The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Predestined

Krist answers the door after only three knocks. He's a bit quieter than usual and from his puffy eyes, it looks like he's been crying—but other than that, he seems perfectly fine.

Singto's right. If the problem is as severe as he predicts, then Krist is truly a master of hiding his emotions. A little too well, even, for his own good.

"What brings you here, phis?" Krist flashes his usual dimpled smile.

"You've gone missing and still have the audacity to ask that?! Huh, and why's your phone turned off?!" Off growls playfully, making Krist giggle.

"Just ...." Krist huffs, turning quiet all of the sudden. "There's someone I can't face just yet."

"Yeah? Wanna talk about it?" Off's voice grows softer.

"Oh, you know. Same old, same old, you don't want to hear the boring details. And I'm sure P'Sing's already told you plenty." Krist shrugs. "I'll be fine in the morning, Phi. Just let me dwell in my sorrow tonight. He's just exaggerating, because he's so far away now."

"Did your parents say something?"

"Nah, they're 100% on my side. But it's still hard, you know? Because there's a difference between understanding and supportive, and nights like this I'm fighting myself to get over the guilt."

"Aww, Kit ...." Tay moves to hug Krist, rubbing comforting strokes on his back.

"I'll be direct, okay? I know for a fact that one day, our different religions and same sex will be the end of us."

"Oh, Kit, I'm so sorry."

The mood turns damp in a matter of seconds, until Off's ringtone serves as a distraction.

Off gets up to take the call. "Hey, have you finished—"

"Papii, finally! I'm so tired, huhu, where are you now?"

"I'm at Kit's place now but it's kinda ... can you come alone?"

"Sure! Send me the address, see you! Papii jubjub!"

Off stares at his phone in bewilderment; Gun's persona never fails to surprise him. Shaking his head to get the jubjub out of his mind, Off goes back to Krist sobbing hard on Tay's arms.

'What happened?' He mouths, frowning.

Tay makes frantic, confusing gesture with his hands, which Off easily interprets as 'I don't know, he just broke down all of the sudden. What do we do??!'

Off sighs. He pats Krist's head and says softly. "Just let it all out, okay kid?"

They stay like that for a while, Krist's sobs the only sound heard. Off wanders to the kitchen to find a glass of water for Krist, hastening himself as he sees Gun's chat notification saying he's already arrived.

He puts the glass down on the table in front of Tay and Krist and heads to the door to let Gun in.

"Papii! I've missed you! The building's right beside my shooting location, can you believe that? Wow, this condo is neat! Kit sure has a taste! Oh, hello there little ... naked ... unfriendly guy." Gun can't seem to stay on one topic longer than five seconds, until he sees the state Krist's in. "Papii! P'Tay! What are you doing to Kit?!!" He scrambles to pull Krist in a hug, shoving Tay away in the process. "I swear, I don't care if you're my friend or my boyfriend, Singto's going to hear every bit of—"

"I-it's okay, P'Gun. They're actually here to comfort me." Krist says softly between his sobs.

"Comfort you? I don't hear no one's talking." Gun glares at the two seniors, hands never stop stroking Kit's back gently.

"Aw! But Nong Gun, we've tried our best." Tay whines.

"'Best', my ass. You haven't come up with a single word since Kit broke down."

"But I understand and I relate! And I communicate it with the warmth of my arms, right Kit?"

"What's the matter, Kit?" Gun cups Krist's face in his hands, thumbs wiping tears from the nong's cheeks. "Aww, look at your eyes. C'mon, stop crying, baby. Whoever hurts you, they don't deserve your tears." He coos, all too softly, reminding Off of how he lulls his little sister.

"It's nothing, it's—" Krist pauses, voice caught. "Just every now and then thing, when reality decides to wake me up with a hard slap across the face."

"What kind of reality?"

"How me and P'Sing, we're never destined to be together."

Gun frowns. "And why is that?"

"Y'know." Krist shrugs. "Because we're both guys, and each has a God of his own."

"Oh, and who's playing God now?" Gun's cold voice sends shivers to everyone's back.

"No one, for now. But one day, someone with enough influence will," whispers Krist.

"Aw Kit, so what? What're they gonna do to people like us? Burn us, like witches? Belittle us, like some bullies?" Gun scoffs. "Change is coming, Kit. It's inevitable. Some bunch of stuck-up people can't do nothing about it. I promise."

"Wow, Teacup. I'm actually moved by your speech." Off places a hand on Gun's shoulder. "Me, a former stuck-up."

"Heh, Papii. You're not. Even when you're straight you didn't go out of your way to disrespect our kind." Gun pulls down Off's hand and lands a smooth kiss on his cheek.

"Huh ... true." Off responds, getting up in a daze.

Gun turns back to a considerably calmer Krist. He tilts his head, contemplating. "But, I don't know. Why do I get a feeling that that's not all there is to it?"

"Damn, P'Gun." Krist stares at Gun in wonder. "Sharp eyes you got there."

"Right?" Off smiles proudly, answering for his boyfriend.

"He wasn't complimenting you, Peng." Tay sneers.

"So noisy. Do you want me to drop you off halfway home?" Off snaps back.

"Aw, by all means! I don't drive but I still have Uber in my phone, no need to act like—"

"So noisy, you two." Gun cuts in, scolding the loud two. "Take it somewhere else or just get lost, we're trying to have an actual talk here."

"Huh? But what about you, Teacup?"

"What about me?"

"Aw, aren't you here to see me?" Off whines.

"I'll see you at your condo later. Now be good, Papii."

"No, wait, Nong ....!"

Krist herds them to the door anyway. "Bye, P'Off! Bye, P'Tay! Thanks for stopping by!"

The rest of Off's protest is muffled by the closed door. Gun looks up to Krist, smirking cheekily, "Now, where were we?"