Picture Us

Chapter 12: Tam

WARNING: You might not be prepared for the plot :D

Right as he was slipping back into his thoughts, the door flung open, Tam walked in swiftly. Keefe looked up; Tam was smiling awkwardly.

"Wha... What's the smile for, Tammy boy?" Keefe straightened up, met with a confused stare from Tam. Tam Song never smiled. It was trademark at this point. His grumpy manor and his permanent bangs.

"I talked to my sister... It had been a while" he smiled, fidgeting with the pocket of his pants. "Do you...want to meet her sometime?"

Keefe stared at Tam for a few moments "Yeah sure I'd like to." he smiled. "When can I meet her?" he asked.

Yes! "Nice, I'll ask her to hang out next weekend." Tam sighed. He took out his phone and texted brought out Linh's contact. His heart thundered against his chest. Keefe meeting Linh... the giddy, lovesick puppy in him couldn't stop imagining a future. One where Keefe and Tam were more than friends.

Tam 7:56PM

Wanna hang out again next week?

Tam 7:57PM

I invited my roommate too if that helps

He put his phone down, fidgeting with the bottom of his sleeve. I just invited Keefe out. Well, with my sister too, but I did it.

A smile creeped onto his lips; he squeezed his eyes shut as each thought slowly made its way into his mind. Why was he nervous about Keefe meeting his sister? I mean, it's not like they're dating, and to put it simply they never will.

"He's straight, Tam. Get that into your head." he muttered. Disappointed that he had even thought there was an inkling of chance. His heart began to sink, of course of all the things to think of it was the fact there was no chance between them.

He sighed and hammered his palm into his forehead and, as if the universe knew; his phone lit up, it was Linh. Tam thanked the lords that he had snapped out of it, he'd probably accidentally make the atmosphere uncomfortably awkward when they were together.

Linh 8:01PM

Yeah sureee!! Give me all the tea please im begging

Linh 8:01

Tell me whats happened

Linh 8:02

Or what hasn't :D

A quiet laugh escaped his lips as they kept conversing. Each text more enthusiastic than the last.

Eventually, they said their goodbyes. Keefe knocked on his door lightly and curiously peeked his head through the door of Tam's bedroom.

He stared silently at Tam for a moment, scratching the back of his head "So, um... Did she say yes?" he asked, "And also, are you having dinner? There's some out for you if you'd like."

****

They walked alongside each other as they slowly made their way to another cafe. Keefe's fingers fumbled with the edges of his sleeves; he was so nervous that Tam had to remind him 3 times that Linh was the one who asked to meet him.

"But- but what if she doesn't like me... or worse, she could judge me!" he whisper-screamed frantically.

Tam's hand latched onto the sleeve of Keefe's jacket, he shook it firmly, but reassuringly. Keefe stared at him blankly for a moment and smiled, his fingers unfurled as quickly as they came on. He smiled awkwardly as he quickened his pace, glancing down and to the side, looking for a quick escape. Unfortunately, there were no openings, so they continued to make their way to meet her side by side.

Tam saw his sister, they hugged, a sly smirk rested on her face, she looked Tam dead in the eyes as he introduced them. Keefe offered to order for them, and left the table, as expected, Linh went into interrogation mode.

"So, Tammy what's happened between you." she asked playfully.

"Absolutely nothing, other than the kiss, which you already know about." he sighed, resting his forehead onto his hand.

"Aw man, I thought something else was going to happen, are you sure you're not lying to me?" she stared at him as if searching for an answer she wasn't going to find. Tam sighed.

He laughed. "Yes, I'm sure nothing's happened between us. I'd probably notice dude-"

"Notice what?" Keefe interrupted; Tam jolted up and looked awkwardly at his sister, which was returned with a shrug and a 'you tell him' Look.

Tam muttered an excuse, which was met with a look of disappointment from both Linh and Keefe. He spaced out for a moment while the two made lively conversation. Tam noticed Keefe picking his fingers anxiously, and his leg tapping rhythmically under the table. He quietly nudged Keefe's elbow in a vain attempt to stop his anxious habits.

"Uh, thanks" he murmured, quickly grabbing his coffee and taking a sip. Tam didn't miss the flush on his face; and it wasn't even warm enough for the weather to bring about the rosy complexion.

"So how did you guys become such good friends?" she questioned

"Nothing important, he just saved me a few times after I got drunk." Keefe said light-heartedly, which made Tam wonder when he started to joke about it.

Linh raised an eyebrow "Wow, your saviour, eh? I didn't know Tammy was so caring.". Tam shot her a look. He glanced at Keefe, who thankfully didn't seem to notice. Linh giggled.

Linh kept hinting at their relationship. A mischievous smile was plastered onto her face, her smile so insufferable it was almost laughable how much he wanted to get rid of it.

Keefe glanced at the time "I'm so sorry I've got to go back home to work on a project." he stuttered.

Tam rose from his seat "I'll walk you back." he said frantically, which was met with another knowing smile from Linh. Ugh. As if he wasn't desperate enough.

Keefe however, refused, and left after saying their goodbyes the siblings were left alone.

Linh paused dramatically, took a deep breath and screamed "Do you want to go on a car ride with me!" he flinched from her sudden outburst.

"That sounds great, let's go. You're driving though" he laughed.

As they drove along in comfortable silence, Tam watched out the window as he twisted his bangs around his finger in thought. He was drawn back to reality when Linh placed a hand on his shoulder and broke their silence.

"I think Keefe is a good match for you" she remarked "sure, I don't know him that well, but I think he's a good person"

"I..." his voice trailed off, "there's no possibility of it happening, he's straight, I'm not." he sighed. He lightly nudged her hand off him. "I don't want my heart broken again."

She put both hands on the steering wheel as they began to drive over a bridge "But the kiss! People are most honest when they're drunk-"

Tam cut her off, doing all he could to avoid her eyes in the mirror "People are also the most delirious when they're drunk. There's no way" he sighed "let's just change the subject, I don't want to talk about it, it'll remind me of- Linh the road!" Tam panicked, Linh had a fear of water, and there was a lot of it beneath them. Linh jerked the wheel toward the water, screaming as she did so. The liquid seemed to draw her Linh; like a magnetic force. But Linh despised the water, she feared it, and the clash could never end well.

The car swerved, veering off the side of the road. The second froze into a million screencaps, as if the moment stopped so Tam could register it. It was all flying around: debris, dust, even Linh and his hair. The car totalled, plunging into the stretch of water beneath.