POV: Nate
The sun had just begun to dip behind the tall campus buildings, casting a warm golden glow across the university lawns. The chatter of students heading home mixed with the distant honk of motorbikes, creating a soft, familiar background that Nate had walked past countless times. Yet today, he felt a small thrill he couldn't explain.
It was project assignment day, and as fate would have it, Nate found himself paired with Anan Phongchai—the same first-year who had accidentally collided with him in the library two days ago. Nate had spent the morning trying to convince himself it was purely coincidence, but the small flutter in his chest every time he thought of Anan told a different story.
"Hey, Nate!" Krit's voice broke through his thoughts. His friend leaned casually against the railing, a mischievous grin on his face. "Looks like your first-year crush just got assigned to you. Lucky, huh?"
Nate shot him a sharp glance. "Krit," he said, his voice tight. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"
Krit laughed, tossing his backpack over his shoulder. "I know exactly what I'm doing. Go, have fun, don't mess it up!"
Ignoring him, Nate made his way to the business faculty study hall, where Anan was already sitting, fiddling nervously with his pen. Nate paused at the doorway, taking a subtle moment to observe him.
Anan's head was bent over the notebook, brows furrowed in concentration. His slightly messy hair fell into his amber eyes, and every now and then, he tucked it back behind his ear, oblivious to everything around him. Nate felt a protective warmth rise in his chest.
"Ready to start?" Nate asked, stepping closer.
Anan jumped slightly, looking up and blinking in surprise. "Oh! Y-Yes… I mean… sure!" He hastily adjusted his notebook and backpack, knocking a pen off the table. Nate caught it mid-air without thinking.
"You're going to have to be more careful," Nate said, handing it back with a faint smirk.
Anan's cheeks flared red. "…I'm sorry. I'm just… nervous, I guess."
Nate nodded, taking a seat across from him. "Don't worry. We'll get through this project fine. Just follow my lead, and it'll be easy."
Anan's lips curved into a small, grateful smile. "…Okay. Thanks, Nate."
As they opened their textbooks and started outlining the project, the small space between them suddenly felt charged. Their shoulders brushed occasionally, fingers accidentally touched while reaching for the same reference sheet, and every time it happened, Anan's face flushed and Nate's heart skipped a beat.
"So, the project is on marketing strategies for start-ups," Nate began, leaning back slightly. "We'll need an introduction, case studies, and a conclusion. Easy enough, right?"
Anan nodded enthusiastically, his pen moving quickly across the paper. "Y-Yeah… I can do that. I just… I don't want to mess up."
"You won't," Nate said, his voice softer now. "I've got your back."
The words seemed to linger longer than necessary. Anan looked up, eyes wide, unsure if he had imagined the warmth in Nate's tone. "Y-You… really mean that?"
Nate leaned in slightly, giving a small, reassuring nod. "Of course. You're not alone in this."
Anan's chest tightened at the reassurance. He wanted to say something more, something that expressed the growing flutter in his heart, but he couldn't find the courage. Instead, he simply nodded, scribbling notes quickly, stealing glances at Nate whenever he thought he wasn't looking.
They worked in relative silence for a while, punctuated only by the occasional soft question from Anan or Nate's explanations. Then, Nate noticed that Anan's hand was hovering near his notebook, almost brushing his own. Nate's fingers twitched slightly—he wanted the contact, even if it was accidental.
"You know," Nate said casually, breaking the silence, "you could stop being so nervous. You're not as clumsy as you think."
Anan froze for a second. "…I'm clumsy?"
Nate smirked faintly. "You keep dropping things and bumping into me. That's clumsy, right?"
Anan's cheeks flamed a deep red. "…I… I'm careful!"
"I know," Nate said, leaning back with a playful grin. "Mostly."
Anan laughed, a soft, airy sound that made Nate's chest tighten. He had heard it before, during their library encounter, but hearing it again, close and personal, was disarming.
Minutes passed, and as they moved on to case studies, their conversation became more personal. Anan shared stories about his hometown, his favorite foods, and why he chose business. Nate listened attentively, occasionally teasing him, but mostly letting him talk. He liked the way Anan's eyes lit up when he spoke, how his hands moved animatedly while explaining something, and the quiet determination behind the nervous exterior.
"You know, Nate," Anan said shyly, glancing down, "I… I didn't expect third-years to be… so approachable."
Nate raised an eyebrow. "Approachable? And here I thought you'd find me intimidating."
"I… I did a little," Anan admitted, fiddling with his pen. "But you're… nice. And helpful. And…" His voice trailed off as he looked away, cheeks burning.
"And?" Nate prompted, leaning slightly closer.
Anan swallowed hard. "…And… I like working with you."
Nate's chest tightened at the words. He couldn't help but smile. "…I like working with you too, Nong."
The rest of the study session passed with a new energy. Their touches were more frequent, though subtle—hands brushing over papers, leaning slightly closer to see a reference chart, shoulders almost touching. Every accidental contact left Anan flustered and Nate quietly aware of the tension building between them.
By the time the library announced closing, they had finished a significant part of the project. Anan packed up his notebook carefully, but he hesitated before leaving.
"Um… Nate?" he asked softly.
"Yes?" Nate replied, glancing up from his own work.
"Would… would you maybe… walk me to the cafeteria? I… I could use a break."
Nate's lips curved into a small, approving smile. "Sure. Let's go."
As they walked side by side across the courtyard, the fading sunlight painted their surroundings in warm tones. Their shoulders brushed again, and this time, neither of them pulled away. Anan felt his heart racing, a mix of nervousness and exhilaration, while Nate felt a protective and possessive urge he had never anticipated.
They reached the cafeteria, grabbed their meals, and sat at a quiet corner table. The conversation continued, light and teasing, filled with laughter and stolen glances. It was in these small, intimate moments—close enough to feel the other's warmth, soft enough for their words to carry meaning—that their connection began to solidify.
By the time they parted ways outside the cafeteria, Anan's cheeks were still flushed, and he could barely focus on the path ahead. Nate, meanwhile, watched him go, a faint smile tugging at his lips. There was something thrilling about this first-year—something that made him want to see him again, to protect him, and perhaps… to explore whatever this tension between them might become.
The first study session had started as an academic obligation, but it ended as the beginning of something much more—an unspoken bond, electric and undeniable, that neither of them could ignore.
And as they went their separate ways, each secretly replayed the moments, the touches, the laughter, and the words, knowing deep down that this semester would be anything but ordinary.
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