Arthit's head snaps up when the door slams open and bangs against the wall, and if he cared about the state of their dorm room at all, he’d be concerned about a possible hole that could have formed there. But he knows what that frustrated door slamming means.

Another bad date.

“Let me guess, he was still in the closet? Or did he make you pay for dinner after ordering two lobsters like that Stud guy?” Arthit muses, throwing his comic to the side.

Kongpob just huffs loudly, undoing his bow tie before lying face first on the bed next to Arthit’s.

“Worse?” Arthit continues, eyeing his best friend amusedly. “This one didn’t try to steal your credit card like that Sam dude did, did he? That was hilarious.”

“Shut up,” Kongpob muffled against his pillow.

“At least give me something to work with here, Kongy. Number or code colour.”

Kongpob doesn’t reply for a few moments, but before Arthit can open his mouth again, he hears a faint mumbling.

“What was that?”

“Eight.”

Arthit whistles. “Not bad—”

“But Code Purple.”

Arthit nearly chokes. “No way.”

Kongpob just buries himself deeper into the pillow and if Arthit wasn’t so distracted by what the tanned boy just said, he’d be worried that Kongpob might be suffocating himself as a means to save himself from the embarrassing situation.

“He initiated you two have sex? On a first date? Wow,” Arthit laughs, barely missing the pillow that was thrown at him.

“It’s not funny! We were barely through appetizers when he cupped me through my jeans and asked if we can fool around in the washroom! In front of the waiter!” Kongpob pushes himself up, covering his face with both hands but Arthit can still see how red his friend’s ears have become. “So we got thrown out! And after that, he said we should go back to my place to do it here instead! He was a pervert!”

Arthit was doing his best not to burst out laughing again, biting his lower lip while his shoulders start to shake. “That’s—What a night,” he manages to get out.

“I hate you,” Kongpob flops back on the bed again. “I must be cursed. Last week, my blind date ended up being in his sixties! I had to help him walk to our table with his cane!”

Arthit finally lets himself laugh, throwing his head back, not even caring when another pillow hit him square in the face this time.

“I hate my life.”

“You just—Oh, man,” Arthit wipes a tear from the corner of his eye. “You just need to get laid.”

“In case you haven’t noticed,” Kongpob glares at him. “I’ve been trying.”

The pale skin boy finally managed to calm himself down, clearing his throat before speaking again. “Just stop trying so hard.”

Kongpob raises an eyebrow at him.

“Have sex with me.”

His friend rolls his eyes, like he does every time he mentions the idea. “You’re no help at all.”

Arthit gets up from his own bed and walks over to Kongpob’s in five small steps, hopping on the mattress then shamelessly straddles his friend with a smirk playing on his lips.

But Kongpob didn’t seemed phased at all, instead staring just as intently back at Arthit.

“When will you finally get through your gel helmet that I’m being serious about my offer,” he drawls, a hand cupping the other’s face.

Kongpob lifts his hands and places them on either side of Arthit’s hips, his thumbs rubbing circles against the cotton of his sweatpants. “Because we had a pact, remember?”

“Screw the pact,” was all Arthit said before lowering his body and brushing their clothed crotches together, causing Kongpob to let out a quiet moan.

“You jerk, don’t,” Kongpob gasps, fisting the other’s shirt. “My date might have been a pervert but I’m still a guy. The ass got me hard while I was enjoying my Ceasar salad.”

Arthit ignores him, leaning down to brush his lips against Kongpob’s ear. “What’s stopping you?” He was about to show Kongpob how convincing he can truly be when a palm presses against his chest and pushes him back.

“You,” Kongpob smiles faintly and Arthit knows what’s coming. “You know what’s stopping me. What’s stopping us.”

He does know. For years now ever since they met and been friends in high school.

Arthit was aloof who treated sex as a leisure activity and viewed committed relationships as a joke and an insult to the bachelor life. While Kongpob was the exact opposite. He wanted something meaningful. He wanted a boyfriend.

So they made a pact. When Kongpob confessed back in their senior year that he’s been harboring a crush on his best friend for years, it took all of  Arthit’s will to say no. Because back then, he couldn’t give what Kongpob was asking from him. Even though he was about seventy percent sure he returned those feelings.

That’s why it was easy for them to do this sort of thing. This back and forth flirting that would go as far as touching beyond second base. Because the pact kept their relationship safe. Kept their friendship intact without the danger of any of their actions meaning anything more.

But as years progressed and they’re now in their junior year of college, Arthit finally realized that that the seventy percent has reached a full one hundred.

That he was in love with his best friend, Kongpob Suthiluck.

“Yeah,” Arthit nods, forcing a grin before climbing off of Kongpob and walking back to his bed.

He regrets nothing more than agreeing to that pact, wishing he could go back in time and knee his seventeen year old self. Because how was Kongpob supposed to take him seriously now? That just because Arthit finally came to terms with his feelings doesn’t mean Kongpob still feels the same. Not after he hurt him back in high school and sent him going on countless of dates.

He’s friend zoned. And according to Em and Wad, there was no escaping that.

God damn it.

“I’m gonna go take a shower,” Kongpob says, getting up and pressing a kiss on the taller’s forehead before heading off to their shared bathroom.

It was Arthit's turn to bury himself in his pillow to prevent himself from running after Kongpob and joining him for a hot shower.

“You said you’d take me to the pet store because they had a scratching post sale!” Bright hissed. “You know Mister Puss needs a new one!”

“And you need to go see a therapist,” Arthit remarks.

“You’re an asshole, you know that? And what the hell are we doing here anyway?” They were in front of some restaurant downtown, apparently waiting for the hostess to show up. “Look, I told you, I’m not even remotely bi-cur—”

“Yeah, yeah, save it for your father,” Arthit nods to the waitress as she leads them to their seats. “You know why we’re here. And don’t flatter yourself, you’re not my type.”

Bright rolls his eyes. “Oh, and who is? Kongpob over there?”

Arthit whips his head to the right and sure enough, Kongpob was there, talking to some random stranger over pasta. He slips the waitress a twenty with a wink.

“You’re pathetic.”

“Shut up. I’m letting you eat dinner for free here,” Arthit peaks from above his menu, eyes on Kongpob and his date. “Just don’t order a milkshake again and get a brain freeze like last time.”

“How many times are you gonna drag me out to Suthiluck’s dates?” Bright looks over his own menu.

“And how many times are you gonna fall for the same pet store sale?”

“Cat toys are expensive!”

“Then I’m sure you can spend some cash on special help.”

Bright throws the salt shaker at him.

After ordering (Bright made sure to order the most expensive thing on the menu again while Arthit just ordered chicken basil or onion soup or whatever it was he asked for), he continues to eye the couple a few feet away from them while Bright incessantly pokes his face with a breadstick.

“Will you knock it off?” Arthit grabs the breadstick and breaks it in half before throwing it back on the other’s plate.

“Remind me again why you two just can’t get your heads out of your asses and ask each other out? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the free food,” Bright asks as he stabs his meatball with a fork.

“I told you—”

“Yeah, yeah, the pact, friendship, blah blah blah,” he shakes his head. “But don’t you think that the risk is easier than sabotaging each and every one of Kongpob's dates? I mean, the guy from date number twelve is probably still trying to get that permanent paint off of him.”

Arthit smirks. “That was a pretty good one.”

“So?”

Arthit finally takes his eyes from the Kongpob and Walmart-Shirt-guy and meets Bright’s eyes across the table. “So. It’s not of your business.”

Bright rolls his eyes.

“Now, time to play.”

Bright was about to ask what the plan is for tonight when Arthit reaches over his plate and grabs one of his gigantic meatballs. “Hey! I was gonna eat—”

Arthit throws it across the restaurant with perfect aim, hitting Kongpob’s date right in the chest, causing the man to fall over to the ground.

“Oh, my God!” Kongpob exclaims, rushing over to his date’s side. “What happened?!”

The guy looks at his chest with a shocked expression. “I don’t know. I think I just got hit with a meatball?!”

Waiters and waitresses head over to their table, apologizing profusely for….flying meatballs hitting them while they’re having their dinner.

Arthit snickers behind his napkin but Bright just glares at him.

“I was gonna eat that!” Bright throws his fork at him. Arthit throws his spoon back.

“Hey!” Bright hits him with his menu.

“Stop hitting me asshole!”

“You took away my meatball!”

“Then just order another one!” Arthit splashes him with water.

Bright stands up immediately, looking ready to kill him.

“You did not,” Bright narrows his eyes and empties his milkshake on Arthit’s head.

“You fucker!”

“Arthit? ….Bright?”

“Oh, shit.” Arthit blinks as Kongpob finally notices them.

“You’re in trouble, man. Good luck and order some cheesecake for take out and send it to my room.” Bright pats Arthit’s arm, dabbing himself dry as he runs out of the restaurant.

Coward, Arthit curses his friend internally before snapping his attention back to Kongpob, who was now standing in front of him with his arms crossed, looking angrier than he’s ever seen him before.

“Hey, Kongy! What a coincidence for us to run into each other at some random restaurant!” Arthit smiles, forcing himself to sound cheerful that in no way affected Kongpob at all.

“Is it? Is that why your hand is covered in spaghetti sauce? From throwing a meatball maybe?” Kongpob accuses him.

“A what! That’s ridiculous! What are you—”

“What are you doing? Sabotaging my date when you know I haven’t had a good one in—Wait.” Kongpob holds a finger up.

Oh, double shit.

“You—”

“Kongpob, look, I know it seems like—”

“You were the one who dropped a bucket of paint on Joss?”

“Alright, you got to give me some credit for that, that was expensive paint from Italy.”

“You were the one who set me up with Nat- Spits-A-Lot-In-My-Face?”

“Okay, that was pretty gross, I’ll admit.”

“You were responsible for that waiter giving me and August food poisoning?!”

“To be fair, I only told the waitress to give you something spicy because I know you hate them, not to poison you.”

“You set me up with that convict that escaped from  prison?!”

“No, that...what? That happened to you?”

“Oh, right, that was Em. But the rest were you? You were the one giving me bad dates and hellish nights with jerks? Is this some sick game that you enjoy doing?” Kongpob shouts at him.

“Kongpob, I’m sorry, I can explain—”

“Don’t bother” Kongpob turns and leaves the restaurant with his now clean date.

Arthit sighs before falling back to his seat, guilt gnawing at him (and milkshake spilling down his face).

Arthit takes a deep breath before pushing the door open, walking inside the dorm room. He had rehearsed his apology in the cab over and over. Deciding to blame it all on Prae maybe, paying him to pull pranks on Kongpob. Or maybe he can say that all those guys had known STDs and he was merely protecting a friend’s health.

Arthit sighs, shrugging off his coat before facing Kongpob who he now just noticed is sitting silently on the bed with his arms on his knees, his gaze on the floor.

“Hey,” Arthit starts. “Listen, Kongpob, I—”

“Is it true?” Kongpob looks up, and even in the dark, his black eyes are visible, glowing as they stare at him.

“What’s true?” Arthit swallows before making his way towards his own bed and taking a seat, so that he’s face to face with the other boy.

Kongpob shakes his head. “Enough. Just tell me.”

“I really don’t know what—”

“That you have feelings for me,” Kongpob whispers.

Arthit’s eyes widen before looking away. “What? Who told you that?” His voice trying to betray what he’s really feeling inside, sounding calm and feigning ignorance about the whole situation.

“Bright told me. Please, stop lying to me, Arthit.” He hears Kongpob get up but was surprised when he’s suddenly being pushed down on the mattress by the shoulders, and before he has a chance to react, Kongpob is straddling his hips. It was suddenly hard to think straight. “Prove to me that you really are my best friend and be honest with me.”

“But isn’t that the problem in the first place?” Arthit finding his voice. “The pact—”

“Screw the pact.”

And then Kongpob’s lips were on his own, kissing him tentatively at first before Arthit responds by opening his mouth, tracing his tongue against Kongpob’s lower lip. The honey skinned boy moans, lowering his body against Arthit’s as the kiss turns more heated.

In all of their flirting, they’ve never gotten this far. Sure, they’ve shared a drunken kiss or two before but nothing like this.

“It’s true,” Arthit breathes against the heat of Kongpob’s mouth, his hands wandering all over the other’s body, pulling him impossibly close. “It’s true. I like you, Kongpob. I want you, I—”

“Me too,” Kongpob groans when Arthit gropes his ass.

“Yeah?”

“I never stopped, you idiot,” Kongpob pulls away, a hair strand of space separating them. “I knew you’d finally come to your senses eventually,” he smiles cheekily before Arthit connects their lips again, biting Kongpob’s lower lip then licking into his mouth, earning an incredible moan in response.

“I can’t believe it took you twenty three dates before noticing there was something going on,” Arthit jokes, which he immediately regrets when Kongpob completely pulls away again.

“Right. You were the cause of my miserable streak of dates.” Kongpob reminds them both, his full blown dark eyes seeming to focus again. "And laughing about them afterwards."

Arthit reaches for him but Kongpob is on his feet already. “I only did that so you can see that no guy is good enough for you! Oh, come on, babe!”

But Kongpob ignores him, purposely swaying his hips side to side provocatively as he walks towards the bathroom.

“I still think you need to be punished. One of the guys you set me up with recited the whole history of linens for four hours.”

“You gotta admit, that was pretty funny.” Arthit’s face was met with a towel.

“For your punishment, you’re gonna hear me jerk myself off in the shower and you can’t join me,” Kongpob wags a finger at him.

Arthit scoffs. “Oh, please, I’ve liked you since we were sophomores a year ago and you’ve jerked yourself in there plenty of times and I resisted joining you every single time. I have amazing self-control.”

“Oh? Well, I always made sure to whisper your name when I came. So I’ll make sure to be as loud as possible this time,” Kongpob throws over his shoulder with a wave before closing the door behind him. Leaving Arthit to bury himself into his pillow once again.