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Boun is in the student council along with the other members. It's already 4:30 pm but they are still not done with their meeting. "Let's talk to the class presidents tomorrow and tell them what they need to do. Do you have any questions or suggestions? Comments?" Boun asked the rest of the student council members. When no one raised their hands and only shook their heads, he spoke again. "Nothing? Okay guys, you can go home now. Sorry it took us a long time. See you tomorrow." "It's okay, President─ I mean P'Boun. No need to stress yourself. You have us." Fluke told him. Fluke is the vice president of the student council. Boun has always been thankful of him. Without Fluke, he might be a mess right now. "Thanks, Fluke. See you tomorrow." Boun smiled at Fluke then continued arranging the papers he was holding earlier. "Oh, shi─. I forgot Ms. Sammy told me to come to the Teacher's office." Boun almost cursed himself then rushed to the office as soon as he was done fixing his things. "Ms. Sammy, good afternoon. I'm sorry, our meeting took long." Boun apologized once he saw his teacher. "It's okay, Boun." Sammy smiled at him then continued. "Let me get straight to the point then so you can go home right away." Sammy started which made Boun nod his head. "I want you to look after and teach one of my students from the other class. His name is Prem. He is smart and has potential but I don't really know what happened. He's a scholar before because he was a part of the swimming club but he got kicked out because of his personality change. He got into fights, not just simple arguments but big fights. He's not like that before though. I just want to help him with his studies and maybe enlighten him of what he was before. I tried asking him before but he doesn't want to open up to me." Sammy paused for a while then spoke again. "You're a top student and the student council president. I know this is too much of a favor but I don't know who to ask other than you. I want him to pass the incoming exam. He have 4 months to review. You have 4 months to teach him. I'm not forcing you to say yes to my favor, but clearly, that's what I meant too." Sammy chuckled. "I'm just kidding. Tell me your answer tomorrow, same time. I'll be here in the office. You can go now. Thank you for your time, Boun." Sammy finished then smiled at Boun. Boun on the other hand is still quite shocked with all the things his teacher had told him. He is going to teach this person, whom he barely know. He only sees him before whenever he go to the pool area to visit Ohm. "He looks like a happy go lucky person. Did he really change? SO he really got kicked out. Maybe that's why I don't see him anymore." Boun thought to himself. Until he got to his apartment, the only thing in his mind is his teacher's favor. The next morning, after so much thought, he told his teacher that he is going to teach Prem for 4 months, only if the student council won't get that much work in the said period of time. Sammy agreed since there are no events for the time being because of the incoming exams. Boun also told her that he can start teaching him 3 days after he settled the things he needs to do as a student council president. ~
3 days after
Boun went to the other class after his class ended. He is looking for Prem. The moment he got into the classroom, he asked the only student left in the classroom, Pineare. "Do you know where Prem is?" Boun asked. "Mr. President, he's right there." Pineare pointed at the seat near the door at the back. "He's probably sleeping. If I were you, I won't dare wake him up. He hates that." Pineare warned him. Boun just nodded his head when Pineare bid goodbye to him. Now it's only him and Prem in the room. It is also past 3 in the afternoon now. The classes have ended 20 minutes ago. "How long is this guy going to sleep?" Boun whispered to himself while looking at Prem's face. He sat near Prem's table and looked at his face. "Look at that eyelashes. It's long and beautiful. He got beautiful skin, too despite being a swimmer who's always on the pool. His lips look so soft too─" Boun shook his head along with his thoughts. That was also the time Prem softly whined and woke up. "Oh, you're awake. Go get your things and come with me." Boun told Prem in an authoritative tone. Prem looked at Boun fiercely. "Who do you think you are to order me? Plus, what the hell are you doing here?" Boun saw the bruises in Prem's face. "He got into a fight again." "I'm here to teach you as per Ms. Sammy's order. I need you to pass the incoming exam. I need to teach you for 4 months." Boun paused for a moment. "Have I answered all of your questions?" Boun answered and questioned him back. Prem knew who he was because of Ohm, so there's no need for them to introduce themselves. "I don't want to and I don't need it. Now, fck off. You're annoying me." Prem boldly responded. "Ohooo. That's not good. Let's go to the library now." Boun grabbed Prem's bag and walked out of the room. "Oy! Come back here! Give me back my bag, Boun! Oy!" Prem clicked his tongue when Boun ignored him and completely went out of the room. "This fcker!" Boun heard Prem curse the moment he stepped outside of the room but he also heard Prem's footsteps slowly approaching him. He turned around to see Prem's angry face. He smirked then continued walking until they reached the library. ~ The first week of Boun teaching Prem is giving him a headache because Prem doesn't want to listen. He is also either late or he won't show up at all. Even if he tried calling him, he'll only reject his calls. He also leaves him on read whenever he send him messages. Whenever he shows up, he also has new bruises on his face or on other parts of his body. Now they are together and he is explaining something to Prem about what they've tackled earlier that day. Looking at Prem, Boun thought that he might be sleepy. "Listen here." Boun with his authoritative voice again while tapping the notebook he has notes on. He is also brave enough to lightly smack Prem to keep him awake. "I'm listening, idiot. Don't you ever touch me again." Prem fiercely answered then yawned after. "You really don't know how to speak softly, gently, and with respect, huh." Boun chuckled. "Shut up." Prem answered plainly. Their lesson continued for an hour more. Boun saw Prem doze off while answering the questionnaire he gave him earlier. "He only looks soft and kind when he is asleep." Boun thought as he looked closely on Prem's face. "Oh, he got another bruise. The other one is still not healed.. What is this guy up to?" Boun questioned himself as if he can answer them without asking him. He took out a box of band aid from his bag and carefully put a few on Prem's hand and cheek without waking him up. ~ 3 weeks since the tutoring started, Boun decided to take Prem in one of the nearby study café for a change of atmosphere since he can see how bored Prem is whenever they go to the library. There he saw how Prem's expression changed. "You like going to cafes?" Boun asked out of nowhere. Prem got startled with the sudden question but still gave him an answer. "Yeah. I like the ambience of cafes and coffee shops, plus the smell of the coffee is so good. There's also food here, unlike when we study in the library. I can't bring food there." Prem explained then noticed how he spoke too much about himself to Boun. "Don't ask anymore and start teaching." Prem said with his annoyed tone again. Boun can't help but chuckle. It is the first time Prem kind of opened up to him. "So food and this ambience are his comfort zone." Time passed by so quickly and it has already been 2 months since they started. In that span of time, Prem improved little by little. His personality is still the same towards Boun but is already slightly different towards other people. His subject grades are getting higher just like his grades before. He is slowly coming back to his old self, the usual Prem that everyone know, but not the bruises. Everyday, Boun would still see either small or big wounds and bruises on Prem's face or body. "Why do you always have new wounds? Like every single day. It's not even healing properly." Boun asked while putting some betadine and band aids on Prem's wounds. "Why do you even care?" Prem with his annoyed tone. "Are you still engaging in fights? Didn't I tell you to stop already?" Boun firmly said but can hear how worried he is. "Just finish putting the band aid so I can go home already." Prem responded without even answering Boun's question. ~ Looking back way before Prem got kicked out of the swimming club and started being a rebellious student, he was the top 2 in their college. The top 1 is obviously Boun. He doesn't even care being number 2 as long as he is on the list, it's okay for him. He is still the happiest, but things started changing. He found out that his father is cheating behind his mom's back even before she died. His mom suffered from cancer. Prem read his mom's diary and there he found out that his mom knew about the affair all along. She didn't tell him because she doesn't want him to get hurt. His dad didn't change either. He didn't abandon them even though he was seeing someone else. Until 2 months after his mom died, his dad introduced him to his girlfriend. Prem is still suffering from the lost of his mom but his dad looked like he already got over it. Prem can't accept the fact that his dad is happy now while he is still suffering. When the woman started living with them in his dad's house, that's when he started being rebellious. He locks himself inside his room and doesn't eat anything that his soon to be stepmom cooks. His dad tried to initiate a conversation with him every time but he is tight lipped and always ignore them. Prem got distracted when Boun gently tapped his cheek with the cold drink he is holding. Boun placed the drinks and the cheesecake in front of Prem then sat across him. "What are you thinking?" Boun asked, still holding one of the drinks. "Nothing." Prem answered plainly then proceeds to eat the cheesecake. "You're only good to me when I give and treat you food, huh." Boun teased. "Shut up. Give me the questionnaire so I can answer them while I eat so I can go home early." Prem said. Boun chuckled then grabbed his bag that contains the questionnaires he did for Prem. He handed it to Prem who is busy eating the cake. ~ 3 months ago, Prem is a rebellious student who has failed grades and got kicked out of the swimming club but looking at him now, he is back to being one of the top students of their college and the top student of their class. Prem got slightly close to Boun as well which he doesn't know how. Maybe because they are always together to study. They also got to hang out while taking breaks from studying. In that way, he started slowly opening up to Boun. The outcome of Boun's efforts for Prem is gradually showing. Boun is staring at Prem who is sleeping at the table. Prem dozed off after 3 hours of continuous lesson and teaching. Boun tucked Prem's hair behind his ear. Prem scrunched his nose at the sudden light and gentle touch by Boun. The expression made Boun chuckle softly. Boun leaned in closer and gave Prem a peck on his cheek. Boun immediately backed off and started fixing himself. He then sips from the drink he ordered earlier to ease whatever he is feeling right now. "What the heck did I just do..? Why did I give him a peck?" Boun gently touched his lips but soon shook his head along with his thoughts. "Get you mind straight, Boun! You are only here to teach him, nothing more. You only have a month to teach him. Don't fall for him. Don't. Just don't." He gave his owns cheeks some light slaps, making himself aware of what he did and his thoughts. Prem suddenly woke up and saw Boun slapping his cheeks. "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?" Prem asked. "Nothing. Let's go home. Our lesson ends here." Boun quickly responded then arranges his things and put them inside his bag. Prem did the same then followed Boun who already started walking out of the cafe. They are silently walking together side by side, feeling the breeze of the night when Prem started talking out of nowhere. "Aren't you wondering why did I become rebellious?" Prem asked while walking aimlessly, kicking a small rock. "I wanna ask that since a long time ago but I'm not in the position so I didn't dare to." Boun answered honestly. Prem sighed and waited for a moment before he opened his mouth to talk. "Well, to summarize what happened to me, my mom died from cancer, my dad is cheating behind my mom's back but my mom knew it all along. She didn't say anything to me until I read her diary. She wants me to forgive my father but that's not easy, you know?" Prem paused for a while to contain his feelings. "Now, my dad and his girlfriend is getting married. That's all when it started. They didn't even consider my feelings. It felt like my dad got over my mom's death easily that's why I'm angry with him, but I don't know why he's still the same. Is he not affected of what I've become? He still understands me and doing the best he can to take care of me. I hate it." Prem paused then continued after a whole minute. Boun is just listening to him silently. Nodding his head from time to time to assure Prem that he is listening. "I want to know what he is thinking. Why did he do that? What is not on my mom that he found on other people? Why did he cheat when he knows that his wife is sick..?" Prem's voice is already shaking, making him to stop talking and walking. Boun stopped walking as well and noticed the tears flowing down on Prem's cheeks. Prem is crying silently and the pain is clearly visible. It hurts Boun to see Prem cry. Boun then slowly reaches out on Prem and hugged him tightly. "Sorry for hugging you but it's okay to cry. Cry all you want. You already kept it all to yourself for a long time. It's already time for you to release all the frustrations and pain you're feeling. I am willing to listen and I will lend my shoulder for you to cry on." Boun softly whispered on Prem's ear while patting his head and gently rubbing his back. Prem returned the hug tightly. He is sobbing. All this time, he is suffering alone. From the loss of his mom to his dad's second marriage. He thought he won't have someone that will listen to him, that will understand his feelings, that is willing to lend their shoulder for him, but he is wrong. Boun came to him and somehow made him feel at ease. Boun patiently gave him all the time he needs to open up to him. Prem felt the warmth he's been longing for so long. In Boun's embrace, all of his worries and problems felt like they were gone. Boun gave Prem a light head kiss before he pulled away and wiped the tear stains. "It's late now. Let's go home." Boun said. "Can I stay at your place? Just for tonight will do.." Prem hesitantly asked. "What..? Are you sure?" Boun asked again for assurance. Prem nodded. "Yeah.. I don't think I'm ready to see my dad and my step mom. Boun was silent for a solid minute, just looking at Prem who is also looking back at him. He saw how much pain there is on Prem's eyes. He sighed then nodded his head. "Promise me you will go home tomorrow after our lesson." Boun said. Prem only nodded his head. He then wiped his tears again. "Lead the way, Mr. Student Council President." Boun chuckled. "Okay, let's go." ~ 4 days before the exams, Boun and Prem are in their usual study cafe again. Boun has been teaching Prem for the last 4 hours, no wonder Prem dozed off again. "Today is our last lesson. I should also keep my the feelings I have for you to myself. I should leave my feelings for you here. I hope you will feel better and get in good terms with your family. I hope you find peace and happiness. I love you, Prem. Go ace your exams next week." Boun smiled to himself while thinking of all the things he wants to tell Prem. He gently brushed off a few hair strands out of Prem face. He stared at the latter before continuing what he was doing earlier. Boun is currently checking the questionnaire he handed over to Prem when the latter woke up. Prem slept for an hour. "Oh, sorry. I dozed off again." Prem apologized while gently rubbing his eyes. Boun chuckled. "Nothing new, I guess? Prem pouted. "Hahaha! It's okay. I just finished checking the questionnaire. You did well and I think you'll do better on the exam. You better make me proud." Boun said then ruffled Prem's hair and smiled. "Don't forget that I used to be the top 2 in our college. Of course I will ace our exams." Prem proudly stated while fixing his messy hair that Boun did. "Today is our last lesson, too. Let's eat then go home so both of us can rest." Boun suggested. When he got a nod from Prem, he started fixing his things then headed to the counter to order some food. They continued their night with stories and decided to go home together after that. ~ After over a week, the results of the exams were finally released. Boun went to the bulletin board to check Prem's ranking. He smiled widely when he saw Prem's name beside the number 1. Meaning, Prem is on rank 1. His name is just below Prem. He came in second. He is not even sad knowing that the 4 months of efforts paid off. He just feels sad because he won't be able to see Prem again, like the usual. He won't be able to spend some time with him again. He is afraid that he might fall deeper so he decided to keep his distance between them. Boun went back to the student council room then decided to leave a message for Prem. Message from Idiot Boun: "Congratulations, Piggy! You did well. I'm proud of you :)" Prem was still standing in front of the bulletin board and kept staring at their names. He can't believe he ranked 1 this time. He felt his phone received a notification. When he checked his phone, he saw Boun's message. He decided to call him to hear Boun congratulate him but his calls are getting rejected. He thought that maybe Boun is busy with his student council duties. He left the thought on his head as the school have an incoming event after their exams. The whole school is busy because of the event. All the students are busy but despite that, Prem didn't forget to contact Boun, but he didn't receive any reply or calls since the day the exam results came out. He thought that maybe Boun hated the fact that he was in rank 1 instead of him that is why he is avoiding him. He is currently in the hallway, watching the live band their school invited and the students dancing and singing along with the band. Most of the students are partying and jumping along with everyone. Prem checked his watch. It is almost 11 pm. There is a fireworks display later at 11 pm and it will last for roughly 15 minutes. Prem grabbed his phone and dialed Boun's number, trying his luck of Boun answering his calls. Prem decided to run around and look for Boun while still trying to contact him. He have 5 minutes left before 11 pm. He wants to watch this with Boun but the latter is not returning any of his messages and calls. 11 pm. The band already stopped playing. All of the students are watching the fireworks on the open field. Meanwhile, Prem is still running around and looking for Boun. The sound of the fireworks is so loud that it is echoing inside the school building. "Where the hell is this guy?" Prem annoyingly thought to himself. He tried calling Boun again but he still got rejected for the nth time.11:08 pm. Prem went to the school's rooftop, his usual spot, his comfort place whenever he is in school. He tried his luck and checked there since Boun also knew that it is his favorite place in this school. After looking around, he saw a shadow of a man watching the fireworks. The loud sound is deafening but because of the fireworks, it helped him see who the man is. 11:10:52 pm. Prem grabbed Boun's arm, making the latter turn around and face him. "Idiot Boun! What's wrong with you?! Why are you not answering any of my messages and calls?! Why are you ignoring me?! Are you avoiding me? Are you mad that I ranked 1st on the exam?? Tell me what's wrong so I know how to make it up to you." Prem questioned without pause. His eyes are filled with tears. 11:11 pm. Boun held Prem's hand tightly and softly kissed his forehead. "If I say the reason why I am avoiding you is because I love you, will you get mad? Or will you love me back?" 11:11:14 pm. Prem gripped Boun's hands. "What the hell?! Here I thought you hated me because I ranked 1st and now you're telling me this?! You made me comfortable and secured around you, with your presence. Your hug is so warm that I don't want to pull away. You left me hanging without any explanation. I thought a lot of possible things why but I can't come up with a firm answer. You healed me, Idiot Boun! I reconciled with my family after that, but why did you leave me..?" Prem said without pausing. 11:11:40 pm. Boun pulled Prem into a tight hug. "I'm just afraid that you're not feeling the same towards me. I'm sorry for leaving. I'm sorry for avoiding and ignoring you. I won't do that ever again. I love you, Prem." Boun whispered while tightly hugging Prem. 11:11:51 pm. Prem hugged Boun back. The sound of the fireworks is still going on. "I love you too, Idiot. I'll smack your head hard if you do that again." Prem threatened Boun. 11:11:55 pm. Boun chuckled and pulled away. He left a soft and gentle peck on Prem's lips. "I won't. I promise." 11:12 pm. Prem blushed when he felt Boun's lips touched his. "J-Just look at the fireworks and stop staring at me!" Boun chuckled then pinched Prem's cheeks before turning his attention on the fireworks above them. They are holding each other's hands while watching the beautiful fireworks. That night, they confirmed their feelings to each other and promised that they won't leave no matter what. Their witnesses were the beautiful night sky and the fireworks. It became their source of strength as well as their good luck charm, wishing them to stay together for a long time.