The F5 (Fraternal Five)

First

"Ai Te, wake up." New pats Tay's cheek lightly.

"Hngg? Hin?" Tay hazily opens his eyes to New squating beside his bed.

"Hey." New breaks into a soft smile. "Happy birthday, love. Thanks for coming into my life, yeah?"

"Aww Hin, that's so cute, thank you." Without another word, Tay pulls New in for a kiss. It gets hot pretty quickly, and New has to cut it short.

"Hey." He takes a deep breath to calm himself. "Sorry, I'd love to carry on but I'm already running a bit late. I put your cake—and the gifts left at our door—on your desk, don't forget to light the candle and make a wish, okay? And make sure to put all food in the fridge."

New ignores Tay's pout and gets up, gathering his things. "My class ends at 7.30, let's meet here at 8 for a late dinner before heading to the bar with Off and Nong Gun? I'll bring yellow curry."

Tay beams at the mention of his favorite food. "Yeah, let's! My Hin, susu."

"Sure. Don't go back to sleep! Your class starts in an hour. Bye now." New closes the door in haste, leaving a bittersweet silence in his wake.

*

Around noon.

'Raincheck on yellow curry? I got all kinds of cakes.'

'Every year. Heh. So cake party?'

'Ugh. Only for today, Chubby.'

'Can't wait 😋'

*

Five minutes to 8 p.m. as the gang and their boyfriends come crowding Tay-New's little dorm room.

'Something came up. Sorry. Mind meeting me at the bar?'

'Huh? You won't even come back to change?'

'If I have time.'

'Everything alright? We're going at 10, so no rush.'

'Yeah. Don't wait up, K?'

'New? I'm worried. Can you tell me what came up, exactly?'

Tay tries calling New for a few times, which all come straight to his voicemail. As it's weekday, and after a long flight, Singto can barely function, the gang disbands early, leaving Tay only with Off and Gun who've promised to celebrate together at a bar.

"Let's just meet him there." Off shrugs as Tay talks about New's disappearance. "Like he asked."

"Don't worry, P'Tay. I'm 75% sure it's nothing."

"What about the 25%??"

"Like he said, something came up." Gun shrugs matter-of-factly.

"Nong Gun ...! That's exactly what I meant! How can I help if he doesn't tell me anything?"

"First of all, you're unreliable." Off offers an insight.

"Screw you, Peng!" Tay grumbles.

"We'll wait until 11, then we're going."

"But I'm worried!"

"Alai—"

"Let me try calling him, okay?" Gun separates the two as he fishes out his phone, only to spam New with yet other missed calls.

*

It's nearly midnight and at a table closest to the dance floor Tay is busy sending drunk texts to his boyfriend. Off is nowhere in sight and Gun plays the role of the attentive (?) friend who keeps 'em coming.

'Answer me plaese. PLAEWSE.'

'PICL UP THE DAMN PHOONE HIN!'

'You wont oick up huh'

'HIN !.!'

'Pls I just wanna knwo you're okay im so misersble rn, hin'

'Why? You ssid you lvoe me but youre never hree. Nmew answer me thisis my brithday ffs!!!.'

'Just.., .how did shits go dkwn so drarctically?? We weere fine this morni gn so why'

"WTF Teacup? I was only out for several phone calls and not only Tay, but you as well are already smashed?!" Off comes scolding.

"Papii sawasdee khub! You're taking too long so had to make the call." Gun almost falls from his chair trying to wai Off.

"Call alaiwa!" Off fumes, swatting Tay's hand that's about to grab his glass of neat whiskey. "Enough drinking for you tonight! I can't get ahold of New, okay, so I'll really leave you here if you can't even stand on your own."

"But Papii, why are we even here if not to get drunk?" Tay nods taking Gun's side. "Think about P'Tay, his birthday is almost over and his BF is still missing and he's so lonely ... we need to—"

"Well fucking think about me, too! I can't drag both your asses on my own!" Off raises his voice at Gun, who cowers at the sight of his livid boyfriend.

"What the, you ungrateful ass! Apologize right now! Nong Gun's here with you isn't that enough??! It's not even your birthday today!" Enveloping Gun in a bear hug, shielding the small guy from his own boyfriend, Tay snaps back at Off.

"Oh, calm down! It's not like it's your first birthday without New!"

Tay gazes at Off in astonishment, the truth harshly hits him in the face.

Gun glares at Off. "That was uncalled for, okay Papii."

Off sighs, levelling himself. "OK, OK, sorry. But first get off Tay."

"You're right ... of course ... but it's my first birthday as his boyfriend ...." Tay mutters, eyes sad and lonely. At such a heartbreaking sight, Gun pulls Tay back in an embrace.

Off opens his mouth to protest but gives up eventually. Yes, he's still unsure as to why Tay needs to get all touchy-feely with his boyfriend to feel better. But right now the poor guy needs all the moral support he can get and as much as Off loves his best friend he wasn't going to hug Tay, so he'll let it slide just for today.

*

A quarter before 1.

'Before you cuss me out, I fucked up I know.'

"Papii!? You-know-who just texted me!" Gun exclaims, refraining from mentioning New but not doing a very good job at being subtle. Well Tay's already out cold at the moment so.

"Let's hear what he has to say." Off growls, as Gun proceeds to sit on his lap and holds out his phone as he clumsily types for Off to see.

'BITCH WHT HAPPPENED'

'I'm scared to ask but how bad?'

'11/10 ID SAY WHER WERE U'

'First of all I'm really, really sorry okay, but can you help me bring Te back? His phone died I assume?'

'PNEW. EXPLAIN .!!'

'Now? Over text?'

'Ai New. It's Off. I didn't want to pick sides but you did bail on Tay on his birthday. Depending on your answer, I might not return Tay to you. So I'll proceed carefully if I were you.'

'Hey, noted Off. Sorry again okay? Last night some of Kik's psycho girlfriends who go to our uni caught me buying couple shoes for Te, threatening to expose me and Te if I didn't explain everything to Kik right away. So I did—hence the something came up text. I was gonna make it quick but Kik's freaking out, can't really blame her it was one thing after another. I just got home and trust me I'd pick him up half-dead or otherwise but I couldn't risk being spotted with Te again, they're watching us like a hawk especially now.'

'Sat, you could've at least told him you're fine.'

'I would, except that answering him would lead to his string of endless questions I've yet to have the answer to, and besides I didn't want to ruin his birthday with my problems so I thought I'd wait.'

'Well sucks, it's already ruined by the look of it.'