The One That Stayed (Gemini x Fourth)

Chapter 3: Phuwin

"Babe, no need to be jealous." Joong says, causing Dunk to jump a little bit. His cheeks turned a pretty pink shade. "All this hotness is yours alone to touch." He gestures to himself, before joining our group huddle as we reach the front of the building.

"Ai'Joong, why are you here?"

Joong wrapped one arm around Dunk's shoulder. The other handed him Dunk a peach tea drink. It was Dunk's favorite beverage from the canteen. "I told you I would pick you up after your meeting today. Did you check your messages?"

"Ahhhh. My bad." He confirmed, after handing the bags to Joong so he could pull out his phone. Sure enough revealing a few missed messages.

"It's ok. I will forgive you, babe. See? I'm not only handsome and generous... I'm very understanding." Dunk jabs his side, rolling his eyes.

"I'm adding 'annoying' and 'big ego' to the list. But thank you." He tries to hide his pleased smile, but nothing stops Joong from kissing his cheek. Dunk's eyes grow large in alarm as he looks around to see who saw.

"Babe?!"

"What?" Joong just steps back looking quite satisfied with himself.

Dummy. They are going to get caught one day.

Like myself, Dunk comes from a wealthy background. His family owns a real estate company, and has strong ties with the royal family of Thailand. He's even allowed in the palace, where he's frequently visited in primary school.

Joong is the son of a famous photographer, and recently moved back to Thailand to attend the university. He's wealthy, but not at the same level as Dunk and I.

Dunk's father is an amazing politician and businessman, but was he tolerant and accepting of his son being gay, not so much. Especially not when he was an only child expected to continue the line of succession and soon take over his company.

They have been hiding their relationship, in disguise as friendship, for a year now.

Joong has been very understanding, but they had a rocky start in their relationship.

It must take a lot of patience and consideration to still keep their love hidden from their families. They agreed to hiding their relationship until the second half of our third year. That's when I lose both of them. They both signed up for an international scholarship program for two years in New York. Both exceeded easily due to their grades.

"No one saw. Hey Phuwin, are you still considering it? There is still time, you know."

I was about to answer him. When I feel a new presence at my side. A young man is coming up to us smiling nervously, and bites on his bottom lip. He has his hair styled shaggy with his eyes partly covered by its length, and thick framed glasses. He bounced on his feet with a folder in hand.

Freshman. He's cute.

"Excuse me, P's." He wai to the group. "Sorry to disturb your conversation, but I'm looking for the admission office. Can you point me in the correct direction?"

(A/N: wai: formal greeting in Thailand, bow with clasped hands ; P: Senior & Nong (N): Junior)

"Yea, of course Nong. You are going to go straight down that hall. Make a left at the end, and it will be the second door on the right." Love instructs.

The freshman nods his head, but there is still a bit of confusion on his face. He looks in my direction, and he smiles shyly. I smiled at him reflexively, and he hurriedly looks back at Love.

"Thank you, P." He takes another quick glance in my direction, and then practically hops in his step in the direction of the hallway.

Really cute.

"Another heart lost to our department Prince. Tsk." Satang shook his head.

"Are you sure it's not the other way around?" Dunk looked at me questionably. I raise my eyebrows, and he nods his head in the direction of the boy. I shrugged my shoulders at him, and he narrowed his eyes, but eventually I saw the satisfied nod.

"I hate it when they do this." Love sighed.

"Talk to each other with their eyes and body language alone? Yea, you get used to it." Joong shook his head.

We all eventually make it back to my car where I drop off the supplies, and bags.

"You guys are welcome to join us for lunch. My treat." Joong said, and both Love and Satang jumped at the opportunity.

"I have to deliver the budget plan and head home for the rest of the day. I'll catch you guys later."

I depart from our group as they head out, and begin thinking about what I need to get done before making the drive home. Once freshy week starts I won't have any time to visit home. I wonder if my father will be home this time.

I wonder if dad has made his decision...

I make my way to the office. The lady at the desk takes one glance my way and her smile brightens as she adjusts her posture. "Khun Phuwin, how may I assist you today?"

"Just turning in the budget sheet for freshman week." I hand her the paper.

"Oh, how's the planning coming?"

"Good. Just need to prep now."

"Oh, you guys received access to the auditorium in B building. I heard they recently added your father's name to the donor wall due to the generous donation he made last year to the university. Have you seen it?"

Unfortunately, yes. "Yes, I have. I wanted to cross reference the roaster of incoming students with the one I currently have. See if any changes were made. Do you have an updated one?"

"Ahh. Yess. We have several new students that barely made it in before the deadline. One is your code junior mentee in fact. He left not too long ago. Oh, wait he's right over there."

I looked in the direction she pointed and spotted the boy from earlier. He was waiting in the lobby, next to the counselors office.

Pleasant coincidence. He's still here.

"Thanks for this." I grab the opportunity to get out of this conversation with the woman who is clearly trying to suck up to me because my father's company is a major shareholder of the university.

I slip the documents into the folder sleeve and move towards the cute boy. As I approach, I observe the boy more closely. He has a boyish charm about him. Even with his head down you can see he has a lean build. He was looking down at something in his hand.

"Are you sure it's not the other way around?"

Dunk's voice rang in my head. I shook off the idea, and made my way over.

He jumped slightly as I sat down next to him, closing the object in his hand and stuffing it in his pocket.

"Whoa, you're a jumpy one. Am I to expect that much energy from you during freshy week?" I asked, extending my hand out. "Phuwin."

He smiled broadly, and his eyes met mine. I caught my breath at the beautiful sight gracing my eyes. He was undeniably cute, even with the disheveled hair and thick glasses, but something about his smile stirred something new in me.

He adjusted his posture and shook my hand. "Hi P'Phuwin, I'm Fourth. Please take care of me this year."

Thump. Da' Thump. Thump.

~~~~

I mean who wouldn't fall for cute Fourth. 🥰 Anywho, this is only the beginning, and I'm ready for the angst and romance up ahead. 🥹

Next Chapter: Fourth

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