Kongpop's POV
I have walked around the pharmacy five times already. The staff is beginning to give me strange looks. So far, I have added at least one item into my basket that I don't even need every time I circled that shelf. The only problem is that I have yet to pick up the two things I came here for today.
I am a grown man. Boy? Well, I am at university. It would not be a strange thing to purchase. It is completely normal for someone to buy. I am a responsible partner, so it is important I buy protection. This is nothing to be embarrassed about, right? OK. I can do this. I walk down the aisle and reach out only to grab the box of condoms as someone else grabs the same package I am. I follow the arm, and I am stunned when I see it to whom it is attached. No wonder the bracelet looked familiar.
"P-P-P'Arthit?" I stutter and take my hand away from the box like it was set on fire. I watch P'Arthit blush hard.
"Kongpop!" P'Arthit gasps as his eyes go wide. He looks back at his hand then back at me. "I-I-I am..." He looks at the box once again. "Umm. I am... I am getting this for Ai'Prem."
"You are getting what for me?" P'Prem asks when he walks up behind me. I run my hand through my hair as I watch as P'Prem registers what P'Arthit has in his hand. P'Prem looks at me with eyebrows raised.
"P'Prem, did you get shampoo?" Wad questions walking up behind my boyfriend. "We are out."
I don't think I have ever seen P'Arthit this red before. Wad is staring at my boyfriend's hand that is still on the box of condoms. When Wad looks over at me, I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. I know if I do, I will die, and I would like to live long enough to use that box's contents. I am surprised P'Arthit hasn't combusted from embarrassment.
All of us watch as P'Arthit takes the box of condoms from the shelf and starts to walk away. He hesitates at the end of the aisle before he turns and walks back to us. Without looking at any of us, he reaches up, taking a package of lube from the shelf before he beelines it to the register.
It takes a moment before my brain comes back online and processes what just happened. Staring at the empty spaces on the shelf and then back down the aisle where my boyfriend just disappeared. I can see from the corner of my eye, Wad smirking at me. Now I am embarrassed. Walking past him, I shove the basket I am carrying into his hands as I chase after my boyfriend.
"Have fun!" Wad calls after me, and I flip him off as I walk out the door.
Making it out to the street, I look for my runaway boyfriend and can't find him anywhere. Where the hell has he gone? Should I go back to the dorm?
"What are you waiting for, nong?" I jump at the sound of P'Prem's voice.
"I don't know where he went," I sigh, looking up at P'Prem.
"Here," Wad says, handing me a bag. I look at it, puzzled. "It was what you had in your basket. You can pay me back later."
I nod mutely, taking inventory of the bag. Why did I pick up a pink razor? I really was just grabbing random shit. Looking up, I find Wad grinning at me. Asshole. Shaking my head, I close the bag and sigh.
"Just go find him," P'Prem suggests. "I am sure his brain is about to melt from all the wild and embarrassing thoughts that are going through it right now. So go find him before it explodes."
"Thanks," I smile and start running to our dorms. Standing in between our dorms, I am trying to decide which one to go to first. P'Arthit's is probably the best choice since he will want to hide like the turtle he is in situations like this. I fish the keys out of my pocket as I walk into the lobby.
"P'Arthit?" I call out, stepping into P'Arthit's room. I frown when I get no response. I look in the bathroom and see he is not there as I continue over to the windows to look across at mine. My curtains are open, so I can clearly see he is not there. Where is he?
Arthit's POV
This the third pharmacy I have come to today. The first one was full of giggling girls from a local convent school. Every time I looked at them, they would titter and wave at me. The thought of picking up a box of condoms and lube while that group of convent girls followed me through the pharmacy was enough to make me flee.
The second was not much better. I ran into Professor Suda, who talked to me as I walked down that aisle. Like I could buy that while my professor watched. No way in hell. How could I face her the next time in class? I still have a pack of gum I bought in my pocket. I went in there, and walking out without buying something would have looked weird.
I scan this pharmacy. No girls. No professors. I can see three people, but they look like guys from the hair that I can see over the shelves. Get in. Get out. That is my plan. Heading to the aisle, I look back to make sure nobody I know will jump out at me. My heart is racing. I can do this. I reach for the box watching behind me when I feel a hand land on top of mine. Looking up, I panic at who I find.
"P-P-P'Arthit?" Kongpop stutters.
"Kongpop!" I panic as I scramble to come up with an excuse. "I-I-I am..." Think! I am what? Damn it, brain work! "Umm. I am... I am getting this for Ai'Prem."
"You are getting what for me?" P'Prem questions as he walks up behind Kongpop. Of all the times we have to cross paths, it has to be today? Why is he even shopping at this pharmacy? I can see that he is looking at my hand, and I blush harder.
"P'Prem, did you get shampoo? We are out." I hear Wad asking from behind me.
Fvck my life! I look once more at Kongpop. What the hell? Screw it. I take the box in my hand and walk away. Lube, you idiot! You forgot the lube. I pause at the end of the aisle, debating if I should just leave or go back and get it. Considering my luck at pharmacies today, I walk back down the aisle and avoid eye contact with the three as I take a package of lube off the shelf before I run to the checkout.
Slamming the items down on the counter, I glare at the clerk, who quickly ducks their head and rings them up. I grab my bag and change, and shoot out the door before my boyfriend can get over being shocked and chase after me.
This has to be one of the most humiliating moments in my life! I wind my way through the crowd, and I can't shake the feeling that everyone is looking at me. Standing at the intersection waiting to cross, I see an older woman smiling at me on the other side. She looks at the bag in my hand and back once more at me, grinning. I glance at the bag. Can you see what is in it? I start walking when the crowd pushes forward. The lady who has been smiling reaches out and grabs my arm as we cross paths.
"N'Oon," she smiles, looking up at me, "It is you."
"Aunty?" I question.
"I thought I told you the last time you visited to call me Mom," she laughs, "How is my son? I hear he has a cute nong." Oh, my God! Tutah's mom!
"Sorry, Mom," I say as I hold the bag behind my back. "Have you seen Ai'Tutah?"
"I won't have time today," She links arms with me as we walk down the sidewalk. Wasn't she going the other way? "I only came to the city because of Aunty Din. The crazy woman is getting scammed. I tell her all the time not to believe text messages. Can you believe she thinks some young guy wants to marry her?"
"Did you stop it?" I ask, remembering the crazy sister of Tutah's mom. Maybe I should call Tutah.
"Not yet," she says with a look that means trouble. "That is why I am glad I bumped into you."
"Me?" I squawk. "Why?"
We stop in front of a cafe. I look around and spot Aunty Din sitting at a table with a guy.
"I need you to go in there and get her," Tutah's mom frowns, glancing over at her sister. "I don't care how you do it; just do it." She pushes me toward the cafe as she takes my bag from me. I head over to the table, trying to think of how to get Aunty Din to leave with me.
There is a reason Tutah is the craziest of us. His family is very eccentric. The guys and I have only visited a few times, but it was like attending a circus. You never knew which relative would show up or what they would be like that day.
I watch as the guy is charming the older lady. Even I can tell he is a gigolo. What is Aunty Din thinking? She excuses herself from the table, and I see my chance. I take her seat as the guy is checking messages on his phone, chuckling.
"You think you have made a catch," I state.
"Who are you?" he asks, looking up.
"Doesn't matter who I am," I shrug, "What does matter is that you will leave before she comes back."
"And why should I do that?" The sleazeball leans back in his chair, looking smug.
I pull out my phone and look through pictures before stopping on one. I hold my phone up and show the guy.
"Because that is her nephew," I explain, "And he lives two blocks over. I just sent him a message that his Aunt was being swindled. I am being nice and warning you."
The guy looks from me to the picture on my phone.
"Fvck!" He growls as he stands up to leave, and I grab his phone from him. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
I go through his contacts and find Aunty Din's and delete it from his phone. I also forward his contact info to myself before I delete that message and the ones sent Aunty.
"If I find out you contacted her again," I stand up and snarl into his ear, "I will bring him and my other friends to your doorstep."
"You don't know where I live," the guy hisses at me. I hold up my phone, grinning at him. He blanches when he sees I shared his contact information.
"Bye-bye," I grin, letting go of his arm and laugh as I watch him run out of the cafe. I go back to the table and take his seat, waiting for Aunty Din to come back. When she walks up, she looks at me, confused.
"Aunty Din," I scold, "Do you want me to tell Ai'Tutah what you are up to? What are you thinking?"
"What are you doing here, N'Oon?" Aunty Din pouts, "Where did he go?"
"I am here because your sister dragged me here, and he ran away after seeing a picture of your nephew," I smile.
"A picture of Tutah?" She quizzes, looking around the cafe for her sister. Who happens to be walking toward the table. "What is scary about him?"
I pull up the picture I showed the guy and handed my phone to her to see it.
"That is Knott!" Tutah's mom says, looking over Aunty Din's shoulder.
"I know," I chuckle, "But you told us to call you mom because we are your sons too, so that makes her," I point to Aunty Din, "Our aunt too."
"You have got to be more careful, Aunty Din," I tell her trying to look stern. "You could have been sold off. Stop doing things that make your sister worry about you." I look at my watch. "Come on," I say, standing up, "I will take you to the station so that you can catch the bus back home."
Tutah's mom hands me my bag as she stands, "We can make it to the station on our own, N'Oon." She puts a hand on my shoulder, grinning, "I think you already have plans." She pats my bottom before she and Aunty Din walk away. I watch as she leans down and whispers something to her sister. Aunty Din looks back at me, laughing.
"Have fun, N'Oon," Aunty calls to me, "I am glad you are using protection."
Can I die? Please? I look around the cafe and see other patrons laughing. I want a hole to open up and swallow me. Now, please.
Slamming open the door, I glower at my two friends and throw the bag onto the floor in front of them. Tutah cracks up as he picks up the bag.
"Took you long enough," Bright snorts, "Where the hell did you go to buy it?"
"It is not funny!" I shout as I tug at my hair. "Do you know what I have been through?"
"Then you shouldn't have lost the bet," Tutah snarks back.
"I hate you!" I growl, flopping down on the bed behind them.
Bright turns and rests his chin on the bed, looking at me, "What happened, little monster?" Bright coos.
I grab him by his hair and shake him, "I hate you!" Tutah grabs my hands and makes me stop manhandling Bright. Bright gets up and walks into the bathroom.
"Fvck, Ai'Oon!" Bright yells, "I have a date with Kammon! Look what you did to my hair!"
"I don't care!" I shout back, "You get caught buying that stuff by your boyfriend, his friend, and my friend!" I grab a pillow covering my face, "And don't forget Ai'Tutah's mom and Aunty Din!"
"What?" Tutah asks, grabbing the pillow from me, "Why were they here, and why were they all in a pharmacy you bought these at? And which friends."
"N'Wad and Ai'Prem," I sigh. "They happened to be at the same pharmacy, and Kongpop was there also. Why were they there?" I whine, "Someone, just kill me, please?"
Bright sits down on the bed, "Aunty Din?"
"She was getting scammed by some gigolo," I sit up, "I ran into Mom. She made me rescue her. While I was doing that, she was holding the bag." I run my hands through my hair in exasperation, "I guess while she was waiting outside, she looked inside. Seriously, someone, just kill me."
Bright and Tutah start rolling around laughing. I hate my friends. I really, really do.
"This has to be the best bet ever," Bright gasps as he regains control. "It was like a trifecta of embarrassment."
"I know, right," Tutah says, wiping his eyes, "I can't believe it. And thanks for saving my Aunt. I should call Mom."
Bright's phone goes off, and he hops up, "That is Kammon. I got to go." He starts to walk out the door, and I see he has the bag from the pharmacy in his hand. Like hell, he is taking that. I went through too much to let him take it.
"Ai'Bright," I stand up and walk over to him, snatching the bag from his hands, "You can go get your own." I walk out the door and can hear Bright and Tutah laughing as I go down the hallway.
"I am glad you are using protection," Tutah screams through the open door. "Have fun, Ai'Oon."
I look up to see a girl and a guy walking down the hall. Both of them are laughing at me as they look at the bag in my hand. Exactly how much embarrassment does one have to have before they actually die from it!
2743 8-24-19
Please vote! Comments people!