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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