Chapter Text
The class finally wrapped up. The clock read 3:57 PM. Two hours of worthless misery and note taking. All because of Joong. The moment the professor stepped out, Pond left his desk, rushed to strangle Joong.
"YOU SAID WE DIDN'T HAVE TO STUDY." He was shaking Joong's shoulders back and forth. It was playful, but it held frustration.
Gemini was simply amused to see this unfold. A bunch of 20 year olds, losing their minds over the education that the paid for and opted in.
The class silently dispersed. Frustrated at themselves for not seeing the very basic details.
Pond finally let go of Joong, only for Est to do the same. Taking turns was important.
"How could you do this to me?" He was dramatically wailing.
"You said click photos, score marks. Not learn about concave convex lenses. You betrayed me."
Est continued.
"It was a mistake. Besides, what happened to your eyes when you booked the classes? Did you not see it? Did the three of you not check at all?"
"My fault for trusting you to have one singular brain cell." Pond admitted fault.
The three freshers watched this entire thing unfold. Phuwin decided to entirely ignore this and leave early. Not his fault that grown adults can't read. Fourth left shortly after. He was too shy to speak.
"Hi, I am Gemini." Gemini pried his way from the drama to greet this boy that was staring at the f'ight'.
"William." He replied back, eyes scanning the third figure standing beside him.
The crickets were chirping again for William. He would be rather anywhere then go through one more round of "introduce yourself". It has been weeks of this. Classrooms, clubs and dorms. Everywhere it was the same.
Name - Department - Year.
Eat - Sleep - Introduce Yourselves - Repeat.
Before William could spiral further down in his own thoughts, someone called him out. It was Est.
He was standing beside the door, bags in hand, ready to leave.
Why is he calling me? Oh God! Did he figure out that I didn't remember his name? Oh NO! WHAT IF HE GIVES ME THE HOMEWORK FROM THE ELECTIVE-
"William!" The voice of Est broke him from his monologue.
He trotted towards the door, leaving Gemini with his thoughts.
"Hi... Est!" He wasn't sure if he can call him by his name. His voice was low and hesitant.
"Do you want to go get coffee with me?"
Est gathered whatever courage he had and asked William out without stumbling on his words. Task one was successful. Well, William still needed to say yes, but still it was a partial success.
"Yes!" Voice came out high pitched. It was straight out of a movie for him. He had met this guy twice. Was this even a date, or was he being polite? William had no answers.
All knew was he would eat up any opportunity to look at Est's beautiful face.
"Well, then it's a date." Est pulled out his phone, and handed it over to William, waiting for him to enter his contact. William almost dropped the phone trying.
Herculean task.
"I will text you when and where." Est informed William.
He waved back a bye, as he and Joong, who spawned out of nowhere, left to the council office to work on the upcoming events.
"So a date huh? That was quick."
"Okay, 'I am in love with my best friend since freshman year', shut up." Est retorted back. He had hit Joong, right where he would be left with no come back.
"Let's just go to the office." Joong mentioned as a matter of fact, and hurried his steps.
Pond and Dunk hurried off out of the class room. They had to go to the basketball court. Drills demanded so much of their time.
₊˚𓂃˖𝜗𝜚。˚໒ྀི₊˚⊹
The sun was down. The practice was finally over. Dunk and Pond were heading toward the parking. Pond was searching through his bag for his keys.
"Are you coming home?" He knew that Dunk liked to spend time with Joong. And he knew Joong was going to be home today, council would have wrapped up too.
"Yeah, I will."
"Okay! Let me just find my keys..." Pond was rummaging through his bag when he saw Dunk hurry his steps a little, and rush to his bike first.
The neon-pink sticky note was a little obvious over the black bike and the low lit basement parking lot. Dunk reached for it before Pond could. He read it out loud.
"Everyone has the right to be stupid. But you truly abused the privilege today!"
"Oh my god! Not again!" Pond groaned, which sounded more like a whine.
"Bro! You have a personal insult machine!" Dunk started to laugh.
Pond looked close to tears. It was only so much his heart can take. But, that wouldn't stop a true friend from teasing him.
"Give it back!" Pond tried to take it away from his hand, but Dunk just pulled it away. The height was an unfair advantage.
"I am going to show a picture of this to the entire team. They deserve to know more about this!"
"Give it back!" Pond was whining, still trying to reach the small note. He stumbled over his own legs and almost fell face first into the cement. Thank goodness, he put his hand on his bike and stopped himself from more embarrassment for the day.
"I will not take you home and lock the door and also ensure that I hide Joong's keys so that you can't enter." Pond threatened.
"Okay, I give up!" Dunk folded too fast. For Pond, that was disgusting to watch.
"Ugh, just take the leap and confess and stop treading this situationship line. It is disgusting."
Pond said, put the note back and started his bike. He didn't wait for Dunk's reply, but he caught his blush.
₊˚𓂃˖𝜗𝜚。˚໒ྀི₊˚⊹
How can so many people be so stupid and register for the wrong course?
Phuwin thought to himself. He was finally heading back to his dorm room, the days tiredness catching up to him.
Just as he was about to reach his room, someone else stumbled upon him into the corridor.
"Sorry."
"Sorry."
The apology came from both ends.
"Oh, Fourth! Right?" Recognition dawned on Phuwin's face. Fourth simply nodded.
"Wait, why are you carrying a huge succulent?"
"Well, this was a gag-gift from my friends in high school, but I feel bad to let it die. So, I am bringing him to my room."
Phuwin just chuckled. Sweet kid.
"Do you want me to help carry it, Fourth?"
"No, but thank you! William said we can keep it in the dorms corridor for now. I will clean up some space in my room soon!"
"Well, good luck!"
"Bye!"
Phuwin watched the boy carry it the pot as he unlocked his door.
"I hope that rude actor found the note. So annoying!"
He finally said those words out loud once he was in the sanctity of his own space.