The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Aftermath

A/N A forewarning (and an apology): angst. Sorry, I can't help it! I'm such a sucker for it sometimes I swear. It's only for two parts max though I promise!

Here goes ....

*

Off's the first to wake up. The staffs have wiped clean all traces of yesterday's party, and the smell of bread, ham, and eggs fills the air. The atmosphere was serene as he lays on a daybed, soaking in the morning sun, until a commotion starts in the room closest to him.

"...For fun? I can't believe you, P'Sing! If I didn't find out now, when did you plan on telling me??"

Off jerks up to Krist's betrayed voice. For all Off knows, the nong only has one mood whenever he's with Singto, which is lovestruck.

"I'm so, so sorry, Kit. I know it's no excuse but you were so excited about this trip, so I really didn't want to ruin it for you. Kit ... please wait for me." Singto's voice gradually gets closer, and Off turns around to him chasing Krist toward his direction.

Krist freezes when he looks up and meets Off's gaze. "Um, morning, P'Off."

Off stands up, fully facing them. Carefully, he asks, "Everything okay, guys?"

"Oh, trust me, never better." Krist scoffs bitterly. "Just him casually asking me to wait for him for a good three years after dropping a bomb about his early departure. Yeah, no big deal."

Off grimaces, gulping down his comeback, not wanting things to get out of hand. But even then, he still couldn't prevent Krist's wrath.

"What the—you told P'Off but not me?!" At Off's awkward, but not surprised reaction, Krist snaps at Singto, full of rage.

Off shoots Singto an apologetic look in panic. He should've thought of it better!

Singto sighs. "I really planned to tell you at the end of this trip, Kit. Please, believe me?"

"Don't." Krist cuts him short. "You don't get to use that card on me. Not after I find out you've been hiding some truth from me."

"Kit, you know I was going to go to US for my master either way. It's only brought forward to half a year earlier, it's ... it's really just a matter of time, no?"

Krist looks at Singto in disbelief. "How could you say it so easily? You're leaving next week!"

"No, it's not like I find it easy to—"

Krist scoffs coldly. "So yesterday was your farewell party."

"What? No!" Off quickly denies it, though there's some truth in there somewhere.

"I was so ahead of myself to assume your friends care for us that much."

"Hey, watch it!" This time, Krist's bitter comment ticks Off off. Because they do care about them. When Singto told them about the news, the gang offered to take care of Krist in place of Singto even before he had the chance to ask.

"I'm sorry, okay? It was wrong of me to keep it for too long, Kit, please talk to me."

"Is there even a future for us, I wonder?" Krist mutters sadly.

"Hey! Where'd that come from?!" Singto snaps suddenly, at his boyfriend's abrupt thought.

But Krist only stares blankly at him in answer. "Because a small matter like this and we're already fighting. How about bigger, more complicated things along the way? How about when I'm too far to see the honesty in your eyes, to hear the sincerity in your voice? How about then? Will we even survive at all, Tuan?"

"We never know if we don't try, don't we!" Singto shouts in frustration. Sure they have their ups and downs, and he understands that Krist's very upset right now, but to question the whole thing is just too much.

"I can't—I'm too anxious, I'm—" Krist pauses, voice catching. "This is just .... Can you give me some space for now? Let me just ... process all this."

Singto gapes. "But Kit, you said—"

"Please, Tuan? I'm not angry with you anymore, I promise, I just ... need some space." A tear falls silently down his face. "I'm sorry." Wiping it Krist leaves the deck, and on that a very crestfallen Singto.

"...But I'd rather you be angry with me." He whispers his answer to the empty space. "So I can be the one to calm you down, Kit."

Slowly, carefully, Off moves to pat his back.

"P'Off, are we ... are we breaking up?" Singto chokes on his sob.

"Nonsense! You'll get through this, okay. Together." Off pulls Singto in as the poor guy sobs harder on his shoulders.

*

'Mayday.' Off sends Tay a text.

'We know. Krist came crying into Nong Gun's arms.' Tay replies fast.

'Uh, how bad was it?'

'We piled into a big hug to comfort him and Earth and Mixxiw even pupued him but he still insisted on getting off the yatch. Nong Gun's helping him packing up as we speak.'

'Shit.'

'Hey! Don't curse me.'

Off rolls his eyes. Tay always pays attention to the most insignificant things. He's still in the middle of weighting the options as a text comes, but this time it's not from Tay.

'P'Tay would you please stop him? Tell Kit I'm the one who'll be getting off instead.'

"Shit!" Off and Tay, from different sides of yatch, curse together as they realize they've been chatting on the gang's group chat.

*

'Gun.' Off double-checks the room chat before sending Gun a text.

'Papii, you should accompany Singto. If he's as heartbroken as Kit, he shouldn't be left alone.'

Off blinks at his phone, amazed at how Gun's just basically read his mind. 'I know you're an adult but still, will you be alright on your own?'

'I hate you.'

'Heh. But we're still dating though, right?'

'I see you're not sober yet.'

Singto knocks softly on his open door and says, "I'm leaving, P'Off."

"Hey, wait!" Off hurriedly gets up and starts packing his stuffs. "I'm coming with you!"

"Oh?" Singto looks confused.

"Yeah. Don't you dare leaving alone!"

"Sir yes sir." Singto chuckles weakly. "And thank you, truly, Phi."

"Hey, it's nothing."

'Gotta go. See you, Teacup.' Off texts Gun one last time before finishing up.