"I still couldn't believe that Pluem is already back. I was so surprised to see him. I thought he would be in the state for good," P'New said, who brought him another bottle of liquor.

Nanon gulped the rest of the wine in his glass and then grabbed the new bottle to drink. He said to his crew to give him their strongest liquor, but until now, he hadn't felt drunk despite emptying a bottle. He could still feel his aching heart.

He looked at the wasted decoration for his so-called confession.

The twinkling lights, balloons, flower petals on the floor, scented candles, and even the well-chosen menu for the night. He also remembered P'New staying up late for a week to perfect the dishes he chose so that it would really leave a good impression to both of them. You know, good ambiance, good food was equal to perfect confession...

Nonetheless, the ambiance was ruined from the start, so the food wasn't tasted as well, that led to an unpleasant end because the person he was supposed to confess to, chose to be with the jerk.

In Nanon's expectation, him and Chimon would be walking in the restaurant together as the lights along the way lighted up. Then, he would lead him to the rooftop, where they took a month to redesign for this special occasion. They would dine together under the stars and moon while romantic music was playing in the background. Afterward, New would come with the cake Nanon painstakingly personally baked. They would sing a happy birthday song. Chimon would blow the candles after he gave his wishes. And lastly, Nanon would give his message slash confession, which he rehearsed for the whole week before the d-day...

It's just that; it's all in his imagination now.

Everything was ruined.

"Come on, Non. It's not the end yet. So what if Pluem is back? Isn't it you said Chimon doesn't love him anymore?" New tried to console him.

"It's not really like that," he sighed. "Chimon said it because he hadn't seen that bastard for a long time. But, if you saw his eyes and his reaction when the bastard appeared again, you could tell that he really hasn't moved on from him." Once again, he gulped down the wine in his glass, trying to hide the tears that threatened to escape from his eyes. "I'm so fucked up."

New gently patted the younger's back, who suddenly coughed up from drinking the beer hurriedly.

"Easy, Non...So what if he still loves the jerk? I thought you said that you'll fight for your feelings now? Or would you just let him go again because you couldn't find your courage to fight back?"

"I confessed, P. But Chimon thought I was just joking when I told him that I loved him. He thought, I was just trying to distract him so that he wouldn't fall again for the jerk again."

"If I were Chimon and you suddenly confessed your feelings in front of my 'ex' during a heated moment, of course, I would think the same! It's like you're not being serious and just wanted to get me away from the situation."

"But, I'm serious!"

"I know. But Chimon didn't. So you have to prove it and stop whining like a kid. If Chimon thinks you're just joking, I think it's the right time to show him how serious you really are with that confession. Put it into actions, not words."

Nanon paused and tried to digest everything New said.

He remembered his excitement, the nervousness, and other complicated emotions he had, knowing he could finally let go of those. And that the person who made him undergo that roller coaster ride would finally be aware of his feelings. However, just because Chimon's first love appeared suddenly, he also felt like giving up.

Would he really just give up like that? After all those years, would he choose to be a loser like before?

He turned to New to face him. "P, what should I do?" He's like a lost puppy, asking for his way.

New had always seen Nanon as his little brother; hence, he couldn't help patting his head to show his affection.

Nanon, though he insisted that he's already an adult, was still a child at heart. He might be smart, but when it came to love, he was so innocent. If it's other people, they could easily think of the possible solution for his problem - to seduce by all means. But, Nanon wouldn't think of it since he's too pure for seduction, so does his love for his best friend. Thus, seducing would be on the bottom part of their proposal.

"Let's have another plan," New suggested.

First and foremost, Nanon had to convey his sincerity in the confession to Chimon. They had to meet up where there's only the two of them. The ex should be kept away, so he couldn't bust the confession again. New promised to take care of the jerk, so he shouldn't worry.

Afterward, when there's only the two of them, Nanon should repeat what he said. But this time, Nanon had to think of the words to follow up after the 'I love you' part. He also shouldn't rush like the first confession. Everything must be slowly said and well explained for it not to be taken as a joke again. Then, if Chimon could not accept him because of several reasons like he was bewitched again by the jerk, they'll go to plan B - courting or fighting his way to his love's heart (okay, that's kind of corny).

Well, technically, Nanon should really court Chimon properly. It's really part of the original plan since he didn't expect that Chimon would accept his feelings right at the moment he told him. He really had to prove it to him through courting.

The problem was that he had no idea how to court!

"Don't worry, Non. I got you," New declared.

"Aw, phi, you know how to court?" he asked, doubtful. He thought he had sobered up totally with all these conversations with the elder as the cold wind caressed them.

Though he knew that New had girlfriends before, he doubted whether he really courted them. It's actually the other way around as far as he knew. And to not hurt those girls' feelings, New just kind of agreed to be with them.

So, can he really trust him?

New placed his arm over his shoulders. "Of course! I am an expert when it comes to courting. It's just the same as flirting," he confidently said.

Flirting, yes, he was an expert, but was it really the same as courting?

"Aren't they different?"

"What different? They are the same! Both goals are to get the person you want."

"But in flirting, you're not serious..."

"Even so, you still get the person."

Well, it kind of had a sense...

"What's happening here? Why are you two staying outside on this cold night?"

The voice came from the entrance to the rooftop. It's Tay, New's best friend, who's like a brother to Nanon, too.

"You're drinking alcohol?" Tay questioned the moment he joined them, sitting beside New.

New gestured to Nanon. "He's brokenhearted."

"Brokenhearted? Why? Did Chimon reject him?"

Naturally, if New knew about something, Tay would know it as well because the two did not keep secrets from each other. Nanon had no idea what kind of best friend relationship they had, but they were each other's confidant...

...Just like him and Chimon, except he's secretly in love with his best friend.

"It's not that he's rejected; he wasn't able to confess because someone came. Chimon's ex came and took him away," New explained on his behalf.

"What?! Pluem is back!" They nodded, looking at how shocked Tay was as them a while ago.

Well, who wouldn't be surprised when all they knew was the jerk would not be coming back to Thailand since his family members had already migrated abroad where Pluem decided to study and work. Looking at it, it seemed like he had no reason to be back, yet he's here.

"How is that possible?! I remember his mom telling me that they would be staying in state for good," Tay added. He and Pluem were neighbors, so he knew his family.

"Obviously, he took a plane to get here," New shot back, sarcastic, which Tay just rolled his eyes. They might be each other's confidant, but they loved to annoy one another.

"Haha, New. You're funny... Anyway, what happened next? What did you do?"

Since Nanon wasn't really in the mood to recall the unfortunate event, he let New narrate it from the beginning to the new plan they're building.

Tay was keenly listening to the story until he suddenly bursted laughing upon hearing the last part.

New frowned, then hit him on the arm to make him stop.

"Sorry. I'm not laughing at your misfortune, 'Non. I really could relate to what happened. But, New teaching you to court? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard in my entire life!"

"Why? Why?! What's wrong with it? I could perfectly teach Nanon to court someone."

"No, you can't. You don't even know the difference between courting and flirting."

Nanon almost nodded to Tay's statement, but he remembered all the help New had given to him, so he just pretended to drink the invisible wine in his glass.

As usual, they're arguing again. He just needed to wait for them to finish before he could butt in. Luckily, they're on the rooftop; he could distract himself with all the dancing city lights. He thought, in one of those city lights, was where Chimon and Pluem were.

What might they be doing? Did Pluem really ask Chimon back? Did Chimon accept him again? What about him?

"Non," he was cut from his reverie with Tay's sudden call. "Newwie is helpless. He couldn't help you with courting. He would only sabotage it. Let me do it instead," Tay said.

"You? Helping him? You don't even have a girlfriend since birth, so what do you know?" New piped in.

"I know because I've been doing it for years."

...

New and Nanon looked at each other, then to Tay with a big question mark on their faces.

Tay Tawan was courting...someone...?

With all the revelations they heard tonight, they thought it's the most surprising of all.

Tay might be friendly to anyone. He's too sociable; people get to be comfortable with him at first meeting. However, they hadn't seen him approaching someone romantically. Even the beautiful ladies who obviously flirted with him would be turned down immediately. Also, New was his best friend whom he usually confided all his secrets to, except this one. And if he wasn't aware of it, too, how special that person might be that Tay had to keep it from them?

"Ya! Tay! Who is it? Why didn't I know her?" New nudged, feeling betrayed. If ever, it would be the first secret between them.

Tay suddenly avoided New's eyes and then grabbed Nanon's wine glass to perhaps drink it. However, he already emptied it.

"Oi, Tay!!"

"You know that person, okay? You're just too dumb to realize it," Tay said while inspecting their leftover food and drinks.

"What? Is she one of our friends? Who? Alice? Namtan? Jane?"

Tay shook his head. "Crazy. They have boyfriends. And even if they don't have one, I won't be courting them as I could only see them as my siblings."

"Then, who?"

Finally, Tay looked at New, his eyes showed boredom. "Find it out yourself."

Of course, New protested right away. He wanted to know who that person was and couldn't accept the fact that Tay had kept a secret from him.

Meanwhile, Nanon just watched the two bickering as he thought who Tay was referring to. He didn't know if he's correct, but it seemed he had an idea who P'Tay was courting.

If his guess was right, then that person was truly dumb.

_____

A/N

Early update. Yey! :)