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Breathe in. Breathe out. Don’t smash that piece of shit’s face into the table. Nahkin should stop watching his sweet beta’s break up but he can’t. He’s supposed to be across town handling a meeting with Nahkun but this was personal. His best friend and if he could find a way, mate, was at the table at the end of the row Ongsa’s back to him. The bastard across from the beta is sporting a smug smirk; he just wants to skin it right off. But he also has to keep his distance.
Nakhun would approve while Ongsa wouldn’t. It just wasn’t his nature. The beta was his best friend he’d made in his first year in university. It didn’t take him long to realize that he’d become smitten with the adorable man. He hadn’t meant to keep his affection to himself but Ongsa had met Cole. So he’d focused on being the friend that Ongsa needed. They focused on their chosen majors. His of course had its darker side but he was fine with that. It didn’t interfere for the most part with whom he cared for. Ongsa was kind, generous, and warm. He didn’t deserve to be dumped the evening before his cafe opening.
“Don’t be upset, you knew-“ Cole patronizingly started to tell Ongsa how to behave.
“I’m not.” Ongsa sat back, releasing a shaky breath. Nakhin knew it was a lie. He’d spent the last four years obsessed with his friend. Cole looked like he was about to speak but the waiter arrived. “I know you.” My happiness was too bright for you. You always have to ruin it. Ongsa thought as he thought about how he’d been so hopeful till he’d gotten here first then waited almost two hours for Cole to arrive freshly showered but still reeking of the omega he’d slept with.
“Is everything tasting alright?”
“No, but it’s not the cook’s fault.” Ongsa quickly answered, he felt like he was going to vomit. He hated that he felt like this and that this was happening. If anything he wished he’d listened to Phatsa and Nakhin. He could count on all the times that Cole had let him down before. Ongsa barely understood what he’d seen in the alpha to have stayed with him this long. Of course it made sense when they were in college. He was a doe eyed freshman from the culinary arts faculty while Cole was from business but not like Nakhin - his being international. If he really looked deep he knew something was wrong with them. They hadn’t been a good fit for months, ever since he’d started working on opening his cafe. His dream. The one that he understood now wasn’t the issue between them. He’d stupidly thought it was jealousy for he was spending so much time working but now it was a deflection from the fact that Cole had been the one cheating. “Check please?”
”Of course.” The waiter didn’t bother to wait for Cole to respond which made him want to tip them more.
“You’re paying the bill.”
“Really you’re sticking me with the bill? You didn’t even eat anything…UGH!” Cole glared at him as he growled in frustration, “See, you sound just like him!” Cole glared at Ongsa, “This is why we could never work! You’ve changed since you started consulting him on your caf-“
”Don’t deflect. You cheated on me and marked him.” Ongsa stopped him, jaw tightening. He hated that it bothered him while also relieved? Ongsa had wanted for so long to have Cole mark him but now he was glad that he hadn’t been. How painful it would be to have been marked only to have to break the bond so that he wouldn’t be stuck with mate seeking syndrome as he would have been abandoned for the omega Cole had met. “As for the bill, that’s the least you can do. You’ll find all the things you left at your new home, the dumpster.” Ongsa stood up, maneuvering to put his chair back under the table while the alpha looked at him in shock at what had come out of his mouth.
“Don’t ever contact me again.” Ongsa looked the alpha in the eye before leaving the table. He made sure not to run as much as his heart told him too so he could properly just feel what had happened to him. He fished his phone out of his pocket, texting Nakhin before calling Phatsa.
At the other end in his booth, Nakhin looked down to find a text from Ongsa asking if he could come over after his meeting. A small fond smirk spread across his lips.
“You didn’t come.’ Nakhin winced as the words left his brother’s mouth. Thankfully he wasn’t face to face but that didn't mean he didn’t know that there was a frown on Nakhun’s face. It would make him the tiniest of remorseful however, it was for a good cause. Ongsa was worth his brother being able to handle a meeting by himself. Especially a meeting that always resulted in their favor.
”I made sure that you had the help that you needed.” Nakhin gave back as he got the food he’d ordered for his boy. Damn it smelled good and it would smell better with the notes of joy in the air as Ongsa ate it with him. He locked his car then headed to the lift. He nodded to the guard that held the elevator open for him. “Hia, don’t stress. It’s over with anyways and you can go home to relax.”
”Our life doesn’t allow for it.” Nakhun grunted, all broody like an angsty teen.
“Father is the one that doesn’t allow it. There's a difference. You’re everything he isn’t and he hates that. Mother raised us well.” Nakhin praised his mother and eldest brother as they deserve.
“Are you staying at your condo tonight?” Nakhun responded after a moment of silence as the lift rose to take him to the mentioned condo.
“Yes.” Nakhin wouldn’t lie to him and he was sure his brother had realized why he wasn’t there. He knew Nakhun wouldn’t hate him for wanting something for himself.
“Don’t be late tomorrow morning.” Nakhun told him before hanging up. Nakhin hadn’t forgotten about the meeting in the morning but he wasn’t about to call it an early night when he wanted to curl up to Ongsa. The doors opened to the lift taking him to his condo. There outside were two more guards that bowed their heads respectfully before one of them went to open the front door for him.
“The food has arrived, sw-good sir!” Nakhin caught himself for be started calling Ongsa what he always called him in his mind. He hoped the heat he felt on his cheeks didn’t show.
“OH, SHIA!” Ongsa started from the couch. He had been lost to the random movie that’d been playing while drinking the beer that Nakhin had in the fridge. Thankfully he caught the bottle but not before it spilled all over him. “Shit!”
“Oh, it’s okay.” Nakhin laughed heartily, tilting his head towards his bedroom. “I’ll plate this while you grab one of my shirts.”
“Thanks. I have no idea why I got worked up.” Ongsa flushed, setting the bottle on the coffee table as he got up. He pulled the hem of his button down out of his jeans where he had them tucked in before unbuttoning it on his way to the alpha’s bedroom. His heart fluttered at the offer. Something that’d never changed the whole time he'd been friends with Nakhin. Maybe it was pure selfishness that he enjoyed the way that it seemed Nakhin tenderly took care of him. Ongsa didn’t know how he would have gotten through college otherwise.
Stepping into the alpha’s bedroom made Ongsa feel safe and he’d never tell Nakhin but also…wanted. Like he was allowed to be everywhere in his life. A feeling he’d never had with Cole. It had been walking on egg shells. Cole’s den hadn’t ever really been open to him now that he thought of it. Stopping in the middle of the room, Ongsa rubbed his face. There was no use nor real reason to compare. Cole could never match up to his best friend. He took a deep breath, smelling how fragrant Nakhin’s scent was here. He let himself just enjoy not being tossed out, not that Nakhin would do that. Before focusing on grabbing a shirt to borrow and getting out of his jeans. He didn’t have to look too far as Nakhin had left one of his night tanks on the arm of the chaise at the foot of the bed.
Ongsa grabbed the tank, laying his own for a moment on the chaise. He was swimming in it with his sides on his display. He wasn’t cold so it didn’t matter. He took off his jeans as well. After a few quick steps he went to Nakhin’s bathroom to toss his clothes in the hamper. He would just stay the night tonight then grab them the next time he came over.
“Hey, everything alright?” Nakhin asked when Ongsa finally came out of his room. He was setting their plates at the table. He glanced up to find the beta in ihs nightshirt which made him pause midway from putting his plate down. Swallowing hard as his heart started to race as his gaze burned the sight to memory. The tank’s hem left only a sliver of Onga’s boxers, leaving his gorgeous legs on display. Unmarked thighs calling to his inner alpha. He swallowed once more as Ongsa flushed beautifully, rubbing his head sheepishly as he approached the table.
“Yeah, sorry. This smells delicious.” Ongsa giggled, a bit embarrassed that he’d felt something very new at the way he could have sworn Nakhin’s gaze darkened when he’d been looked over. He rubbed his head sheepishly as he plopped down in the seat with the plate that was meant for him. His stomach growling the moment he settled properly in his seat.
“Don’t apologize for being hungry.” Nakhin waved that away, reeling in his inner alpha that was clawing at the chance to satisfy both their hunger. He sat down across from him, smiling warmly at him.
“So good.” Ongsa took a bite first, humming with happiness. He tried to push down how there was butterflies in his chest. There was something different about tonight. Nakhin always took care of him but tonight, he felt there was something else blooming. One that had him speak the reason why he’d reached out, tonight of all nights instead of another time.
“Hin, I need to tell you something.” Ongsa set his pizza slice down. He moved to sit a bit straighter. “Cole and I…we broke up.”
Nakhin had gotten a little distracted by the smudge of marinara on Ongsa’s chin; he nearly missed him telling what he already knew. He sat his fork down, “I’m sorry, but I’m glad. You deserve to have someone treat you the way you deserve. You’re a beautiful, thoughtful, and talented man. He didn’t deserve you or your goodness.”
“Thanks.” Ongsa couldn’t help but smile. A warmth settled in his chest. He was supposed to be feeling sad right? He’d just lost his boyfriend of five years the night before his cafe opened. But that feeling wouldn’t come. He was here in Nakhin’s condo eating food he actually wanted to eat with Nakhin. Ongsa licked his lips only to find Nakhin’s dark eyes tracking the movement. His lips parted as Nakhin reached across the table, cupping Ongsa’s chin while using his thumb to swipe what had to be pizza sauce off. The touch had been done before but this time it felt different; he didn’t want it to go away.
“I need to be honest with you about something I’ve carried for a long time, I want you to honestly think about it before you give an answer.” Nakhin spoke, his heart pounding in his chest as he decided that this was the moment he would speak his truth about his feelings towards Ongsa. Dropping his hand, he brought the sauce to his lips, licking the sauce off. He could smell the shift from confused to curious in the other’s faint scent paired with the expression on Ongsa’s face. -"I can just be your friend if that is what you need and want from me or I can be your boyfriend that supports your dreams and will spend the rest of his life loving you the way you deserve. If it’s the former, I understand that I…"
Everything slotted into place in Ongsa’s mind as he realized what his butterflies meant in his chest. They were different from the constant swarm in his gut with Cole. He found that he was willing to take a chance with Nakhin. The years of friendship wouldn’t be ruined; it just meant they were stronger no matter the outcome. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Nakhin tilted his head. He was hopeful that Ongsa would give him a chance to love him fully the way he wanted.
“You’re my best friend, Hin.” Ongsa leaned forward a bit. He licked his lips once more, this time shyly to explain. “I don’t want to ruin us but I do want to try…us.” He slowly reached over to rest his hand over top of the alpha’s.
‘Sweetheart, that’s all I want.” Nakhin turned his hand over to the other’s to bring up so he could press a feather light kiss to the beta’s knuckles.