Today is a big day for Ming. It's either he returns to his dorm to rest as the campus moon or straight away walks into the engineering field for the punishment. He is more excited to win this title for his P'Kit Kat than for his faculty.

His P'Kit Kat has promised to treat him steak if he won the campus moon title. The sound of the ringing phone indicates the incoming call from his best friend, Wayo.

"Eh meng, what's up?" he asked but had to move the phone immediately far from his ear due to Wayo's loud voice.

"Ming, I'm damn nervous!!!" whined Wayo way too loud for his ears.

"Why? I'm sure you will win the popularity award without a doubt. You played your role as the cute guy so perfectly," encouraged Ming.

"Who told you that I'm worried about the competition? I'm more worried about what my P'Pha is going to do." Wayo said with a long sigh.

"Did he said that he is going to propose to you again or something?" teased Ming as he was preparing his gym bag.

"No, you won't understand. Just leave it," replied Yo, annoyed.

"Eh meng, don't forget to pick me up for the competition," he reminded Ming again.

"What happened to your P'Pha? Wasn't he supposed to give you a lift today?" enquired Ming with the sudden request.

"He has duties as a former moon, and I don't want to be clingy as well," explained Wayo in which he then received a reply as

"Hmmm, khrap. I have to go now," from Ming.

"Where? It's the competition day, na," asked Wayo worriedly.

"Last practice before the competition. I don't know about you, but I must win this competition. I don't want to run 100 laps," answered Ming, and they chatted for a while before hanging up the call.

It feels like it's been forever since he felt excited about something. After his sister passed away, he was barely interested in anything. But now, he was excited to make P'Kit Kat happy by winning this competition. He doesn't even care about what his hazers are about to say.

P'Kit didn't ask him to win this competition. He will never, but Ming wanted to do something for him, something special.

If Ming wants to buy him a gift as appreciation, he could buy him anything even though it's damn expensive. But Ming won't get the satisfaction of what this award could give him.

P'Kit Kat was the only one to motivate him to win this competition apart from Wayo. The hazers? Well, they blackmailed him, which was not scary enough for Ming. He doesn't acknowledge that as a motivation method or a direct threat.

With the thought that today might be a happy and memorable day for him, Ming quickly took a shower and went out of his dorm with his gym bag. One last Muay Thai practice and, he will be satisfied and confident enough to win today's competition.

~

When he was leaving the dorm building, he could feel a strange vibe around him. As if someone is looking at him or more like watching him. He has been feeling like this since he fought with the annoying senior during the orientation at his campus.

'You know what? The practice could wait,'

Ming thought as he turned around and walked towards the bushes by the parking lot.

"P'Pete, come out of there," no movement at all.

"I saw you already, P. You better come out now before I complain about you to the university management," he warned with his hands on the waist.

This time, he could see a slight movement by the nearby bushes before the stalker revealed himself.

"Nong Ming, how have you been?" question P'Pete, with his gummy smile.

"I'm good, P. May I know why you were following me secretly? Did dad ordered you to keep an eye on me?" question Ming irritate.

"I just miss you, nong Ming," replied Pete with his signature smile.

"You want me to believe that? I'll ask one more time, P. Why are you here?"

"Master was worried about you, nong Ming. I'm not disturbing you, though. I was just casually following you around," reasoned the Pete guy.

"My dad was worried about me?! That's funny. He never cared about me before. Why now? Because I'm the only heir left?" asked Ming with a mocking smile.

"Nong, he didn't intend to be away from you. I'm sure he has his reasons," Pete tries to explain.

"I don't want to know, P. If he couldn't care to explain to me by himself then, he doesn't deserve to apologize. I can protect myself, P. You don't have to follow me around. Tell him that I was good by myself all these years and I could be fine after this as well. I don't need them," said Ming heatedly.

"Nong, never say like that. They were doing everything for your good, na," responded Pete.

"If you're going to take their side despite what they have done, then don't care to talk to me and don't stalk me around anymore too," replied Ming furiously.

"Nong that's not-," he got cut by Ming before he could even complete talking.

"Please, P, I've heard enough of this nonsense! Ask them to stop bothering me. I'm doing what they have told me to do. What more do they want from me? I only want to be left alone," said Ming as he walked away.

'Why does being a trustful brother for you is so hard, nong Ming?'

Though Pete, dejected.

He could only look at the leaving figure sadly. Ming is hurting here due to being confounded by their parent's behavior, while the parents at the other side of the city are distressed because of their only son.

How he wishes that Ming's parents return, ten years ago,

How he wishes he could be there for Ming like a brother. So that the poor child won't be suspicious of the people trying to help him.

~

"Okay x 2, Pha. I won't give him a lift to the dorm. I know, I know we will make opportunities for Kit to be alone with Ming.

I still remember the bracelet.

Yeah, yeah, I'll get it before reaching the campus.

Now, will you please let me have my time with my boyfriend?" questioned Beam irritated to Phana in the call.

The said person has called him three times today to remind him about the bracelet he wants to give his Nong Yo.

He has also ordered him to give Kit a ride to reach the campus for the finals, but not the way back to the dorm.

He is trying so hard to make his beloved friend find love and be happy in life for once.

"Why.......? What are you two plotting against Kit this time?" asked Forth, who returned from their kitchen. He bought some snacks in his hands.

"This Pha will never change. He is trying to help Kit in all way possible. But he, by being a perfectionist, is killing me in the process," complained Beam to his Forth.

"Owhhhh, my baby is angry," cooed Forth at Beam.

"Ai' Forth, I'm worried that this could be a bit too fast for Kit. He is just getting started. It is all too new for him.

I'll kill your junior if he hurt my friend intentionally or unintentionally, understand?" warned him.

"Beam, we can't force someone to love us or hate us. If my junior is being a jerk towards our Kit, then I'll help you bury him after you both kill him. But, if he is just not interested and it's our fault to expect more from him, then I can't help you na," explain Forth as he hugged Beam to calm him.

"Hmmm," replied Beam as he rested his head on Forth's shoulder.

"Babe, mae called last night. We have to go back home this weekend. It's P'Mew's birthday. So they're planning to celebrate it there with a barbeque party," stated Forth.

"No problem, we can go. I'll inform my mom about this," said Beam lazily.

"No need, mom has called me this morning to bring you too. It looks like mae has invited mom and dad too," added Forth.

"Why doesn't she call me? I wonder who her real son is. Me or you?" sulked Beam with pouty lips.

"Don't be sad, na. Your parents are my parents too, and the same goes for you. Why are you even sulking now?"

"Or.......... are you trying to make me lose control," asked Forth now with a hoarse voice and dark eyes.

"F-Forth, we need to prepare for the competition na. We did it last night, and I'm still sore," whined Beam.

"You started it," said forth as he kissed him on his lips.

"Forth, enough. We need to go," complained Beam, but his actions were the opposite. He complied with Forth anyway.

Well, that's how these two will be most of the time. It's either Forth losing control first or the other. At last, Forth and Beam will be having their sweet time.

~

The great Phana can't spend his day without looking at his Wayo for more than 12 hours. He dragged Kit and Beam into the changing room to sneak a peek. Since Phana planned to meet Wayo before the competition to motivate him, Kit decided to visit Ming.

"Ai Pha, make it quick. I don't want to be caught by the managing team and banned from entering this room ever again," said Beam before he allowed Phana into the waiting room.

Pha's eyes wandered around the room to find his precious Yo and rushed to his side.

"P'Kit Kat..," shouted Ming as he runs and hugged the elder by the arms and cling to him like a child.

"Phi, you're here to support me, right? Don't tell me you're here to support your junior from medicine?" questioned Ming sulkily.

"I'm here to support all of the juniors here," stated Kit calmly with a smile.

"Owh na phi, please support only me," plead Ming with pouty lips.

Ming's behavior was similar to the act of his nephews back home when they were sulking for some random childish reasons.

"Eh eh eh, I'll support just you today. How is your preparation?" asked Kit as he made Ming sat by the make-up chair to get his make-up done.

"It was good phi, I'll win this title for you, na," replied Ming as he winks at him.

"Oi nong, focus at me na not at your boyfriend," stated the make-up artist.

The make-up artist was he-girl, and she was fangirling at them while Ming was dumbfounded. Kit was flushed red when the make-up artist addressed them as boyfriends, but he tried to hide it and walked away to meet Wayo and Sutee.

"We are not boyfriends, P," exclaimed Ming as he watched Kit walked away to greet his best friend.

A few minutes ago, he was distressed and irritated due to the conversation he had with P'Pete. But now, after he had a small chat with his P'Kit Kat, he felt relaxed again. Looking at the dimple guy mingle around freely and spreading his positive vibe made him smile by himself.

"Not boyfriends but smiling like that when looking at the other," teased the make-up artist.

"Arai na (what was it)?" asked Ming as he was too focused on certain someone.

"Nothing nong, close your eyes for a while, please," instructed the make-up artist to divert the conversation.

It was just a few minutes after seven, and the competition managing team did one last routine check before instructed all the competitors to do the ramp on the stage in front of the judges.

The juniors and senior students from all faculties filled the whole auditorium. They were there to support their faculty moon and star as a motivation, at the same time to have some fun entertainment.

Phana, the former campus moon, and the campus star walk up the stage to welcome the judges and the viewers. They had to stand beside the director when he officially started this year's moon and star competition.

Followed by that, the contestant did the ramp to introduce themselves. The contestant started to present their talent on the stage before the audience and the judges faculty by faculty.

During Ming's turn, he appeared on the stage with just his Muay Thai shorts with no tops, which get welcomed with a storm of screams from both the girls and boys.

His six-packs were eye candy for the females, while the boys admired his body with jealousy. His abs look like it was sculptured and was not build by workouts.

He did his Muay Thai stunts like an act. It was as if he is fighting the evil people and finally win the fight. When the performance ended, the whole auditorium cheered for him. He was the first contestant to receive this great feedback from the audience. The contestants before him did receive the cheering, but he was way more than those cheering.

"Looks like someone is jealous," teased Beam as he saw the annoyed expression Kit gave to the loud cheering because he knew that was not for his talent but his abs.

"Shut up," sneered Kit as he gave a death glare to Beam.

Phana could only laugh at these two while he was eagerly waiting for his Yo's performance. The younger didn't allow him to watch him practice even for once. So the curiosity and the excitement to know the show made him feel impatient.

The stage darkened when the next participant prepares to perform after the one before them. After a few performances, the hall darkened again, but the platform didn't get bright immediately as it did for the others.

The auditorium was silent in expectation. Then a sweet melody filled the hall. The center of the stage was light up. The lights pointed at the piano in the middle of the stage. Wayo was playing the piano as he sang a song. His sweet voice was mesmerizing, and he looked like an angel with the white suits he was wearing.

He sang the whole song as he looks at his P'Pha lovingly.

Phana watched his precious nong Yo with a proud smile plastered on his face, which seems stupid for Beam and Kit.

"Look who is smitten over here," commented Kit, which get replied by Beam with

"Wow, all I can see is his teeth. Ai'Pha toned it down."

Those two had fun teasing their leader as they called him. When all the performances by the contestant's end, the former year's popularity moon, and his band did performance while the judges left the stage to discuss the marks.

Forth in his blue jacket and the electronic guitar were so damn hot for Beam's eyes. It is not the first time he saw him perform, but it never disappoints his expectations because Forth is always perfect in Beam's eyes.

All the participants line up on the stage for the individual Q and A session, where they are questioned based on general knowledge and a few other topics.

Ming did well in all of the categories.

The final task was the rose ceremony.

The rules were pretty simple. The contest that receives the most roses will receive the campus popularity award. The previous year, Forth won this award.

Phana gave 99 red roses to Wayo through Kit and Beam because he had to company the director on the stage. Kit sneaked a red rose into Ming's rose collection. The dean announced the final results.

As expected, Wayo won the popularity award with the highest roses count, while Ming was the champion of the moon and star competition this year.

Phana, the former campus moon, delivered his resignation speech and passed down the campus moon title to Ming on the stage.

Since it was a fair competition, the results were accepted by all.

~

As the after-party got postponed to the weekend, the participants got allowed to return to their respective dorms.

Ming and Wayo and a few other moons and stars were held back for photograph and autograph sessions. In the meantime, Beam and Forth excused themselves early to pack up and start their travel back home.

Kit send them off by the entrance alone cause Phana was nowhere in sight. He just vanished in the air after the competition, but Kit could guess where he could be. As he already made a plan with Ming to treat him steak for his achievement, Kit went back inside to look for him.

The auditorium was half empty went he re-entered it, and Ming and Wayo were not there among the others. He asked one of the moons for Ming's whereabouts. Kit made his way towards the changing room after getting the info from the moon of music.

~

At the changing room,

The two were tired, yes, but they were happy as well. Both Wayo and Ming did their best and won this competition based on their talent, not biased.

Wayo saw Ming just seated by the chair as he holds the trophy tightly without changing, so he approached him.

"What happened, meng? Are you tired?" questioned Wayo.

"No... it's just..," Ming didn't know how to complete the sentences.

"You miss P'San, don't you?" asked Wayo with a sad smile which got replied with a sad smile too.

"If she is here, she would have cheered for us more than anybody," commented Wayo as he patted Ming's shoulder softly.

They both could only smile as they think of the things their sister would have done if she was here.

"Eh meng, you don't have to send me back today. I'm going out with P'Pha," stated Wayo smiling shyly.

"I'm getting my reward from P'Kit Kat too. He promised to treat me the best steak in town if I won the title," responded Ming happily.

"Have your date happily. By the way, when are you planning to confess to him?" asked Wayo teasingly as he made a victory dance.

Ming just laughed by looking at his only best friend being crazy, and the question was ridiculous too.

"Why would I?" he asked as he laughed with him.

"What do you mean? You love him, right?" asked Wayo, alarmed. His fujoshi instinct can never go wrong.

"What!!!? No!!! I like P'Kit as my senior but not to the extent to love him," replied Ming casually.

"Ming, I think you're confused or maybe shy to admit," asked Wayo jokingly because this is absurd.

"No, I just don't see him like that. I feel comfortable when I'm with him. I don't have to be fake. But that doesn't mean that I love him," reasoned Ming casually.

"Ming, don't be dumb. We can't be comfortable with people just because we like someone. Maybe P'Kit loves you too. You don't have to hide your feelings to me," explained Wayo calmly.

"Yo, that's enough. I don't love P'Kit and will never love him that way. If he has those feelings you said, then I'll talk with him and clear all the misunderstandings. Don't make it hard for me," stated Ming, serious suddenly.

"Ai Ming, think about it, you were never comfortable with others like this before, why now?" asked Wayo seriously as well.

"Because he reminds me of my P'San. He acts like P'San. His way of handing stuff and treats me reminds me of my late sister, and I don't miss her when I'm with him. He is like P'San to me," exclaimed Ming heatedly.

Wayo was flabbergasted by Ming's stupid excuses. He wonders how he could make his stupid friend understand the difference between the love for family members and a romantic partner is different, how he could make him realize his feelings for the dimpled senior.

~

If Wayo was surprised, then the dimple guy behind the changing room door was stunned to the abyss. He felt like he was strike by thunderbolts.

All his life, Kit was compared and used. But he never felt this betrayed or this hurt before. He felt like being used again.

So all this time, he was just a mere replacement for someone dead.

He was no one special but a second choice, a spare, and a backup.

He wanted to confess to Ming about his feelings and take their relationship to the next level. He was preparing for this day with so much hope, only to be heartbroken.

At last, people will only need him to do a favor for them or as a replacement like he has always thought since childhood. There is no way for him to break this curse, wasn't it correct?

He was compared by his parents all his childhood until he reaches college. The person he loved with all his heart for the first time used him as a replacement.

Maybe he doesn't deserve happiness.

Today he wanted to bring their relationship to the next level, and now he will still take it to the next level but not like he wanted it to be. It is back to where it was supposed to be.

Perhaps he shouldn't have opened up to others,

Perhaps he should have shut them all off his comfort zone like once he did,

Maybe that's how he should have lived his life.

Is dreaming about having happiness and having that one person who believes in him and loves him for himself with all of his flaws is impossible?

Maybe that will never happen in his life,

Maybe he should have never let his guard down, never trusted a stranger, and never started this one-sided love from the very beginning.

"Time to be back to the old you, Kittitian," mumbled Kit as the tears he has been trying so hard to hold break loose and wet his cheeks.

He turned away from the changing room and walked out of the auditorium. He is not ready to stay there and be hurt anymore.

__________

End of Chap 13.

TBC.

__________