Fragments Of Us [Completed]

One Chance Please

The warmth of the cozy living room wrapped around Krit, Ping, and Michael as they settled into their seats, laughter punctuating the air with ease. They had not spent time together like this in far too long, and for the first time that evening, Krit felt a flicker of joy, a sense of normalcy that had eluded him for months. The three friends shared a comfortable camaraderie, joking about silly moments from the past, the kind of easy banter that made the world feel lighter.

"Remember that time you tripped over your own feet during the talent show?" Michael teased, grinning at Krit, who groaned and hid his face in his hands.

"Don't remind me! I've never been so embarrassed in my life!" Krit laughed, the sound rich and genuine, as memories of that night came flooding back. They continued to tease each other, the weight of Krit's recent heartbreak pushed to the back of his mind, at least for now.

Ping, who didn't come around as often as he used to, felt grateful for this rare moment. He cherished the bond he shared with Krit and Michael, knowing how precious these times were, especially after everything Krit had been through. He leaned back on the couch, a satisfied smile on his face, basking in the warmth of friendship.

Just as the movie started rolling, Krit's phone buzzed on the coffee table, its sound slicing through the laughter. He picked it up, glancing at the screen, and his heart sank. The name that stared back at him sent a ripple of unease through his chest-Vel.

"Uh, I need to take this," Krit said, his voice softer than before, tinged with uncertainty that made Ping sit up straighter. He stood, moving away from the others, his thumb hovering over the green answer button.

"Wait-Krit!" Ping called, but Krit was already walking toward the hallway, his expression unreadable.

As Krit answered the call, the conversation faded into the background, leaving Michael and Ping exchanging worried glances.

"I don't like this," Ping said, his voice low, filled with concern. "He shouldn't keep going back to Vel like this."

"I know," Michael replied, running a hand through his hair. "But he's caught up in it. Vel's been through a lot, but so is Krit. He can't keep sacrificing himself for someone else's problems."

"Especially not someone who's already lived a full life. That guy is almost 38, divorced, and still trying to figure things out. Krit has his whole future ahead of him," Ping said, his voice rising slightly with frustration.

They both turned their heads, listening to Krit's voice drift back from the hallway, softer now, but laced with an undertone of desperation.

"What do you think Vel wants?" Michael asked, his brows knitting together.

"Probably just to pull him back into that mess," Ping said, shaking his head. "It's so unfair to Krit. He's already been through hell. Now he has to deal with Vel's emotional baggage?"

"Exactly. He needs to put himself first for once," Michael added. "If something goes wrong, we need to be ready to step in. He can't waste his life chasing after someone who's already made their mistakes. He deserves to find someone who can love him back, not just someone who's looking for a crutch."

Silence fell between them, thick with unspoken fears. They exchanged glances, their expressions filled with worry for their friend.

"I just wish he'd realize he doesn't have to fix everyone else's problems," Ping murmured, glancing toward the hallway where Krit had disappeared. "He's so focused on Vel, he's not even seeing how much it's hurting him. This is getting out of hand."

"Let's hope he knows when to come back," Michael said, his voice heavy with concern. "We can't let him get too deep into this. He has to remember that he's worth more than just being someone's safety net."