A part of me wanted to lean into the brewing conversation and share memories only him and I could ever really understand. I wasn't quite sure what the smile on his lips and the calm in his eyes represented. Our mutual dislike for each other made it easy not to search for deeper understanding of each other's expression.
"Phi! What do you think you're doing!" Pure dragged our attention away.
"Hiding!" I replied, though the question was not directed at me.
"From who?"
"The ally! She's parading us around like trophies at the Olympics," I complained.
"We aren't trophy gays!" Jaran backed me up with his weak voice.
"Phi Ja you..." she began and hesitated. "Can you walk?"
"Of course he can walk, just a little run, that would've been avoided if you saved us from the damn allies!"
"Nong Ja!" Wut arrived, jittery with heavy concerned eyes. "Why did you—"
"Phi!" Ja cut in, stretching out his hands.
Wut helped him up, throwing Ja's hand over his shoulder and Pure carried the one. Both of them supported him as he struggled to walk.
I huffed, rising from the floor. "Thanks for the help! No worries, I'm good."
I dusted the sand and grass off my trousers and glanced around to make sure the ally was nowhere close before following Wut and Pure behind.
The morning continued with false smiles and unending introductions. I had never been more excited to enter a church. It meant the casual meanderings were over and so was my time with the allies. It was time for a sermon and prayer, an end to the torture.
It was my first time ever in a church. As we stepped in, the choir was already singing rhythmic hymns. It echoed throughout the cathedral, such beautiful and angelic voices. They wore white and golden robes, standing high up behind the altar. I smiled at the view, a sensually pleasing sight. We took our seats, and that's when Nat reappeared. Squeezing himself beside me.
"Where have you been?" I asked.
"Ticking getting head in a church off my bucket list."
"Are you kidding?"
"God no!" He chuckled. "You won't believe how many church boys are on Blued."
He touched his nose, stylishly pointing his finger at a gentleman sitting in the deacon's section.
"No way!"
"Yes way! And he swallowed."
"You're nasty!"
"Shh," an older lady turned around and shushed us.
We bowed in apology, gave it a second, and went right back to mumbling.
Wut, Pure and Ja returned from wherever they had been for an hour, taking the seat in front of Nat and I. We got shushed again, this time by Pure whose stare assassinated us. That was enough to make us obey, pretending to pay attention to whatever the hell the priest was talking about. With my attention finally focused, I began taking notice of the beautifully crafted architectural design of the cathedral.
The curves, the lines, especially the tainted glasses. One in particular caught my eye. It was the way the tinted glass allowed light directly descend on the priest, as if pouring out of heaven. The contrasting color patterns, so well done. I found myself staring at it for most of the sermon. When all was said and done, I took a picture.
As we walked over to our cars, Nat filled my ears with every unnecessary details about his holy blow job. My thoughts remained with the tinted glasses. It had unlocked a door to fresh creativity in me and I was bubbling with ideas. It was the weekend, but more than anything I wanted to be back at the office, designing.
"That went well, didn't it?" Pure said, catching up to us with Wut and Jaran.
I took one look at Jaran and could tell he had recovered from whatever hit him in the garden. His eyes were back to its rich brown color and his skin a healthy pale shade. However, he still appeared very exhausted, dragging his feet along.
"I didn't hate it," Nat replied. "Very... pleasing." He wiggled his brow at me.
"And you, Phi Kit? Are you open to attending marriage counseling with us? It's something Catholics do before marriage."
"I'll pass."
"Come on! It will be fun! Free therapy."
"Nong."
"Pretty please."
"I am exhausted, and I have to get to the office. Let me think about it."
"Why are you going to the office? It's Saturday?" Jaran asked.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm inspired."
"That's good, Sir. Fighting!" Varawut cheered.
I narrowed my eyes at Wut. He was the reason I had to go all the way to the office. "But if I had a home office—"
"See you at home, Khun Kit." Wut bowed, taking Pure's hand and escaping.
I hissed at him.
"Let's go on a double date this weekend? There is this guy that's dying to meet you," Nat announced as we approached his car.
"Not this again, Nat."
"You are wasting away your youth living a sexless life just cause you're scared."
"Oh Buddha."
"I'm just saying. I'm tired of seeing you all mopey... Let's go out. I miss our double dates. Plus, this guy is totally your type, and! He is unbelievably hot."
I sighed, conceding. He had been hounding me for days. "Fine lets..."
"Tell you what..." Jaran cut in. "Rock Paper Scissors. You win, I'll let you move into my office."
It was a random unexpected gesture that threw me off for a few seconds.
"You know what, I don't think it's a good idea to move into that office," Nat said.
"Rock what?" I turned to Jaran.
"Rock paper scissors, the children's game. You don't know it?"
"I know it."
"So, let's play." Jaran held out his hand
"Why are you all of a sudden ok with Kit moving into your office?" Nat folded his arms.
"Do you want this or not?"
"Is this your way of getting back at us? Cause that's kind of lame," Nat continued.
"Ugh." Jaran sighed, turning to leave.
I pulled him back by the arm. "I don't know how."
He rubbed his nose, taming a grin. "No way." He started a mocking laughter.
"Whatever." I turned to leave.
He stopped me, pulling me back gently by the shoulders.
"I'll show you." He slid his hands from my shoulders down to my palm, raising it up. "Two fingers, scissors. Open palm, paper. Fisted hand, rock."
"Ok?"
"Rock crushes scissors, scissors cuts paper, but paper covers rock. You get it?"
I slowly nodded. "I think so."
He let go. "Let's give it a try."
We tried a few times and I kept messing it up. Jaran was patient, showing me how over and over again.
"Ok, ok, I got it." I waved a hand.
"Ready?"
"Yes!" I was enthusiastic.
We played the first round; I got rock and so did he. The second time we both put out two fingers. The third time I did the rock again and he did paper. I leaped with joy, dancing around him.
"I won right? Right!"
"Yes—yes you did." He smiled at me.