Just between us

Chapter Fourteen

" ... Too bad I can still tell when you are lying."

Toota stared back at Bright angrily.  "Which part?"

"That you aren't upset," Bright replied.

"So, you do agree the rest of it is true?" Toota countered.

"Ai Toota, I don't understand what you are saying.  I just made a mistake, and I apologized.  I can't go back in time and change everything.  Why are you blowing this out of proportion?"  

Bright was starting to lose his patience.  Toota was being unreasonable.  Why was it so hard for them to go back to being regular best friends?

"What I'm saying is you don't have to make it up for me.  It doesn't matter.  Two years ago it would have. But now? It's fine," Toota said unemotionally.

This wasn't how Bright imagined their evening would have gone.  He was angry and disappointed, Toota did have a valid point.  Bright stood up fast enough that it made him feel slightly dizzy.  It was nothing compared to how dizzy Toota was making him feel.

"Fine, what do you want from me Toota?  I will do exactly as you wish," he said in the most serious tone he could muster.

Toota seemed slightly taken aback by his question.  As if he hadn't expected Bright to get agitated.  It was unlike him to get angry or upset.  He loved to make others around him laugh and feel better.  At this particular moment, he wasn't in the mood to entertain.

"I don't want anything from you, anything at all," Toota replied.

"Okay, done," Bright said as he headed towards the door.  "Have a good life Ai Toota.  It was a good run."

"Ai Bright!  Wait..."

He didn't turn back.  He didn't want to look at Toota.  He wasn't sure what Toota meant when he said he didn't want anything.  Bright assumed it meant Toota didn't want Bright himself nor his friendship.

Unfortunately, he couldn't kick the fine ceramic ornaments on his way out, this wasn't his house.  The pain he felt was excruciating.  Even though they weren't in touch like they used to be, Bright had always known Toota was still his friend.  That he was there.  Toota wasn't actually gone, but it felt as if he had physically let go of Toota and now he was in pain.

Wiping off his tears he called Ple.  Toota wasn't a part of his life anymore.

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The next day had been the most exhausted Bright have ever been in his entire life.  He refused to show just how miserable he was.  Instead, he put on his extra happy face on.  He still had other great friends and a sweet girlfriend.  Toota wasn't the center of his universe, at least not anymore.  He would eventually get over it.    

Arthit was animatedly talking about the latest addition to his action figure collection when Toota slumped next to Prem at the opposite side of the table.

Bright didn't have to look to know it was Toota.  He stood up and left the table without saying another word.

"Ai Bright!  Where are you going?" he heard Arthit ask.

He pretended not to hear him.

Just as he pretended he was alright.

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Toota stood standing in the middle of his room, stunned.  It was the second time Bright had gotten angry at him.  The first was when they met and barely knew each other.  He felt the panic spread all over his body and burn his heart.