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The teacher's lounge of Prasertsilp High School was a safe haven.
Behind the green lacquered doors on the first floor of Prasertsilp High School was a secret lair hidden away from the prying eyes of its students.
The teacher's lounge hosts a myriad of secrets going back to decades, old confiscated toys that could possibly be worth a strong baht if sold to a respectful dealer, hypocritical teachers smoking the stress of work through an open window, documents students' futures written in fine detail that would make an experienced military general strategies look like scribbles of a notepad.
"I had enough of those two!" bawled Ms. Fan as she slammed her textbooks on her desk.
"Who?"
"Who else!"
"Do you have a cigarette?" she eyed her colleague seated opposite her.
Mr. Riggs snorted at her request and took out a fresh cig from an unlocked cupboard. Teachers smoke too, just don't let the students find out about it. Funny thing about high schools is that it has more confiscated cigarettes than a local police station.
"Lighter?"
"You think!"
Ms. Sunee walked up behind the puffing Ms. Fan and opened the windows behind her. Its common for the teachers to smoke in the teacher's lounge, they just have to make sure that the discipline master nor the principal is behind their backs, or else it will be hell to pay.
Ms. Sunee could tell easily whom Ms, Fan was referring about, her lesson was right before hers at class 4-A. During her period, the class was oddly and curiously well behaved, it was as if a cast of silence has fell on the students. Ms. Sunee was in some parts grateful that she was able to teach Maths without any fuss, she even completed the entire topic of graphs before she left. However, like most experienced teachers there was a stirring in her gut that she never got to get rid of, Ms. Sunee was sure that there was something was going to happen the moment she left.
Whatever.
As soon as the bell rang, it's the next teacher's problem anyways.
"Pran and Pat got into an all out brawl in the middle of my lesson. They went deranged that I actually thought that they would literally kill each other. As I was trying to break them up, their idiot friends sort of put more oil to the fire, cheering and interfering that at one point everyone was fighting each other that the girls actually left the classroom and called the principal and discipline master. Now we got a whole bunch of bloodied kids in the principal's office!"
Mr. Riggs shook his head at the incident. He was lucky that it didn't happen in his class, he would've smacked Pat and Pran in their heads so bad that they would be crying back to their parents.
"Now I have to stay back and talk to their parents. And who knows how long that will take. I have a date with my boyfriend tonight, now I have to cancel. Stupid kids! Remember last time there was a blood bath in the principal's office!"
"Yeah. I was there remember. I had to hold back Mr. Jindapat from pouncing on Mr. Parakul," said Ms. Sunee, remembering the shuddering memory from last year.
"All because Pat got 0.8% higher on a grade. Who the hell cares. Some parents just need to let their kids be," she tutted disapprovingly.
"There's something we need to do about it. We can't let those two rule the school. I'm honestly sick and tired of all their fighting. They are almost at the end of their school year and they are still causing trouble. There must be something that we can do," huffed Ms. Fan, exhaling a long stream of smoke out the window.
"What can we do? We are teachers. Pat and Pran are the school's brightest and most talented students. And their parents are rich-rich. Pigs will fly first before the principal will even consider letting those two or either one go," said Mr. Riggs.
"Humph!"
The defeated faces of the teachers told many things. One thing, Mr. Riggs is absolutely right. There is no way in hell the principal nor the school would make either one of those two students leave the school. More than half of the trophies in the trophy cabinet is theirs. Math leagues, debate championships, school athletics, science, arts, popularity, Pat and Pran are superstars.
The teachers were wallowing in thought when Ms. Payao appeared excitedly in the room.
"Do you guys want to hear gossip?"
Ms. Payao giddily got to the center of the room and broke into a playful wide grin. Ms. Payao always had the juiciest gossip, some say she thrives and feeds on it, she mingled well with the students, they genuinely liked her, and she was a favorite with most of them.
"What is it now?"
"Do you guys know about Loi and Move?" said Ms. Payao childishly.
"The two kids who are currently dating Logan?" questioned Ms. Sunee.
"Yup. Why?"
"Guess who they are dating now?"
"Dunno. I heard Loi has a crush on Tiger. And Move has been eyeing Turf for a while now."
"Nope. That's old news. Now, they're dating each other!" revealed Ms. Payao dramatically.
"What!"
"Yup."
"I thought those two hated each other because they were dating Logan separately. I swear I overheard them planning to like confronting Logan last week to ensure that he chose one of them or he'll get none," explained Ms. Sunee looking slightly gob smacked at the revelation.
"Apparently, the two enemies wanted to confront Logan at the mall, but Logan didn't turn up. So they decided to talk and they found out they had more things in common with each other than with Logan. Last week, they went swimming together. Two days ago, Jenny caught them kissing in the girl's bathroom. They weren't ashamed or shy or anything."
Mr. Riggs shook his head at the story.
"Wow, these kids nowadays. So shameless. Jumping from one gender to the next like it's nothing."
Ms. Fan tutted Mr. Riggs comment disapprovingly.
"It's good that they're not fighting each other anymore. You know teenagers. Hormones and all. They're jumping from one person to another like nothing. Weren't we all the same last time?"
Ms. Sunee shook her head.
"I got it!"
"What?" questioned Ms. Payao.
"The only way to stop Pat and Pran from fighting each other... is to make them fall for each other."
:):)
Almost everyone in the teaching staff is tired of the rivalry between Pat and Pran and when they first heard about the plan in the teacher's lounge, all of them hitched on it almost immediately. The plan is so simple. So easy. So unoriginal. It was a sure fail-proof idea.
The first part of the plan is to ensure that Pat and Pran are always paired with each other in projects or activities. Conveniently, their plan aligned with the academic calendar, they are supposed to be doing multiple projects now.
It's like as if the universe is on their side.
The teachers made a group chat on their updates. Every individual teacher is supposed to make a plan. But one rule is for certain, they have to be discreet, to make it seem natural and not suspicious, Pat and Pran are to be seated at their normal seats at the opposite ends of the classrooms.
"Alright everyone, split into teams," barked Mr. Loong, the PE teacher.
"Red and Green!"
Like a well oiled German engine, the class split into two teams. Red for Pat's team and Green for Pran's team.
"Today we are going to do some football course. You guys are to train your agility and coordination. First team to complete the drill only need to run eight rounds around the stadium. The loser ten rounds!"
The class groaned in unison. Mr. Loong ignored the rest of the class and eyed the two tallest kids in the far back, you can tell the fires have been lit inside them. They were eyeing each other like two powerful predators. These two will absolutely feed at every opportunity to go against the other. It is almost a universal law.
The students were arranged from shortest to tallest with Pat and Pran at the back of the their respective rows.
Mr. Loong watched in scorn as the first few students failed miserably and making the easiest turn. Students moaning and groaning at everything these days. How could they survive the real world when they can't even move their feet in a straight line.
He then glanced at the majority of the female students resting across the field under the shade. Their faces showing the same annoyed look. It's always the same reason 'I'm on my period', 'I have major cramps', 'My doctor gave me a note to not do any physical stuff while on my period', Mr. Loong has heard it all.
The plan isn't about them.
It's about Pat and Pran.
Mr. Loong focused on the students who were actually participating in the session. Pat and Pran were already on formation, only a few more students left until it's their turn. Their intensity were apparent on their sweaty faces, nothing can sway their focus.
The students who already completed the drill were sprawled on the rubber flooring gasping for air. Mr. Loong wondered for a moment whether kids today are getting weaker, or is he just becoming more like his military father.
Enough about that. It's Pat and Pran's time.
"Go!"
At the burst of the whistle Pran moved swiftly like a dear. His foot hitting every circular ring on the straight line. His skills showed Mr. Loong knew exactly why Pran is the school football captain. He was an incredible footballer. He was light and agile and his eyes is always focused on its surrounding.
Not to be outshined by Pran, what Pat lacked of agility he made up for power. Every movement Pat made was thoughtful and powerful, he has the physique for it and he knows how to use it. Pat has brought more rugby trophies for the school than the school has space to showcase it all.
The last drill was to maneuver a ball along the bright cones.
It's easier said than done.
The only way to pass the course is to get the ball through the field of cones in under two minutes. Mr. Loong stared at the long list of D's on his board. One student missed the mark and almost got the ball to end in under two minutes, but somehow kicked the ball too hard last minute, causing it to fly beyond the school field. A couple of students ridiculously missed the marks and got an immediate F.
Mr. Loong never had hope for a future national football player coming from this school.
Well, Pran is an exception.
Just as planned, Pran passed with flying colors, finishing the final drill in 1 minute and 10 seconds.
Pat was not far behind, completing the task in 1 minute and 13 seconds.
"Cramp!" hissed Pat painfully as he laid on the warm rubber flooring.
Mr. Loong internally smiled.
The universe really does want Pat and Pran to stop fighting.
Mr. Loong stretched Pat's leg and gave it a quick examination to ensure nothing is wrong.
"Pran, get Pat to the nurse's office," ordered Mr. Loong.
"Mr. Loong, can't you get-"
"Now!"
"Mr. Loong, I'm fine honestly," defended Pat, slapping his thigh and moving his legs casually for everyone to see.
"See."
"Yeah, he's fine."
"Did I stutter?" asked Mr. Loong straightforwardly, eyeing Pran lowly.
Pran shook his head and made his way to Pat.
"No, Mr. Loong."
"Ensure Pat is checked by the nurse thoroughly, we have a rugby match in two weeks!"
Mr. Loong watched in part amusement and part pride at the scene in front of him. Pran was seated beside Pat, and was awkwardly telling him to put his arm around his shoulders. Pat was adamant about it, arguing with Pran as usual, telling him that he's fine and that he doesn't need to go to the nurse, but Pran was not having it. With one forceful maneuver, Pran pulled Pat upwards and pulled Pat's arm across his shoulder.
Mr. Loong almost wept at the moment when the two rivals were hip to hip limping horrendously across the field.
He could still hear them arguing from his spot.
Mr. Loong could see Pran with his arms around Pat's waist, and Pat holding on to Pran for his dear life. He can't help but feel slightly hopeful, maybe this plan really will work! Mr. Loong shook the thoughts in his head, these two have been bitter rivals since forever, it'll take more than a trip to the nurse's office to get them together.
If only he could see how red Pran was.
:):)
Mrs. Trent always knew that someday her vast knowledge of English movies would be helpful to her.
And today is those days.
She had spent days, thinking of the perfect scene, the perfect lines, scheming the perfect backdrop to ensure she managed to get what she wanted from her students. The excitement of the execution made her absolutely giddy. She can't wait to try it out.
When Mrs. Trent first heard of the plan of getting Pat and Pran together from the other teachers, she was livid. She scolded her colleagues on their childish behavior. Teachers shouldn't meddle in students personal lives, it was unprofessional in all levels. We should be model guides, not dictators.
That is until last Tuesday happened.
The 4-A class was getting their assignment grades, a simple English composition.
Write about your idol. Two thousand words maximum.
When she handed Pat his paper, he practically shouted that he got the highest grade in class, which he did. And when Pran got hold that Pat got the highest mark, knowing that English was his strength, Pran start accusing Pat of taking parts from the internet, and a whole argument broke out. Again.
Mrs. Trent has had enough, and she joined the chat group immediately after class.
"Pat, Pran come up and read some lines in front of everyone!" ordered Mrs. Trent.
The class oohed and Pat and Pran rolled their eyes.
"Mrs. Trent, can you call someone else?" asked Pat, raising his hand.
"No."
"Why? Can't you read. I thought someone with the highest grade in English, can read English," scoffed Pran.
"I'll show you," said Pat slamming his hands on his desk.
Mrs. Trent facepalmed.
Pat and Pran got to the front of the class and received their lines. For a quick minute they scanned over the lines and then turned curiously at Mrs. Trent.
"You want me to read this to him?" questioned Pran, eyeing Mrs. Trent as if she just grew an extra head.
"Will it be a problem, Pran?"
"This is easy," expressed Pat confidently, showing the class his sheet of paper.
"So class, this is scene from a very famous movie. The background of the scene is that the two lovers; Adam is Pran and Eve is Pat, they fell in love but their social classes separated them, and now they have been separated for three decades."
The girls in the classroom basically pissed on the floor at the floor at the love story, Mrs. Trent could only roll her eyes.
"After many years, they have their own families and all that, until one fateful day, Adam saw Eve sitting at the same lake where he'd proposed to her many years ago. He remembers everything he said to her. So now, I want you two to pretend that you are the lovers. That you miss each other. That you yearn each other. Okay. I want you to go all out, it'll be graded, of course!"
Mrs. Trent then jumped from her spot and made her way to the back to the back of the class.
"Now?" asked Pran nervously, looking at Mrs. Trent for the queue.
"Whenever you're ready."
Pran nodded and took a deep breath. He glanced at Pat who was standing tall a few meters away from him. Pat was grinning, based on the text, a woman in that situation wouldn't be grinning.
"Mrs. Trent, Pat is playing a fool-"
"-No, I'm not!"
"-Yes, you are!"
"-You're the one playing a fool, Pran!"
"-I'm going to fail you two," interjected Mrs. Trent intimidatingly.
Pran huffed and glanced once more at the boy across him. He wasn't grinning anymore, no, instead there was a forlorn look on his face. Pat really did a flip, because he almost looked sad.
Well, if Pat wants to act, then Pran will act too!
Pran inhaled deeply, letting the emotions of the words words move inside his body.
"I missed you."
Pat turned to Pran with a longing expression.
The girls sitting at the back of the class had somehow hurdled together like wildebeests at the front seat.
Mrs. Trent choose to ignore it.
"I know it's silly. But... But I thought of you every single day," expressed Pran almost heartachingly.
"Every single night as I look up to the stars, millions and millions of them blinking like diamonds, I can't help but pity them."
Pat took a step foreword towards Pran, almost urging him to continue.
"Why would you pity the stars?"
Pran took a peep at his line and then returned to stare deep into Pat's eyes.
"In the desert, they say that the stars are the most beautiful things you can ever see. I pity them, because you already came into my life, and you've already claimed that title," expressed Pran.
The class absolutely went nuts at the line. Mrs. Trent could see the girls at the front row, absolutely loosing their minds.
"I think its sad that you don't think the stars are pretty, Adam," read Pat, locking into Pran's eyes.
"I look at the stars and all I can think of is the millions of lovers out there in the world, starring at them, wishing at them, the love the stars have witnessed from high above. I don't think it can get any prettier than that."
"And what about our love? Do you think the stars are witnesses to that?"
Mrs. Trent was biting her lips.
This was so good. Better than she expected. The boys really outdid everything.
"What is there to witness? You and I can't be together. We are too different. I am not allowed to love you, more than you are allowed to love me."
"There's still hope, Eve."
"Hope is a childish thing, Adam. I have always love you. You have taken a piece of my heart and you never gave it back. But I have to move on. You have to move on. We can't do this, Adam. There is so much to loose. Our lives, our family, everything that we ever known. This has been a mistake, Adam."
Pat and Pran made steps closer to each other, close enough that they were face to face.
"What do you feel, Eve. Tell me."
"I... I... I lo-"
Pat then made a dramatic turn and walked away from Pran, stopping against the adjacent wall.
And then it happened, a single Oscar-worthy tear dropped from Pran's eye.
"I love you, Eve."
At the end of the scene, the class roared in applause. Pat and Pran made a dramatic bow to everyone. Even Mrs. Trent can't help but kept a wide smile throughout the applause.
"Bravo. Bravo. Bravo you two. Bravo!"
Pat and Pran acted brilliantly as long lost lovers that it almost made Mrs. Trent believe that they're truly in love with each other.
:):)
Ms. Sunee always had a problem with saying no. She just couldn't do it.
She had read multiple self-help books, listened to conferences and even momentarily hired an expensive life coach, but her problem just persists. She can't say no!
So when she received the memo from the principal that she was put in charge of the school's Christmas celebration, she just couldn't say no.
Ms. Sunee could already picture it. The tiring countless meetings and mindless discussions prior to the event. She is already swamped with work as it is, way to pile in more work for her. Now she has to juggle her daily teaching duties, her meddling duties and her event planning one. If only she was firm.
And then a lightbulb lit up.
Ms. Sunee almost laughed at herself at how blind she was. She could easily kill two birds with one stone.
Ms. Sunee chose Pran as the lead singer to sing at the Christmas event, and Pat would be the drummer. That would get them together.
At first, even Ms. Sunee herself wasn't confident in her choice. She almost never in all her life working as a teacher meddled with her students' lives. She prided herself as being dignified and drama-free. She never picked sides, nor has she ever got involved with any aspect of their lives other than their education.
Ms. Sunee is a teacher first. She has always been clear about that.
And then she started noticing it.
The arguments between Pat and Pran got lesser and less frequent. Weeks would go buy without a bloodbath in class. The teachers in the lounge mentioned how happy they were not having to deal with anymore Pat and Pran issue. They think that the two students have finally grown out of their childish rivalry.
Ms. Sunee thought otherwise.
Maybe, just maybe, something had happened...
During class, Ms. Sunee would sometimes catch Pat disturbing Pran whenever he got too focused in class, throwing a silly piece of paper at him to snap him from his focused daze. He was like a child in need of attention. And the proud smile on Pat's face when he got what he needed from Pran.
And the feeling was mutual, Ms. Sunee would also note at how frequent Pran would doze off to stare at the back door. And it just so happens that that is where Pat was seated. Sometimes, a small smile would appear on Pran's handsome face.
Ms. Sunee couldn't be happier for them.
And then the infamous Christmas celebration happened.
In the tight room of the principal's office there was a lot of yelling from the Siridechawats and the Jindapats. The palpable tension that no one can ignore, one could practically feel the heat radiating from the two families. Even the principal had a tough time calming the two families down. As the families fought for their sons, Ms. Sunee could see the defeated look on Pran and Pat's faces.
Devastation.
Heartbreak.
Those poor boys.
Even through the raised voices, Ms. Sunee could hear Pat and Pran's hearts shattering.
It's over.
The next day, Pran was immediately transferred to another school.
It was sad for everyone, especially Pran, he was far away from his home and friends, far away from Pat.
And Pat never been the same since that fateful day.
:):)
7 years later
After all these years, the teacher's lounge in Prasertsilp High School mostly remained the same. The confiscated toys still remained in the locked metal cupboard by the tall cabinet, the teachers still smoked through an open window, and the latest school gossip was shared in the middle of the communal space.
Oh, there's a fridge now now.
Ms. Fan and Mr. Riggs were in the middle of discussing about the recent rise in drug cases near their respective hometowns, when Ms. Payao came barging in excitedly like she always does.
"We got mail! We got mail!" she said excitedly.
Ms. Sunee rolled her eyes at her colleague. Sometimes she wonders whether her colleague is really a giddy 14-year-old trapped in a middle aged woman's body. They got mail every single day. What's so exciting about this one.
"It looks and smells expensive!" chanted Ms. Payao, sniffing the piece of white card.
"And every got one."
Ms. Payao went to each teacher and handed them their mail.
"Hmm. It's definitely a wedding invitation, I can see that," said Mrs. Trent, eyeing the item curiously.
"What's the big fuss this time. We always get wedding invites from our students," grumbled Mr. Loong annoyingly.
"Years and years of silence, and then suddenly, we're getting married, you're invited. Bunch of scumbags!"
Ms. Fan rolled her eyes at the tired PE teacher.
"Well, I am for one excited whenever I get wedding invitations from my students. I am delighted to still be part of their lives, unlike some people," said Ms. Fan, eyeing the grey haired teacher beside her.
Mr. Loong didn't even bother to react.
"Who is it this time? Is it that Crystal girl, I accepted her Facebook request weeks ago and she's been posting pictures of her with her boyfriend every single day. So damn annoying."
"Is it Mei and Wan. Oh, they make such a beautiful couple."
"No. Its... Pat and Pran!"
"What!"
"Here look."
" To our dearest Teachers,
From two people who can't be friends, without knowing it, we became two people who can't just be friends.
We, "Pat" Napat Jindapat and "Pran" Parakul Siridechawat, would like to invite you to witness and be a part of our new chapter.
Join us on 7th of April 2022, 12:00 PM at Bangkok The Botanical House as we tie the knot in matrimony. Your presence is greatly dear to us.
Regards,
Pat & Pran"