Chapter 8

[8. Kiss]

Finally the vacation ended and the college reopened. It was Dae's first day at university and Aroon's first day of third year. Aroon was driving both of them to the college and Dae was sitting nervous in the passenger seat thinking about the worse things that can happen in college. He knows that Aroon is popular and has lot of friends. What if he and his friends together bully him ? Dae don't know what is awaiting him. Anyway he knows that he is going to get more hurt.

' Welcome to Hell and I am Hell's master.'

Aroon had said this to him yesterday night. Last night was a bit dramatic. The older asked him to come to his room after dinner and he followed him to his room without much fear since Dad was downstairs. Aroon pushed him onto his bed like always. He likes to harshly push him to bed, couch, chair, wall etc. It has become one of older's habits now. He then briefly described him the consequences that he may face if he tells anyone that Aroon Duangporn is his stepbrother.

As usual, Dae shed tears. He can't help but cry when Aroon speaks to him with so much hatered and anger. He tries a lot to control his tears but he simply can't. He wonder why he is still so sensitive even after hearing all the harsh words, shouting and cursing. So yesterday he bit his lips and cried silently, covering his face with his both hands. Aroon then crawled on to the bed and sat in front of him.

"Oh ...! Are you crying? don't cry...don't cry." The older said pulling his hands away from his face and pretending to wipe his tears with the pad of his thumb. "Oh...what will I do if you start crying even before starting the game ? So Kim Tanawat, gather your tears. I will give you a lot of chances in the future to cry for real. So stop fake crying. GET OUT OF MY BED NOW" He yelled and pushed him.

Dae lost his balance and was about to fall down, hitting his head on the hard granite floor. But luckily Aroon caught him by his hand and he also fell on top of him with his other hand below Dae's head, protecting it. Their lips touched just for the split of a second, but both of them knew they kissed.

Aroon quickly pushed himself up in shock. Dae also got up on his feet to see Aroon vigorously shaking his hands in pain which roughly hit the floor.. " P'Aroon..are you okay ?" He asked trying to grab the older's hands just to get harshly yanked and pushed away.

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM" He shouted and Dae immediately walked out of the room. Aroon slammed the door shut, cursing something under his breathe. Dae went to his room and sat on his bed in shock. He had been sitting like that for a long while with his fingers on his parted lips.

"Do you remember what I said?" Aroon asked tilting his head, looking at Dae.

Dae flinched as he got pulled out from his trance by the older's words. "oh..Yes.., I won't tell anyone that you are my brother or I live in your house." He replied.

"First of all Kim Tanawat, I am not in any way your brother. Why do you forget the 'step'?"

" Sorry." Dae said.

" Hmm..If you let someone know you live in my home, then that will be your end. And you should not act like you know me when we are at college. Don't come in front of my sight. And Don't call me pêe chaai. You shouldn't call me that, not even when we are at home. You can call me that only in front of Dad. Okay, Now get out" Aroon said stopping the car. Dae looked at him out of shock and wonder.

"But....w..why..? How will I reach college ? I don't know the way..."

"I SAID GET OUT" Aroon yelled at the younger and the next second he was pushed out of his car.

Dae stood looking at the car sliding away from him.

'What will I do now? Where am I now? I don't even know this place. How will I reach school? It's my first day at college and I can't be late. Where can I get a bus?'

He started walking without wasting time. The street was busy with pedestrians and vehicles. cars and taxis and school buses loaded with cheerful kids passed by him. Then an elderly man came walking opposite to him. He looked less busy. Dae decided to ask him the way to college.

" Excuse me Uncle..I need help. Do you know the way to CU, chulalongkorn university."

"Oh..yes..but it's a bit far from here. You will have to take bus or a cab."

" Is there a bus stop near ?" Dae asked as he didn't have the money to take a cab.

" Yeah..just walk straight for 5 minutes. There's a bus stop."

" Oh..thanks." Dae said and left a relieved sigh.

He then started walking fast. At last he reached the bus stop and to his luck, he soon got a bus to the university. He was not late to college but he didn't know in where he should go. Even though he had gone to the science faculty once, he still can't figure out the directions. This time he resolved to ask directions to someone. Because it was really hard to figure out the location with map last time. He found a board called information centre and walked to there. A lady was sitting in front of a computer inside the room.

"Excuse me miss.." Dae called and the lady looked at me.

"Oh..how can I help you?" she asked smiling.

" I am new here. I don't know where my class is. Can you please help me?"

" Okay..which faculty ?"

" Science. Department of Physics. "

"Okay...You need to go to your department office and collect your ID first. Science faculty is in that direction. " She said and pointed her fingers in one direction. " Do one thing..go straight from here and turn left towards the economics block. Then there is commerce and business block. On the right you will see Maths block. Behind it is physics block. If you get lost, just ask someone where is the football ground. Physics block is opposite to football ground."

" Oh..okay. Thanks." Dae nodded after hearing her in a daze. Then he walked out and quickly walked in the direction she pointed.

Finally he reached the department office, seeking help from people who were standing on the corridors. The office room was only a bit crowded. Some students were standing in front of different desks to check in their names. Dae walked to a desk were only a girl was standing.

" Okay..tell name." the staff lady said in a hurry as the aforementioned girl went away with her ID.

" Kim Tanawat Duangporn." Dae replied.

The staff looked a bit confused at the name and then typed it on her keyboard. " ID 27081", she called out to a man who was standing in the inner cabin behind her. " write your name and sign here." She said and moved a register and pen to him. Dae wrote his name and signed. Then the man from inside, came with an ID card and key. He put it on the staff's desk and went back.

" Here is your ID. You need to wear this when you are in the college campus. And this is your locker key." Dae nodded and took the ID and Key.

"Rush now. You are late." she said as Dae thanked her with a smile.

" Next..ahh..! why can't these kids come a bit early. Oh girl please tell your name." Dae heard her saying to the girl who was standing in the line behind him.

Dae ran holding his breathe to reach his class as fast as possible. There were only a few students in the corridor. Students were all inside classes. Maybe the class has already started. Dae ran fast without looking and he bumped into someone making that person's books and things to fall down on floor.

"I..I am s...sorry..I didn't see you..sorry. " Dae said kneeling down to help him collect his things.

"It's okay.." The guy said picking his books and then Dae realized he was none else than the boy whose car he bumped into last month. But he looked different from that day. Dae guessed he got a new haircut.

"Oh..you..! it's you..? " The boy exclaimed at Dae when he saw his face.

"Oh..yeah. Nice to meet you again." Dae said smiling awkwardly as it was the second time he was bumping into him.

"Nice to meet you too. I am Phet. What's your name?", He asked smiling.

"I am Dae." Dae replied.

"Oh..Dae..How is your foot. You were really hurt that day. Did it heal?", he asked concerned looking down at the other's foot.

"Oh yeah...it healed. That was a small cut. Uhmm...are you first year ?"

" No. I am third year. Your senior."

" Oh..! I..I thought..., Senior, I-"

Phet laughed. " No boy. I am fresher. You are also first year physics, right ?"

"Oh yeah...woah ! You scared me. So we are in same class ? " Dae exclaimed smiling wildly.

" Uhmm..Dae, maybe I will change to Engineering faculty. I just joined physics temporarily. A safe choice if I don't get admission in Engineering."

" Oh ! " Dae's smile faded.

" Anyway let's be friends. Even if I get admission in engineering, I will still be here. And I am not sure about it. Entrance exam was somewhat tough."

" So our university's entrance exam result is not released yet ? Admission to engineering has not started ?"

" No, Engineering admission starts a bit late. Entrance results will be out by this month 20th. Admission will only start by the middle of next month. So anyway, I will be here in physics for almost two months. Or maybe I will continue here itself. Don't know."

" Phet, let's hope you will get admission in Engineering. Okay, let's better rush to class now. We are late." Dae said and Phet nodded. Then they together walked to their class.

They entered the class and luckily the professor had not arrived. The class was already full and the front seats were all occupied. Dae and Phet walked to the back and sat down. Phet was about to ask me something but then the professor entered. They both gave their ears to the professor since it was the first class and nobody wants to make a bad impression on first class.