The movie ends at around five o'clock in the afternoon, and the only thing on Kengkla's mind as they exit the theater is going to eat with Techno and ditching Dawn.

"That ending was so sad," Dawn says to Techno the words warm and easy to ignore. "I really wasn't prepared. I almost cried."

"Really, Ai' Dawn It's just a movie?"Techno replies, warmly enough that Kengkla can hear the smile on his voice even if he wasn't looking. "I liked it though. But still not as good as the first. What did you think, Ai' Kla? Good?"

"Yes, P'No. It was good," Kengkla answers, sounding as disinterested as he scans the hallway for the restroom, coming up with a scheme. "Uh, P', I need to use the bathroom. Excuse me?"

Techno nods, meeting Kengkla's gaze, and just as Kengkla is about to head toward the men's room, Dawn says, "Wait." She begins slipping off Kengkla's jacket and neatly folds it in her arms, holding it out for him. "Your jacket! Thank you again, Ai' Kla. It kept me warm."

Kengkla glances at Techno to see his reaction first while he takes the jacket from Dan. Techno's mouth is soft, is dipping into a faint frown of discomfort; he shifts his shoulders like he's trying to get comfortable. It's an interesting reaction.

"No problem, P'," Kengkla tells her then glances at the bathroom sign, notating the door is right around the corner from where they stand. "I'll be right back. Please wait here."

They both give him an approving look, and Kengkla mouth twitches on amusement when he turns his back to them, walking just around the corner but never entering the bathroom. Waiting adjacent to the door, he looks down at his phone as if he is texting for anyone that passes. But where he stands, Kengkla is just within earshot of Dawn and Techno.

"This was fun! We should do this again when I'm in town," Dawn says, her voice brighter than when she was talking to Kengkla moments ago.

"Yeah, it was pretty fun," Techno answers, and Kengkla can feel himself frown at the others answer.

"You know P'No, I'm here until Monday. Can we hang out again tomorrow?" Dawn is really stepping into Kengkla's territory with this question. Kengkla can't help but grit his teeth, ignoring the loud teens passing him and the bathrooms.

Techno doesn't answer for a second. "Uh.." He croaks, and Kengkla can feel his heart race. "Well, I'm pretty busy right now, Ai' Dawn. We have our last game coming up soon and finals too. P' has been pretty busy for a while. Sorry."

Kengkla smiles in silent rejoice.

"Oh," Dawn says then clears her throat while Kengka imagines the awkward moment from where he can't see. "Well, the reason I'm being so pushy is actually because..." She pauses, and Kengkla's skin goes cold. He can almost predict what she's going to say next. "I like you, P'No. I have for a while." And there it is.

He doesn't want to hear Techno's answer. Her confession like a stab in the heart, like a door slamming shut in his face to shove back the ever-tentative hope of reciprocation of feelings from Techno. There's no way you can compete with Dawn ; they have history, his mind echos while he leans up against the wall, shutting his eyes to calm the racing of his heart from self-deprecation and jealous want at once.

"What?" He finally hears Techno gasp, and Kengkla can picture the others red cheeks. "You like me?" Kengkla wants to shake Techno sometimes for believing no one would like him. If no one liked Techno, Kengkla wouldn't have wasted so many years chasing away his admirers.

Dawn chuckles. "Yes, P'No," She says sweetly. "So, I was wondering," There's a pause, and Kengkla holds his breath. "Would you go on a date with me?"

Kengkla's breathing rushes out of him all at once. Shit. He pulls his phone out, listening to the silence between them, and begins looking through his contacts for Technic's number. He has to do something .

He's busy typing out a message when Techno speaks again. "U-uh," Techno stutters. Kengkla's fingers stop for a moment, waiting to hear what the other says while his heart sinks. He hasn't sent the message yet. "Actually, Ai' Dawn, I am...kind of," He clears his throat. "Dating someone."

He barely hears Techno's answer with the thunder of his heart pounding in his chest. There's no way Techno actually said that. He must be imagining things. A rush of warmth floods Kengkla's body, and his thoughts reel, skid out on adrenaline, try to focus on everything all at the same time. This must be a dream. He closes the message, leaves it unsent, and can't stop himself from peaking past the wall where they stand.

Dawn's staring down at the floor, cheeks flushed red, while Techno bites his lip and shuffles his feet awkwardly. Kengkla finds it amusing somehow, or he's just rejoining in his victory.

"Really?" Dawn asks but doesn't meet Techno's gaze. "Uh-I had no idea, P'No. I'm sorry,"

Techno shrugs his shoulders. "It's okay, Ai' Dawn," He answers, smiling awkwardly. "It's kinda newish, kinda funny. Um, sorry." He's blushing now too; he opens his mouth, closes it again, blinks like he's trying to collect himself. "But anyway, did you see where Ai' Kla went?"

He knows Techno is trying to change the subject to avoid awkwardness, but Kengkla grins at the mention of his name, walking toward them around the corner. "P'No, I'm right here," He announces and doesn't stop until he's directly beside the other, imposing into his personal space.

"Ai' Kla!" Techno gasps with wide eyes, taking a step back. "U-h how long have been there?"

Dawn's looking at them with a furrowed brow as if she doesn't understand, But Kengkla smirks knowingly. "Oh, not long, P'No," Kengkla answers, playing dumb.

But before Techno can say anything else, Dawn steps forward and places a hand on Techno's shoulder, reaching up to his height. Kengkla automatically grimaces. "Thank you, P'No. Even though it wasn't what I want to hear, I'm glad I know. Now I can move on," She explains with a smile, her expression changing from sorrow-filled to sincere contentment.

It almost annoys Kengkla that she's so accepting of the situation, but this also makes things so much easier for him. He's trying to hide his grin by keeping a blank expression, glancing between the two of them. Techno's face is flushed in what's likely embarrassment, and Dawn pulls her hand off Techno to take a step back.

"Anyway, I had a good time with you guys," Dawn says while Techno says nothing. "Thanks for putting up with me, Ai' Kla." He knows she's joking, but it's so true.

Kengkla offers her a fake smile. "It was fun, P'Dawn," He lies. "Thanks for joining us."

There's a strange tension in Techno's shoulders, some suggestion of that hunch that Kengkla is surprised to see; but there's only a moment for him to pay attention before Techno's walking closer to Dawn, holding his hand out. Kengkla's heart stutters as Techno reaches out to pat Dawn's head. It's an affectionate touch.

"Stay out of trouble," Techno teases then retracts his hand, slipping it into his pocket casually.

His hands ball into fists at his sides, his shoulders tip back and away."Are we going, P'No?" Kengkla manages, his voice only barely catching on the words.

Techno hums then looks to Kengkla. "Uh, yeah. See you around, Ai' Dawn."

"Have fun," Dawn says. "Bye."

Kengkla smiles while Dawn turns her back to them and begins walking away. "P'No," He says, and when Kengkla looks over at Techno, the other shifts nervously.

He refuses to meet Kengkla's gaze. "Er, are you okay with mall food?" Techno asks with an insincere laugh

Happiness presses too close against the inside of Kengkla's chest. Even though he knows Techno is just keeping his word, he hopes a part of the senior wants to spend time with him.

"Okay, P'"

....

"You should have got their sesame chicken with satay sauce," Techno tells Kengkla before he even swallows his food, pointing at Kengkla with his half-eaten skewer. "It's so damn good."

"That's okay, P'No. I like the chicken and rice," Kengkla says, but he's eating his food politely, smiling at Techno. He doesn't mind the way Techno eats, thinks the sloppiness is adorable.

"Too plain," Techno tells him, reaching out to poke his skewer at Kengkla's food.

Kengkla swallows his food before speaking. "P'No has a good appetite," He says, and Techno's pulling his skewer away before Kengkla can reach out to grab his hand like he wanted. "It just makes me happy to know that you like the food I bought."

Techno's cheeks are flushing red, and he grabs another skewer, biting off of it. He doesn't reply, and Kengkla watches him, ignoring his food for a moment. But this must embarrass Techno because the other frowns and points at Kengkla's food. "Eat, Ai' Kla," He orders with a mouthful of food.

"Yes, P'," He sighs, and then "Oh," as the idea presents itself in full in his head after he eats a few bites in silence. "P'No, did you want to come over after we finish?" Of course, he expects Techno to find an excuse, but he thinks it's worth a shop.

"What?" Techno asks, but his shoulders hunching up around his ears as if he can the blush forming. "Uh, I have to go help Ai' Type with something at his apartment. He bought a new desk even though he's still injured. What an idiot my friend is I tell you."

He keeps rambling, but Kengkla stops listening, feeling anger flare. "Ah, what about tomorrow?" He tries, looking at Techno with what he hopes is puppy dog eyes.

"Sorry, I can't, Ai' Kla," Techno tells him, and then before Kengkla can ask why, "I promised Ai' Type I would give him a ride to see his mom. She lives kinda far."

When Kengkla says nothing, staring a glare into the food, smile slipping from his face, Techno clears his throat. "I'm sorry, Ai' Kla," as it repeating it could possibly make up for it. But he knew it wasn't Techno's fault but Type who was always in his way.

Kengkla finally looked up at Techno who kept his head down, frowning at his food, chewing quietly. He let out a sigh and reached out to wrap his fingers around Techno's wrist, pulling the others arm toward him to hold Techno's hand in his own.

Techno glances up, his gaze catching Kengkla; then he looks away, turning his head down to cast his features into shadow again. It doesn't make a difference, in any case. Kengkla still has Techno's hand in his, can feel the flex of Technos fingers in Kengkla's hold. He also had enough time to see the strain at Techno's eyes melting into surprising warmth, had a heartbeat's worth of the give of Techno's mouth curving up on one of those rare, soft smiles.

Kengkla wishes he would've said something not, would've helped Type avoid injury.

A/N: Thank you all for 80k stars!