The car moved. His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
He had already arrived on campus and parked, but he didn't get out.
He remained inside, lost in heavy thoughts.
A call from his phone pulled him back.
No matter how many times it rang, he didn't answer. He stared at the screen, then avoided it by switching the phone off.
After that, he headed toward the auditorium to help.
From the parking lot to the main auditorium, everyone watched him and started whispering--
It's P'Kao. Why is he here?
Kao… I'm lucky to see him today.
Look… how can someone be this handsome?
He really lives up to his name.
Don't you think his hairstyle looks good today?
Kao heard everything. His face warmed, but he hid it behind a faint smile.
"Why does it feel so weird? I don't want to hear this. It's too much. Someone help me…"
He hurried into the hall.
"Why does it feel so far… if only I could go inside…"
Clank—
The sharp sound made everyone in the hall turn toward Kao.
Where students turned to him, putting him in an awkward position.
Someone waved from the middle—it was Kevin.
"Kao! I'm here! Come down!"
"Kevin, what are you doing?" another person working beside him asked angrily.
"Didn't you say cut it? So I did."
"What the hell? How can you cut everything? Are you an idiot?"
Hearing the raised voice, Win stopped what he was doing and walked over. Without a word, he smacked Kevin on the head.
Smack—
"Ow… that hurts…"
With teary eyes, Kevin looked at him.
"You hit me, jerk."
He started whining and dropped to the ground.
"I didn't do anything," he complained, his voice trembling.
"Win, why are you like this? Kevin, don't cry. I'll buy you ice cream," a senior said as he approached, having heard the commotion—only to see Win hit Kevin.
The tears stopped instantly.
"Really? Then strawberry."
"What strawberry?"
"The flavor… I want it."
"I'll buy it." the senior muttered with a small sigh.
Win groaned. "Strawberry, my foot…" he mumbled.
Then he grabbed Kevin tightly.
"Win, it hurts!" Kevin shouted.
"Come on. Are you a sloth?" Win tightened his hold, shooting a glare at the senior.
"You jerk… that hurts."
As they passed Kao, Win said, "Kao, can you help them?"
Win tightened his grip, his eyes fixed on Kevin.
"Looks like someone really wants something. Let me fulfill that wish," he muttered.
Kao gave a soft hum in response, confused. "Is this another fight?"
Near the stage, that senior muttered,
"What the hell is wrong with Win? Everyone knows I'm pursuing Kevin."
Others nearby nodded in agreement.
Hearing that, Kao stepped down and spoke calmly, "It's because they've known each other since childhood. Just ignore it. Win is always like that."
He tried to calm things down.
Another argument was about to break out.
"Win, what's wrong with you?" Kao whispered.
"Did you say something, Kao?" a senior asked.
"No… let me help."
"Thank you, Kao. You're a lifesaver."
"Don't mention it."
Kao quickly began helping—cleaning, arranging, and finishing tasks.
It was already late and as night fell...
The lights spread across every corner of the campus. Only a few stalls were still open.
The noise outside gradually faded.
One by one, everyone headed back to their condos. Only three people remained—Kao among them.
"Kao, you can go. You've already helped a lot," a senior said.
"No, you look more tired. I'll stay and finish the rest. You can leave," Kao replied.
"What? We can't do that. You're our junior."
"It's fine. You've been busy— I can handle it."
"Really, Kao? Thank you. Because of you, we'll have more time," another senior added.
"Oh! It's nothing. Go ahead. I'll take care of it."
Their voices echoed from above, "Bye! Call if you need anything!"
"Khap, bye!" Kao waved back.
The hall slowly fell silent after they left.
Kao glanced at the stage lights.
"Finally… I'm alone."
Time passed, and he finished everything.
He walked around once more, checking the lights and seats.
Then he climbed onto the stage and lay down, staring at the bright lights.
He raised his hand to cover his eyes.
"I have to call…" But he drifted off to sleep.
Silence filled the hall. The doors remained open.
Someone entered while talking on the phone, stepping closer to Kao.
"May, don't say that. I found him. He's in the auditorium."
Artit checked him.
"He's sleeping."
From the other side, May replied,
"What? Why is he sleeping there? Wait, I'll come."
"Mm. Okay."
Artit looked at Kao with a cold expression.
A few minutes later...
May arrived, panting. She tapped Artit's shoulder.
"Did you run here?"
She nodded. "Yeah… look at this jerk, sleeping peacefully after troubling me. He's fine, right?"
"Mm... "
May walked over and touched Kao.
"He's so cold. Give me your jacket, Artit."
"No."
"Artit, give it to me."
"You know I don't like lending my clothes—especially what I'm wearing."
"Oh really? You jerk. Fine, wait here—I'll get some blankets from the studio."
With a mischievous smile, she rushed out, almost tripping on the steps.
Artit let out a sigh.
The morning light slowly settled in.
Footsteps echoed again as murmurs filled the hall.
Artit sat in the front row, watching.
Kao was still asleep, and May had fallen asleep beside him—her feet resting on his chest. The blanket she had taken was completely covering her, not Kao.
Kao slowly opened his eyes. His chest ached.
"What the hell… What is this pain…" he murmured.
He looked down—May was still sleeping peacefully, her feet on him.
"Seriously… when will she stop doing this?
Wait, why is she here?"
Then his gaze met Artit's.
"Artit? Why are you here?"
"That's a very good question—from a friend who disappeared. We were about to put up a missing notice for you."
Kao gave an awkward laugh, but Artit stayed expressionless.
"Don't laugh. You didn't answer our calls. If I hadn't come here, we would've definitely searched for you."
Kao swallowed. "It's already morning. I didn't plan to sleep here."
"Forget it. Kao, give me your gear pin. I need to scan it. You're the coordinator, so I need it to complete registration."
"Scan what?"
"You forgot? You're the leader for this year's juniors' project."
"Oh… I… okay, wait a minute."
Kao checked his jacket, his pockets, and the floor around him. Then he searched near May.
"Where is it, my pin… it was always on my jacket."
"Kao… Kao… Kaopun…"
"What?"
"What are you searching for?" Artit asked, annoyed.
"My… my…" Kao hesitated.
"What are you whispering?"
"My pin… it's not with me."
"Is it in your condo?" Artit asked, doubtful.
Kao stayed silent.
"Don't tell me you lost it."
"No! It must've fallen somewhere. Let me search."
He checked everywhere again, not missing even the smallest space. Exhausted, he finally sat in the last row.
"Shit, Artit is definitely going to hit me."
"Okay… calm down… don't overthink…"
"Kaopun!"
He flinched at the Artit voice.
Freshers were already arriving.
Artit stared at the entrance.
"We need to go. We're short on time."
Kao nodded. "I'll be okay, right?"
Meanwhile...
May pretended to be asleep, quietly listening to everything.
"I hid the pin, but I forgot where... Oh, May, what did you do..."
"May," Artit called.
She slowly stirred, pretending to wake up, looking tired. She acted innocent in front of him.
Artit looked at her. "Wipe your face."
"What? Even like this, I'm still beautiful, right?" she joked.
Artit let out a small grin. "I pity whoever has to deal with her."
"Let's go," he said.
Kao followed behind, still anxious.
"Look, it's crowded."
"Artit, I'm looking fine, right?"
Artit glanced at him and gave a small hum.
The crowd grew louder as students rushed in.
"Artit… where is May?" Kao looked around.
"Forget her. With her speed, she's probably already in her department. Focus on us."
They pushed through the crowd.
Someone bumped into Kao's shoulder.
Clack—
"Ouch… who—"
It was a fresher wearing glasses that hid his eyes. He was almost as tall as Kao. His hair was neat, but he refused to meet Kao's gaze.
"Sorry…"
Even as he tried to avoid it, time felt like it slowed. Their eyes met.
Kao's ears turned slightly pink.
For a moment, everything around him faded.
"What is this feeling?" He touched his chest, feeling his heartbeat.
"Sorry," the boy said again softly.
Kao nodded. "It's okay." But he stayed frozen.
"This isn't a normal crush. I can't even breathe. Who is this fresher... talk, Kao, talk…" "Cute…" he murmured unconsciously.
At the same time...
Artit passed by just as Kao stood frozen.
"Nice to meet you, Toffee," he thought.
A soft smile appeared on his face.
"Look! It's P'Artit—he smiled!"
"Did he really smile?"
Screams erupted around them.
Artit snapped back to reality because of the noise.
Meanwhile, Toffee glanced at Mok, who had bumped into someone wearing an engineering jacket.
Toffee quickly bowed and apologized, and Toffee softly said, "Let's go."
As they moved inside, Kao was still standing there, smiling faintly, watching them disappear into the crowd.
"Kao… Kaopun… let's go."
He felt embarrassed and walked toward Artit.
"Artit, don't call me Kaopun. You know I don't like it."
Artit smirked.
"But Artit, I saw someone… a fresher… he's really cute."
Artit placed a hand on his forehead.
"You're not sick, right?"
"Are you joking, Artit?"
"Do you think I am? Kao calling someone cute… should I record this?"
"Hey…"
Artit took out his phone to tease him, but a call came in. He answered and walked ahead. Kao turned back, trying to find that boy again.
"Kaopun!" Artit called out.
The loud voice made everyone turn toward him.
A crowd quickly gathered.
"It's P'Kao…"
"I came just to see P'Kao and P'Artit!"
"Let's take a photo!"
Kao forced a smile and hurried toward Artit.
"You jerk, Artit, I hate—"
"Let's go to the workshop," Artit said, ignoring him.
"Kao." His voice turned cold. "You didn't find the pin, right?"
Kao froze.
"You know it's important. Find it before the intercollege program. We need it for registration— losing it means you're out of every event."
Kao swallowed hard.
"I will… I'll find it…"
"Then why are you standing here like you're lost?"
"Let's leave after the freshers' ceremony."
"Kao, don't test my patience."
"But what if I can't see him again..." he muttered softly.
"You idiot. Stay here and think about your cute fresher. I'm leaving."
"Artit…"
"Don't call me."
He walked faster.
"Artit, wait!"
Artit stopped, clenching his fist. "Do you want to get hit?"
"Oh come on, Artit. I'm your friend. Can't we stay for a few minutes? I'll just take a quick look and come back."
"Do whatever you want. I'm going."
"Artit, help me out…"
"No. I have real work to do— unlike someone thinking about a fresher."
Kao sighed.
"He's in a bad mood. Don't push him… but still. It's frustrating… I didn't even get his name…"
"What are you thinking? Trying to guess the colour of air?"
"Do you even know the colour of air? Wow… as expected from a genius."
Artit shook his head and continued walking.
Kao rushed after him.
"Wait! Wait for me!"
But even while running, Kao's thoughts stayed behind.
"If only I could see him again. His voice… it's still in my ears."
"Cute…" Kao murmured again.
"You idiot, hurry up!"
"Ah, right! I forgot! I'm coming, Artit!"
Kao ran after him— his mind still filled with the mysterious fresher.