Khao pretended not to hear it. After his initial shock and their quite awkward introduction, he excused himself for the bathroom, finding himself a quiet corner of Luke's house, the dining room. Luke said he rarely used it. It was dimly lit, with the sound of muffled laughter and conversation coming from the garden.
"Khao..." First's steps drew closer. "I said hey."
Khao nervously picked at his sleeve. It's been only about three weeks since their breakup (I think? I tried to count it but rereading my own fanfic makes me cringe), but he didn't expect finding himself alone with First for the first time since would feel so awkward. The tension in the air was palpable.
First leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Khao awkwardly shoved his hands into his pockets, eyes flickering to the side. "Really?" He scoffed. "Considering you accused me of sleeping with him for months, you're surprised I'm in his house?" Khao clicked his tongue. "Yeah, well...I guess I feel the same. Didn't think I'd run into you of all people tonight."
"Guess we're both full of surprises." First said bitterly under his breath. "So you and him..."
"Yeah." Khao shifted uncomfortably, finally meeting First's eyes. "You and Gawin are together as well then..."
First paused, a bitter smile forming on his lips. "Sadly, no. He doesn't want me. Things are working well for you though, aren't they?" He reached for Khao's neck, touching the diamond necklace briefly.
Khao nodded slowly. "Quite well." He hesitates. "Things with him are...different."
"Maybe that's what we both needed, right?" First chuckled sarcastically, his fingers slipping down from the necklace. "Something...different."
Khao inhaled sharply. "What do you want from me? Why did you follow me here?"
"I just wanted to see properly, how quickly you exchanged me. Considering you were all high and mighty about monogamy, but you fucked him before we were even over."
"Maybe I wanted someone who didn't make everything so damn complicated!" Khao said defensively. "Someone who actually cared about my feelings, and my wellbeing!"
First's voice risen slightly. "And you think I wanted to find someone who doesn't remind me of every mistake I made?"
Khao took a step closer, frustration causing his body to tremble. "So that's all we were? Just a series of mistakes? I feel guilty as hell when me and Luke...I thought maybe, if I understood you, if I did my little revenge, maybe we could go back! But shit, you are just so..." He groaned, unable to find the right words. "We weren't a damn series of mistakes-"
First meet Khao's gaze, anger and hurt flashing in his eyes. "What else would you call it? We tore each other apart, Khao."
"We? There was never any we!" Khao's voice cracking, a hint of sadness creeping in. "It was always you. You and your fuck ups. Your selfishness! Do you know how nerve wracking it is, waiting a week for STD results, knowing in three months I will have to do it again? Just...leave me alone. Leave. Go back to Win."
"Is this what we're going to be doing from now on?" First sighed. "Pretending we don't know each other, pretending it doesn't hurt like hell seeing you here?"
"It hurts?" Khao let out a sarcastic chuckle. "You could say it in every language on earth, and I still wouldn't believe you."
First biting his lip, the bravado fading. "Fine. I hope you're happy, Khao." He clenched his jaw. "So, what now? We just go back out there and keep pretending?
"Yeah." Khao sighed deeply.
They stood there for a moment, the silence between them heavy with everything left unsaid. Finally, Khao turned to leave, and First watched him go with mix of regret and anger in his eyes. As Khao reached the doorway, he hesitated and glanced back at First one last time before walking outside and immediately getting himself a drink.
"Is everything alright?" Luke asked gently when Khao stared into his empty glass, lips pursed into a grumpy pout. It didn't escape his eye that Khao seemed different somehow.
"I'm just a little tired." Khao sighed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to put a damper on-"
"Is it because of your ex?" Luke whispered.
Khao stared at him in shock. "How did you-"
"When Win first brought him in, I knew I saw him someplace before." Luke shrugged. "It didn't click until today when he came and you looked at him like he was a ghost. Do you want me to kick him out?"
"Huh? No." Khao shook his head; causing a scene seemed like a dreadful ordeal, and he didn't want be the reason for it. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? I can do that, you know? It's my house."
"I think I'm just gonna go to bed." Khao found Luke's words almost cute, how quickly he got protective.
Luke took Khaotung's face into his hands and gently stroke those alcohol flushed cheeks. "Do you want me to be with you?"
Khao shook his head again. They exchanged a couple more kisses before he made a B-line for the door and dashed through the house, briefly stopping in the kitchen for a tub of Ben&Jerry's that kept him company.
////
(Chat from First's POV)
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