The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Intriguing

Friday morning the whole gang go on two-nights trip to the beach to celebrate Singto and Krist's second anniversary, and everyone is required to bring a plus one. Earth—and Tay, actually—goes with the obvious choice, while Off and Bright surprise everyone with theirs.

"You guys seem to enjoy his company a lot," is Bright's excuse to bring Win. "And anyway, he's my nong now. In football club, I mean."

Sure, Bright.

"He intrigues me," is Off's as he shows up with Gun, before cutting it short with violence. "Problems??!"

Heh.

"And only I get to call him Teacup!"

Now, now, Khun Off. Your possessiveness is showing.

*

The night before ....

Off was on his way back from a little 'misbehaving' at the secluded side of library, already deleting the girl's contact number from his phone. He was walking past rows of reading tables when he spotted an unmoving little teacup puppy with head buried in his arms.

He stopped and studied the unusually alone guy for a while, dumbfounded as he found out Gun truly was asleep.

"Hey, it's almost seven. Do you plan to spend the night locked inside?" He poked the little guy.

"Hrmm?" Gun stirred but went directly back to sleep.

"Yo, wake up! Do you want me to lock you up myself?!" Off raised his voice, jolting Gun back to life.

"Huh? Who? Where?" Gun perked up and looked around. Finding no one—but Off—within sight, he fixed his gaze at him. "You again!"

"Watch it, ungrateful brat! Or do you prefer me leaving you locked here all night?"

Gun looked shocked. "It's night already??"

"Just how long have you been sleeping here?"

"I was skipping lunch to take a quick nap ...." As if on cue, Gun's stomach growled hungrily.

Off pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Come on. Let's get you some food." He pulled Gun to his feet and dragged him outside.

Watching Off from the back, all messy hair and disheveled clothes, Gun quickly connected the dots. "You sure get lucky often."

Off rolled his eyes. "What do you even know?"

"Well for one, you and library just don't match. Sue me for labelling."

Off shrugged. It's the truth, anyway. "But often, though." He pointed out.

An amused smile painted Gun's face. "Heh. Girls talk. A lot."

Off stopped to look at him. "Even to you?"

Gun glared at Off in response. "I'll have you know I'm every girl's gay best friend."

Off's a bit taken aback by his openness, but quickly scoffed to hide it. "I bet they all bragged about how good I was."

Gun shook his head and all too abruptly dropped a bomb, "I don't know what you feel superior for. They only see you as a trophy, nothing more."

A phone call from Gun's sister distracting him from gagging Off's reaction. He might not realize it, but Off was still in a trance until he waved the senior goodbye.

"Hey, Teacup?" Off called out without thinking.

Gun stopped and turned around, sporting his best angry face—yet ended up looking adorable instead. "What."

"Clear your schedule for the weekend for me?"

Gun blinked. Once, then twice. Too unsure of Off's intention to answer.

"We're going to the beach." Off offered an explanation, however unuseful.

"Um ... sure? I won't be helping you get lucky, though, just so we're clear."

Off raised an eyebrow suggestively. "What about making me lucky instead?"

"Ew, P'Off." Gun rolled his eyes. "I don't do straight jerks."

"I can be gay for you." Off winked, clearly wasn't used to rejection.

"Um, yay?" Gun deadpanned.

Off exhaled exaggeratingly. "Tough crowd."

"Ha ha." Gun paused, before dropping the second bomb. "I hope you don't practice this joke with anyone else. Instead of funny, some might find it hurtful, P'Off."

With that, he walked away, leaving Off speechless—and very much intrigued.

*

"Oh, Kit!" Gun's eyes brighten up seeing a familiar face. Off has gone off to the deck with Tay after putting their stuffs to their respective cabins, leaving him all by himself. "And Singto, hey! So are we celebrating something?" He gestures to the balloons and little ribbons scattering around the yatch.

Krist glares at him. "So you follow P'Off here voluntarily, without so much of a question?"

"Nah. I'm an easy guy. Heard he's a party guy—sold." Gun looks very proud of himself.

Both Krist and Singto look at Gun in awe.

"You're something else, Phi."

"No, they're something else." Singto corrects him. Krist quicky nods his agreement.

"It's their second anniversary." New appears from behind Gun, answering Gun's question and offering the group some popcorn while he's at it. Beside him, Win wais everyone.

"Really? You guys?? Aww, congrats!" Gun pulls the couple into a hug.

"Thanks, Phi."

"I don't understand those guys sometimes. First it's Bright, then Off." New sighs. "Why would they ask you to come if they're just gonna leave you to yourselves?"

"Oh, no. I just didn't feel like going down to the deck just yet." Gun quickly defends Off.

"And P'Tay, too, apparently." Krist chuckles. "The question is, what are you doing adopting them one by one? Are you some kind of mother hen?"

New grins. "No, I was the one who told Te to leave me alone. We're roommates for Pete's sake! I need to have social life outside of him."

Gun and Win break into a laughting fit at that.

"Poor P'Tay. I bet he's heartbroken." Gun giggles some more. "You're too cruel, P'New."

"Aw, why are you calling him 'phi'? Aren't you in the same year?" Mix emerges from the corridor leading to the rooms.

"My soul brother!"

"Oh-hoo, what do we have here? Another baby chick I should adopt?" New chuckles finding no Earth in sight.

"Since when we're chicks?"

"Unlike you, Mix, P'Gun enjoys being everyone's nong." Krist chuckles, explaining.

"True, true." Gun nods. "Everyone in my year calls me Nong Gun, older or younger. Even your P'Earth, I believe."

"Come to think of it, where's he?"

"Oh, I locked him in our room because he just wouldn't leave me alone."

Singto laughs the loudest at that.