Look, jumping to conclusions isn't really my thing.
But today? Yeah… today gets a pass.
"Is he the one you told me about?" Wut whispered to Pheet.
Phol stood beside them, eyes fixed on the guy at the piano. Kiran.
Pheet frowned. "I said something about him?"
"Uh… yeah, if I'm not mistaken." Wut tilted his head. "The one who asked you out and then you ran away because you didn't know what to say."
Pheet blinked.
"And," Wut added, raising a finger, "you came to live at my place because your sister invited her classmates over… and he was included."
"…I did?" Pheet paused, then waved it off. "Whatever. What is he doing here anyway?"
They all turned.
Kiran had stopped playing.
Phol spoke first. "What are you here for?"
Kiran glanced at him, clearly unimpressed. "The new band member. Duh."
His gaze shifted to Pheet, then back to Phol. "Who are you anyway? I know Pheet, I've seen… what's his name again?"
"WUT," Phol snapped.
Kiran smiled slightly. "Ah. Wut. Long time no see."
Wut leaned toward Pheet. "Are you sure you like that guy?"
Before Pheet could answer—
Phol grabbed Wut by the waist and pulled him closer.
Wut froze.
It wasn't the usual chest pain anymore.
No tightness. No panic.
Just… butterflies.
Warm. Light. Right.
Pheet blinked once. Twice. Then slowly stepped back, a small victorious smile forming on his face as he watched his best friend get pulled in by the exact person he shipped him with.
"And you are?" Kiran asked.
"Phol."
"Phol as in the heir?"
Phol didn't hesitate. "As in a business major student."
Too quick.
Wut looked up at him. Something felt… off.
Accidentally got a boyfriend and now something's wrong—wait, not accidentally, I asked him.
Still.
"Are you feeling well?" Wut asked softly.
Phol nodded with a small smile, but his grip tightened just slightly.
That's not right.
You usually talk more than I do. Okay not really, but still… something's wrong.
I can't let my man suffer alone—wait. My man?
…Oh my God.
Wut touched his own face, suddenly shy.
Yeah. That's not helping.
Kiran pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, then showed something to Phol.
A photo.
Phol. Standing beside the former chairman.
His dad.
"Isn't this you?" Kiran asked.
Phol barely glanced at it. "Yeah. And?"
That's definitely my man.
Pheet took the chance and slipped out of the room.
Kiran's eyes followed him.
A second later, he followed too.
Wut moved to go after them, but—
"I can't just—"
Phol gently stopped him. "Just let them work things out."
Work things out?
Wut hesitated… then nodded.
They sat down on the bed.
Phol looked exhausted. Not just tired. Drained.
Without a word, he leaned over and rested his head on Wut.
Wut stiffened for half a second… then relaxed.
It didn't feel awkward.
Not anymore.
No chest pains.
Just… right.
Wut shifted, lying down so Phol could rest more comfortably on his lap.
"Are you really okay?"
"Mm."
"Are you sure?"
No response.
Wut stared at him.
Please… I can't breathe properly if you keep pretending like that.
Phol's breathing slowed.
He fell asleep.
And Wut?
Wut spiraled.
Outside, the sun was bright, birds chirping like nothing in the world was wrong.
Behind a tree, Pheet was cornered by Kiran.
"Could you please leave me alone?" Pheet said.
"Are you sure?"
"What? Of course I'm—"
Before he could finish, Kiran grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"What now?" Pheet snapped, trying to pull away.
"Not until you give me a proper answer," Kiran said calmly. "And not one where you run away like a baby."
Pheet straightened, now facing him fully.
They were almost the same height. Kiran just slightly taller.
"Are all university students like this?" Pheet asked.
"Like what?"
"Falling for someone they just met."
Kiran didn't blink. "If you put it like that… yes."
A pause.
Then—
"But are you sure we were meeting for the first time?"
Pheet froze for a second.
…What?
He didn't answer.
"But this isn't how you win someone over," Pheet said instead.
Kiran smirked slightly. "Finally, something useful."
He leaned closer. "So… what do you want, my beloved?"
His hand moved toward Pheet's chin—
Pheet slapped it away and stepped back, already walking off.
"Depends on how well you know me," he said, throwing a teasing smile over his shoulder.
Kiran watched him go.
Thinking.
It wouldn't be hard.
Not when he already had a source.
Pheet's sister.
Back at the room, two other band members walked in, holding groceries.
They stopped.
Phol was asleep, clinging to Wut like a child.
Wut sat there, trapped but… not complaining.
The instruments?
All turned up to max volume.
Not even being played.
"…Kiran," Pheet muttered.
Right on cue—
Kiran walked in.
"Why is everyone just standing there?"
"Shhh!"
They pointed.
Kiran looked.
Didn't even seem surprised.
Of course.
Pheet sighed. "We're going to Wut's place."
No arguments.
Later that evening.
Wut woke up.
I need a normal sleep schedule.
He looked down.
Phol was still asleep, resting against him, face close to his chin.
For a moment… Wut felt a quiet sadness.
Then—
Wait.
What time is it?
7 PM.
7 PM???
Am I ever sleeping tonight??
His phone buzzed.
Pheet.
Are you still asleep
We went to your place
Door's locked, spare key is beside the guitar stand
Tomorrow you better explain
Hello??? Eat something at least
Wut typed back:
I'm fine thanks for asking. Just don't cook.
Not even 30 minutes later, Phol stirred.
"…Wow," Wut muttered. "Didn't know you were a sleeping beauty."
Phol smirked slightly, eyes still half closed. "Did you kiss me before I woke up?"
"Shut up."
A pause.
"…I'm hungry."
Wut pointed at the locked door.
Then at the freezer.
"…Right."
They checked.
Pizza.
Saved.
Wut put one in the oven, then turned back.
"You know what?" he said. "I'll watch the pizza after you tell me the truth."
Phol raised an eyebrow. "Are you threatening me with food?"
"Think what you want. Just talk."
A pause.
Phol looked away.
For a second… his fingers curled slightly, like he wasn't sure how to start.
Then—
"Do you know my mom?"
"…Yeah?"
"She went into a coma a few months ago."
Wut's expression softened.
"My dad stepped down. I took over as acting leader."
Wut nodded slowly.
Phol exhaled.
"She woke up."
Silence.
"I don't think I've ever been that relieved before." He looked back at Wut. "So I'm not going back to the company."
A small smile.
"I'm staying here. With you. At your university."
Everything clicked.
Nothing was wrong.
Everything was… right.
Wut pulled him into a hug without thinking.
Tight.
Relieved.
And right on cue—
beep.
The oven.
Of course.