Back to a few minutes earlier...
The version of Mok...
Clack...
Mok bumped into Kao because of the crowd.
"Oh shit… really, Mok? You messed everything up…"
"Sorry…" Mok only shot him a glance.
"He was a senior from the engineering department. Oh, I'm done for. I heard their department is known for fighting..."
"Sorry…" Mok apologized again.
"Why isn't he saying anything? Isn't sorry enough? Why can't I speak properly? Damn my tongue won't cooperate..."
From behind, Toffee, who had witnessed everything, quickly rushed toward Mok.
"Sorry, phi…" he said to Kao before turning around. "Mok… Mok… let's go…"
Mok blinked in confusion.
"Cute." A soft voice came from Kao.
Mok felt dumbfounded. "Wait… did I hear cute?"
"Mok… What are you whispering? Let's go inside. It's already crowded."
"Oh! I'm coming. Toffee, don't push me."
"I'm not pushing you."
"Really? You look too innocent for someone who just pushed me Toffee."
Mok pinched Toffee's cheek playfully.
"You jerk, Mok."
The two of them headed toward the auditorium.
-- End of Mok version.
Now to present to our Kao...
The sound of machines, sparks of fire, loud clattering, and hurried footsteps filled the workshop.
Kao, who had followed Artit, didn't even realize he had already arrived at the workshop.
"Kao… Kaopun…"
"Huh?" Kao flinched in surprise.
"We're already here."
Artit let out a sigh before stepping inside and started doing his work.
Meanwhile, Kao remained near the entrance.
"Such a pity. I didn't see him clearly. It's like he became blurrier as time passed. Shit... why is my life like this..." Kao muttered under his breath.
A tired exhale escaped him, his eyes filled with disappointment.
From inside—
"Artit… Artit…"
"What? Why are you yelling, Win—"
"Oh, I'm not yelling. I called you several times, but you didn't respond. Look at Kao. He's been standing in front of the workshop for more than half an hour talking to himself."
Win turned toward Artit.
"Judging by your reaction, did he lose some kind of bet or something?"
Win spoke while Artit's sharp gaze landed on Kao.
Seeing the confused expression on Kao's face, Artit glanced back at Win.
"Do you really think this is because of a bet?"
"You're right," Win smirked. "I think he fell into a trap." Then his attention shifted toward Kevin, who had once again ruined the entire workshop.
"I think I'm the one trapped here," he whispered.
Artit patted Win's shoulder lightly.
"Good luck, my friend."
Win sighed before walking toward Kevin to clean up the mess he created.
Just like that, the day passed full of curiosity.
Night had already fallen.
A cold wind drifted through the window and brushed against Kao.
Silence slowly settled throughout the workshop.
Kao was still there.
Artit quietly observed him.
The documents Artit had been checking were finally set aside as he glanced at the time.
"It's already late. Kao, aren't you going back? You didn't leave yesterday either."
"Don't tell me you're sleeping here again."
Kao removed his working glasses and adjusted his messy hair.
"I'm planning to go."
He turned toward Artit. "What's wrong?"
"Really? Just because we have a place to freshen up doesn't mean you can spend all day on campus. If someone finds out, they'll think badly of engineering students as a whole. Don't you think it'll affect admissions?"
"Oh! Artit, how can you say that… I…"
"Go back. Take a nap and freshen up. Or do I need to kick you out?"
Artit spoke casually, but he clearly meant every word.
"Mmm… okay," Kao nodded.
"Wait. Nut is already here. He'll drop you off."
"Artit, I have a car. I can go myself—"
Seeing Artit's cold stare, Kao immediately changed his words.
"Okay. P'Nut can drop me..."
"You hypocritical businessmen."
"Did you say something Kao," again a death stare from Artit.
"No, sir.."
"Why do I suddenly feel chilly..." Kao mumbled.
Once again, Artit picked up the documents he had set down earlier.
A few hours later…
In front of the condo—
"Thank you, P'Nut."
"Khrap. See you later, Kao."
"Khrap."
Kao waved as the car drove away.
The sky was beautiful, filled with countless stars.
Kao stretched his hand toward the sky and closed his eyes, enjoying the cool air for a moment before heading toward his room.
"I'm back…"
He opened the door.
"Oh, it smells horrible."
Kao immediately opened the windows to let fresh air inside.
After taking a quick shower and changing clothes, he purposely collapsed onto the floor instead of the bed.
"It's really awful wearing the same clothes all day. I hate it..."
Then his attention shifted toward the photo frame nearby.
He sat up and picked it up carefully.
As he wiped the dust from the frame, a small smile appeared on his face.
After placing it back, he lay down on the floor again.
The cold surface felt uncomfortable, but Kao still refused to move onto the bed.
Slowly, his eyes drifted shut, as if sleep itself was pulling him in.
Three o'clock in the morning.
Kao slept on the floor, drenched in sweat.
"I can't breathe… help… help… don't…"
He jerked awake from the nightmare, forcing his eyes open toward the ceiling.
His hands trembled as he wiped the sweat from his face.
Covering his eyes with one hand, he let out a shaky breath.
"Again… that dream."
Kao got up and walked into the living room.
The apartment remained dark, with only faint lights from outside cutting through the darkness.
Checking the clock, he quickly changed his clothes and stepped outside.
He started jogging.
His footsteps were light, but his heart felt unbearably heavy.
His breathing turned uneven.
Even his legs no longer knew how far he had run.
Sitting on a wooden bench in the park, Kao let the warmth of the morning sun touch him.
His eyes looked exhausted.
Forgetting to wear his watch, his fingers absentmindedly brushed against the scars on his wrist.
"It didn't even hurt that much back then.
So why does it hurt now... Forget it. What's the point of thinking about it now?"
Kao jogged back to the condo.
Freshers' Day and the welcoming ceremony had already passed.
Like any normal day, Kao's morning started with May scolding him while Artit once again asked about the missing gear pin.
Threats came from every direction, striking Kao invisibly.
He already felt exhausted just imagining it.
Kao had already reached the hallway leading to the workshop when someone called him from behind.
He turned around and froze.
"Programme coordinator. Why is he here? Don't tell me he's here to ask about my pin... What should I do? I'm done for."
"How many times do I have to call you, Kao?"
"Why are you calling me, Phi Arm?"
Arm handed a paper toward Kao. "Fill this out."
"For what?"
"Really, Kao? Just read it. It's for the racing competition. Wait… don't tell me you're not participating."
"Kao, you can't do that. I want revenge. Only you can do it, our grinding chick. Haha..."
"Wait… why do I feel like your thoughts are louder than your voice?
"Of course I'm participating. I've been doing this for years."
Arm calmed himself by patting his chest.
"That's good. Look at the time—I need to go…"
Suddenly, Arm almost collapsed, making Kao quickly support him.
"Oh—Phi Arm, are you okay?"
"Do I look okay? Look at me. I'm already a senior. Forget the job issue—I've been single since birth."
He wiped imaginary tears dramatically.
"But I heard he has countless crushes and all his girlfriends dump him in just one day..."
"What? Did you say something, Kao?"
"No. I think it's better if you get some rest."
"You're right. I need rest. I'm leaving. Bye, Kao."
Kao waved at him, though the gesture clearly carried another meaning—
"Please don't come back again."
"I'm relieved he didn't ask about the pin. My little gear pin, if your adventure is over, please return to daddy. Please, God, guide my child back to me. I'll give offerings if you send my kid home safely..."
With a heavy heart over his missing gear pin, Kao walked toward the workshop.
As expected, his unfinished work still waited for him like a mountain.
"Cacko… your work is here. We've been waiting all day."
Kao could practically feel the piles of work smirking at his arrival.
He dramatically clutched his chest.
"Why does it never end." he muttered to the air.
Kevin, Win, Artit, and everyone else were busy enough that nobody noticed Kao.
"What if I die here? All I wanted was to see the angel from yesterday one more time..."
A louder voice—
"You idiot, Kao! Why are you standing there like a mannequin? Come start working if you still want to live!"
Win picked up a tool from the floor while shouting at him.
"Scary…"
Kao immediately sprinted inside.
Kao almost never took his frustration out on work. But today was different.
Meanwhile—
"Guys, don't you think Kao looks kind of scary today?"
"Now that I think about it… yeah…"
"They said his gear pin went on a trip."
"What? How does that even happen?"
"Then why didn't Kao go on the trip too?" another girl asked.
"Girl, are you stupid? It means he lost it."
"Ohhh! Really?"
"Well, he's probably still searching for it…"
"I feel bad for him."
"Me too… our handsome Kao…"
Everyone stared at him sympathetically while Kao continued working with burning determination.
No… not determination. Pure anxiety.
While working, he could hear whispers spreading behind him.
Then—
"Kaopun…" Someone called his name.
"What the hell? Who has the audacity to call me like that? How dare they..."
Kao clenched his jaw and slammed his working glasses onto the table before stepping forward.
"Who the hell is calling me like that?"
His expression turned cold. "Is that you? A fresher? Do you have a death wish?"
Then the fresher slowly turned around and looked at Kao.
Like thunder striking him, Kao froze instantly.
The person he had desperately wished to see stood there, giving him a playful wink, an imaginary wink only visible to Kao.
"An angel..."
"Did I die? Am I in heaven? Or is this another dream."
Again, the fresher winked at him.
"Adorable..."
Kao smiled so brightly it felt like his whole body was smiling.
Bonus: Mighty Gear Pin—
"Cacko…"
Let me give you a short introduction to our gear pin.
"Ahem… clearing throat…"
I am the 'gear pin.' One of the most important things in Phassakorn University.
Once upon a time, after the university was established, there was no such thing as a gear pin.
To tell the truth, the students back then were terrible. But shhh… don't tell anyone. It's a secret.
They fought over everything.
Too little sugar in their drinks? Fight.
Paper shortage? Fight.
Dorm problems? Fight.
Love problems? Fight again.
Basically, they acted like little kids.
After suffering for a long time, the management finally came to a conclusion.
Special power.
Every year, the university would select the top 50 students based on their overall performance. Those chosen students would receive a special wheel-shaped symbol.
That's me.
At first, I was just a symbol. But after many years, I evolved into the mighty gear pin for the top 50 students.
Even now, the system still exists.
Of course, gear pins also have rankings.
And thanks to modern technology, a gear pin is practically equal to money across the entire campus. You can use it for many things.
Simple words?
I'm extremely powerful in Phassakorn University.
As for Kao's gear pin… He ranked 12th.
Of course he's terrified.
If someone loses their gear pin and fails to recover it within fifteen days, they'll lose their position permanently and can never apply for gear selection again.
No more top student privileges.
No more free food.
No more free benefits.
And Kao?
Even though he's rich, he hates spending unnecessary money.
That's why he absolutely cannot lose me.
Well… that's the truth.
—End of story.
Bye~