a sprinkle of rainbow • Completed

failed attempts

Summary: Kongpob has turned all the rejections Arthit had been receiving into cute 'friendly' dates and Arthit finds himself waiting to be rejected again.

prompt by: infinite___ot7

//

Rejection is probably one of the worst things one can receive. It's damning, and it can definitely break one's confidence and their future.

Most, if not all, people hope they would never have to face this but not Arthit. He wants to be rejected. He waits for it. It does sound weird but he has a reason for it.

His weird inclination to receive rejections started a week ago.

"I like you. Do you, perhaps, want to go out with me?"

Arthit says with a meek voice and bows his head to hide the blush rising from his cheeks. It took him 10 days to gather the courage to confess to his classmate yet it only took her 10 seconds to reject him.

"I'm sorry."

Then she goes on to saying that she thinks he's cute and nice, and that she knows any girl would be lucky to have him but not her because he's not her type but that doesn't mean that he should be discouraged from this. It was a typical rejection, almost like she's said it to thousands of people already, but Arthit's mind has shut down since her apology and his only focus is on the fact that it only took her 10 seconds. She didn't even think about it but it's fine. It's what she wants and Arthit respects that.

Arthit tries to nod and smile. He doesn't want to look pathetic in front of her. The girl then leaves but not before patting his shoulder softly, trying to console him. He stays rooted on his spot, staring at the spot she vacated, breath getting more shallow as second passes.

Accepting the rejection is one thing but having to regain from this embarrassment, he may need an hour to gather his rational thoughts. Arthit wants to know what's wrong with him, what made her reject him? Is it because he's annoying to her? Or because he's timid? What?

However, only after a minute, Arthit snaps to consciousness when he feels someone tapping him from behind. He looks behind him and sees Kongpob Suthilak, the university's moon, though they haven't spoken directly with each other yet, Arthit has had his fair share of encounters with him being his direct line senior but it still doesn't stop the weird feeling of why Kongpob is suddenly talking to him.

The Kongpob Suthilak. Thailand's national treasure.

"Do you want to eat?"

Arthit blinks. "What?"

"You want to eat? My treat."

"Huh?"

"I'm hungry and you're here. Or, are you busy?"

Arthit's not busy but since when are they friends? Since when do they eat casually?

Kongpob tilts his head and his lips form into a slight pout when it takes a few minutes for Arthit to respond. "So?"

"Okay."

/

"Sorry I had to pull you here, I just don't like eating alone," Kongpob says while slowly stirring the broth. They're at the hot pot restaurant near their school.

Excuses. Arthit knows what Kongpob is up to.

"You saw me getting rejected, didn't you?"

Kongpob offers him the meat. Arthit graciously accepts it and pops a piece in his mouth. "I remember when I was rejected, she's only a year older than me but she told me that I'm not her type because I'm too young for her then the next thing I knew, she's dating a guy two years younger than her..."