I wanted to be Normal! ✔

Chapter 8: car's outside

The three of them were sitting on the floor of Prem's room. He had calmed down, and it still intrigued him. Boun had managed to make the brunette calm. Prem felt as if he weren't alone, as if he could protect himself from anything.

He held onto his legs, feeling one side of his body pressed against Boun's warm form. He didn't want to pull away; he felt safe for the first time. The silence lingered for a long time. Prem listened to the blond's soft breathing, finding comfort in the sound. 'He's breathing, everything is okay,' he thought. He dared to look at the blond, who was gazing at his own hands, while Boun was absentmindedly playing with his long fingers. Prem glanced at them; the hands were large and beautiful, appearing soft. He wanted to hold them but restrained himself, biting his lower lip as he stared at them.

Kao observed the scene. He had rushed out of the apartment during the incident. He remembered the blond from the last time and found himself almost breaking down Boun's door.

When the blond opened the door with a confused expression, Kao grabbed Boun's wrist and pulled him to the brunette's apartment. Kao explained that Prem was having an anxiety crisis and didn't want to open the bedroom door. Boun then ran to the room, kicked the door open, and took a look inside. Hearing loud screams from the corner, he ran to the brunette, instinctively embracing him. He mimicked what he did when Earth had anxiety crises. He held the smaller one, reassuring him that everything was okay, and felt relieved that it worked.

"I think everything is okay now," Boun dared to speak, breaking the silence. "I think I'll go home now, and..."

"No," Prem said firmly, impulsively grabbing the hem of the blond's coat. "Don't go home."

"But you're already okay, Prem," Boun looked at him. The brunette's scared eyes were locked onto him, and Boun couldn't deny that the boy was cute, even if a bit intimidating at times.

"Stay, please," he spoke softly, intended only for Boun to hear. As if caught in a crazy spell, the blond nodded without breaking eye contact with the brunette.

"Well then, since you're going to take care of him, I'll be on my way," Kao got up from the floor. "He has my number; if anything happens, please call me," he said to Boun. "Goodbye, take good care of him."

"Okay," Boun replied, feeling a bit awkward.

As soon as Kao left, another silence settled in the air. Boun felt uneasy; it wasn't as if he was afraid of Prem, more of a suspicion. But for some reason, Boun always found himself involved in that person's affairs, like a magnet pulling him closer.

Boun knew that Prem wasn't a bad person; he was more of a misunderstood individual shaped unconventionally by time. To protect himself, to try to find security, to attempt to be free from everything that bound him. Boun still didn't know the reasons that led the brunette to be this way, but he knew there were motives.

Prem buried his face in the arm covered by Boun's coat, inhaling deeply, causing Boun to look at him curiously. He was acting strange again, perhaps it was an armor to feel secure. He breathed in deeply in that spot, then pulled back a bit, looking at Boun with his bright and dark eyes. 'Glow? His eyes are glowing,' he thought.

"You have an amazing scent," he grabbed the spot again, running his hands up to Boun's shoulders. The blond was startled by this.

"Calm down, I don't bite... unless you want me to."

"Prem... you seem fine. Why do I have to stay here?"

"No, please don't go... I... I don't want to be alone, I'm not okay," Prem stood up from the floor and walked out of the room. Boun got up and followed the brunette through the house.

Prem walked to the balcony and leaned against the railing. Boun leaned against the door frame and watched the boy with his back to him. Prem's black hair fluttered in the gentle breeze that swept through, and his eyes were fixed on the sparkling lights of Bangkok.

Boun looked to a corner of the balcony near a round table where there was a yellow wood guitar. He walked over and picked it up. Prem looked at him.

"Do you play?" Boun looked excited, and Prem felt a funny excitement in his chest at the older one's expression.

"Yes... But it's been a while since I touched it," he walked over to Boun, taking the guitar from his hands and looking at it.

"Can you play for me? I like acoustic music." Boun sat on the balcony floor, and Prem did the same, sitting across from the blond. The little cat had appeared there, and Boun picked it up. The kitten snuggled in Boun's lap, and Prem found it cute.

"Which song do you want?" he asked while tuning the guitar strings.

"Car's Outside. You know it, right?" Prem nodded.

"Can you sing it?"

"Of course, sure." Prem then began to play the melody.

I'm packing my bags / That I didn't unpack the last time / I'm saying see you again / So many times it's becoming my tag line

But you know the truth / I'd rather hold you / Than try to catch this flight / So many things I'd rather say / But for now, it's goodbye

You say I'm always leaving you / When you're sleeping alone / But the car's outside / But I don't wanna go tonight

I'm not getting in the Addison Lee / Unless you pack your bags / You're coming with me / I'm tired of loving from afar / And never being where you are / Close the windows, lock the doors / Don't wanna leave you anymore

I'm staring at the same four walls / In a different hotel / It's an unfamiliar feeling / But I know it so well

Oh, but you know the truth / I'd rather hold you / Than this mobile in my hand / But I guess it'll do / 'Cause for you, I would run up my phone bill

You say I'm always leaving you / When you need me the most, but, darling / But the car's outside / But I don't wanna go tonight

I'm not getting in the Addison Lee / Unless you pack your bags / You're coming with me / I'm tired of loving from afar / And never being where you are / Close the windows, lock the doors / Don't wanna leave you anymore

Ooh, ooh, ah, ah / Ooh, ooh, ah, ah / Ooh, ooh, ah / Don't wanna leave you anymore

Oh, darling, all of the city lights / Never shine as bright as your eyes / I would trade them all for a minute more / But the car's outside / And he's called me twice / But he's gonna have to wait tonight

I'm not getting in the Addison Lee / Unless you pack your bags / You're coming with me / I'm tired of loving from afar / And never being where you are / Close the windows, lock the doors / Don't wanna leave you anymore

Ooh, ooh, ah, ah / Ooh, ooh, ah, ah / Ooh, ooh, ah / No, I don't wanna leave you anymore

I don't wanna leave you (ooh, ooh, ah, ah) / I don't wanna leave you (ooh, ooh, ah, ah) / I don't wanna leave you (oh, ooh, ah) / Don't wanna leave you anymore

Prem looked at the blond; he had loved his voice. He loved... it was strange to think about, strange to think about Boun. Everything was strange.