The evening goes surprisingly well for Techno. After the tense moment before dinner, he didn't know what to expect, but Kengkla left him alone the rest of the night, sticking to Technic's side. After the meal and before everyone turned in for the night, they all played cards and drank a few beers. Techno was hesitant to do so, cautious to drink now. Though he knew his friends wouldn't let anything happen, he still only had two or three, getting himself relaxed without losing any control.

Type and Champ didn't drink much either, but Can had a few more than he should. He always got whiney when his was drunk, more than usual, and kept crying about how his "that guy in IC" wouldn't talk to him. Techno kept telling Can he had no idea what he was talking about, but it didn't stop the younger from continuing to talk about it. Eventually, Good had enough and forced him to go to bed. Thankfully, drunk Can passes out easy too. He was surprised to see Kengkla didn't drink like everyone else, but he was almost happy for it, afraid to see what the other was like uninhibited.

Techno ended up turning in early to escape the younger's pleading eyes.It only proved the boy's innocence and made Techno feel guiltier than before. If it wasn't for his actions that night, they would be nothing more than casual acquaintances through Technic. Instead, Kengkla was declaring his feelings, calling him his boyfriend, and giving him affection.

"I just wanted to show you how much I liked you," Kengkla had said after kissing him with such urgency that Techno almost passed out. He wasn't used to thiss. It was too much; it was confusing. Techno didn't know how to deal with it. But Kengkla seemed to enjoy it, and if it satisfied him enough, maybe that was how Techno would take responsibility for his actions. He just didn't expect Kengkla to be so eager all the time.

"I like it a lot. I love the taste of P'No."

When he went to bed that night, Techno couldn't stop thinking of the younger's words, ringing in his head until morning. He knew it would difficult to avoid the other without alerting Type or his brother. He didn't need them getting suspicious. So he came up with a plan that morning while they ate breakfast, which he ended up cooking again.

Techno waits until everyone is gathered at the table to bring it up. "So, uh," He starts, and they all look up at once, munching on the dim sum he made. "I was thinking of today's plans, and I had a few ideas."

Type snorts. "Finally taking your role as captain seriously, Ai' No?"

He should've expected that reaction. Pointing his chopsticks across the table, he glares at Type then turns to Champ who starts laughing. "Shut up, Ai' Asshole," He barks. "I'm the one who's been here before, besides Ai' Nic. So I know what's fun to do."

Can muffles around his food, slapping his hand on the table, and Good at his side turns to Techno. "He said...we should go...swimming, P'No," Good translates dryly.

Techno rolls his eyes. "No shit," He mumbles then turns on his phone sitting on the table to pull open his notes. "Anyway, I suggest we go explore into town first while everything is still open. Then we can grab lunch there and after that there's some beach volleyball stuff set up in the yard and-"

He 's cut off by Can who's swallowed his food now. "Swim!" Can shouts.

"Ai' Can, stop yelling at me before I jump across this table," Techno snaps back and reaches out to grab at the other, but Kenkla at his side grabs the sleeve of his shirt, directing his attention elsewhere. He sits back down then turn to Kengkla who's staring at him with a smile, letting go of Techno's shirt.

"What else, Ai' No?" Type asks, and Techno looks back at him, drawing his gaze from Kengkla.

"Swimming...then dinner?" Techno finishes, playing with a piece of food on his plate. "Any problem with that?"

Type and Champ shake their heads. But as expected, Can always has something to say. "What about drinks? I want more drinks. Please, P'No," Can continues whining until Type reaches over and hits him in the back of the end.

"Stop begging like a homeless person," Type scolds him.

Can glares at Type while he cradles the back of his head with both his hands. "I'm not a homeless person," He mumbles under his breath.

"Ai' Can, you drank all the beer last night. Nothing left." It's not Techno's best excuse, but it is one. Glancing over at Kengkla at his side, he sees the other finishing his breakfast while watching Can and Type with a smile. Kengkla meets Techno's gaze, and his eyes widen as if he's been caught. Techno feels confused by his expression and averts his eyes.

"We can pick some beers up at the store," Champ suggests then scoots his chair back, picking up his plate from the table. He looks at Type who nods his head before exiting the dining room to the kitchen. "Right, Ai' No?" Type adds and begins to clear off his plate from the table too.

Techno doesn't know how to answer without looking like a wet blanket. But he can practically feel Kengkla's eyes on him. "Is it really a good idea to keep letting these juniors drink?" He asks with an awkward laugh then motions with his hand at the other side of the table.

"Come on, P'No," He hears Technic finally chime in, and he meets his brother's gaze who's staring at him, leaning back in his chair.

He lets out a loud sigh. "Fine," Techno huffs. "We'll pick something up. Stop ganging up on me." When he pushes his chair out, it mak es a loud noise, and he stands up, reaching out to grab his plate. But Kengkla beats him to it and swipes it off the table, stacking the plate on top of his own in his hands.

"That's okay, P'No. I'll get it for you," Kengkla says softly with a smile. He can feel his expression going tense on frustrated confusion, and he steps away from Kengkla so the other can pass him, heading toward the kitchen with their dishes

"Um, thanks," Techno says loud enough that Kengkla can hear. He looks sideways, away from Kengkla's retreating form, to his brother rolling his eyes. "What?" He asks Technic and crosses his arms.

Technic shrugs. "Nothing, P'No," He says innocently and stands up from the table, picking up his plate before following Kengkla into the kitchen.

It's then Kengkla's words come back to him.

"I want a taste."

Techno can feel his spine prickle, a chill of surprise with flushing embarrassment following hard on its heels.

....

Techno didn't plan on buying four cases of beer. In fact, he wanted to stay clear of it. But it was like everyone was against him as soon as they entered the store. Somehow, he even ended up paying for it - Well, he knew how it happened. Can, Good, Technic, and Kengkla can't buy alcohol at their age, and Champ and Type claimed they were too broke. Hence, Techno was guilted into paying.

But to make matters worse, he was talked into buying lunch too. If it wasn't for Kengkla offering to pay for his half, Techno would be going home flat broke. So he begrudgingly accepted money from the high schooler. It was embarrassing.

At least, the rest of the morning went smoothly. Can was sated once he ate, Good was quiet as always, and Technic and Kengkla stuck together most of the time. Champ and Type were the most annoying, constantly giving everyone a hard time and teasing Can to annoy him. He really should have seen it coming. Techno was just happy the next activity was swimming, which was completely free.

They have the beach to themselves -- the lingering heat is apparently chasing off whatever other visitors. The sun has been holding steady since lunch, getting hotter and hotter, so much so that everyone already changed and ran into the water. Everyone except Kengkla and Technic who chose to lounge on chairs on the beach. But Techno found himself hesitating too, standing awkwardly near the towels everyone had laid out, deciding what to do.

The only downside to swimming was the awkwardness that came with taking off his shirt. Normally, Techno wouldn't be uncomfortable, considering he changed in front of his teammates often, and his brother has obviously seen him undressed before. But Kengkla was the one who worried him.

From where he rests on the chair, Kengkla's gaze is unflinchingly focused on Techno. They're about twenty feet away, so he can't make out Kengkla's exact expression. But the teen is staring at him as if Techno is likely to evaporate if he lets his focus go. It makes Techno's heart skid, his face flushing to heat, and he turns away from Kengkla to face the water.

"Come on, P'No!" Can shouts from the water, splashing around. Type is hit by the water and immediately tackles the younger, so Techno doesn't bother answering.

With a nervous gulp, he strips off his shirt and throws it near the others on a towel in the sand. He's not as muscular as Type but not as skinny as Can with some slight definition from playing sports for so many years. It's one of the few things Techno's confident about. But he still feels awkward when he glances over his shoulder to see Kengkla staring at him.

Kengkla's mouth drops open, his attention catching Techno's stare for a moment. Then his lips curve into a smile, and he reaches for a pair of sunglasses on the table. When he slips them over his eyes, Techno can't make out his expression at all.

His face is still burning with a blush. He reaches for something to say, anything to rid his tension, and his gaze flickers to Technic on a chair next to Kengkla. "Hey, Ai' Nic," He calls out, waving his hand. "Aren't you going to swim at all this whole trip? You're acting like a girl!"

He sees Technic cross his arms and imagines him rolling his eyes behind the sunglasses. "No thanks, P'No," Technic sho uts back.

Techno huffs an exhale. "Fine, Ai' loser!" He doesn't bother asking Kengkla, ignoring them to turn around.

As Techno approaches the water, he examines his friends with a smile, all his worries of the day escaping him at once. Good floats in the pool, watching Type and Champ gang up on Can, splashing him with laughter. When he wades into the water, the cold hits him, and he hisses, getting used the change. But it doesn't take long before he's swimming up behind Champ, pushing him down by the shoulders.

He isn't sure how long they play in the water. Can starts a friendly game of Marco Polo followed by competitive racing, but it's not long before Type suggests they play a game of beach volleyball as the sun begins to lower. Surprisingly, everyone agrees to it, and Type grabs Champ to help set up the net while Good follows Can to find the ball.

The sun is too bright for Techno to see his phone while he's waiting on his beach towel. He's trying to dry off as best he can while he listens to the sound of waves washing against the sound behind him. Then there's the sound of footsteps dragging into the sand, and a shadow falls over Techno, and he opens his eyes to look up and see Kengkla standing over him.

"P'No," Kengkla greets him as he drops to a knee alongside Techno's towel and reaches for his bag."Am I allowed to play with you?"

This wasn't the first time Techno has noticed Kengkla's good looks. You would have to be blind not to. But with his shirt off and sun-warmed skin and muscle on display, it takes Techno by surprise how attracted he feels to Kengkla in that moment.

His chest tightens in disbelief, thoughts reeling to comprehend why he's suddenly feeling this way about Kengkla. Techno can't help but blurt, "Were you just tanning ?" before he can stop himself. He can feel his face flame into embarrassment, and he lifts a hand to cover his mouth, self-consciousness eclipsing any composure he might have managed.

Kengkla doesn't address him immediately, slipping on his shirt from his bag. After standing back up, Kengkla looks down at Techno to meet his gaze, and his mouth is taut in amusement. "Just for a few minutes." He answers. "I didn't want an uneven tan. You know, P'?"

"Yeah," Techno mumbles and then he's turning away to grab his own shirt from the pile on the towel. Within a few seconds, he slips it on and gets to his feet. "Uh, by the way, you can play. I guess. Does Technic want to?" He peers around Kengkla to look for Technic but doesn't see his brother anywhere.

"No. I don't think so. Ai' Nic went inside. He said something about napping," Kengkla explains,

He lets out an annoyed groan and set his hands on his hips shaking his head. "Ai' Nic is so damn lazy," Techno complains loudly.

Kengkla huffs a laugh. "Yes, P'." Techno can't resist the urge to glance at Kengkla and sees the corner of the other's mouth turn up. All his skin is going warm, heart is beating faster his chest, but Techno doesn't say anything else. He's moving instead toward Type and Champ setting up the net near the porch.

His mouth has already embarrassed more than enough for one day.

...TBC...