WHYARU, Chapter 06:

   10:02 PM

   A soft groan from someone woke Fighter, making him slowly open his eyes. He blinked two or three times to adjust his focus to the darkness of the room. His shoulder, which should’ve felt relaxed, was heavy. When Fighter turned to look, he found the reason for his shoulder ache.

The head of the other person stuck in the document room with him was resting on his shoulder. As he looked at the messy hair, he decided to reach out and pat it into place.

“Mmm,” another low groan sounded from the person’s throat. The slimmer figure tilted their head, following the rhythm of his hand, clearly comfortable. Fighter couldn’t help but think that Tutor was so like a cat.

A cat that hisses when annoyed, but also one that cuddles up to someone when it wants to be spoiled.

Fighter kept patting Tutor’s head for a while until it started to feel a bit weird. He finally lowered his hand, but instead of staying still, the younger guy shifted closer, pressing against him even more. The arms that had been hugging himself were now being rubbed up and down.

Fighter watched the scene for a moment before letting out a soft, incoherent curse. He thought for a long time before deciding to grab the jacket on his lap and drape it over Tutor, then looked away.

Shouldn’t being stuck with someone you don’t like feel more awkward than this?

But for some reason, it didn’t feel like that at all to him.

 

   11:12 PM

   Tutor and Fighter had been stuck in there for almost six hours. No one had come by, and the security guard didn’t seem to notice the library lights were still on. Maybe both of them would have to wait like this until morning.

“My body hurts,” a soft mumble broke the silence. The person sleeping on his shoulder was about to wake up soon. He shifted his head slightly before slowly opening his eyes, looking at Fighter with only half his senses intact.

Fighter was sure the younger guy wasn’t fully awake yet because Tutor rested his chin on his shoulder, their faces only a few centimeters apart. But as their eyes met, the sleepy expression seemed to gain some clarity.

“Comfy leaning on someone else’s shoulder, huh?”

“Not at all,” the responder said, rubbing his eyes. “You’re the one leaning, Phii.”

Tutor clearly remembered that before he fell asleep, the one leaning on his shoulder was none other than Phii Fai.

“You sure?”

“Mm-hmm,” Tutor nodded firmly, even though his chin was still resting on Fighter’s shoulder, prompting the latter to give him a look to snap him out of it.

“I’ll give you one more chance to make sure… who’s leaning on who?” Fighter raised an eyebrow as he asked again. Tutor glanced down at himself, now seeming fully awake.

“Uh… it’s me.”

“Is anyone in there?” A voice from outside immediately drew the attention of both of them, making them turn toward the sound.

“!!”

“Is anyone stuck in the document room?” Tutor and Fighter exchanged glances before banging on the door to signal whoever was out there to help open it.

“Phii!! Help us! We’re stuck in here, please help!!”

“Help!!”

Bang, bang, bang.

Tutor would never forget.

He’d never forget the day he got stuck in the document room, all because he forgot his phone outside.

As for Fighter, he’d never forget to stop playing on his phone until the battery completely died again.

Creak.

The door swung open, and a flashlight’s beam shone directly at their faces. They raised their hands to shield their eyes, and soon their vision began to adjust to the light.

A long sigh of relief was nothing compared to the relieved expression on the younger one’s face. Fighter noticed Tutor lowering his head, as if trying to suppress some kind of emotion.

He knew Tutor was trying to act tough, but sometimes, if you’re scared, just say you’re scared, damn it. No need to act like you’re fine for the whole world to see.

“Thank you, Phii,” Tutor looked up, flashing a wide smile and words of gratitude to the security guard who had opened the door.

“No problem. Good thing I passed by and saw the library light left on. Otherwise, you two would’ve been stuck here until morning.”

“Yes, sir. Oh, and here’s the library key. Could you return it to the professor for us?”

“Sure, I’ll take it to the professor. You two should head back now—it’s getting late.”

Both of them nodded in understanding to the security guard before heading down from the building. They thanked the guard one more time before walking out. Fighter had parked his car at the main academic building. He planned to grab it and drop off his junior before heading home, but it seemed like the junior didn’t need his help all that much, as he was already walking off in another direction.

“So… where are you headed?”

“Back to the dorm.”

“Come with me, I’ll give you a ride.”

“No need, Fai. I can walk back myself.”

“…”

“I don’t want to trouble you.”

“Trouble? It’s late, Tor. I said I’d take you, so I’m taking you. Follow me.” The older one spoke with a slightly threatening tone.

“But…”

“Or should I tell Hwa that you’re rejecting my kindness again?”

“…”

“So, what’s it gonna be?”

“Fine, take me.” Honestly, Hwahwa didn’t have that much influence over him. He was just being polite to his childhood friend and didn’t like it when Hwahwa nagged him.

But the main reason he gave in was because he didn’t want any trouble with his senior, Fai. He was already tired of hearing him complain.

Saturday might be a day when many people sleep in. Some choose to stay wrapped in their blankets until hunger forces them out for food. Others go out with family, hang out at a café, or read a favorite book in a cozy corner. But, of course, there are also those who have to wake up and work hard, getting up to face a life that might not be as easy as others’.

Tutor was no different. He’d been at Phii Kae’s shop since before 9 a.m., helping the staff prepare and serving the first customers by 10 a.m. He’d been at it all day, and now it was almost 9 p.m.

“This place is so cute, the cakes are delicious, and you don’t even have to walk down an alley to get here,” said two girls passing by Tutor, making him glance at the new shop that had opened just a few months ago. The vibe was trendy, perfect for modern tastes, and the place was packed, with nearly every seat taken.

Tutor knew people preferred convenience. They’d pick the shop that’s closer, like this one right at the alley’s entrance. That’s why most customers stopped here instead of walking another hundred meters down the alley to Phii Kae’s shop.

Tutor let out a resigned sigh. He tossed the trash in his hand into the bin, brushed his hands a couple of times, and headed back to the shop.

“When are you telling the kid, Phii Kae?”

“Soon, I think. But I just cut down Tor’s working days a few days ago.”

“If you don’t tell him, your partner will probably…”

“Yeah, besides getting scolded, I might have to…”    Creak.

Tutor opened the door just as the shop owner and another employee were talking.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Nah, not at all. Did you finish taking out the trash, Tor?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can head home. It’s late. me and Bung will handle the rest.”

“Alright.” Tutor nodded, went to change his clothes, grabbed his bag, and turned to say goodbye to the other employees before heading out.

“Wait, Tor!” But Phii Kae called out to him before he could leave.

“Yes?”

“…” Silence and Phii Kae’s gaze made Tutor frown.

“Nothing, nothing. Just wanted to tell you to get home safely.”

“Oh… okay.” Tutor nodded again before walking out of the shop.

It was that moment—the moment of aimlessly walking through the darkness, with only the streetlights casting faint glows on either side. But none of it was as dark as the feeling inside him right now.

Yes… Tutor heard it.

   He heard everything, even when Phii Kae was on the phone with the shop’s partner.

   “I know, Phii. I understand. I’ll tell the kid myself that we’re not taking part-timers anymore… Yes… I’ll let him know. He’ll probably understand that the shop’s situation is really bad right now.”

   Or even when Phii Kae was talking to the other employee.

   “Yeah… it’ll be fine.”

   Tutor stopped walking. He lowered his head and slowly closed his eyes. His tightly pressed lips clearly showed how he felt. He had tried so hard—tried to stay strong, tried to keep fighting.

But it seemed like everything he worked for was only getting worse. It all came crashing down on him, as if the heavens despised him so much they wanted to crush his heart into the ground.

But whatever. Tutor opened his eyes, his burning gaze forcing him to swallow hard, trying to push down those feelings. He didn’t want to cry. He didn’t want to shed tears over things so easily.

So, all Tutor could do now was take a deep breath, filling his lungs, before stepping forward once again.

Just keep fighting. As for the job, I’ll quit tomorrow.

   Tutor muttered to himself. He had decided to resign since this burden could at least lighten the load for Phii Kae’s shop. He chose to do it.

To do it himself without making Phii Kae feel troubled.

       The next day

   5:25 PM

   The atmosphere in the cake shop was quiet, with very few customers—almost countable on one hand. Honestly, Tutor didn’t want to quit, but the shop’s situation was dire. If something had to be cut to reduce expenses, his role was the most expendable.

“Are you sure about quitting, Tor?”

“I’m sure, Phii Kae.”

“But aren’t you struggling right now?” Phii Kae said with a worried expression. Even with the shop in this state, Phii Kae was still concerned for him.

“I’m not struggling at all, Phii Kae.”

“But…”

“The one who’s really struggling is you, Phii Kae.” Tutor gave a wide smile.

“W-Wait… You knew?”

“Yeah, I knew.” He knew full well that Phii Kae was struggling too, and that she was doing everything she could to help him.

“Honestly, I’ve been trying to find a part-time job for you,

“Tor. You could wait a bit, you know.”

“It’s fine, Phii Kae. I already got a job.” It was necessary, so he chose to lie.

“You sure you’re not lying to me?”

“Why would I lie, Phii Kae? Trust me, I really got a job.” Phii Kae went quiet, staring at Tutor’s face as if searching for something off. But the sincere smile he gave made her sigh in relief.

“Okay, I’ll trust you, Tor. I was secretly worried about this, but if you’ve got a job, I’m relieved.”

“Thanks, Phii Kae. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“So, when do you start your new job?”

“Actually, it starts today. I’ll be heading to work in less than an hour.” Tutor glanced at the clock on the wall, putting on a worried expression.

“Oh, shoot, will you make it in time?”

“Alright, I’m here on time, but I’ll have to head out now, okay?”

“Sure thing. I’ll transfer the final payment for your work by

Sunday, Tor.”

“Anytime’s fine, Phii. I’m not in a rush. I’ll get going now, alright?”

“Good luck, Tor. Come back and visit us sometime when you’re free.”

“Will do, for sure.” Tutor gave a final wave to Phii Kae and the others at the cake shop, their faces showing worry and guilt. He flashed a wide smile, as if to reassure them that he was okay.

And he really was okay. Even as he walked away, the good memories lingered. Maybe because this was his first side job, it gave him experiences he’d never had before—responsibility, socializing, talking to customers, even learning about coffee.

Sure, it felt a bit bittersweet, but what could he do? Everyone has to keep moving forward, and so did he.

Tutor didn’t know if the road ahead would be tougher, or if he’d find a new job soon. Maybe he’d have to wait weeks, maybe months. But there was no turning back now.

Because he wasn’t like others. Not like those who had everything and support in every way. He was just a guy who had to struggle a bit more than most. That’s all.

“Alright, Tutor,” he said, lightly slapping his own cheeks.

“Keep fighting and start from scratch again.”

Tutor gave himself a pep talk before rummaging through his bag for his job application folder, ready to start looking for work again. Last night, he’d browsed some job listings online, but most were full-time positions. Part-time jobs near the university or his dorm were rarely posted, and the ones listed were already filled. So, for now, all Tutor could do was check for job signs or walk into shops to ask in person.

Of course, finding a job in this economy was tough. He’d been wandering the street next to Phii Kae’s cake shop for a while now, but every place he went either asked him to leave his resume or said they were only hiring full-time. If things kept going like this, he’d have to look for jobs farther away. It’d be exhausting, but he hoped the heavens would stop messing with him for once.

Whoosh, whoosh.

The sound of heavy rain came out of nowhere. The sky, once bright and clear, suddenly unleashed a downpour like it had never rained before. Tutor dashed to take cover in front of a shop, staring at the rain with an empty feeling.

He didn’t know how he was supposed to feel anymore.

   Did he need to feel even more discouraged? When had fate ever been on his side?

   A long sigh escaped him. Tutor watched the rain pour down, his heart sinking deeper and deeper. He closed his eyes, silently praying once more that this would pass.

   It’ll pass soon enough.

       8:15 PM.

   It’s raining again…

Fighter grumbled to himself. It was another dull day, stuck in traffic on the road under the drizzling rain.

The young man stared wearily at the dozens of taillights in front of him. He reached to turn on the radio, letting it hum along with the sound of the rain, then picked up his phone to play a game to kill time.

Drip, drip.

Though the rain pouring down wasn’t as heavy as it had been earlier, it was still enough to annoy someone like him on the road. Fighter glanced at the rearview mirror to shift his car to the left lane, but something reflected in the mirror made him turn to look with his own eyes.

Fighter saw someone walking through the misty rain.

Someone all too familiar. The height, the way they walked.

Someone he couldn’t fathom why they were walking in the rain at a time like this.

Just got off work, huh… or what?

The first thought that flashed in his mind was irritation. He watched the person getting closer to his car, debating whether to yell out and tell them to get in or just let them walk, soaking wet.

Of course, the latter thought came from Fighter’s annoyance. He didn’t get why the slimmer figure was walking in the rain like that. Sure, they were holding a small folder over their head, but how much could that tiny thing really help?

In the end, he chose to stay quiet, watching the person slowly pass his car. His fingers tapped the steering wheel in rhythm with the song playing, his eyes still following the figure about to walk by.

No need to call out.

Didn’t care anyway.

Let them freeze out there, right?

But…

“Hey, Tor!!” Finally, he rolled down the driver’s side window and shouted for Tutor at the top of his lungs.

“…”

“Tutor!!!!!” The person heard the call. He turned, squinting slightly at a car. It was Fighter, leaning toward the passengerside window, staring straight at him.

“Phii Fai.”

“Get in.”

“…”

“Hurry!” The car’s owner repeated, opening the passenger door to urge the younger one to get in. Tutor hesitated for a long moment but finally complied with Fighter’s order.

Tutor climbed into the car, letting out a long sigh as if exhausted, before slumping into the seat, completely drained.

The younger one didn’t say a thing, and Fighter didn’t dare ask either. At first, he wanted to scold him for walking in the rain like some kind of lunatic, but in the end, he chose silence and reached to turn up the car’s heater instead. Maybe it was the drenched state of the person who just got in that left him speechless.

Neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the music playing softly and the patter of rain, mixed with the traffic outside. In his mind, Fighter was debating whether to ask what Tutor was doing in this area.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he finally blurted it out.

“What the hell are you doing around here?”

“…” Not only did he get no answer, but all that came back was a heavy silence. When he turned to look, he realized the younger one wasn’t paying any attention to his question. Tutor had one hand propped against the passenger-side door, staring blankly out the window. His small face seemed burdened with a whirlwind of thoughts.

Fighter studied the person beside him, frowning in confusion.

The soaked clothes weren’t as suspicious as the folder on his lap, containing a copy of an ID card, crossed out with a note that it was for a job application.

Didn’t Hwahwa say he was working at a cake shop? So why was he still looking for another job?

The thought lingered in his mind. When he glanced up at the pale face again, he noticed Tutor had closed his eyes, lips pressed tightly together. At the corner of his eye… there was something. Not raindrops. Not sweat. But something more like tears.

Fighter wasn’t sure if his guess was right, but if those were tears, he couldn’t fathom what had happened to the person in front of him. What could be so bad that he was holding back his emotions this much?

What the hell happened to you, Tor?

   What’s hurting you this much?

    

       WHYARU : Fighter-Tutor CHAPTERS HOME

   WHYARU, Chapter 05:

   “You don’t believe me, do you?”

“Huh?”

“You don’t believe me, do you, Tor?”

“Believe what?”

“What I told you—that we’re both getting sucked into a novel.”

“Wait, what?”

“You gotta believe me, Tor. You and I are being pulled into a

BL novel that Zon’s writing.”

“Zon!” Tutor called out his old schoolmate’s name, trying to snap him back to reality.

“I’m serious, you gotta believe me!” This time, not only was Zon shouting, but the smaller guy also grabbed Tutor’s shoulders and shook him hard. “Believe me, Tor, believe me!”

“Zon, hold on a sec, calm down.”

“Tor, believe me… damn it, Tor, you idiot!!!”

“!?” Tutor jolted awake when he heard someone calling him. He opened his eyes, squinting at the figure in front of him to see who was staring at him.

“How the hell do you fall asleep during class?” The familiar voice told him it was Day who had woken him up.

“Ugh.”

“You’re not usually like this.”

“I stayed up late last night,” Tutor said, rubbing his temples tiredly. He’d been up late calculating expenses, checking if they’d cover his dorm and living costs. No matter how much he tried to save, he’d probably have to dip into his meager savings anyway. “Has Saifah left already?”

Now fully alert, Tutor looked around the classroom, which should’ve been full of people but was now completely empty— not even Saifah, his friend, was there.

“Yeah, Phii Soda called him. Said he had to go teach guitar to someone who’s singing a duet with him for the football club’s project.”

“So, Zon really didn’t take that job, huh?”

“Guess not. Saifah said it was someone else.” Tutor nodded, understanding his friend’s personality well enough to know he wouldn’t take the job unless something challenged him. “By the way, you okay, Tor? You look exhausted.”

“I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, good to know you’re okay. Cause if you weren’t, I wouldn’t know how to help. I gotta go to basketball practice now. I’m already late, and the fourth-years will probably give me hell.”

“Then hurry up, Day. I’ll finish packing and head out too.”

“Cool, see you Monday then!” Tutor nodded, watching his friend leave the classroom before letting out a bored sigh. He never thought he’d have a moment where he’d accidentally fall asleep in class. Luckily, the professor for this subject wasn’t too strict, so no one paid him much attention.

After Tutor finished packing his notes into his bag, he leisurely walked down from the lecture building. He didn’t have to rush to work at Phii Kae’s shop or tutor anyone today. It was a bit boring, but it was also a rare moment to rest and clear his mind.

The sight of students doing evening activities wasn’t too crowded, but their chatter was loud enough to catch his attention. Whether it was cheerleaders, athletes, or volunteer club members laughing happily, Tutor never had this side of life. He’d never joined any activities—not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.

“Eek!” A sudden yelp snapped Tutor out of his thoughts, and he turned to see what happened. The sight startled him, and he immediately rushed to help.

“Professor, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine, dear, I’m fine. But these documents…”

“I’ll help pick them up,” Tutor said, crouching down to gather the scattered papers blowing across the ground.

“Put them in this box, dear.”

“Got it.” Two overturned boxes were placed in front of him.

“Hey, you—the one walking over there! Yes, you! Are you free? Come help me put these documents in the box!” the professor called out to someone passing by.

At first, Tutor didn’t know who the professor was calling, the person in the workshop jacket. It wasn’t until he finished gathering the papers and looked up that he realized it was Phii Fai.

“Thank you both so much! Alright, I’ll take these back and sort them myself.”

“No worries, professor. We’ll carry them for you,” the guy in the jacket said calmly, causing Tutor, standing nearby, to glance at him in surprise. He hadn’t expected someone like Phii Fai to have this side.

A side that seemed genuinely kind to others.

“Great, then follow me, you two.” Both of them nodded and followed the professor. Along the way, Tutor had no intention of chatting with the guy walking beside him. But, of course, it was that senior who suddenly leaned in and whispered to him.

“I saw that.”

“What did you see?”

“That annoying look you gave me just now.”

“You must be cross eyed.”

“Hey, Tor!”

Rrrrrrrrrrrrr

The professor’s phone rang, causing both him and Phii Fai, who was following, to stop walking.

“An urgent meeting? … Alright, ma’am … Yes, I’ll head over right away … Understood …” After a few more sentences, the professor hung up and turned to the two of them with an apologetic expression. “I have to attend a meeting with the vicedean. Could I trouble you both to take these documents to the building for me?”

“Sure, professor. Which building should we take them to?”

“They go to the library in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Building A. Head to the innermost part; there’s a document storage room there. But be careful, the library’s under renovation, so there might be some construction stuff in the way. The workers should be gone by now,” the professor said, rummaging through her bag to hand over a key.

“Got it,” Tutor reached out to take the key.

“Oh, and the door to the storage room—once you open it, make sure to prop it with something. It’s broken and won’t open from the inside.”

“Got it.”

“Thanks a lot, you two.”

“No problem, professor.”

 

   6:05 p.m.

   So damn quiet.

It was both silent and eerie. Tutor hadn’t expected the library wing of the Faculty of Social Sciences to feel this gloomy. Maybe it was because of the renovations—hardly any students were passing through.

“You good carrying two boxes?” Tutor stopped in front of the library and asked the guy beside him.

“What do you think?” The annoying guy was still annoying, as always.

“Probably fine, since I’m unlocking the door.” With that, the slimmer guy immediately stacked his box on top of the ones Fighter was holding. The guy in the shop shirt raised an eyebrow, slightly displeased, but stayed quiet and let Tutor do his thing. Once Tutor unlocked the library door and turned on a few lights, he came back to Fighter and took his box back.

“I could’ve kept holding it, you know.”

“No thanks. I don’t really want to bother someone like you.”

“What’s wrong with someone like me?”

“Someone like me, huh?” Tutor locked eyes with the person in front of him for a moment before shrugging, as if he had no intention of answering any more questions. “Whatever, let’s head inside.”

Seeing that Tutor wasn’t going to say anything more, Fighter chose not to press further. He followed the slimmer figure quietly, gazing at the steady back in front of him with a mix of feelings—too complex to explain. Among them was a sense of respect for the person who had started working to earn money even before finishing their studies, unlike him, who was still asking his father for money. Fighter couldn’t quite put it into words, but this feeling lingered in his thoughts every time he thought of Tutor.

Perhaps it was because no one around him was like Tutor. No one else had to struggle this much.

That’s probably why it felt… captivating, maybe.

Fighter followed Tutor until they reached the document room. The person leading the way placed a box of documents and their bag in front of the room before opening the door and flicking the light switch. However, despite several attempts, the light refused to turn on.

“Broken, huh?”

“Probably. I tried flipping it a few times already.”

“No big deal then. Let’s just put the stuff away quickly and head back.”

“I know, I know,” Tutor grumbled, grabbing a cardboard box from the floor to prop the door open. Fighter couldn’t recall why the smaller guy did that. He just stood there, watching as Tutor picked up the professor’s document box and walked inside, then followed suit.

Thud!

But as he stepped forward, Fighter accidentally kicked the box Tutor had used to prop the door.

“Why’d you put it there?” the taller man muttered, nudging the box aside with his foot just as the door began to close slowly.

“Phii Fai, the door!!!”

“What?”

“It’s gonna lock, and we won’t be able to get out!!!”

“What do you mean?”

“The professor told us!”    Bang!

“Phii Fai…” The tone of voice calling his name didn’t even compare to the look Tutor shot him.

“Well, I didn’t remember the door was broken, okay?”

“Have you ever remembered anything?”

“Hey, Tor…”

“Enough, stop talking…” Tutor raised a hand to silence him and brushed past to head back to the door. Meanwhile, Fighter chose to take the document box he was holding to store it inside before returning to Tutor.

“How’s it going, can you open it?” The question came because the younger one had tried several times to open the alreadyclosed door.

“No…”

Silence fell between them again. Tutor looked at the older person with a slightly displeased expression.

“Because of you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. You’re at fault. You saw me put the box to prop the door open. If you didn’t remember, you could’ve at least thought for a second why I’d bother doing that.”

“What are you complaining about…”

“How can I not complain when we’re stuck in here because of you?”

“You’ve got a phone, just call someone.”

“My bag’s outside.”

“Here’s mine.” The speaker pulled out a phone and held it up for the other to see. Tutor shook his head and looked at the taller one with an exasperated expression.

“Then hurry up and call before everyone goes home.”

“…”

“What?” Suddenly, the owner of the only phone gave him a strange look. The expression on the older one’s face made him sense something was off. “Phii Fai…”

“…”

“Don’t tell me the battery’s dead.”

“Yep.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“You’re so good at complaining, my ears are numb.”

“Look at you! Why didn’t you charge the damn battery?”

“And how was I supposed to know we’d get stuck in here together?”

“You should’ve been more prepared.”

“You’re calling me unprepared? Why don’t you ask yourself why you left your bag outside like that?”

“It was heavy, so I left it out there. And you—why didn’t you charge your battery?”

“It’s just a bag, why couldn’t you bring it in?”

“…” Tutor went quiet, pursing his lips slightly, feeling a bit annoyed.

“…” Fighter was no different. He looked at the younger one, who was still pouting with frustration, until Tutor lowered his head under that scolding gaze, and only then did he soften. “Whatever.”

He wasn’t sure if it was pity or something else, but he really didn’t like seeing Tutor make that face.

“I’ll see if there’s anything I can use to pick the lock.” Fighter took off his faculty garage jacket, placed it on a nearby crate, and went to look for something to unlock the door. Eventually, he found a paperclip. He grabbed it, bent it, and tried picking the lock like he’d seen in some movie or drama.

But, well, this wasn’t a movie or drama. It wasn’t as easy as it looked.

Creak.

“Did it work?” The voice from the person leaning against the door turned to him with hopeful eyes. Fighter didn’t reply. He just nudged the door lightly, trying again in case it would open.

In the end, he could only shake his head at the person sitting there.

“Ugh,” a long sigh echoed again. “I think you should stop,

“Phii. Waiting for someone to find us might be better.”

“…”

“Come sit.”

“Yeah, got it.” Fighter nodded slightly. He went to grab his jacket, then sat down next to the smaller figure. He pulled out the phone from his pocket and tried turning it on again, even though he wasn’t the type to let his battery die completely. But today, the class was so boring that he ended up playing games until it drained.

“Whatever, Phii,” the voice next to him spoke while looking at his face. “The battery’s dead. No matter how much you try, it won’t turn on.”

“…”

“I think waiting for someone to help is the better option.”

“Mm.” Fighter nodded, stuffed the phone back into his jacket, and slowly closed his eyes.

Tutor wasn’t wrong. If anyone was to blame for this mess, it was probably him.

       8:24 PM.

   Thud.

Suddenly, Tutor’s left shoulder felt heavy. When he turned to look, he saw the other person in the room had rested their head on his shoulder.

“Phii Fai,” Tutor called out to the person leaning on him, feeling a bit confused. But the owner of the name stayed silent, only letting out warm breaths. “Are you messing with me?”

“…” The person being questioned remained quiet, making the smaller one frown and try to push Fighter’s head off his shoulder. Of course, it didn’t work. The more he pushed, the more Fighter leaned in closer.

“Asshole Phii Fai”

“…”

“Didn’t hear me, huh?” Tutor said, glancing over again. He looked down once more, letting out a frustrated sigh, “Phii…”

In the end, he could only let Fighter rest his heavy head on his shoulder, completely giving in.

If I knew you were messing with me, I’d kill you on the spot.

 

  WHYARU : Fighter-Tutor CHAPTERS HOME

   WHYARU, Chapter 04:

   “Tor’s here!” Someone’s voice rang out after Tutor entered the house. When he turned to look, he realized it was Nam, one of Hwahwa’s faculty friends, who came to greet him. “The cake you said you made—is this it?”

“Alright.”

“Then, Tor, go prepare the candles in the backyard. Nam and

“Day will keep watch at the front.”

“Got it,” Tutor nodded to Nam, just as Fighter walked into the house. Tutor didn’t pay much attention and was about to head to the kitchen.

“Tor, hold on,” Nam called out, stopping Tutor. “Take Phii Fai with you. Let Phii Fai carry the cake out for Hwa.”

It wasn’t just Tutor who looked surprised. Fighter himself didn’t understand Nam’s reasoning either. Since he wasn’t the one who bought the cake, why did he have to be the one to carry it out for Hwahwa?

But, Nam… I think…” Day, standing nearby, started to look hesitant and was about to say something to Nam.

“Talk later, Day. For now, let these two hurry up and get going. When you’re done, signal to me and Day,” Nam said, pushing Fighter and Tutor toward the kitchen.

Fighter let out a soft sigh, clearly not thrilled about being the one to carry the cake. But Tutor stayed silent, likely because he didn’t want his close friend’s birthday to get complicated with unnecessary drama.

Fighter followed Tutor into the kitchen quietly. The smaller guy turned on the kitchen light like he knew the place inside out. Well, of course—he’d been best friends with the owner since childhood. It’d be weird if he didn’t know every corner of the house.

“You in the way,” Tutor said when the taller guy blocked his path. The one called “in the way” just stood there until Tutor placed the cake on the counter in the middle of the room. Only then did Fighter step closer to stand beside him.

Fighter showed no sign of helping. He just leaned against the counter with his arms crossed, watching Tutor pull out candles to stick into the cake. But soon, a slight smirk appeared on his face as something occurred to him, and he spoke up, clearly amused.

“Not happy that I’m the one carrying the cake, huh?”

“…” Tutor had decided not to bring it up, so why was this guy still poking at it, trying to hit a nerve?

“Right?”

“Does my face look like I’m happy?” Tutor looked up at

Fighter and handed him the candles. “Here, take these.”

Use them, since you’re so talkative.

“?”

“Do something useful for once. I’m going to find a lighter.”

“You saying I’m useless?”

“Yeah.”

“You little—Tor!”

“Just take them, Phii Fai. I’m getting the lighter.” Tutor shoved the candles into Fighter’s hands and went to find the lighter, his expression clearly showing he was beyond annoyed.

“Why are you standing there dazed, Phii? Hurry up and stick the candles in!” The small guy looking for a lighter still managed to scold him again.

What the hell?

   Fighter was tired of dragging things out, so he turned to stick the candles into the cake instead. But when his eyes caught the greeting written on the cake, he couldn’t help but nod in quiet amazement.

   The thought that Tutor liked his friend was still stuck in his head. Even though Tutor denied it, the message on the cake strongly reinforced his belief that Tutor had a crush on Hwahwa.

   “Done sticking them yet?” The cake’s owner returned with a lighter. “Move over a bit. I need to light the candles all at once so we don’t waste time.”

Fighter stepped aside to let Tutor come closer. Both of them focused on their tasks, but it wasn’t long before Fighter said something with a slightly mocking tone.

“Happy, birthday, to, my, beloved, friend… huh?”

The person being teased stayed silent, showing no sign of responding, though he was thoroughly annoyed inside.

“Honestly, you didn’t even need the word ‘friend,’” Fighter continued, his gaze full of mischief. Finally, Tutor couldn’t take it anymore. He looked up at Fighter with an equally displeased expression.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“Phii Fai.”

“Deep down, you don’t really want to be just friends, do you… or am I wrong?”    “You’re wrong.”

“Sure about that?” Fighter asked, leaning his face closer to Tutor than before. His challenging expression and refusal to back off made him chuckle.

But when he really stared into Tutor’s face, a strange feeling bubbled up, making everything feel off.

It definitely wasn’t infatuation, but it was a desire to explore

and…

to… touch those soft lips in front of him again.

He wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe he just wanted to know if they were still as soft as they had been before. Fighter’s gaze shifted from the clear, round eyes to the orange-tinted lips.

Tutor pursed his lips slightly, sensing the stare, but he still didn’t move his face away. Until…

Fighter leaned in closer and closer to Tutor. The faint traces of their warm breaths collided, their faces so close now.

So close that he could feel their lips about to press together…

“What are you doing, Phii?” Tutor, the one who seemed to have his wits about him, pushed the other person away first, his expression suspicious.

The smaller guy’s lips were still pressed tight, as if afraid Fighter might pounce on him like before.

“You’re hilarious,” Fighter let out a smirk and shook his head before turning back to stick candles into the cake. Naturally, the one who’d almost been “attacked” wasn’t too thrilled.

“You’re messing with me again, huh?”

“What do you think?” Fighter turned to face the questioner.

“You think I actually want to kiss you or something, Tor?”

“…”

“Hmph.” A tired sigh escaped, making the listener pout slightly. Tutor gave up pressing the issue and turned to light the candles Fighter had just placed. But purely out of irritation, he muttered something under his breath, hoping it’d hit the ears of the guy standing next to him.

“But you never know with stuff like this, right, Phii Fai? Who could possibly know your heart better than you?”

“…”

“Right?” In that final moment, Tutor locked eyes with Fighter, flashing a sly grin. The younger guy raised his eyebrows cheekily a couple of times before turning back to focus on lighting the candles.

Fighter shook his head at his junior, amused. How could it be like that? He didn’t feel his heart race being near Tutor. Right now, he just wanted to look at his face, to see what the smaller guy was doing with such focus.

   He just… wanted to stare at those soft, orange-tinted lips, slightly pursed, as if aware they were being watched.

   Maybe it was just the urge to tease. Deep down, he wasn’t ready to admit what that desire to kiss those soft lips might mean. For now, he’d stick to the belief that he was just messing with the guy in front of him.

   “Done,” Tutor said, turning to give him a squinting, childlike smile, as if he’d just gotten candy—when all he did was light some candles. No need to be that excited.

“Then take it outside,” Fighter nodded slightly, gesturing to leave the kitchen.

“Wait, Phii Fai!” But it was Tutor who shouted, holding the cake and blocking his path.

“What?”

“Hold it.” Tutor offered the cake to him.

“Nope.”

“Why not? Nam wants you to carry it.”    “But I don’t want to… it’s heavy. You carry it.”

“But…” The listener still looked a bit hesitant.

“Don’t make me say it too often, Tor. It’s just a cake worth a few hundred, I got something for Hwa that’s more expensive than what you’re holding,” Fighter said with an annoyed tone, making the listener roll their eyes in irritation.

Whatever. If Phii Fai didn’t care, Tutor would care instead. He smirked to himself.

   “Though I don’t really want to say it,” Tutor looked up at

Fighter and smiled, “thanks anyway.”

“…”

In that moment of eye contact, it felt like the whole world stopped spinning, like a waterfall slowing as it hit the rocks below. For just a few seconds, Fighter saw the bright smile in front of him.

“Yeah,” Fighter nodded, as if annoyed, before walking ahead of Tutor outside. Day, who was standing nearby, quickly went to turn off the lights as the “Happy Birthday” song filled the room. Hwahwa smiled happily at Tutor. Earlier, she’d been pressured by her faculty friends, questioned about why she still hadn’t dated Fighter, which made her feel uncomfortable. Luckily, Tutor came out at just the right moment, and Day was the one who rushed to turn off the lights.

“Happy Birthday to You, ♫~”

The song ended with applause. Tutor walked forward, holding the birthday cake lit with candlelight, and handed it to his close friend. Hwahwa smiled back, looking at Tutor with gratitude once more.

“Thanks so much, Tor.”

“Mmm, I wish you the happiest of times,” Hwahwa nodded, making a silent wish before blowing out the candles. The cake in Tutor’s hands was cut and shared with those at the party who wanted some, though most didn’t care much for it. Only Day, Hwahwa, and Fighter sat quietly eating the cake.

“Super tasty, Tor,” Hwahwa, true to form, could tell from the first bite that her close friend had made it. Day, pleased, handed Hwahwa a gift he’d prepared. The two chatted warmly, with Tutor occasionally joining in.

Until the friends at the party called for Hwahwa, that is. She excused herself to go join them.

Day watched her go with a look that Tutor understood, even if he didn’t say or ask anything outright.

Neither of them noticed that someone else had been watching the whole scene from the start.

The sight made it hard not to wonder if maybe he liked Hwahwa too.

So, to sum it up simply: the people Fighter was talking to— whether it was his close friend Tutor or a friend of a friend like Day—all seemed to have a thing for Hwahwa…    Sigh… What a mess.

The atmosphere at Hwahwa’s house grew quieter by the minute. Tutor hadn’t heard chatter for a while. Even though he was in the kitchen, the silence from outside made it easy to guess that most of Hwahwa’s friends had probably started heading home.

“No need to do anything, Tor. I’ll take care of this,” the housekeeper, Phii Jan, hurried over to stop Tutor as he handled dishes at the sink. Her expression was a mix of politeness and a firm warning not to continue.

“Come on, Phii Jan, it’s just washing dishes. I can handle it.”

“You can handle it, but don’t, okay? If Hwa sees, I’ll get scolded.”

“Hwa doesn’t scold, you know that.”

“I know, but let me do my job, please. Why don’t you go relax in the living room and wait for Hwa?”

“…”

“Please?” Her pleading look and earnest eyes—how could he say no?

“Alright, but if you need help with anything, just call me, okay, Phii Jan?”

“Got it.”

Tutor gave Phii Jan a small nod before leaving the kitchen for the living room. The room was nearly empty, with only one person still there.

Phii Fai.

   Fighter was sitting in a corner of the sofa, engrossed in his phone, oblivious to anyone else entering. It wasn’t until Tutor sat down in a chair that Fighter looked up, his eyes seeming to ask why Tutor was still there.

“It’s my friend’s house,” Tutor said casually, not too pleased with someone in particular. But right after he spoke, Fighter smirked mockingly. Almost instantly, when Tutor frowned at him, he got an equally annoying raised eyebrow in return.

“…”

“…”

“What?” Tutor mouthed silently, questioning the guy staring at him.

“…” But Fighter didn’t answer.

“Jerk.”

“You or me?”

“You.”

“Hmph.” Instead of getting angry, Fighter just smirked back provocatively.

Why did he have to know such an annoying guy like Phii Fai?

   “Tor, Phii Fai,” someone’s voice interrupted them both. Turning around, they saw it was Hwahwa and Day walking into the house. “It’s late. You two should head back.”

“Oh… sure.” Tutor nodded, stood up, and tucked his phone into his pocket.

Day, however, showed no sign of leaving with Tutor despite arriving together. Maybe because Day’s house wasn’t far from Hwahwa’s, unlike Tutor, who might need to take a taxi.

“Wait, Tor, don’t go yet,” Hwahwa, the host, called out to him.

“What’s up?” Tutor raised an eyebrow, but instead of answering, Hwahwa turned to Fighter, who had just gotten up from the sofa.

“Phii Fai, Tor’s dorm is far. Could you drop him off?”

“Hey, no need, Hwa. I can get back on my own,” Tutor quickly protested as soon as he heard Hwahwa suggesting Fighter drive him.

“Don’t be stubborn, Tor. Let Phii Fai take you… please.” Not just saying it, Hwahwa dragged and pulled him out of her house toward Fai’s car.

“Hwa!” He tried calling her name several times, but she stayed silent, shaking her head and ignoring him. It wasn’t until they reached Phii Fai’s car that Day, who had followed, offered another option.

“Or you could crash at my place.”

“Yeah, it’s late. You don’t have to go back,” Hwahwa seemed to agree with Day’s idea. “But you don’t need to stay at Day’s. If you’re staying, just stay at my place.”

“Day’s house is fine.”

“Hwa’s house, duh. I’m Hwa’s friend, Day.”

“Tor’s my friend too.”

“But I came first.”

“…”

“…”

When the argument went nowhere, he ended up being the one caught in the middle, pressured. Just look at Day and Hwahwa’s faces—so funny. Both looked expectant, waiting for him to choose whose house to stay at.

“Neither house works.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“Oh,” Day replied.

“That sucks,” Hwahwa said, pouting with disappointment.

“Well… I guess there’s only one option left then.”

Hwahwa flashed a sly smile, and he could tell she was scheming to make him and Fighter get closer, just like she wanted.

“Don’t smile like that, Hwa.”

“I’m not smiling… Fai, unlock the car door,” Hwahwa said, turning to Fighter to get the car owner to unlock the door. Fighter complied without complaint, and Hwahwa grinned widely, pushing Tutor into the car. “Don’t make that face, Tor. This way, you won’t have to waste money on a taxi. And today, I’m super thankful to you, Tor. Thanks for the birthday cake too—it was the best.”    “Mm, no problem.”

“Good night, Tor.”

“You too, Hwa. Happy birthday.” Hwahwa smiled and closed the car door immediately.

Tutor watched from inside the car as Fighter stood talking with Day and Hwahwa. After a few words, Fighter walked around to the driver’s seat.

Bang

The sound of the door closing on the opposite side hadn’t faded before the car was started.

Phii Fai buckled his seatbelt before backing the car out of Hwahwa’s house. The house’s owner and his other close friend stood waving enthusiastically as they saw them off.

Tutor sighed at his friends’ efforts to make him and Fighter get along, which, as expected, still wasn’t working. Even now, his feelings toward Fighter remained the same—this guy just didn’t seem like someone worth getting close to.

Just think about it—almost an hour in the car, and not a single word passed between them. It’s not like he didn’t try to talk; Tutor did, but this guy responded like he was afraid a flower would fall out of his mouth. In the end, we just sat in silence the whole way, as you can see.

“Thanks a lot for the ride, Phii,” the speaker turned to thank Fighter before unbuckling his seatbelt.

“Mm.”

“And also…” It seemed like Tutor had more to say, but even after waiting, he didn’t open his mouth. It wasn’t until Fighter turned back and raised an eyebrow, as if prompting him, that Tutor finally spoke. “Thanks again for letting me hold the cake today.”

“Well, you bought the cake. Wouldn’t it be weird if the buyer didn’t hold it?”

“It’s not bought. I made it myself.”

“You know how to make cakes? A guy baking cakes… isn’t that a bit odd? Who taught you?”

“I learned it.”

“Learned?”

“Yeah, I took classes… what can I do? My sister loves eating cake.” Tutor’s face beamed with pride, making Fighter quietly curious. He wondered what kind of person Tutor’s sister was— why did this stubborn guy in his eyes seem so devoted and submissive when talking about her?

“Well… I’m off then. Good night, Phii.”

“Hm?” Before he could respond, the slimmer guy had already opened the car door and left.

“Good night, huh…” Fighter muttered to himself softly.

“Saying that to someone you don’t even like?”

His eyes followed the person walking toward the dorm. He didn’t quite understand this feeling, but it didn’t bother him much.

Just didn’t understand, that’s all…    Sighhh.

A loud sigh echoed as the room’s owner flopped face-down onto the pillow, exhausted. His heavy eyelids were about to close in seconds. But then, the phone in his pants pocket vibrated. Tutor pulled it out, shifting to lie on his back to read the message more comfortably.

MommyGig: Nong Tor, 

   About the tutoring we discussed earlier, I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel for now. 

   I’m really sorry, dear. It’s just that I recently enrolled my kid in a course at their school. 

   Let’s try again next time, okay? I’m really sorry.

   Tutor: It’s okay, Mam. Next time works! 

   Buzz, buzz.

Before Tutor could reply to the message, a new one from someone else popped up on his screen.

Kaykai: Nong Tor

   Tutor: Yes, Phii Kae?

   Kaykai: Sorry for messaging you so late.

   Tutor: It’s fine, no worries.

   Kaykai: Remember when you talked to me about taking on extra work?

   Tutor: Yeah, I remember, Phii Kae. What’s up?

   Kaykai: Well, my business partner is looking to cut costs. So, could you go back to your original work schedule? I’ve been trying to find a solution, and this seems best for you.

   Tutor: Sure, that’s fine. No problem at all.

   Kaykai: I’m worried about you, you know.

   Tutor: It’s okay, Phii Kae. Honestly, I’ve got some new students, so don’t worry about me.

   Kaykai: That’s a relief. Thanks so much, Nong Tor!

   Tutor: No prob.

   New students? What new students, Tor? He didn’t have a single one lined up.

Sigh. Tutor turned off his phone and placed it on the empty spot on his bed before slowly closing his eyes. If he counted the days he’d work with Phii Kae, it was just Tuesday and Thursday evenings, plus full days on Saturday. That amount of work, compared to the expenses he actually had… it wasn’t nearly enough.

Looked like he’d have to find more work. But where?

Tutor grabbed a nearby pillow, pressed it to his face, and curled up tighter. A lump seemed to lodge in his throat, forcing him to hide his face in the pillow.

He was tired. So damn tired. He’d never faced anything like this before—never had to struggle or scrape for money like this.

But what could he do? His life didn’t come with choices. And because he had no choice, all he could do was fight. Even though a voice inside screamed how unbearable it was, his lips kept muttering, praying over and over to himself that he could handle it.

He could do it.

He could… definitely.

Just gotta keep fighting… stay strong.

  WHYARU : Fighter-Tutor CHAPTERS HOME

   WHYARU, Chapter 03:

“Okay, that’s it for today. Class dismissed,” the professor announced. Some students started filing out of the room, while a few groups, including Tutor’s, were still packing up.

“Professor Su’s class is way too hard, man. I haven’t understood a single thing since the start,” Day grumbled in frustration.

“Chill, when midterms get closer, just ask Saifah to tutor you. He’s good at this subject, right?” Tutor raised an eyebrow at the guy yawning nearby.

“Very funny, Tor. Me, teach someone like Day? You’re good at passing the buck, huh? You’re the only one who can actually help us,” Saifah shot back. Tutor chuckled.

“Oh yeah, Tor, I was gonna ask about the faculty dinner last night. How’d it go? Was it cool?” Day asked, curious, unlike Tutor, who wasn’t too keen on his friend knowing about what happened at the event.

“…”

“Yo, why so quiet? Something happen?”

“Nah, nothing. The dinner was fine.” But what wasn’t fine for him… was probably that incident.

The incident that made him think he should forget about it, let it go, but in the end, Tutor couldn’t shake the image from his mind. It was vivid, even the sensation when their lips touched.

Even now, he could still feel that touch.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you wiping your mouth?”

“Oh… uh, nothing.” Tutor hadn’t even realized he was wiping his mouth while thinking about what Fighter did to him last night.

“By the way, are you working at Phii Kae’s shop today?”

“Yeah,” Tutor nodded while stuffing things into his bag. “Oh, I forgot to mention, tomorrow is Hwa’s birthday party. He invited Saifah and Day too. Wanna come with?”

“Can I?” Day said with a delighted expression. “Actually, I already prepared a gift for him, but I didn’t think he’d invite me.”

“Of course, let’s go together. But is Saifah going? You free?”

“Nah, I’m too lazy.”

“Lazy’ is fine,” Day said. “What about a gift? You could buy something today and we’ll bring it for you.”

“Nope,” Saifah replied, still being Saifah. The one who immediately looked exasperated was, of course, Day.

“You’re always like this, Saifah.”

“I’m not close with him.”

Even if you’re not close, you should at least get him something small.”

“What’s with you, Day? Waste of my money.”

“Damn it, Saifah.”

“Enough.” If he didn’t stop them now, who knows if they’d ever stop arguing today. “It’s fine if you don’t have anything. Hwa’s not that serious about it anyway.”

Tutor finished speaking, and Saifah just shrugged like some Zon. Day could only shake his head in frustration before turning back to Tutor.

“So, what did you get for Hwa, Tutor?”

“Didn’t buy anything.”

“What?”

“But I was thinking of borrowing the oven at Phii Kae’s shop to bake a cake for Hwa. Not sure if he’ll let me.”

“He’ll let you. He adores you.”

“I still don’t know if I’ll get it or not,” because no matter how much Phii Kae cares for Tutor, that shop doesn’t belong to Phii Kae alone. There are other partners involved. If he really can’t get it from Phii Kae, he’ll probably have to find something else to buy for Hwahwa instead.

“Did you guys watch the football match last night?” A loud voice rang out as a group of people walked into the room. The scene they saw was a group of fourth-year students entering.

“Damn it. The fourth-years are using our room next. Let’s go. I don’t want to run into the seniors. They’ll probably make me do stuff again,” Saifah said, quickly grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder before heading out. Day followed suit, leaving only him behind, still packing his things.

In the end, he hurriedly stuffed everything into his bag and rushed out after Saifah and Day. Of course, in his haste, Tutor forgot something in the classroom, only realizing it while walking down the stairs.

“What are you looking for, Tor?” Day asked when he noticed Tutor rummaging through his bag.

“I think I left my phone in the classroom. You and Saifah can head back first.”

“No worries, we’ll wait for you downstairs.” Tutor nodded and quickly ran back up the stairs to the classroom he’d just left. But because someone was leaning against the wall in front of the room, his running slowed down.

In that man’s hand was his phone. Tutor wouldn’t have cared at all… if that man wasn’t Phii Fai.

“Phii Fai, is that my phone?”

“What do you think?”

Phii Fai…”

“Just asking. Is it yours or not?”

“Yes.”

“If it’s yours, then what…?”    Annoying.

Not only did Fighter have a smug, irritating expression, but he also raised an eyebrow as if picking a fight. How someone like this ended up being his senior in the same academic line was beyond him.

The world is unfair.

“So… if it’s yours, then what?”

“Give it back,” Tutor said, reaching for his phone. But the guy in front of him wouldn’t let go, and even when he pulled harder, Fighter still showed no sign of relenting.

“Phii Fai.”

“You keep calling me.”

“Let go of my phone.”

“…”

Oh, it was the moment when the older guy moved his face closer than usual, the image of their lips touching flashed in his mind. The closer Fighter got, the more tense he felt. The hot breath brushing against his ear only made him more uneasy.

In the end, Tutor could only stand still. He was afraid that if he moved any further, the sharp nose of a certain someone would graze his cheek.

“Tutor.”

“What?”

“Chicken.” Laughter echoed from his throat. Fighter couldn’t help but chuckle at the reaction of the guy in front of him. But whatever, he had come to stand here waiting to take back Tutor’s phone because he wanted to warn him. It wasn’t a big deal, but he didn’t want anyone to know that he had accidentally kissed the guy in front of him once.

“If I find out you told anyone about what happened that night…”

“…”

“You’re dead.”

Tutor tilted his neck to avoid Fighter, feeling the lips and the tip of the nose brushing against his ear. Another puff of hot breath came as Fighter let out a soft laugh. He was amused by the irritated expression and demeanor of the guy in front of him.

And it was at that moment that Tutor turned to face Fighter directly. Their faces were only inches apart, but the younger one still mustered the courage to hold his gaze unflinchingly.

“You keep saying that. I think it’s not normal anymore, is it?”

“What’s not normal about it?”    “…” Tutor stayed silent.

“What, you think I like you or something, Tor?”

“…” Tutor didn’t answer, but his expression seemed to challenge, as if it was Fighter who definitely liked him.

“You are funny.” Fighter said while playfully pushing Tutor’s head with one hand. The other hand, which had been holding onto the phone, finally let go, returning it to its owner before he walked into the classroom.

Tutor looked at the back of the guy who had just walked into the room with a resigned expression. He knew it was impossible for someone like Fighter to like him. But earlier, when Tutor challenged Fighter, it was purely out of annoyance and a desire to mess with him. He couldn’t remember how many times he’d been teased like this by his code-line senior. Every time he tried to avoid meeting him, something always brought them face-toface.

Tutor let out a weary sigh. Thinking about Hwahwa’s birthday party happening tomorrow, he could only pray that a certain someone would be too busy to attend.

“Hey, seniors!” Tutor pushed open the door to the cake shop where he worked, raising his hand to greet the staff behind the counter.

“Hey, Tor, go change first,” Phii Kae smiled in greeting, nodding toward the back of the shop for him to change into his uniform.

Previously, Phii Kae had told Tutor that he was so good at digging up shop items that he got featured on the website multiple times. At first, he wasn’t used to customers sneaking photos of him in the shop, but lately, that had died down.

“Eat properly, little one, follow your big sister’s example,” said a mother sitting next to her youngest son, scolding him to eat the cake in front of him nicely. Of course, his older sister was right there, showing him how it’s done. The father, sitting across from them, smiled with a look of affection.

Tutor watched the scene with a bittersweet feeling. It wasn’t bad, just a pang of nostalgia for the times when he could sit and eat with his family like this.

Truthfully, he missed his parents and older sister back in the provinces. But part of him wanted to keep working and saving money, just in case they needed help in an emergency.

He missed them… a lot.

But what could he do? Right now, the most important thing for his family was… money.

“Tor, can you clear table three and take out the trash in the back?”

Got it!” Tutor tore his gaze from the scene, turning to smile and acknowledge the request from one of the staff.

Sure, the work was heavy, but it wasn’t something he could refuse or choose.

   Whatever. Being content with what he had now was enough.

    

   10:00 p.m.

“Tor, I’m leaving you to close up the shop,” Phii Kae said, handing him the keys as he prepared to leave.

“Got it. Oh, and any equipment or ingredients I used today, you can deduct from my salary, Phii Kae.”

“Hey, no need for that, Tor. Use whatever you want. You’re already carrying a heavy load as it is. I’m heading out, so lock up, alright?”

“Yes, thank you so much, Phii Kae!” Tutor smiled at the shop owner, watching him until he was out of sight before heading back to the kitchen.

Back when his family wasn’t struggling financially, Tutor was the go-to guy for making birthday cakes for everyone. Honestly, if anyone wanted a cake, he was the one who made it.

It’s not that he loved doing it. He never even thought about getting into something like this. But his older sister, who went through a phase of obsessing over cakes, practically forced him into it. That’s how it all started.

Of course, at first, Tutor flat-out refused. He had zero interest in it. But with his sister being, well, the older sister, she halfdragged, half-coaxed him into a baking school, and that was that…

Thinking about this, Tutor felt grateful to Phii Tong every time for teaching him how to bake cakes. Partly because it could be used for a future career, and that’s why Phii Kae chose him to work here. Initially, when the pastry chef’s assistant quit, the chef was left without help. Though he no longer had to assist the chef now, he was still thankful for having this skill.

“Alright, where should I start?” Tutor muttered to himself before walking over to grab the cake-making equipment and setting it on the kitchen counter.

The small joy of doing something familiar from the past was always fun. Tutor only hoped the recipient would feel as happy as the giver.

    6:30 p.m.

   “Why’s it taking so long?” Day complained nonstop, even though he’d only rung Hwahwa’s doorbell twice. “Aren’t Hwa’s parents home?”

“Nah, Hwa said they’re at a seminar out of town.”

“Who else did she invite? Is Phii Fai coming?”

“Last I heard, he’s not coming. Probably just Hwa’s faculty friends.”

“Oh,” Day nodded in understanding before reaching to press the doorbell again. But soon after, someone walked out of the house. Day looked stunned for a moment before leaning in to whisper in his ear, “Didn’t you say…”

“I didn’t know either.”

Day’s frustrated expression mirrored Tutor’s exhausted sigh. They understood it couldn’t be helped that Fighter showed up to the event, even though they’d hoped he wouldn’t come.

“Hey, Phii Fai,” Day raised his hand in a wai and smiled at the person who opened the door. Unlike Tutor, who only looked up to meet the taller guy’s eyes with a displeased glare. Fighter smirked slightly, raising an eyebrow provocatively in response.

“Jerk,” Tutor muttered irritably, brushing past the guy’s shoulder and walking into the house in a foul mood. Day stood there, confused, but quickly ran after Tutor.

“You shouldn’t have bumped into his shoulder like that, Tor.”

“He was in my way.”

“If he’s in the way, just ask him to move nicely.”

“Too lazy.”

 

Man, if you get beat up, I’m not helping,” Day grumbled the whole way. Tutor half-listened, thinking it wasn’t important.

“Phii-Fai wouldn’t dare do something like that.” He’s too scared to even date someone properly—such a coward.

  

  WHYARU : Fighter-Tutor CHAPTERS HOME

   WHYARU, Chapter 02:

“Professor Su’s class is so damn boring. I tried paying attention, but I still ended up falling asleep,” Day grumbled, not stopping since they left the classroom.

“But we saw you sleeping in every class, not just Professor Su’s,” Tutor teased.

“Well, I was sleepy, alright?” Tutor shook his head and turned to their other friend, who was walking with his head buried in his phone.

“What about you, Saifah? Going to football practice?”

“Nah, my legs are still sore. It’ll be a while before I can get back to training,” Saifah replied.

“And you, Day? Got basketball practice today?”

“With a basketball in my hand like this, I’m probably off to swim, right?” Day shot back sarcastically.

“…”

“Chill, I’m going to basketball practice. But what about you?”

“You’re going to the alumni code party tonight, right?”

“Mm,” Tutor nodded.

“You gonna change first? You can’t show up to the party in your student uniform like that.”

“Too lazy to change. Can’t I just go like this and wait at the shop?”

“You’re joking, right, Tor?” Day’s tone was exasperated, and Saifah shook his head in disapproval. “If you don’t care about your own image, at least think of the university’s reputation.”

“But I…”

Splash!

Suddenly, water from a puddle by the roadside splashed hard onto Tutor and his friends on the sidewalk. Day and Saifah dodged in time, barely getting wet, but Tutor took the full hit.

“Tor, your clothes…” Day started.

“Yeah, I know,” Tutor cut him off, wiping the water from his face. Seeing that the car that just drove by—and was now stuck in traffic—hadn’t bothered to stop and apologize, Tutor’s anger flared. Without thinking twice, he grabbed the basketball from Day’s hand and hurled it at the car with all his might.

Boom!

“Damn, what a shot! Wanna join my basketball club, Tor?”

“Nope.”

“But hold up, wasn’t that Phii Fai’s car you just chucked the ball at?” Before Day could finish, the car’s owner stepped out, looking less than pleased. But sorry, shouldn’t I be the one pissed off? I’m soaked here!

And his two friends, the moment Fighter raised an eyebrow as if asking who threw the ball, both immediately pointed at him.

Fighter locked eyes with him, then glanced at his drenched state with a hint of surprise.

Why the surprise? I’m this soaked because of you, aren’t I?

“Thanks for the ride, Fai,” Saifah said as Fighter’s car pulled up in front of his dorm. Saifah unbuckled his seatbelt and grabbed his backpack.

Earlier, Fighter had dropped Day off at the basketball court before driving Saifah to his dorm.

“No big deal. My bad for getting you guys wet,” Fighter said.

“Me and Day didn’t get hit too bad, but someone took the brunt of it,” Saifah said, nodding smugly toward the guy in the back, who was not only soaked but also the target of his teasing grin.

Find it funny, do you, Saifah?

“Alright, I’m off then, Phii Fai. Catch you later,” Saifah said, probably noticing his sour expression and quickly excusing himself.

“Yeah,” Fighter replied. Not long after Saifah got out, he looked at Tutor through the rearview mirror.

“Come sit up front.”

“Nah, I’m good here.”

“I’m not your chauffeur, Tor. Get up front.”

“…”

“Now.” Normally, Fighter wasn’t the type to force anyone, but with this code-line junior, every encounter seemed to spark irritation.

“Fine, fine,” Tutor grumbled, getting out and reluctantly moving to the front seat.

Fighter glanced at the guy who’d just opened the car door.

Tutor immediately hugged himself, shivering as the AC hit him. Truthfully, Fighter didn’t need to adjust the car’s temperature— it was fine for him. But seeing the pale guy next to him trembling and clutching himself so tightly, Fighter finally decided to turn up the heat. He also took off his shop jacket and tossed it to the person beside him.

“What’s this?”

“The shop jacket.”

“I know, but…”

“Put it on, come on, stop whining,” Fighter said, then ignored his passenger and focused on the road ahead instead.

Tutor pursed his lips slightly. Part of him wanted to toss Fighter’s jacket back, but it was genuinely cold. So, he just pulled the faculty garage jacket over himself, burying more than half his face in it.

The faint scent of cologne clung to his nose—mysterious and intriguing. If even the cologne could say so much about its owner, Tutor couldn’t help but wonder what was so mysterious and intriguing about Fighter himself.

Tutor sneaked a glance at the older guy’s profile, studying his sharp features and defined jawline, perfectly complemented by a silver earring.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Tutor quickly denied, as Fighter suddenly turned to meet his gaze, like he was questioning something. He hadn’t meant to stare—just got lost thinking about the cologne and ended up looking at his face. In the end, the smaller guy turned away to watch the chaotic streets filled with cars, and silence settled in. No music, no conversation between them. But Tutor couldn’t tell if he was imagining it, or if this time, the silence didn’t feel as awkward as usual.

It took Fighter nearly thirty minutes to navigate the traffic from Saifah’s dorm to drop Tutor off at his. The younger guy grabbed his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and opened the car door to leave without so much as a thank you. Did Fighter understand Tutor’s actions? Honestly, yeah. If he’d been the one soaked by roadside puddles like that, he’d be way more pissed.

“Tor, wait!” Fighter remembered something, rolled down the passenger window, and shouted after the guy who’d just walked off. He’d meant to apologize for getting him wet, but his stubborn tongue and the sight of his shop jacket in Tutor’s hand made him switch topics. “My jacket… give it back.”

“Your jacket?” Tutor looked at the shop jacket in his hands.

“Oh, it’s wet, so I was gonna wash it first.”

“No need, I’ll wash it myself.”

“But…”

“I said give it back, Tor.” Fighter didn’t yell, just lowered his voice and tilted his head. Their eyes locked again, and the defiance in Tutor’s gaze was brimming with irritation— mirroring his own.

Fighter wasn’t sure when this mutual annoyance started.

Maybe from the first day of freshman initiation when he wrote Tutor’s name wrong. Or maybe later, when the younger guy said he wanted to switch mentor lines.

   He couldn’t pinpoint it, but it was a mix of irritation and… something else.

   Whatever it was, Fighter didn’t care to find out.

   “Fine, take it then.” The smaller guy tossed the jacket back into the car, shot him an annoyed look for a moment, then turned and walked back to his dorm.

“And don’t forget the mentor group party tonight, got it,

Tor?!”

“…”

It’s exactly that arrogant attitude that makes him not want to get close to this guy.

The atmosphere in the restaurant, with its thumping music and chaotic noise, made Tutor want to bolt back to his dorm. He’d already told his mentor group he didn’t like crowds, but the majority voted for this place, so here he was.

Tutor closed his eyes slowly, one hand rubbing the spot between his brows, hoping to ease some of the exhaustion.

Not unlike someone else fed up with the lively party, Fighter wasn’t the social type who enjoyed chatting with others. Despite his outgoing, party-loving vibe, he actually hated chaos. Normally, when hanging with close friends, they’d pick a quiet spot for talking, not a noisy, headache-inducing place like this. “Tor…” Hwahwa called, nudging the person next to her to turn around.

Fighter watched as Hwahwa spoke to her close friend with a concerned tone. He’d noticed Tutor rubbing his temples in exhaustion the whole time. But when Hwahwa nudged him, Tutor quickly turned and flashed a smile, his earlier fatigue vanishing instantly. It made Fighter think his earlier suspicion— that Tutor had a thing for Hwahwa—was probably true.

Whatever.

Fighter let out a frustrated sigh, stood up, and walked out of the restaurant.

“You okay?” Hwahwa asked Tutor, noticing her friend didn’t seem too great.

“I’m fine. When are you heading back, Hwa… wanna leave now?”

“Still better. I’m having fun, and Phii Fai…” Hwahwa turned to look at the spot next to her, only to find it empty. “Where’d he go?”

“Dunno,” Tutor replied.

“Did he just leave or what? How did I not notice?” she asked.

“I don’t know either,” Tutor said.

“Or maybe he’s been gone for a while?”

“Not sure.” Tutor hadn’t noticed where Fighter went. He’d been too caught up talking with Hwahwa to pay attention to the other guy.

“Whatever, he’ll probably be back soon,” Hwahwa said, then turned to chat with a first-year student’s boyfriend sitting across from her. Meanwhile, Tutor closed his eyes slowly, trying to focus and block out the music blaring in his ears.

He really wanted to go back to the dorm. Like, right now.

Tutor thought to himself before opening his eyes to look at his close friend. He called her name again.

“Hwa, I was thinking of—”

“Tor, I think Phii Fai’s been gone for a while, hasn’t he?”

“Has he?”

“Cho—”

“Probably just in the bathroom,” Tutor cut in.

“But it’s been too long, don’t you think?”

“So?”

Hwahwa pursed her lips cutely and gave him a pleading look. If he had to guess, she was about to ask him to go find Phii Fai.

“Go look for Phii Fai for me, please?”

“Why don’t you go find him yourself?”

“Well… what if he’s in the men’s bathroom? Come on, go check for me, please… please, Tor. I’m worried he might be drunk and passed out in there. That’d be bad, right?”

“He’s probably not that bad off.”

“But what if he is?”

“…”

“Please, Tor, go check on Phii Fai for me… pretty please?”

“Ugh, fine, I’ll go find him.” As always, it was Tutor who gave in. Maybe because he’d been indulging her since they were kids, and even now, he still did.

Truth be told, he didn’t mind doing these things for Hwahwa. To him, she was still his most important friend. Part of it came from the bond they’d built since childhood, but another part stemmed from something that happened back in elementary school.

An event he’d never forget in this lifetime… the sound of sobbing, the endless stream of tears, or even the small hand that slipped into the gap by the bed, gripping his tightly. He’d never forget it.

Tutor vividly remembered that day… he and Hwahwa were playing behind the house, and it was he who climbed the tree.

Even though Hwahwa had warned him not to, he climbed anyway, only to fall and pass out. He had no idea what happened next, waking up in the hospital.

But one thing Tutor always remembered was Hwahwa’s small hand reaching to hold his, her face streaked with tears. She showed no signs of stopping her sobs, her voice trembling as she begged him not to do it again. The guilt from climbing the tree was already heavy, but what came after hit even harder.

His mother later told him that Hwahwa had carried his limp body back to the house, despite being smaller than him. He couldn’t even imagine how someone as tiny as Hwahwa managed it. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand why she didn’t just run inside to get help instead of dragging him in like that. And maybe that’s why—it’s all etched into Tutor’s memory and emotions forever.

It’s stuck there, never fading, a special feeling he can’t quite put into words. But it’s special.

Always special to him.

Tutor wandered to the back of the shop, scanning for the other person who’d vanished. Eventually, he spotted Fighter sitting in a quiet corner, playing on his phone. Fighter’s expression was blank, showing no eagerness to rush back into the shop. Seeing this, Tutor couldn’t help but sigh.

He couldn’t understand why someone like this was hanging out with his friend.

“Phii Fai,” Tutor called out to the guy engrossed in his phone, who looked up. “Why are you sitting out here? Why not go keep

Hwa company?”

After speaking, Tutor leaned against a nearby wall, arms crossed, staring at the person in front of him who had now returned to his phone.

“Phii Fai… did you hear my question?”

“I heard.”

“Then why aren’t you answering?” The taller guy looked up at his code-line junior, visibly annoyed by how invested he seemed in his life.

“I saw your friend having a blast chatting with you. Doesn’t seem like she needs me to keep her company.”

“Even if that’s true, as the one who brought Hwa here, you should do more than just leave her with someone else.”

“The ‘someone else’ you’re talking about is you, isn’t it, Tor?”

“I mean other people, not me. If I leave first, who’s gonna stay with Hwa, Phii?”

“…”

“I know… you and Hwa are just flirting, but shouldn’t you take better care of her?” Fighter raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, because just before this, Tutor had thought he and Hwahwa were actually dating.

“She told you about me and her, huh?”

“Yeah… she did.”

“If she told you, then you should get why. So why are you still asking me?”

“Who said I get it? I don’t understand at all. I don’t get why you invited Hwa to this event when you don’t even care or pay attention to her.”

“…”

“What are you thinking? Honestly, if you don’t have any feelings for my friend, stop stringing her along like this. Let her go find someone better.”

“You think I’m the one holding her back with our current situation? Hah, that’s rich,” Fighter shook his head, chuckling, unable to believe Tutor would think that.

“If you’re not holding her back, then why keep things like this? Is it fun or something, this non-relationship status? Are you actually happy with this vague, undefined thing?”

Tutor didn’t understand, and he never would, what this nameless relationship was about. With Hwahwa, whom he’d known for so long, he was already shocked when she called to tell him about it. But when she said it was just to get back at Zon, that surprised him even more. He wasn’t sure if what Hwahwa said was true, because her refusal to step away from this relationship made him wonder if she actually liked Fighter for real.

   “What happens between me and Hwa, or what status we’re in, is none of your business, is it?” Fighter started to walk away.

 

It is…” But Tutor stepped in his way. “Because the person you’re talking to is my friend.”

“Hmph,” Fighter let out a scoff and smirked, amused. “You sure you only see her as a friend?”

“And you? Are you sure this thing you’re giving Hwa is just some casual comfort from talking? Or is it because you’re trying to mess with me or get to Zon?”

“Get to Zon, someone like you? Hah,” Fighter laughed mockingly. “Who do you think you are, Tor? Getting a bit too full of yourself, aren’t you? You think someone like me would bother messing with a predictable guy like you?”

“Phii Fai.”

“Or am I wrong?” His taunting expression started to piss Tutor off.

“If you say it’s not about that, then there’s only one reason left for why you’re doing this.”

“…”

“You’re hiding something.”

“Hiding?” Fighter froze for a moment before turning to face

Tutor again. “What do you think I’m hiding?”

The tall guy’s glare was both intimidating and scary, his voice low and heavy. Tutor admitted he was afraid of the person in front of him, but his anger toward Fighter was too much. He ended up saying something without thinking.

“Who knows what you’re hiding? Maybe…” Tutor smirked provocatively.

“…”

“Maybe you’re hiding that you like guys.”

“Tor!” Fighter’s voice boomed louder than usual.

“Isn’t that right, Phii Fai? You like guys, don’t you?” Tutor didn’t stop. “If you like guys, just admit it straight up. No need to hide like this.”

“You little…”

“It’s not hard to just say you like guys. And you don’t need to date a girl as a cover either.”

“Tor!”

“Just say it and be done with it. It’s normal these days.

Everyone’s cool with it. But if you’re too scared to admit it…”

“…”

“I can tell Hwa for you, that you—mmph!” Frustrated by Tutor’s nonstop talking, Fighter finally shut him up with a forceful kiss.

His hands cupped Tutor’s face, adjusting it to match his angle.

His lips pressed hard against the softer ones, driven by anger.

   Phii … Phii Fai… mmph!” When there was a brief moment to breathe, Tutor tried pushing him away several times, but Fighter wouldn’t stop. In the end, Tutor mustered all his strength and shoved Fighter’s chest hard.

“Enough!!!” Tutor wiped his lips with disgust as soon as he spoke. Fighter, realizing what he’d done, also wiped his own lips, equally confused.

“What the hell’s wrong with you? Why’d you do that?!”

“And what’s wrong with you? Running your mouth like that!”

“But you shouldn’t have done that! So, you do like guys, right?”

“You’re bringing this up again? You’re not dropping it, are you?” Fighter stepped toward Tutor menacingly, while Tutor quickly clamped his mouth shut and slowly backed away.

Swallowing hard, Tutor’s mind was a mess. He had no idea if Phii Fai kissed him out of anger, to mess with him, or because he actually liked guys. In the end, Tutor turned to walk away, but his hand was grabbed by the other guy first.

“You better not tell anyone about this!” Tutor frowned, confused, but yanked his hand free and stormed off immediately. “Tor!!!”

Tutor walked back into the shop with a jumble of emotions he couldn’t quite pin down. He didn’t know what to do, wasn’t even sure if he should tell Hwahwa…

“Tor, how’d it go? Where’s Phii Fai? Not coming back with you?” Hwahwa asked as Tutor returned to the table, her eyes still scanning for the person she mentioned, darting around constantly.

“He’ll probably be back soon,” Tutor replied.

“Oh,” Hwahwa nodded, then turned to look at Tutor again. But his intense stare made her wonder if he had something to ask. Not only was he staring without blinking, but he also let out a frustrated sigh. “What’s up, Tor? Why so serious? And your brows are all knotted up. What’re you thinking about?”

“…”

“Tor?”

“…I’ve got something I wanna ask you, Hwa.”

“What’s that?”

“How much do you actually like Phii Fai?”

“Huh? Why the sudden question?”

“Just curious.”

“Hmm…” Hwahwa went quiet, mulling over his question for a while. “Honestly, I don’t even know if it’s a lot or a little. I’m not even sure if I like him. Like I told you before, maybe I just want to one-up Zon more than anything with Fai.”

“You sure that’s all it is?”

Not really sure, to be honest. But I don’t want to stop talking to him right now. If I end things before he even asks me out officially, I’d look like such a fool. But, Tor… is something up?”

Hwahwa asked, staring into Tutor’s eyes as if trying to catch him out.

“Oh, nah, just asking,” Tutor said with a forced smile to brush it off.

“You’re asking because you’re worried you’re not important anymore, huh?”

“Not at all.”

“Don’t worry, Tutor. To me, you’re the most important person in the whole world!” Hwahwa said with a wide, playful smile. Tutor shook his head at her, amused, before standing up as if signaling he was ready to leave.

“Heading back already?”

“Yeah. Wanna come with? I can take a taxi and drop you off.”

“No need. I’ll have Phii Fai take me. As for you, Tor, if you wanna head back, go for it. It’s getting late.”

“Then I’ll leave the beer money with you, okay?” Tutor said, pulling cash from his wallet and handing it to Hwahwa.

“Who said second-years have to cover the faculty dinner? It’s the graduates and fourth-years who should pay, Tor. You’re so clueless. Hurry up and put that money away before the seniors see and think you’re being stingy!”

“Is that so? But last year, I saw second-years chipping in too.”

“You’re delusional, Tor. That never happened. You must’ve seen wrong. Enough already, I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Put your money away and get back to the dorm, shoo!”

“You’re kicking me out, Hwa?”

“Yup, get going!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll head back then.”

“Okay! Text me when you get there!” Tutor smiled and nodded at Hwahwa again before walking away from the table.

As Tutor was leaving, he crossed paths with Fighter. Their eyes met, and in that split second, a certain memory replayed in his mind. Tutor had thought he could easily forget that incident, but seeing Fighter’s face and locking eyes with him brought it all back vividly.

   Tutor didn’t understand why Phii Fai had done that to him. If it was out of anger, the guy should’ve just thrown a punch or fought him.

   But instead, Phii Fai had… Whatever, it didn’t matter to him anyway.

           WHYARU : Fighter-Tutor CHAPTERS HOME

   WHYARU, Chapter  01:

“See you later, Tor.”

“Yeah, later,” Tutor nodded, waving goodbye to his close friend sitting next to the driver.

Fighter watched the scene for a moment before rolling up the driver’s side window and driving off. In the rearview mirror, he saw a guy with a lonely aura. Yet every time he looked at him, Fighter sensed an underlying strength within.

“What should we eat today?” Hwahwa asked, pulling the attention of the guy beside her.

“Up to you, Hwa.”

“Hmm, how about BBQ then, Phii Fai?”

“Sure, whatever works,” he replied. Hwahwa smiled happily. Honestly, she was adorable—her personality and everything else. If he was being real, she was the person he liked most. But for some reason, something about her feelings never quite reached him. “I just found out Tor does tutoring too.”

“Oh, right, besides tutoring, Tor also works part-time at Phii Kae’s cake shop. That place is super cute, just a bit past our university in an alley. The vibe’s really nice. I’ve been there a couple of times myself,” Hwahwa said.

“Really?”

“Yeah, and the black uniform with the faculty garage’s apron looks so good on Tutor. It makes him look so handsome that I kinda fangirl over my own friend a little,” she added with a chuckle.

“Uh-huh,” Fighter barely registered what Hwahwa was saying. His mind was stuck on her earlier comment—that besides tutoring, Tutor was working a part-time job too.

Someone like Tutor, doing something like that?

   “Why the face?” Hwahwa raised an eyebrow, curious about the guy next to her. “Surprised that Tutor’s doing this kind of thing?”

“Nah.”

“Or wondering why he didn’t tell his mentor group about it?”    Fighter gave a reluctant nod.

“Don’t be shocked. Tor’s not the type to talk about this stuff with just anyone. Even when his family had financial troubles— his parents’ business failed, went bankrupt, and they had to sell their house and move to live with relatives out of town—it took me months to find out,” she explained.

“They sold their house?”

“Yeah. That’s part of why Tor’s staying in the dorm. His parents had to sell the house to fund a new restaurant out of town. The money they send him isn’t enough, so he’s been tutoring and working part-time. Lucky for him, our university has that A5 program where top students don’t pay for credits. It helps with his tuition a bit,” she said.

“…”

“But still, engineering tuition isn’t cheap. Even with the credit discount, there are tons of other fees in the tens of thousands. So Tor’s been hustling like you see—covering food, dorm, everything,” Hwahwa sighed helplessly. She’d discussed this with her own parents, who were ready to help without expecting repayment. But being Tutor, he didn’t outright refuse; he just said he’d let them know if he was really in trouble, which was basically a polite rejection.

“So, that means your friend took time off work to come eat with you today?” Fighter asked.

“Oh… I totally forgot about that,” Hwahwa’s face visibly fell. “But it should be fine, right? If there was an issue, Tor would’ve told me from the start.”

“Hmm.”

“Isn’t my friend cute?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“My friend, Tutor. Isn’t he cute? He’s a good guy, Phii Fai. Smart, super hardworking too. Seeing him like this, don’t you want to get closer to him? You’re in the same mentor group, after all.”

“…” Fighter didn’t respond right away, as the car started moving. But something clicked in his mind, prompting him to speak up.

“Hwa.”

“Yes?”

“Today, Tor said something to me.”

“What was it?”

“He talked like you and I were a couple.”

“…” Hwahwa fell silent the moment Fighter finished speaking.

He remembered it clearly and was even a bit surprised that Tutor would say something like that.

If you paid a little attention, you’d know what your partner likes. Not like this.

Honestly, he wasn’t bothered by it. He wasn’t about to deny anything to Tutor, but he just wanted to make sure the person sitting beside him now understood where their relationship stood.

“It’s just that…”

“Look, I’m not making a big deal out of this. Let people think what they want. As long as you and I know where we stand, that’s enough.”

Fighter’s tone wasn’t angry—it was calm, reflecting his true self. He wasn’t stressed about it, which meant he genuinely wasn’t. He only brought it up to clarify and reinforce the nature of their relationship, as they’d discussed from the start.

Hwahwa stayed quiet, her hands on her lap squeezing lightly with a hint of anxiety. It wasn’t that she didn’t know their relationship had always been just “talking.” Phii Fai had been clear with her every time, even saying from the beginning that if she found someone better, she could tell him and walk away anytime.

Hwahwa didn’t know why Phii Fai was like this. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was doing this to find someone he could truly call his love. If that happened, he’d probably tell her himself that he’d found the one.

For now, things were more than okay for her. Phii Fai never pried into personal matters she didn’t want to share or asked about exes she didn’t want to talk about. He took care of her the way a guy should for someone he’s “talking” to.

As for a deeper connection—like even a kiss—Hwahwa had never gotten that from Fighter. With others, she knew it could go further, but with him… she didn’t understand why.

And maybe that’s why she always felt drawn to Zon, this other guy.

She wanted Phii Fai to say something like asking her out officially or to do something—anything—that would make Fighter feel defeated, completely knocked out in a way he’d never been before. It wasn’t that she hated him, but it was this urge to “win” over Zon that drove her.

“Alright, I’ll just tell my close friends that we’re not a couple. We’re just talking for now. Because if I suddenly get with someone new, they might get confused and say I ditched Phii Fai.”

“No need for that, Hwa…”

“Come on, Phii Fai, this is fine. It’ll keep me from feeling guilty too,” Hwahwa said with a wide smile, directed at Fighter, who nodded back lightly.

Honestly, Fighter didn’t care whether Hwahwa told anyone about their relationship or not. The key point for him was that they both understood they “weren’t dating.” That was enough.    So damn tiring.

It wouldn’t be wrong if that phrase looped in his head for the millionth time. He was genuinely exhausted, so tired that sometimes he just wanted to lie still, not thinking or dealing with anything that cluttered his mind.

Like right now… he’d just collapsed onto the bed without even taking off his socks. His eyes, on the verge of drifting off, snapped open when his phone, placed not far from him, started vibrating.

Tutor buried his face in the pillow, pretending not to hear the phone’s persistent buzzing. But, of course, he couldn’t ignore it forever. Finally, he sat up, rubbing his head in resignation, reached for the phone, answered it, and spoke in a bored tone. “Yeah?”

(Phii Tor, it’s Ja, your high school junior.) Ja was the one planning to continue language classes with him.

“What’s up, Ja? Something up with me?”

(I’m calling to talk about the course starting this Saturday.)

“Oh, what’s that? Not free on Saturday? We can move it to

Sunday, Ja.”

(No, Phii Tor, it’s just that… me and my friends want to cancel the course for now.)

“…”

(Is that okay, Phii?) Ja’s voice sounded so worried that Tutor let out a small smile.

“It’s fine, you can cancel. I’m not stressed about it.”

(Ugh, I feel so bad for Phii Tor. We had it all planned from the start, but my mom and my friends’ moms suddenly signed us up for a language course at school… so it turned out like this.)

“No worries at all, Ja. Don’t overthink it.”

(God, I’m gonna die because you calling me nicely like that! Ugh, I already missed the chance to cancel the school course too. Next time, I promise to come study with you, and I’ll drag ten friends to stare at your face.)

“If that’s the case, I might not teach then.”

(Haha, Phii Tor, I’m just kidding. Whether I’ll actually do it, we’ll see. Anyway, let’s call it a day for now. I don’t want to bother Phii Tor anymore. Sweet dreams, Phii!)

“Alright.”

Tutor hung up and let out a sigh. He flopped back onto the bed, feeling frustrated that a chunk of money was gone, but he understood that these things were bound to happen eventually.

He opened the Notes app on his phone to check how many students he still had left to tutor. Right now, there were only two, and their courses would end in a few weeks.

Even though he had enough in his bank account for food and rent for now, it wouldn’t last forever. His family sent money every month, but it wasn’t enough to cover living in Bangkok.

So exhausting.

   Tutor closed his eyes again. He tried to gather his thoughts and figure out where to start. Life wasn’t that bad, and he never regretted it being this way. His parents weren’t to blame; business always came with risks.

Finally, he opened his eyes and decided to call Phii Kae, the owner of the cake shop where he worked.

“Phii Kae… it’s Tor.”

(What’s up, Tor?)

“I was wondering if I could ask you something.”

(What’s that? You can tell me anything, even if it’s about money.)

“It’s not that, Phii Kae. I wanted to ask if… maybe I could work full days on weekends?”

(Sure thing.)

“And maybe part-time in the evenings after classes too, Phii

Kae?”

(Hold on, Tor… don’t you have tutoring anymore?)

“I still do, but it’s not much. It’ll probably be done in a week or so, so I was thinking of working at your shop instead. If I need to take leave for something urgent, I’ll let you know in advance.”

(Nong Tor…)

“Is that not okay?”

(It’s not that it’s not okay… but isn’t it too much? You’re so small but carrying all this responsibility.)

“Not at all, Phii Kae. Once I get used to it, it actually becomes kind of fun.” Kae, the cake shop owner, couldn’t help but be impressed by Tutor’s sheer determination. But what weighed on her mind was how long she could keep helping him. A new cake shop had opened at the end of the street. It hadn’t affected business much yet, but she had a feeling it would soon.

(Alright, see you then, Tor. Go get some rest.)

“Thanks a lot, Phii!”

(You’re welcome.)

   From here on, it’s just about pushing forward… just keep fighting.

Brrt, brrt.

Tutor picked up his phone again. It was Hwahwa calling. He wasn’t sure why, as she usually didn’t call him at this hour.

“What’s up, Hwa?”

(Tor, you asleep yet?)

   “Not yet. Something up?”

(I’ve got something to tell you.)

“…”

(It’s about Phii Fai.)

   “Oh, alright. I’m listening.”

What Tutor heard from Hwahwa was something he hadn’t expected.

So, those two aren’t actually together? Then why have they let their relationship drag on like this?

Deep down, Tutor couldn’t help but revisit his initial suspicion: that Fighter was only pursuing Hwahwa to mess with or get at Zon. The thought crept back into his mind.

But maybe that wasn’t the case. If it were true, their relationship probably wouldn’t have reached this point.

So, they’re not actually dating? Then why let the relationship drag on like this?

Deep down, Tutor couldn’t shake that earlier suspicion: that Fighter was only pursuing Hwahwa to mess with or get at Zon. The thought crept back into his mind.

But maybe that wasn’t the case. If it were true, their relationship probably wouldn’t have reached this point.

 

  WHYARU : Fighter-Tutor CHAPTERS HOME

   WHYARU, Chapter 00:

A library is a treasure trove of knowledge, built for those eager to discover the unknown. Even with the internet and Google, books remain essential for some people.

Tutor was one of the few who came to the library to escape the chaos outside. His faculty was notorious for being loud, with people shouting and teasing anyone passing by, living up to the nickname “Dog-Mouth Junction” that other faculties gave to engineering students.

Even after two years in this faculty, Tutor still hadn’t gotten used to it one bit.

“Sleeping like this is killing me,” Day grumbled, sitting up and stretching lazily. “Oh?”

He looked puzzled when he saw Tutor still sitting across from him.

“You’re still here, Tor? I thought I’d wake up and you’d be gone. Didn’t you say you’re done with classes?”

“Yeah, but I’m waiting for Hwa,” the fair-skinned guy with naturally red lips replied casually, barely paying attention. That made Day itch to do something about that stoic face. That hardto-read expression was exactly why people thought Tutor was arrogant.

So arrogant that no one dared approach him. But with a face that could be called handsome or cute, most people forgave him unconditionally—purely because of his good looks.

   Hold on, did Tor just say he’s waiting for Hwa?

“Tor, did you just say Hwa’s coming here?”

“Yeah.”

“For real?” Day’s voice was brimming with excitement he couldn’t hide, while Tutor just looked at his friend with a sigh.

How could he not know how Day felt about Hwahwa? But since Hwahwa already had someone she was flirting with, Tutor chose to stay quiet and pretend not to notice Day’s longing looks and actions. Deep down, though, he wished Hwahwa would turn to Day instead.

“Hmm, she’ll probably show up soon.”

“But why’s Hwa coming to see you? She never comes up to the faculty library.”

“We’re grabbing food. She said she wants to make up for flaking on me last time.”

“Oh… really?” Day nodded, understanding, but couldn’t help wondering how Tutor really felt about his childhood friend, Hwahwa. Truth is, Day had been curious for a long time but never dared ask. Now, he was debating whether to speak up. “You’re really good to Hwa, huh?”

“It’s normal.”

“I don’t think it’s that normal, Tor.” As soon as Day said it, Tutor looked up, eyeing his friend suspiciously.

“What are you getting at, Day?”

“…”

“Come on, spit it out. You can be straight with me.” Day hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to speak.

“Do you like Hwahwa?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if you like Hwahwa,” Day said. Tutor’s eyes flickered with slight surprise. He’d always thought Day already knew how he felt about Hwahwa. But then again, his actions toward his childhood friend Hwahwa were noticeably special compared to others. It’s no wonder someone watching might think the same as Day.

“Why do you think I like Hwa?”

“Well, you don’t have a girlfriend, and the only girl you’re super close to is Hwa. Plus, you take such good care of her. Whatever Hwa wants, you make it happen. It makes me wonder if you’re secretly crushing on your friend.”

“…” Tutor went quiet. He understood what Day was getting at. His actions did point in that direction. It’s true he took extra care of Hwahwa, worried about her more than others. But that’s because Hwahwa was important—one of his most important friends. The fact that they’d known each other since childhood wasn’t even the main point. They had so many shared memories, so it wasn’t strange that he treated her differently.

As for feelings beyond friendship, Tutor had asked himself that question many times, searching for an answer. But all he ever came up with was that she was his best friend. That was enough for their relationship.

“Why so quiet? Do you actually like Hwa?”

“No. I don’t like her. Not even close to what you’re thinking,

Day.”

“You sure?”

“Positive,” Tutor said firmly. But Day still looked skeptical, so Tutor tilted his head as if to ask again. Day just sighed in resignation.

“Alright, alright. If you say you don’t like her, I’ll believe you don’t.”

“That’s how it should be, because I really don’t.”

“But this is probably for the best. If you did like Hwahwa for real, it’d hurt like hell, watching someone you like date other people over and over while you’re never chosen.”

Tutor shook his head and sighed. He knew Day wasn’t talking about him at all but rather about himself.

“What’re you guys talking about?” Saifah, another friend in their group, walked up to the table and sat down.

“Just chatting about random stuff,” Day answered. “But you,

Saifah, why’d you skip morning class? I even saved you a seat.”

“Sorry, man, overslept a bit,” Saifah replied to Day before turning to Tutor. “You not heading back to the dorm? Or do you have more teaching?”

By “teaching,” Saifah meant tutoring. Tutor gave English lessons to high school and some college students. He was also working part-time at Phii Kae’s cake shop since his family wasn’t well-off, and he needed to cover extra expenses.

   “Nah… Tor’s waiting for Hwa,” Day answered for him again.

 

Oh, got it,” Saifah nodded awkwardly before pulling out his phone to play a game.

“By the way, have you seen the news on the Cute Boy page yet, Saifah?” Day asked.

“Not yet, why?” Saifah replied nonchalantly, still glued to his game.

“It’s about the football club’s joint project, the one with the

Cute Boy page.”

“Ohhh, the fundraising project for sports equipment for underprivileged kids? I heard about it from Phii Jay. What’s up?”

Saifah only just remembered that this year’s football club project involves collaborating with some page, though he didn’t know it was the Cute Boy page.

“Nothing much, just feels like they’re going all out this year. There’s a band, voting, all that stuff. Usually, it’s just singing in the middle of the football field, and whatever money comes in goes to buying sports equipment, right?”

“Yeah, in past years, donations were low. After costs, there wasn’t much left for equipment. So Phii Jay and the others probably consulted with the Cute Boy page, and they came up with this voting thing.”

“What kind of voting?” Tutor wasn’t big on social media.

Finding time to rest each day was hard enough.

I don’t know either,” Saifah’s response made Tutor’s head throb again.

“Seriously, you’re in the football club, and you don’t know anything?” Day couldn’t help but complain about his close friend, baffled by how uninterested Saifah was.

“But you know, right, Day? What’s this voting thing Saifah mentioned?” Tutor asked, looking curious.

“It’s like Saifah said. The football club’s collaborating with the Cute Boy page, but they added an activity where they vote for people to sing and play guitar to open the event. They’ll pick one person from outside the club and one from inside.”

“Oh.”

“But you know the Cute Boy page is all about guys. So they’re voting for two guys to perform together. Saifah’s votes from the club are already locked in, but the outside votes are super intense.”

“Someone from outside the club? Who?”

“Your old school friend, Zon.”

“What, Zon?” Tutor’s voice was full of surprise. He knew his high school friend well—Zon wasn’t into these kinds of activities. He’s the type who keeps to himself, only bothering with writing novels all day.

“Yeah, Zon, the one studying communications.”

But Saifah and Zon don’t get along. How are they supposed to work together?” Tutor said, and Day nodded as if it just clicked.

“Right? Do the voters even know you two don’t get along? If you actually end up working together, won’t you just fight to the death?”

“Exactly,” Tutor agreed, looking up at the friend sitting across from him again. “If you really have to work together, are you okay with it, Saifah?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Yeah, I’m asking you,” Day cut in.

“To be honest, I’m not exactly thrilled about it. I don’t really want to work with him, but if I have to, I’ve got no issue with it. The one with the problem isn’t your friend, is it?”

“I figured as much. Looks like that troublemaker probably won’t take the job.”

“Whether he takes it or not doesn’t matter to me.”

“Tutor!!!” A loud call from someone echoed, loud enough to make others in the library turn and glare.

“Whoa… too loud,” Tutor said to Hwahwa, then nodded apologetically on behalf of his close friend, who now sat beside him looking guilty after being scolded.

Sorry, Hwa,” Hwahwa pouted cutely, making Tutor shake his head at his friend in exasperation.

Of course, Day, watching the scene, couldn’t help but wonder if Tutor was so indulgent with Hwahwa because he actually liked her.

   But whatever. Since Tutor himself insisted there was nothing more than friendship—whether in feelings or actions—Day would take his word for it.

   Because in the end, no matter how much Tutor or Day liked Hwahwa, her heart belonged to someone else anyway.

   “Hey, Phii Fai,” Saifah greeted the guy standing behind Tutor, while Day turned to say hi too.

“Yo, Phii.”

“No classes left?”

“Me and Day have one more, but Tor’s done,” Day replied to the guy behind him. Even without looking, Tutor could sense the vibe Fighter was giving off.

Fighter, towering over 180 cm, wasn’t much taller than Tutor—just a centimeter or two. Yet somehow, whenever they stood side by side, Tutor always felt smaller.

   Naturally, a guy like Fighter wasn’t just enviably tall. He was also the former university “Moon” from four years ago. Handsome, rich, a former campus heartthrob, and driving an expensive car—over half the girls in the university swooned over

 

him. With so many options, Tutor couldn’t figure out why Fighter chose to date his friend.

   Deep down, Tutor wondered if it was because they’d clashed since their first meeting.

   “Phii, that’s not how you write my name.”

“I’ll write it how I want. What you gonna do about it?”    Or during freshman initiation:

“Phii, hold up! Why just one signature?”

“Want more letters? Come ask for them, got it?”

Even when it came to being part of the same mentor-mentee line.

“Hey, Phii … you gonna tie it or not? If you don’t, I’m outta here.”

“You think you can talk to your senior like that?”

“Well, I…”

“Whatever, give me your hand.”

Back then, we didn’t get along at all. After freshman orientation, he didn’t even think we’d cross paths again. Even though we were in the same mentor group, he had no interest in hanging out with his senior. But what Tutor thought always seemed to go against what he wanted, because now Fighter and Hwahwa were chatting, and he couldn’t avoid running into Phii Fai like this.

“What’re you thinking about, Tor?” Hwahwa snapped him out of it, making him turn to look at her again.

“Thought it’d just be the two of us,” Tutor said, eyeing his close friend, who now looked guilty. They’d agreed it would only be him and Hwahwa. The guy sitting next to her wasn’t invited. Why was he even here?

“Sorry.”

“…” Tutor didn’t respond, just raised an eyebrow at the one who’d apologized.

“Tor, Hwa just thought it’d be more fun with more people. If Day and Saifah didn’t have classes, I’d have invited them too.

So, let Phii Fai come along, please?”

“…”

“Please, Tor,” Hwahwa’s voice turned even more pleading. “Let Phii Fai join us for food.”

“Fine… if he wants to come, whatever.”

“Yay!”

“But I’m not going,” Tutor said flatly, grabbing his study sheets and documents from the table and stuffing them into his bag.

“Huh?”

“I’ve got unfinished work to do. Was planning to head back anyway.”

Tor… are you mad at me?”

“Not mad at you, Hwa.”

“If you’re not mad, come eat with us. We can go for Japanese food, like you love. Phii Fai will foot the bill.”

“I really have work to finish. If I hadn’t promised you, I’d already be back at my dorm.”

“Now I feels even worse.”

“Why feel bad? I really have work to do.”

“Seriously?”

“Mm.”

“Okay, fine, have it your way,” Hwahwa finally gave in. “But if you heading back to the dorm, let Phii Fai drop you off.”

“Hey, no need…”

“No arguing. That’s the deal—consider it my apology for flaking on you so many times.” Hwahwa shut him down and started to stand, but then seemed to remember something. “Oh, Phii Fai, didn’t you say you needed to talk to Tor about the alumni code party?”

Tutor frowned, glancing past Hwahwa to the guy fiddling with his phone. The person in question looked up, meeting his eyes with a blank expression. Tutor wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk about, but that look didn’t exactly give him warm fuzzies.

 

This year’s alumni code party—Phii Grad wants everyone there. No skipping,” Fighter said. Tutor rolled his eyes slightly. Normally, he was the one who always showed up to these parties, while the guy in front of him was the one who bailed.

“You should tell yourself that first. I go every year,” Tutor replied coolly, his tone just as flat.

The vibe between the two made everyone around them feel awkward. Finally, Hwahwa jumped in with her cheerful voice to break the tension.

“So, Tor, you’re going too, right? Awesome, I’ll have a friend there!”

“You’re going, Hwa?”

“Yup, Phii Fai invited me. I can come, right?”

“You can,” Tutor nodded. “But I’m not sure if I’ll make it this year. Might be tied up with work.”

“You teaching?”

“Yeah…” Tutor gave a small nod to his childhood friend.

“That sucks… If you don’t go, I won’t have anyone there,” Hwahwa said, her voice clearly disappointed. Her sad tone and puppy-dog eyes got someone else at the table to chime in.

“But you can reschedule tutoring, can’t you?” Day cut in.

“I’ve seen you push back sessions before.”

You can reschedule, Tor?” Hwahwa’s face lit up with hope, making Tutor want to smack Day right then and there. “If you can’t, it’s okay, I get it.”

“Come on, Tor, go with Hwa. She only knows you there,” Day doubled down. Hwahwa didn’t say anything to pressure him, but her pleading expression and those eyes were enough to make him cave.

“Tor?”

“Fine, fine, I’ll go.”

“Yay! Tor, you’re the best! Let’s head back then, I’m starving.”

“Mm,” Tutor nodded reluctantly, then said goodbye to Saifah and Day before following Fighter and Hwahwa out of the library.

On the way to the parking lot, Hwahwa suddenly excused herself to use the restroom. At first, I thought I’d wait outside the restroom, but she insisted that both of us go wait in the car. The atmosphere in the car was dead silent—no music, no conversation with the car’s owner. He just sat there, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel in an irritated rhythm, while I could only focus on my phone, pretending not to care.

“Next month is Hwa’s birthday…” the guy in the driver’s seat broke the silence. Fighter glanced at Tutor through the rearview mirror with a neutral expression. “Do you happen to know what

Hwa likes?”

Is this guy seriously asking, or is he just trying to mess with me?

   “…”

“Why so quiet? Didn’t you hear me ask what Hwa likes?”

“I heard you.”

“Then why aren’t you answering?”

“Because I didn’t think you wouldn’t know.”

“Do I have to know every single thing about Hwa?”

“You’re her boyfriend. How can you not know this stuff?”

“…”

“You’re with my friend almost every day, but you’ve never noticed what she likes? If you paid even a little attention, you’d know what your girlfriend likes. Not like this.” Tutor’s words weren’t just dripping with annoyance at the car’s owner—his expression showed clear frustration too. Fighter, who had intended to ask nicely at first, was now starting to get pissed off as well.

“Hey, Tor, I was just asking nicely. Why do you have to come at me like that?”

“I’m not coming at you. I’m just stating the truth, but you, damn it…”

“What about me?!”

“You!!”

Creak

The driver’s side door swung open, and someone slipped into the car.

“Sorry for making you wait. The restroom was super crowded,” Hwahwa said, quickly apologizing to both of them. But the tense atmosphere was suspicious, and she figured something was off. There was only one thing that could make the vibe this bad between these two.

“Fighting again, huh?”

“…”

“…”

“This silence means I’m right, huh?” Hwahwa sighed in frustration. “You two have been at each other’s throats for almost two years. Aren’t you tired of it? I’ve tried so hard to get you both to meet up more, hoping you’d get closer, maybe even become friends. But why does it keep getting worse?”

No matter how much Hwahwa complained, neither Fighter nor Tutor answered her. Especially Fighter, the car’s owner, who didn’t even seem to care what she was saying, too focused on pulling out of the parking lot.

Hwahwa let out a resigned sigh, not unlike Tutor, who turned to stare out the window at the people passing by.

It’s not that Tutor didn’t notice. He knew all along that Hwahwa was trying to mend his relationship with Phii Fai, to make it better than it was. But both of them knew it was tough.

Too tough to go back to being civil.

Their history was like parallel lines that would never meet. They couldn’t stand each other from the first day of freshman initiation, and that feeling lingered even now.

But that’s just it… fate loves to play tricks. Tutor remembered it clearly: it started after he called Hwahwa to pick up something at the faculty. That day, Phii Fai happened to walk by and saw them. The moment their eyes met, a small smirk appeared on Fighter’s lips. Tutor knew instantly that something bad was brewing.

And he was right. A few weeks later, Hwahwa introduced Phii Fai as the guy she was casually seeing.

“Tor, I have something to tell you.”

“What’s up?”

“Well, me and Phii Fai… um… we’re…”

“We’re flirting,” Phii Fai cut in, finishing her sentence with a challenging stare.

Guess who that was? None other than… Phii Fai.

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