The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Ticking Bomb

"So, like, fill us in or something." New starts, getting comfortable with Off's sofa.

Busy stuffing his face with Gun at the kitchen table, Tay nods aggressively. Off on the other side of the room just stands leaning against the wall, arms crossed and pissed as hell. "Why are you even here?"

"Oh, that." New chuckles lightly. "Tay and I spent the whole evening at the library, skipping dinner. Saw sushi on your tweet, and the rest is history." He shrugs as if it's the normal thing to do to leech off some friend's dinner.

"If that's the case—hurry and join us, P'New, or there won't be anything left!"

"Heh, yeah. In a minute. Need to straighten my back first." New stretches to emphasize. "Did you talk to Off or ...?"

"Uh-huh, plan's on. We're going to the beach after Papii's and P'Tay's thesis defense." Gun pauses, then turns to Tay. "P'Tay, is three p.m. okay? You should be done by then, right?"

"Yep, no worries. I'll bring snacks!"

New barks a laugh at Off's look of betrayal hearing the banter.

Gun, though, still doesn't quite catch it. "What?"

"Well, I wasn't aware that any of these mfs are coming." Off gestures to their uninvited guests.

"Not just them! The whole gang, Papii." Gun beams cutely, making Off sigh in defeat. It's his circle, after all.

"Oh! Oh! Are we expecting Nong Win?" New asks.

"Of course! He's in our cult remember!" Gun answers giggling.

Off stares between the two of them, bewildered. Tay looks just as lost.

"And Singto?" New continues.

"Sadly he can't make it. But I promised to keep Kit company, so he's in."

"You promised what now?" Off groans. There goes quality time with his small, adorable boyfriend he's missed so much ....

"Hehe, and don't worry! I'm throwing parties on both nights, so: plenty of activities!" Gun looks pleased as he drops another bomb.

New's laughs thunders. "Not you calling party an activity."

Off hangs his head in defeat. "Teacup, from now on, let me do the planning, okay?"

"Aw, why?"

New snickers. "Yeah, rude, Off."

"That reminds me. What about the invitations?" Tay abruptly cuts in.

"All taken care of, don't worry." Gun waves his hand at Tay. "And Papii, what part of it that you don't like? Do you prefer a ... uh, horror night by any chance? Or ... wait, what do we do for fun at night again?"

"Oh, I can think of plenty." New smirks suggestively at Gun.

"No, not that P'New! Together! With the whole gang!" Gun hastily explains.

"If that's your preference, Nong Gun," Tay raises his eyebrow teasingly. "We have no right to judge."

Gun gets really flustered as the two keep ganging up on him, not realizing Off has turned to stone reading the text he just got from Pim.

P'Off, aren't you still P'Gun's boyfriend?

Huh, aren't I still in your brother's profile pic?

So tell P'Pak to stop sending flowers already! At this point, our house will turn into a flower shop!

Off curses under his breath. Of fucking course Pak doesn't harass him. Because he's too busy harassing Gun instead!

And why don't you ask your brother himself?

P'Gun can't throw any gifts, P'Off, it would be bad if it got leaked into the media.

Tch. That sly fox!

IKR! I hate his guts too but don't tell P'Gun. That maniac used to guilt-trip him all the time because he wasn't around much. Like, duh?? He's working?? Please, P'Off, no matter what don't ever let them happen again okay?

Yeah, not on my watch.

*

The morning of his thesis defense, Off gets a call from a very hoarse-voiced Gun.

"Heading there now, Pii."

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you sick? Why's your voice like that?"

"Only a sore throat, no worries! I still can drive."

"Gun."

"Uh-oh ...."

"Did you have enough rest? I thought you've no work for the weekend?"

"Yes but yesterday I ... Nong Win called me. We got carried away deep-talking." Gun chuckles weakly.

Huh? "About what?" Gun has always had a soft spot for the nong, Off knows that much. Claiming him as their baby, even. But deep talk though, they have nothing in common ... do they?

"Um ... it's confidential. For now. Nothing serious though ... I hope." Gun laughs nervously. "Anyway, before we realized, it's already morning. Heh. Anyway, I'm hanging up, okay? Don't wanna be late on your big day."

"Gun."

"Papii ... please don't scold me na," Gun whimpers at Off's condescending tone. "I know I'm in the wrong, but I'm okay, really ...!"

Off sighs. "You haven't slept, Gun."

"A-are you mad? It doesn't sound very safe huh, me driving you? Aw, but I promised!" Gun whines on.

"Listen to yourself, it sounds painful just by hearing you talk! I'm not mad, but I'll really be if you don't take a rest."

"B-but ...."

"No buts. Just pick me up later and we're even. Okay? Don't bring your car though, 'cause I will. Also, I won't be done until noon, so take your time."

"Papii ...." Gun sounds dejected. "Such a simple task and I still fail you ...."

"Gun." Off gives a warning tone. "I really won't go to the beach if you're not getting better. So make sure you are, okay?"

"Ah ... okay ...." Gun answers in defeat. "I'm sure you don't need it but good luck, yeah?"

"Thank you. Now drink warm water and go to sleep." Off chuckles slightly to lighten up the mood. "When you wake up, you'll find yourself dating a BU graduate."

"I really like the sound of it!" Gun giggles, and after exchanging some more words in brighter mood, they eventually end the call.

As he gets ready Off tries hard not to think about his own disappointment. It's the same shit all over again, him obsessing over every little detail in Gun's life and feeling like shit when he finds out he doesn't really know anything. Not now, not earlier. Not ever. First the thing with Pak, and now Win.

Which direction it's heading to though, he knows it well, and no fucking way he's going through the same hell again.

So it's okay, he tells himself. They haven't caught up for so long. It must've slipped Gun's mind, among other uneventful things that happened during the time they're not in touch with each other. And it's technically his fault, too, for challenging Pak like that.

It's okay, we're really okay, so Off keeps telling himself without realizing that it's already turned into a ticking bomb.

*

A/N Brace yourself, the plot thickens from here on out because we're nearing the end! Yay, thank you for staying until now, I appreciate you guys! Expect a happy ending and side stories hehe 💚