Chapter Text
Lesson 10 # Cherish
The shoot ended earlier than expected, and without time pressure, the remaining gap allowed everyone to relax. The production team organized a casual gathering, barbecuing and having drinks by the seaside guesthouse where they were staying. Naravit and Phuwin joined, of course. The atmosphere was relaxed, with light music and cheerful conversation helping to soothe their exhausted minds and bodies after days of filming.
As P'Jo, P'Jack, and other staff members shared amusing filming stories, Phuwin laughed along, aware of Naravit's furtive glances from beside him. These looks were cautious yet persistent, and as time passed, they seemed to grow more forlorn. Naravit sat quietly drinking, and after an hour or two, he was completely drunk, slumped over the table mumbling incoherently.
"Phuwin, please help take him back to rest. He looks done for - who knows why he drank so much," P'Jack said after checking on Naravit. Phuwin sighed and nodded, resignedly pulling Naravit to his feet. The larger man was surprisingly compliant, immediately hugging Phuwin and quietly nuzzling his shoulder.
When several staff members offered help, Phuwin shook his head saying he could manage, then half-dragged, half-carried Naravit back to his room.
After retrieving Naravit's key card from his pocket and opening the door, Phuwin led him inside and sat him on the bed.
"Alright, stop pretending. I know you're not drunk," Phuwin said flatly once Naravit was seated.
Naravit looked up awkwardly. "...When did you figure it out?"
"From the beginning. You kept nursing those same two drinks without finishing them. How could you get drunk from that?"
Caught out, Naravit fell silent for a moment before looking up at Phuwin with a hopeful yet cautious expression. "If you knew I wasn't drunk but still brought me back, does that mean something good?"
Phuwin didn't answer, just stood with arms crossed, regarding Naravit with resignation.
But Naravit grew anxious, grabbing Phuwin's wrist, words tumbling out in a rush. "You're not going to break up with me again, are you... I'm really trying. Please give me another chance. Tell me what to do, I'll change anything."
Phuwin placed his hand on Naravit's cheek and softly kissed his lips, tasting the slight alcohol and fruit flavor from his cocktail.
Naravit stared at Phuwin, dazed, unsure of what had just happened or how to respond.
"I'm sorry," Phuwin said. "I think I've been hurting you all along."
Hearing this, Naravit hugged Phuwin tightly, burying his face against his waist. "It's okay, I chose this. I'm sorry too... I seem to always make you unhappy..."
"I'm not as mature as you think. I'm just a childish adult who often makes mistakes and gets confused about decisions. But no matter what... I don't want to give you up. If I annoy you, I'll keep my distance. If you want me to perform better at work, I'll try harder."
"Maybe you won't believe this, and maybe I shouldn't say it, but this is the first time I've wanted to be in a serious relationship with someone. Though I haven't done well, every gesture and word I've said to you has been sincere."
Phuwin rarely heard Naravit speak so much at once, as if he'd been rehearsing these words for a long time and finally found his chance to say them. He couldn't help but find it amusing.
"...What are you laughing at? Did I say something strange..." Naravit looked up at Phuwin worriedly, only to find himself caught in his gentle gaze.
"You're wonderful. I was wrong before. I was too presumptuous, too cold, thinking my choice was best for both of us, but I was completely mistaken." Phuwin replied.
Naravit gathered his courage and pulled Phuwin into his lap, holding him close while softly reassuring him. "That's not true. You've always been a gentle person."
"Really? Even after how I treated you, you don't resent me?" Phuwin asked, running his fingers through Naravit's hair.
"You just don't tell me what's in your heart, but I know you think about me a lot. Though I wish you'd trust me more - whatever problems there are, you can tell me." After speaking, Naravit placed a soft kiss on Phuwin's cheek.
Looking at Naravit's honest, slightly foolish smile, Phuwin felt warmth bloom in his heart, matching the warmth of Naravit's embrace. The shared body heat was so comforting it almost brought tears to his eyes.
He had never been good at expressing his feelings, but sometimes emotions don't need to be thought through, rehearsed, or carefully considered - they just naturally flow out.
"I love you," Phuwin said to Naravit, who immediately widened his eyes and gently shook Phuwin.
"What did you say? Can you say it again?"
"No, you heard me perfectly well."
"Aww... just one more time, please? Just once more..."
Though Phuwin would occasionally express praise and appreciation for Naravit on camera, those words just now carried a different weight. It felt as if he had finally opened that door completely, taking his hand and inviting him to live in that secret room within his heart.
Amused but impatient with Naravit's wheedling, Phuwin pinched his cheeks to stop his playful pestering.
"Alright, one more time. Listen carefully." Phuwin leaned in, his bright eyes meeting Naravit's. "I love you. I don't want to give up anything anymore. Let's work hard together, let's be together properly."
Naravit gently pressed his forehead against Phuwin's. Though not their most intimate gesture, in that moment they felt impossibly close.
They both heard as Naravit replied, "Okay. I love you too."
Later, exhausted from days of round-the-clock work and today's non-stop filming, they lay tired on the bed, still in their clothes with sand still clinging to their pant cuffs. They held each other silently on the soft bedding, their heartbeats steadily echoing between their chests.
It wasn't a night of passion, but their hearts remained closely connected. In the night filled with ocean waves, love gently enveloped their senses, letting them drift peacefully into dreams.
At dawn, Naravit shifted his slightly numb arm, warmly smiling at Phuwin sleeping in his embrace, grateful that this happiness was real.
Sensing Naravit's movement, Phuwin mumbled sleepily, reaching out to pull Naravit closer.
Naravit stroked Phuwin's hair, gently rousing him. "Time to get up. We need to pack and return to Bangkok."
Eyes still closed, Phuwin nodded obediently but didn't move. So Naravit got up and pulled Phuwin with him, nuzzling his cheek before leading him by the hand to the bathroom.
Naravit wiped Phuwin's face with a warm towel, prepared his toothpaste, and handed it to him. They stood before the mirror brushing their teeth, like familiar scenes from before, yet somehow happier than ever.
After Phuwin finished brushing, he took the cup of water Naravit offered him. After rinsing, he watched Naravit, who had finished washing up and was about to leave the bathroom.
"Wait, P."
"Hmm?"
"..."
"What is it?"
"Aren't you going to shower? We fell asleep last night without washing."
"Oh, yes. I was just going to get fresh clothes. Do you want to shower first?"
"..."
"??"
"...Should we shower together?"
"!...Of course."
So Naravit forgot about the fresh clothes entirely, kissing Phuwin while undressing them both as they moved into the shower stall. He turned on the showerhead, letting the water cascade over them.
In the rising steam, he kissed every corner of Phuwin's body, leaving traces of his love.
Much later, they finally emerged from the bathroom, changed clothes, and packed their bags, meeting P'Jack at the van at the appointed time.
P'Jack gave them both a knowing look, smiling slightly. "Phuwin, your style of dress is different today."
Before Phuwin could respond, Naravit burst out laughing, earning himself a pinch on the arm from Phuwin.
"Next time, cover up those neck marks before going out," P'Jack chuckled.
Phuwin instinctively covered his neck, nervously glancing at Naravit, who smiled and nodded reassuringly, whispering "It's okay."
"Get in. You have no schedules for the next three days, so go home and rest well. Whatever makes you happy or sad, talk it through with each other properly," P'Jack said. "Though it seems you've already done plenty of 'talking.'"
"Remember, no matter what happens, we'll always be your strongest support."
Phuwin nodded with a smile, his previous concerns seeming to vanish like smoke. Indeed, he had never walked alone in this world. All along, many people had accompanied him - how fortunate, how precious, and how could he carelessly ignore or discard that?
He recalled words a senior had told him long ago, suddenly understanding their meaning.
Personal feelings weren't just about distinguishing between public and private emotions, but about cherishing the genuine stirrings in one's heart, regardless of their source.
Not letting them evaporate under others' gazes, nor ignoring their depths within. They shouldn't be hidden, shouldn't be worn away, shouldn't be discarded.
Back in Bangkok, Naravit predictably lingered at Phuwin's apartment, unwilling to leave, and Phuwin was happy to have him there.
Sitting on the sofa, Naravit nestled nearby, watching Phuwin play guitar and sing for him. Though the performance wasn't technically perfect, the emotions flowing into his heart were especially rich, moving Naravit to say:
"I like you so much."
This sudden, random confession made Phuwin laugh. He teased back, "Just 'like'? How cruel of you, P'."
Naravit took the guitar from Phuwin's hands, carefully setting it aside before turning to embrace his playful lover.
"If words aren't convincing enough, let me show you through actions," Naravit said with a mischievous grin.
"This is why I tell you to stop watching those romantic dramas, you're getting so cheesy," Phuwin frowned, pushing away the clingy Naravit, but the persistent puppy pushed him down onto the sofa instead, nipping at his lips.
"Remember? Our first private kiss was right here too," Naravit said.
"Why bring that up suddenly?" Phuwin found it amusing. "But since you mentioned it, I've always wanted to ask - why did you suddenly kiss me then?"
"That was probably because... I was jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Thinking about you filming intimate scenes with someone else put me in a bad mood."
Phuwin raised an eyebrow, asking curiously. "Really? When I told you about my girlfriend before, you didn't seem to have any particular reaction." He punctuated his words by poking Naravit's shoulder repeatedly.
Looking back, perhaps their days had always been filled with unconscious tests of each other.
"You told me about your girlfriend not long after I got dumped. It felt like getting hurt twice - how was I supposed to react?" Naravit said plaintively. "I remember feeling sad, thinking you had someone else in your heart. I thought it was just post-breakup blues, so I spent a whole week drinking with Joong."
"Oh, is that how it was?"
"That's exactly how it was."
"Okay, noted," Phuwin wrapped his arms around Naravit's neck, pulling him closer. "So are you going to do something about it now?"
"Yes, definitely."
Naravit leaned down to kiss those long-desired lips, savoring their softness like melting honey. As they kissed, they undressed each other, Naravit's hands caressing Phuwin's smooth, sensitive skin, satisfied to see the fair skin flush with warmth, still bearing marks from that morning.
Naravit's hands explored Phuwin's thighs, bringing them closer together.
"Mmm... hurry…." Phuwin murmured impatiently, biting Naravit's lip.
"We need to be careful, I don't want to hurt you," Naravit said, though he found Phuwin had already prepared.
"I took care of that already." Phuwin whispered in Naravit's ear, deliberately letting out a soft breath.
Naravit looked slightly disappointed, making Phuwin ask in confusion, "What's wrong? Don't you want to?"
"Of course I do. Just next time... maybe let me watch?" Naravit smiled playfully, earning himself a glare from Phuwin.
"Let's see how you perform today," Phuwin said, drawing his legs around Naravit's waist and lying back with a provocative glance. Naravit thought to himself that Phuwin's charm on television didn't capture even a tenth of his true allure.
He gently lifted Phuwin's hips and slowly pressed forward. The warm inner walls eagerly welcomed him, wrapping tightly around Naravit's hardness, and he could feel the pulsing rhythm between them.
He gathered Phuwin up, holding him close as they stayed connected, pulling him to sit in his lap.
As they shifted, the new angle pressed against that sensitive spot, drawing a trembling moan from Phuwin. Naravit continued to move tenderly against that same point. The tight embrace of their connection felt incredible, causing him to gradually increase his pace and thrusts.
"Ah... slower..." came the soft gasps.
Their long-awaited reunion made everything more intense, with Phuwin unable to control his broken breaths. His urgent desire made him move instinctively, matching each of Naravit's movements.
"Mmm... harder..."
They moved together in perfect harmony, lost in the overwhelming sensations. The vulnerable arch of his neck invited tender marks across his chest, their bodies fitting perfectly together as they reached the peak of their passion.
The climax spread through their entire bodies like countless pinpricks, wave after wave of release marking their connection.
Afterward, they held each other close, sharing gentle kisses. No words were needed - they belonged to each other completely.
Now, and forever after.
“Take my heart and take my hand, again and again. I’ll give you all I’ve got, we don’t have much, but it sure feels like a lot.”
—Take My Hand, by Emily Hackett.