BLUE KISS CHAPTER 1

 

1

Friend

The Faculty of Engineering, N Universit

Normally, in an  early morning like this, a cafeteria wasn't a popular place for most students since they already had a hard time waking up for morning classes. However, that wasn't the case for Sandee and her friends.

Sandee and Kao usually came early before the class started, while Pete and June would occasionally hang out until the sun came up and go to class right away, leaving the gang wondering what sort of energy their bodies possessed. For Thada, it depended on his several part-time jobs as he needed to pay for his own tuition fee.

"There's a group report due next Monday. June and Thada will be with me. And Kao will be with Pete."

Sandee assigned them into a group for an elective subject in Social Studies since she knew they would postpone the work and end up staying late at night before the deadline, trying hastily to finish the report.

Although Sandee was the youngest among her friends (she'd attended school earlier than the children of her age), she was the one who assigned their groups, reminded them to finish works, and dragged them to study before the exams. Contrary to Thada who was the oldest (he'd attended university a year late) he had no idea about these things.

You couldn't blame him, though. As he was short of money, he had to spend most of his time doing part-time jobs. It was good enough that Thada could attend classes in time, complete every assignment, and pass all exams. Pete was the second oldest in the group as well, but... he couldn't care less about urging everyone to study. He was all about the party!

"What the hell?!" Kao and Pete shouted simultaneously.

"Why not?" Sandee gave them a stern look, then she sighed and said, "It's because we need three members in a group, but there are five of us. Look. It's only Kao and me that are clever enough to work on the report. The rest of you normally have one responsibility - writing your name down."

"Hey, you're exaggerating! We also help."

"Shut your mouth, June." Sandee gave him a death glare. She wouldn't deny the fact that she always forced everyone to help each other, but Pete, Thada, and June were pretty much useless.

"Why do I have to be with Kao? Can’t I stay with you?"

"Got a problem, Pete? Or you want me to be with Kao and leave the three of you together?"

"No way, Madame!" June and Thada refused immediately.

"So that's it," Sandee said. She sighed again because Pete and Kao didn't seem so satisfied, "Why do you hate each other so much, huh? We've been together for a semester and even joined ice-breaking activities. Our seniors told us to maintain our friendship. But you guys, friends in the same group, hate each other so much."

"You're wrong..." Kao tried to make an excuse.

"So tell me, it's so obvious that both of you don't want to work together."

Sandee gave them a reprehensive look. The only good thing was, despite the hate, Kao and Pete were still in the same group of friends. They'd been through the activities during the Welcome Ceremony together. But that was because Sandee, Thada, and June had played an important role in stopping them from fighting.

Kao wasn't that bad. But Pete obviously had a prejudice against him to the point that no matter what Kao did, Pete would get irritated.

Sandee used to understand why they hated each other. She thought they just needed time, but... she was wrong. They still disliked each other in spite of the fact that they'd been friends for a whole semester.

Sandee believed that Pete and Kao would ruin the relationship between the five of them if they continued fighting. That was why she always paired them up so that they would get closer. But her plan never seemed to be accomplished since they had so many problems when being together.

Now, she wasn't confident about her plan at all. It seemed like they would rather fight than getting closer.

"There goes the drama queen." Thada sighed - he was getting tired of this. "Can you just work together, man? Don't make her upset. She's already got enough problems with June and me that she could have a migraine."

"He's right! What the hell is wrong with working together?" June added, afraid that Sandee might change her mind and work with Kao, leaving him with Thada and Pete. That would suck. "We're all friends. Stop hating each other, man."

"Fine. I'll be with Kao. Sandee, you don't have to be dramatic," Pete said unwillingly. He looked at Kao who didn't seem too happy to work with him either.

Let's see... if they could make it through the end!

After classes

"Are you going to sing at the pub tonight? I want to meet Thanwa."

Pete asked Thada as they walked down the hall after the last class had ended. Thanwa, a good-looking 23-year-old man, was Thada's senior. Thada got to know him because Thanwa and his band played live music at the same pub. Thanwa was the leader and a lead vocalist of the band.

Thada and Thanwa planned to open a tattoo parlor named 'Thada Studio' soon, as Thada used to work in a tattoo parlor, learn tattoo art, and love designing it. He had skills.

"Of course. I need money."

"Damn, you work hard." June teased him.

"What about you, June? Are you coming?" Pete asked.

"l want to, but my mom just called me. She said we're short of money right now, so I'll get my allowance a bit late." June sighed, feeling sorry for himself. "I've gotta survive with instant noodles for a while."

"Don't worry. Tonight, it's my treat" Pete said, putting his arm around June's neck playfully. It wasn't a big deal for him to pay for his friends as he was the richest one in the group.

"What about the report next Monday?" Sandee asked, her voice stern.

"Just go out tonight and finish it this weekend. You can't say no, okay?"

They never cursed when talking to Sandee, the only girl in the group, because she never swore even once, and they respected that.

But that was it!

Sandee might be the only girl, but she was so manly. She hung out with them all the time that they felt like she was a guy. Their classmate even 'shipped' Sandee and Thada* as a couple because they were close.

The funny part was that they imagined Sandee as a top and Thada as a bottom!

"God damn right! It's only great if Sandee comes. The guys there won't mess with us, and pretty girls will come to our table," June says happily. He was the most cheerful and talkative one in the group.

"You're always like this, using my number to lure the girls."

Sandee sighed tiredly. June always gave her phone number and LINE ID to the girls who got interested in her. Because June knew, despite the fact that Sandee looked freaking manly, she surely wasn't tomboy or lesbian.

That was why June used Sandee as a tool to get the girls' numbers for himself!

"Can't help it. The girls coming for you are very cute and tiny. Just my type."

"l wouldn't go because of what you just said."

"Come on. Don't you see? These guys will definitely steal my thunder, and the girls' numbers will be out of my reach."

June shook Sandee's arm pleadingly. Kao, Pete, and Thada always got the girls' attention when all of them hung out together. That was the reason why he needed Sandee to go. But June wasn't as upset as he pretended to be, it was only a joke. He had never been jealous of his friends, of course! Because they'd formed a strong bond ever since they'd been freshmen. They had lots of things in common and joined at the hip. He would never sweat the small stuff.

"That's right! Don't say no. And you've gotta look handsome tonight," Pete told her.

"Whatever!" Sandee rolled her eyes.

She couldn't really say no, or else nobody was going to take their 'corpses' back home and remind them not to drink like a fish until sunrise. And the works due next Monday would never be done!

That night, K Pub

The moment Pete and his friends stepped inside, a staff rushed over and gave them a nice greeting since they were regulars here. As Pete often gave generous tips, the whole staff knew him very well. They also appealed to the boys and girls who enjoyed the nightlife here, making them the center of the attention in the pub.

Sandee... almost five-foot-five, with big curly hair - dark grey and pretty thick. She loved to wear black eyeliner to make her black eyes look striking. Even though she was pretty interested in make-up and fashion, she was raised like a boy because her parents wanted a son as their youngest child. That was why her style was a mix of pretty and handsome, attracting both boys and girls.

Thada... six-foot-one, pretty slim but alto fit and toned, a result of working out, which made him look attractive. He was half-Thai, half-French with blue-grey eyes and grey-brown shoulder-length hair. He usually tucked his hair behind one of his eats or did the half-up, half-down, letting his front hair loose to get a messy vibe with a hint of neatness. He usually wore casual clothes, but he still looked good.

Pete... six feet tall, well-built, hundred percent masculine-looking. He had a handsome face and tanned skin, with dark eyes and jet-black hair. As the only son of a real estate entrepreneur, he was well-known for his wealth.

Kao.. five-foot-eight, slim but not skinny since he got enough muscles. He had a clean look like boy idols and was very fashionable. He was also very good-looking though different from Pete. He was neater, friendly, and easy-going. No doubt he was popular among girls.

June... five-foot-nine. He looked fairly good, and he was also talkative. He was actually quite popular but still on the hunt for more girls' numbers.

And the perfect 'key' of his plan was Sandee.

With their appearances no wonder why June was so proud when they came to the pub together. He felt like a boy band member about to hit the stage with many fangirls screaming their names.

Just their heights and looks could steal all the spotlight!

"What a damn good spot."

June looked around the pub. Their table was right in the middle in front of the stage. Apart from being able to see everything from here, they became more outstanding.

"Of course, it is. Pete gave them five-hundred baht."

Kao pursed his lips in mocking distaste, but Pete just shrugged, not giving a shit. They started ordering, and, after a moment, their table was filled with booze, drink mixers, and food.

The real party got started. June said 'cheers' to everyone and danced to the music blasting out of the loudspeaker, relieving the stress built up in the past week.

"l gotta go get ready," Thada said after having fun with them for a while. "You guys take care of Sandee. I guess it's not just girls that are after her tonight. Look at those guys at that table. They're ogling at her."

"Already?" June followed Thada's gaze, seeing three guys looking at her from the next table. "Your score is higher than Pete's today."

"I've got more than enough. I'm good." Pete shrugged, couldn't care less.

"But, damn, San is on fire tonight. All the guys keep staring at her. Isn't it strange?" At June's remark, Pete and Kao immediately turned to Sandee, and then Pete squinted slightly, scanning her clothes with his eyes.

"Look at her clothes."

Pete was irritated. He didn't think she dressed too revealing at first. But row that he noticed how the guys looked at her, he realized she looked pretty seductive. With that black tank top and tight skinny jeans, he might've ogled at her too if they weren't friends. Girls would find this outfit cool while guys would find it sexy.

"What is this? I told you to look handsome tonight." Pete threw his jacket around her shoulders, glaring at her. "Cover yourself!"

"Oh, come on!"

Although Sandee seemed annoyed, she wore the jacket as told. Kao watched both of them in silence and emptied his glass. He knew Pete had a soft spot for Sandee because she looked like his sister who'd recently passed away. It was the reason why he tried to improve himself as a brother. But Kao couldn't help but think that Pete was overprotective.

Sometimes... lt was hard to tell whether Pete was being 'protective' or 'possessive'!

Around 1 a.m.

The alcohol slatted to kick in, making Kao feel dizzy. He left his friends to take a leak and rest on a couch in front of the restroom for a while. Pete came to use the restroom while he was sitting there. No words had been exchanged. It was like they were strangers. Sandee must have been left alone on the table right now since it was about time June went hunting for gills' numbers. Kao got up, to go back to the table.

Kao wasn't usually worried about Sandee but he couldn't help it today. Not when there were three guys from the next table who wouldn't stop staring at her. No matter how bold and manly Sandee might be, she was still a girl.

Kao hadn't even lifted his foot when he heard loud noises coming from the restroom.

"Is that girl at your table taken?!"

"It's none of your fucking business!"

Kao started to feel uneasy. It was obvious that wasn't a simple conversation it was more like a fight. Kao couldn't recognize the first voice, but he was sure as hell the other belonged to Pete!

 "My friend likes her. If she's not yours, then slay out of it."

"Well, she's my friend." Pete was purposely trying to piss that guy off. Kao suddenly thought Pete was definitely born to be a troublemaker. "And it's my fucking choice whether to stay out of it or not."

"You just want to keep her to yourself."

"So what!? You think I'm gonna let you near my friend speaking like that, huh? You fucking loser! Is that all you've got? Go fuck yourself if you've got no fucking jams at all. She's not for you." Pete scoffed.

Even though Sandee was strong enough to take care of herself, Pete was worried about her. He would never let a good person like her get associate with these assholes. Sandee was not only his friend, but she was also similar to his sister who had passed away.

And Pete also thought of Sandee as his little sister. 

Kao poked his head into the restroom to take a look. He saw Pete was about to leave, but the other guy grabbed his shirt collar. And it was two people against Pete. Kao was afraid they would really get into a fight and things would get out of control, so he rushed inside and shouted, trying to draw the attention of the people outside.

"Hey! What the hell are you guys doing?"

It worked! A few people came to see what was happening. The other guy released Pete's shirt collar even though he still glared at Pete like he was dying to punch him. Pete glared back, unshaken. His guts made Kao sigh heavily, then he followed Pete outside.

"Don't get into a fight! You're gonna get us all screwed." Kao warned Pete in a loud voice above the music as they were making their way back to their table through the crowd.

"You are scared of them?" Pete asked, raising his eyebrow.

Kao could see the words 'you are coward' in Pete's eyes.

"I'm not. But don't forget that Thada works here. You'd get him into trouble!"

Kao speeded up to the table, followed by Pete a moment later. The other guys also came back to their table. They glared at Pete as if they'd like a fight.

At that moment... Kao's intuition told him... it was not over yet!

* You can follow the story of Sandee and Thada in Natural Kiss