The metallic click of a key rattled through the quiet, dark hallway. Mok entered, struggling to take off his shoes. He put the pup on the couch and opened the large glass door.
"Why is it so smelly..." Taking a deep breath, he set everything down near the pup without even flipping on the lights. Grabbing his phone, he started watching the instruction videos.
"This is how we take care of one... We can't bathe you every day. Are his teeth fully out? I am curious."
He stopped.
"The doctor said you have been abused..."
Leaning his chin against the couch cushion, he let out a soft sigh.
"I'm not that good with animals. You know, they always run away whenever they see me." His hand caressed the fluffy fur. "You are the first... Hope we can get along..."
He unrolled the large blanket from the couch, laying it on the floor. After smoothing out the jacket where the pup lay asleep, he began to mix the formula.
A chilly wind blew inside. Mok shut the windows before drawing the curtains.
Ding! Dong!
He hurried over, already knowing who it was.
As the door swung wide, a warm grin broke across his face.
"Phi... You're late."
"Sorry..." Glancing at his watch, Kao realized it was already past twelve-thirty.
"Are you hungry?" Mok relieved him of the heavy bag.
Kao shook his head.
"Phi, you need to wear slippers. The floor is dirty."
"Ah... What are you saying? I can't hear..."
Mok was already walking toward the bedroom with Kao's bag. The wet cold slicked his bare feet, making him look down at the floor.
"Mok..."
Kao blinked as Mok returned to the living area.
"What's going on?"
Plates were scattered across the kitchen, while a large bowl overflowed with milk. The electric stove still carried the scent of a burnt spill. Water pooled from the bathroom all the way into the hall.
"Don't look at me... It's all because of him."
Mok ignored his own excuse and glared down at the wagging tail behind him. Four small, damp paws clung tightly to the tiles.
Kao fought to hide a smile.
Milk ruined Mok's shirt, his hair resembled a tangled brush and he was even wearing Kao's slippers by mistake.
The heavy silence broke with a loud stomach growl. Kao couldn't even pretend to ignore it. Leaving his long, thin jacket on the dining table, Kao washed his hands and told Mok to wait a few minutes. He quickly searched for the seasonings.
The smell of noodles soon reached them, making Mok's stomach rumble.
"Oh... Why are you waiting? He's making food for me, not for you."
The pup tilted its head, clearly not understanding.
"Are you eating on the floor?"
"Right... come fast. I can't wait anymore."
Stepping over, Kao tightened his black apron and pulled on the small heat-resistant gloves he used while cooking. He carefully brought the hot pot over while Mok told him to watch out.
Intrigued, Mok extended his hand toward the spoon Kao was using to stir.
"Don't touch—"
But Mok had already touched it.
"Ow!"
Taking his finger, Kao guided it to his own ear.
"It's so hot..."
"It's okay..." Kao spoke, softly sucking on the fingertip.
"You... You..." Mok snapped his hand back, face flushing. A small chuckle escaped the older boy as he watched the younger sulk.
"No noodles for you."
"But I'm hungry..."
"Didn't you say you were not?"
"Now I am."
"Nope."
They soon started fighting over the bowl of noodles. It lasted until every last drop of soup was gone.
"That was a good meal..." Mok stared up at the ceiling.
A pair of hands messed with his hair. "It's not good to lie down. Just sit for a few minutes."
"You know nothing. Eating and sleeping are the joys of life. Leave me alone... No touching..." A small moan escaped his lips. "You... Don't touch..."
"Why? Why can't I touch you?"
Their eyes met, breath mingling in the small space between them, before they both burst into laughter.
Suddenly, Mok remembered the little one.
He nudged Kao to find the pup, blocking his wandering hands. But before either could stand, tiny paws padded out of Kao's room.
"Damn..."
"Shit..."
Both spoke at the same time.
"Where did he get that?" Mok clutched Kao's arm in disbelief.
"It was a gift for you. A premium one."
"Forget the premium. Who's going to clean this?" the younger cried out.
Tiny paw prints in different colors trailed from the bedroom to where they sat. Without a care, the pup continued playing.
...
"Why won't the paint come off?"
"Give me more..."
Squeezing the large bottle of blue cleaning gel, Mok watched as Kao rubbed the floor again. The harsh scratching sound vibrated through the quiet night.
"Finally... It's coming off."
Mok sat expressionless, eyes fixed on the small golden ball of fur. The hours ticked away as he poured out more cleaning gel.
Clack!
Dreading to look in that direction, they already knew their troublemaker had struck again.
"Here we go..." Mok whined.
...
Morning at three.
Knock... Knock...
"Kao, open up... Kao... Kao..."
In the middle of his shower, Kao froze. His hair was covered in white foam. Dripping wet, he carefully stepped out. "What's wrong?"
"He won't sleep... But I'm sleepy..."
"Give me a few minutes. I'll be quick. Why don't you lie on the bed? You already look tired."
Mok huffed, ignored the suggestion and headed into the hall.
Kao sighed and secured the lock once again.
"Kao... Kao..."
The door rattled again. He threw it wide open, only to find both Mok and the pup sitting on the bath mat, looking up at him.
Eventually, the three of them moved to the floor, making a bed in the living room.
The pup still held tight to the jacket, though he now lay on a pillow while Mok and Kao slept right beside him.
"He's asleep at last after all that running..." Mok whispered.
"Mmh... He must be terrified. It's a new place."
"He's really a naughty one."
Kao hummed while inhaling the scent of Mok's hair, whose head lay directly on his arm instead of the pillow.
As their breaths gradually found a steady rhythm, the low murmurs dissolved into the dark.
Turning to face him, Mok left a kiss on the tip of Kao's nose. "He must be tired." His hand slid inside the pajama top to undo a single button, allowing him to rest his cheek against Kao's bare skin.
Before long, they sank into sleep, accompanied only by the pup's soft snores.
Outside, morning crows had already begun their day.
Tick... Tick...
Kao's sleepy eyes went straight to where the pup was. With a soft touch to Mok's forehead, he got up to shut the half-open curtains.
...
"It smells good..." Mok's nose twitched, though he didn't bother moving. From his spot, his eyes darted over the pillow.
In the kitchen, Kao had already bought groceries from an early morning run.
"Wait... You can't do that. Here, bite this..." Kao offered the teething toy. "Just a little longer. Your milk will be ready soon. It's tickling... Don't lick... Bite this instead."
Sitting on the floor, Kao dipped a finger into the spoon of curry, while the pup happily ate it up. He reached into the puppy's medicine bag, getting the syringe ready before the little one could run away.
"Stay still..."
Thud!
The pup spat everything right back out before glaring at Kao. Before he could react, a pair of arms locked around his chest from behind.
"Morning, Phi..."
"Morning, khap," Kao replied softly. "What should we do now? His morning medicine is completely wasted."
Seizing the syringe, Mok took over, ignoring Kao's protests that they could just wait and try again in the evening.
"Come here," Mok grunted, but the pup refused to move from Kao's lap. "Come here."
A second later, little paws shuffled over to his side.
"Look at him faking it... Watch, Phi, this is how you do it. Here's the syringe. You're just too soft." Mok clicked his tongue and headed for the bathroom.
"Wait... Mok... "
The day was kicking off with total chaos instead of peace.
Plastic bottles clattered all over the place alongside a bunch of barking.
"Don't worry about the trash," Kao insisted, grabbing at the bag in Mok's hand.
"I'm going outside."
"Do you really have to go? I'm not used to being apart from you."
"Kao... Phi Kao... Over here."
Like he had an imaginary tail wagging behind him, Kao happily hurried over to him.
"Pun..." Mok muttered, angling his face to nip his ear. "Is today the end of the world or something?"
Kao shook his head.
"Then I'm leaving."
"I'm following you."
Mok scowled right away.
"Only to the parking lot. That's it." Kao gave a cute, awkward smile.
From behind his legs, the little pup poked his head out, ready to go.
The air near the ground was freezing.
It was still dark in some parts, and lots of cars were just sitting there, some covered in dust. Kao stood watching him leave, waving his hand while holding the pup tightly in his arms.
As Mok's car slowly drove away from the parking area and passed their building, Kao followed it with his eyes until it disappeared.
His eyes stayed glued to the empty spot where Mok had just been parked.
A small bark broke the silence.
The pup looked up at him with bright, round eyes.
"You don't like that he left either, do you? Me neither. There's someone I want you to meet." He stroked the pup's head. "She's like a mother to me... and she'll be like one to you too." He walked over to the elevator. "She's sick, so don't run around when we get there." He pressed the button. "Play with her..." Giving the pup a sweet hug, he waited for the doors to open.
The little guy was bound to create a lot of chaos as time went on and he made new friends. The first time he acted up, it was only because he wanted the attention his old owner never gave him. Now, he was finally living like his true self.
A week passed.
Rain came and went, but life carried on.
It was a quiet Wednesday.
Inside the campus engineering workshop, Win shouted to the room.
"Guys! The Masked Moon Festival is coming up! The seniors are completely buried in their projects, so we have to step in and help. It's in fifteen days, which gives us about two weeks. Photography, Arts, Music, and our department are all in this together."
A student raised their hand. "But why us? Every year, only the Arts and Photography clubs prepare everything."
Win gritted his teeth, shifting his gaze to Kao and Artit. "That question is rejected. Does anyone have any other questions about the festival?"
The room fell silent.
"Good." He pulled out a stack of flyers and passed them around.
When Kao took his flyer, Win refused to let go. "Thanks to someone, I'm drowning in work." Then he eyed Artit. "And thanks to someone else, I'm stuck working late every night."
Kao touched the back of his neck while Artit scratched his head.
Right then, a girl burst into the workshop.
"Guys..." She panted, trying to catch her breath.
"We have a problem..."
Her sweat-soaked uniform stuck to her skin.
"They're here."