Arthit's phone vibrated with an incoming message. He sighed, rubbing his temples before glancing at the screen. The sender was an unknown number.
[☁]: ??
[☁]: Is this Daotok's new boyfriend?
[ARTHIT]: No.
[☁]: Then who the hell are you? And why are you insulting me?
[☁]: Do you have some kind of grudge against me? Or did you add me by mistake?
[ARTHIT]: I don't hold grudges, but this is my job.
[☁]: What's that supposed to mean?
[ARTHIT]: Stay out of his business.
[ARTHIT]: You idiot.
[☁]: Oh, so Daotok sent you to keep me away?
[ARTHIT]: Yeah.
[☁]: Instead of pretending to be his new boyfriend, huh?
[ARTHIT]: No. I don't even want to pretend.
[ARTHIT]: Just stay out of it. I don't have time to sit around arguing with you.
[☁]: Wow, you're the laziest guard dog ever. 555
[☁]: Why does Dao even rely on you?
[ARTHIT]: Exactly. There are millions of people in the world.
[ARTHIT]: But I can't complain, I have to help him anyway.
[☁]: So, what's your deal with Dao?
[ARTHIT]: Enough. I need to start my rounds. Don't even think about contacting him again. I'm tired of arguing with you. Got it?
[☁]: What are you, a doctor or something?
[ARTHIT]: Yeah.
[☁]: What kind of doctor even are you? A doctor, but you still have time to deal with me?
[ARTHIT]: I don't have time, you idiot.
[☁]: Then how can you protect him? 555
[ARTHIT]: Just don't mess with him, alright? You already know doctors don't have time, you moron.
[☁]: So should I wait for you to find time to argue with me or what?
[ARTHIT]: If you stop meddling, it'll be over, won't it? Find someone else, seriously. There are better people than that kid, trust me. Don't cling to the past. If you're really that pent-up, go let off some steam. I can even give you suggestions.
[☁]: You asshole, 555
[☁]: What kind of person are you?
[ARTHIT]: I'm leaving, asshole.
[☁]: Wait, wait.
[☁]: Let's talk first. How's Dao doing? Is he okay?
Arthit exhaled heavily and tossed his phone onto the bed, staring at the ceiling in frustration. The kid with the blue hair from next door had messaged him earlier, asking him to deal with his ex.
Already exhausted, Arthit had added the number just to vent his irritation. He barely had time to sleep, let alone play messenger between ex-lovers. Still, it was part of the deal. Daotok had done a lot for him, and this was just another inconvenience in the long list of things he'd had to put up with.
His rounds lasted well into the night, and by the time he got back to his room after 8 P.M, he noticed his phone had blown up with messages. Annoyed, he unlocked it, only to find that Kram had sent hundreds of stickers.
[ARTHIT]: What's your problem?
[☁]: You didn't respond to me.
[ARTHIT]: I told you I was on rounds. What, are you my wife or something? Blowing up my chat like this?
[ARTHIT]: Annoying.
[☁]: Daotok's not replying to my LINE messages.
[ARTHIT]: I'm going to block you, too.
[ARTHIT]: Blocking me won't solve anything!
[ARTHIT]: Damn it. What's your name?
[☁]: Kram.
[ARTHIT]: Crime? Kylme?
[☁]: Kylme?? You idiot. What about you?
[ARTHIT]: Arthit. You're the idiot. What kind of idiot has a name like "Kam"?
[☁]: Kram. You jerk.
[☁]: Kam your dad.
[ARTHIT]: Why do you even bother with him? Aren't you tired of this already?
[☁]: Can we just call? I'm too lazy to type.
[ARTHIT]: Have we reached the point where I actually call you?
[☁]: Yes. Just pick up.
Arthit rolled his eyes but, out of sheer curiosity, pressed accept.
"Why the hell am I even on a call with you?"
Kram chuckled. "Come on, you're the only person close to Dao that I can still reach. How is he?"
"He's fine. All in one piece, nothing missing or extra."
"Smartass. Why do you have to keep me away from him? Does he hate me that much?"
"If you had any brains, you wouldn't even need to ask."
"Damn, your mouth's nasty as hell. What kind of doctor adds strangers just to insult them? Seriously." Kram laughed. "I really want to get back together with him, man. I've changed. I want another chance."
"That's your problem, not mine."
"Aren't you the least bit sympathetic?"
"My job is to keep you away from him." Arthit rubbed his temple, irritated. "Where are you?"
"America."
"Where in America, you idiot?"
"Chicago."
"Then stay there and don't come back."
"I'm broke, man. I need to go back to my boyfriend." Kram sighed. "You're such a weirdo, though. Nobody else would be doing this. Or... do you like my boyfriend?"
"Hell no. I've just got my own deal with him."
"You've got no beef with me, right? Stop getting in my way so much."
"I don't want to do it. So you should stop."
"What are you gonna do?"
"Trip you up, you idiot. Don't make me arrange for someone to deal with you."
"Why not?"
"Too much effort." Arthit sighed. He didn't actually hate Kram, nor did he have any personal grudge. Why waste energy on someone irrelevant? His only job was to keep him away from Daotok, nothing more.
"You're the laziest guard dog ever, man. Could you even take me down for real?"
"Yeah, but it's not worth the money."
"So cheap."
"Face it, idiot. If he's avoiding you this much, it didn't end well, did it? Let me guess—you screwed him over, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I was awful back then, I admit it. But I've changed! I've improved myself. Why can't people get a second chance when they've turned their life around?"
"Why are you consulting me about this?"
"I'm lonely, I guess. Just answer me, man."
"How the hell should I know? Don't come to me for advice."
"Who else can I ask, damn it? I'm about to lose my mind over this."
"I'll send you a contact for a counselor. Maybe they'll knock some sense into you."
"What the hell?"
"Alright, I'm hanging up. I'm exhausted."
After ending the call, Arthit sighed, stretched, and sank into his chair. This was way too much effort for someone else's ex. But a deal was a deal.
[ARTHIT]: Send contact
[ARTHIT]: That's my personal counselor's number.
[ARTHIT]: Ask him anything.
[ARTHIT]: Each question is one hundred baht!
[ARTHIT]: Transfer to my e-Money.
[ARTHIT]: O6x-xxx-xxxx
☆☆☆☆☆
☁️: Hello, Arthit recommended me to contact you.
Tonfa: Yes?
Arthit sighed, already bracing himself for the inevitable complaints he'd get for sending Kram's contact to Tonfah. He could already hear the lecture coming. But honestly, if there was anyone suited for the role of a counselor, it was Tonfah.
His own job, on the other hand, was far simpler—keep Kram away from the blue-haired kid. That was it. Giving advice? That was completely out of his skillset. He could barely handle his own issues, let alone someone else's.
That was why he never entertained the idea of counseling. But if Kram actually listened to Tonfah, there was a chance his brain would finally get a much-needed reboot. As expected, the next day, Tonfah wasted no time lightly scolding him.
"You really shouldn't give out someone's contact without permission, Arthit. That's not just impolite, it's a safety issue."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Arthit admitted, not even bothering to argue. "Next time, I'll ask first."
Tonfah sighed, then gave him a look.
"So, how did it go?"
"At first, I wasn't planning to get involved," Tonfah said, setting down his drink. "But then I found out he was Daotok's ex. And since Dao's a friend of Typhoon's, I figured Typhoon wanted to help."
"Ah, I see."
"Kram came to me saying he wanted another chance with his ex. But once he started explaining all the crap he pulled in the past, I thought, 'Wow... he really shouldn't go back.'" Tonfah exhaled, shaking his head. "But at the end of the day, it's not my decision, right? The only person who gets to decide is Daotok. And if he's already told you to keep Kram away, isn't that answer pretty clear?"
Arthit nodded, though mostly to appear as if he understood. "Uh-huh."
"I tried explaining it to him, and he actually seemed to get it. He's not completely unreasonable. He admitted that back then, all the bad behavior came from immaturity. That as he's grown older, he's realized how wrong he was to treat someone who loved him like that."
Arthit stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.
"So I asked him, 'Do you still love him, or is it just guilt?' And you know what?" Tonfah leaned back, crossing his arms. "He couldn't answer."
"Huh?"
"And honestly, can you even call that love?" Tonfah scoffed. "If you really love someone, would you ever hurt them like that? No matter what, if you truly love someone, the last thing you'd do is cause them pain. I think it's just guilt. He doesn't love him. He just feels bad and wants to make amends."
Arthit hummed, nodding again. "So what now?"
"He said he'd take time to reflect on himself. And if possible, he'd like to apologize to Daotok, even if it's just once."
"That kinda goes against my job."
"Well," Tonfah said, raising an eyebrow, "maybe ask Daotok first? Facing the past isn't always a bad thing. Maybe he doesn't love Kram anymore, but he's still holding onto the pain. If he gets to hear an apology, it might actually help him move on."
Arthit frowned. "And I'm the one who's supposed to suggest this?"
"Exactly."
"Seriously?"
"It's easy to block someone out of your life, Arthit. But this might be a way for both of them to move on properly. If Daotok really has no feelings left, then he won't feel anything. But if he does, even a little, he should have the right to decide for himself. Just ask him. If he doesn't want to, then shut it down completely."
"Fine, fine, you have a point," Arthit muttered.
Then, after a pause, he rolled his eyes. "And stop giving my contact to random people, alright?" Tonfah smirked.
"Yeah, yeah."
Just then, Johan slid into the seat across from them, glancing between the two. "What's up?"
They had planned to study together at the café today. When Arthit arrived, Tonfah and Hill were already there, with Hill lying in his boyfriend's lap as usual. On the other side of the café, North sat with his own group of friends.
The third floor of this café had practically become their go-to spot. It was always quiet, and well... Johan owned the place. He had bought it back when he was plotting to kick North out.
From what Arthit had seen, Johan and his boyfriend had the weirdest dynamic ever. The guy didn't want North working, so he bought the café just to get rid of him. When Arthit first heard about it, all he could think was, What the actual fuck?
"Arthit gave my contact to a random person," Tonfah said, immediately shifting Johan's attention.
"Who'd you give it to? Why? Can they even be trusted?" Johan demanded, frowning. "What if it's like that psycho from before?"
The 'psycho from before' referred to a stalker who had been after Tonfah for a while. And when Johan said it got messy, he meant messy. He had nearly ripped that guy's head off.
As blunt as Johan could be, he actually cared about his friends. He just sucked at showing it. Like that time when Arthit had jokingly mentioned North about Red, and Johan had sent a message through him, saying, "If you've got something to say, just say it. There are plenty of people willing to listen. Why keep it all bottled up, you idiot?"
Everyone knew Arthit had only brought up Red as a joke. But honestly? He knew these guys were ready to listen. He just not ready to talk.
Arthit filled them in on the 'guard dog' situation, causing Johan to sigh. "So it's fine if I just go tell him, right?" he asked Tonfah.
"Yeah, give it a shot."
"And you talking to strangers? That's no problem for you?" Johan raised an eyebrow at Tonfah.
"What do you mean?"
"Typhoon."
"No, it's fine. I asked him first. He understands. He even said he feels bad for Kram and thinks he just needed someone to listen."
"You're too nice," Arthit muttered. Seriously, these two were a match made in heaven. Tonfah always claimed he wasn't a good person, but compared to Arthit, he was practically a saint. The world still turned because of people like him.
Knowing that Tonfah's conversation with Kram had gone smoothly, Arthit checked his messages. Sure enough, Kram had spammed him again.
What the hell is his problem in Chicago? Does no one talk to him over there? Arthit thought, relieved he had muted the notifications. Once this was over, he could finally get Kram off his back.
[☁]: Arthit T^T
[☁]: I am very grateful. Your friend is very kind.
[☁]: Tonfah is absolutely amazing.
[☁]: Why would someone as good as him lower himself to be friends with you?
Arthit groaned. God, give me strength.
Arthit stared at his phone, watching the three dots on the screen flicker as Kram typed his next message. His fingers drummed against the side of his cup, his patience thinning by the second.
[☁]: He even refused my money, while you gave me your account number.
Arthit smirked, already knowing where this was going.
[☁]: Your intentions are seriously low. You tell me to consult your friend, and then you send me your own PromptPay?
A chuckle escaped him as he quickly typed back.
[ARTHIT]: Damn.
[ARTHIT]: What the hell? You should be the one transferring money to me.
[ARTHIT]: I was the one who gave you the contact info, remember?
A moment later, Kram's reply popped up, blunt as ever.
[☁]: Transferring would be stupid.
[☁]: I've thought about it, man.
[☁]: I don't want to get involved anymore.
[☁]: I want to let Daotok meet someone good. I really feel guilty. Should I just let him go?
Arthit frowned, his fingers hesitating over the keyboard. He exhaled through his nose.
[☁]: Just like Tonfah said. Let him meet someone better. I shouldn't try to make excuses anymore.
Arthit could practically hear the resignation in his words.
[ARTHIT]: Yeah, it's good that you realized.
The response didn't come immediately this time. A minute passed. Then another. And then—
[☁]: But there's one thing I want.
[☁]: I want to meet Daotok.
Arthit's brows lifted slightly, the admission catching him off guard.
[☁]: When I said I missed him, I really do miss him.
[☁]: I haven't seen him in so long.
[☁]: I just want to apologize.
[☁]: I never got to apologize after we broke up.
Arthit narrowed his eyes.
[ARTHIT]: Wait.
[ARTHIT]: Are you really thinking this through?
[ARTHIT]: You're not just tricking me, are you?
The reply came fast.
[☁]: I'm not tricking you. I had an epiphany with Tonfah last night.
[☁]: Unlike you, asshole.
[☁]: Quack doctor. You cheated on the exam, didn't you?
Arthit rolled his eyes.
[ARTHIT]: You bastard.
[ARTHIT]: Yeah, yeah, I'll ask him if he wants to meet you.
[ARTHIT]: If he doesn't want to, you have to stop.
[ARTHIT]: Quit it. I'm tired.
[☁]: Tired of what?
[☁]: You haven't done anything, you bastard!
[☁]: You're just a worthless guard dog.
[☁]: Daotok probably shouldn't help you.
[☁]: I'm going to tell Daotok to stop helping you.
Arthit gritted his teeth, already typing a response before Kram sent another message.
[ARTHIT]: No, you bastard.
[ARTHIT]: Oh, you asshole.
Kram was relentless.
[☁]: Tell Daotok to unblock me.
[☁]: I just want to talk for a bit, and I won't bother him again.
Arthit exhaled sharply, tapping his fingers against his phone before responding.
[ARTHIT]: Fine.
[ARTHIT]: I'll ask him for you.
It didn't take long before Kram replied.
[☁]: Thanks.
[☁]: You're a jerk.
Arthit smirked.
[ARTHIT]: Yeah, you dog.
☆☆☆☆☆
Daotok scrolled through his phone, his fingers flying across the screen as he laughed softly to himself. His group chat was alive with messages, emojis flooding the conversation as his friends teased and bantered back and forth.
CLUB (NOT) DRAWING (DAMN IT, YOU IDIOT) [4]
[DAOTOK]: Everyone!
[DAOTOK]: What are you all doing?
[DAOTOK]: 🤩
[DAOTOK]: 🌸🍀🌿🌷🌟💕
[EASTER]: Dao hahaha You look so happy.
[EASTER]: Send a picture
[EASTER]: I'm at the coffee shop, want to come? Phoon and North are here too.
[DAOTOK]: Are you guys guarding your boyfriends?
[DAOTOK]: 😍😜✨
[EASTER]: Hmm, so many emojis, you must be really happy.
[EASTER]: What's going on?
[DAOTOK]: Ter...
[DAOTOK]: Mr. Jeon is coming to see me soon.
[DAOTOK]: 🐱🐈💗💓💖
[TYPHOON]: Really?
[TYPHOON]: I want to see him too.
[TYPHOON]: How long has he been here?
[DAOTOK]: Not here yet, coming tomorrow.
[TYPHOON]: Hahaha Congrats!
[NORTH]: What's going on?
[NORTH]: They told me to look at my phone, what's going on?
[DAOTOK]: North!
[DAOTOK]: I'm happy.
[DAOTOK]: Everyone!
[DAOTOK]: I'm so happy.
[DAOTOK]: Like overflowing
[DAOTOK]: ✨🌊⛴💞🎊
[NORTH]: Hahaha
[NORTH]: What's up with this cat slave? You look like you're possessed!
[NORTH]: Are you free now?
[DAOTOK]: Free.
[DAOTOK]: Work's done.
[NORTH]: Come over.
[NORTH]: [send location]
[DAOTOK]: Oki doki
[TYPHOON]: Yayy hahaha
[TYPHOON]: Dao, you're so cute.
[DAOTOK]: Okay
[DAOTOK]: I typed it wrong.
[DAOTOK]: I'll zoom over now!
[NORTH]: Calm down, motorcycle king.
[NORTH]: 30 is too fast.
[DAOTOK]: It's 40 now.
[DAOTOK]: Going 30 and you'll fall.
[EASTER]: Aww, I love Dao in this mode. So cute, hahaha.
Daotok set his phone down, unable to suppress the giddy smile on his face. His heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.
Ever since Khun Jeon had been away, something had felt missing, but now that he was coming back— his entire world felt right again. His father had called earlier, informing him that Daddy would be visiting Chiang Mai for business and would be bringing Mr. Jeon along. Four pictures of Mr. Jeon had arrived shortly after.
He had gained a little weight, meaning he had been eating well. That alone reassured Daotok that all the food he had been sending was making it to him.
Even if his Patcharaman crashed, nothing could ruin his mood now. A flicker of thought about Kram surfaced in his mind. His father had known all along about what happened back then, even when Kram had returned.
Daotok had chosen not to tell them, thinking it was unnecessary. He had convinced himself he didn't care anymore, but the truth was, he did. He really did. The evidence lay in the lingering cigarettes and the empty beer cans.
One text from Kram had been enough to stir something deep within him. It wasn't that he missed him or wanted to go back, but the pain still lingered, buried beneath years of avoidance.
His father had suggested something unexpected—talking to Kram. Confronting the past. Understanding why things happened. Perhaps then, they could finally move forward instead of running in circles. But that was only if Kram was willing to listen. There was no need for apologies or reconciliation—only closure.
Daotok shook his head, pushing the thought aside. That was a problem for another day. Right now, happiness was knocking at his door, and he refused to let anything taint it.
He arrived at the coffee shop, riding at a leisurely pace. The location sent in the group chat led him to a cozy little café. Ordering a fresh milk smoothie, he climbed the stairs to the third floor, pushing the door open quietly.
The room was filled with familiar faces. The couples were gathered at one table while the others sat at a Japanese-style setup, playing Uno.
"I'm here," Daotok announced, slipping into a seat. The game continued,but all eyes flickered to him, amusement dancing in North's gaze.
"Your face is glowing, damn," North teased.
Daotok blinked. "Glowing? What do you mean?"
"Like you're at peace. You're so happy you can't hide it."
"Hmm." He picked up his cards. "Want to play?"
The group reshuffled the deck to include him, the atmosphere comfortably. quiet as some of the doctor crew sat nearby reading. The game was lighthearted, laughter filling the air.
"The ghost won again," someone groaned.
"Why is Dao so good at this?" Easter sighed as he gathered the cards.
"Guess I'm just lucky." Daotok smirked. "Want to play something else?"
"The shop has tons of games," Typhoon said, moving to the glass cabinet filled with board games. They played until the doctor crew took a break, everyone naturally gravitating toward their partners.
As Daotok packed up the cards, a familiar voice called out to him. He looked up to see Arthit waving him over.
"How long have you been here?" Arthit asked.
"Just a bit," Daotok replied, settling into a seat across from him. Typhoon and Tonfah flanked him on either side.
Arthit exhaled, then turned to Tonfah. "Is it okay?"
Tonfah nodded. "Yeah."
"So, about you making me the guard dog," Arthit began. "I already yelled at him—yelled at him in a confused way."
Daotok sipped his milkshake, listening.
"I talked to him. He wanted advice, but I told him not to mess with you again or else I'd handle it myself." He smirked slightly. "I did my part, so don't ditch me."
Daotok hummed in acknowledgment, the warmth of his earlier happiness still lingering, unwavering despite the conversation.
Nothing could bring him down—not today. Daotok listened in silence, his gaze fixed on Arthit as he spoke.
"I passed the problem on to Fah," Arthit said, exhaling a curl of smoke into the air. "I thought maybe he could talk to him, and he'd figure it out."
Daotok gave a slow nod, waiting for the man to continue.
"And he did figure it out. His mind unlocked."
Daotok raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. "Really? What did he say?"
Arthit slid his phone across the table, the screen glowing with an open chat.
"He said he wants to apologize. He realized he shouldn't have come back to you. Here, read this."
Daotok hesitated, then lowered his gaze to the screen. His fingers hovered over the device before he finally scrolled through the messages. Words of regret stared back at him, the weight of the apology sinking in.
"But if you want to shut him down, I can do that too," Arthit offered casually, leaning back as if the decision held no real consequence to him.
Daotok's mind wavered.
"That's good," he muttered, more to himself than anyone.
Arthit eyed him. "Are you going to talk to him?"
"Yeah, I'll talk."
"Huh. I thought you'd avoid it. Didn't you want to run away from it?"
Daotok took a deep breath. "Oh, it's okay."
A pause stretched between them before Arthit squinted, sensing something different in his tone. "...What?"
Daotok blinked, as if realizing he had said too much. "...What?"
Arthit continued staring at him, confused. Daotok didn't elaborate. Instead, he shifted in his seat, briefly standing before sitting down again, as if the movement would somehow settle his thoughts.
It wasn't anything, really. He had already discussed it with his father. The only way to move forward was to take a step ahead. The message he read, the regret laced in those words, made the decision easier.
But he wouldn't do it now. He needed more time to prepare himself. He would talk when he was ready. Then, he could move forward—with Khun Jeon.
The thought grounded him, steadying the storm that had been swirling inside his chest for days.
Pushing the phone back toward Arthit, Daotok stood and walked over to Typhoon and Tonfah, their expressions shifting slightly when they noticed him approaching.
"Thank you," he said.
Typhoon tilted his head. "Hmm?"
"For talking to him. Thanks."
"It's nothing, really. Are you okay?" Typhoon asked, concern flickering across his face.
"I'm okay."
Tonfah nodded approvingly. "Good. If you can talk to him, that's great. I think you should try opening up. He seems to have realized what he did. If you both can move on from this, it'll help."
"Yeah, I agree. Yesterday, when Tonfah talked to him, he really seemed to regret it," Typhoon added.
Daotok nodded, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Mm. Thanks. I'll treat you both to coffee."
"Ah, don't worry about it," Tonfah said, shaking his head.
"It's really okay, helping each other out. Honestly, if anything's bothering you, you should just tell us," Typhoon added.
"I've already told North," Daotok replied simply.
Typhoon shot North a glance, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Then why is North not do anything? Going to use P' Arthit again?" He turned to scold North, whose face twisted in mock offense.
"Hey, I didn't want to be the dog! I thought P' Arthit would be useful!" North protested.
Typhoon rolled his eyes as North crossed his arms dramatically. "It's my fault. I thought he'd be useful. But turn out he's just a stupid pawn in this game!"
A scoff came from across the room. "Ah, you idiot," Arthit muttered. "See? You're stupid, North."
"You can't call someone who trusts you stupid!"
"What do you expect from someone like me, huh?"
"Then you should treat me to a meal. I'm hungry."
"You'll get to eat my kick later"
North replied with a laugh "You think I'm scared?"
A moment of silence followed before North, finally spoke. "Of course I'm scared, you idiot. Don't mess with me."
Laughter erupted around the room, shaking off whatever tension had been lingering. Daotok exhaled, relieved by the light-hearted atmosphere.
Slipping away from the group, he made his way downstairs to the coffee.shop, buying drinks for Typhoon and his boyfriend as a small gesture of thanks. When he returned, he handed a latte to Tonfah and herbal tea to Typhoon.
"Hey, what about mine?" Arthit called out, watching the exchange with an expectant look.
Daotok raised an eyebrow. "I helped you too, didn't I?"
"We made a trade, didn't we?" Arthit shot back.
Daotok sighed. "Oh, right."
Arthit leaned in, curious. "Uh, when you go talk to him..."
Daotok hesitated before answering. "Why?"
"Can I come along?"
"You don't have to." But father had told him to bring someone. He didn't want to. He didn't want to bother anyone. But if he didn't take someone, he knew he might hesitate. Might back out. And that wasn't an option. He sighed again. "Alright, alright."