(Bilingual story - Eng-Fr)
Nueng hates stormy nights. Especially when Palm is not far...
A little story that crossed my mind after watching the very promising beginning of GMMTV's Thai BL show Never Let Me Go, featuring one of my favorite pairings...
"It's not here either," Nueng whispered, still looking around as he sat up, not hiding his dismay.
Ben pouted, then, after a few seconds of consideration, suggested, on a hopeful note intended to cheer his friend up:
"Maybe you forgot your necklace at home. I don't know... In a room you didn't think to check because you don't often set foot in it, for example... Your house is so big, it wouldn't be impossible."
Nueng paused. He didn't have to search far in his memory to remember that he had indeed recently been to a place where he not only wasn't used to going, but also never had to go in the first place.
"...No," he finally murmured, putting his hand on his neck, wearing only a tie that he had loosened for once, because he was getting hot from running around. "I wore it this morning on my way to class. I never go out without it. It's like an amulet for me... I need it to feel good."
He lowered his head, as the situation left him totally helpless. Seeing him so distraught, Ben puckered his lips, before nodding slowly.
"I understand. But if that's it, it can't be too far away," he said to reassure him. "Maybe you lost it when you were changing for gym class. Maybe someone picked it up."
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"Maybe..." Nueng sighed and ran a hand through his hair, not knowing what to think or do, because at that moment, his mind was full of negative thoughts. "I'm so upset about this..."
When he saw him giving Palm an evil look, a few meters away from them, Ben tilted his head towards Nueng and quietly said:
"Are you sure that's the only reason you're so pissed off?"
Nueng immediately became hostile and defensive, as if he had been provoked:
"What do you mean?"
To explain his idea, Ben lifted his chin toward Palm, who was obviously spending more time making small talk with Mackie than helping his master find one of his most treasured belongings in the world. This only made Nueng more exasperated. Yet Palm knew how much the gift meant to him. He had actually witnessed it firsthand. But apparently that was less important than keeping Mackie company. Still, the two of them saw each other almost every day, even outside the club. Nueng knew it. Palm wasn't exactly super discreet at the same time... But didn't they have enough of being together all the time? What could they possibly have to say to each other the whole time?
Meanwhile, his own interactions with Palm were extremely limited... He had thought that the kiss they had shared, and, he imagined, wanted together, would bring things to change, but...
Nueng closed his eyes. The more he reflected on it, the more it hurt. He was deeply sorry for himself, for being reminded of Palm all the time. While the guy, apparently, had much better things to do than care about him and how he felt.
But he couldn't really blame him. He was just doing his job, after all.
"I saw Palm getting into the car with you the other day," Ben explained, forcing Nueng out of his thoughts, in which Palm had made himself prominent, and even more so since a certain event a few hours earlier. "I guess you and Palm are... close, outside of school too."
