Orbit

🎵

Namtan peeked around the corner of the building, her eyes scanning the festival grounds for any familiar faces. The barbecue booth was tantalizingly close, its string lights casting a warm glow on the delicious rice bowls & skewers sizzling on the grill.

"Okay," she whispered, crouching slightly and dragging Film down with her. "The food's right there. We just have to get in, grab something, and get out without anyone noticing we're, you know..." She raised her cuffed wrist meaningfully.

"Illegally out of the jail booth?" Film deadpanned.

"Exactly." Namtan grinned. "This'll be a piece of cake. Or, uh, barbecue."

Film sighed; her expression nervous but not entirely disinterested. "But phi- how do you plan to hide these?" Handcuff chains rattling as she raised their joined hands. "They're kind of... obvious."

Namtan paused, her brow furrowing in thought. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she smirked. "Simple. We just act like it's intentional."

Film blinked. "Intentional?"

"Yeah, act normal, like we're close friends or like it's part of a costume or something!" Namtan leaned closer, wiggling her eyebrows.

Film surrenders. "I guess we have no other choice then", she adjusts the handcuffs, lets it settle a little higher above their wrists and covers it with the sleeves of their uniform.

"Alright partner, let's move, I may have a few paper bills in my pocket to get us through the night" Namtan said, tugging her toward the barbecue booth.

Partner?

A small smile tugs at her lips. Never in Film's life had she thought that the ever-famous Namtan Tipnaree would ever call her that, let alone know her existence.

As they approached, Namtan put on her most dazzling smile, her free hand casually brushing her hair back as if they weren't doing anything remotely suspicious. Meanwhile, Film, tried her best to look like she wasn't mortified.

When they reached the booth, the vendor greeted them with a wide grin. "Sawadee Khrab! What'll it be?"

"Phi'ka, two Chicken Satay and a bowl of Pad Thai please," Namtan said cheerfully, hands intertwined with Film's. She squeezed the other girl's hand lightly, a silent signal to play along.

"...and two Sugarcane drinks please" Film added.

"Oho- I'm almost sold out with drinks, only one sugarcane drink left" the vendor says, scratching his head and looks at the duo in front of him. He sees their clasped hands.

"...but I think you won't mind" he continues. "My youngest son also has a boyfriend. They're a cute couple like you. I'll give this drink as a freebie" he winks at them.

The duo freezes for a moment, their clasped hands suddenly feeling warmer than the midday sun.

Film's eyes dart to the ground as her cheeks flush a deep crimson. "O-Oh, um, we're not... I mean, it's not like that—" she stammers, glancing at her companion. Her voice grows softer with every word, barely audible by the end.

Namtan, wide-eyed and caught off guard, awkwardly clears her throat and rubs the back of her neck with her free hand. "Ah, t-thank you for the drink," she mutters, her ears tinged with pink.

Despite the awkwardness, neither of them makes any move to let go of each other's hand.

They ducked into the shadow of a nearby Plumeria tree, settling on a bench that was just far enough from the bustling festival crowd to feel safe. The soft glow of string lights twinkled in the distance, casting a warm, intimate ambiance over their makeshift hideout.

With the incident earlier with the vendor, Namtan tries to croak a small talk to dispel the awkwardness in the air.

"Mission accomplished?" she attempts, flashing a victorious grin.

"Mission accomplished." Film said, nodding shyly.

As both of them reach out for two different things, Namtan aiming for the skewers and Film with the noodle bowl, their hands clash, crisscrossing with each other.

"Uh, sorry" they muttered.

Namtan's face looking more defeated with each passing second. Film cleared her throat; she knows how hungry Namtan has been.

"Phi, how about we try some teamwork? You hold the skewers and since I'm left-handed, I'll take charge with the pad thai, sound good?" she grabbed the chopsticks with her free hand, carefully twirling some noodles. 

She lifted it toward Namtan's face, her movements clumsy but determined.

It was all too endearing as Namtan could only look at Film with a slight twinkle in her eye.

Am I embarrassed?

Nevertheless, her hunger won her over. She leaned in, biting into the noodles and chewing while trying to compose herself. "Not bad. Now it's your turn," she said, brings the skewer near Film, attempting to feed her.

Their coordination wasn't perfect—a noodle dangled from Namtan's lips, a chunk of Film's bite almost falling to the ground - they both burst out laughing. Slowly but surely, they fell into a rhythm, alternating between feeding each other noodles and taking turns with the skewers.

"This is... surprisingly nice," Namtan said after a moment, biting into her skewer.

Film looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "We're fugitives from campus security, eating skewers in the dark?" she asks innocently.

Namtan laughs, "You're so quiet earlier, didn't imagine you could be this funny--- got to admit, the food's worth it though".

Film took a cautious bite, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Okay. I'll give you that."

They ate in companionable silence for a while, the sounds of the festival blending into the background. Namtan glanced at their joined hands, still resting awkwardly on the bench between them and couldn't help but feel a brewing warmth in her chest, she couldn't put a name to it though.

"Crazy, weird night huh?" Namtan says, trying to distract herself from what she's feeling.

"Very." Film agrees, fidgeting with the noodle bowl that's now empty.

Namtan takes in the straw and sips from the sugarcane drink. Then with a small cough, she holds the cup to Film, gesturing her to take a drink. Film was hesitant at first, but gives in and takes a little sip from the same straw.

They both thought of the same thing silently - Indirect kiss

By the time the meal was done, their cheeks were flushed, but whether it was from the spicy food or the situation, neither could say.

"You know," Film says softly, glancing at their cuffed hands, "this is ridiculous, but kind of fun."

The older girl smiled, their hands brushing as she sets the drink down. "Yeah. I wouldn't mind being stuck like this again... maybe without the handcuffs next time."

Film's laughter rang out, light and genuine. "We'll see."

And as if by cue, a lone plumeria flower slowly falls and lands beside Namtan's free hand. She decides to give it to Film.

"A keepsake for today" she says bashfully, trying her best not to meet the younger girl's questioning look.