Singto's POV

One moment, I was awkwardly standing in the middle of the canteen, talking to the person who had been the subject of my dreams at night for the past whole year.

And the next, there was a large, warm bundle of "Krist", the said person, in my arms, pressed against my chest and enveloped all around my body. The heat emanating from his body seeped through my clothes and onto my skin, making me tingle all over. The smell of vanilla with a hint of peanuts wafted through the air and invaded my senses, making me momentarily paralysed.

My hands felt as if they weren't my own, suspended in air, halfway through the course of resting them on his waist, and then hesitating and deciding to hold them rigidly by my sides.

"Cough..."

"Cough!"

"COUGH!"

Suddenly the whole canteen erupted in a huge fit of violent coughs, that it felt like having stepped inside an emergency ward full of asthma patients who were on the brink of death. I could see some, pinching those who weren't coughing yet and point at us with their eyes. Within seconds, as if contagious, both would double over and start coughing together, with their palms firmly covering their mouths.

I sent a sideways glare, towards the table where I was seated not moments ago.

"Umm... I've gotta go to the meeting"

"Uh...yeah... the meeting..."

"...Me too!"

"What meeting?"

"...That meeting!"

"Remember...?"

"Huh? No"

"...come here..."

"Let's wait and watc-"

"Shut up! Let's go..."

In front of me, the next-year's-head-hazer stood with his mouth wide open in utter shock , beads of sweat sliding down his forehead. Behind him stood a boy, whom I recognised as Krist's other best pal, his eyes narrowed to slits and mouth curved sideways in an evil smirk. He was nodding his head up and down as if finally having a lifelong mystery uncovered.

It was then that the body in my arms froze, as if electrocuted. Krist extricated his arms from around my neck, jumping a whole foot back, and looked at me with panicked eyes. All blood seemed to have drained from his face, and he anxiously started fumbling around for words.

"I didn't- I was excit- I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me. I don't usually-"

Being engulfed in that warmth in one second and having it gone the next, felt like someone offering me the sweetest piece of candy, only to snatch it away. Getting to taste even the slightest of that extreme sweetness could only make one crave more for it. I needed a few seconds to calm my wild heart and get my bearings together.

"Don't fret. I understand", I gave a short laugh and swept my hand trying to brush it off, although I could see my fingers trembling from the corner of my eyes.

I quickly brought that traitorous hand behind my back and smiled.

"Congratulations again Nong"

A faint blush spread across Krist's cheek.

Don't... please...

He returned the smile, dimples adorning both his cheeks. He was just so beautiful.

"Thank you. You too Phi"

"...Ehm"

"It's really good that both of us got selected together Phi!"

"...yeah..."

"..."

I could hear the wheels turning in my head, thinking of a way to flee from the scene. It felt like having a heat stroke and was just too unbearable for me, that I badly needed an escape.

Ding!

"Sorry Krist, I've got a meeting now. I'll see you at the company building tomorrow?"

"Oh yes yes!", Krist began to frantically move his hands as if shoving me away. "Go Phi! Hurry! We'll meet tomorrow"

"Bye!", I waved my hand and dashed out of the canteen doors, before I lost the last bits of my sanity. Onlookers might've thought that I was being chased by a horde of zombies, for all I care. I never had any awesome reputation to begin with.

"Bye~", I heard the high-pitched response a few seconds too late. But judging from the voice and manner, it definitely wasn't Krist.

I turned my head back, right in time to catch the glimpse of Krist punching the guy who stood behind Mike a few seconds ago, and the said guy rolling on the floor, laughing.

What a circus.

Just before I could turn my head away, Krist turned towards the door and our eyes locked on each other's. I must be delusional, 'cause I could've sworn that I saw the slight widening of his pupils and felt that shaky breath he took in, from this far. It took the final thread of my self-control to forcefully tear my eyes away from his, and run for my life.

Needless to say, there was never a meeting that day, nor was one ever planned to be held. I ditched the afternoon lectures and headed straight home after that debacle.

I plopped down on the bed as soon as the bedroom door was closed shut, and stared at the ceiling in a daze. Fragments of softness, warmth and the smell of vanilla and peanuts left behind by 'him' still clung to my body, that I wrapped my own arms around my torso, relishing the feeling as if to make those moments last a little longer.

That was clearly a sleepless night.

__________

It was still 1.00 in the afternoon the next day, when I stood in front of the huge building, the sun scorching overhead.

Having not had a wink of sleep the previous night, there were two large bags underneath my eyes, and I was feeling a whole lot irritated. It was in this kind of a state that a large hand landed on my shoulder with a strong smack that made me see stars.

"Ow!"

"I knew you'd be early"

"Eh?"

It was a tall boy around my age. His hair was styled in one of those anime styles, and he wore an awfully confident smile, whether it was because of the fashionable, brilliantly coloured clothes he wore or 'cause of all that glittering pieces of jewellery dangling all over him, I was not sure. However, one thing I was sure of was, I've never seen him before...

How dare he hit me?

He looked at me and waved his hand towards the entrance. "Not going in?"

"Ahh yes"

Once we reached the lobby of the first floor, he placed an arm over my shoulder and said, "I've to go this way. See you later". He bent forward, as if bowing his head, gestured his hand in a salute, and walked away towards the corridor that stretched across the right of the hallway.

My mood was already worse than it was.

Who's that funny guy?

Once Krist arrived, the contract signing procedure did not drag out for too long, although we were each given a lengthy sheet of schedules assigned for acting workshops, spanning the whole of next month. We were also briefed on how the company was elated that we were from the same faculty of the same university, and how they'd like if we could get to know each other better in the following days, so that working together on building an on-screen chemistry could go smoother.

That was one embarrassing talk.

However, the worst predicament that I was facing was, since yesterday's...cough... hug ...cough..., it had become next to impossible for me to look away from Krist's face once my eyes fall on him. Every now and then, I find myself drifting off to recalling how his body felt like, being draped over mine.

And what was even worse was how Krist, from the moment he greeted me at the front of the room until now, had not spared me the slightest glance.

This was truly upsetting.

I was done signing the documents first, and was waiting outside the door for Krist to return, when I felt that I had company.

Turning to my right, there was a face smiling at me, face white and full of teeth.

It's not horror, wait! I'm a bit pissed off here... Lemme rephrase.

This boy was very fair and was all smiles. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't exactly place from where I've seen him, especially in my current, muddle state of mind.

"You must've come to sign the contract today"

"Eh yes...", I gave my best polite smile, courtesy of having forgotten as to who he is.

"Don't be so awkward! I got selected for a series too, although not for yours", he smiled.

"Oh..."

Batch-mate? No... Neighbour? Can't be... Hometown? Possible...

"Krist is still inside?"

He knows Krist too?! Exactly wh-

"I'm sorry, but who...", I forgot to bite my lips before the words slipped out.

The boy's hand paused mid-air from where he was about to pat my shoulder, and his eyes widened and lips parted. He studied my face for nearly a whole minute.

"You don't remember me, do you?", he asked, pronouncing each word slowly.

"Erm... I'm sorry... I don't...", I couldn't help pasting my silly smile at the end.

Suddenly, the guy broke off in a loud fit of laughter. I quickly glanced around the place out of embarrassment and turned my head back again to face him.

Seriously, what's wrong with him? Should I be concerned?

"Wow, you truly can't remember! Hahaha!"

"..."

He suddenly stopped laughing, and looked at me in the eye, face completely wiped off of mirth, and all serious.

"It's alright for you to have eyes on him, but please pay attention to what's going on around you too? At least once in a while?"

Who? What? What nonsense is this?! EYES ON WHO?!

His face contorted as if he was restraining himself from something.

And then, "Pfft... HAHAHAHA!"

Goodness gracious! This place is full of wackos... Did I do the right thing by signing those papers? Is it too late for me to go now and rip them apart?

Just when I was about to give this boy a piece of my mind, the door to the conference room opened and Krist stepped outside. Seeing this, the boy who was next to me, went running towards him shouting "Krist!"

Krist must have been caught off guard, since I saw him nearly jump out of his skin. However, seeing the face running towards him, he seemed to have instantly recognised him. Krist's face lit up brightly and after a tiny "Oh!", he extended his arms for a hug towards the said boy.

No.........

They exchanged a brief, small, tiny hug and after stepping away from each other, started talking to each other animatedly, their conversation growing louder each passing second, although I couldn't catch any part of it.

None of it made sense, honestly.

At one point, both of them looked at me, one with a smirk and the other with astonishment. Meeting mine, the latter pair of eyes were immediately downcast. Krist let out a huff and slightly jabbed the boy and the other laughed out loud.

After a few minutes of such boisterous exchange, the mysterious boy walked towards me, patted my shoulder with a smile and a "Let's meet again someday then", and walked out of the building.

Excuse me kind sir, do I know you?! Huh!

After a while when Krist was by my side, I was about to ask him about this mutual acquaintance of ours, when Krist suddenly striked up our first conversation of the day, with the touch of a smile lingering on the corners of his lips.

"You really don't remember him?"

"Well, no. He looks familiar... but for the life of me, I can't exactly remember from where...", I racked my overused brain for the millionth time that day, but still came out empty handed.

Krist let out a tiny chuckle, his eyes sparkling like stars.

"I can't imagine what you must be filling your brain with so much, if you can't even remember the person you conversed and spent time with, just two days ago...", Krist was outright teasing me now, there was no doubt.

There was a mischievous light in those doe eyes, one I've witnessed countless times before, but directed towards my friends and never at me.

What did he just say? I'm lost.

Krist turned towards the entrance with the airs of an elegant lady. While walking out, he lifted his hand over his shoulder and shouted, "I'll give you five chances to guess!"

I draped my bag over my shoulder and quickly ran after him.

"A music band member?"

"No"

"A new hazer?"

"Wrong"

"..." "An old hazer...?"

"Wrong!"

"..."

"..."

And our voices mingled with the spring air, figures slowly fading in the distance.

I cannot clearly remember if I got the answer correct within those five guesses on that day. But I still remember, vividly, how wonderful it felt, to walk through those beautiful lanes carpeted with rows and rows of peach blossoms, chattering endlessly, with Krist.

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*To be continued*

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1) 🙈 I'm sorry, but there's none here this time... although one can say that it's a well established fact that Singto stares at Krist 24/7😏 (toned down slightly as he grew up? I cannot say😂)

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😌

* Any guesses to who the two strangers could be? *

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* P. S. - Absolutely sorry for the huge delay in this update!🙏 In return, there'll be a bonus chapters this week!💕 Do not forget to vote!😘 *