2STARS

Scene One

FIVE

A week before freshman year begins.

Hot. It's so hot. I can feel the beads of sweat in my forehead trailing down from my face to my neck, down to the valley between my breasts. I can feel the dampness on the back of my shirt. My lips and throat are starting to feel dry. I've always hated the warm weather. I like it more when it rains. It's more peaceful to lay in the comforts of my bed while enjoying the cold atmosphere. It would be even better when it snows but it would take a fucking miracle to make it snow in Thailand.

Why is it so goddamn hot in Thailand?!

But despite the slight irritation and discomfort that I'm feeling I dared not to utter a single complaint. Here I was, standing under the scorching heat of the sun with my other fellow students an hour before noon. Class starts next week, but for some reason, I fail to understand, seniors requested us to meet them a week before. It's some kind of orientation for the SOTUS system the first years of the Faculty of Engineering go through to form a solid bond among the students and to gain brotherhood between seniors and juniors. Once a first-year student completes the SOTUS system his/her seniors guarantee that they will always have their backs until they become colleagues in their chosen major. I've been here since 6:00 AM in the morning. The first hour was a continuous drill of running around the field, push-ups, sit-ups and shouting.

P'Tul, as he introduced himself earlier, is a 3rd-year Mechanical Engineering student who happens to be this year's Head Hazer. I watched his Adam's apple bobbed up and down like crazy as he gave his final message. He looks like he's trying to be scary and intimidating but I think it's hard for me to think that way 'cause I feel like he's a genuinely kind and soft-spoken person judging by his warm brown eyes. But despite that P'Tul could actually deck you in a fight with his muscular build that can be seen as the way his dark green shirt hugged his chest and abs. There are four more guys behind P'Tul and I'm so bad at names that I could only remember P'Kongbop, a second year, the one with a boyish sly smile, and P'Max who was also a third year. Unlike P'Tul, P'Max let out a menacing aura effortlessly. Every time P'Tul gave an order and it took a bit too late for his liking for us to respond he would glare at us and I can almost hear my fellow batchmates flinching at the front. P'Max had the same build as P'Tul, he has an extremely pale flawless and expressive coal-black chinky eyes. He doesn't talk much but the way he side-eyes P'Tul with a loving gaze full of pride and admiration never escaped my eye. He looks like he's trying to control himself giving P'Tul a bear hug. P'Kongbop seemed to notice it too but only gave a knowing smile. I had this feeling there is something going on between P'Tul and P'Max.

If I'm proud of one thing, it's my observation skills and my accurate intuition about the things going around me.

My train of thought was cut off when P'Tul finished his speech.

P'Tul glanced at P'Kongbop.

"So what do you think? Are we still gonna win this year?"

P'Kong looked around and his eyes lingered at someone then his roamed again and his gaze landed on me for a brief moment. I involuntarily raised my brow. He smirked.

"I see some potential here P', don't worry. I'll take care of it." he calmly said. P'Tul just looked at him sheepishly.

"Well then, I'll let you handle it." He turned his attention to the first years lined up in front of him

"That's a wrap everybody! See you rascals at 6:00 AM on Monday!"

Me and the other freshmen let out a collective groan.

P'Tul just smirked at us.

"Congratulations! You just earned yourselves a 10 lap run around the athletic field!"