Chapter Text
THAT DAMN STAIN
William had always been that guy—smart, stupidly handsome, annoyingly likable. Top of his class. Raised well. Knew how to smile just right to get what he wanted. If he wanted you, he’d have you. Simple as that.
He got into a great university and moved into the dorms the moment he turned 19. It was supposed to be the start of something epic. A fresh slate. New city. New people. No parents.
And it was going great—except for one major hiccup. One ridiculously attractive, smug little glitch in the system,
Est.
Another top student. Sharp jaw, eyes that burned a bit too long when he looked at you, and a face that made people forget what they were saying mid-sentence. Pretty enough to ruin someone’s life. And polite, sweet, smooth-talking to everyone. Except William
Especially not William.
—--
It all started with coffee.
William had been up since 6 AM, bags under his eyes, literally dragging two suitcases and a backpack in 35-degree August heat. It was the first day. His shirt was already sticking to his back. His nerves were on edge, but he had it under control. He just needed a damn iced coffee to give him some peace in this unbearable heat.
He walked into a tiny campus café, ordered his drink, turned around to leave and
BOOM--
Straight into someone,
The coffee exploded on both of them.
“Shit! What now?!” the stranger snapped, glaring down at the brown mess soaking his shirt.
“I—sorry! Jesus, it was an accident!” William said, wide-eyed
“An accident? Dude, you just ruined my shirt. You didn’t even apologize properly”
“I just did! And my shirt’s soaked too, by the way! You’re not the only one with affected here”
“Oh, great. So you’re clumsy and dramatic. Fantastic”
William blinked. Who the hell was this guy?
“Look, I’m sorry, okay? But I’ve got class in like—” he checked his phone, it was 10 am, sharp “—oh god, right now. I gotta go”
“What?! You’re just gonna leave me like this?!”
“YES!” William shouted as he bolted out of the café
“Unbelievable,” the stranger muttered, then shouted after him, “Hey! Get back here! I’m late too, you jerk!”
William was half running, half falling, half looking like a dead fish while dragging 2 big suitcases like dead weight and bolting through the main gates of the college.
And behind him—yep. There he was. Still chasing him down the college path.
“Stop following me! This is creepy!” William shouted over his shoulder
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m really not.” the guy snapped.
“Then why the hell are you chasing me?”
“To kill you, maybe”
“Oh my god, it was just coffee! Chill!”
“You owe me a shirt!”
“Fine! Later! NOT. NOW!”
William barreled into the admin office, barely catching his breath as he asked for directions. The guy behind him? Still groaning like he’d been personally victimized.
They ended up walking down the same hallway
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” William muttered under his breath.
“For the last time, I’m not following you,” the guy deadpanned. “We clearly have the same class, genius”
They reached the room—Mathematics and Statistics.
William just stared at the door. “First class of college. Great. Just great. I look like a dying rat, I smell like coffee, I’m dragging my entire life behind me, and I’ve got a stalker”
He opened the door and everybody turned their heads.
The professor didn’t even look up from his desk. “You’re both late. I won't tolerate that from the next class. Names?”
Est stepped forward, still panting. “Est Supha Sangaworawong”
William looked at him like he’d just heard a villain reveal his true identity.
The professor didn’t wait. “And you?”
“William… Jakrapatr Kaewpanpong,” he mumbled.
“Sit at the back. Be on time from now on.”
They glanced at each other—nothing friendly in it—and sat in different rows.
The class started and then the professor started testing them—asking for basic knowledge about the subject.
William raised his hand. He needed to show he wasn’t just a late mess
“William, right?” the prof asked
He stood, answered smoothly and plopped down on his seat with a tiny smirk aimed right at Est
And Est saw it.
Of course he did!
Est’s hand went up next. Perfect answer. He shot a smirk back at William. Another question. Then William again. Then Est. Back and forth. Back and forth.
They weren’t just answering. They were competing. Right there, on Day One, in front of the whole class.
The professor looked half-exhausted, half-delighted. “Good to see such enthusiasm,” he muttered and went on teaching the class.
The class finally ended and everyone left, except the two boys at the back end of the classroom.
William was still gathering his stuff when Est walked over, pointing at the stain on his shirt
“My shirt”
“Yeah, yeah. Here, take this.” William sighed, yanking a yellow shirt out of his suitcase and tossing it to Est.
Est unfolded it with a frown... “Oh wow, now we're gonna look like we're matching outfits or something. Do u have anything...else?” William glared at him, “Do you want it or not?”
“…Fine.” Est pulled the shirt from him.
Their fingers brushed past and they locked eyes for a few seconds...
“I—uh—let’s just go to the bathroom,” William muttered, looking away fast. Est followed him with no words, just tension trailing between them..
A weird start.
A messy start and something told William—
this wasn’t the end of it.