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If Tian can say anything, maybe, if Phupha's heart is available in an auction, Tian is willing to pay for it at any price.
If Tian has something to confess, then yes, he does not say this often, but he is in love with Phupha. The sense of having the ranger all to himself can be overwhelming most of the time, and it scares him too, but some things do not require a reason or explanation.
Phupha is, in fact, one of those priceless things.
And if Tian is honest with himself, sometimes, his choices in life are rather childish, carefree, hasty and unfiltered, as affirmed by Phupha.
But Tian cannot help it, though. He has been growing up in the city far too long with no exposure to the welcoming sun and the cooling breeze of the countryside. It is not his fault that nature has so much to offer, especially in Pha Pun Dao. There are so many undiscovered roads; tea leaves to sniff and run his fingers through, still, so many stars left in solitude, waiting for them to count, and so many secret hideouts that Phupha has not yet introduced to him.
There are still so many possibilities that Tian wants to embark on with Phupha, to defy gravity and test the endless boundaries. Whatever they are doing right now is just a beginning, a life-changing start.
"Tian, slow down! You will fall again if you keep running like this!" Phupha alarmingly warns as they are stepping on the wet and slippery rocks of the waterfall.
Their fingers are perfectly entwined, adjoined together in the most heart-fluttering knot Tian has ever witnessed. Phupha's fingers are covering his slightly smaller ones- somewhat a parallel universe to the world they are living in, where the latter protects him from the cruel world with his pretty smile, sparkling eyes and cute, endearing chuckles.
His face scrunches up into a sour worry, and Tian wants to cease all those wrinkles with a kiss or two, but he is feeling playful now, so he does what he does best.
"Chief! You need to let loose for a moment! Do not be so uptight!" Tian answers cheekily. The remnants of laughter tingle his lips as he pulls Phupha closer and further into the waterfall. He splashes the cold water to Phupha's taut face- in hopes to untie the ribbon of strictness in his stiff body, allowing those sturdy walls to crumble for once.
Tian feels amazing, alive like oxygen is pumping into his lungs without a stop as the frown on Phupha's face transforms into a smile, so beautiful and glimmering. The stream under their feet twinkles, the sun is hot, but the water is so cold, and Phupha's smile mimics the butter on a hot toast. So rich and oozing, and Tian wants it all to himself.
Phupha catches him in his arms, pushes their bodies together into the water, and Tian screams in a pleasant surprise. They are both submerged into the water, the frozen-like icicles pecking their skin, and Phupha laughs boisterously this time. Tian wants the ranger to laugh like this for eternity.
The elder stops his next move, holding the sides of Tian's arms ardently as he whispers, "You are lucky that I love you," and with those words uttered earnestly, Tian falls deeper and harder into this neverending wormhole.
Phupha runs his calloused fingers through Tian's wet hair, straightening the curled up strands and massages his scalp once, twice, thrice. His eyes sparkle when Tian hums in a tuneful content, and when he rests his forehead against his chest, Tian exhales a long sigh, fondly he says, "I am lucky."
The torrent continues to flow, but Tian finds his love significantly stagnant, pooling around Phupha, whirling in a concoction of adoration and out-of-breath, and he hopes it will remain the same until time stops ticking for them.
Water drips from their clothes after their impromptu swim at the waterfall, leaving trails of their existence on a field of green grass and vast muddy roads.
They are now resting in Tian's house for the afternoon. After changing into a new set of clean clothes, the ranger's smile reflected from the mirror, and Tian finally finds the courage to plant a soft kiss on Phupha's cheeks.
The expression on Phupha's face makes him laugh; wide-eyed, mouth hanging agape, scarlet dusting his golden cheeks delicately. It is a win for Tian then- he took the latter by surprise.
"I wanted to do that for quite some time," he clarifies sheepishly. The unrelenting confidence once flowing in his system subsides as the smile on Phupha's face blooms majestically.
He approaches Tian with careful, well-calculated steps and pulls him into his muscular arms skillfully. His arms circle his waist, and Tian knows this is a place where he rightfully belongs, "I would prefer if you kiss me on the lips, though."
If Tian is honest with himself, Phupha is fully responsible for his thundering heartbeat and the stupidly-in-love smile on his face.
The ranger smiles, warmer this time; his eyes are gleaming with love that melts his heart into a puddle of goo. Tian believes he is the luckiest man on the earth to have someone looking at him the way Phupha does.
A delicate kiss lands on his forehead, long and unwavering, and it is perfect.
Phupha takes the opportunity to fetch a simple lunch for them both; hot rice, Khama's wife most famous Aeb Ong Ow, a bowl of vegetable soup and two cups of lukewarm coffee.
Tian munches down the food with gusto- one time or another, he chokes on the rice, but Phupha is always there to help him.
"Tian!" Phupha calls dejectedly. His tone is almost father-like, and he can only laugh at his silliness. "Slow down. Chew your food properly," Phupha eases the hurt from excessive coughing by retrieving a glass of cold water that Tian gulps down in one go.
He picks a grain of rice at the corner of Tian's lips, wipes the trickle of soup on his chin and licks his fingers afterwards, all the while looking into Tian's eyes questioningly.
Tian feels his cheeks warming up, crimson painting down to his neck, but the sensation leaves butterfly-like engravings on his skin, electrifying zaps awaken his heart and sending them to a marathon.
"Okay, chief," he answers, breathless, but he does not show it. At least, he tried, but Phupha soon flashes his infamous smile-smirk at him.
"I know your love for their Aeb Ong Ow comes second. So, you do not have to worry. I am not going to finish it, Tian. You can have them all," he teases, and Tian lights up even brighter than before.
He punches Phupha on his chest hard, "How do you know my love for Aeb Ong Ow comes second? How can you be so sure?"
Phupha smirks, and he looks gorgeous this way, "Of course, I know, Tian. You love me the most. I am in the first place, indefinitely."
Tian hates how Phupha is right. He hates how his heart is betraying him. I thought you were supposed to back me up, dear heart?
"You are just so lucky that I-"
"Love you?" Phupha challenges, always getting on his nerves, always giving him more reasons to fall for him.
"I do," he finishes his statement suavely and resumes chewing the last spoonful of rice into his mouth.
Tian tries to fight back the grin, ignore the flower buds tickling his ribcage, but he is hopeless that way, utterly helpless when it comes to Phupha.
When their journey resumes and they are in the sea of aromatic tea leaves, Tian takes his time to appreciate Phupha's beauty.
Under the sun, Phupha shines the brightest, and under the stars, Phupha lustres in streaks of silver; he is so mesmerizing, and no matter how much he looks at him, there is always something new to explore, something new to adore.
Tian pulls Phupha, running across the rows of lush tea leaves with childlike giggles and innocent love, relishing the wind seeping into their shirts and skin, bowing respectfully at the villagers collecting the leaves. The smile on their face is all-knowing and understanding. There is a massive growth of pride in Tian's heart after knowing that even the villagers know just how much Tian and Phupha cannot be separated. It feels pleasant, and Tian is no longer afraid to show his love for Phupha out in the open.
As the sun glides to the horizon, at the hour of twilight, Phupha envelops Tian into a back hug, resting his chin on the crown of his head as the evening breeze sends chill up to their spine.
Tian suddenly feels a gush of emotion that makes his heart mushy, "Chief, can we stay like this forever?"
"Hm?"
He turns around to face Phupha. His fingers are busy trailing feather-like marks on the ranger's neck, down to his clothed chest, gliding to his forearms and intertwines their fingers anew.
The moment feels so right.
The sun stays on the left side of Phupha's face, casting a shadow to his right, highlighting the caramel of his skin, and Phupha's facial expression looks so tender and inviting. Tian closes the nonexistent distance between them and kisses Phupha on the lips.
He has kissed those lips countless times, but his heart still pounds as ruthlessly and profound akin to the first time their pilgrims met. It is still so flawless and takes away his prudence entirely.
When he breaks their long kiss, his eyes immediately searches for Phupha; his heart yearns for an answer, a confirmation, validation that he is not the only one experiencing this groundbreaking euphoria.
Phupha's eyes dilated entirely, enormous ebony irises are sparkling, and he looks as blown away as Tian. He laughs.
"Chief," Tian calls, laughing for no exact reason.
"Why are you laughing, Tian?"
He looks up, "I do not know, chief," Tian answers sincerely, "I am happy, that is all." You make me so happy.
Tian wants Phupha to smile like this forever- blinding, dazzling, and in love.
"I am happy too," Phupha pulls him into his embrace again, his home. "So happy," He whispers into his hair, and those words bleed into his system, stays in his heart for a long time.
As darkness covers the sky, the blatant spheroid loitering prettily, the moon beaming its rays to the face of the earth, Tian wants Phupha to know that amid the world full of price tags and uncertainties, his love for Phupha is definite, and his heart is not for sale. At least, only to Phupha, it is.