Feel Something (BounPrem FF)

Chapter 9: Leeches

 *Note: idk if I clarified this before but when I put football it means their soccer*
   

At the apartment, Dee and Sook played video games in the living room while Chan and Sinn sat at the table. Doing a project was the last thing Chan wanted to be doing. Sinn was all work and no play, leaving the boy's brain fried after just an hour.
   
“P'Sinn, this is too much. We still have two weeks, we can go over details later.”
   
“I intend to pass this class. Do you want a different partner?”
   
Chan pouted at Sinn's response. He could hear how much fun Dee and Sook were having, and desperately wanted to join. However, he really wanted to stay as Sinn's partner. “Fine.”
   
By the time they were done researching, it was dark. Chan stretched out as Sinn got up from the table. “We should be fine for now. We can get together later this week.”
   
Chan looked over to find Dee and Sook passed out on each other on the couch. “Ohhh. Wake up lovebirds!”
   
The boys on the couch opened their eyes to the loud one. Sook jumped up after he realized his head was resting on Dee's shoulder. “Oi, Chan! Are you done?”
   
Chan grinned. He definitely just witnessed something spark in his cousin’s eyes. “Yea…but if you two want to keep hanging out…”
   
“We need to get to bed.” Sinn came back and spoiled the mood. “I can drive you two back to campus.”
   
“No! That’s okay!” Sook grabbed his bag and pulled Chan's arm quickly. “We can walk from here, right?”
   
“I mean I guess so, but—”
   
“Bye!” Sook pulled his cousin through the door.
   
Once they were outside, Sook took a breath of fresh air and sighed.
   
“What’s wrong?” Chan wondered why Sook was so distraught as they began their short walk back to campus.
   
“Why didn’t you wake me up? That’s so embarrassing!”
   
“What was? Sleeping?”
   
“I was on Dee…what if he gets the wrong idea?”
   
“What's so bad about Dee?” Chan thought Dee and Sook got along pretty well for old classmates.
   
“I'm still coping with the fact that I was played. I don’t want to think about another guy right now. Especially his best friend.” Sook had a point there. It had only been a few days since Roon hurt his heart. Sook had been head over heels for years, and one weekend wasn’t going to heal him.
   
“I think he’s a good distraction at least. I think he’ll be a good friend to you. Just make boundaries where you feel comfortable.”
   
“Thanks. This year looks like its going to be interesting… I’m glad you’re with me, though.”
   
Chan nudged his cousin for being so cheesy. Sook nudged him back and they ran towards the dorms, racing off.
 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
   

On some weekdays, Sinn's mother went to work in the afternoon. This meant she could have lunch with the family. Those were the best days for Sinn. Aawut kept his temper down in front of Kaew, and Sinn would get to see his busy mother.
   
An array of food was laid out on the dining table when the boys walked in. “Who’s ready to eat?” Kaew walked in with a pitcher of tea.
   
“Mae.” Sinn gave his mother a small hug from the side as they passed her.
   
“I want to hear all about how school is going for both of you!” She poured their cups as they sat across from her.
   
Before Sinn could even open his mouth, Dee was already on it. “You remember my best friend, Roon, right? Well he got a girlfriend and now I’m lucky if I get a text per day.”
   
“Wow! Well I’m sure he’ll come back around eventually. He’ll miss his best friend.”
   
“Well I kind of made a new friend, Sook. I mean I’ve known him for a long time but we didn’t really hang out until now. He’s cooler than I thought.”
   
“Really? That’s great news!”
   
“Sinn made a friend, too. It’s Sook's cousin, Chan.”
   
“Sinn made a friend?” Kaew looked at her son surprisingly.
   
“No I didn’t…” He shot an icy stare at Dee.
   
“Yes you did! He came over to the apartment twice already. And we all had dinner together yesterday.”
   
“Wow, Sinn, I’m really proud of you.” Kaew knew that her son didn’t have any friends. She just never knew why. To her, Sinn had just gone through his father’s death and grew out of the old things in his life. The news Dee was sharing was music to her ears.
   
“He's not my—”
   
“He's on the football team with me, he got in with a scholarship because he’s really good.”
   
“Who’s good at what?” Aawut's low voice didn’t startle Sinn, as nothing about the man surprised Sinn anymore.
   
“Sinn’s new friend is good at football,” Dee reiterated.
   
“New friend, huh?” Aawut sat and smiled at Kaew. The fake smile that Sinn hated so much. “A scholarship kid?”
   
“Pho, don’t be so closed-minded. Our friends are good people.” Dee didn’t see money as a separation of people, because he was well-off, so why would he have to look at it? He was better than most of their classmates when it came to this, though.
   
Sinn already knew what Aawut would say to him after eating.
   
Kaew had to rush to work and Dee was waiting in the car when Aawut was having his talk with Sinn.

****TW: Abuse/violence****
 
 
 
 
 
   
Aawut stood by Sinn next to the table, visinly angry. “What are their names?”
   
“I don’t know them that well. Dee exaggerated.” Sinn was trying to protect the boys in a way. If Aawut knew their names he could look into their families.
  
The man's arm swung quickly, backhanding Sinn. “I don’t want him around people like that! Get rid of any leeches stuck on him.” Aawut’s warning was clear. Sinn had a new thing to worry about.
   
Sinn felt a numbing sensation on his face, but then came a small stinging feeling on his lip. He lightly pressed with his finger, bringing it back to see blood. Aawut's ring must’ve busted his lip.
   
“Don’t hang around them anymore. My money won’t be wasted on those people.” Sinn wiped the blood on his pants quickly. “Go wash up. Don’t let Decha see that.”
   
He was referring to the gash in Sinn's lip. Sinn washed it with water in the restroom before heading to the car. Thankfully it was on the right side, so Dee wouldn’t see it from the passenger seat.