Morning Cherries (oneshot)

Apo is like a quasar. Mile knows not to stare at him for too long. Light like that will only blind a person yet he is reluctant to turn away. What use are his eyes if they cannot behold such beauty?

Apo's laugh is a chaotic melody. An oxymoron but an excellent description of the sound. He is an empyrean beauty. He is a hyperactive child trapped in a 29-year-old man. He is corded with talent made of gold, refined, polished, and rare. His gift is his alone, one cannot be seen without the other.

He has a smile that hides his eyes. It is as though the heavens are protecting mere mortals from what might befall a person should they perceive such lovely eyes and smile at the same time.

Apo is many things; Apo who is troubled by other people's problems. Apo who puts his needs aside to make others happy. Apo who leaves cherries on Mile's dressing table every morning because they are his favorite fruits. Mile could not be prouder to have such an amazing friend. He keeps Apo close. Because once he lets him wander too far, others who have undoubtedly noticed these incredible things about him will snatch him up.

His fears come to pass on a Tuesday evening. After shooting, Apo approaches him with a coy smile and announces that he has plans. They don't spend every waking moment together. Apo has places he frequents with other people but Mile knows all these people. After working together for three years, their circle begins to integrate. People Mile has known for years have become Apo's friends too.

"You don't know them, P'Mai," Apo says when Mile asks.

It smears his mood. Apo does not say more. He simply slings his bag over his shoulders and waves at the crew as he walks away.

It is all Mile can think about as he drives home. Who is this new person he does not know about? He cannot help but feel left out. Abandoned. The feeling is irrational as it is unfounded because Mile has someone for himself; a girlfriend he believes he loves.

He reassures himself he is bothered only because of how much he cares for Apo. The man is generous with his affections. Anyone could take advantage of that. Mile scrolls through Apo's tag all night hoping to find something from fans. He refreshes Apo's Instagram every second to find clues about who he might be with or where he might be. That night, Apo does not make his habitual goodnight calls. And Mile forgets to send out a goodnight tweet to his fans.

He wakes up in a worse mood. Checks his phone again, hoping Apo called or texted while he was asleep. He has no such luck. It portends a horrible day. However, the man Mile has been worried sick about strolls into work, looking chipper. He is clothed in green shorts and a Bode shirt that closes halfway.

Mile cannot shake off the discomfort in his guts but when Apo walks by his dressing table and drops a container of cherries, labeled in his handwriting, 'P'Mile' , he lets go of his anger and the antsiness.

Apo is still here. He isn't going anywhere. One day hanging out with a mysterious person will change nothing about their friendship. This is still his Po. The secret date is just a one-time thing. Tonight, he will drive Apo to the rabbit cake shop after filming and everything will be okay.

Everything is not okay.

Apo cannot make it to the cake shop. He has other plans with the same person Mile knows nothing about. The director has barely yelled cut before he rushes off to the dressing room to change out of the Suea Phraratchathan into his shorts and shirt.

Mile's mouth suddenly tastes bitter. His eyes are hot and heavy and light flames singe the walls of his belly. He can be angry: Apo is his friend. It is natural to feel anger when his friend makes plans that do not include him. He is allowed some resentment when his friend decides to break tradition and spend time with someone he knows nothing about.