------------In summary, they tricked me and Phum into thinking they were going to Khao Yai, but instead, they were hiding out in Beer's condo. Everyone must have been drinking before coming here for sure. Look at them...We set up the celebration on the grass as usual (if we changed spots, it felt unusual). We found a long table for the food, set up the computer for the sound systems, and laid out mats on the ground to sit in a circle.I saw Nong Matthew, Toey's partner in crime, with the other guys. Matt was also close and beloved by us just like Toey, but he's more mature than Toey by far. It's hard to believe how these two have been friends since childhood.Right now Ai'Matt has been dragged into an investigation session by Mick and Fang. Whatever he did that was getting him in trouble. Little bastard Toey didn't even bother helping his buddy out and just sat there laughing.Thaen said he's going to showcase his computer engineering skills. Huh, all he did was set up a computer for karaoke. Where's the genius in that? We hadn't finished preparing anything and Q, the number one bartender of the Ratchathewi, showed off his alcohol-mixing skills. He walked around serving drinks to everyone. Even when I was busy grilling and didn't have a hand to hold the glass, that bastard was kind enough to feed (shove) the drink down my throat."Toey, can you stay still for 2 minutes? I'm getting dizzy." Ai'Toey kept wandering back and forth where Thaen was struggling with the computer, while everyone else was already seated."Anything Toey can help with?""You'd better come help me grill squid instead" Beer is our main chef today. Initially, Phum volunteered to help grill, but he almost choked on the smoke and nearly died. So Beer had to push his beloved friend to help me carry glasses and plates."Yeah, go help Beer over there. The electrical wires are going to get tangled in your legs and you'll end up breaking your head"Phum and I helped each other carry the ice cooler out. By the time we got to the circle, everyone was already sitting down, whispering between themselves like they were gossiping about me and Phum. They thought doing that would make me nervous, but this joke has been overplayed. It didn't get to me anymore. I don't even blush a bit because I'm so used to it already."What are you looking at? Never seen 2 handsome guys walking together before?" I placed the cooler by the table and sat down next to Shane and Phum followed, sitting beside me."You've only been dating Phum for less than a month and you're already taking his older brother's personality, Ai'Peem.""What personality?" Both me and Fang yelled simultaneously into Mick's ears."Narcissistic, whining, complaining about anything and everything, hahaha.""Peem has been like that since birth" If you're going to help me like this, you might as well just shut your mouth, fucking Shane."Have you guys booked the accommodation yet?" Teoy suddenly asked me and Phum."Accommodation? Why would we book? Where are we going?""Oh, looked so sweet together I thought you guys were planning to go on honeymoon by the Amazon River." Everyone burst into laughter while Ai'Teoy got a smack from Phum. He quickly retreated to help Beer carry the grilled shrimp and squid, arranging them on the table. This kid prefers violence huh? Only when he gets smacked then he'll shut up."Amazon River for real? That sounds good" Not again, Shane."Oh please, go there for an anaconda slit my neck? Besides, there's no honeymoon at all. I haven't received the dowry yet" I held out my hand in front of Phum's face. "Give it here, my dowry" "Cash only, no credit" My friends burst into laughter. "How much?" Phum smiled, playing along."How much is good?" I asked for opinions from my dear friends. They all brainstormed together, Ai'Fang even pulled out his phone to calculate. Are you afraid your little brother will lose money?"For P'Peem I think 3,000 Baht and 2 sacks of cassavas is already generous." Hmph is that even considered dowry you little scoundrel Matt!!?"Peem, come here." Q suddenly walked up and pulled me to stand. I was confused about what he was up to. He took the charcoal tongs and tapped the table 3 times."Ladies and gentlemen, today we have a special premium product to offer. It's one-of-a-kind in the world, full of features and functions. Anything an iPhone 4 can do, our product can do even better. It can weed the garden, raise geese, you name it. All it takes is for you to say the word, and I'll start the bidding for this item at 99 baht." I almost collapsed to my knees.F*ck youuuuuu!"200" Mick quickly raised his hand before anyone else. The rest of them were all laughing so hard, some even rolling on the floor. Damn you, Q, how could you do this to me? He hugged my neck tightly so there was no escaping now."200 going once! Does anyone offer more than this?" They laughed even harder, writhing on the floor. Meanwhile, Phum sat hugging his knees, watching the auction with amusement. I'm not your guys' play toy, damn it!"P'Q, 500!" Damn Toey, you're adjusting fast huh!"800 and can it eat grass or dance?" Ai'Shane! I'm gonna rip out your teeth!"800, 800 going once. Don't forget, folks, this is a limited edition item. Once it's gone, it's gone!" Damn, Q is playing his role way too well. Don't let me slip away. Damn it! No matter how much I struggle, he won't let go. He's practically hanging me up by the neck until my feet barely touch the ground. Arghh! Let me go!!!"1,200. Can it be used as fertilizer for plants?" Ai'Beer, I'm not some animal dung!"I'll give you 5,000" Uh, that sounds fair, my friend. I'm not too picky, 5-6 thousand is good enough."20" Damn you, Pun! Starting at 99, this is already a flea market price, and you still bargain. Who lowers the price in an auction you dumbass!"Shut up, Pun! I'm auctioning this off to the highest bidder. Don't let me down, you bastards! Five thousand from Khun Thaen. Is anyone offering more than this? Five thousand going once, five thousand going twice. If not, then...""50 million!" Oh my, the cool and handsome voice of Phum spoke up."Wowwwwwww!!!!" And so the eruption of cheers and teases from the official PeemPhum fanclub skyrocketed once again. Whatever Phum is going to say or do, they will use that to joke around. You dare to tease me, I'll dare to be embarrassed. Well, bring it on then.50 million? Okay, done, checked. I shook myself out of Q's grasp and went straight to sit beside Phum. Dad, Mom, we're good now. We're rich. Let's eat our way through the nation!"Pay up!" Q made a cheeky face, holding his hand out for money from Phum."Now I don't have enough. I'll give you a check tomorrow. For now please the guarantor well" Damnnnnnn! Who possessed you?? Please bring back the old Phum!! Fang laughed and fell off his chair. So excited huh?"What about me, Fang? Where's my dowry? I won't accept less than Peem." Thaen said. Oy, you want to eat some feet huh, asshole friend."That's you. You hand over all your family business to me, Thaen.""You pay my dowry first" We laughed at those two endlessly arguing with each other."How about getting my foot first, jerk? You get me and still expect me to pay?""Don't let him have his way so easily, Fang. Learn to fight back sometimes." Now everyone started focusing on Fang. Good, it's about time someone else got the attention. I've been through enough; I need a break."Don't provoke him, Shane. Last night, I was just lying down about to sleep when he suddenly went crazy and jumped on top of me. Good thing I reacted in time," Thaen said, and we all laughed at Fang."And what did you do, Thaen?" I leaned over and asked curiously, only to get a smack on the head from Phum and pull back to sit down."Well, I just "do" it for Kaofang." Thaen put his arm around Phang's shoulder and patted his head like Fang was a little hostess. Come to think of it, it did look like that because Fang just sat there with his head down. Not sure if he was angry or embarrassed, but he was definitely feeling self-conscious (and probably a bit violated too)."I made Fang know his place, and gave him a light welcome with 11 rounds for the new year 2011." Oh my god!!!! Good thing Thaen counted by the Gregorian calendar. If he counted by Thai calendar...Fang would be wrecked. Fang kept his head down and muttered "You better not let your guard down, Thaen." We all laughed. It was funny seeing someone as tough as Fang so subdued by Thaen."Oh, so you got Fang already, Thaen?" We all looked at Pun. Are you stupid for real or are you just playing dumb Ai'Pun?------------------------------It is about 11 pm now, and we are all pretty drunk. We were screaming, singing, and having so much fun. There were 4 mics, but only 3 people got to sing. Because Ai'Pun hoarded 2 of them for himself. This guy couldn't even see the mic properly and wasn't even singing but he just wanted to hold and breathe into the mic. Yet now, he's starting to wobble and singing nonsense. He's drunk on both alcohol and air from talking too much.As for the other 2 remaining mics, Q and Matt were holding them. Ai'Matt is half-Italian, half-Khon Kaen. Although he looks like Mario with his handsome mixed-race features, his Khon Kaen blood runs deep.(T/N: Mario Maurer - my ancient crush ya'll)Unless necessary, he won't speak at all. When talking to his mom, he speaks in the Isan dialect, it's pretty cute. Sometimes I encountered him talking with his parents, mixing Italian, Isan, and English here and there. It's hilarious and confusing, to say the least."Peem, go get a ladder for Pun""For what?""So he can climb back on key""Haha, I think it's too late, Thaen. He's been off-key for ages" We all laughed at Pun, who was nibbling on the mic while trying to read the lyrics of a song by Singular. It was a soft song, but through our ears, it was more like banging the drums. There was no melody, no rhythm, and it sounded terrible. Pun may be a handsome guy, but his voice was awful. This is proof of the saying: Nobody's perfect. Hahaha!Pun was chilling on his own, and didn't care about the rhythm or the beats, he just improvised and made his own tune. Honestly, the sound of a buffalo giving birth is more pleasant to listen to than his singing. Yet, he somehow believes he has a great voice and sings well.Think of me once, when you're not thinking about anything else,Pretend to be cool, then we'll meet in the dust.If there's a good time, just let me know,Not too much, so let's love each other slowly.Oh, thank god it's finally over. My ears are about to bleed!"Can I get a round of applause, please? You know what, I think I can audition for The Star!" After finishing singing, Pun praised himself and sat down to drink some alcohol, but still refused to put down the microphone because he was afraid Thaen would snatch it away. How about I glue that to your hand instead?"Just in case you forget, Pun, The Star is looking for singers, not disabled people with respiratory problems.""F*ck you Peem, you're lying! You're just jealous of me. Hmph! Ai'Matt, wanna solo with me?" And so he went back on stage to bark and howl with Matt. This time, the song is about the circle of life, but listening to them singing, it sounded more like a twisted life.We sat laughing at Pun's "twisted life" with Matt. Meanwhile, Toey was extremely hyperactive, probably drunk already, running around bothering Beer and Fang who were grilling some food. He even picked some flowers (Ah'Pui is going to kill you alive for that) to give to Pun and Matt.Then he'd sit between Shane and Thaen, who were dueling on the rocks, or sometimes he'd just sit and stare at Phum and me, smiling. But he didn't seem to mess with his mentor much, probably afraid of getting pranked back."Next, let's welcome the man who once gave up the title of University Star because he thought the judges were annoying. Haha! Khun Phumin, come sing a song to honor and celebrate the New Year! Come on, come on!" Whoa, really? Phum was almost the University Star? But the reason he didn't get it is so typical of him.Phum didn't take the mic from Pun right away, hesitating about whether to sing or not until his friends pressured him into it, especially his older brother."Can I sing right here?""Whatever you want, man. What song?" Phum turned to look at me as if he was deciding something before he finally said the name of the song."More Than Love." Fuck, I almost melted into my drink. He took my hand and held it while staring into my eyes as if there were only the two of us there. I'd probably believe that if it weren't for the screams and teases of the rowdy jerks around us.Damn you, Phum, being sweet without any regard for the audience. I'm getting embarrassed here, but he just keeps singing and looking at me.People used to be lonely and used to feel lost.They searched for love, wondering where it could be.The world is vast, with so many people,Yet the heart still feels lonely.But when I found you,What you gave me, I didn't know what it was.The vast world suddenly didn't make my heart feel lonely anymore.Just having you here was enough.You're more than love, you're half of my life.I've spent my whole life searching and waiting for you for so long,And finally, I found that you're everything that fills my heart.From now on, every breath I take is for you.If you're love, it's a love beyond words.I'm so lucky to have you by my side.Life is now filled with what was once missing.You're more than love, you're half of my life.I've spent my whole life searching and waiting for you.And finally, I found that you're everything that fills my heart.From now on, every breath I take is for you.From now on, every breath... I take is for you.The song ended with loud whistles and cheers; my heart swelled to the point of floating."Outstanding performance deserves a reward on the bed, don't you think, buddy?" Q said."My bro's gonna swallow Peem whole, dude." You can figure out who said that."Phum sang for you, now you gotta sing for him too!" Ai'Beer! How much did you get under the table from Phum??"I don't want to. My voice isn't good," I refused the microphone that Pun was trying to push into my hand. What song should I sing? I didn't want to sing at all. Just this much embarrassment was already too much."Come on, just a little bit, please" Why did you have to pester me like this? Those hopeful eyes, like hungry children staring at me and pressuring me hard."Uh, okay.""What song, Phi? I'll cue it up for you," Matt was so eager. I looked at everyone, then settled my gaze on the guy beside me. He smiled, making me blush a bit, but you'll see. I'm going to redeem myself some dignity. I took the mic, put it to my lips, and sang the only song that came to mind at that moment."Off you go, off to hell, my love, I'll punish you!" Phum's smile shut down and smacked me, while the others were laughing their asses off. I quickly ruffle his hair to console him before calling Matt for the song's name. Soon, the intro played, accompanied by the clinking of glasses and Phumin's unexpectedly charming smile.Gazing far into the distant sky, I stare with curiosity,Who could it be that led you astray to find me?There are millions of people, seemingly without reason, that we meet,From being someone who believed in nothing, in the end, I could only ask myself repeatedly.Is it fate, isn't it? That's how it's written,Is it agreed upon that we love each other, like that? Can I have it, or not?Please don't let us lose each other,Let us love each other, deeply until death do us part.Can I have that?Before, I thought my breath belonged to me,But now that I've met you, I truly understand, that my breath is only you.There are millions of people, seemingly without reason, that we meet,From being someone who believed in nothing, in the end, I could only ask myself once again.Is it fate, isn't it? That's how it's written,Is it agreed upon that we love each other, like that? Can I have it, or not?Please don't let us lose each other,Let us love each other, deeply until death do us part.Can I have that?With millions more people, without reason, than you could choose,From being someone who believed in nothing, in the end, I could only ask myself once again.Is it fate, isn't it? That's how it's written,Is it agreed upon that we love each other, like that? Can I have it, or not?Please don't let us lose each other,Let us love each other, deeply until death do us part.Can I have that?"I think we should get a board to write 'Phum and Peem", this is like a wedding," Shane suggested and invited everyone to cheer glasses. I raised my eyebrows at Phumin and handed the mic back to Pun."Yes. Now that the newlyweds have already sung a heartfelt song for each other. Next, let's cut the cake. Hah? There's no cake? Only Thai custards? Well, since we are Thai, let's use Thai food. So, dig in, folks, Thai dessert it is." Pun said, speaking for everyone. Damn, Pun, I'm scared of you, man, and it seems like they were all working together as a team. As Pun poured drinks, Mick came over and knelt beside us, between me and Phum. "Bride and groom bow to the sky" Wtf, I'm not even married yet, and even if I were, I wouldn't have a Chinese-style wedding. Mick pressed my head and Phum's down, but as soon as we tried to raise our heads, he pushed us down again. "Not yet, bow the earth.""Sincere blessings, sincere wishes, my dear friends" Already jumping over to Chinese New Year, Beer? It's not even New Year yet."Get promoted and get rich. may you soon wear a crown of diamonds," Asshole Q."Hey, give me the mic. I'm going to sing a song for Fang. Let Phum and Peem enjoy themselves. They've been holding onto the mic for too long. Come on." Thaen walked over and snatched the mic from Pun. He smiled at Fang, who was sitting nonchalantly."Kaofang~~!" Thaen called his boyfriend with a sweet, soft voice (drunk). I understand now why they like to cheer and tease me and Phum. It's because right now, I'm also giving louder cheers to Thaen and Fang than anyone else. The more I see Fang blush and smile awkwardly, the more I like it."Don't mess around Thaen" Fang said quietly, smiling shyly. Phum was annoyed at his brother's reaction so he threw an empty soda can at Fang's head."Fang, Fang~" Thaen continued to call his boyfriend's name relentlessly. Fang didn't react much, except for sitting there watching Thaen with only 30% of his consciousness left. The remaining 70% was completely useless, likely drained from wrestling with Shane. "Fang, dear, Thaen may not be good at singing, but he'll sing with all his heart for you. Fang, Thaen loves you na" Ai'Thaen proclaimed."Wooo!""Damn it, Thaen, you're embarrassing me! Alright, that's enough," Fung burst into laughter at Thaen's stupidity but that guy didn't seem to care, turning to ask Matt to play the song. Seeing Matt smile, we all eagerly anticipated what Tan would sing.But as soon as the song played, that was it. We all exploded with laughter, desperately seeking corners to let out our laughter separately.(T/N: go listen to the song so you know why everyone laughed =))))) Song: Must Pull Out by Por Fai Maliwan - มันต้องถอน - ปอยฝ้าย มาลัยพร)"Nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk, it's like nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk,Nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk, it's like nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk.It's like 'ka-uek ka-ak', it's like 'juk-juk',It's like wanting to grab, it's like neither here nor there, just... twitch... jerk...Like this, it has to be pulled out... like this, it has to be pulled out... like this, it has to be pulleddd ouuut!" Hahaha! Fang almost stood up to grab a bottle and hit Thaen's head. By the time Tan finished singing, we were laughing until our jaws almost dropped.
Today is December 31st, the last day of the year 2010. Normally, I would celebrate the New Year festival with my family and relatives. But since my parents are in Chiang Mai, they couldn't come to Bangkok often. The first year, they came back to celebrate with me in Bangkok. The second year, I brought my friends up north to celebrate in Chiang Mai.
Starting the third year, we celebrated separately because the dad went one way, the mom went another, and the son ended up drunk in a pit. Last year, I celebrated Countdown with my 4 friends at Thaen's home. But this year, I wasn't with family, wasn't getting wasted with friends, wasn't going anywhere. I was at home, celebrating a special night with a special someone.I'm bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one with Phum, just us two.Everyone places so much importance on New Year's Day, organizing various activities and celebrations. But being with Phum made me realize that today isn't any different from any other day; because every day with that special someone is incredibly special to me."Phum, I'm hungry""Call for delivery" Phum replied. His mind was set on watching Conan solving a case. He was more interested in Conan than me and didn't even blink once at the TV. I wish Conan's anesthetic needle shoot out and stab you in the eyes!"I don't want to wait, I want to cook by myself. Come help me. I'll make authentic Hong Kong-style dishes. Come on, hurry up!" Finally, I managed to drag him into the kitchen.I don't want to brag, but I learned how to cook from Paul the Octopus* (a distant relative of Chef Muek Daeng). Haha! Just kidding, it's Ah'Pui who taught me. The menu that I'm most proud of is...instant noodles with boiled egg and stir fry morning glory. Super delicious!*Paul the Octopus was an octopus known for making accurate predictions of 2010 World Cup results. Chef Muek Daeng is a professional chef in Thailand."Hey, you said you were going to make authentic Hong Kong-style dishes. This is just instant noodles" Phum stood and shook my head since I started tearing open the noodle packet, my brain had been rolling like a ball."Just MAMA first for now. It's done, bring some water" I put the pot on the low table in the living room. Phum fetched chopsticks, a spoon, and a bottle of water, sitting down beside me. Allow me to eat straight from the pot to avoid washing up.Ai'Phum! He grabbed all the meat and eggs to eat by himself. So I had to use my special skills and stick my head into the pot to prevent him from stealing my share. But that guy won't lose to me, he stuck his head in as well. So now we both ate like this, head to head. We fought from the first bite to the last, until we were full.After we finished, we went to my room, played games, and watched cartoons, while waiting for the countdown."What time is it, Peem?" Phum was playing games at the end of the bed while I sat leaning against the headboard playing with his iPhone 4. I heard him asking, but I didn't want to answer because I was busy wondering about something."Peem, Ai'Peem! I asked what time is it?" Bastard Phum, my head wasn't the place for you to vent your frustration. I took my eyes off the iPhone and looked at the time."10 pm, but Phum, you don't save my number""Well, you're not that important, heh heh" Not important??? He turned and smirked mischievously at me without stopping his game.I threw a pillow at Phum's head in annoyance. Damn it, he laughed, didn't care, and happily turned back to fighting the bugs in his game."Peem, get the sparklers ready""Why? Rush to get back to your wife and kid?" Who's irritated? Who's annoyed? Not me, definitely not, just a higher voice a bit."Stop messing around, Pim." "Hey!!!" Phum grabbed my ankle and pulled until I fell onto the mattress. Ouch! My head banged against the bed frame. Ai'Phum! You're rough with me every single day. I retaliated by kicking him back. He chuckled and pulled my arm to sit next to him."I don't save your number because I memorized it, Shorty. And remember this, in this world, the only number I memorize is yours" Phum closed his game, turned off the lights, took the iPhone from my hand, and pulled me out to sit on the balcony, preparing the sparklers.It's only 10 pm, what are you rushing for? But it's okay, let him have his way for a bit. He managed to memorize my number while I didn't remember one number of his, haha. (Don't tell him though, or I'll get a good smack)"I stopped playing with sparklers since 6th grade, Phum""Then I'll play. When will it be midnight?""Heh heh, it'll be 12 soon" Phum and I sat, quietly gazing at the stars, waiting for midnight to come. I looked at the light decorations on the trees in front of the house that the coffee shop employees had beautifully arranged.I could hear the neighbors singing out of tune which got me missing those guys. They all probably reached their places because they all traveled to different provinces. Fine, enjoy your trips, friends."Are you cold Phum?""A little""Do you want a long-sleeved shirt?" Phum shook his head and picked up Vitamilk to drink. Yes, you didn't hear wrong. Phum and I were drinking Vitamilk because we didn't want to start a new year with alcohol so I grabbed 2 Vitamilk from the fridge to drink together.Sitting on the balcony allowed the mosquitoes to feast on us, but they were picky - they didn't bite the homeowner. I suspect these must be female mosquitoes with a taste for handsome guys. I had to apply repellent for Phum 3 times already. Mosquitoes are difficult to understand, but Phum is even more difficult to understand. Normally he's a straightforward person, doing whatever he wants. But today, right now, he's acting strangely. I've noticed him staring at my hand for a while now, making awkward gestures as if trying to grab but then stop. Honestly, it's annoying."My hand is free, you can hold," I said sarcastically, pointing out the obvious. Phum smiled and quickly moved his hand to hold mine. "3 baht for the first minute. 25 cents per minute after for both left and right hands.""Huh, what a deal. How much is the membership fee?" Phum played along."I see you are handsome so I gave you a discount, but you have to exchange with your heart." I joked, mimicking a Thai matchmaking agency."Once you give it, you can't take it back""Um, guarantee for lifetime use" We both laughed, probably drunk on soy milk. We stared at each other, I'm not sure what Phum said but when our lips were inches apart, I didn't care. I don't know how long the kiss lasted, but what I do know is that I couldn't catch my breath. I can taste the sweet taste of soy milk on the tip of my tongue."Wow!! Woohoo!" Cheers echoed loudly from the front yard. Phum and I quickly separated from each other. Oh, my goodness! What on earth is going on below us? It felt like we were being transported to a third-country refugee camp.I peeked down and saw about 10 men laughing and teasing Phum and me, alcohol and snacks in hand. Didn't you guys leave the city? Wtf???"So sweet! Sugar is melting all over the balcony!!""I recorded a video. If you don't want to be famous on YouTube, pay 200 baht" They kept teasing relentlessly. I thought today would be a no-alcohol day. Looks like I misspoke.----------------------In summary, they tricked me and Phum into thinking they were going to Khao Yai, but instead, they were hiding out in Beer's condo. Everyone must have been drinking before coming here for sure. Look at them...We set up the celebration on the grass as usual (if we changed spots, it felt unusual). We found a long table for the food, set up the computer for the sound systems, and laid out mats on the ground to sit in a circle.I saw Nong Matthew, Toey's partner in crime, with the other guys. Matt was also close and beloved by us just like Toey, but he's more mature than Toey by far. It's hard to believe how these two have been friends since childhood.Right now Ai'Matt has been dragged into an investigation session by Mick and Fang. Whatever he did that was getting him in trouble. Little bastard Toey didn't even bother helping his buddy out and just sat there laughing.Thaen said he's going to showcase his computer engineering skills. Huh, all he did was set up a computer for karaoke. Where's the genius in that? We hadn't finished preparing anything and Q, the number one bartender of the Ratchathewi, showed off his alcohol-mixing skills. He walked around serving drinks to everyone. Even when I was busy grilling and didn't have a hand to hold the glass, that bastard was kind enough to feed (shove) the drink down my throat."Toey, can you stay still for 2 minutes? I'm getting dizzy." Ai'Toey kept wandering back and forth where Thaen was struggling with the computer, while everyone else was already seated."Anything Toey can help with?""You'd better come help me grill squid instead" Beer is our main chef today. Initially, Phum volunteered to help grill, but he almost choked on the smoke and nearly died. So Beer had to push his beloved friend to help me carry glasses and plates."Yeah, go help Beer over there. The electrical wires are going to get tangled in your legs and you'll end up breaking your head"Phum and I helped each other carry the ice cooler out. By the time we got to the circle, everyone was already sitting down, whispering between themselves like they were gossiping about me and Phum. They thought doing that would make me nervous, but this joke has been overplayed. It didn't get to me anymore. I don't even blush a bit because I'm so used to it already."What are you looking at? Never seen 2 handsome guys walking together before?" I placed the cooler by the table and sat down next to Shane and Phum followed, sitting beside me."You've only been dating Phum for less than a month and you're already taking his older brother's personality, Ai'Peem.""What personality?" Both me and Fang yelled simultaneously into Mick's ears."Narcissistic, whining, complaining about anything and everything, hahaha.""Peem has been like that since birth" If you're going to help me like this, you might as well just shut your mouth, fucking Shane."Have you guys booked the accommodation yet?" Teoy suddenly asked me and Phum."Accommodation? Why would we book? Where are we going?""Oh, looked so sweet together I thought you guys were planning to go on honeymoon by the Amazon River." Everyone burst into laughter while Ai'Teoy got a smack from Phum. He quickly retreated to help Beer carry the grilled shrimp and squid, arranging them on the table. This kid prefers violence huh? Only when he gets smacked then he'll shut up."Amazon River for real? That sounds good" Not again, Shane."Oh please, go there for an anaconda slit my neck? Besides, there's no honeymoon at all. I haven't received the dowry yet" I held out my hand in front of Phum's face. "Give it here, my dowry" "Cash only, no credit" My friends burst into laughter. "How much?" Phum smiled, playing along."How much is good?" I asked for opinions from my dear friends. They all brainstormed together, Ai'Fang even pulled out his phone to calculate. Are you afraid your little brother will lose money?"For P'Peem I think 3,000 Baht and 2 sacks of cassavas is already generous." Hmph is that even considered dowry you little scoundrel Matt!!?"Peem, come here." Q suddenly walked up and pulled me to stand. I was confused about what he was up to. He took the charcoal tongs and tapped the table 3 times."Ladies and gentlemen, today we have a special premium product to offer. It's one-of-a-kind in the world, full of features and functions. Anything an iPhone 4 can do, our product can do even better. It can weed the garden, raise geese, you name it. All it takes is for you to say the word, and I'll start the bidding for this item at 99 baht." I almost collapsed to my knees.F*ck youuuuuu!"200" Mick quickly raised his hand before anyone else. The rest of them were all laughing so hard, some even rolling on the floor. Damn you, Q, how could you do this to me? He hugged my neck tightly so there was no escaping now."200 going once! Does anyone offer more than this?" They laughed even harder, writhing on the floor. Meanwhile, Phum sat hugging his knees, watching the auction with amusement. I'm not your guys' play toy, damn it!"P'Q, 500!" Damn Toey, you're adjusting fast huh!"800 and can it eat grass or dance?" Ai'Shane! I'm gonna rip out your teeth!"800, 800 going once. Don't forget, folks, this is a limited edition item. Once it's gone, it's gone!" Damn, Q is playing his role way too well. Don't let me slip away. Damn it! No matter how much I struggle, he won't let go. He's practically hanging me up by the neck until my feet barely touch the ground. Arghh! Let me go!!!"1,200. Can it be used as fertilizer for plants?" Ai'Beer, I'm not some animal dung!"I'll give you 5,000" Uh, that sounds fair, my friend. I'm not too picky, 5-6 thousand is good enough."20" Damn you, Pun! Starting at 99, this is already a flea market price, and you still bargain. Who lowers the price in an auction you dumbass!"Shut up, Pun! I'm auctioning this off to the highest bidder. Don't let me down, you bastards! Five thousand from Khun Thaen. Is anyone offering more than this? Five thousand going once, five thousand going twice. If not, then...""50 million!" Oh my, the cool and handsome voice of Phum spoke up."Wowwwwwww!!!!" And so the eruption of cheers and teases from the official PeemPhum fanclub skyrocketed once again. Whatever Phum is going to say or do, they will use that to joke around. You dare to tease me, I'll dare to be embarrassed. Well, bring it on then.50 million? Okay, done, checked. I shook myself out of Q's grasp and went straight to sit beside Phum. Dad, Mom, we're good now. We're rich. Let's eat our way through the nation!"Pay up!" Q made a cheeky face, holding his hand out for money from Phum."Now I don't have enough. I'll give you a check tomorrow. For now please the guarantor well" Damnnnnnn! Who possessed you?? Please bring back the old Phum!! Fang laughed and fell off his chair. So excited huh?"What about me, Fang? Where's my dowry? I won't accept less than Peem." Thaen said. Oy, you want to eat some feet huh, asshole friend."That's you. You hand over all your family business to me, Thaen.""You pay my dowry first" We laughed at those two endlessly arguing with each other."How about getting my foot first, jerk? You get me and still expect me to pay?""Don't let him have his way so easily, Fang. Learn to fight back sometimes." Now everyone started focusing on Fang. Good, it's about time someone else got the attention. I've been through enough; I need a break."Don't provoke him, Shane. Last night, I was just lying down about to sleep when he suddenly went crazy and jumped on top of me. Good thing I reacted in time," Thaen said, and we all laughed at Fang."And what did you do, Thaen?" I leaned over and asked curiously, only to get a smack on the head from Phum and pull back to sit down."Well, I just "do" it for Kaofang." Thaen put his arm around Phang's shoulder and patted his head like Fang was a little hostess. Come to think of it, it did look like that because Fang just sat there with his head down. Not sure if he was angry or embarrassed, but he was definitely feeling self-conscious (and probably a bit violated too)."I made Fang know his place, and gave him a light welcome with 11 rounds for the new year 2011." Oh my god!!!! Good thing Thaen counted by the Gregorian calendar. If he counted by Thai calendar...Fang would be wrecked. Fang kept his head down and muttered "You better not let your guard down, Thaen." We all laughed. It was funny seeing someone as tough as Fang so subdued by Thaen."Oh, so you got Fang already, Thaen?" We all looked at Pun. Are you stupid for real or are you just playing dumb Ai'Pun?------------------------------It is about 11 pm now, and we are all pretty drunk. We were screaming, singing, and having so much fun. There were 4 mics, but only 3 people got to sing. Because Ai'Pun hoarded 2 of them for himself. This guy couldn't even see the mic properly and wasn't even singing but he just wanted to hold and breathe into the mic. Yet now, he's starting to wobble and singing nonsense. He's drunk on both alcohol and air from talking too much.As for the other 2 remaining mics, Q and Matt were holding them. Ai'Matt is half-Italian, half-Khon Kaen. Although he looks like Mario with his handsome mixed-race features, his Khon Kaen blood runs deep.(T/N: Mario Maurer - my ancient crush ya'll)Unless necessary, he won't speak at all. When talking to his mom, he speaks in the Isan dialect, it's pretty cute. Sometimes I encountered him talking with his parents, mixing Italian, Isan, and English here and there. It's hilarious and confusing, to say the least."Peem, go get a ladder for Pun""For what?""So he can climb back on key""Haha, I think it's too late, Thaen. He's been off-key for ages" We all laughed at Pun, who was nibbling on the mic while trying to read the lyrics of a song by Singular. It was a soft song, but through our ears, it was more like banging the drums. There was no melody, no rhythm, and it sounded terrible. Pun may be a handsome guy, but his voice was awful. This is proof of the saying: Nobody's perfect. Hahaha!Pun was chilling on his own, and didn't care about the rhythm or the beats, he just improvised and made his own tune. Honestly, the sound of a buffalo giving birth is more pleasant to listen to than his singing. Yet, he somehow believes he has a great voice and sings well.Think of me once, when you're not thinking about anything else,Pretend to be cool, then we'll meet in the dust.If there's a good time, just let me know,Not too much, so let's love each other slowly.Oh, thank god it's finally over. My ears are about to bleed!"Can I get a round of applause, please? You know what, I think I can audition for The Star!" After finishing singing, Pun praised himself and sat down to drink some alcohol, but still refused to put down the microphone because he was afraid Thaen would snatch it away. How about I glue that to your hand instead?"Just in case you forget, Pun, The Star is looking for singers, not disabled people with respiratory problems.""F*ck you Peem, you're lying! You're just jealous of me. Hmph! Ai'Matt, wanna solo with me?" And so he went back on stage to bark and howl with Matt. This time, the song is about the circle of life, but listening to them singing, it sounded more like a twisted life.We sat laughing at Pun's "twisted life" with Matt. Meanwhile, Toey was extremely hyperactive, probably drunk already, running around bothering Beer and Fang who were grilling some food. He even picked some flowers (Ah'Pui is going to kill you alive for that) to give to Pun and Matt.Then he'd sit between Shane and Thaen, who were dueling on the rocks, or sometimes he'd just sit and stare at Phum and me, smiling. But he didn't seem to mess with his mentor much, probably afraid of getting pranked back."Next, let's welcome the man who once gave up the title of University Star because he thought the judges were annoying. Haha! Khun Phumin, come sing a song to honor and celebrate the New Year! Come on, come on!" Whoa, really? Phum was almost the University Star? But the reason he didn't get it is so typical of him.Phum didn't take the mic from Pun right away, hesitating about whether to sing or not until his friends pressured him into it, especially his older brother."Can I sing right here?""Whatever you want, man. What song?" Phum turned to look at me as if he was deciding something before he finally said the name of the song."More Than Love." Fuck, I almost melted into my drink. He took my hand and held it while staring into my eyes as if there were only the two of us there. I'd probably believe that if it weren't for the screams and teases of the rowdy jerks around us.Damn you, Phum, being sweet without any regard for the audience. I'm getting embarrassed here, but he just keeps singing and looking at me.People used to be lonely and used to feel lost.They searched for love, wondering where it could be.The world is vast, with so many people,Yet the heart still feels lonely.But when I found you,What you gave me, I didn't know what it was.The vast world suddenly didn't make my heart feel lonely anymore.Just having you here was enough.You're more than love, you're half of my life.I've spent my whole life searching and waiting for you for so long,And finally, I found that you're everything that fills my heart.From now on, every breath I take is for you.If you're love, it's a love beyond words.I'm so lucky to have you by my side.Life is now filled with what was once missing.You're more than love, you're half of my life.I've spent my whole life searching and waiting for you.And finally, I found that you're everything that fills my heart.From now on, every breath I take is for you.From now on, every breath... I take is for you.The song ended with loud whistles and cheers; my heart swelled to the point of floating."Outstanding performance deserves a reward on the bed, don't you think, buddy?" Q said."My bro's gonna swallow Peem whole, dude." You can figure out who said that."Phum sang for you, now you gotta sing for him too!" Ai'Beer! How much did you get under the table from Phum??"I don't want to. My voice isn't good," I refused the microphone that Pun was trying to push into my hand. What song should I sing? I didn't want to sing at all. Just this much embarrassment was already too much."Come on, just a little bit, please" Why did you have to pester me like this? Those hopeful eyes, like hungry children staring at me and pressuring me hard."Uh, okay.""What song, Phi? I'll cue it up for you," Matt was so eager. I looked at everyone, then settled my gaze on the guy beside me. He smiled, making me blush a bit, but you'll see. I'm going to redeem myself some dignity. I took the mic, put it to my lips, and sang the only song that came to mind at that moment."Off you go, off to hell, my love, I'll punish you!" Phum's smile shut down and smacked me, while the others were laughing their asses off. I quickly ruffle his hair to console him before calling Matt for the song's name. Soon, the intro played, accompanied by the clinking of glasses and Phumin's unexpectedly charming smile.Gazing far into the distant sky, I stare with curiosity,Who could it be that led you astray to find me?There are millions of people, seemingly without reason, that we meet,From being someone who believed in nothing, in the end, I could only ask myself repeatedly.Is it fate, isn't it? That's how it's written,Is it agreed upon that we love each other, like that? Can I have it, or not?Please don't let us lose each other,Let us love each other, deeply until death do us part.Can I have that?Before, I thought my breath belonged to me,But now that I've met you, I truly understand, that my breath is only you.There are millions of people, seemingly without reason, that we meet,From being someone who believed in nothing, in the end, I could only ask myself once again.Is it fate, isn't it? That's how it's written,Is it agreed upon that we love each other, like that? Can I have it, or not?Please don't let us lose each other,Let us love each other, deeply until death do us part.Can I have that?With millions more people, without reason, than you could choose,From being someone who believed in nothing, in the end, I could only ask myself once again.Is it fate, isn't it? That's how it's written,Is it agreed upon that we love each other, like that? Can I have it, or not?Please don't let us lose each other,Let us love each other, deeply until death do us part.Can I have that?"I think we should get a board to write 'Phum and Peem", this is like a wedding," Shane suggested and invited everyone to cheer glasses. I raised my eyebrows at Phumin and handed the mic back to Pun."Yes. Now that the newlyweds have already sung a heartfelt song for each other. Next, let's cut the cake. Hah? There's no cake? Only Thai custards? Well, since we are Thai, let's use Thai food. So, dig in, folks, Thai dessert it is." Pun said, speaking for everyone. Damn, Pun, I'm scared of you, man, and it seems like they were all working together as a team. As Pun poured drinks, Mick came over and knelt beside us, between me and Phum. "Bride and groom bow to the sky" Wtf, I'm not even married yet, and even if I were, I wouldn't have a Chinese-style wedding. Mick pressed my head and Phum's down, but as soon as we tried to raise our heads, he pushed us down again. "Not yet, bow the earth.""Sincere blessings, sincere wishes, my dear friends" Already jumping over to Chinese New Year, Beer? It's not even New Year yet."Get promoted and get rich. may you soon wear a crown of diamonds," Asshole Q."Hey, give me the mic. I'm going to sing a song for Fang. Let Phum and Peem enjoy themselves. They've been holding onto the mic for too long. Come on." Thaen walked over and snatched the mic from Pun. He smiled at Fang, who was sitting nonchalantly."Kaofang~~!" Thaen called his boyfriend with a sweet, soft voice (drunk). I understand now why they like to cheer and tease me and Phum. It's because right now, I'm also giving louder cheers to Thaen and Fang than anyone else. The more I see Fang blush and smile awkwardly, the more I like it."Don't mess around Thaen" Fang said quietly, smiling shyly. Phum was annoyed at his brother's reaction so he threw an empty soda can at Fang's head."Fang, Fang~" Thaen continued to call his boyfriend's name relentlessly. Fang didn't react much, except for sitting there watching Thaen with only 30% of his consciousness left. The remaining 70% was completely useless, likely drained from wrestling with Shane. "Fang, dear, Thaen may not be good at singing, but he'll sing with all his heart for you. Fang, Thaen loves you na" Ai'Thaen proclaimed."Wooo!""Damn it, Thaen, you're embarrassing me! Alright, that's enough," Fung burst into laughter at Thaen's stupidity but that guy didn't seem to care, turning to ask Matt to play the song. Seeing Matt smile, we all eagerly anticipated what Tan would sing.But as soon as the song played, that was it. We all exploded with laughter, desperately seeking corners to let out our laughter separately.(T/N: go listen to the song so you know why everyone laughed =))))) Song: Must Pull Out by Por Fai Maliwan - มันต้องถอน - ปอยฝ้าย มาลัยพร)"Nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk, it's like nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk,Nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk, it's like nguk-nguk-nguk-nguk.It's like 'ka-uek ka-ak', it's like 'juk-juk',It's like wanting to grab, it's like neither here nor there, just... twitch... jerk...Like this, it has to be pulled out... like this, it has to be pulled out... like this, it has to be pulleddd ouuut!" Hahaha! Fang almost stood up to grab a bottle and hit Thaen's head. By the time Tan finished singing, we were laughing until our jaws almost dropped.
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