6. Chapter Six Park

Chapter Six: Park

I t's after dark when I pick up Anya from Khun Anong's house next door to mine. Today was a lot, and we aren't even filming yet. This is the first series I've ever done with P'Big directing, and he seems to be a perfectionist. I've been accused of being one myself, but I don't come close to P'Big.

"How did Anya do today, Auntie?" I ask as I follow the older woman into her small house. Since my father and stepmother died, Khun Anong has become my sister's babysitter when Anya isn't in school. Khun Anong lost her husband several years ago, and, at that time, my father extended our fence to encompass Khun Anon's property as well as ours, so we could look after her.

"She was an angel as always." Khun Anong hands me Anya's bag, which I hang over my shoulder before walking into the living room and scooping my sleeping seven-year-old sister off the couch.

"Have you eaten?" Khun Anong asks me. "I have some pork larb salad leftover from dinner."

"Yes, I've eaten. Thanks, Auntie. I'll be here to mow and weed your lawn in the morning."

Khun Anong nods. "All right. Then you and Anya can eat lunch with me. "

I pause in the doorway. "You know, when you feed me, it kind of negates the fact that I'm mowing your lawn to pay you back for babysitting Anya."

"Don't be ridiculous. We're family. We help each other. No keeping tabs."

She waves me off, and I carry my sister across the lawn to our small house, leaving my shoes outside the door before stepping inside. I lay Anya, already bathed and in her pajamas, on her narrow bed and press a kiss to her forehead.

"P'Park?" she murmurs before I reach the door.

I go back to sit on the edge of her bed. "Yes, Nong?"

"Did you have a good day at work?" She's barely able to keep her eyes open but is determined to talk to me.

I hide my smile. "Yes, I did. Did you have fun with Auntie?"

Anya nods sleepily, rolls over, and sighs before dozing off again.

I go straight to the shower because, exhausted as I am, I know if I sit down even for a minute, I'll fall asleep.

As I wash, I think about the workshop. The dancing before rehearsal was fun. I can't believe Spin and I remembered the steps after all this time. When we stared into each other's eyes, my heart leapt just like it did back then. When I was a junior at university and doing the play with Spin, I put those feelings down to being in character. Now, several years and acting jobs later, I have to admit that I've never felt that way except with Spin.

Is this what it means to have chemistry?

If Spin and I really have chemistry, that means we've got what it takes to make a successful ship, just as Khun Lee told us. A successful ship would mean more series and more attention, which could mean bigger and better things for my career. I've never been particularly good at any subject in school or any type of work with my hands. Being considered handsome and able to act are the only positives I have going for me. I need to make this job work.

For Anya.

My mind turns to our practice today with the acting coach. I have to admit it was effective. Once you get past the awkwardness of someone kissing you all over the face, you're pretty much comfortable with them. Still, it's not easy to enjoy a kiss when someone's standing only a few feet away choreographing it. However, the second time we tried it, I was surprised when both Spin and I immediately sank into our roles and delivered a scene that P'Big said he wished he'd gotten on film.

Damp from the shower with a towel wrapped around my waist, I sit on my bed and check my phone. I have a from Spin.

Thanks for making today easier for me.

You're welcome. Glad that I could help.

I smile as I get ready for bed.

Early the next morning, which is Saturday, after a quick breakfast of khao tom, I help Anya get dressed and take her next door with her backpack filled with a coloring book, crayons, and her favorite stuffed toys. Then I spend the next few hours getting Auntie's yard into shape before heading home for a shower and change of clothes. The sun is high in the sky when I return next door for lunch. When I walk inside the house, the scent of curry puffs makes my stomach growl .

"P', look at my picture," Anya says from where she kneels by a low table. She holds up a picture of an elephant colored pink with careful scribbles.

"Excellent work," I tell her. "Come into the kitchen so we can eat with Auntie."

Anya and I sit down at the clean wooden table in the corner of the kitchen, and Auntie immediately brings over a platter of pastries filled with chicken, potato, onions, and spices, setting it in the center of the table and handing us each a plate.

"Eat all you want; I've made plenty."

"They're hot," Auntie warns after placing a few of the puffs in front of Anya.

My stomach growls again.

Anya giggles. "The bear in your tummy wants his food!"

It's something our father used to say, and a wave of sadness passes over me.

Auntie places her hand on my arm. "Eat," she says, kind eyes meeting mine.

Taking a bite of curry puff, I chew and soon the savory morsel chases away the dark clouds.

"How is your work going, Nong?" Auntie asks me.

"It's going well so far."

"Do you like your partner? Is he a nice boy?"

I can't help but smile. What does being "a nice boy" have to do with acting? But maybe she has a point—Mark, my partner in Promise Me More , the last bl I acted in, wasn't nice at all, and being shipped with him was such an ordeal that it drained me every day. Working with Spin will be a much better experience. The workshops are going well, and already the two of us are feeling much more comfortable with each other .

"Yes. Spin's nice," I say. "We already knew each other from a play we did at university, so that helps."

"That's good to hear."

"People say we have chemistry," I add, biting into another puff.

Auntie's brow lifts and she smiles. "I'm glad. It's about time you got a good partner."

After helping Khun Anong clean up the lunch dishes, I take Anya back to our house to hang out for the afternoon until it's time to leave for a cast meeting. I play with her for a while, and when she takes a nap, I do some much-needed housework. Over time, I've gotten pretty good at juggling parenting and housekeeping with my acting jobs, although I couldn't do it without Auntie's help with Anya. My mother died when I was born, and my father remained single until I was in my teens and he met and married Anya's mother, Lily. She and my father were killed in a freak ferry boat accident when Anya was four. Sometimes, late at night, I've allowed myself to wonder what my life might have been like had my father and Lily not been killed. I was doing well at university. There was a spark of something between me and Spin when we acted together. Would I have explored it? I'll never know because the day of the accident forever changed my life, leaving me to raise my young sister alone when I was only a junior at university. Out of necessity, I dropped out of all extra-curricular activities and took on a part-time job. I remained in school, but from that day on, I had to keep Anya's future as well as mine at the forefront of my mind.

Funny how that future now depends on how well Spin and I do as a shipped couple.

At four o'clock, I help Anya pick up her toys and then take her next door to Auntie's. I drive into the city, and traffic is heavy but not as bad as it sometimes is. When I reach the top floor of the building that houses SPPT, I head for the boardroom where a meal has been catered for the meeting.

"A lot of people have been commenting about you two since the event at the convention center," Khun Lee tells me and Spin a few minutes later as the cast and management fill their plates with food.

"I noticed that," P'Big says from across the table.

Khun Hom looks pleased. "I have a good feeling about this ship," she says, smiling at us.

"The BL Fanatics' message board is full of posts about the event," Khun Lee says, pulling up a webpage on the Promethean board. I turn to look at the screen .

Wife_of_RM: The new SPPT couple is so cute! I need pics ASAP. (praying hands) ParkSpin!

Omega_XSebin @Wife_of_RM: "Spark"! SPPT's website has photos, not many tho. Park looks really good with Spin. (blushing happy face) Wasn't Spin in Love Time? With Bang?

MrsFelix4eva @Omega_XSebin: Yes. Bang is going to be in a new series with someone else. Looks like Spin left Hearts Entertainment. ParkSpin are adorable! Look how small Spin is in comparison to Park. (Image from SPPT site of the two standing together at the event.) Also, "Spark" is awesome! Well done!

BLFanx1000 @MrsFelix4eva: They were holding hands the whole event! Park seems so attentive to Spin. I like Spin much better with Park. Spark forever!

Wife_of_RM@MrsFelix4eva: YES! (applause)

Straykids21711: Love the size difference. Their upcoming series is an office romance. I can't wait!

Wife_of_RM@Straykids 21711: What's it called?

Omega_XSebin@Wife_of_RM: Heartbeat.

Wife_of_RM@Omega_XSebin: Thx! (red heart)

SongKang2011: P'Park is so handsome. (swirling pink hearts)

Untamedsmybias@SongKang2011: And muscular. (bicep) I hope he takes his shirt off in this series like he did in his last one.

SongKang2011@Untamedsmybias: Omg, that scene was (three fires)! I wish he was doing another series with P'Mark.

Untamedsmybias@SongKang2011: ParkMark was good, but I think ParkSpin will be much better.

"As you can see," Khun Lee says, "the fans are already picking up on your vibe as a couple. They love the size difference and Park's protective attitude. These are things to play up in your future interactions on camera. I will continue to keep an eye on fan comments and let you know what works and what doesn't."

She scrolls down to comments about Daeng and Aod, whose ship has been getting some attention, too, then passes out cards to each of us. "Your social media accounts have links posted on SPPT's website. We encourage you to begin posting immediately. This weekend we'll be having a photoshoot in the park, and when the photos are released, I will send them to you to post. All cast members are expected to participate in advertising the main couples and supporting their ships, as our series' success depends on them."

Turning my attention to the card of usernames and passwords she gave me, I lose track of the rest of what she says until P'Big's voice grabs my attention.

"Due to our fast-approaching filming schedule, we need to squeeze in a workshop tomorrow afternoon. Be here at noon and we'll supply lunch." He consults his notes. "The second week in September, both Park and Spin, and Daeng and Aod, will spend a week at the Love Lounge—SPPT's popular reality show—with five other bl couples from SPPT. As with the last four seasons, Season 5 will air live. We'll be doing another photo shoot for that promotion next Thursday. My PA will email you the details tomorrow. Since we want to start leaking videos of our two couples interacting, we'll begin candid filming at workshop."

Khun Lee turns her attention from P'Big to us. "I suggest that you four spend this evening together, practicing skinship. I expect you to post a lot of photos."

I guess I'm going to have to ask Auntie to babysit until late and then keep Anya again tomorrow afternoon.