Chapter Text
The night was too quiet.
Pran could hear the faint hum of the city outside his dorm window, the distant motorcycles and the occasional bark of a stray dog. Inside, though, the silence felt louder. The kind that made his skin itch with awareness.
It wasn’t because he was alone.
It was because Pat was there.
Sprawled on the floor with his books scattered everywhere, Pat was pretending to study — or at least, that’s what he’d claimed when he invited himself over hours ago. But at this point, the only thing Pat had been studying was Pran.
And Pran noticed.
Every time he looked up from his notebook, there it was: Pat’s gaze, lingering just a little too long, as if he was memorizing every line of his face. When their eyes met, Pat would grin that infuriating grin — the one that made Pran’s stomach twist, though he’d die before admitting it.
Pat: (breaking the silence) “You’re so serious. You’ll get wrinkles before graduation.”
Pran: (not looking up) “And you’ll flunk out if you don’t actually read your notes.”
Pat laughed, a low, warm sound that sent shivers through the stillness of the room. He rolled onto his side, propping his head up on his hand, watching Pran scribble down another neat line of notes.
Pat: “You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I might think you like me.”
Pran froze mid-word, pen hovering above the page. Slowly, he turned to glare at him.
Pran: (deadpan) “I wasn’t looking at you.”
Pat: (smirk widening) “You were. Just now.”
Pran: “You’re imagining things.”
Pat chuckled, shifting closer, closing the gap on the floor between them. His arm brushed against Pran’s knee, deliberate, lingering.
Pat: (softly, teasing but edged with something else) “Careful, Pran. If you keep staring, I’ll kiss you.”
The words landed heavy in the air. For once, Pat’s tone wasn’t just playful — it was dangerous, teetering on the edge of something real.
Pran’s heart skipped. He hated that it did.
Pran: (scoffing, covering his nerves) “You wouldn’t dare.”
Pat’s grin sharpened. That was all the invitation he needed.
Before Pran could blink, Pat leaned in — quick, reckless — and pressed his lips to his.
It was clumsy. Too fast, too sudden, over before Pran could even register what was happening. A brush of warmth, the faint taste of the cola Pat had been drinking, and then it was gone.
Pat leaned back, wide-eyed, as if surprised by his own boldness.
Pat: (breathless, grinning nervously) “Told you I would.”
Pran just stared. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest. His lips tingled, and his brain screamed at him to say something, anything — but the words tangled in his throat.
And then, before Pat could fill the silence with another smug comment, Pran moved.
He grabbed Pat’s collar and pulled him back in.
This time, the kiss was slower. Not careful — they were both too unpracticed, too shaky for that — but deliberate. A testing press of lips, a hesitation, and then the smallest sigh escaping from Pran when Pat’s hand found the side of his face.
It was nothing like he imagined. It was messier, warmer, terrifying… and somehow perfect.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were flushed, breathing uneven.
Pat’s grin softened, turning into something gentler.
Pat: (whispering) “So… did you like that?”
Pran rolled his eyes, trying desperately to mask the way his ears were burning.
Pran: (grumbling) “You’re impossible.”
But the smile tugging at his lips gave him away.
And Pat — smug, ridiculous, irreplaceable Pat — leaned back on his elbows, beaming like he’d just won the greatest prize in the world.
Pat: (teasing) “Impossible… but kissable.”
Pran groaned, tossing a pillow at him, but even as Pat laughed and caught it, he couldn’t stop the truth from blooming in his chest.
That had been their first kiss.
And as terrifying as it was… it wouldn’t be their last.