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From the moment Lian had met Kuea Keerati he had loved him, at the tender age of seven and being an only child he finally felt like he had gotten a younger sibling. Others might think that being given the responsibility to take care of someone younger was a nuisance but he thrived in the role of being the elder brother. Everyday after school, he would stop by Kuea's house and play with him until dinnertime, he basically spent all his weekends over at their house until Kuea's parents arranged for there to be a room for him as he ended up sleeping over most nights. Their parents just found it cute how close they were to each other and even as they grew older, their bond only became stronger that even their parents frequently joked about setting up a marriage for them.
Things changed for Lian when he finally turned eighteen and his soul mark appeared, there on the side of his body in bold letters were the name Kuea Keerati, Lian had never put it in his thoughts that Kuea could ever be his soulmate. His first feelings were disbelief, in his eyes Kuea Keerati was someone he considered his little brother, all that aside, he always thought Kuea would end up soul bound to someone of a similar social class, because in spite of the fact that they had grown up together, as soon as he was old enough to understand, he was made acutely aware of the fact that he came from a family that was not as prestigious as the Keerati' s and was viewed as a flaw to a majority of people in the upper social class.
The condescending looks he got had made him very self conscious and for a period of time, he started creating some distance between himself and Kuea with him using homework as an excuse but it wasn't an excuse that could hold water for a long period of time so he did end up going back to the Keerati mansion. Kuea oblivious to Lian's avoidance of him for the past weeks smiled at him as he usually did, called him Hia and stuck to him like glue and Lian couldn't find it in himself to keep ignoring him, his resolve to maintain an acceptable distance from the young master Kuea Keerati had failed from the minute he'd looked at those innocent eyes so Lian instead resolved to be better, he started taking etiquette classes, he learnt to always keep a poker face. At the very least for the time Kuea was still young, he would make sure not to embarrass him when he attended social events , that even if people found him unworthy of being Kuea's playmate, they would never be able to complain about his manners, they would never find fault in the way he walked or talked or even ate. He could keep up this façade until Kuea grew up.
Lian genuinely believed when Kuea earnestly started socializing with other kids his own age, they will eventually grow apart and Lian was ready for that eventuality, he would stay next to Kuea as his older brother, as his Hia for as long as he would want him there and when Kuea was no longer attached to him, no longer needed him by his side Lian would quietly disappear. That was his Plan, that was what was supposed to happen but Kuea's name etched on his skin told him a different story, it told him that he was meant to spend his life with him, it told him that Kuea is his soulmate.
After the shock of learning that Kuea was his intended, Lian realized that he had to be a man worthy of being Kuea's partner for life, Kuea was still young so he had time, he had time to mold himself further into a person that people would acknowledge was a perfect match for the young master.
Lian never told anyone about his mark and over time people just regarded him as being markless and assumed he didn't have a soulmate and that suited him just fine but that would only be true for the next seven years because he knew that as soon as Kuea became of age, his name would appear on him and at that time everyone would know.
Soon after Kuea turned twelve, he moved to Sweden. His father had been appointed as an ambassador to Sweden and they had no option but to move. Lian saw them off at the airport and despite of Kuea's tears, he held strong and assured him and promised him that he would keep in touch with him. Lian didn't expect the immediate hollowness that engulfed him seeing Kuea leave. He made it back home and into the safety of his room where he eventually burst out in tears. he already missed the little kid.
Over the years, he did keep his promise, they frequently called each other and facetimed at least once a week but as Lian got more and more busy with his company, texting became the most used method of communication between them.
Then it finally happened, Kuea's eighteenth birthday and Lian was a complete nervous wreck, he tried to distract himself with work but that proved impossible he could barely concentrate. All he could think about was what Kuea's reaction would be. Kuea's call soon came.
" Hia...….why didn't you say anything? " Kuea's tone was not one he was familiar with, it was sad and accusatory, " All this time Hia, you knew we were soulmates and you didn't say a word," He questioned voice cracking. and this was not what Lian wanted, he never meant to make Kuea cry, he never wants to see Kuea in tears.
" It isn't like that Kuea, its complicated" Lian tried to explain
'Complicated how, am I embarrassing to you Hia, am I not good enough that you'd rather people think that you were markless than being mine' Kuea accused
Lian could feel himself getting more and more agitated with every word Kuea said. He had got him all wrong and listening to his emotional spiral only made Lian feel guilty. '' I'M THE ONE WHO'S EMBARASSING KUEA, I'M THE ONE WHO'S NOT WORTHY " Lian ended up shouting stopping Kuea's disparaging speech
" What are you talking about Hia, why would you not be worthy of me"
" because I'm nothing special Nu, I'm the one who's not good enough for you" Lian answered defeated
'' Hia...….."
" Just let it go Nu Kuea, we can talk about it later when we've both calmed down" Lian said then promptly hanging up the phone before hearing Kuea's answer.
Lian sighed as he put the phone down, this was for the best, he was too emotional just then. All these years of being able to tamper down his emotions and that all comes to nothing with just one questioning from Nu Kuea. Lian found it strangely amusing, Kuea was really his greatest weakness.
He decided it was better to just sleep on it and he would face Kuea tomorrow in a more relaxed manner. Lian was startled awake by his alarm as usual but what was even more surprising to him was that he was not alone in bed and before he could really freak out, he realized that the person sleeping next to him was none other than Nu Kuea, to be honest Lian thought he might be dreaming but right in font of him warm and breathing was Kuea who was supposed to be in another country right now and for a while all Lian could do was stare, had Kuea always been this beautiful.
He tried to recap in his mind The Kid he used to know to the grown up boy in front of him right now and Lian felt his heart stir. Kuea must have felt him staring because he opened up his eyes and they both ended up looking at each other, both not knowing what to say.
"What are you doing here Kuea" Lian said and he winced by how sharp he sounded.
" I thought it would be better for us to talk with each other face to face about our issue Hia, so I took the first flight here" Kuea explained voice small.
Lian didn't know what to say to that and even though it was a spur of the moment decision from Kuea to come to him, he had to agree that it was probably for the best.
"Okay but it's still early now, you must be tired' go back to sleep, we can talk later"
" Isn't Hia going to work later? " Kuea asked nervously
"I'll take the day off today, I'll still be here when you wake up, so don't worry and go back to sleep" Lian answered gently.
Kuea must have been satisfied with that answer as he just snuggled into Lian just like he used to when they were younger and soon enough Lian heard his breathing slow meaning he'd fallen right back to sleep. He sent a quick message to his secretary informing him taking the day off then just like in the past he hugged Kuea close to himself and got some extra sleep in.
The sun was shining brightly by the time Lian woke up next and seeing as Kuea was still soundly asleep next to him, he extricated himself as slowly as possible so as not to wake him and went to the kitchen to make some food for them. Kuea soon came downstairs while he was frying the eggs and Lian couldn't help but do a double take when he saw him. In his eyes Kuea looked like he was glowing, had he always looked like this. Lian felt like he was seeing him for the first time. Too adorable, too cute , so pretty that was all that was running through his head. Kuea was also staring at him fascinatedly and Lian realized that he was staring at his soulmate mark
Kuea moved looking almost hypnotized closer to him and tentatively brushed his fingers across Lian's side, tracing his name almost reverently.
Lian was frozen solid, the minute Kuea started touching him, he felt like his skin was on fire with every brush of Kuea's fingers. All of his senses had zeroed in only on Kuea.
Kuea's scent, Kuea's skin, Kuea's touch. He felt like he was going insane . Was he even breathing. He couldn't hear himself breathe. All he could hear was how loud his heart was pounding and Kuea must be able too because Kuea looked up at him.
The first touch of their lips immediately sent sparks all over his body. It was clear from their clumsy movements that they were both new to this but Lian could care less , it still felt amazing and from the sounds Kuea was making when he deepened the kiss, it must feel just as good for him too.
Was this how it felt to be in close contact with your soulmate when the both of you were aware of your connection? because Lian was suddenly bombarded with all these feelings and sensations that he had never felt before. All of that boiled down to one thing that was becoming increasingly clear to Lian.
Lian wanted Kuea, he wanted all of HIM , he wanted to make him his even more than he already was, he wanted to kiss every part of Kuea's body, he wanted to taste every part of him, he wanted to touch every inch of his body, he wanted to bring Kuea to the heights of pleasure and have him only moan out his name. He wanted to cherish him, to spoil him , to mold him to only crave his touch.
'Nu Kuea..... We need to stop" he said breathlessly While separating himself from Kuea
"Why? don't you want this Hia? " Kuea practically whined
"I do, god I do, but we need to talk first Nu" I explained
"Okay, fine, whatever" Kuea said pouting grumpily going to take a seat and making Lian chuckle a little. He'd forgotten how much of a brat Kuea could be.
Lian then finished making their breakfast and set it on the table. The air was still a bit awkward while they ate given the earlier events and they found it hard to look each other in the face.
"I wasn't born rich" Lian started, " I'm the son of an ice vendor and I'm not from an aristocratic family, in the eyes of society, no matter how impressive I become, I'm not worthy of you Nu Kuea"
" I don't care about those things Hia, I only care about what you think. I'm also not as good as you. Hia is successful, Hia is super handsome, Hia could have anyone he wanted. To be honest with you I'm in love with you, I've always been in love with you but I could tell that to you I was only a little brother and I was satisfied with that Hia, I was satisfied that even in that way I could still keep on seeing you. " Kuea said smiling sadly
"Nu Kuea...."
" Let me finish Hia, Do you know how happy I was when you said you were markless, I was always worried that I would have to grow up and see you happy with some other person who might be destined for you, it tore me up inside just thinking about it and then my mark appeared and it was you, I was so happy, it was like all my dreams had come true but then I realized that somewhere on you, you had my name too. I was devastated all over again. Hia must not want me, that was the only explanation but then I called you and you said you weren't worthy of me and all I could think of was that it wasn't true. You have a successful business, you meet impressive people all the time, people who are better than me, people that deserve you more than I do Hia" Kuea said teary eyed
" Everything I have belongs to you Kuea, the company, my assets, they're all meant for you. I worked hard because I knew when you became of age you'd know that I was your soulmate and as soon as you found out everyone else would too. I wanted to be good enough for you, I wanted to be successful and wealthy so that no one would say that I can't take care of you" Lian said gently
"We're both idiots then" Kuea finally said breaking the heavy atmosphere
They both laughed and this time the kiss was soft, it was reassuring, it was a kiss that was basically a confirmation of their feelings for each other
'Then Nu Kuea, are you willing to be with this ice vendor's son, I'll do my best to take care of you and be a man worthy of the young master Kuea Keerati" Lian said looking into Kuea's eyes
"The answer is always yes Hia, its always gonna be yes for you... I love you "
" I love you too Nu"