12

BRIGHT'S POV

People kept asking me if I was alright when I came back to school, I am clearly not, but of course I wouldn't say that. There's no one who admits that they aren't fine anyway. I got busy with a lot of school works which I am actually thankful for, even though my blockmates are already cursing the professors. 

I spent most of the time alone, I tell my friends that I have errands to run and fix because we'd be flying abroad for the weekend. To be honest, I just really enjoy doing nothing and just staring blankly into the walls. Sometimes I think about everything... sometimes I don't even think at all. 

I went home straight from my class and just stared at my ceiling... My head was empty like usual, the thought of why my family is falling apart kept haunting me but there's no one else to blame but my dad. It was him who made all of this happen, he was the one who let every bad thing happen to our perfect family... 

After maybe an hour of staring, I decided to get up and pull my laptop out to check on the little research that I had going on... I was trying to find out several ways we can actually wake Ton up or something to make her life a little better than now. 

"Hey... Bright?" Namtan called from outside the door. 

"Kinda busy" I said. 

She still went inside and checked on what I was doing. 

"Nobody said you shifted courses" She said and sat on the bed behind me. 

"I just want to know if there's a possibility waking her up." I said reading through some articles. 

"Bright..." She said and I didn't bother looking back. 

"Bright... you have to trust Ton with this one, she's a fighter, she'll make it. Stop stressing your self because of it." She told me. 

"What if I take an exam to med school after my course?" I blurted out. 

"Bright, if this about Ton----"I cut her off. 

"It's not about Ton, Dad would have hated the fact that I neglected every single thing about the business field, I'd be opposing to him. I'd be able to get back at him." I said filling up with my rage. 

Namtan was quiet for a while and then I heard her sigh. 

"Finish as much schoolwork as you can. Also, your phone has been vibrating." She said placing the phone on my desk before leaving. 

I sighed when she left and looked at my phone. It was Win. I wanted to be alone but I said yes to him to a lot things, plus, he's also going through so much already, plus, he's the only one who understands what is really going on inside my head. 

Win Metawin

Briiight, we meeting today?

I'm almost done with my shift at the coffee shop.

What coffee shop do you work at again?

Grey  Coffee, why?

Nah~ Let me text you details where to meet me. 

I didn't wanna go and escape with him today, I just don't feel like really leaving the house or my room in particular. I decided to just go fetch him and grab some coffee then we could probably just make school works or study together here at my house. 

"Bright... where are you going?" Our helper asked... Of course, mom asked her to look after us while she is away. 

"I'll just go grab coffee and fetch a friend." I said while getting my keys. 

"Do you want something specific for dinner?" She asked. 

"Some steaks and mashed potato. Make some for my friend too, thank you." I said. 

That has been my comfort food ever since I was little. As soon as our helper smiled and went to go get started for dinner, I left the house but before I could, I saw my sister running towards the car like there was a life and death situation....

"Can you buy some ice cream please?" She said. 

"I thought something happened to you..." I said and nodded. 

It was weirdly a quick drive heading to the coffee shop where Win works. I entered and the strong scent of coffee immediately welcomed me. It sort of calmed my mind down but then I looked around, just like any other coffee shops, there were a lot of students studying... or at least trying to... I saw Win behind one of the registers and I smiled, I got in line there and waited until it was my turn...

"Iced Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel drizzle and light ice please." I said. 

Win was busy typing on the screen in front of him and he didn't realized that it was me. 

"Could I get the size and is this to go?" He asked and finally looked up. 

"Hello." I smiled. 

"Bright! You're here already, I'm about to be done in 10 minutes." He said. 

"We'll chitchat later... I'll be waiting for you. That's a large and yep, to go." I said and smiled. 

"This is on me." He said finalizing my order. 

"Oh no, I don't wanna interfere with your job." I told him and handed my payment just in time when his manager walked in and he didn't have any other choice. 

They served my order and Win was busy doing different sort of stuff behind the registers, when he was finally done, a familiar face walked in, it was Love... I was about to call on her but Win made his way to Love before I could, he signaled to wait and I just nodded, they were talking about stuff and I was getting a little curious when Win pointed out to me and surprise was evident on Love's face. 

"Hey Bright." She said. 

"Hey." I said. 

"Mind if I take a seat?" She asked and pointed out the chair in front of me. 

"Yeah sure, I'd be going anyway, just waiting for Win." I said. 

"You two hanging out?" She asked. 

"Yes." I said. 

"Good to hear, enjoy, don't forget to study for the quiz." She said and smiled as she pulled out a bunch of notebooks and pens. 

"Heyyy, I'm done, are we joining Love here?" Win asked when he made his way towards us. 

"Nope, I made plans and someone is already preparing our food actually." I said and smiled. 

They whispered about something and finally said goodbye to each other. I was really curious and I was trying my best not to show it but then I realized I was being too quiet while I was driving...

"What is bothering you?" Win asked. 

"N-nothing..." I said... 

"Well, will you tell me where were going?" Win asked. 

"To my house..." I told him. 

"What?" He asked. 

"Don't worry, I don't even know if my sister is home, she should be busy, our helper is preparing us dinner, I figured we could just chill and probably some schoolworks..." I said. 

"Oh... okay... you sure you're okay?" He asked looking at me. 

I gave him a small smile and we were pretty quiet while heading to my house. It wasn't a very long trip going back, just a little traffic and we stopped at the convenience store and we were there... 

"Bright... your sister... Namtan..." Our helper came rushing to me as soon as I parked my car. 

"Go show Win inside, I'll go check on her." I said. 

I rushed to Namtan's room... and knocked as hard as I can...

"Namtan open the door!" I said banging on her door. 

I went to the storage cabinet that holds all key copies in the house and got the one for Namtan's room. 

"Namtan?" I looked for her when I walked inside the room. 

She was on the floor crying...

"Hey... You don't do this. I'm the one that does this" I said and sat beside her and hugged her. 

"Bright, I'm just so tired and scared, and I'm sorry I couldn't be the bigger sister today." She said and continued crying. 

"You'll be fine. You'll have to be because we're still seeing our little sister and mom this weekend." I said which seemed to calm her down. 

"Namtan, we all are tired and scared, there are thousands of way to go the easy way, but no, we will fight the bullshits thrown at us. We will make it." I told her. 

"Oh I wish you were the older one" She said. 

She cried for a few more minutes and when she finally calmed down she got herself together. 

"Your friend is waiting for you. Go ahead, I asked for some Pad Thai for my dinner." She said and got up. 

"I got your ice cream." I said and she smiled. 

I walked down to the living and I found Win looking around. 

"You won't get to see baby pictures of me, we haven't really made this a home..." I said. 

"I need wifi password actually" He said flashing that bunny smile. 

"Haha, give me your phone." I said and typed it in. 

"Is your sister..." Win said trying to find the right words...

"She's fine, she'll be down in a while, she just needs to suck it all up." I said and smiled. 

"Bright dinner is ready." Our helper called. 

There was always a table set-up, it made the helpers happy and they think everything is alright when everything is fixed and designed. 

"Is this a... date?" Win said teasing me. 

"Call it what you want and we giggled." We ate our dinner talking about how our day went.

Just talking to Win made me want a lifetime of having someone with me during meals, someone who saves me during the very terrible times. I wanted a lifetime with him for a second but then I got scared, the thought of Win with girls, my friends... It scares me that I am too damaged to actually be chosen by anyone. 

"Hello" Namtan pulled me out of my thoughts when she sat at the vacant seat. 

"Hi" Win said shyly. 

"Oh don't be shy, I guess I'd see you here more often... Anyway, you two study well, I'll be down here with more paperwork and probably a beer if you need anything." She said. 

We laughed and talked a little and decided to head up to my room. 

"You need something?" I asked Win.

"You okay?" He asked for the nth time. 

"Hmmm..." I said thinking.

"Oh, I'm not forcing you----" He said but I cut him. 

"I'm not okay Win, I won't be for a very long time, but I need you beside me, because for a moment, I see a perfect happy lifetime, with you in it, I wanted to give us a try because I don't want to loose you... You are pretty much the only thing that is keeping me sane... So no, I'm not okay you having secrets with my friends, I'm not okay you'd be happy with someone else, I'm not okay with everything going on in my life without you... I'm not okay just being friends with you because I'd love a lifetime with you Win." I said. 

"You didn't have to tell me those..." Win said...

"You are my hooman Win... you deserve to know" I said. 

"Hooman?" He asked. 

"Yeah, more than a best friend, like you have piece of my soul... What do you say?" I asked. 

The next thing I know we were making out inside my room already, our stuff... books and pens already fell on the floor. We were panting when we parted our lips. 

"That's a yes hooman, it'll be scary but we should give this lifetime a try..." Win said and smirked.

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Thanks for reading! <3

Sorry the update took longer to be uploaded, regular and longer updates will resume January 8 and would be every Friday, 8PM.