Fragments Of Us [Completed]

A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed.

Krit sat on Michael’s couch, his hands trembling as he tried to explain what had been going on. “I... I wanted to talk about Vel,” he began, but before he could get any further, the emotions hit him like a tidal wave. His words broke off, his chest heaving as he tried to hold back the tears, but it was no use. The sobs came, shaking his entire body as he buried his face in his hands.

Michael, who had known Krit for years, was taken aback. He had never seen Krit like this before. Krit had always been the strong one, the level-headed friend who kept it together no matter what. Even during stressful times, he was the kind of person who found solutions instead of letting things weigh him down. But this was different. This was raw, unfiltered pain.

Michael knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, but Krit’s crying only seemed to intensify. His sobs filled the quiet room, and Michael felt a knot form in his stomach. This wasn’t just about Vel. This was deeper than that—something was breaking inside Krit, something he’d been holding in for far too long.

“Krit, hey... it’s okay,” Michael said softly, trying to comfort him, though the sight of his friend breaking down like this made him feel utterly helpless. “Take your time.”

But Krit couldn’t stop. It was as if all the years of being the ‘strong one’ had caught up with him at once. He had never had a reason to cry before. His life had been simple, normal. Even when things got tough, he always found a way through. But now, sitting there, he felt like everything was crumbling, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Michael rubbed his back gently, trying to calm him down, but he knew this was beyond anything he could say or do. Krit was unraveling, and Michael felt a deep sense of concern for his friend. He had never seen Krit so vulnerable, and it scared him.

Without a word, Michael reached for his phone. He knew there was only one person who could possibly help in this situation. He didn’t even think twice before dialing the number, his fingers moving quickly across the screen. Ping.

As the phone rang, Michael kept one hand on Krit’s shoulder, offering silent support. He just hoped Ping would answer quickly.

Michael quietly stepped out onto the balcony as Ping’s voice crackled through the phone. He glanced back at Krit, who was still curled up on the couch, struggling to contain his emotions. Michael wasn’t used to seeing him like this—Krit was always the one with a cool head, the friend who had it all together.

“Ping, it’s Michael,” he said softly, trying to keep his voice steady. “I… I don’t know what’s going on, but Krit is a mess right now. He’s crying… hard, man. I’ve never seen him like this.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Ping’s calm, familiar voice responded. “Crying? Krit? What happened?” Ping sounded shocked—just as Michael had expected. After all, the Krit they both knew wasn’t the type to break down so easily.

Michael leaned against the railing, staring out at the city, unsure how to explain the gravity of the situation. “I’m not sure of all the details, but it’s got something to do with Vel. He’s been dealing with a lot lately, and I think it’s all just caught up to him. He’s not saying much; he just started crying, and he hasn’t stopped.”

On the other end of the line, Ping was silent for a moment, processing what he had heard. Ping and Krit had been inseparable growing up, their bond stronger than most brothers. Though their careers had taken them down different paths—Ping to modeling and Krit to marketing—their connection had never faded. But with Ping’s busy life in the spotlight, and Krit’s focus on his own career, they hadn’t spent as much time together as they once had. Still, Ping knew Krit like no one else did.