Chapter Text
“Let’s go get some food,” Wave said excitedly.
“Why are you so hyped, Wave? We have a whole ass project, and you’re still thinking about food?” North scoffed.
“North, we’ve got a whole semester to finish it. Chill it’s not like our lives depend on it” Teetee chimed in.
“I seriously don’t get how you two are so relaxed. You know how the professor is. I don’t wanna get scolded.” sighed North.
“We’ll be fine. Let’s just grab food first, then we can think about the project,” Wave said, dragging both of his friends toward the cafeteria.
Wave, North, and Teetee had been friends since their first year of university. They were put in the same project, and soon became so close that they were basically inseparable.
“It’s already our last year… I’m really going to miss you both so much” North said as he hugged his friends tightly.
“You’re being dramatic. I bet you’ll forget us as soon as we graduate” Wave laughed.
“I bet 200 baht that North’s gonna forget us!” Teetee added jokingly.
“Hey, stop teasing me. Hurry up before the shop runs out of food” North said, hushing both of his friends.
The three of them pushed open the door of the small campus shop, the familiar smell of stir-fried basil and rice hitting them instantly.
“See? I told you we had to hurry.” North said as he looked around at the crowded space.
Teetee stepped forward, scanning the menu. “I’m getting pork basil rice. I’ve been craving it all day-”
“Same.”
Teetee froze.
That voice.
Slowly, he turned his head and there he was. Por. Standing right next to him like it was some kind of curse.
“You’ve got to be kidding me man” Teetee muttered.
Por smirked. “What? You don’t own this place.”
Wave leaned over to North and whispered, “Ohhh this is about to get interesting.”
North sighed. “Not again…”
The shop owner called out from behind the counter, “Last pork basil rice!”
Both Teetee and Por stepped forward at the exact same time.
“I said it first.” Teetee shot back.
“No, you didn’t.” Por crossed his arms. “I’ve been standing here longer.”
“You’re always standing around doing nothing, that doesn’t count.”
Wave had to hold back a laugh, while North looked like he was already regretting coming.
“Just give it to me,” Teetee said, placing his hand on the counter.
Por did the same. “No. I’m taking it.”
The shop owner looked between the two, clearly tired. “There’s only one. Decide quickly.”
Teetee and Por locked eyes, neither willing to back down.
“Rock-paper-scissors,” Por said.
Teetee narrowed his eyes. “…Fine.”
Wave whispered, “This is so stupid.”
“Best out of three,” Teetee added.
“Deal.”
They both raised their hands—
And the battle for the last pork basil rice began.
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“YESSSS!!!” Teetee’s scream echoed across the room.
Wave flinched, then immediately pulled him into a hug. “Let’s gooo—that’s my friend! There’s never a time where Wanpichit loses!”
Por rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You win, so what? It’s not even important. So childish.”
“That’s exactly what losers say,” Teetee shot back with a grin.
“But since I’m the winner, I’ll be taking my food. Byeee, loser.”He stuck his tongue out mockingly before turning and walking away.
Teetee dropped into his seat, setting the plate of pork basil rice down a little harder than necessary.
“God, he’s so annoying,” he muttered, stabbing into the rice.
North let out a small sigh as he sat across from him.
“I swear, Por always finds a way to get on your nerves. It’s like he does it on purpose.”
“He does do it on purpose,” Teetee snapped.
“That guy has nothing better to do than ruin my day.”
Wave, who was sitting beside him, leaned back in his chair, casually sipping his drink. “I don’t know… I think Por’s kinda cute.”
Teetee froze mid-bite. “…What?”
North blinked. “Wave.”
“What?” Wave shrugged, completely unfazed.
“I’m just saying. He’s not bad-looking.”
Teetee scoffed, rolling his eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
But before he could continue, his gaze shifted almost unconsciously towards where Por was sitting with his group of friends.
Por was laughing.
Not the smug, annoying smirk he always had when he was around Teetee but something softer. Real.
His head tilted back slightly as he laughed, his eyes curving into crescents, completely disappearing.
And there it was—that stupid gummy smile. Bright, effortless… annoyingly nice.
For a second, Teetee just stared.
“Bro…you’re staring,” Wave whispered, a grin creeping onto his face.
“I am not,” Teetee shot back immediately, looking away and shoving a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
“Mmhm,” Wave hummed. “Sure.”
Teetee clicked his tongue, refusing to look again.
But somehow, his eyes drifted back anyway.
And this time Por was already looking at him.
Their eyes locked.
For a brief second, neither of them moved.
Then Por’s lips curled into that familiar, irritating smirk.
Slowly, without breaking eye contact, he raised his hand
And flipped Teetee off.
Teetee’s eyes twitched.
“This motherfuck-” he muttered under his breath, gripping his spoon tighter.
“What happened?” North asked.
“That idiot,” Teetee hissed. “He’s seriously asking for it.”
Wave leaned over, trying to peek. “What did he do?”
Teetee looked away again, scoffing. “Nothing.”
But his ears were slightly red.
And across the room, Por was still smiling.
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It all started in the summer of grade 10.
Every year, at the end of the semester, the school held a talent show.
It was a big big deal, students filled the auditorium.
Teachers sat in the front rows, and everyone talked about it for weeks after.
Some danced, some performed short skits, some sang.
And Por, who was already known for his voice, obviously signed up.
So did Teetee.
At first, it wasn’t a problem.
They didn’t know each other well back then.
Just faces in the same grade. Different friend groups. Different worlds.
Until the audition list came out.
They were both assigned to the same category.
Singing. Solo.
“Guess we’re competing,” Por had said casually the first time they crossed paths backstage.
Teetee only shrugged. “Yeah. Don’t expect me to go easy on you.”
Por smirked. “Wasn’t planning to.”
It should’ve stayed simple.
Just a normal competition.
But it didn’t.
A week before the actual performance, rumors started spreading.
Quiet at first.
Then louder.
“They say Teetee copied Por’s song.”
“I heard Por complained to the teacher.”
“No, no Por said Teetee couldn’t sing live.”
The story kept changing depending on who you asked.
Teetee heard enough.
And every version made his chest burn a little more.
Finally, he snapped.
He found Por near the music room after school, grabbing his wrist before he could walk away.
“The hell is your problem?” Teetee demanded.
Por frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. Going around saying I copied you? That I can’t sing?”
For a second, Por just stared at him genuinely confused.
“…I didn’t say any of that.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I didn’t,” Por repeated, his tone sharpening.
“Why would I care that much about you?”
That did it.
Teetee let out a dry laugh. “Wow. So now you're pretending you’re above it too?”
“I’m not pretending anything,” Por shot back.
“If I had something to say, I’d say it to your face.”
“Then say it,” Teetee challenged, stepping closer. “You think I’m not good enough?”
Por’s expression changed just slightly.
Not mocking.
Not smug.
Serious.
“I think,” he said slowly, “you’re trying too hard to prove something.”
Teetee’s hands clenched.
“…And I think you’re just scared someone might actually be better than you.”
The air between them went cold.
From that moment on, it stopped being a misunderstanding.
It became a rivalry.
The night of the talent show only made things worse.
They both performed.
They both did well.
Too well.
When the results were announced
Por won.
By one point.
one.
The crowd cheered. His friends rushed the stage.
Teetee stood there, frozen the sound fading into the background.
And for just a second, just a second Por looked at him.
Not smiling. Not celebrating.
Just… looking.
Like he wanted to say something.
But he didn’t.
And Teetee turned away first.
After that, they never spoke properly again.
Only arguments. Only sarcasm. Only tension.
And somehow… Years later. Nothing had changed.
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