Trash Polka | ForthBeam

Chapter 12

Beam couldn't focus during class.

He had spent the last three days trying to finish his group assignment while at the same time avoiding Forth. He hadn't read any of Forth's messages or answered any of his calls, and that was driving Pha and Kit crazy. However, whenever they asked, Beam simply shrugged and didn't give a straightforward answer.

When class was over, the three walked out the class. Well, that was until Beam was called by Professor Aunty. He told his friends to go ahead, assuring them he was fine and that he was going to join them later.

"Yes, professor?"

Professor Aunty shoved a stack of paper towards him and said, "Beam, take this to the engineering faculty, na? Give them to Mr. Natthawut."

"Sure, professor," replied Beam as he took the papers. When he was about to turn around, the professor called him. "Yes?"

"Your part in the group assignment isn't great, Beam. Is something bothering you these days?" asked Professor Aunty.

"Oh..." Beam tried to pull a reassuring smile. "No, professor, I'm good. I'm just not feeling well."

"Oh, okay. Don't overwork yourself, na," responded the middle aged woman. "Thank you, Beam."

Beam gave her a nod before finding his way to the engineering faculty. He couldn't help but to sigh at the sight of a big gate of a gear with the word Engineering written on top of it. He walked through it and asked a random student where the teacher's office was, which she answered by saying it was right beside the cafeteria. Beam thanked her and quickly walked there as he didn't want to miss out on his lunch time.

Everywhere his eyes went, they always laid on blue shirts... and blue shirts reminded him of the one person he was trying to avoid.

Beam didn't even have a clear reason why he was avoiding the tanned man. He was just scared. It was as simple as that. He lost his mother after his father got a phoenix tattoo. How could he possibly not be scared? He was terrified when he first saw the phoenix across Forth's chest. At that exact moment, he concluded he despised looking at the beautiful ink.

Beam couldn't help but to overthink. These past three days, his mind kept thinking of the possibilities. Was it possible that someone would die? Of course it was. After all, it happened within his own family. While his head was busy thinking about that, his heart was busy clenching at the thought of anyone Forth cared for dying.

His mind was clouded with negative thoughts that he didn't realize someone standing in front of him.

"Shit, sorry," he apologized when he bumped into the person. His eyes then widened and exclaimed, "Oh, Nong Waan!"

The girl, Waan, widened her eyes and smiled sweetly. "P'Beam! Why are you in engineering, P'?"

"Oho, P' can't be here?" Beam asked with a chuckle.

Waan grinned sheepishly. "No, P'! I mean, you rarely come here..."

"I'm joking, na," Beam chirped. "I'm here to give this to Professor Natthawut."

"Oh," Waan exclaimed. "His office is right there, P'! Do you want me to give it to him?"

Beam shook his head. "It's okay. P' doesn't want to bother you."

"It's okay—"

"Ai'Waan," one of her friends called. "Our class is about to start. We better go if we don't want to be late!"