Mine!

                                    

                                          
After the hardest week of his life, where he'd completed half a dozen mock exams and three major projects, Arthit was ready to relax. He'd treated himself to a new Manga that he'd been eyeing up for ages, bought a supply of nom yen and other snacks and switched his phone onto silent.
                          
Now he was holed up in his room, ignoring the world outside and trying to let the tension of the past week flow out of him.
                          
Somewhere in his mind, there was an errant thought that perhaps one thing could make this day off better - but he was trying to ignore it. He was having some well-needed 'Me' time.
                          
However, after eating a little too much sugar, Arthit had to alter his plans. He needed a savoury snack and only one thing would do - Tom Yum from his favourite place on campus. The auntie there was the only one who added the right mix of sweet and sour and he was craving her food. So he had a fast shower, not bothering to dry his hair and then hopped on his bike to cycle the mile to university.
                          
He'd chosen the perfect time to arrive. As a fourth year, he had occasional days without lectures, like today, but everyone else was in class, so for now, he had the canteen to himself.
                          
He strolled along and placed his order with the auntie, then grabbed a fresh nom yen and headed to a table to wait. He was planning to take the food home and continue his day of freedom..
                          
But his plans changed when a group of first years suddenly interrupted the calm.
                          
"Come on, Didi, you can't confess on an empty stomach, you'll just feel sick the whole time." A boy said as the group passed Arthit, all pausing to Wai to him, respectfully.
                          
"I think if she eats, she'll throw up everywhere though since she's so nervous!"
                          
"I'm not nervous!" A slight girl, who must be Didi, laughed, pushing one of the boys in the group.
                          
"You're brave then," another girl replied as the group settled at the table next to Arthit, "I wouldn't dare confess to a second year, how are you going to do it?"
                          
As the girl began to detail her plan, Arthit's order was called out and he headed over to the auntie to pay. He wasn't overly interested in other people's lives by his nature, but hearing that someone was going to confess to a junior from his hazing batch made him feel curious. As they were in the engineering canteen, it was highly likely Arthit would know them - by name, face or student ID he supposed.
                          
So, uncharacteristically, Arthit stuck around. He had an excuse - his soup was hot and wouldn't stay that way if he took it home - if anyone asked.
                          
But the group of first years ignored the silent fourth year as they continued to tease poor Didi.
                          
"Will they be out of their lesson soon?" One of the first years asked. And Arthit automatically checked his watch, whispering, 'They'll be here in five minutes,' to himself. (So what if he knew his boyfriend's schedule off by heart! He was just looking out for Kongpob and making sure he took the time to eat and rest between classes.)
                          
As he realised the time, Arthit decided that perhaps he might as well stick around to say hi to Kongpob before he headed back to his dorm, after all, he hadn't actually seen him apart from on FaceTime for a long, lonely week.
                          
Making his decision, he decided to grab another drink and get Kongpob his favourite iced coffee too. So he strode away, just as the second years entered the canteen.
                          
Kongpob's gang of friends were chatting loudly about their last lecture, laughing at Tew who was moaning that he'd made a mistake. Arthit heard them from his place by the drink stall and a smile curved his lips as he heard his boyfriend teasing Tew and suggesting that he should try eating the textbook instead of simply reading it next time.