Back at the hotel where the family was staying Manao joined the others. When she arrived they were in the lobby deciding where to go for lunch. Everyone but Tin, Mint, and Khun Adi who had gone to the waterpark at Tin’s request. 

The group headed to the same restaurant they’d first visited. Once seated Run said, “I wonder how my brother is doing.”

“He’s fine.” Everyone turned to face her. “We had coffee together.”

“So did he or didn’t he,” asked Mek, ever curious.

“Normally I’d tell you to ask him yourself but since his neck will give it away…”

“He did!” shrieked Ohm, clapping his hands. “I knew he couldn’t be that sweet all of the time. I knew some whorishness had to lurk deep down inside!” 

“What about Lom?” asked Run.

“They had coffee before I met up with him. They’re okay, Fah is with him right now.”

“What? We have to get him out of there or Lom will convince him to get back together!” Run stood up. Mek gently grabbed his wrist and signaled him to sit down. 

“Would that be so bad? If they want to be together, who are we to stop them?” asked Manao.

“Lom didn’t bother to check if my brother was dead or alive!” Run’s indignance was growing.

“Did Fah try to verify if Lom was dead or alive?” asked Manao. “Did any of us?”

“That’s different,” said Mek.

“How? How is it different?” Manao now understood how Lom must have felt the previous evening.

“Manao’s right. No one tried to verify if Lom was dead. No one told Fah to confirm it,” said Win. 

“At least my brother didn’t go cruising for a new boyfriend!” Run’s anger was now directed at Manao.

“Neither did Lom.” Manao remained calm.

“Then explain last night!” Run was getting so loud a server came over and asked him to sit down and speak quietly. 

“Somchai went to school with Lom and Fah. In high school, Lom lost his virginity to Somchai. He’s the same person who found Lom unconscious along the road and took him in.”

“That makes more sense now,” said Mek. “He mentioned Somchai from school before, but I'd forgotten. I never thought it would be the same person.”

“I didn't think Lom would go looking for someone new even if he believed Fah was dead,” said Khun Korn.

"He didn't go looking for someone, it just happened. Grief is different for everyone. Why would you think Lom, or Fah, would never date again?" asked Manao. She felt she needed to keep everyone's bias in check.

“He’s only going to hurt my brother again,” said Run. It was now clear that he alone saw Lom as a threat. 

“Run, we all love Fah. Lom doesn’t want to hurt him. When he asked Fah about getting back together and your brother said he didn’t know, all Lom did was to tell him to take care of himself and he left.”

“That doesn’t sound like Lom; he never gives up,” said Mek.

“Maybe it’s our fault - all the stuff we said to him last night.” The guilt on Manao’s face was evident.

“What did you guys say last night?” asked Ohm. Mek explained everything that happened. 

“That would certainly make someone feel like an outsider among us. If Lom was unsure of Fah’s feelings, he’s not going to risk the wrath of his friends and family, or Run calling Ton,” said Khun Korn. Everyone sat quietly for a few moments. 

“Run, if they start dating again, can you accept it?” asked Manao. 

“Does it matter?”

“Definitely. If you don’t, your brother might feel he has to choose a side and it might not be your side,” said Mek. “If he does choose you over Lom and never gets over it, he’ll grow to resent you.”

“So I have to support their relationship even if I think it’s the wrong choice? I have to lie to my brother?” 

“No, you don’t need to lie. You need to not undermine their relationship or criticize Lom all the time,” Manao said.

“We aren't sure if they’re going to get back together. The whole thing might be moot,” said Khun Korn.

“Each of you can choose to support them or not. If they choose to be a couple I'll support them because I consider both of them my friends.” Manao spoke. 

Having already finished eating she pulled out money for her meal when Khun Korn reminded her that he paying for everyone's meals. Thanking him, she stood and left for the beach. All she wanted was some fresh air and a long walk to de-stress. Kasem followed her. The others watched them go.

Run said nothing. Despite his anger, he thought about what Manao had said and realized she was right. The funny thing was, he didn't hate Lom. 

Before Lom was presumed dead, I thought he was a perfect match for Fah. Did all my dislike come from seeing Lom with someone else? Or from seeing him alive? Run wasn't sure. 

Mek squeezed his hand and brought him back to the conversation. 

“Why is it whenever we go on vacation those two always end up ruining part of it although they don’t mean to?” asked Mek.

“I have no idea,” said Run, laughing. He was grateful for Mek’s consistent calmness. During their fights, Mek never lost control or screamed at him. He merely let Run vent and then suggested solutions. 

Mek also never hesitated to apologize if he was in the wrong. Turning to his side he gave a quick sniff kiss to his boyfriend and smiled. “Thanks for being you.”