In the campus parking lot, Artit and Toffee finally arrived at college after a long, heartbreaking morning.
Artit parked the car but didn't get out.
He leaned his head on the steering wheel and looked at Toffee with a small smile.
He reached out to gently touch Toffee's cheek. Toffee grabbed Artit's hand and whispered, "P'Artit... are you alright?"
Toffee's eyes were still red and puffy from crying so much.
Artit slowly wiped Toffee's eyelids with his thumb, then leaned in and softly kissed them. Toffee felt shy and blushed deeply.
Toffee reached out and touched Artit's chest, right where it had been hurting earlier. He leaned his head against Artit's chest and asked quietly, "Why are you in so much pain? Can you tell me why?"
Artit placed his hand on Toffee's head and kissed his hair. "Can you give me some time?" he asked.
Toffee looked up, and they stared into each other's eyes for a long moment without blinking.
Artit promised, "I will tell you everything, but please give me a little time." Toffee nodded his head to say yes.
Suddenly feeling very shy, Toffee hopped out of the car to wait. When Artit got out, he took Toffee's bag and the things he had bought for him,
Seeing Artit carrying his bag, Toffee felt even shyer. He smiled and said, "Phi... you don't need to carry my bag for me."
Artit pouted his lips.
"Don't make that face, Phi! The bag doesn't even match your outfit. Give it back..."
Artit didn't give it back. Instead, he started teasing Toffee with the bag.
"Phi! Give it to me!" Toffee cried out.
Suddenly, Artit grabbed Toffee's waist and pulled him close. In the surprise, Toffee accidentally stepped on Artit's foot.
"Phi... let go! I'm standing on your foot... let go!"
"No," Artit whispered. He leaned down slowly and flirted, "If you want, we can stay in this position."
"Phi!" Toffee hit Artit's shoulder. Artit laughed—it felt like being hit by a tiny kitten's claws.
Toffee quickly snatched his bag back. "You don't care about anything! What if someone sees us like this?"
"Let them. I don't care," Artit replied smoothly.
"P'Artit, I think you forgot... I'm not your boyfriend yet," Toffee reminded him.
Artit leaned in even closer. "Then, can you be?"
Toffee smiled and gave him an instant rejection. "No." But then he smiled again. "But that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future."
"You're making me fall for you even more, Toffee," Artit said.
He looked at Toffee with intense eyes, like he wanted to "eat" him up right there.
Toffee didn't back down. He started walking backward while facing Artit, a playful smile on his face. "If you want me, you'll have to try harder than this, Phi!"
Artit beamed.
Why are you carrying all those bags?" Toffee asked, pointing at them. He was walking backward, facing Artit and flirting playfully.
"I bought these for you," Artit said with a smile.
"I can't eat all of that! I'll share them with the others," Toffee said. He reached for the bags, but Artit held them away. Instead of reaching for the bags again, Toffee leaned in and gave Artit a quick kiss on the cheek.
Artit was shocked. He reached out to touch Toffee, but Toffee quickly stepped back, still walking backward and facing him.
"You're going to fall, Toffee!" Artit said, his voice full of worry.
"I won't fall... because you're here," Toffee replied softly.
Feeling shy after his own boldness, Toffee tried to change the subject. "Phi, let me carry them."
"No, I'll carry them," Artit insisted.
"Phi, are you coming with me to the booths?"
"Mm, I'm coming with you. Can I hold your hand, Toffee?"
"No! You're moving too fast, Phi!" Toffee laughed and walked ahead toward the festival booths, while Artit followed behind, happily carrying all the things.
While walking toward the booths, Mok and Lamon were waiting for Toffee.
"When is he coming?" Mok asked, checking the time.
"I'm wondering the same thing. What is taking him so long?" Mok added with a deep sigh.
"I'm getting bored..." Lamon said, looking down at the floor with his head low.
Mok suddenly cleared his throat. "Lamon, can I ask you something? Are you in a relationship with P'Oat? I mean... I saw you two together, doing... well, I mean... you don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Lamon's face turned bright red. Blushing, he said, "It's alright. I'm not in a relationship with him... yet."
"What?" Mok looked shocked. "I'm sorry! I went too far with my question."
Lamon locked his hands together. "Mok, I want to find a punching machine booth. I really want to..." Lamon started mimicking boxing moves, but just like Toffee, it looked like a tiny kitten punching the air. He took a deep breath to calm down.
"I understand, Lamon... I totally understand," Mok said, nodding.
Suddenly, Lamon spotted Toffee in the distance. He waved his hand high in the air.
"Toffee! We're over here! Come quickly!"
"Oh, Lamon!" Toffee waved back, then looked behind him at Artit. "Let's go, Phi."
Artit smiled and nodded. As they walked, the other students started whispering.
"Look! Isn't that P'Artit? He's so handsome!" one girl whispered.
"Can I ask him for a photo?"
"Why is he here?"
"And who is that? A freshman? Oh! Isn't that the 'Piano Boy'?"
"You're right! They look so good together. I'm shipping them!"
"Girls, post it! Hashtag #ArtitToffee #CuteCouple!"
Lamon stood frozen in shock. "Am I dreaming?"
"You aren't dreaming. It really is P'Artit," Mok replied.
Lamon suddenly grabbed Mok's upper arm, squeezing hard. "He's smiling, right? Is the 'Ice Prince' finally melting?"
"Lamon... that hurts!" Mok groaned.
"I'm sorry, Mok," Lamon said, looking concerned.
"It's okay, Lamon. But I really need to find a punching bag now," Mok replied, rubbing his arm. "If I don't, all the muscle I worked so hard for will be wasted!"
Lamon looked at Mok and smiled. "Lamon, you are so strong..." Mok added, teasing him.
Lamon's expression softened. "I'm really sorry, Mok. Does it hurt?"
"It's alright," Mok said, nodding to reassure his friend.
"Sawatdee khrap, P'Artit," Lamon said, bowing politely.
"Sawatdee, Lamon," Artit replied.
"Hi, Mok," Artit added. "Hi, P'Artit," Mok said.
"Toffee, why are you so late? We've been standing here for an hour!" Lamon complained. "Oh, don't tell me 'Piano Boy' wanted to be late for his red carpet entrance?"
"Stop teasing me, Lamon!" Toffee blushed.
While they talked, Artit pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. It looked like he was planning something secret.
A few minutes later, Oat, Kao, and Win arrived. They acted like it was a total coincidence to see Artit there.
"Oh! Is that Artit?" Kao asked, acting surprised.
Win whispered, "Kao... Kao..."
"What, Win?"
"Don't overdo it, Kao," Win warned him.
"It's been a while, Artit," Oat said. "Wait,
didn't we just see—" Oat quickly stepped on Kao's foot to stop him from talking.
"Ow! Ow! It hurts, you jerk! Come to the bar later!" Kao yelled, hopping on one foot.
Oat cleared his throat and said hi to Mok, Toffee, and Lamon. But Lamon completely ignored Oat because he was still very angry at him.
Win smiled at the group. "It's good to meet you all. I'm Win, a third-year from the same department as Artit and Kao."
"Sawatdee khrap," Mok, Lamon, and Toffee said together.
"Oh, I know you, Mok! You came to our workshop once," Win said. In his head, Win thought, I can't blame Kao for falling for him. Mok isn't an easy person to get close to... this is getting interesting."
"Hey, Artit, what's in your hand? It smells delicious," Win asked.
Artit didn't answer. He didn't even hear them. He was only looking at Toffee while Toffee talked to his friends.
"Wow, my friend is really lost," Win whispered. "I feel bad for him. He's going to be a complete fool for love."
"Hey, Kao, look! Have we ever seen him make a face like that? Snap a photo! We should frame it in our workshop. We will definitely pass our exams if we have this!"
Kao didn't wait—he already snapped a photo of Artit's lovesick face.
In the distance, May and Bua walked past them, holding hands like a pair of lovebirds.
They were laughing together, and May was flirting openly, leaving everyone in shock.
Bua waved at Toffee, and Toffee waved back with a smile.
May showed off Bua to everyone. "Did you see my girlfriend?" she asked proudly. Looking at Oat and Kao, who were still single and heartbroken, she playfully teased them, "Enjoy your single lives, fools!" before walking past them with a laugh.
Kao pouted and looked at Mok, but Mok immediately turned away. Feeling the instant rejection, Kao grabbed his chest in fake pain. "Win... Win! Look at May! Even she has a girlfriend, but I'm still standing right here!" Kao wailed. Mok looked at him and sighed at the mess.
Kao felt sad again, while Oat stood frozen. The moment Oat's eyes locked onto Lamon, it felt like an invisible arrow hit him—but not a romantic one. Lamon looked like he was ready to kill Oat. It was another instant rejection.
As Mok, Toffee, and Lamon walked ahead to see the booths, Artit followed Toffee slowly like a loyal shadow. Behind them, Kao and Oat hugged Win, crying like sad puppies.
"He rejected me!" "He's going to kill me!"
Win knocked both of their heads together. "You jerks are getting my shirt dirty!"
Kao hugged Oat and sighed. "Win is scolding us, Oat. We only have each other... let's go."
"Win, you jerk! No wonder you're always single," Kao said, wiping his tears on Oat's shirt. "You never understand our feelings!"
"Chiya! You jerk, Kao! Why did you do that?" Oat yelled, looking at his shirt.
"Because my own shirt will get dirty! Don't you know I'm a very hygienic person?" Kao replied.
"You want to fight? Come on!" Oat challenged.
"Oho... you want me to hit you, right?" Kao snapped back.
As they started bickering, Win stopped them. "You jerks, how about I hit both of you?"
"You heartless jerk," Kao grumbled.
"Look who's telling us not to fight," Oat added.
"Win, you've been single since birth! You're not even qualified to talk," Kao teased.
"Kao, do you want me to hit you?" Win asked, preparing his punch.
"Oh, I'm so scared! I'm really scared!" Kao cried out dramatically. He turned to Oat and grabbed his arm. "Oat, I'm really scared! He's really going to hit me!"
Oat just looked at Kao pityingly, shaking his head at his friend's acting.
"Don't talk about fighting," Oat said, shaking his head. "You are always fighting with Kevin anyway!"
"You're always fighting with Kevin. Kao added even back in school, you two were sworn enemies. I still find it hard to believe... remember the day you almost got suspended? Only I was there to help!"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kao asked Win.
"Wait, Kevin isn't here?" Kao asked.
"He's sick," Oat said.
"Oh, really? If he were here, he would definitely be causing trouble," Kao added.
Don't look at me like that Win, it's scary!
"I'm just saying, even though you and Kevin fight, it's not like you're boyfriends... right?"
Kao and Oat stared intensely at Win. Win looked a little nervous.
"No way!" Kao and Oat said at the same time. "If those two are in a relationship, you can call me 'Kaopun' for the whole day!" Kao joked.
As they looked ahead and saw Lamon and Mok again, their moods dropped. "Instant rejection..." they muttered together.
Suddenly, a message notification popped up on Win's phone. It was a half-nude photo from Kevin.
The caption read: "Feeling sick, but my boyfriend isn't here... dinner has been ready since morning. Waiting..."
Win smirked at his phone. "He's making this hard for me... shit," he thought.
He texted back: "Dinner looks delicious. Wear that all day, my little dinner."
Win bit his lip, suddenly desperate to get to Kevin as fast as possible.
Another message popped up with a second half-nude photo.
The caption read: "Does my boyfriend not like this dinner? He's making me wait..."
Win quickly texted back, his fingers trembling slightly: "If I come over now, you won't be able to walk tomorrow. I'm trying to control my hunger here."
"Then I'm waiting. Come as fast as you can if you want it while it's hot," Kevin replied.
Win cursed under his breath. "Kevin, you little... how am I supposed to leave these fools now? I need to get there before 'dinner' gets cold."