THYME'S POV:
I walked further onto the spacious concrete, seeking a secluded spot to just… exist. Then I saw him.
He leaned against the far railing, a tall, imposing figure even from this distance. As I neared, his height was striking – easily 185 cm to my meager 169 cm. He possessed the kind of athletic, lean build typically seen in sports magazines, clearly muscular but not bulky. And his face… undeniably handsome, with sharp features and a relaxed, almost bored expression.
A knot tightened in my stomach. Great, just my luck. Another person. This one radiated an aura of quiet confidence that instantly made me feel small and uneasy. I appreciated the aesthetics, of course; anyone would acknowledge his good looks. Still, a wave of nervousness washed over me. Who was this guy? And why was he here?
He turned slowly, as if sensing my presence, his eyes – dark and unreadable – locking onto mine.
"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in," he said, his voice deep and calm, yet it held an edge that made me flinch internally. "Not many people make it up here. And even fewer know I'm usually here. So," he paused, pushing off the railing and taking a deliberate step towards me, his gaze sweeping over me with unnerving intensity, "How did you know? And how exactly did you get up here?"
I stammered, my mind blank. "I… I just… I didn't know anyone was here."
He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "Don't tell me you're another one." His voice dropped, losing its calm facade and sharpening. "You've been watching me, haven't you? Figured out my spot. Is that why you're not answering? Because you're one of them?"
I blinked, completely caught off guard. One of what? His admirers? Me? Never! The sheer absurdity of the accusation, coupled with his aggressive tone, simply froze my tongue. I just stared, mouth slightly agape, trying to process his words.
My silence, it seemed, only confirmed his suspicions. He let out a short, humorless laugh. "Listen, I don't have time for this, or for you." He gestured vaguely towards the stairwell with a dismissive hand. "This is my territory. My space. So if you're one of my little fan club, you can leave. Now. I come here to escape, not to be stared at."
My initial fear evaporated, replaced by a surge of pure, unadulterated irritation. His territory? Who did this guy think he was? My voice, when it came, was sharper than I intended.
"Excuse me?!" I practically scoffed. "'Your territory'? Do you even know where you are? This rooftop," I emphasized, gesturing around us, "is on top of the Faculty of Science building! And you, with your Engineering uniform, are telling me this is your territory?! How does that even make sense?! You're not even a student of this building!"
He didn't even dignify my outburst with a response. Not a word. Not a glance. He simply turned, walked past me as if I were thin air, and headed towards a battered lounge chair tucked away in a sunny corner. He lay down, pulled a thick textbook from his bag, and covered his face with it. Within seconds, his breathing evened out. He was just… sleeping.
I stared, dumbfounded. He had actually just ignored me. Completely. Utterly. Ignored. Me.
I wanted to kick that bastard. Seriously, just a swift, precise kick right where the sun don't shine (or where the book was, in this case). But no, my inner voice, the one that lectures me about kindness and not sinking to the level of rude giants, held me back. For now, I would just let him be, as long as he didn't bother me for the remaining time I planned to spend on this very much not his personal rooftop.
"But where should I sit?" I muttered to myself, scanning the immediate vicinity. My eyes landed on a perfectly good chair, regrettably, right next to the Sleeping Gorilla. Ugh.
"Just need to ignore his presence and everything will be alright," I whispered, like a mantra to myself, then tiptoed towards the chair, moving with the stealth of a highly anxious ninja. The last thing I needed was to wake the beast.
I finally settled into the chair, leaning back and looking up at the sky. Oh, it was beautiful. A canvas of vibrant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds, each one a whimsical shape. From this height, I could truly appreciate the vastness, the serenity.
You know what would fit perfectly with this atmosphere? My stomach rumbled, already plotting. A nice, spicy Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad). It's light, refreshing, colorful, and packed with vibrant flavors—spicy, tangy, slightly sweet. Perfect for a breezy rooftop with a view. And the crunch and zest? Totally mirroring the energy of a bright, cloud-dotted sky.
And then? Definitely some Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken). Smoky, juicy, pairs beautifully with the Som Tum. And of course, Khao Niao (Sticky Rice) – essential for scooping up all that deliciousness. For dessert, a classic Khao Niao Mamuang (Mango with Sticky Rice). Light, tropical, the perfect sweet ending. Imagine eating that combination while sipping on a cold Thai iced tea or a refreshing lemongrass drink, the city view stretching beyond you under a sky like that… that's peak serenity and flavor.
"Argh, I'm starting to get hungry again," I groaned, talking out loud without thinking. Luckily, the bastard didn't stir. His textbook-covered face remained as still as a stone.
"Glorp... glorp..."
SHIT! My stomach's protest was so loud, it sounded like a dying whale. Did I wake him up? I froze, my eyes darting towards the gorilla-shaped lump. Oh god, did he hear that? Did he just twitch?
"But will he… might he… wake up if I check if he's sleeping or not?" I whispered, arguing with myself. My internal debate raged for a full three seconds.
"Just a peek only," I decided, convinced I could be discreet. Slowly, ever so slowly, I reached out and lifted the corner of the book covering the bastard's face.
I wasn't expecting him to be awake. I definitely wasn't expecting him to have been waiting for me to lift the book. Our eyes met, and his were wide open, a mischievous glint dancing in their depths.
"Shit!" I yelped, immediately scrambling backward, almost tripping over my own feet. I took a few frantic steps away from him, feeling like a caught mouse.
He slowly pushed the book off his face, a lazy smirk spreading across his lips. "Trying to check if I'm sleeping?"
"No! I was…" My mind raced for a plausible lie, but nothing came.
"Stop making excuses. It's clear you're one of my admirers." He stated it with such obnoxious certainty, such unshakeable arrogance. I wanted to punch him, to wipe that smug look off his face, but a quick assessment of his muscular physique versus my own noodle arms quickly squashed that urge. I knew I couldn't win a fight against this walking gym advertisement.
"I don't care what you think about me," I snapped, my frustration boiling over. "I'm tired of being misunderstood by a bastard like you!" I glared, then turned my back on him with as much dignity as I could muster, stomping back to the chair where I was sitting earlier.
He let out a loud, booming laugh that echoed across the rooftop. "You are funny!"
His laughter grated on my nerves, every decibel adding to my irritation. But I forced myself to remain calm. I couldn't get entangled in more troublesome situations. Not today.
Then, he spoke again, his voice still tinged with amusement. "I was just joking, you know. I know you're not my admirer… I don't think I have an admirer who has such a loud, rumbling stomach."
My face burned. "I... it didn't happen! Stop saying nonsense!" I tried to deny it, even though I knew the damning evidence had just reverberated through the very air we breathed. He just laughed harder.
"Stop laughing at me, you stupid giant gorilla!" The words flew out before I could stop them. My hand immediately clamped over my mouth. Shit! Why did I say that? Did I just annoy him even more? Will he actually crush me now?
He tilted his head, his laughter finally subsiding into a low chuckle. "Okay, okay. I'll stop laughing at you, Snotty Kid."
Snotty Kid?! My jaw dropped. Heat rushed to my face. Do I look like a kid to him?! I'm in university! But then, a flicker of self-preservation kicked in. No, Thyme. Don't engage. Just… stop talking back. He'll get bored eventually.
He swung his legs off the chair, sitting up. "I'm also hungry," he announced, as if it were a profound revelation. "Do you want to join me?"
My brain sputtered. "Are you serious? Do you think I'm a kid who will join a stranger because they invited me to eat?" I shot back, purely out of reflex. The idea was preposterous. A total stranger. A rude, arrogant, gorilla-like stranger.
"But I'll treat you anything you want," he added, a hint of a challenge in his eyes.
Free meals. The two most beautiful words in the Thai language. My resolve wavered. I was hesitant, battling my pride against my perpetually hungry stomach. This guy was annoying, beyond annoying, but… free food.
"If you don't want it, it's fine," he said, pushing himself up, as if preparing to leave.
No, wait! It was frustrating, humiliating even, to consider, but a free meal was a free meal. The thought of all those delicious Thai dishes, paid for by someone else… it was too tempting.
"Fine!" I blurted out, trying to sound as unenthusiastic as possible. "I'll join you. As long as it's your treat."
"Okay." A genuine smile, surprisingly charming, finally broke through his usual aloof expression. He extended a hand, the one not holding his Engineering textbook, towards me. "I'm Meta."
I hesitated, then reluctantly took his hand. His grip was firm, warm. "Thyme."
We stood there for a moment, an awkward silence hanging between us, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the campus below. Well, Thyme, you managed to escape a fan club only to walk straight into a… whatever this is. A free meal. That was it. Just a free meal. No big deal. Just a very tall, very handsome, very annoying stranger who now knew my name.
He dropped my hand, turning towards the stairwell. "Lead the way, Thyme. You look like you could use a proper meal to fill that rumbling stomach of yours."
My face flushed again. He was never going to let me forget that, was he? I glared at his retreating back, then sighed. At least he was leading the way. And free food awaited. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Maybe.