It had been two weeks since 'the day' Than had reintroduced himself to Kin. The initial week after their reunion had been thrilling and full of vibrant memories. The frantic search for the lost paper, the exhilaration of a sudden, stolen kiss at The Hub, the heartfelt conversation on Rose Junction Day, and a soothing day spent at the cat café, all unfolded in the span of just one week. But the following week had been quiet and uneventful in contrast, with Than seeing Kin only once, and occasionally spotting him working on projects with his friends.
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"Hey Than, what's on your mind?" Pond chimed in, his energetic voice interrupting Than's reverie. He was clad in his swimwear, fresh from the pool, while Than sat pensively by the poolside.
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"Or should I say 'who' is on your mind?" Pond added, with a teasing grin.
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"Since when are you so interested in my thoughts, Pond?" Than retorted, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
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"Well, that's what good friends do, they 'care' about their friend's matters," Pond defended himself with a grin.
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Pim, joining in the playful banter, chided Pond, "Maybe you 'care' too much about our friend's matters, Pond."
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"Hey, caring is my middle name!" Pond shot back, putting on an overly dramatic expression.
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The playful banter momentarily diverted Than's preoccupied mind. His thoughts had been circling around one person lately, and Pond's earlier question had hit closer to the mark than intended. Heaving a resigned sigh, he admitted,
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"Well, it's really more about 'who' than 'what', as you pointed out, Pond.”
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A gasp of faux surprise escaped Pond's lips, "Oh, so our seemingly heartless Than finally has someone on his mind? I wonder who the lucky one is." The surprise on the faces of his friends was evident, mirrored in Than's own expression. His inadvertent slip had given his secret away.
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Intrigue piqued, Ton chimed in with a guess, "Could it be Nong-Nan? The cute freshman from the Business school?”
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Than shook his head, "I will not tell you guys for sure." He protested, making a face of mock resistance.
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Undeterred, Pond teased, "Or maybe it's someone else from the Business school...Not a Nong but a P', and the name starts with the letter 'K'."
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"No way, Pond! How on earth could you know?"
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Than's eyes widened in surprise, his shock was genuine and Pond looked equally startled at his own correct guess. He faked a smug look,
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"Was I right?" He said, his over-the-top reaction adding to the humor. "Well, since I'm the friend who 'cares', it's not hard to guess.”
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Unable to deny the truth any longer, Than admitted it to his friends, his tone half playful, half serious. He watched as Pim and Ton exchanged glances, the surprise evident in their eyes. Pond, who was watching Than's reactions closely, gestured towards his phone, asking for permission to open P'Kin's Instagram profile. Than nodded, giving his tacit approval.
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As Pond's fingers glided over the screen, bringing up the profile of the elusive P'Kin, they found themselves mesmerized by the man in the photos. Kin's impressive physique drew them in, his muscular form a testament to hours spent in the gym.
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"Wow, look at those muscles," Pim commented, her eyes wide with admiration. Ton chimed in with his own commentary, his words laced with humor. "One punch from him and you'd be out cold."
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Their friends burst into laughter at the exchange. Than felt a mixture of embarrassment and relief. The cat was out of the bag, and he didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved.
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"...You guys already knew," Than said, a mixture of mock seriousness and genuine disappointment on his face. "Are you disappointed in me?"
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"Why would we be disappointed, Than?" Pim answered quickly, her eyes brimming with sincerity. "We're your friends, and we'll support you in everything. Including whoever you choose to love.”
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The words hung in the air, a testament to their unyielding bond. It was a moment of acceptance, of understanding, as Than found his feelings acknowledged and supported by his closest friends.
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Pond's playful smirk spread across his face, breaking the solemnity of the moment.
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"But I think I know what really attracts you to this guy," he ventured, eyes glinting with mischief. He gestured vaguely towards his biceps, mimicking the impressive size of Kin's muscles.
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"His muscles are quite bulging and sexy. Can't resist imagining dealing with those muscles, can you, Than?”
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Caught off guard by Pond's tease, Than's face flushed a bright red. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, stammering as he tried to formulate a response.
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"No... no!" he finally blurted out, hands raised defensively as if to ward off Pond's jests. "I never thought to that point!" His voice cracked slightly, betraying his embarrassment.
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Laughter echoed around them, filling the air with an easy camaraderie. Despite Than's red face and sputtered protests, his eyes were sparkling with laughter, showing no sign of discomfort or resentment. After all, these were his friends, and even if their teasing was relentless, they were the ones who stood by him, accepting and supporting him every step of the way.
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………………………………………..
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A week charged with social interactions, chance meetings, and whirlwind activities had flowed into the calm stream of reality, and Kin found himself immersed in his academic pursuits and personal routines once more. The realities of university life swirled around him as he plunged into his coursework, the never-ending project work, the strenuous workout routines, and the sparse moments of solitude he managed to steal for himself. He hardly had the time for extensive social interactions, aside from his peers with whom he worked on projects, and his friend Jirat.
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"Look, it's your Nong-Than," Jirat teased, nodding towards the figure waving at them from a distance. Than's signature smile stretched across his face.
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Jirat responded with a casual wave, while Kin, his attention still partly on his work, mirrored the gesture absent-mindedly. His gaze met Than's for a brief moment before returning to the project materials spread out in front of him.
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"You seem to be paying less attention to Nong-Than recently," Jirat noted, eyeing Kin suspiciously. His comment hung in the air between them, an unspoken challenge.
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"Well, I have a lot of work to focus on here, you already know that," Kin replied, a playful tone masking the hint of something deeper. But Jirat was an old friend, he could see the shadow that flitted across Kin's face as he spoke.
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"Do you guys have problems?" Jirat ventured further.
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"I mean, the last time you guys were together at the cat cafe, you both looked lovely. Is Nong-Than not okay?" Jirat pushed on, keen to understand his friend's sudden change in behavior.
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"He's okay, more than okay." Kin paused, his fingers drumming restlessly on the table. "But maybe it's just me," he admitted, his voice softer than before, "I mean, I don't want to involve myself too much in his life. He's so innocent and pure-hearted. I'm afraid I might distract him and get him into some trouble.”
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"Or maybe it's you who's afraid of getting distracted by him,” Jirat retorted, a playful smirk on his face, clearly enjoying the analysis. A small silence settled between them, interrupted only by the gentle clinking of cutlery and the murmur of conversations around them.
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Kin met Jirat's stare, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, “You're quite a pain in the ass, Jirat, always knowing everything about me.”
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"So, can I say that I'm your closest friend then?” Jirat finally asked, a note of triumph in his voice.
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