Chapter Text
The university cultural festival was officially three days away.
Which meant the entire campus had turned into chaos.
People were running through hallways carrying decorations, stage equipment, cameras, unfinished banners, emotional damage, and iced coffee.
And in the middle of all of it—
Namtan Tipnaree was trying very hard to act like a normal human being around Film Rachanun.
She was failing horribly.
“Namtan.”
“Hm?”
“You printed the wrong schedule.”
Namtan looked down at the papers in her hands.
Then blinked.
Then looked at Film standing beside her.
Then back at the papers.
“…this is last year’s festival.”
Film crossed her arms, clearly trying not to laugh.
“You’re literally the top student in the department.”
“I’m having a difficult experience.”
“With printers?”
“With life.”
Film finally laughed softly.
And unfortunately for Namtan, that sound alone was enough to destroy her remaining brain cells.
From nearby, Milk watched everything with disappointment.
“She’s so pathetic.”
Cizie nodded while drinking iced coffee. “It’s honestly inspiring.”
—
Namtan wasn’t usually like this.
Everyone on campus knew her as calm, smart, dependable, annoyingly perfect.
But around Film?
She forgot how doors worked.
Last week she walked into the wrong classroom because Film smiled at her in the hallway.
Yesterday she answered “thank you” when Film asked for a charger.
And right now—
Film was standing way too close while checking decoration layouts on Namtan’s laptop.
Namtan stopped breathing for approximately six seconds.
Film noticed immediately.
“…are you okay?”
Namtan sat upright too quickly. “Yes.”
Milk: “She’s lying.”
Namtan: “Milk.”
Milk: “What? Your ears are red again.”
Film looked at her curiously.
Namtan wanted the floor to open and consume her alive.
—
By evening, the festival rehearsal became even more chaotic.
The media department had started a livestream for promotional content.
Students crowded everywhere while cameras moved around filming behind-the-scenes moments.
Film, as head of media design, was naturally one of the main focuses.
Which unfortunately also meant her ex showed up.
Namtan noticed the second Film’s expression changed.
The girl kept following Film around backstage.
Trying to talk. Trying to laugh. Standing too close.
Film looked visibly irritated.
Love whispered: “Why is she HERE?”
Piploy sighed. “She heard Film got popular again because of the festival.”
Milk immediately looked toward Namtan.
Dangerously silent Namtan.
“Oh no.”
Cizie followed her gaze.
“Oh this is about to become cinema.”
—
Film tried avoiding her ex for almost twenty minutes.
It didn’t work.
Eventually the girl cornered her near the backstage curtains while the livestream cameras were still moving around nearby.
“Nong Film, can we talk properly now?”
Film exhaled tiredly. “We already talked.”
“Not really.”
“You broke up with me through text.”
Film’s jaw tightened slightly.
Before she could answer—
Namtan appeared beside her carrying event files.
She stopped immediately after sensing tension.
Film looked at her for one second.
Then another.
And before even thinking—
Film grabbed Namtan’s wrist.
Namtan’s brain shut down instantly.
Film looked directly at her ex.
“We already moved on.”
The ex frowned. “With who?”
Silence.
Namtan could physically hear her own heartbeat.
The livestream camera accidentally turned toward them.
Students nearby immediately noticed the tension.
Film still hadn’t let go of Namtan’s wrist.
And because Namtan was catastrophically in love and incapable of functioning around this girl—
she gently placed a hand around Film’s waist without thinking.
The entire backstage area went silent.
One media student gasped dramatically.
“WAIT.”
Another student: “No way.”
Livestream comments exploded.
Film froze.
Namtan froze harder.
Her hand was still on Film’s waist.
Warm.
Very warm.
Film slowly looked up at her.
Namtan forgot every language she knew.
The ex looked between them. “…seriously?”
Namtan opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Film noticed immediately.
Then quietly—
almost too quietly—
“Please.”
Just that.
Please.
And Namtan understood instantly.
So despite internally dying, she nodded once.
The ex looked irritated before finally walking away.
The second she disappeared, backstage chaos erupted.
“YOU TWO ARE DATING???”
“Since WHEN??”
“WHAT?”
“Oh my god I knew it.”
The livestream comments moved so fast nobody could read them anymore.
Film immediately grabbed Namtan’s sleeve.
“Come with me.”
Namtan obeyed without resistance because honestly she would probably follow Film into a burning building.
—
They hid inside an empty practice classroom.
Silence.
Both breathing slightly too fast.
Namtan still had one hand lightly around Film’s waist.
Film looked down at it.
Then back up slowly.
“…you can let go now.”
Namtan jumped backward so fast she nearly hit the wall.
“RIGHT.” “Sorry.” “Oh my god.” “Sorry.”
Film stared at her for two seconds before laughing quietly.
Not mockingly.
Just genuinely amused.
Namtan’s heartbeat became illegal.
Film leaned against the desk.
“You panic a lot for someone everyone thinks is cool.”
Namtan looked away immediately. “I’m not panicking.”
“You almost walked into a wall.”
“…the wall moved.”
Film laughed again.
Namtan decided death would be easier than this conversation.
Then her phone exploded with notifications.
Milk: HELLO CAMPUS POWER COUPLE???
Cizie: YOU TOUCHED HER WAIST IN 4K HD 😭
Namtan covered her face.
Film’s own phone buzzed too.
Love: girl???
Piploy: So are we pretending to be surprised or—
Film locked her phone instantly.
Silence again.
Awkward this time.
Finally Namtan spoke carefully.
“…should we clarify things tomorrow?”
Film hesitated.
Because technically they should.
Obviously.
This entire thing was ridiculous.
But…
Her ex had finally stopped bothering her.
And for some reason…
standing beside Namtan felt strangely safe.
Film looked at her.
Namtan immediately got nervous again under eye contact alone.
Cute.
Dangerously cute.
Film looked away first.
“…if we deny it now the rumors will get worse.”
Namtan blinked.
Film continued calmly: “The festival ends in one month.” “So until then…”
Namtan stared at her.
Slowly realizing.
Film sighed.
“Let’s just pretend properly.”
Namtan’s soul nearly left her body.
Film noticed her expression immediately.
“…you look terrified.”
“I’m processing.”
“Why?”
Because I’ve been in love with you for months.
Instead Namtan said: “I didn’t expect my week to become psychologically challenging.”
Film smiled slightly.
And unfortunately for both of them—
that was the exact moment everything started becoming real.