The fact that Krist came for the first round of auditions? I knew it. Of course I did.

How could I not, when Mike, Krist's best buddy and somehow, don't even ask me, our faculty's next-in-line to being the Head Hazer whom I train myself nowadays, kept running his mouth all over the place last week boasting on how his best friend got called for a TV series audition?

It took only a few more subtle nudges here and there, to make him spill all that he knew of the auditions. And after that, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that both me and Krist have, indeed, been called for the same auditions.

What fate...

Last week during the first rounds, I did, with utmost difficulty, try to spot a white shirt tucked into black trousers among the crowd, but to no avail. Later that day, I nearly went and asked Mike why I didn't see Krist at the auditions, but fortunately stopped myself in time before getting busted. After all, I might've failed to notice since there were so many contestants there on that day!

Come to think of it now though...why did I even bother checking for the formal attire, when the whole faculty know by now that Krist Perawat wears his, only on the twelfth of Never?!

Sigh...

However, during the hazer meeting today morning, while giving out duties, I saw Krist from one corner of my eye, talking in hushed tones to Mike who was beside him.

Seemingly, an argument.

And he did not seem to be in a hurry to leave for anything, like an audition, for example...

After the meeting, I even waited in the room a while longer, just in case he'd come asking for permission to exempt him from duties for the day. But since he never did, I figured out, with much disappointment, that he might not have made it to the finals.

Cz one simply cannot just ditch duties. I'm the Head Hazer after all...

So then, how could the man himself possibly be standing here?!

Sweating from head to toe, shirt wrinkled and soaked, heaving loud breaths and eyes blown wide. And...

WAIT A MINUTE...

"Did you go for your duties today?"

"...."

I'm waiting...

"Ahh...yes. Duties"

That was a squeak I just heard right?

"You did?"

"I did!"

"You did?"

"Half...?"

This mischievous little imp!

But rather than the rise of temper that I was expecting to feel, I felt a certain sense of familiarity and fondness coursing through me. A simple permission was all he needed, but then again, it wouldn't simply be Mr. Perawat if he cannot get two or three rules broken in the process of getting the most uncomplicated work done.

I just didn't have the heart to drag the issue any further...

"Ahh right. Okay. Fine", I waved my hand, dismissing it.

"Phi is here for the auditions too?", Krist asked with his doe eyes nearly bulging out of its sockets.

I could sense him trying his hardest to diverge the topic, and I was most happy to indulge.

"Yeah...you?", and I tried my best to appear innocent.

"Same Phi! I came for the first rounds last week and got selected"

His animated way of talking always amused me. It's simply gratifying to watch.

"Ahh..."

So it was me who failed to spot him...

"Seems like only the two of us then", I shrugged trying to appear nonchalant.

With that, I clearly heard a soft gasp escape Krist's lips and he was looking at me with wide eyes.

Why...

He seemed quite uncomfortable, a tiny tinge of red on his fair cheeks.

What did I say wrong...?

And then he smiled, not his full blown rectangular smile, but the polite one.

But why at the wall...?

"Heh!", he attempted at a laugh.

Huh?

"Ermm..."

What's he contemplating?

"Where are you from?"

That was so random, but anyways...

"I-"

That was all I could utter before I heard a tiny shuffling noise next to me.

HUH?!?!?

And then, "From Chiangmai"

WHAT THE FUCK?!

I turned my head so fast towards the direction of the sound, that I think I heard some of my vertebra creaking.

Since when was a person sitting right next to me?!?! OMG... creepy...

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't notice you..."

The boy smiled.

"No worries! You were on your phone from the moment you entered", he said and laughed.

I felt bad... Really bad...

Fortunately, at that exact moment, the door to the hall opened and a female head wearing glasses appeared through it, saving me from my guilty conscience.

"Come inside, all three of you please", the lady said with a sweet smile. She then lifted her glasses up her nose with the pen in her hand, and disappeared inside through the same doors.

I felt myself glancing at Krist, and he was looking back at me. There was a short awkward pause, after which both of us looked away at the same time and stood up from our seats. Both our hands went inside our trouser pockets simultaneously.

"Shall we then?", I asked from him trying to dissolve the painfully uneasy atmosphere.

"Yeah", Krist nodded with another tense smile.

I have no idea why the air around us suddenly turned so awkward, but one could actually cut the tension in the corridor right now with a knife.

"...."

"...."

I heard the boy from earlier muttering a small "I will then...", and he hurried through the doors before us.

Since it was now only the two of us left outside, I waved my hand towards the door, motioning Krist to enter first.

"Oh no!", he looked at me as if I've offended him in the worst possible way. "Phi you go first!"

There again, that uneasy smile.

"No no, please", I waved my hand again.

Krist looked very uncomfortable and strained, that finally, I sighed and was about to enter myself when,

"Ow!"

I realised all too late, that we both have tried to enter at the same time, and that, we were now stuck together from our shoulders, in between the doorframe.

And I swear I heard a female giggle from inside the hall...

"Sorry Phi! I thought-! Sorry-"

I was trying to get myself free, but Krist wriggling around trying to do the same wasn't helping either of us.

"No. M-my F-fault-"

I then held Krist's right shoulder with my right hand to keep him in place, and turned sideways, so that our shoulders were no longer touching.

Finally free, I motioned him one last time to move inside, to which he complied hurriedly.

What I noticed as soon as I entered, were rows and rows of unoccupied seats, arranged in a semi-circular manner, all facing the brightly lit stage down the far end of the hall. In a seat to the corner and a few rows down from the entrance, was a lady, with a pair of rectangular spectacles perched on her nose. Half of her body was turned towards the door, and her eyes were clearly dancing with unrestrained mirth, taking chances to look at me and Krist with twinkling eyes.

So she's the one who laughed at us? Not. funny.

Once we reached the bottom of the hall, we were made to sit on the front-most seats, next to each other. A man, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties and wearing a pair of round glasses, walked over to stand in front of us. He then suddenly looked at me singularly, and smiled.

"Nice to meet all three of you, I'm the producer of the series, Joe. As you know, only two of you will be selected for the characters of the protagonists at the end of the day. So give your best today!", he smiled and continued. "The ultimate decision of today will be taken by our writer, and she would like to have a few words with you before that".

With that he left, and in his position came that small, petite lady whom I saw at the entrance to the hall, just moments ago. The one whom I heard, giggle.

Her heels clicked on the tiled floor, until she was standing in front of us.

"I'm Ploy. Pen-name, Bittersweet. So since introductions are made, I'll get to the point". She seems pretty straightforward and outspoken, quite contrary to her kind and soft appearance.

"I'm sure y'all are well aware of the fact that the series would be of the LGBT genre, in this case, a Boys Love...?"

She took turns to look at all three of us with a piercing inquisitive look.

I nodded in unison with Krist and the other boy. However, a while later, I started to feel my cheeks heating up.

And then it suddenly hit me like a bulldozer. The realisation that, if it was to be me and Krist that make it through these selections, we'll have to... well, we'll probably have to...

I was feeling nauseous.

Not the time... Not. The. Time DAMMIT!

"Okay!", P'Ploy sounded more relieved and at ease now, apparently happy with whatever she saw in our eyes, after her inspection. "Then I'll go straight to the characters!", she was practically beaming now.

"I've been told that you were each given, a copy of a particular scenario along with a plot summary of the novel?", she didn't wait for our confirmation this time. "You'll be acting out that scenario today. In groups of two, so that each of you will get a chance to pair up with the other. I want to check your chemi as a couple"

Chemi?

"So before that, I'll give you a briefing on each character, just so you could get an idea. First of all, Arthit..."

Ah here it is... My character...

"The Head Hazer, pretty tough and rough on the outside, and very down-to-earth. But in reality? He's quite a tsundere"

Tsu- WHAT!?

"And then there's Kongpob... The brave first year who stands up against the harsh P'Arthit, but somehow ends up flirting with him instead"

She then looked at us.

"Any doubts so far?"

There were many, but I realised that now is not the time for them...

Not yet...

Like, how in the world can a freshman end up flirting with a hazer?! When all he wanted was to fight against him?! Hah!

And then, all of a sudden I remembered Krist. Back when he was a freshman... The way he irritated all my hazer friends, and how stubborn and vexing he was when he was asked to change his white shirts... He didn't actually flirt, yeah, but became quite the sensation...

He'd make a good Kongpo- OH SNAP OUT OF IT!

"... first of all, you", P'Ploy pointed at me. "With you.", she was pointing at the other boy now. "You two start with it. Discuss with each other about which character you'll be acting. And till then you", she pointed at Krist, "please sit and wait outside until you are called"

And with that, Krist bowed and left the hall.

The boy from earlier, walked over to me with a questioning look.

"I actually... came prepared for Kongpob's role... Would you mind if I...?"

"Oh that's fine. I'm fine with Arthit's", I nodded and gave him a polite smile.

That's not just fine, that's a relief! I did not even read the lines for Kongpob since Arthit's role was my only for goal today!

I heard the voice of P'Ploy calling over from the back of the hall, "The stage is yours whenever you're ready!".

With that, me and that boy looked at each other, gave a nod once each, and went up the stage, to face each other.

I exhaled loudly and squared up my shoulders.

Here we go then!

Arthit would be mine...

* To be continued *

.

.

.

1) Bittersweet (real name : Ploy) is the author of SOTUS novels, and was present at their casting for roles : A well known fact

2) P'Joe, the producer of SOTUS The Series, concluded that Singto was perfect for Kongpob's role, at first sight : by P'Joe - Born To Be Sup'Tar interview with Singto, 2017

(I thank a dear reader of mine, who provided me with this particular source of information😍)

3) Singto very well knew that Krist came for the first round of auditions, before going there. But he didn't expect to see him on the finals too : by Singto - Sawadee Station Interview, 3rd Feb, 2018

4) Krist wearing his formal attire? There's a whole story there😂 : Krist and Singto - Peraya Party, 2019

5) It was Arthit's role that Singto came prepared for, and didn't even read the lines for Kongpob properly : by Singto on many instances

6) Both Krist and Singto were very new to the words BL, Chemi and Tsundere which they heard on that day : Krist and Singto - Peraya Party, 2019

.

.

* I personally loved this chapter, since was waiting to finally write a proper interaction of the two!😍 *

* Please leave a vote!❤️ Thank you for reading! *