SOTUS: The University Days (and Other Universes)

Tulips Are Better Than One (Cup of Coffee): Part 6 [End]

"You lied to me," Arthit says first thing after closing the door behind him.

Kongpob has no idea which lie Arthit is talking about—he told him more than one. "I'm sorry," Kongpob says, hopeful it's enough.

"You lied to me—then, you kissed me, then you ignored me," Arthit says, unable to stop himself. He's too focused on the burst of adrenaline carrying his feet over the floor tiles that he doesn't realize he's now holding Kongpob's collar in his hands. He reaches the nearest wall and shoves Kongpob against it.

"Why did you do it?" he asks. He moves his face closer, giving Kongpob a little clue about what he's asking about.

"Because... because I wanted to," Kongpob answers.

"Then, why did you pretend that I didn't exist after?!"

Kongpob bites his lip, and Arthit hates that he's so sexy just by doing that. "I'm sorry," Kongpob says again.

Arthit huffs, leaning a little closer. "That doesn't answer my question."

Kongpob closes his eyes and purses his lips. He's not one to admit defeat, but he's cornered, and it's going to be a lie if he says he doesn't appreciate the lack of space between them right now.

"I was disappointed," Kongpob answers.

Arthit steps back. His heart drops on the floor, and he fails to catch it. He knows he isn't exactly the most experienced when it comes to kissing handsome boys, but to his knowledge, nobody filed a complaint before.

Kongpob notices the sudden change in Arthit's face and waves his hands in front of him in panic. "No! No! That's not what I meant!"

Arthit moves his eyes back at him.

"What I meant was that I was disappointed with how we started. We started hating each other–"

"I already told you I never hated you," Arthit cuts him.

Kongpob sighs and nod. "Right, but when you visited me in my apartment, I still thought you did, and I thought we were still playfighting, so I had this plan to prank you, to lead you to kiss me."

"Prank?"

"I didn't plan for the kiss to really happen, but you..." Kongpob drags the words. "...you were there... being... you... so I did it... and it was hard to pull back."

Arthit brushes his own hair with his fingers, feeling an impending headache.

"I didn't talk to you or anything after that because I really felt guilty," Kongpob says. "What I did was a bad way to start a relationship."

The last word makes Arthit feel nauseated, the good kind if there's any, and he feels something fluttering inside his chest. "Do you regret it? What we did?" he asks after mentally calming himself.

Kongpob stares back at him, and after a brief moment, he shakes his head. "I regret that I started it as a prank, but I didn't regret the rest." He reaches for Arthit's hand. "I like you, P'Arthit. I really do, but I thought how we started wasn't the right way to do it."

To Arthit, that's it. If Kongpob wants a better start, they better start right now or else, he will be driven insane by all of this.

He grabs Kongpob's collar again and stares at his lips, beholding how it looks as soft as they felt before. He moves forward, leaning closer to Kongpob's face to do what he's been wanting to do for weeks now, but in a swift move, Kongpob turns himself and Arthit around and pushes him against the wall. It's his turn to gaze at Arthit, at his smooth neck that he never stopped fantasizing. He is about to go for it, go for what Arthit should have done minutes ago, when Arthit kicks his leg.