HEMP ROPE

I cast a spell for your luck.

 

K University welcomed its fellow students from other universities on the day of the university swimming competition. The students gathered to cheer for their teams, filling up the stands. Excitement filled the air by the pool; the athletes' room was no different.

 

"Get ready to warm up." Pruek, the fourth-year senior student, informed his club members by talking in groups. He chased out the members who had finished changing. Up until he saw Team standing in meditation, he lowered his voice. He tilted his head and spun back to the door. He patted the vice president's shoulder, gesturing to their senior.

 

"Check out your kid."

Phawin nodded. "Leave it to me."

 

Team had no idea when his surroundings had become quiet. He continued to stand in front of a locker, breathing in and out to focus. Yet his memories continued to haunt him, as they always did.

 

Splash

Plop

Cough cough

Phii!

 

The scream was etched clearly and deeply in his mind, despite many years passing. It went round and round every time he competed. His fisted hands shook with sweat, and he felt frozen to the core.

 

It was like the time he sank to the bottom of the pool, exhausted from struggling. His throat and nose burned from the water choked into his lungs, his vision blurred.

 

"... It's ok..."Team mumbled to himself.

"Team."

 

“.....”

"Team."

 

A light pat on his shoulder jolted him awake. Team snapped up to look at the blond senior in a cold sweat. He was scared... scared of physical disqualifications.

 

"Hia, L."

 

Phawin asked no questions. He smiled, keeping his eyes on Team. "Are you ready? You're sweating." Win ruffled his hair, laughing and teasing. Team squeezed his eyes shut, hands smacking the other. "I'm ready! Just excited. Oi, stop that."

 

Win's smile grew wider. "Come, I'll cast a spell to calm you down." 

 

Before Team could understand what he meant, he found himself in Win's arms. His body sank into the senior's chest, warmth and heartbeats soothing his nerves.

 

Thump thump.

 

Team held back his trembling smile. He smacked his own cheeks lightly to focus again.

 

"Keep fighting!!"

 

"Nghhh."

 

Not far from where Team was, someone was pulled in the opposite direction to hide from Team.

 

"A, be quiet." Bubble Bee demanded in a low voice. A panicked, pointing his finger towards where a vice president kissed his junior friend.

 

"Guysssss." Once he was free, he realised that B and C had dragged him in the opposite direction. "You guys saw that? He kissed-"

 

"Wasn't a kiss, just a peck." C deadpanned. "Peck a forehead, got that?" A shook his head. "You think that's normal?" Bee slapped the panicked A. "It's a form of encouragement." "What?" A blinked.

 

"Yeah. It'd help calm your nerves." Sea added. "You saw Team, right? No stress on his face after that."

 

A's expression relaxed. He nodded to himself with a long 'ohh-hh. "I see. A peck helps to calm down." He pondered over it. "Should we try?" A's naive face didn't go along with that kind of idea. Bee and Sea looked at A wearily. They knew it could be a long time until A understood any of this.

 

But before he understood it, Bee thought he'd take advantage. "Hey!" A's eyes flew wide as he stared at his friend, who raised his brows teasingly. "For encouragement." Bee laughed, slapping A's shoulder. As A comprehended the situation, his forehead was assaulted by his other friend.

 

"Damn you, C!"

"Calm your nerves, right?"

 

A's jaw dropped, looking at his two friends walking out of the room, leaving him to his beating heart. His face reddened, and he rubbed his forehead.

 

"You're lying. I don't feel any calmer!"

 

He'd ask Team later how he calmed with a peck.

 

The athletes warmed up around the pool. Team was shaking out his wrists and ankles, then he noticed the president at the stand, talking to his best friend.

Looked like he was asking for moral support.

 

Team shrugged; he was happy anyway if Pharm smiled. Manow just texted him in the morning that Pharm didn't look so good. They had no idea if Pharm was worried about Dean's competition or just the usual insomniac.

 

Strange. Both he and Pharm suffered nightmares, but Pharm was much worse. Without a competition, Team slept just fine. There were times when Team had a sleepover at Pharm's, and he would babysit, lulling Pharm to sleep. He wondered if the guy was his friend or his son.

 

"Hundred meters freestyle, men, please come and report here," the staff yelled.

Team stretched for the last time and patted his forehead. Alright... it's time.

 

"Team seems better now." The swimming club president studied the junior, listening to the instructions. Team had a brighter expression than usual now, unlike the past competition, where he wore a glum face.

 

"Of course. Who do you think I am?" Phawin shrugged. "I cast a spell on him."

 

Dean frowned, glancing sideways at his friend's strange words.

"What about you and Nong Pharm? Saw you walk up to him, looking stressed."

 

"Pharm didn't have enough sleep." Dean glanced at Pharm on the stand, where Manow was teasing him. His lips pulled into a small smile as he saw his love's mood improve.

 

"You still see him though he's that far away?" Win narrowed his eyes. He couldn't tell how Pharm had slept. But, well, he'd take it as Dean's special ability. Ever since he had known Dean in high school, Dean had been looking for someone. Someone, he said, was buried deep inside his memories since childhood. He couldn't find him, no matter how hard he looked. But now, Dean's eyes could home in on Pharm amidst a big crowd.

 

Win shrugged.

This is what it's like to be so smitten.

 

The referee's voice called for the first set of athletes to get ready. The cheering crowd intensified the excitement even more. Amidst the athletes, a familiar figure stretched his body; his eyes, once filled with anxiety, were now replaced with determination. Phawin broke into a grin when Team touched his forehead and brought his hand down to his lips. Ah.. I can't really blame Dean. Win too knew where to look amongst the crowd when it came to that rascal.

 

The competition result exceeded their expectations. Swimming club members from T University won several gold, silver, and bronze medals, adding to their collections. Their return trip on a bus filled with joyous air; everyone had a smile on their faces. All their weeks of gruelling training were forgotten. Dean, the club's president, cleared his throat into the mic, calling everyone's attention.

 

"As mentioned before, there's a reward for good performance." 

 

The whole bus turned quiet, wondering what kind of reward the tense president would give. Taking them out to eat or physical items, but whichever was fine as long as it was a reward.

 

"A two-day, one-night stay at a raft resort after New Year, everything's on the house!"

 

Cheers rang out in the bus. The members were thrilled by the huge reward, which exceeded their expectations. Free trips and free food didn't come by every day.

 

"Awesome."

"Thanks to the vice president for being our sponsor."

 

The sugar-daddy vice president got up and waved, accepting all the energetic applause. He bowed to all the praises directed at him and did not miss business opportunities.

 

"It's my family's resort. I'd give a 10% discount for any returning customers."

 

The kids cackled before they changed into voices of banter when the president asked for permission to bring an 'external party along, with him covering that expense. Now they all knew their frowny-face president had a boyfriend: a first-year student in the cooking club who made delectable food. Many people wanted to see his face, so no one was opposed to the idea.

 

"P'Win, aren't you bringing your sweetheart too?" Someone shouted from the back of the bus.

 

"Yeah, don't lose to P'Dean. We'd encourage you to!" Phawin laughed and gave no further response. His eyes glanced at the one looking out the bus's window, as if he didn't hear what they were talking about. Team frowned, feeling a strange look on him, followed by everyone's eyes on him.

 

"What are you looking at?" His voice strained; his gesture showed the readiness to pick a fight. His friends held back a smile and shook their heads. "Nothing!" A collective voice responded. Team's mouth twitched. Frustrated. He had to ignore his burning face. Nonsense. Sweetheart, my ass, dammit!

 

Sometimes the university was a hell factory in itself. The students were assigned tasks for various subjects. The library, the multi-purpose room, and even the club's room sometimes served as workplaces for students. The trio gang was no different; they beat the others to a marble table to work on their Marketing Business Economics report after class. Manow read the academic papers on an iPad, highlighting passages to include in their report. Pharm searched the information online, and Team typed the report.

 

"Team, I'm sending this one to add to the topic."

 

"Ok"

 

Manow stretched. She'd been working with her friends for two hours now. A little more, their heads would melt into one.

 

"You guys are going to Kanchanaburi this week, right?" Manow drank from a plastic cup of smoothie, which had now melted into a warm drink.

 

"Yeah." Team nodded while typing. Once he saved it, he took a break. "Manow's going to the beach too, yeah?"

 

"Yes, with Del.. Too bad Pharm can't make it," She muttered, glaring at the friend. "Don't leave me behind when you have a boyfriend."

 

"I don't." Pharm shrieked. "P'Dean asked first, so.."

 

"Does that mean you'd come with me if I asked you first?"

 

“..." Pharm agitated. His eyes called for Team's help. Team and Manow ended up calming him before Pharm over-worried.

 

"You dumbass. Manow's just kidding."

 

"Yeah. You think I'd separate you and P'Dean?" She patted Pharm's back. "I'm glad you're going with him. I like your smile when you're with him."  Pharm's features drooped, raising his pleading eyes to his friends.

 

"Next time, let's all go together."

"Yeah."

 

"Okay." Manow made a pinky swear. She mentally told herself she'd get a boyfriend to go with her next time!

 

Rumble...

Pharm jumped as the sky roared. Team looked up, seeing dark clouds replacing the sun blazing above them.

 

"Looks like it's going to rain."

"That's why it's sweltering hot." Manow glanced at her melted smoothie.

 

"Let's go home." They had no class after that anyway. Team noticed his best friend's hand fisting over his shirttail. He'd almost forgotten that Pharm disliked rain.

 

"Did you bring your car?"

 

Pharm shook his head and lifted his worried eyes to the sky. There was no way to tell it was going to rain today!

 

"Are you seeing P'Dean today?"

"No, today he has the club's papers to work on."

 

"Then I'll drop you off." Team patted his friend's head and helped him pack up his notebook.

 

"Pharm, you ok?" Manow craned her neck, looking at Pharm with concern.

"I'm alright. Team's with me." Pharm gave her an assuring smile.

 

"You drive home safe, Manow."

 

"Ok, see you tomorrow." The young lady put her iPad in her bag, then she got her plastic cup and pitched it in a bin. She waved them a quick goodbye as she felt droplets of rain.

 

"Let's go." Team placed a bag in Pharm's arms and urged him along to their car before the rain got too heavy for them to commute.

 

The sky was tar-black with clouds. The loud pitter-patter hitting the glass window spoke of how heavily it was raining. Team pulled the curtains close, then turned up the TV volume to drown out the sound his best friend disliked.

 

"Better?"

The room occupant nodded, curling himself under the blanket on the couch.

 

"I'll stay over tonight. You might want to let P' Dean know." For his own safety, since he'd no idea how jealous his club's president could be. Better to have Pharm report to his boyfriend. Speak of the devil, Pharm's cellphone rang, jolting him.

 

"P' Dean..."

 

There. Team's mouth twitched. Dean usually called Pharm as soon as it rained. He was late today, most likely due to a lengthy meeting at the university. He nodded to Pharm to take his time, then he walked to the kitchen. Team opened cabinets, looking for an instant noodle he had kept here.

 

Of course, there wasn't any instant food in the room of a member of the cooking club. Pharm didn't understand the aesthetics of salty food.

 

"Found it." Tom-yum-flavoured instant noodles were hidden under a washing-machine basin. Team got three packs out and turned on the kettle to make dinner.

 

Line!

The popular chat application's notification popped up. Team opened the noodle pack while reading.

 

Winnie the Pool: You're staying overnight at Nong Pharm's room?

(-_-) /: Yess.

Winnie the Pool: You don't think his boyfriend might rip your heart out?

(-_-) /: I told Pharm to let P' Dean know. It rains today; Pharm's scared.

Winnie the Pool: Of course, I know. I'm just messing with you. Dean's getting frustrated. This meeting's nowhere near done.

(-_-) /: Oh? Still not over yet?

 

Winnie the Pool: No, we're just on break now. We'll have to continue with the university's letter of approval to take our club's members on a trip. They require an additional schedule.

(-_-) : They'd probably be wary of you guys running a hazing.

Winnie the Pool: That'd be one hell of a late for the hazing. Besides, I don't do SOTUS.

(-_-) /: hahaha

 

Winnie the Pool: You ready for the trip?

(-_-)/ : A long time ago.

Winnie the Pool: Pharm will sleep in Dean's room.

(-_-) /: Of course, ha. Surprise on him.

Winnie the Pool: And you're with me.

(-_-)/: What?

Winnie the Pool: You think you could stay away from me?

 

"Damn Hia." Team glared at his cellphone. Wasn't it a trip hanging out with friends? Although we'd been sleeping in the same room, I do think about being up all night with friends, too. And why's my face burning like hell!?

[SOTUS stands for Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, and Spirit. These are the values behind hazing in Thai universities.]