Lom turned to run after Fah and Thanwa. The sound of Run’s voice stopped him cold.

“Don’t you dare go after him or I’ll tell your father where you are right now! You will stay away from my brother or I will make sure you end up spending the rest of your life in jail for my family’s kidnapping.” Run positioned himself between Lom and the hotel entrance as he spoke. Mek came and stood at his side.

“Lom, I’m sorry. I’m still your friend, please know that,” said Mek, ignoring the dirty look from Run. “I hate to say it, but you’ve gone too far with Fah this time. He has always been nothing but loyal and loving to you,” Mek paused.

“Kind and loving to everyone, until you broke him!” said Run. Manao walked and stood next to Mek and Run. Ohm, Win, Kasem, and Khun Korn returned to the club, having chosen to let the close friends deal with their issues.

“Lom, I’m still your friend as well,” said Manao. Run whispered traitor but Manao ignored him. “Fah told me about so many of your good qualities and wonderful things you’ve done for him in the past. I know things that these two," she gestured at Run and Mek, "have no idea about, but I have to agree, you’ve finally gone too far with Fah. I’m begging you, as a friend of you both, if you love Fah, please let him go. Please let him find someone who truly loves him.”

“I truly love him!” said Lom.

“There's someone else who loves you and has been there for you these past couple of years. I don’t think you should toss Somchai away so casually, the way you did Fah. Even if you choose not to stay with him, I don’t think your future is with my brother. He was always more sensitive than you and you still kept hurting him. Don’t you realize everything bad that’s happened in his life was caused by you?” Run glared at him. 

“None of you ever considered me a real friend. If you loved Fah as much as you say you do, you would at least let me explain to him what happened. Why are you mad at me? Because I believed he was dead? Yet you feel sorry for him because he believed I was dead? What a double standard. This wasn’t my doing! Fah and I are both victims in this but the only one who you believe was hurt is Fah. One of the many reasons  I love Fah - he knows me, the real me, and he never saw me as the evil person that you see” said Lom bitterly.

“Well, this time Fah sees you the same way we do or he wouldn’t have left with Thanwa. I guess now no one sees you as good,” said Run. 

Looking at Run, then at Manao and Mek, Lom shook his head in disbelief. He swallowed hard; it was one of the rare times his eyes filled with tears. 

“Okay, I get it.” Lom turned and left.

“That was a bit too harsh, Run,” said Manao. She wanted to run to Lom and hug him but she didn’t move. “Let’s go join Ohm, Win, Kasem, and Khun Korn,” said Manao as she locked arms with Run and began walking back. Mek followed behind. 

Joining the others at the table Khun Korn asked what happened. Mek shook his head, no, and Khun Korn fell silent. Signaling for the server Mek ordered another round for everyone. They toasted the happy couple once again and then an awkward silence began.

“Well, that was a dramatic evening,” said Ohm.

“You ought to be used to it, you’re such a drama queen,” said Win.

“Hey, why are you insulting me?” asked Ohm.

"I’m sorry, I was teasing. I just wanted to lessen the tension." 

“Do you think letting Fah go into the hotel with Thanwa was a good idea? We just met him,” said Manao.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine. Hopefully, Thanwa will be a gentleman and won’t try to have sex after everything that happened. Even if they do have sex—and as angry as Fah is I wouldn’t be surprised—Thanwa won’t hurt him. He knows we all saw them go into the hotel together and we know his name and where he works,” said Mek. 

“That’s true,” said Kasem.

“So we shouldn’t be sad, we should be happy Fah decided to move on and devote himself to being happy. Maybe he’s finally cutting the mafia out of his life,” said Ohm.

“Let’s toast to that,” said Khun Korn as the group returned to drinking. 

Somchai sat in his living room, his eyes swollen and red from crying. He’d come home, changed into shorts and a tee shirt, and tried to relax. In the kitchen trash lay the cake from the bakery and the gift he’d taken such care to hide. Tonight was supposed to be a surprise celebration for his proposal; how it had ended up like this still perplexed him. A knock at the door caught him by surprise. 

Opening the door he found himself staring at Lom. 

“Why are you here? Where is your key?” 

“I have my key but I didn’t want to assume I was still welcome here,” said Lom. 

“You’re not.”

“Please, Somchai, may I come in?” Lom spoke calmly. Realizing he hurt Somchai, the same way Fah hurt him, filled him with guilt. 

“Mm,” said Somchai. He returned to his chair in the living room, this time pulling his feet up and wrapping his arms around his legs. Lom sat on the sofa across from him. “Okay, let’s hear it.”

“Hear what?” asked Lom.

“Your explanation. Why did I witness you declaring your love for Fah?”

“Sorry, but you knew from the start I would never get over him."

“And?”

“It’s complicated…”

“People only say it’s complicated when they are afraid to speak the truth.”

“I do care about you, but I've always loved Fah. I’m in love with him; I have been for a long time.” Lom paused and thought about his next words. “Everything bad in his life can be traced back to me so for his sake I’m never going to see him again,” said Lom.

“Isn’t that sweet… so what you’re telling me is that I’m second choice but I shouldn’t worry because you love him so much you’ll stay with me? Should I be flattered? Grateful? What? Please tell me what reaction you expected by telling me this,” asked Somchai.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then tell me, how do you feel about me?”  Lom saw Somchai's lip tremble as he asked the question. He would give anything right now to be able to tell Somchai he loved him but he couldn't.

“I care about you, I don't want to hurt you. I've tried to be honest about everything from the start.” Lom stared at him, wondering why he couldn’t articulate his feelings more clearly. 

“But you’re not in love with me?” 

“No." 

“So I should wait and hope that someday you will fall in love with me?”

“No, you deserve to be with someone who loves you as much as you love them."

"Which isn't you. I knew at the beginning you said you weren't over him but I thought... I thought after living with me every day for two years, that I would mean something to you, that you'd see me as someone special. I treated you well, I helped you when you were in need. I tried to encourage you all the time. I've never been stingy with my money or my love, I..."  his voice trailed off as he stood up. He shook his head. 

“Would you like some tea? I’m going to make some for myself,” said Somchai.

“Yeah, thanks, that would be great." He thought for a moment and added, "If it’s not too much trouble.”  

Somchai went into the kitchen and returned minutes later with two mugs. 

“What I’m about to say shouldn't come as a surprise. I want you out tomorrow morning. You can get a good night’s sleep tonight but after breakfast tomorrow you need to take your stuff, go, and don’t ever come back. A place to sleep for tonight is my final gift. I had a cake and another gift to celebrate us becoming official but those are in the trash now.” 

Lom noticed Somchai was no longer wearing their couple's ring.

Somchai’s tone was matter-of-fact. Lom knew from living with him that he only spoke this way when he was extremely hurt. Realizing what his words and actions had done filled him with remorse. Somchai had been the one he’d lost his virginity to in high school. It was serendipity that Somchai had visited his aunt and discovered him alongside the road. He’d repaid that love and kindness with betrayal, humiliation, and rejection. He finished his tea in silence, too afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Somchai stood to take their empty mugs to the kitchen. 

Lom rose as well and said, “Thank you for letting me spend one last night here, I appreciate it.”

“On the couch.”

“Okay, on the couch. I’m still grateful,” said Lom. He sat down. Somchai returned with a sheet and a pillow. 

“Here’s a pillow and a sheet to cover up with, if you need it. I’ll make you breakfast at 7 tomorrow but then you leave. You can give me your key right now.” 

Somchai held out his hand as Lom removed the key from his keyring and put it gently into his palm. Somchai nodded, folded his hand around the key, and disappeared into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Minutes later Lom could hear the muffled sound of Somchai’s sobs. Quietly gathering up his things, he wrote a note:

I know you might regret the past two years but I never will. Your kindness and care helped me heal mentally and physically. My sincere wish is that you find the right person for you. I'll always be here as a friend if you ever need me. 

          Lom

Sticking the note on his pillow, he put his couple's ring next to it and slipped out the door into the darkness. He called for a ride and returned to the hotel where Fah and Thanwa were and checked in. Entering his room he fell asleep before he even had a chance to undress.