The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Impulse

"Mae, this is Gun. Gun, Mae."

"Nice to meet you, Mae." Gun wais, handing out the cakes he bought.

"What's this!" The woman, about Gun's shoulders tall, turns to scold Off. "I told you not to bring anything!"

"It's nothing, Mae." Gun strokes her arms reassuringly. "Just me being a bit too excited to be here."

"Nonsense! Come here anytime. You're always welcome. In fact, come to me whenever he annoys you. I will scold him for you!"

"Wow, thanks, Mae. I feel very loved right now." Off nudges her playfully.

"Oh, you! Don't get me started." She glares at Off, sighing loudly. "Go, greet everyone. You're always so busy with your study, never have time for your family ... I feel like I don't have a son anymore ...." She keeps on grumbling.

"Yeah, yeah ... who knows, I might stop coming at all if you keep scolding me." Off chuckles as his mother hits his arm playfully. He looks around the vast garden, spotting everyone but one missing person. "Where's Pho?"

"He'll come around." His mom hurriedly replies, hand squeezing Gun's arm comfortingly. "When he sees how happy you've become, luk."

What? Gun shoots Off a death glare.

But Off just smiles, tightening his hug around Gun's shoulders. "I'm sure."

"Papii ...! Why did I never hear about this?!" Gun hisses under his breath.

"Probably 'cause I never talked about it?" Off grins cheekily.

"Don't joke around! You brought me here knowing full well your dad doesn't approve of us!"

"Oh he will, I promise. And it's not you, it's me."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You'll see." Off winks, just in time as they get noticed.

"Off! When did you arrive? Oh, hi nong, I'm Am—Off's big sister." A woman comes by with a little girl by her side and a baby boy in her arms. "Nirin, Akin, say hi to Uncle Off and Uncle Gun."

"Aww, they're so cute! Akin is like little Off! Sawasdee khub, P'Am." Gun wais the sister, then crouches to greet Nirin. "Hey, cutiepie."

"What is cutiepie?" Nirin asks shyly.

"It means a cute person. And it's your new nickname from Uncle Gun, because Nirin is cute." Gun smiles sweetly.

"I'm cute?" Nirin asks with her innocent voice.

"Veeeeery!" Gun opens his arms. "Come. Uncle Gun has unicorn cake pops. Do you like unicorn?"

"I like unicorn!" Nirin cheers, letting herself be carried by Gun right away. "C'mon, Uncle, I wanna eat unicorn cake!"

"Yay! Let's go! Count with me, Nirin, one, two, three!"

"Four, five, six!"

"Good! Eight nine ...!"

Left with his sister and her youngest, Off stares at the direction they've gone to in bewilderment. "Wow, Nirin gets over her shyness fast. She's not even half as friendly toward me."

"Because you always tease her! Heh, can't wait to hear about her new favorite uncle when we get home." Am chuckles, studying her brother. "He's a keeper, you know that?"

"Wow, you know that? From one encounter?" Off returns her gaze with curious eyes. "He might just like kids a lot."

"Nong." Am gives him a look. "He looks like he's about to faint."

"Damn." Off curses. "I tried talking him into staying behind to rest, but he insisted on coming. Said he didn't want to go back on his words." He groans. "Even though he's usually not this disobedient."

"Because he knows this matters to you." Am smiles softly at his baby brother. "Pho's endless rant tires you out, I bet?"

"Yeah, on the other hand I just really want pho to see that it's different this time. And I wouldn't go so far as claiming he's my soulmate or anything, but me dating Gun's never a thoughtless decision, either." Off rolls his eyes. "Like pho said, he's a public figure."

"TBH, it surprised me, too, at first. But despite your former ... lifestyle, I know you're too careful to be that reckless. But yeah, I kinda see his point." Am chuckles.

Off scoffs. "I'll take that. And thank you, Phi, really."

Am pats his arm. "Go find him and have a good talk with, okay? Leave nong to Nirin, heh."

In the end, Gun found him first, by the dessert table where the unicorn cake pops are.

"Granpa! Uncle Gun say he has unicorn cake!"

With his free hand Gun wais. "Sawasdee khub, Pho. I'm Gun—I'm here with Off."

"I know." He glances at Nirin, and says, "Go find your mom, kid, granpa needs to talk to Uncle Gun about something."

"B-but unicorn cake ...."

"Here." Gun puts Nirin down and gives her two unicorn cake pops. "Now share this with her, okay? Can you find your mom on your own?"

"Okay! Don't worry, Nirin is a big girl!"

"Good!" Gun makes sure Nirin walks away fine before turning to the old man.

"So how did you know each other?" The older starts, not in the least attempting to look intimidating.

In fact, his gesture is quite friendly, Gun's a bit taken aback. "Uh, through a friend."

"Were you aware of his ... adventures, before this?"

Gun chuckles. "Yeah."

"What made you think he'd change?"

"I didn't."

The old man blinks. "Then tell me, why do you agree on dating an emotionally unavailable boy?"

"Is that what you're concerned about? That he'd end up breaking my heart?"

He nods. "I'll be brutally honest with you. I've nothing against you, quite the opposite, really. You're both lovely and remarkable, but I don't think his little impulse is worth destroying his whole life ahead. Because, you know, the power your every word holds."

Gun smiles calmly. "Thanks for being honest with me. You're right, it was an impulse. When we first decided to do this, we didn't think very far ahead. That's exactly why I agreed on dating him."

"Why? Don't you deserve more?"

"Because relationship scares me. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fairly loyal guy, heh. But when it comes to work and life basically there's so many things that my lover has to give way to, to be second, even third to, to make it work. I've nothing to commit beside my one-track heart, not even my time. P'Off's perfect, because his feelings—assuming there are any—don't overwhelm me." He lets out a soft chuckle. "And don't worry, I have our relationship covered by my agency. So if one day we didn't make it, he'd still get away untouched, they'd make sure of it."

"Oh, such positivity! Have a little faith in us, won't you, Teacup?" Off scolds from behind Gun. "Sawasdee khub, Pho."

"Just letting Pho know that I'm giving you safety net in addition to exposing you to danger. And don't worry, I have more than 'a little'." Gun peers up at him, smiling widely.

"I like him." Pho says to Off finally. "Please, for the love of me, don't do anything stupid, Ai Off."

"See, Teacup? Nothing to worry about!" Off turns to his dad, sulking. "And thanks, Pho, for the vote of confidence."

"A heads-up would still be nice!" Gun pouts.

"Okay, okay, my bad." Off grins, patting Gun's head to calm his baby down.

"And he can tame you??" Pho asks baffled. "Can I adopt him into our family already?"

"That's too much, Pho!"