Coffee and Bliss

The dancing lights of the fountain in front of Harris made his mouth wide open. It was his first time wandering like a tourist because for the past years he's been busy studying hard enough to enter his dream university. School, library, and their house were his daily places to go. And now, his hard work finally bloomed. He was now in Thailand to reach his next goal-to graduate with flying colors. He graduated with great praise from his previous school and now passed the entrance examination at Thai University.

The splash of water on his arm made him jolt. He came back from reminiscing. He looked at the children laughing and shouting while watching the dancing lights show. He spent more time watching it then decided to look for more fun. He has a one-week vacation until the first day of school.

"Phi?" A voice behind him sounded soft and lost. He turned around and saw a little girl with her pleading eyes. She tugged his shirt's hem that made him bent closer to her.

"Hi. Amh, what's going on?" He asked. The girl looked cute in her all-pink dress, shoes, and large bunny ears headband.

The little girl pointed at something behind him. Looking over, he saw an ice-cream stall. "Can I have one cone, Phi?"

Hesitant crossed over his face. He looked around first because he thought it may be some kind of pranks but the girl tugged his shirt again. A growling sound from her stomach proved that she wanted ice cream. He sighed and patted the girl's head. 'It's not a crime to feed a hungry stomach, right?' He gestured to her to come with him and look for the flavor she wanted.

"What flavor do you like, Nong?" Both of them are scanning the flavors.

"Phi, I want this dark chocolate. Na? Na? Na?"

He chuckled when the girl clapped her hands with excitement written all over her face. 'What a cute little girl.' He thought.

After buying, he guided her to one of the benches nearby. She ate happily and looked like she was not worried even if she sat beside the stranger, which was him.

He watched her, made a sound of distress after. He didn't know who the girl was. She didn't look like a street kid based on her kind of clothes. "Nong, what's your name? And are you here alone?"

The girl stopped licking her ice cream and instantly shook her head. With her eyes wide open she looked around as if someone might see them. "Phi, thank you for this ice cream but I need to go," she said with a low tone.

She hurriedly stood up and made her way to somewhere, leaving him dumbfounded. But to his surprise, the girl went back and clasped her hands tightly. "Phi, if ever you encounter someone who's looking for me-I mean looking for a little girl wearing a pink dress and pink headband, can you please not tell him? He's some kind of strict and jerk, that's why. Thank you!" She was about to run when she bumped into someone. She bounced back, stroking her forehead after a while.

He gasped when he saw a tan man in front of them. The man scooped the girl that started to wriggled for her release, but not a chance that the man will do it. Because he was like Hulk to him. He snapped after the realization hit him, the girl was being held by someone. He was alarmed. Not knowing either to snatched the girl or just ignore them. 'What if this was a modus and they blackmail me to pay money in return?'

He practically choked when he heard a stern voice from the man. "Who's the jerk again, little bun?"

The girl smiles like she's been caught by something. She bit her lips and made a peace sign towards the man. "I think you misheard me, P'. I said a man who's strict yet charming."

The man flicked her forehead and glared. 'Oh. Maybe not. They knew each other.' He bit his lower lips tightly to suppress his laugh. He found the interaction cute. But he failed and made a small chuckle. He cleared his throat when the man's attention turned to him, glaring that made his breath away.

"Why are you with him, little bun? I told you not to go with and talk to strangers!" He was startled by the sudden accusation.

The girl looked at him with pleading eyes again. He took that as a cue to give his best smile at the man and explained.

"She just wanted ice cream and I bought her one. She's kinda craving for it. And no, you don't have to thank me for that. I-"

"The hell I will thank you. I don't know you and another thing–you just gave food to her. If something happens to her after, I will find you and cut your balls right away!" The man snapped at him.

The smile on his face faded away and unconsciously cupped his crotch. He needed his balls for his future. His eyebrows knitted. "These balls and the thing connected to them has a big purpose, you know?" He rolled his eyes. He made sure to sound sarcastic. He didn't know why but the man is already getting on his nerves.

"Yeah, yeah. As if your lollipop is big as its purpose," he said. The tan man clicked his tongue and intently scanned his crotch behind his hands and pants.

"Hey! Don't look at them, you freak! And it's not a lollipop size. If you see this, you'll be surprised." He groaned. This was his first time having a public argument with a total stranger.

The tan man arched his eyebrows. "There'll be no chance I want to look at your lollipop size. Don-"

"Please stop, P's! I don't want to hear any more of it."

The bickering between them suddenly stopped because of the little girl who was now pouting. They didn't realize that a little girl was hearing those words. His face flushed after he realized it.

The man abruptly softened his aura. He kissed the little girl's cheeks. "We're going home now, little bun. Next time, don't accept food from strangers. They might put drugs on it." He said, directly looking at him.

His face turned crimson red and his blood was boiling, hearing those words from the man who was now walking away from him. "You'll beg to see and touch this lollipop one day, dickhead! You'll moan and beg me to insert this into your ass hole!" He shouted that made the man stop.

"Sorry to burst out your bubbles but I'm not gay. Thanks for the offer though," he answered with a smug face.

He heard some laughed around him. He flushed again and prayed to disappear after his disgusting words. He didn't know why he suddenly thought of inserting his prick on him. 'He's also a man, Harris! You're not gay either.'

A loud bang could be heard inside and out of the room when he slammed the door shut. He couldn't believe that his first day in Bangkok would be a little bit of a disaster. He came here with much determination that everything would pass smoothly around him but of course, it's life that he was talking about so not everything would be fine. He managed to pull out all his clothes despite having a headache. He then threw his naked body on the bed and grunt loudly. He rubbed his forehead while drifting to sleep.

The sound of his phone woke him up. He cursed when the loud sound didn't stop for about five minutes. He took his phone, it is his Mom calling. With a horrified face, he answered the call.

"Son, we tried our best to keep her fine but-" The voice on the other line was cut off immediately when he yelled out of despair. His Mae might not have said someone's name but he knew for sure that it was all about his grandma.

"Then..." He paused for seconds. He gathered his voice first. "What happened to her, Mae?" In his mind, he was hoping that his grandma just suffered from a mild-stroke only, not what he was hearing in his mother's voice-sadness and pain.

"I'm-I am so sorry, son. But your grandma just passed away earlier. We can't tell you because we know you will go back here immediately. You will miss your only chance to study at your dream university that's why. Please understand us, son." The sobs could be heard on the other line.

Minutes passed between them. He couldn't find his voice after hearing the news. His grandma was the first one who cheered him up, asked for his situation, and cared for him. He grew up beside her, she taught him to be a strong and independent person. And suddenly-suddenly she was gone, without him by her side. Tears streamed down his cheeks, pain, and sadness were visible in his eyes.

"I will be home tomorrow, Mae." His final decision made his mother gasp.

"Son! We can handle ourselves here. We'll send your regards to your grandma's funeral."

"Mae, I want to be there with grandma until the last day of her burial. I can still study here when I get a chance again."

"No. Your grandma will understand you, Harris. You have to be strong there and focus on your study. Listen to me, son." His mother's voice pleaded.

He cried for many minutes until he agreed to his mother. After talking to her, he let himself focus on something to keep distracted. Keeping distracted means cooking or experimenting with something to eat.

***

Tired and stressed, Tristan still looked out for his little bun named Mia. She was his niece which was under his custody. He's young for having a child to take care of but no choice because his sister left Mia to him after giving birth and they had no parents anymore. His source of income was his part-time job and the money left by his parents. His sister just sent money every month as Mia's allowance. He was mad at his sister until now because she just gave away Mia like a puppy. Her sister's husband had a new family now so was she.

It was hard to take care of a child but enjoyable at the same time. Good things, he had Gia on his back-his best friend who was older than him.

He closed his eyes to have some rest. After looking for Mia in the mall, he got a headache due to nervousness and stress maybe. He thought that he lost her, he was scared. He drowned his body on the bed and felt the peace in his room.

"Phi?"He slowly opened his eyes when he heard a soft tone. He saw Mia peeking on his door, only her head could be seen. He gestured to her to come inside. With a hesitant and feared face, she walked towards him and suited herself on the edge of the bed-with her hands tightly clenched.

"What is it, little bun?" He tried to sound cool because he knew that Mia is scared right now for what she did earlier.

Mia bit her lips and her eyes began to water up. He instantly rose and wiped his niece's tears.

"Why are you crying?" He asked even if he already knew the reason. But still, he wanted her to know that what she did was wrong.

"I am sorry, Phi. I will never do that again." She sniffed.

"Hmm, what did you do?"

"I-I went around without your permission and talked to a stranger which is wrong. Sorry, Phi." She said with her fingers crisscrossed.

He smiled and patted her head. "That's good that you know it is wrong. Don't do it again, hm? Come here, little bun." He enveloped her in his big arms and kissed her hair.

"You're still mad?" She asked and looked upon him.

"I am not mad. I just got scared because I thought I lost you. And I can't imagine losing you, little bun."

Silent fell between them after. Until he heard her snore. He slowly picked her up and tucked her into her bed.

He went back to his room only to remember the boy he encountered earlier. A small smile formed on his lips. The boy seemed annoyed because he suddenly brought up his balls on their argument. He liked how the boy's irritated face and voice lingered on his mind. He wouldn't mind if he encountered him again and planned to still annoy the boy with pale skin.

***

He woke up and realized it's morning already. His phone stated that it's 6 a.m. He walked outside and prepared their breakfast.

He walked inside her niece's room and found her still sleeping. "Little bun, wake up. You need to get dressed because it's almost time to get you to your Aunty Gia's store." He tickles Mia when she doesn't respond.

"Phi, it tickles! Stop it. I will wake up now." She giggled after.

"Fix yourself and have breakfast with me. We need to hurry because I still have work." Mia lazily nodded and went to the bathroom.

After eating the usual foods he cooked and got dressed, he walked with Mia to Gia's store. Which is their daily routine. He would work while Mia was playing with Gia's daughter. He worked at her store and she let her niece go with him. He had free time to look for minutes for his niece. And when he was at university, Gia was the one who took care of her.

"Still coping up?" Gia's voice startled him. He smiled lightly and nodded. Many customers come and go because it's weekend.

"You only have one week left before school. You can tell me if you need anything. You don't have to worry for Mia again, you know how I love her and treat her as my own." She tapped his shoulder perhaps for assurance.

"Thank you, Gia. Without you, I don't know what to do with Mia"You can always count on me, yeah?" Gia said.

He nodded. Silently thanked that he had someone like his best friend. Small talked and chuckled ended their day of work.

One week has passed and Harris' first day at the university has come. After mourning for his grandma's death, he was still not okay but trying to be strong. He sent his Mae a video of tribute for his grandma.

After fixing his things he walked outside. Good thing, his dorm is near to his university so no need for a ride. He chose to go early because he still needs to familiarize himself with the place and was thinking of touring himself inside the university. He came at exactly 6 a.m at the school though his first subject will start at 7 a.m.

Amazement was written on his face when he stopped by the school's fountain. It really fascinated him. He stood there like a mannequin-his eyes fixed on it. And that was the time when someone behind him cleared his throat.

The man lifted lightly his side lips and grinned. He had thick brows, piercings on his left ear, wearing a black shirt and dark blue vest that blended on his tanned skin. He wore tight jeans and rubber shoes that made him look like a gangster. He bet he was not a student there or that was only what he thought? Because he noticed a lace on his neck indicating his identification as a student there. He suddenly came back to his senses and scowled as he realized that he just scanned the man-a man. For Pete's sake! Why did he even check out a man?

"Done scanning me?" The man's voice gave a small shiver on his body. Why was that?

To hide his embarrassment he glared at him. "Excuse me, I'm not!" Then he rolled his eyes.

"Oh, I thought you're thinking how to chop my balls too," the man said and lifted his right brow.

Then realization hit him. He didn't notice first that the man in front of him was the man who had the guts to get on his nerves weeks ago.He growled. "Fuck off!" Why the hell they met again? Was fate playing with him?

The tan man made a shape 'O' on his mouth then smirked. "You're always thinking to fuck me. You really want to get on my pants, pale boy huh?"

He nearly fell back when the man in front winked at him. He flushed and stomped his feet like a child who just lost the game. Just like when he doesn't have any more rebuttals, he sighed deeply and . . . "Whatever." He ended their conversation with that. He walked away fast not minding where he was heading.

"Shia! Where the hell am I? Fuck that retard man!" He cursed silently when he noticed that it's almost seven and he didn't know where he was.

There were groups of students with dark blue jackets all over the place. Just like what the tan man was wearing. Some of them were talking, some were looking at him weirdly like saying 'Why the hell you're here. Go away!' He slowly stepped backward and ran. He searched for his department and good thing he found it before his class even started.

"Hey man, same department?" He faced aside and saw a tall man beside him. He noticed the black marks on their schedule hanging on their hands. Same department, same mark color. He nodded and received a tap on his shoulder.

"Good choice. I'm Chris and this is Riley." Chris pointed to another man behind them, he was small and pale as him.

"I'm Harris," he simply answered. He made sure to put on a smile so he could at least make friends here.

"We have the same class. Mind if we go inside together?" Chris asked.

"Sure. Thanks for the approach by the way," he answered. They went to their class together. They almost jumped after entering the room and heard a shout inside coming from the girls. They're giggling while looking at them.

"They're so handsome!"

He scratched his nape. And they already got attention from their class. The three of them shyly sat. They managed to focus on the lesson despite the eyes looking at them. And yes, they already had a lesson for their first day. What a good start.

***

He, Chris, and Riley searched for vacant seats for their lunch. Meds' cafeteria seemed crowded because it was the first day. Luckily, they found a table for them.

"Really, Harris?" Chris blurted out after seeing the unusual gesture of him towards his drinks and food.

He just chuckled. "Just a habit of mine." He said when he put away the straw of his bottled water.

He usually drank bottled water or if it was with a straw he would put it out because he thought it was more hygienic than the other. And when it came to eating foods, he ate on plates with a fork and spoon, not in styrofoam or whatsoever.

He saw how Chris and Riley were really amazed by him. They followed their gazes on what he was doing to his food.

"Why took Med?" Riley suddenly asked.

He finds Riley more feminine than his real gender because he acted like one. His gestures were more like a shy woman.

"My late grandma has a disease. I promised myself that I will study medicine to cure her..." He paused as his voice cracked. "But she already passed away weeks ago. Well, I will continue to become a great doctor." He bowed his head, feeling embarrassed by his sudden breakdown.

Riley and Chris gave him an apologetic face when he looked at them. He waved his hands telling them that it was okay. "You guys, why did you take this course?"

Riley stopped eating. "Chris dragged me here." He answered casually.

"Huh? And you're okay with that?" Chris growled to his opinion.

"Hey! I dragged him here because he doesn't have a specific course to take. And I know he can cope up with Med." He said defensively and received a hit to his stomach from Riley.

He found out that Riley and Chris were best friends since birth. That explains why they bickered with each other and ended up being clingy eventually. Since their first class, they always had time to argue.

"Is it better if you do what you really love?" He asked again.

"I will love this eventually, no worries," Riley answered. But he saw something else in his eyes.

After having their lunch they decided to look around their department. They were talking about something when his phone rang. It was from an unregistered number.

"Hello, Nong Harris? This is your Landlady. I called to inform you that we need you here at your dorm later. We made a mistake regarding the dorm's conditions. I am so sorry. Be here when your class ended." He frowned after the call of his dorm's landlady.

"What was that?" Chris asked.

"Said that they had a mistake regarding my dorm's condition. By the way, let's go to our next class." He wiped away the bad feelings of the call.