SOTUS: The University Days (and Other Universes)

i can't believe i'm playing cupid

When Prae finds a new job as a barista at the coffee shop a block away from Kongpob's place, Kongpob is determined to fulfill his best friend duty by showing up every day and sampling Prae's caffeinated creations. Usually, he gets one of the variations of iced coffee on the menu, but sometimes, when he's in the mood, he asks Prae to put in different kinds of syrups in his coffee. Prae, for the most part, doesn't mind. Kongpob being there relieves some of the mundanity of the job.

Well, that is until a pale-skinned guy begins showing up.

The new guy comes in every day at 2 pm, orders the lightest latte possible, and puts all the change into the tip jar. After getting his order, Arthit, the name of the guy (which Prae learns rather quickly because of his consistent and generous tipping), then always takes the corner table and opens his laptop and usually stays for an hour and a half.

It doesn't take long before Kongpob begins to take notice of Arthit, and Prae should have known. Arthit has ivory pale skin and lips that make the most beautiful smile. His round cheeks become rounder whenever he smiles. He is, with no doubt, her best friend's type.

Before Arthit started showing up, Kongpob usually dropped by around noon, but then, his time of arrival has changed, him coming in later and later until his daily appearance in the shop coincides with 2 in the afternoon. He also suddenly switches from his regular spot near the register to the table next to the corner one. Prae prides herself on being a good friend by not commenting on her friend's obvious pining.

It also isn't long before Kongpob makes his move.

The "move," if it can even be called that, is less of a move and more of an embarrassment.

It's Tuesday, 2:33 pm, and Arthit is nowhere in sight. But eventually, he shows up. He comes in another half an hour later, and Kongpob, who impatiently waited for him as if they had a set meeting, gets up abruptly in excitement upon seeing Arthit at the door. Upon doing so, Kongpob knocks his head against one of the low-hanging globe light fixtures adorning the ceiling of the coffee shop.

Prae covers her face with the dessert menu, wondering where her calm and collected friend has gone and asking who this embarrassing dork is.

Arthit's snort only worsens Kongpob's obvious wince and embarrassment, and Kongpob can't do anything but give Arthit a weak smile as he rubs his head. Prae looks at Arthit disbelievingly as he flushes and looks away bashfully at having been caught laughing, immediately brisking away from the door and over to his usual spot to put down his messenger bag.

Taking his chance for redemption, Kongpob sidles up to Prae, and she frowns. "You're not allowed behind the bar," she says as she pushes Kongpob out, threatening him with a plastic coffee stirrer.

"Okay, okay! Calm down! Listen, I just need your help," Kongpob whispers.

"Help in what?"

"Just let me pay for his drink, and..."

Prae sighs. She should know better than to go along with one of Kongpob's schemes. But she already knew what she signed up for when they were thirteen years old and Kongpob suggested they should climb the tree in his backyard so they could say "hi" to the boy next door. The boy had ivory pale skin and round cheeks. Kongpob fell and broke his arm.

When Arthit walks up to the cashier after settling in to order his drink, Prae already has it prepared and slides it across the counter.

"It's been paid for," she says.

Arthit furrows his eyebrows. "Who..." he manages, trailing off when he reads the message written on the cup.

Sorry for being an embarrassment. - K