Love Business

Zee descends the stairs casually. It's 6 pm and the sky is already dark. He sighs in between catching a breath while walking out of the faculty building.

Today is Saturday, yet he is still busy, unlike any other student. Because he needs to graduate this year, he has to work harder than his classmates. Seems like the idea of graduating early is not entirely bubbles and kisses at all. The future is uncertain, even in the present, he's already worn out.

And talking about Sunday. Not a fun day as well for him!

"Where are you?" the caller asks once Zee manages to reach the other side of the call.

"I'm done. Where should we meet?" he asks.

"I secure a spot at the Food Science booth. They sell noodles." the caller answers in giddy.

Noodles sounds nice, especially after a long ass day of classes! Zee sighs.

"Is Bear gonna join us?" asks Zee.

"Yep. He's with me now,"

"Zee! Your treat!"

Zee chuckles. He can hear Bear's voice, loud and clear. The man has a deep husky voice, a bit manly than his friend, Ta who has a soft melodic voice.

"Okay, be right there!" Zee quickly put the key into the ignitor and started the bike.

***

"Thank God, we managed to secure a spot! Look at these people!" says Ta. Zee stretches his neck and skims around. The stall is fully packed with students from every faculty. He can see the Engineers in their dark grey workshop uniform, medical students with a lab coats with their names engraved in green, some sport science students, still in jock jumpsuits, and more, incoming.

"Seems like you're not alone, Mr. Valedictorian to be..." Bear pats Zee's shoulder. He smiles a bit. The encouragement by his friends is something that he needs right now. When everyone enjoys their weekend, some students still struggle to reach their goals.

Guess he's not alone then!

"How's the cafe's sales?"

"Superb! Just as we thought. However, we can't surpass Econ this year. Jeez, they did dirty! They send the best-looking fresh boys to attend the booth. Those girls... I'm telling you, they went berserk and hysterical!" says Ta shamelessly with over the top reaction and sparkling eyes.

"What about you? Did you join the crowd as well?" Bear throws a question at Ta, while giving him a sharp gaze. That man suddenly feels tiny in front of his boyfriend.

"Teerak, you know I'm just talking about Econ's booth and their marketing strategy, right?" Ta coaxing him. Bear glances at him, and pretends to ignore his plead.

Zee laughs a bit, watching these two bickerings, as usual. This is a daily sight of their life. If they don't bicker, there must be something wrong that day.

"Anyway, your idea of that mascot thing is a success. I mean, we got the right person for the right job," says Ta.

"Too bad the accident happened..." Bear joins the conversation.

"How's she?" asks Zee. He feels responsible for the accident as well, especially when he's not even around at that time.

"Her ankle got a slight crack. She has to wear a cast for a moment. Right now, she's at the hospital," says Bear.

"No one takes care of her?" asks Zee with a concern face.

"Her family will arrive tomorrow morning. In the meantime, the obnoxious boy is taking responsibility," Bear replies to Zee.

Zee listens while playing with his noodles. There is a question that he wants to ask, but somehow he ignores the urge to know.

"You're not gonna ask about the cat eyes' girl?" Bear subtly shoots Zee with his question. He smirks as he nudges Ta's waist, and relays the signal to his boyfriend to check on Zee's reaction.

"She's doing fine, right? So, no need to ask..." Zee softly replies.

"Yeah, why bother to ask? She's doing her job so good that she now gains popularity, especially from those hunk Econ boys," says Ta.

Silent.

"Oh? No wonder why I saw her walking with Cray..." says Bear

"Cray, the Econ Moon?" asks Ta to his boyfriend.

"Hm... He kinda like waiting for her after the shift ended..." replies Bear.

Zee slowly lost interest in his noodles.

"Speaking of the devil..." Ta points his finger away. They look at the direction that he points at. A sight of Pan and Cray, chatting while choosing a table to sit at. The boy carefully ushers Pan to the most comfortable spot in the booth.

"Well, as expected..." says Ta.

"What do you mean?" asks Zee. His sudden curiosity makes Ta and Bear glance at each other.

"I know, sooner or later, she will be a magnet that attracts people around her. I mean... Look at her..."

Zee watches Pan from afar. She changes, though not that much, but she looks happier than before. The way she smiles at Cray and he responds to her, the sights look familiar.

Deep down, Zee knew how it felt when her eyes lingered like that. It's almost feel nostalgic, ava grande... If she looks at you with those gazes, you'll lose yourself in no time.

"She might not dress up like any other girl in our faculty. More to say, she's just ordinary. Not too sexy, and not that beautiful. But, there is something that makes her attractive. Makes people drawn towards her. I wonder what it is..." says Ta.

"Her openness and laid-back attitude make her different. She's willing to give all and never gives up. That's what makes her special..." unknowingly, Zee throws those comments. He doesn't even realize Ta and Bear are there and listen to every word that he says.

"You seem to know her too well, pal..." Zee stutters when Ta responds to his words.

"I..." he takes a deep breath and gives himself time to think of a solid reason to justify his claims at Ta and Bear.

"She's my schoolmate. Quite famous among boys..."

"Your junior?" asks Bear.

"No... We were in the same year," Zee hesitates to reply at first, but there is nothing he can do.

"She's older than those freshmen..." Bear gasps.

"Same age as us. No wonder she can kid Zee just like that," Zee glares at Ta.

"What the heck, bro?"

Ta laughs in tiny. He loves teasing Zee, especially in this kind of situation. It's not like every day they can see this fluffy side of him. Zee always looks stern and tense. Never once did he look like how he is now.

"Can I ask a question?" Bear looks at Zee. He nods in tiny with his boring face.

"Why don't you date her that time? You talk like you admire her so much!"

Zee halts. He shuts himself and stares at his shoes.

"That's bullshit! How can a Froggie like Zee date a princess like Pan?" Ta smirks.

"Ai sutt! Who's Froggie huh?!" Zee almost smacks the man down.

"Joking, bro! Sorry..." Ta saves himself from getting a hit from Zee. Bear hugs his boyfriend tight while laughing.

"I swear, if she's my schoolmate, I'mma date her for real! She's a dream cool girl that every man will die for!" says Ta.

"Ter..." Bear glares at Ta.

"Joking... You know I only love you, teerak..." Ta pinches Bear's nose.

Zee watches Pan and Cray. They enjoy each other's company so much. Deep down, Zee somehow feels sad. All those claims made by Ta and Bear, he had heard that before. Even after so long, everyone around him agrees that Pan is indeed one of a kind.

Watching her today reminds him of those years when she belonged to him. Sweet moments between them, those memories were still fresh in his mind.

"Zee? What's wrong?" Bear asks when Zee suddenly stands up from his chair.

"I forgot. I have to send a report to my father. You guys go ahead. I need to go now," Zee quickly blends into the crowd and disappears.

Ta looks at Bear. They exchange meaningful smiles.

***

Pan sighs. She slowly drags her legs towards the parking lot. Today is the most exhausting day for her. She thought, that after the shift ended, she could stop by her dorm, shower, and rest a bit before going home. But, Cray insisted on her for dinner. She tried her best to decline it but looks like that Econ senior is good at persuasion skills.

"I better get going now. Forget about the shower. I'll shower tomorrow!" she gushes alone.

Pan dives her hand into her bag, looking for her bike key. When she finally found the key, she quickly dashed to her bike.

"Oi?!" she jumps a bit when she sees someone, sitting on the asphalt road, leaning against her bike.

"Sir, excuse me... But I need to..." She pushes the body a bit. The person lifts his head slowly.

"Ahhhh... My teerakkkk...."

"Ai shia!" Pan drops on the asphalt road and scoots back a bit.

"Eh, what happened teerak? Why are you coming home so late, huh?? I'm waiting for you... My lovely teerak..." Zee tries to hug her. Pan pushes him away from her.

"What's wrong with you? Are you drunk?! Seriously??" Pan quickly stands up.

"Drunk? Says who?? I am not! I quit drinking years ago! No good, you know! Don't drink!"

Pan frowns and stares at Zee.

The man stumbles a few times before manages to stand on his feet.

"I miss you, my teerak..."

"You're drunk! Ugh!!" Pan shoves him away from her a bit. But, the man keeps leaning towards her.

"I.miss.you.for.real..."

"Zee, you'll regret this once you're sober!" Pan helps him from falling. Suddenly, Zee hugs her so tight, that she almost loses her mind.

"Zee!"

"Why are you staring at Cray like that? You don't know how hurt it is to see you looking at him like that..."

Pan halts. She freezes on her spot.

"Don't look at others. I hate that. Only look at me. Eyes on me..." Zee whispers to her ear.

"Senior Zee..."

"I hate it when you call me that! Stop it..."

"You're my senior..."

"No! I'm not. Do you forget who I am, Pan? I'm your-"

The body slowly slides off from Pan's embrace. She scoops him carefully and tries to hold his weight so he won't fall.

"Jeez, this jackass!" Pan curses under her breath. She looks around in case she can ask someone for help.

Silent.

"Looks like I have no choice!"

She gushes a bit before taking the next step, hoping that Zee won't regret this once he gets sober.