Imagine with me, if you will, a world where a man loving a man is commonplace. A world where parents seek for their son's the perfect mate, a male. This story takes place in the countryside hundreds of years ago in Thailand.
Yo is one of five...
The next day, with Phana's invitation to dinner and his request that Wayo meet Nong'Yim, they made the trip again, into the heart of the estate.
They were dressed in their very best. Wayo had chosen something he knew Phana had never seen. A heavy and richly embroidered coat covered a sparkling white undergarment. His sandals were beaded and made from a softened leather found only in the region where he lived. His hair was oiled and glistened under the lamps. He smelled of cinnamon, coconut, and a darker under-scent of musk.
Yo's Aunt and Uncle were as excited at the invitation to Phana's great house, as he was. They arrived to find that they were greeted with the same warmth and welcome as they received the day before when they had made their tour.
His introduction to Nong'Yim verified his likeness to his brother, the boy was fine-skinned and baby-like handsome. He was tall and so soft-spoken that one had to watch his lips to ensure understanding of what the boy was saying.
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Nong'Yim 16 years old.
For Wayo, liking Nong'Yim came easy, he saw a bit of his own brother Fourth in the young man. His shyness was almost painful and, again like Fourth, there was an intrinsic good in him.
Surprisingly enough, Yim was just as interested in Yo. The boy seemed delighted to meet the man who had garnered his brother's attention. Phana had spoken many times about the fair Suradej village boy he'd met.
Pha told Yim that Nong'Wayo was beautiful, all things charming and he furthered his many compliments by saying Yo had an angelic voice.
He blushed and felt hot when Yim told him these things. Wayo suggested that P'Pha was praising him too high and probably just to tease him. Nong'Yim disagreed; "My brother would never tease you P'Wayo, teasing is unfeeling, P'Pha cares for you too much to be unkind."
Wayo was careful not to show his puzzled thoughts, he tried hard to remove the wrinkles from between his eyebrows. Nong'Yim's statements appeared to be genuine, and, his saying Pha cared for Yo was difficult to believe. "Even after those things I said, he still likes me. How is it possible?"
When he was called away by Pha to meet some of his overnight guests, they'd just come from their rooms, he was face to face with P'Beam.
Beam stood very close to Yo and spoke with the same delicacy as he did back when he asked him to stay and care for the fevered Fourth. "Nong'Wayo, you look so fine, it has been far too long, many months?"
"Yes, It has P'Beam, since your party in Suradej."
Beam was looking into Yo's midnight eyes. "That's right, you danced with me Nong."
