The morning had already been a complete mess for Mok.
Today was officially the first day of university, and Mok and Toffee had arrived early for their freshman classes.
Mok sat in front of a white canvas, completely blanking out.
Around him, everyone else listened to the professor's instructions while painting the withered flowers inside a glass jar.
Meanwhile, Toffee was fully focused on his work, completing his piece before anyone else.
By the time the lesson ended, a crowd had already gathered around him like bees to honey.
Many students were amazed by his speed and the beauty of his painting.
Some even asked for his number.
Mok stayed in his chair, quietly watching them from afar.
Only after most of their classmates drifted away did he move his chair closer to Toffee.
"Can we go now, popular boy?"
"Mok... don't tease me. You should try talking to them."
Mok shook his head. Just thinking about it felt awkward.
"No. I'll do it another day."
"Mok, you used to say the same thing in school. I'm not forcing you, but you need to do it gradually."
Hearing that, Mok draped an arm over Toffee's shoulder.
"I will. Let's go. I want something cold."
He tried to pull Toffee toward the door.
At that moment, Toffee caught his arm.
"Didn't you say you were freezing this morning after getting ready?"
His eyes landed on Mok's fully buttoned shirt.
Toffee couldn't help feeling concerned.
"I am cold, but I want something cold to drink." Mok shrugged.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Toffee? Some people are just like this."
To prove his point, Mok rubbed his arms and pretended to shiver.
Instead of agreeing, Toffee fanned a hand.
Seeing Mok dressed like that only made him feel hotter.
"Today feels even hotter than yesterday."
Toffee stared at him once more.
"Yeah. Some people are weirdos like you."
He muttered under his breath.
Mok narrowed his eyes. "Did you just say something bad about me?"
Toffee immediately smirked. "Then let's go. If you want to cool down, why are you still standing here like a fool?"
Mok instantly pinched his cheek.
"Ow! Let me go!"
"Mok!"
Toffee's cry echoed through the classroom.
Mok burst out laughing.
"You jerk! How dare you mock me like that!"
The fight immediately broke out.
Mok dashed out of the classroom while Toffee chased after him, barely able to keep up.
The two remained outside their department, waiting for someone.
Toffee was clearly pouting.
Seeing that expression, Mok finally gave in.
"Fine. I'll stop picking on you. Stop sulking."
Toffee scowled. "Really?"
"Mmh."
Mok only said it to make him stop pouting. In reality, he couldn't stop teasing Toffee even if he wanted to.
Maybe for an hour. That would already be a personal record.
"Toffee, who is this new friend?"
"Mok, can't you be patient?"
Gripping the strap of his bag, Mok mumbled,
"Probably someone like his ex."
"Did you say something?"
Mok immediately shook his head.
Toffee ignored him and continued searching through the crowd.
"Oh! There he is! Lamon! Lamon!"
Several students nearby turned toward them.
At that moment, Mok wanted to dig a hole and bury himself.
"Toffee, how many times have I told you to lower your voice?"
"I'm trying. Don't interrupt me."
Toffee waved enthusiastically as Lamon approached.
The moment Mok got a better look at him, he froze.
"Isn't he the guy I saw yesterday? I completely forgot his name... Oh, so it's Lamon."
At the same time, Lamon appeared to recognize him as well. He slowed his steps as he neared them.
Without hesitation, Toffee hooked an arm around his shoulder.
Mok and Lamon stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"You two know each other?"
Both quickly denied it.
Toffee scratched his head. "Then why are you standing like this? Can't you introduce yourselves when meeting someone new?"
Mok awkwardly cleared his throat.
"That's right. I forgot."
Lamon immediately followed.
"Me too."
The two finally exchanged greetings.
"Seriously, why are you guys acting so awkward?"
Toffee glanced between them before his attention landed on Lamon's clothes.
"And Lamon, aren't you feeling stuffy? You're dressed exactly like Mok."
"No. I feel cold."
Staring at them suspiciously, Toffee whined.
"The more I think about it, the weirder it gets. Neither of you answered my calls yesterday, and now you even dress alike."
He dramatically pressed a hand against his forehead.
"I am definitely sick. I feel way too hot."
Mok silently thought, blame Kao.
Lamon had a similar thought, blame P'Oat.
Toffee looked ready to cry.
Lamon quickly reassured him. "You're not sick. Stop overthinking."
Mok nodded in agreement.
Seeing both of them react the same way only made Toffee feel more helpless.
He let out a long sigh. "Can we go sit somewhere? Didn't I tell you I have something to tell you, Mok?"
Without waiting for a response, Toffee grabbed both of their wrists and dragged them away.
Soon, he pointed toward an empty table.
"Can we sit there?"
Neither Mok nor Lamon had much choice.
The two answered at the same time.
"Khap."
After they settled down, Toffee began explaining how he had met Lamon.
Once he finished, Lamon shared stories about Phayu, his old school friend, and how meeting him again had turned into a complete disaster.
The pair described all the hiding, running, and near-death escapes they had gone through across campus the previous day.
After hearing everything, Mok finally lost it.
His mood instantly improved.
"How are they this stupid? Both of their tiny brains work exactly the same."
He openly mocked both of them.
Now he felt much better.
Several people at nearby tables turned to look.
"Toffee, his laugh is weird. Everyone's staring at us."
"I know, but what can we do?"
Mok's laughter died the moment Toffee shot him a deadly glare.
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Mok peeked at his friends and breathed out.
After finishing their drinks, they headed toward a shop so Toffee could dye his hair.
Since Mok was the only one with a car, the three left together.
Like baby chicks following their mother, Toffee and Lamon trailed behind Mok.
Both of them were distracted by their phones, scrolling through hair color ideas.
Suddenly, Mok stopped in front of their faculty building.
Toffee and Lamon nearly crashed into his back.
Mok scolded them for not walking properly while being distracted by their phones.
For a moment, both of them lowered their gaze to the ground.
Then Toffee suddenly remembered something.
"Mok! Couldn't you at least warn us?"
"Lamon, did my head get a bump?"
Lamon leaned in and checked Toffee's forehead.
"No."
The two immediately went back to browsing hair color ideas, acting as if nothing had happened.
Mok sighed in annoyance and looked away.
Then something caught his attention.
From a distance, Oat gestured enthusiastically, with Artit standing beside him.
Mok had a bad feeling. Something was definitely going on behind the scenes.
He stared at his two clueless friends.
"Toffee… I think your single status won't survive this year."
"Maybe one month."
"Actually, if someone like P'Artit is serious, a week might be enough."
"Look at them. They're definitely wolves in sheep's clothing."
"A match made in heaven."
As Oat and Artit walked closer, Oat frowned.
"Artit, did Mok just smirk at us?"
Artit had an unreadable expression.
"Maybe I imagined it because of distance," Oat reasoned.
The two of them approached.
Ring! Ring!
Mok's phone suddenly rang.
He pulled it out of his pocket.
Without checking the screen, he answered, still focused on Toffee and Artit.
"Hello… khap," he answered, as a familiar, soft voice spoke from the other side.
Knowing exactly who it was, he moved a little further away to keep anyone from overhearing him.
Toffee and Lamon, still looking at their phones, froze as soon as they heard Oat and Artit's voices.
By then, Mok had already left the group, using his phone call as an excuse.
He was already irritated and almost threw his phone as he neared the trees.
"Stay right there. I will come," Mok said, cutting the call abruptly.
Mok quickly told Oat and Artit to take care of his friends before he quietly slipped away.
Toffee felt instantly betrayed.
"Mok! No matter how important it is, can't I come with you?!"
Ignoring them completely, Mok simply winked and threw a playful backward glance as he took off.
Time passed quietly as a gentle breeze moved across the campus.
Mok hurried forward until he spotted someone standing beneath a tree near the parking area.
A small smile formed, but realizing it, Mok immediately scolded himself and forced a neutral expression.
He strode over.
Seeing Mok, Kao offered a warm nod and a small hand gesture, though Mok did his best to hide his happiness.
"Kao… why are you here?"
"Oh, this reaction again. Mok, you're hurting me with your words."
Adjusting his glasses, Mok's eyes fell on the bag in Kao's hand.
Kao stretched his hand forward, trying to give it to Mok.
"It's for you. Didn't you like the food we had yesterday? I bought it from there."
Letting out a low grunt, Mok grumbled internally, "He's really trying to win me over with food." But deep down, he didn't actually mind.
"Let's eat together," Mok said in a low voice, looking away.
"What did you say?"
"I know you heard me," Mok replied, grabbing the bag. "Forget it."
"Wait." Kao caught Mok's arm. "Sorry… I just want to hear it one more time."
"You said your back hurts. You made it sound like you couldn't even stand up, acting like you were practically dying over the phone."
Kao gave a half smile. "Khap…"
Mok was only half-convinced.
"Okay, let's buy some medicine, otherwise it'll get worse."
But Kao refused to go to the store and didn't let Mok leave either.
People around them were already watching.
"Kao, let go of me... Fine! I'm not going to the store... Everyone is staring at us."
Shoving Kao back slightly, Mok dropped his gaze to Kao's chest, remembering the clothes from yesterday.
Noticing this, Kao said, "I wore the same one you took. Does it look alright on me?"
Mok blinked in surprise. Suddenly, Kao reached out, his hand tracing against Mok's cheek.
"You're sweating too much," Kao continued to fuss over him, talking rapidly.
"Shirt..." Mok shook the thought away. "I really don't want to remember last night." Though, Kao did look fine in gray.
"Mok... what's wrong? You haven't said a single word."
"Mok... Mok..." Kao's voice snapped him back, but Mok was already worrying about something else.
He realized Kao must genuinely be hurting, even if he had exaggerated earlier.
"What should I do now?" he wondered anxiously.
Then Mok thought for a moment.
"I've got it," Mok told himself.
He remembered there was some soothing cream on Toffee's dorm shelf.
But Kao stood there in confusion, his hand resting cluelessly on Mok's hair.
After Mok mentioned there was a tube in his room, Kao refused to let him go alone and insisted on tagging along.
In the end, both of them went to Mok's dorm room.
On the way, Kao celebrated quietly, while Mok had second thoughts about his decision.
"Yes!" Kao pumped his fist in victory.
Watching him, Mok sighed to himself.
"You win, Kao..."
"I know," Kao replied, a proud smile spreading across his face.