Freshman forthbeam (copied)

Bribe

Park was summoned alone to meet with his seniors, Kongpob and his cohorts.

"Sawadee, P'Kongpob," Park greeted Kongpob as he stepped out of the field where SOTUS practice was taking place.

Kongpob stood on the side of the field, with Aim, Tiew, and Wad behind him. He shifted his attention from the field to Park. "Your leader is inadequate, isn't he?"

Park was taken aback. "What do you mean, P'?" he asked politely.

"He can't control your famous junior, Beam Baramee," Kongpob hissed. "Ming can't control him! He has to ask his seniors to control him and make Forth neglect the most important thing about our tradition, SOTUS."

Park blinked.

"Forth failed as the Moon and Orientation Chair."

Park clenched his fists, trying to restrain his anger that could explode at any moment. Where was Lam when he needed him...?

"Take it back, P'," Park hissed.

Kongpob was startled. "What?"

"Take back your words." Park was truly trying his best not to explode in anger right now. "My leader is not a failure. He didn't fail in his duties as the Moon or as the Orientation Chair."

Kongpob blinked. He walked slowly to approach Park and hissed just inches away from his nose. "Yeah? Then what do I see? He's playing love games with his junior during SOTUS, and again, repeating history with the Moon wooing the Moon?!"

Lam, from a distance, saw how Park was coldly attacked by Kongpob. He swallowed. He worried about how Park would handle his emotions. Park was hot-headed, easily triggered... And...

Park took a step back to create enough distance to join his palms and give a polite wai to Kongpob. "I won't say anything useless, P'. You'll see it later," he hissed, trying to say it as calmly as possible. "Sawadee, P'." And even gave the appropriate salute before walking away from the battlefield with the fourth-year seniors.

Wad applauded in a slow gesture. "He's controlling his emotions. Wow. Is that really Park?"

Kongpob blinked as he watched Park walk away, refusing to hear his judgment of Forth.

"He doesn't accept his leadership as a failure, boss," Tiew said to Kongpob.

Kongpob remained silent. He could see how Lam hurriedly walked towards Park and wrapped his arm around him.

Max and Tul also ran towards him.

"The Forth's people are very loyal," Aim said. "Second-year students are also loyal to Forth," she added. "If I were you, I'd watch my back, Ai'Kong. Saying bad things about Forth... And if they don't like it, the whole class will come looking for you."

Kongpob looked at Aim.

"He's the king, everyone knows that. His words are ORDERS," Aim continued.

"Then why didn't Beam..." 

"Beam listens to Forth too," Aim said. "...In her own way."

Kongpob looked back at the field. This time his eyes met Max's. He glared at Kongpob clearly but quickly averted his gaze.

"Be careful, Ai'Kong," Aim said again.