Chapter Text
“Khun Noppakao?”
[Do you hear me? I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying]
“Khun Noppakao?” Up called his co-star who seems to be alone with his thoughts as the broadcasting for their fan meeting just ended five minutes ago. Kao’s manager, P’Wut, asked Up to call him because they will be taking more photos to commemorate the occasion.
Kao was sitting in one of the chairs in the quiet corner of the location where the held their event… away from the bustling crowd who are eager to pack up and go home. “P’Kao?” he heard a sweet voice call him from the side.
[Boy, I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard]
He looked towards the direction of the voice and saw his partner and best friend, Up, still as energetic as if they did not wake up early, rehearsed for hours, and performed in their absolute best during the fan meeting.
Looking back to the activities they did for today; Kao could not help but smile towards the 180cm bunny and feel recharged. “What is it, Nong Up?” he asked teasingly to Up who’s only two months and 25 days younger than him.
“P’Wut is calling us,” Up answered not minding the teasing of his dear soulmate. “They want us to take a photo with the whole team.”
Kao stood up and placed his hand on Up’s shoulder for support. He would be a liar if Kao said that there wasn’t an electrifying feeling in his heart every time that we would come close to Up.
His mind would immediately go back to how dedicated and motivated this person is that he wanted to pursue and go back studying. Up played a huge role in Kao’s life that made him discover so much more about himself.
[Lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again]
“Up, are you okay with going back with Kao to the hotel?” his manager asked with knowing eyes. The managers and the other staffs will still have a last team meeting before they can go back to the hotel to rest.
Up smiled at his manager. “Yeah,” he answered. They stayed in a nearby hotel from their location the night before so that they do not have to travel so far before the fan meeting.
“Maybe we can take the Audi that I used earlier? That’s a smooth ride,” Kao said jokingly, picking up his favorite bag from the table.
The two went on their way. It was quiet drive with just the noise of the engine and the soft music from the Up’s driving playlist that ultimately suits Kao’s taste in music.
After a while, they arrived in the hotel and went up to their room. Their rooms are just next to each other. They were already in front of their hotel rooms when Up called Kao.
“Kao,” he called. “Do you want some coffee?”
[They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you, I promise you, I will]
“Sure!” Kao almost immediately answered. “Let me freshen up and I’ll knock on your room.”
After that, Up entered the room that he shares with P’Justin. It’s a little bit messy from the rush they had earlier that day. “I guess a little cleaning won’t hurt,” he thought picking up the towel and some other things that he saw lying around then putting it on his manager’s bed. He went to the bathroom to freshen up. He made a mental note to plug in the electric kettle for the coffee later.
[And so, I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair]
Kao knocked on the room 20 minutes after. Up opened the door and Kao was welcomed with the warm aroma of Up’s artisan coffee. They enjoyed the night talking about the fan meeting experience and how awesome it would be if they’ll get to do it again with live audience after the pandemic. That any many other topics that only the moon, stars and the mountain view can hear.
They wrapped up the night as their managers arrived and scolded them to rest.
---
Kao and Up did not meet each other again much for the next days aside from the morning briefing for the upcoming event. The two kept a close communication since Kao usually asks Up about the turntable the younger gave him for his birthday or something about his class that he doesn’t understand much.
Up, on the other hand, makes sure that he balances his own rest day schedule with his business and other things. He is glad that Kao messages him from time to time which serves as if he is his rest.
From curious question about his previous gift or the constant reminder of them visiting a vintage shop to buy vinyl or an inquiry about a term from his textbook feels like a breath of fresh air to Up.
[Though the breezes through the trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now]
“Great job, everyone!” shouted the director as they finish the live for the skin care brand they are endorsing. Everyone in the room clapped and congratulated each other for a successful live.
Kao and Up went to the dressing room immediately for their dinner party at DeeHup House. “Up, are you riding with us?” P’Justin asked. Up did not bring his car that day cause his manager picked him up.
“Yeah, P’Tong will be with us, right?” Up asked while changing his clothes.
“No, he’ll be riding with P’Wut,” his manager said. “They’ll be picking up the cake for P’Tee. They already went to the store so Kao will be riding with us.”
---
The ride to the office is not that long but Kao and Up took a nap to rest for a bit. P’Just looked at the rearview mirror and saw the two comfortable leaning against each other in the backseat.
They were on a stoplight when P’Just decided to snap a photo of the sleeping figures and send it to the group chat with only P’Tee, P’Boss, P’Tong and P’Wut, he uploaded it with a caption: “#JustIsJustADriver”.
---
After surprising P’Tee, singing him a birthday song, and opening his gifts, they proceeded to chat around. Since there are rooms in the office, they decided to just stay for the night since they have to work on something tomorrow.
Up took his laptop from his bag and went to one of the rooms. He opened his secret stash of snacks that he is keeping there. He plans to catch-up with some readings before he sleeps.
A knock came to his door. He was reluctant to open it. “Up? You there?” the person outside asked. Recognizing the voice, he opened the door and let the person in.
“Do you want some snacks?” he said as he invites Kao in the room.
Kao stepped inside and lay on the bed. “I’m so tired,” he said. Kao took his phone out of his pocket and checked on the time. It’s almost midnight but the elders are still having a lot of fun.
“Rest for a bit. I’m going to read some more,” Up said, taking his place again on the bed and placing his laptop on his lap to read. Meanwhile, Kao fixed his position and closed his eyes.
[Lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again]
Kao’s phone vibrated as he receives a notification from twitter. He doesn’t know why he’s getting this notification from a snacks brand so he clicked on it to see what is it about.
@pocky_th tweeted: IT’S 11.11! IT’S POCKY DAY! Tag your special friend to do the Pocky Game today!
“Up, what’s a Pocky Game?” he asked.
Up looked at him curiously. “Isn’t that the game where they eat the snack fast?”
“I just saw a tweet about it saying that 11.11 is Pocky Day,” he said. “I’m curious how that game actually goes.”
“Let’s check out how other people does it, maybe we can also try it,” Up suggested, opening his browser and searching for it on the web. Up clicked on the first random video he saw and played it.
The two focused on the screen as the host explains what they will do.
“That seems easy,” Kao commented. “They’ll measure the length left after the count, right?”
After the explanation, the couple on the screen faced each other and one of them placed one end of the snack in their mouth. The host began counting down and the other person made their way into eating the snacks making the couple go closer and closer.
Kao and Up’s face heated up as the couple’s lips touch. Up looked away and closed his laptop and Kao stood up and looked the other way.
Kao then, walked to the pile of snacks from the table and took a box of strawberry pocky.
“So… do you want to play?” he asked holding up the box of snack.
[I'm lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday]