Chapter 5
Film's senses were greeted by the kind, warm, inviting aromas coming from Namtan's kitchen.
Film pushed the door closed behind her, making sure to make some noise to signify that she'd arrived, since Namtan never bothered to lock her doors anyway.
The apartment was bathed in the fleeting light of the golden, setting sun, and Namtan looked remarkable.
She was wearing a light green polka dotted summer-dress that brought out her eyes.
That was the first thing Film noticed, besides her freely flowing golden-brown hair, trailing behind her as she turned to greet Film.
And for once, Film Racha was oddly breathless.
It was the good kind of breathless, the one that made her lungs burn, dying for some sort of relief, and yet, she enjoyed every second of the pain.
Namtan had gone all out.
Flowers were on the center of her (cleaned) kitchen table, and the apartment was neater than Film had maybe ever seen it.
And there was a single, aromatic candle in the middle of the table, separating the two places setting from each other.
This was impressive.
(Film was often called the "candle hoe" by Namtan, and while she knew that aromatics didn't go with meals, because come on that was an amateur move, she adored Namtan for trying.)
"Film!" Namtan turned from her spot, cutting what appeared to be vegetables from the kitchen counter.
"Namtan." Film nodded, mouth feeling dry. She glanced down, cursing herself for coming straight from the office, in just a business pantsuit.
She must've looked quite the idiot.
"This isn't pizza." Film's wry comment was completely not what she'd intended to say. But Namtan did that to her. She didn't know how to function properly.
"It's not." Namtan grinned.
Film's eyes widened as she stiffened. "I was under the impression you couldn't cook?"
Had she spent endless nights making Namtan dinner for nothing? Not that it particularly bothered her, but if she didn't know that simple fact, what else didn't she know about Namtan? What if her parents could detect their freshly hatched lies from the start?
"Babi." Namtan grinned, nodding towards the trashcan in the corner.
Film stepped over, eyeing the trashcan and then rolling her eyes.
Namtan had pulled, what she so eloquently called, "Take-out and fake-out."
"All this for me?" Film teased mildly.
"This..." Namtan motioned to the pots. "-is not just any old dinner."
Film cocked a brow. "Oh?"
Namtan smirked. "It's our first date."
Film's heart suddenly took off at full speed, and she toyed with the watch around her wrist. "Uh..." she began unsurely. "It is?"
Namtan turned off the low heat, turning to Film, nodding enthusiastically. "That way, if anyone asks us about it, we can kind of give them an honest answer."
Film nodded slowly in understanding, trying to fight off how nervous she felt, how the dynamic suddenly changed. "That's.. smart."
Namtan smiled, coming to envelop her into a greeting hug, since she'd been occupied when Film had first entered.
She took a step back, running her hands along the lapel of Film's suit coat, smiling softly to herself. "You look perfect, Film."
Film tried not to shiver under Namtan's touch.
She was definitely just imagining things now.
Namtan had always been a bit touchy feely, and Film knew that.
So why did this feel so damn different? So electrically charged and unbelievably good?
Film's voice was raspy, as her throat had gone dry. "I, uh... thank you, Namtan. You look beautiful as well." She murmured. An understatement. She thought.
Namtan smiled, and Film failed to notice the reddening of her cheeks as she turned to grab Film a wine glass.
"What'll you drink?" Namtan called from over her shoulder.
"Namtan, I shouldn't." Film warned gently.
"Oh, could you drop your 'I'm Film Racha and I'm a health nut' act for like five minutes?" Namtan teased, ignoring her request.
Film couldn't fight the amused smile on her lips. "Fine. I'd like whatever my host is having."
It wasn't entirely the health thing. It was also the fact that Film feared what she might say under the influence of Namtan, let alone any other substance.
Namtan smirked, turning with the bottle in hand. "This was a gift from daddy dearest when one of my pieces was chosen for display at the local gallery."
Film glanced up in surprise. "You'd use that on this occasion?"
Namtan smiled genuinely. "I think you're worth it."
Film felt a sudden heat envelop her, a warmth so tender and sincere that she felt overwhelmed.
"We are besties, after all." Namtan added, motioning towards the table. "Sit."
Film took a seat at the table, chocolate eyes lit up by the flame from the candle.
Namtan worked on bringing the food to her plate, generously loading everything on.
It smelled fantastic, and Film licked her lips.
Namtan raised her glass, and Film mirrored her, her brown gaze finding Namtan's hazel in seconds.
"Uh..." Namtan cleared her throat, voice a little raspy. "To us."
Film smiled gently, and clinked her glass against Namtan's, tossing the wine back with mild enthusiasm.
Film waited for Namtan before digging in, and immediately let out an ungodly moan when the food touched her lips.
Namtan's eyebrows shot up. "Vocal. Noted."
Film blushed deeply, setting her fork down for a moment. "This is our first date, Namtan. None of that nonsense."
Namtan chuckled. "Well, I suppose we should talk about first date stuff." She shrugged. "What is it people talk about on first dates, again?"
Film looked thoughtful. "We seem to have all those bases covered. I know what you do, who you are, where you work."
Namtan chimed in, "I know you're a workaholic, and workout-aholic, and you're anal about... everything." She spoke cheekily.
Film choked on her wine, shaking her head. "That's charming." She muttered.
"Oh but it's so endearing." Namtan pressed on, her voice coming to a gentle murmur. "I think it's amazing how passionate you are, and how you're so well-read and formal and just, perfect."
Film froze, an odd silence enveloping the two.
"Your friends would buy that." Film spoke hazily. "That was good."
"My friends?" Namtan repeated unsurely, as if she hadn't been thinking about their evaluations at all.
As if it'd been real.
"Oh, yeah!" Namtan nodded, snapping out of her trance. "Sure, sure."
Film eyed her food, digging back in to avoid any more awkward bouts of motionless behavior.
Why did she have to be so awkward around Namtan?
"So..." Namtan breathed out. "Do you play any instruments?"
Film nodded. "The guitar."
Namtan nearly choked on her food. "You what?"
"You asked..." Film defended wryly, unsure why her cheeks were burning at Namtan's intense reaction.
"You don't.. I was.. I was making awkward first date conversation! I didn't think you actually knew how to play!" Namtan recovered. "That's amazing!"
Film smiled gratefully. "I dabble in a few genres. Classical, mainly."
Namtan looked confused for a moment, but smiled nonetheless.
"Namtan." Film drawled patiently. "That's your confused face."
Namtan snapped to attention, trying to alter her facial expression. "My what?"
"Your confused face." Film murmured. "You get that look when we're watching House of Cards and they start bringing in political terms."
Namtan glanced away bashfully. Film was watching her face during their Netflix marathons?
"Oh." Namtan nodded slowly, twirling her fork aimlessly. "I guess, I guess I was just wondering how you had time to learn the guitar if you were fostered and moving a lot. I don't know, Film, it's a stupid question."
Film's features softened at Namtan's embarrassed behavior. "Namtan, it's okay..."
"No, Film." Namtan defended softly. "I know that it's none of my business I mean, we're not really dating and I wouldn't-"
"Namtan." Film cut her off, putting a hand over hers across the table, feeling that intoxicating electric spark once more at her touch. "We're best friends. It's alright, really."
Namtan nodded slowly, swallowing. "I just, I hate to think of you like that, you know?"
"Like what, Namtan?" Film asked softly.
"Like, like you were some charity case who needed help, or something pitiful because I know you aren't. I know you're better than me, and everyone else I know, and I know that your past shaped you into the amazing woman you are today, but I... I can't help but feel sorry for little Film who moved from house to house." Namtan let out a breath, her hand shaky.
Film blinked back tears that threatened to fall.
No one had ever cared like that.
Not a single damn person in Film's existence.
And then came Namtan Tipnaree.
She didn't need these feelings. She wasn't even sure she wanted them.
It was as if her body was a mess of jumbled signals that she couldn't rationalize, and they overwhelmed her, consumed her.
It was as if her brain told her one thing, while her heart had a mind of its own.
And God, she knew which one she wanted to listen to.
"I..." Film found it hard to speak, to verbalize her feelings, or anything at all in that moment. "Namtan, thank you. I...."
Namtan's apartment door swung open, and Film's eyes widened as her grip around Namtan tightened.
"Hey hey!" Lookmhee called as she entered the apartment, yanking off her leather jacket. "Namtan, you're not gonna believe-" Lookmhee stopped dead in her tracks, jaw agape as she took in the two girls fighting off tears, fingers interlaced over the table. "-What the fuck?"
Sonya followed in, nearly bumping into Lookmhee's back when she stopped suddenly. "Uhm.." she began unsurely.
Film narrowed her eyes, and Namtan's cheeks were at an all-new shade of red as she detached from Film, rising.
"Is this what I think it is?" Lookmhee smirked.
Film rose from her seat as well, folding her arms. "Did you two come together?" She fired back.
Lookmhee and Sonya wheeled around, both stuttering messes.
"Uh..."
"Erm..."
"Yes...?"
"No!"
"Well, we saw each other in the park..."
"Yeah, the park!"
Sonya slapped Lookmhee's arm. "I was going to say the parking lot." She cleared her throat, eyes challenging Film to bring it up again.
Namtan stared at Lookmhee, who looked mortified.
"Anyway" Namtan sighed, running a hand through her hair. "What brings you here?"
Lookmhee clapped her hands together, yanking Film's bowl of food from her hands. "...Food." She began. "Mmm..." she moaned. "Shit, Namtan, this is good! You stopped burning Ramen and learned to cook!"
Sonya looked mildly interested. "You burn Ramen, Tipnaree?"
Namtan grumbled something unintelligible and shrugged it off.
Film rolled her eyes, carrying her dishes to the sink. "Sonya? What about you? Since, apparently, you're not here together."
Sonya smirked. "Funny you should ask, Film."
Film took a step back, glancing up in surprise.
Lookmhee turned to Sonya and when she nodded, continued. "Look." She put an arm around Namtan, and another around Sonya, awkwardly yanking them together. "Since Sonya and I are the only two in on your little act We figured it'd be beneficial for us to see the show in person."
Namtan rolled her eyes. "Is this you asking to watch Film and I sleep together?"
Film dropped the dish she'd been holding and it landed a few inches lower in the sink with a dull thud. Her eyes widened as she quickly glanced away at Namtan's mention of getting intimate.
Lookmhee let out a low whistle. "Wow. She gets that jumpy just talking about sex? That's gonna put a dent in our plans."
Namtan pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation, much like Film did. "No, she doesn't, could you maybe butt out, Mhee?"
Sonya shook her head. "Maybe Lookmhee has a point."
"Yeah, you would think that." Film grumbled.
Sonya rolled her eyes. "You two need to make sure you're on the same page, or, come Monday... You're going to be screwed."
Namtan sighed, pulling Film away from the sink, as if telling her not to bother washing the dishes. "Alright, we're listening."
Film grumbled, then. "We are?"
"Yes, Film." Namtan sighed. "If it'll help our case...."
Sonya clapped her hands together. "Good. Sit." She motioned to Namtan's couch.
Film looked at Namtan wearily, but her best friend shrugged it off, sitting opposite her in a love chair.
Lookmhee was smirking when she emerged from Namtan's room, carrying a pad of paper and pens.
"What is this, an exam?" Film snorted, earning a grin from Namtan.
Lookmhee grinned. "Yup. I'm keeping score."
*
"Okay, lovebirds." Lookmhee announced, watching Sonya as she amusedly sat beside Namtan, eyeing her currently blank paper. "Here's how this works: I ask a question, such as, I don't know, what is Namtan's favorite band? Namtan has to write it down before you answer, and hide it from you. You have to take turns guessing, and if you cheat, Namtan, I'll tell everyone you sleep with a stuffed unicorn named Rainbow. You ready?"
“Fucking hell Lookmhee.” Namtan exasperated.
"I think it's cute." Film teased, earning a glare from Namtan.
"Okay, first question." Lookmhee looked like she was improvising. "Namtan's favorite food."
Film snorted with laughter as she triumphantly grinned, watching Namtan deftly write in an answer.
"Film." Lookmhee smirked. "What's your answer?"
"Pizza." Film grinned, watching as Namtan bashfully nodded, flipping the paper over to show that she wasn't lying.
"Okay, everyone knows that." Lookmhee smirked. "Let's ramp up the heat, shall we?"
Film smirked. "Bring it on, Lookmhee."
"Okay, sure." Lookmhee drawled. "Favorite TV show?"
Film was delighted to remember their conversation from the days prior. "That's a trick question. She has many." And began to list them all.
Lookmhee glanced at Sonya, impressed. "Wow. Okay, are you sure you're not sleeping together?"
Film's eyes widened a little, as did Namtan's, and Sonya had her answer.
The questions rolled on and on from there. Both girls took turns answering confidently, using their year plus of knowledge of each other as a foolproof database.
"Favorite movies?"
"Film loves documentaries. She also likes The Lord of The Rings series." Namtan smirked.
Film took her shot. "Namtan loves crass humor. Mean Girls is her favorite to quote."
Correct again.
"Hobbies?"
"Being anal about work." Namtan snickered to herself, earning a glare from Film. "I, uh... I mean reading."
"Namtan enjoys wasting away in front of the television."
"Games?"
"Namtan enjoys poker, and robbing people by cheating." That sounded as if it had a story to accompany it.
"Film loves Chess." Namtan smirked.
Film had to admit, Namtan had come a long way in breaking down her barriers.
"Sports?"
"Everything. My god, what doesn't she do?" Namtan grumbled.
Film blushed.
"No flirting, Tipnaree." Lookmhee commanded, and they both rolled their eyes.
"Namtan enjoys watching soccer, but playing basketball." Film commented cockily.
"Weaknesses?"
"Me." Namtan fluttered her eyelashes, earning an embarrassed look from Film.
"Locked doors, since she'd apparently leap balconies rather than waiting a few seconds." Film smirked as Namtan reddened this time.
"Actors?"
They both fired this off at the same time: "Kim Taeri!"
Sonya smirked. "You two are so gay."
"Hometown?"
"Los Angeles." Namtan smirked.
Film repeated it with a competitive grin.
They were crushing this.
"Best friends?"
They named each other for that one, earning mock puking sounds from Lookmhee and Sonya, who had, little by little, sidled closer and closer to each other throughout the evening.
Namtan had to play stupid to pretend she hadn't noticed, and Film didn't seem to care about anything other than Namtan.
"Well, of the seventy-ish questions I just tore through here, you got them all right." Lookmhee grumbled with a furrowed brow. "But umm, something is missing here."
"What?" Film shot out of her seat defensively, missing Namtan's amused smile. "How do you figure that? Isn't your math supposed to be superior to most?"
Lookmhee grinned at her competitive edge. "Easy, Film."
Sonya shared her smile, and it drove Namtan and Film nuts. "We're talking about chemistry."
Film's eyes widened. "Chemistry? No, this is basic addition."
Sonya rolled her eyes, and Namtan barked out a laugh. "Not that chemistry, genius. I mean, couple's chemistry. Your sexual tension."
Film stiffened, freezing as Namtan had gotten up to wash the dishes, now frozen next to her as well.
"It's uh," Lookmhee chortled. "Not your forte."
Namtan's eyes narrowed. "Hey! What the hell does that mean?"
Sonya smirked, "It means we can't see you as a couple. You don't show it. You're too stiff, together. It doesn't work."
Film folded her arms over her chest. "I think that's an unfair assumption."
"Yeah!" Namtan chimed in childishly, defensively. "We can be hot if we want to."
Lookmhee smirked. "Yeah? Prove it."
Namtan balked. "Uh, what?"
Sonya pressed on with Lookmhee, knowing what her angle was. "Yeah, you two. Prove it. Kiss each other."
Film's eyes widened. "I wouldn't, no.. I wouldn't take advantage of the situation."
"What's the matter, Film?" Sonya smirked. "Don't find Namtan attractive?"
Film blew out a frustrated breath. "Of course I find her attractive.. I just, this is wrong."
Namtan turned to Film. "Film, it's fine." She shrugged nonchalantly.
Film's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "It is?" She almost whispered.
Lookmhee and Sonya were like hungry wolves, staring down their prey.
Namtan initiated it, at first. She leaned forward, cupping Film's cheeks as she closed her eyes.
Film's heart was hammering, and it was all she could hear, as she closed her eyes too.
And then Namtan's lips captured hers, and she found her hands going to Namtan's waist, pulling her flush against her body as Namtan ever so silently let out a surprised whimper into her mouth.
And then the heavens shone down on Film and she could taste the wine on Namtan's soft lips, and the tiny edge of Namtan's teeth as she pulled on Film's bottom lip suggestively.
Film's hands slid down Namtan's waist sensually and everything else was forgotten.
No Lookmhee.
No Sonya.
No Work.
No Reunion.
Just the taste of Namtan, soft and tender and whimpering beneath her, and she felt an urge inside her to take control, to show Namtan that she was unafraid of dominance.
She almost growled against Namtan's lips, biting back as she ran her tongue across Namtan's bottom lip, teasing and soothing where she'd just nipped.
She was rewarded with a yelp of surprise from Namtan, which settled into its own moan.
Nerd no more.
And her heart stopped beating, and she couldn't hear Sonya and Film smirking and wolf whistling, and everything was Namtan Tipnaree, who was like a fine wine on her swollen, full lips.
Namtan hated the need to breathe, the dull, fiery ache in her lungs as she pulled away.
And that was the best part.
The kiss itself was searing, otherworldly, inexplicably delicious and good. But the moment after, where Namtan's swollen lips grazed against her own, their foreheads touching as they shared a breath of air. That was the part that was going to haunt both Namtan and Film for days and days after.
They finally broke apart, and Namtan half expected to find the sun rising outside her window, as time was no concept when she was on Film's lips like that.
Film couldn't feel her legs, they went numb and helpless.
Namtan's chest was heaving for air, and for more.
Instead, she found Lookmhee and Sonya who both looked stunned into silence, staring at them with wide eyes.
"You two sure can act." Lookmhee mumbled as she tried to close her jaw.
*
Film had bid a hasty farewell, Sonya practically tugging her out of the apartment to share a few prompt words with her while Namtan was left mostly speechless and rather awkward for the rest of the evening.
Her lips burned.
Her skin tingled where Film's hands had grazed her.
She was a woman possessed.
And Lookmhee knew it, staring at her with her arms crossed as Namtan finished the dishes that needed to be washed hours ago.
Lookmhee propped open her balcony door so that a cool breeze could sweep in and kiss Namtan's reddened cheeks as she scrubbed away senselessly at pots and pans that were long clean.
"So.." Lookmhee drawled. "We're not gonna talk about it?"
"No."
"But, Namtan.."
"What's there to talk about?" Namtan turned, snapping her gloves off with attitude.
Lookmhee looked exasperated. "Plenty, Namtan. Don't be a bitch."
Namtan winced, shaking her head. "Okay, sorry." She took her dish towel off her shoulder and laid it onto the counter. "You wanna talk? Talk."
"So..." Lookmhee let out another low whistle. "That was, uh.. something else."
"Yeah." Namtan shrugged. "I've had better though."
Lookmhee rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Tipnaree."
"I.. yeah, whatever it was good." Namtan nodded. "So?"
"That means you have chemistry." Lookmhee prodded.
"Which will be good for our lie." Namtan emphasized the last part with a shake of her head.
"But-"
"Mhee." Namtan bit her lip. "This.. I can't afford to complicate things."
"But you're so into her." Lookmhee gushed finally. "I can see it from miles away. Hell, I could probably smell it."
Namtan made a face of disgust. "Eww."
Lookmhee shrugged nonchalantly. "So, you're saying you're not into her?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"Absolutely not."
"But you admitted you find her attractive."
"Well.. I have eyes, Lookmhee." Namtan sighed.
"That was some kiss." Lookmhee tried again.
"Fuck!" Namtan wheeled around. "Okay, yes, it was everything I dreamed of and more! But you know what, Lookmhee? She's out of my league, okay?"
Lookmhee's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Come again, Namtan? I couldn't hear that quite right."
Namtan frowned and folded her arms over her chest. "You heard me."
"You? The social cheerleader Cool Bitch?" Lookmhee sneered. "You're saying she's out of your league?"
Namtan shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah. She's.. she's not into me, okay?"
Lookmhee cocked a brow. "Based on what evidence? Cause I just saw a kiss that says otherwise."
Namtan shook her head. "She's.. a good kisser. That's it."
"Namtan! You're the popular one! She's the awkwardly uptight business nerd." Lookmhee shrugged.
"Hey don't call her that."
"You do."
"We're best friends."
"You sure that's it?"
"For fucks sake, Lookmhee, yes!" Namtan sighed, leaning back against the counter. "What about you and Ek, huh?"
Lookmhee flashed Namtan a defensive look. "What about him?"
"Where's he been?" Namtan shrugged, tossing Lookmhee a drink from the fridge.
"He's fine. We're fine." Lookmhee mumbled.
"Mhee..."
"Namtan..." Lookmhee bit her lip. "Please. I get enough of this from his family, from mine, I just... I don't want to talk about him, alright?"
"What about Sonya?" Namtan queried gently, nodding her support.
"What about Sonya?" Lookmhee mocked. "Nothing there, Namtan."
"Right." Namtan rolled her eyes. "Same way there's nothing between Film and me?"
"I knew it!" Lookmhee leapt off her seat.
Namtan smiled amusedly and shook her head at her friend's antics. "Not another word, Mhee."
*
"Sonya, keep your voice down, they're next door!" Film hissed.
Sonya let out a smirk, sprawled lazily on Film's couch. "Someone's still hot and bothered."
Film rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Sonya. I'm not."
Sonya sat up, patting the spot next to her. "How long have you and Tipnaree been friends?"
"A year." Film shrugged, biting her lip anxiously.
A Sonya interrogation was always trouble.
Her mind flew to Namtan, and she hoped that Lookmhee was posing less of a threat.
"Right.." Sonya smirked. "And how long have you been eye-fucking like that?"
"Sonya!" Film snapped. "Stop."
"Why?"
"Because you're full of shit."
"Oh, angry Film, coming out to play." Sonya grinned. "I like any girl that brings out that fire in you."
"You must love yourself." Film quipped.
"I do." Sonya nodded, smiling. "But that's not what's up for debate here. It's actually that was, hell of a kiss... with Tipnaree."
Film shrugged. "So? we're both good kisser. Is there a point to this inquisition, Sonya? I have to sleep soon."
"Whoa, hold up there Rachanun." Sonya tugged her back. "I've kissed Tipnaree, and she didn't react like that."
Film's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
A deep, dark, unfurling feeling writhed in her gut. She felt betrayed. Sonya kissed Namtan? When?
"You.. you kissed Namtan?" Film couldn't hide the anger, the hurt seeping into her tone.
"Of course not, genius." Sonya smirked. "But now I know how you feel about that idea."
Film threw her pillow at Sonya, shaking her head. "Honestly, you're such a child."
"I am? I'm not the one who can't admit my feelings for my best friend slash neighbor." Sonya teased.
Film felt a fire within her. "What about admitting your feelings for Lookmhee?"
Sonya looked as if Film had just stricken her across the face. "Excuse me?"
Film smirked. The "Badass" in her (as Namtan put it) was showing. "You heard correctly."
Sonya let out a cough, likely just to buy herself time, but the excuse coming was inevitable. "She was a good screw, and it happened a long time ago. Let it go."
"Yeah, ever since she started seeing Ek, you've changed." Film pressed.
Sonya rolled her eyes. "Baseless accusations. And weak ones at that."
"Yeah? So you don't foresee any problems sharing a hotel room with her?" Film smirked.
"Hardly." Sonya rolled her eyes. "I'm going for you."
Film's tone was excited suddenly. "I'll make the arrangements with Namtan, then."
Sonya shot up out of her chair. "Like hell you will! You get a separate room! I do too."
Film's smirk was a telltale one. She rose, tall and poised as she stretched her back, pausing for dramatic effect. "Who's the child now?"