Your Embrace
Title: Your Embrace
Summary: Earn and Pete are best friends. But people change and they just don't understand each other anymore. Then things got a lot worse in one night. An unthinkable action which drove them apart, seeing an end to their friendship. But can they really do without the other? Can they be friends again after years of separation and especially when Pete is in a mess that he can't seem to get out from? Will their feelings change again?
Pairing: EarnxPete
Fandom: Love Sick The Series
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Almost every ex-member of Friday's Band had turned up when Earn finally got to the designated place. A rowdy reunion like always whenever these guys were involve. Even Phun was there with that hateful smile gracing his equally hateful handsome face. Possessive touches here and there on Noh's person announced his claim on the boy. It freaking annoyed him to no end.
But despite that, he had a lot of fun. Earn realized that it was the most fun he had in a while since they graduated, goofing about in the small boxed music studio. It was a wonder how everyone managed to squeeze in as they took turns with the provided instruments, jamming songs like they were a bunch of Rock Superstars. His voice was nearly hoarse from singing but mostly from laughter at their antics. The manager of the place finally banged the door open and barked at them to get lost and to pay more for the extra half hour they had stayed in the room.
Not that they did. As soon as the manager turned to lecture the next group of the importance of keeping to the time limit, they made a break for it laughing like the rascals they all were. Earn thinks that none of them would be showing their faces at this establishment for a really, really long time.
“Oi, let's grab something to eat,” Noh suggested with a pant when they were far enough from the scene of crime.
“Yeah! It'll be our Master Phun's treat!” Film cheered as he high fived the rest of them. Earn smirked gleefully. Oh he was definitely getting the most expensive item in the menu.
“That is a matter of course,” Phun declared with an angelic smile. Excited cheers erupted till the ex-treasurer of the Student Council held up his hand demanding silence before back hugging his boyfriend. “But only my wife's share. The rest of you can become dishwashers if you don't have the money to pay.”
Earn wasn't the only one scowling then as they watched Phun dragging a laughing Noh away. Their crestfallen faces must have been a sight.
“Fucking bastard! Oi! Wait for us!” Ohm yelled hurrying after those two with the rest closely in tow. Since they were all in Siam, most of the eateries were on the expensive scale. The majority in the group were not as well to do as Phun and Noh and let's not even mention Khom's constant whining of how he was at the edge of bankruptcy because of his spanking brand new motorbike. So like a single headed entity, they all headed to the cheapest fast food place available at this somewhat upscale commodity.
The group scattered around the packed fast food joint for seats. Earn's masochistic tendency reared its head as he followed Noh, Phun and Ohm to a table near the middle of the restaurant. They discussed what they wanted to eat as soon as they sat. Well, Just Ohm and him discussed it. Phun obviously knew what Noh wanted without asking and left to buy it. He left with a warning glare directed to Earn who glared right back.
Ohm, who saw the exchange snickered and being the troublemaker that he was, he said this in an unusually quiet whisper for someone who yells at everything. “Give me a treat and I can go buy us our meals.”
There were no contenders. Ohm was officially his new favorite person after Noh. Earn dug out his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and gave him some notes, telling him what he wanted. The guy left with a noisy kiss on the acquired currency and he watched Ohm joined the queue standing right beside Phun who was in another line.
Earn cheered internally seeing how fast Phun's head swerved around when he realized that he wasn't with them. The scowl etched on that face had him bestowing the boy his shittiest grin. Then quiet suddenly, pain bloomed in the middle of his forehead after a resounding 'twack'. Noh had just flicked him with a heated demand. “Stop that!”
“Shiya Noh! That fucking hurts!” Earn complained rubbing the assaulted part of his face. Noh rolled his eyes without a shred of pity.
“You deserve that. Don't fuck around with Phun that way. You're gonna get me into a lot of trouble!” He retorted. Earn frowned. What? Is that bastard abusive? He eyed Noh closely for any signs of injury but found none. The other boy looked hale and hearty except for that hickey which refused to be hidden between the space of his collarbones no matter how high he tugged his shirt. It was ridiculously huge and absurdly red! Fucking lucky bastard.
“Just what will he do?” Earn's curiosity peaked when his worries subsided. The fair skinned boy blushed crimson as he averted his eyes, looking thoroughly embarrassed like he was recalling something. Earn, who always had his mind in the gutters wherever the other boy was involved, chocked on air as he goggled and positively drowned in envy. “Shiya... Phun's a kinky bastard isn't he?”
“What are you on about? Not important anyway. So how have you been?” Noh deflected awkwardly still looking as though he wished the floor would swallow him up for the statement to be untrue. Fuck. Now Earn regretted the stupid question and desperately pushed the images that had popped in his mind like mushrooms after rain.
“Same old same old,” He answered with a shrug. “Just waiting for which University is willing to take me in.”
“I'm guessing that both you and Pete applied to the same ones,” Noh said thoughtfully. Earn shrugged again. That had been the plan initially. Pete had been angling for Business since his dad owns one while Earn had always been interested in Sports Science. Being roommates was an obvious choice too. Like he said, that was the initial plan. They haven't gotten round to discuss it again and it's not like they rightly knew if they even got accepted to the same place.
Earn was about to ask Noh the same question when the other two missing occupants returned with their orders. Conversations stilled for a moment as they all dug in with gusto and slowly they began talking again when their stomachs stopped trying to gnaw out of their bodies. The question of college and their future was not up for discussion though. Simply because Ohm refused to talk about it. Earn agreed with him somewhat. He just wanted to enjoy the now before they all have to face three or four years of non stop studying and internships. In short, he didn't want to think about adulthood when he was at the edge of his teenage life.
“Aww, look what the cat dragged in!” Ohm suddenly exclaimed loudly. Earn looked up from his burger only to be met with familiar hazel eyes. His lips were starting to quirk in a grin when he saw Yuri poking her head from behind Pete's back smiling around at them. His grin faltered and his eyes narrowed with displeasure. He shot up from his seat, nearly toppling the chair he sat in.
“Woah! I didn't know you missed your best friend that much!” Poom who had been the one to bring them in, backed away from being bulldozed. Earn couldn't even summon a respond to the teasing as he seized Pete's wrist and dragged him out of the restaurant. Their other friends who were sitting by the windows nosily stared after them until they turned a corner and out of sight.
“What the hell are you doing?” Earn couldn't help the growl that left his mouth. It was dejavu all over again. Pete looked on at him unimpressed with a frown marring his brows. That totally pissed him off. “Pete, I thought we are already over this. Go find some other girl. You can't touch Yuri, she's Noh's ex!”
His best friend's expression harden into something cold before he laughed a cheerless laughter. Earn just stared at that face. Just what the fuck happened to them? Why couldn't he read his best friend like he used to?
“You really are something Earn.” He huffed quietly shaking his head and broke away from his grip.
“Pete!” Earn's yell was of frustration at not being answered and puzzled at the statement. His best friend just kept on walking away. The sight kept him rooted to the floor. This was the second time Pete had walk away from him. The first time was because of the same issue too. Noh was still sad over the breakup with Yuri at that time but that jerk Pete insensitively asked him about the girl. It riled him up like it did now. They were supposed to be best friend! Just why the hell can't Pete understand that by going out with Yuri, Noh could still feel hurt even if the boy is dating another. “Shiyaa! I'm gonna knock some sense into that blockhead if that is the last thing I do!”
But the two were already leaving the restaurant by the time he got back. Yuri just waved awkwardly to him while Pete just passed him without even a glance. Bastard! He was going to have to deal with him later and trudged back in guiltily. He dropped into his seat and apologized to Noh. “I'm really sorry. I didn't know that Pete is seeing Yuri. I hope that you're not mad.”
“I'm not.” Noh replied simply. Earn was stumped for a second that he stuttered a bit.
“Y... You're not? But why? What happen to friends before hoes?” Earn grew somewhat indignant and scowled when Ohm cackled beside him.
“But we're not all that close are we? You and I are but Pete is your friend,” he shrugged and casually sipped on his soda while Earn goggled at the boy.
“So... so y.. re” Earn stuttered again. Ohm smacked his back while he cackled again. Shit. That freaking hurts! He glared at the bastard beside him who apologized without looking repentant and Earn composed himself before turning back to Noh. “So you really don't mind if Pete is dating your ex?”
“Actually Yuri and I never really dated,” confessed Noh. Earn could only blink in disbelieve and the other boy sighed wearily. “She did have feelings for me and when she started telling everyone that we're dating, I just couldn't refute even if it's not true. I didn't want to embarrass her and things kinda snowballed.”
“But you were so sad when you broke up with her.” He still couldn't believe what he was hearing.
“I cared for her Earn!” Noh sounded really exasperated, his long fingers unconsciously tore a napkin. Phun quietly pried them away from the shreds and threw an arm over his shoulders, tucking the agitated boy into his side. Noh visibly calmed at the touch and continued. “She had a hard time while she was with me because I've never treated her like a real girlfriend. Even though she knew that I didn't like her that way, she still earnestly stayed by my side. I wasn't sad because I had to lose her. I was sad because she lost me who couldn't return her feelings. I felt bad for her. That's why I don't mind anyone dating her. Even if that person is as close to me as you guys are, I won't mind it. As long as that person treats and love her well, I'll be really happy for her.”
“Well I still don't like it. It's not right!” Earn huffed annoyed after a moment of contemplative silence.
“That's not for you to decide Ai'stupid. This is exactly why you guys aren't as close as you used to,” Ohm scoffed and deliberately bumped his shoulders before addressing Phun and Noh as though he wasn't there. “Looks like this fool has forgotten how much he had to beg for them to be friends again and here he is arguing with that other idiot about the same thing.”
“Ai'Ohm, I nearly went broke from buying food and flowers and plants just to get him to talk to me! Of course I didn't forget. I just don't know how to get back to the way we used to!” Earn was literally whining, slumping into his seat and crossed his arms dejectedly. His mood took a gloomier turn when he watched Phun and Noh conversing silently the way lovers do.
“Maybe your friendship is turning to a different direction now.” Phun was the one who finally spoke.
“What does that even mean?” Earn asked utterly confused. Phun rolled his eyes impatiently like whatever he just said should have been obvious.
“I mean just that. Since your friendship isn't as it was, it will either go down the drain or drift to an entirely new territory.”
“I vote for the drain,” Ohm snickered while trying to sneak a fry from Earn's tray. He rewarded him with a smack up his bald head because mostly, he himself thought that it was heading that way too. He pushed his unfinished meal aside where Ohm eagerly devoured. Even his appetite voted for the drain.
Chapter 3
TBC...
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