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Ai'Q arched his brows as a way to greet me before spreading his flirtatious smile. Were you arguing with your partner or not? He greeted the P's before we asked to go sit by the waterfall. Hehe, just a fake one.

"What do you want to eat?" I asked Q.

"Somtam, duck stir fry, sticky rice, and tom yum."

"Dumbass, this is a coffee shop" I laughed and slapped his head while he sat looking at the menu. Always fooling around, this jerk.

"How does this taste like?" He pointed at a picture of an iced mocha. Hmm, personally, I like lattes more, but the mocha taste is softer if you're into the combination of coffee and chocolate. Normally Q drinks strong espresso, so unusual today.

Q is a regular customer here so he's close with the P's here too. We've been friends for years so I don't know how many thousands of times he's been here. The same goes for the other 3 guys.

"I don't know, just order your usual"

"Speak nicely to your customer or else I'll tell the manager to fire you"

"Too bad, I'm the owner's nephew." I like hanging out at the shop, sitting and drawing in a corner. Sometimes I brought my laptop to work on my reports. As for helping out, I don't do much. I once tried to brew coffee, but it was awful. Licking a rock would have tasted better.

So I helped with cleaning tables instead, serving a bit, and welcoming customers. Even though the P's in the shop said that just having me around was enough motivation for everyone. I don't know if that's genuine or if there was some hidden meaning, like just sit there and don't interfere.

"Ok, I'll take this one."

"That's it? Try this cake too. P'Aom made a recipe so try it"

"You paying?"

"Uh, so many questions." I took the menu back from Q and smacked him with it. As if you ever paid. Q gets to eat free all the time. I mean, who would take money from the dear friend of the owner's nephew?

"My beautiful P'Ning! Can I have an iced mocha without whipped cream, an orange cake, and..."

"A hot latte right?"

"Exactly! You understand me so well. If it weren't for the fact that you're already engaged, I'd court you"

"What a sweet talker, Peem. Playboy like you aren't my type."

"Ao, a playboy who? Peem is sincere, P" P'Ning smiled at me before going over to the coffee machine. P'Ning is a very good barista. Each cup of latte art she made came from the heart. As for P'Aom's baking skills, it's incomparable because she is good at both Western and Thai desserts.

"Oh hey, Nong Peem! When did you arrive?"

"I've been here for a long time. I'm disappointed that you didn't see me"

"Oh, Nong Peem. I was busy serving customers outside. Did Thaen come?"

"Ai'Nan!" P'Ning called with a harsh voice, but P'Nan just smiled mischievously at me. P'Nan is fond of Thaen, every time we came to the shop these two would tease each other. It was just playful banter because P'Nan already had a boyfriend. I guess she finds him adorable and funny, but if Thaen brought his lover here, I bet she would turn to like Fang instead, haha.

"Thaen didn't come. Only that guy over there" I leaned against the counter, pointing with my chin towards the direction of Q sitting, who was talking on the phone with a tense face outside. Right now, he looked almost like he was about to stick his head into the phone, yelling at the receiver. Who was he talking to?

"Cool, god-like handsome like Q isn't my type. I prefer someone cute and innocent like Thaen" She laughed and walked into the back of the shop.

"Here you go. Hot latte, iced mocha, and orange cake for Nong Peem"

"Thank you P. I'll come to help you after I'm done eating"

"Take it easy, Nong Peem. You don't have to help."

"Here" I placed the coffee cup and cake plate down. Q looked up and nodded, then continued talking on the phone. I pursed my lips and asked if he was talking to P'Jen. He made a small agreeing noise in his throat.

"What girls, Jen? I'm with my friend" Q said.

"Hey, I already said that much, you should believe me, don't start a fight now"

"I'm with Peem, can't you hear him?" I raised my head from the fragrant latte and looked because I heard my name in the conversation. Q's face scrunched up, and I just sat there listening. I can't even solve my problems, how could I find a brain to help a friend solve theirs?

"If Q is not good, why does Jen endure it? Why don't you go find someone better?"

"Q didn't go after anyone, hey, don't cry" It's getting more and more dramatic as the conversation goes. Q's started to lose his patience. It seemed like the girl was about to act pitiful. In the end, bad guys like him would lose to women's tears after all. I felt sorry for Jen, has to endure so much pain just to be with Q.

Jen should have realized that what she was holding onto was fire; she knew it was hot, she knew it was dangerous, and she should let go. Choosing to love herself instead would be better. It might not be easy, but it shouldn't be beyond human capabilities.

People had built spacecraft, which were much more difficult than this. Just stop loving someone who doesn't love you back shouldn't be that hard. It just requires determination and a little more time.

"Jen, stop crying. Ok, I'll go see you right now. Alright?" Q hung up that phone and sighed heavily. He emptied half the cup of water I brought. Is it hot or your throat is dry?

"How was it?"

"Break up!!! I'm going to tell Jen it's over today. Damn, I'm so fed up. I'll date a guy instead!"

"Fuck, what the hell are you saying?"

"Why? Thaen and Fang can date each other. You don't know anything Peem. You think we're a bunch of lady killers but compared to Fang, we're just like ants. And now what? Even he ended up dating Thaen." Don't you joke around like that, Q. Watch out, karma will come to bite you, buddy.

"Then whose wife will you be? Mine? Hahaha!" He looked at me with disapproval.

"Like I would ever lower myself to be someone's wife. Another thing is, don't be angry. You may have a cute face, but you are the last creature on earth that I would think of mating with, haha."

Never had I ever felt as speechless as I am now. That Q guy is known for not caring about others' feelings. He was still teasing me with a mouth full of cake. You change moods so quickly, you motherfucker.

"Q, what do you think about Thaen's problem?" I suddenly wanted to know, but I was afraid at the same time. I wanted to know how Q was processing all of this.

"Think about what? About dating Fang?"

"Uhm"

"I'm shocked, of course. You're close with Thaen right? I'm close to both of them. Fuck it, just the other day I saw them drinking and fooling around with girls, running and kicking together. Then the next day, they came and announced that they were dating. Heck, I wanted to punch their faces"

"So...you're angry?"

"Of course I'm angry! I'm angry that Thaen chose Fang over you"

"Fuck you, Q"

"Haha, it's okay. I'll find you a better man." Q laughed, slapping the table, then sipped his mocha with a triumphant expression. The old saying is not to mess with crazy people, so I had to tell myself not to kick him in the face.

"What if...one day I became like Thaen, what would you say?"

"You mean have a boyfriend?"

"Something like that"

"That's the ultimate determination in my life. Go ahead! I'll support you! Haha, let me introduce you to Phum." I almost spit the latte through the nose. Why must it always be Phum? Ai'Q, did you read my mind?

"You ass, anyway. So are you going to break up with your girlfriend during the Loy Krathong festival?" And the award for the best topic changer goes to Khun Peem - the number one player in the Chao Phraya river basin.

"Oh good, perfect Thai style. Hey Peem, I have a question to ask too. I've been wondering for a while. Do you not like Phum?"

Pfft!!! This time the latte spurts out through both my mouth and nose.

"Hey! What's wrong with you? Just asking that and you spitted latte on my face"

"Why do you ask that?" He shrugged.

"Well, when you meet Phum, you suddenly get all quiet, and your face frowns. Why? Or is it a love at first sight thing?"

"Damn it, what the fuck are you talking about? I-I'm normal." It's not that I don't like him, I do like him!

"Who said you're not normal? At most, you're just mildly crazy"

"If I'm mildly crazy, then you are psychotic"

"Uh, it's okay if there's nothing, but anyway, we're all friends. Phum didn't do anything to you... or did he?" Q narrowed his eyes and leaned across the table. I started to fidget. Ahhh, I want to cry!

"Nothing. We've just met, so there's not much to talk about."

"Yeah, true"

"Uh, wait here Q. I need to pee, be right back" I didn't need to pee, I just wanted to avoid facing Q. Damn, he hit the nail on the head with that question. I went to chat with the P's at the back for a bit then came back to find him holding my phone.

"Peem, someone called just now"

"Who?"

"I don't know. I saw you named it "Boss". I picked up but the other line was quiet.

"Hah??" Damn it, boss is Ai'Phum! He didn't force me to save his name as boss, but he did it himself. Even if I delete it, he'll just change it again so I just let it be. As for what he's saved my name as, if anyone could hack through the iPhone's passcode and find out, don't forget to let me know.

"What are you surprised about?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just that he happens to be the older brother of my cousin's wife, my uncle's son-in-law." There were about 300 question marks on Q's face.

"I'll make a quick call then. You go ahead and finish your cake." I hurriedly ran to the back of the shop, found a quiet corner, and dialed the most recent number, with a heart pounding nervously. Why am I so nervous? It's just a phone call. You've slept in the same bed with him before, Peem.

After waiting for the signal sound 3 or 4 times, a grumpy, fierce voice greeted me.

(Why didn't you pick up my call earlier?)

"I went to the bathroom. What is it?"

(If there's nothing, the boss can't call his servant?) I think I know what he saved my name as.

"Uh, then is there anything you need, boss?"

(Very good)

"Fucking Phum, are you so free? Go spend time with your wife and kid instead." It's better than coming to mess with my head and making my heart race for no reason.

(Huh huh)

"What's so funny? I'm not a place to relieve your stress"

(You lied to me)

"About what?" This guy, changing subjects so suddenly. Gosh, I can't keep up with his mood swings.

(About you not knowing how to drive) Fuck, I thought he forgot.

"Well, I, I didn't mean to. But did you just realize it now?" I switched to be the attacker. Phum knew about this since yesterday, but he's just now claiming it.

(You're not going to get away with that)

"Uh, I know"

".........." Silence.

(...........) He's silent too.

(Class ended, why aren't you at my place?) Once again, he spoke some things that made no sense whatsoever. He spoke without any filter, just bluntly. Whatever came to his mind, he said it. I'm so confused.

"Ao, how was I supposed to know? You didn't tell me anything"

(Just this much and you need to be told? Can't you figure it out yourself? It's your responsibility) His tone was no longer aggressive, but it was replaced with an annoying, nerve-wracking voice.

"Okay, tomorrow I'll make up for it. Satisfied?"

(Don't just talk the talk) I won't, big boss.

".........." I was quiet.

(..........) He was quiet too.

(Why are you so quiet?)

"What about you, you're silent, too"

(Nothing else to say)

"Then why don't you hang up? Do you have prepaid phone cards lying around?" I secretly smiled, thinking of Phum's face right now, probably with furrowed brows and a clenched jaw, itching to slap me for talking back.

(No, but I don't want to hang up yet) And it's gone!! The heart of Peem had gone to Phum and fell head over heels for him. Even if the sentence was said unintentionally, but I'd like to think it has some meaning.

"Phum" I've made my decision. Keeping my feelings inside doesn't do me better. Now that I know myself, I'd like to take a chance just once. I, Peem, will confess my feelings to you, Phum.

(What is it?)

"Want to come over for some coffee at my place?"