Be Careful What You Wish For

Part 2

Mix stared blearily at the pages of the book. His eyes blinked once, twice as the page came in and out of focus. He wanted to finish the chapter, but....

💤

Tian snuggled into the warmth of the man lying beside him. He still couldn't quite believe that the man was his partner. He smiled as his eyes began to drift shut. Phupha wrapped his arms around him and pulled him closer, nestling him against his firm, naked chest. He tenderly kissed the edge of his ear. 

💤

Mix heard a voice speaking.

"I love you, Tian," Phupha whispered, gathering the sleepy figure closer to his body and drifting off to sleep. "I love you."

Mix immediately jerked awake. The first thing his body registered was the heat radiating against his back and the vice-like grip around his waist.

Breath tickled his ear! Not a dream, but a real person.

Mix froze.

"Erd?" he said tentatively. There wasn't another soul who might end up in his house in the middle of the night.

"Erd? Who's Erd?" A voice spoke. "Tian, this isn't funny."

"Tian? Who's Tian?" Mix's voice rose several notches, and without even knowing what happened, he landed on the other side of the room, phone in hand.

He knew these stories. He wasn't planning on turning around only to be killed.

Without looking back, he rushed down the stairs, already dialing the first number that popped into his head.

"Erd, Erd pick up, please." His voice pleaded at the ringtone.

A bleary voice answered after three rings, "Wha–"

" – You need to get over here, right now!" The panic in Mix's voice seeped through.

He heard footsteps behind him. A deep voice spoke, "I don't know –"

" – Don't come any closer!" Mix grabbed the first thing he saw, which was a couch pillow.

"I have a..." He looked down at the pillow and threw it at the man's face.

"Mix, what's going on?" A tiny but audible voice spoke through the speaker on the phone.

"Hurry, call the police," Mix shouted at the phone as he rushed toward the kitchen.

The tall, lanky man stopped at the base of the staircase where Mix had told him to stay. One arm gestured helplessly. "No, don't call the police, I'm –"

"I have a –" Mix grabbed the nearest object. He looked down at the flimsy thing in his hand and wished he'd bought more substantial decor, " – I have a spatula, and I know how to use it." He warned, waving it around, ready to swing at the slightest provocation.

The man smirked.

"What are you smirking at." Mix yelled maniacally, "I can be scary. I can be intimidating." The spatula waved a bit more erratically.

The figure burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Mix brandished the spatula like a sword.

"I –." That was all the man could say. Two snorts followed, and he doubled over.

"You, you, you," Mix sputtered before falling silent. He looked more closely at the man who still stood where he'd asked him.

A panicked voice came from his phone, "Are you okay? Is anyone there?" 

Mix absentmindedly put it to his ear while still staring at the person across the room. "I think... I think it's okay."

"What do you mean, okay? Look, I'm on my way now. Do you still want me to call the police?"

"No, it's okay."

"Are you sure?"

Mix was looking closely at the figure across from him. "Yes."

"Talk soon, babe." The phone clicked off.

Mix blushed slightly at the endearment.

The man looked at him with one eyebrow raised. A stoic, unreadable expression replaced the merriment from before.

A staring contest took place for one, two, three, four seconds.

The more Mix looked at this bare-chested man with only a pair of gray sweats on, the more flustered he got. The man was something else. Every muscle on his body stood out. He stood a good half a head above Mix.

He seemed a bit familiar, though Mix couldn't place him.

Mix refused to turn his gaze away. He'd read somewhere that looking someone in the eye made you seem stronger, and he wasn't about to show this strange man weakness.

"Do you have a name?" Mix spoke calmly. He was sure Earth would be there soon. Then, they could figure out what to do.

"My name is Phupha."

"Okay?" Mix waited for more.

Nothing was said.

He clutched the spatula harder. At the back of his mind, he kept trying to think if there was a better weapon within easy reach.

Nothing came to mind.

Phupha was silent.

"Okay, my name is Mix...Mixxiw. It's nice to meet you. Welcome to my home." he said, desperate to break the silence.

Phupha raised one eyebrow. That was the only acknowledgment given that indicated he'd heard anything Mix said.

"How did you get into my bedroom?" Mix asked.

"So now you're willing to listen?" Phupha said sarcastically.

Mix lifted the spatula, ready to do whatever was necessary.

Phupha's mouth twitched into a half smile again.

Mix was beginning to significantly dislike that smirk.

"You know, Mixxiw, you look a bit like an enraged, adorable elf when you do that, right?" Phupha relaxed, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall.

"You're the elf." Mix immediately pouted in reply. "So, how?"

Phupha chuckled. "How what?"

"How did you break into my house?"

"I didn't."

"That's kind of impossible."

Phupha drew the words out like he was speaking to a child, "Well, I was sleeping in my own bed, cuddling with my boyfriend, then I wasn't."

In the same manner as someone speaking to a simpleton, Mix said, "That's im-pos-si-ble."

"Yet here I am."

"Where exactly were you before?"

"In bed."

Mix rolled his eyes and stared at his vaulted ceiling. "No, I mean, where was your bedroom."

"In my home."

"And where is your home?" said Mix. He raised the spatula again.

"Pha Pun Dao Village."

Author's note: I welcome all adorable comments and constructive feedback. Thank you for reading.