Distant Signals: The Love Between Us

Chapter Sixteen

When Kongpob found Arthit crying behind the grandstand, he wanted nothing more than to take the other man in his arms and reassure him that everything was going to be okay. He wanted to comfort him, to be there for him, to dry his tears with kisses and love. That Arthit allowed him to wipe away his tears at all filled him with unbridled joy and surprise. He'd expected his senior to recoil from his touch, perhaps even bat his hand away in anger, but neither of those things happened. Lately, it seemed like Arthit accepted his touches more often than before, and on occasion even leaned into them—like he had after the dinner when he checked his temperature or when, after they fell, he'd lingered in his arms longer than what was necessary.

Kongpob absentmindedly tapped his pencil against his calculus notes. Even with his eyes and nose swollen and red from crying, Arthit was beautiful. In fact, it made him more so in Kongpob's eyes.

"Does anyone have a question about what I've just explained?" asked Tim, one of the second-year seniors who'd offered to tutor them in math.

No, thought Kongpob, barely listening. If he had any questions, he could ask Arthit. Kongpob sighed. He hadn't even wanted to join them for this tutoring session, but M and Oak basically dragged him to the table, assuming he could use the help as much as they did. He didn't.

"Me," said Oak.

Kongpob gave him a hard stare. Did he really not get this? If this went on, they'd be there forever.

"What don't you understand, Oak?"

"All of it."

"Here, eat this." Tim handed him a box of roasted seaweed. "It will activate your brain. Eat a lot of it."

M laughed. "Your brain must be full of other shit."

"I thought..." began Oak, after eating a piece of seaweed. "...the entrance exam was difficult enough. But now, I wish I could go back to kindergarten."

"You can just re-enroll at a kindergarten now," said M, still chuckling.

"Just hang in there a bit more guys," Tew said, as he quickly jotted down a few more notes. "Once the exams are over, we will take a trip."

That caught Kongpob's attention and, suddenly far more interested in the conversation, he joined the others in staring at Tew with surprise and confusion. Arthit hadn't mentioned this on Saturday at Double Trouble. Then again, his senior hadn't mentioned much of anything that didn't have to do with math. He'd seemed preoccupied and worried about something, but Kongpob hadn't dared press him for the reason why. Arthit was too unpredictable, and he didn't want to risk upsetting him again so soon.

"A trip?"

"Where to?"

"Don't you guys know about it? The seniors said that once the exams are over, we'd have an off-campus initiation rite."

Kongpob frowned. "Where?"

"I'm not sure, but probably at the beach."

"Wait a minute." M leaned forward, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. "How can we be sure that this is just a fun trip? I have a feeling that the seniors might be planning to give us a hard time. That's why I don't feel like going."

"What the hell?" Oak asked. "Are you bailing on us?

"Don't put it like that."

"Come with us, man."

"I have a bad feeling about this..."

Kongpob returned his attention to completing the next math problem and vaguely listened to his friends bickering. Sure, this supposed trip was a final hazing event and could be exactly what M feared, but excitement bubbled up in Kongpob's chest at the thought of getting to spend an entire weekend with Arthit at the beach. It'd give him the opportunity to find another excuse to hang out with him—which he desperately needed considering that the hazing was coming to an end and tutoring could only get him so much time. Speaking of, his calculus exam was Wednesday and would take place before he got to study with Arthit. Did that mean Saturday was actually their last tutoring session before break?