EVER OURS

CHAPTER 2

The clock on one of the walls marked ten past ten when they arrived at the bar; Mild was heading his two friends through the dancing crowd to the back of the place. In a table big enough for five people they saw Run and Tong, drinking and laughing.

"Run, P'Tong!" Mild called their two friends and greeted them with a wai as soon as they were in front of the table, the other two men gave them a wai in return and a big smile. "How have you two been?" the shorter black-haired guy excitedly asked, taking a sit.

The meeting was supposed to be at nine-thirty, but Mild took too much time deciding what to wear, so they were late to pick up Turbo. It was just a happy coincidence that the younger one was near Mild's condo, so they saved a lot of time. 

"We were late because of someone," Mew said glaring at Mild's direction, the smaller guy didn't even bother to defend himself, "he couldn't decide between a hoodie and a jacket."

"Err, you two just arrived yet you're already bickering," Tong looked at his two friends sitting in front of him with his eyebrows raised and a small smile pulling the corners of his mouth upwards.

"Phi," Turbo called the older with a soft bit of red spreading through his face and a slight bent on his lips, "you shouldn't be surprised by now as they are like this all the time." 

"That's right," Run was leaning into Tong's shoulder, at the other side of Turbo, with a teasing smile on his lips for the two friends who had been bickering a moment ago. "They look like a married couple more than best friends. You surely know how to treat your wife, Ai'Mew," he mocked him for his always 'scolding Mild is part of my personality 'attitude. 

Everybody was laughing at Run's joke, even Mild, who was not very fond of being called anyone's wife. They had always been like that, teasing each other at every opportunity they had, most of them knew from university except for Turbo who was Mild's cousin. Now that they were older and had works of their own, times like this where they could laugh about small things and enjoy the moment were rare. 

At twenty past ten, the door of the bar opened again, and a tall and slightly tanned boy entered staying under the threshold. He was scanning at the people at the back of the bar looking for two particular males, a big smile appearing on his lips when he found them. 

"N'Win," Gulf cheerfully called his best friend's boyfriend while patting his dark brown-haired head tenderly and then sat down beside Kaownah, smiling and giving both of them a wai."Ai'Kaow, it's good to see you outside the classroom." They joked as Kaownah was struggling with the high number of classes he was attending. 

"I can't believe what my eyes are seeing," Kaownah playfully put one of his arms around Gulf's shoulders, "you were able to drag Gulf here, Ai'Bright. You deserve a smooch." He released his friend's shoulders to throw his hands at the brown-haired boy. 

"No touching, P'Nah." Win teasingly smacked the older's hands.  

"Oh, you're no fun, nong."

"I'm a roller coaster of fun, phi."

They all laughed at the younger's words. Midterms were officially over, and even if Kaownah and Win were from other faculties, their friendship was going stronger.  All of them knew because of the bonds they share. Bright was Gulf's best friend, and Win was Bright's boyfriends, while Kaownah was Win's highschool classmate and best friend, and that's how all of them became good friends. 

"For a moment, I thought I would be third-wheeling as always," Kaownah smiled, showing the retainers in the corners of his mouth that were attached to his lower jaw.  

"Ah, that's the power of friendship, Ai'Kaow. Gulf almost made me lie to Win," Bright smirked, and Gulf kicked him under the table. "What the hell was that for, Gulf? Truthfully speaking, you were with your nose stuck to your computer screen. I'm starting to worry about your eyesight, pal."