"Don't Apple. I don't wanna breathe the same air with people who think the worst of me when in fact they're the ones jumping from one bed to another."
None of them spoke. Apple who was smiling brightly earlier, cleared her throat and smiled meekly at him while Tay just continued eating.
Tay's words agitated him, especially after going MIA on him so instead of refusing Apple's offer, he did the exact opposite.
"Sure. I'd be glad to join you," he replied as he approached them and sat on the seat beside Apple.
The waiter approached them and he placed his order.
Tay never did once look at him and just continued eating.
He rolled his eyes and tried so hard not to kick his legs under the table.
He then fished out his phone from his pocket and texted Earth.
Santi's Restaurant. Be here rn. Or I'll never ever 4give u.
"So, why are you eating out alone?" Apple decided to break the silence.
"Oh, I'm not really alone," he replied.
From the corner of his eyes, he could see that Tay stopped eating and glanced at him.
They stayed silent for quite some time with him casually glancing at Tay who still hadn't given him a single glance.
"Here's your order, Sir," the waiter said as he placed New's order on the table.
"Wow, that's quite a lot."
New chuckled. "They're not just for me."
"Newwie!"
The three of them turned to look at a panting Earth who was entering the restaurant with a wide smile on his face.
"Good evening, Sir," Apple greeted Earth whilst Tay just remained as passive as ever.
"Good evening, everyone," Earth replied as he took the seat beside Tay and wiped the sweat on his forehead.
"I already ordered for you," New said as he stared at Earth hoping he'd get what he wanted to say.
"Thanks."
They started eating in silence. He almost let out a curse as Earth grabbed his plate and sliced the steak for him.
"T-Thanks," he said as Earth handed back his plate.
"So, Mr Vihokratana, how's work?" Earth asked as he looked at Tay who didn't even say a word since the beginning.
"Good, especially that I'm not surrounded with...untrusting people."
New bit his lips as Tay glanced at him while saying the last part of his answer.
"Oh, really? That's good then. It's great having good people in the company. That's why I'll always be thankful for Apple and New. They're such great assets to the company."
"Oh, come on.. We're just doing what's expected of us," Apple chuckled.
"Nah, the company's doing great because of you, great people. And I have to thank you for that, especially New. He had to suffer sleeping in a cheap motel just to accompany me in meeting a client out of the city," Earth chuckled.
New glanced at him and smiled timidly.
"I was just doing what was asked from me, Sir."
"Oh come on. Stop calling me Sir. We're outside of work."
"And how did you end up sleeping in a motel?" Apple asked as she looked at him and Earth alternately.
"Oh, the car broke down and I was tired as hell so I just dragged New to a nearby motel so we could take a rest."
They continued eating in silence and he noticed that Tay would glance at him once in a while.
"The bill please," Earth asked the waiter when they finished eating.
"Here, Sir."
Earth was about to get the bill from the waiter when Tay grabbed it all of a sudden.
"Let me pay for everyone," Tay announced.
"Oh come on, Mr Vihokratana, let me pay for this one," Earth replied.
"No, I'll pay for all of us."
"No, let me."
"No, let me."
"No, let me."
New watched as the two argued about who was gonna pay. He was about to stop them when Apple exclaimed.
"Let me! Stop arguing and just let me pay the bill," she exclaimed as she handed the waiter her card.
_____
Tay groaned when he felt a smack on his head. He looked at Apple who was glaring at him.
"What?"
"Can you get your act together, Tawan?"
"Tss."
"Oh come on. Instead of giving New snide remarks, why don't you prove to him that your feelings are genuine?" Apple said as she leaned back on the passenger seat and crossed her arms.
"I don't want to be with liars and untrusting people."
"But can you blame him?? For Pete's sake Tay, the person got pretty traumatized when you told him you're not into men. Of course, he'd doubt you!" Apple raged.
"Urgh! Stop lecturing me. I really shouldn't have told you about what happened way back in uni."
"Tss. What's done is done. Gosh, I was so excited when you invited me for dinner. Do you even realize how stunned I was when you told me you'd pay me to keep an eye on New??"
"I couldn't think of another one! You're the person who can monitor the people who approach him at work!"
"I didn't know you'd be a coward at things like this."
"What do you expect me to do? I-I'm actually new to this. Girls always confess to me, not the other way around."
"See? Don't act so holy and immaculate. You've been through relationships more than New. And you're doubting him just because you think he had sex with someone else after doing it with you. And see what happened just right now? All your assumptions are wrong! And besides even if he sleeps around, it's none of your concern because first you don't have a clear stand on your relationship so you can't dictate New what he should do or not. Second, you're far way more experienced at it than New and I bet you couldn't even count the number of girls you did it with so you basically have no right to judge him."
"Hey, I admit I had a couple affairs but I'm not that much of a whore."
"Oh really?"
"Well... Urgh! Seriously, I'm starting to regret sharing everything with you!"
"Seriously Tay. Get your act together. If you are really serious about getting New, start working to prove to him that your feelings and intentions are real."
"Fine. Fine. But I still need your help, though."
"Tss. That would be an additional Chanel limited edition bag."
"Fiiiine. Promise, I'm gonna give you your 5 limited edition bags just help me get New."
"And give me back the money I paid for dinner earlier! Gosh, why do I always end up paying when you're with me?!"
_____
"Sooo, what's really with you and Tawan?" Earth asked as they walked towards the parking lot.
New was about to reply when his phone rang.
*Mother calling*
"Mom."
"Finally! What happened, son? I've been calling you but you're unreachable. Where are you right now?"
"I'm outside Mom," he replied as he inserted his hand in his pants.
"Well you better get back to your unit because we've got a lot of things to talk about."
"Wait. What? Don't tell me you're there?" he asked as he fumbled for his keys..
"Yes. And you better prepare your explanation as to why you didn't show up yesterday."
"Something just happened mom. I mean you don't have to go all through the way to the city just to talk about such trivial thing."
"Trivial? When is marriage a trivial thing, New? Hurry up and you better bring Tay."
"I uh, he's busy, mom."
"Oh come on. Don't give me such excuses Thitipoom."
His mother then ended the call. He aggressively scratched the back of his head as if he'd find a better excuse for not showing up yesterday.
"Earth, I have to go. My mom's at my unit and I don't wanna keep her waiting."
"O-Okay. Please take care."
He went inside his car and drove back to his unit.
"Fvck. Let's get this done."
*
"Where's Tay?"
New's mother asked the moment he stepped inside his unit.
"I, I told you he's busy, mom."
"It's way past working hours and he's still busy??"
"Mom, just..." New sighed and grabbed a glass of water.
"So tell me, what happened yesterday? You weren't answering my call. And what's worse was you didn't show up. Do you realize the amount of excuses I had to come up with to our relatives?"
He just stayed silent and grabbed the glass tighter, his nails digging on the hard surface as he listened to his mother's rant.
"So what really happened, New?"
"Mom... I," he sighed deeply.
Maybe it was the best time to tell her the truth so he could finally let go of the burden inside his chest.
"Mom, to be honest, I...uh the truth is...we aren't really in a relationship mom."
He bit his lips as he looked at his mom whose eyebrows were furrowing.
"I, wait what? I don'tâ"
"Tay and I are not together, mom. Everything about us is just a product of misunderstood events!"
"Wait, New. What's with the proposal? He proposed to you, right? Or was it also part of your scheme?"
He approached his mom and grabbed her hands.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I, I got so worked up when you, when you walked in on us in my bedroom. I, I don't want you to think that I've become someone who would sleep with random people because I know you'd lash out at me. I know you'd be disappointed in me. And, and the proposal, it was a misunderstanding mom. I, I tried explaining to you but you didn't give me a chance toâ"
"So it's my fault now??"
"Mom, it's not what I mean, okay? I, I just don't wanna be a disappoinment. I've disappointed you already when I told you I'm gay. I don't wanna disappoint you anymore."
"New, you being who you are would never disappoint me. I love you for who you genuinely are. What disappointed me is the fact that you lied to me. And you know how much I hate liars, New, especially when it's my own son."
"Mom, Iâ"
"I better go."
"Wait mom, I know you're angry but can you please let me send you home."
But his mom just looked at him and he tried so much not to cry as he looked at her disappointed face.
"Tell Tay to visit us one of these days. I want to talk to him, and I know your father would like to talk to him, too. Don't bother sending me home. Your father's gonna come fetch me."
New massaged his temple as his mother went outside his unit.
"Shit."
_____
"New didn't come to work."
Apple reported over the phone.
"Why? Is he sick? Is he okay?"
"How the tf am I supposed to know?? And here's another news. Earth couldn't be seen here, too."
Tay bit his lips as he listened to Apple.
"Fuck, that guy's gonna get it from me someday."
"You should have thought of that before leaving him in shambles. If his trust issues with you even get worse, then you're the one at fault."
"Fine. Fine. I don't need your lectures right now. Call me back if you have more information."
He settled on his chair after ending the call. His father assigned him as COO of their company and he had been so busy coping with everything that he barely had time to check on New.
He heard a knock on his door and his secretary Pluem came inside.
"Sir, these are the reports you need."
"Pluem."
"Yes sir?"
"Have you ever asked for forgiveness from someone you love?"
"I, uh, yes sir."
"What did you do?"
"I, I just asked for it sincerely, Sir. After all, sincerity is the most important thing when you ask for forgiveness."
He drummed his fingers on his table as he bit his lips, looking for ideas on how he should say sorry to New.
"Okay, thank you."
Let's meet after work. I need your help for something.
_____
"What are you doing here?"
New asked as he opened the door of his unit.
Earth handed him a bunch of roses.
He accepted it and opened the door wider.
"Come in."
"What made you come over?" he asked as he they both settled down on the sofa.
"I got worried when I found out you didn't go to work. Are you okay?"
"Well, I just told my mom nothing's really going on between me and Tay."
"Wait, what?! So I was right all this time?"
He looked at Earth and he surely looked delighted upon hearing his confirmation.
"Tss."
"See. I knew it all along. I'm pretty good at observing people."
"Whatever. The thing is my mom's disappointed at me for lying to her."
"Well you can't blame her."
A long stretch of silence dominated them.
"Pack some clothes."
"Huh?"
New got confused at Earth's sudden announcement.
"Pack clothes good for two days. We're going on a trip."
_____
Tay massaged his temple as he went over the company's financial reports.
He was about to call Pluem when his phone beeped.
New's mom already knew the real deal between the two of you. I'm taking New on a trip and you can do nothing about it.
Tay clutched his phone tighter as he stared at the photo of New sitting on the passenger seat.
"Fuck you, Earth."
He immediately dialled Apple's number.
"Take an indefinite leave. We're going on a trip."