S. F. - 12

***

New.

I hadn't seen him in days. Aside from our classes and random encounters along the halls of the university, I hadn't seen him for the sole purpose of seeing him.

I also got busy with school requirements for graduation. Luckily, he didn't stress the issue further when I told him I wouldn't be able to finish the remaining days of being his student assistant as I was currently occupied with requirements.

Okay, fine. I was avoiding him especially after what happened that night. I also had to avoid him to subdue the issue of us being together as I didn't want him to get into trouble.

"New! Wait for me!" Gun was running behind me. I chuckled as he tripped on a small rock. Tsss. Gun had always been the class energy booster. But he also threw tantrums whenever things didn't work his way. He was also a bit clumsy something that most of us found adorable aside from his baby face.

"Are you joining the outing next weekend?" he asked the moment he reached me.

The university heads were organizing a two-day trip for the graduates next weekend. It became sort of yearly tradition and a way to bond before the actual graduation.

"I don't know," I replied sparingly and continued walking towards my car. Fortunately, my father gave me a heads-up that I could use my car again after making me literally write a letter promising that I'd steer away from trouble.

"Oh, come on. You're supposed to answer yes. What's with the hesitation?"

"I don't feel like it. That's it."

"No. You have to come, okay. I won't't take no for an answer. Bye!" Gun insisted before running off.

I just shook my head as I looked at him go inside Off's car. Off was his best friend, well that was according to him. But do best friends cling unto each other so much and kiss each other's necks? Because that was what they did most of the times.

I was about to get inside my car when the one I'd been avoiding the whole time suddenly appeared in front of me.

"Oh my goodness! You scared the hell out of me. Can you not sneak around?" I cleared my throat before continuing, "Sir."

"My tires are flat. Can you give me a ride?" He replied nonchalantly as he leaned against my car.

"I- uh, I still have to stop by somewhere and it would take long, Sir. You might as well take a cab since it looks like you have to be home immediately," I crossed my fingers in the hopes that he wouldn't insist taking a ride with me.

"I don't mind besides I'm not in a hurry," he replied and opened the passenger seat. "Let's go?"

***

I glanced at the guy beside me. No one had said a thing ever since we got inside. I didn't know if it was just me, but the atmosphere felt awkward. I was even controlling my breath for the fear that it might break the silence between us.

"You're avoiding me."

I jolted when he decided to break the silence all of a sudden causing me to break out of my own train of thoughts.

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked, feigning innocence as I didn't want him to get the wrong idea.

"You're avoiding me," he repeated his statement.

I'd rather he ask if I was avoiding him than him outwardly stating it because at the moment, answering a question would be easier than refuting a statement.

"What made you say so? I'm just busy with my requirements, Sir," I answered without glancing at him. I tried my best to focus on driving since the stares that he was giving made me conscious.

"Can you not call me Sir when it's just the two of us? We're only two years apart."

"But you're still my professor, Sir."

I tried to sound as respectful as possible to draw a line between us. No matter how much I deny it, his presence started to affect me ever since that kiss happened.

"I insist. You call me P'Tay when it's just the two of us."

I didn't say a thing and just focused on driving. Since I told him I had to go somewhere else, I drove towards the mall. I still had to buy some things for my requirements.

"New, I have something to tell you. But I'll do it once you graduate, okay?" he said as I parked the car in the basement.

"Why not tell me now? My graduation's still in three months. That's a long time to wait."

I turned to face him and was surprised to see him staring at me.

"Nah, it's not yet the right time."

I gawked at him as he went out of the car, leaving me in utter confusion and curiosity.

***

I pretended to scan the books on the shelves, but my attention was on P'Tay who was scanning the books on the other side.

Okay, I'll call him P'Tay from on since he insisted. But ugh shit. Why does this sound so awkward??

I scoffed as several shoppers looked at him whilst giggling. Some were even taking pictures of him.

Wow. The audacity of this women to invade his privacy.

I rolled my eyes and examined P'Tay. Well, it was quite understandable why they were acting that way.

And who wouldn't? He looked extra ravishing in his black dress shirt which was tucked in perfectly highlighting his pecs. And his eyeglasses? It only added to his overall appearance. He looked genius and hot all at the same time. And the way he looked while scanning the books was definitely something to ogle at.

I shook my head as I realized that I was already gawking at him.

Why the fuck am I complementing him??

I mentally reprimanded myself as I immediately went to the cashier and paid for the items.

"That's 1927 baht, Sir."

I grabbed my wallet from my pocket but before I could hand my payment to the cashier, Tay had already handed his card.

"I'll pay for that."

"But, Sir," I protested but the cashier had already swiped his card.

"Do you need anything else?"

I unconsciously shook my head and I hated how I acted like a total idiot in front of him.

"Let's go. I'm hungry," he got the paper bag and dragged me out of the store.

***

I furrowed my eyebrows as I stared at the cashier at the fastfood store. She had been gawking at Tay too much that Tay had to repeat the orders as she missed some.

Tsss. What if I snatch your eyes right there and then?

I slightly pushed Tay aside and repeated the orders. I saw the woman pouting the moment I took charge.

"That will be 1093 baht, Sir."

Tay immediately handed his card and all I could do was roll my eyes. Am I gonna get through the trouble of calculating the money that I had to return to him??

"Thank you, Sir. Enjoy your meal."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes as the woman smiled from ear to ear while she handed the tray containing our food to Tay.

"I don't like her."

I immediately shut my mouth the moment I realized that I blurted that out loudly, earning some judging looks from the other customers who were lining up to order.

"Huh? Why?" Tay asked innocently as we settled down on the table by the glass wall.

"Uh, I-I- She was not paying attention. We even have to repeat our orders because her mind was wandering elsewhere."

Tay didn't say a thing and just placed my food in front of me.

"You're just hungry."

"Tsss."

We ate in silence. The buzz from the other customers was the only thing that kept the atmosphere normal, sort off.

"How's Kao?" I asked out of nowhere. I didn't even know what spirit got into me to ask such thing.

"He's fine. Actually, we had already talked again. And we're back to a clean slate. I'm suspecting he's going out with that Engineering student. I wasn't able to get his name but it seemed like there's something going on between them."

"Engineering student? Is it Pete? I saw them together the other day," I replied as I recalled seeing the two riding Pete's motorcycle the other day.

"Yeah. I guess that's him."

"Soooo, are you okay now?" I asked coyly as I twirled the fork on my spaghetti.

"Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I am. I'm just glad we were able to talk it out without the screaming and the hatred."

"I'm glad you're doing well," I said wholeheartedly and I saw a smile creeping on his lips.

"Thank you, New. I mean it."

***

"Okay, that's all for today. Class dismissed," P'Tay announced to the whole class.

The room was then filled with the inaudible buzz coming from the students who were scampering to their next class.

I watched as he gathered his things from the table and gave me a glance before leaving the room.

"Are you trying to melt Sir Tay or something?" Gun nudged me by the elbow and that was when I came out of my own thoughts.

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you like him?"

"Huh? Are you crazy?" I exclaimed before standing up and gathering my own books.

"Wow. You're the one who's been ogling at Mr Tay for the past hour yet you have the nerve to call me crazy? I'm not the one staring at him with goggly eyes," Gun followed me as I hastily went out of the room in the attempt to evade his questions.

"Tsss. I don't like him, okay? And besides I'm not gay!" I vehemently insisted.

"Oh, New. Believe me. Everybody's gay at some point in life."

I abruptly stopped walking causing him to hit my back.

"Hey! Short guy right behind youuu," Gun said pertaining to himself as he rubbed his forehead that apparently hit my bag.

"H-How do you know if-if you're already at that point?" I stuttered as I was hesitant to ask the question but the other side of me was telling me to do so in the hopes of finding the answers to whatever was boggling me for quite some time already.

"Huh?"

"You know. The-The gay awakening part."

I mentally slapped myself as I asked that stupid question.

Gay awakening?? What the hell is that, New? Is there such thing? You idiot!

"Never mind," I immediately started walking again towards my next class. Gun was following closely behind me and I had this sudden urge to make him stop following me before he could put more nonsense inside me head.

"You're a panicked gay," Gun declared all of a sudden.

"A what??"

"A panicked gay. Wait can you slow down?? Short guy, short legs, remember?" he complained and grabbed my arm to slow me down, which I did as I was confused slash curious about what he meant.

"Basically, in a relationship there are two types of gay: the panicked and the confident one. And based on what I'm seeing right now, you're obviously the former. So who's the confident one?" Gun then wiggled his eyebrows at me and gave me an evil smile.

"Tsss. I told you I'm not gay," I insisted and quickened my pace.

"But you've kissed a guy."

I immediately froze on the spot after hearing his words. Like how the fuck did he know??

"What the- How??!!"

"Oh holy macaroni!! So you did?? Shit, I was just trying to trick you! I didn't know you really did kiss—mmmmmfffhfhfhfh!"

I immediately covered his mouth as we were already getting some attention from the other students due to his loud voice. I dragged him towards a deserted corner.

"Can you not announce it to the whole university??" I exclaimed the moment I let him go.

"So you really did??" he exclaimed in a low voice.

"I-I did not, okay?" I tried to act normal as possible but my own voice betrayed me.

"Tsss. I've been there, New. So you can't keep a thing from me?"

"You've kissed a guy, too?"

"Hell yeah. But I've kissed just one guy, okay. I mean, you know?"

I smirked as I saw him blushing all of a sudden.

"Yeah, I know. You've kissed the Off Jumpol."

He blushed even more and attempted to hit me on the arm.

"So, are you two together now?" I asked hoping it would steer the discussion away from my supposed gay awakening.

"I-I don't know. He's sweet and he buys me things. He allows me to kiss him and even cuddles me. He even lets me wear his own clothes, but he hasn't asked me out yet. I don't even know if he wants to put a label on our relationship. I'm actually worried about being stuck in the friend zone. Or maybe I was just the one thinking that we could be more."

"So, who's the panicked one?"

"Me? Or him? I don't know. It depends on the situat—. Wait, why did this become about me now??"

"I gotta go. I'm already late for my next class," I immediately started walking but being the persistent guy that he was, he continued following me.

"Will you stop following me?" I hissed at him but he just smacked my head.

"Tsss. We have the same class, you moron. But seriously, who did you kiss???"

"I won't tell you who, but a guy kissed me, and I think...I think I liked it," I replied whilst suppressing the smile that was starting to creep on my lips.

***

A/N: update because I got stressed at work and this has somehow become my stress reliever now. 😄

til next update 💙💕

-ladycrookshanks