Obsessed

3. Love Unrequited-Part 2

It's been two years since the hazing hall event, since we five became a package. Many things changed but some things stayed the same. Tutah bravely came out to us, surprisingly Bright still is in the faculty, and the guy with glasses, Prem, became the savage, unrelenting, scary one in the group. Gone was the gentle, bashful guy. But the scariest one amongst us, the title goes to Arthit.

Unbelievable, isn't it? We still have no idea how the stuttering, nervous Arthit transformed into this new version. Not that I am complaining. All together everything around me is going super cool, except one thing.

First, did I introduce myself? I am.....

"Knoooottt....."
The grumpy baby of our group has started whining. That means he is getting bored.
"Wait here...I will get you something to drink.", I tell Arthit, as I head to the drinks stall.

"Nothing for us, Knott?", I look at a smirking Tutah, which is not a good sign. It's like he knows my secret.

"I meant everyone.", I say nonchalantly trying not to give in.

Tutah's smirk never leaves my mind. I'm sure he knows what's in my heart.....Arthit.

At first I thought it's just my natural protective instinct kicking in. Being the eldest one in my family with a sister and a brother, I am habitually accustomed to be the mature one, and to take care of others.

It took less than a month for me to realize I have deeply fallen for him. I became serious about him and wanted to know him better. Although he was a little quiet in the beginning, he slowly came out of his shell and became more confident and assertive. Not to mention his looks. He is handsome, with his pale skin, black hair, big brown eyes, and the cute dimpled smile.

His smile, subtle glances, innocent touches..these were enough to light my gloomiest of the days. When he playfully nudges me, or when he puts his hands around my shoulders..there are these strange feelings blooming inside me, which I couldn't explain or control.

I started to wait eagerly for the mornings, just to get the glimpse of him entering the classroom with a flustered face. Even if it is in the classroom or in the canteen, I made sure that he is sitting next to me. I ensured that he is having enough water and food because from tomorrow we have our new batch of freshmen to train.

Yes, you heard it right. All five of us made into the core hazer group, and Arthit is our head hazer.

He is definitely not an early bird, not a night owl either. If you don't wake him up, I wonder he could sleep the entire day. As a head hazer, he has to be more punctual and meticulous. We had trainings to attend and most of them were early in the morning. No one had the bravery to wake him up except me.

I did everything in my power to make him happy. I asked him everyday if he had his breakfast. I checked on him when he was a bit under the weather. We started to hangout outside the campus, sometimes with friends or just two of us. We watched movies and shared food together. I altered my preferences. He became my number one priority. I wanted him to know that I would be always there for him when nobody will. I hoped that this could ignite some spark in him.

He was everything I could ask for. I wanted him to know what he meant to me. But how could I when I know he doesn't like men, and has unrequited feelings for his childhood friend, Namtan. Still, I mustered my courage to confess my feelings for him, and trust me I did. Not just once, twice, but thrice. Can you believe it? How oblivious can this guy be? If there was an award for the densest human being in the whole world, then it would go to Arthit.

First time was in our first year, after our gear giving ceremony. I saw him on the beach maybe counting waves. I approached him and extended my gear to him. You know what he said?
"Oh, Knot. Did someone already lose their gear? Mine is safe with me. See?", he fished out his gear from his pocket.
" Let's go and find the person before our seniors get to know about it or that person will be in big trouble.", he walked past me as I kept rooted to the spot.

Next was during our second year Star and Moon contest. I prepared a song for him. I have been working on it for the past few months. Even I learned to play basics of guitar. I was going to sing it on stage and propose him. And you know what he did? In the evening, just the day before the contest, he announced that he is not interested in this contest and doesn't like noise and clamor. He left to his home to spend the weekend with his family.

Maybe I should be more bold and clear with my intentions. I couldn't sit and watch my love having a slow death. I desperately wanted him to know that I want to be more than friends with him. Third time, just after our hazing test, and he was announced as the head hazer, I outrightly told him, that I like him.
" Thank you, Knott, for always being there for me and lifting my spirits when I was down. What would have I done without an amazing friend like you.", he hugged me .

I still kept my hopes high. I dreamt about us, walking together, hand in hand through the empty corridors. In my dreams, we were already in a relationship.

I loved him so much that every second without him next to me was excruciating. I couldn't imagine anyone in his place. If it's not him, then it won't be anyone.

Life can be magnificent and optimistic, but it can also be traitorous and deceitful. My intuition was proven right the very next day after our first hazing. Everything around me came crashing down just after a particular junior made his appearance in our life, to be more precise, in Arthit's life.

Kongpob Suttiluk
0062

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A/N
I hope you enjoyed it. ✌️
See you soon 🤝
Stay Safe 😷