SOTUS: The University Days (and Other Universes)

Can I Sit Here?

a/n: it's my first au! and it's a coffee shop au!

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Monday

"Can I sit here?"

Arthit breaks his eyes from the book he's reading, only to see a tall guy standing in front of his table, a cup of iced coffee in his left hand, a book in the right. He looks around, soon understanding why the guy asks for his permission. There's no vacant table nor a sign of someone leaving the coffee shop anytime soon. The guy's wearing his university's uniform, so Arthit feels the need to be nice.

"Um, sure," as long as you don't interrupt my reading time.

The guy smiles as he nods. "Thank you so much! I won't disturb your reading time, don't worry," he says, as if he could read Arthit's mind.

Arthit returns to him with an awkward smile before moving his cup of pink milk closer to him and focusing back on the book on the table.

~

Thursday

"Can I sit here?"

The voice is familiar to Arthit. He raises his head from the assignment he's working on and sees the guy from Monday. The guy wears the same wide smile on his face. He still has a book with him and, of course, a cup of iced coffee.

Arthit looks around. There's no vacant table again. He has no choice but to let him sit. Learning from their first meeting, the guy would say no word to him aside from the "thank you for the seat" when he's about to leave.

"Sure," Arthit says, arranging his things, making sure his assignment and other stuff don't dominate the whole table.

"Thanks," the guy says as he pulls the chair and sits there.

"No problem," Arthit replies as he continues working.

~

Friday

"Can I sit here?"

Arthit already expected it. The rain, even though it isn't heavy, makes the coffee shop packed with more people than usual. Some of them are regular customers; the rest are those who seek shelter until the rain stops. Of course, no vacant table is expected.

"Of course," Arthit says after parting his lips from the straw of his pink milk.

"Thanks." The guy smiles with his usual wide smile as he takes the seat across from Arthit.

Arthit notices the guy's hair is damped, probably after walking outside without an umbrella; he doesn't even wear anything to keep his head dry. Though, actually, Arthit thinks he looks slightly more handsome with that damped hair.

He doesn't say it out loud, of course.

~

Monday

"Can I sit here?"

"Sure."

The guy wears a pair of glasses this time. He brings a laptop along with some books. College task, Arthit guesses. Arthit glances at one of the books: The Fundamentals of Industrial Engineering. Arthit raises his eyebrows. This guy is my junior?

"Industrial Engineering student?" He doesn't mean to show his disbelief, but he still does.

The guy's eyes meet his, lips curving into a smile—not as big as usual, maybe his task stresses him out. "Yes, don't I look like one, P'?"