Chapter Text
The cafeteria buzzed loud and chaotic.
It was a Friday afternoon. Students running around, balancing the tray of food in their hands, play fighting each other, trying to get to an empty seat.
The cafeteria of Jirachotikul High was as chaotic as ever. With approximately 12,000 students totalling in grade 11th and 12th, the crowd at every cafeteria during lunch was inevitable. Though the lunch schedules for every section was different, the cafeterias still buzzed loud and proud.
Jirachotikul High; a prestigious High school situated in Bangkok, Thailand. It was a massive high school. Multiple buildings, multiple cafeterias, multiple labs, multiple libraries, multiple swimming pools, multiple basketball courts, not a single thing was 'one', everything was 'multiple'.
Mostly kown as the 'area of the rich'. Kids of politicians, businessmen, old money landowners, high class elites were mostly the 'customers' of this high school. An expensive school, not everyone is able to afford except some highly intelligent kids through scholarships.
A branch of Jirachotikul family; the family that ruled the country. They owned multiple businesses, from stationary to electronics, from kitchen supplies to car engines, from hair oil to shopping centres. If you are a part of the country, if you live in Thailand, you own minimum two products signed with their stamp. Youngsters from all around the country wanted to be a part of this conglomerate. Either as a student or as a job holder, mostly both.
And in one of those multiple cafeterias, sat a group of students. Students who were well known in the school. Other students called them "The Hot Five" while the teachers called them 'Headaches'.
They were the quote on quote "bad boys" of the school.
The group included five guys, all of the same age and in the same grade:
Suppakarn Jirachotikul; yes, the younger son of the Jirachotikul family. The same family who owns the country –not legally but metaphorically– and this school –that one, legally.
Nickname: Por
Age: 19 years old
Grade: 12th
A handsome man with a lean body, toned abs, doe eyes, fair skin, small waist, long delicate fingers, jet black hair and a mesmerising charm. He could seduce any gender with a wink, a smile or just a single glance.
Some called him pretty, most called him hot.
He was mischievous. Always playing pranks, always running around the school, always in detention, never paying attention in classes. Yet, his grades were good. He wasn't on top but was in between 5th to 10th and that was enough, for him.
Thanaphum Sestasittikul; nicknamed AuAu. Por's partner in crime and childhood best friend. Grandson of Sestasittikul's chairman; the company that owned the biggest food chain in Thailand, the only sector that the Jirachotikuls were not on the lead and that surprisingly made the families close friends. The crackhead of the group. Jokes spawned out of his mouth every hour, every minute, every second. The hot + funny guy. Girls swooned over him but he already had a leash around his neck, by his beautiful boyfriend.
Worapong Walor; nicknamed Save. The said beautiful boyfriend. Soft delicate features with sassy, bratty attitude. Son of the highest paid actor and the highest paid news reporter in Thailand. Walking on his father's footsteps, he wanted to be an actor, making a name for himself.
Teetut Chungmanirat; nicknamed Thomas. The anchor of the group. If he's not with his friend group, he's with his love; his books –do not let his boyfriend hear that. The top of the university, he has got both wealth and brain. Son of the highest paid lawyer in Thailand. His whole family consisting of lawyers and Judges to which, he wants to keep the legacy.
Kongpob Jirojmontri; nicknamed Kong. The said boyfriend. Beautiful, sassy and the only person Thomas is scared of. Never was a fan of chaos but would always be by his friend group's side, pranking others and running around the school. Son of a politician.
The five men who ruled, tormented and hijacked the school.
"Come on guys! Let's just play truth or dare!" The chaotic one, AuAu, voiced out for the third time this afternoon.
All of them looked him dead in the eye and rolled their eyes so hard it nearly popped out of the sockets, then threw their gaze back at their food.
AuAu scoffed, offended. "What the hell is wrong with y'all? I'm just suggesting something to kill the time and make it fun." Hands crossing over his chest.
Thomas spoke, eyes latched onto his food, not looking up once. "It's always that one stupid game."
"Then give me something else. If you have some other reaaallyyy cool, new, games. Spill it out." Rolled his eyes, sarcastic. "You got nothing. Yet, you run your mouth like you do." Scoffed.
"How about we play 'whoever'?" Por spoke up, eyes sparkling, wriggling his eyebrows.
Whoever; in their vocabulary, that was a game of looking at the door, whoever stranger comes in first, you have to stand up, walk up to the person and pull them in by their necks, making out for a whole damn minute.
"But this time, it will be, not just a makeout, you have to make them fall for you." His lips twisted up, into a smirk.
"Uh-huh, trying to get us killed." Thomas spoke up, nodding, briefly glancing at Por, then back at his food.
Por chuckled. "Come on guys. It's just a game. Don't be that jealous of each other. It's not even a makeout."
"Easy for you to say, the only single human in this group." Scoffing, Kong stole a piece of beef from Thomas's tray, making the other snap his head up, nearly breaking his neck in the process.
"HEY! THAT'S MINE!" Thomas screamed so loud, nearby students stopped their own doings, a few turning their heads towards the group, others sighing, taking it as normal as breathing, then shoving a spoonful in their mouth, back to eating again.
Kong just stuck out his tongue, teasing him and taking the stolen piece of beef near his mouth, slowly biting onto it. Eyes fixed onto his boyfriend, a soft bite onto his lips as the beef settled into his warm mouth. Thomas gulped, watching every slow moment, his eyes briefly gazing into Kong's seductive ones, then slowly gazing lower, now staying attached onto his boyfriend's mouth.
The others sick of their horniness, just rolled their eyes.
"Always trying to eat each other's mouth off!" Por sneered, his face disgusted and his body tingling with a "Yuck!" slipping out of his mouth.
Thomas came out of his trance.
"Huh! I would love to see the day you fall in love. To see how much of a downbad man would you be for your lover."
"Not happening. Absolutely not." Por shrugged.
"Let's see!" Thomas stood his ground, lifting his eyebrow.
Por just rolled his eyes. "So, are we playing or are y'all scared?" Raised a brow.
"Who is scared? Let's play. It's just a game." This time Save spoke up, his eyes boring holes into Por's.
AuAu's eyes widened. "You're not seducing no other man, except me." His right hand flew towards Save's waist, holding tight, pulling his chair closer towards his own, pulling their bodies together.
Save just shrugged. "It's just a game, Au. I just have to make someone fall for me. It's not gonna take more than two minutes." His face neutral.
AuAu thought about it and nodded. "I mean, yeah, it's not gonna take more than two minutes." Chuckled. "Good then, let's play."
Now all three of them looked at the two who still haven't given their nod of approval.
"What?" Thomas raised a brow.
"Don't be a black sheep now!!" Groaned. "Come on, let's play." Por nodded his head towards Thomas, giving his excited doe eyes.
Thomas sighed. "Okay."
Kong just shook his head, exhausted. "Okay."
"Thank you soooo much guys. Now, let's have some fun." Por gave them his beautiful gummy smile, eyes turning into small crescents.
The whole group smiled in awe. Something that no other student, no other stranger has ever told Por; he was absolutely adorable. Though fair as he doesn't smile this particular smile in front of others. This was his real smile, his private smile, only for his safe zone, only when it's coming from deep inside of him.
Even though they were in the middle of the cafeteria, midst of many students, he would give them this smile, cause he was genuinely happy with them.
"You are too excited for this." Chuckled his best friend.
"Of course. We haven't done this for quite a while now. Since y'all got hooked onto each other." Scoffed, folding his arms over his chest.
The others laughed, looking at his face. His lips jutted out in a small pout as his eyebrows furrowed in disgust.
"Okay. Let's play. Who goes first?" Asked Save.
"You do. Let's see the two minutes that you talked about." Por smirked.
"But how do you make people 'fall in love'? What counts as 'in love'? A lot of students do like me, I know that, but does that count as 'falling in love with me'?" Save asked, genuinely confused.
"I knew this was some stupid nonsense the second I heard it." Thomas said, flat.
Por just ignored him completely. "I didn't think about that. Maybe just ask them to date you. If they say yes, you win. I guess?" Shrugged.
"That's pretty easy." Kong voiced out. "That wouldn't even take two minutes." He added.
"Oh, come on! You guys have boyfriends." Por started. "People here know you're taken. They won't just say yes as soon as you ask them. You gotta make them believe you will ACTUALLY date them."
"I don't think so. They will just agree for the sake of agreeing." AuAu shrugged.
"I agree with AuAu." Thomas butted in. "Even though they know, they'll just agree cause they think of a possibility, in their delulu minds. Or just agree for nothing. They know we pull pranks, this could count as another one. They would know that too. They're not THAT dumb."
"Okay. Whatever. Let's just play please. This whole discussion is just ruining my mood." Por sighed.
"Okay. Let me start." Saying that, Save turned his head towards the tall and wide entry doorway of the cafeteria.
In just a nanosecond, a pretty, petite girl walked in. Her hair loose, glasses sat on the bridge of her nose, eyes straight towards the flow of students lined up for the food. Her mouth splitting open, a soft sigh leaving her lips.
"I see a few people coming in. Which one was the first?" Asked Kong.
"The girl over there. Hair down, glasses." Save pointed towards the girl, with his chin and his brows.
All four of them looked at her.
"Okay guys. Imma be right back." Winked and walked up to the girl.
The group looked at them with full focus. They could see Save talk to the girl, her smiling up at him, licking her lips in nervousness, nodding her head as her hands clutched hard onto her phone and cafeteria card.
And as he said, he was back in two minutes.
Save sat down in his seat, smirking.
Threw his phone onto the table.
AuAu chuckled, kissing his cheek.
The others looked at his phone, her phone number.
Por laughed. "Okay. Approved."
"That doesn't certify she said she would date you though." Thomas shrugged.
Save smirked. "Go to the recordings."
They all laughed. This smart piece of shit.
And yes, there was a recording from a minute ago.
"Y-Yes, I will date you."
Voice low, a soft mumble.
Save turned his gaze towards Thomas, raised a brow.
"Okay. Now, approved." Thomas nodded.
"Who's next?" Asked the one who's done.
"I'll go." AuAu stood up.
"Oh. Both the boyfriends taking turns, huh." Kong chuckled.
"Never in bed though. I'm always on top." AuAu left after winking at Kong.
Kong just rolled his eyes. "Didn't need to hear that."
And just like that all four of them went, got the nod, got the recording and got approved. Finally coming to Por's turn.
"Now, the man with the idea." Thomas turned towards Por.
Por laughed.
They all turned their heads towards the cafeteria door. And just the same time, a guy walked in.
Por's eyes scanned the stranger that just barged in.
Hair combed, forehead exposed, glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, sharp jawline, uniform neatly tugged in; white full sleeves shirt with the logo stitched in front and a black pair of shorts, a black notebook hugged into his arms, his tongue licked the dry pair of lips, coating them wet–
Por realised he was staring.
Schooling his expression back to neutral, his eyes gazed up, towards the guy's face and–
Shoot!
Por's eyes widened a little as he looked back at his food.
The guy was looking straight back at him. Their eyes met. He got caught. He got caught staring.
His mind short-circuited as his heartbeat raised.
"It's the nerd." Kong chuckled.
"The nerd? You know him?" AuAu glanced at Kong.
"Nah, I just saw him at the library a few times when I went to get Thomas." Kong shrugged.
"Yeah, that nerd." Thomas nodded. "He's always at the library. Kinda. Every time I am there, he is there. So, in my understanding, he's there everyday."
"And you're there thrice a week. So in love with your damn books!" Kong sneered.
Thomas just laughed at his jealous boyfriend.
"Come on guys. Let's not talk about that love triangle right now." Save rolled his eyes.
AuAu laughed. "The love triangle." Laughed again.
All of them turned towards Por.
"Dude, what's up?! Why are you suddenly so interested towards your food?" AuAu spoke, eyebrows frowning. "Don't tell me you're scared!" Chuckled.
That pulled Por out of his overthinking mess of a brainland.
"Who the fuck's scared? Not me." Saying that he stood up. He looked towards the lines of students, not seeing the nerd –as Thomas described– anywhere.
"He's already sitting down with his friends, if you're wondering where he disappeared to." Thomas layed it flat.
"Right side, the corner table." Added his boyfriend, Kong.
Por looked towards the given location and there he was, with two other guys on his right and two in front.
And he didn't know any of them.
"Okay, I'll be right back." Por smirked towards his friends. "Let me show y'all how it's done." Winked and walked away.
Por walked straight towards the table, his focus solely on the guy sitting on the very corner. Students turned their gazes towards him, smiling, giggling as he passed by but Por's eyes didn't turn towards none of them. Didn't faze from the destination.
"Hey." Por greeted. His voice soft and his smile wide. Not the gummy smile, just a normal but charming one.
The table looked up. The four guys turned their eyes on him. Except the one he was here for. Tsk.
"Yes?" One of them spoke up, tallest out of them, tone neutral.
"I wanted to talk to your friend over there." Por pointed his index finger straight at the one on the very corner, the only guy who didn't spare him a glance at his greeting.
"Tee, he's pointing towards you." The tall one spoke again.
So, his name is Tee.
The guy named Tee just shrugged, stuffing his mouth with food. Not sparing a single glance at Por.
And that made something snap within him. Who the fuck is he? Not even sparing a glance at Por? Not a single word?
Por took a deep breath. No. He has to calm down. This stupid game. He can't be the only one to not complete it.
He schooled his expression perfectly, smiling sweetly.
"I was wondering if I could talk to you, Tee."
The guy named Tee finally looked up, their eyes met.
Por's heartbeat did the same thing again.
What the fuck?! Why is he suddenly a heart patient?
"What?" Cold, deep, distant.
Por's breathe hitched. Damn. That voice.
"I just, maybe we could talk privately?" Nervous.
Por was loosing his mind. What is wrong with him? Why is he suddenly so nervous?
He has done this quite a few time — asking someone out. He would just ask them in front of their friends, it was not a big deal, it never was. So, why is this such a big deal suddenly? That it's making him nervous.
Tee turned his gaze back to his food. "Not interested."
Por's patience? Nah, baby, it's not even here, it's hallucination.
Por scoffed. "You don't have to be that rude. I just wanted to talk."
The guy didn't turn his gaze away from his food. "I'm not rude. I'm just honest. And I'm not interested."
Por's gaze roamed around the table, all of them trying to control their emotions. He could see their lips twitching, their eyes gazing back to their food. Trying to remain neutral, trying to school their face to as calm as possible, trying not to laugh.
And that? Pissed him off. A hiss, a short breathe, then he left the table with no other words.
Fuck.
Por didn't go to his friends. He didn't give them a single glance. He didn't want to be the only one who didn't complete their 'whoever' quest. His ego and pride was too loud for that. He couldn't face them right now.
"Por!" He could hear AuAu calling after him but the rejection hit hard. Tee's voice was still ringing in his ears.
"I'm not interested."
That was the first time someone rejected him. The first time he tried talking to someone and they didn't even bother giving him the slightest of attention.
Everyone wanted him, a piece of him, his name or his money, everyone wanted fame. It had always been like that. Whatever he wanted, whoever he wanted, he always got it. People displayed their affection, their vulnerability, their pride, their ego, their devotion, down at his feet. Everyone.
Except that guy.
What the fuck does he think of himself?!
Back at the table at the right corner of the cafeteria.
A pair of dark orbs watched as the furious guy walked straight out of the cafeteria. His lips twitched upwards, a small smirk displaying on that pink skin.
"Damn. He didn't even go to his friends. Haha" Another guy chuckled, on his right.
"Our friend here crushed his ego, North." Another one, in the front.
"I can't believe you had that in you, Tee." A beautiful boy sitting on the other side of North spoke up, laughing softly, looking at the guy who just crushed the school heartthrob.
"He could go and cry to his dad for all I care." Another one, one of the guys in front spoke, laughing.
The guy named Tee stopped staring at the door that the school heartthrob disappeared out to, fixing his gaze onto the one who just spoke. "Just eat, Thee." The deep voice sent a chill down the other's back as he turned his head down, onto the food.
"Well, I was just saying." Thee whispered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Okay. Let's just eat, guys. Let that dude be." The other one in front, named Wave, spoke up, trying to ease the temperature around the table.
"Yeah, yeah. Right, sweetheart?" North chuckled, turning to his right. "Say aahhhh." He held a spoonful of rice in front of his boyfriend's mouth, giving him the biggest smile possible.
Otto chuckled, taking the spoon in his mouth, eating the food.
All of them went back to eat their food as the guy named Tee opened his black notebook.
The first page; a sketch. A beautiful pair of eyes, looking up, doe, deep, shiny, like they held a million stars deep within.
The eyes matched perfectly to the heartthrob that tried talking to him just a few minutes ago.
A coincidence or a destiny?
Maybe a destiny written by a teenage boy and not the God.
"So pretty." A soft mumble.
Obsession is not a disease.
You cannot intellectualize yourself out of obsession. You cannot cure yourself of it.
Obsession beats discipline. Obsession beats logic. Obsession beats emotion. Obsession is your natural state.