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It wasn’t very often that Dean or Win were asked to go to a function with, or for, their parents. Both sets were usually absentee, but the holidays always lead to an abundance of rich people parties and a sudden abundance of filial guilt. Thus, Dean and Win found themselves each allowed to bring a plus one (”that nice boy you see all the time,” both their parents had said), and were dressed up and dragged to the largest winter holiday party this side of Bangkok.
Leave it to the Panitchayasawads to always make a production out of everything.
The chosen ballroom was decked in white, green, and silver. Pharm was already positively enchanted. Team was similarly affected, but bickering with Win had been distraction enough.
“P’Dean! It’s so pretty!” Pharm smiled and his cute face was a contrast to the lovely figure he cut in his tailored suit. “Are all the parties you get invited to like this?”
Dean huffed a small laugh. “Not all of them. The Panitchayasawads like to always go big or go home. Come on, I have some people I should say hello to. I’ll introduce you to them as well.” Dean didn’t spare Win or Team a glance as he lead Pharm deeper into the party. He knew Win would catch up at some point. They had some nongs to greet after all.
------
Around a surprisingly large table, Pharm was introduced to no less than six of Dean’s acquaintances and their partners. All of them handsome young men, all of them dating men, and all of them just as rich, if not richer.
How Dean remembered them all, Pharm couldn’t understand. His mind was already whirling with all the new information he’d just absorbed. Team looked resolved to tough it out until he had learned it by rote. However, Win continued to just whisper details in his ear.
“P’Dean, it is good to see you again. It’s been a long time! And you’re not active in the group chat anymore,” Kongpob said. “I hope you’ll sit with us tonight and catch us all up on what’s been going on.”
“And who is this!” The young heir of the Panitchayasawads, Yo, ran up to Pharm. His smile and demeanor made Pharm feel at ease. Dean squeezed his arm in warning though. “Come come! You have to sit with me and Pete! Cute boys have to stick together.”
“Oh... P’ that’s really kind of you but-”
“P’? Ai Pharm, I’m a freshman like you are! Come and sit with us!” Pete also wandered over to drag Pharm to their side of the table. Pete’s boyfriend, Ae, was only slightly miffed when asked to move over.
“So, how long have you been dating P’Dean, Pharm krab?” Pete asked as he poured a drink for Pharm. The offending glass was immediately removed and replaced with a soda by Dean. Yo gave Dean a look.
“It’s the holidays P’Dean. Let him live a little.”
“I know you, Wayo Pantichayasawad. You’re just trying to dig for details for N’Pete. He’s the one who’s always interested in those stories. Not you.”
“Trying to stop Pete from digging by just removing the alcohol is pointless,” said Tin as he pushed another plate of food at his boyfriend, also sitting next to Yo, but more intent on stuffing his face than talking. “You’re just removing one weapon in his arsenal. Unless you get this one,” Tin jerked a thumb at Ae who scowled back, “To intervene, you’re not getting anywhere.”
“I’ll thank you to kindly not spill all the secrets of the Cute Boys Club to P’Dean,” Pete said primly. “It’s bad enough Can lets you read our chat every so often.”
“Cute Boys Club?” Parm looked around. “Is that what you call yourselves?”
“No no.” Yo waved his hand dismissively. “It’s just me, Pete, and Can. P’Kit and P’Arthit refuse to reply unless we specifically mention them and P’Beam rejected our invitation because he says he’s more manly than cute.”
“I am more manly. I’m taller than all four of you,” Beam yelled back from atop Forth’s lap. “All you nongs are crazy in that chat anyway!”
“Babe, maybe you should stop before you reveal all their secrets and scare away our new friends, yeah?” Forth lifted a glass of something to Beam’s lips and Beam happily obliged.
Parm, to his credit, wasn’t able to look any more frightened without hiding under his suit jacket. Team was similarly on his way to being assimilated into the group with Ming catching him up.
“So you can tell that one is P’Arthit because he looks at everyone with that face except for Kong over there. He’s sort of like your P’Dean with Pharm, only he yells more than he glares.” Arthit moved to get up, but Kongpob pulled him back down. “This one is my Ai Kitty! As you can see, he is the cutest one here.”
“I object!” Yo shouted before going back to talking to Pharm about the other boys.
“And that one is Ai Tin because he only knows how to make that constipated face, even if he’s looking at his boyfriend.”
“I’m going to buy out your family business, ruin it, and sell it for a corn chip,” Tin announced. “And then I’ll feed Can the corn chip just so you know your entire family lost everything for no reason.”
“Huh? Corn chips? Do they have dip at least?” Can finally peaked his head up from his plate. “Na, Ai Tin, where’s the dessert cart?”
Tin looked from Can to Ming. Ming remained unfazed. “One corn chip, Daichapanya.”
“Promises promises.”
Dean looked to Win and said one thing. “I regret this.”
------
By the end of the night, Pharm felt his head spinning in more ways than one. He’d acquired twelve new numbers into his phone, was added to no less than three new group chats, and Dean was actually muttering to himself.
“If I’d have known introducing you to them would have gone over like this, I’d have chosen to solve another one hundred past lives instead.”
“P’Dean... It was really fun. You have a lot of good friends. They’re all... rather interesting.”
“There’s no need to be kind about it, Pharm.” Dean rubbed Pharm’s head and Pharm blushed. “They’re a rather rambunctious bunch. It’s why I don’t talk to them too often.”
“I think it’d be good to see them more often.” Dean raised an eyebrow and glanced at Pharm out of the corner of his eye. “They mean well. And... Yo and Pete promised to send me some things they think would help me.”
“Help you? None of them are Econ majors. Pete and Tin are International Business majors.”
“Oh? They said they had some notes...”
Dean needed to think about it for only a moment. “You don’t need to see those notes.”
In another car, Team was cackling away as he messaged back and forth with the other boys. “P’Win! Your friends are ridiculous! Can we see them again?”
Win shrugged. “Yeah, why not. Been meaning to get in touch with that part of the gang more often anyway. It’s good you get along so well with them. They’re good people in a pinch.”
------
Dean has been added to the chat.
Win has been added to the chat.
Forth: Welcome back.
Kong: It really was nice seeing you again, P’Dean. I’m so glad you finally found that someone you’ve been looking for.
Win: Hoo boy, if only you knew.
Yo: Spill the tea!
Dean: No.
Dean: Win, I’ll give Team extra training so you can’t go on that date with him tomorrow.
Win: Fuck! That’s abuse of your captain privileges!
Win: Sorry guys, the captain has spoken. To save my boyfriend, I must keep quiet and not tell you about the red string of fate that binds Dean and Pharm.
Dean: ...
Dean: You’re toeing the line and I hate you.
Pete: A red string?! It’s so cute!
Tin: Look what you started.
Tin: Do you want Pete to wax poetic about romance?
Tin: This is how you get Pete to wax poetic about romance.
Forth: Oh just let it happen.
Ming: P’Forth! You’re not allowed to say that if you won’t let P’Beam tell us what’s happening in the Cute Boys Club.
Forth: That... That’s entirely different?
Dean has muted the chat.