Kirikan's War 🤍 Mew/Gulf

Chapter 7 ~ floating markets ~

Kiri was planning to meet Kan and Phak at noon in a restaurant, they would have lunch and then head to the floating market. 

He couldn't help but smile when he thought of Pang's surprise when he called him and told him he wouldn't be in the office for awhile and that he was going to take his advice and to clear all his meetings for the next two weeks. 

Pang was right, he needed a break, heck he deserved a break so after showering and dressing in black jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a couple of buttons left undone, Kiri ate a light breakfast of fruit and did a little paperwork in his home office then glancing at the time he saw that it was 11.30am, he grabbed his shades, cellphone and wallet and walked out the door.

Kan had woken up that morning feeling kind of anxious, last night he hadn't been able to sleep for thinking about Kiri because when they met he thought he had him all worked out, he had acted arrogant and pretentious and Kan didn't like him at all but his mum and dad had thought he was the bees knees, even his nan and grandad had placed him on a pedestal and welcomed him as a part of the family. 

Kan thought about him being an orphan and was curious about what kind of a life he had endured, had he been brought up in an orphanage or had he been one of the lucky one's to be adopted or fostered out but even then, that was no guarantee of a happy childhood.

The person he had met back home in the UK was nothing like the person he was getting to know now and to say he was confused was an understatement. He sighed and climbed out of bed to help his nan with breakfast and after showering then dressing in jeans and a white tee shirt he went downstairs to find his nan already in the kitchen.

"good morning nan" he wai'd

"good morning dear" she said smiling while ruffling his hair.

"look after Kiri today won't you, it seems like that boy doesn't get out very often and why not bring him back after the market, we'll all have tea together" she said.

"yes nan, I'll ask him but he might be busy" Kan replied.

"what do you think of him?" she quizzed.

"I'll be honest nan, I didn't like him at first" and he went on to recount their first meeting and when Kan was finished she said,

"and he apologised and said it was because he was tired and irritable? well I can understand that, did he apologise quickly?" she asked.

"on the same day after he'd had time to rest I guess?" Kan didn't tell how he had seen him naked.

"I hope you forgave him Kan and gave him another chance" his nan said and then Kan felt guilty because he knew he had held a grudge for several days afterwards.

Soon it was time to set off to the restaurant, Phak and Klem were picking him up and they would meet Kiri there. Kan had met Klem on his first day back and the guy was ok, a bit protective of Phak but when he'd realised that Kan was no threat to him he relaxed and Kan got to see just how much he loved his childhood friend. 

Phak on the other hand acted shy when they were together, completely different to the boy he had grown up with when they would regularly play football together and rough house.

Arriving at the restaurant Kan was surprised to see Kiri already there, he had chosen a table outside beneath a canopy and when he saw Kan and Phak approaching, he stood to welcome them.

"Good morning Kan, Phak" Kiri said then he noticed a third boy walk up behind Phak and glare at him.

"Kiri, this is Klem, my boyfriend" Phak said introducing the two.

"boyfriend?" Kiri couldn't hide his shock "I thought ...... so Klem, is your boyfriend?" Kiri relaxed visibly and wai'd Klem, "it's nice to meet you nong"

An extremely observant Klem also noticed how Kiri had seemed tense then slowly exhaled after Phak had introduced them then smiling to himself, he also wai'd.

"it's nice to meet you too Phi" .

They were all seated and ordered some food then chatted about random things while the food was being prepared until Kan decided to go to the bathroom and Phak jumped up to join him.

"don't be long baby" Klem said to Phak who then turned as red as a tomato and smiled sweetly then when they were left alone Klem spoke to Kiri,

"you like Kan don't you?"

Kiri almost choked on his ice coffee that he had ordered before the other three arrived.

"I'm right aren't I?" Klem persisted "I can tell, I'm pretty sharp when it comes to these things" he said.

"then perhaps you can help by putting a good word in for me with his best friend" Kiri said.

"of course I will Phi but I doubt I can help further, trust me, I don't think Phak would appreciate me giving you or anyone else courting tips after the method I used to get him to date me" Klem replied.

Kiri had learnt that Klem was younger than Kan and Phak but he exuded a confidence beyond his years, he discovered he came from a wealthy background and that he was often left to his own devices, his parents giving him everything money could buy except their attention.

After Kan and Phak had returned to the table, the food arrived and they all began eating quietly until Kiri began to speak,

"so Phak, how did you guy's meet and get together?"

Phak started choking on his basil pork and Klem patted his back gently.

"I'm friends with his younger brother Phi" Klem answered for Phak since he had suddenly excused himself again.

After lunch they all went to the market and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon just strolling around and looking at souvenirs, the sight's and sounds, the colours and scents all combining to enhance the experience. 

Kiri neglected to mention that he had spent most of his childhood in these markets chasing tourists around trying to sell them trinkets and trifles, he wasn't embarrassed because the experience had taught him to be who he was now. 

Phak and Klem walked in front holding hands and Klem would often pull Phak to him if anyone came too close. Kiri felt envious and glancing over at Kan he noticed that Kan was also looking at their intertwined hands with an unreadable expression.

They made their way back to the cars which they had left near the restaurant and Kan told Kiri how his nan had invited him to go back for tea so they decided that Phak and Klem would leave together and he and Kiri would do likewise. They all said goodbye to each other and Klem patted Kiri on the back and wishing him good luck.

"what was all that about" Kan asked after Phak and Klem had departed and they had climbed into Kiri's car.

"just some project I told him I was working on" Kiri said avoiding Kan's eyes

They both returned to Kan's grandparents house and enjoyed a refreshing cup of tea and talked about how lovely the day had been and Kiri hoped they could do it again sometime then when it was time for Kiri to depart, Kan escorted him to the gate.

"do you have plans for tomorrow Kan?" Kiri enquired

"not really, do you?" Kan replied.

"I have to go somewhere for work, I wondered if perhaps you wanted to tag along?" Kiri said. There was a section of prime beach side land he might be interested in purchasing so it was a great excuse to spend some alone time with Kan.

"you might find it fun?"

"ok" Kan said "and don't forget to line me when you get home"

"you know the way you keep worrying about me feels nice, I've never had anyone worry about me before" Kiri said and then it was Kan's turn to imitate a tomato.

"ok go, go, I'll see you tomorrow" Kan said while practically pushing Kiri out of the gate and then as Kiri was driving away he held his chest and wondered why it was pounding?

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