"Ai' No, stop staring into space and answer me," Type sighs and takes his hand back.

Techno blinks to clear his vision, sees Type glaring at him now, and the passengers loading into the bus behind him. Truthfully, he's been considering asking Type something for a while now, turning it over and over in his head. It's been gaining importance all day until he feels like the words are going to slip oiut the moment he opens his mouth.He needs something to calm his mind, so finally he just does, blurting "When Ai' Tharn started flirting with you, how did you feel? Like when he was pursuing you or whatever?"

He can feel his heartbeat pickup as soon as the words are past his lips, but Type says "I don't know," calmly as if he didn't notice the strain in Techno's voice. "You know I used to hate the idea of two guys together, you know? But then Ai'Tharn wanted to be with me and things just happened." Type looks self-conscious for the first time in a long time, blush creeping up his cheeks; then he returns to normal. "Why the hell are you bring that up? Is someone flirting with you? Do you actually have an admirer, Ai' No?"

Techno's skin goes cold for a moment despite the humor in Type's tone. "U-uh," He sutters out, blush hot across his cheeks and tense in his throat. "Yes?"

He's not sure what he's expecting but a smile from Type is last on the list. He's practically grinning, reaching out to grab Techno's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "Congrats," He says simply.

Techno mocks him, laughing sarcastically in his face. But Type rolls his eyes, squeezing his shoulder again. "Whatever, Ai' No. Think about it. Twenty-two years of being single. Now someone likes you. You should be happy. ."

There's no way he was happy about this. "I guess," Techno sighs, regretting bringing up the subject.

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Type snaps back.

"It's not that I don't like attention but...:" Techno trails off.

"Then what's the problem? You're thinking about it too much." Just as Type is speaking, a surge of self-consciousness trails up Techno's his spine, and he tears his gaze away from Type, biting at his lip, to stare at the bus windows. Can's easy to spot, talking hyperactivity to a bored Good, and just behind Can is Kengkla.

Their eyes don't meet. The other is watching Type, a glare pressed into the crease at his forehead; the fixed line of his mouth says he's completely focused. Techno has only scene this expression from Kengkla a few times, but it's never pleasant.

He steps in front of Type, trying not to make it look purposeful, hiding him from Kengkla's view. Though he wasn't sure why Kengkla was giving Type that look, his instinct told him to stop it. "We should get on the bus, right?" Techno suggests, hoping to drop the subject.

Type nods. "Hm, you're right," He says with a shrug of his shoulders. "They're probably leaving soon." Then he pivots on his heel and walks past Techno to stand in line to board the bus. There's a few passengers ahead of them, and by the time Techno moves to stand behind Type, it doesn't take long for them to board.

The bus is mostly full with a few people behind Techno waiting to take their seats, and Techno swallows, freezing when he enters, watching Type take his seat next to Champ once more. Glancing around, he spots Good and Can, who immediately holds out his hand for Type.

Techno realizes he's still holding Can's snack Type bought and laughs softly, feeling the anxiety loosen in his chest. When someone clears their throat behind him, he jumps at the noise before ducking his head in a bow and muttering, "Sorry," to the stranger. Trying to move as fast as possible through the aisle, he stops next to Can's seat and drops the snack in his lap. "From Ai' Type, not me. As if you need it though, Ai' Can," He says with a smile.

Can grips the bag and rips it open as if he's starved. "Shut up, P'No. I did need it," He snaps, digging into the bag to eat the snacks.

Techno shakes his head and takes a step forward/ "Don't tell me to shut up, Ai' Can. You're my junior," He scolds. Turning around with his back to his seat to face Type's. "Right, Ai' Type? Tell this Ai' Monkey that -" And then fingers are closing on Techno's wrist and dragging him. Techno's stumbles, his balance giving way to send him into a moment of heart-stopping panic as he topples backward to fall into his seat.

His hand comes out in an instinctive attempt to save himself, grips what he realizes is Kengkla's thigh, but the contact point isn't stable. His shoulder digs into Kengkla's body, and Techno blinks, his eyes flickering wider as realization hits him. Then he shifts, scooting away from Kengkla, who hasn't let his wrist go, holding it between them. Kengkla's fingers grip tightly around the joint while he presses his thumb into the hard thud of Techno's pulse.

When Techno looks up to meet Kengkla's gaze, the other is staring at Techno, eyes wide and forehead creased. "I'm sorry, P'No," He apologizes softly. "I didn't want the people behind to get mad at you. I'm sorry."

Techno takes a breath. "It's okay," He answers as makes himself relax, gaze flickering down to Kengkla's fingers wrapped around his wrist. "P' is okay. Thank you, but you can just say something next time, Ai' Kla." Only a bit of awkward laughter creeps into his voice.

Kengkla is still hesitant to let go. Techno can tell by the way the other takes a few seconds to let go of his wrist. "Okay, P' Thank you for being so understanding," Kengkla says with a nod while Techno drops his hand to his side, skin still tingling from Kengkla's touch.

He's wondering if the other's grip was enough to leave a bruise when Kengkla suddenly leans down so quickly the movement makes Techno tense immediately. But when Kengkla sits back up, he's holding a white plastic bag then drops it into Techno's lap. Techno blinks vague confusion at the sack.

"I bought them for you, P'No," Kengkla tells him and reaches over to Techno's lap, opening the bag to display fried seaweed snacks; then Kengkla pulls his hands back. Techno's mouth almost starts drooling. "I know they're your favorite."

Techno smiles, and it comes easy enough that he dares to look up at Kengkla to see the tug of a grin at the other's mouth. "Shit, Ai' Kla," Techno drawls, and it sounds the way he feels: excited and surprised. There's no hesitation in his movement as he begins opening up one of the snack bags, looking down at his lap. "You didn't have to--"

"I do," Kengkla interrupts, and Techno feel the heat of the other's breath in his hair, against his neck. He realizes Kengkla is a lot closer than before. It's distracting enough to make him shudder, enough to keep him frozen in place, afraid to look up. And when Kengkla whispers, "I want my boyfriend to be happy," into Techno's ear, his voice is sultry and purring with a seductive weight that almost scares him.

Techno's chest tightens, his breathing catches; but "Thank you," is what he says, refusing to meet the other's eyes.

The breath against his neck disappears, and Techno assumes Kengkla has moved away. He says nothing for a few seconds while the bus pulls away, the last few passengers taking their seats, and he finishes half of the bag before he gains enough courage to tilt his head up. Techno wants to catch his eye to give Kengkla a smile, but he decides to play it safe.

He leans forward and reaches over the back of Can's seat to tap the younger on his head and catch his attention. "Hey," Techno hears Can shout before the other's face appears above his seat, staring down at him. "You're hitting me again. Ugh, what is it, P'?"

"I didn't hit you, Ai' Can," Techno manages, achieving something surprisingly close to an ordinary teasing tone despite an embarrassed flush likely clinging warm to his cheeks. "Want to play me in that mobile game you were bugging me about?"

Can nods his head, smile is breaking across his face.. "Finally. P'No wants to play me," He says cheerfully before ducking back down in his seat. "Get ready to lose!"

Techno laughs, digging into his pants to pull out his phone. While he brings up the game from the menu and waits for Can's phone to connect, he reaches back into the bag to grab another bite. But there's a flash of guilt at the back of his thoughts, and he glances up at Kengkla to see the hurt look in the other's eyes.

"Don't look at me like that," Techno blurts, and he's moving without thinking, reaching out to grab Kengkla's hand in his. He takes a piece of the fried seaweed with his free hand then sets it down in Kengkla's before pulling away. "Eat some of this too, Ai' Kla. And then you can play with me and Can."

Kengkla's eyes are wide, lips still parted on silence. Then he smiles, warmth of the expression spreading out to light up the whole of his face. "Thank you, P'No," He says and slips the snack into his mouth.

When he grabs another piece of seaweed for himself, Techno tries not to think about how touched he is by Kengkla's actions, how it feels to be thought of and cared for enough that someone would go out of their way to buy one of Techno's favorite things. He ignores the way Kengkla makes him feel in general, except guilty.

--End of Chapter 6--

A/N: A similar conversation between Techno and Type also appeared in the novel, but this is not a retelling. More like my version.

I've had a really rough week at work...But all your comments make me smile. Thanks!