Rain saw P'Phayu put down his pencil and rub at his temple.
"Another headache Phi?" Rain asked a little worried. P'Phayu had suffered with multiple headaches, from mild to severe, over the past few months. Practically for as long as Rain had known him. He had been to the doctor, but they didn't find anything wrong. The doctor said it could be stress. He also suggested P'Phayu have his eyes checked just in case. P'Phayu had been putting this off, but Rain was ready to put his foot down.
He was ready to call P'Pai and Sky to drag P'Phayu to the eye doctor and told the senior so. When P'Phayu only looked at him with a raised eyebrow, Rain decided to try a different tactic. "Please, go to get your eyes checked, for Rain."
P'Phayu sighed, he could hardly say no to that. "Fine, I will make an appointment."
Rain smiled and rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek.
As it turned out the doctor said that P'Phayu needed reading glasses because he was suffering from eye strain and his eyes were having issues focusing. Rain even got to pick out the frames, thin gold ones that he thought P'Phayu looked super hot in. Like some sort of extremely sexy teacher or librarian. That gave Rain an idea for later.
As they were leaving the office, Rain received a text from Sky reminding him not to forget he had promised to help with the play the architect faculty was putting on. Yikes, he had forgotten.
"P'Phayu, I need to go by the school, I promised Sky that I would help with costume fittings for the play because their actors aren't going to be available."
The play they were putting on was an historical Korean piece set in the Joseon era. The costumes reminded Rain of a dream he once had. It had been a really good dream.
"Sky, where did these costumes come from?" Rain asked, watching P'Phayu who was trying on a hanbok for Ple.
"Why?" Sky asked suspiciously.
"No reason, just curious if it was some place that sells them." Rain said still looking at P'Phayu.
Sky was sorry he had asked.
"Oh that reminds me," Rain said, "What would a male librarian wear?"
Sky knew he shouldn't ask but he couldn't stop himself. "Why?"
"Because P'Phayu looks so hot in his reading glasses."
Sky was very, very sorry he asked.
Sky noticed Phan didn't seem like her usual bubbly self at lunch the next day. "Everything okay?" He asked. Rain and Ple also looked up. Phan was part of the friend group now and Rain practically considered her to be a sister so they wanted to help with any problems she had.
"Well there's this girl....." Phan started.
Ple smiled, while the others nodded. "A tale as old as time, so what's the issue? She's not interested?"
"Or is she already seeing someone?" Rain suggested.
"I don't know, I haven't talked to her." Phan said, sighing.
Their mouths dropped open in unison. Phan was P'Pai's sister in every way. Especially when it came to relationships. She was bold and shameless when there was someone she liked.
"If you don't talk to her then you won't know if she likes you." Rain suggested.
"You're one to talk, Rain," Ple said, "I remember when a certain someone didn't dare talk to P'Phayu. Still he's right, Phan. You should at least talk to her. What faculty is she in?"
"Business, she is one of my classmates." Phan said. "Her name is Anya."
"Well that should be easy then, invite her to study group." Rain suggested.
Since Phan had joined them, they had included several business first and second years in their study group. P'Som led the architecture students and P'Kiat led the business students. It was partly an excuse for the friends to all hang together and eat snacks, but they did manage to get a little studying done as well.
Phan waited nervously before first class the next day, she had never been nervous before around any of the girls she liked. She was one of the shameless siblings for a reason.
Everything about Anya was different from what Phan was used to though. Phan had a *type* she wasn't ashamed to admit it. Short, cute, outgoing and friendly. Anya was cute, absolutely adorable but she was tall, wore glasses, bookish, quiet and extremely serious.
Phan saw Anya come in and sit in the back row as she always did. To Phan it seemed everything the girl did, from the way she dressed to her choice of seats was meant to deflect attention away from herself.
Phan sighed and decided it was now or never.
Anya was startled and a little suspicious when the girl sat down in the desk next to her and said, "Hi, I'm Phan."
"Anya," she replied quietly, she knew she should try to make eye contact, she had always been told that it was important, but it was so distracting to maintain eye contact and a conversation at the same time. Hopefully Phan would just think she was shy and not very weird.
"Anya, um, I was wondering if you would like to join our study group Thursday? We all get together and study and eat snacks, it's fun." Phan said but Anya was already shaking her head.
"I don't do well around a lot of people," she explained, playing with the hem of her shirt. This was a stim that her mother had given up trying to break her from. It was at least deemed more socially acceptable than hand flapping or rocking, although both could be comforting.
"Oh," Phan actually sounded disappointed. "Would you like to go for a coffee or tea with me then, I know this really quiet spot. Please?" Anya didn't want her to be disappointed again so she nodded. "Yes, really?" Phan said, "After classes today?" Anya nodded again. "Awesome, do you mind if I sit here next to you?" A head shake, Anya knew she should actually speak, use her words as people said, but sometimes it was so hard to do.
Anya couldn't help but wonder if Phan was going to tease and make fun of her like the pretty girls in high school always did. Phan just gathered her books and settled into the seat next to her.
After class Anya followed Phan to a small shop just off campus. It was quiet as promised, just the sort of spot Anya would like to bring a manga and read, something she could never do in peace if her mother was home. It wasn't considered appropriate behavior for a young lady according to her mother.
"So what do you like to do, Anya?" Phan asked.
Ugh, what to tell her? She thought desperately then realized that she was keeping Phan waiting for an answer. Might as well honest. "I like manga and anime." She said.
"Really?" Anya braced herself to be laughed at, but Phan just said, "Oh you have got to meet Sky, the two of you will be best friends in no time."
"Sky?" Was that Phan's boyfriend maybe? Anya wondered why the thought was disappointing.
"My brother's boyfriend." Phan said, "he lives for manga and anime. I have read a few of his, and watched several shows but I am afraid I am no where near the expert he is. That's so cool."
Anya found herself relaxing around Phan. Somehow the other girl didn't make her feel awkward at all.
"Phan," Anya said taking a deep breath for courage, "is the invite for study group still open?"
Phan smiled at her brilliantly, "yes, of course."
Phan and Anya arrived at the room the group was meeting in early. It was a large classroom with several tables that P'Phayu had gotten them permission to use a long time ago. Good thing too as their two groups had grown they needed the space.
Rain and Sky were just setting out snacks when the two girls arrived. Rain waved happily and Sky came over to greet them. After she introduced Anya and Sky she mentioned their mutual interests, which was all it took for the two to fall into a long involved conversation about their favorite artists and show.
Phan went over to help Rain. "So that's Anya?" Rain asked.
"Yes." Phan smiled over at where Sky and Anya were talking.
"See I told you glasses were hot." Rain said out of nowhere. Phan laughed, but she couldn't help but agree.
********
Notes:
Ok yes I am projecting again. It seems to be my thing, poor characters they don't deserve that emotional baggage.