Chapter Text
Namping and Thomas went straight to Thomas’s house after school, just as usually.
Namping’s parents were strict which is why Thomas’s place feels like a second home to him since he was younger.
“ school was so fucking tiring today” Thomas whined annoyed as he opened the door and went inside with Namping.
“Agreed. Fuck these teachers “ Namping said and stepped out of his shoes, putting his jacket somewhere.
As the two teenagers stepped into the house, they were instantly greeted with the cool air and familiar surroundings.
Thomas rolled his eyes, still annoyed by the day's events. "I swear, those teachers have it out for us. It's like they enjoy watching us suffer."
Namping nodded in agreement, mirroring Thomas's frustration. "Right? It's like they get some sick pleasure out of assigning endless homework and giving those boring lectures."
Together the two boys headed to Thomas bedroom, but stopped on the way.
The opened door to keng’s office caught both their attention, as they was Keng sitting there, clearly working.
Thomas leaned into the doorframe and knocked against the wide opened door.”hi dad! I’m home”
Keng looked up from his papers, his tired expression immediately softening at the sight of his son and Namping.
"Hey, boys," he said warmly, pushing his chair back slightly. "How was school today?" His gaze lingered a fraction longer on Namping before flicking back to Thomas.
Thomas groaned dramatically, rolling his eyes again. "Ugh, don’t even ask. Absolute torture."
Keng chuckled, shaking his head. "Sounds about right." Then, almost teasingly, he added, "Namping, you surviving in this mess too?" His tone was light, but there was something unspoken beneath it,
a familiarity that only the two of them understood.
Namping smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Barely. But hey, at least I’ve got Thomas to suffer with me."
Thomas shot him a grin, nudging him with his elbow. "Misery loves company, right?"
Keng watched them for a beat, his expression amused but slightly distant, like he was caught between two worlds. Then, with a sigh, he waved them off. "Alright, go decompress. Just try not to burn the house down while I finish up here."
Thomas snorted. "No promises."
And with that, the two boys continued down the hall, oblivious to the way Keng’s eyes lingered just a little too long as they walked away.
Namping and Thomas disappeared in Thomas’s room for almost an entire hour without showing up.
They watched TikTok’s, eventually finished their homework, and continued complaining about school.
After a while Namping stood up from Thomas bed.”gotta piss” he just said before getting out of the room, closing the door behind him.
And obviously, Namping did infact not go to the bathroom.
He walked back to keng’s home office, leaning into the doorframe. He was silent and just watched him for a few minutes.
Keng was engrossed in his work, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. It wasn't until he felt someone's gaze upon him that he looked up.
He found Namping standing in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame, a smirk on his face.
Keng let out a small, amused huff. "Shouldn't you be with Thomas, distracting him in some way?" He didn't sound annoyed; he was used to the boy lurking around.
Namping can’t help but let his smirk show as he pushed away from the doorframe and walked over to Keng. “I just wanted to check on you too~ “ he said softly.
Keng exhaled a quiet, almost imperceptible laugh, tilting his head just slightly as Namping approached.
"Is that so?" His voice was low, just above a murmur but there was a knowing edge to it. "And here I thought you were just avoiding homework."
Namping leaned in, resting his hands on the arms of Keng's chair with a playful grin. "Maybe a little bit of both."
For a second, the air between them was charged until Keng glanced toward the hallway, the unspoken reminder lingering.
He sighed, shaking his head, though his lips quirked upward despite himself. "You’re trouble."
Namping's grin only widened. "You like trouble." Keng rolled his eyes, but didn’t deny it.
Namping leaned forward and stole a quick kiss.” I missed you all day~ “.
Keng stiffened for a split second, his instincts screaming at him, before he gently but firmly gripped Namping’s wrist, stopping him from lingering too long.
His voice was low, hushed, a mix of warning and something softer. "Namping."
A pause. A breath. Then, quieter: "You can’t do that here."
His thumb brushed over Namping’s pulse point once, a fleeting touch, before he let go, his expression carefully neutral.
"Thomas is right down the hall." But the way his gaze lingered on Namping’s lips for half a second too long betrayed him.
Namping pouted and sighed .”I hope Thomas sleeps at kong’s place again soon… I miss you so much~ “ he said and kept his button lip out in that sweet innocent pout.
Keng’s jaw tightened slightly, his fingers curling into the arms of his chair, like he was physically holding himself back.
"Namping." His voice was barely above a whisper now, strained. "You can’t say things like that."
But his eyes flicked down to that pout, lingered there for a heartbeat too long before he forced himself to look away, exhaling sharply through his nose.
"Go back to Thomas before he gets suspicious." It was meant to be firm, final.
But the way his fingers tapped restlessly against the desk gave him away. He was counting the minutes too.
“Fine~ “ Namping whispered softly and left the room, walking back into Thomas’s room.
Thomas looked up as Namping re-entered the room, raising an eyebrow in question. He was sprawled out on his bed, scrolling through his phone idly.
"Took you long enough," he teased. "Where were you?"
“Pissing” Namping replied as he threw himself back into the bed, next to Thomas. He reached out for his phone again, scrolling through instagram.
“Aye bro? How are things with Kong by the way ?” Namping asked.
Thomas groaned, swatting lightly at Namping's arm. "Ugh, don't even start. It's not like that."
He rolled onto his back, one arm behind his head. "We've just... been hanging out more. It's not a big deal." But the way his cheeks tinged slightly pink betrayed him.
"And we're not, you know—" He cut himself off with an embarrassed scoff. "...I'd tell you if we were, dumbass."
Namping looked at him and smirked.”but you wanna be more than you are right now, don’t ya?”.
Thomas grumbled under his breath, a half-hearted protest at being called out so easily.
"Okay, okay, yeah. Maybe."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But it's just..."
He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the ceiling as he tried to find the words. He'd never been great at this kind of thing. "...complicated."
It was a simple word, but it held a world of meanings. Frustration, uncertainty... desire.
“Ask him for a date. Now.” Namping said as he sat up immediately. “Why are you laying here dude ?! Do something about it “ Namping pushed.
Thomas sat up too, looking at Namping with a mix of resignation and hope.
"You make it sound so easy," he grumbled, but there was a glimmer in his eyes.
"What if he says no?" it was a simple question, but it held everything. His doubts, his fears.
Namping rolled his eyes. "What if he doesn't?" he shot back. "You won't know until you try, dumbass."
“Never say never” Namping added as he opened his messenger app.
A risky move.
A chat popped up from his last chatting session. The contact was saved as "mine❤️”
Namping gasped , shocked by his own action, trying to hide it as quick as possible.
Thomas raised an eyebrow, giving Namping a sly grin. "Hold on.." He'd seen it, Namping's reaction, the chat label.
"What was that?" he asked, teasing but curious. "You've got a 'mine' saved in your chats?"
His smirk deepened as he nudged Namping's shoulder. "Spill. Who's the lucky person?"
“You’re trippin!! It said mom, dumbass” namping immediately said, trying to save himself out of the situation.
"Nice try," Thomas drawled, clearly not buying it for a second. He propped himself up on one elbow, his grin growing wider. "Mom, huh? Since when do you call your mom 'mine'?"
He reached for Namping's phone, feigning nonchalance. "Lemme see.". Panic grew immediately in Namping. “DONT YOU DARE” Namping said and tried to reach for his phone.
Thomas laughed, easily dodging Namping's grasp. He held the phone just out of reach, taunting. "Oh come on, man. Now I'm just more convinced there's something to hide."
His smirk was all mischief, all challenge. "One click and I'll know."
“THOMAS DON’T” Namping yelled. Thomas's smirk only widened at Namping's outburst. He was enjoying this, the tease and the chase.
"And why not?" he teased, holding the phone higher. "Scared of what I'll find?" He knew he had the upper hand now, and he was going to milk it for all it was worth.
Namping lunged for the phone again, determined to keep his secret safe. But Thomas was faster, and taller, and soon he had the phone held above his head, out of reach.
"Ah ah," he taunted, enjoying the look of desperation on Namping's face. "Not so fast. You're not getting this back until you spill the beans."
“ Thomas I am serious… I can’t tell you anything about it. “ Namping said, almost close to beg Thomas to give him his phone back.
Thomas quirked an eyebrow, surprised by the pleading tone in Namping's voice.
"Damn, you really are serious," he said, lowering the phone but not giving it back quite yet. "Why can't you tell me? It's just a chat, dude. What's the big deal?"
He studied Namping's face, now more curious than teasing. There was something more here, he could sense it.
Namping was all serious. It was almost scary seeing him like this. “I just can’t Thomas. “
Thomas was taken aback by the sudden seriousness in Namping's tone. There was a vulnerability there that he rarely saw from his friend.
He lowered the phone, holding it loosely in his hand. "Namping, man, c'mon."
There was no more teasing in his voice. Just concern, now. "You can tell me anything, you know that, right?" He met Namping's gaze directly, trying to read him.
Namping shook his head.”not this… not yet.”
Thomas sighed, running a hand through his hair. He hated seeing Namping like this, so defensive, so closed off. They'd been through enough together, it was hard not to want to pry.
But he respected Namping's boundaries. "Alright, alright," he said finally, reluctantly handing the phone back to Namping. "I won't push."
He flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "But you know I'm nosy as hell. I'll find out eventually."
“Let’s hope not” namping said as he laid back down, switching to TikTok again.
Thomas let out a huff of amusement, rolling onto his side to face Namping. He propped his head up on one hand, watching his friend scroll through TikTok.
"You know I'll get it out of you eventually, man. We're too close for you to keep secrets from me." He poked at Namping's leg with a smirk. "And your poker face sucks, by the way."
Namping rolled his eyes in annoyance.”you’re such a pain in the ass !” He hissed.
Thomas just chuckled, unbothered. He knew how to get under Namping's skin, and he did so unapologetically.
"You love me for it," he teased back, poking at Namping's leg again. "Admit it. I'm your favorite pain in the ass."
A laugh escaped Namping’s mouth as he nodded.”obviously “.
Thomas grinned triumphantly, like he'd just won some unspoken contest. "Exactly," he said smugly, stretching out lazily on the bed. "So when you're ready to spill, you'll come to me. Because no one else puts up with you like I do."
He bumped his foot lightly against Namping's, a silent I got you. Then, after a beat… "...Until then, I'll just keep guessing. Starting with.. was it that cute barista from Starbucks?"
Namping shook his head.”nah.. not him. He was hella weird”. Thomas snorted, rolling onto his back again. "Yeah, that guy was pretty awkward. But I'm still gonna keep guessing. Maybe it's the chick at the smoothie shop, she's always checking you out."
He shot Namping a sidelong glance, grinning mischievously. "Or maybe it's that hot goth chick from the record store. You've totally got a type, dude."
A giggled escaped Namping’s lips.”I’ve got a type huh?” He repeated what Thomas had just said. He shook his head. He thought to himself :”little did you know dude..” but accidentally.. he also said it out loud.
Thomas's eyebrows shot up.
"Wait..what?" He sat up immediately, pointing an accusing finger at Namping. "Ohhh, you definitely just let something slip." His grin was victorious, like a detective cracking a case.
"'Little did I know'? About what?". He leaned in, eyes gleaming with mischief. "...Is it someone I know?"
Namping stayed silent. He didn’t reply anymore :”let’s just stop here.”
Thomas's grin only widened, sensing that he was onto something. He scooted closer, not letting it go that easily.
"Oh, no, no no no," he said, wagging a finger at Namping. "You don't get to drop a hint like that and then clam up on me. Who is it, man? You can't leave me hanging."
He bumped his shoulder against Namping's, trying to break down that defensive wall. "Come on, spill. I'm too curious now."
Namping stayed silent. Not a single tune from him. Thomas frowned, clearly getting more agitated by the second. His friend's stubbornness was both endearing and infuriating.
He scooted even closer, almost in Namping's personal space now.
"You're being ridiculous," he said, his voice a mix of annoyance and pleading. "We tell each other everything. Why not this? Why keep it from me now?"
He huffed, running a hand through his hair.
"I thought we didn't have secrets, man. Do you not trust me or something?"
Namping sighed and sat up.”Thomas~ it’s not like that… I trust you and you know that”.
Thomas's irritation softened slightly at Namping's words, but he was still unconvinced. His brow furrowed in frustrated concern.
"Then what is it, dude?" he said, his voice more earnest than annoyed. "If you trust me, why won't you tell me this one thing? It's driving me crazy."
He reached out, placing a hand on Namping's knee. It was an unconscious gesture, a silent plea for honesty. "Just tell me, man. No bullshitting. No secrets. For real."
Namping shook his head.”I can’t Thomas… not now.. give me time please”.
Thomas exhaled sharply, torn between frustration and loyalty. His fingers tapped against his knee, restless, but he relented.
"...Fine."
He flopped back onto the bed dramatically, arms crossed. "But I'm not letting this go forever," he warned, pointing an accusatory finger at Namping. "You owe me answers."
A pause. Then.. "...You better not be dating some shady-ass person."
Namping giggled.”define shady ass person?”
Thomas rolled his eyes, unable to hold back a grin. "You know, shady-ass. Like, sketchy, suspicious... I dunno, weird-looking."
He waved a hand dismissively, his tone becoming more teasing now. "The kind of person who'd look at you and make me think 'I need to keep an eye on this guy.'"
He poked Namping's leg affectionately with his foot. "Just promise me you're not getting involved with some weirdo."
Namping giggled and shook his head then. He lost himself in the thought about Keng.
“He’s not like that… he is.. he is great actually” Namping said, accidentally confessed with this that his lover was another male.
Thomas's eyes widened, first at the confession, then at the pronoun. He sat up slowly, staring at Namping like he'd just turned into a new person.
"...Wait."
His voice was low now, cautious, but intrigued. "...He?"
A pause. Then. "Dude." Thomas leaned in, eyes gleaming. "...You have to tell me now."
“You tricked me!!” Namping complained when realization hit him.
Thomas laughed, loudly, victoriously and threw his hands up. "Tricked? You slipped! That's not my fault!" He clapped Namping's shoulder, grinning wildly.
"Oh my god, I can't believe it. You *finally* told me something." He leaned back, smirking. "...So. Who's the guy?"
Namping shock his head.”no one.. “.
Thomas rolled his eyes. "Bullshit, man. You already said 'he.' No going back now."
He bumped his shoulder against Namping, determined to coax more information out of him. "Come on, don't be like that. Just give me something to work with here. A name, a description, anything."
Then, a teasing smirk. "He hot, at least?".
Namping didn’t wanted to give in.. but he couldn’t resist to answer this question. He nodded.” He is freaking hot.. “.
Thomas perked up immediately, his grin widening as he scooted closer.
"Ohhh, now we're getting somewhere!" He gestured wildly, like an excited detective.
"Okay, so.. hot. That narrows it down." His smirk turned smug."...So is he our age? Older? Younger? Give me something, man."
Namping suddenly felt like he just got a slap right into his face with this question.
He stare silent for a while. Too long.
He tried to save himself but just nodding quickly. ”y-yeah .. kinda”.
Thomas tilted his head, noticing the hesitation.
"Kinda?" He repeated, one eyebrow raised in question.He studied Namping's face, not missing the subtle signals."Hold up."
His voice was gentler now, like he was approaching a cornered animal. "..How old is he?"
Namping shook his head.”doesn’t matter”. Thomas's frown deepened as his friend dodged the question.
He leaned in, his gaze searching. "No bullshit, Namping. How. Old. Is. He?" There was no more teasing in his voice now, just seriousness. He needed to know.
“It doesn’t matter Thomas. Let’s just say.. he’s a little older than us..”. Thomas's eyes narrowed, still unconvinced. "A 'little' older? Dude, you suck at lying."
He sat back, running a hand through his hair in frustration.”Just how much older? 5 years? 10? More?"
Namping stayed silent again. Thomas gritted his teeth, growing more and more impatient.
"Damn it, Namping," he snapped. "Stop avoiding the question!"
He grabbed his friend's shoulders, forcing him to look him in the eye. "This is important, man! Older could mean a lot of things! It could—" He cut himself off, a sudden realization dawning on his face. "....It could be weird. Like, really weird."
“ he’s not… old like a grandpa.. like I said..” was all Namping couldn’t squeeze out of himself.
Thomas's grip on Namping's shoulders loosened, but he didn't let go completely. His eyes searched his friend's face, trying to read behind the words.
"Alright, not a grandpa. That's something."
He couldn't help but add a bitter note to the next words, "..But how much older?" He needed to know. He had to know.
“ if I tell you his age, you’d know..”.
Thomas groaned in frustration, feeling like he was stuck in a never-ending loop."Damn it, Namping! That's exactly what I'm trying to find out!"
He dropped his hands from his friend's shoulders, running them through his hair in agitation."Just say the number, man. How big of an age gap are we talking?".
Namping knew there was no way out now without argument. He sighed loudly before saying. “He is 18 years older than me”.
The moment the number left Namping's lips, Thomas froze. Time seemed to stand still for a few seconds as that detail sank in.
18 years older. Thomas's stomach turned, a mixture of shock and disbelief swirling inside him. He stared at Namping, searching his face for any sign that this was a sick joke. But his friend looked serious.
Finally, he found his voice, though it was barely a whisper. "....You're dating a man who's eighteen years older than you?"
Namping gets teary eyes. He kind of feels wrong, even tho the truth wasn’t fully out yet. Still, he felt terrible.
Thomas's heart ached at the site of his friend, his best friend, on the verge of crying. But he was too stunned, too confused to be comforting. Instead, he continued pushing, needing to know the full scope of what was going on.
"...How long has this been going on?" he asked, his voice wavering between anger and hurt.
“ it started a week after my eighteenth birthday. Then we had a slow burn going on. And on my nineteenth we agreed on.. on being a couple and we also… we also had sex for the first time with each other” he explained.
Thomas felt his heart sink even further with every word. The revelation was like a punch to the gut. His best friend, the one person he thought he knew inside out... had been involved with a much older man.
He stared at Namping, the anger and hurt warring inside him now.
"...So you're telling me," he began, his voice tight and strained. "You've been dating and sleeping with a man who's almost two decades older than you, since you were barely legal?"
Namping sighed teary and rubbed his face in his hands.
“I know.. but.. it was my decision. I started it. I started everything. And he said he wouldn’t dare to touch me before I am older than I am. We.. we.. we love each other”.
Thomas let out a scoff, anger slowly replacing hurt. "But none of that changes the fact that he's much too old for you. Can't you see that? You're nineteen, Namping! You're barely even an adult, and he's almost forty!"
He leaned in, his voice turning biting. "And you think you love each other? That's not love, man. It's infatuation, at best. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
A tear slipped down Namping’s cheek. It was too much for him. Because he knew it sounded messed up.. but it wasn’t. Not to him.
He knew Keng didn’t manipulate him. He knew Keng was serious about him.
Thomas watched as the tear rolled down Namping’s cheek, and for a brief moment, his anger faltered.
He clenched his fists, frustration and concern battling inside him."...Namping," he finally said, quieter now. "I'm not trying to be a jerk. I just... I don't want you to get hurt."
He hesitated, then added carefully, "Do your parents know?".
Namping shook his head.”no one knows… “ he said.
“Thomas I know it sounds weird but.. we .. we really do love each other. And we did have the conversation we’re having right now with each other.. which is why we wanted to keep it a secret for longer.”.
Thomas let out a slow, frustrated breath, rubbing his temples.
"...Okay. Fine. Let's say you're right, let's say this is love." His voice was strained, trying to keep calm. "But why keep it a secret? Because deep down, even you know how messed up this looks."
He leaned forward, locking eyes with Namping. "...Does he have kids? A wife?"
The implications were dawning on him. A man that age, what was his life like? Who else was involved?
Namping stopped talking. The question was another slap right into the face.
The silence spoke volumes. Thomas's eyes widened as the significance of Namping's lack of response hit him like a freight train.
"....Oh no." His voice was low, a mix of disbelief and despair. "Tell me he doesn't. Tell me he's not married. Or has kids."
He stared at his best friend, silently demanding the truth.
Namping lips started to tremble as a few more tear drops rolled down his cheek.
“T-Thomas.. if you.. if you .. start to connect the dots.. just promise me you won’t hate me” he whimpered between a few gentle sobs.
Namping took a deep breath in and out. ”he is divorced and has a child”.
Thomas felt like the air had been punched from his lungs.
Divorced. A child. And Namping’s terrified expression told him everything else.
"...Wait."
His voice was barely a whisper now, shaky. "His kid... it's not..." He trailed off, unable to even finish the thought, because the realization was too horrifying.
His stomach twisted violently. "...Namping. Please. Tell me it's not who I think it is."
Namping looked at Thomas between tears. “W-who do you think ?..”
Thomas stared at him, his mouth dry, his pulse hammering in his ears.
There was only one person it could be. Only one man in Namping’s life who fit every piece of this twisted puzzle.
His voice cracked when he finally spoke, hoarse, horrified. "...It's my dad, isn't it?"
Namping was frozen. He felt his entire body shiver.
He just wanted to open his mouth, say anything to explain himself but that’s when suddenly…
“Boys~ why were you yelling earlier? Did something happen-“ Keng had just walked into Thomas room but stopped when he saw the condition and tension between the two.
Thomas's head snapped up at the sound of Keng's voice, his panic-stricken gaze meeting his father's.
Everything inside him turned to ice, heart stopping, bones freezing. He just stared at Keng, wide-eyed, unable to move or speak.
There was a tense, prolonged silence. Then, Thomas found his voice, though it came out as a croak. "...Dad. We need to talk."
Keng's calm demeanor immediately changed when he heard the seriousness in his son's tone.
His smile faded, replaced by a look of worry. He glanced at Namping, taking in the state the boy was in, tear-streaked face, trembling bottom lip.
His eyes flicked back to Thomas, now more cautious. "...Okay," he said carefully, taking a closer step into the room. "What is it?"
Thomas watched his father approach, his heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat.
He took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady his voice. "Just..sit down," he said, gesturing to the foot of the bed. "Please."
He needed to be sitting for this. He needed Keng to know this was serious.
Keng hesitated for just a fraction of a second before obeying, lowering himself onto the edge of Thomas’s bed. His posture was stiff, guarded but his eyes never left his son’s face.
“Alright,” he said evenly. “I’m listening.”
Thomas swallowed hard, his fingers digging into his knees. “…Namping told me everything.”
Keng’s expression didn’t change, not immediately. But the air in the room grew heavier, charged with something unspoken.
Then, quietly: “Everything?” Thomas nodded jerkily. “Yeah. Everything..”
A beat of silence. Then Keng exhaled, long and slow, like he’d been holding his breath for years. “…I see.” His voice was steady. Too steady.
He turned his head slightly, just enough to glance at Namping, who had curled in on himself, silent tears still slipping down his cheeks.
When Keng looked back at Thomas, his gaze was resigned.
“…So. What happens now?” Thomas opened his mouth, then closed it. Because the truth was, he had no idea.
The ground had just dropped out from under him, and he was still falling.
Namping cleared his throat.”I.. I guess I should leave now..”.
Keng tensed up the moment Namping spoke.
Thomas shifted on the bed, watching the way his father reacted, the tightness of his jaw, the way his shoulders squared.
He spoke before Keng could, voice still strained but firm. "No."
Namping stopped, looking at Thomas with wide, red eyes. Keng stiffened but didn't say anything, watching Thomas closely.
Thomas took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "You're not going anywhere."
Namping immediately nodded and sat back down.
Keng let out a slow breath, glancing between the two boys before his gaze settled back on Thomas.
His hands were clasped loosely in his lap, deceptively calm. "...Alright," he said quietly. "Then let's talk."
Thomas hesitated for a moment, swallowing hard before forcing himself to meet his father’s eyes.
"...How long?"
Keng didn’t pretend not to understand. His expression remained steady, almost painfully neutral. "Around a year."
Thomas flinched. "A year?" His voice cracked slightly. "You’ve been... with him... for a year?"
Keng exhaled through his nose, nodding once. "Yes."
Thomas ran a hand through his hair, gripping it tightly for a second before letting go with a frustrated noise. "...Were you ever going to tell me?"
Keng hesitated, just for a fraction of a second but it was enough. Thomas scoffed bitterly. "Yeah. That’s what I thought."
Silence fell between them, thick and suffocating. Namping was frozen, eyes darting between them nervously.
Finally, Thomas took a deep breath, steeling himself before looking his father dead in the eye. "...Do you love him?"
Keng didn't hesitate this time. "Yes."
Thomas let out a shaky exhale, shoulders slumping slightly. "...Are you happy?" Keng blinked, caught off guard by the question. His lips parted, then closed.
Then, softly: "...Yes."
Thomas nodded slowly, glancing at Namping before looking back at his father. "...Then I guess... I have to deal with it."
Keng’s eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting that response. Thomas huffed, rubbing his face tiredly.
"Doesn’t mean I like it. But... if you're both serious..." He gestured weakly between them. "...then I can’t just pretend it’s not happening."
Namping let out a quiet, relieved breath but Keng remained still, studying his son carefully. "...That’s it?"
Thomas scowled. "No, that’s not it. This is weird as hell, Dad. You know that, right?"
Keng nodded slowly. "I know."
Thomas threw his hands up slightly. "And we’re gonna have rules, boundaries.”
“ l-like which rules ?” Namping asked then.
Thomas and Keng both turned their attention to Namping, clearly having forgotten he was still there. Thomas sighed, shaking his head. "Jesus, we have a lot to figure out."
Keng leaned forward a bit, folding his hands in front of him. "First things first," he said seriously. "There are several things we all have to agree on."
"For starters," he continued, fixing his gaze on Namping. "We need full disclosure. No more secrets, no matter what. Understand?"
Namping gulped visibly, nodding quickly. Thomas raised an eyebrow, looking more curious than anything. He hadn't expected that to be the first rule.
Keng didn't give them time to process his words before continuing.
"Second," he said, shifting his gaze towards Thomas specifically. "You and I will have to have a heart-to-heart. A long conversation about all of this."
Thomas gritted his teeth, still struggling to come to terms with the situation.
But he knew better than to try and argue his way out of it. So he simply nodded, a stiff, jerky motion.
"Fine." Keng didn't miss the edge in his son's tone, but didn't comment on it. He glanced towards Namping again.
"And last but not least…" He paused, a serious look in his eyes. "We need to establish clear boundaries."
Thomas crossed his arms, shoulders tense.
"Boundaries like..no PDA when I'm around," he said firmly, shooting a pointed look between them.
Namping flushed immediately, nodding. Keng cleared his throat slightly but gave a single nod of agreement.
Thomas continued, voice edged with warning. "And no sneaking around. If you two are... whatever you are... you don't hide it from me anymore."
Keng exhaled slowly. "That's fair." Thomas clenched his jaw before adding the last and most important rule.
"And you never, ever make me walk in on something I can't unsee. Ever." Keng actually winced at that.
"...Understood." Silence stretched between them, heavy but no longer suffocating.
Thomas rubbed his temples before muttering, "...This is so messed up." Namping bit his lip, eyes flicking nervously between them.
Keng just sat there, watching his son carefully before saying quietly, "But we'll figure it out."
Thomas scoffed but didn't argue. Because as much as he hated this... he wasn't walking away. Not from either of them.
Namping wiped his eyes try with his sleeves then. “T-Thomas.. are we still friends?…”.
Thomas looked at Namping, his expression softening slightly. "Of course we're still friends, dumbass."
He ruffled Namping's hair affectionately, grinning despite it all. "You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."
Namping smiled weakly and nodded.”I’m sorry..” he said then. Thomas shook his head, his grin fading into something softer.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Namping. I get it. Somehow. "
He paused, then added with a smirk."Well, except for one thing. You have abysmal taste in men."
Namping suddenly escaped a giggle.”ya! I have the best taste in men ever” he said, not minding that Keng was right in front of them, listening
Thomas laughed, rolling his eyes affectionately. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, dude."
Keng watched the two boys bicker for a moment, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, before clearing his throat.
"Alright, you two. Enough."
Thomas and Namping quieted immediately, turning to him expectantly.
Keng stood up, looking serious again. "Namping." Namping tensed, nervously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"I want to talk to you for a moment," Keng said, nodding towards the hallway.
Namping swallowed hard before standing up, casting a quick, helpless glance back at Thomas. Thomas just shrugged, as if to say 'you're on your own, buddy'.
Keng waited until Namping had reluctantly followed him out into the hall, then closed the door behind them.
Namping watched as Keng turned around to face him, suddenly feeling very small and very exposed.
Keng looked him over slowly, assessing. Then, he said simply,"Come here."
Namping swallowed hard, hesitating just a moment before obeying. He walked over until he was standing directly in front of Keng, trying to ignore the way his heart was pounding.
Keng exhaled slowly, hands resting on his hips. "...We need to talk," he said softly.
“I-I am sorry..” namping apologized already. He felt like he had to. Eventho he had no idea what Keng wanted to talk about. He felt bad.
Keng shook his head slightly, his eyes softening.
"Stop apologizing, Namping."
His voice was gentle, but there was a hint of frustration in it. "You've said sorry enough times to last you a lifetime."
Namping fidgeted silently, looking down at his feet. Keng let out a slow breath, then gently placed a hand on Namping's shoulder.
"...Look at me."
Namping looked up. His eyes still teary. Keng's expression softened further. He gently cupped Namping's chin, tilting his face up towards him.
"Don't look so upset," he said quietly, running his thumb lightly over the other boy's cheek. "I'm not angry with you."
“Are you sure?” Namping asked carefully.
Keng chuckled softly, his thumb brushing away a stray tear from Namping’s cheek. "Very sure," he murmured.
Then, after a pause, "Though I am going to have a long talk with Thomas about eavesdropping."
His smirk was small but warm."But for now.."
He leaned in, pressing a feather-light kiss to Namping’s forehead, lingering just a second before pulling back. "…just breathe." Namping’s breath hitched but he nodded shakily, gripping Keng’s wrist lightly. "...Okay."
“ thank you “ Namping whispered
Keng smiled gently, his thumb still tracing idle patterns against Namping's skin.
"It'll be fine," he reassured. The words were simple, but the conviction behind them was undeniable. He looked Namping over again, concern still in his eyes.
"You're shaking."
Namping nodded gently .”yeah still.. a bit in a shock”. "I imagine so," Keng said sympathetically.
His hand moved from Namping's chin to the nape of his neck, fingers gently massaging the taut muscles there.
"Come here." He pulled Namping gently towards him, until the younger boy's face was tucked between Keng's neck and shoulder.
He wrapped his arms around Namping, holding him close, and murmured softly.
"Just take a moment, alright? Slow breaths."
And this was the day everything changed. But one thing stayed ordinary. Namping and Thomas’s friendship. Not even this ruined their bond.