HEMP ROPE

33.

 

"Oh, such nice weather. I should wash my clothes."

 

Team wiped away a bead of sweat from his face. He woke up late, so he had no class today. His messy room needed cleaning after two weeks of neglect; the place was almost in ruins. He woke up late, with no class, and cleaned up the mess in his room after two weeks; it had nearly rotted.

 

Whoa, the floor was covered in dust, and the bed was covered in a pile of clothes. The only walkable space was from the wardrobe to the bathroom. And where did he sleep? The young man shook his head. Of course, it had to be a clean, cool place where the electricity was free, not to mention free food. Easy peasy. Speaking of which, he just came from said 'bedroom' where the occupant had left for class in the early morning.

 

Team carried his laundry basket to the coin-operated washing machine. He roughly scooped clothes into the washing machine but stopped short when picking up a student's shirt.

 

"Do learn to separate colored clothes from the white ones."

"No, I have to wash twice if separated. I'm lazy."

 

"Then separate your student shirts to wash with mine."

 

He shrugged and sorted them out. Win's shirt size and his were only half a size different; they could easily share. Team got to put the rest of his clothes in the machine while the white ones were thrown back in the basket to wash with Win's.

 

"Eh? What's that?"

 

Amidst the white and red spots, Team picked and spread the shirt to examine it. His cheeks became hot, his eyes wide, and his mouth opened and closed. Heart-shaped stickers lined up on the back of his student shirt. Lots of them. Team couldn't imagine why he didn't notice earlier, especially the biggest one! Ai Hia!!!! Damn it!!

 

Back to 14 February.

 

Team: What are you smiling at?

Pham: Nothing!

Win: /pats this back/ Let's go, move.

Team: Hia.

Win: What?

Team: I feel like people are staring at me, also smiling.

Win: Think nothing of it.