“Fah, you're awake?” It was a stupid question, but all Lom could say. The door shut and they heard footsteps receding down the hallway. Both men hurriedly got dressed, all passion having wilted at the sight of Fah. 

“Hey, what’s up?” asked Lom pulling his shirt on as he entered the living room. Fah wasn’t there. He checked the bathroom and kitchen, but they were empty as well. 

“Do you think he left?” asked Mek. “Look, the door is unlocked. I locked it when we came home.”

“Oh shit. I hope he didn’t go outside. There’s no way he can be sober yet, he might get hurt.”

“I guess I should have asked this before, but what is the relationship between the two of you?” Mek gave Lom an inquiring look.

“Brothers. Well, adopted brothers. My family took him in when his mom died. Why?”

“When I first came to the table and asked if you were together and you said no, he looked extremely hurt. After we talked, I thought everything was cool. Just now, that was the face of a man whose heart had been broken. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Mek. Don’t feel bad. I wanted to be with you. Fah and I have never had sex, we’ve never even flirted. When he kissed me tonight, it was a complete surprise.”

"I saw. I also noticed you didn’t stop him.” Lom turned red. Mek continued, “I think you two need to talk. Let’s go find him before he gets himself into trouble.”

The two men drove around the neighborhood looking for Fah to no avail. He wasn't in the back of Lom’s SUV nor walking along the streets. Their calls to his phone went unanswered. Lom texted as well. 

Unable to locate him, Lom called Manao. He had taken her number from Fah’s phone earlier in case he needed to speak to her on their father’s behalf. She answered yawning.

“Who is this and do you know what time it is?” Her voice made it clear she was not happy.

"Hi, Manao. It’s Lom, Fah’s brother. He was with me and drank too much and now we can’t find him. Has he called you?”

“What? No calls. Let me check my texts…No, nothing from him.”

“Can you try calling him and then call me back? Please? I’m worried about him.”

“Sure.” She hung up abruptly. She called Fah and he answered on the second ring. He was crying.

“Fah? Where are you?”

“I'm not sure. I’m in a car getting a ride with people I met at the 7-11. They’re taking me home.”

“You got into a car with people you don’t know? What’s wrong with you Fah? You could be in danger!”

“No worries! We’re here at my dorm now.” Manao heard background noises of Fah thanking everyone in the car and people saying goodnight to him.

“Manao? Sweetheart, are you there?”

“Yes, I’m here. What’s going on? Lom called me, he’s worried about you. He’s been driving around looking for you. You need to call him.”

“Fuck Lom!” Fah hung up on her. She tried calling back, but he refused to answer. She called Lom.

“I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is Fah answered and he was in a car full of strangers who drove him back to his dorm. The bad news is when I mentioned you were worried about him and told him to call you, he said, ‘fuck Lom,’ and hung up on me. Now he won’t take my calls either. What did you do to him?”

“Nothing. That’s why I don’t understand what is going on. We went to a bar to talk; we met up with a friend. Fah got so drunk he vomited so we put him to sleep on my friend’s sofa. He woke up and left without telling us.”

“Fah doesn’t drink! He never drinks! He told me aside from family events when he was younger he’s never had more than half a glass of champagne. We never drink. How could you let him get drunk?” 

“Thanks for calling him for me. I’m sorry we got him drunk, but honestly, we didn’t do anything to him. Maybe he can explain it to me in the morning when he’s thinking straight. Goodnight, Manao.”

Lom drove Mek back home and thanked him for his help. Mek waved goodbye and Lom returned home to his father’s house.

The next morning Fah opened his eyes and immediately ran to the bathroom to vomit. When he finished, he brushed his teeth, went to the kitchen, made ginger tea, and returned to bed. 

He couldn’t erase the image of Lom fucking Mek. Every time he thought about it, it hurt all over again. 

Logically, he knew he had no reason to be angry. Sure, he'd never actually confessed to Lom but still, he tried to convey his feelings for Lom in his kiss. He couldn’t believe after that Lom still took Mek to bed. 

He accepted the fact that although Lom was gay, he wasn’t interested in him. That realization hurt.  At least now he knew the truth and hadn’t embarrassed himself by confessing his feelings. If he’d done that, he would never be able to face Lom or return home.

His phone vibrated again. 16 missed calls from Lom and one from Manao. He checked his texts, they were all from Lom:

                Fah, call me.

                Fah, why are you ignoring me? 

                What’s wrong? Call me.

                Fah, call me back or I’m coming to your condo tomorrow. 

Checking the time of the last text message he saw it came at 4:08 a.m.  It was 7 now. He walked to the window and surveyed the parking lot. Sure enough, Lom’s SUV was parked there. He wondered how long he’d been sitting in his car. 

Should I go out and get him? I can't avoid him forever. Fah tried to convince himself to ignore Lom and return to sleep but couldn't. He opened the front door and Lom fell backward onto his feet.

“Lom?” Fah asked in surprise.

“Mm!” Lom stood up slowly, his body aching from sitting on concrete, his head throbbing from a night of too much drinking and too little sleep. “Can I use your bathroom?”

“Sure. Come in. I’m going back to sleep. We can talk later. Lock the door behind you.” 

Fah walked back to the bed and climbed under a sheet. He wanted to sleep but the adrenaline from seeing Lom shocked him awake. The sound of the bathroom door opening was followed by the bed sinking as Lom slid in next to him. 

He better not think of doing what he did last time, not after he kissed me but fucked Mek! Fah's body tensed up; fight or flight mode was on and the former would win if Lom touched him.

Lom lay down, afraid to say the wrong thing. “Why were you crying, Fah?” 

Fah remained silent; he clamped his eyes shut. If I say nothing and I don’t move, he’ll think I’m asleep and I can avoid all of this. 

“Fah, answer me. Why were you crying? Because Mek and I had sex?” 

“Yes.” 

Lom hadn’t expected Fah to answer, yet he had without hesitation. “Why?”

“Why? You want to ask me why? What happened between us last time we were in this bed?”

“We helped each other de-stress a little.” 

“De-stress? That’s what you call it? Damn, Lom, are you that much of a whore?” 

Lom abruptly sat up.  “That’s what you think of me? You think your brother is a whore?”

“Do you realize you address me as ‘brother’ whenever it strengthens your case, otherwise, I never hear it from you.”

“Aren’t we brothers?” asked Lom.

“Brothers? Hmm. We grew up in the same house but we aren't blood-related. We haven’t been close to each other for about six years now. You think of me as a brother when you want to fuck Mek but not when we’re kissing or waking up together.”

“Why are you so upset I had sex with Mek? Did you want to be with him? If so, you should have given me a sign and I would have backed off. Although–no offense–you drank so much last night you wouldn't have been able to get it up for anyone. At least I cleaned you up, took you to the bathroom, and got you settled on the couch.”

“Oh, don’t try to act like a fucking martyr now, Lom. You did all that so  I was no longer a burden to you. It cleared the way for you two to screw each other.”

“Again, if you wanted to be with Mek, you needed to give me a sign.”

“I did give you a sign, you idiot!” 

Lom was startled. He wracked his brain trying to remember Fah’s sign. He was surprised to hear Fah wanted to have sex with a stranger; Fah seemed too straight-laced and proper. Then again, last night, Fah hadn’t been his usual self.