◎A English translation of 下樓梯要看路

Watch your steps

Sarawat stormed into the ER like a furious bowling ball, knocking Tine’s friends down.

“Finally! We’re at our wits end.” Somebody said, Sarawat didn’t care who did, all he cared was Tine. Tine was covered in bandages and sat on the plastic chair looking sad and small.

“Tua woon wai, what happened?” Sarawat kneeled before Tine, cupping his soft cheeks in his hands. There was tear tracks on Tine’s face, making Sarawat’s heart clenched painfully. But Tine didn’t seem in pain. He just looked a bit lost, his eyes wandered around for a bit before setting on Sarawat’s face.

Once he recognized Sarawat, Tine’s eyes immediately lighten up. It was like all the dark clouds disappeared in a sudden and the sun showed its face. It was so bright, Sarawat had the urge to close his eyes.

“Wat! You’re here!” Tine cried out happily, opening his arms and leaning towards the music club president. Sarawat put his hands on Tine’s chest and gently pushed him back. Although seeing Tine diving straight into his arms made him over the moon, Sarawat needed to make sure Tine was okay first.

“What happened to him?” Sarawat asked Fong and Ohm, meanwhile Tine restlessly trying to lean on Sarawat’s chest. Although it seemed more like he was losing balance than trying to hug his boyfriend.

“He carried too many books at once and didn’t watch his steps careful enough. He fell down the stairs in the library. Left wrist was twisted, bruises on shoulders. And he also hurt his knees but nothing serious.” Sighed Fong.

“He didn’t break any bones. But the swollen was really bad, so the doctor gave him some painkillers and he became like this,” said Ohm.

“We didn’t know he had such low endurance. He was so high like, in a minute,” said  Fong.

“He kept demanding to take off the bandages and wouldn’t leave, fussing like a five-year-old. We couldn’t handle him, so we called you, ” said Ohm.

Sarawat wanted to ask more, but a clumsy hand grabbed his jaw.

“Don’t talk to other people. Made me upset.” Tine pouted, trying to turn Sarawat’s face to him by grabbing his jaw.

“Alright, alright. Don’t be upset.” Sarawat took his boyfriends hand in his, “Nuisance, are you in any pain?”

“Nope. But am upset. ‘Cause of this. Fong didn’t let me take it off. Bad Fong.” Tine said with a sad face, looking at his bandaged wrist. “But you’re here. I am happy now.” His smile was radiant, using his un-harm hand to hug Sarawat’s shoulder and nuzzled his face in Sarawat’s nape.

“Seeing me makes you happy?” asked Sarawat. He didn’t notice how tender his voice was, but Ohm was already making puking face.

“Yeah!” Tine nodded with passion. “Because I like you so so much. You are my favorite person in the world.”

Splendid fireworks bloomed in Sarawat’s chest, the glorious shock waves left him speechless. Although they had been dating and lived together for a while, Tine had always been shy about showing his feelings. Sarawat didn’t really mind. There was no doubt how much Tine loves him, Sarawat didn’t need Tine to speak it out loud. The loving way Tine gazed at him, the little gestures, the timid kissing and touching had spoken volumes.

But who was this bold guy who confessed his feeling out loud in public ? Could Sarawat whisk him home right now?

“Really?” Sarawat said dreamily.

“Really. You’re the best. The best of best. The best of best of best.” Tine gave him a sweet smile, Sarawat felt like he could melt from happiness. He opened his mouth and then closed it. Too emotional to speak.

“Wat, why are you so quiet?”

Tine tried to pet Sarawat’s hair lovingly. But he couldn’t’ control his movement well so it turned out Sarawat’s head was patted with much stronger force than expected.

“You, you keep it like that and I’ll kiss you till you drop.” Sarawat spluttered with flushed face.

“No. No dropping.” Tine shook his head. “I’ve already passed out once.”

“It’s true. He lost conscious for a few minutes when he fell down the stairs,” said Fong.

“What?” Sarawat roared and jumped. Fong took a step back in surprise.

“Did he hurt his head? What examination did he do? Did you ask for MRI?”

“Wat, stop being rude. You’re stressing Fong.” Tine pulled at Sarawat’s sleeve. He clearly had already forgotten about “bad Fong.”

Fong didn’t mind. “Didn’t hurt his head. He landed on his wrists.”

“But look at him……might be a concussion.” Sarawat petted Tine’s hair. Tine cheerfully leaned towards Sarawat’s touch.

“Nah, he was like that when the doctor saw him. They said it’s no big deal. Here,“ Fong took out some bandages and medicine bags from his bag. “The instructions are inside. Come back 3 days later. Don’t let him take too much painkillers. Put icepacks on where he’s hurt.”

“Thank you.” Sarawat put the supplies away. “I’m taking him home now. Tine, stop pulling at your bandages! Don’t sway your left hand!”

“You can thank me later, Sarawat, I filmed everything. Use it on your wedding.” Ohm looked pleased with himself.

= = =

Ohm: mornin.

Ohm: how’s Tine?

Fong: please tell me he didn’t take the bandages off

Phuak: what? What happened?

Ohm: (sent a video)

Sarawat watched the video from Ohm. It was filmed in the ER.

“Would you please stay still and stop touching your bandages?” Fong spoke in a tone of voice like a kindergarten teacher.

“But I can’t practice cheering with this on my wrist!” Tine whined, trying to pull the bandage on his wrist, but Fong stopped him in time. “Green would be mad if I can’t practice!”

“Stop it Tine, Sarawat is coming to pick you up. Just sit still.” Fong fussed with an un-cooperating Tine.

“Sarawat? That Sarawat?” Tine looked surprised.

“What, do you know other Sarawats?” Fong raised one eyebrow.

“Do you mean the Sarawat that plays guitar really well and is so handsome my heart thumps so hard every time I see him? Is he coming for me?”

“……nope, I meant other Sarawats,” said Fong.

“What other Sarawats?” Tine frowned.

“Stop messing with him.” Ohm’s voice said behind the camera, clearly holding back his laughter.

“You know I am in Sarawat’s wives group chat, right? I like him so so much.” Tine said mindlessly, “Sometimes I feel like my heart is going to explode. Boom!”

“Why is he still in that group chat?” Ohm lowered his voice.

“I was more surprise that they didn’t kick him out.” Fong answered with lowered voice as well.

“I guess he’s like an honorary president or something,” said Ohm.

“Are other Sarawats coming to pick me up, too?” Tine asked with a worried look. “But I don’t know them.”

Fong and Ohm burst out laughing.

“What are you watching?” Tine’s voice pulled Sarawat’s attention from the video. Sarawat looked at the other half of the bed, and a sleepy Tine looked back at him with half-lidded eyes. He looked much more sober than last night. Sarawat was glad he didn’t have to wrestle a five-year-old Tine anymore.

“I’m watching a video from Ohm.” Sarawat said softly. “How are you feeling? Any pain?“

Tine tried to stretch, but it seemed that his shoulders stop him from doing that. “Everything hurts.” He made a face.

“Oh, poor nuisance,” said Sarawat. He leaned over and pressed a kiss on Tine’s cheek. ”You’ll have to stay in this bed for a month then.”

“You look too happy. You just like to tease me.” Tine pouted. “What video did Ohm send you?”

“Wanna watch?” Sarawat’s smile was too bright. Tine changed his mind, maybe he didn’t need to watch it.

= = =

ER

“Put your hand on my shoulder, and stand up slowly—-“ Sarawat had his arm around Tine’s waist, carefully lifting him from the plastic chair in the hospital.

“Wait, there are more people coming. We have to wait for them,” said Tine.

“Who else are coming?” Sarawat looked at Fong and Ohm, but both of them shook their heads in confusion.

“Other Sarawats.” Tine answered him.

Sarawat gazed at him for a long, long moment. And then he turned to the other two.

“Are you sure he doesn’t have a concussion?”

===the end===