Only Friends: Dream On.

Arnold was changing his clothes, intending to go for a walk by the lake before their planned 8 pm drinking session. Just as he was taking off his shirt, leaving his upper body bare, someone burst through the door.

 

"Jack, I'm going... Oh!" Dean leaned in, surveying the room.

 

"Where did Jack go?"

 

"They've left. I heard they were going to the lake."

 

"Oh, really?" The Prince of Fine Arts nodded, pouting, and asked.

 

"So, Arnold, are you coming with us?"

 

"Sure, we can go together."

 

As Arnold leaned over to grab his headphones and other necessities, Dean came up with a plan.

 

"Oh, I haven't told Tua yet. Ask Arnold to tell him, and drag him along, okay? Otherwise, the bedroom will flood. We'll go now, see you at the lake."

 

Dean rattled off a long speech without even bothering to listen to Arnold, then slammed the door open and stormed out without waiting. Arnold sighed. He knew Dean wanted him to talk to Tua. The young man pondered deeply. After talking to Jack, he had begun to realise that it was better to confront the situation rather than let it drag on. 

 

Arnold walked towards the other bedroom. He knocked on the door, but there was no response. Taking the liberty, he entered. He saw Tua sitting hunched over, looking out at the lake, without even turning to see who had entered.

 

"I told you I'm not going. I'm staying in my room tonight," a weak voice said. 'Arnold probably doesn't want to see me either.'"

 

The man standing there couldn't help but smile. He walked over and sat down on the bed. Not far from where the Tua was located.

 

"Not exactly."

Tua was startled, and he quickly turned to look. When he saw it was Arnold, he was even more shocked.

 

"It's not that I don't want to see you, but I'm just disappointed with what you did. I don't like it when people feel sorry for me, understand?"

 

"I understand," Tua's face fell again. "But I didn't do it out of pity for you. I thought you were a good fit for the role and didn't want you to miss out on it. But I also didn't want you to waste your time working and giving up your income. That's all."

 

"Is that really all?"

 

He nodded again. "I don't want you to be stressed, especially after all the effort you put into this play." Arnold remained silent for a long time, making Tua’s heart sink. He felt like he might cry at any moment. He had prepared himself for the fact that Arnold probably hated him and would never forgive him.

 

"Okay, I'll try to understand you. Even though I can't help but be angry, I really don't want to lose a good friend like you, and I don't want this outing to be ruined." Arnold smiled at Tua for the first time since their argument. 

 

"Sorry for playing hard to get." Tua thought he was dreaming. Although happy, he couldn't hold back his tears. He sobbed until Arnold walked over and hugged him affectionately.

 

"Why are you crying?"

 

"I... I don't want to lose you either," Tua tried to hold back his tears, but to no avail.

 

"Sob... I'm afraid you hate me now."

 

"Stop crying, let's go to the lake. Dean asked me to invite you."

 

"I'm going to change my clothes first," Tua said. "Are you sure?"

 

"What the hell?"

 

"Make sure you're not angry with me anymore."

 

Arnold shook his head. "Okay, hurry up and change your clothes!" Tua wiped away his tears and smiled at the taller man before quickly changing his clothes, afraid the other person would change their mind.

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Jack was lying on the shore reading a book when he heard Dean's laughter. He quickly set the book on his chest and watched Dean and Arnold play in the water, having fun. He gazed at Dean's cheerfulness for a long time, reminiscing about the old days when they were together. Each day was filled with fun, and there was no need to think too much. Perhaps if they hadn't broken up, they might be happy together right now. At that moment, Timmy walked in, carrying a heavy bag of clothes. That made those who saw it feel uncomfortable as well.

 

"What's up? [Referring to a 'lack of fins'/'scratching]"

 

"I have something important to talk to you about, P. I don't want to spoil your fun, but there's something you need to know." 

 

Timmy sighed deeply, a worrying sound, before delivering the news, "Someone scammed me out of Theatre Troupe’s money."

 

Jack jumped up in surprise and automatically took off his glasses. "Do you know who?"

 

Timmy signalled for him to be reserved; he didn't want Jack to hurt anyone.

 

"I don't know yet, but I'm investigating. Don't tell anyone, and don't worry, I'll handle this. You don't have to worry, okay?" Jack had worked with Timmy many times before, so his words reassured him. He believed Timmy would handle this as he said he would.

 

"If you need my help with anything, you have to tell me right away, understand?" Timmy nodded, just as the three of them emerged from the lake. The young producer quickly put on his usual cheerful demeanour, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at them defiantly.

 

"Stop playing in the water! We need to prepare for the show tonight!!!"

 

Everyone shook their heads in disbelief.

 

"No way. Those photos from last year are still being used to make fun of us," Dean said, terrified.

 

"Can't we just not have to perform? We have to perform every year. We're in our fourth year, let's just watch the juniors for a while."

 

Jack helped out as well.

 

"No!! It's a tradition of our group. All I can say is that it's our show. It has to be the most spectacular."

 

After Timmy's defiant declaration, Jack, Dean, and Tua all groaned in pain. Only Arnold looked bewildered, not seeing anything wrong with it, since dancing for a living was his profession.

 

The performance went well. The top-performing group put on a dance show set to music, in inflatable cartoon costumes, drawing cheers from the younger students. Everyone laughed at their clumsy yet adorable performance, but they didn't abandon their spirit of performing arts. They performed a scene from their play, Romeo & Romeo, as a warm-up to close the show. Everyone was thrilled by the chemistry between the two lead actors and quickly took out their mobile phones to film the Important moment. 

 

"If you want to see us in person, see you at the theatre!" - Arnold.

 

"Yes, tickets will go on sale soon. Please support the theatre troupe..."

 

"Let's all gather here!" As the night progressed, the atmosphere became more lively. The sight of the art students gathered together was warm and friendly. Timmy picked up a large glass of beer and announced loudly for everyone to hear.

 

"Our play this year is going to be a huge hit!! I guarantee it!" Timmy said with A loud voice, 

 

"But tonight's the night! We're not stopping until we're dead! Bottoms up!!" He drained his drink before turning to pass the baton with a similarly loud voice.

 

"Next up, meet the hottest DJ in the faculty! Let's go, Rome!!"

 

Rome, standing ready in front of the DJ booth, blasted the music to a blast of upbeat beats. Everyone started singing and dancing, and before long, the lakeside resort had become an EDM festival. As expected, Tua, known to have the weakest tolerance for alcohol, passed out first, and who else would volunteer to take care of him but Arnold? The star of the group awkwardly escorted the drunken man to his room. Tua staggered around like a crab, babbling incessantly, showing no sign of fatigue.

 

"Thank you so much, Arnold, for forgiving me. I know I did wrong, but I didn't want you to think that way. I really wanted to help you, and...and!" Tua choked up, but tried to finish the sentence, "and I also want you to stay with me."

 

"You talk a lot when you're drunk, huh?"

 

"I’m so drunk! I drank so much!" Tua admitted, squinting at the person next to him, scrutinising them. "Hey, why do I see... three of you now?!" Arnold shook his head, amused by the drunken antics.

 

"I'm the only one here. Go to your room, go to sleep."

 

The tall man helped Tua to his bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow, Tua fell into a deep sleep. Arnold helped remove his shoes and socks, but it seemed that wasn't enough to make him comfortable.

 

"Why don't you change your clothes first?"

The person being questioned made a groggy, unintelligible sound, a sign that they were fast asleep.

 

Arnold took the liberty of unbuttoning the other man's pants, leaving him only in his boxer shorts, before skillfully tucking him in with a blanket. He gazed at the sleeping man's face, then leaned closer.

 

"I'm going now. Good night."

 

"Hmm," Tuo groaned softly. "The end..."

 

"Hmm," Arnold shook his head, gently stroking his soft cheek with his finger. 

 

"We'll talk about that later. We'll talk about it when you wake up."

 

The young man let the drunk man rest, but as he opened the door, he couldn't help but glance back. Arnold smiled at the man on the bed before quietly closing the door and returning to enjoy the party with his friends.

 

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Jack had to keep Dean up all night because people kept pouring alcohol into him nonstop. The Prince of Fine Arts started losing his balance and speaking in a slurred voice, but he still continued to perform his duties as the star of the show, refusing to be outdone by anyone.

 

"Are you okay? You can dance slowly, you might throw up," Jack asked, unable to hide his concern.

 

"Do you want to go back to sleep?"

"Still conscious," he said, giving a thumbs-up. 

 

"Want to sleep together tonight? So I can chase you away."

 

"Tua went to sleep with Arnold."

 

"It's just causing trouble for others."

 

"Oh no, what are we going to do now?" Jack flinched, but luckily, the music was loud, so no one heard. He shook his head, smiling and sighing at the other person's lack of caution.

 

"Let's do it another day."

 

"You promised."

 

"Yes!"

 

Just then, Timmy walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. The serious expression on the other man's face instantly wiped the smile from his face. The producer leaned down and whispered softly, as if there was something important.

 

"Come talk to me."

 

"Why?"

 

"I found the person who stole the money from the theatre troupe."

 

At that moment, Jack didn't waste any more time thinking further. He quickly told Dean before walking away with Timmy, "Look after yourself"

 

Jack followed Timmy to a quiet, deserted corner, where he was taken aback to find Pete sitting there, his face etched with worry, anxiously reading the theatre troupe's accounting reports.

 

"Hey, man, Jack's here. Now, are you going to accept it?" Timmy started the conversation.

 

"What? I told you I didn't take the money," Pete said, making a surprised face before pointing to the document "Do you really think I'm the one who withdrew the money?"

 

"If it wasn't you, then who? The money was withdrawn after you volunteered."

 

"I'll be here to help with the finances for a short time."

 

"You can't use this to incriminate me. Don't you think about the person in charge of the finances?"

 

"Will someone else be the one to steal it?" Pete retorted.

 

"Do I have to call the police first before you'll admit it?!"

 

"Calm down, Timmy," Jack pulled his friend's arm to stop him. "Pete's right."

 

"You can't accuse someone without concrete evidence."

 

"The evidence is undeniable!" Timmy fumed. "Like all those designer brands you've been buying and showing off lately. I've noticed for a while now. Before, I didn't know you were into brands. Suddenly, you're carrying bags and wearing sunglasses that cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of baht. Where do you get all that money?" Pete's face immediately fell, but he still insisted on his innocence.

 

"I have a house too. Why would I need the money from the theatre troupe?"

 

"Stop pretending you don't know anything! We actually have all the evidence that you're the one who withdrew the money! We even know where and when you withdrew it, and what you were wearing! But we want you to confess!" Timmy shook off Jack's arm and stepped forward, pointing his finger. "Are you going to admit it nicely, or do you want this to become a big deal and end up in court?"

 

Pete was cornered. He could no longer escape punishment. He was desperate. The last resort was to admit it.

 

"I... I just used the money for trading purposes."

 

"Why are you so shameless?!" Timmy was even angrier. "We tried so hard to find sponsors, and you just do this? You're not helping at all, and you're just a burden. I think we're really going to have to call the police."

 

"Please, don't let this go to the police. I really need the money."

 

Pete even clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, but that didn't soften Timmy's heart at all.

 

"What the hell is necessary! What the hell is necessary for you?!"

 

"Don't you dare," Jack intervened again. Seeing an opportunity, Pete asked for the director's sympathy, his only hope.

 

"Jack, you understand me, right? I'll get the money back soon. I promise."

 

"I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. How much money did you take from the theatre troupe? Return it before the performance. If you don't return it, I can't guarantee what will happen to you."

 

Jack delivered that ultimatum, but it was so cold it sent shivers down Pete's spine. The young director walked away with a disappointed expression, leaving Timmy glaring at Pete for a moment before following him, leaving Pete with the numbers in his hand as evidence.