P'Dear's POV
Tutah: We lost bright seen him?
I chuckle when I read the message and look across the table.
"Just so you know," I smirk, "You have been declared lost."
"By who?" N'Bright asks.
"N'Tutah," I answer, setting my phone down.
"Figures," N'Bright sighs, "You are not going to tell them you found me?"
"Nope. Where is your phone anyway?" I question, "Shouldn't it be blowing up right about now?"
N'Bright grins and reaches in his back pocket, "Deader than dead," he smirks. "What to do?"
"Give me that," I grab the phone off the table and go plug it in. "You will just make your friends worry. They have enough on their plates already."
"And I don't?" N'Bright growls.
"Speaking of which," I shake my finger at him. "When did you start dating boys? I admit he is adorable, but I thought he was missing the prerequisite body parts for you."
"Prerequisite body parts?" N'Bright snorts, "You're funny."
"Answer him, nong," Win says, walking out from the bedroom, "I want to know the answer myself."
"You said it yourself. He is adorable.," N'Bright shrugs, "That guy knocked me on my ass one day in the mall. Then sent me for a loop at the confession booth and topped it off with frying my brain by kissing me at our booth. After that, I could only think about him. The thought of not dating Kammon makes me sad. I don't know. I am so confused."
"But you liking N'Kammon," I ask, "You are not confused about that?"
"No, I am pretty sure I like him," I shrug. "A lot."
"You didn't stand a chance," Win chuckles sitting down with his plate. "So is this you just being curious because your friends are dating guys and having some cutie conveniently show up? If it is, cut the kid loose. It will only hurt him."
"To say I am not curious would be a lie," N'Bright admits, "But it is not about dating a guy. It is about dating Kammon, who just happens to be a guy. It is seriously the fact that it is Kammon." He looks at us. "Does that make sense?"
"In a weird way," I shrug. "So, how serious are you about him?"
"More serious than when I was dating Ple," N'Bright declares.
I remember when those two dated. I think N'Ple was the only girl I had seen N'Bright try to date for more than just a moment. I believe they were together for almost a year. I always wondered if they would have lasted if N'Ple didn't go for that work-study program.
"Who is...," Win starts and trails off when N'Bright's phone starts getting notifications.
"Told you," I grin at N'Bright.
"Who should I answer first?" N'Bright asks, going over to his phone.
"Your choice," I smile.
Bright's POV
I look at the message notifications on my lock screen. I can see several are in the group text with my friends and a couple from Kammon.
"Who are they from?" Win asks, putting his plate and mine in the sink.
"The guys and Kammon," I answer, still debating who to message first. I shake my head. It is a given.
Dim Bulb: at pdears
Dim Bulb: cu in class
Toot: uk?
Dim Bulb: 👍
Pink Milk: ...
RBF: smth is up
Dim Bulb: is not
Papa Knott: im w/ prem
Pink Milk: sqhehkjh
Toot: ?? arthit?
Pink Milk: hes fine 😊
"What are you smiling at?" P'Dear asks me.
"N'Kongpop must be over at Ai'Arthit's this morning," I grin. "And being frisky. I can hear 'Do you want to die?' being said at this moment."
"I am surprised that nong is still alive," P'Win snorts. "Wait, you messaged your friends?"
"Of course," I shrug. "Why are you shocked?"
"You do remember you have a boyfriend?" P'Dear asks.
"No shit, P'Dear," I shake my head.
"Did he message you?" P'Win stops putting things in his bag and looks at me.
"Umm," I shrug. "Ow! What the fvck, P'Dear? That effing hurt?" I shout as I rub my ear. He had twisted.
"Then message your boyfriend, you idiot!" P'Dear growls.
"I was going to call him!!" I shout.
"Then, why didn't you?" P'Dear yells back at me.
"Because I couldn't talk to him in front of you guys," I trail off to a mumble and feel my face getting warm. Fvck! I am blushing.
"Awww," P'Win coos at me, "Our little nong is shy."
"Shut it," I grumble.
"Grab your phone, idiot," P'Dear chuckles, "I will drop you at the campus and at least message your boyfriend. Or do you want to be in the doghouse?"
"Trust me. It is not a fun place to be," P'Win grumbles as P'Dear smiles at his boyfriend. What did P'Win do to be in the doghouse? From the looks of it, I don't think he is out of it yet.
❤️Bright❤️: hey
Kam❤️Kam: where the hell r u
❤️Bright❤️: w/ a senior be at campus in 15
Kam❤️Kam: r u ok
❤️Bright❤️: ofc 😊
Kam❤️Kam: u sure
❤️Bright❤️: yes 😘
Kam❤️Kam: 😘❤️❤️
❤️Bright❤️: ❤️❤️❤️
Kam❤️Kam: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤️Bright❤️: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Kam❤️Kam: stop!
❤️Bright❤️: 😍 kk
I caress my screen. How can he be so cheerful? I want to cry every time I think of what he had to endure at the hands of that monster. How does Prem do this?
I caress my screen. How can he be so cheerful? I want to cry every time I think of what he had to endure at the hands of that monster. How does Prem do this?
"You ok?" P'Dear asks as we get in the elevator.
"How does Ai'Prem do this?" I ask without thinking.
"A day at a time," P'Win answers, "And if that gets too hard, just try a moment at a time. You only suspect..."
"I know," I growl. "Why else would he be freaked about it? You wouldn't react like that if it didn't happen."
"You know it could be survivor's guilt," P'Dear tells me, "He may have transferred out because of it, but what if he is having issues is because he escaped and left friends behind."
"I wish I knew how to make him talk," I sigh.
"Give him time," P'Win pats my back, "When he feels safe enough, he will talk."
"N'Tee will message me when they check the video," P'Dear informs me, "And no, if we do find it, you are not allowed to view. Ever. So don't even ask."
"I wasn't," I grumble.
OK, I was going to ask, but they are right; I don't need to see that. If I am already this freaked out now, I can't imagine what I would be like if I saw what was done.
P'Dear's POV
"So you think he is going to be ok?" Win asks as he watches N'Bright run up the steps.
"I don't know," I sigh, "I am hoping this is survivor's guilt and not the other. But I am afraid it is that." P'Win cups my cheek and makes me look at him.
"If it is," Win smiles, "We will help them get through this too."
I place my hand over Win's, "Did I tell you this morning I love you?"
"Nope," Win chuckles, "Am I still in the doghouse?"
"Are you going to remember to call when you decide to cancel plans and run off with your friends?"
"I told you they took my phone!" Win huffs, "They said I had become a whipped man."
"Last time I checked, we have never used whips," I grin evilly, "Handcuffs yes, but no whips. Are you into that kind of play?"
"You know what kind of play I am into," Win leans in, "Do you want to skip work?"
I push him away, "I can't miss work. Neither can you. You do remember our grade relies on this, you moron."
Win leans back in his seat, "Being a grown-up sucks. Maybe we should just continue for our Master's so we can play for two more years." Win rolls his head and looks at me. "What do you say?"
"I say if we don't get going, one of us is going to be late," I say as I put the car into drive.
"You are no fun," Win grumbles and looks out the side window.
"Come home on time, and we will see if you still think I am no fun," I promise.
"You are a wicked man," Win groans, "Teasing me like this and dropping me off at work. Wicked, wicked man."
I grin at him, "Yes, I am."
Arthit's POV
"Are you still not talking to me?" Kongpop asks, sitting beside me at our table.
I open my mouth to speak and then close it. Damn it! I almost spoke. I can't believe he pulled that while I was on the phone. I know I was only texting but still!
"Aww, P'," Kongpop pouts, "I said, I am sorry." Don't look at him. I know if I look, I will give in. I do every time, but this time, I am going to stick to my guns. I am mad at him. Yep, not giving in. Not this time.
"Ai'Tutah," I call to my friend, "Can you tell this nong to go sit with his friends?"
"Huh?" Tutah gapes, "You are sitting right next to him. You tell him."
"I need you to tell him," I reiterate.
"Nevermind, P'Tutah," Kongpop stands up, "I will go."
"What did you..." Tutah stops and looks at me, and I can feel my cheeks go pink. "Oh. So that is why..."
"I don't know what you are thinking but stop right there," I demand, glaring at my friend. The last thing I need is for Tutah's mind to go into the gutter. I flap my shirt. Why is it so damn warm today?
Prem takes the seat Kongpop just vacated beside me. He looks at me and back over at the table that Kongpop has just sat down with his friends.
"I take it someone is in the doghouse," Prem jeers, "What did you do?"
"What?" I squawk, "Why do you think I did something? It was him! He..." I clamp my mouth shut and look at my food. I can't believe I almost said that.
"He?" Prem grins, "He what? Care to finish that sentence?"
"No," I growl, "I do not. And HE is in the doghouse. Not me."
"Now I really want to know what N'Kongop did this morning," Tutah sighs.
"I said for you to stop imagining!" I scold.
"Yes, you did," Tutah laughs, "But how can I? All we have is a scrambled text message and your nong telling us you were ok. So I know your hands were occupied at the time. Were you dressed?"
"Where did your nong touch you?" Prem asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
"No comment," I growl.
"No comment?" Knott looks over at me. "What is Ai'Arthit no commenting about?"
"Haven't you been listening to anything?" Tutah huffs, "Ai'Bright, can you hit him for me."
"Why is he going to hit me?" Knott demands, "What did I do?"
"Huh?" Bright looks up from his plate. "Hit who?"
"Nobody," I say, picking up my plate, "I will be in the library."
"Lunch is not over," Tutah whines.
"You mean you haven't finished annoying me," I state.
"I will go with you," Bright stands up.
"Hey," Tutah shouts, "I haven't asked you why you were with P'Dear."
"Too bad," Bright replies grabbing his plate to throw.
"That's it!" Tutah huffs, "I am not talking to either of you for the rest of the day!"
"Fine!" Both I and Bright yell back at him.
"You are both in the doghouse!" Tutah screams.
I look at Bright and grin.
"How long before he talks to us today?" I ask Bright.
"Next class," Bright snorts. "You know Ai'Tutah. Remember when we bet him not to talk to P'Dear for an entire day first year?"
"Yeah," I laugh, "I also remember P'Dear following him everywhere to find out why Ai'Tutah wouldn't talk to him."
"Didn't he chase him to the meeting hall?" Bright chuckles. "I can still see Ai'Tutah running, and you know how much he hates to run."
"Tell me about it," I agree, "We all had to run to make sure he didn't talk to him."
"Those were fun times," Bright says wistfully, "All we had to worry about was class and normal SOTUS punishments." I have been watching Bright as we talked. He said all the right words and smiled at all the right places, but I noticed that smile has never reached his eyes. This thing with Kammon is eating at him.
"You, ok?" I question.
"Nope," Bright answers, "I keep trying to figure out how Prem deals with everything."
"A day at a time," I shrug, "How else?"
"I guess," Bright hums, "When are you going to forgive your nong?"
"Probably tonight," I sigh. "I never can win against him anyway."
"I don't think any of us can win against our nongs," Bright chuckles.
"Nope," I agree, "We can't."
2194 7-29-19
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