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Khun was humming to himself as he was standing at the back of the restaurant, in the kitchen, slowly prepping things for the day. The restaurant still wasn’t open for a couple of hours that day and he decided to jump in and help his parents out since they were running a couple of errands that day.
His parents owned a Pad Thai restaurant.
It wasn’t really something that Khun saw himself doing in the future, but it was a family owned business, so he really didn’t mind jumping in to help his parents out from time to time. Besides, it wasn’t so bad. Cooking was something that came natural to Khun, he had been doing it ever since he was a little boy, always helping his mom and dad in the kitchen, learning plenty of recipes from them, so getting the kitchen ready for the day wasn’t really something that he saw as a burden.
Khun liked it – he was completely alone in the restaurant, it was perhaps his favourite part of the whole thing. The customers were soon going to flood in, the quiet restaurant was soon going to be noisy and he chewed on his lower lip as he was still cleaning the counters before he got ready to start preparing the vegetables.
Peeling, cutting, slicing – all of that.
But, the main reason behind his smile was because he knew where he was going later. Once his parents returned back, he was going to go to see hia, he was going to be practicing with him that day yet again and he feel all giddy and happy on the inside because that was something that he really wanted to be doing in his life.
Learning the lion dance.
It’s been something he had wished to do ever since he was younger, but now he actually had a chance to learn a few things. He had been teaching himself in the privacy of his own home, but this was different. Now, he was dancing with Earn, always practicing with him and he felt… Happy.
Happier than ever.
Humming along, a shy smile spread across his face and his cheeks turned a bit rosy when he thought about Earn, chewing on his lower lip and he sighed, shaking his head because he needed to focus.
Khun was slowly washing the vegetables when he heard a little knock on the front door and he narrowed his eyes because he wasn’t expecting anyone. If it was his parents, they would step into the restaurant from the back – the back door was unlocked, but the front door was still locked, the Closed sign still hanging there.
They weren’t opening the restaurant for at least two hours, rubbing his forehead, quickly wiping his hands into his apron.
“We’re still closed, na?” yelled Khun, but then he realised that the person standing outside couldn’t really hear him, so he decided to check out who it really was, hurrying to the front.
However, when he stepped to the front of the restaurant, he narrowed his eyes and then his eyes doubled in size when he saw who was standing in front of the door. Through the glass door he could see Earn.
Khun’s heart leaped to his throat and he quickly hurried to the door, now in a hurry to unlock it, pressing his lips together because he could tell that something was wrong.
Earn looked tense.
His face was red, sweat rolling down the sides of his face and his breathing was laboured. It was clear that he was already practicing and he pursed his lips together – Earn was practicing without him? Khun wanted to pout, but he decided to let it slide since there were more oppressing matters on hand.
Earn’s shoulders were drawn up, he was tense.
Something definitely happened.
Trouble with Earn’s dad, again?
It wouldn’t be the first time that it happened – Earn had mentioned it a couple of times how much pressure his old man put him under, expecting way too much from him.
Earn was supposed to take over one day, but the thing was… The man never really asked or seemed to care if that was something that Earn wanted as well, always putting this pressure on him and Khun really wished that he could do something to help him.
It wasn’t fair.
The door quickly unlocked and Khun opened the door.
“Hia Earn?” asked Khun, licking across his lower lip. “Are you okay?”
Earn glanced at him, his eyes unfocused and lips were pressed together, forming a thin line and he gritted his teeth. Still, one glance at Khun and his shoulders sagged a little bit, his face softening up just a little bit.
“Sorry,” muttered Earn. “I… I know you’re not open yet.”
“Earn-”
“Can I come in?” asked Earn, the sheer desperation clear in his voice and Khun felt his heart wavering a little bit, but he quickly nodded.
“Of course,” said Khun, his voice soft. “You don’t have to be sorry, hia,” he said with smile and Earn’s eyes lit up a little bit as he slowly stepped inside when Khun held the door wide open for him.
Earn was always welcome there, he was aware.
Khun’s parents were warm, always so welcoming.
Earn sucked in a deep breath, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he stepped deeper into the restaurant, Khun closing and locking the door behind them. Khun trailed after him in silence, his eyes on the other. This wasn’t the first time that he had seen Earn looking like this.
Earn didn’t really usually show it, but whenever he was around Khun, he couldn’t really pretend. The pressure got to him yet again and he went to the only place that really helped – Khun.
Khun was coming later to train with him, but Earn couldn’t wait that long, so he decided to go over to the restaurant right away, now standing in the middle of the empty restaurant, realising that he was probably in the way. Khun was busy, so he needed to…
“Please, sit down,” said Khun instead and Earn looked over his shoulder.
“You’re not busy?”
Khun shook his head.
“No,” said Khun and pointed to the chair that was closer to Earn. “Sit, I’ll get you something to drink. It will help you to cool off.”
Earn slowly nodded along and slowly sat down onto the chair, his foot tapping against the floor as he watched Khun disappear in the back, but he was soon back – with a glass and a bottle of water. A smile tugged in the corners of Earn’s lips when he saw the other one.
Khun was still wearing his apron, which looked a bit oversized on him.
It was perfect. It made him look even more adorable, closing his eyes as he slowly began to calm down. He offered the bottle to Earn, who thanked him, opened it up and poured himself a glass, which he emptied right away and Khun slowly sat down next to him.
“Hia, what-”
Earn shook his head.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Earn and Khun felt his heart sinking. “It’s the same old, nothing new. I just… I needed to see you. Is that okay?”
Khun smiled, dropped his gaze and he nodded.
“Mmm, okay,” said Khun as he didn’t push further than this. He knew what was going on, so he didn’t ask. He knew enough, slowly scooting closer to him with his chair and he wondered if… Maybe Earn wanted to eat something? He loved cooking for him, feeling his cheeks reddening a bit.
“Can I cook for you, then?” asked Khun out of the blue and Earn shook his head.
“You don’t have to,” said Earn. “You’re probably busy-”
“But, I want to,” stressed Khun. “I’m kind of hungry, too, so it would be for the both of us?”
Earn slowly nodded along.
To be honest? He wanted that as well, yes. Whenever Khun cooked for him, he could feel all the love that the other one put into his cooking. He wished he was better at cooking himself, because the things Khun prepared for him were always wonderful. Khun always knew how to take care of him, while Earn wasn’t that…
“Okay,” said Earn.
Khun smiled and leaned closer to him, his bright eyes dancing all over his face.
“Can I help?”
Khun smiled and kissed the tip of his nose.
“Wait here, I’ll be fast,” said Khun.
“But-”
“Hia, listen to me, okay?” asked Khun and Earn dropped his gaze, but he nodded and leaned back in his chair as he waited, Khun hurrying to the back.
Khun looked like he was in a hurry, Earn’s smile finally reaching his eyes as he watched him, shaking his head a little bit as he slowly let himself just sit there and take everything in. Earn sighed along and listened to the sizzling coming from the back, Khun humming a melody of a song, which worked soothing and Earn finally calmed down properly.
Inside of the restaurant, he could breathe.
The pressure and expectations couldn't hurt him here.
The knot in his chest loosened and by the time that Khun came walking out, carrying two plates of food, Earn felt much better. He waited for Khun to place two plates of steaming food down, placing down the cutlery as well and Earn smiled as he looked down.
“Wow,” commented Earn.
“It’s just noodles, nothing special,” muttered Khun, suddenly looking a bit flustered. “I made it the way you like it, though.”
Earn’s smile got wider.
“Yeah?”
“Mmmm,” sighed Khun. “Not too spicy, just like you like it.”
Earn sighed and took the plate closer, pressing his lips together.
“Thank you,” sighed Earn, Khun sitting down next to him and Earn hummed along as he took the first bite of the food. Just on a small bite and he smiled already – Khun’s food was comforting and warm, much like him. It tasted good, swallowing and he looked over to Khun, who was now waiting.
Hands on top of his lap, fiddling with the apron.
“It’s amazing,” sighed Earn and Khun’s face lit up.
“Is it, really?” asked Khun and Earn nodded.
“Mmm. So good, the best,” said Earn and Khun ducked his head lower, his eyes on the other one as he continued eating.
With each bite, Earn’s body loosened up even more.
Khun and Earn ate in silence, Khun’s eyes on Earn the entire time and he knew it. He could feel the quiet worry in Khun’s eyes, slowly smiling as he glanced at him and he shook his head, leaning closer as he placed his hand over Khun’s, who flinched and then smiled.
“I’m fine, I promise,” said Earn.
“I… I know,” whispered Khun.
“Being with you like this is all I need, na?” asked Earn and smiled when he felt Khun linking their fingers together, hands still resting on the table, but Khan was leaning closer. He didn’t have to say anything, but his face felt warm and his heart was pounding in his chest.
“I like coming here,” said Earn. “This place always calms me down.”
Khun bit into his lower lip.
“I’m glad I can be the source of your comfort, hia,” whispered Khun shyly and Earn smiled, leaning closer as he gently cupped his face and pressed their foreheads together.
“I wish I could be the same for you,” said Earn and Khun quickly shook his head.
“You are,” said Khun right away.
“Really?”
“Really!” stated Khun and Earn chuckled.
So cute.
Khun smiled – what was so funny, now?!
“What’s so funny, mn?”
Earn shook his head and gently ruffled his hair.
“Nothing, you’re just really cute right now,” said Earn and Khun huffed.
“I’m always cute, hia,” said Khun seriously and Earn couldn’t help it anymore, smiling softly as he leaned closer, pressing their lips together.
It started as slow, soft – Earn gently brushing his lips against Khun’s, who quickly responded by kissing him back, tipping his head to the side as he leaned closer, his hands now gently holding Earn’s neck, but his fingers were soon getting buried into his hair, gently pulling as Earn pressed into the kiss again.
Longer.
Deeper.
Needier.
Khun whimpered when he felt Earn’s hands on his hips, toying with the apron now and he felt himself getting dizzy when those hands pulled him closer, following the lead. Khun soon found himself sitting on top of hia Earn, looking down at him and Earn’s smile got even brighter when he saw the flush upon his cheeks, pulling him closer again, kissing him once more.
Earn’s arms were now on his waist, pulling him closer and Khun sighed happily as he deepened the kiss slightly, breaking the kiss when he needed to get more air into his lungs, their foreheads still pressed together and he gulped as he found those eyes on him again.
“Hia,” whimpered Khun softly.
Earn’s heart nearly gave in on him.
“Can I have something sweeter, too?” asked Earn playfully and Khun’s face reddened, pressing his lips together. Oh, he knew what Earn meant, but for the sake of it, he teased back and stood up.
“I can offer you some ice cream or-”
Earn groaned and Khun chuckled.
“That’s…”
Khun then leaned closer, whispering it into his ear instead.
“Later, mn?” whispered Khun, making Earn’s grin soon return and he perked up.
“I can work with that,” commented Earn and Khun just snorted, slowly standing up as he needed to clean up after the two of them finished their meal, but Earn decided to be helpful, so he followed him to the back, helping him to do the dishes.
Afterwards, Earn stayed to help Khun finish prepping for the busy day as well. Perhaps he wasn’t really good at it, but it didn’t matter. His smile didn’t falter once afterwards.
Just like that, nothing could hurt Earn anymore.
All he needed was Khun, other things didn’t matter with him around.