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

3: The Pink Milk

Arthit is exhausted 'The Day of the Pink Milk'. And yes it does deserve capital letters!

Arthit can't remember a time when he's had to work as hard. He has three group projects, two essays and a report due by Friday and he's so tired he's struggling to stay awake.

So when the first cup of pink milk is thrust at him, he automatically takes it, not even bothering to look at who's gifting him it.

"I hope you can stay alert today, Phi." Kongpob whispers in his ear, causing a shiver to run down Arhit's spine. But before he can respond,his junior has vanished and his class is being called into their lecture.

It's easy to gulp down his favourite drink, ignoring the catcalls of his friend about who bought it for him. The less he reacts to Bright's teasing, the less Bright teases him after all.

But when he's exiting his first class of the day, another junior is standing outside the door, a cartoon of strawberry flavoured milk in hands. "Delivery for you, P'Arthit."

The Nong doesn't even hang around, just forces him to take it and then dashes away with a wave.

Arthit stares at it feeling completely ridiculous. He's just had a drink, why has Kongpob sent another?

But then he sees the sticky note attached to the side of the cartoon. It says 'dinner' on the side and he wonders if he's missing something.

Quickly he gropes in the side pocket of his bag for the first cup, he had saved it intending to add it to the recycling bin he passes on his way to his next lecture. And there too is a sticky note that says 'please'.

Arthit's still puzzling it out as he arrives at the next classroom where a third of the freshmen is standing holding out another cartoon of milk.

"Oi Arthit! Are all your Nongs trying to date you? How do they all know about the milk thing?" Bright asks as Arthit grabs the milk with a soft thank you. Once again the freshy hurries away, leaving him with another sticky note - '?' written on it.

By lunch time, he has four more notes and he's starting to piece it together.

Kongpob is clearly asking him out for dinner. But his Nong must be aware of how busy he is being a third year and a hazer.

It's seven o'clock when Arthit drags his weary body towards his dorm room, and when he arrives, it's to find his nong standing outside his door, bag of food dangling from one hand and a cup of pink milk in the other.

Arthit gives him an exhausted grunt and reaches out to peel the sticky note from the side of the cup, 'tonight' is written in neat letters.

He slides his key into the lock and opens his room up, then turns to stare at Kongpob who is holding out the bag of food.

"I know you're tired Phi, so it's fine if you'd rather I don't stay. But if you want me to, I brought enough for two."

Arthit waits a moment, processing his words, "So, I have enough pink milk in my backpack to last me a week and my back hurts from carrying it around campus, Kongpob. And all because you wanted me to eat dinner with you?"

The other man has the sense to look down at his feet, unsure which way his Phi is going to react.

"Well?" Arthit asks a beat later, "Are you coming in?"

Then Kongpob lifts his head and gives Arthit the widest smile and suddenly half a dozen reports for school don't seem too bad.

"If the pink milk was so heavy, P'Arthit," Kongpob says as he crosses the threshold into Arthit's room, "I could give you a massage?"

There's a hopeful glint in Kongpob's eyes, but Arthit isn't going to let him win just yet, "No way! Yuck!" He replies. "Anyway, you might be eating dinner with me, Kongpob, but don't think I'm impressed by your wooing skills yet.."

When Kongpob's back in his dorm, he slides out his phone and composes a quick text, aware from the light blazing across the street that Arthit is still working.

Thank you Phi, for giving me your time when you're so busy.

A minute later, his phone lights up with a reply.

Thank you for noticing I needed it, Kongpob.

Kongpob's heart flutters in his chest; I'll always notice your needs, P'Arthit. And I'm determined that you'll feel properly wooed soon...

Kongpob!

Goodnight, Phi! <3