The scorching sun of Bangkok didn't feel as heavy as the secrets Wave-Chayuth carried in his heart. Standing at the entrance of the Faculty of Engineering, his oversized white freshman shirt felt crisp, but his palms were sweating. It wasn't just the heat; it was the person he knew was somewhere inside those halls.
Ten years. It had been exactly ten years since he last saw those eyes.
Wave adjusted the strap of his guitar bag, his mind drifting back to the rainiest day of his childhood. The day his world shattered—the day his parents signed the divorce papers. He remembered sitting on the swings of the old park, sobbing until he couldn't breathe, feeling like he was a mistake.
Then, a boy had appeared. A boy a few years older, with a gaze as calm as a steady lake. He didn't offer pity; he offered strength. "It's not your fault, little one. You are precious, and you are going to do great things. Don't let the tears blur your future." That boy was Pete-Wasuthorn. And from that day on, Wave's heart didn't belong to himself anymore.
"Hey, Freshman! Stop daydreaming and get in line!" a senior shouted, snapping Wave back to reality.
As the freshmen gathered for the orientation, a sudden silence fell over the crowd. A group of seniors walked in, led by someone whose aura commanded the entire room. His stride was confident, his face cold and expressionless, like a masterpiece carved from marble.
It was Pete.
He looked different—more mature, sharper, and incredibly distant. He was the head hazer, the legendary senior of the Engineering department.
Wave's breath hitched. Pete walked right past him, his sleeve brushing against Wave's arm. Wave looked up, hoping for even a flicker of recognition in Pete's eyes. But Pete didn't even turn his head. He looked straight ahead, his jaw tight, his eyes focused on the stage. To Pete, Wave was just another face in a sea of a thousand freshmen.
Wave's heart sank, but he quickly hid his expression. 'It's okay,' he whispered to himself. 'He doesn't have to know. Not yet. Not ever.'
As Pete took the microphone, his voice echoed through the hall, cold and professional. "Welcome to Engineering. Here, respect is earned, not given. If you think you're special, prove it. Otherwise, stay out of my way."
Wave clutched his bag tighter. He didn't want to be special to the faculty; he just wanted to be remembered by the boy who once told him he was precious. But looking at the cold, uninterested back of the man on stage, Wave realized that the Pete from the park was gone, replaced by a stranger who didn't even know Wave existed.
The secret crush wasn't just a feeling anymore; it was a silent vow. Wave would watch him from the shadows, loving him in the quiet spaces between heartbeats, while Pete continued to walk in the light, completely unaware that his "little one" was standing right in front of him.