Chances on Love

Cantaloupe

"No!, you had it good ayt",
Good said still in a slow pausing manner like he normally does and put his arms around Techno's shoulder.

"Just got lucky man",
Techno smiling he looked around.
He really think he did amazing.
He was able to open a bar/restaurant in the middle of the city and it's earning pretty well though he had it reserved for today and their soccer team will have the whole place to themselves.

"Is there any news about the others? Can? Ae? are those two even coming?" asked by the other.

"Can missing the eat thing?! I don't think so! If there's only one thing he didn't change, that is the way he eats!" screamed by another who was listening in to their conversation.

All of them laughed together as they recalled how their little Can was. Always getting hungry. Never getting stuffed enough!

"How about Ae, heard Pete was back?", asked by one.

Everyone became silent.
They remember what happened between the two.
They can still recall how Ae changed after Pete left him. He couldn't sleep, eat nor play. He was even benched the whole day on one game because he was out of it.

Techno then spoke,
"Cut Pete some slack guys.. We don't know what really happened. We are not sure why he left Ae.. They are the only one who knows the why's and how's.."

"Who know the why's and how's?!",
asked by the newly arrived Ae..

Everyone shouted with glee and approached him. Pleasantries were exchanged.

"You got taller Ae, you're no shorty no more", tease one of his former teammate.

Everyone laughed.

He did got taller.
He is not sure what happened.
Maybe Pete leaving him did miracles to his growth hormones. Ae just laughed at his thoughts.

"Anyone hungry?! ", No shouted.

"Meeeee!",

Everyone looked at the dim witted person who just arrived.

"Cannnnn!",
they ran towards the small man and gave him a big hug.

Then all of them gathered in a circle like the old days and said their prayers.

Minutes later, all of them were seated in a long table set up by No's employees.

Food was put in a separate table were they can get what they want buffet style.

All sorts of meats and food were available from sea to land.

After enjoying their meals, they gathered near the centerstage where there was a band playing while they were exchanging stories and enjoying drinks.

Can had a few drinks already.
He doesn't have a high tolerance for alcohol and he was known as an escape artist whenever they go out. After he made sure he has distributed everything he bought for them while he was abroad. He slipped out of No's place.

He exited at the back door and turned at the alley to go the front area so no one can see him leaving. He is a bit tipsy but he can handle himself well. He tried to hail a cab but all of them were packed.

"What the heck?!", Can blurted out.
"This place never changed. Still hard as hell to commute!"

He don't have a way of booking a ride as he did not even bought a sim card after he left the airport so he can't use data on his phone and he realized how stupid he was for not doing it first.

He was just really excited to see his old friends that he even failed to notify his family he arrived and now here he is.. walking with his big back pack, tipsy and jet lagged.

He passed by an electronic store which is made of glass and big screens of TV's filled the display area but what was showing caught his eye.

It was a local news, announcing the engagement of two of the richest families in the country..

Can stopped on his tracks and stood there suprised.. The face he thought he'd forgotten filled all the TV Screens in front of him..

"Tin..."

"One of the most sought after bachelors in town is possibly tying the knot soon. The families announced the incoming engagement of the two, Tin Medthanan, CEO of MT Industries and Yuri Ling, VP of Ling Cosmetics.. " the announcer said it as it was the bestest thing in the world..

but for Can..

Hearing the news was the worst..

Can held his chest, He felt pins and needles and he is a healthy young man.. He knows that this isn't because of any illness..

It was his heart..

He realized in the past that what he did was wrong..
He thought he just wanted to be friends with Tin..
He was confused with what he was feeling..
It was his first time to feel that way and he couldn't admit to himself that like Ae.. he fell for the same gender.

He tried to speak with Tin many times but he avoided him like a plague.

After graduating Tin continued his masters and went abroad..

Can on the other hand, after hearing where Tin went, tried to go there to find him.. and yes he did find him.. with someone else..

"Arrgggghhhhh,"
Can wiped his face using his palms then grabbed his hair.

"Fuck Tin?! How could you get married with someone else than me???!"

"Fuck, what am I saying???!"
Can sighed and walked away..
"Shit! I'm just drunk so I'm affected.."

Can recalled what he went through again..
When he was finally able to catch up with Tin he saw him happily seated and holding hands with a woman at a coffee shop.. he didn't see how she looked like but he saw how Tin looks at her and he seemed happy, so finally he gave up..

He went back home and got hooked on this job.
They just finished a project offshore so they were given a vacation.

Can reached the bus stop.
He sat there and looked up at the sky and to his dismay there was another big screen on one of the buildings ahead and the same news is appearing over and over again.

Can felt his eyes moistened and tears started flowing from his eyes.. he vowed his head down so no one can notice him crying.

"Damn it!", he punched the steering wheel causing his car honks to buzz.

He was on the road and just happened to see the advertisement showing himself getting engaged to someone he was only friends with. He didn't even have any idea about it.

He stopped near the bus station due to the stop light.. He rested his face on the steering wheel and looked up.. He sighed and something caught his eyes...

"Is that you..... Cantaloupe?"