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“Oi, Khun Chai.”
Wave rolls his eyes at the nickname and even moreso at the person saying it. Lava has started calling him that nickname ever since he messed up doing laundry and spilling a whole box of detergent on just a few handfuls of dirty laundry. (Wave was so tempted to throw that bloody underwear right at Lava’s face if he wasn’t indebted to him and his Uncle’s care after they found him washed up by the shortline).
“Don’t act like you didn’t hear me, khun chai.”
Wave isn’t sure what he’s more annoyed by, the fact that Lava is giving him that nickname out of spite or that… It holds a heavier truth to it that he’s been trying to hide.
“Khun Chai.”
He felt several pokes on his back and he guesses he can no longer ignore the menace, “What?”
“I’m going to the resorts. Uncle asked me to bring an extra first aid kit to the Full Moon party happening over at the beach. Doc Wut is supposed to be ‘on duty’ for medical emergencies but I bet he’s just partying it up there with uncle…” Lava trails off, crossing his arms and letting out a huff.
“Okay? Goodbye?” Wave raised a curious brow at him as if asking why Lava is telling all these details to him.
“You’re coming with me.” Lava says a matter of factly, quirking a brow back at Wave.
Wave ignores the demand and simply walks past him but Lava has already grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back, “I said you're coming with me. Who knows what you'll break in this house if I leave you be.”
“Do you not always complain that you have no space for yourself because your Uncle tasked you to stay with me? This is your chance to be free for the evening.” Wave crosses his arms over his chest, showing his stubborn refusal.
Lava grimaces at Wave's formal way of speaking. Lava sometimes wonders if he’s come from an overly obnoxious billionaire family to speak like… well… royalty.
“No.” Lava said with pure bullheadedness, jerking Wave even closer to him.
“Lava, let go. It's late and we had a long day catching fish. I am tired and I am not interested in riding through the dark, unlit road to get to resorts…..” Wave trailed off before a grin slowly appeared on his lips, amusement swimming in his eyes.
“You're scared. Aren’t you?” A little laugh slips past Wave's lips.
“You're scared over Nong Panya's story about a ghost roaming the rice fields at night. Every time there is a full moon. Especially when everyone else is by the beaches partying and the rice fields are empty.”
Then Wave’s voice fell into a slow and eerie tone, capable of giving goosebumps to anyone who listens, “Except for that lady in white always seen to be floating over the rice paddies… Whose body was mysteriously found stabbed many years ago. Nobody knows who she is and who killed her… But she has a vengeance… Waiting by empty roads to find the person who killed her.. Waiting for anyone unlucky enough to pass by the fields at night…”
Lava swallows thickly, blinking nervously a couple of times, palms going clammy and feeling his face losing colour.
The amusement twinkling in Wave’s eyes got him clenching his jaw in fake boldness, “Who-.. who’d be scared of some story to scare little kids?”
Wave gives him a playful shrug, a teasing smirk on his face.
Lava simply ignored Wave’s annoying dimple that showed while he was giving him a mocking grin and simply pushed a helmet to his chest. Hard.
Wave grunted and his smirk turned into a scowl as he rubbed at where the helmet hit his chest.
“You owe me your life so you have no choice.” Lava simply pushed the helmet to Wave again before grabbing the first aid kit and making his way out of the house. With a grunt and a roll of his eyes, Wave took the helmet and followed Lava out of the house..
Wave watches Lava mount his bike, face set but knuckles turning white from gripping the handlebars too hard.
“Just admit you’re too afraid to drive through the rice paddies alone.”
“I’m more worried about leaving you here by yourself. Who knows if you’ll burn the house down trying to heat up rice.”
Lava takes the helmet from Wave’s hands and before Wave could give another resounding complaint, Lava has already put the helmet over his head and was closing in to clasp the straps under his chin with it being too dark out.
“I-.. I can put a helmet on myself just fine.” Wave pushes at Lava’s shoulders to which the latter smirks before placing his own helmet over his head.
Wave could only click his tongue before taking a seat behind Lava on the motorbike. No other words were exchanged as the bike roared to life, the noise echoing out into the dead of the night as they drove out into the main street.
Some of the locals might have turned in early for the night, probably believing the urban legend or just merely wanting to avoid the drunk crowd of tourists coming from the parties who booked accommodation deeper into the town than the beaches. It indeed was empty as they reached the long, dark, unlit road nestled between two rice paddies on each side.
“Hold on.” Lava suddenly murmured firmly but loud enough for Wave to hear over the humming engine.
Wave leaned forward, arms snaking around Lava’s waist as he pressed his chest against the broad back in front of him, “Aww does being this close make Khun Lave feel braver?”
The smirk on his voice annoyed Lava a lot but even with how warm the chest on his back is, Lava shivered at the contact.
As the motorbike rolled into the night, the rice fields reflected like liquid silver as the full moon shone over it. It was only them coursing through the road, the only other light coming from Lava’s motorbike.
Soon enough the music from the beach got closer and more lights were coming into view. They left the more rural rice field area of the island and drove into the more urbanised side until they finally reached the sandy resorts lining the beaches.
“We made it.” Lava had momentarily shed off his brave facade, letting out a sigh before a chuckle was heard behind him. He stiffened and looked back to see Wave’s annoying, dimpled smile, “Shut up!”
Wave simply shrugged and got off the motorbike so Lava could park it in the back kitchens behind one of the resort bars.
“I just gotta find Uncle and Doc Wut. Come on, khun chai. Can’t have you getting lost all by yourself in this massive crowd..”
Lava took him by the arm, dragging Wave towards the beaches where stages were lined up blasting various kinds of music — EDM, techno, hip hop, Thaipop..
Throngs of people, tourists, and locals working the resorts. Hundreds of them with glowing paint on their faces and skin, the strobing lights illuminating them in neon. The crowd was shouting and dancing, couples were kissing, all on their way to getting drunk out of their wits and some already close to passing out. Flames would emerge every now to light up the area as fire dancers blew and spun poi on stage.
Across the beaches, lines of food stalls and resort bars also blasted their own music, with their own crowd of people pooled together, possibly wanting a more enclosed space than the more chaotic open space in the beach.
“That’s… a lot of people.” Wave almost feels too overwhelmed with everything happening and yet he is also mesmerised by everything around him.
“Welcome to the jungle.” Lava snorted and without thinking about it, he took Wave’s hand in his, calloused fingers gripping the softer ones as he led the younger one through the traffic of people who were still roaming around instead of partying.
“Uncle said they have a makeshift stall for medical volunteers by Drop-In Bar.”
Wave merely nods even if Lava wouldn’t see. The other one was too focused, squeezing through bodies of people going against their path, grip strong around Wave’s hand as he navigated them well enough so Wave could easily follow without difficulty.
“LAVA!” Uncle Pheng’s voice was loud enough over the bass of the music of the nearby bar.
They both turned towards the voice and saw Uncle Phen waving them over. Doctor Wut was definitely next to him along with other volunteers wearing hi-vis vests. It was a funny in a way as even if they’re meant to be medical volunteers, their vests matched the overall glow in the dark vibes of the festivities.
For some odd reason it seemed as if the medical booth had some invisible bubble around it as the party goers visibly tried not to go near it at all. Probably just trying to avoid manifesting they’d ever need the services lest it disrupts their partying. It makes it easier for them as Lava pulls them over to the booth, handing the first aid kit to one of the volunteers.
As Lava and his uncle exchanged a few words, Wave continues looking around the big beach party in front of him. He has never seen such chaos looking so… fun.
He has been brought up going to banquets, recitals, and formal political events. Birthday parties had him wearing his royal attires. Luncheons had him in layers of formalwear. Dinner parties had him wearing tuxedos and blackties.
These events were held in ballrooms or the palace itself. Dancing was a staged choreography from years of learning ballroom dances. Music came from either a live orchestra, a string quartet or him playing the piano to show his gift and grandeur.
He drank wine and champagne. He had partaken in various international cuisines presented on the finest china. He was taught to eat and drink using both western and eastern courtesies.
This madness was something he had never seen before. And yet, the crowd was enjoying it and having fun. Doing their own thing. Wild and untamed. No formalities, no rigid choreography, no strict dress codes, no dignified postures.
It felt.. Freeing.
As he looked on, enchanted by the scene in front of him, he didn't see the way Uncle Pheng had nudged and elbowed Lava then jerked his chin towards him. The two had shared a silent understanding before Lava said his goodbye to the older and the doctor.
Soon enough Lava was beside him again, chuckling in his ear, “You look like you’re watching the National Geographic documentaries.”
“You did call this a jungle. I was appreciating the… farce.” Wave reasoned, interest evident in his eyes.
“You’ve never partied, have you?”
Wave didn’t bother pretending. He shook his head honestly, “Not like this.. Nothing like this at all. This one? It’s… quite extreme.”
Lava grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the nearest resort club, “That’s it. You’re dancing.”
“Huh?!” Wave reacts in a panic but Lava has already brought them into Drop In Bar which was merely separated from the main beach by some bamboo fencing and being known by the local owners already, Lava and Wave skipped past the bouncers easily.
Lava led them over to the table right along the drinks bar where glow in the dark paint tubes were clattered all over before he held Wave by the shoulders, caging him against the edge of the table.
“Let the maestro do the work for you.” And before Wave could protest, Lava had already brushed two lines of red paint on both sides of his cheeks, then softly and tenderly drew what seems to be a heart where Wave’s dimple hid.
“Not looking so out of place anymore, khun chai.” Wave watches the smile grow on Lava’s face and that Wave feels a smile growing on his, mirroring the one he’s seeing.
Lava handed him a yellow glowing paint tube and Wave didn’t hesitate to squeeze some paint on his finger, drawing a long line all along Lava’s face from one side, over his nose all the way to the other side. Not done with this work, Wave dipped his fingers into a few more colours and dotted an array of colourful dots on top of the golden line.
“Happy?” Lava raised a brow with a smirk, amused at the happy little smile looking so pleased with his own artwork.
Lava looked behind him and caught the eyes of one of the locals working the bar that Wave recognised and immediately two glasses were offered to him.
Lava handed one of the glasses to Wave, “Coconut rum with coke. It’s probably not like the fancy wine you’re used to but it’s free and it gets the buzz going to deal with the crazy in this place.”
Lava downs the whole thing in one big gulp and Wave follows but his palate is not used to this mix of beverage that he nearly spats out the first sip he took. But seeing Lava’s teasing smirk triggered his competitiveness and with a pinch to his nose, also took the drink in one go.
“Great. Let’s go!” Again, before Wave could even get his bearings, he was already dragged into the middle of the horde of partygoers dancing along to the blasting music.
At first it was disorienting. People bumped into him, some couples were kissing against his back, strangers were trying to offer him drinks which he kept declining, some were cheering for no reason and Wave was feeling too much sensory overload.
But Lava’s hands that remained around his wrist felt warm and..
“Relax.” Lava leaned close into his ear, feeling a gentle hand tap his hip, “The rum will kick in soon but just relax. Feel the rhythm and just move. Don’t think too much.”
And so he did. Wave looked into Lava’s eyes and found himself grounded on the eye contact, slowly loosening up and finding the rhythm of the EDM music. It’s music he hasn’t paid attention to before. Not even aware it exists but he is slowly appreciating as his body moves along to the beat.
Lava cheered successfully next to him and he laughed as he starts jumping up and down when the beat drops and is slowly finding the fun in just letting his body move as it wills without thinking of any learned choreography.
He let his hips sway, threw his head back, let his hair fall over his eyes, raised his arms and went along with the thump of each beat.
In the middle of them dancing, their bodies kept bumping into each other. Each brush of their skins sends a ripple up Wave’s spine and whenever he loses his balance, Lava throws an arm around his shoulder to steady him and Wave feels little flutters in his stomach.
Probably just the rum.
It was exhilarating, intoxicating and thrilling. He spun around, absorbed in the swirling madness of the Full Moon party until he accidentally stumbled against someone and the next thing he knew, Lava was gone from his sight.
He looked around in a panic, people bumping into him without a care as they continued dancing as the crowd engulfed him and he felt caged. Wave kept pushing forward where he could find an inch of space between bodies, the faces a blur, the music becoming deafening.
He felt hands grab him in an attempt to talk, flirt, offer a drink, help? He doesn’t know. It all felt unfamiliar and he pulled back every time, closing his arms in on himself.
“Lava???” Wave’s turned to shouting out his name now. It was futile. The noise of the music and crowd drowned out his plea for help but he didn't stop.
“Lava?!” He keeps calling out even when he’s closed his eyes, hands over his ears, letting strangers jostle him, flinching at every contact until a hand grabs his wrist.
Calloused. Rough. Familiar. Steady. Safe.
Lava.
“Wave! Are you okay?” His hair was tousled, chest heaving, face flushed but eyes full of worry.
Wave didn’t answer, merely grabbed for Lava, burying himself against the strong chest. He felt an arm wrap around his waist and a hand resting on his hair.
“You’re fine. I’m sorry I lost you. I’m here now. Breathe.” Lava coaxes him to calm down, the hand on his hair now rubbing up and down his back to relax him, “I’m here, Wave. You’re safe now.”
They didn’t leave the middle of the crowd despite the ongoing partying around them. Instead, Lava has started swaying them side by side, pulling him into a different kind of dance.. Slow and gentle.
The music continued to drop beats, the bass resonating out into the open air but Wave felt all the panic dissipate and the chaos became nonexistent as he stayed in Lava’s arms.
They probably looked silly, rocking into a slow dance despite the wild partying around them but they hardly cared. They were each others’ focus as Lava continued to hold Wave protectively against him while Wave tuned out the noises around him, feeling the echo of the beats against Lava’s strong chest.
Wave lifts his head up and catches Lava’s eyes. Without a beat, Lava rested his forehead on Wave’s, noses brushing.
“You found me. Again.”
Lava lets out a small chuckle and despite the noise, Wave still heard it.
“Seems like a common theme, huh?”
They both giggle at the implication. When Lava first found him, Wave was near the brink of drowning.
And again, Lava found Wave when he was in a predicament. Where Wave thinks he’ll get lost, Lava continues to find him. Save him.
As the night wore on, the partying getting messier, the music louder… It all felt like a far away world from Wave despite being in the middle of it all.
He just knew one thing; with Lava, he was always safe.
And maybe for the first time in his life, he found where he wanted to be the most. Where he wanted to stay.
It wasn’t back in the palace. It wasn’t in the places he ran off to often to hide from his royal duties. It wasn’t in Uncle Pheng’s house. It wasn’t in the room he shared with Lava.
It wasn’t any of those because for the moment, he knows exactly where he wants to remain; in Lava’s arms.