SOTUS: The University Days (and Other Universes)

tell me your wish

i.

Lush greenery is something one won't expect to see in the middle of Bangkok. Arthit himself was shocked when Fang, his friend ever since his first year in the university, showed it to him for the first time—a seemingly untouched grassy hilltop overlooking the city. For a couple of years, it has been their special place. Hazing activities and Arthit's other friends, whom Fang aren't really close with, may have lessened the number of times they hangout on the hill, but they still try to find time, at least once a month, give or take, to be there and catch up.

"So," Fang starts, one afternoon after their Tuesday class. "How long have you been dating our faculty's Moon?" They're sitting on the grass, at their usual spot.

"Faaaanng," Arthit whines. It's been over a week since he confessed that he and Kongpob are dating, but questions like this are still coming.

"I knew there was something when you nominated him for the pageant," she says with a smirk.

Arthit sits up so quickly he almost drops his convenience store-bought sandwich on the grass. "What?! Did you—" Arthit blinks repeatedly as if trying to restart. "Did you think I already liked him back then?"

Fang shrugs. "I'm not sure. But you wouldn't nominate him if you didn't find him cute."

And Arthit supposes she's right. He calms down from the thought that his friend knows more than he does about his boyfriend. His boyfriend... that sounds nice, he mutters silently to himself.

"What cute?" he objects. "He's super annoying," he says, as if Fang would believe him.

His friend just chuckles and picks a dandelion seedhead from the grass. "Does this mean even fewer visits here with me?" she says, handing Arthit the fluffy seedhead and gets one for herself. Arthit takes it with a question mark on his face, partly because of Fang's question and partly because of the thing he's holding right now.

"It's a dandelion seedhead," she says, answering Arthit's unspoken question. "You blow it and make a wish." Fang closes her eyes and smiles. Then, she blows her seedhead, scattering cottony white seeds in the air. They watch them go as the soft breeze slowly brings them far away.

"What did you wish for?" Arthit asks.

"I can't tell my wish to anyone or else, it won't come true."

"You really believe this, huh?"

She shrugs again. "Who knows? There's a reason why blowing dandelions is a thing."

Arthit silently chuckles at this. Of course, there's a reason, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's true.

She gestures at his own dandelion and urges him to do the same.

Arthit is wearing his questioning face again. "What?"

"Blow it."

Arthit smiles and shakes his head. "But I don't have anything to wish for?" It comes out as a question.

"Really? Everyone has some form of a wish or two. Even the richest men on earth have something to wish for."

And Arthit supposes she's right again. Being with Fang really feels different than being with Knot and their circle. Fang always makes sense. In his friend group, Knot does make sense, but Bright cancels it out.

"So..." Fang says, still looking at him and his dandelion.

Arthit is sure his friend won't let it go, so he decides to bring the fluffy thing close to face. Everything is impromptu, however, because he doesn't have any idea what to wish for.