Never Have I Ever
“Let’s play never have I ever” Toey said after they had calmed down from splashing each other, precariously hanging on to Min’s back. “One hand since there’s so many of us”
Everyone agreed and brought the circle closer, ready to play.
“Who’s starting?” Tone asked.
“You should, since you’re the winner” Toey replied.
“I mean, technically Akk is” Tone joked. “But okay. Hmmm...never have I ever...left Thailand”
Toey and Valen made faces at him as they put their fingers down. Sompai, Ying, Neung, and Min also put a finger down.
Akk went next. “I have never...moved out of my childhood house”
Everyone scowled at him as they all put fingers down.
“Never have I ever kissed a girl” Kin said brightly. Valen, Ying, and Sompai stuck their tongues out at him, while Neung, Akk, and Pong quietly put their fingers down.
“Never have I ever...owned a pet” Pong said after some thought. Neung and Kay put down fingers, as well as Nook and Toey.
Neung looked a little mischievous as he said “I’ve never been scared by horror movies” Kin scowled as he put down a finger, while Toey, Nook, and Tone put fingers down as well.
Kay also looked mischievous as he said “Never have I ever thought about expanding business out of Thailand” Valen gave him an exasperated look as he put down his fourth finger. Ying and Toey were also looking a bit sour, but Akk looked cheerful as he put down his second finger.
“Good thing I’m next” Valen joked. “Never have I ever...thought Neung and Kay were anything but a couple” Everyone burst out laughing as Akk and Kin good-naturedly put down fingers.
Nook took a while to think. “Never have I ever...had a partner before my current one” Valen and Neung showed that they were out, while Tone, Akk, Kin, Pong, Kay, Valen, and Sompai also put down fingers.
Ying was wearing the biggest grin as she announced “I have never kissed a boy” Everyone but Valen groaned at her. With that never, Akk, Kin, Sompai, and Toey were also out of the game.
“Aww man, I’m out” Toey complained. “Can’t do mine”
“Toey, it was my turn, but yeah, I’m also out, so...Min?” Sompai pointed out.
Min looked a little nervous as he said “Never have I ever interned at a hotel” Tone, Pong, Kay, and Nook put down their last fingers and everyone checked to see who was left. When they saw that it was Min, they burst out laughing. Min smiled, relieved. It turned into another good-natured splash fest, everyone splashing Ying for hers and Akk for his. When they tired of that, they floated around or dove for shells until they decided it was time for lunch.
They got out of the water and went to their spot on the sand. Towels were brought out and with them, the different dynamics of the various couples came out. Pong scowlingly tolerated Kin drying him off vigorously, while Kay accepted Neung’s help with a smile. Valen draped his towel over Nook, while Tone and Akk helped dry each other. Sompai gently dried Ying, while Min wrapped Toey into a cocoon. After they were dry enough, Kay went with Akk to get the food they had made in the truck, and Valen walked with Toey and Min to get drinks made by the hotel’s baristas, who knew all about the beach trip. Valen and Nook distributed the drinks, while Kay and Akk distributed the sandwiches they had made.
“Wow, they remembered the drinks we liked?” Kin asked around a sip of pink milk. “It’s been a year and I can barely remember any of their faces”
“That’s the face blindness talking” Pong reminded him.
“Oh yeah”
“Hey Kay, these sandwiches are super good” Toey called out. “If you ever need connections, hit me up, I can help you get a job as a cook, no problem”
“Thanks, Toey” Kay said with surprise. “That means a lot to me. Speaking of cooks though, Valen, Nook, you might get my friend in the next set of interns. Tell me if a Tops joins, okay?”
“Win might join too, remember?” Neung reminded Kay.
“Win?” Valen looked up like he knew that name. “Is he blonde, with tons of tattoos?”
“No, but I think we know who you’re talking about. Isn’t Pharm’s friend named Win too? We looked him up” Neung asked Kay.
“Yeah but it’s Pharm’s friend’s boyfriend, not his friend. Or Pharm’s boyfriend’s friend, that works too” Kay said thoughtfully. “How do you know him, Valen?”
“His parents own tons of resorts too. We met at family business dinners and the like. He’s very nice. His boyfriend looks like a K-pop star, I met him once or twice too”
“Well this Win has longish hair and dimples and sings” Neung informed Valen.
“A blonde with tattoos? Didn’t we have one of those at our homestay recently, Akk?” Tone asked, interrupting.
“Yeah, and I thought his boyfriend looked like a K-pop star. They were with that tiny guy, even smaller than you Pong, and the tall, slightly Middle-Eastern looking guy. And the two girls, the loud one and the quieter one” Akk answered instantly.
“Wait, Pharm was at your homestay? I really need to get in touch with him more” Kay remarked.
“If Pharm was the tiny one, he insisted on helping in the kitchen. He makes really good desserts, by the way” Akk replied.
“How do you know Pharm?” Valen asked curiously.
“Middle school. Neung had cheerleading at the same time Pharm and I had cooking club, so he never became friends with him”
Ying raised an eyebrow. “Neung, you were in cheer?”
“Why is everyone so surprised by that” Neung grumbled. “Yes, cheer and auxiliaries, that’s why I put a finger down for ‘has left Thailand’. My high school was so good we got to do the Rose Parade in the States. Let me tell you: nothing prepares you for a nearly ten kilometer long parade with ten billion stops. It wasn’t the length of the walking distance, it was the stops that killed me”
“Ten kilometers??” Sompai asked.
“Well, maybe closer to nine and half. But with the stops...I would have rather had the extra half kilometer than deal with those stops”
The others laughed at Neung’s expression. They finished their lunches, talking about what was new in their lives. After they finished, they decided to bury each other. The girls immediately dragged Valen down and buried him, giving him a merman body out of sand. Kin volunteered to be buried, so Toey and Min helped Pong make a coffin out of the sand. Neung practically tackled Kay to bury him, relying on Tone and Akk to keep him down as he dumped more and more sand on him. Kay protested a lot, until Neung shut him up with a kiss. The others rolled their eyes and smiled at them.