The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Drama

It's four in the afternoon when Off arrives. With Gun, he never knows what to expect but his boyfriend walking across the set linking hands with two beautiful girls and announcing him simply never crosses his mind.

"Guysss meet my boyfriend P'Off! Papii, this is Nong Jane, my co-star, and P'Best, our makeup artist. You've met P'Nook and P'Boy outside, yeah? I'll introduce you to P'Kwang later, she's not coming today." Gun looks around and frowns. "Aw, did Bright leave?"

"Yeah, back to the studio fixing something." Boy, manager number two—his words, not Off's—answers.

"Oh, alright ...."

"So you're Papii ...." Best smiles mischievously at Off, making him uncomfortable. "I see Gun's still a sucker for tall, stylish men."

"I mean who isn't." Gun chuckles, oblivious to the change in Off's face.

"While you're such a breath of fresh air ...." Best steals a glance to gag Off's reaction. "Sure went against your type this time, huh, Khun Jumpol?"

"Ooi, leave him alone!"

"No, it's okay. I can handle a little teasing," says Off with glint in his eyes.

"I like the spirit! So did you know that Gun knows Mook?"

"P'Best!" Gun scolds Best at her mentioning Off's one and only ex. All the other girls didn't even get to wear the title 'girlfriend' before Off dumped them.

Just then, some crew pulls Gun aside and busies him with some paperwork.

"She's a model. I'd say it's a given they've crossed path, no?" Off's smile is dangerously devoid of emotions.

"You don't seem concerned."

"Oh trust me I am. I just don't see why you're so invested in our history."

"Just ... it's strange is all. Like something's cooking."

Off growls at the subtle accusation. "And? Are you genuinely concerned or just here for the drama?"

"We're sorry, P'Off. You know P'Gun; we just can't help but being protective of him." Jane hurriedly meddles between the two.

"And it's not like you have the best reputation around here, boy." Best glares at Off, as if daring him to deny it.

"Again, I don't see why of all people I have to answer to you." Off fires back.

"If you have nothing to hide surely you don't have to be so defensive, no?" Best shrugs. "For the record, Nong Gun's never one to meddle in anyone's business but he kept on telling the girls to leave you alone, only to be caught doing the exact opposite. You don't want to know how the girls handle the news. Let's just say, it's far from pretty."

Off's calm facade falters a little.

"I bet he never told you about it." Best easily hits the bullseye.

Off curses, eventually lowering his walls. "Shit. He doesn't deserve that." He looks up, then with determination asks Best, "What can I do about it?"

Best waves dismissively. "Oh, just give it time. They'll come around, see. It's their loss otherwise—there's thousands others who're more than ready to replace them."

Off frowns in disgust. "What kind of friendship is that?"

"What do you expect? Nong Gun's a celebrity." Best shrugs calmly.

Off curses again.

"Don't worry. Nong's not naive enough to go for love and friendship."

Off grimaces. Love, he can understand, but to give up on friendship, too—that just doesn't sit well with him. "So what are you being protective of him for, knowing full well he'll never value your friendship?"

"Oh, beats me. I'm probably just here for the drama, you know?" Best smiles dryly.

"...I'm sorry." Off finally deflates. "I can't promise anything, but I'd really appreciate it if you just give us a chance."

"Oh, don't worry. I never promised to treat you nicely, either. You simply have to earn it, Mr. One-night-stand." Best smirks, making Off growl.

"Sorry, what did I miss?" Gun joins in again.

"A-actually, we were just leaving but nice to meet you, P'Gun's Papii!" Seeing her chance, Jane hurriedly excuses them and pulls Best away from the rising tension.

"Yeah, you too, I guess." Off shrugs. Not that they stay long enough to hear that.

Left with only the two of them, Off takes a closer look at Gun's attire. It's a fit white-pink stripes shirt with a pair of extremely tight jeans, hugging Gun's small waist and driving Off's mind crazy. "The fuck are you wearing??!"

Gun glares at him, hissing, "Shush! You'll offend the wardrobe team. And it's called fashion, Papii." He chuckles.

"How is it fashion? It's a fucking clickbait if you ever see one!"

"It's long-sleeved and long pants!"

"But ...." Off trails off, too upset to argue. He looks around, and, sure enough, the men on set—with the exception of Gun's manager Boy—are all but stealing glances at his boyfriend, some aren't even trying to be subtle at all! He turns his attention back at Gun and asks, "Are you done here?"

"I ... well, technically." A bit startled by Off's harsh tone, Gun misses a beat answering.

"Where's your stuff? We're leaving." Off says curtly.

"Aww, stay a while? I promise you'll like everyone once you know them."

"Well, me, I like you already." Nook, manager number one, suddenly appears beside Gun.

Gun chuckles, poking her side. "You say that to every guy within five meters radius."

"Not true! Only the handsome ones. Like your guy here." Nook winks at Gun.

"Gun."

"Papii?"

"Just go get changed, please."

At Off's no-nonsense tone, Gun exchanges glances with Nook, then eventually gives in. "Okay, okay. P'Nook, keep him entertained."

"Nah, you keep nong's baby entertained." Boy comes into picture with a dog plushie in his hand. "I'm done babysitting him."

"Oh! Meet Taotao, Papii! Isn't he cute?"

"Gun." Off warns, taking the doll from Boy without so much as a glance at it.

"Okay, okay, I'm going!" Gun says finally after taking some pictures of Off holding his Taotao.