There's complete silence for a moment as he follows Kengkla past the fence, tension in the air that he can't quite place; and then Kengkla quickens his pace toward the front door. With a glance at the house, Techno thinks about how his must look in comparison, but Kengkla is over quite a lot, always with Technic studying or playing video games. He wonders why that is when Kengkla says, "My parents aren't home today," and Techno has to convince himself not to retreat.

Kengkla slides his key into the lock, and when he opens the door, Techno doesn't know what he was expecting. But it's a simple entryway, and once they both enter. Kengkla reaches behind him to pull the door close, and they both toe off their shoes, leaving them near the door. Techno takes in a deep breath and sighs in content at the air conditioning that greets him.

"Let's go into the living room," Kengkla suggests and walks through the first doorway past the entryway. Techno hesitates, his instincts flinching back from entering Kengkla's house, but he shakes it off and follows him into the living room. At least Kengkla didn't say his bedroom.

There's nothing to distinguish the house as Kengkla's family home; even the living room is generic and bland with no sign of human habitation other than the blinds drawn shut. He glances at the nearest table with a lamp and inspects the frame there. It's a photo of who he assumes is Kengkla's father shaking hands with a businessman and another with a woman, likely Kengkla's mother, cutting a ribbon. There's not a single photo of Kengkla. Techno frowns in confusion.

It's Kengkla's voice that breaks him from his distraction. "Do you want to stand, P'No?" Techno looks at Kengkla, but the other isn't looking at him. He's ducking his head and sitting down on the couch across from a large television, reaching for a remote from the coffee table.

"Do you have any siblings, Ai' Kla?" Techno asks as he walks around the couch to stand in front of it.

Kengkla tenses a bit. It's the first time Techno's seen the other's shoulders so stiff. "No," He answers curtly, keeping his attention on the remote as Techno sits against the edge of the couch next to him. When he spreads his legs out to sit more comfortably, his thigh brushes up against Kengkla's, and the touch sends a tingle up Techno's spine.

"Oh, well, Ai' Nic is a pain in the ass anyway," Techno laughs, and Kengkla meets his gaze. "You're probably better off." Kengkla's watching Techno while he presses the remote, news station playing when the TV turns on.

There's a smile at Kengkla's lips, but his eyes are dark and focused. "I'm glad we're not brothers, P'No," He says and reaches out to grab Techno's hand.

But Kengkla's hand is so cold that Techno feels too concerned to react appropriately, looking down at the other's fingers wrapped around his own. "How are you so damn cold?" Techno wonders out loud. Kengkla's grip is gentle, but Techno doesn't snatch his hand away, examining the contrast of their skin.

"We have air," Kengkla explains as his thumb slides over the line of bone just under Techno's skin; and then Techno realizes what he's doing with the thought we're holding hands and rips his away.

Techno's body flashes hot, scooting away from Kengkla and looking up. Kengkla is watching him again, head tipped to the side and smirking. "Um," Techno says and clears his throat. He knows they should talk. It's the whole reason he came to Kengkla's. But he doesn't know how to start the conversation.

"About that night, Ai' Kla," He starts, voice straining from the uncomfortable tension. But when Kengkla suddenly reaches out across the gap between them, Techno freezes at the touch. It's a hand at his head, fingers running through the hairs against the back of his neck and ruffling through the strands. When he meets the other's gaze, Kengkla's closer than before, looking at him with a soft expression.

"You were so terribly cute, P'No," Kengkla whispers, eyes darting down to Techno's lips. "I can't believe I have such an adorable boyfriend."

All the air in Techno's lungs leaves his body at once. He knows where this is going. There's no way he can approach this topic right now, not when he's alone with Kengkla in his home, in the wolf's den. "I'm not -"He begins, inching away but cuts himself off. His eyes dart anywhere but Kengkla's face, and he spots the TV. "Uh, what about a movie?"

The expression that flickers across Kengkla's face is hard to read. "A movie, P'No?" He asks and pulls his hand away. When Kengkla backs away and reaches for the remote, Techno's chest relaxes into relief. "Do you have a preference?" Kengkla brings up a list of movies on the screen and scrolls through them, but the titles go by too quickly. Most of them are in English.

He spots one in Thai and points. "That one," Techno blurts before laughing at the outburst. "Uh, really, anything is fine, Ai' Kla. Well, any movie."

Kengkla shrugs one-shouldered. "Okay, P'No." He says. But Techno can hear him huff a sigh, and when he glances sideways, Kengkla's shoulders are completely stiff again while he changes the channel.

Silence lapses between them once the movie starts playing. Despite the awkwardness, Techno finally relaxes after a minute or two, slouching into the couch with one arm hanging off the edge. For a moment, he actually thinks this might not be that bad, and he glances at Kengkla who hasn't met his gaze since the movie started. Kengkla braces an elbow against the arm of the couch and rests his chin in his hand, crossing his legs. He looks a bit tense.

Techno takes a breath, manages to dredge up a smile. "I like this actress," He comments. "I saw her in that one movie- damn, I forget the title now."

But before Techno can come up with her name, Kengkla speaks up. "When are you leaving for the trip, P'No?" He asks suddenly. He's not looking at Techno at all, his attention fixed on the television.

"Tonight," Techno answers with hesitation. "We were going to leave tomorrow morning, but I don't think those juniors will get up in time. So we found a bus going out there tonight."

Kengkla still won't look at him, but his jaw sets in obvious tension. "Hm," He hums with a nod. "Who's going with you?"

"Well, there's me, Ai' Type, Ai' Champ, Ai' Can, Ai' Good, and maybe Ai' Tharn. I don't know for sure," Techno answers, lifting up a finger for each person.

Kengkla's head turns, his gaze catching and lingering at Techno's face as his mouth curves up at the corner. "Sounds like fun, P'No," He says quickly then turns away before Techno can read into it further.

He bites his lip and lets the conversation go. He tries making a few more comments through the first ninety minutes of the movie, but Kengkla only offers one-word answers. It's then Techno feels the ache of exhaustion pull at his eyelids. Once he's sure Kengkla isn't going to do or say anything else, he goes limp against the couch and slowly falls asleep. 

..

Thank you all so much again! New early part because my work canceled due to weather so I had some free time. It's -5 °f here today. TT_TT

Hope you all enjoy it. Let me know what you think!

FUN FACT: Kengkla's parents are like this in the novel. They ignore him and are rich from the pharmaceutical business. Poor KK. <3