6 Years After • Completed

v. Day 2 (part 2)

Kongpob sits on the barstool, sighing, that's right, an uncontrollable force is pulling him on this damned place and he doesn't have the energy to fight back to leave the place once and for all.

Or maybe, he just gives up trying to leave because deep inside, he knows he wants to stay. This place has suddenly became a home to him.

After all, home is where the heart is.

The bartender, Sed, smiles seeing Kongpob. "Hey, you're back. I did promise you this so on the house." He places a glass of drink in front of Kongpob who takes it and drinks it in one go.

"Can't leave? Still going back here to see him?" Sed gestures towards the stage where Arthit is singing.

Kongpob turns to look at Arthit and this time, he doesn't have the need to hide his attention for the latter anymore. "Yeah, I need to talk to him."

"He doesn't want to talk to you?" After asking the other bartender to take care of the customers for him, Sed sits in front of Kongpob. "I know the feeling, man. I'm not gonna lie to you, you know, I had taken a liking to him as well, I mean, who wouldn't right?"

"What did he do? Did he... you..." Kongpob drinks a shot of drink again as if its alcohol content would give him the strength to fire his next questions and take in everything he's going to learn tonight. "Did you become his boyfriend?"

Sed laughs. "No, I wish I was though but no. This is going to sound very embarrassing but he told me he just sees me as an older brother so there goes my chance in the drain. I continued pursuing him but," Sed also looks at Arthit and sighs. "Too bad though because it's obvious he has someone in his heart already and I'm telling you this someone isn't replaceable so if you also want to pursue him, better just give up. He loves someone else."

"Yeah. Irish. They look good together," Kongpob turns his head away from Arthit, the more he looks at him, the more he feels his heart sinking. "Can I have another one of this? This is sweet, what is it called?"

Sed prepares another glass and gives it to Kongpob. "I don't know, I haven't thought of it yet. It's something I made for Arthit because he said he loves drinking something with a taste of pineapple."

No. It's Kongpob who loves pineapple.

Kongpob stays quiet but in his mind, he knows Arthit isn't a fan of that flavor, he remembers when Arthit often complains and gets mad at him whenever he drinks pineapple juice because it triggers his acid reflux.

"I didn't know you're fond of incest though."

"What do you mean?"

"You said Arthit and his cousin look really good together."

Kongpob stops drinking. "Cousin?"

"You said Irish, right? That's his cousin."

"That's not his girlfriend?"

Sed laughs happily again. "Girlfriend? No, that's his cousin. You see that beautiful lady over there?" Sed points at the pretty customer by the entrance. "That's Irish's girlfriend."

"You're not kidding me, are you?"

"Of course not. You can ask Irish's girlfriend if you don't believe me."

Why did Arthit lie to him?

/

Kongpob waited for Arthit to finish performing on stage. But by the time Arthit is finished, Kongpob has already drunk 5 glasses of the drink and his acidity is starting to act up. When Arthit sees him, the guy quickly leaves the bar and though Kongpob is already feeling the burning pain starting in his stomach to his chest, he still runs after Arthit.