Water On Fire [MileApo | mxm]

Prologue

Mile Phakphum ✘ Apo Nattawin [MileApo]

► KinnPorsche The Series [Thai BL]

•••

"Damn, you really loved food."

"Ask my relatives. I once tried to chase them with a chopping knife for stealing my fried chicken."

Apo throws his head back and laughs heartily.

"The mafia was always inside you."

"I didn't choose the life, it chose me." Mile chuckles. "Anyways, yeah, I loved food. But I was fat and bullied for it."

"I get it. Everyone always told me I was weird, and gay, and-"

"You're not weird. You're fucking incredible. I wish everyone was like you... Only then you wouldn't be so special."

"You have to admit I'm a little weird."

"You're happy." Mile tucks a stray strand of hair behind Apo's ear. He's close enough to see the pores on Apo's nose, and seeing him like this feels like the cornerstone of true intimacy.

"I am. It's true. I've always wanted to be part of an all-male cast, kissing a man every other day, getting to go to water parks and-"

"Okay, you're weird and gay."

When the song changes, Apo puts the Frank Sinatra vinyl in. Fly Me To The Moon.

Mile's neck and upper back feel stiff and taught; he rolls his shoulders to try and relieve the tension. He isn't that young anymore; he needs to be more careful working out.

"I like that shirt on you," Apo says. "Is that the one from-"

"From the last time we went thrifting, yeah." Mile nods. "Can you, uh..." He rubs the back of his neck shyly. "Can you massage my back? Like the way you do it."

"You know why I love second-hand clothes?" Apo says as he digs his thumbs into Mile's trap muscles. "When I buy a new shirt, it'll shrink when I wash it, or the material will become brittle, not like when I saw it in the shop. But with an old shirt like this, even if it's tumbled dry it won't shrink anymore."

"Mm. No matter how many times you wash it, it'll come out the same, because it's been through many things."

"Exactly."

"You smell good," Mile shuts his eyes and inhales through his nose. "Are you sure you don't use perfume?"

Apo chuckles.

Mile's breath hitches at the sultry grin Apo gives him.

"Don't tell anyone. I like to say that I don't use perfume but the truth is I have a brand I like." His eyes twinkle mischievously. "I just wanna be the only one to use it."

Mile has no idea why he finds that hot.

Apo slides his fingers under Mile's shirt and Mile nearly stops breathing. It's an innocent touch to help him better work out the knots in Mile's muscle, something Apo has done without thinking, but Mile can barely suppress a moan as he leans back into it.

"Here's a baby picture of me," Apo offers after a few moments of silence, and shows Mile his phone.

"You literally have not changed. You've lost some fat on your face but damn, you still look like that baby." Mile flips through a few more of Apo, older. "You were...wow."

They pass the evening in comfortable silence, listening to Sinatra and the rain drumming on the windowpanes.

Apo helps Mile record some jazz on his green electric guitar. BOC has teamed up with rock band Slot Machine for the KinnPorsche soundtrack. Mile is desperate for the opportunity to play with the renowned band someday, if the production goes well.

Then they go through Mile's watch collection, again.

"I really want it." Apo says that about a dozen different priceless watches.

His cute, sexy smile makes him hard to resist.

"You can borrow it anytime you want."

They make cocktails. Black 007.

"Back in the day, this was my favorite," Apo says.

"It looks really good," Mile murmurs appreciatively. "I'm impressed."

Apo licks the rim of the glass and tips it to Mile's lips. Mile drinks, never taking his eyes off Apo. Apo takes a sip from the glass next. Mile is transfixed by the seductive bob of his Adam's apple, and his sensual neck. It's suddenly hard to breath. There's no air in the room.

They stare at each other. You're so pretty it hurts to breathe, Mile thinks. He is realizing he may never have the courage to say it out loud. If Mile tells Apo how he feels, will Apo still feel safe and comfortable getting naked around him? Will it jeopardize their work? If their relationship is sabotaged, so too are their careers. It would be selfish of Mile to risk it all for his personal happiness. They should remain friends. It's the all-round best option.

Apo, on the other hand, would definitely confess. If he felt something too, he would say it. That's just his nature. So the fact that there's been no love confession means that Apo doesn't feel the same way. Mile will have to be the one to urge this thing along.

But, no. It isn't wise. It could ruin everything-

"Let's rehearse the pool scene." Mile says, completely incongruous with what he just determined.

Mile sometimes says stupid things when he's nervous.