Work Text:
One.
The quiet giggles hit his eardrums and even before opening his eyes, he could tell Book is sitting slightly behind him, by his left side. "Must've been pleased with getting a photo of me sleeping," he thought to himself. He turns his head to take a look to find Book with Khaotung. Looking at something on the younger guy's phone and giggling together.
"Do I even look that funny?" he asks the two after clearing his throat. "Huh?" Book tilted his head, puzzled. Force repeats the question, adding "sleeping" at the end of his sentence.
"We weren't looking at your photo. It's Khaotung's new kitten. She's silly! Show her to Force," he nudges the man sitting next to him. As the video plays on the screen, Force's mind goes astray, "ah, a cat video."
Throughout the day, Khaotung and Book stay close to each other, regularly drawn to one another's phone, often with bright smiles and cheeky glances exchange between them. Sometimes First would join in, but other times, even with First around it seems like those two are in a world of their own.
Force is happy. Happy for Book. It wasn't easy for Book to let people in, so he's happy that those two get along well. That is until..
"Come on, Book. I'll drop you off," Force calls out as he gather his things. "Ah, that's okay, I'm leaving with Khaotung today," replies Book without even turning to face Force, "see you tomorrow!" Standing up with his bag in hand, Book walks over to Force and tap him on the shoulder, "bye, mate."
Two.
Force is usually the one arriving at the site at least 30 minutes before schedule and Book would be there later, but never really late, except for the rare times that he was. Unfortunately it's way past call time today and Book is nowhere in sight. The texts he sent were unanswered, not even seen. He called, and obviously, no answer from the other end.
As he was getting restless, Book walks in with his arm around First's shoulder, "aww Nong, it's okay na, we'll play again!"
Automatically, his finger goes up to point at Book, "wait, you're already here?"
Book nods, "yea, Nong and I got here 2 hours earlier so we can play together," he tightens his hold on First and shakes him, "and I won, of course!"
"Tomorrow! Let's play again tomorrow, Phi!" First returns Book's hug and Book nods as he brings their faces closer, "I'm going to win again."
Meanwhile, Force scoffs, "that's enough, go get your make up done!"
Three.
He was ready to drop his gym plan to join them for dinner when Mark announces that he can no longer go because something happened at home. "Sorry Phi Book, tomorrow maybe? It'll be my treat, I promise!"
Book assures him that it's fine. They can always go have BBQ later. "I can go with you if you want to," Force tells him. Book brushes him off and tells him to go to the gym instead.
Sitting in his car with the air conditioner on full blast, he clicks on Instagram and sees new story. It's a video of him and Mark having BBQ. He immediately replies to it.
fforce_: I thought it's cancelled?
Book seen the message but doesn't reply him. He huffs and starts driving home. At the traffic lights, he checks his phone and still no reply from Book.
Arriving home, he checks again, no Book. He decides to take a shower, maybe Book will reply by then.
Nothing. So, he calls him. A familiar voice picks up, but it's not Book.
"Phi Force, Phi Book is driving," Mark explains. "I thought you can't make it to dinner?" Force queries. "Haha yea, it was nothing, the dog turns out okay so I told Phi Book and we went anyway. Phi Book said you were at the gym, so there's no need to call you. Next time let's go together!"
He was about to say something before he hears Book shouts "good night, Force!" from the other end and Mark says bye.
Four aka the ultimate betrayal.
His friend walks over to him as he puts down the weight, "aw hello Phi." Force nods in acknowledgement. They shake hands and the friend looks around, "are you not working out with Neo and Phi Book?"
"What do you mean?" Force scrunches his brows.
The friend goes on to explain that Neo and Book are working out together upstairs and Force's brows remain knitted.
He runs upstairs to find Book on the bench doing shoulder press with Neo spotting him. Both of them are occupied so they don't notice him. He approaches them and in Book's direction, he asks "heavy?"
Beaming, Book shouts out his name and almost drops the weight just in time for Neo to grab them, exclaiming, "Phi, that's dangerous!"
"Ohh sorry, sorry." He sits up, still beaming at Force, "Neo is sooo good at this, Force! He doesn't try to kill me like you did!" while he affectionately taps Neo's bum yielding proud snickers from the younger boy.
The frown still evident on his face, Force defends himself, "well you're still alive, don't you? It's good for you!"
Book brushes him off and goes back to lie on the bench, "let's go again, Nong," leaving Force sneering at the sight.