Chapter Text
The first leading role Phuwin landed was a very challenging character he hardly related to. After all, a straight A student like him, who went to the nation's most prestigious university at seventeen and got enrolled in an international program, spoke three languages fluently, played the piano and guitar, and also starred in TVs, commercials and musical theater since grade school, and Pi, the low self-esteem loser with constant social appearance anxiety, had absolutely nothing in common. Growing up, he's the kind of the kid the whole neighborhood adored and secretly envied. It's fair to say he felt pretty good about himself. He should have.
Well, not until he met his co-star, and ultimate nemesis, Pond Naravit.
They couldn't be more different. Diversity is good, right? K-pop fanatics and video game nerds who livestream PUBG on Twitch might never swipe each other up on TikTok due to the manipulative algorithm, but they could be real-life colleagues, even friends. As a showbiz veteran, Phuwin knew a thing or two about acting, doing press, and perhaps most importantly, fan service. After all, he's one of GMMTV's brightest in-house developed talents. He didn't mind giving the entertainment industry rookie who's actually older than him a piece of advice from time to time. Though watching Naravit fail miserably on almost every game show they attended was eerily fun. He's convinced if it were not a dancing contest, the poor dude would constantly end up having his skinny ass kicked.
Speaking of his skinny ass, that guy did have unfairly broad shoulders which he sometimes found himself staring for an unhealthy amount of time. And it's just the beginning of teenager Phuwin's series of inner crises. Thinking about the bright side, he's finally able to identify with the protagonist with the damaging inferiority complex he's going to play.
For example, the fictional makeover his character went through was nothing compared to Naravit's transformation of becoming an entertainer. Not only was he groomed by excellent hairdressers, makeup artists and fashion stylists on a daily basis, he's also mentally molded to play a cool, handsome, all-around sophomore opposed to the male ingénue Phuwin played according to the script. And when photographers asked him to give the camera a sexy look, he delivered effortlessly, while Phuwin's assignment was rather lame, "Just be you. Your babyface is perfect." Like anybody would make a suggestive demand to a seventeen-year-old, even if it's for work. That's borderline child molest. But he fucking hated himself for his plump rosy cheeks, which Naravit seemed quite fond of. He wouldn't let go of him after rehearsing a scene where his character Mork was courting Phuwin's character, cupping his face in a library, "Your cheeks are so soft. How come your heart is so stony?" Phuwin's eager to know how come the newbie was able to say the most cheesy line in front of the whole crew like nobody's watching them. His face must be burning while their eyes were locked. Naravit stared at him like he's the most precious thing ever, "It's just a matter of time. You'll surely fall for me." And lastly, he called him a soft-cheeked boy, slowly, and affectionately. It felt like the sequence unfolded in slow-motion.
What the hell? Was he some kind of natural born womanizer or rom-com getting extremely contrived these days? Either way, he's pissed that Naravit had gradually gotten more comfortable at acting than him. He'd morphed into his role Mork, an alpha male (Cheesy again, duh!) that radiating sex hormones all the time, especially when the camera zoomed in onto his face from a slightly lower angle. He looked cocky, and undeniably hot.
Phuwin just rolled his eyes. "No, he's NOT. He's a dork who looked goofy with thick glasses and knew nothing about acting six months ago. He blushed so hard that the tips of his ears turned pink when we were first paired up during the audition. He couldn't look me in the eyes for three seconds without bursting out laughing." He ranted internally. It's the sheer effrontery of Naravit, or his character, or both, that got under his skin.
When summoned to watch first mockup trailer of the show, he at least found one thing attractive about Mork—Naravit also played a dear friend who he met online but stayed anonymous for most of the time throughout the show, so the cinematographer deliberately focused on the lower half of the older actor's face while filming the scenes when the two communicated virtually. By showing only half of his face, the show highlighted the first-time actor's sharply sculpted jawline and full lips. "That looks amazing. Audience must be captivated by this mysterious guy even without seeing his whole face and it'd keep them engaged. They would guess his true identity. Whoever came up with this idea should get a raise!" He cheered, then smiled sheepishly when his remark drew everyone's attention including Naravit. The taller guy wetted his lips when meeting his gaze. Oh, God. Wasn't he sinful?
He wished he hadn't praised his nemesis like that in public. That's when he realized it became necessary to grapple with an issue called Pond Naravit.
Things deteriorated since their rom-com premiered right before the new year break. He's not talking about the ratings, which went through the roof despite two fresh leads, not to mention the social media buzz. It's an instant success. And consequently more media exposure followed, including interviews, magazine cover shoots and reality shows. Fans were obsessed with the two new hottest guys in town.
It's Pond "boy-next-door turn stud" Naravit that got on his nerves, again. Few knew him before. So when people saw him, they saw his debut character because Mork was perfect boyfriend material (minus a few questionable/slightly toxic moves, of course it's not the actor's fault) in a perfect summer love story. Who didn't dream of being kissed passionately by Mork when Pi and Mork made their relationship official official in episode ten? That Twitter-trending, seal-the-deal kiss made fangirls and fanboys scream in both live chats and a bunch of reaction videos. They were mad for the heartthrob.
Their show ended on a high note one week before July, exceeding everyone's expectations. And a new ship set sail—Pondphuwin. He knew the drill. Because he simply grew up watching his fellow GMMTV stars prosper after branded as same-sex couples, on and off the screen. That's what he got from becoming an adult? The frenzy was further fueled by more steamy pictures from various magazine shoots that promoted them as a couple, a smoking hot Phi and a cute Nong. It's a fucking sold-out.
In Phuwin's dream, there would be someone special, who recited Sonnet 18 "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" on his 18th birthday in July. A romantic whisper they shared with no one else. "Compare what?" The idiot in his car asked, they went to work together as usual.
Definitely not him. Phuwin facepalmed while stuck in Bangkok's never-ending traffic jam. He made a mental note that he'd never talk to him about Shakespeare again.
What about his character? It's well-received, too, with comments such as "Oh, Pi was super adorable. I want to pinch his soft cheeks, too." That's it. And when he mimicked the way Naravit ran his long fingers through his hair, which girls loved for obviously no reason, the older guy fucking teased him, "Look! Little Tim is showing off his sexy move!" The supposedly-endearing nickname annoyed him. He's turning eighteen in a week. He'd be a man as well, not a boy anymore.
*
The man frowns, "What are you talking about? All fans adore you."
They ended the day's filming a commercial short early, and their agent left them alone in the dressing room after addressing next week's schedule. Naravit was drenched from head to toe, who fell in the garden pond jokingly at the very end of their filming session then made a terrible pun of "Pond in a pond". All the crew members laughed. Yet all he could see was his co-star's firm body outlined by the white outfit. The fabric was soaking wet that it became translucent. That's a man's body. Phuwin's visibly agitated, maybe because there's a shower of raindrop in his hair from earlier.
Phuwin disagrees, gritting his teeth and shifting his gaze to the humming AC, "No, they don't. Or they do. But they don't like me the same way they like you. They want you." Then he finds his on-screen boyfriend and biggest nemesis suddenly on his knees, taunting, "You mean you're afraid no one will go down on you like this, baby boy Phuwin?"
Nothing frustrates the boy more than the shiteating grin on Naravit's stupidly handsome face. His very limited sex life is about to be turned upside down and he's clueless. He swallows before following his animal instinct. The man lets him grab his smooth, damp hair as he's taken in, engulfed. The thrilling yet surprising sensation sends shockwaves down his spine. He can feel his high cheekbones when the older guy's head is bobbing up and down. It's incredibly intimate and hot at the same time. He's immediately hard. Naravit is indeed a sexy beast, sucking his life and soul out in an outrageous rhythm. He can't help but move his hips to chase more pleasure.
"Wait," He whines, making an embarrassing high-pitch sound. "What? You don't like it?" The man asks softly, looking up to him for answers.
It's hands down the most blasphemous scene he's ever seen in the eighteen years of his mundane life. The plump lips of his nemesis are stretched thin around his girth, and his mouth is watering. Phuwin feels warm, and so gooooooood. Let alone the mole under the sinner's eye, which almost gives him a heart attack when he stares at him through the eyelashes. Fucking hell, he's beautiful.
"No. It's great. I, um, am I making you uncomfortable?" He pauses, cupping those edged jawlines, which he only did once in the show (a failed attempt to kiss Mork back that's interrupted, fuck his life.) Judging from the funny look on the man's face, he believes that's a stupid question. Never mind.
The man on his knees lets out a chuckle. Fuck him and his illicit lips, which he wants so bad back on his member.
"Hey, I wasn't laughing at you. You didn't make me uncomfortable at all. Thanks for asking though. It's very sweet of you. Why are you upset again?"
That's the last thing he wants to hear from the man. He's had enough. Doesn't he understand he's fucking done with the whole sweet and polite protégé, the cute boy, and the meow-making bishōnen narrative? He's desperate to be a man like him, a sexual being, and his peer. For their next show, he will be the one who makes the first move. Maybe he'd push Naravit against the wall and kiss him hard like he dreamed a lot (No one can blame him, for God's sake the guy took his first kiss and that's all he's ever had. But he's not going to feed the older man's ego by telling him this little secret.)
And Phuwin can't wait any longer.
It's a hasty kiss, their teeth clash due to the awkward angle. But soon as Naravit invites him in, he's in heaven again. Finally he's able to kiss him like an adult, making obscene sounds with more tongues involved. It feels fucking superior. He's also pumping him hard, "You like it now, huh? Big boy."
He's not going to last long while melting into the man's invisible web. Slick jerk. He still hates Naravit's guts when his seeds spill all over the man's hand and loose slacks. It's unfair that his co-star is still fully dressed.
"Attaboy. I'm going to change, and you're more than welcome to watch." The fucker winks, making Phuwin blush again. He's taking baby steps to become a real man.