'RING, RING, RING,'

The sudden ringing sound made a loud noise in the quiet restaurant. Wayo rushed to pick up the call to check it out.

"Hello?" before Wayo could even say his name, Ming started to question him.

"Yo, you said that P'Kit Kat's room was in the same building as you, right?" questioned Ming from the other line.

"Yes. I did. Why are you asking me that? Are you running somewhere?" asked Wayo as he could hear the heavy breathing through the call.

"Tell me the address now," said Ming hurriedly.

"It's two rooms past mine. What are you planning to do? Why do you ask for him.....," the call was hung up by Ming before Wayo could pry him for more details.

"Oi XXXX," Wayo cursed as he stares at the phone for a few minutes. He wonders what his stupid friend is planning to do now.

"Everything's okay?" asked Phana worriedly.

"Everything's good, Phi," he answered as he continued to choose from the menu book.

They are on their dinner date at the moment when Ming called and made Wayo feel worried. Why is Ming looking for P'Kit now? Ming was going to the gym when he left his room just now. What happened suddenly?

"P'Pha, may I ask you something?" asked Wayo softly.

"What is it?"

"Let's do some role play, okay? Now, I'm Phana. You will be Ming. If your friend wants to court me, Phana, Will you look for certain characteristics in me before letting your friend chase me, Phi?"

"So, Ming did check me out before you chased me?" inquired Phana with a stern look.

"No, no, no. Don't be angry, Phi," Wayo tried to convince Phana.

Phana laughed as he saw Wayo's terrified expression.

"Yo, I was joking. No worries," added Phana as he laughed heartily.

"Ooh, P'Pha. You shared me there," replied Wayo as he hit him playfully.

"Why do you make it hard. Just ask me if I'll look for specific characteristics in Beam's and Kit's partners," stated Phana calmly as he started to explain.

"It is diverse for both of them na, Yo.

When Forth asked for my blessing in chasing Beam, all I wished for him was to not be dead in Beam's hands.

Beam could appear calm and friendly. But he is the devil in disguise. He needs someone who could tame his wild spirits and care for him.

Forth had everything that needs to control Beam, plus he loved him wholeheartedly," explained Phana.

Their order arrived right at the time.

Phana served Yo first before taking his part to devour the delicious Lagsana.

Wayo played with the spoon as he wanted to get more details.

"What about P'Kit, Phi?" urged Wayo randomly.

"Kit...., If there is someone who could make him love himself more, then I'll approve them straight away.

Kit seems very positive and productive. He is very hardworking.

Honestly, he is a genius.

If not for him to avoid attention, it would have been him that become the campus topper.

Kit always tries to please others. He will defy his own needs to make others happy.

If the person who wants to court Kit is caring and selfless, he will pass the first assessment.

Kit didn't receive the family love like most of us get.

It could be complicated.

Hope you understand," finished Phana.

"P'Pha, what do you think about Ming?"

Phana became stiff when he heard this particular question. It was not long since Kit had a thing for this engineering Nong and was heartbroken before he even could propose to him properly.

"Don't be stressed, P'Pha. I try not to be biased," added Wayo quickly to avoid making the situation uncomfortable.

"Well, I don't know him. Work-wise, he seems very reliable and responsible. Apart from that, I'm not quite sure. I don't know what type of person he is in person," answered Phana subtlely.

"Then, I'll describe what kind of person he is, Phi. Ming was a very impatient person. Ming might seem the playful and happy-go-lucky type, though he is not like that.

A few months back, all I want for him was to be able to smile again. He lost his only elder sister, who was like a mother figure to him.

He grieved due to that and completely shut everyone out. It was a hard time in his life. After that incident, he finally smiled when he was in the moon and star competition with P'Kit," he explained.

"Isn't that something personal? Is it okay for you to share this info with me?" inquired Phana worriedly.

"P'San was my sister too, P'Pha. Her death was painful for me, as well. Ming won't dare to question me regarding this. If he does so, I'll smack him, Phi," stated Wayo as he pouted angrily.

"You guys are sure too close to each other. What does that have to do with Kit?"

"Oh, that's not something serious, P'Pha. Don't bother," replied Wayo as he quickly stuffed his mouth with food.

"Does Ming romantically have feelings for Kit?" asked Phana.

Wayo was shocked by the direct question. But he responded well anyway.

"What will you do if he has and is too stupid to realize that, P'Pha?" asked Wayo with worry.

"Probably nothing if he realizes soon and is serious in chasing Kit. If not, maybe he should never show his face in front of me," warned Phana with a smile that ended up creepy.

Wayo could only smile at that since he doesn't have any information regarding this topic.

He doesn't want Ming to hurt P'Kit in any way, although he wants them to be a couple already.

~

The short phone call he had with his mother made him feel worse than he already was feeling. He took his phone and left his room in a rush.

His room felt suffocating for him. Kit took the stairs to the rooftop of his dorm.

The cold wind and the brumous sky felt much better than his warm dorm room.

People might wonder if talking to their parents could give this kind of reaction to the kids?

A little beating and rude behaviors couldn't cause much damage.

Are you sure about that? How assured are you?

If, as a child, you are not allowed to be yourself, and if your genuine thoughts, emotions, needs, and preferences are forbidden by those around you who react to them with rejection, scorn, invalidation, or attack, you will learn to hide them.

If you grew up in a problematic or otherwise wanting environment, hiding them will be the ultimate and necessary survival strategy for you.

Consequently, they will develop this as a defense mechanism, a way to protect themselves.

They will start to repress their feelings, hiding their thoughts, and ignore their hobbies and interests.

They also don't show anything that may result in being attacked. The children learn to be self-erase.

Eventually, the children tend to shield themselves from getting hurt, so disconnected from their true selves. That deep down, they have no clue who are they?

It's the same case for Kit. Kit was never treated well since birth. He didn't receive the love he longs for and learns 'not to expect anything from others.

Now that they are suddenly showing the love he learned to avoid at all cost, that gave him a reverse symptom.

He felt suffocating and break into cold sweats like a panic attack. He hoped that the cold wind could cool him down.

But despite standing by the edge of the rooftop for half an hour, he felt indifferent.

He sat there, hugging his legs to warm himself. It could start raining any time now.

He promised himself to avoid being pathetic and worry about useless stuff. Maybe a few hours of being like this won't hurt.

~

Ming reached P'Kit Kat's dorm in 10 minutes, but the doors were wide-open. He couldn't find his precious Phi inside the room as well. Ming tried asking the dormmates, to no avail.

He called him through the phone as he passed the way to the rooftop and heard the soft melody of his ringtone coming from the rooftop.

It started pouring when he reached this dorm. He has been searching everywhere for half an hour now.

If his Kit Kat happened to be out there on the rooftop, he would be drenched wet.

As he guessed, Kit was sitting there hugging his legs as he hides his face in them. Ming rushed to him like a passing wind and covered him with his jacket.

Kit lifted his head to look at the warm hands holding his shoulders and found Ming. He felt like losing his mind.

The person standing in front of him is the person he wanted to see the most, but he couldn't. It's because he doesn't want to be more pitiful than he already is in front of him.

He doesn't know if he should smile or cry in this situation.

So for the moment, he closed his blurry eyes and rested his heavy head on Ming's shoulders.

Ming was dumbfounded by what's happening. He was expecting to be ignored, or worse, scolded by his P'Kit Kat. He didn't expect to saw his precious Phi like this.

"Just let me stay like this for a while. I'm dizzy," said Kit as he stays seated.

Ming hugged him tight once he heard that.

"Let me bring you back to your dorm, Phi," stated Ming as he lifted Kit off the floor and brought him back to his room. Kit didn't fight back for carrying him in bride style.

You can blame his wabbit self for that. He liked the warm feeling he felt in Ming's embrace. But he knew that he shouldn't expect more.

Once they reach Kit's room, he manages to find Ming a small towel to dry himself.

After all, it was his fault for Ming to get wet. Kit looked pale and weak from being drenched by the rain.

"P'Kit Kat, I don't want you to fall sick. Let me take care of you," stated Ming worriedly.

"I'll be fine. You may leave once the rain stops, or you may leave now if you want to," replied Kit in monotone.

"P'Kit Kat, why are you so stubborn? What's wrong with me looking after you?" asked Ming irritatedly.

"Nong Ming, I guess you may leave now. I have given the treat money for winning the championship to Nong Yo. Get it from him," said Kit as he collected the wet towel from him.

Till now, he hasn't looked in Ming's eyes or gave him a decent look.

"P'Kit Kat, why are you avoiding me? What is my fault? Please tell me, na. I'll correct it for you. Please don't ignore me like this, Phi," said Ming, a bit agitated.

"Why can't I avoid you? Why must I explain what's wrong and right to you?" questioned Kit heatedly.

"P'Kit Kat.....," called Ming in shock. That is the first time he saw P'Kit get angry.

"Don't call me that. I'm not your P'Kit Kat. The name is Kit," Kit snapped.

"Phi....," he called once again sadly. He felt this sudden struck at his heart, seeing his precious Phi sad and angry.

"Let me be honest with you, Nong Ming.

I liked you a bit more than a nong.

I don't want to maintain a senior-junior relationship with you. I'm not even your senior. You don't have to gain my blessings or treat me better.

Just be away from me and, that would do," said Kit in rage.

At the very moment, the only thought in Ming's head was,

'P'Kit Kat liked me more than a nong. So my feelings were not one-sided,' and he was beyond happy by that new news.

"I tried to show you, my love, through my actions during the whole campus moon and star competition. But it seems like you don't even realize that.

I heard every single word you said in the changing room that day. You don't see me like the way I see you and, you only want me as a replacement for someone else," stated Kit as tears gathered in his eyes.

"P'Kit Kat, it was not what I meant," before Ming could explain, Kit continuos his statement.

"I don't want to be used by others anymore. I don't deserve this. So I left you, alone. But why do you have to come back here and ask me these useless questions?" asked Kit bitterly.

He might look angry, but all Ming could see in his eyes was the hurt his words had caused in this dimple guy.

He pulled the fierce kitted into his embrace again and hugged him tightly.

Even though Kit struggle to let loose, Ming holds him in place.

"Listen to me carefully, Phi. From now on, I'm going to court you," stated Ming as he kissed the perplexed dimpled guy in his arms.

________

End of Chapter 17.

TBC.

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