Fragment of Us

Arthur moved to Bangkok when he was ten. His mom called it a fresh start, but he knew better. She couldn't stand the memories of his dad anymore. Their old house, once filled with warmth, had become suffocating, each room a reminder of what they had lost. The walls still echoed with arguments that had replaced laughter, with nights spent crying instead of talking. Eventually, his mother packed up their lives, stuffed them into suitcases, and took him to a city that never slept.

Bangkok was nothing like the quiet town they had left behind. It was loud and alive, a city that pulsed with energy. The streets were crammed with cars, motorcycles darted through narrow gaps, and the scent of sizzling street food filled the air. Neon signs flickered above alleyways, and vendors shouted over each other, trying to sell their goods.

Arthur hated it at first. The constant movement, the noise that never faded, the fact that he had to start over. New school. New apartment. New life.

Then he met Nick.

Nick lived next door in the same apartment complex. Their building was old, with cracked walls and a hallway light that flickered more than it worked. Arthur was unpacking a box of books in their small living room when a loud knock startled him. His mother opened the door, revealing a boy about his age, holding a slightly deflated soccer ball under one arm.

"I saw you moving in," Nick said, grinning. "Wanna play?"

Arthur hesitated. He wasn't good at making friends, and he certainly wasn't in the mood. But there was something about Nick-his easy confidence, the way he bounced the ball against his knee without effort-that made it impossible to say no.

From that moment on, they were inseparable.

Childhood Adventures

Nick was fearless. He pulled Arthur into all sorts of adventures-running through the narrow sois (alleys), climbing over fences they probably shouldn't have, and sneaking into markets just to see how many free food samples they could get before being shooed away.

Bangkok slowly became their playground. Afternoons were spent weaving through the crowded streets, stopping at food stalls to try whatever smelled the best. They raced each other up the footbridges over traffic-jammed roads. One time, Arthur got lost coming back from school, and just as panic set in, Nick appeared out of nowhere.

"Dude, you're hopeless," Nick teased, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Good thing I know my way around."

They had their own spots-places that belonged only to them. A tiny comic book shop, tucked between two buildings, where they'd sit on the floor flipping through manga. A noodle shop where the owner, an old woman with a sharp tongue, would let them eat first and pay later. And, most importantly, the rooftop of their apartment building.

The rooftop wasn't much-just a flat, uneven surface with a few plastic chairs left behind by past tenants-but to them, it was everything. It was where they went when they needed to breathe, to escape the chaos below.

One night, lying side by side on the rooftop, Nick pointed up at the sky. "I'm gonna own a skyscraper one day," he declared. "And you're gonna fill it with your art."

Arthur laughed, but deep down, he believed it. Nick had a way of making anything seem possible.

School Days & Friendships

School was another adventure. Arthur was the quiet one, the kid who sat in the back and did his work without much fuss. Nick, on the other hand, was impossible to ignore. He was the type of student teachers scolded but secretly liked, the one who talked his way out of trouble with a grin.

Nick was also incredibly competitive. Whether it was soccer, math quizzes, or who could eat the spiciest som tam (papaya salad), he always had to win. Arthur learned quickly that there was no such thing as a "friendly" challenge with Nick.

At school, they became a trio when they met Pim. Pim was sharp-tongued, fiercely independent, and the only one who could put Nick in his place. She had an older brother who ran a street food stall, and she often helped him after school, flipping grilled pork skewers like a pro.

"The problem with you two," Pim said one day, watching as Arthur and Nick argued over who was faster, "is that you think life is a competition."

Nick smirked. "Isn't it?"

Pim rolled her eyes. "You're exhausting."

Despite her exasperation, she stuck with them. The three of them spent weekends in shopping malls, not buying anything but trying all the free samples in the food court. They did group study sessions that mostly ended with Nick and Pim bickering while Arthur actually did the work.

Family Struggles

Arthur's mom worked long hours. She barely had time to cook, so they ate a lot of takeout. Some nights, when she was especially tired, she wouldn't talk much at all. Arthur knew she was trying, but he also knew she was lonely.

Nick's family was the opposite. They were loud and loving, always laughing or arguing about something. His parents ran a small shop selling secondhand electronics, and Nick had two older sisters who doted on him but also bullied him relentlessly.

Arthur loved being at Nick's place. It was messy and chaotic, but it felt warm.

"You can come over anytime," Nick's mom told him one evening, handing him a plate of steaming rice. "You're practically family."

Arthur didn't realize how much he needed to hear that until that moment.

First Signs of Change

As the years passed, things began to shift.

One evening, when Arthur was thirteen, he was sketching in his notebook when Nick flopped down beside him.

"What're you drawing?"

Arthur angled the page away instinctively. It was a sketch of Nick-unintentional, but obvious. Nick leaned in before Arthur could close the notebook.

"Is that me?" Nick grinned. "Damn, I look good."

Arthur shoved him. "Shut up."

Nick only laughed, but Arthur's heart was racing. He didn't know why, but lately, being around Nick made him feel... different.

It scared him.

Growing Up & Realizing Feelings

The older they got, the more Arthur started to notice things about Nick. The way his smile could light up a room. The way he always stood up for Arthur, even when Arthur didn't ask him to.

He didn't know when friendship turned into something more, but by the time they were sixteen, he couldn't ignore it.

One night, after a school dance, they ended up on the rooftop again. Nick was sprawled out, arms behind his head, while Arthur sat cross-legged beside him.

"Do you think we'll always be like this?" Arthur asked.

Nick turned to him, brows raised. "Like what?"

Arthur hesitated. "Best friends."

Nick smirked. "Obviously."

Arthur swallowed. The words were on the tip of his tongue. He thought about saying them.

But he didn't.

Instead, he lay back beside Nick, staring up at the stars, hoping that moment could last forever.