Chapter 14
Film didn't know what to regard with more awe: Keith and Lana's suite and the immensity of it, or the fact that Namtan seemed absolutely unfazed by it, instead urging Film to down a drink with her as they warmed up for the evening.
Film had never actually seen such a dysfunctional, yet somehow cohesive family. What they lacked in shared blood they more than made up for in memories and bonding, and Film found that it was so easy to assimilate.
So easy to fool herself into thinking she was one of them.
So easy to believe she was Namtan's, and Namtan was hers.
Film felt an arm on her shoulder and turned to see Lana, who was grinning wickedly at her.
"Hey honey." She placed a quick kiss to Namtan's head in greeting, and then one to Film's.
Film blinked in surprise.
How rapidly Lana had warmed up once she'd seen enough of Film to know that she was no longer a threat.
"Ready to get your asses kicked?" She smirked.
Film couldn't formulate a proper response in time.
"Mom!" Namtan batted her hand away. "Could you maybe try not scaring my girlfriend off?
"Sorry." Keith chuckled from behind Lana, pulling his wife aside, making a drinking motion with his hand, winking at Namtan.
"Jesus." Namtan muttered, turning away. "So. Embarrassing."
Film grinned at Namtan, clearly amused by their antics, but mostly by Namtan's blush. "Cherish this." She reminded teasingly.
"Hey. Film." Namtan tugged her down. "Shut up."
Film smiled and then her breath hitched, because Namtan's lips fell on hers, and she melted into the soft little kiss, forcing away her frown.
"What was that for?" Film breathed softly.
"Idiot squad was watching." Namtan shrugged breathlessly, jerking her head over to where the group had gathered.
Namtan tugged Film by her wrist, leading her to her friends, who'd gathered into their typical little circle.
Orm sat proudly on Lingling's lap, stupidly blissful smiles still on either of their faces.
Namtan regarded them with a smile, feeling the slight sting of envy in her chest. She was beyond happy for Lingling and Orm, really, she was. But the fact that they had their lives so together, that's what bothered her.
Archen and Dew were sitting beside one another, laughing at something no doubt idiotic on Archen's phone, only noticing Namtan and Film's arrival when Archen looked up and stared at Film perhaps a second too long for Namtan's liking.
Bright, Metawin, and Dew were gathered around the TV, eyes glued to the basketball game as if it were life itself. Namtan saw Film's eyes flicker to the screen curiously, smirking to herself. Film was a nerd and a jock, both shy and bold. Namtan's best friend was an enigma.
Namtan eyed the one empty seat left and sat on it, patting her lap with a smile up at Film.
Film just looked at her; brows raised in surprise.
"Come on." Namtan rolled her eyes. "It's comfortable, I promise."
"Namtan, I weigh more than you thi- OH!" Film tripped underneath Namtan's extended ankle, sailing through the air as she landed safely onto Namtan's lap, now tightly secured by her embrace.
Film let out a huff and Namtan grinned into her shoulder, as Film could feel the pull of Namtan's lips sending shivers down her spine.
"We're supposed to be a couple." Namtan reminded in her ear.
"Fine." Film growled lowly. "If you want to play it that way." She readjusted herself in Namtan's lap, tediously moving against Namtan until she made herself comfortable, watching Namtan squirm beneath her.
"Oh." Namtan's whisper revitalized every inch of her aching body. "It's on."
Film rolled her eyes, allowing her gaze to shift to Lookmhee and Sonya, who were rather closely beside each other, talking in hushed whispers, occasionally laughing.
"They're so in love." Namtan mumbled into Film's ear.
She just realized how hypocritical that sounded coming from her own mouth.
"You can see it in Lookmhee's eyes." Film agreed quietly, taking a breath to steady herself.
"Why do you think they haven't gotten together yet?" Film mumbled back; her voice imperceptible to anyone who wasn't Namtan.
"Hmm. Okay, secret time." Namtan hummed by her ear.
"Can you trust me?" Film teased. "I have an obligation to Sonya, you know."
Namtan bit the mole on her shoulder, causing her to squirm, much to the Namtan's pleasure. "Excuse me? Um, I come first. Best friends, remember?" She reminded, holding up her bracelet in front of Film's vision.
Film chuckled, and Namtan felt the vibrations throughout her entire body, swallowing numbly.
"You remember Faye, right?" Namtan whispered in her ear.
Film nodded once. "She was the dick as you put it, right?"
Namtan laughed at her own joke. "Yeah, Faye the dick."
"Namtan." Film sighed in exasperation. "What of him?"
"Oh, right." Namtan nodded. "Well, as it turns out, she's more of a dick than previously thought."
Film went rigid in Namtan's lap. "You mean she had-"
"Yes, Film, she had an affair." Namtan affirmed quietly.
When she received no response from Film, she frowned. Maybe she had been hitting close to home with the Kapook situation. Namtan knew something wasn't entirely wholesome about their breakup, judging by the sounds of furniture breaking and the angered yells the day evening Kapook left her.
"Hey" Namtan nuzzled her nose into the nape of Film's neck, satisfied only when the other girl let out a quiet sigh. "It's better now."
"How?" Film asked, her voice sounding weak.
"Because Lookmhee found someone who will take care of her, treat her well, love her." Namtan whispered. "All she has to do is let her in." Namtan ventured so far as to press a sweet, soft, suckling kiss to Film's neck, aware that no one was looking.
Film's voice was shaken. "But, what if she's just-not-not ready?"
Namtan hummed against Film, pressing her forehead against Film's back, arms still securing her. "Sonya seems like the type to wait, for someone special like that."
The undertone of the conversation had washed over the two of them like the waves that lapped the shores outside, and suddenly, the tone changed from playful to rather solemn.
Before a word of clarification could be uttered, Keith clapped his hands together, startling the two from their reverie.
"Okay, kids, let's do this. That means you, lovebirds." He grinned, and Namtan found herself grumbling in annoyance into Film's soft skin.
*
It was down to the final three pairs.
Nani hadn't played at all, citing 'being too cool' as his main excuse. Most everyone allowed him to be the "score-keeper" (Namtan had later told Film that was a made-up job so that he wouldn't feel left out.)
Aira, still drunk with happiness over Lingling and Orm, simply watched and stared from a distance, occasionally sighing with a smile, causing Lana and Namtan to instantly roll their eyes every time.
Metawin and Bright lost in the first round, to Sonya and Lookmhee. It was a goddamn circus act. Namtan and Film watched, albeit cockily, from the side as Lookmhee and Sonya obliterated them.
"It's a-submarine! Wait, no! A cyclops!" Metawin tried frantically as he gaped at the box with a circle in the center.
"What the fuck?" Bright growled in annoyance. "You blind, Kornnaphat?"
Sonya yawned boredly as Lookmhee shot her a smirk. "It's where we had our first date."
"It's a washing machine." Sonya announced simply, smirking when Bright chucked his pen across the room in anger.
"Okay A, that's cheating" Bright grumbled. "B, that's fucking disgusting, Lookmhee, keep it in your pants."
"Aww, who's a sore loser?" Lookmhee grinned, high-fiving Sonya as she sat back down. "Better luck next time. You two make a cute couple, though."
Metawin glanced at Bright with widened eyes as the two were ushered away by Lingling and Orm, who threw over her shoulder, "Maybe you asked the wrong Kornnaphat sibling to the high school dance?"
Bright flipped her off before shooting Metawin a weird look, going back to watch the game with a depressed huff.
Lookmhee and Sonya sadly fell prey to the powerhouse that was the newly engaged Lingling and Orm, who blew them out of the water with little to no competition.
"What the fuck is that?" Lookmhee jeered as Sonya stepped back to reveal what, in essence, looked like an oblong blob.
Sonya shot her a look as if it were obvious. "Just guess!" She snapped.
"Fuck, I don't know," Lookmhee looked absolutely panicked. "Ted Cruz? A schoolbus?"
"Lipstick!" Lingling cheered as Orm grinned back at her, prancing over for her victory kiss.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Lookmhee scoffed. "It's a good thing you kiss better than you draw."
At that, the whole room fell silent.
"Not that I'd know." Lookmhee mumbled, standing to make room for the next victims of the terror that was team "LingOrm" as Namtan had dubbed it.
Namtan rose from her seat to face Film, straddling her lap, holding her chin up so her eyes were forced to meet Namtan's.
Film's breath hitched at the contact, at the feel of Namtan's weight pinning her down.
Namtan was very clearly not on the same page.
"Baby." Namtan repeated until Film blinked, coming back to reality. "We need to crush them. No excuses. Just-be right."
Film bit back laughter, not wanting to ruin Namtan's absolutely pathetic pep-talk. "What's so bad about los-"
"Don't." Namtan growled. "Not this year."
Film couldn't help the laughter that shook her body.
"Come on, Namtan!" Lookmhee cheered. "Give her some incentive. Take Orm down." She growled the last part, her eyes narrowed.
"This game is tearing our family apart." Keith shook his head in amusement.
"Not as bad as the Monopoly Crisis of 2011." Ten supplied, a smirk on his face.
"Incentive?" Namtan repeated, choosing to ignore all other irrelevant comments. Her competitive streak, albeit a little horrifying, was turning Film on to no end. "Okay, yeah, I can do that."
She was suddenly leaning forward, muttering a very quick "sorry" to Film before pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, kissing her with promise for more, if Film succeeded. Film leaned forward, eyes closing as Namtan let out a quiet little moan, sending Film over the edge. Namtan's hands tangled themselves in Film's hair as she rocked her hips forward almost imperceptibly.
"Um, okay, I said incentive, not a free show." Lookmhee reminded awkwardly.
"Shut up, Lookmhee!" Ten muttered, but Namtan knew she was right. She pulled back, giving Film a wink.
It was game time.
*
Lingling and Namtan decided to take the first round guessing, while Film and Orm set about drawing terrible representations of their assigned words.
It really came down to which couple knew the little nuances in their relationship more.
"Okay. Okay, " Lingling sat on the edge of his seat, hands wiping at his thighs nervously. "It's a box-"
Namtan grinned when Film simply motioned to Namtan without drawing anything.
"Pizza!" Namtan smirked, standing to high five Film as Orm gaped in horror.
"How'd you know?" Lingling asked, voice as shocked as his face. "She didn't even draw anything."
"This relationship was founded on three am pizza calls." Namtan smirked.
"That's-that's cheating, right?" Orm turned to Keith and Lana, incredulous.
"I mean, technically. It's not." Keith sighed, unable to hide his smile.
Finally, Namtan had a partner that was able to compete with her, to complete her. And not merely in Pictionary. Film was bright, respectful, good natured.
She was every father's dream.
"Okay, round two." Ten announced, marking a tally for team "Filman", as Lookmhee had suggested with a childish smile.
Lingling gave Namtan a nervous smile as she took the pen from Orm, stepping up to take her place.
Namtan felt a pang of sorrow for her,
She was about to kick her ass into next year.
"Baby you watching?" Namtan fired over her shoulder at Film.
"Yes, babi." The exasperated response was all she needed.
She and Lingling glanced at the word Keith had supplied, and they were off, Namtan's tongue poking out in the way Film adored as she set about her artistry.
"Oh, fuck." Orm grumbled. "I forgot Namtan was an artist."
Film smirked a little proudly, eyes falling on the artist in question.
"Okay, that's a-a hand..." Orm called out, eyes narrowing at Lingling's drawing. "Right?"
Namtan, on the other hand, was drawing something completely different, something akin to a square-like package.
"Uh, arm? Hand. Bracelet!" Orm fired as Lingling shook his head, grunting in exasperation as she moved to draw something on the arm.
Film had remained quiet, scrupulously studying Namtan's artful strokes as she drew squiggly lines on the package.
"Water?" Film mumbled to herself, knowing it was a lost cause.
She felt her heart hammering. Actually hammering. Was this stupid game actually causing her an adrenaline rush?
"A mole?" Orm grumbled. "A bullet wound? Babe, what the hell?"
Namtan began drawing something under the package, which Film later recognized as flames.
"A burning package of-Ramen!" Film shot out of her seat. "Burn! You're trying to draw the word "Burn!"
Namtan smirked as "Team LingOrm" deflated instantly.
"That was right." Lingling sighed.
Keith nodded his approval, glancing at Namtan with a wry smile. "You finally cracked the system your mother and I use."
"What's that?" Orm grumbled from her seat.
"Sometimes it's easier to use personal references that mean something to you." Keith shrugged.
Namtan smiled fondly at the memory of burning the ramen in her apartment with a tired smile.
"Babe, that was so good." She grinned, pulling Film closer as she slid her arms around her waist, Film grinning equally as wide as they met in a soft kiss, both eventually laughing into it at the sheer stupidity of the situation.
"Congratulations." Orm rolled her eyes. "Well, you two obviously have no secrets. You just beat a couple that's going to be married. When's your wedding, again?"
"Okay, no pressure, Film, but don't let me down." Namtan teased from her seat beside Film, idly playing with her hand as she waited for her parents to ready themselves.
"Dating you is pressure in itself." Film responded wryly, sipping her wine with an air of elegance Namtan envied since day one of their friendship.
Namtan feigned a look of hurt. "What?" She pouted. "You're the high maintenance one."
Film's eyes widened. "Me?" She scoffed. "Hardly."
"Trouble in paradise?" Orm piped up, kneeling to lean between the two, a hand on each girl's shoulder.
"Hey, don't cozy up to her, Film." Namtan hissed. "She might poison your drink. She's still pissed about how we completely ran her beloved team LingOrm into the ground."
Film smirked quietly into her wine glass while Orm rolled her eyes.
"Laugh it up, Tipnaree, but no one's got a kinky, weird relationship like you two." Orm's retort was teasing.
"I'm intrigued." Namtan mocked. "Kinky? How?"
"Who else gets the word 'Burn' from a shitty drawing of a packet of Ramen?" Orm scoffed. "Cheaters, that's who."
Namtan's jaw dropped in feigned hurt, and Film set down her glass. "Orm, I know Namtan here lacks the basic set of morals that everyone is supposed to possess, but I for one, do not."
"Way to stand up for me, babe." Namtan grumbled, kicking Film's shin softly.
Film offered her a small smile, one that reached her eyes, and Namtan found herself breathless, grinning back like an absolute fool.
Orm seemed to realize that she'd lost their attention. "Hey, lover girls." She snapped, causing both girls to jump in surprise. "Jesus, this is disgusting. Lingling just proposed to me and I'm not pining for her this badly. Are you sure you two haven’t slept together?"
Film was suddenly downing her wine again, and Namtan had a coughing fit.
Orm would have picked on the subject further, save for the fact that it was apparently entirely out of the question for party animal Tipnaree not to have slept with her girlfriend of months.
"Anyway, I didn't come here to insult you, even though that's always fun." Orm smirked.
"Then why are you interrupting our couple time?" Namtan fired back, brow raised, small fake smile on her lips.
"Because, is it just me, or are you two getting serious couple vibes from Sonya and Lookmhee?" Orm quirked a brow.
"That seems to be the consensus, yes." Film replied, her voice smooth like silk, Namtan dying to hear another syllable from her full lips.
Man, she was in deep.
"Yeah, Orm, congrats. You noticed something anyone with eyes could see." Namtan commented wryly, and Film snorted with laughter, causing Namtan's heart to melt yet again.
Orm rolled her eyes. "No, I mean, like, more than usual. Look." She nudged Namtan, jerking her head in the direction of Lookmhee and Sonya, where Lookmhee's hand was on Sonya's thigh as the two sat beside each other, murmuring quietly, closed off from the rest of the world.
"Fifteen bucks says they're screwing by the end of game night." Orm smirked.
Namtan's eyes widened. Clearly, Orm didn't give a damn about Faye. "Uh. Twenty bucks says they won't."
She had information that Orm didn't, that information being that she knew Lookmhee was supposedly emotionally unavailable.
It was a dick move, but hey, Namtan was a starving artist.
"Fine, we have a deal." Orm smirked, slipping into her childhood secret handshake with Namtan, a series of high-fives and an assortment of fist bumps and other moves Film had neither the talent nor experience to recognize. "They're gonna screw each other's brains out."
"Absolutely vulgar." Film commented loftily, and Namtan just smirked up at her, laying her head on Film's shoulder.
"You love it."
"I love you. Your gambling habits, however, can see themselves out." Film replied.
Namtan, in that moment, forgot that their relationship wasn't real. It felt real. The words felt real. She felt like she was Film's mischievous girlfriend, and Film was her anchor to all things morally sound.
Of course, this was another delusion, courtesy of her alcohol addled mind. Right? She thought as she pressed her lips against Film’s skin, smirking when she felt Film shiver.
"Have you two considered getting engaged?" Orm's sudden question had both girls reeling.
"What?" Namtan asked, eyes widening while Film sputtered, Namtan's hand going to softly clap her back. "Look, you killed her, Orm!"
"Not my fault the idea of marrying you is repulsive." Orm snorted, laughing as she folded her arms.
Namtan scowled and shot her a glare.
Film recovered, her voice a bit throaty from her coughing fit. Namtan decided, hopelessly, that she was attracted to Film's voice even then. "Don't, ah-don't you think it's a bit soon?"
Orm shrugged. "How? You guys have already lived together, met the family, gotten past your "I love you's". I mean, there's not much else."
Namtan bit her lip. Orm made a whole lot of sense. Except for the fact that they weren't actually in a relationship, but small details like that didn't matter.
Film looked stunned, the wickedly smart woman unable to form a reply.
"Orm, please, you're scaring her off." Namtan grumbled, her cheeks flushed.
"It's not a huge deal." Orm shrugged. "It's just a promise. It's a commitment, but you set the terms. You can work out the kinks while you're engaged. You don't even have to get married right away-."
"Okay, thank you very much, Orm." Namtan shoved her and the brunette threw up her arms in exasperation. "We'll get back to you on that."
"Something to consider, Tipnaree! Rachanun is a keeper." She winked, turning to join Lingling, who'd been sulking around with Metawin, her brother-in-law to be.
Namtan heaved a sigh of relief as soon as everyone was out of earshot. "I am so sorry about that. Orm is persistent. You ARE a keeper, though."
Film allowed a shy smile to find her lips once more, eyeing the leather bracelet on Namtan's wrist with affection. Without thinking, she reached forward, her fingers finding purchase on its edges, smooth and symbolic of their commitment to each other.
Perhaps they already were engaged, in their own way.
"Thank you. I can understand her point of view, Namtan." Film consoled her soothingly, and Namtan felt ever the child whenever Film used that tone with her.
Their heart-to-heart chat was interrupted by Ten's clearing of his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Ten used his best announcing voice to try to gain the attention of everyone in the room, particularly Namtan and Film, who looked as if they were going to devour each other on the spot.
"Oh boy." Namtan rolled her eyes.
"I present to you, team "Klana" Ten announced, as Keith and Lana smirked in the direction of their daughter.
"Klana?" Sonya snorted.
"Not as bad as Flana." Lookmhee smirked.
Flana? Klana? What the hell was going on? Film was utterly confused.
"Namtan." She whispered, tugging on Namtan's arm.
"What's up baby?" Namtan responded before she even knew what she was saying.
Film was taken aback, mouth slightly parted in an "O" shape. "Uh..." She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "What's Flana? Klana I think I understand, Keith and Lana, but where does the F come from?"
Keith, having overheard the last bit, shook his head. "I think I can answer that." He grinned.
"Oh, great, story time." Namtan rolled her eyes, leaning her head on Film's shoulder in exasperation.
"You see, not so long ago, Namtan's mother was dating a fellow named Fabian Hahn."
Film nodded slowly. Had she dug up a skeleton in the closet?
"Oh, Keith." Lana rolled her eyes, a playful smirk on her lips. "Give it up. That was almost two years before Namtan was even born."
"I assume things went poorly for him?" Film asked carefully, giving Namtan's arm a squeeze. She didn't want to consider the fact that Namtan might not have been born in some twisted universe.
"They did, because yours truly over here, came in and swept her off her feet." Keith grinned.
Lana rolled her eyes once more. "Right. It had nothing to do with the fact that Fabian and I were drifting apart for work, and Keith just happened to be investing in the University, at the time."
"How did you manage to woo Lana when she was already so far gone?" Film murmured in question, cheeks flushing when she felt all eyes in the room suddenly on her.
But of course, Namtan's arm was around her, and she felt like she was at home.
"I proposed." Keith smirked, holding up Lana's finger to display an impressive ring.
"While she was dating him?" Film asked, in shock.
"No, they were taking a break. Lana and I knew each other for a long time. Hell, we even dated. And I wasn't about to let her go. We'd been seeing each other for dinner and, " Keith shrugged. "popped my grandmother's ring out. She couldn't resist."
Lana smacked his arm. "It wasn't for the ring, you idiot."
Keith grinned, and Namtan buried her face in Film's shoulder.
"And the award for most embarrassing family goes to..." Namtan grumbled.
"At least you didn't have a road bump like Fabian Hahn in your life." Keith rolled his eyes, "Always following the rules."
"We had a Kapook." Namtan mumbled dryly, lucky that only Lookmhee had heard, smirking at her mischievously.
"Point is, kiddo, I'm glad you two are past your troubles and onto smooth sailing." Keith nudged Film with a smile.
Film felt her heart fall into her gut, at that. Like a sucker punch to her good mood, her expression suddenly soured as she fought to control it. Keith thought Film was the one for Namtan. And she'd lied to him, fully and outright. She was a coward, and an idiot.
"We sure are, dad." Namtan shot him a smile, leaning forward to kiss Film's temple.
Film sulked lower into her seat, now simply waiting for the night to be over.
But of course, they still had to face the reigning champions.