The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Pillars

"Aw, where's everybody?" Off asks as he proceeds to sit beside New. Turns out it's only him and Singto in their seats.

New turns from his conversation with Singto. "Aw, sit somewhere else, this seat is taken. Te's at the photobooth with the student council. Mix and Nong Win are saying hello to their gang somewhere in the back." He gestures to the audience seat. "And you? Where's Nong Gun?"

"Oh, screw your BF. It's first come first served here." Off snickers, getting comfortable in his seat. "And he's filming a vlog."

"Spare him, Jumpol. He's a nervous wreck rn." New chuckles. "You know what, just skip one seat. I'm sure having you around helps, too."

"Or just take my seat?" Singto suggests. "I'm fine sitting wherever, long as I'm with Kit."

"Che, you guys pamper him too much." Off scowls.

"Oh, leave me alone!" New protests. "You're not the one listening to his rant all night."

Off and Singto laugh at New's real reason.

"Just ditch him or better yet, lock him outside!"

"Then he'd surely come to you, moroon." New snickers at Off.

"I can always turn my phone off ...." Off smirks.

"Hey, guys, we're back." Earth smiles greeting the three. He, Mix and Win quickly take the seats behind them. "Huh, where's Nong Gun, P'Off?"

"Oh, he's—"

"Oh, it's starting!" Off turns around to Gun's cheerful voice he'd recognize anywhere. Standing at the end of the nominees seat section, Gun waves to the camera. "Catch you later, everyone!"

"...here, I guess." Off chuckles getting up, leaving an empty seat between him and New as per the latter's request.

Gun finishes up with the crew, and as the lights dim out he slips to the seat beside Off. "Hi. What did I miss?" He gives Off a casual peck in the cheek.

"Hey, nothing in particular." From the corner of his eyes, Off can see the cameraman still shooting Gun from afar. "When's the next shoot?"

"The event is aired live so maybe just a brief one backstage after receiving the award? And after the lights are back on, of course."

Off gawks at Gun. "They told you already?"

"Just a hunch." Gun shrugs grinning. "They've been very demanding. Papii, fix my bangs for me?"

And Off does just that. Tay shows up panting just as the crowd breaks into applause at the sight of the opening band.

"Ooh! Talk later, Papii—I've listened to Bai singing many times but I mustn't miss Kit playing drum!"

Singto perks up at the mention of his fiance's name, smiling proudly. "Prepare to be amazed."

*

"And the High Achiever Award goes to ...." The MC pauses to build suspense. "Singto Prachaya of Communication Art!"

"WOOHOO! YEAH! WHOOP WHOOP! WEE!" Krist gets up clapping, cheering loudly. Smiling softly at his very excited fiance, Singto gets up, waiing everyone as they shower him with congratulations all the way to the stage.

"Sit down, Kit! He's already on the stage." Off hisses to Krist whose loud cheer has yet to die down. Meanwhile, Singto starts his speech.

"Leave the Rising Star alone, Off. He's just happy." New chuckles, mentioning the award Krist has just won himself.

"I'm not! I'm super proud and excited!" Krist grins widely.

"I can see." New chuckles again.

"It's just a university award!" Off scolds, uncomfortable with all the stares that come their way.

"Geez! Rain on my parade some more, will you?" Krist pouts, sitting down eventually. "Charismatic Phi, my ass." He grumbles, giving Off's trophy a dirty glance.

"And you!" Off points at Tay who's busy rocking his and New's trophies in his arms. They both won the Econ's Star and Engineering's Genius Award. "Stop treating them like your babies or something!"

"But aren't they cute, Papii? Like couple award. Right?" Gun addresses Earth and Mix, who also won awards from their respective faculties—Art's Muse and Health's Angel.

"Aw! Forgive me for taking P'Off's couple award, Phi!" Win giggles.

"This rascal!" Gun glares playfully at Win. "Lovely Nong is for juniors and freshmen only!"

"With all due respect, P'Gun! Student's Favorite seems like a bigger deal to me!" Krist glares at Gun in turn.

"Nah, it's basically Most Popular Award's runner up." Gun smirks at Tay's other trophy neglected under his seat. "And yet it's abandoned like an unwanted child."

"Nooo ...!" Tay hastily picks it up and cradles it with the rest of his 'children'. "My illegitimate child is just as precious." He says grinning, no longer looking like he could puke at any minute now that he has no nominations left.

"Idiot!" Off hits the back of his head.

"Well I, for one, personally think no one can upstage P'Earth's grand gesture of giving Mix a birthday cake onstage." Krist grins at Mix.

"When all I want is just another kid ...." Mix pouts playfully at Earth.

"Mix, what??!"

"Isn't it a bit too soon?? You're both students!"

"'Another'? You mean, you've adopted one already??"

"Cats, guys! We're talking about cats!" Earth hurriedly explains, before turning to Mix. "And I'll give you one, I promise! This is another thing altogether."

"Like to keep the fanboys in their place?" Bright smirks. Earth grins in response.

"Ai Bai, you should really learn from him." Krist nods encouragingly at Bright.

"The All-Around boy, learning from me?" Earth chuckles. "I'm trembling." He rubs his arms exaggeratedly.

"You'll make a good actor alright." Mix scoffs beside him.

"Congrats once again to all the winners! Now, for the final award we've all been waiting for ...." On the stage, the MC picks up after Singto, catching their attention. "The Uni's Pride and Joy. With the nominees: Gun Atthaphan ... Krist Perawat ... and Bright Wachirawit." The MC mentions the nominees as each's photo appears on the giant screen behind him.

"And the award goes to ...." Drumroll, then a pause to build suspense. "Gun Atthaphan of Economics!"

Gun gets up to never ending applause and congratulations, making his way to the stage.

"He's amazing, I'll give you that. And sooo down to earth, like how." Tay grins at Off as Gun delivers a flawless rehearsed speech on stage. "You know, it reminds me of last year's ceremony. It was just us, Singto, and Kit at that time, and seeing him winning pretty much the same award I thought how we're out of his league." Tay smiles, oblivious to Off's change of expression. "Now look at us sitting alongside him. Close enough to get drunk with him. You," Tay giggles, "Even dating him."

It's supposed to be a happy throwback, of course. But it sounds to Off like a harsh reminder. Of how different their worlds are.

The rest of the night wears on uneventfully, as nominees of each award are asked to take a photo onstage for documentation. By the end of the event, Off has ran out of good mood and energy, but not until seeing people still flocking around his visibly weary boyfriend, that he finally loses it.