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Part 3

I could hardly keep my eyes opened, I was so tired.

It was the 6th night in a row that I wasn't getting any sleep, because of our late-night studies. I'm sure Kongpob Suthiluck was just as exhausted as I was. I turned my head and saw that his head was pillowed on his arms. Apparently, he had already fallen asleep on my desk. At other times I would have taken the opportunity to gaze at him longer, he looked so peaceful and endearing when he was asleep. However, I struggled to keep my eyes open and exhaustion got the best of me. My eyelids drooped and I collapsed onto the table next to Kongpob, fast asleep within seconds.

"Tea break!" Auntie announced cheerfully as she stepped into the room with a tray. She was secretly delighted when Kongpob had "volunteered" to tutor Arthit for his exams. Sometimes, Kongpob's frustrated voice echoed so loudly through the house (yes even though the door was shut) that it made her wince. But in the past few days, it seemed that her eldest son was learning to control his temper and become more calm around Arthit. Well, it's good for him to learn some patience. Arthit was good influence on his cold and arrogant son.

She had prepared endless trays of goodies to keep the "romance" going. She stopped on the doorway and a wide grin threatened to split her face as she looked at the scene in front of her eyes. Both Arthit and Kongpob were fast asleep on the desk, their heads close to each other, looking positively glowing together.

"Camera, camera!" She thought excitedly as she put down the tray and fumbled for her camera that was always with her so that she could capture such memorable moments.

*Click, click, click*

She snapped away, peering closer to the sleeping couple.

The pair slumbered on peacefully, unaware that photographs were being taken of them.

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"Okay, now the answer to this sum is..."

I couldn't believe it when he actually started to improve in his studies. My goodness, he had been so damn hopeless at first, taking 5 hours to do a simple sum that I could do in a minute, and still getting it wrong.

I saw his face screw up in concentration again and heaved a sigh as I flipped open my horror fiction, might as well have a quick read when he makes his pathetic attempts to solve it. However, I must commemorate him on his determination. Must be difficult to be so dumb...

"Well, that is correct..." I started saying when he finally pushed his notebook over to me, biting into his lip nervously.

Before I could finish my sentence, suddenly, a pair of arms was flung around my neck, almost choking me.

"Yay! Thank you, thank you!" That baka was hugging me so tight and practically screaming in my ear. I quickly pushed him away.

"Don't hug me, now do this one." I muttered quickly, not looking at him. I knew him too well already. I could imagine his disappointed expression, he would be biting his lip and looking hurt again.

Soon, I heard the familiar sound of his pencil scratching on paper again and I went back to reading my book.

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"Kongpob!"

I turned around and looked at him coolly, realizing that he was breaking the rule about not talking to me in school. I had been walking along the corridors to my classroom for the test. Yes, it was finally the day of the test.

Well...perhaps he had a last minute question to ask me, so I paused and glanced at him.

"Thank you." His doe-like eyes were huge and filled with gratitude. He actually looked damn adorable in that moment.

I sighed and decided to bite back my sarcastic remarks for once — don't want to make him lose his confidence just before he takes the test and wastes my efforts tutoring him.

"Do your best."

I whispered softly, turned and walked away towards my class.

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0_0

...

0_0

I stood there frozen to the spot. Did I hear him just say "Do your best"?

OMG!

He did!

He just cheered me on!!!

OMG!

Kongpob Suthiluck wished me good luck!!!

A feeling of great happiness filled me and I could feel the tears stinging in my eyes. Just for Kongpob Suthiluck, just for him, I will do my best or die in my attempt.

I smiled to myself and quickly rushed off to my own classroom, more confident than ever before...

❤︎

At last it was over, I shouldn't do too badly — quite a few of the questions that Kongpob had taught me actually came out in the test. I stretched and started looking for the pink envelope that Mrs Kongpob had handed to me this morning before the exams, telling me that it was for good luck.

I rummaged around my desk and bag, but it was gone! Damnit, did I really lose it? I don't even know what she gave me?

I tried to look around for it, but I couldn't find it. Well, guess that's too bad. Luckily, I already got Kongpob's "good luck" charm with me and that had been more than enough.

Being my happy-go-lucky self I shrugged and forgot about the whole incident.

"Arthit, the results are out!" Before the words were fully out of Aya's and May's mouths, I was out of the classroom, running towards the notice board as fast as I could. Everyone was crowding around the board in excitement, eager to see how they had performed in the recent exams. With great determination, I elbowed my way to the section in the beginning revealing the top performers.

"What's Arthit doing?" Aya looked at May in confusion as Arthit tried his hardest to squeeze through the crowd.

"What are you doing, Arthit? That's the wrong end of the board, you're looking at the top results in the exam!" May exclaimed in exasperation as I totally ignored her and continued to struggle through the large crowd. I never mentioned it to anyone, but I was worried that the sleepless nights would affect Kongpob's performance. If he hadn't gotten first this time...it would all be my fault...

Finally, finally I found myself looking, no staring at the big black characters that took a while to sink in. The top student in the exams was — KONGPOB SUTHILUCK!

A wave of immense relief swept through me immediately followed by great joy. Kongpob Suthiluck was still number one! I shouldn't have doubted his abilities. I was so emotional at the moment that I wanted to scream, cheer and cry.

That's my Kongpob Suthiluck!, I thought to myself as I jumped up and down happily.

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When I heard that the results were out, for the first time since I started school, I was in a hurry to get to the board. Usually, I never cared for the results, but this time, I wanted to know.

Geez, I never knew that so many people were interested in knowing who were the poorer performers on the boards. Number 70, 71, 72 ... ... 84 the numbers were increasing.

"Hey Kongpob," I glanced at Mike who was tugging my arm, looking extremely puzzled. "Kongpob, you're looking at the wrong side of the board," he continued as I pulled free of his arm and continued on my quest.

Please, would I make such an idiotic mistake, obviously I must have wanted to look at the lower scores if I was headed in this direction. I thought he would have credited me with more brains than that.

I pushed my way determinedly through the crowd until number 100 and I froze. It wasn't Arthit, not him. I stared disbelieving at the board, feeling deflated and strangely disappointed. Should have known that he was too stupid to accomplish this, I thought as I strode back to class, leaving an extremely puzzled Mike behind me. I didn't need to check the board to know that I had come first, I found the exam really easy.

When I was walking towards the school building, I saw a slim familiar figure emerging from the crowds and walking towards me with a bright smile.

"Congratulations! You're first again Kongpob!"

I stared at him, my usual poker face in place. I don't know what he had to be so happy about. As I continued staring at him blankly, the cheerful expression on his face faded and his voice slowly died away. "I'm so sorry, I'm too stupid...even with your help I didn't manage to..."

I sighed and walked away from his bent head, not wanting to hear what he said next. Idiot, I thought to myself when I heard voices from the staff room.

"What a waste of my time...knew she was always hopeless..."

"...Arthit indeed did make it ..." the sounds of argument drifted through the half-opened door and I stopped short as I heard that baka's name.

"We have never placed a single F-class student's name on the notice board before and we have no intention to do so this time..."

"However, he did indeed tie for the 100th position with the other student..."

Not bothering to hear any more of the argument, I strode off with a totally unconcerned expression on my face. However, I didn't realize that there was an almost indiscernible uplifting of the corners of my mouth, and that I was feeling much happier.

Once again it has been proven that you're a genus. If even that Baka can tie for the 100th position, I thought to myself. That was the only explanation for my delight.

It was lunchtime and I was walking to the gardens when I caught sight of an isolated figure standing on the slope, looking down at the scenery below. It was HIM again...

I hesitated for a split second as Arthit appeared to be lost in silent contemplation, looking all sad and thoughtful, no sign of the usual huge grin that appeared whenever I was in proximity.

Reluctantly, I walked towards him. He turned, slightly startled as I approached him, and immediately, that expected idiotic grin appeared on his face.

So predictable. Just like an idiot, I thought irritability. "Well have you heard?" I said aloud.

"Heard...what?" A puzzled expression appeared on his face.

"You know, the news that you tied for the 100th position?" Strangely, he nodded calmly, not showing the least surprise or pride. Darn so he already knows. But, why isn't he happy about it?

"Yes, I heard. It's all thanks to you!" Immediately, he was smiling and bowing to me again. Goodness, if he keeps doing that he might as well maintain that horizontal position every time I come near him. Easier than to keep bobbing up and down, distracting too!

My irritation grew and I huffed angrily. "Give it back," I stretched my hand out to him.

"Huh?" Again, he was puzzled, blinking at me confusedly.

"The photo, our agreement." I was always extremely cold with my words towards him.

"Right, right." He muttered quickly and dug in his bag frantically, before handing it over to me with a bow as I rolled my eyes and rudely snatched it from his hand.

I hid it in my bag immediately with a furtive glance around to ensure that no one had noticed.

"Thank you." I muttered before I could stop myself and walked away from him.

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"Well, even though you are stupid, you've got determination." Kongpob said suddenly, before coolly walking away from me.

I stood there for a few moments before it hit me. Then, hot tears of happiness started to gather in my eyes and his departing back became blurry. I hardly dared to believe my ears as I continued staring at him until he disappeared.

Did he just say I've got determination?...

0_0

OMG!

YES!

"...Way to go, Arthit!"

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