Chapter Text
Mix rolled his eyes, sighing in exasperation. Well, why wouldn't he when he has a heavy head on his shoulder and a sleeve wet with falling tears from the said heavy head.
"You guys are crap friends you know?" He murmurs just enough for Earth to hear. There wasn't any hostility, he can never truly be hateful. Not towards Earth anyway.
He moves his shoulder so Earth’s head would shake, done out of spite more than anything. The latter doesn’t move an inch.
He also glares daggers at Khao, Podd and Win who were by the pool table having fun amongst themselves and left him with a crying, heartbroken Earth Pirapat.
This should've been his day, his graduation party. Years of toiling and hardwork, sleepless nights and stress crying. The gang met up and even booked a whole corner of a bar just so they can have fun uninterrupted. Yet all it took was Earth's boyfriend, now ex, to turn the whole event sour.
"I'm sorry, Mix."
Mix was about to roll his eyes again when, "Don't.. I can hear you practically about to roll your eyes. Do any more and I'll be picking them up off the floor." Earth tries to blindly reach for Mix's eyes in an attempt to cover them with his hand. Mix gently slaps the offending hand away.
Mix rolls his eyes anyway because he's both annoyed his graduation party got ruined but also because he's cursing himself for preferring to be here with Earth and be the one to comfort the guy. He did tell Earth not to bring his surly boyfriend but White managed to show up uninvited, in the middle of the party.
Nothing happened for a good while which Mix was relieved by, maybe White finally realised to behave himself and let everyone else enjoy the party (that he wasn't really invited to).
Then all of a sudden he stood up and had an outburst with Earth. Something about how he never felt welcomed with Earth's friends from the beginning and that Earth always chose his friends over him.
Mix, who never once got in between the two, has had enough. He was not about to let an uninvited guest spoil his day and was about to walk up to White and kick him out when Earth stood up, towering over White, demeanour intimidating and dark.
"Leave." The naturally soft voice sounded full of disgust that White paled and all he could do was turn around and walk out. Their friends stilled as they looked at the retreating back before ogling back at Earth. This was the first time he stood up for himself against White.
Mix saw the moment Earth's shoulders slumped though, coming closer and catching him in his arms. An hour later, he found himself in the situation they're in now.
"You should go have fun with the guys. I'll be fine." Earth sniffed and despite what he said, managed to somehow bury his face even further on Mix's shoulder.
Earth is usually never this clingy, it's Mix who is clingy between them two. So Earth being stuck to Mix like this means that he’s a complete mess. Besides, the amount of selfies he took with a crying Earth was worth it. Birthday blackmail of the year done.
"And leave you here by yourself to cry your eyes out? Your dementor of an ex got me in a bad mood already."
Sniffs. "Sorry."
Mix sighs and lifts a hand to caress Earth's hair, "If anything, you made me proud today. Finally standing up and getting rid of him at the same time. What pushed you?"
"You."
Mix paused, moving his head to look down at his best friend. Earth removed himself from Mix's shoulder and looked straight at him. It would've been funny with how red and puffy Earth's eyes were but the intensity that he was staring at Mix made his laugh cut short.
"I saw you. You were smiling the brightest smile I haven't seen in a long time. And then I saw it drop as soon as he made a scene."
Mix blinked, voice stuck in his throat from hearing those. Earth lifts a hand, tilting Mix's chin up as a thumb caresses the corner of his lip.
"No one is allowed to make you lose your smile like that. Not even any boyfriend or girlfriend of mine."
Dumbfounded, Mix could only stare at this best friend, ignoring the way his heart skipped a beat. Earth was still caressing the corner of his lip and the shivers that ran up his spine made him move away from the touch.
Earth chuckled at the red tint on the younger’s face before grabbing a tissue to wipe his eyes and face with. “I think he was the one who lasted the longest with me though.”
Mix takes hold of a drink, moreso as a front to hide his blush from Earth, “He was the worst though. Manipulative, toxic, crazy, unnecessarily jealous. Always makes a scene, spoils our hang outs with your petty fights. Not to mention he also weirdly tries to get our sympathy and convince us it’s always your fault.”
Mix always found it strange how White tried to make Earth look bad with his own friends.
“I’m surprised you’ve put up with him for almost a year.”
White was definitely Earth’s worst partner so far. There was Namtan, his first girlfriend who Earth dated for a mere 3 months before they broke up. There was also New who was Earth’s almost boyfriend but never really went anywhere. New ended up dating his best friend, Tay, and while both of them ended up being friends with New, it always bothered Mix why it never turned out well for New and Earth when they were beyond compatible.
“He was the only one who didn’t meddle with you the whole time. Until tonight that is.”
“Me? What about me?” He turns to look at Earth who was now looking at their friends by the pool table. Earth casually threw an arm along the back of their seat, hand falling on Mix’s arm where he starts drawing lazy circles on.
“Anyone I dated who tried to mess with you or asked me to distance from you is an instant deal breaker.”
“Ha?” Mix is even more confused now. In all the years of their friendship, they never engaged in each other’s relationships. As long as the other is happy, they never butted in. They never gave unsolicited comments until the other asked.
“Don’t ‘ha’ me. You never noticed that I always broke up with them if they show any intention of poking their business with you?”
“What does your relationships have to do with me? Earth, I swear if you’re still single by 50 and you blame me I won’t hesitate to send you to heaven early.”
Earth chuckles, turning to give Mix a fond smile while patting him on the head. “Calm down. I’ve never blamed you before have I? If someone really loves me, they’ll have to accept that you’re part of the picture and if they try to come for you, then it’s out the door for them.”
“Earth Pirapat Watthanasetsiri, this is news to me and I do not appreciate how you’re making me sound like your mistress.” He elbows Earth, trying to push him away from him. Earth is a big man and Mix’s tinier stature could barely do anything to move him.
The other merely laughs and when Earth laughs, he laughs with his whole body, bringing Mix’s body along with his movements.
“I’m not finding this funny, Pirapat.” He really doesn’t but he’s also not admitting how moved he feels at this very moment. He never knew how important he was in his best friend’s life.
“Give me some credit here, you’re my best friend. I can always find another person to flirt with but I’ll never have another ‘you’ in my life. You’ve been with me through thick and thin. You’re irreplaceable, Mix.” Earth smiles down at him, that smile that he’s always reserved for Mix and the one that Mix refuses to admit that gives him butterflies in his stomach.
“I-if.. If you’re single your whole life because of me, I won’t be taking care of you.”
“Hm, that’s fine. I can take care of myself. You’re the one that I need to take care of.” Earth ruffles Mix’s hair fondly. Contrary to what everyone thinks, Earth knows full well the effect he has on Mix when he’s being sweet like this. He doesn’t do it often so it always catches Mix off guard.
“I’m… I’m not a child. Shut up.” Mix moves his head to avoid Earth’s touches and stands up. He checks the time.
12:51
They've been plastered to each other for almost 2 hours and it'll be another hour until the bar closes.
“If you’re done sulking, join us by the pool table.”
Mix walks off first, if only to really hide the heavy blush on his cheeks.
I hate it when he does that.