A Vihokratana's tragedy

17. Roomates

Pluem thudded his bag on the floor and slipped onto the couch. His head started to ache again. "Ah, this travel..." he muttered to himself. Others were no different. Though the bus ride had been comfy and the travel fun, being tired after a four-hour trip was an acceptable excuse. "I will give Dad a call," Pluem said, looking toward the twins, but Frank ignored him, and Nanon gave him a small nod. Pluem left the living room.

"It was fun. It’s my first time traveling by bus, you know," Drake confessed, smiling at Frank.

Nanon huffed. "Rich spoiled brat!" he muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

Drake tried to ignore Nanon. He’d done it many times before, doing his best to avoid confrontation. But now, Drake had had enough. Nanon kept pushing his buttons at every opportunity, testing his patience. “What the hell is your problem, Nanon? I know you don’t like me much, but now you’re going too far. Look, ignore me if you don’t like me, but stop with these childish acts, will ya?”

“Hey, Drake, chill! You know Nanon—he doesn’t really mean it,” Frank interjected. He didn’t like the tone Drake had used with his brother. While he knew Nanon was in the wrong and needed to be corrected, hearing Drake finally snap at him stirred a wave of anger in Frank.

"Seriously, Frank? You're taking his side?" Drake snapped, frustration evident in his voice. "You know he’s been trying to piss me off since the moment I stepped into your house, and you noticed it too, yet here you are..." He shook his head, closing his eyes in exasperation. He knew nothing came before Frank’s family—certainly not him. Maybe he wasn’t even second place in Frank’s life. "I guess I should just let this go again, huh? Like I always have to. Fine, whatever, because, like hell, anyone even cares." With that, Drake stormed out of the living room.

Chimon came closer to Frank and gently bumped his shoulder against Frank's. "At least go after him, Frank. He looked kinda hurt this time," he whispered. Drake and Frank often quibbled over small matters, but it had never reached the point of real hurt. This time, though, it didn’t even feel like they’d fought, yet to Chimon, it seemed as if something deeper, something painful, had been triggered in Drake. It was as if some of Drake's hidden wounds had been pressed, and Chimon could sense it.

Frank shook his head with a sad smile. "He doesn't like people coming after him when he isn't in a, you know, great mood." Frank knew this from experience. People might call him a horrible friend, and he would admit it, but he also knew that chasing after Drake right now would only make things worse. Drake needed space. Interrupting him at a time like this wouldn’t help.

"Are you sure? It didn't look like that to me, though," Chimon pressed. "I thought he was waiting for you to follow him or at least stop him. Are you really sure he doesn’t want you right now? Think it over, bro." Chimon’s insistence hung in the air, but Frank didn’t quite agree. He wasn’t ready to follow Chimon’s advice, nor did he cooperate with his words.

An hour passed, and to everyone's surprise, Pluem returned with Drake. "Go, sit back at your place," he commanded Drake. Even more surprising was that Drake obeyed him, something he rarely did with anyone, even Frank.

"Hey, you okay?" Frank asked. When Drake saw him, he did seem genuinely concerned. Drake felt the urge to reach out and smooth the glabellar lines on Frank's forehead, to help him relax, but he held himself back. He needed to control his impulses. He couldn't always give in so easily. Drake wanted Frank to understand that he still maintained at least a shred of self-respect—that he still cared for himself, even if not as much as he cared for Frank. It was there, even if it was just a little.

"I don't think it would matter much to you even if I’m not okay, right? After all, it’s Nanon who should be cared for more." No, that’s absolutely not what he meant to say. He definitely wanted to make Frank feel a little guilty, but it came out harsher than Drake had intended. That wasn’t how he wanted to express himself. He just wanted Frank to understand how he was feeling with the simplest, most genuine words. He wanted Frank to know that he feels hurt too, that he has emotions too.