Only Friends: Dream On.

Raffy slipped away to smoke a cigarette in a secluded spot. He was rather frustrated by Jack's indecision about who would play the lead role in the company's play. But since the other man hadn't made a final decision, it meant he still had a chance to win the role of Romeo. He had to do everything he could to win Jack's heart, no matter how dangerous or risky the methods might be.

 

"Oh, we meet again." A voice rang out, and Raffy turned to see that it was Rome. He was raising his eyebrows in a teasing manner.

 

"So, you're following me?" Raffy said irritably. 

 

"Are you trying to flirt with me, seriously? Honestly, if you're trying to flirt, don't bother. You're wasting your time."

 

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm playing music in this bar, and you're blocking my way right now," Rome showed the other man the bag he used to carry his work equipment. Raffy's face fell before he reluctantly backed away from the DJ counter, where he had been leaning on having a cigarette earlier.

 

Rome smiled at the other man, then skillfully set up the DJ booth. Raffy glanced at him for a moment before deciding to speak, "If you see me again, don't say hi. We were just one-night stands, no need to be friends."

 

"Seriously, am I so awful that you don't want anyone to know? But I don't think so. You seemed to enjoy it that night. Just be honest, you're the one who's fallen for me."

 

"Don't even try. I'm too high for you to reach. You just happened to be in the right place that day. It was only at the right time, when I was in the mood."

 

"Really?" Rome was very pleased with the answer. He leaned over the DJ counter and whispered in Raffy's ear, "So when are you in the mood again? Right now? There's space under the counter... My son misses your mouth terribly."

 

Raffy was about to curse, but then he saw Jack walking in and quickly smiled. He greeted them cheerfully, but in reality, the other person had no intention of approaching him. Jack nodded at Rome.

 

"Hey, you."

"Hey, bro," Rome high-fived the newcomer, which surprised Raffy even more, as he hadn't expected the two to know each other before, let alone be so familiar with each other. "I haven't seen you home lately."

 

"I have to work on a play for the troupe, so I don't have much free time."

 

"Oh, but Mom's been asking about you. She's been saying she misses you terribly," Rome said, glancing at the other person who was secretly listening to the conversation. "Have you got a new boyfriend yet? Interested in this one? He's pretty hot. I heard his name is Raffy."

 

"That's funny, man. This is my friend," Jack chuckled. "I don't want a boyfriend right now."

 

"Oh, really? A romantic artist like you, huh?"

 

"Nonsense. I'm going for a cigarette," Jack said, walking away and leaving Raffy alone with Rome once again. The music in the bar gradually faded, replaced by synthesised music that Rome was playing from his device, eliciting gasps of excitement from the EDM-loving customers inside the club. Raffy was still puzzled.

 

"Are you Jack's younger sibling?"

 

"What did you say?!" Rome took off his headphones. "Say that again!"

 

"You're Jack's brother? Why didn't I know that before?"

 

"Why do I have to announce it? So what? Do you have a crush on him? Are you afraid he'll find out you and I hooked up?" The hot young DJ shouted over the music, grinning knowingly.

 

"You absolutely must not tell Jack!"

 

Rome narrowed his eyes and smiled mischievously. "I can't promise. Maybe one day, when I'm really drunk, I might accidentally blurt it out. Do you have anything to offer in exchange?"

 

"Are you trying to blackmail me?!" Raffy yelled in fury, slamming his hand down on the DJ counter, knocking over a beer glass and splashing it onto the other man's expensive electronic equipment, abruptly silencing the music. Rome roared back, unleashing a furious, hot-blooded youth, a stark contrast to his earlier teasing demeanour.

 

"You bastard!"

 

Raffy was shocked. He had never seen the other man in this mood before.

 

"I didn't mean to. I'll take responsibility."

 

"You're going to take responsibility!" Rome glared accusingly at Raffy without blinking, before picking up his laptop and playing the music he had mixed to try and salvage the situation. However, even though the atmosphere in the bar had returned to normal, Rome didn't say a word to Raffy again.

 

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Dean was wandering around the bar, impossible to find, while Jack had already taken home a boy he'd met there before midnight. In the end, it was Tua who had to carry Timmy home alone again, as usual, because every time Timmy drank, he'd go all out, never just slightly tipsy, always completely wasted.

 

"Don't throw up here, man. If you need to, tell me. I have a bag."

 

"I'm not going to throw up," Timmy snarled, his eyes barely open.

 

"If you throw up, you won't be sexy anymore."

 

"You shouldn't expect anyone to think you're sexy since you're dancing like a pro in this bar," Tua said as he dragged his friend to the bar's entrance. "Wait a minute, the car I called is almost here."

 

Someone happened to walk by. Arnold, who had just retrieved a crate of a popular Thai liquor brand as instructed by Aunt Pink, the shop owner, saw the two of them struggling and quickly put down what he was doing. He rushed over to help willingly. Tue was so impressed that he smiled, but quickly composed himself when the other person turned to look at him.

 

"Where did all my friends go?"

 

"I guess they're all gone to the afterlife," Tua said, not understanding either. "Timmy was really drunk, so I'll take it back now. The car is arriving soon."

"You really take good care of everyone."

 

The compliment made Tua blush so much he almost floated away, to the point where he had to pinch Timmy's arm to help him calm down.

 

"Ow, damn it! Who pinched me?"

 

Arnold looked confused and anxiously checked on Timmy, but Tua's cheerful smile diverted his attention. Arnold, charmed by Tua's bright personality, lost interest in the drunkard. Seeing this, Tua quickly started a conversation.

 

"Sorry, I didn't get a chance to say hi. I saw you were busy with work. I didn't expect to see you. I found out you work here."

 

"Hey, no problem. I'm just looking for a side hustle. I needed the money."

 

"Really..."

 

Upon hearing that, Tua's eyes widened. Suddenly, an idea struck him. The young stylist carefully examined the other man's physique. A handsome, sharp face, a well-built body with beautifully sculpted muscles. His movements when dancing were captivating, drawing the audience in... perfect for stage acting, which requires precise timing and movement; he was extremely skilled. Tua didn't think he'd dare say it, but he couldn't hold back. 

 

"Are you interested in acting in a play troupe?"

 

Arnold looked like he'd heard a joke. "Me? I'm a dancer. I've never acted in a play before."

 

"But you're really suited for the role, man. The role of Romeo... like Romeo and Juliet, you know? Shakespeare's famous story was even adapted into a movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It can't be anything like that."

 

"Original Thai folk opera (Likay) with a royal lineage."

 

Tua did everything he could to persuade the other party until Arnold began to see a glint in his eyes. Hesitant, but still not convinced by Tu's words, he said, "But I have to work. I told you I need the money. If I lose my income, I'm in trouble."

 

That fits Tua’s scheme perfectly. The shorter person pretended to think. "Hmm... if you get to perform, you'll get paid too. I don't know how much, but I think it's probably about twenty thousand."

 

"What! Is it really that good?"

 

"Yeah, we get together every year." Noticing the other person's hesitation, he secretly smiled before putting on a neutral expression, nodding in confirmation.

 

"I'm not sure if I can do it," Arnold admitted frankly.

 

"Of course you can do it. You're a performing arts major, even though you've chosen dancing as your main activity. Anyway, in the end, you're a real actor, and you're really good at it."

 

"Thanks... I need some time to think about it."

 

"Okay, Arnold."

 

"Your car's here," the tall man signalled to the driver who had slowed to a stop in front of the shop. "You can let go now. I'll carry Timmy into the car myself." Tua readily agreed, secretly admiring the handsome waiter as he carried his friend into the car, delighted that his chance to be close to Arnold was finally taking shape. If the other man accepted, it would be perfect.

As for the lie, it was just about 20,000 baht....

 

 ════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

Jack already had more money in his account. His loft-style condo was decorated in a New York style, almost minimalist, but there were traces of real life as it should be. He leaned back on the sofa in the middle of the living room, a large window behind him offering a view of Bangkok at night. His reflection revealed a special guest, hungry from the Pink Pony Club. The handsome young man slowly unbuttoned his shirt, one button at a time, his gaze filled with surging emotions ready to be released.

 

After taking off his shirt, the young man crawled towards Jack to help him unbutton his as well, before showering kisses along the muscular body, carefully tracing down to the well-shaped chest that showed the result of diligent exercise. Jack closed his eyes, lost in the sensation, but just as the two were about to lean in for a kiss, the door to the room suddenly burst open without warning. The couple, in the midst of their intimate moment, pulled away in shock. But before Jack could get up, he realised it was Dean who had barged in. The other man's face was flushed, indicating he was drunk, but he was still sober enough to laugh and tilt his head, looking at him with a condescending expression.

 

"Yi, can't you really find anyone better?"

 

"Dean! How did you get into my room?!"

 

"Why wouldn't I be able to get in? You're still using my birthday as the room code," Dean smirked, glaring unfriendlier at the man his ex-boyfriend had brought along. 

 

"Sorry to interrupt, but you know what? I once had sex with him on this very sofa... It wasn't very comfortable. It's not a big deal, but it's fun. If you want to try, feel free. But I want you to know that no matter how thrilling it is, you'll only ever be a substitute for me, the one I still can't forget..."

 

"Dean! You're drunk! Go home!"

 

The cute guy from the bar sensed something was wrong and quickly gathered the clothes he had taken off and disrupted. 

 

"I don't know what you two are up to, but I'll be leaving now. I don't want to get involved."

 

"Good idea. Bye-bye." Dean waved goodbye to the other party. Jack, still annoyed, quickly apologised and walked him to the door. When he turned back, he saw Dean already sitting on the sofa, tapping his feet, in his usual spot.

 

"What do you want? Take whatever possessions you have, then hurry back. Go away!"

 

"How cruel, Lonely Boy," Dean smirked, amused to see his ex Annoyed, "It's so late, can't I sleep with you?"

 

"No! Why don't you just hook up with one of the guys in the shop?"

 

"There are only weird people here. They either talk about boring things or they smell bad and have bad breath. You know I don't like it," Dean said, making a pleading face. "I'm thinking of you more tonight." Jack almost fell for it, but he saw through his trick.

 

"Hmph, you want the role of Romeo so badly you're willing to risk everything, huh?"

"I want both. Both the Romeo role and you," Dean said, glancing over. "You know this role should have been mine. I didn't even need to go to the audition as advertised. You always choose me, don't you? You once said I was the best actor in your heart."

 

"That was in the past."

 

"So what? Does our breakup mean you can deny my abilities? "Really? Oh, Jack..."

 

Dean casually unbuckled his belt and tossed it aside before pulling down his pants and taking them off in a flash. The smaller man slowly lifted his legs high as he pulled back his underwear, revealing pale skin. His shapely buttocks moved with each movement, a tantalising invitation.

 

"Admit it, even though we've broken up, I'm still your number one actor. And it's also something you'll never forget the taste of," 

 

Jack couldn't take it anymore. The tall man stepped over the alluring figure on the sofa, a clear loser. He offered a sweet smile, intending to offer a kiss, but the other instinctively turned their face away. It would happen...but it wouldn't be like the past anymore.

 

"Just ex-lovers having sex."

 

"Do whatever makes you happy," Dean nibbled on Jack's ear, making him tremble, before whispering. A faint voice said, "...Lonely Boy."

 

Jack stopped holding back. He snatched the role of game master from Dean in an instant. He savoured every inch of Dean's body before lifting him into his arms and easily and perfectly inserting his manhood into Dean's love channel. This was because their bodies were so familiar with each other.