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she runs faster than she ever has in the direction of school. gasping and panting furiously, she hazedly wonders what to say if her hunch is right. earlier when Ongsa had texted that P'Alpha was gone without a clue as to where she was headed, Charoen had immediately abandoned her doing and ran off to the place she knew Alpha loved dearly other than her home. She knew Alpha more than most people as she had admired the student council president eversince she started there. Charoen has observed her quietly from afar, able to figure out Alpha's preferences as Alpha's emotions are like an open book to her contray to other people's opinions. slowing down as she neared the school's gates, Charoen plots out her route at the places she most likely will be at. the student council room, her room class, the rooftop or the various picnic tables ard school likely the nearest ones to the canteen.
she rushes up and down the hallways, not minding how furiously she was sweaating. as her eyes combs the picnic tables near the canteen, she stops as she spots the familiar figure of Alpha. heaving breaths could be heard from her as she pauses to compose herself before approaching Alpha. Alpha suddenly looks up and spots her, glint of recognition in her eyes. Charoen's steps halted as her mouth dries up and her mind racews a mile a second from how attractive Alpha looks in her outfit of a simple sleeveless white shirt, which she recognises as the same one Alpha wore during that faithful night at school, paired with jean shorts and her hair up in a half-bun, unusual for Alpha who loves wearing bows in her let-down hair. Alpha's eyes dark with an emotion Charoen doesnt recognise at the moment, her mouth slightly parted as her teeth capture her tongue btwn them with her side bangs framing her picture-perfect face.
Charoen pinches herself to shake herself out of her daydream and approaches Alpha with a light smile and is reciprocated with a tight-lipped smile. Charoen frowns internally as she realises that Alpha is struggling with something big emotionally. she brings her hands in a Wai to greet her dearest Phi and politely asks if she could join Alpha. a curt nod is given to her as Alpha allows her to take a seat.
Charoen waits as Alpha continues to read her textbook. She stares at the beautiful side-profile of her Phi who was concentrating hard with her eyebrows knitted together along with wrinkles on her forehead. she lets Alpha read until she sees that Alpha is getting increasingly frustrated with her reading materials. Charoen then taps Alpha softly on her shoulder to get her attention.
"Phi, i think you should take a short break. i can accompany you to buy a drink. please?" Charoen voices out and eventually pleads as she sees rejection in Alpha's eyes.
Charoen offers her hand to Alpha and beams brightly as Alpha takes it. Alpha reciprocates, thinking that Charoen looks prettier when she smiles. now that Alpha's attention is on Charoen, she realises that Charoen was wearing a sleeveless crop top which boasted her slightly toned stomach, slim waist along with her tanned and tonned arms. she becomes speechless, almost enticed by her Nong's physique but stops herself and instead chastices her Nong about her outfit while dragging her to the council room where Alpha kept a spare shirt for emergencies. clearly, this situation called for it. Alpha hides her raging blush from Charoen and luckily calms down as they near the room and Alpha has to face her. Alpha passes the shirt to Charoen and waits as she slips it over her head.
they sit down beside each other, with Charoen taking a deep breathe before asking Alpha if she really was feeling ok. Upon hearing Charoen's question, Alpha's mind is invaded with the uncontrolable emotion she only recently gained understanding of, and unbeknowst to ther, it was reflected in her eyes. Charoen quietly captures Alpha's hands between her own and whispers that Alpha can trust her with her worries. Alpha looks at Charoen slowly, her glassy eyes swarming with emotions, suddenly vulnerable again. Alpha almost caves but halts herself as she is reminded by a voice in her brain that she is a strong lady and strong ladies dont ever reveal their emotions to anyone. Charoen sees that Alpha's eyes become stone-cold suddenly and almost falters but continues to make eye contact with Alpha, conveying her intentions clearly to her. she sees Alpha's eyes soften once again and prompts Alpha. this time Alpha caves, clearly sensing no malicious intent in Charoen's eyes only love(?) and understanding.
Alpha pours out the contents of her soul to Charoen, from her career choices to her desolation of knowing close to nothing about Ongsa & Aylin's life even though they are her kin. she sobs quietly in Charoen's arms, the only thing anchoring her to reality as she spirals deeper into her despair. Charoen holds her tighter in her arms while rubbing circles into her back to slowly soothe her. She feels Alpha's weight pulling them off their chairs so she slowly lowers them to the ground, never once letting go of Alpha. She tugs Alpha closer, now with Alpha burying her face in the crook of Charoen's neck. she continues muttering comforting words to Alpha to help her calm down.
they stay in that position until Charoen feels Alpha relaxing, as she realises that Alpha has probably fallen asleep. after confirming her suspicions, she slowly shifts Alpha into a more comfortable position, curled up in Charoen's arms with her arms tightly winding around Charoen's body, head resting on Charoen's chest as Charoen craddles Alpha securely to prevent her Phi from falling. Charoen rests her head against the wall, as she drifts off into her dreams
*abt 2 hrs later whenn its getting dark*
Charoen groans quietly as she feels her phone go off. she checks on Alpha whos still sound asleep in her arms and fixes her hair which moved as Alpha shifts in her slumber. she grabs her phone with one hand as the other supports Alpha from falling. Ongsa's name is plastered on the screen, asking her why she was at school. she flings a quick reply to say she left something at school, offs her location and silenced her phone. she sits in silence as she softly strokes Alpha's back to soothe her back to sleep when she feels Alpha stirring in her sleep.
as Charoen sits there caring for the woman between her arms, she wonders if she could ever be with Alpha like this again. earlier as she comforted the crying Alpha, she realised that she not only just admires her Phi but has inexplicably fallen in love with her. from the way she talks so confidently, to the way she carries herself and to the way she had fallen undone in Charoen's arms so trustingly made Charoen want to keep Alpha in her arms and become her only resting place and pillar of support. as she traces her Phi's features, she debates on telling her Phi about her feelings. "God, i love you Phi" she thinks but accidentally whispers it out loud.
unbeknowst to Charoen, Alpha is concious and hears what Charoen had whispered. snapping out of her daze from Charoen's soothing touch, her eyes fly open as she stares unblinkingly at Charoen. Charoen stares back at her, bewildered as to why Alpha had suddenly awoke.
"what? Nong, why would you say that. im so weak, no one can love me at my rawest form." Alpha breathes out preperlexed. Charoen is confused but realises she probs has let her thoughts out of her mouth unknowingly once again. "Phi? ur strong uk? the strongest person ik. that can never change. evn tho i saw u at ur weakest, it only made me love u more and not the opposite. i love you and embrace ur whole being everything from ur strengths to ur flaws." Charoen whispers back, as her voice crackled with emotion, with the love she holds for her Phi. Alpha breaks down in tears again, touched by her Nong's words. Charoen scrambles to cuddle her Phi in her arms, apologising for making Alpha cry once again. Alpha sucks in a breath and tells Charoen to not worry.
After Alpha calms down, the pair is once again envoloped in a comfortable silence.
"Nong" Alpha calls Charoen as she plays with Charoen's fingers "will you let me get to know you better? i want to give you a chance to make me love you back since you said you love me. so could you show me the love you have for me?"
Charoen nods vigorously as she hears what her Phi says. she kisses Alpha's knuckles before lifting her to the nearby chair causing Alpha to yelp and grab onto Charoen's shirt tightly. as Charoen setlles them into the chair, Charoen asks Alpha if she wants to head home since its getting late. Alpha agrees as she fixes Charoens specs which was crooked.
"im glad you found me Nong" "ofc i will Phi, ur the only star i can see in my life"