Chapter 13

Ice gracefully move the brush in his hand, painting the canvas with some acrylic paint. After being persuaded several times by Aim, Ice finally relented and joined the competition. He wasn't really in the situation to compete with the other competitors but to only make his senior satisfied. What place he get later, wasn't a matter.

Ice looked around the competition hall. Another 29 students from same and different faculty were also there, joining the competition. They're so talented and skillful. There are also few students who come to watch and support their friends. Some highschool students were there too.

"Hey.", suddenly Daw came and greeted Ice. Ice just give him a glance. Daw tried to look for a chair to take and sit besides Ice.

"How are you doing?", Daw asked. Ice lips parted of miming 'okay'.

"No more classes?", Ice asked, doing sign with his left hand.

"No. Evening classes are all canceled.",  Daw replied. Ice just nodded.

"Your work is beautiful. I'm sure you will win.", Daw said.

"You better keep back to what you just said. Look at them. They're talented too. I'm sure their are much better than mine. Hence, I'm not here to compete.", Ice replied.

"Whatever. Yours beautiful.", Daw said. Ice just shook his head. Too lazy to argue with Daw.

Daw saw two female juniors were standing not far from them while looking shyly at them. They were whispering to each other with excitement. He saw some of other students who're passing by were looking at them too.

"Everyone is looking at you. Why do you have to be so good looking when painting?", Daw asked. He feels jealous when the girls were looking and admiring him.

Ice looked at Daw. "They all are looking at you. You're the famous student in the university, remember?"

Daw sighed. "I'm afraid they'll flirt you. Ice, don't look at someone else and don't let them flirt with you, other than me okay?"

Ice flicked Daw's forehead, making the guy hissed. "How should I deal with all of them when I can't even handle one Daw?"

Daw suddenly smiled to ear. "So, you're saying that you started to open your heart for me?"

"Silly. No."

"Just admit already."

"Crazy, no! Stop disturbing me. Stay still or leave. I can't focus.",Ice said and hold his paint brush again.

"Okay. I'll stay still. I will not bother you until you're done.", Daw said. Ice just shook his head with Daw's behavior.

I really can't handle this Daw.

<>

Fire was walking happily, searching for someone in that university. In his hand, he was carrying a paper bag fill with food in tupperware. His bright smile seen on his face.

Suddenly he saw Top was walking out from a building with his friends. Fire smiled when he saw him. He was about to call the boy's name when suddenly he saw a girl approached and hug him. Fire's smile faded as he saw Top and the girl were so intimate to each other. For a second, Fire almost forgot Top is a playboy.

He stepped back then leave. He don't know why, his heart ache. Don't even know why he feels jealous. He is confused. Why on earth he suddenly wanted to burst out. Fire started to lose his mind when suddenly someone pulled him.

"Fire!"

He looked up to see the person who made him confused on his feelings.

"Don't you hear me? I called your names a few times.", Top said. He furrowed when he saw Fire's gloomy face.

"Are you okay?", he asked. Worried.

"I.. I'm okay. Sorry, I really didn't hear you."

"Sure you're okay?", Top asked. He never saw Fire acted like this before. Where's the bright Fire he know?

"Yeah. Erm. I came to give this to P'Ice. But suddenly my friend called, so I have to hurry. Can you give this to him?", Fire said (lie).

"Er. Sure.", Top said while taking the paper bag from Fire.

"Have to go. Bye.", Fire said. He was about to leave when Top suddenly hold his wrist.

"Call me when you need anything.", Top said.

Fire just give him a weak smile and leave. Top just watch him walked away. He didn't know why, his heart ache watching Fire act that way. His heart heavy.

.
.
.
.

Ice pushed the paper bag to Top. The guy just looked at him clueless.

"What?", he asked.

"It's yours, silly!", Ice said.

"But Fire asked me to give it to you."

Ice sighed and took out a piece of paper from the paper bag. He showed it to Top.

"I cooked this for you. Hope you like it, Top. - Fire."

Top was stunned. What actually happened?

Later at night, Top tried to call Fire's phone number but he can't reached to him. He sent messages but didn't get any reply from him.

"Where are you? Why don't you answer me?", Top said. He sighed a few times.

"Please! Answer my call! Damn it!", Top gave up and threw his phone on the bed.

After almost 30 minutes of trying and waiting for Fire to reply his messages and voice call, he decided to go to Ice's condo.

"He went back to Chiang Mai.", Ice said.

"He what?", Top asked in shocked. "When?"

"This evening."

Top lay down on Ice's bed. He stared at the ceiling. "He didn't tell me."

Ice sighed. He sat at the study table. "Did you guys fight?"

"No. I'm sure we didn't. It's just, he acted weird when he came to the faculty today.", Top replied.

"What did I do wrong?"

<>

Fire put his belongings into the luggage. He's going back France by tomorrow. He just booked a ticket too.After making sure all his things were packed up he sit on his bed. He stared at his phone. It has been stop ringing since yesterday. Maybe Top just got bored from keep calling and messaging him.

Fire sighed. His eyes were suddenly attached to a cat plush on his bed. It's a gift from Top. He slowly reached it then stared at it.

"Here. For you."

Fire looked at Top who's handing him a medium sized paper bag. His eyes widen when he looked in it. Fire took it out.

"A cat plush?"

"Er. It reminds me of you. So I just buy it.", Top said.

"It's cute. But why cat?"

"Because you are like a cat. You're cute but when get angry you're too scary."

Fire furrow his eyebrows. "I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you on top of that."

"Your welcome."

Fire sighed. Is it really him or the fate just not for him when it comes to love?

Fire slightly curved a smile. He stared at the plush in his hand.

"Silly Top."

<>

Ice open the door when he heard someone knocked on the door. He was a little shocked when Top was standing outside his room. The guy came in and lay on the bed meanwhile Ice continued his work in the kitchen.

Ice frowned when his bestfriend didn't talk anything. He was just lying on the bed without a word. Ice called him for breakfast but he didn't bother to move.

"What's wrong with you?", Ice asked.

"Did Fire contact you?", he asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"Did he said anything?"

"Yes. He even stop by earlier.", Ice looked at Top who's staring at him like a dead body. "He will leave to France on sharp nine this morning. Their new semester will start early than expected."

"He didn't tell me.", Top said hopelessly.

"Yes. But I've told you. That's enough. Let's eat.", Ice said and ready to dig in.
Suddenly he heard a footsteps running to the door. Top was already  dissapeared when he saw the door was wide open. Ice just shook his head and shrugged.

Top was running inside the airport. Tried to search for Fire. He sometimes looked at his watch. It's almost nine.

Suddenly he heard the announcement for the flight to France. According to Ice, Fire's flight will be on nine.

Am I too late?

Top sat on the seat, feeling hopeless. He grabbed his hair with both hands.

"Damn, it!"