SOTUS Drabbles and One-Shots

2. Misunderstandings (of Marriage, Good and Bad)

Married AU

Note: Fai is an OC, not related to Fai from Together With Me The Series or anything.

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Fai knows she breaks her mother's heart every time another year passes and she remains husbandless and childless. At the age of twenty-five and still not married, Fai knows she is a source of shame for her mother. Her friends all got married right out of college; why couldn't she have done the same? She needs to get married soon, to save everyone from the humiliation.

Which is why she finds herself at the mall, bags of pretty clothes, shoes, and makeup weighing her down. With tired arms and even wearier legs, Fai drags herself to the food court, where she catches sight of a face she hasn't seen in awhile.

"P'Kongpob!" she calls out, heading in the direction of a table occupied by her senior and a man she can't recall ever seeing.

"Oh, N'Fai," Kongpob greets when he sees who said his name. He slides his drink across the table to rest by an untouched cup of pink milk. He stands, moving to help her set down her bags, before sliding onto the bench next to the other man.

As soon as her hands are free, Fai gives the elder a wai. "How are you? What are you doing here?"

Kongpob shifts in his seat, returning the wai before sending the other man a hesitant glance and smiling sheepishly. "We need to get new kitchenware. I... We...." He sends the other another look, and finally, the man speaks:

"He still can't cook," he gives the other an exasperated look, "but he always insists on cooking for us."

Kongpob laughs, and just from hearing the sound, Fai feels lighter. She blushes when he looks her way. Suddenly, an order is being called out, and Kongpob is moving to go pick it up, leaving Fai alone with the other man.

Fai shifts awkwardly in her seat. She's unsure how to proceed, not quite comfortable with being the one to start a conversation. The good news is, she doesn't have to.

"I'm Arthit," the man introduces himself suddenly. "How do you know Kongpob?"

Fai flushes, cheeks ablaze with embarrassed heat. "High school, and again when I transferred universities. We were in the same faculty."

"Economics, then," Arthit clarifies. "I thought I'd recognize you if I had hazed you. How much younger are you, though? If you don't mind me asking."

Fai swallows, unsure whether to tell the truth or not; she doesn't want to be ridiculed, after all. "I'm turning twenty-six this year," she eventually admits.

Arthit nods. "Okay," he says, "okay. Oh, look! Kongpob is heading back this way."

Fai turns to see the other man returning to the table.

"Oh, P'Arthit," he says when he arrives, "how many of these did you order?"

Arthit sends Fai a look, and her stomach does a flip that she doesn't want to think about. She couldn't help but take notice of the ring glinting on his finger; now, there's no way she can ignore it. Hopefully, the situation is not the same for Kongpob. Arthit speaking regains her attention. "I was hungry, and dinner is still some time away. Leave me be."

"Not too far away," Kongpob retorts, but he doesn't sound irritated "America changed you."

"I hope it did," the other replies easily. He makes a face, expression sly. "Well, not too much."

The two share a secret smile, and that's when the puzzle pieces in Fai's mind click into place.

"Ah!" Fai shouts, startling the other two at the table. "I understand now." She motions to the pink milk on the table. "So that drink is yours, P'Arthit, because it was your wife's favorite drink, so you got it because you miss your wife... who is in America!" She taps her chin as she remembers something Kongpob had said, completely missing the incredulous looks Kongpob and Arthit are sending each other. "But why do you two live together, then?" She rubs her fingers across the underside of her chin before snapping them. "To save money? That's reasonable, if a bit weird." Upon finally looking up and seeing the twin expressions on the elders' faces, she's quick to backtrack. "Not like that! I didn't mean 'weird' in a bad way!" Her cheeks are red, and she ducks her head to hide her embarrassment. After a momentary pause, she looks to Arthit. "Your wife is lucky, though, to get to be married to someone like you." She hasn't known him long, she's aware, but he really seems like a good man.