A different view

Chapter 12

Beam's POV

"Hey Sharp" Pha called out. It was Monday morning. Whether it was because of the encounter with Preeth's parents and their revelations or the questions Preeth had asked of us, it had turned into a rather uncomfortable weekend for the three of us. Kit was obsessed with finding out who the second person was, I was in no mood to talk to anyone and just stayed at Forth's dorm. Forth... I don't know what I'd done to deserve him. He listened to my ranting all weekend and still dropped me off with a smile this morning.

"Hi Pha" Sharp responded from the table he was seated at.

"Mind if we joined you for a bit?" Pha asked. It was just Pha and me. Kit was yet to arrive with Ming and we wanted to finish off this conversation before he got here, partly that Kit might lose his temper and punch Sharp. Besides we didn't want it to seem like we were ganging up on the guy.

"Sure Pha"

"How come you were at the bar last weekend? We never see you there" Pha started off the conversation.

"I thought you'd call me over the weekend to ask me that or send Forth after me," he said with a sincere chuckle. "Pha, I'm really fond of Preeth. Like really. The first time I saw her, it was behind the medical camp in Engineering and I was completely enamored with everything about her. I know I gave her a hard time when she used Forth's name to avoid me. Even though she knew I was following her, she never spoke to me once. Last weekend was the first time in months she'd even acknowledged my presence."

"But she's made it clear that she's not interested. Twice!" I insisted

"Beam, if someone told you the same before you confessed to Forth, knowing what you have with him now, would you have given up?" Sharp asked me.

"That's different." I said.

"How is it different Beam? I want to hold her, touch her. When that numbskull touched her hair at the bar, I completely lost it. I had never been violent before. Isn't that how it would make you feel about someone you like?"

"In Beam's case at least there was an element of uncertainty," Pha said

"Then I'll wait. We're graduating soon anyway. Just grant me that. If even after that she refuses, I'll not ask the question again. You have my word."

"Sharp, I can't promise you anything," Pha said.

"She's different" I continued. Sharp looked at me wanting me to continue on why she's different.

"Is there something I should know?"

"Just keep in mind she's from an orthodox family," Pha said before I could respond. "Let's go Beam."

Genuine as Sharp was, this made it more difficult to keep him from Preeth. "How did it go?" Kit asked as soon as we met him at our regular table.

"Sharp's not backing down." Pha said with a sigh. "Should I let Ming know?" Kit pulled out his phone to send a message. "Sharp's not a bad guy. He knows his limits. Besides Preeth can knock sense into him if he bothers her."

"So we do nothing?" Kit asked

============

I was dropping Forth this morning. The conversation with Sharp didn't go as expected yesterday.

"She's usually at the benches near the library this early in the morning" Forth said as we made our way into campus.

"We're still meeting for lunch, right love?" Beam asked.

"Yeah, I'll borrow Park's bike."

We spotted Preeth at a distance and as always she was with a book in one hand and a pen in the other. Forth pulled me away from her sight and against a nearby wall. I knew that look in my boyfriend's eyes. The one that said I'm here if you need me. At this time, like no other, I was so grateful I had someone as pure as Forth to love. I leaned in, with a gentle kiss and closed eyes, hoping to convey the feeling to him. Before we parted, Forth kissed my forehead.

"Nong Preeth all well?" I asked once I was by her bench.

"Yes P'Beam"

"Any hangovers?"

"None. Did you need something P'Beam?" I was here alone, this early, with Forth not around and not Kit or Pha either. Preeth sensed something was up.

"Which subject?" I asked. Preeth seemed to decide it was best to just finish answering so she can be left alone again.

"Structural Engineering"

"Is it hard?"

"No"

"Where's Lin?"

"On the way"

"Where's Tim?"

"With Lin"

"Do you like Sharp?"

"Doesn't matter"

"Why not?"

No answer from Preeth

"Why not?"

I snatched her pen away. "Why not?"

"Because... " she said and closed her eyes regretting her answer. She should have just stuck with No. If it was anyone else she could have walked away but she wouldn't do it to us, her seniors.

"Because what?"

"Because I'm incapable of a physical relationship! Are you happy now?" Preeth said glaring right at me. I had expected it, but hearing her say it was gut-wrenching. I felt guilty. Admitting it was half the battle. Now I could only hope she would accept my help.

"Pha wasn't lying," I said slowly. "What men need in a relationship..." Preeth went back to her books.

"Preeth look at me." I said taking the book away from her hand. "That shouldn't stop you. I'm not here to pity you. You don't need it. I'm not going to tell you how strong you are either. You know the reality of it. So I'm going to be straight with my thoughts. Whoever that is, if they cherish you enough, it can work."

"Are you really telling me that with a new hickey on you P'Beam? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?"

"Take a leap of faith"

"In case you haven't noticed P'Beam, I no longer walk by faith. It dissipated many years ago along with all my notions of good and bad."

"Fine then, I'll help rebuild that faith. Pick a timeline. How long do you want me to abstain? A month? 6 months?"

"You wouldn't last even 2 weeks P'Beam."

"Fine 2 weeks it is. If I prove it, you have to give it a chance"

"And if you don't?" At least she took the bait. Could I do enough to help her?

========

"You're dead" Kit was saying. "and how did you drag Pha and me into this again?" I had lunch with Forth and then called the rest of the gang over to give them the big news.

"She mocked me saying Pha or you had a better chance! So I said you wouldn't even last as long as me!" I said.

"P'Kit, are you really going through with this?" Ming asked. Kit was looking at Ming who never once asked why he had to accommodate Preeth in all their conversations. He just accepted it unconditionally. But this bet was too much and Kit knew it but he didn't know what he could say. Kit gave me one last look before he headed into the kitchen area of my apartment. Ming turned him around once they were there. "P'Kit, I don't know what's going on. I know you'll tell me if I need to know. Us... this relationship being physical is not as important to me as long as we can still well.. at least hold your hand once in a while. Please tell me that's ok..."

Kit gave him a hug instantly. "Beam, we're not doing it" he yelled back so the rest of us could hear it in the hall.

Pha smiled. Yo wasn't even worried about the conversation. "Pha?" I asked. "Stop fooling us Beam," Pha said. "There's no way Preeth would drag us into this." In truth, Preeth hadn't brought Pha or Kit's relationship up at all. I figured it would help me keep the teasing away and maybe even provide a boost of confidence if we were in it together.

"Damn it! It was worth a shot! Guess it's just us" I said looking towards Forth.