Putting his books on the table, P’Wisit swings his long legs over the bench and settles next to me.
“I spend most of my time in the Faculty of Medicine building, but sometimes I come over to eat in the canteen. I’ve seen you here a lot.”
My eyes widen. “Oh, you’re going to be a doctor?”
P’Wisit smiles. “That’s the plan. I’m doing clinical rotations at the hospital.”
“How did you know my name?”
“I remembered you from orientation. Cute name. And I follow you on Instagram.”
My face grows hot. “You do? Why?”
P’Wisit shrugs and smiles. “I just do.”
He probably follows a lot of people at the school. Remembering P’Tam’s reason for approaching, I say, “Do you have a club you need help with?”
“You can help me with any club you like. I’m president of the debate club and the language exchange club, if you’re interestedin those. I’m also captain of the volleyball team. I’m sure I can get you a space.”
“It’s all I can do to keep up with the chess and board games club,” I say. “And I’m afraid I’m not very good at sports. Just running. But thank you.”
The university requires every student to join a club, or I wouldn’t be in one at all. Pah says it’s to make me a well-rounded individual. Sud’s in the football club, the music club, and the drama and theater club. I don’t know how he has the time.
“I heard you’re going to be in a bl drama,” P’Wisit says, smiling when I press my palms to my hot cheeks. “I think that’s cool. Let me know when it releases. I’ll be sure to watch.” With a wink, he stands and gathers his books. “See you around, Nong.”
I watch him go, both puzzled and rattled by the odd exchange.
Chapter Fourteen: Sud
It’s been a month since Noi and I started working for Rainbow TV, and I’m having trouble focusing on schoolwork. I got a strict reprimanding from Mae about neglecting my studies when she called me last night, hence the reason I’m studying English while eating my chicken kuay teow in the canteen with Noi.
But I’m distracted, thinking about the workshops. I don’t know how I’d be feeling about them if it weren’t for Noi. Right now, we’re only going twice a week. We read the script together, practice scenes with the acting coach, and do acting exercises with the rest of the cast. And then there are the skinship sessions. The first couple of times we were directed to get very close and stare into each other’s eyes or hold hands during an entire team activity, we both had to stifle embarrassed laughter, but it didn’t take long for us to get comfortable with the more intimate contact. I know it wouldn’t be as easy for me with someone other than Noi as my partner.
Everyone at Rainbow TV has been so nice. I haven’t seen any of the backstabbing I’ve heard happens in the business, but maybe people are just good at hiding it. Khun Intapong told me and Noi that it’s important that their shipped couples be happy and that if we ever decided we didn’t want to be together anymore, we should come to her immediately and she’d find us someone else to work with. I can’t see that ever happening. At least, not on my end. The thought of Noi preferring another partner brings all kinds of feelings I’m not sure what to do with.
I abruptly pop out of my thoughts when I hear Noi talking to someone. Looking up from my textbook, which I’d been staring at while I thought about workshops, I realize Wisit Klinhom, the head third year in the medical faculty who helped organize our freshman orientation and pretty much king of the campus, is sitting at our table chatting with Noi. I wonder how Noi knows him.
When Noi sees I’m looking at them, he says, “P’Wisit, this is my best friend, Sud.”
P’Wisit greets me, and I give him the wai back, before looking at Noi in question. Did P’Wisit sit down with us for a reason? He isn’t eating. Is he asking a favor of Noi? But the two of them resume chatting, and I realize they’re talking about food.
“There’s a stall at the night market that serves the best moo ping I’ve ever tasted. I was planning to get some tonight. Would you like to go?” P’Wisit asks Noi.
“He has a class,” I say.
Noi glances at me and then back at P’Wisit. “I’m sorry, ‘P. Sud’s right—I do have a class tonight.”
“Maybe some other time, then,” P’Wisit says with a smile. It irritates me for some reason.
Someone at another table calls to P’Wisit, and he tells us goodbye, his eyes lingering on Noi a moment before turning away.
“Why did he sit down to talk to you?” I ask.
Noi shrugs. “Just being nice, I guess? The first time he did it, I thought maybe he wanted me to help him with a club the way P’Tam did, but now I think he’s just friendly.”
“He’s talked to you before?”
Noi nods. “He’s brought me bubble tea a few times. Somehow, he knew the one I like the best—maybe from my Instagram? He says he follows me. He probably follows a lot of people here. I guess it’s just normal P/Nong stuff.” He shrugs.