Be Careful What You Wish For

Part 3

"Pha Pun Dao? Pha pun dao? Nope, no way, no how." Mix paced back and forth erratically on his side of the room, then paused briefly to look more closely at the man by the staircase. He was tall, really tall. He was built like a superhero, with hard chiseled features and a sharp, direct gaze.

The man looked a bit familiar. Could it be? No Mix, there's no way this green giant is... Did you just refer to him as a green giant?

Nope! Mix shook his head once. "I am not acknowledging you, brain."

"I'm sorry, what was that?" This so-called Phupha looked at Mix expectantly.

Mix looked at Phupha, "Are you a crazy fan?"

The man took one step toward him.

"Please, don't move!" Mix raised the spatula again.

The man settled back against the wall near the stairs.

"You must be a crazy fan. There's no such place as Pha Pun Dao Village."

The man stood up straight and took a step into the room.

"Stay!" Mix screamed and jumped back, bumping against the wall.

The man ignored Mix and started pacing, "What do you mean there's no Pha Pun Dao Village? I live there. It's my home. My boyfriend is waiting for me there! Where are we?"

Mix stared at him, mouth agape, and mumbled to himself, "Maybe not a crazy fan, maybe just crazy."

"What was that?" The man on the other side of the room looked hard into his eyes.

"Nothing." Mix grinned, trying to look reassuring, and half waved at him.

The man nodded. He seemed to struggle before going quietly blank again.

Mix needed to keep him entertained and calm until Earth arrived. "To answer your question, we're in Bangkok."

"Bangkok? How did I get here?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Mix said calmly. "Maybe you could try and tell me your story?"

"How will that help?"

"Maybe it'll help us piece together how you ended up in my bedroom with your arms of steel wrapped around my waist," Mix replied saltily.

Phupha snorted. "I guess...

"...well, I am a Forest Ranger for Pha Pun Dao Mountain, based in Pha Pun Dao Village." Phupha stared at Mix frostily. "Today was a hard day. Some crazy "earth-loving" tourists decided it would be fun to start a huge bonfire and dance around it in a clearing. It sparked the canopy –"

" – That's not in A Tale of a Thousand Stars," Mix muttered to himself.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I said, that's not in the book."

"What book?"

"Nevermind... there's really no way."

"Come again? What book? What no way?" Phupha started to advance toward Mix.

Mix immediately took two steps back and lifted his spatula threateningly.

Phupha raised one eyebrow and smirked, but moved back toward his space.

Mix looked at the large man and decided not to incite any excitable reaction from him. "Just, just, just continue your story." Mix looked at Phupha expectantly.

"Okay...

"...the fire was too large, needless to say, it was a hot mess. Luckily, it was spotted quickly and we got it out, but talking to those people was... I don't even know what language they were speaking, maybe German? Anyway, I got home to my Tian –"

" – Your boyfriend's name is Tian?" Mix took two steps back, both eyebrows were raised above his hairline.

"Yes. Are you going to let me continue?"

Mix nodded his head. Boyfriend, Tian, Boyfriend, Tian, Nope, no way, Boyfriend, Tian. "Your boyfriend's name is Tian?"

"Isn't that what I just confirmed?"

"I mean, your boyfriend's name is Tian!"

"Umm, are you broken?"

Mix began to pace again, mumbling to himself. "Maybe, this is a dream. Yes, Mix, a dream. How can I wake up?" Mix pinched himself hard on the arm. "Oww!"

"What are you trying to do?"

"I think you must be a dream. There's no way this is real. I mean, you look a bit like the cover, but who's to say?"

Phupha stared at him for a minute and then just continued his narrative as if he hadn't been interrupted, "Anyway, I got home to my Tian who had instant noodles ready, as usual."

Mix stopped pacing, "Are you crazy, I said this could be a dream and you just continue with your story?"

"I'm not sure what to say, this could just as easily be my dream as yours."

"So, how do we prove it?" Phupha asked.

Mix heard the faint sound of someone inputting the code to his door and deflated in relief.

Bang! The front door swung open wildly.

Earth stood there, a thin frame covered in black. He looked a bit intimidating, but nothing compared to the broad, naked-chested frame of Phupha standing in the middle of the room.

Mix's gaze, of its own accord, grazed Earth's body. Earth had an umbrella in his hand. He looked into his partner's eyes and nodded at the umbrella.

Earth shrugged.

Mix watched his two Phupha's size up each other.

Earth stepped into the room and skirted around the edges, always keeping the man in sight. He held the umbrella like a sword.

He reached Mix and all his attention shifted, "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you?" Earth touched Mix everywhere, looking for injuries.

"Not the point right now." Mix shrugged toward the man standing patiently on the other side of the room.

Earth remembered the reason he was here. In one swift move, he raised the forgotten umbrella and stepped in front of Mix to face the man.

He pointed the umbrella at the man's chest, "State your name and purpose here. I have an umbrella and I'm not afraid to use it!"

Author's note:  This was originally meant to be a one-shot. It then became a 3 part little story. Now, I'm not sure how many parts there will be. But there will be at least 5, maybe more! 🤣🤣

Writing is so much fun! Anyway, I welcome constructive feedback! What do you all think so far?