#plerng

Plerng's family is a bit odd. His uncle was still a child when Plerng's parents married, and so Plerng, his older brother Prapai, and his younger sister Phan were all raised by Aphros. No one is closer to him than Plerng, and no one worries about him more.

Three years ago, Plerng laid eyes on Paint at student orientation and knew instantly he'd found his new best friend... and Aphros' next "wife".

Once upon a time, Aphros was an incredibly popular actor who graced television and movie screens across the country. Even Prapai's young boyfriend Sky was a huge fan.

But then rumors started to circulate that Aphros was in a relationship with a man- taboo at the time. Those rumors vanished under breaking news: Aphros was in a horrific car accident, and survival seemed unlikely.

Aphros pulled through, hospitalized for an entire year. Shortly after getting out, he married a money-chaser named June and started working as a director. For the last ten years, Aphros has stayed out of the spotlight, putting in intense hours on drama after drama, developing a reputation as an extreme work-a-holic.

But it isn't that Aphros was dedicated to his job. It was that... He really fucking hates June. Aphros' wife changed before the ink was dry on the marriage license, showing her true colors as a money-hungry and image-obsessed socialite. Aphros pulled back from his family, unwilling to let them see just how miserable he was. Instead, he buried himself heart and soul in his work, anything to keep him out of the house and away from her.

Finally, after years of marriage, Aphros worked up the courage (or June wore-down his patience) and he finally divorced the witch. THAT took three years to go through, three years of fighting over money until Aphros finally just gave her everything she wanted and was set free.

Plerng has always been the closest to his uncle, but after June was kicked to the curb, Aphros shut himself in the house. He cleared his schedule and has refused to leave or see people. He also won't allow any housekeepers in, not even those sent by his sister-in-law (who he treats more like a mother).

Plerng is worried about his uncle, and Paint needs money.

Paint's parents work incredibly hard, leaving Paint to raise his twin siblings. He is no stranger to housework or annoying children, and he is an excellent cook with an encyclopedic knowledge of nutrition.

So Prapai and Plerng make Paint an offer he genuinely cannot refuse: if he takes care of Aphros for one month, they will pay him the money he needs to buy Gus' guitar. An insane amount of money for a single month's work- and to sweeten the deal, they point out that Aphros will probably also pay Paint extras in tips.

Nervous, Paint agrees, for Gus' sake.

And then he gets to Aphros' house and finds...

A shirtless man covered in dirt madly digging in a bamboo grove, looking for bamboo shoots to eat for dinner. Completely out of season.

Aphros is attractive- the 38 year-old actor has not lost an ounce of his good looks, and maintained his perfect body... but he's also a complete toddler. The man Paint meets has no charisma, he's just an insane old man who could set a world record for stubbornness.

Aphros drives Paint crazy, demanding the boy cook him impossible dishes and considers Paint even bringing vegetables into his house as an insult. Aphros takes a metric ton of vitamins a day specifically so he DOESN'T have to eat vegetables, and he is not about to let Paint bully him into it.

After his first day at work, Paint returns home completely exhausted. He immediately perks up when he walks in through the front door and finds his little brother and sister with Gus.

Gus is back home visiting his parents, and he's been waiting for Paint. Gus has a craving for Paint's cooking, and Paint is all too happy to oblige. Pai, Paint's sister, will get along with Gus for Paint's sake, but Ruup, his brother, hates Gus viciously. He knows Paint is in love with Gus, and he knows that unrequited love is killing Paint a bit more each day.

But Paint doesn't care. Even if it's one-sided, he's happy in his love, and determined to enjoy it no matter what... and then Gus mentions that he wanted Paint's omelet recipe for his girlfriend, Nin.

Something in Paint's chest cracks, and he falls into a daze. He knows Gus is straight, but the reminder... hurts.

Ruup and Pai chase Gus off, and while Paint is still processing things, he notices Gus left his keys on the counter. Paint goes to bring them to him and hears Gus on the phone, flirting with Nin and telling her how much he loves her. How small and cute she is.

No one has ever called Paint "cute" before, and at nearly six feet tall, he'll never be "small". He would kill for Gus to see him that way... But Paint can only return home, numb, and brush off the concern of his little siblings.

---

The next day, Aphros wanders into the kitchen and finds Paint still lost in a daze with food burning on the stove. He is immediately flustered and tries to throw the food away, but Aphros insists on eating every single bite.

He forces Paint to sit down, and tries to work out what is upsetting the boy, but Paint won't answer.

And then Aphros asks Paint about his siblings. At first, Paint is relieved somewhat, thinking Aphros is helping distract him from what is on his mind. But then Aphros says something that Paint has never heard before:

"There's no need to act so strong, just because you're the oldest."

Paint has never been a kid, at least, not since his siblings were born. He raised the twins, he knows how hard his parents work and does everything he can to manage the house, have food on the table, and take care of the chores so they don't have to worry.

When Aphros was growing up, it was his brother working hard to raise him. He knows what it feels like to see the oldest sibling putting themselves aside for the good of the rest of the family.

Aphros' words unlock something in Paint, and he finds himself telling Aphros about his one-sided love of Gus. It scares Paint to tell this stranger that he's gay. It doesn't make it any easier, knowing Prapai is proudly 'out' with his boyfriend Sky, or that Plerng has his boyfriend Sin.

Still, Paint finds himself opening up completely to Aphros, telling him everything.

Aphros only compliments Paint on the food he made, and then pretends he didn't hear a single word that came out of Paint's mouth.

When Paint snaps at Aphros, he explains that Paint didn't need his advice on the situation with Gus. Paint knows the whole thing much more than some man he just met. What he needed was for someone to just be there, to listen, to hear him.

And then Aphros tells Paint that the only advice he can give is "Love yourself very much".

The words he raised his nephews and niece on.

Paint's siblings and friends are all constantly telling him to get over his feelings and move on. It made Paint bottle everything up. But Aphros won't interfere in Paint's life. He only offers an ear. Neither encouraging nor discouraging anything, but being someone Paint can talk to.

Someone who only wants Paint to remember, in all of this, to love himself as much as he loves others.

Aphros' words unlock pain that Paint never realized he was carrying, and he begins to cry. Aphros opens his arms and offers Paint a warm hug, letting the boy cry as much as he needs to without any judgment or teasing.

And... Paint finally gets it. Why Plerng loves his uncle so much, and why he grew up with so much confidence.

It must be nice... to have an uncle like Aphros.

---

At some point, Aphros brought Paint to the living room to sit together on the sofa while Paint cried. But when he had no tears left, the boy finally fell asleep.

He wakes hours later... on Aphros' chest.

But Aphros himself is also in a deep sleep. Paint scrambles off the sofa and cooks a quick dinner to leave out for Aphros when he wakes up, but the man never so much as stirs. Not even when Paint bids him goodbye for the evening, and swears again that he will learn to love himself more.

He also asks- only because Aphros is asleep- if he can apply to be adopted as Aphros' nephew.

---

Plerng calls Paint to chat about Aphros, not subtle at all in trying to find out if Paint has started to fall for Aphros yet. But Paint doesn't take the bait, asking instead... if Aphros had been abandoned in the past.

When looking up Aphros before the job, he saw scraps of rumors about a failed romance long before his disaster of a marriage. But it is shrouded in mystery, blasted out of public memory by Aphros' car accident mere days later.

Still, the way Aphros knew exactly how to comfort Paint... It made him wonder if the man had been through something himself.

That's where Plerng's usual joking demeanor vanishes.

Eleven years ago, Aphros was at the top of his career. A popular actor with a massive fan following and major endorsement deals, and he was carrying a career-ending secret:

He was in love with a man.

Aphros was all-in on the relationship. He bought land to build a house for his love- the very land he lives on now. He introduced this man to his entire family. He was happy and vibrant and planned on retiring from acting at only 28 to live a happy life with his love, even if they couldn't legally marry.

And then his lover showed up with a pregnant woman.

Not only had he cheated on Aphros and knocked a girl up, but he blamed APHROS for his mistake. He told Aphros the only reason he cheated was because he couldn't stand their secret relationship anymore, and that love between men wasn't actually love. It was just a fetish.

Aphros was completely devastated. Lost, broken, and in a daze, his car suddenly crossed into traffic and struck a truck head-on.

For three months, Aphros was nearly paralyzed in the hospital, waiting every single day for his lost love to at least come see him.

He never did. It took a year for Aphros to pull himself back together enough to leave.

Paint's interest in Aphros' past- and his disgust at Aphros' ex- immediately piques Plerng's interest.

Plerng makes no secret his hopes that Paint will be his new "aunt", and starts to hint that below Aphros' belt is something very large that will make him very happy.

---

Paint becomes incredibly indulgent of Aphros' childish tastes, and drives around the city to find those damn bamboo shoots Aphros has been demanding he cook.

They playfully start arguing, and Aphros teases Paint about crying the day before. He isn't being mean, but he begins chasing Paint around the house with open arms, offering more hugs, if he's still sad.

Aphros finally manages to catch Paint, and something changes in the air between them. Paint doesn't fight the hold, and Aphros doesn't let go. He starts to lean in close as Paint trembles-

And then the doorbell rings.

Paint quickly untangles himself from Aphros and runs to answer the door. But a flustered Paint doesn't realize... Aphros is just as shocked by his own behavior.

He swore off relationships a long time ago, but for some reason, all the sudden the only thing he could think about was how good Paint's body felt in his arms.

Paint was adorably innocent, sweet, cute, and fun to annoy with his big, expressive eyes full of wonder, anger, or amusement... His skin is soft and smooth, Aphros wouldn't mind feeling more of it.

It surprises Aphros to feel what he is feeling, but he doesn't fight the realization that... Paint could easily lure Aphros in.

And then Paint comes back.

With Satan.

When Plerng and Prapai hired Paint to cook for Aphros, it was because they were worried about their uncle spiraling into depression after his divorce, no matter how cruel and vicious they find June.

June belittles Aphros constantly, blindly accusing him of abusing his wife by not giving her limitless access to his money, even though he gave her tens of thousands of baht a month as his wife.

She took joy in spending Aphros' money on random friends or family, throwing it around wildly just to show off that she could. And if Aphros refused to give her more, she would just show up at his brother's house and make a scene, claiming they were poor and needed funds.

No one ever believed her, and the entire family hated this piece of plastic garbage Aphros brought home. Aphros himself only married June in the first place to prove he could move on after his first relationship imploded. He never loved her, never could, but he'd hoped for at least a cordial relationship. He never expected her to turn into a complete harpy.

Yes, Aphros gave June every single thing she asked for to just get the divorce over with, but she's blowing through the money, and has decided she's entitled to so much more.

When Aphros calmly refuses, reminding her she signed the papers and he owes her nothing, June explodes.

At Paint.

She accuses Aphros suddenly of sleeping around with random boys and calls Paint a prostitute. June says she will make sure the press blows the entire thing up into a huge scandal unless Aphros gives her what she wants.

But Aphros has evidence of June sleeping around during their marriage, and he will happily drag her down with him if she tries anything.

To piss off June, Aphros grabs a stunned Paint and pulls him in for a kiss on the lips.

Infuriated that Aphros won't give her what she wants, June storms out of the house.

And then Paint begins to sob.

At first, Aphros thinks Paint is upset because of June's threats against him- creating a scandal would destroy his privacy and harm his future.

But it's the kiss that upset Paint.

That was his first kiss, one he'd always stupidly saved for Gus, even if he knew it was pointless.

Aphros begs Paint to stop crying, holding him tight. He soothes Paint, calling him "sweetheart" and "little boy", telling him how pretty he is and how crying will damage that.

It only makes Paint- who desperately wanted to hear those words from Gus- sob harder.

Gradually, Paint comes to realize that he isn't crying so much for Aphros stealing his first kiss, but because of Aphros' soothing words. It felt like the world fell apart when his kiss was stolen so unexpectedly, but Aphros holding him and comforting him unlocked the pain he'd carried in his heart for so long.

Aphros doesn't judge Paint. He won't let Paint call himself stupid for being upset over the kiss. The first kiss was something important to Paint, so it is important to Aphros too.

When Aphros releases Paint to wash his face, Paint becomes embarrassed and hurries off to the kitchen to hide. He showed too much emotion to Aphros, and even though the older man comforted him, he's now cried TWICE on the shoulder of his friend's uncle whom he barely knows.

But Aphros just hangs out nearby, giving Paint his space but staying close... and occasionally teasing him. Aphros needles Paint until they start to bicker and Paint's mood improves. He makes a few dirty jokes, and laughs at how flustered Paint becomes.

And then Aphros tells Paint the truth Plerng and Prapai don't know.

The truth of his isolation at home after the divorce.

It isn't because he misses June. It isn't mourning a failed romance. He has hated June since the first month of their marriage. She was loud, whiny, cruel, and always played the victim, treating Aphros like shit.

Around family, she was unbearable, and he couldn't stand hearing her snide remarks about his brother, sister-in-law, his nephews, or his niece.

He also couldn't stand any of his family seeing how miserable he was with her. To avoid her, he worked himself ragged on sets, developing a reputation for his tireless perfectionism. All so he wouldn't be forced to go home to her at night.

Amongst this, he developed extreme insomnia problems- insomnia that has vanished ever since Paint appeared.

All Aphros wanted was to spend a few months completely and utterly alone in a silent house. To enjoy June's absence from his life. Maybe even travel and go on some adventures- but then Paint arrived.

And the boy is infinitely more fun than any vacation could be.

The reason Aphros refused to allow housekeepers into his place was that he was afraid June would find a way to buy one off and invade his privacy. He truly gave her everything in the divorce- Aphros even had to sell his shares of the family company to his big brother just to get enough money to meet her demands (his brother insists it was a loan and he will give the shares back when Aphros repays him).

He's free now, so no matter how hard she tries, he won't let June get a single claw into his life.

Before eating, Paint thanks Aphros for the chatter, distracting him from his own thoughts, and helping him feel better about crying in front of the man.

Out of nowhere, Aphros suddenly asks Paint if he'd like Aphros to teach him... about sex.

If Paint is so innocent that he's never kissed, he's no better than a child. Children need sex-ed, and Aphros kindly offers to teach Paint. He taught his nephews the importance of condoms and how to put them on correctly- it's entirely thanks to Aphros that Prapai doesn't have 10,000 bastard children running about.

Paint tells Aphros that his teasing has gone too far. He's flustered, and while he's thankful for Aphros changing the subject... It makes him uncomfortable.

Aphros backs down, but not before giving Paint a soft kiss on the forehead and telling the boy to get used to his kisses, they'll be happening often. It's the perk of being adopted as his nephew.

Paint is even more confused... both about the words, and the feelings in his chest.

---

The next day, Paint wakes to a message saying he doesn't need to go to Aphros' place until late. He doesn't have to cook, because Aphros won't be home.

Aphros is in pre-production for a new show (likely with Tongrak, they've worked together often), and he has script reviews scheduled all day. Paint only needs to do his basic rounds of tidying things up.

Aphros is giving him space to process things after the kiss.

But then Paint gets a call, and it's an emergency:

Aphros left his laptop at home, and it has files he desperately needs for the afternoon. He begs Paint to bring them to the studio. Normally, Plerng would get them for him- the boy intends to do an internship with Aphros for school- but Plerng is already on his way with Sin, and it'd take longer to go back to Aphros' place to get the computer and return to the studio.

Paint immediately accepts the task, and rushes to bring Aphros what he needs. When he arrives, he has no way of reaching Aphros, and ends up standing near the mass of fans waiting outside. Paint is immediately welcomed by a group of Aphros' fans, who talk about how amazing their idol is.

Paint is taken in by the reminder that Aphros the Toddler is a celebrity, and privately entertained by the massive gap they have between the image of Aphros as a chic idol and the image Paint has of a dirty man in his boxers refusing to eat veggies.

Aphros suddenly appears at the security gate and calls Paint over openly, shocking the fans. When Paint gets close enough, Aphros takes his hand and pulls him through, happily leading him inside. Paint hands over the laptop, and follows Plerng back to Aphros' house.

Paint is somewhat in a daze. It's his first time seeing this side of Aphros- the famous director. He is dressed like a celebrity, more handsome than Paint has ever seen him, and has a dashing charm that just doesn't fit with the man who bickers with Paint constantly at home.

Plerng shares some interesting gossip about June that Aphros omitted before. Aphros had wholly resigned himself to their hellish marriage, but one event made him determined to divorce June and be done with her once and for all:

She told everyone she was pregnant.

It was most likely an act to get money or attention from the family, to make it harder for a clearly distant Aphros to divorce her without scandal, but instead it ripped open old wounds, reminding him of his first love who cheated on him and threw him away because of a pregnancy.

Setting aside the fact that Aphros hadn't so much as touched June since they married... Aphros is completely sterile. Something only Orn, Plerng's mother, knew. Aphros was only a teenager when a doctor informed him, and Orn was the one who drove him to his appointment.

In all, it took three years from that moment for the divorce to finally go through. She fought it even step of the way, even holding the license itself hostage so he couldn't rip it up.

Shortly after their chat, Aphros returns home with king crabs for Paint to cook, an extreme luxury.

Plerng and Aphros both taunt Paint throughout the meal, making endless sexual innuendos and with Plerng flat-out telling Aphros that Paint would make a lovely new aunt.

And when Paint goes to leave... Aphros suddenly kisses him on the cheek. Paint asks Aphros if he thinks of him as a nephew- that must be the reason for the cheek kiss, right?

A smiling Aphros only agrees, and sends Paint on his way.

Then he texts Plerng, telling the boy to call him the moment he's dropped Paint off at home.

Aphros wants to know everything his nephew knows about the boy.

---

After that, Aphros is infinitely more hands-on with Paint. He'll give him little hugs, tussle his hair, and openly flirt with him. But Paint refuses to believe any of it is more than just Aphros' particular brand of doting uncle. That's all it could possibly be.

Aphros has Paint sit on the sofa, and lays his head on Paint's lap to rest. He's testing a theory- that Paint himself is the one easing Aphros' insomnia.

Later in the day, Paint untangles himself from the man who is in a deep sleep, and heads home.

He crosses paths with Gus along the way, and is overjoyed to see his crush. Gus tells Paint to come to the house, he has something special he wants to show Paint.

---

Paint heads over to Gus' house, and is shocked to see him playing a guitar. It scares Paint for a minute- he wanted to give Gus the Gibson he'd been talking about as a birthday gift. But then Paint learns this guitar is just one on loan from a friend.

Gus has Paint sit down and listen to him playing a love song, singing the words to Paint. It makes Paint feel loved and special, and warms his heart more than he ever imagined it could.

And then Gus says he wanted to practice singing...

Because he wants to sing the song for his girlfriend, Nin.

---

Aphros can't figure out why Paint keeps leaving the house in such a good mood, only to come back the next day pale, exhausted, and silent.

Seeing Paint's state, Aphros tells him to just stay home the next day and rest. He clearly has something on his mind, and needs time to process it.

Even Paint has started wondering about his mood swings. His one-sided love of Gus made him happy, didn't it? So why was he so happy with Aphros, and so miserable with Gus?

Aphros has a special power to turn Paint's mood around and make him forget whatever upsets him, but no matter how happy he is, at the end of the day, Gus is there to bring him back to reality and shatter his heart over and over.

---

On his day off, Aphros calls Paint and invites him out to dinner, not wanting to eat alone. He tells Paint he is at a barbecue joint, and texts Paint the address.

Paint heads out in flip-flops, shorts, and an old t-shirt. It's Aphros after all, he's probably at some neighborhood dive bar.

... and then Paint is standing outside of the most expensive and exclusive restaurant in the city. The kind of place that doesn't let you in without a suit and tie.

The staff try to treat him professionally, but Paint is mortified. He prays he has the wrong place, but when they hear Aphros' name, he is immediately brought upstairs to their most exclusive dining rooms. The kind reserved for top celebrities wanting to avoid crowds.

Paint is somewhat relieved when he sees Aphros and quickly sits down. He feels humiliated, but Aphros waves off his concern. As long as the food is paid for, they shouldn't care what a person is wearing.

He also tells Paint not to sit across from him. His nephew Prapai will be joining them.

Paint excuses himself before Prapai arrives to go to the bathroom. On the way, he overhears 2 waitresses in a break area. One is gossipping about him, while the other keeps telling her to not speak poorly of the guests.

The first waitress keeps insisting that paint is a prostitute or whore, and Aphros his sugar daddy. She claims he must be wearing such shabby clothes as a way to look more pathetic and wring more money out of Aphros.

After all the kindness Aphros has shown him- and everything he has endured in his marriage- people are looking down on the man for being seen with him. All because Paint didn't dress nicely.

Paint returns to the dining area to find Prapai inside. But when Prapai tries to greet him, he and Aphros can instantly tell something is wrong. Paint refuses to say. He doesn't want to make a scene, he just feels embarrassed and guilty. Embarrassed that he looks so shabby, and guilty to Aphros for making him look like a lecher.

Prapai and Aphros push Paint and refuse to accept his deflections. Eventually, Paint admits just a tiny bit of what he heard. That the waitress said he had no dignity, and that people like him think working in bed is easier than holding a real job.

And that's the kinder aspects of what she'd said.

Aphros can tell Paint still won't own up to everything he heard, but he leaves Prapai to look after Paint and steps into the hall to make a phone call.

Prapai helps lighten the mood after Aphros returns, telling Paint about his beloved Sky, and pouting about how Sky is a huge fanboy of Aphros', so much so that Prapai doesn't like Aphros being around him. In case Aphros realizes how perfect Sky is and tries to steal him.

Paint laughs along and the mood lifts as they eat. Before they finish, there is a knock at the door. Aphros greets the restaurant owner, a man named Inn, who drove over immediately after Aphros called him.

Along with Inn is the waitress who was gossipping about Paint.

Aphros, Prapai, and Paint watch as Inn fires the girl immediately. Paint tries to speak up and say it isn't necessary, but Aphros and Inn both gently brush off his words. They explain that it is only luck that a friendly customer overheard her insulting guests. If word got out, the reputation of the restaurant would be ruined beyond repair with its ultra-exclusive clientele.

The waitress is forced out, begging for a second chance, but Aphros tells Paint that Inn will never give it back to her. Prapai again calms Paint down, telling him he did nothing wrong. She has to face the consequences of her own actions.

Aphros and Prapai both order several dishes to go, Prapai to bring home to Sky, and Aphros just seems hungry.

Paint is still troubled by what happened to the waitress, and feels guilty. All he would have asked for was a reprimand and an apology, not for someone to lose their job. On top of it, Aphros was fairly vicious towards her.

Aphros' temper itself doesn't bother Paint, but that it's the first time he can remember someone prioritizing him. Aphros fought for him, when he didn't have to. Paint keeps telling himself that's just how Aphros treats his nephews, and he's adopted Paint as an honorary one. So it's... just how he treats nephews... right?

Aphros teases Paint to lighten the mood, and tousles his hair. When Paint says Aphros is petting him like a dog, Aphros only replies that there are some things you can't do with a dog, and suddenly leans in to kiss Paint on the lips.

It isn't like the kiss in front of June- a quick mash of lips. This kiss is passionate and fierce, but gentle all the same. Aphros releases and stunned Paint, and Paint says.... Aphros must be drunk. That's the reason he kissed Paint.

Aphros only laughs and sends the boy inside with all of the extra food he ordered- bribes for Paint's family (his siblings are watching from a window).

Paint's siblings are immediately up in his business the moment he walks in the door, delighted to see Paint so happy and flustered. They couldn't tell what was happening in the car, but whenever Paint is around Plerng's uncle, he comes home happy and light.

And then Paint is almost immediately pulled into a video chat with Plerng and their other best friend, Andrea (who is hell bent on making Plerng's sister Phan her wife). Andrea is the dangerous one of the group- she pushed Plerng until he wound up with Sin, and now she wants Paint with Aphros.

Plerng already knows about what happened at the restaurant- Prapai called him and told him every juicy detail, and he fills Andrea in, emphasizing how Aphros referred to Paint as "my boy" at one point in the confrontation.

Hell, Paint looked so sad and cute as Aphros defended him, Prapai admitted to his brother that if he were still single, he'd have tried to pull Paint into bed that very night.

---

The next day, Aphros is out gardening while Paint cleans the house. He comes in to shower, handing Paint his underwear to throw in with the dirty laundry.

Paint has no underwear fetish, he's just collecting the laundry.

The problem is- Aphros is only wearing a towel when he brings them out, and Paint gets the full eye-full of his body. Aphros is absolutely built, his muscles so perfectly toned that it stuns Paint for a moment.

Until he notices a wicked surgical scar across Aphros' torso.

Aphros admits that in the car accident years before, his ribs were shattered, and punctured several internal organs. He also tells Paint that everything has healed, he just feels a bit of pain if he overdoes it, like he just did in the garden.

Aphros immediately laughs at Paint's pale face and says he's joking, grabbing the boy's hand and pulling him over to touch the scar and trace it with his fingers, proving that it doesn't bother him anymore.

But then Aphros has to stop Paint- those gentle touches along his body are making it hard for him. He pulls Paint closer and leans in slowly, feeling Paint tremble in his hand as he pulls the boy's body closer and closer-

And then flicks him on the forehead and tells him not to provoke anything he can't candle.

And then Aphros very clearly tells Paint that if he kept touching, something would get hard.

He can show it to Paint, if Paint wants to see.

---

After that, Paint keeps his distance from Aphros, not coming close enough to touch him again. But Aphros still hangs close by him. After a few days, he asks what boys Paint's age like as gifts, wanting to buy a new years gift for Plerng.

New Years is coming... which means Paint's time with Aphros is nearly over.

Aphros tells Paint that he should spend New Years with the person he loves, to which Paint responds that he can't... He has no opportunity to see Gus.

And then Aphros asks if Paint would mind spending time with someone who has him in their heart instead, but Paint doesn't understand. He just brushes it off, saying no one has ever had a crush on him.

Not realizing that Aphros was telling him he has a place in his heart.

---

Aphros attends a New Years party at his brother's house, happily watching as Sky zips about trying to help Orn (and Prapai follows his boyfriend like a lovesick puppy, constantly annoying Sky with hugs and kisses).

Aphros loves the chaos of watching his family enjoy one another's company- even Orn's siblings and their kids. Aphros loves his family so incredibly much, this is the perfect way to spend a holiday...

Well, almost perfect. It would be absolutely perfect if he had a certain cute, naive boy with him.

Aphros' brother comes to tease him, asking when his "oldest son" will settle down. Phan appears to suggest that might happen soon, immediately catching her father's interest. And suddenly everyone is sharing gossip about Aphros and his housekeeper.

Aphros untangles himself from the conversation as Phan and Plerng taunt him, catching his brother's interest fully as he realizes they aren't just teasing their uncle- Aphros might actually have a new love already.

---

Paint, meanwhile, is having a quiet New Years with his family. It's so rare that his parents are home and awake, they want to make the most of lost time with their kids.

Paint spends the morning helping Gus' mother cook (he always helps the neighborhood Aunties with anything they need), but then runs home to spend time with his own family and go out bowling.

That night, when he gets home, Ruup immediately grabs him and tries to drag Paint inside. Confused, Paint looks around to see what it is that has Ruup so angry-

and sees Gus with Nin, coming over to say hello.

Paint makes it through the conversation, but he can barely hide his depression. Nin is so cute and small- things he will never be. And the way Gus looks at her- he'd never look at Paint that way.

Paint makes it into the house and holds himself together all the way up to his bedroom, but when the clock strikes midnight and the fireworks go off, he makes the mistake of looking outside-

And sees Gus and Nin passionately kissing.

---

Plerng kisses his boyfriend at midnight, then calls Andrea to wish her a happy new year. She asks him to pass on her love to Paint as well, and so he calls Paint next.

But he can hear immediately that Paint sounds weak and hoarse.

He asks if he can stay at Plerng's place for the night. Normally that'd be fine, but it is crowded with the New Year's party and all of their family. Plerng still offers his room to Paint, and offers to pick him up.

Say what you want about Plerng, but the second he hears that his friend is suffering, he stops thinking about dragging Sin to bed.

But Paint only says that he forgot they were having a party. He apologizes to Plerng for bothering him, tells him to forget it, and hangs up.

So Plerng immediately grabs Sin to go to Paint directly.

Plerng is in such a hurry to leave that he nearly crashes into Aphros, who is startled. Aphros demands to know what is going on, and Plerng tells him something is very wrong with Paint. He was distant and in pain, and Plerng is scared.

Aphros goes instead, telling Plerng to stay home, he'll find Paint.

It takes Aphros three tries to get Paint to pick up a call, and he can hear in a second that Paint has been crying.

Aphros rushes to Paint's house. Paint is waiting outside for him. Aphros brings Paint home, and once again sobs in Aphros' arms. He tells Aphros he can't take this pain anymore, he doesn't want to hurt. Paint has finally accepted that the love he felt for Gus- while it used to make him happy- now only makes him miserable and alone.

Aphros knows that pain too well himself. He soothes Paint, only telling him that, until Paint finds a way to move on, that pain can never go away.

Paint cries until he has no tears left in him. Aphros gives him some pajama pants to wear, and lets Paint sleep in bed with him. Paint is so exhausted from the stress and grief that he immediately falls asleep on Aphros' chest.

---

In the morning, Paint wants to keep clinging to Aphros, pretending to be asleep. But Aphros notices he's awake- Aphros has been awake enjoying Paint laying on him for a while already.

Paint gets up, but Aphros notices the boy looks "ill". Humiliated, Paint looks down and realizes... well...

He has morning wood.

Aphros speaks to Paint like he's talking to a child, asking if Paint is ill somewhere. He says he must inspect the symptoms, gradually convincing Paint to move his hands. Paint thinks Aphros will just look at the tent in his pajama pants (he slept without underwear), crack a joke to lighten the mood, and be done.

But Aphros instead reaches out and touches him. He tells Paint he will teach him how to cure his little illness. How to make the thing between his legs cry, and then he'll feel better.

Paint is unsure, but Aphros is darkly seductive. He gradually convinces Paint to lay down on the bed, and Aphros kisses him hard while stroking Paint off.

Paint cums, then Aphros sends him to shower.

Even Aphros is a bit surprised by how much he loved doing that, and even more sure he has started falling for Paint.

Later, Aphros brings Paint home, and tells the boy he should prepare himself, because Aphros intends to pursue him. But first, Paint needs to remove every last weed of Gus from his heart. Because Aphros will not accept competition.

---

Paint's siblings have figured out that this Aphros man makes their brother happy. They begin to pressure him more and more to go to Aphros rather than Gus.

Over the days, Aphros and Paint become closer and closer. Even though the job is nearly over and they will have to part, Paint can only think about how good Aphros makes him feel about himself.

Paint goes home one day and Gus immediately catches him going into the house. He excitedly drags Paint up to his room and shows him something he's wildly excited about- Paint will be the first person other than his parents to see:

An engagement ring for Nin.

Gus pretends to propose to Paint, to practice what he'll say. But it only makes Paint's chest hurt even more.

---

Paint suddenly appears at Aphros' house and gives him all of his savings. The job isn't done yet, he hasn't been paid yet, but he needs to buy the guitar NOW. To make his first and only declaration to Gus NOW, before Gus is engaged to Nin.

Silent and stone-faced, Aphros takes Paint to the mall and buys the guitar. He barely looks at Paint, and doesn't say much. Aphros isn't a jealous child, he knows he's up against Paint's first love, and he knows Paint needs to do this for himself. To be rejected outright and have closure.

But it still hurts like hell.

Gus sees Paint bringing the guitar inside. Paint mentions he got the guitar, and Gus assumes Paint was planning to learn to play, since Gus was learning and mentioned he loved that guitar.

Gus then says that there is a video Nin absolutely loved of a Korean idol singing a love song while playing that exact style of guitar, and he was desperate to find one to borrow so he could propose to Nin with that exact song and that exact guitar.

He has the venue arranged, he has the trip with Nin arranged, the guitar is the final thing he needed to make his proposal completely perfect.

... in the end, it was all for Nin. Paint realizes he never had a prayer. Lost and despondent, he lends the guitar to Gus without telling him his feelings. Without admitting anything.

---

Paint is again lost, but he doesn't go to Aphros for consolation. He stays home, closed up in his room the entire night.

The next day, Aphros comes downstairs to a smell of something burning. He sees Paint standing over a pan frying some pork in oil, but he's completely lost in thought. His arm is red from where oil has been snapping and burning him, and the food is completely black.

Aphros forces Paint to sit down and asks him how things went with Gus, already knowing the answer.

But when Paint admits he never told Gus he loved him, Aphros is enraged. His warm demeanor vanishes, and he is only full of ice cold disappointment. He is blunt with Paint in a way he's never been blunt before, telling Paint his failure with Gus is his own fault. He never does anything, and that's why Gus will never love him.

Paint snaps back, saying Aphros doesn't know anything.

Aphros shuts down. He says Paint is right, he doesn't know anything. Paint should ignore everything he has ever said. The last piece of advice Aphros will give him is that if he doesn't learn to take action and let things with Gus end, he's never going to move on.

That is the last day Paint was going to be at Aphros' house, and Aphros is done with him.

He won't teach Paint anymore. He won't let Paint into his house to cook or clean. He's just done.

Aphros takes the key Paint was given at the start of the job and says Paint shouldn't come anymore. Aphros will be too busy with his new show anyways. He won't be home.

The last words Aphros says to Paint are a distant and polite thanks for the work he has done and wishing him luck in his final school term.

---

During this phase, you get a bit of a POV on Gus himself.

Gus loves Paint, just... not in the way Paint wants (not that Gus is aware of that). Paint has always been his best friend in the neighborhood, and gives Gus anything he asks for, no matter what. Gus knew this as a kid, and he used it to get stuff- a video game he never returned, a ball he broke- he took advantage of Paint's kindness.

And then, as he grew up... He started feeling guilty. He tried to be kinder to Paint, to indulge him more and at least quietly return all of the warmth and joy that Paint brought to him. Again, Gus has no idea Paint loves him in a romantic sense, but he loves Paint as the best brother anyone could ever hope to have.

Paint is the one who cheers him up, who pulls him together. It genuinely means the world to Gus to think that Paint supports his love. He needed Paint to meet Nin, to approve of Nin, because introducing her to Paint was like introducing her to his family.

Having Paint's guitar during the proposal- it feels like having his family blessing with him.

---

Gus runs out of the house one day as Paint returns, running late to make it to the resort Nin's friends are luring her to, where he will propose. Paint thinks about doing what Aphros said and telling Gus how he feels, but again Gus misunderstands it as Paint giving him his blessing.

But... Paint realizes... it doesn't matter.

He doesn't need Gus to know anymore. He doesn't need to tell him. He doesn't want to put that on Gus when Gus is starting a new life. He loved Gus, and now he can let that go.

He doesn't need to make his final stand, because he has known his entire life that there is nothing to stand for. There is no chance Gus feels for him what he feels for Gus.

---

Gus' mother comes to Paint later that day. She is cleaning out some stuff from Gus' room, and came across some stuff that she thinks might belong to Paint.

Paint goes to look, and sure enough, there is a box Gus has kept of every single thing Paint ever gave him. The broken video game, the deflated ball.

Paint realizes he has always been precious to Gus. Even if it wasn't in the way he wanted. Even if it was just as Gus' perfect little brother. It is painful, but it helps.

And then Paint moves something and sees Nin's engagement ring.

Gus ran out with the box- but he'd been looking at the ring before he left, and he forgot to put it back in.

Gus' mother is in a panic, and Gus won't pick up his phone. In a complete panic, Paint grabs the ring and calls Aphros- the person he's always called when things go wrong. His stressed and frantic brain completely forgot about their fight.

Aphros shows up, and is disgusted to hear this is another Gus thing. But Paint begs him to drive to the resort- a few hours away. So Aphros indulges him. He says nothing to Paint, and Paint spends the drive trying to call Gus before suddenly realizing...

What he's doing to Aphros.

That he called Aphros. That he is making Aphros drive him, after Aphros bought the guitar and after they fought and everything.

But Paint doesn't have time for guilt. He finally manages to get Gus on the line and has him meet Paint at the resort. Gus is just about to propose to Nin, she's being lured in by her friends to where Gus should be waiting.

Paint cusses Gus out and just about throws the ring at him, telling him to get his head out of his ass and FOCUS, or he'll fuck things up with Nin. Gus is a bit taken aback by Paint's wrath, but he's also guilty of forgetting the ring, and insanely grateful that Paint saved him.

Paint stays to watch the engagement from afar, until Aphros covers his eyes as tears start to fall, and he leads Paint back to the car.

It isn't that Paint is sad to see Gus finally engaged to Nin... It's that Paint has finally given up his one-sided love. And he's mourning the empty space that has left in his heart.

They are too far to drive back to Bangkok, so Aphros drives instead to a luxury resort and gets a room just for them. Aphros tells Paint to stop whining already. Paint needs to cry, just for a day, just to mourn a lifelong one-sided love one more time. But Aphros tells him again to stop whining... and start liking Aphros back.

He kisses Paint hard and deep. Aphros will be pursuing him openly and forcefully.

There is no way out now, because Aphros intends to rip out every last root Gus has in Paint's heart and fill the space himself.

---

In the morning, Paint wakes again on Aphros' chest. Aphros taunts and teases him, threatening to follow him into the shower, but Paint is scared to let Aphros even touch him.

When they get back to Bangkok, Aphros asks if he scared Paint by moving too fast, but Paint only says he doesn't know.

Aphros reminds Paint that he's 18 years older. He's impatient in his old age.

So when he pursues Paint, it will be intense, forceful, and he will do everything in his power to make Paint happy. Because Paint is his happiness, and loving himself means making Paint his.

All of Plerng and Prapai's bad habits and selfish behavior towards their lovers, their relentless pursuits, was all taught by Aphros himself.

Paint has rolled his eyes for years at Plerng's nonsense, but now he has to face the master himself.

Not entirely distracted by Aphros' frank words, when Paint gets out of the car, he genuinely thanks Aphros for helping the day before, and everything he did for Paint with Gus leading up to that.

Aphros shrugs it off, saying he did it happily... Because he expects something in return.

Paint's siblings run out to greet him as Aphros leaves. Pai and Ruup are confused- Gus is engaged now... but Paint... doesn't seem sad at all. He seems happy?

And Ruup's eyes fall on that car speeding away.

---

The first day of classes, Paint is hanging out with Andrea and Plerng during a break and Plerng mentions Aphros is interviewing new housekeepers that day.

Paint immediately runs to Aphros' house where he does indeed see Aphros with a housekeeper. In a panic, Paint yells for Aphros to not hire her, to hire him. He'll work for free.

But Aphros only laughs.

Plerng set him up.

The housekeeper is one he is borrowing from Orn to handle light cleaning. Her most trusted, one who can't be bought by June. Aphros wasn't actually hiring anyone full time. She'll just come once a week.

But now he has PAINT.

He doesn't want Paint handling the cleaning. He wants Paint in other positions. Many other positions.

The housekeeper whispers conspiratorially with Aphros, asking if she's allowed to tell Orn about Paint's little display. Aphros asks if she's really Orn's eyes and ears, or PLERNG's. The maid only chuckles, and Aphros tells her to tell the entire family if she'd like, but to make it clear that Aphros is serious about this boy.

Paint gives Aphros a bottle of expensive vodka Andrea had given to Plerng (for him to give to Aphros). The excuse Plerng gave Paint to go over and interrupt the meeting with the "new housekeeper".

Aphros only tells Paint that he's serious, the position is his.

But if Aphros just hired this once-a-week housekeeper, what is the position Paint should take?

Considering the "duties" Paint performs, and the many other positions Aphros wants him in, he hires Paint for the position of "wife".

---

While Aphros and Paint heat up, Plerng runs into problems with Sin.

While looking for Sin on campus, Plerng overhears that Sin has taken work abroad, interning at his father's company in Europe for a semester.

No one has told Plerng anything about this, and it sends him into an extreme spiral.

Plerng loves Sin with his entire being, but during the events of Plerng's novel, My Beast, there was a situation where Plerng nearly lost Sin after a cheating issue. Plerng has never been exclusive with someone before.

Paint sees Plerng as being a wild child, but it isn't as clear cut as Paint always thought. It isn't that Plerng is selfish or greedy, his need for sex... it isn't entirely normal.

The thought of losing Sin for months on end- maybe a year- Plerng is genuinely terrified of what he'll do. That he won't be able to stop himself, and will give in to his addiction to sex. That he will hurt Sin by betraying his trust, and Plerng can't live with that.

Plerng won't look at Sin, won't be near him. He's crying almost every day. Sin is frantic- he doesn't understand what is going on. Paint is trying his best to help his friend, but Aphros won't allow anyone to tell him anything. He won't spy on his nephew or swoop in. Plerng is an adult, he has always told Aphros everything, so if he wants Aphros to know, he'll tell him himself.

But Plerng is spiraling terribly, and Aphros kind of gleans enough to understand that what Plerng needs is to talk to Sin, whatever the situation is. Sin even goes to Aphros for help.

So Aphros invites the two of them over for dinner, and lets what happens happen.

It turns out the whole situation was a misunderstanding- which Sin has been trying desperately to explain to Plerng. Yes, he needs to go abroad for a long time. That was supposed to happen within the next few months, but Sin was talking to his professor to arrange for it to be delayed. To continue his studies.

Sin is a year older, and he arranged to put off everything for one year, to give Plerng time to graduate. Plerng's father owns companies in Europe as well. Sin wanted to study abroad with Plerng beside him.

If Plerng follows to work at his father's company or if he just stays home as Sin's house-husband, it doesn't matter. Sin was always intending to do this with him.

They make up and go upstairs and.. well... It's been like a week. That's the longest Plerng has gone without sex in... his life.

Sin and Plerng are by no means gentle or quiet when they have sex. They go at it loud and hard for hours on end. Since those two have the guest room, Paint sleeps in Aphros' room, but all he can hear are the moans and screams of his friend, and the frantic pounding on the walls.

Paint is mostly focused on Aphros holding him, chuckling at Paint's annoyance. Aphros holds Paint tight- the first time he's done this where Paint isn't crying or coming down from crying.

He begins to tease Paint, and then Paint feels Aphros getting hard.

Bewildered, he asks Aphros if he's like that because of the noises coming from Plerng's room, but Aphros only calls Paint foolish- the hardness is because of Paint. Because he needs Paint.

Paint and Aphros drown out Plerng's sounds, kissing hard and heavy. Aphros strips Paint and strokes him, then begs Paint to touch him too.

Paint is shy, but his shy touch drives Aphros insane.

Aphros plays with a finger in Paint's mouth, letting Paint lick and bite at him while Aphros slides down and gives Paint a blowjob. He then comes back up and has paint hold their dicks together and stroke them.

Meanwhile, the finger Paint wetted for him, Aphros slides around to the back.

Aphros doesn't entirely have sex with Paint that night, but he fingers Paint, getting him used to the feeling, teaching him to play with his nipples while Aphros' fingers make him cum.

But Aphros' endurance is higher. He flips Paint onto his stomach and holds Paint's thighs together, choosing to have sex with Paint without further penetration than a finger or tongue.

---

As Paint and Aphros are getting closer and closer, Aphros drives Paint home and is ambushed by Ruup and Pai... and Gus.

Gus has appeared to thank Paint profusely for bringing the ring, and to return the guitar in perfect condition. Aphros is darkly critical of Gus, insulting him in such roundabout ways that Gus isn't entirely sure he's being insulted.

But Paint absolutely hears it.

As do an increasingly gleeful Ruup and Pai.

Gus leaves under Aphros' increasingly withering glare, wishing a happy farewell to Paint.

And then... Aphros has a very odd accident.

And- just absolutely bewilderingly... The incredibly expensive guitar ends up in absolute splinters. Smashed into pieces.

Aphros halfheartedly apologizes to Paint for his little "accident", but while Paint is taken aback, he... can understand what is in Aphros' mind. The anger and hatred he feels towards that guitar and what it meant. But it brought him and Aphros together all the same.

So while it is hard to see such an expensive guitar destroyed... Paint forgives Aphros.

Later, while Paint is at University, June appears. She attacks Paint, trying to humiliate him. Calling him a prostitute, a home-wrecker, anything she can think of. Claiming he stole a married man. Humiliation is her entire goal.

But Paint will have none of it.

He goes off at June, snapping back with just as much bite as Plerng or Aphros would use. She said he stole her husband- he asks what husband of hers he stole? Because they've been divorced for a while now. She has no husband.

Paint then calls her a cheater and a liar, humiliating her with her fake pregnancy. June slaps him, and Paint whips out his phone to call the police and press charges for defamation and assault. June immediately screams at Paint and gets in her car to run away- though Paint never actually dialed the police.

Before Paint even makes it back to Andrea and Plerng, the whole university is talking about the crazy plastic lady who attacked the quiet and handsome Paint. Making him the hero who faced down the psycho.

Aphros feels horrible when he hears from Plerng what happened. How June targeted Paint. But Paint is proud of it, and Aphros kind of is too. He was territorial over Aphros, possessive of him, and faced down her crazy without bowing one bit.

Aphros feels loved.

---

Valentines Day rolls around, and Aphros asks Paint out on a date. Their first actual date.

Paint is determined to look as good as possible for Aphros. He asks Andrea to help him re-dye his hair (Paint dyes his hair a kind of off-white) and style it, and he spends the entire day picking out the exact right clothes to wear to look as good as possible for Aphros.

And then Gus happens.

As Paint is heading out the door, he walks into a warzone. Gus and Nin have had a fight, Gus came to his parent's house, and now his mother cannot find him. He's gone out to drown himself in alcohol, and Nin is sobbing.

Paint is forced to help look for Gus, and is increasingly frantic as the clock ticks by and he is getting closer and closer to being late to meet Aphros.

When he finds Gus, the man is a complete wreck. Paint has to carry him back towards the house, getting sweaty and disheveled hauling the nearly unconscious drunk man.

And then Nin comes flying out of the house, fighting with Gus, and Paint gets caught in the middle. He is slapped, his hair is pulled, and then Gus throws up all over him, ruining his clothes.

And any hope for the night.

Paint finally goes off. He screams at Gus, Nin, and everyone involved in ruining his evening. Demanding to know if they even give a shit that he obviously has plans before bringing their drama to him. Paint unloads like he has never unloaded before, and then runs into his house to TRY to salvage his evening.

But when he calls Aphros, the man is enraged the moment he hears Gus' name. Knowing that once again, Paint chose that man over him. He refuses to speak to Paint, refuses to hear a word of it.

Plerng calls later to ask Paint how it went, but Paint has been sobbing alone in his room. He ruined things with Aphros. Plerng reveals that Aphros planned to formally ask him to be his boyfriend, Plerng and Andrea even signed a card. Aphros was going to wait with dozens of roses at a fancy restaurant and make a big show out of it.

He stole Paint's first kiss, he confessed to him while consoling Paint from a fight- he was going to make a huge romantic display to make up for what he sees as flawed pursuits previously.

This only makes Paint even more upset, even more desperate.

He runs out of the house and hurries to Aphros, praying he isn't too late.

---

Aphros has been spiraling hard and fast.

Paint will never love him. He's unlovable, just like his old boyfriend said. Aphros is nothing more than a good lay to Paint. He will never be first in Paint's heart. He will never be first in anyone's heart.

Just as he was finally pulling himself back together, Paint reminded him what his place is.

He's a fetish some people have. He isn't worth love.

When Paint gets to Aphros, the man is already wasted. Paint begs Aphros to listen to him, tries to talk to Aphros, but Aphros won't hear it. At the end of the day, the cold, hard truth is that Paint chose Gus over him. Went to help Gus and left Aphros sitting alone like an idiot.

Finally, Aphros throws Paint onto the sofa and roughly rips off his shirt. He kisses the boy hard and violently, and bites Paint's shoulder painfully hard.

But Paint won't shove him away. He only keeps saying he'll do anything to make it up to Aphros.

Aphros only makes himself angrier, and storms out of the room to go stand under cold water. He didn't want things to be like this. He wanted a romantic evening and then to gently take Paint to his bed and make it the perfect night.

Not to throw a sobbing Paint on the sofa and hurt him. Not to have Paint desperate to apologize to Aphros with his body.

When Aphros comes out of the shower to send Paint home, Paint has drunk all the rest of his liquor and is unconscious on the sofa. Aphros only grabs a blanket and lays it over him, to which Paint grabs his wrist and, half-conscious, begs Aphros to not throw him away.

Aphros tells the boy to sleep, and then goes upstairs himself.

---

In the morning, Paint wakes with a splitting headache. He panics, remembering what happened last night, and runs into the kitchen. Aphros is friendly, but completely distant from Paint. No more than his friend's uncle. He makes Paint breakfast (Aphros can only cook eggs), and says he'll drop Paint off at home.

But Paint won't let things go. He explains everything to Aphros, and apologizes endlessly. He tells Aphros he feels nothing for Gus anymore. In a show of trust, he takes off his clothes and begs Aphros (who is telling him to put them back on) to just ask the question he was going to ask at dinner before Paint screwed everything up.

Aphros is only sad. He keeps saying he doesn't want it like this, it was supposed to be at a nice dinner and with a bouquet of roses, not like, with them in the kitchen, barely dressed, with only burnt eggs to eat.

After a while (and a lot of pleading from Paint), Aphros finally asks if Paint will be his boyfriend. And Paint immediately agrees.

Aphros pulls Paint close, and they manage to get as far as the sofa before Paint pulls Aphros down on top of him. Neither of them can make it upstairs, they're too feral for each other. Aphros tries to ask if Paint wants to move, but he won't let Aphros go.

They fully and completely have sex.

---

Paint wakes up hours later, clean and tucked into Aphros' big bed. But he is alone. He gets up and nearly collapses- not from pain in his rear, it actually isn't too bad, but from how exhausted the muscles in his legs are.

Eventually he makes it downstairs and finds Aphros in his study on the phone. Someone is speaking very seriously to Aphros, and he is listening very seriously, but Paint quickly realizes- the call is about him.

It's Ruup, Paint's little brother, calling to try to explain everything to Aphros. To make sure Aphros isn't mad at Paint. Ruup became Aphros' good little spy the day Aphros smashed the guitar, and Ruup and Pai are both scared that Aphros will leave Paint because of what happened.

---

Gus appears in front of Paint again, but only to apologize to him for Valentine's Day. For throwing up on him, and for ruining his date. He offers to call Aphros and explain everything, but Paint waves him off.

He truly feels nothing more than a slight sorrow when he looks at Gus now. He's found someone who makes him truly happy, makes him feel truly loved. He tells Gus that he needs to face problems with Nin, not throw a fit and get drunk. Paint won't always be there to drag him out of the bar.

---

Orn throws a party for Paint, wanting to finally meet the boy who has tamed Aphros.

But then June shows up.

She throws photos of Paint with Gus at Aphros, taken by a man she had stalking the boy on Valentine's day. The photos were carefully chosen to make it look like Paint is hanging on the man, though of course Aphros knows Paint was dragging a drunk man home.

Orn and Prapai's father don't even bother looking at the pictures. If it came from June, whatever she says is a lie.

Phan gets tired of hearing June shrieking and spewing lie after lie, demanding more and more money from Aphros, so she fills a bucket with water from a pond and throws it over June and June's mother (who is with her).

June attacks Phan, and Paint puts himself in the middle, getting hit in the head with June's bag enough to leave a mark.

June is forced out with her mother, and Aphros goes with Prapai's father to the police to file a report for trespassing and harassment against his ex-wife, in case she tries to file a report against Phan (who punched her so hard her nose broke).

But since June attacked Paint before the punch landed, Phan gets to say it was self defence :)

After the disaster of a lunch, Paint is scared that Orn and Prapai's father will hate him, but they don't care one bit. He explains the photos and they listen, but they never doubted him. Aphros loves him, that's all they care about.

Even though... Prapai's dad is a little squeamish about the age thing, considering Paint is literally Plerng's age. But it's fine- they're consenting adults.

Aphros, however, is a bit odd. He won't let the photos go, even though Paint begs him.

What Aphros is upset about is... Paint dyed his hair, Andrea helped style it for hours, he put on clothes he spent all day choosing... And it was Gus who got to see Paint in the outfit. Not Aphros. That was the version of Paint he'd wanted to see at the restaurant.

Aphros still feels like they keep missing their timing on everything.

Paint apologizes again and again, even though Aphros isn't really mad, just sad. He asks if there is anything he can do to make it up to Aphros.

Well, earlier, when Gus came to apologize, Paint had asked Aphros if he wanted to watch a movie, but he was startled by Gus' appearance and hit send when he'd only typed "Do you want to watch".

So Aphros makes Paint strip and lay across the bed, touching himself while Aphros watches him. While he watches the embarrassed and aroused Paint and Paint swears that only Aphros is allowed to see this side of him. This is something Gus will never have.

Aphros climbs on top of Paint and kisses him, playing with his nipples while Paint keeps touching himself.

They have sex again, with Aphros pouring all of his love and affections on Paint.

---

At work, Aphros has happily landed the perfect setting to shoot part of his drama in. They'll need the location for a while, a couple weeks or so, and it's a hard location to get.

But, his scout says, when they name-dropped Aphros, the owner was immediately eager to have them there.

And then the owner comes over.

Kim.

The man who shattered Aphros' heart years ago.

He wants to know how Aphros is doing, but not in any casual way. Over the days, Aphros becomes more and more uncomfortable as Kim gets closer and closer, saying he wants to reconcile. He doesn't like the woman he left Aphros for.

Aphros refuses to even entertain the vague notion of getting back together with Kim.

That night, as they talk about their day, Aphros tells Paint about Kim. He'd intended originally to wait until Paint's exams are over rather than worry him with the information, but he doesn't want there to be any chance of an issue.

Aphros tells Paint every single thing about his ex. How it ended, how the accident happened, his thoughts while he lay in the hospital day after day without a single visit.

Paint is silent for a long time, and Aphros asks what he's thinking, worried about how Paint will take this man coming back into his life. Not entirely sure what his own feelings now are either (not happiness, that's for damn sure, but anger? sadness? depression?).

Paint only says "I hate him."

And it's everything Aphros could have wanted. It makes him feel loved, having Paint protect him.

And then Paint asks if Aphros could please avoid him, if possible. He swears not to see him, not to be alone with him, and to tell Paint every single thing each day he's filming in that location.

Paint is relieved, and Aphros feels genuinely and truly happy to have Paint in his arms.

---

Kim comes to Aphros again, always trying to strike up conversations and worm his way back into Aphros' life, hinting that he now realizes he was wrong back then.

But Aphros won't take a single shred of bait from him.

Then Kim gets a call that his daughter fell from a balcony and is in critical condition. He's beside himself, and Aphros immediately agrees to drive him to the hospital, alerting Paint to where he is going in the process.

---

Kim's daughter is totally fine, he panicked over what ended up being a fractured arm (but, you know, it's the man's kid, he can be forgiven for becoming hysterical). The balcony was only the 2nd floor of the house, not the heights Aphros had feared.

But this is the same hospital he was in after the accident, and it brings back some memories.

Kim is separated from his wife, and he makes it clear to Aphros that he's willing to go for a second try, but Aphros shuts it down.

Paint arrives at the hospital to come get Aphros, who'd driven Kim's car to the hospital. He is polite and focuses his attention on Aphros, who is asking him about his day and trying to keep calm.

When they go to leave, Paint pretends he forgot something, and while Aphros waits, he goes back inside and over to Kim.

Paint introduces himself as Aphros' boyfriend, and essentially tells Kim to back off. Aphros has a taste for younger meat now. Kim pretends not to understand, but Paint says that's fine, he's said what he wanted to say.

Back at home, Paint is acting weird, and Aphros can't figure out why. He pushes Aphros down onto the sofa, and starts undoing the zip on Aphros' pants.

Paint won't listen to Aphros as he starts giving the man a blowjob, other than to ask... if he's doing better than Kim would have.

Paint has felt insecure about their sex from the start- how Aphros always makes Paint come first, no matter how hard he tries to hold on. He knows he isn't great in bed, and he feels threatened in a strange way he isn't familiar with.

Aphros pulls Paint up and reassures him. No, he's not as good in bed, but he's learning. He's only had sex a handful of times. Aphros still has so much to teach him- but that's okay, because he loves teaching him.

He and Kim had years of experience before everything ended, but it doesn't matter at all now. The one he loves is PAINT. The sex he and Paint have, no it's not the extreme heat you see in the movies, but it's absolutely perfect, because it's Paint.

Aphros doesn't watch to scratch an itch and have sex just to have sex. He wants to make love to the person who has his entire heart. He already feels so overwhelmingly in love with Paint, it'll be torture when Paint is perfect in bed. It'll be overwhelmingly good.

Aphros calms Paint, but also helps the boy to climb onto his lap and ride him, more than happy to watch Paint try to be sultry and seductive. His embarrassment and arousal are just too painfully cute, exactly what Aphros loves the most.

---

June is back at the plastic surgery clinic, desperate to have her nose- which Phan broke- fixed again. She complains to the doctor that he didn't do it right, but the doctor isn't listening to her anymore. He invites her to try elsewhere, if she isn't happy with the results.

June explodes, blaming Paint for absolutely everything going wrong. Her money running out, her nose looking wrong- every single thing is Paint's fault.

---

Plerng is working with Aphros now, and watching Kim like a hawk. Plerng viciously guards his uncle, and keeps telling Aphros not to throw his life away on the trashy man (Aphros has no plans to, but Plerng was the one who was most traumatized by his accident, terrified he was going to lose his uncle).

Plerng snaps at Kim one day, being very rude while basically telling the man to fuck off. Aphros apologizes to Kim on Plerng's behalf- the boy was rude after all.

But Kim makes his strongest push for Aphros, mocking Paint's age and the idea that someone so young could actually love Aphros. He reminds Aphros how good the sex was with him, how well they knew each other's bodies.

Aphros becomes enraged, telling Kim to never speak like that about his boyfriend.

Plerng, Aphros, and Kim are fighting in the parking lot when there is a screech of tires and Aphros hurries to shove Kim away just as June rams into him with a speeding car.

---

Paint is called by Plerng and rushes to the hospital pale and terrified. All he can think about are Aphros' injuries from his old wreck, and runs into the hospital sobbing.

Paint sees Kim first, and grabs him, screaming at him and demanding to know what right Kim has to be there when he abandoned Aphros before. He cusses Kim out for his cowardice and his abandonment of Aphros, tells Kim that Aphros has him now, he doesn't need Kim's presence cursing him like this. He hates Kim with a violent passion.

Kim only asks how Paint can be sure he won't walk away from Aphros one day too.

And Paint confidently says "Because I'm not you."

Plerng comes to get Paint and says with a grin "I love you so much."

He brings Paint into the hospital room, where Paint finds Aphros...

Completely fine.

Well, not completely, but nothing is broken. June couldn't get up to high speeds in the parking lot, and there were other cars around to stop her. Aphros remembered his old stunt training and knew how to roll when he hit the hood of the car and the windshield, and how to protect himself as best he could.

He's banged up, bruised, but no serious injuries.

He holds Paint while Paint cries and clings to him, loving every second of his boyfriend's tears for him.

Kim walks in with them and finally understands that he has no place in Aphros' heart or Aphros' life, and never will again. Aphros only tells him to consider any debt he thinks he owes repaid for bringing him to the hospital, and invites him to get out of his life once and for all.

Plerng is only too happy to throw him out of the room.

---

June is arrested for attempted murder.

The story is a massive scandal in the entertainment world- the ex-wife who stole money from her celebrity husband and then tried to kill him when she decided the settlement- which was overly generous- wasn't enough.

And what's more, Aphros confirms in an exclusive interview that he is in a same-sex relationship with a man from outside the entertainment world. And it's serious.

When the exclusive interview was done, an intern had to participate in it, getting the soundbites from Aphros and asking more questions at a red carpet press conference.

Thankfully, no one has figured out that Aphros' mysterious love is none other than the intern himself.

Paint attends Gus' wedding with his family.

Paint's mother asks him if it's legal yet for two men to get married, because she wants to start calling Aphros her son-in-law, which makes Paint choke.

Well, Paint's parents accept Aphros, and had already guessed Paint was gay, but it turns out his mother was a huge fangirl of Aphros' in the past, and is beyond thrilled at the idea of her idol marrying her son.

She also fainted when meeting him and asked for his autograph. Paint genuinely isn't sure how his mother would have reacted if it weren't for the fact that it was Aphros he was with. She doesn't give two shits about the age gap- that's her idol! He's a god!

As for Paint's dad, he's amused by the whole thing, but trusts Paint. Paint has raised his siblings and takes care of the house, he's beyond mature for his age, and so Paint's dad has faith in his choices.

Aphros did not come to the wedding with Paint, mainly because there are a lot of people, and they still aren't public as a couple. Paint stayed to see the ceremony, say hi to Gus and Nin, and then bolts to go back to Aphros.

His mother is absolutely thrilled to know he won't be coming home tonight.

After one year together, Aphros proposes to Paint in the bamboo grove, where they first saw each other. He'd been digging for bamboo shoots, and so he buried the ring box and pointed it out, making Paint dig it up.

The wedding will be delayed a year, Prapai's dad asked for the time so Paint has a chance to grow a bit before they get married. Twenty-one is a bit young to be getting married. But it doesn't matter. They live together and wear their rings, they can wait (and plan a huge wedding).

At Christmas, Aphros hosts everyone at their place. Prapai, Sky, Plerng, Sin, Phan, Orn, and his brother, his entire family together, and Paint by his side.

Pat & Pa: "SUCH an amazing sibling dynamic. They’re so supportive of each other and always there for each other, especially when it counts the most. Pat being able to confide in Pa about dating Pran at a time when he can’t confide with many others and them having gay double dates together with their respective s/o’s is sibling goals. Their little squabbles and Pa’s awful timing are so fun to watch, too. Also, just the fact that there was the whole plot line where Pat was trying to navigate his old crush on Ink with the slow realization that he has feelings for Pran, and Pa, the entire time, is just going, “Yeah, it’s totally understandable that you would have feelings for Ink, she’s just so amazing and cool and wonderful and beautiful, who wouldn’t?” before Pa realizes HER feelings for Ink. Queer disaster siblings if I’ve ever seen any!"