Room mate

Part 1

"Hey, buddy...." Kongpob turned around at the smack on his back.

With his signature smile fading, he glanced at the mischievous faces of his group. "Hey, Oak..."

Everyone smiled, allowing the new entrant to settle in comfortably.

"Kong, have you seen the notice board?" Oak asked, taking a seat in front of him.

"Not yet. Why? What's up?" Kongpob's attention lingered on Aim, his best friend, who was cracking jokes.

"You should... You've finally got a roommate," Oak announced, grabbing everyone's attention.

For seven months of the semester, Kongpob had been alone in his spacious room. The prospect of having a roommate now was actually exciting.

Kongpob was the only one in his room, intended for a one more occupant.

"Really?" His question was part assurance, part amusement. Oak nodded.

"Who?" Kongpob's curiosity was shared by his friends, except for Oak, who wore a mixture of a frown and a grin, his motives hard to discern.

"Well, I think you don't want to know that," Oak teased, pretending to be engrossed in his phone.

"Don't be a brat, Oak. Tell us," Aim insisted, echoed by the others.

"I'll give you a hint... This person is quite popular," Oak said, eyes still fixed on his phone.

"Me?" Marphang joked, sporting a smug expression.

"Oh, stop it..."

"Okay, another clue... They're having issues in their dorm in Building A," Oak added, indicating it was a third-year senior.

"Who is it?" Aim's voice carried a hint of concern. Not all third-year seniors were bad, but the hazers were notorious.

"Alright, last one..." Oak stood up, stepping back from Kongpob and the group, hands behind his back. "Your pre-announced wife."

Kongpob's face drained of color.

Aim spat out his drink in shock.

Tew was initially stunned but quickly composed himself.

The girls were initially surprised but then burst into giggles.

Laughter erupted around them, everyone enjoying the prank except for Kongpob.

"Is this an April Fool's joke?"

"It's December, dude."

"So, you're not kidding?"

"Do I look like I am?"

A heavy silence fell among them, unnoticed by the others lost in their own conversations.

"You're dead, Kongpob," Oak remarked, and everyone continued laughing, leaving Kongpob deeply affected.

"What's going to happen now?" Aim asked.

"It's either going to be the start of his wildest dream or his worst nightmare," Prae said, watching Kongpob's retreating figure.

"Oh, man, Kongpob's choice is scary," Marphang commented casually, continuing her dinner.

"Who says that? Remember, you've been eyeing him since day one. And now he's scary?" May teased Marphang, both lost in their myriad thoughts.

"Well, P'Arthit is scary," Aim confessed, revealing his fear.

"It's scary for you and us, not for Kongpob," Tew replied.

"I think P'Arthit is biased when it comes to Kongpob," Prae added softly.