Chapter Text
I don't care what song that we play
Or mess that we make
Just company now- Conan Gray, "Comfort Crowd"
What is it that constitutes a friend group?
It's a thought that hits the depths of the brain when one voluntarily thinks about it. It is a thing, isn't it? No two people are the exact same and a person craves versatility even if it is unconsciously.
The bigger the friend group, the more colours. The multitudes of personalities, different levels of bonds within the group that become the backbone of the entire unit, the love, the memories, and perhaps even the hardships.
This story is one such group. A group that is so longstanding that nobody perhaps remembers a time when it didn't exist. A group that perhaps has as many secrets as it does fond memories. Perhaps.
In its being, this group seemingly has extensions by associations, but at the core of it are a few very significant people to the narrative.
Film Rachanun Mahawan, the resident party planner, is standing at the main door, checking her phone every two minutes. She keeps tapping her foot on the ground as if impatient, or nervous.
To know her in a brief conjecture, she is the friend group's organizer in a sense (with a couple actively helping hands). She is an interior designer by profession and the therapist friend informally. It has come to light that she, most likely, is the most responsible drinker there.
Her heels currently clack against the floor with such a ferocity that a few people nearby stop to ask if she is okay. She smiles at them and shrugs, “Yeah, don't worry. I'm just waiting for a delivery.”
“You're gonna break the floor and the young master is going to waterboard you, and I'd hate that. You are kinda like my favourite person in the gang, you know?”
Film turns with a roll of eyes to face the intruder, who stands in front of her with a cocky-as-shit smile. Est Supha Sangaworawong is the physical symbolism of vanity; he stands like he owns the world, which he perhaps does.
It is hard to tell if his heart is made out of gold or if it is a depthless void of darkness. He might help someone out of trouble one time but would also be the first one to laugh at someone's woes another time.
To all his flaws though, confidence is not something he lacks by any means. Even now, he stands in a black shirt completely unbuttoned, showing his toned abs off with easy confidence. He doesn’t try, he just is.
“He is mature and rational unlike you,” Film retorts with a scoff, not with a bite. She looks a little grateful for the distraction. “Hey, I am veeerry mature, okay? All the thoughts in my brain are very mature,” he says with the same cocky smile and adds a wink for extra measure. Film scrunches her nose up and faux-gags, “You are a disgusting piece of shit. Please do us all a favour and take up celibacy for a year or something.”
Est laughs, looping an arm around Film's shoulder, “It would be cruel of me to deprive the world of the sexiest cock and ass, don't you think?”
“I am going to throw up on your shoes.”
“You're just too pussy-focused to get it.”
“Even if I were to consider swinging the other way, the thought of you would quickly turn me off.”
Est gasps, dramatically. “Take that back, you know that is not true.” Now, it is Film with a cocky grin, “In your dreams!”
Est rolls his eyes and drops his arm from her shoulder. “Whatever,” he mumbles and crosses his arms. “What are you waiting for here by the way?”
“The cake. It wasn’t ready when I went to pick it up and then I had to be here for the decorations and shit. So, I had to send someone else,” she says, eyeing the driveway.
Est narrows his eyes, in a certain limit feeling her worry. “And who did you send?”
“Pond and Love.”
Est breaks into a laugh unnecessarily loud. “You had like at least ten options and you sent the lousiest fuckers to get a cake for an entire party of people.”
Film whines, “They were the only ones who were free. Hong and P'Milk have been handling the bar. You know nobody else can do it better. And you were in the kitchen.”
“Where is Dunk?”
Film looks at Est with a knowing look, “It's Khun Joong Archen Aydin's birthday. Where do you think he is?”
Joong Archen Aydin is the owner of the house where today's party is being hosted. Right now, he is in his bedroom, getting ready. A sombre smile is on his face as he combs his hair to his preferred style.
“How do I look,” he asks once he's done, turning around with his arms spread. The figure on the bed leaning back on his elbows—legs spread minimally and feet propped on the rug—smiles at him—beautifully. “When have you looked anything less than perfectly handsome?”
Joong scrunches his nose and snorts. “Simp,” he says, voice too fond for it to be anything other than gratefulness, and makes Dunk Natachai Boonprasert stand up by holding his hand—gently.
“Hey, I am not a simp. It's others who simp for me,” Dunk complains but lets Joong manhandle him into a hug. “Not a simp for anyone except one person apparently,” Joong replies, putting his chin on Dunk's shoulder and pulling him closer by his waist.
Dunk chuckles and hugs Joong back. “Well, gotta have a favourite, right? How else would people know who is special to me?”
Joong exhales a laugh into Dunk's collarbone. “Will you be my dance partner tonight?” Dunk laughs again and starts swaying—Joong will always follow—”Anything for you, birthday boy.”
“Anything?” Joong raises his eyebrow and carefully nudges Dunk's head so he can look into his eyes. “Anything. I trust you to not be stupid!”
“It seems like you're conditioning me,” Joong complains, bringing his hands to cup Dunk's face, eyebrows furrowed half-jokingly. “I'm not. I am just saying that I trust you fully because I know you'll not put me in any position of discomfort or harm.”
That makes Joong smile like he would lay down on the floor and let Dunk step on his chest with both of his feet. “I am relieved you feel so safe with me, Natty. I promise I will always make sure you're comfortable and happy.”
“Are you gonna kiss me now?” Dunk huffs his nostrils adorably and his eyes twinkle with mischief. Joong pinches his nose, “As if,” he says and steps away and moves both of them to make Dunk stand in front of the full-length mirror of his dresser. “Close your eyes,” he says, standing behind Dunk.
“Hey, that should be my line. What are you doing?” Dunk looks at him with confusion, a little suspicious. “Ohoo, you told me you trust me completely. Look at you now!” Joong says it a little accusingly, as a joke, but his voice remains soft.
Dunk clicks his tongue, “Eyy. Okay, okay. I'll close my eyes, don't sulk.”
Dunk's eyes fall close. Joong looks at him for a second more, smiles to himself, and then steps away to open a drawer of his dresser. It's a black box that he extracts, and then he goes to stand behind Dunk again.
It's a pearl necklace beaded onto a rose-gold chain, each pearl is looped by the chain, too. He quietly puts it around Dunk and fastens the hook. As the cold pearls touch Dunk's skin, he gasps and shivers. “Joong,” he whispers.
“Quiet, Natty. Don't open your eyes yet.”
Dunk obeys. Joong looks at him through the mirror. At the way the necklace looks so beautiful on him, the way it prettily fits with the fuschia silk of his blouse. He takes his phone out of his pocket and quickly takes a picture, with the shutter on so Dunk knows. “You can open your eyes now.”
Dunk does, slowly, and stares at himself in the mirror. His mouth falls open and his fingers move to touch the pearls. Joong takes a step back, putting a significant distance in between.
“Joong. It's your birthday, why did you?”
Joong smiles. “You're acting as if this is the first time I've done this.”
Dunk sighs, “I know. But this is too much. It's very expensive.”
“You're talking to a rich brat, Natty!”
“Joong!”
“Okay, okay,” Joong raises his hands, as if in surrender. “I am just thankful to you and I wanna express it. I saw this the other day I was out shopping with mom and thought of you. Please let me have this, Dunk. Please, na?”
Dunk exhales through his mouth, his cheeks puffing up., and he turns around. “You can't one me up for a gift on your own birthday, Joong,” he says but loops his arms around Joong's shoulders and pulls him into another hug. “But thank you. So much. I love you.”
Joong smiles. “I love you, too, my Natty.”
Joong Archen Aydin, the heir to one of the biggest entertainment businesses in the current market, is the heart of the group. He open handedly spoils all his friends and is a shoulder to everyone. Smiles, happiness, and fun, that's his forté.
And Dunk Natachai Boonprasert? What is a big friend group without a couple within it? In the group, he is the artsy one. With ideas, adventures, all planned out. He participates actively in organizing outings and events with Film.
One thing about Dunk that everyone notices very easily is how much in love he is with his boyfriend of seven years. It is written all over his face even after all this time, the honeymoon phase seemingly never ended.
As he is in Joong's arms right now, his phone rings in his pocket. “Oh I have to take this,” he says as he lets Joong go.
“Okay. I'll go take a quick pee break,” Joong responds and goes to the bathroom.
Dunk answers the phone as Joong shuts the door behind him.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby. Where are you?”
Dunk's face flushes. “Joong's room.”
“Ohoo. Okay I'll come pick you up then.”
“I can come down on my own, you know?”
“But I've missed you. Didn't my pretty pretty baby miss me?”
Dunk laughs, “You've been gone for half an hour.”
“That's half an hour too much.”
“Okay, then,” he rolls his eyes, “you have two minutes before I come out by myself.”
“I am running.”
The knock on the door comes right as Joong steps out of the bathroom. Joong looks at him, “Is it Pond?”
Dunk nods. Joong scoffs.
“Come in, dude,” he says and plops on the bed.
“Hey, birthday boy. What's up?”
Pond Naravit Lertratkosum enters boisterously. As he always does. The life of the party, the happy virus. Joong sighs, “How much have you had already?”
Pond gasps in mock offence. “How dare you accuse me of drinking without the birthday boy?” Joong falls back on the bed and sighs, “I could use a drink, honestly. But they're not allowing me to go down.”
“Ho! You can go now. I am here to take you there anyway,” Pond says, his eyes on Dunk. “Hong has your favourite drink prepared.”
It seems to bring energy back to Joong as he quickly stands up. “Thank the Lord. Come on, then. Let's go.”
“Okay,” Pond replies, and walks towards Dunk. “Let's go?”
Dunk nods. “Let's go, Joong.”
Joong walks ahead, perhaps his birthday feels are hitting him finally. He looks excited and Dunk smiles seeing the bounce in his steps. In a moment though, he is held by his wrist and pinned against a wall, pressed between it and a large body. “Pond, what the fuck?”
Pond smirks at him, one eyebrow raised. “I leave you for thirty minutes and other men adorn you with jewellery, huh?”
“What other men?” Dunk scrunches his nose, thumping his head lightly against the wall in an attempt to calm his rapidly beating heart.
Pond doesn’t give him another second and dives in to capture his lips. Dunk gasps, Pond sighs.
Pond's fingers lace in Dunk's hair, and he tugs with just the right amount of roughness to make Dunk let a moan out, and thus let Pond into his cavern.
Pond devours him, tasting every centimetre of Dunk's mouth with practised ease. All Dunk has to do is let him.
Love Pattranite Limpatiyakorn is a fairly simple girl. Bubbly, adorable, finds happiness in the minuscules. Easy to please, hard to disappoint. She wakes up in the morning, cooks breakfast and lunch, goes to work at an advertising agency, comes back, cooks dinner, reads, all of that.
She is always there to help. Like right now. She goes to the bar and cleans the countertop when someone spills from their drink. Her girlfriend is next to her, mixing drinks with such ease it makes Love want to kiss her right there.
“Babe, do you want me to make you something,” Milk asks, hugging her from the back. Love leans into her chest, “Yes, please. The fruitier, the better.”
Milk giggles in her ears. “Okay, princess. Right away.” She kisses Love's cheek and moves to the alcohol.
“Where's Hong, by the way?”
“He's in the kitchen. Est needed help with the fried chicken.”
Love scoffs. “I told them we should just order in. Now the cake's here but the food's still taking so much time.”
“Hmm. That's Est's way of loving though, isn't it? He's been there for hours because he wants it fried exactly how Joong likes it.”
Love throws her head back to look at Milk and laughs. “I know. He's so silly.”
“Like the rest of you aren't.” Milk places the cocktail in front of Love, kissing the top of her head. “Well, I am silly only for you,” Love replies, tilting her head and opening her mouth comically. Milk laughs, “Aww my silly little baby. Come let's get the birthday boy to cut his cake.”
“Pond has gone to fetch him, Phi. They'll be here soon. Film must have already prepared the cake. Let's go help her bring it.”
In the kitchen, Est finally turns the stove off. “Hong, is the sauce ready?” He shouts and looks behind him to look at the said man hovering over a large bowl in concentration. “Almost. Five minutes more,” comes the reply.
“Okay. I'll be right back then,” Est calls out. As he's about to leave the kitchen, he collides with a body entering the room. The impact is loud and Est groans loudly.
That is when Hong Pichetpong Chiradatesakunvong looks away from his mixing bowl, turning around with eyebrows furrowed in concern. “P'Est, what was that?”
When a friend group happens to have age gaps, it usually so happens that the youngest gets the status of being the baby. This one especially so, considering the fact that most of the others are of the exact same age. That is what Hong is to the group, their little baby they do anything to protect. Even someone like Est.
Hong sees that Est has collided into someone who is rigorously apologising. “I am so sorry, I was just looking for the bathroom and got lost. Are you hurt?”
Hong sees it even as Est's back is turned to him. The smile he must have on his face. The man he has collided into is gorgeous to say the least; he has even Hong go still in his motion for a moment. The sharp features of his face contrast the soft look in his eyes in a knee-weakening manner.
“Oh, it's no worries. The bathroom is at the end of the hallway when you turn right from here,” Est says, and it takes Hong one glance at the way his shoulders shrink to know his intentions.
“Oh, thank you very much. I am sorry yet again,” the man bows, and Est giggles. Shameless as he is, he holds the man's shoulders with both hands and says, “Don't apologise. If it bothers you that much, you can make it up to me in other ways.”
Hong scoffs, but doesn’t really look away from the commotion. It seems that the birthday boy has to wait a little more. Hong sees it live, and for the first time, the way the man's eyes go from apologetic kindness to flirty heat. Sharp, lit up, and ready for a challenge.
“Is that so? How can I do so then?” His voice dips an octave lower, no longer feeling the need to sound soft and apprehensive. Hong knows what men like this do to Est, and he knows now to either crash at Joong's place or make sure his headphones never leave his ears the whole night.
Est's fingers play with the man's collar. “Hmm, how about you start with your name, hmm?”
The man holds Est's gaze, a challenge he is reciprocating, a feat most people crumble at. This man is not going to cower. “Nut. What's yours?”
Hong almost answers, but Est is quicker and pulls him back. “Est. Say, Nut, do you want to hang out after the party?”
The man—Nut—smizes, tilting his head to the side just a little. “Sure. I'll meet you at the front door at 1. Ask P'Joong if you can't find me, pretty.”
Hong sees something he hasn't particularly ever witnessed. Est doesn’t move. Nut leaves the kitchen with a last smile at Est, and Est just stands there, eyes fixed on the now-empty space.
“P'Est?” Hong tries to get his attention, but to no avail. He walks towards Est and touches his shoulder, causing him to jump in startlement. It makes Hong sputter out a laugh, “Is Khun Est Supha enamored by a man?”
Est scoffs and elbows Hong's side. “Ridiculous. He's just interesting. Better have a good game to back it up. Come on, let's go. Pond's bringing Joong.”
Hong only shakes his head and lets Est divert the topic. Important things first, anyway. “I'll join you in a minute. The sauce needs garnish.”
The moment Joong reaches the bottom of the stairs, he is hit with loud cheers of birthday wishes from whoever sees him. He smiles at everyone and thanks people in varying tones of politeness and excitement relative to how much he knows each of them.
He turns around to see his two friends. Pond has an arm around Dunk's shoulders and Dunk looks so melted leaning against him. It seems like he is about to say something, eyes fixed on Dunk.
“Oho! I sent you to get the birthday boy but you leave him alone to cling to your boyfriend!” It is Film who interrupts. Joong blinks and looks away at Film, who is in turn looking at Pond with hands on her hips.
Pond, in a moment, leaves Dunk's side and loops his arm with Joong's. “Come on, Khun Archen. Let me carry you to your throne.” Joong cringes at Pond's unabashedness, and pushes his head away when he attempts to kiss his cheek. In the midst of it all, Dunk's laugh reverberates.
“Alright, alright. Let's cut the cake. The guests will starve.”
Dunk's on his other side then, and Joong is led to the middle of his living room. Est and Love drag in the humungous cake.
“Make your wish, young master,” Est teases. Joong closes his eyes and blows on the candles. One is still lit when he opens his eyes, so he moves closer to it and blows again, all attention on it. Everyone sings and claps for him.
The first piece of cake, unsurprisingly to anyone, is fed to Dunk. “Happy birthday, Joongie. I love you,” he says. “Aye, don't leave me alone. I love you, too, Joong,” Pond squeezes in, hugging him from behind, and Dunk follows from the other side with a laugh, head thrown back. The kind of laugh Pond always brings out of him.
That leads to a group hug. Joong in the middle of the pile, assured and comforted. So loved.
One by one, everyone gives Joong his gifts. And then the party is back in motion. He is about to ask Dunk for a dance when he is called for. “P'Joong!”
Joong turns around in a heartbeat and cheers in surprise.
“Oh, Phuwin! What an amazing surprise! When did you come back?” Joong opens his arms and collects the man into a hug.
“A couple days ago. Didn't Nut tell you?”
“No, he didn’t. Where is he anyway? I haven't seen him yet!”
Phuwin chuckles and steps back. “He left his gift in his car, Phi. He'll be back in a minute. Oh, is that P'Dunk?”
Joong looks next to him with an endeared laugh. “Yes. Dunk, you remember Phuwin?”
Dunk nods enthusiastically and says his pleasantries to Phuwin, a light hug merged in the end. Next to him, Pond looks interested. His eyes look up and down the newcomer, and Dunk turns to him. “Pond, this is Phuwin. Remember the peer mentee's peer mentee Joong kept talking about?”
Pond's mouth rounds up in a perfect circle. “Yeah, of course. Nong Phuwin, Ai Joong has talked about you a lot. You were his favourite junior.”
Phuwin blushes and bites his lips. “Hello, P'Pond. He did? I hope all only pretty things. I've heard a little about you, too.”
“Just a little?”
“I mean that's how much I met P'Dunk during university.”
Dunk makes a surprised noise of protest at the sudden prospect of becoming the central victim of the teasing. “Haven’t been back for a week and look at him already being a menace,” Joong steps in to the rescue, pinching Phuwin's ears only a little.
“Ho, Phi! I was just kidding!”
Love ducks in between Joong's arm just then. “Let's go dance, you guys! You can talk later.”
Nobody seems to disagree. Pond offers his hand for Dunk to take. In response, Dunk pats Pond's cheek. “I'm sorry, baby. I am the birthday boy's date today.”
Pond takes Dunk's hand in his and kisses the back of his wrist. “Boyfriend stealer,” he complains at Joong, but lets Dunk go easily.
“Okay, then. Don't mind if I steal your peer mentee. Would you like to dance, Khun Phuwin?”
Phuwin looks between Dunk and Joong cluelessly, unsure if it is alright. Dunk assures him with a nod. “If he becomes overbearing, just shove him. He can take it,” he says. Pond whines, “Babyyy, that's mean.”
Dunk laughs and kisses his cheek, a quiet apology. Then, he loops his arm with Joong's, “Lead the way, birthday boy!”
It leaves Phuwin and Pond alone. “If you're uncomfortable or don't want to, you don't have to say yes, by the way,” Pond says when Phuwin just stares at him.
“I don't mind it. But I'd rather have a drink before dancing. You see, I'm not really a good dancer. I'll be just standing there still and awkward if I am sober.”
Pond chuckles. “Fair enough. What do you like?”
“Oh. Any vodka cocktail works.”
“Oh, great. Cosmopolitan is the only drink I can make without messing up.”
Phuwin laughs, bows his head a little, and adorably says, “Thank you, Phi. That'll be great.”
“I didn't tell you. You look so beautiful, and the necklace looks gorgeous on you. I knew you'd make it look amazing,” Joong says in Dunk's ear, swaying him in his arms.
Dunk snorts, “What the fuck do you mean I make the necklace look pretty. Shouldn’t you say that I look beautiful in it?”
Joong clicks his tongue and shakes his head. “A mere lifeless thing dares enhance your beauty? Come on, Natty, you know better than that. Nothing is more beautiful in the world than you.”
Dunk scrunches his nose, and pouts as if in judgement, “Your future partner is gonna have so many issues with me if you keep acting this way.”
Joong looks at Dunk, in his eyes, as if finding answers to questions in his own head. “Anybody who would love me would know how important you are to me. So, don't worry about it.”
Joong sees Dunk's Adam's apple bob. He loses words for a moment. Just a moment though, because he picks it up. “Don't be so cringey now. I feel the creeps.”
Joong then scrunches his face in teasing, “Okay, okay. Let's have fun. I love you, okay?”
As the party dies down and everyone leaves for their respective places one by one, Est walks up to the front door to find it empty. He looks around and feels marginally misled, and disappointment starts settling in his stomach .
In the next second though, he is slammed against the wall next to the main door; a palm obstructs his head's collision with it. “I thought you changed your mind,” Nut says, trapping him. He is shorter than Est, easily by an inch. From up this close, Est sees the light stubble growing on Nut's chin. “I thought you disappeared on me,” he replies.
Nut closes his eyes and smiles. Then he looks straight into Est's eyes and Est feels like he'll be set on fire any moment now. “I wanted to make sure that you wanted this.”
Any complaints Est has die in his throat as Nut captures his mouth. He is fierce, doesn't allow Est a moment to think or to take charge. Est holds on to his shoulders for leverage and falls into it.
He opens his mouth and sucks on Nut's tongue. Nut tugs at his bottom lip and runs his tongue all over the underside of his lip. He tastes like the strawberry parfait Dunk made. It's enchanting in a way.
Est's right hand reaches for the front of Nut's pants and Nut groans. But he pulls away. “Easy there, tiger. We have all night. I'll take you apart like you deserve.”
“You better make it worth it if you're gonna top,” Est whispers, voice ragged.
Nut smirks, “Wouldn’t dare not to.” He pecks Est's lips and continues, “Your place or mine?”