Chapter 3 - Mad Puppy

He had seen her before when she waved at him passing by in the corridor. She is a small girl with a nice face and is taking engineering as well, but not in his class.

"I heard you were in an accident," Pat smiles uncomfortably. He doesn't want to be rude, but explaining over and over the accident is starting to bore him, "And lost some of your memories," she smiles at him, her cheeks getting a nice shade of rose, "Maybe you don't remember me. My name is Prim. I'm from the first year. We met when I asked you to sign my card when I got in."

Pat nods and politely responds, "Sorry, I don't remember."

She rises and waves her hands, her eyes shining with warmness.

"No, no! It's totally fine. It's kind of nice even."

Pat is confused, "Nice?"

Her laugh resonates melodiously.

"Don't get me wrong, but I was so lost at the beginning of the year. It's good you don't remember! That way, we'll have the chance to build new memories."

Pat's face relaxes in a surprised smile.

Building new memories.

That sounds good. Prim is the first person to say that to him. Everyone is trying hard to make him remember, asking everyday how he is and if he remembered something. His parents, his sister, his friends, Pran, every single one of them. Asking and asking. And getting disappointed. Over and over...

"You are the only one to ask me not to remember…"

He hasn't shared this with anyone, maybe not even himself… He should want to remember. And he does, but… This is turning out like a test he's failing again and again.

"Now, I'm starting to feel like I'm losing very funny memories," he teases her.

She chuckles, "It's a possibility."

He's feeling good and comfortable, so he smiles back at her. The sensation that he is missing something, that he's not the Pat people want is not there anymore. He is feeling enough for this conversation.

"Are you leaving?" he asks her.

"Yes. I just came to meet some friends of mine. We used to go to high school together. They got into architecture."

She looks back at a boy and a girl. The boy is taller than Pat and looks like a model, and the girl is taller than Prim but still small and chubby. She has a sexier style than Prim, who looks cuter. When Pat waves at them, the girl waves back, and the boy swadee him.

"Do you three need a ride?"

"They still have classes. But I would be up for that. I finished for today."

He claps his hands once, "Nice! Let's go, then?"

She nods and turns to his friends.

"Dew, Wa! I'll go home with Phi. We see each other later!"

They start heading to the parking lot, not without a growling goodbye from Wa.

"Have fun!"


At the agreed time, he and his sister got to a bar a little outside campus. They spot Korn and Ink already sitting at a table and head there.

Ink… Pat chuckles, thinking about their reunion, still at his parents' house.

"Ink?!"

Pat stared at the girl who entered his house as if she belonged there. It was Ink, the girl he had a crush on throughout high school. There she was again!

"Hey, Pat! How are you feeling?" she sat next to him and hugged him, "Close your mouth. A fly may come in," she teased.

He hurriedly composed himself from the shock.

"What are you doing here? Did you get to know I was in an accident?"

"Hey! May you please take your male paws out of my faen? Thank you very much!" Pa screamed at him on her way to the kitchen.

Pat noticed his hands were still on Ink's arm but took some time to process what his sister had said. When she returned, she sat on the arm of the couch next to Ink, one hand on her shoulder.

"I know you are amnesiac, but I won't cut any slack from you if you mess up with my girl."

Ink laughed and squeezed Pa's puffy cheeks, kissing her nose.

"Oh, oh! Look at this baby!"

Pa shrugged and smiled cutely. A chill travelled through Pat's spine. Baah! Disgusting! But he didn't have time for how creepy his sister was because he was confused. He was definitely confused!

"What is going on?"

" P'Ink is my girlfriend," she stated with a smile, her cheeks flushed.

The surprise hit him again, his chin falling open, his body frozen in the same position.

"Fortunately, he was sitting for this," joked Ink.

"«The past you» already said he was super okay with it. No backsies!"

Pat stared at his sister while the surprise ran through his body.

"You are dating?"

They both nodded at the same time. Synchronization from Hell!

"Fucking Gods! Are you joking with me? C'mon! Are you for real? How did…?"

"Please don't think this is a joke."

He looked at his sister's sincere face.

"Wha-? Are you les-Wait!" he halted and pulled his sister towards him, squishing her between him and Ink, "Do you know I used to have a crush on her?" he whispered to her ear.

"Your high school crush on my girlfriend is well documented, yes," she responded, rolling her eyes.

Pat leaned back on the couch, still assimilating the whole situation.

"How did this even start? Do Por and Ma know?"

Ink smiled, "Of course! And they love me. At least, Me they approve."

Pat didn't follow.

"Who don't they approve?"

Ink arched her eyebrow, "Pran?"

Pat's body got alert as he heard Pran's name, his lifetime rival turned high school sort-of-friend turned boyfriend prank perpetrator.

"Oh! No way! They put you up for this as well?"

Ink shook her head in disbelief.

"Dang, he really doesn't believe."

Pa sighed heavily, "Should we be surprised? You remember how much time and stupidity it took him to understand he was in love with Pran for years."

"He's truly obtuse. Is it because he's a man, a lower specimen?"

Pat pouted, and Ink threw him a warm smile.

"Look at you, gathering around to attack this poor male soul. Wait!" his body jerked up, "Does that mean…" he paused for a second, contemplating the thought, "Do we have the same type?"

"What?"

"Do we fall for the same type of people?"

Pa tilted her head, thinking.

"Well, I did have a crush on P'Pran," she turned to Ink, "After he saved me on the lake, you know? It lasted some time even…"

Her body tensed just like Pat's, and the two siblings stared at each other.

"Do we get attracted by the same type of people?" she asked. Both dropped to the couch, gaping at the wall in front, "Isn't that a little bit weird?"

"Should I be angry?" he asked.

Pat was not angry, not then, not now. He is happy. Since the surprise had passed, at least. Pat was ripped from the thought of how small the world is when Korn's screams and whistles.

"DAAAAAAMNN! Meung, your boy is hot!"

Pat looks displeased at Korn. Korn, who is apparently giving a standing ovation to that hot someone. Pat turns to see what left Korn so pleased.

At the door, there's Wai, that annoying boy from yesterday, together with probably the most handsome sight Pat has ever contemplated. Pran is unreal! He is dressed in tight black trousers and a black shirt, with light fabric but not enough to be see-through. And why should it be? It isn't necessary. The shirt is open all the way down to its fourth button, revealing all kinds of Pran's skin, from his neck to the end of his chest, a necklace decorating it. And what is happening with his hair? It is perfectly opened so his bangs would fall only to the right side of his forehead.

"Oh! He looks amazing. Wow!" his sister agrees.

Their eyes catch, just enough time for the other boy to recognise him and soon cut the contact. It ends up being only Wai to come to their table.

"Hello! How are you?"

Korn nods as a greeting and asks, "Where is Pran going?"

Wai gasps, "I've just arrived, and that's the first thing you ask?" Wai pretends to cry comically.

"If you want me to ask about you, you should dress like that!"

They laugh. Maybe this Wai guy isn't so bad.

"I know. He's looking like fire!"

Scratch that last thought. Pat switches in his chair uncomfortably. Wai and Pran seem close. Is there a necessity to objectify his friend so publicly?

"But I've seen him in better moods..." he continues, unaware of Pat's thoughts.

Pran comes back just a minute later with a beer in his hand.

"Hum," Pran greets.

He looks around, his eyes falling on the only free chair next to Pat.

Oh, he is mad, alright! No smile whatsoever, not even the usual polite one. He drops himself rigidly to the chair. However, Pat is not easy to intimidate. He has known him for long. His anger is nothing he cannot handle. Accepting the non-existent challenge, Pat faces him, drinking him down and up.

This Pran is not as familiar. His anger, yes. But this skin at hand reach is unfamiliar. The contour of his thighs through the black pants is unfamiliar, uncharted territory for Pat's eyes. Pran's eyes never burnt so deep in Pat's skin as they do now. Pat found himself forced to look away when his eyes met Pran's, a violent flush of pink threatening to overcome his skin. He has never been so thankful for his tanned skin before. He swallows dry and takes a deep but slow breath. He's no coward!

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today, or is that your usual disposition?"

Pran's dark, piercing gaze is still burning, but Pat smiles through it.

"Pat, to—"

"P'Pat!"

Pran clenchs his jaw upon the interruption and looks away. It is Prim walking to them.

"I didn't know you also come to this club."

He turns and smiles at the girl.

"How are you, Nong Prim?

"Oh, P'Pran! P'Wai!"

Prim's two friends are approaching. The girl's eyes widened upon seeing Pran.

"Oh, my Gods, Phi! You look so damn hot!"

The boy (Dew, was it?) clicks his tongue.

"Wa, control yourself! Sorry, Phi."

A small smile surfaces on Pran's face. It doesn't seem fake. He seems close to the juniors from his university.

"It's okay, Nong Dew. It's nice to receive a compliment."

Yihwa faces Dew with a fulfilled smile.

"See?" she continues, looking back at Pran, "He's just a little upset because he's the least beautiful of us three," she pointed at her, Dew and Prim.

"Oh. And here I was thinking he's the most handsome here present!" Pran teases with a short but dimpled smile.

Is Pran trying to flirt with the junior? Well, there it goes his morals. That's authority abuse! He's his junior. And hello! Isn't he trying to convince Pat they are dating? Where is his sense of professionalism?

"You recovered your smile pretty quickly," Pat teases.

Pran's face hardens again. Because of course, it does. With him, he never minded being unpleasant.

"Yes. There are people to whom is worth smiling."

He scowls at Pat, and Pat knits his eyebrows while Korn rolls his eyes at the interaction. Oh! Pran is mad at him.

Did I do something wrong?

Pat takes the stare that Pran drops on him, giving back as much as he can, while trying to remember in which way he might have upset Pran.

"What if we go dancing?" asks Yihwa to Pran, trying to release the tension everyone could feel rising around the table.

"Yes! Come along as well, Phi," agrees Prim, grabbing Pat's arm.

Pat laughs, "I'm not drunk enough to be dancing in a club."

Pran exhales sharply, gritting his teeth.

"Well, I think a dance is just the thing I need."

So, he gets up, gulping his beer in one go, and starts heading decisively to the small dance floor.

"Hell, yeah! Let's go!" Yihwa goes behind Pran, already wiggling her arms to the upbeat music.

"Don't you want to come as well, P'Wai?" asks Dew politely.

Wai gives him his crooked smile.

"I think I'll watch the show from here."

Dew sawadee them and walks away with Prim, who waves at Pat.

Korn reaches to him and whispers, "What did you do?"

Pat doesn't know. He shrugs to sign he doesn't care, but... Yes, he must have done something.

When the juniors reach the dancefloor, Pran is already wiggling his body to the sound of the music. Pat observes him, anticipating the funny moment that would give him the chance to go there and tease him. But it doesn't come. When the music fades to a new one with a Latino tone to it, Pran's hips start moving to the rhythm. They move to the front and back, side to side, in a hypnotic way.

"What is that?"

The heat around Pat rises even more, and his mouth gets dry. There is this particular movement when Pran rolls his ass in a way Pat can only describe as sinful. His dick twitching with interest, he looks down, his cheeks burning. He mustn't look at Pran like that. Pran is his rival turned friend. More than that, he's nice deep down and honourable, without a doubt. Pat is feeling bad to be thinking about him like that. Again...

Of course, it doesn't take a long time for Pran to be approached by a drunk guy who tries to grope him. Pat tenses, but before he even manages to get up, Dew is pulling the guy away from Pran. That leaves Pat with an indecipherable mix of feelings. He watches how Dew and Pran talk, their heads close so they can hear each other (probably). But the smile is back on Pran's face.

"Why don't you go there? Dance a little," suggests Pa.

"Yes, meung. Go get your boy!" Korn hits him on the shoulder.

Pat shakes his head, watching as Pran gets dragged by the crowd a little further from the group.

"Can you stop that? He's not my boy. It's just… Doesn't he have a notion of the danger of what he is doing?"

Ink leans to him, her head on her hand, "What is he doing?"

"Dancing like… Like that. And looking… You know! Dressing like that in a club. He came all grumpy. Now, he's smiling. He's definitely not okay."

"He seems okay to me," Wai comments, crossing his arms.

Who asked you, dumbass?

Another guy comes into the picture. He is bulkier than Pat and slightly shorter than him and Pran, but tall enough to step behind him, placing one hand on his hip and moving his hips to the sound of the music. Pat watches how Pran body tenses when he gets touched.

What the fuck is that guy doing? Pran doesn't like to be touched!

But Pran's reaction is different from the one Pat was expecting. The boy swipes his arm over Pran's shoulder, and Pran arches his head to the guy's shoulder, his neck in total display. And the arse appreciates it. He tries to kiss his cheek, but Pran moves his face away fast enough with a smile. His other cheek runs towards a wet glass of a fresh drink that the guy offers him. Pran accepts.

Pat's going to throw up! Did he drink that much? Certainly not. But the nausea Pat feels sailing through the pit of his stomach is like a storm. It makes him want to rip off the stupid definitely fake smile that is plastered on Pran's face. And much, much more than that, to wear the other guy's skull as a hat. Next thing Pat knows, he is next to them, yanking the drink from Pran's lips.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?"

The boy behind Pran grips his waist firmly. Pat's fists clench at the behaviour, crushingly strong. His breathing is fast but deep. The guy's muscles tense under his clothes while Pat stares down at him, while the guy's eyes analyse the situation, his chapped lips tightly closed.

The feeling of something on his arm makes Pat's gaze tremble just enough to distinguish Pran's smile through the red fog clouding his vision, and that apparently grounds him. Pran always seemed to ground him. When Pat's father was being too much, when his head was in the clouds of unrealistic dreams, even when he didn't manage to surpass his grades... Before and now.

Still, the voice that came out of Pat was deeply unfamiliar, "You better let him go now while I'm managing to control myself."

The boy knits his eyebrows and looks around hesitantly.

"Your boyfriend?" he asks Pran.

"It's complicated," Pran answers with a big dimpled smile.

Lastly, the guy figures the best decision is to walk away. Pat's eyes follow him until he looks back, carrying what seems like frustration, and finally exits the club.

Making use of the weight of Pran's head on his shoulder, Pat takes some time to control his breathing and unclench his fists.

"You're so sexy," whispers Pran.

Pat opens his eyes. The first thing he notices is Pran's fresh smell mixed with sweat. Pran's hips continue moving to the beat, but his head is still resting on Pat's shoulder, his hair just millimetres from his nose. He forces Pran away from him, just distant enough to be able to look at his eyes.

"Are you crazy, Pran? What is up with you today?"

Pran pushes him away, trying to maintain the balance of his own body.

"Did I do something to make you mad?" Pat screams for Pran to be able to hear him over the music, much louder at the dancefloor than at the table where he was talking with his friends just moments ago.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be dancing with your new girlfriend?" Pran throws back as loud as he.

Pat looks at him, confused, "What are you talking about, Pran?"

He steps closer, reaching his arms to him, but Pran shoves them away.

"I saw you! I saw the googly, stupid eyes you made to her. I saw you yesterday at your side of the campus."

"Yesterday?"

He gets closer to Pran to understand what he is saying. This time, he doesn't stop him.

"You were so close to each other and laughing… You used to laugh like that for me. It was me. Go! If you want to leave me, do it quickly!"

He pushes Pat again, making him bump into someone, the cold liquid of a drink drowning the back of his shirt. Pat hurriedly apologises to the guy, passing him a few bills for the drink he has just spilt. When he turns back, Pran is aggressively trying to dance again but, this time, failing miserably.

"The fuck, Pran? Enough!"

He grabs Pran, trying to move him out of the crowded dancefloor.

"No! I don't want you to leave. I don't want to be without you again."

Pran's shoulders dropped, his lips pouting. Deliciously pouting.

Gosh, Pat, is now the time to think about stupid shit?

Looking more carefully, he notices how Pran's eyes are full of tears, just some escaping freely.

"Pran! Wha-. What's happening?"

Again, his expression changed. Now, an angry (cocky even) frown creases his face.

He grips Pat's nape, his nails scratching the sensitive skin, and growls, "You are not leaving me for Prim. You love me. Not her!"

Pran's moodiness is making him dizzy. His patience is running short by now. But gosh! Pran's dimples are making a beautiful show just for him. He just wants to lick them. One and another. Pran in this outfit will be his downfall! So, Pat shakes Pran, not even knowing if he's trying to wake Pran up from his delirious state or to wake himself up from his.

"What Prim, Pran? That one?"

Pat squishes his cheeks and turns his face in Prim's direction. Prim, who is dancing body to body with Dew, a hand caressing the back of his head, their faces close as much as their considerable height difference allows.

Pran stares at them with his mouth open, his eyes squished as if he's having difficulty seeing.

"You saw it? Then, let's go!"

However, Pran doesn't think like that. He shoves Pat again. He, once again, bumps into another someone, a girl this time, who apparently isn't at all pleased with that. After quickly resolving the situation, Pat turns again to Pran, who is shoving his fingers into his eyeballs, trying to take out his contact lenses.

"What—," Lord have mercy on my soul, "What are you doing now, Pran?" Pat asks, exasperated.

He turns to Pat, eyes rounded, like a deer caught in headlights. But Pat doesn't have the time to relish how cute Pran is. It is time to take him out of this club.

"Come on, Pran!"

He brings Pran's arm over his shoulders and starts manoeuvring him back to the table.

"I couldn't see properly."

"Well, now you can't for sure, saraleo! You took out your lenses."

Pran smiles and rests his head on Pat's.

"I love you so much."

Pat halts his steps, his heart beating furiously on his chest.

What did he say?

When he tries to swallow, his throat is completely dry. He has never said this during this whole boyfriend prank. Nor ever. Now he said it just like that; like it is the most natural, normal, obvious thing ever. A rush of redness floats to his cheeks, a smile dancing on his lips. He's brought out of the trance when someone bounces while dancing against his back. He shakes his head, refocusing on the task at hand. He must take Pran out of this hell house. He has bumped into too many people for a night.

When they reach the table, their friends are already looking at them.

"Hey. I'm taking him back."

Korn smirks.

"You had a hard time there. Beautiful to watch."

Pat gawks at Korn, "Yes. Thanks for the help, asshole."

"I was right behind your back if you needed me."

Pran's face jerks up, "Wai!"

He calls him closer as if he is going to tell him a secret, so Wai gets up and brings his ear near to Pran's mouth. He ends up startled when Pran's voice, instead of soft and low as to be expected, comes much louder than a secret is supposed to be.

"Look! He's holding me. I think he still loves me," he giggles, "I'm going home with him, okay?"

Pran looks at Wai, anticipating his response.

"You're so wasted!" Wai laughs, "Yes, yes, of course, go."

Pat shakes his head, a smile threatening to cover his lips.

"Very well," before heading to the door, he halts, "Wait! Where did you put the lenses you took out?"

Pran tilts his head like he didn't understand a word of what Pat had said.

"Oh meung… Well, that's a problem for tomorrow."

They head outside to the parking lot. Pran has progressively lost more and more control of his body, weighing more on Pat.

"Pran, get it together!"

Pat tries to balance him, but Pran's body has become softer. So, he carries him the rest of the way to the car.

"Pran, why are you sleeping? Wake up! How many drinks did you take?"

He opens the car and shoves Pran inside with some effort. Then, he gets in. Pran is mumbling something, so Pat leans to both hear and put his seatbelt on.

"What?"

"I really love his abs, Wai. But don't tell him. He's already full of himself!"

Finally, Pat chuckles. The necklace Pran wears around his neck catches his eyes, guiding, pulling Pat's eyes to his chest. His chest that is glowing with sweat. Sweat that is dripping from his hairline through his neck, covering all his face.

"Pran? Are you feeling sick?"

Pat tries to lift his head, but Pran is having a hard time even keeping his eyes open. Pat tries to roughly shake him by his shoulders.

"Why are you like this?"

When he arrived, he was sober. Before he came to the table, he didn't take long, just the time to order a drink. A drink he brought to the table. A beer he finished at the table. He didn't order anything else. Pat was watching him all the time. He doesn't know how Pran is with drinking; he has never drunk with him before (at least, not that he remembers), but no one is this knocked down after a beer. Did he drink anything else?

Looking back to the closed door of the club, he remembers, "That fucker…"

Then, Pran stops moving completely, only shallow breaths making his chest go up and down.

"Pran!"

No matter how much Pat screams and shakes him, Pran isn't waking up. So, he takes out his phone and dials the emergency number.

"191, what's your emergency?"

"Hello, I think my friend was drugged!"


Mama's note but VERY IMPORTANT ONE: if you go out drinking, please don't accept drinks from strangers or people you've just met. Pran's action was stupid. It was not sexy, it was not funny, and if this was a real situation, it could have had really bad outcomes for him, even his death, depending on the drug and dosage. Have fun consciously!

One thing you're totally free to do is scream at me in the comment section! See you next time!