The Next Prince, Chapter 15 pg4
The Next Prince, Chapter 15 pg4
“Hm?” The person who was talking to Khanin was distracted by the small friend when he was interrupted. Charan paused for a moment before quickly finding a reason to support that he called the other party again.
“You forgot your tea.”
“Really, then let's eat first. I'll be back.” The third person got up and left, leaving only Khanin and Charan. The young boy took out his phone to take a picture of the food tray and then focused his attention on the grilled meat dish.
“Try the cold tofu first, it helps with digestion.” Charan's advice floated over to Khanin who was looking at the appetizer.
“I don't like cold tofu.”
“Don't be picky. Tofu has benefits.”
“Ugh, are you my dad?” Khanin grumbled with the intention of making the tall man hear him.
“Tofu is made from yellow beans, and the protein in yellow beans is twice as much as some types of animal meat in the same amount. Plus, it contains lecithin which helps reduce fat, helps with memory and protects against hardening of the arteries. Tofu has benefits...”
You know a lot about this.” Khanin looked up at the lengthy explanation of the person next to him, barely believing it...was Charan trying to lecture him because he wasn't eating tofu?
“I know, so eat it.”
“I know, but I don't like to eat. If you want me to, I'll eat the nutritious stuff.” He picked up the serving spoon in the middle of the plate of cold tofu and poured sauce over it before placing it down for the older person next to him. That was all it took for the younger person's antics to disappear and the problem with the tofu to be resolved. Charan waited.
“...”
“Eat a lot, please.” The young man smiled brightly, creating a different feeling among the group. For Charan, who knew the young man's intentions, he saw Khanin as a charming old wizard.
As for the influence that had just returned to the table with hot tea, they looked like two people taking care of each other's food to eat like that.
“So cute together.” The third person called out. Both Khanin and Charan turned to look. The young man raised his eyebrows while Charan himself looked confused.
“Hmm, what's so cute?”
“You guys are so cute together. When I first met you, you said you were coming to Thailand. I thought you were looking for someone here to take care of you again. Same story, right?” The implication sent a smiley glance, different from the best friend who still didn't understand.
“What's the matter?”
“You told me you were coming to stay with your brother. I've been your friend for years, Charn. How could I not know you have only one guy... I can tell that he is your boyfriend.” This person misunderstood them, making Charan feel anxious that he had to quickly defend himself.
He is just a little brother; just that.”
“I can tell that he's not just an ordinary younger generation.” This sentence made Mr. Khanin swallow his saliva secretly. Mr. Charan himself was worried that Mr. Itthi might know too much. However, the following sentence clearly expanded the owner the bar's thoughts.
“...”
“Even good couples still argue.” Khanin blinked his eyes, glancing discreetly at the person next to him who seemed shocked for a moment. The young mind calculate the possibilities of the upcoming situation before seeking an immediate exit to conceal their troubled state.
How can we lose by following the water ahead? It may be the best way out.
“Our secret is out... We get along so well, don't we?” the young man in the play slapped his forehead, pretending to laugh and quickly turned his attention to the audience. With strong arms, he leaned his head on wide shoulders in a familiar gesture. Playing it off, Charan couldn't catch up and ended up being left behind.
Another setback. This doctor enjoys acting as if they've never touched flesh, having to deal with other people.
“Hmm, you get along well... How did you meet?”
“We... met in England.”
“Oh, Across oceans and seas. Nin, do you know that during the time we were studying, Ai’Ran never had a boyfriend that friends knew about? He seemed very quiet.” Itthi said with with good intentions. Meanwhile, on the other side, Charan seemed to have lost himself in this conversation. The other person sat still, his hand hugged tightly, looking unnatural until Khanin thought of teasing him.
“Because I'm so cute, right? That's why I want to introduce myself to his friends. It wouldn't be fair to leave me hanging when you're there to hug me.”
“Um.” One person hesitated while the other just stood there, unable to refuse the greeting. Charan knew that if he said that Khanin wasn't his boyfriend, their close friend would be even more suspicious. Finally, the person had no choice but to reluctantly act in a play.
“My darling Ungang is the cutest, isn't he?” However, the pronoun sounded strange and made the listener raise their eyebrows. Charan frowned and turned to look at the person beside him just as they asked instead of what he was thinking.
“Ungang? What does that mean?”
“What do you call me, Phii Itthi, right? As boyfriends one needs to have a special name different from others.” The cheeky boy spoke with a sweet smile, but looked cruel in Charan's eyes.
“So, what does 'Ungang' mean?”
“'UngAng'... It means 'Bullfrog' because he likes to mock me. He complains about me being a bullfrog, so calling me like this is cute, right?” The explanation sounded like a sweet couple in love to outsiders who couldn't help but stare at Charan. Khanin intentionally found ways to indirectly tease him, making it clear that he still didn't understand his feelings.
The person exploded into laughter until it hurt, which pleased Charan, but he kept the resentment towards the young troublemaker in his heart.
“What do you call each other, 'bullfrog' and what else?” The closest friend asked curiously. It made Itthi laugh until tears came out. The bar owner used his back hand to wipe away his tears while waiting for an answer from Charan's mouth.
For a split second, the tall silent man turned to look at the young man beside him. Khanin arched his eyebrows and winked his eye flirtatiously. Their actions made Charan think of some other definition... “Stubborn.”
“What?”
This question didn't come from Itthi but from the youngest person at the table. Charan smiled slightly and turned to look at the white-haired person, trying to figure out how to find a way to get back at Khanin.
“Call me stubborn because I'm really stubborn. I argue well and tell others what to do. A stubborn personality doesn't have anyone who can beat them.”
He just bluffed... bluffing back wasn't cheating. Charan's smile widened as he realized that Khanin probably had a fire burning inside him. You could see it in the way the young man sent a glowing gaze and even posed a challenge.
Something had to be done quickly.
“Um...”
“But he is so cute.” The young man reluctantly ended with a sentence that increased the sweetness of the moment. Khanin gritted his teeth and closed his lips.
“Uh, he is so cute, where did you get a boyfriend this cute, Ai’Ran? I feel so bad for myself.”
“I'm also wondering how he found me.” Khanin smiled. His mouth was forming a couple's drama in front of Itthi, but in his heart, he was thinking of ways to get back at someone older than him.
“If Nin ever needs help, just let me know. As Charan's boyfriend, I am like your big brother. Don't worry.”
“Thank you, Big Brother Itthi.” said the boy playing the role of the cute boyfriend with a sweet smile. Khanin paid attention to eating breakfast, thinking about how he could get back at the other person and regain his dominance.
They secretly exchanged glances until someone's words raised tensions. One person choked on their food, while the other's face turned red from sipping soup.
“I guess us calling each other 'Um' and 'Stubborn' won't really match well.” “...”.
“Being called stubborn is better than being called Unganng aka the bullfrog.”
TBC.
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