"Pim, why are you still here? Your group already finished, so why haven't you gone home?" Artit asked without looking up from his tools.
"Oh, Artit... can't I just stay here with you?"
Pim replied in a sweet, lingering voice. She leaned in closer.
"You really need to smile more. Why do you always have such a blank expression? Can't you at least try for me?"
Artit sighed, his voice flat. "Pim, what do you want? I'm busy. You know I don't have time to just sit and chat."
"Stop being so cold! You know I've been chasing you for so long, so why are you like this?"
Artit finally stopped his work and looked her in the eyes. "Pim, I've already rejected you. Not just once, but many times. I already like someone else—you know that. So stop chasing me. I don't want to hurt your feelings, Pim."
"I know you said that," she pouted, crossing her arms. "But I've never once seen this person you like. I don't believe it until I see them with my own eyes."
"Whatever. I'm not in the mood to argue with you," Artit muttered, turning back to his work.
"Artit... wait! I made some food for you. Can't you at least eat a little bit?"
"I don't eat things other people make for me. I don't like it."
"But I'm not 'other people,' I'm Pim!" she complained, but Artit simply walked away to check on his team. The other students just shook their heads; they were used to seeing Pim flirt and get rejected.
Left alone, Pim looked at the healthy sandwich she had prepared.
"What should I do with this? Oh! I'll post it." She snapped a photo and uploaded it with the caption: 'Made this specially for Artit's dinner.'
While she was busy with her phone, a serious voice called out.
"Artit! What was that all about this afternoon? Do you realize you messed up the Freshers' tour of our workshop?"
It was Phoon, the group leader and Artit's friend.
"What did I do?" Artit asked, looking confused.
"Don't act like you don't know! The student leader in charge of the Freshers called you, and you told them they couldn't come because we were doing 'top secret work' that no one is allowed to see. You sounded so serious that the poor junior is now terrified of our group! Why would you say that?"
Artit froze. He suddenly remembered taking a call while he was with Toffee. He had been so annoyed that someone was interrupting his time with his "little duck" that he had just said whatever it took to make them hang up.
"Ah... that call. I forgot about it. Sorry," Artit said bluntly.
Phoon sighed, completely fed up. "Can't you at least say sorry with a nicer face? You're scary, Artit! Anyway, forget it. I already cleared up the misunderstanding.
I have to go now. See you later, 'Respected Senior'!" Phoon joked as he waved goodbye and left the workshop.
Time passed quickly, and a new morning began. Toffee woke up naturally, even before his alarm could go off. He looked out the window, watching the soft morning sunlight filter through the small leaves of the trees outside.
"I hope today is a good day," he whispered, stretching with a wide yawn.
He noticed the other bed was still empty.
"Mok didn't come back last night? It's so strange... why didn't he even call me?"
Toffee hopped out of bed to get ready. As he was buttoning his shirt, his eyes fell on the bag P'Artit had bought for him.
"Oh no! I forgot my medicine!" He smacked his forehead. "I didn't eat the dessert, I didn't apply the cream, and I totally skipped the pills. Was I really that tired?" He ruffled his own hair in frustration, looking like a messy bird.
"Well, I don't feel sick, so maybe it's okay." He carefully tucked the gifts away on his shelf.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. The door swung open.
"Oh! Is someone actually living in this dorm? Who are you?" Toffee teased as Mok walked in.
Then he got serious. "Mok! You didn't answer my calls or texts. What happened? Tell me everything!"
Toffee leaned in close and started sniffing Mok's shoulder. "Wait... you smell different. Whose perfume is this?"
Mok pushed him away gently, looking tired.
"Toffee, what are you, a dog? I don't smell like anything. I just stayed at my family's villa near the campus and forgot my phone."
"Mok, at least come up with a better lie next time," Toffee grumbled.
"Whatever, just let me take a shower," Mok said, heading to the bathroom.
"Take a long one, Mok! You need it!" Toffee called out, still annoyed.
Inside the bathroom, Mok locked the door and pulled off his shirt. When he looked in the mirror, he froze. His neck and chest were covered in scratches and dark red hickeys.
"That jerk, Kaopun... he really made a mess," Mok muttered, touching a mark on his neck.
"Even his name is annoying."
He stared at his reflection, feeling totally clueless about what to do next. Then he realized something even worse. "Wait... I'm accidentally wearing his shirt. This is so annoying!"
Knock, knock!
"Mok! Hurry up or we'll be late for class!" Toffee shouted from the other side of the door.
"I'll be quick!" Mok called back. He hurriedly tried to hide the marks, hopped into the shower, and got ready as fast as he could.