That Night We Met

"Come on, Max, the night still on and you can still drink 5 or 6 more bottles without getting drunk," said Leon, one of several new students at the engineering faculty of Metronomia university, who was gathered at the Ocean Blue bar, releasing stress and fatigue after the second day of ESO (Engineering Student Orientation) which is tiring.

Max heads up and spends his share of money. "I can't. I've promised Jane to bring the book she left in my room. She needs it tomorrow morning," Max said as he stood up. "Don't get too drunk, or you'll have to run around the field 30 times because you're late. The absences will start from 6 in the morning."

"This damn ESO really makes me tired, even though it's only the second day and there are still 23 days to come," complained Pringka--one of nine girls accepted into the engineering faculty this year.

Everybody on the table agree with her.

Max waved goodbye to his friends and walked out of the bar casually.

"Hey, Leon, who's that Jane he mentioned earlier?" Avren asked, pointing to the door.

Max is out of sight.

"His girlfriend," Leon replied as he filled his glass. "They've been together since sophomores on high school. Jane has been chasing Max since he was in junior high school."

"Wow, I thought a guy like Max wouldn't be so loyal," said Pringka in awe.

"What kind of guy is he anyway?" asked Leon with a laugh.

He and Max have been friends since the fifth grade of elementary school and he know Max's personality very well.

"Yeah, you know, every joint in Max's body screams he's a bad boy. After all, he's too handsome and hot just for a girl to devour."

"You're right, Pring, it's a waste. He should be enjoyed by a lot of girls," supported Leva, another engineering girl. "I'm willing, if he wants to sleep with me even if only for one night."

"Geez, you girls are crazy," laughed Caeron, echoed by several others.

"Dream, girls, dream," Leon laughed. "Let's order another drink. I need a good booze tonight, for keep me awake to follow ESO tomorrow!"

*

Max drives his motorbike to 6th dorm, where Jane lives. He stopped his motorbike in front of a mini market near 6th dormitory. His cigarettes were gone and he also wanted to buy some snacks for Jane.

Max left the mini market after paying for what he bought. He put a plastic bag filled with snacks on the table outside the mini market, took a cigarette from the box and lit it.

He had never smoked in front of Jane because he knew Jane didn't like the smell of cigarette smoke. He would finish one stick before meeting Jane.

He leaned against the wall next to the convenience store and made smoke bubbles with his cigarette. Max had just smoked half a cigarette when a man ran up to him and immediately grabbed Max, slipping his smaller body behind Max and clinging tightly to Max's broad back.

Max surprised and tried to turn around, but the man was holding his waist tightly. "Don't turn around, please, don't turn around before they leave."

Max almost snatched the man's hand from his waist when several other men came from the same direction as the man hiding behind him.

Max recognized one of them. Pete--an economics student, his high school friend from different class.

"Hey Max, did you see a guy running over here?" asked Pete when he saw Max.

"Hm? A tall man with white shirt and black pant?" Max asked, smoking a cigarette.

Pete nodded. "Where is he going?"

Max could feel the man behind him pressing his head against Max's back. Max pointed south, towards 4th dorm.

"Over there. He ran quickly over there."

“Bastard,” cursed one of the men behind Pete. "He ran so fast."

“Let's go,” Pete said to his friends. "Thanks, Max."

Max waved and stubbed out the cigarette by throwing it and stomping it on the ground. He waited until Pete and his friends were out of sight, then turned and looked at the hiding man, who was now leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, catching his breath.

"What are you doing?" Max asked sharply. "Who are you?"

The man opened his eyes and looked at Max with a smile. The street lamp on the side of the convenience store wasn't very bright, but seeing the man in front of him, Max was stunned.

He felt unsure. The man was very handsome, but--Max was a little confused about it--he was also... beautiful? Is he a boy or girl?

Max had never seen the man in front of him, but seeing the white shirt, green tie, black trousers, shiny black leather shoes, and clean cut hair, Max was sure he was a medical student. The green tie is the medical school tie.

"Hi, thanks for saving me from those barbarians. My name is Kevien. You...

Engineering?"

The man who claimed to be Kevien tilted his head and looked Max up and down, up again. "Definitely engineering."

He smiled widely and Max stunned. The smile, why look so cute and sweet?

"How do you know?" Max said with furrowed brows.

Kevien laughed amusedly. "Look at you. Leather jackets, jeans, boots, wow! And that cool ESO t-shirt, only engineering has. Huh, if only my faculty allowed such a look. You are hot, man!"

Max smirked. Kevien looks cute and funny. "My name is Max. Yes, I am engineering."

"Hi Max, nice to meet you," said Kevien happily.

"Why are they looking for you? They're economics students, right? I know one of them," said Max.

Kevien chuckled. "Just a misunderstanding. I drove a girl from the bar back to her dorm. Her boyfriend got mad and accused me of having an affair with that girl."

Max looked at Kevien. "You didn't do it, do you?"

"Of course not. That girl came up to me at the bar and clung to me like a leech. I only drove her home because she was too drunk to go home alone. If I had known she had a boyfriend, I wouldn't have bothered to make my back hurt from carrying her to the second floor. Damn! I wonder why the dorms here don't have elevators, in these modern times? That's too much!"

Max laughed at Kevien's words and his face looked irritated. He looks cute with a pointed nose frowning and his cherry red lips pursed. Adobrale.

Huh, Max was taken aback by his own thoughts. Why am I praising other men like that.

"Well, Kevien, I have to go. Be careful, they might still be looking for you," Max said quickly. He took a plastic bag containing the snacks he bought.

Kevien looked at the plastic bag. "Is those in your bag a nori, I mean, seaweed roll?" Kevien pointed to the plastic bag.

"Hm? Yes," Max replied. He looked at Kevien, then took two rolls of seaweed roll from the plastic bag. "You want it? There's nothing more inside, in that mini market. This were the last nori they had."

Kevien's eyes lit up and Max was amazed to see those almond shaped eyes shining.

"I'll pay for it," said Kevien. He reached into the back of his pants, but then a look of disappointment crossed his face.

He shook his head. "Ah, I forgot, I left my wallet in the car. Never mind, don't worry."

Max clicked his tongue and held out his hand. He took Kevien's hand and placed the two rolls of nori in Kevien's hand.

"Take it. It's not expensive, so don't think about paying. Well, I'm going," said Max.

"Hei, Max, it's Ken," Kevien said quickly.

Max stopped walking and looked back. "Hmm?"

"Just call me Ken. Kevien is too formal. All of my friends call me Ken," Kevien seriously said. "We are friends now."

Max smiled and nodded. "You right, Ken. So, see you when I see you."

Ken looked at the two nori rolls in his hands, smiling as he walked away from the mini market. His car was parked near 2nd dorm.

*

"Where's my nori roll?" Jane asked, looking into the plastic bag.

"Ah, I ran out of it at the mini market earlier," Max replied casually. He took Jane's hand. "Where's my welcome kiss?"

Jane snorted and gave Max a quick kiss on the cheek. "You smoke? I told you I don't like the smell and you can't smoke until you see me!" Jane snapped, gently shoving Max's shoulder.

"Come on, Jane, I've only smoked one cigarette today and I've eaten candy before I came here," Max argued, tugging on Jane's shoulder.

However, the girl refused and got up from the sofa, walking to the small kitchen in the corner of her room. "It's late, Max, I've been so tired all day on an introductory tour of classes by seniors. Go home."

Max sighed and stood up from the sofa. Jane approached him with a sweet smile. "Thanks for the books and snacks. Drive carefully."

"You have class tomorrow morning?" Max asked.

"Yes. Eight in the morning and two in the afternoon," said Jane.

"We can have lunch together then," Max happily said.

Jane shook her head. "I can't, Max. I promised to have lunch with my friends at the mall."

Max sighed. He was disappointed, but he nodded and smiled. "Okay. Have fun and let me know."

Max kissed Jane's forehead and left the room. He was a little disappointed by Jane's perfunctory welcome, but realized his mistake, smoking a cigarette before going to Jane's.

Max had just come out of the 4th dorm parking area when he heard a commotion around the corner between the 4th dorm and the basketball court.

Max stopped the motorbike on the sidelines and narrowed his eyes, taking a closer look at what was happening. Apparently a fight. Some guys are ganging up on a tall guy who-- hey, that's Ken!

Unknowingly, Max's feet moved, running towards the field.

"WHAT THE HELL! HEI!"