Chapter Text
Khaotung sat frozen on the couch, the phone still clutched in his hand as if willing it to ring again—maybe his mother would call back and say it was all a joke. But no, that wasn't happening. Instead, he was left staring blankly at the screen, mentally replaying the conversation he just had.
"Do you want to come to my sister’s wedding in three weeks?"
First was still standing in the hallway, arms crossed, his eyebrows raised in mild curiosity. He looked as if he wasn’t sure whether to be amused or concerned.
Khaotung finally met his eyes, willing himself to appear calm despite the growing sense of doom in his stomach. "So… funny story…"
First’s brows shot up even further. "I doubt it."
Khaotung let out a long sigh, rubbing at his temples. "My mom thinks we’re dating."
There was a beat of silence before First let out a short laugh—one of those surprised, breathy ones that came out when he wasn’t sure if something was a joke or not. "Wait, what?"
"I may have… sort of… never corrected her when she assumed we were together." Khaotung winced as he said it, watching for First’s reaction.
First blinked, his expression unreadable for a moment before realization dawned. "How long has she thought this?"
Khaotung hesitated. "Uh. A while?"
"A while," First repeated, voice flat. "And you’re telling me this now because…?"
"Because she wants me to bring my boyfriend—" Khaotung made air quotes, "—to my sister’s wedding. And when I tried to come up with an excuse, she just hung up on me."
First pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. "So let me get this straight. Your mom thinks we’re dating. You never corrected her. And now she expects me to show up at this wedding and… pretend?"
Khaotung nodded hesitantly.
There was another pause before First let out a deep sigh and collapsed onto the couch beside him. "Why didn’t you just tell her the truth?"
Khaotung groaned, flopping back against the cushions. "Because she sounded so excited. And it’s my sister’s wedding! I didn’t want to cause unnecessary drama right before her big day."
First shot him a skeptical look. "So your solution was to create more potential drama?"
Khaotung turned his head, giving him his best pleading look. "I just need you to help me get through this. Just for a weekend. And then after the wedding, I’ll tell her we broke up or something. Easy."
First narrowed his eyes. "You want me to be your fake boyfriend?"
Khaotung nodded again, this time with more enthusiasm. "Just for the wedding. Please?"
First stared at him for a moment before shaking his head with a chuckle. "You’re unbelievable."
"But you’ll do it?"
There was a long pause before First sighed again, but this time there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "Fine. But you owe me."
Khaotung grinned, already feeling the weight on his chest lighten. "You’re the best."
First rolled his eyes. "I swear, if your mom makes me give a speech about our relationship, I’m making you pay for all my drinks that night."
Khaotung laughed, but inside, he had a feeling that this was only the beginning of the mess he’d gotten himself into.