Music To My Ears | 2gether Short Stories

3gether - Chapter 03

First Loves

***

"That was excellent, Phi. And you solved it faster than me" remarked Tine delightedly.

"I can't believe it. I beat the great Tine Teepakorn in physics" declared Wat happily, throwing his hands up in the air in victory.

Tine laughed and Wat knew he would do anything to keep hearing that beautiful sound.

"It's not fair for one person to be this awesome. Soccer superstar, college rockstar and now thermodynamics megastar - give the rest of us a chance, will you?"

"It's not nice to make fun of your student, Sensei."

"It's not nice for my student to beat me at my own subject"

"Let me make it up to you then. Shall I sing you a song?"

"We still have an entire worksheet to get through, Wat. Focus"

Wat felt confident for the first time in a very long time. He had been trying to work up his courage since the day he'd met Tine a week ago. He decided to make a bold move.

"If I finish the whole worksheet before you, will you go out on a date with me?"

"What?"

"You heard me"

"I don't date my students"

"Please don't make me fire you"

"Wow. I can see you have your priorities straight"

"I'm a straightforward person"

"What if I said I'm not interested in you?"

Wat's face fell. His heart jumped to his throat and thudded painfully against his Adam's apple that bobbed up and down nervously. All his fears had come true.

Of course Tine didn't like him. Who would? He had always known he was worthless.

"I wouldn't be surprised" said Wat, broken. "You're way too good for someone like me. You deserve better, Tine.

I know I don't qualify to even ask you out. I just... I thought I'd take a chance.

I'm so, so sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Please just forget I said anything. Just don't leave me, please?"

Tine stared open mouthed at the boy who sat before him, hunched over miserably with his face hidden in his hands.

Wat was the campus heartthrob, the idol with a legit fanclub, the receiver of a hundred love letters and confession gifts every day, the most popular sportsman of the year - and yet he trembled, huddled in misery and self loathing.

Tine crouched before Wat and pulled his hands off his face gently. He held them in his and spoke softly.

"Hey, hey, look at me. I genuinely thought you were kidding. I can't believe the one and only Sarawat Guntithanon would want to go out with plain old me."

Wat stared at Tine in utter disbelief.

"Plain old? Please don't tease me, Tine. If you can't see how wonderful and sweet and amazing you are, then what hope is there for someone like me?"