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Part 24

"So Kongpob, are you going to try for the SK entrance exams?"

Mr Suthiluck suddenly broached the subject at dinnertime and I almost choked over my rice. Goodness, I never knew that eating dinner with Suthiluck family is such a precarious occassion – I couldn't even begin to count the number of times that I had almost died a premature death when my food went down the wrong way due to the "surprises" sprung at me.

I stared at Kongpob Suthiluck anxiously. I thought he had given up on going to SK? A lump came into my throat as I imagined him being in a different university from me.

Strangely enough, his expression did not even flicker as he continued to eat his dinner passively in perfect silence. Mr Suthiluck held his peace as Auntie glared at him. But Kongpob remained resolute and didn't utter a single word in reply.

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"Kongpob Suthiluck!" He paused in the act of opening his bedroom door when I hurriedly ran up the stairs after him, before turning to face me with his usual calm expression.

"Are... are you intending to take the exams again?"

"No."

He replied and simply walked into his room, shutting the door behind him. I heaved a sigh of relief – I knew it was really selfish of me, but I was really glad that he would still be in the same University as me. At least, I would get to see more of him every day...

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"Arthit, do you know that we are going to have a festival?" I could see Aya's eyes sparkling with excitement as she told me the news.

"Yes, and they would be choosing a 'Queen and King' for the festival!" May added as she came up to both of us, pointing to a poster in the far end of the corridor. We all went up to have a look.

Well of course, in my eyes, Kongpob Suthiluck is the perfect King! But...wow what if I could be the festival Queen! Me!? And I would be Kongpob's Queen!!! We would be a couple... *dreaming*

I started having daydreams again – I mean I know a plain guy like me would never win, but even normal guys have the right to dream, don't they?

As we walked off, I saw Jessica staring at the same poster with a smile on her face. My heart sank – silly as I was, I knew that I was no match for Jessica. Face it Arthit, with her looks that girl could become Miss World if she entered that competition. What chance do you have to stand beside Kongpob?

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Before we knew it, the long-awaited festival had arrived. I smiled in delight as I looked at the cute little stalls set up all along the university grounds, anticipating what fun it would be to visit the stalls one-by-one later.

Currently, I was working at the stall set up by the tennis club with my fellow club mates including Kongpob Suthiluck, YEEESSSSH!

Unfortunately, even before we were ready for "business", there was already a long line of female customers... And they were all making a beeline for Kongpob Suthiluck ... ... Sigh!

I silently gritted my teeth as I saw this girl drooling so obviously at Kongpob Suthiluck as he handed her a hot-dog with a slight smile – I thought his smile seemed rather forced from my angle but what do I know? Maybe he was enjoying himself with all the attention he got from the girls...

Thank goodness, I saw that Jessica wasn't exactly looking as though she was thrilled too. At least there's a fellow-suffer feeling the same way as me...

"Boom, bang bang... ..." All kinds of knocking sounds were heard and I turned to my left.

"Max!" My jaw dropped open when the silly fellow turned and tried to smile at me, several nails hanging from his mouth.

"What are you doing?" He quickly removed the nails from his mouth in order to answer me.

"Can't you tell? I'm setting up my own stall!" He beamed proudly at me. I shook my head silently as he continued on with his one-man show.

"... Arthit!"

"Yes?"

"Go help Jessica serve the customers!" Mike waved me over.

I quickly nodded and removed my apron, starting to carry the food to the waiting customers. The steady flow of customers kept me and Jessica extremely busy – I barely had time to think! I noted when I was rushing back with more orders that there appeared to be no one buying from Max. He was looking rather despondent, trying to get people to buy his food. I was feeling rather sorry for him when a couple of loud voices diverted my attention...

"... ... so you're thinking of running for the Festival Queen?"

"... ... I will definitely vote for you!"

"Me too, me too!"

I turned to see Jessica surrounded by a bunch guys who were fighting for her attention. I felt sickened as I watched her smile sweetly at them, giggling as she thanked them in a very soft and gentle voice. Goosebumps appeared on my arms.

I quickly turned to see if Kongpob Suthiluck noticed anything – much to my consolation, he appeared to be totally unaware or indifferent to what was happening as he continued to serve the girls trooping up to him. On second thoughts, I didn't know which was the worse of both evils. I found my eyes narrowing at the number of longing or flirtatious looks that the girls were aiming in his direction.

"Arthit, look at the number of votes I have already gotten. I'll definitely be the festival queen!" Somehow, Jessica had managed to escape from her admirers and was now standing next to me with a triumphant look on her face. I gave her a sickly smile.

"Arthit," we were interrupted by Mike and gosh was I relieved. "There's a crowd out there wanting to be served by you!"

"...By me?" My face lit up as Jessica's expression soured. I quickly leapt to my feet and ran out to the tables.

Then my heart sank as I saw the familiar faces – the people from the manga club yet again! What on earth do they want from me? However, I managed to maintain my smile as I took their numerous orders. Goodness, the entire manga club must have turned up! When I returned with the stacks of orders, I saw Mike smiling approvingly at me.

"Not too bad, with Arthit and Kongpob our stall may rake in the most earnings!" He nodded at both of us as I felt myself turning beetroot. Yet in spite of the embarrassment, I felt secretly pleased – it was nice to be the one in the spotlight for once.

"Not bad," I turned to see Kongpob Suthiluck standing next to me. "You've got lots of admirers." With that, he returned to serve his customers, leaving me staring at his back, wondering what he meant by that comment – if he meant anything at all. Damn! He sure enjoys unsettling me like this a lot. After about 5 mins (yes, I was looking at him all the time), he went to wash his hands and started walking away from the stall.

"Wait Kongpob Suthiluck!" He stopped as I ran out after him. "Where are you going? Can I come along?" My words tumbled out one after another in a rush as I looked pleadingly at him, hoping that he would not refuse my paltry request.

"Okay," with that he continued walking and I ran along happily beside him. I stopped as I gazed at the building in front of which he stopped, my jaw dropped open when the humongous poster caught my eye.

"This... this ... ..." I stuttered.

"Yes," he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the darkened room that had been converted into a make-shift cinema.

"Welcome everyone," a person was saying as we took our seats. "Welcome to the first screening of the anime 'Tennis Baka'! Do remember to give us your feedback on our first animation production!"

And then, the music started.

I stared at the screen, feeling secretly delighted when I realized that they had portrayed Aya and May as the villains. Although the caricature of Jessica was still beautiful, they constantly drew her with this evil smirk on her face and glint in her eyes, and that I enjoyed thoroughly. Of course, I wasn't exactly delighted at the scrapes that my character constantly found himself in and had to be rescued by whom I recognized as another three of the guys from the manga club. However, it was obvious that they had improved their "physical looks" by leaps and bounds, appearing to be handsome and dashing on screen.

At one point in the anime, I turned as crimson as "Tennis Baka" on screen was suddenly attacked by Aya, and found his tennis pants totally in shreds as he attempted to cover himself as much as he could.

Fortunately, one of the three rescuers gallantly swept off his coat and wrapped it around him. Much to my humiliation, Kongpob Suthiluck burst out laughing – very loudly.

I must say that I hardly ever heard him laugh – his laughter was like music to my ears, low and slightly deep but extremely endearing... my eyes turned dreamy again.

If only he wasn't laughing at "me"!

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I must say that the cartoon was rather entertaining and I definitely enjoyed it more than I had expected to. The manga club people are indeed better judges of character than I had expected – either that or Arthit's personality is just so comical that he resembles a cartoon character. I still remember the most hilarious part of the anime when "Tennis Baka" found his clothes in shreds – I had seen the same totally stunned and horrified expression on Arthit's face so many times that I simply threw back my head and roared with laughter. It really didn't help things when I turned and saw a similar horrified and embarrassed look on the original's face.

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"Kongpob! Arthit!" I turned and saw Mama waving at us merrily when we stepped out of the "cinema". She was dragging a very reluctant Daniel with her in our direction, as papa and Mr Rojnapat tried to keep up with them.

"Auntie!" Arthit waved back with a huge smile on his face – he's really fond of my mother.

Suddenly, my mom approached us and pulled us along hurriedly, "Quick come with me, no time to lose!"

Arthit and I started running together with the rest of the entourage, a puzzled expression on both of our faces. Finally we stopped in front of what appeared to be a contest that was starting soon.

"See, I entered both of you in this quiz!" My mother exclaimed happily.

I groaned aloud. I don't understand why my mother always loves entering me into such stupid quizzes, I mean the questions are really so simple and it's definitely not challenging!

Also, she should be fairer to the other homo sapiens whose intellectual capabilities are not comparable to mine. What chance would they have? Let them win, they would be much happier with the prize and feel a sense of achievement unlike myself...

And she should especially worry about Arthit and his inability to...

Before I knew it, Arthit had jumped in excitement and pulled me to the seats that had been allocated to us...

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