Students entered the open ground one by one.
The main event was arranged by the Mechanical Department under the supervision of Win and his team.
(Take your masks from the club counter.)
(Please make sure no one enters without one.)
(Water is available inside. According to the Environmental Club's rules, plastic items, especially water bottles, are strictly banned.)
(No need to hurry. Just make your way to the venue.)
(The next dance is at the ground of the Department of...)
Announcements droned through the large speakers. To ensure everyone's safety, the organizers followed the same procedure every year, though they had introduced many improvements compared to last year.
...
"What's this, Mok?"
Kao, who had been investigating why his pants felt itchy, suddenly pulled out a long red string. It appeared to have been cut off without his knowledge. He held it up for Mok, who was busy buttoning Kao's shirt and styling his hair.
"Isn't that part of the costume? Did you tear it? What did I tell you just a minute ago, Kao? Stand still."
"How could I know? It just ended up in my hands..." Kao scratched the back of his neck out of habit.
"Give it to me," Mok said in a dissatisfied tone before discarding the thread.
"Wait, don't... I like it..."
"We don't have time..." Mok scoffed at the pouting Kao, who now refused to budge. "Kao, stop playing around. Let's go."
"But that string..."
"We can buy a whole bundle later."
Buzz! Buzz!
Mok's phone rang, shifting his attention. "Hello, khap... Oh, Toffee. Sorry, I didn't check your message."
"Tsk..." Kao clicked his tongue.
"Almost there, Toffee... I was getting—" Mok grabbed Kao's hand and tugged him along. It felt like guiding a stubborn puppy that resisted moving forward. Kao lowered his head, clearly showing his reluctance.
...
Everyone wore masks. Whether dressed as a ghost, Dracula, or something else, there were no exceptions. Even those in animal costumes had to wear half-masks instead of showing their bare faces.
"It's too cramped..."
Kao blew against Mok's neck, which was damp with sweat. Mok, however, felt less worried now that they were both wearing masks.
"We're the next batch for the dance!" Oat shouted from the front, one arm securely wrapped around Lamon's waist.
"Are you okay?"
Lamon was blushing from his ears to his nose, mostly because of his costume and Oat's sudden physical closeness.
"I'm okay," he murmured. His warm breath brushed against Oat, who stared at him intently.
Oat held him tighter, afraid Lamon might pull away if he loosened his grip even slightly.
"Huh," Lamon let out a tiny whisper. Oat maintained his tight grip, unwilling to release him.
"Ahh..."
Bump!
Someone bumped into Lamon's back, pushing him even closer.
"Where is the student union...?" Oat muttered furiously, using both hands to protect Lamon safely. A familiar scent reached him as he pressed his face against Oat's unbuttoned shirt.
'I'm too close... Don't...' Lamon shook his head. He had no time for second thoughts, but his mind still slipped into a daze.
"Artit... We're here..."
Oof! That unexpected push separated them, forcing Oat to grab Lamon's hands and place them firmly around his own waist. Amid the noisy crowd, Lamon felt overwhelmed by his own heartbeat and heavy breathing.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"I... I am..."
"Give me a minute, let me find a way..." Oat comforted Lamon by gently covering his ears to block out the loud screams of the crowd. Still, those chubby cheeks and a runny nose caused by the chilly air worried the older boy.
...
They all safely entered the ballroom.
The disco lights shifted through the darkness as the melody filled the venue. Its warm rhythm perfectly suited the atmosphere.
Artit and Toffee entered first. Oat had already pulled Lamon into the crowd, unwilling to miss his chance. Mok insisted on waiting a little longer, but Kao eventually dragged him along.
In the darkness, red and white lights mingled with the opening piano chords. The scent of trimmed grass lingered alongside the heavy air of the crowd.
From the speakers, a female voice joined the music, airy and breathy, drawing everyone's attention.
When we always met in the lighthouse,
We just had a little... time,
I should have said it out loud many times,
But you always wished to be just friends.
Everyone closed their eyes.
The dancing would begin only during the second half of the track, as the students were still getting into position. However, the three pairs were already set, their hands and feet ready to move as they waited with quiet excitement.
The female voice dropped to a whisper, but remained clear and smooth.
My gaze, my smile, is always with you,
I should have told you a little longer,
No one told me,
It would sink deep into my heart,
My sleep is getting harder,
Even my dreams are closer to you than me,
Oh, my love, it's getting harder,
But I regret that I'm leaving before you...
"It's sad, phi... Did they accidentally switch the song?"
"Toffee." Leaning toward his ear, Artit murmured, "Listen to it..."
Artit took a step backward while Toffee stepped forward.
Suddenly, a male voice sang the same lines as the female vocalist, accompanied by the identical piano chords. After years apart, two people were finding each other again in that lighthouse. Their hearts had longed for one another, yet neither had possessed the courage to admit they wanted to be more than friends.
The music gained more instruments, which was the reason they had chosen it. The tempo was highly suitable for the choreography.
On the opposite side of the ground, Mok was struggling. They had come here expecting something romantic, but this was already the third time Mok had stepped on Kao's shoes. Kao, however, smiled like a fool.
"Does it hurt...?"
"No, you can step on me."
'Fool...' Mok pressed a brief kiss against his neck. They shared the warmth of each other's skin, and even though their steps were imperfect, their hearts remained aligned. But deep down, Mok felt the ache in Kao's legs; it stung his conscience.
'We should at least have practiced before coming here...'
He had planned to practice with Kao, but the message from his professor and everything involving Ria had ruined those plans. On the other hand, Toffee and Artit were thoroughly prepared.
Meanwhile, Phayu was there too.
"One step at a time. Don't panic... You're doing great."
A stranger stood beside him. His plain, pale mask matched Phayu's. His tall figure and the scent of roses immediately caught Phayu's attention. Though the stranger wore a full mask, his eyes shone like the white moon, making everything around him seem brighter.
Phayu wanted to ask his name, but the opportunity never came. The dance neared its end. He placed his hands around the stranger's waist.
Finally, the track concluded to loud cheers.
Woohoo! Yeah!
"Ah..." Phayu flinched when the stranger suddenly pressed a kiss to the back of his ear.
"See you..." the stranger whispered.
For a moment, Phayu stood frozen, spacing out. By the time he recovered his senses, the boy had completely disappeared.
"What a pity..." he mumbled, tracing the spot where the lips had met. The scent of roses still clung to him, and the voice continued to echo in his mind. A smile gradually appeared on Phayu's lips.
'I'm sure I'll meet him again.'
...
The festival ended with the Arts Club winning the title of best sellers. It was an expected outcome since they led every year. The Craft and Design Club tied for second place.
Classes resumed as normal.
Even after two days had passed, students still discussed the festival. Soon, everyone returned to their busy schedules.
Knock!
Mok stepped into the professor's office. He hated that place, but he had no choice.
"Hmh..." the professor exclaimed. "Mok, this is a great piece of work. I would give you straight A's. Just study the theory, and you'll definitely stand out."
"Thank you, khap." Mok took his canvas from the professor and prepared to leave.
"Wait, Mok. Don't go. I have something to ask."
"Khap?" Confused, he remained there until his professor finished clearing his desk.
"Sorry, I didn't get time this week. I... I wanted to ask, are you okay?"
"Huh?"
"About Ria... I should have warned you."
Mok clenched his hands around the edge of the canvas. He felt disgusted by that name every time he remembered it. But how did his professor know about it? Was he involved in the incident? Several thoughts rushed through his mind.
He couldn't tell his friends or Kao. He knew they would worry. But his professor was different. Wasn't it part of a faculty member's job to protect their own students?
"Mok... Mok..."
"Mhm..." He snapped back and asked, "Can I ask you something? Did Fon and you have any..." He stopped when he noticed the shifting, uneasy expression on his professor's face.
"Sorry."
Nothing else came from his teacher's mouth except a brief apology.
Mok felt a heavy weight in his chest. With a defeated expression, he returned to class.
"Mok... Mok..."
He ignored his professor's voice. Toffee was waiting for him, and they were all going shopping today.
'It's better if I just smile,' he muttered to himself.
...
"Isn't that him...?" One of the passing students stopped and stared at him before whispering to a friend.
It wasn't just one person. Too many people were staring. Some appeared confused, while others seemed shocked. Mok adjusted his glasses, but his hands trembled, and the shaking only worsened.
'What's going on...'
Every gaze felt full of contempt. He imagined them mocking him or laughing at him, so he hurried along before he could faint.
After entering the classroom, he placed his artwork alongside the others. That uncomfortable atmosphere followed him into the room; all his classmates kept peering at him in disbelief.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed him and pulled him into the back corner of the classroom, near the window. Because of the large canvas, no one could see who was seated there.
"Toffee..." he called out, but Toffee gestured for him to be quiet.
"Mok, you need to relax first..."
He didn't understand why Toffee was acting so strangely.
"What's going on?"
Toffee handed him his phone. On the official college forum, photos of Mok and Kao were circulating, and rumors were spreading like wildfire.
"Toffee..." Mok's whole body shivered, his breathing turning shallow.
[The Secret Couple from the Department of... (A photo of Mok resting his head on Kao's shoulder while they lean against a car.) Views: 123k, Likes: 29k, Dislikes: 20k]
"This... This... Toffee..."
Unplanned tears rolled down the corners of his eyes as he read the comments beneath the images.
(No way... Who the hell is that?)
(Do we have a junior like him from the Arts Department?)
(I never knew someone like him could seduce our Kao.)
Most users attacked Mok, while some were supportive.
(I like them.)
(They became my favorite pair this year, but I'm only finding out about them now.)
(You all go away, I like that boy with Mok. They are so handsome. Made for each other.)
On the forum, several photos had been uploaded one after another with different captions. Two images were especially clear: one from the restroom, where Mok was styling Kao's hair, and another from when they danced together. Because their costumes matched in subtle ways, everyone had started making assumptions.
(Of course Kao fell for him because of his face...)
(Which century are we living in? Some people still choose this kind of lifestyle...)
(Genuinely, I don't like that Kao. Well, he just has a pretty face, that's it.)
"It's enough. Don't read the comments..." Toffee snatched the phone away and patted Mok's shoulder, noticing that Mok was holding his breath.
"Mok..." His voice cracked. "Breathe. Nothing is wrong, okay? It's not like you love someone immorally or you're cheating."
Toffee was right. Why was Mok so worried? He hadn't done anything wrong. If loving someone were illegal, the whole world would end in a single day.
"You love him, and he loves you. Remember when phi Artit declared that he was in a relationship with me? How many people hated me? But that only made us stronger."
His words relieved Mok, and Toffee continued comforting him.
'It's okay... Everything will be okay...'
Mok slowly inhaled, calming himself. He didn't dare take his phone from his bag.
Buzzz! Buzzz!
(Photo of Mok almost kissing a female. Her face is blurred.) Views: 78k
(Photo of Mok and a blurred female hugging each other secretly in a classroom.) Views: 12k
Laila56: Crazy... I knew it. He is a bitch...
Mono12ax: Somebody help our Kao... Our senior...
(Another photo was posted. Caption: Fell onto the floor literally. They're just hugging.)
Views: 23k — posted by mysteryOman
(Another photo was posted by --mysteryOman.) Views: 6k
(Another photo was posted by --mysteryOman.) Views: 2k