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“Peem is coming to visit!” Tan’s overly excited voice echoes around the engineering faculty’s cafeteria. “He’ll be here this weekend!”
Phum blinks, watching Tan nearly take out another student as he excitedly flails his way towards where the rest of them are having lunch. Phum does his best not to let his immediate irritation show. Not so much at Tan’s overall spectacle, but rather at the name mentioned.
Peem, who he has only heard about in Tan’s stories. Peem who was friends with Tan before Phum and Fang ever met him. Peem who used to live in Bangkok and even attended the same university as them until last semester, but who is currently taking a semester off to help out his family after his parents took in an aging relative, selflessly putting his own life on halt to help his family.
Because he’s just that perfect, Phum thinks disparagingly.
Okay, so maybe there is this thing of Phum not particularly liking Tan’s friend Peem. Despite, admittedly, never having met the guy.
If Tan and his friends are to be believed, their Peem might as well be able to walk on water and is also the literal personification of sunshine, all the while being the perfect friend and the kindest human being to ever exist on this earth and the reason Tan’s other friends even met and then stuck together afterwards and also everyone’s best friend and the one you can always ask for help and did they mention kind, and sweet, and perfect?
Yeah, Phum thinks his dislike for this Peem guy is at least somewhat justified. If only because no one ever seems capable of shutting up about him.
“Baaabe!” Tan is exclaiming as he finally skids to a stop next to their table, eyes wide and beseeching as he exclusively focuses on Fang. The rest of them have long-since gotten used to going ignored by Tan when in Fang’s general vicinity. “You have to come join us! We’re celebrating and parties at Peem’s are the best! It’s been so long since we had a real party!”
Fang raises an eyebrow, always happy to be Tan’s focus, not so happy when he keeps rambling about another guy. Phum is well-aware that his brother’s thoughts on Peem are just as genial as his own. Namely, not at all.
“And last weekend doesn’t count because…,” his brother asks.
“But Baaaabe~” Tan whines, “It’s different when Peem is there! Everyone will be passing out drunk and we’ll sleep over and we’ll all have bruises from someone’s elbow or knee digging into our side during the night,” he declares brightly. Like those are things to deliberately aim for when getting together with friends from college.
Well, they’ve all heard of the countless sleepovers Tan and his friends used to have at Peem’s place. You know, before Peem went back to Chiang Mai, right after the end of last semester, mere weeks before Tan’s two friend groups first met. The meeting had been more by coincidence than by design, even if it somehow resulted in Tan and Fang getting together about three months ago. Phum even likes hanging out with Tan’s other friends.
They don’t hang out in the bigger group all that often, but they go out for drinks together at least every couple of weeks and the lot of them are fun, if a little chaotic. At least Phum thinks so. Now, if only they were capable of ever shutting up about their missing friend. Almost like they are determined to fill the world with more of Peem’s presence by continuously talking about him, like they miss the guy so much they need to replace Peem’s absence with endless words about how much they wish Peem were here instead. Like they’re just waiting. Waiting until their group will be complete again.
It is admittedly a little jarring to be constantly reminded that, no matter how much fun they might be having, Tan’s other friends think something is missing, always something maudlin about the four friends when an evening of fun and drinking is over and everyone is splitting up to go home. Because they miss having sleepovers at Peem’s like they are all eight years old.
Phum honestly doesn’t get it. He sometimes wonders whether he would be more or less irritated by everyone’s ceaseless rambling about Peem, if he’d met the guy at least once.
Admittedly, most of his dislike might stem from his knowledge that Tan’s continued rambling doesn’t mix particularly well with Fang’s confidence when it comes to being Tan’s boyfriend. The fact that, in Tan’s stories, Peem is apparently the very best human to ever exist on earth, or the fact that Tan and all of his friends sound like they are half in love with this Peem guy, certainly doesn’t help either.
It’s just… Fang isn’t used to hearing Tan waxing poetic about anyone other than himself. Phum knows Fang and Tan are both pretty gone for each other, has been watching them dance around one another since highschool, knows that Tan is happily in love with his brother. Still, Phum thinks it’s perfectly fair for Fang to be less than enthused at his boyfriend being so incapable of ever shutting up about some other guy.
So, maybe Phum and Fang’s dislike for Peem without ever having met him isn’t necessarily the guy’s own fault.
“Come on, babe!” Tan wheedles. “Peem will only be here for a few days. He’s meeting with his professors on Friday, but he’s only staying until Sunday before going back to Chiang Mai.”
Oh, yes, did Phum mention? Despite going back home to help out his parents, Peem is still taking as many of his classes as are available online and Q apparently insisted on streaming every single class and lecture on his phone to his best friend. Q is also where Peem sends his completed assignments who then hands them in to those professors who agreed to let him complete his assignments remotely.
Q, in particular, seems to miss Peem like a lost limb or something. Never mind that Phum really doesn’t get how someone as generally surly as Q could be best friends with someone who is supposedly personified sunshine either.
“He’ll only be here for a few days, babe!” Tan is still wheedling. “You have to meet him! I’m telling you, everything will make sense once you have met him.”
Phum blinks. That almost sounds like Fang might have talked to Tan about some of his hesitation when it comes to Tan’s missing friend? How very grown-up of his brother.
Fang sighs, clearly giving in to his boyfriend’s wheedling, though his eyes quickly cut towards Phum, a silent plea in them. And, well, it’s not like Phum is going to let Fang face that particular situation alone. So, he resigns himself to spending his weekend with Tan and all of his friends, including this Peem guy he has actually been quite content to ignore until now.
Then again, for all that Phum doesn’t like Peem, doesn’t like how perfect his friends make him out to be, it’s beyond clear just how much Tan and his other friends adore this guy. So, meeting him at some point was rather inevitable if Peem is really planning on returning to Bangkok next semester. Might as well meet him now, Phum thinks to himself, less than enthusiastically.
Well, if worse comes to worst, he’ll at least be able to feel vindicated in his dislike for the guy after finally meeting him in person.
Oh, Phum thinks, a little dumbfounded.
They have just arrived in a nice backyard of what is apparently Peem’s home, his aunt’s house, if Phum got it correctly. Phum gave Beer, Mick, and Fang a lift, but it seems Tan’s other friends must have arrived earlier, all of them already sprawled around the table in the middle of the backyard, drinks in front of them and arguing chaotically, by the time they get there.
Their arrival goes mostly unnoticed, although an unfamiliar figure does glance up just as they near the general chaos spread out around the yard. Peem, Phum’s brain absently supplies.
“Oh, hello,” the guy greets, blinking at the group of strangers suddenly in his backyard but a welcoming smile already on his lips, hands full of colorful snack bags, apparently in the process of restocking the bowls on the table, and entirely unbothered by Chain currently using him as a shield against Tan or the way both of them are slapping at each other around him, dark hair sweeping into his eyes, relaxed and uncaring of the chaos that surrounds him. He’s tall and slender and…
Pretty, Phum thinks, stunned.
Somehow, and Phum only realizes this now, he’s never actually seen a picture of Peem before. Maybe his avoidance of the guy to the point where he would immediately skip past all pictures on Fang’s social media with just his childhood friends, did go a little too far. If only because Phum would at least have known to prepare himself for just how stupidly pretty Tan’s always-talked-about friend is.
He also seems to be the only one so entirely taken aback. Thankfully, Phum manages to follow along with everyone’s greetings without making a fool of himself, though admittedly still staring.
But excuse him.
He wasn’t prepared for this. Peem is pretty. Pretty in a way Phum hadn’t thought people could be, at least not outside of magazines or the big screen.
Well, fuck, Phum thinks, for the first time in his life finding himself grateful when Tan suddenly swoops into the midst of their group in all his overdramatic glory, having finally noticed Fang’s arrival and immediately scrambling closer to latch on.
“Babe! You’re here! You were taking so looong,” he whines. “I missed you!”
Peem is blinking at Tan, taken aback by his friend’s overly enthusiastic greeting. Though, there is nothing but fondness in his gaze as he watches Tan make a complete fool of himself, cooing at Fang.
“Babe! Babe! This is Peem,” Tan is rambling on. “Peem, this is my sweetheart. Isn’t he the prettiest? Didn’t I tell you he is the prettiest of them aaall~” And, they’re right back to the cooing, Tan already proceeding to drag Fang towards the table, rambling about ‘saving the best seat’ and ‘favorite drink’ and not giving anyone a chance to get a comment in edgewise.
Peem is smiling softly after Tan, shaking his head with an amused sigh, near enough radiating fondness for his over-the-top friend. Okay. So, clearly Peem doesn’t mind Tan’s doting at all. That’s one of Fang’s worries laid to rest at least.
Also, yes, Phum might still be staring, though he finally manages to catch himself, clearing his throat as he glances away. But, damn, that’s one pretty boy.
Beer hums humorously. “Seems like the rest of us don’t qualify for an introduction.”
“Well, obviously,” Mick returns instantly. “Because we aren’t ‘babe’.”
“And let’s all be grateful for that,” Phum throws in, the reply automatic.
Across from him, Peem snorts a laugh, finally turning to face him fully, all dark eyes and amusedly raised eyebrows and still smiling so damn prettily, and, oh, that’s somehow even worse. Having that sweet, joyful smile directed entirely at him is rather more devastating than Phum might have honestly anticipated.
“I’ve heard a lot about all of you,” Peem is saying after the initial chaos of greetings has died down, still smiling as drinks are being handed out and everyone is finding a seat.
As we have about you, Phum wants to say. And still, somehow, despite talking about you near constantly, none of your friends ever thought to mention how ridiculously pretty you are.
“Though none more than you,” Peem grins in Fang’s direction, an invitation to commiserate in good humor about Tan’s tendency to talk endlessly about his ‘babe’. Q, Chain, and Pun snort in amusement, and Fang looks a little startled but also rather pleased to be included in what clearly counts as an inside joke amongst Tan’s other friends.
Alright. So, clearly there is no reason to worry about Peem somehow getting in between Fang and Tan. Good to know.
Fang smiles back at Peem. “We’ve also heard quite a bit about you,” he says.
Peem blinks back at him, looking startled, the slightest furrow between his brows, like he might be unsure whether he is being made fun of. Like he… Like Peem honestly doesn’t know that he, despite his absence, manages to be part of every single conversation his friends are involved in, if only due to Peem being brought up every couple of sentences in some way or antoher. Surely, Peem must be aware how much he is missed. Right?
“Your friends have a lot to say about you,” Fang adds, clearly finding his feet and rather amused by the obvious surprise on Peem’s features. “Your presence is dearly missed.”
Peem blinks at Fang and-
No, Phum thinks in immediate denial. I refuse. Because… is that an actual blush?!
Which it can’t be. Because that would be way too damn endearing. Peem blushing at being told his friends miss him while he is gone. That’s just not fair.
So, clearly, that’s not a blush making Peem look even more adorable than before. Because Phum is drawing a line. Right here. If only because he really doesn’t need any more reasons to be captivated by this boy barely a few minutes after meeting him. He really doesn’t.
The evening is nice, sitting outside, in Peem’s backyard, drinking and laughing. Maybe Phum is even starting to get what Tan meant when reminiscing about their former get-togethers.
Well, at least parts of it. Other parts, not so much.
Because Tan and his other friends are sticking so close to their returned friend, they are starting to give off the impression they are somehow magnetic when it comes to Peem. Like, they physically cannot bear Peem being anywhere without at least one of them well within touching distance. Phum is fairly certain Chain actually followed Peem into the bathroom earlier, so caught up in their discussion of some movie they apparently watched last week while video calling that neither of them even seemed to notice, casually wandering into the bathroom and back out again minutes later, still chatting. All the while Pun keeps feeding Peem random snacks, which the other always eats without protest, barely interrupting his current conversation with Q. Who Phum has rarely seen so animated, entire arguments passing between him and Peem either with a single glance exchanged or several minutes of heated debate about the most ridiculous of things. The fact that they appear to be having about three conversations in parallel, certainly isn’t helping.
It’s all incredibly chaotic, even more so than usual when they hung out in the larger group, which is almost impressive considering it’s clearly Peem’s presence that is bringing out his friends’ most chaotic sides, despite seeming the calmest amongst their lot.
Phum also can’t seem to take his eyes off him. He’s mostly gotten over how ridiculously pretty Peem is, only to promptly get stuck on how brightly joyful, how sweetly caring he is with his constant inquiries about this or that in his friends’ lives that Phum had no idea was going on at all. Watching him feels kind of like staring right at the sun. Although that comparison doesn’t quite ring true. No risk of getting your retinas burned out from watching Peem too long.
Peem’s presence is… soothing, somehow. Calming. Relaxing. Not reducing his friends’ general chaos in the least but also like his mere presence is easing their edges somehow. Q’s churlishness, Chain’s quiet, Pun’s head-in-the-clouds absentmindedness, Tan’s boundless energy, somehow less jarring, not making his friends less of themselves but like Peem is what they were missing to, somehow, make them fit perfectly.
Drawing everyone in. Like gravity. Like the soothing ebb and flow of the ocean. Like waves drawing you in further and ever further, away from shore but all the safer for it, into the ocean’s inescapable embrace.
…and, damn, Phum has clearly had too much to drink if his inner thoughts have reached that level of poetic imagery.
Then again, they’ve been at it for a few hours by now and almost everyone is well on their way to being drunk to the point of being unable to walk in a straight line.
“Gods, I miss having you here,” Chain groans after another story about their shenanigans this past semester concludes. This time about all of them getting together to help Pun with a survey he had to conduct on random people in the city for one of his classes.
By the sound of it, they were only semi-successful, considering that Chain was almost robbed by one of the people he was trying to talk into taking the survey, Tan got so lost in the shopping district they were conducting the survey in, it took him nearly an hour to find his way back to their stand, and Q made three separate people cry onto their survey sheets as he glared them into filling them out, their answers having to be disqualified due to illegibility of their writing.
“Yes,” Tan groans in immediate agreement, “I’ll finally be able to avoid being Chain’s anatomy figure, whenever he freaks out about an exam and supposedly not knowing the material he’s known by heart since sometime around kindergarten. He’s been entirely losing it, Peem. It’s been cutting into my time with my, baaabe,” he whines.
“Oy,” Pun protests. “You’re one to talk! Q and I almost ruined someone’s car because you needed us to fill in at the garage while you finished that assignment you had procrastinated until the day before the deadline.”
Q snorts in derisive agreement.
“You don’t get to talk either, Q,” Chain promptly interjects. “If I never have to go to another crafts shop to pick up paint, only to have you scold me like a five-year-old for not knowing the entirely insignificant difference between purple and violet, it’ll be too soon.”
Peem is grinning, bright and happy and clearly beyond entertained, radiating fondness for his friends, all of them grinning right alongside him.
Phum can’t help but think that some of the things he found a little strange about these friends make a little more sense now.
The way Tan’s other friend group has been so insistently sticking together, uncompromising about their closeness, always knowing exactly what is going on in each others’ lives, randomly disappearing for hours or even days on end in order to help each other out with coursework or anything else where they might require help, without being asked, without even questioning whether they will make time to help out. The willingness to help isn’t surprising, but doing so without being asked? It fits neither with what he knows about Tan nor with what Phum has seen of Q so far.
It’s almost like… they were all kind of filling in for someone else. Someone who they are used to being there. Someone whose exact shape in their lives they are so familiar with it was natural for them to fill that space in his absence, in clear anticipation of that someone slotting right back into that very space the moment he came back. Like they were waiting.
Phum wonders what it must be like to be so good of a friend that other people will do their damndest to fill the gap your absence might leave, even temporarily, if only to keep that space open for you, to ensure you can slide right back into place when you return. What must it be like to be so sure of your place with your friends that you never once doubt your welcome, no matter how long you might have been gone.
It’s ridiculous. And beyond enviable. But it also makes their entire group make a little more sense.
People from different faculties rarely manage to keep up close friendships, much less as close as theirs, but maybe Tan was right. Maybe meeting Peem does make things make sense, to see the way all of them circle around him. Like he is their center. Their focal point. The home and family they chose and are hellbent on never having to go without.
Mind languid from alcohol, sitting amongst his own friends and rather entertained from watching the sheer chaos that is Tan’s childhood friends, Phum admits to himself that, maybe, part of his ‘dislike’ for Peem, was merely the fear of things changing once he returned. That Tan’s other friends would see no need for Phum’s group anymore once they had their ever-so-missed friend back. Which clearly isn’t the case at all. Rather the opposite. Phum is starting to suspect that the reason this tightly-knit friend group is so open to new additions might be the very guy he decided to dislike before ever meeting him.
He watches, happily mesmerized, as Peem throws his head back, leaning halfway against a grinning Q’s shoulder, Pun tugging at Peem’s arm as he drunkenly protests some story Tan is telling, both of them shouting their version of events over each other, Chain leaning back in his chair and shaking his head in fond amusement, all of their eyes on the one in their midst, Peem, laughing freely, eyes sparkling in honest humor, grin broad and open and inviting everyone around to join in on his hilarity.
So damn pretty.
Almost as if hearing Phum’s thoughts, Peem’s eyes somehow find his, catch there for a moment, glowing with warm amusement and bright joy. It feels like pure warmth radiating through him as he watches Peem’s eyes curve a little more, a little warmer, a little more welcoming, eyes on Phum.
And Phum feels it. Feels himself being caught. Right that moment. Right there.
Oh, Phum thinks, staring back, holds Peem’s gaze, watching the most endearing blush suffuse Peem’s features as Phum keeps staring, doesn’t look away, isn’t even trying to. Oh, no.
It’s not like he can say he hadn’t been warned, but…
Turns out, that thing with everyone equating Peem to literal sunshine? Might have been perfectly justified after all.