Chapter 8 Stay Still, Ken

• "You're always busy," Jane snapped angrily. "Classes, laboratories, ESO, and now a representative for campus moon?"
• "Jane, you talk like we haven't seen each other and been together for a month at all," Max said in a low tone. He was trying to maintain his patience.
• "Two days ago we had lunch together. You were the one in a hurry to leave because you said a friend needed help submitting a report."
• "Don't turn things around, Max!" Jane snapped, stomping her feet. "This is important to me. It's my best friend's birthday and I'd like to introduce you to her. Besides, it's also a private party, not many people have been invited so she'll find out if I don't come."
• "This is my first practice, Jane, the seniors threatened to make me run around the field 100 times if I missed practice. Besides, you should have told me ahead of time, not suddenly like this. If it wasn't for this practice, I still can't go because of ESO schedule or I have work to do."
• "I don't understand why you have to do everything, as if you're the only engineering student the engineering have."
• "Jane, that's enough. Don't talk as if you're relaxed yourself. You've been busy with your friends lately and it's hard to ask you to have lunch together. You also often refuse to take me out to dinner because you're tired."
• Jane glared, then raised her hands in the air. "Whatever. Get busy with your stupid practice. I'm going to have fun at my friend's birthday party. Don't call me, I won't pick up!"
• Max slumped on the wooden chair, watching Jane's long wavy hair sway as she walked away at a brisk pace.
• He don't know what went wrong, but Max felt that he and Jane were becoming more distant. When they were both in high school, they were always together.
• Studying at the same university, but in different majors, makes everything change. Different friends, different college schedules and busy schedules, strain their relationship.
• Max picks up the phone and texts Jane.
• [I will pick you up tomorrow morning for breakfast together.]
• Max waited and after five-and-a-half minutes there was no sign that Jane would reply, so he put his phone back in his jacket pocket and went to the parking lot to get his motorbike and went to his dorm to shower and change before going to the central auditorium for the opening of Campus Moon training.
• Meanwhile, Ken decided to linger in his room, being lazy to go to the auditorium as Danai ordered. Ken's phone rang while he was choosing a shirt to wear.
• "Hello?" said Ken, pinching the phone between his ear and right shoulder.
• "Ken, where are you?" asked Foy in an irritated voice. "Why haven't I seen the bridge of your nose here?"
• Ken chuckled, imagining Foy's frowning face. "Of course the bridge of my nose is still on my face, because I'm still in the room."
• "You're taking your time on purpose," Foy snapped. "Hurry up and get your ass over here and don't forget to bring snacks. Danai will be furious if he finds out you haven't shown up."
• "Where is Danai now?"
• "He's hanging out with the other campus moons for coordination."
• "Ah, well. Oi, Foy, is... ah, well, I'll be right there."
• Ken wanted to ask Foy if Max had been seen in the auditorium, but he didn't want Foy to get suspicious and think nothing of it, so he quickly hung up.
• Foy is his most sensitive and caring best friend, but not only that, he is also the most chatty.
• Ken took a beige long-sleeved shirt with a V-neck and paired it with blue jeans and white sneakers. He also brought a light navy jacket.
• Ken decided to bring a book about basics of anesthesia and his notes. There were some things he didn't know about anesthesia and he knew Foy was smarter than him in this subject, so there was nothing wrong with waiting for Danai and asking Foy to teach him.
• Ken had just come out of the dorm parking lot when he received a message from Foy and Max.
• He pulled the car aside and opened Ken's message, it contained a list of snacks that Danai had asked for.
• Ken chuckled and opened the message from Max.
• [Ken, are you coming to the auditorium?]
• Ken's lips widen into a smile.
• [I'm on my way there. I'll stop by the supermarket for a bit. Is there anything you want?]
• [No need, just come here. Me and the other moon campuses are listening to seniors and coaches and I'm getting bored.]
• [Be patient. I'll bring you something to ease your boredom.]
• [Drive carefully, Ken.]
• Ken touched his left chest and took a deep breath, before continuing on his way to the supermarket.
• Ken picked up the basket and started scouring the shelves for the food Foy had ordered.
• "Come on, honey, don't keep looking back like that," said a man behind the snack rack near Ken. "You're making me paranoid. You said yourself that Max was busy in the auditorium."
• Ken's ears sharpened at the mention of Max's name. How many people with the name Max are there on campus? Certainly not one, but still for Ken, he only knew one.
• Ken shifted and repositioned himself so he could see who was calling Max's name. He peered through the packets of corn and potato chips and was surprised to recognize who he was seeing.
• A handsome-looking man with glasses stood in front of a shelf filled with various drinks. His right hand holds a shopping basket and his left hand wrapped around a girl's waist. Ken recognized the girl. This is Jane, Max's girlfriend.
• "I know, Phi, I just feel uneasy. We shouldn't have gone to this supermarket, Phi. It's too close to campus."
• "Come on, honey, take whatever you want, I'll pay for it and we'll be off. The film starts in an hour."
• Ken was stunned. The man calls Jane by the nickname honey?
• Ken quickly paid for everything he bought and drove to the auditorium. Foy sat in one of the chairs at the front of the auditorium with a half glass of milk and a book in front of him. Not only Foy, many other students are also gather around the auditorium.
• "Ken, what took so long?" asked Foy with a sigh of relief when Ken arrived. "It's almost break time."
• "I have to find my anesthetic book first," Ken replied as he put down the bag of snacks from the supermarket.
• "That's Danai," said Foy, pointing to the west door of the auditorium.
• Danai approached the table where Ken and Foy were and immediately grabbed the bottle of drink that was offered by Foy.
• "This is going to be a very tiring activity," said Danai after gulping down half the bottle. "I really feel sorry for the candidate from engineering. ESO alone has drained their time and energy."
• "You mean Max?" Ken asked carefully.
• "Yes, Max and Praewi, the campus star engineering."
• "Where is he?"
• "Toilet. He's been restless ever since."
• "I also need to pee for a bit."
• Ken went to the toilet next to the auditorium building. He saw Max leaning against the wall near the toilet with a cigarette to his lips.
• "Smoking isn't good for your health, Max," Ken said softly.
• Max was surprised and turned to Ken. "Ken! You just arrived?"
• "Hm. Sorry--" Ken reached out and took the cigarette from between Max's lips and threw it on the ground, then stepped on it. He took something from his jeans pocket and put it in Max's palm. "That's it. This will keep your mouth busy."
• Max smirked and poked Ken's sharp nose. "Kissing can also keep the mouth busy and it definitely tastes better than this chewing gum."
• Ken was stunned. He remembered the scene he had seen and heard in the supermarket.
• Ken smiled seductively. "I'm good at kissing. Want to try?"
• This time, it was Max who was stunned. He looked into Ken's eyes and after a moment, he reached out, holding Ken's shoulder.
• "Stay still, Ken."
• ***