#sotustheseries | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

weilongfu · 5 years

Text

Poor boys need no sympathy

Sequel to Rich boys have no chill

Summary: Ae is poor, but not that poor. What he lacks in money, he makes up with good family and friends, like Can. And a senior from another university that likes spicy basil chicken with fried egg. And.. old rivals turned med students from another university? No matter what ANYONE says, poor boys don’t need your damn sympathy. They’d much prefer their (prospective?) boyfriends listen to them. Phana doesn’t count, the tall, rich, jackass.

At long last, I finally finished it! I hope you guys enjoy the sequel/continuation of Rich boys have no chill. We finally have the flip side of the story!

Can was a good friend. So when he came up to Ae and asked to sleep over at his home with him that weekend just to, “Get away from the campus for a while, you know?” Ae didn’t have a reason to say no.

He might have wanted to say no, but Can’s pleading face was something to be reckoned with when confronted alone. After Pete’s of course. And Nong Yim’s… Well… at least it came before Pond’s.

Pete was away for a function with his mother anyway. And Ae had to admit that after Pete had asked if he’d ever had any friends sleep over, he was mildly curious about what happened during sleepovers between friends.

Can was definitely not sleeping on Ae’s bed though, that was for sure.

Ae also politely acted as if he hadn’t seen Pete’s texts about how Tin had been hounding Can on campus for a date. He also chose to ignore Pete’s request to help in resolving the romantic tension between Tin and Can.

Tin could woo Can on his own damn time. The jerk. Ae didn’t owe him any favors.

Even if Pete promised him favors for helping.

“Okay okay, but I’m holding you to that,” Ae texted back as he considered helping just a little.

Pete’s emojis were exceptionally enthusiastic in his reply.

Oh picked up Ae and Can on Friday afternoon. Can was surprisingly quiet on the two hour ride to Ae’s home, but he answered all of Oh’s questions at least. Can’s phone filled the rest of the silence with it’s buzzing. Can didn’t answer any of the messages, but he read every single one. His face was torn between a smile and a grimace.

Clearly Tin had affected the hyperactive boy more than Ae had expected.

Ae’s parents took to Can easily and Can integrated himself very quickly by helping and not being bothered by the heat or the work. Dinner time came quickly enough. Several dishes filled the table and Can’s mouth watered while his eyes sparkled. It was as if all the troubles of the day had vanished. Pete’s texts were also a reassuring break from Can’s attention.

At least until Pete mentioned that Tin was at the same gala and all he wanted to talk about was Can. Ae glanced at Can, happily eating, out of the corner of his eye. How Can managed to warp life around him, Ae would never figure out.

“Oi Nong, won’t you say hi? I’ve been here five minutes already and nothing.”

Ae whipped his head around to find a face he hadn’t seen in a while. “P’Arthit!”

Arthit was from the village over, but liked to come around for food once in a while (“Your mother’s spicy basil chicken is the best. Don’t tell my mother.”). Since he’d gone to college, Ae valued Arthit’s advice as a senior engineering student. Although they went to different universities, Arthit came by for at least one meal and to catch up during breaks.

Arthit offered a fist bump-turned-handshake and turned his attentions to Can. “Are you an engineering student too Nong?”

Can scrunched up his face. “No way! Engineering is too many numbers. I’m in Sports Science, P’. My name is Can.” He shook Arthit’s hand. “Sit with us! Do you like soccer, P’?”

Arthit smiled like he was used to Can’s personality already. “You remind me of someone, Nong.” Arthit sat at their table. “Tell me, N’Ae, how is your first year going?”

“Easy since you’re not hazing us,” Ae teased. “Even at my Uni we hear about your reputation as a fearsome hazer.”

“A hazer? Are you going to make us run laps like P’No?” Can’s voice was muffled around his chopsticks. “I don’t want to run laps on the weekend.”

“Making people run laps on the weekend? P’Arthit, you are cruel.” Ae made a face and Arthit raised an eyebrow before they turned around. “Long time no see, N’Ae.”

“Phana.” Ae rolled his eyes. “P’Kit, P’Beam. What’s the Wild Doctors Gang doing around here?”

“Wild Doctors Gang? You’re still calling yourselves that?” Arthit stood and greeted Pha, Kit, and Beam while Ae sulked a little bit.

“How do you know so many people, Ai Ae! I thought you said you weren’t popular,” Can objected.

Ae sighed. “I’m not exactly friends with Phana.”

“Oi, it should be P’Phana from you!”

Ae and Pha began their customary staring match. Arthit laughed and kept count. “You haven’t changed a bit N’Pha. I bet N’Ae kicks your ass this time.”

“He can try,” Pha said through grit teeth.

“I’ve met someone who glares better than you,” Ae said, completely nonchalant. “I’ve been getting practice.”

“We’re here on a community project for the med school,” Kit said as he sat down and accepted a plate from Can. Beam motioned to Ae’s mother for more plates and food. “Community outreach through a day clinic. We’ll be here until tomorrow evening.”

“And I bet Ai Kitty is thankful someone else isn’t here,” Beam teased as he elbowed Kit. Kit elbowed him back but Can suddenly took interest.

“Is someone bothering you P’? Do you have tips for avoiding jerks?” Can looked at Kit with sparkling eyes. “Can you tell me your secrets?”

Kit and Beam leaned back a little bit. “Someone bothering you, Nong?” Beam asked. “Girl troubles?”

“I wish,” Can said as he stabbed a piece of chicken. “It’s a boy. And he won’t stop bothering me!”

“Ai Can, I don’t think you should bother P’Kit and P’Beam about Ai Tin,” Ae said without breaking eye contact with Pha. “They barely know you.”

“Then let’s call it… what word did Ai Tin use? Netweaving?”

“Networking.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said!”

Ae fought the urge to roll his eyes while Kit and Beam laughed. “You’re an interesting Nong. I guess we can relate,” Kit said before offering his hand for a handshake. “So why’s he bothering you N’Can?”

Can frowned. “He wants me to date him.”

“Oh god,” Beam sat next to Can and pulled him close. “Nong, I can relate so much. Let me tell you the things I’ve done to shake my pursuer off.”

“PLEASE!”

“First of all, never have sex with him.”

“So you did have sex with Ai Forth!” Kit laughed. “I knew it!”

“You had sex with Ai Forth!?” Pha turned and broke eye contact with Ae. “Shit!”

“You lose, Phana!”

“Shit!”

“Well now that that’s settled, I guess we have bigger things to talk about,” Arthit said as he reclaimed his seat. “I hope all of you aren’t having romantic troubles.”

Ae took a look around. “I”m seeing someone and we’re fine, P’.”

“Someone’s dating someone as rough as you? What a surprise.” Pha sat down across from Ae, but next to Kit. “I am also dating someone.”

“Another in the long line of girls you’ve used and dumped?” Ae took a sip of his drink.

Pha checked his phone. Ae recognized the look on Pha’s face. It was the same look he gave Pete. “More like the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.”

“Wait a minute…” Ae pointed at Pha with his spoon. “You’re dating Wayo? That Wayo? The one you stupidly let get away?”

“You keep saying you don’t like P’Pha, but why do you know so much about him?” Can looked between the two of them as Kit and Beam bickered over the papaya salad. “Were you friends before?”

“The Wild Doctors Gang used to be an actual gang,” said Ae. “Phana used to be known as one of the toughest guys around three high schools, mine was one of them.” Ae smirked. “Until he tried to pick a fight with me.”

“N’Ae and I got into a fight. Then we fought the same asshole. We’ve respected each other ever since,” Pha finished.

“Know thy enemy,” Ae muttered under his breath.

“He and Pha have been semi-amicable rivals ever since,” Kit whispered to Can. “It irritates Ai Pha to no end that N’Ae can keep up with him despite not having as much money. And it irritates N’Ae that Ai Pha is all natural talent but not much drive.”

“Wild.”

“Never mind them Nong,” Beam interjected. “What’s the guy that’s on your case like? I’ll give you more tips than Ai Kit here.”

Kit slapped Beam’s shoulder. “I have plenty of tips to offer!”

“Don’t make me laugh Ai Kitty. You just enjoy watching N’Ming chase you.”

Kit’s face turned scarlet, but Arthit caught his eyes and gave him a look. Kit suddenly knew he had someone in his corner. “And what about you and Ai Forth then? Do you normally dodge the people you sleep with so vehemently?”

“Ai Forth is a special case.” Beam took on a haughty air. “In that I’m not interested. He’s not my type.”

“Liar.” Arthit smirked. “You’re too affected. You wouldn’t be so adamant otherwise.”

“And what about you then, P’Arthit?” Beam pointed his chopsticks at Arthit. “Is your love life so smooth?”

“Well I’m single and I’m not looking so I’m fine.” Arthit crossed his arms and turned up his nose.

“That’s not what I hear…” Beam grinned. “Word on the street is that you’ve got a Nong chasing you. I heard he said he’d make you his wife.” Arthit’s pink face was enough of an answer. “You’re too affected as well.”

“You heard wrong. Who said I’m affected?”

“P’Toota.”

“That gossipy bitch.” Arthit’s phone beeped with a text and he checked it. “HOW DID HE KNOW I SAID ANYTHING?”

“Yo is better than who ever you’re dating,” Pha insisted as he and Ae slowly picked the same chicken half to pieces.

“Pete is sweeter.”

“Yo is in Biology.”

“Pete is in the IC Program.”

“At least I can help Yo study. You need Pete to help you study!”

“I can protect Pete better than you can protect Yo.”

“I live across the hall from Yo.”

“Pete has his own apartment and I sleep over whenever I want.”

“Shit, he has his own apartment?” Pha bit his lip. “Maybe I should buy an apartment instead of these stupid dorms.”

“I win!”

“Fuck!”

“Wow… I’ve never seen Ai Ae this competitive. I mean he’s competitive. I’ve never seen him be this driven to be better than someone.” Can watched as Ae snatched the rest of the chicken half to eat while Pha typed on his phone furiously. “This is weird.”

Ae’s phone pinged with a voice message from Pete. Unknowing of the contents, Ae turned up the volume on his phone and pressed play, figuring it would be another sweet message and he could rub it into Pha’s face.

“He’s just so stubborn…I just want to buy him things. Why won’t he let me buy him things?”

The conversation around the table screeched to a halt.

“P’Arthit is the same! He didn’t even like me ironing his clothes for him!”

“You actually know how to iron clothes?”

“Shouldn’t you be learning so you can be a good little husband for P’Pha?”

“I’m not little! I’m 178 cm!”

“I still think your father paid the doctors to lie to you.”

“You’re the only one here who only knows how to pay people off!”

A groan. “It’s how my family shows affection.”

“Buying people off?”

“No, buying.”

“Ahh… that is a problem.”

“I just… I just trust him. And I don’t just want to give him things! I want to give him kisses! I want to… damn it, I want to cuddle. I don’t remember the last time I cuddled and liked it.”

“Woah! You’re serious about him! I change my mind, Cantaloupe must be incredible!”

“Love tames many hearts. He’s whipped him without even batting an eyelash.”

“No way!”

“Well… There were a few kisses along the way, weren’t there Ai Tin? A few punches too. Love taps in the grander scheme of things.”

The recording cut off after the sound of laughter. The entire table had been stunned into silence.

“Was that… Was that Ai Tin?!” Can’s voice was unnaturally high.

“He’s talking to Yo!” Pha pounded a fist on the table. “How dare he say something like that to Yo!” But the cast of color on Pha’s face was too light to be due to indignation.

“What’s Ming doing there?!”

“K-Kongpob?!”

Ae stared at his phone, mystified. “I’ve never heard Ai Pete talk like that. Is he… Is he drunk?”

“Unacceptable!” Pha tapped his phone several times and put it on speaker. It only rang once before it was picked up.

“I swear Ai Pha I’m keeping an eye on-”

“You jerk! Yo is talking to other boys! Ai Forth, you better-”

“Oh, it’s just a bunch of Nongs. I don’t see any-”

“They’re getting drunk Ai Forth!”

Forth’s laughter still sounded deep despite the tiny speaker. Beam squirmed and Kit nudged him. “So?”

Ae laughed as Pha started messing up his hair. “Look, I don’t want Yo getting bad ideas from N’Ae’s boyfriend.”

“From who?”

“Just go stop them!”

“Alright alright, I’m walking over. Are there other people with you? It sounds like you’re at a party too.”

Pha looked around. “Just the gang and some other people.”

Arthit punched Pha’s arm. “I’m your senior! Show some respect or we’ll battle it out on the court again.”

“Oh is P’Arthit there? You should have said Ai Pha! P’Arthit, sorry for my rudeness.”

“N’Forth! Discipline my junior there too!”

“What? You have a junior here too? Wow, all these Nongs are just throwing money at the waiter.”

“God, that sounds like Ai Tin,” Can groaned into his arms. “I can’t believe he talked about me like that to people.”

“Does what he said change things?” Kit asked.

“Urgh…. Kinda?” Can scrubbed at his face. “Why does he have to be so emotionally constipated? Why can’t he just say that to my face?” Can pouted. “And he knows how I feel about him spending all that money on me…”

“Well…” Kit scratched at his nose and Beam nudged him with a smirk on his face. “Sometimes people aren’t comfortable expressing themselves, N’Can. It’s not easy to say things you’ve never felt before.” Kit frowned and pushed some food around his plate. “And different people express their affection differently. N’Tin sounds like he does it with money.”

“And sometimes they’re too bold,” Arthit muttered under his breath. “Make me his wife… I’ll show that jerk…”

“At least yours wants to do right by you, P’,” Kit said pushing more food around his plate. “Ming keeps talking to his ex.”

“He’s still talking to his ex?!”

“I’ll call you back later, Ai Pha. This looks like their conversation is getting pretty interesting. I’ll tell them you all said hi.” Forth then cleared his throat. “Answer my text, na Ai Beam?”

Beam jerked back as if he’d taken a body blow. “In your dreams!”

“Then I guess I’ll sleep well tonight. Later P’Arthit, Ai Pha.” The line went dead with a click heard over the sounds of loud drunken chatter and Tin saying something about a Moowan. Kit made a face.

“Oh Ae, you’ve got so many friends over tonight!” Ae’s mother finally arrived with another set of dishes. “Are they all sleeping over?”

“NO!”

“Yes!” Everyone stopped to look at Can. “What?! If everyone else is having a grand time sharing dirt, then why can’t we?”

Ae’s mom laughed. “I guess you can all stay in the living room. How exciting for your first sleepover, hm? I’ll go get someone to rearrange the space.”

“Mae, don’t-” But Ae’s pleas had already fallen on deaf ears. Pha smirked only to have Ae flick a chicken bone at him.

Kit and Arthit had already taken Can under their wing and were filling his head with tips while Beam was wondering aloud about bringing drinks. Ae pinched the bridge of his nose. It was bound to be a long night.

Ae’s phone pinged with another message from Pete. He took a quick glance as everyone squabbled over the next round of dishes. Pete had sent a photo filled with stickers that said, “I miss you.” The message that followed said, “Everyone has boy problems but me. I’m so lucky I have you.”

Ae smiled. Well, at least tonight would be much more bearable than he expected now.

91 notes · View notes