An Angel's Heart

Another Suitor

Pha followed his two friends toward the Moon and Star Competition, feeling anxious. Ging had called and told him that he was needed to help with the practice. He hadn't been there since his lunch with Yo on Tuesday. According to Ging, he was letting the whole university down, so he finally agreed to come help.

It was now Friday. He wasn't excited to see Yo, which accounted for his nervousness. What did you say to the person you loved when he put you firmly in the Friend Zone? The only thing Pha thought he could do at this point was try to salvage his pride by pretending that the rejection didn't hurt.

Beam and Kit led the way. Their willingness to come could have been due to their close friendship with Pha. It could have been their hope that Yo was bringing snacks again. But really they were just nosy. They wanted to know: What was going to happen when Pha and Yo came face to face? They were already a few minutes late, so when they walked inside, Ging gave Pha a relieved smile.

"You're finally here. I was getting worried," Ging said quickly, pulling Pha farther into the room and pointing to a group of contestants that were standing to the side. He handed Pha a paper and continued, "That's your group. I want you to ask them this question, give them two minutes to think of an answer, and then listen to their responses. Make sure they speak clearly and know how to stand while answering. You remember from last year, right?"

"Yeah, I've got it," Pha said. He looked at the freshman that were waiting for him and was relieved to see that Yo wasn't part of his group. He couldn't even enjoy that moment of relief though, before Beam and Kit were bothering him.

"Where's Yo?" Beam asked, looking around the room and nudging Pha. Kit was looking around as well and before Pha could answer, had pointed him out. "He's in that group."

Pha looked in the direction that Kit indicated and saw Yo sitting across the room. He stared at the boy, who was carefully watching their group leader. Pha sucked in his breath, trying to slow his too fast heartbeat. Now that he had seen Yo, he wasn't so happy that his love was working in another group. He wanted Yo's eyes on him, not on someone else. He knew he needed to get to work with his group, but he just stared at the boy he loved, sitting so far away.

Yo must have felt someone watching him, so he turned to look. Their eyes locked from across the room and Pha's heart stuttered in his chest. He felt a strong desire to go talk to Yo, to beg the boy to give him a chance, but he held himself back with an iron determination. "I will not make a fool of myself," he thought to himself angrily.

Forth, who had been working with Yo's group, followed the boy's gaze to see Pha staring. For a guy who wasn't interested in being friends with Yo, Pha was looking pretty smitten. It occurred to Forth that perhaps Pha didn't want to be friends because what he wanted was actually a lot more than friendship. "Loser move, Pha," Forth thought, "You shouldn't be giving up on this cutie so easily." He called for Yo's attention and winked at him before returning to their practice.

"What are you doing, Pha?" Kit hissed at his friend who was glaring across the room at Forth's back.

"Do you think Yo likes Forth more than he likes me?" Pha asked in a near sob.

"Of course not," Kit tried to soothe his lovestruck friend. "You're a much better choice."

"I don't know," Beam said, looking thoughtfully across the room. "Forth is damn sexy if you ask me." But after a harsh look from Kit, he continued, "But who cares, right? It's not like you're in love with Yo. The two of you just met."

Pha made a sound somewhere between a wounded animal and a whimper, then dropped his head to Kit's shoulder, which was quite a feat considering how much shorter his friend was. Kit patted his back a couple of times and then pushed him to stand straight, "Go teach your group. They're waiting for you."