Before Bloom

"Aah, I'm so tired," Leon groaned as he squirmed like a worm and spread his arms far and wide.

"I don't understand why the seniors are telling us to prepare for another event while we are still in this tiring ESO period," complained Pran.

"I thought we were going to be scolded and punished for fighting, but they just appointed us to lead the force, what the hell," Max growled in annoyance.

"You, in particular," said Pran. "We are just companions."

"Bullsh*t! You too," Max said while punching Pran lightly on the shoulder.

Pran complained that his arm was sore.

"Hey, Max, since you're friends with doctor Ken, why don't you ask him to give us some strong medicine or supplements?" Leon asked.

"What do you think? He's not a drugstore owner," Max said. "He's a freshman just like us."

"You know, your friend is quite famous, especially among girls," Pran said with a laugh. "They went crazy over him and formed a kind of fan club."

"No wonder. He's very handsome, an aspiring doctor, and he must be rich," Max said seriously. "He has the complete package that today's girls want."

"Some say he's a casanova. He just does a one night stand and refuses any ties. He doesn't do anything and the girls queue up behind him just to get a chance to sleep with him," Leon said while scrolling through the phone screen.

"He was born with a golden spoon in his mouth," Pran muttered, clutching his stomach. "Oh, I'm hungry."

"Wait a minute," Max said. "I invited Ken to lunch with us. He's helped treat me twice."

"Hm yeah, he gave us a potent ointment so our handsome faces don't get bruised for too long," Leon said smugly.

There was a commotion at the cafeteria entrance. Max, Pran, and Leon who were sitting on the chairs at the end of the cafeteria stretched their heads, trying to see what was making the girls and some pretty guys hysterical.

Three figures walked into the cafeteria casually, with an attitude as if they were models on the catwalk.

Of course many girls are hysterical. How not, even from a distance it is clear that the three figures display a strong impression.

Not only were they good posture, their appearance in neat uniforms and their faces were also very charming.

"Wooaahh ... they are so cool," said Leon amazed.

Max waved. "Ken!"

Ken looks at Max. He smiled and spoke to his two friends. They walked over to the table where Max and his two friends were sitting.

"Hi, Max. Pran and Leon," Ken greeted with a smile. "I brought my friends. This is Danai and this is Foy."

Danai and Foy shook hands with Max, Leon, and Pran.

Danai is a handsome man who looks serious. He is very tall and has an athletic build. On the other hand, Foy looked very petite between his two friends. He had the kind of good looks more suited to be called cute, with plump cheeks and deep dimples even when he spoke his name.

"Oh, I envy you guys so much," said Danai with a sigh. He sat next to Pran and Leon, while Foy sat next to Ken, who sat next to Max.

"You don't have to wear uniforms everytime like us," he continued, loosening his tie.

"Danai wants to enroll in engineering school, but everyone in his family is a doctor, so he can't go anywhere," Ken explains with a laugh.

"Wow, your whole family is a doctor?" Leon asked.

Danai nodded. "Yeah. its boring, actually."

"What were you all talking about at family dinner? Cancer cells and how they spread?"

Everyone laughed at Leon's words.

"But I agree with Danai," said Foy. "You guys are really cool. Tattoos, earrings, boots. I want to wear them to college sometime."

"We are just prospective field workers who will spend time in the hot sun or pour of rain, unlike you who will be in a clean room with air conditioning," said Pran humbly.

Ken touched Max's shoulder. "What's good here?"

"Tom yam and beef bulgogi. What do you want? I'll order it for you," Max replied.

"I want to try them all. We can share," said Ken.

Pran and Leon stood up. "We'll order it."

Danai looked at Max with raised eyebrows. "You're the one who beat up eleven people alone, right?"

Max laughed and shook his head. "That's too much."

"Your video yesterday went viral and because of that, many of our friends want to move into engineering," said Foy with a laugh. "You guys have become like super hero icons. You even helped our naughty friend."

"Hey, I told you it wasn't my fault," Ken said annoyed. "It was just a misunderstanding."

"I've told you many times, don't give off too much charm when you go out to the bar alone," Danai snapped in an annoyed tone.

"You always end up in trouble when you go to the bar by yourself, Ken," added Foy.

Ken snorted as he glanced at Max. Max smiled as he looked at Ken's profile at his side. He smells good. Sweet and warm vanilla aroma, also a hint of fresh lemon.

Max looked at Ken's very white neck and drew blue veins under the smooth skin with his gaze. Max swallowed saliva. His blood flow was rushing towards a point in the center of his body.

Max moved slowly to shift his sitting posture because his pants that suddenly felt tight made him uncomfortable.

Max mentally cursed his junior who suddenly behaved strangely. Oh come on, why do you have to be hard now and make me uncomfortable. I'm not even looking at hot women here. There's no way you wake up just for a white, smooth neck of a man, isn't it, though it smells good too.

"Max," Ken scolded, patting Max on the thigh lightly, snapping him out of his mental monologue. "Let's eat. Why are you daydreaming?"

Max didn't notice that their food was already on the table. They spent the afternoon chatting and relaxing with each other.

"Which bar do you like playing at?" Leon asked.

"Pacific Lantern," replied Danai.

"We also go there from time to time. However, you have to try Cloud Nine. They have a pool table and delicious baked beans," said Pran.

"Invite us if you're going to hang out there," Ken said.

Max had just opened his mouth to say something to Ken when suddenly a hand patted his back. "Max!"

All eyes turned to that person. Max was surprised, but then smiled broadly. "Jane? I thought you were out with your friends."

Jane pouted. She grabbed Max's hand in a spoiled manner. "My car broke down. Can you help me check it out? My friends are waiting."

Max hesitated, but Jane shook his arm. "Come on, my friends and I haven't had lunch yet."

Max stood up and put his hand on Ken's shoulder. "I'm sorry I had to go first," Max said. "I'll treat you to Cloud Nine next time." Max squeezed Ken's shoulder gently before walking away with an impatient looking Jane.

"Who is she?" asked Danai. "Very beautiful."

"Jane, Max's girlfriend," Pran snorted in annoyance.

Ken lowered his head to stare at the contents of his plate that had not been eaten. Suddenly he lost his appetite.

"Owh, I'm surprised to see a guy with a bad boy look like Max is so obedient to a girl," said Foy with a laugh.

"She's pushy and a drama queen," Leon said coldly. "To this day I still don't understand why Max is still sticking with her."

Ken cast his gaze towards the garden in front of the cafeteria. He saw a beautiful rosebush in neat patches. His eyes caught a rose bud which was black in color and looked withered.

"Poor flower," Ken said suddenly and made everyone at the table look at him. "The flower hasn't had time to bloom yet, but it has withered."

"Ken?" call Danai.

"What happened to you?" asked Foy.

Ken sighed, his face sad. He turned and stared at Danai with blank eyes.

"That flower, it withered before it bloomed," Ken said flatly.

Then, he glanced in the direction Max and Jane had gone.

Just like me, he thought to himself.