Five Ways to Woo P'Arthit! (And one way to woo Kongpob!) (Completed)

1: The Poem

"If you truly mean it, then you need to prove it."

"Prove it? What do you mean? I've just confessed."

"A confession is one thing, proof of your love.. that's something else."

"But.. how can I prove it?"

"Well, what would you normally do, if you liked someone?"

"Oh.."

It's a normal Thursday, and Arthit and his friends are taking their lunch break between lectures. It's busy in the canteen, almost every table full of chatting engineers. Beside Arthit, Bright is loudly proclaiming that he's going to find himself a freshie girlfriend soon and pointing out ones he might like to date; Prem is growling and throwing deadly looks at a table of second years who are laughing too loudly; and Tootah is telling the story of his latest sexcapade to Arthit who can't help the blush that's stinging his cheeks at his friends graphic description. Only Knott is calmly eating, ignoring everyone to shovel his food into his mouth in case Bright decides to try and steal it.

Across the canteen, Kongpob's table of juniors are also eating while trying to study their thick textbooks ready for the test they will be taking in the next hour. Only Oak and Aim are wasting their time, loudly playing video games and earning numerous elbows to their ribs for disturbing the others.

Suddenly, two young women stride into the canteen, heading straight for the hazers table. One by one, they clamber onto it and then shake out crisp white sheets of paper.

One loudly clears her throat and the room falls silent.. then they begin to speak..

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..

I love when you yell at us, your powerful voice echoing around the room, the hint of pride at how well we are developing almost hidden behind bitter words.

I love the way you command the stage, how you stride onto it like you are the most famous actor in the land, as though your moves have already won you first prize.

I love how much you care for us. How you check that we're drinking enough in the heat, how you alter the exercises to make sure no one is left behind.

I love how you keep the other hazers in check, never embarrassing them, but still subtly encouraging them to make the right choice and to treat us well.

I love your determination, how you assign us only the things that you can do yourself, push ups and sit stands you did when you were a first year too.

I love the way your muscles stretch your shirt, the maroon cotton twisting as your biceps flex, your forearms strong and firm as you show us what to do.

I love the way you smile when you think no one can see you, how your lips quirk at the edges and form a perfect half circle on your face forcing dimples to pool sweetly in your cheeks.

I love the paleness of your skin, how your inner beauty shines, just like your name..

P'Arthit... My Sun. I love.. You."

As they finish speaking, their arms pointing towards the head hazer whose cheeks are blushing worse than ever, the whole cafeteria starts to applaud, and whoop and cheer! The noise only stops abruptly as Arthit rises from his place on the bench below them, fist raised in the air.

"Who the hell told you to read that?" His voice is harsh, head hazer power in every word, belying the redness of his cheeks.

The two freshies shiver as they stare at him, papers shaking in their hands as they face him. They are not engineers but recruits from Comm Arts, yet Arthit is determined that they will face his wrath if they choose not to cooperate.