2gether AU: Stay, be Still

Chapter 1: Coffee, Tea or Me?

Tine's POV

It all felt surreal, I had never expected myself to be standing at the end of the red carpet laid ahead of me, that was going to lead me to the safe haven for the rest of my life. I endured through that challenge, and here I am today, at this moment, walking towards that person, whom I would love and treasure for the rest of my living days.

///

"Khor thot khrap." I pressed my palms together and bowed politely to that boy whom I bumped into just now.

It was my first time listening to Scrubb's live and seeing Scrubb in person, I couldn't control myself and I jumped happily according to the rhythm of the songs played. Unintentionally, I stepped on someone's foot, leaving a shoeprint on that person's white shoes.

Oh sh't!

I turned my back and apologised sincerely to that boy, who wore a set of high school uniform, just like me.

"Mai pen rai." He wai-ed back to me casually, trying to convey that it wasn't really a big deal.

Still, I felt guilty for soiling his white shoes.

It was still Scrubb singing on the stage and the music didn't sound any indifferent, but that accidental event kept replaying in mind, urging my heart to do something to make things right. My heart felt a little heavier as time passed by and I decided to fix it.

"Hey, maybe, we could go for a coffee later?" I turned my back abruptly, taking the boy back.

Clearly, he wasn't expecting me to continue the conversation. He was staring at my face blankly, I had to snap my fingers to bring him back to earth.

"Uhm, sure, thanks." The edge of his bow-shaped lips twitched into an elegant curve and I swore, I thought that was an angel.

Little did I know, that was the moment when Cupid decided to tie us together for the rest of our lives, and I've never anticipated my first Scrubb's concert would be so pivotal in the future.

///

"Do you want to get an autograph from Scrubb? The queue seems quite long." Fong asked me after the concert ended.

Fong was my best friend since primary school. He was very matured, compared to the rest of our peers. His words were full of wisdom and magically, they always managed to comfort me no matter how challenging life could be at that moment.

"Hmmm, maybe not?" I shrugged my shoulders, I have other plans.

"Arai wa? I thought Scrubb is your favourite?" Fong's jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

"The queue is so long, maybe if I don't hop into the queue, they would be able to take a break earlier."

"Let's leave then? Since you're not taking a photo with them."

"Who says I'm not going to get a photo?"

"Arai wa?" I could tell that Fong was very confused.

"Follow me." I smiled playfully as I grabbed Fong's wrist.

However, there was another hand that grabbed my wrist tightly, restricting my movements.

"Arai..." I snapped my head, meeting a pair of Bambi's eyes.

God, he's so beautiful.

"I thought we're going to get coffee?" That beautiful boy said shyly, scratching his nape with his free hand.

"Oh, sure sure. Just give me a second." I promised and he released my wrist reluctantly.

"I will wait for you at the main entrance then." He let out a small smile.

///

The boy was standing obediently at the university's main entrance, scrolling through his phone, as if he was a lost puppy waiting for his owner to pick him up boringly. I quickened my pace towards him, hoping that he wasn't waiting too long for me to buy him coffee.

That sounds like a date. What? A date?

"Hey." I said nervously, my palms clenching at the sides of my uniform.

"Hey there." A faint blush crept to his cheeks, he looked so adorable.

"Should we go?" I wiggled our fingers between our chests unsurely.

He nodded and bit his lower lip nervously.

I repeat, he's so damn beautiful.

"I'm Sarawat, you can call me Wat." He extended his hand as we walked to the nearest café.

"Oh, I'm Tine." I reciprocated his actions, clasping our palms together.

At that second, I felt fireworks sparking between the delicate skin of our palms, shooting an iota of current flow straight to my brain. And Sarawat decided to make me lose my sanity as he smiled brightly, sending tendrils of warmth to my heart, further destroying the neurons in my brain.

This is it, Tine Teepakorn, you're going to be so dead.

My feet were fixated on the ground, I didn't realise that I was still holding Sarawat's palm tightly, as if he was the buoyant I needed in the sea when I was on the edge of drowning.

I'm definitely drowning in those pools of warmth.

Sarawat's eyes were glassy, which probably reflected the true colours of his soul. He was so pure, such a pure angel living lowly among worldly desires. Even with that filthiness, he remained pure, as if a lotus flower that grew out of a pool of mud in the pond.

"Tine? It hurts." Sarawat pouted adorably.

I released his palm instantly, guilt washed over me as I saw the reddish marks on his olive skin. I gave myself a mental face-palm.

Stop embarrassing yourself, please.

"Khor thot khrap." I lowered my head, not daring to look at Sarawat.

"It's okay, coffee?" He said playfully, easing the thick tension between both of us.

"Tea or me?" I teased him back, watching his cheeks burned in awe, his mouth opened silently without any words coming out.

"You." This time, it was me who was taken aback by his boldness.

I felt my heart melting and thumping loudly, my brain charred and the tiny hairs at the back of my neck stood up erratically.

"You don't have to like me very much, just keep your heart open for me."

I. Am. Doomed.