"Campus Hearts: The Beginning"

Chapter 1: The Collisions

The early morning sun cast a warm glow over Chulalongkorn University, its rays bouncing off the iconic red-brick buildings as students bustled about, eager for the start of a new semester. The air was filled with the buzz of excitement, as old friends reunited and fresh faces navigated their way through the sprawling campus.

Daou Pittaya Saechua walked through the main courtyard with an air of confidence that turned heads wherever he went. At 185 cm with a chiseled frame, he was a sight to behold. His designer clothes clung perfectly to his well-defined muscles, a silent testament to the hours he spent in the gym. As the captain of the basketball team, Daou was no stranger to the admiring glances of his peers-both male and female-but he paid them little mind. His thoughts were elsewhere.

"Bro, are you even listening?" Joong, one of Daou's closest friends, waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his reverie.

Daou blinked and flashed a charming grin. "Yeah, yeah, I'm listening. Just thinking about how we're gonna crush it again this year."

Est, another friend and fellow basketball teammate, chuckled as he adjusted the strap of his gym bag. "Of course you are. You've got everything planned out, don't you? Top grades, another championship... and maybe a few more conquests along the way?"

Daou smirked, though his mind briefly flickered to the one person who eluded him, who made his heart race in a way that no one else could. "We'll see about that."

As they approached the Faculty of Engineering canteen, the familiar scent of food wafted through the air, making Daou's stomach growl. It was early, and they had the day ahead to plan their strategies for both academics and sports. But first, breakfast.

Inside, the canteen was already bustling with students grabbing their morning meals. Daou scanned the room, his sharp eyes landing on a group of football players at a nearby table. His gaze lingered a little longer than he intended when he spotted Offroad Kantapon among them.

Offroad was deep in conversation with his friends Pentor, Diamond, and Poon, seemingly oblivious to the attention he was drawing. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his soft skin seemed to glow under the cafeteria lights. Despite his smaller frame, there was something undeniably magnetic about him.

Daou's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked it with his usual cool demeanor. He nodded toward the empty table across from them, leading his group over. As they settled down, he noticed Diamond's gaze darting their way, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Isn't that the engineering team? Look at that table-it's like a collection of all the campus heartthrobs," Diamond teased, nudging Offroad.

Offroad rolled his eyes, glancing over just as Daou caught his eye. Their gazes locked for a moment, and Offroad felt a jolt of annoyance. Daou, with his perfect looks and infuriating confidence, was the last person he wanted to deal with this early in the morning.

"What's the big deal?" Offroad muttered, turning back to his friends. "They're just like any other group. Let's just eat and get out of here."

But it was too late. Diamond, emboldened by his own cheeky nature, was already making his way over to the other table, his eyes set on one of the fresh engineering students who had just joined Daou's group.

"Hey, mind if we join you?" Diamond asked with a grin, his intentions clear.

Daou raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Sure, if you can find space," he replied coolly, his gaze flickering back to Offroad, who was doing his best to ignore the situation.

With the tables now merged, the canteen buzzed with the chatter of both groups. The conversation was light, filled with jokes and teasing, but the underlying tension between Daou and Offroad was impossible to miss.