Technic's not in his bed when Kengkla wakes from his cot on the floor. A glance at the clock on the nightstand tells him it's 10 o'clock, and he presses his face into the pillow in annoyance. He had Techno almost begging for it last night when Technic showed up. Kengkla wanted to strangle his friend when he came back, but Technic wasn't too happy either, considering his date canceled last minute. In a way, Kengkla felt pleased about it. If he couldn't get what he wanted, then neither should Technic.

The night ended with two frustrated friends watching television until they went to bed. Techno never left his room once. When curiosity got the best of him, Kengkla even convinced Technic to open his brother's door, but it was locked. There was no answer when they knocked either. It was driving Kengkla crazy. Everything was supposed to be fine now. But perhaps he underestimated things.

Groaning into the pillow, he begins plotting his next actions. Something had to be done. Ideas swirled around his head until the sound of a knock brings him to full alertness. When he picks up his head, his eyes dart to the door, but it's only Technic.

He ignores Kengkla and steps over him on the floor toward the other side of the room. "Before you even ask, my brother already left," Technic announces, sitting down at his desk,

"Where?" Kengkla asks without a beat.

Technic shrugs. "I don't know. He was gone when I woke up," He answers with a yawn.

Kengkla frowns and points at the cellphone on Technic's desk. "Find out," He orders.

Normally, Technic would argue with him a few minutes before giving in, but he grabs his phone and sighs. "Fine. I'll ask."

Grinning in satisfaction, Kengkla gets to his feet and walks over to the bed, sitting down adjacent to the desk. Before Technic starts swiping the screen, he glances at Kengkla's injured hand and shakes his head. "I still can't believe you did that," He mutters.

Kengkla ignores his comment, and when there's ringing from Technic's phone, he whispers, "Speakerphone" and leans forward.

Technic turns it on and holds the phone out, turning his chair to the bed. "Ai' Nic?" Techno asks on the other line, and Kengkla smiles at the sound of his voice.

"P'No, where are you?" Technic asks while glaring at his friend.

There's a noise in the background that sounds like someone else talking and cars passing. "Hold on," Techno answers, and Kengkla can feel the beginnings of anger. Someone else is with Techno, someone important enough to ignore his own brother.

For a second, there's muffled chatter. "It's just my brother, Ai' Type," Techno says away from the phone. There's a surge of darkness in Kengkla chest, a spill of jealousy that boils over. This Type person is really starting to get on his nerves. His hands curl to fists at his thighs.

"I don't know. Let me find out. Damn, Ai' impatient," Techno says to who Kengkla can assume is Type.

"P'No," Technic snaps.

Techno lets out an annoyed groan. "Okay," He sighs, dragging out the word. "What do you want, Ai' Nic?"

Kengkla loses his patience and shoves at Technic's leg as if signaling him to move on. And Technic just rolls his eyes, used to his friend's antics. "P'No, I asked where you were," Technic repeats.

There's someone else making comments on the other line, but he can't make out the words before Techno speaks again. "Why are you being like this?" He starts, frustration clear in his tone. "I'm picking up Ai' Type at his place. Why do you care? Writing a book?"

Kengkla can feel his jaw set. Techno would rather go to his friend's house than spend time with you, his mind offers. He feels so tangled on self-deprecation and jealousy at once that he can't even look at Technic, staring at the phone instead.

"No," Technic assures, and he must be able to sense Kengkla's attitude because he cuts to the chase. "I'm just wondering, you know? What are you and P'Type doing today?"

Techno snorts. "Going to the mall," He answers. "If there's nothing else for your report, I'm hanging up." And before Technic can say anything else, there's a click on the other end, and the dial tone sounds.

He still can't meet Technic's eyes, watching him lock his phone and place it back on the desk. "No," Technic says suddenly, and Kengkla looks up to meet his friend's gaze. It's almost as if Technic he can read his mind by now.

"What if there's something in it for you?" Kengkla offers.

Technic scratches his chin like he's considering and glances at his phone. He reaches over to click it on and begins to type a message. "What do you have in mind?" He asks, leaning back in his chair as he texts.

Kengkla hums in thought. "What about," He pauses mid-sentence. "You can ditch when we get there and take my car?"

"I like it, but how will you get back?" Technic replies with a smile, still typing on the phone.

"P'No can give me a ride back," Kengkla answers immediately. He's thought this over, of course. Ever since Techno bought the motorbike, Kengkla's always wondered what it would be like to ride with Techno. This was the perfect excuse.

Technic rolls his eyes. "He probably will. P'No is so stupid to think you're innocent," He says, shaking his head.

Though part of Kengkla agrees that Techno's far too naive for his own good, he still feels annoyed each time Technic called him names. "He's not stupid. Don't call him that," He snaps and stares at Technic until the other looks up from his phone. Technic raises a brow at him and holds out his phone, showing a text conversation.

Nic: which mall are you going to

Techno: Siam mall why

Nic: just wondering

Kengkla smiles down at the phone, and Technic pulls it back, looking up at him with a knowing grin. "What was that about P'No not being stupid?"

"He's just trusting," Kengkla argues, standing up from the bed to grab his backpack off the floor. "Now get ready, so they don't leave before we get there."

"Fine," Technic bites back, texting on his phone. Kengkla ignores him, sorting through clothes in his backpack, trying to decide what to wear. He wonders briefly what Techno is wearing and smiles to himself, knowing he will soon find out

...

Thank you all again for the lovely comments <3 

And for 3k+ views! I am seriously honored. Let me know what you think or would like to see in this story. I have most of it planned but up to some suggestions. 

Sorry if this one seemed boring. Just setting the stage.