Chapter - 9 - Others won't know we are sleeping together
Don't get excited when you see bras are not allowed..
It meant female trainees could only wear corsets like bras, the kind that could cover the stomach and back.
It was sewn with cotton or linen fabric, mainly white and not elastic. For a designer, bras are the soul of the firm mountains. Push up, double push up and so on…
Without the sponges and elasticated fabrics, the soul is half lost…
When the tutor talked about the cost of the textbooks, Wine wanted to faint. Shouldn't the textbooks be free? There goes another 3000..
He leaned on the nearby shoulder bonelessly. Anawar pushed the soft body pasted on his arm away but it leaned back immediately.
"Let me lean on you for a while. I'm heartbroken. My small wallet is going to be empty at this rate.."
After pushing back and forth unsuccessfully, he decided to stop pushing. If he uses more force, that guy will fall from the bench.
Thinking of the interactions between them from the day they met, he frowned.. He didn't know why..
He noticed that he was soft hearted whenever he saw him puzzled, frowned or pale..
He thinks he should give himself the time to understand… Should he accept this little guy's closeness?
"Are you always like this?"
"Hmm? Like what?"
Wine returned the question without looking up..
"Like… leaning onto others, being close to others,relying on others or involving others in your activities.."
The soft body moved away from him and sat upright.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't bother you like that without asking your…."
"No. It's not like that. I need to know 'why' to accept your friendship."
Anawar stopped him before he finished speaking. He didn't feel disgusted with his closeness but he still wanted to discern if it was worth it or not.
Wine turned his face towards Anawar, put his arm on the table,supported his jaw and smiled like a blooming flower..
Anawar's blood rushed towards his head because of this smile…and felt the fluttering sensation in his heart..
"Actually, I don't have close friends. I just thought you are reliable and full of security. That's why…"
"Hmm. You can continue to rely on me now. However, it must be me and no one else."
Wine has question marks on his face. How come something sounds wrong? Anawar looked like he had made a major decision. He gave him the first smile since they met .
"It must be me and just me. Remember it.."
"Why should I?"
Anawar shrugged his shoulders. He didn't care if he wanted or not but he could keep an eye on him.. For now, he would try to accept this little guy. If the problem arises, he could solve it later..
The day passed with just an introduction from the tutors.
"Hey! The wells are crowded. I don't want to squeeze in with a bunch of people."
A glance at the well shaken him. That was the real combat bath.
"Then don't squeeze in. What about we take a bath after dinner? I will accompany you."
Anawar rubbed his head and coaxed him like a child. Wine was speechless. Where is your aloof manner when we just meet? Do you know that you change too much?
"You look like you are my father. My father loves to coax me with this kind of tone."
"Okay, let me hear you call me father.."
They both laughed. Wine lay on his back on the bed and closed his eyes.
"This is the first time I left home. I still can't adapt to life here."
"Why are you feeling so blue? It's only been a night and a day.."
It was Htin Lin who said with a teasing voice.The roommates came in in a group after the bath.
"Still not going to take a bath?"
"We will decide after dinner."
"Not gonna buy some dishes for dinner?"
Wine wanted to go but his wallet had shrunk by a third. He covered his face with both palms, thinking what he should do. Anawar pulled him up from the shoulders.
"Let's go. A dish or two won't hurt your wallet too much. How about I treat you today?"
Wine softened his whole body to make pulling difficult for Anawar.
"No. I don't want to eat soft rice."
"You won't have to eat soft rice. What about something hard?"
His jaw dropped while he was in the air, pulled by Anawar. His shocked face was very cute, highlighting the two big eyes..
"Fuck! Did you…did you just say something naughty? You can make a joke with a straight face!!!"
He was then pulled along towards the food stalls.
"No. It's your interpretation that was dirty."
From start to end, he didn't laugh. But from the angle Wine can't see, his smile was formed secretly.
He didn't have money in his pocket when he was taken to the food stalls. Naturally, the one that paid for the dishes was Anawar.
"Wow! I'm eating soft rice."
Anawar let out a chuckle.
"You can eat it with peace of mind. I will take it back later…with interest."
"So scary. Are you a loan shark?"
"You can count it this way. If you think I am that kind of person.."
Suddenly, he put his arm around Wine's neck and squeezed the small nose.
"AHH.. Why are you moving your hands on me?"
"You can move your hand back on me if you are not satisfied."
....
The dinner was still disappointing. He still hasn't gotten used to it. Maybe he will get used to it in a month or never… That roselle and water grass stew..
"Anawar, we didn't get the nails. We need the nails for the mosquito net, remember?"
"Leave it like that. Where can we buy nails in college?"
"Is that so? I don't want to either. I was scared last night. If I were to sleep alone tonight, I don't know what to do. But the net is small.."
They are talking while taking a bath after dinner. Wine's skin was as white as ever. Anawar hid Wine's body with his from the sights coming from the dorms. He didn't know if these sights were honest or not, he didn't want them to be seen anyway…
"Wine, what if I buy a big mosquito net?"
"Won't it be a waste…I also have a net the same size as yours. Should we sew the two nets together? We can cut the middle part and sew them together. Others won't know we are sleeping together in this way.."