Chapter 10
So maybe Namtan was abusing the fact that she was on a "tiny" boat with Film, in front of the full view and attention of all her family and friends, who fully expected her to display her affection for Film for everyone to see.
Okay, maybe that was another lie she'd told herself.
But Film seemed to be just as easy-going and along for the ride as before, and Namtan really was enjoying their seating arrangement, she sprawled out over the deck of the boat, glorious legs open for Film to sit between, to lean back into her.
And it wasn't like they were acting that differently. They were still the same old nerd and dork, gossiping about life and making the absolute lamest jokes to each other in hushed whispers that confused just about everybody else.
Occasionally, Film would lean back into Namtan. Namtan, ever the helpful friend, found that it was her duty to wrap her arms around the brunette, and murmur things into her hair, and to yelp out cutely whenever Film would pinch her after a particularly cruel comment.
They had sat like that, enjoying the LA sun beating down on them, tanning them further, while breathing in the scent of each other's faint perfume amongst the salty mist they were sprayed with from time to time, as Keith enjoyed the only other lady he loved more than Lana, his beloved "Dropship."
"Why the Dropship, Namtan?" Film asked in her curious tone, cocking her head to the side innocently, and Namtan swooned internally for maybe the eightieth time that day.
"Why the name?" Namtan clarified, clearing her throat. "Is that what you're asking?"
"Yes." Film smiled apologetically, her arms resting on either side of Namtan, who was absently playing with her fingers, trying not to notice how soft and elegant they looked.
"Well, if you follow me to the tiny little bathroom, I'll show you." Namtan quipped, smiling wickedly.
Film frowned. "I'm afraid I don't follow, Namtan."
Namtan's smirk deepened. "Because I can drop your panties on this ship-"
Film swatted her arm, cheeks burning. "That doesn't even sound good, Namtan."
Namtan barked out a laugh, glad to hear Film's soft chuckle infront of her. She sighed contentedly for a moment, wishing away everything and everyone else in the world.
For just a second, she pretended Film was there because she liked Namtan, and not for some business transaction with her father. God, it felt so right.
But Namtan knew better than to ruin a perfectly smooth plan with crazy ideals of perfection and love.
She wouldn't do that to Film.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Film mumbled into her ear. "Although, Namtan, I've never understood the saying. Your thoughts are priceless."
Why did Film have to go off and be like that? For such a nerd, she was one hell of a smooth talker. And it was genuine, which made it all the worse.
Namtan blushed profusely. "I was just thinking.. Sonya and Lookmhee. They make a cute couple."
Film nodded, her gaze finding her friend and Namtan's friend, both sitting by the edge of the railing to the far left, appearing to be deep in conversation.
"They do." Film mumbled, her eyes watching the way Sonya's softened eyes, and they didn't do that for just anyone. Lookmhee Racha was special.
But, like Namtan Tipnaree, Lookmhee Racha was off limits. Perhaps for different reasons, but untouchable, unattainable all the same, like a beautiful mirage that tempted and tantalized until the hallucination was no more.
"They should go for it." Namtan shrugged.
Film's brow furrowed. She felt her throat dry a little. Swallowing rather numbly, she pressed on. "What do you mean by that?"
"I'm saying they're a match made in heaven." Namtan chuckled, eyes still trained on the two girls in question.
"So you're saying they should sleep together?" Film asked quietly.
"Well, hell yeah." Namtan smirked. "But-more than that. I'm saying she should grow one and ask her out."
Film laughed softly. "Grow one? To the best of my knowledge, they come in pairs, Namtan."
Namtan made a face. "Okay, A, you're one to talk, Ms. I only date girls, and it was the same girl for the past year. And B, I'm talking about female anatomy. Because honestly, we go through so much more shit."
Film rolled her eyes, nodding at the latter statement. "Is this a reference towards Kapook, Namtan?"
"Yes." Namtan grumbled.
"Why don't you like her, again? You had, what, all of two conversations with her?" Film asked amusedly, seemingly unable to mope about her ex-girlfriend while she was fake dating Namtan.
"I don't like her because I like you." Namtan answered with a huff, softly turning Film's chin around so that she was facing her. "You're my best friend." She added quickly.
"I appreciate the sentiment." Film murmured, her smile soft and her heart aching.
"She hurt you." Namtan sighed absently, her fingers tracing the tips of Film's features dreamily.
Film's breath hitched in her throat. "I'm fine, now, Namtan."
"You're my best friend, even more so than everyone else here." Namtan mumbled again, pouting ever so slightly. "I want to make sure you're always happy. You deserve that, Babi."
Film felt emotions threaten to overwhelm her. "Namtan, I..." She sighed, lacing her hand with Namtan's own, eyeing the matching bracelet on her wrist. "You make me happy." She settled on that, failing to notice the rosy tint it brought to Namtan's cheeks.
"Well, I-"
"Hey hey, heads up!" Lingling called from her seat by Orm, the ball Jackson had thrown from his spot in the water whizzing way over her head, hurling towards Namtan and Film.
"Shit." Namtan ducked, squeezing her eyes shut for the inevitable impact that never came. She cracked an eye open, after a moment, noticing those elegant fingers of Film's curled around the football. "Huh?"
Film smirked, tossing it back in a neat spiral, landing it into Lingling's waiting arms. "Here." She called out confidently.
Lingling smirked. "That was very impressive. Care to come here and show these amateurs how its done?"
Film laughed, turning to face Namtan. "Do you mind?" She asked softly.
Namtan was busy staring at her in awe. "You're a jock too, nerd?"
Film blushed a little.
"Seriously?" Namtan whined from her seat, which was Film. "There's not even room to play."
"There's room to throw it to Jackson." Film pointed out. Then she felt a tug in her chest, telling her to forget everything and cater to Namtan's whim, and she happily would've done so, because she lived for Namtan's smiles.
"Oh, come on, Namtan." Orm rolled her eyes. "Let's let our kids have a playdate. We can catch up."
Namtan was now fully aware of how everyone was watching her, and her response to Film.
"Fine." Namtan smirked, pulling Film down as her hands went around Film's neck. She shocked Film by pulling her into a hot, suggestive kiss, biting Film's lip softly as she soothed it with a quick brush of her tongue before releasing Film.
Film, knees buckling, struggled to stand, eyes dazed, heart hammering. "I..." she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Um, I-"
"Have fun." Namtan teased, leaning back in the space where Film had just been sitting, patting it for Orm to come and switch spaces with Film. "Bye, babe." She waved innocently, dismissing her.
"Uh..." Film inhaled sharply. "Bye." She mumbled, stepping over to Lingling, who looked eager to spend some time socializing with Orm's friends and family.
"Wow." Orm smirked, flipping her brunette locks over her shoulder as she sat beside Namtan on the deck, nudging her with her elbow playfully. "You finally got a keeper."
Namtan rolled her eyes. "You think?" She asked playfully.
Orm nodded. "What's not to like? Hot, pretty damn smart, knows how to put Metawin in his place."
Namtan chuckled at that, watching Film's retreating figure. "Hah. Yeah, I guess you're right."
"You guess?" Orm scoffed, angling her chest up to get a better tan. "Your heart eyes are a little sickening, to be honest."
Namtan bit her lip.
Oh, no. Was it that obvious?
"Well, same for you." Namtan shot back. "How long have you been seeing Lingling for?"
"Almost two years." Orm admitted somewhat sheepishly.
If Namtan had a drink, it would've been sprayed all over the deck in her shocked gape. "What?" She blinked. "Since when? What happened to your ex?"
"Well.." Orm sighed, averting her gaze. "We were on and off for a little bit. Anada was a dick, and I ended that faster than you could imagine. I was pretty pissed after that, and so obviously not ready for another casual hookup, and Lingling happened. She was sweet, wanted to take things slowly, I let her in, I guess."
"You never said anything. I didn't see you settling down like that." Namtan admitted. "You were always Orm the party animal. The casual relationship type of person."
"I love Lingling." Orm shrugged. "A lot."
"How'd you know?" Namtan asked, her tone softening as she smiled in happiness.
"That I loved her?" Orm thought for a moment, blinking in surprise. "I don't know, honestly. You just feel it. Namtan, whenever I look at her, I don't know, this is some sappy shit, but It makes my whole world brighter. She makes my heart beat faster even now, and all I can think is damn, I want to wake up next to her every morning. I want to share her good days and her victories, and her bad days and her defeats. I just want her." She trailed off, glancing at her girlfriend.
"Whoa." Namtan breathed, her gaze settling on Film, who was leaning against the railing with Lingling, her head tilted as a beautiful laugh escaped her lips.
Orm smirked. "Hitting pretty close to home, am I?"
"Whoa!" Namtan reiterated, this time in pure panic as she faced her friend with shock. "Huh? No! I mean, we're so not there!"
"You haven't exchanged 'I love you's'?" Orm scoffed, eyes widening. "What are you, twelve? Waiting for the perfect time to say it? It's not during sex, by the way."
"It's complicated." Namtan sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We've only been together for a little while."
"Namtan, you've been pining over this girl for a year and a half. You became best friends. That's the foundation for a perfect relationship. Beyoncé said that about Jay in an interview."
Namtan rolled her eyes. Now she had to take advice from her family and Beyoncé?
"Thank you very much, Orm."
"Lingling started out as my friend." Orm pressed on diligently. "But I mean, I always knew we'd be something more. Just felt that way. Namtan, I would do anything for her now, because that trust is already there. There wasn't a huge transition because we already knew all there was to know about each other."
Namtan realized that she really did know Film better than she knew anyone else. The time they shared was quality, unaffected by the trials of dating and the façade of trying to be someone she wasn't, or a better version of herself.
They truly loved everything about the other in the purest, most wholesome form, without expectations of reciprocation. Wasn't that special? Didn't that have merit?
"You weren't afraid of damaging what you already had?" Namtan asked, her voice small and insignificant.
Orm paused for a moment. "Damn, Tipnaree, you're deep today. But, no, I guess. I mean, of course I valued our friendship, but I knew I'd never be satisfied like that. I can't put it into words, Namtan, it was beyond frustrating. Could you even imagine what it's like to be in love with your best friend, but neither one of you is brave enough to actually sack up and just tell each other? It's the dumbest situation, I swear to god."
"HA!" Namtan laughed, feeling a hollow ache inside. "That is wild, Orm."
"Tell her you love her." Orm muttered lowly as she heard Lingling and Film approach. "You won't regret it. I mean, shit, it's very obvious that those feelings are mutual."
Namtan's throat dried as she glanced up at Film, hair wind tossed and exotic, her soft but toned arms extended out to Namtan in a playful invitation.
"Where are we going?" Namtan asked numbly, knowing their options were severely limited.
"I don't know." Film hummed thoughtfully. "The back, maybe?"
Namtan nearly stumbled at the thought of being alone with Film at the back end of the boat, content to watch the sunset with her best friend that she might have had intense feelings for. Unreciprocated feelings, she reminded herself.
Namtan swallowed the lump in her throat. "Uh, yeah. Okay..." She took Film's hands, allowing her best friend to pull her up.
"Go get 'em, Tiger." Orm winked, causing both girls to blush profusely.
Namtan was sure, in that moment, in the heat of the slowly descending sun, bleeding into the horizon's waters, that she would follow Film anywhere and everywhere, if only she asked.
*
"Oh my god." Namtan's eyes widened as she grinned at Film through the doorway of the hotel bedroom to the suite's balcony. "Seriously?"
Film glanced up from her game of chess, part of the lavish and expensive décor of the suite, likely untouched by ninety percent of the guests who came to actually have fun outdoors.
Film glanced up at Namtan with a sigh. "Are we going to discuss this again?" She asked, tongue sticking out adorably as she pondered her move against her own opposing pieces.
"You know, I'm sure there's an old geezers club in the hotel that does chess in the mornings! Oh, and bingo if you're really feeling loose." Namtan smirked, making her way over, failing to notice the way Film's mouth dried at the sight of Namtan, freshly showered, changed into her dress.
"Ha." Film rolled her eyes. "Rather clever, Namtan. Might I remind that, last time you cockily challenged me, I, how did you put it, again? Beat your ass into next year?"
Namtan laughed, a husky sound, tilting her head back. She stepped out onto the balcony, allowing the cool evening air to kiss her warm skin. "It's beautiful out here." She murmured, eyes finding the dark and placid ocean across the way.
Film's eyes were on Namtan. She nodded slowly, murmuring, "It is."
"These balconies are so private." Namtan noted, grateful that a wall separated her from Lookmhee and Sonya's balcony, just imagining how positively annoying Lookmhee would be with that advantage. "I mean, technically, Lookmhee could scale it if she were drunk enough. The dividing wall is just an obstacle."
"And it's about seven stories higher than the one you had to so bravely leap across back home." Film muttered, her focus on the game at hand, her eyes narrowed at the white rook. "So, you'd have to be drunk to try something that stupid."
"Yeah." Namtan chuckled to herself. "The things I do for you, Film."
"Don't say you did that for me." Film rolled her eyes. "That would look bad if you fell and injured yourself in the process."
"But I didn't, did I?" Namtan hummed cockily.
Film glanced up at her with an amused smile before looking back down at her game.
"Well, as much as I love watching you play with yourself..." Namtan smirked, and even in the relative lack of light, she could see Film's blushing and inability to respond properly. "We have to go."
Namtan stepped inside, turning her attention to the wall that separated Namtan and Film's suite from Sonya's. She knocked on the wall, taking little to no care when she bellowed, "Lookmhee, Sonya! If you two are done eye fucking, we have to get to dinner!" And really, she was one to talk.
Film stepped inside, eyes widened and gaping at Namtan in horror as she hurriedly shut the sliding door of the balcony, practically yanking Namtan from the wall.
"Ow!" Namtan whipped around, eyes widening. "Film, what the hell?"
"Namtan." Film couldn't help it. She burst out into a fit of laughter, which was incredibly rare for the usually composed businesswoman.
Namtan's eyes widened even more, her hazel depths searching Film, who was now heaving, for answers. "What?" She demanded. "Was that too blunt?"
Film nodded, wiping at the tears that had formed in her immaculately made up eyes. "Yes. Because you just disturbed a couple on their honeymoon. Lookmhee and Sonya share that wall with us." She grinned, flicking her gaze to the complete other side of the hotel room.
"Oh." Namtan suddenly remembered that, blinking several times. "Oh, yeah."
Film was still chuckling and Namtan would've loved the melodious sound, if she weren't so busy cursing herself and blushing.
"Well." Namtan bit her lip. "Fuck."
*
"I'm just saying, you didn't have to kick him off." Lookmhee smirked. "You could've just bought me dinner."
"As if that was my intention." Sonya rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."
"Oh, so you just don't like Ten?" Lookmhee challenged.
Sonya shrugged. "Am I experiencing déjà vu, or did we already have this conversation?" She asked in exasperation.
"So, you wouldn't mind if I asked him out?" Lookmhee teased.
"I wouldn't, but I'm thinking Faye, might." Sonya retorted.
Lookmhee paused, a look of disappointment on her features. Before she could answer to break the silence she'd awkwardly created, she blinked, hearing a muffled cry.
From somewhere, someone yelled "If you two are done eye fucking, we have to get to dinner!"
Sonya was busy opening the door, holding it for Lookmhee. "You coming or not, Lookmhee?"
"Did you... hear that?" Lookmhee muttered, walking slowly over to Sonya.
"Hear what?"
*
"Another dinner." Namtan scoffed as she and Film made their way downstairs, figuring that the lack of response from Sonya and Lookmhee's room symbolized that they were already down. Or, incredibly occupied, which Namtan doubted, claiming she "would've heard something" from Lookmhee.
"How many times are we going to do this?"
"Likely a few more, considering your birthday is in two days." Film responded playfully.
"Shut up." Namtan grumbled, pressing the elevator button with disdain. "How'd the talks with my dad go? He asked you to replace me as his daughter yet?"
Film chuckled softly. "Is that jealousy, Ms. Tipnaree?"
"Yes." Namtan teased, and Film knew she was incredibly happy for her. "He really likes you." She added the last part with a tinge of sadness.
"He essentially offered me the deal." Film admitted sheepishly.
"What?" Namtan wheeled around on her, grinning in delight. “Film, that's fantastic! Did you discuss terms? Did you accept?"
Film frowned momentarily, realization flashing across her features.
"Oh." Namtan froze. "You didn't?"
"You had actually disappeared beneath the surface, and I was worried. I completely left him there." Film recalled quietly.
Namtan frowned. "Fuck, seriously, Babi? You left him for me?"
Film's expression softened, and she gave her best friend a smile. "My best friend was drowning." She shrugged. "Not much room for options."
"Okay, firstly, I was not drowning." Namtan retorted airily. "Secondly, Jackson probably would have gotten me if you waited a sec."
"Right." Film shrugged with a knowing smile. "I'm still glad it was me. I actually was concerned, Namtan."
Namtan's heart melted as she watched the elevator descend to her mother's second dinner, or, better yet, the depths of hell itself. "Afraid I'd leave you all alone with this hell family?" Namtan teased.
"I quite like your family, Namtan." Film responded optimistically. "They're so warm."
"Yeah, well..." Namtan rolled her eyes. "Warm only does the trick for so long. And you know what tonight is, right?"
Film shook her head innocently.
"The trip down memory lane." Namtan's response was dry and her eyes narrowed at the thought.
"What does that entail?" Film smirked, knowing it wouldn't end well for Namtan.
"Old pictures, old photos, bad memories." Namtan grumbled.
"Bad?" Film asked, mild concern in her tone.
"No. Embarrassing memories. Like, when I had a bowl cut when I was five. And a bob that made me look like I was forty when I was twelve. I had cruel parents, my dad wanted to fend off the boys." Namtan muttered, folding her arms like a petulant child. She gave Film a once over. "Well, technically, he succeeded. Maybe that's why he likes you so much."
"Oh, this I have to see." Film grinned, and it was so brilliant and bright that Namtan felt her insides melt all over again, swooning over Film Racha for the billionth time that day.
And, wow, it was never this bad before. Had she damaged her brain a little when she'd gone underwater earlier?
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the ever-bustling lobby, which Film cut through, absently grabbing Namtan's hand, much to Namtan's secret delight, so that she wouldn't lose her in the crowd.
"I cannot believe my mom booked an event room." Namtan grumbled as they made their way down to a decently sized room, brightly lit with chandeliers and elegant tables, frosted with fine white tablecloth and table settings.
"Isn't this for weddings?" Film asked, biting her lip.
"Here's hoping you and I get married right here and now and call it a week." Namtan retorted absently, missing the way Film's heart skipped a beat, or twenty, at the mention of being with Namtan for life.
"Isn't that a bit sudden? We've only been dating for months." Film responded playfully.
"Hell, we're already there, right?" Namtan shrugged as her eyes scanned the room. "We already know everything about living together, and I- God damn." Namtan rolled her eyes.
"What?" Film asked softly. She wanted so badly to hear Namtan finish that sentiment. She knew it was her own little fantasy, and that Namtan was just being Namtan and saying things she didn't mean, but she couldn't help the aching, the longing in her chest, in the pit of her stomach. A permanent future with Namtan seemed so idealistic.
Of course, she was the poster child for the number one trope: Don't fall in love with your best friend. It felt like a cliché movie. She hoped, in whatever twisted universe this was, that her audience was getting a good kick out of the torture she was going through for Namtan. And her business, of course.
"Girls, glad to see you made it on time." Lana smiled when she saw Namtan and Film enter, Namtan grumbling incoherently and Film looking at her as if she were the moon and the stars.
"Mom, you got the room with the projector and the screen?" Namtan sighed, shaking her head. "This is for weddings!"
"I don't see that written anywhere." Lana replied, rolling her eyes. "God, Namtan, always the theatrics with you."
Namtan squeezed Film's hand, and Film stifled a laugh.
"Go ahead and grab a seat, they just served food buffet style tonight. Your father and I are trying to get the damned disk to play."
Namtan nodded, dragging Film to the table where the group were sitting.
"Hey guys." Metawin smiled at the girls, offering up the space beside him that wasn't occupied by Archen.
"Here." Namtan pulled out Namtan's seat for her, and when Film visibly swooned, Namtan offered her a wink.
"Damn." Archen nodded in approval. "She's got game."
"Hey, where were you today?" Namtan frowned.
"Archen gets sea-sick." Metawin replied with a knowing smirk. "But I did brew up something special for our celebration tomorrow."
Namtan grinned. "You didn't."
"Didn't what?" Film asked, now completely confused.
"Beer, Film." Lookmhee announced, slapping Film's back from behind as she made her way over, Sonya in tow. "Metawin's famous homemade beer."
"No fucking way." Orm smirked. "Last time we had a group's club night, Namtan couldn't remember her own name. That shit is brutal."
Lingling and Film exchanged looks, both clearly newcomers.
"You'll see, baby." Namtan smirked, patting Film's thigh. "It's tradition."
Sonya had sat beside Lookmhee, and the two were now bickering over where Ten was going to sit, as he approached the table with a smirk.
"Why do we invite him, again?" Jackson piped up from his seat, already digging into his dish.
"Because he doesn't drown people." Namtan fired back, smirking.
"You started it, princess." Jackson smirked right back, watching Namtan bristle at the nickname.
"You don't like being called Princess." Film noted quietly, watching Namtan's back and forth with an amused smile.
"Not unless you treat me like one." Namtan whispered back, licking her lips.
Film stiffened, feeling an odd rush of heat. Okay, that wasn't supposed to be suggestive, right? But Namtan's hand was still on her thigh, which was mostly covered by the table cloth, and she was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
Metawin had come over, a frown on his features, glancing back at the group parents, who were staring awkwardly at Keith's laptop with little to no knowledge of the situation.
"Guys, looks like we might not get to see bad haircut Namtan after all." Metawin sighed, taking a seat beside Lingling.
"Aw, what?" Ten sighed, shaking his head. "I got all excited. I've heard the legends."
"Fuck you." Namtan grumbled, tossing back her drink with an air of exasperation.
"You're just jealous you don't have locks like these." Ten smirked, flipping his hair dramatically.
"Yeah, you look like you're straight out of a Pantene commercial, we get it." Sonya chimed, earning raucous laughter.
"I'll go have a look." Film rose, feeling the loss of Namtan's hand on her thigh.
"Fine." Namtan pouted. "That's two strikes today, Racha, that's the second time you've left me."
"Ooh, someone's in the doghouse." Lookmhee muttered with a smirk, watching Film wink at Namtan before slipping away.
"She's so hot." Ten commented to his "testosterone corner" of the table, as the girls had dubbed it.
Archen glanced away disapprovingly, ever the gentleman, while Metawin looked for Namtan's reaction.
Jackson, however, nodded in agreement.
"I know." Namtan smirked, deciding to be honest for once. "Too bad she's taken."
Lookmhee and Sonya exchanged surprised glances.
Their eyes followed Film as she leaned in to greet Keith, hugging him briefly and then pointing to the computer, explaining something with a laugh.
"Damn, Tipnaree, is Racha dating you or your dad?" Jackson smirked, earning him a punch on the arm from Metawin and a few shocked laughs.
Namtan grit her teeth, unsure of how to rationally explain why Film was spending so much time with him at every available occasion without giving away any secrets. "They're being friendly."
"A little too friendly." Metawin nodded in agreement. "I mean, not the way that this idiot is suggesting, but I've never seen your parents so nice to any of your dates before. It's like they're actually rooting for you this time."
"Maybe that's because Film doesn't look like she's in a biker gang." Orm smirked.
Namtan rolled her eyes, covering her face in embarrassment. "That was ONE guy!"
"Remember the way Lana reacted when she saw him?" Lookmhee grinned, mimicking Lana's stern voice. "Namtan! He's like a human pin-cushion! Are you on drugs, Namtan? Didn't we raise you better than that?!"
The table erupted into a chorus of laughter, and Namtan banged her forehead on the table, avoiding everyone's gaze.
Sonya watched the entire ordeal with a grin, enjoying the new gossip she'd not heard before.
"Lana thought he had piercings..." Lookmhee motioned to her crotch with a smirk. "Down there."
"Okay, kids, it's working!" Keith called from the corner of the room, giving Film a pat on the back. "Grab your dessert and have a seat!"
Film made her way over, cocking a brow when she saw Namtan with her head down in embarrassment. "What did I miss?" She asked curiously, leaning back in her seat, a hand going to Namtan's back gently.
"Oh, nothing. We were talking about how hot you are. Oh, and Lana's just glad you're not pierced below the belt." Sonya smirked, enjoying Film gaping at her in shock.
*
"How many fucking pictures did you guys take!" Namtan grumbled, her profanities muffled by Film's arm, which she buried herself into to avoid the glowering screen, filled with what she politely called "fashion mistakes" from her early childhood.
Film had laughed, the vibrations calming Namtan, and Namtan instead focused on the way her best friend's arm came around her.
The group had enjoyed every little memory, and even though Film, Lingling, and Sonya were newcomers, they enjoyed watching the adventures of their significant others, fake, real, or otherwise.
"God, why was I wearing overalls?" Namtan mumbled. "On the first day of school, too. Way to be cool, Namtan."
Film surprised her by pressing a kiss to her forehead, drawing a silent squeal of approval from Orm, who'd been sitting beside them.
"Oh, and there's little Namtan crying because she missed her dad." Lana commented as the screen filled with a picture of a little blonde version of Namtan, pouting adorably as tears stained her cheeks.
Film's heart clenched a little, as her gaze took in every bit, every second, every aspect of Namtan's life and childhood.
"But there he is, picking her up!" Lana grinned, as a picture of Keith filled the screen, his younger, smiling face looking down at Namtan like she was his world.
Film swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Oh, the family dance!" Orm cried out, squeezing Lingling's hand fondly at the memory.
The picture filled the screen until it displayed little Namtan and Orm holding hands, wrapped in the tight embrace of Keith, Lana, Aira, and Metawin.
Film's breath hitched, and Namtan heard it. She glanced up in concern, any façade of their fake relationship gone. This was Namtan worrying about Film, her best friend, the most important person in the world.
"Film?" She asked in a mild whisper.
"Excuse me, for a moment." Film murmured, rising out of her seat, turning sharply on her heel, making a beeline for the hallway.
Lana cocked a brow and Namtan murmured, "I'll handle it."
The group continued to "ooh" and "awe" as Namtan slipped out of her seat, stepping into the comparatively bright hallway, her eyes finding the restroom sign. She followed the hall, her concern written all over her face as she pushed the door open, finding Film leaning against the wall by the sink, taking a deep breath, her eyes welling with unshed tears.
"Oh my god, Film?" Namtan asked, her voice ever so gentle, grateful that the restroom was seemingly empty.
"Namtan." Film's voice was a civil war: two sides, one controlled, and the other emotional, desperately trying to gain control over the other. "I'm so sorry, I just-"
"Hey." Namtan shook her head, approaching slowly, taking both of Film's hands in hers. "Don't. It's me. Do you want to talk about it?"
Film took a breath, keeping herself from crying.
"Was it the haircut?" Namtan teased gently, watching as a smile found its way to Film's previously quivering lips. "I mean, I know it was awful, but it wasn't that bad, right?"
Film allowed her shoulders to shake softly as she laughed quietly, allowing Namtan to envelop her in a hug.
Film clung tightly to Namtan, breathing in the scent of her shampoo, allowing herself to simply be. But, she felt she owed Namtan some sort of explanation, if Namtan wouldn't allow her an apology.
"It's just.." She sniffled ever so gently.
God, even her crying was heart-wrenchingly cute.
"It was the family pictures, Namtan." Film breathed gently. "I know this is petty, infantile, but-I never had that. I don't even remember some of the people I lived with, I-" She trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment.
"Shh." Namtan nodded, still embracing Film in the tightest of hugs. "I know. It's not. It's perfectly okay. I'm so sorry."
Film fell silent on Namtan's shoulder, allowing Namtan to hold her, like she was a pillar, keeping Film from colliding into ground.
Orm's words echoed in her mind.
"Hey, Film." Namtan murmured softly, rubbing circles on her back, soothing her. "I love you."
And it was natural. It wasn't overt, forced with sexual tensions or desires, or expectations that came with love and courtship. It was love in its purest form, unquestionable and trustworthy as the sun will rise the next morning.
Namtan loved Film with all her heart. She never imagined her telling her this way, but Film needed to hear it now, more than ever. She loved Film to a degree that hurt. She knew it. She'd come to terms with it. But there were a million ways to love Film, and she needed Namtan, her best friend, now more than ever.
Film let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her head against Namtan's shoulder. "I love you too, Namtan." She whispered quietly. Her heart was like a jackhammer in her chest, never thinking she'd get to hear those words uttered from Namtan's lips.
It came naturally, like the waves that lapped at the shore just outside their view. It wasn't a confession, because it was so blatantly obvious that both women felt for each other.
If they'd been staring into each other's gazes, they might have realized that they both meant a lot more than what was said.
"Hey, let me see you." Namtan murmured, stepping back.
Two little trails of wetness grazed Film's high cheekbones, hardly noticeable.
Namtan felt her very soul ache as Film smiled through her tears, and Namtan beamed at her, her thumbs caressing Film's cheeks as she wiped away the wetness, leaning to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"We can just leave, if you want." Namtan murmured. "And not just this dinner. If you want to leave early, to go home-"
Film shook her head, lacing her hand with Namtan's, clearing her throat. "No, Namtan, don't be ridiculous. I'm fine, now."
"Okay. If you're sure." Namtan nodded, squeezing Film's hand.
How could Namtan expect Film to go home when Namtan was her home?