The downpour caught us without warning. Me, Mike and Sarut were after a mind-racking session of political economy, and were on our way back home. None of us had an umbrella with us, obviously, and the only form of cover were our note files.

There's nothing worth in there, trust me.

I could hardly see anything with the water flowing down my eyes, and my clothes were starting to stick to my body.

“There!”, Sarut said pointing his finger in the direction of the café near our faculty. “Let’s get in there quick!”

So the three of us, while accidentally stepping on around half a dozen puddles within that mere fifty metre distance, ran towards the “Brainwake Café”. Sarut pushed open the door, and as soon as we stepped past the threshold, almost all eyes nearby were upon us. I took in that moment to do a quick check on our appearance.

In all honesty, we looked like three wet chicken...

The usually dashing and tall Mike had his, previously neatly styled hair, now down over his eyes. He was practically a walking wet mop.

Everyone’s “Oppa” boy, Sarut, had his clothes clinging to him like a second skin, and adding to that his skin has now gone lifeless and grey, he looked like an ugly sphinx cat. No offence.

And as for myself, well... It’d be all good if I could just stop my teeth from its nonstop chattering. My body has started its usual ritual of non-controllable shaking spasms, that happens whenever a drop of water other than from a shower hits me.

I’m just a tad bit sensitive to the cold, you see...

Without the need to draw any further attention on us, we quietly tip-toed to the table down the far left corner, furthest away from everyone as much as we could. A young waitress walked up to us with a slight frown and a sceptical look on her face and took down our orders.

Excuse me?! We only got wet in the rain?! Could you stop looking at us as if we’re escapees from jail please?!

“Shit man! I look terrible!”, Sarut who must’ve caught on to the expression of the waitress from earlier, was now looking into his mirror (believe me, he has one in his wallet) with a face full of terror. Facing such an attitude from her must be hard on him, since usually, he’d have girls tripping over their feet to get a chance to talk with him.

While Mike was trying his best to tame his hair across from me, I loosened my tie and placed it on the table, and un-tucked my shirt from the pants. The spot was quite warm, so fortunately, we’d be dry back again in no time.

“It doesn’t look like the rain would stop anytime soon...”, Mike remarked while looking through the windows to our right. Sarut was still busy trying to restore his former glory, that I also took the time to gauge the situation we were in.

Mike was right. There’s no sign of the rain stopping and there was no one out and about on the sidewalks. For us to even think of going out anytime soon would be sheer idiocy, what with the lack of umbrellas too in our case.

Inside the cafe was pretty cozy, permeating a warm brown light throughout the quite spacious interior. There was a gentle murmur of voices from the tables, giving the place a more comfortable and intimate aura. The slight aroma of vanilla in the air was making me feel lightheaded.

It was a less crowded day, so most of the tables were empty. Other than a few ladies near the entrance to the café, (the same ones who looked at us as if we've grown tails when we entered) there was just one other customer.

And it was then I saw him.

I felt time stop. Everything around me stilled, and it was just me and him.

To the far right and two tables to the front from ours, just next to the wide window panes, was a boy. He looked to be around our age and wore a grey T-shirt that had a deep V-neck cut, down to almost the middle of his torso, exposing a tanned and a chiseled chest. His headphones were over his ears and eyes were cast down on to the book in his hands, eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks.

His seat was facing front, that I had a clear view of his face. Although the air was dark and gloomy, it was still mid-afternoon, so a very few rays of sunlight could still be seen, trying to reach the ground. But they all seem to have fallen around him since, he was literally basking in the glow of his own halo. The drops of water sliding down the glass next to him, was adding to the ethereal air around him, and the whole picture was absolutely breath-taking. It was as if he’d descended straight from heaven just moments ago.

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath.

I couldn’t seem to move my eyes away from him either.

“Who is he?”, I asked, with my eyes still fixated on the boy.

Our food must’ve made to the table around the time I had zoned out, cz I heard the stopping of a munching sound and then a, “What? Who?”.

I did not bother speaking, letting my eyes speak of whom I was talking about. I still couldn’t stop staring, so you could say I was rather helpless.

“Ah! P’Singto?”

I finally let my eyes fall on Mike, who had a whole muffin stuffed in his face. The change of scenery caught me off guard, and I felt myself scowling.

Wait, Mike knew this guy?!

“Who?”, I asked.

Sarut finally placed his mirror on the table and looked at me with wide, astonished eyes.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know P’Singto?!”

I shook my head.

Mike took a sip of his cappuccino and wiped his mouth with a loud exasperated sigh.

“Listen. I don’t know how you spent a whole year in our faculty without knowing that guy. Cz to tell in short, he’s the most important body around here”

I felt my heartbeat accelerating. My whole body was poised and was waiting with held breath.

Have I stepped into a damned fairytale?!

“He’s the Faculty’s Head Hazer”, Sarut said with a finalised tone.

“Newly appointed”, that was Mike.

“Just yesterday”, it was Sarut again.

I had to snap my head between the two of them, and with all the new information that was just too hard to process, my head was spinning, and I needed a moment to collect my thoughts.

Why am I disappointed by the fact that he's a hazer?! Maybe...maybe all hazers aren't bad...

“Wait.” I held my hands up in surrender.

But, when did this crazy duo ever heed to my requests. They had now begun a discussion of their own.

“What if we go and greet him?”

“Yeah... I could gain some brownie points that way, hehe"

“Is it alright if we just walk up to him? Is that like, disrespectful in their dictionary or something?”

“I dunno really... Haven’t ever talked to , y'know...”

“What if you get your already pretty much secured hazing position taken away instead? Hah!”

“Can you stop finding pleasure in others’ distress for once?!”

“So are you gonna go get your brownie points or not? Make up your mind man!”

“Fine let’s go then!”

With that, both of them got up from their seats, each taking an arm of mine, and dragged me behind them on their absolutely deranged mission.

I was still in a state of shock to even put up a fight against them.

I CAN’T! I soooooo can’t greet him! I don't think my nerves are up for it yet! I do plan on talking to him one day, yes. But that’s not today, for goodness'sake! Just look at the state of my uniform!

I badly wanted to cry.

But screaming inside my head was of no use, obviously, since we were already at his table. Mike and Sarut were in front of me, so I tried my best to keep my head down and keep a low-profile.

“Sawadee krub, P’Singto”, Mike initiated.

There was no way he heard Mike, since he still had his headphones on.

But there’s a chance he’d notice us, probably cz of our shadows that fell on the book...

I know I should’ve kept my head down as I intended all along, but my body seems to be reacting out of control today. I raised my head.

It was at that moment Sarut moved forward which opened a direct line of vision between me and the seated Head Hazer. And it was at that exact moment again, that the Head Hazer lifted his head from the book which he was immersed in.

His eyes met mine.

There it was...that feeling again. Like time has stopped.

But whatever it was that I was feeling, it seems I wasn’t the only one feeling them.

His eyes widened and I felt myself being pulled into that abyss. The warmth in them was inexpressible. I saw his lips starting to part slightly and the grip he had on the page he was reading must’ve faltered, since the pages started turning backwards, as if out of their own accord. I felt as if I’ve lost track of time completely.

And he still has his headphones on.

One moment I was mesmerised by his eyes, and in the next, they were gone. As if they were never on me in the first place. As if I’ve made all that up in my head...

Of course it is... Or else what? You thought that he fell in love with you just now?! Stop kidding yourself dude, hah!

P’Singto (even his name... Oh, snap out of it!) put his headphones aside and looked up at Mike.

And it was as if someone had turned on a switch within him, cz from whichever way you look at it, this pair of eyes seems different, worlds apart, from the ones I saw just moments ago... These eyes are cold, commanding and pretty scary...

I should keep it in mind to never get on his bad side...

And then he raised one eyebrow.

Oh my goodness! That’s soooo hot what the fuck?!

I must've gone completely blank at that moment, cz I can only remember faintly hearing a small talk between Mike, Sarut and P'Singto.

And then suddenly there was a, "Thank you, goodbye P'Singto" and we were walking back to our table.

I was still pretty much shaken up by what just occurred. I looked back at the table where he was seated, but P'Singto was nowhere to be seen. Amidst all that chaos, however, I could slightly discern a conversation between my friends.

“...with that fellow as the Head? I’d never become a hazer...”

"Don't push me. I'm rethinking of withdrawing the application myself..."

"I'm sure that man has no organ called a heart"

"Yeah! He's the walking dead!"

With that, the two broke off in a loud fit of laughter.

It was at that moment, when a crazy idea passed through my head. Maybe the craziest I've ever had.

“I want to be a hazer”.

Me, wanting to become a hazer turned into an inside joke among our batch-mates, since it was none other than me myself, who gave an annoying time for the hazing team last year.

But what no one thought that would happen, was me actually following through that idea. The whole fiasco came as a shock to not only our year students, but also to seniors of about three years. But they were somehow elated, and so was I.

And after all, Sarut became a hazer too, along with me and Mike. Now I'd say, that's more unbelievable...

He said he didn't want to be left behind.

The position came with many perks. That green band on the arm along with the green name tag brought with it, respect and a certain sense of honour. It was satisfying to see the younger students getting intimidated with a single scowl of mine, and it was easier to make friends among both juniors and seniors. At the same time, there obviously were responsibilities entitled along with the position. However, that was a prize I was willing to pay.

But here I am, facing the consequences of the decision I made that day.

“Did you go for your duties today?”

It was the first question P’Singto asked upon meeting me down that corridor, in front of the auditioning halls.

And I haven’t a proper answer to give him.

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* To be continued *

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1) Krist first saw Singto at a cafe near their university where Singto was reading a book at the corner, by himself. And Krist mentioned that he also remembers the fact that Singto was wearing a grey, deeply cut V-necked T-shirt. He also said that they a short chat on that day - by Krist : Tesco Lotus Express Minion Lovers event, 26th May, 2018

2) Krist (right), Mike (left) and Sarut / Titlecha (centre) were THE gang in real life at University - [positions referring to the 2nd pic]

3) The first question Singto asked, on meeting Krist at the auditions was the exact same - by Singto : Peraya Party 2019

4) Krist wanting to be a hazer came as a shock for all, including Singto, for the same reasons as in the novel - by Singto : Peraya Party, 2019

5) Krist didn't initially very much like Singto, just because of the fact he was a hazer. It wasn't hate, but there wasn't any liking either. But that was before he knew anything about Singto at all - Tesco Lotus Express Minion Lovers event, 26th May, 2018

6) Krist is sensitive to cold - by Krist and Singto on many occasions

7) The "Brainwake Café" is an actual café near the Kasetsart University, which I selected randomly for the story, since its interior and environment seemed pretty similar to what I had in mind😂

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