Chapter 20
(Chan POV)
Tuesday Noon - BSFC Training Ground Locker Room
"CONGRATULATION!"
When all your teammates screamed at you at the same time, in a super loud voice, what can you do except take a step back while holding your chest? Chan was super shocked.
What the hell!? Are they trying to kill me?
"What did I say back then, huh? That Doctor T was more than just a friend?" said Pol proudly to the boys. "Am I right or Am I damn right?"
"You are damn right," answered Arm, a big smile on his face while his hand patted Pol's back.
"Pol, I have to admit, your instincts for things like this are really spot on!" yelled Ken. "I guess, the time you spent with Arm watching lakorn in the dormitory when we were still in the academy, was not in vain."
"Ah, yes, that's right! I remember now, they always refused to sneak out of the dorm with us and chose to stay in their rooms," said Big, which was immediately followed by laughter from everyone in the room except Chan, who still hadn't recovered from his shock.
But, hearing Tankhun's nickname came out of Pol's mouth, Chan immediately realized what the boys were making a fuss about. He just didn't expect them to be this joyous. They had never been this enthusiastic about welcoming people that Chan had dated before, especially Anna. Well, he couldn't blame them for that, not in the slightest.
"I think all of you must have seen our pictures plastered on the Internet last night?"
"Yes, Cap!" answered Jom excitedly. "We're so happy for you and Doctor T…"
"And for us too, of course!" shouted Tay, finishing Jom's words.
The boys laughed, while some of them affirmed Jom and Tay's words.
Chan, to be honest, felt so grateful that now they could laugh about those bad days, for he really was so screwed up at that time. Anna's behavior in the last year of their relationship completely wrecked his mind, and that, more or less, fucked up the way he handles things around him. Chan was so disappointed in himself, and he was pretty sure he had let so many people down. When you've lost someone you thought was the love of your life - his ex-fiance - you tend to hold on too tightly to your next serious relationship blindfully. Or maybe it just him - who was being so stupid to let Anna walk all over him. But, it was not an excuse for his action, really. Thank God, that nightmare was over.
"I know I was such a bastard last season. Never thought it would be this bad for you guys, I'm so sorry, boys," pleaded Chan, his voice laced with regrets.
"No offense, Cap. But, we were walking on eggshells then. You were very tense and grumpy most of the time, even small things can become huge," uttered Tem. "However, we are so relieved now… our old Captain is back! Woohoo~~~"
Cheers filled the locker room instantly, and Chan felt so thankful for being surrounded by the best teammates that someone could ever wish for.
"And the most important thing is…" added Pete. "We want our P' to be happy."
"Damn right!"
"P', no more Grumpy-Cap, please!"
"Wish you the best, P'!"
Things got chaotic for a minute there, Chan wasn't even sure who said what, but it wasn't that important anyway, he got their point. The boys very rarely call him P', Cap is like a nickname that is imprinted on them, both on and off the pitch, but in his mind, Chan really thinks of them all as his brothers. BSFC is indeed his family.
"Thank you, boys. I am happy," said Tankhun firmly, immediately greeted by loud cheering. Chan was beamed.
"Okay, enough of this. Get your smelly asses to shower… NOW!"
"YES, SIR!"
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By the time Chan finished showering and returned to the locker room, almost all of his teammates were fully clothed and ready to go. This was actually a new habit of his, usually Chan is the first to shower and leave. But, this was his last season, and Chan just wanted to savor the little things like this for as long as he can.
"Doctor T followed me back and replied to my DM," screamed Tay out of the blue. "A~h, he's the sweetest."
From the boys' acts that ensuing after that, Chan watched secretly - some openly checking his phone, some more subtle - it seems that Tay isn't the only one who has followed Tankhun on social media. Apparently, his 'fake' boyfriend really captured his teammates' hearts in just one meeting. Hopefully, that fake status is not for long though, because Chan is determined, more than ever, to sweep Tankhun off his feet, for real.
"Cap?" called Tay.
"Yes?"
"Do you mind if I shop-date with Doctor T this Friday? You guys don't have any plans that day, hopefully?" inquired Tay with an eager face.
"Of course not," replied Chan. "Special occasion?"
"Not really," said Tay, who unprovokedly blushed.
"Ooooh, must be a really hot date, otherwise why the need to buy a new outfit," teased Arm, chuckled.
"Oooooooh~"
The boys can be very nosy sometimes. Poor TayTay. But they were that close, so they couldn't help themselves to not teasing or even roasting one another. Chan hoped that when he left, they would still be this close. Ah, he will miss these bunch so fucking much.
Ken walked closer to Tay and put his arm around Tay's shoulder "Did my gorgeous baby just blush?"
Tay quickly pushed Ken, and hissed, "Shut up! Who's your baby?"
"Spill the tea, TayTay! Who are you going on a date with?" hollered Jom, joined the party.
Jom's question was immediately followed by teasing and taunting from everyone. To be honest, it looked like only Vegas and Tem (hmm this is weird) not participating. But, even Vegas was laughing and cheering with this mob of chaos, Tem just quiet.
"Mind your own business!" yelled Tay as he gave them the middle finger. "Cap, I'm out of here. See you tomorrow!"
"See you, Tay!"
"Tay, wait up!" hollered Tem, who then immediately followed Tay out of the locker room. "Bye, guys!"
Hmm, interesting!
For a second there, Chan felt like he was like Arm and Pol, creating a story in his mind.
God damn it!
One by one, the boys said their goodbye and Chan became the only person left in the locker room. While walking towards the stadium exit, Chan checked his cellphone and found that Tankhun had not sent him any messages. He felt a bit disappointed, especially after he found out earlier that his doctor was replying to everyone's messages. Chan decided to message Tankhun.
Chan
How's your day? I saw the papz's pic of you today. You look amazing. Love the fedora and the tie.
Chan saw the three dots, which indicated Tankhun was typing his reply, on his cellphone screen right away, but then the reply never came, even the three dots disappeared.
Hmm, weird.
Chan decided to wait patiently.
It's Doctor!
Fine.
That's it?
Chan praised his looks today, and Tankhun only answered him with one word? That was bloody cold and unusual. Chan was feeling worried in an instant, did the paparazzi do something to Tankhun? Maybe he should call and ask him directly.
Just as Chan was about to press the phone icon on his screen, he heard a slight commotion. Looked like it was behind the exit door. Chan was trapped.
"Tay, I'm telling you, he's a nightmare!"
Oh it's Tem and Tay!
"I appreciate you're telling me about this, Tem. But it's all in the past. People changed."
Chan immediately felt bad for eavesdropping but he didn't mean to at all. How the hell did he supposed to know they were behind the stadium exit door? The two of them were the first to leave the locker room. Now, he had no other choice but to remain silent.
"I don't think it applied to that person," stated Tem firmly.
"Again, I appreciate that you're looking out for me, Tem, and I'm really sorry that I have to say this to you, but please mind your own business," replied Tay as firmly as Tem earlier. "I better go."
"Tay! Just please be careful!"
"I can take care of myself!"
Chan prayed to all the deities that Tem walked straight into the parking lot and didn't re-enter the stadium. It seemed like his prayers had been answered as Chan could hear footsteps walking away. He breathed a sigh of relief. Still, he waited five minutes just to be sure, before walking toward his car.
In the car, Chan was again contemplating whether he should call Tankhun or not. However, he wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't know exactly how Tankhun was right now. Chan dialed the doctor's contact number.
Four rings and still Tankhun hadn't picked up. Hm, should he call later on?
"Hello?"
"Hey~ it's me."
"I know," replied Tankhun. "What is it, Chan? I'm in the middle of something here."
Tankhun's chilly tone made Chan even more worried. Yesterday they were just fine, so something must have happened today. Did he make any mistake unknowingly?
"Oh, I'm sorry for disturbing you. I just want to make sure that you're okay."
"Didn't I reply to your message, I said I'm fine."
The experience of competing for over twenty years had taught Chan one thing, you have to know when it's time to back off and not force a win. Tankhun relented.
"Good to hear, Doctor. Have a good day."
"Good day."
I need help!
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(Chan POV)
Tuesday Evening - the Moonlight
"Hey, P'!" greeted Porsche. "You came alone?"
"Hey, Porsche, I need to ask you about something," Chan greeted back. "Is Kinn here?"
"Nope, but he came later on to pick me," answered Porsche. "What's wrong, P'? You look kinda intense."
"I'm sorry, Porsche, but can you give me a specific time when he gets here?" asked Chan again, probing.
"Around eleven. Why?"
"Good, plenty of time then."
Chan was one hundred percent aware that he sounded like a delirious person, not to mention a bit rude, but he didn't know who else to turn to for help. Porsche was the only person in the world who knew of the arrangement between him and Tankhun.
"If I didn't know better, P', I'd feel like you resent my husband," said Porsche, sarcastically. "What do you really want to talk to me about? Is it too personal?"
"It's about Tankhun," declared Chan, straight to the point. Porsche's demeanor immediately turned defensive.
"What about him?"
"Last time we met here, do you remember?"
"How could I not?"
Porsche's tone started to change, Chan knew he had to be extra careful now.
"Tankhun said that night that he wasn't ready to be involved in a long term relationship," said Chan, as calm as he could.
"Yes, I remembered, what about it?"
"Did he mean it as he had never been in a serious relationship before or…?"
"Or what? Let's be clear here."
Looked like Porsche's protective mode was fully on.
"He just got out of a serious relationship and wasn't ready to try again?" replied Chan. "But, I'm more inclined to the first question."
Instead of answering, Porsche took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose with his right thumb and index finger. "You two really are determined to put me in a bad position, huh? P' asked me to keep a secret from Kinn. P'Chan asked me to spill things which is not my right to tell. Killing me is much kinder than this, you know that?"
Chan winced.
"At least be honest with me, P'. Have your feelings towards my P' changed since that night?" inquired Porsche. "Your photos at the Deli looked believable, very believable, if you ask me. Never knew the two of you are very good actors."
Now it was Chan's turn to take a deep breath, he tousled his own hair before saying, "Frankly? I'm still confused."
Liar!
"But one thing that I can tell you for sure," added Chan. "The possibility, at least from my side, to have certain feelings towards Tankhun is very big."
"P'Chan? Can we just get straight answer here? Do you have the feeling or not?"
"Porsche? You know I've been burned… twice… very badly, right?"
Porsche nodded.
"I don't know if I'm ready to gamble this old heart of mine again."
"But?" uttered Porsche, saying what's not said. "Go on… I'm listening…"
"I need something to... fuck, this is hard!" swore Chan, getting impatient with himself. "I just need a little reassurance that I don't open my heart once again to something that hopeless."
Chan pleaded to Porsche here and he was fully aware of that fact.
Porsche waited for a long time before finally giving his answer, with a face that cannot be said ecstatic, "Fine, that's good enough for me... for now."
"Thank you, Porsche. I owe you big time."
"Hn."
TBC
