2gether AU: Stay, be Still

Chapter 3: Who's Kate?

Tine's POV

Weirdly, Sarawat and I had spent the rest of our high school days chatting and meeting up together. My mornings were less grumpy with Sarawat's cheesy wake-up messages and my nights were warmer as we video called each other until we fell asleep.

Sometimes, Sarawat would play me a love song when he finished writing one and sometimes, he would play me a Scrubb's song if I had a bad day.

We would meet to hang out together during the weekends. Sarawat's dating ideas ranged from studying together in the public library to café hopping in the city. I admitted to Sarawat that I wasn't really a coffee person, my favourite drink was actually Blue Hawaii. Getting coffee together after that concert was just an excuse to ask him out.

Often, we would also meet to play soccer with his friends. Sarawat's life was so monotonous that he only has two friends, one named Man and the other Boss. Eventually, I got to know that Man was the one who forced Sarawat to join that fateful concert.

The remaining of our high school days went through quickly and it was almost time for us to decide which university that we wished to enrol in. Sarawat was planning to enrol in the university where we first met during Scrubb's concert.

"That university was the reason that brought me to you, Tine."

I blushed embarrassingly at the mention of that event, I felt my cheeks burning at the memory of asking Sarawat out for a coffee date a few minutes after we've just met that day.

Personally, I have no preference, as long as I could get into a Law degree and if Fong was going to the same university as me. Fong and I had discussed our enrolment earlier before the concert. Fong would enrol in the university if he could secure a scholarship opportunity, which I didn't think was a big issue.

Fong's dream had always to become a doctor like his late grandfather, who was a paediatrician before he retired. He was a lovely man who offered affordable consultation sessions and treatments to children from a disadvantaged background, especially those from the orphanages near the hospital he worked at. He would also visit them during the holiday seasons. Fong was inspired to be someone like his grandfather.

As for me, studying Law was purely out of my passion for standing up against social injustice. I hope that one day, I would be capable enough to provide free legal consultations to those who were oppressed unfairly by the upper hands.

Maybe, I should enrol in the same university as Wat if Fong could get a scholarship there.

///

Starting my life as a university freshman meant that it was time for me to decide, if I wanted to continue staying at home, or if I wanted to move out and live in a residential college. After contemplating the pros and cons, my parents thought that moving out would be a better option.

Time-cost efficiencies, according to my parents.

And more food for himself, according to Type.

I swear to God, why is Type my brother?

I opted for a double room dorm because it was more affordable, and on the other hand, I was hoping to make a new friend, hopefully out of the Law faculty and greedily, my roommate could also relate to my passion for Scrubb. I was so nervous as I stood in front of my dorm's entrance, the key slipped away from my grip and fell on the ground twice before I could insert the key in properly, unlocking the door.

The room was empty when I pushed the door open. Clearly, I arrived at my new dorm earlier than my roommate and got the privilege of choosing which bed I wanted to sleep in.

The dorm room was just spacious enough to accommodate two people. The simple layout of the room reminded me of my own room back home. The walls were painted in beige and there was a big windowpane in the middle of the wall, directly facing the door that separated the room into two equal parts with our beds pushed against the sides of the room. The study tables were placed side to side, near the window for optimum light exposure from Mother Nature. At the ends of the beds, there were closets and shoe racks.

I hope my roommate will at least keep his space clean.

I carried all the boxes that contained my things into my room, alongside my duffle bag. I unpacked all the boxes and started to fit them into the closets accordingly. It was almost lunchtime when I finished organising half of my things into the spaces provided, I decided to text Fong and ask him if we could grab lunch together.

My phone screen lit up almost immediately after I locked it. Surprisingly, it was a text from Sarawat.

From: Wat [12:06]

Sorry baby, I left home a little kate and could only nwwr you for dinner later?

To: Wat [12:08]

Who's Kate? 😭😭 And what's nwwr?

From: Wat [12:10]

Wjat? Whst Kate?

I should really stop texting him and call him instead.

I rolled my eyes instinctively when I read Sarawat's message. For the past few months, we've texted each other enough for me to know that my boyfriend wasn't really good at typing messages.

Before I could call Sarawat and ask him what was going on, someone was knocking on my door.

"Tine, it's me. Lunch?" It was Fong out there.

"Coming, 2 seconds." I quickly get my wallet and dorm keys before opening the door.

"Any cravings? I feel like having green papaya salad today, it's so hot." Fong had a handkerchief in his hands, trying to dab his sweat away.

"Sounds like a plan, maybe we could hang around the campus and look for a place?" I answered him as I locked my room up.

"Let's go then." Fong swung his arms casually over my shoulders and guided me towards the stairwell.

I feel like I've forgotten something, what was that? 

--- 

Note 

Well, any guesses for what Tine had forgotten here? 😉😉 And people, I know you're smart enough to figure out Sarawat's text right? 😎😎