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“How did your phone even break in the pool?” Kao asked as he sipped from his PeteKao tumbler as Pete turned on his brand new phone. “Aren’t all these things waterproof now?”
“If you didn’t tackle me into the pool after I had just changed yesterday-”
Kao sputtered. “Don’t you dare blame me this time! If you didn’t tease me-”
“You saying I can’t tease you?”
“I’m saying you shouldn’t run! You should reap what you sow!”
The two continued to bicker, but the moment Pete had logged into his LINE account on his phone, it began to ping and ring as if the apocalypse was coming. Pete rushed to silence the phone and sighed.
“These guys… Always so noisy…”
“Huh?” Kao looked at the chat Pete had just muted. Several unknown names flew as the chat moved very quickly. “Who are they?”
“Don’t ask.” Pete locked his phone screen. “Just other college students.” Kao leveled an unimpressed look at Pete. “Okay fine, they’re other kids from families dad talks to. I’ve grown up around some of them is all.”
“So… aren’t they your friends?”
“The gang are my friends.” Pete waved his phone. “These guys? Are not friends.”
“You just said you grew up with them.”
“So?”
“So that means they’re friends!” Kao stopped Pete with a hand to his chest. “You shouldn’t neglect your friends like that! It sounds like they’re trying to get in touch with you!”
“Since when?!”
“How long have you muted the chat?” Pete stayed silent. “Since last year?” Still no answer. “Since we were freshman?” Pete looked to the side now. Kao frowned. “Since we were enemies in high school?!” Pete coughed at last. “That long?!”
Pete rolled his eyes and tapped his foot. “There’s a reason why I put them on mute. Let’s just forget it and go.” Kao continued to level a look at Pete before moving his fingers like a pair of scissors. “What?! You’re going to cut me off? The hell you are!”
Kao snidely crossed his arms. “I’m not as rabid as you are.”
“The hell you are!” Kao raised an eyebrow and Pete growled. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. This is not going to be fun. At all.”
“They’re your friends! You should be nicer to them! You never know what help you might need from them! Everything that’s just happened recently is proof!”
Pete scowled before sighing and opening the group chat. There would be hell later, but it would be worse to not be able to have his fill of Kao.
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Pete-No2-Engineer-Boogaloo has changed their status to Available!
Pete-No2-Engineer-Boogaloo has changed their name to Pete.
Ming has changed Pete’s name to Phubodin.
Phubodin: MING! WRONG PETE!
Phubodin changed their name to Peach.
Ming changed Pete’s name to Phubodin.
Ming: Sorry Ai Pete!
Ming: Uh… I mean…
Ming: Shit, what a crazy time for you to come back into the chat P’Phubodin.
Phubodin: Ugh, just say P’Pete!
Ming: But that’s still weird!
Forth: Oh P’Pete is in the chat?
Forth: You should say hi to P’Arthit some time soon. He mentioned before that you should both catch up.
Phubodin: Ai Arthit isn’t in this chat, isn’t he?
Kong: Umm… No P’Arthit isn’t in this chat…
Phubodin: N’Kong? Since when do you know who P’Arthit is?
Yo: Oh boy… Do we have news for you P’. You’ve been out of the chat waaaaay too long.
Peach: But just in time!
Peach: @Dean @Win Look! P’Phubodin is back!
Peach: And congratulations!
Peach: You and Tutor P’Kao are a very cute couple!
Peach: You should come catch up with us and tell us more!
Tin: Why are you all texting like crazy again? Didn’t we just decide that buying P’Kit a Mazaratti for your six month anniversary is too much?
Peach: Tin! P’Phubodin is back in the chat!
Tin: You should have stayed out, P’.
Tin: Do you want to end up like P’Dean and P’Win?
Tin: This is how you end up like them.
Kong: Tin… That gag is getting old.
Tin: But am I wrong?
Kong: No…
Win: Did you guys forget? Ai Dean has you all on mute. But I’ll pass the message.
Win: Welcome back Ai Pete.
Win: Way to declare your love across the country on a FB Live.
Phubodin: It was an accident!
Peach: I think it was very sweet.
Yo: I’d throw up if P’Pha did it.
Peach: And then you’d find a recording and save it in your special external hard drive.
Yo: SHUT UP!
Yo: AND WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT MY HARD DRIVE?
Peach: Ming did!
Ming: FUCK!
Ming: AI PETE YOU SNITCH!
Phubodin: I regret everything.
Phubodin: Next Saturday at noon, the old cafe.
Phubodin: For some bizarre reason, Kao wants to meet all of you.
Phubodin: Don’t traumatize him.
Kong: You still remember where that cafe is?
Kong: Are they even still open?
Tin: Can confirm, still open.
Tin: …Cantalope likes their mocha cake.
Phubodin: CANTALOPE?
Phubodin: Are you fucking feeding a melon some cake?
Yo: The cutest stupid melon.
Yo: Tin’s words, not mine.
Tin: Wayo Panitchayasawad, I will kill you.
Yo: You’re welcome to come try it.
Peach: You really have been out of the chat too long P’Phubodin. We’ll see you on Saturday!
------
Although Dean had been reluctant, Win had passed the invitation to Saturday’s group coffee date while Pharm was handing over more sweets to the swim team. Which meant Pharm knew that a group outing was on the horizon. A few moments and a very small amount of puppy eyes later, Dean agreed and Pharm promised to make several desserts they could share in the cafe. Including a special set just for Dean.
And even if the cafe wouldn’t allow them to bring outside food, Dean was going to eat his fill of Pharm’s desserts just to get through the afternoon regardless. There was no person alive that Dean would allow to stop him. Except maybe Pharm.
Dean picked up Pharm on Saturday morning and the pair made their way to the cafe, a relatively moderately sized business with plenty of tables. The owners and workers had never bat an eyelash at the clientele, regardless of how rich they were, and never sold any information to the tabloids. It was like heaven for the group of young and rich kids as they slowly grew up in a strange social circle.
Pharm ran off to look at the desserts and drinks on menu before going to the bathroom. Since they were early, Dean pulled out a book and looked over his material for his next exam.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dean saw a familiarly shaped face, and before he could stop himself, he asked, “Do you remember if the professor said she was going to put a question about Western business ethics on the exam?”
“P’Dean, why are you asking me business questions?” Can waved his hands in front of him to stop Dean from showing him his book. “I’m in Sports Science, P’. I don’t know any of this. I’m not even a third year like you are!”
Dean blinked as he finally realized he was talking to Tin’s Can. “You look like you’d know the answer,” he said plainly.
“What? Are you saying I look smart, P’Dean?” Can preened and ran a hand through his hair. “Ha! I told Ai Tin I look more intelligent than he thinks!”
“More like a slip of the tongue,” Dean muttered, remembering his classmate. “You’re both too similar.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing, I’m going to get a coffee. When Pharm comes, let him sit here.”
Closer to noon, Win and Team appeared and joined the table after getting their drinks. Pharm passed around his box of desserts. Can immediately grabbed one and made happy noises while Tin muttered in his ear. Can waved him off. Tin then raised his head and met Team’s gaze. Team smiled and looked away.
A minute later, Team sipped his coffee quietly and then leaned over towards Pharm. “If you turn your head and squint, doesn’t Ai Tin remind you of P’Alex?”
Pharm didn’t turn his head, but he did kick Team under the table. “I was trying not to think about that,” he said through his teeth.
“But-”
“Don’t think about it.”
It was then that Pete and Ae showed up. Can held up the offered box of desserts.
“Ai Pharm made all these!”
“Oh! Pharm, these desserts are so pretty!” Pete held one up and showed it to Ae. “It looks just like a flower!”
Ae nodded. “It’s very pretty Ai Koon Chai.” Ae turned to Pharm. “Thank you for making these.”
“Doesn’t he remind you of that nong P’Type and P’Techno know? The one they said went to France to be a pastry chef?” Can stage whispered to Ae.
“How can he remind you of him? He looks nothing like him?”
“I just… get this vibe…” Can scratched at his head. “Maybe in another life?”
“Don’t be stupid.” Ae shoved a pudding at Can. “Here, just stuff your face.”
“Ooo! Leum kleum! Don’t mind if I do!”
As Can shouted his praises that Pete echoed a little more quietly, Pharm kept looking at Ae and rubbing his eyes.
“Do you have something in your eye, Pharm,” Pete asked. “I can go get you some eye drops.”
“No no…” Pharm waved Pete off. “Thank you it’s just… I feel like I’ve seen Ai Ae somewhere before. He reminds me of someone.”
“Maybe Ae has a doppelganger,” Pete suggested.
“Ah… maybe!” Pharm then mumbled, “At least thirty years ago or so.”
“What was that?”
“I said I have thirty more if you want them!”
Dean gave Pharm a look and Pharm casually looked to the side. Dean nodded in understanding and changed the topic by asking Ae about the soccer club.
------
Slowly but surely, the rest of the boys trickled in.
Yo eagerly talked with Team and Can about some animes while Pharm gave Pete cooking tips. Forth and Arthit discussed engineering classes with Ae, Ming, and Kongpob. However, everytime Arthit said something, Kongpob wiggled his eyebrows and Arthit’s face turned pinker and pinker.
Pha, Kit, Beam, Dean, and Win chose to sit to the side, books and highlighters out, preparing for their next exams. Their quiet murmuring was punctuated by the sounds of sipping coffee and munching on a separate box of Pharm’s treats. Every so often Beam would shout for Forth to try a particular one. Ming had a particularly fancy drink sent over for Kit. Kit scoffed but drank it anyway.
Tin kept a steely glare out the windows of the cafe, only pausing once in a while to pull Can back into his seat or wave for more coffee. The odd photographer had been caught in Tin’s sights and after a few taps into his phone, the photographers had run for the hills.
------
Kao checked his phone again. No message had arrived from Pete. Pete had, however, given his number to, “the only trustworthy person in that damn chat,” who was another Pete, Pete Pitchaya. Pitchaya had sent Kao several messages that the group was gathered and they were only waiting for him and Pete. There were also several group photos so Kao would know who to look for.
Looking over his shoulder into the cafe, Kao spotted the large gang of boys making a ruckus. For a brief moment, Kao wondered if he had made a mistake asking Pete to reconnect with them all, but he dismissed it. They all seemed like nice people.
Kao entered the cafe and cautiously wandered over to the large group. Pete had promised to introduce him properly, but Kao had run late and there was no sign of Pete anywhere. Kao was willing to bet he was hiding in the pool in the sports club to avoid coming. “Hello everyone…” Kao raised his hands in a wai. “You haven’t seen-”
“Em? What are you doing here?” Kongpob blinked. “I thought you were out with May.”
“Huh? Who’s May?”
At that moment, Dean came back with another round of drinks. “Aren’t you that swimmer from WB Uni? Apo? Where’s Waii?”
“I… Who are you talking about? I’m… My name is Kao…”
“Oh! That Tutor Kao! I’ve heard your notes are really great!” Yo chimed in with a snap of his fingers. “Someone shared a few with me and my Fairy Angels at my campus. They were a lifesaver!”
“You… You’ve used my tutoring notes?” An empty chair was offered to Kao and Kao fell into it.
“Yes! They really helped us understand what was going on in our Physics lesson!”
And just like that, Kao fell into the fold and was introduced to all the other boys. It was like falling into a strangely varied, but nice extended family. This was how Pete found them moments later and none of them had paid any attention to his arrival.
Pete grit his teeth and was about to call out to his friend of the same name, but knew just as quickly that his friends would tease him, as they usually did, whenever one of them tried to talk to the other. It was with this in mind that Pete shouted something else.
“Yah! Pitchaya!”
Pete Pitchaya jumped in his seat which did not sit well with Ae. Ae immediately rounded upon Pete Phubodin and yelled, “YAH! PHUBODIN!”
As to how Ae had learned his name was Phubodin, Pete didn’t care. He did, however, take offense to the attitude.
“Who are you talking to so casually like that? I’m your senior!” Pete Phubodin said as he walked over. Kao climbed over several others to calm him down, but Pete brushed him off.
“Don’t talk to my Pete that way.” Ae stood up and crossed his arms. Pete Pitchaya looked around at how everyone was looking between Pete Phubodin and Ae. Money had actually been placed between Tin, Ming, Win, and Forth when Pete Pitchaya tugged on Ae’s sleeve.
“Ae krab, don’t worry about it. P’Pete is only like this because we have the same name. Kongpob usually teases him about talking to himself if he calls me Pete.”
Kongpob sputtered and Arthit gave Kongpob a dirty look. “Excuse me? The last time it was Yo! Don’t listen to him P’Arthit.”
“It was not!” Yo said from atop Pha’s lap. “That’s a lie from Ming because he nearly got his ass kicked!”
Kit turned a steely eye on Ming who put his hands up as if they could shield him. “It wasn’t me! I know how he gets!”
Everyone started bickering and shouting accusations, but the main tension between Pete Phubodin and Ae had been diffused. Even Win had breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently the reputation Pete had carried rivaled Ae’s on the streets.
However, Pharm looked around confused until Can pulled him and Team closer. “It was actually Tin. He told me that story a while back.”
With that, everyone settled down and softer chatter and passing of drinks and food had continued. Kao settled in and Pete sitting next to him had made everything perfect. Plus having a few of Pharm’s many desserts hadn’t hurt either.
At least until Ming had pulled out his phone and started an IG Live by saying, “LOOK! I’M HERE WITH PETE ABOUT ABOYZ!”
Kao considered himself lucky by the end of their little coffee lunch date that the staff of the cafe hadn’t kicked them all out.
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Tutor Kao has been added to the Cute Boys Chat.
You are in the chat with Yo, Peach, Can, Kitkat, and 4 other people.
Peach: Hello Tutor P’Kao!
Peach: I hope it wasn’t too overwhelming for you today.
Can: Tutor P’Kao please help me!
Can: How do I English?
Can: Tin is fluent but he refuses to help me.
Kitkat: Nong Can…
Kitkat: We were all there today.
Kitkat: He refused to help you because you kept on asking him how to say all your favorite foods in English instead of doing your homework.
Yo: Nobody knows how to English, Can.
Yo: Not even people from America know how to English.
Tutor Kao: That’s a bit of an exaggeration…
Yo: We’ll begin with box ; the plural is boxes
Yo: But the plural of ox is oxen , not oxes
Yo: One fowl is a goose , and two are called geese
Yo: Yet the plural of moose is never called meese *
Pharm: Uh…
Pharm: Is my head the only one hurting?
Team: Mine too.
Can: Me too
Peach: That’s just...
Yo: I rest my case.
Tutor Kao: Nongs… It’s really not that hard!
Beam: …
Beam: You may find a lone mouse or a house full of mice ;
Beam: But the plural of house is houses , not hice .
Beam: The plural of man is always men ,
Beam: But the plural of pan is never pen .
Arthit: If I speak of a foot , and you show me two feet ,
Arthit: And I give you a book , would a pair be a beek ?
Arthit: If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth ,
Arthit: Why shouldn’t two booths be called beeth ?
Yo: If the singular’s this and the plural is these ,
Yo: Should the plural of kiss be ever called keese ?
Beam: We speak of a brother and also of brethren ,
Beam: But though we say mother , we never say methren .
Arthit: Then the masculine pronouns are he , his , and him ;
Arthit: But imagine the feminine… she , shis , and shim !
Arthit: Well that was fun.
Yo: P’Arthit! I knew you had good taste!
Yo: And P’Beam of course!
Beam: You are a good nong, N’Yo.
Tutor Kao: …
Tutor Kao: Okay so clearly I have a lot of work to do.
Tutor Kao: @Pharm @Team @Can So when do you want to schedule your first session?
Can: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Pharm: Thank you P’Kao!
Team: I will worship you forever, P’Kao
Tutor Kao: Your P’ is happy to help nongs.
Tutor Kao: :)
Yo: Spoiled. Spoiled rotten the whole lot of you!
Peach: As if P’Pha isn’t spoiling you?
Yo: THAT’S BESIDES THE POINT?
Tutor Kao: N’Yo, you can also join our lessons too if you like.
Yo: …
Yo: So what time were you guys meeting again...