SOTUS: Make The Best Of It (The Graduation Series)

Chapter 3: Baby Steps

"Okay, he's alone.Go!Go!Go!"

Prem's changed a lot over the years. From a mild bespectacled freshman to one of the most feared ones in the engineering faculty. So why the hell does he feel like he's a freshman about to go through hazing all over again?

Why the hell had he allowed Toota and Bright (of all people) to talk him into doing this? This being trying to come up to Wad and talking to him instead of just making awkward eye-contact.

Both Bright and Toota flashedi him a thumbs up sign. Warily, Prem entered the classroom and approached the table where the junior was seated at. About 3/4 of the class wasn't back yet from their lunch break, so that was a relief.

Now or never. Prem placed the bottle of iced tea on Wad's desk, interrupting the male from his daze. Wad tugged his earphones out, his usually expressionless face morphing that into confused wonder.

"For you." Prem said gruffly, unknowingly reverting back to how he usually spoke.

Outside, Bright and Toota smacked their own foreheads, cursing at how Prem was acting so stiff.

"I can't watch this!" Toota exclaimed shrilly. "Do something, Bright!"

Bright dialled Prem's number, motioning for his friend to pick up the call when the other whipped around with a bewildered look.

"Answer it, you idiot!" Bright yelled from outside the door.

What the hell was Bright up to this time around?!

Prem answered the call and barked into it, "Why the hell are you calling me when you're right outside the damn classroom?!"

"Because I can't bear to witness your failure and lameness up close. I have to be at least a hundred metres away." There was really no point in using the phone since Bright was talking loud enough for everyone to hear.

Wad lowered his head, biting the inside of his cheek so that he wouldn't accidentally laugh out loud.

"You're standing so damn straight like a wooden block. What, you got a stick stuck up in your ass or something? For fuck's sake, will it kill you to smile?! You look as if you're about to haze him all over again."

Look friendly, Prem. Smile.

"No, no, no." Bright might as well be yelling into the phone, Toota whispering something into his ear. "That's not a smile. You look as if his mere existence is giving you constipation."

Prem was about to retort angrily when Wad calmly plucked the phone out of his grip to speak into it, "I personally like how he always looks like he's about to kill somebody." With that, Wad ended the call, leaving all three seniors speechless.

"Want to go for a smoke, P'Prem?"

Well, that he could do.

The pair walked out, Prem making a I'll-slit-both-your-throats-later motion with his thumb. They headed out to the smoking area near the campus's car park, Prem accepting the cigarette that the junior handed to him.

"Those bastards that beat you up before. Are they still giving you trouble?"

Wad shook his head as he handed the senior his windproof lighter.

"No. I've been trying not to get into trouble as well. I can't afford to have a record now that I'm on the school basketball team."

Prem lighted the butt of the cigarette up and placed the stick in between his lips, taking a deep drag of the nicotine before exhaling the smoke out. He didn't notice how Wad's eyes tracked the action.