THE POSSESSIVE SOUL

Chapter 15: The praise

Wat kept stealing glances of Tine who was engaged in a deep conversation with Mil and Fong, he passed on his trophy to his team and shook hands with the seniors hastily to get done with the formality and just when he got free from it he noticed, Tine leaving with his fellows, he kept staring in the direction till he was out of his vision. He just couldn't understand why wasn't he feeling the way he should. His team freaking won the competition for which they had worked really hard but just because of a guy, he wasn't really feeling like enjoying the moment. He just couldn't get over the smile and excitement that Tine's face was carrying while Mil performed.

He coated a fake smile whenever someone congratulated him and walked passed them to avoid any conversation while Boss and Man followed him quite confused with their friend's unexpected dull reaction after the much-anticipated victory against Mil.

Chaos were everywhere around the common activity hall of the music club where all the club members were present to celebrate the grand of success of the music competition. They had touched the new record of having the maximum audience compared to the previous years. Fong couldn't join Tine and Mil since he wasn't part of the club. Tine stayed with Mil for quite sometime before making way to congratulate the guitar team. He could see the team sitting around a corner with Sarawat being at the centre discussing something with them. Unlike any other time, when he would avoid walking in the same direction as Wat, at that moment he felt, it was his duty to actually congratulate him on his sincere win. Though he would have been very happy to see Mil win but deep down he knew, the guitar team was brilliant at what they did on the stage and the magic of Wat's surprisingly melodious voice did the rest in their favor.

"Hey guys, congratulations for the win. You gave a fantastic performance," he said drawing the attention of the entire team including Sarawat, who wasn't expecting Tine's arrival.

"Thank You, Tine! It's the win for the entire guitar team and you are also part of it," one of the senior commented enthusiastically while he nodded my head in acknowledgement being humble for his kind words.

He then directed his eyes towards Wat who was quick enough to divert his vision to avoid Tine catching him staring at him. He could sense Tine looking at him from his peripheral vision and waited for him to say what he wanted too. Though he pretended to be busy with his phone, scrolling aimlessly through apps, with his ears on high alert to hear the specific person calling out his name but that didn't happen as before Tine could say anything Green drew everyone's focus by asking them to move towards the ground behind the club building to enjoy some snacks and cold drinks.

Everyone started leaving the place, Mil asked Tine to come along which Sarawat noticed.

'Can't he leave him even for a second!'

Tine made his way to Mil only to tell him that he would join him soon. He waited for others to leave, wanting to get a moment alone with Sarawat who got busy with packing his guitar. Once he was done, he took a look at the exit door and sensed Tine still being there staring at him. He looked around to see Mil but to his delight, he was nowhere to be found. Sarawat noticed how Tine was watching people leave and he stayed back at his place knowing that something was surely going on his mind.

Once they were the last two left, Tine reached where the other stood.

"I wanted to congratulate at the team's win..." Tine said straightly. It seemed that he just wanted to speak what he had to and run away.

Wat rolled his eyes as he replied, "But you already congratulated the team earlier."

Tine nodded his head in affirmation, looking around trying to form his next sentence mentally while Wat kept observing him silently.

"Well, I think you performed extremely well today. I mean..." Wat interrupted him again, "But for you, I wasn't the best one today right?"

Tine narrowed his eyes trying to figure out what the other meant.

"I didn't get what you are saying."

"I am saying the truth. You don't have to do the formality of being here when it is quite evident that it was Mil's performance, he loved the most," Wat spoke out his exact thoughts but what frustated him was the fact that Tine stayed mum.

"See...I was correct. The way you were literally jumping and hooting for him while he performed on the stage, you had already declared him your winner."

"He is my friend Sarawat. I am suppose to support him and you know that he was great," Tine said with a straight face. He had come here with good intentions of appreciating Wat for his performance but to his disappointment, Wat was back to his true self which he truly disliked.

"Then why the hell are you wasting my time. Go stick to him like you have been since we got here!" Sarawat taunted only to hear Tine reply, "I genuinely came to praise you but looks like it doesn't matter. Sorry for wasting your precious time but before I go, I would like to say what I wanted to."

Wat turned trying to fake that he didn't want to hear anymore and took his guitar case over his shoulders, pretending to be prepared to leave while Tine whose mood had turned bitter made up his mind to exit as soon as he finished.

"When I saw you on the stage, before you were about to perform, my expectations weren't quite high. Although I had seen you play guitar in bits and pieces during the club classes but today was the first time it was a full-fledged ones. Earlier I used to think that why would people be spellbound around you but trust me..." he paused to take a breath and the every moment, Sarawat turned to see what stopped the former. He felt a relief when Tine continued from where he left.

"When I saw you play on the stage. You looked like a completely different person. Your face had a smile...the one which came straight from your heart unlike the winked one I had gotten used to with and then when you sang..." Tine stressed hard on his words, "your voice...it hit all the right notes. You were truly expectionally with those pleasant singing skills and that is what pushed me to come here to congratulate you because Sarawat...I have been taught to praise the hardwork."

To say the least, Sarawat was at a lose of words to be in the right mind to reply. He was awestruck with the ease with which Tine spoke what he wanted to in the most simplest manner. It was the first time ever for him to hear Tine appreciate him which felt way more captivating than his winning moment. It was a lot for him to take in. Finding his silence a bit awkward, Tine said, "I apologise for wasting your time once again and I will ensure that doesn't happen again but I had to say what was in my mind rather than being restless to not being able to say it to you because of our mutual dislike towards each other."

He didn't spare any moment further and practically ran away from the place taking speedy steps leaving behind a still amazed Wat as Tine's words of applause kept ringing in his mind keeping his heart flutter while goosebumps spread over his body.

*****

Hope you enjoy it!