Chapter Text
Roselyn stood still as the stone pillars that supported the weight of Kocher Hall and watched with disgust as a video of her son bumbling through a date proposal played on a large screen in the cafeteria. She ran her hands over her slicked-back hair, then pulled down on the bottom of her blazer. How could he allow himself to appear so messy and foolish?
She scanned the room to see where the students focused as the video ended and realized many were peeking at one table where four girls were sitting together. Lita, she recognized. Her parents owned a successful business, and they would be favorable partners in the future of the Paramaantra Group. If Thyme were to initiate a relationship with Lita, it would save Roselyn some time and the pride of approaching first.
But Thyme had not mentioned Lita in the video, and Lita's eyes were focused on a different young woman sitting at the table. The girl was curled forward, and her entire face was a deep red of mortification. It seemed she wanted to crawl under the table or at least cover her face. Roselyn could see her hands hovering upward and then pausing. This Thitara Jundee didn't want to bring more attention to herself than she was already receiving.
Thyme's mother could appreciate discretion as a trait in a prospective partner for her son. Unfortunately, there was nothing apparently impressive or exceptional about this girl. The basic nature of her appearance- absent makeup, jewelry, stockings, or designer shoes- set her apart from the other students in a manner Roselyn found to be quite distasteful.
Roselyn was about to tell her assistant to look into the girl, but the student grabbed her bag and bolted from the room. Roselyn smirked. She was no more interested in dating her son than Roselyn was for them to be together. This was good news for Roselyn but lousy news for Thyme. She would have to teach him a lesson about attempting to consort with girls whose social status was so far below his. Not to mention how embarrassing it is to chase a girl who has no interest in him.
Roselyn, on business to ensure the food at Kocher was up to an acceptable standard, thanked the cafeteria manager for their time and walked toward the hall, but she froze in the doorway when she saw her son and his friends there. She could not see to whom he spoke, but she stood behind and listened as he lectured this student for belittling Thitara Jundee, whom he now referred to as Gorya. Thyme warned them against being cruel to her in the future.
Gorya was hesitant in response to his advancements. Still, she did not pull away when he put his arm around her like a shield and said in a low and threatening hum, "Gorya is my girlfriend, and anyone found bullying her to any extent will have to deal with F4."
The girls he spoke to gave brief, empty apologies and skittered away. Thyme pulled his arm off Gorya's shoulders, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her away despite her fuss about getting to class. The other boys stood and chuckled at the way Thyme and Gorya bickered on their way down the hall.
"Miss? Should we go?" Roselyn's assistant asked.
Roselyn quickly snapped out of whatever thought process froze her in place, lifted her chin, and said, "Find out everything you can about the student named Thitara Jundee, also known as Gorya."
"Thyme! I really need to head to my next class. Where are you taking me?" Thyme stopped and looked down at her. He considered asking her to skip but knew the answer would be a hard no. Never mind. He didn't need long. He just hated the atmosphere in that hallway and wanted to get her away from those bratty girls.
Would this continue to be a problem if he and Gorya were dating publicly? Would these people, who put him and his friends on a pedestal, torment them? If they wanted to idolize him, that was their business, but why did they act as though they had ownership over his life? It was bad enough at home, but that was his mother, and she had more right to have expectations than people who didn't even know him.
Thyme grimaced, looked through the classroom window beside them, and pushed open. A couple used the vacant room to make out and hopped apart when the door opened.
"Out!" Thyme commanded, nodding toward the hall, and they immediately fled. He pulled Gorya behind him into the room, then let go of her wrist, standing between her and the door. "I'm sorry. I just wanted a moment alone with you," he said, and she turned and frowned at him. He could tell she was about to rip into him, but she stopped and studied him for a moment instead.
Finally, Gorya nodded and took a deep breath. "Did you have to do that in front of everyone?" she asked calmly.
Thyme thought and realized she wasn't talking about dragging her away or defending her against Jane and her friends. She was referring to the date proposal video.
He smiled and leaned forward to meet her eye. "Yes. It's hard to get a hold of you these days. I wanted to make sure you got the invite and wanted it to be special. Not that I mind that everyone knows I like you. Don't think I haven't noticed how other guys have had their eye on you."
Gorya scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"It's true," he said. Then Thyme noticed a bit of food on her face and smiled. He reached out to pick it off and murmured, "Just as I did this summer, they must see your charms beyond the mess." He stepped closer and scooped a strand of hair behind her ear.
Gorya's heartbeat sped as her face tilted up towards his, and Thyme realized how easy it might be to fall back into their previous relationship. The temptation to press his body to hers was overwhelming, but things were different now, and he wanted to make sure she had forgiven him before moving forward.
Thyme stepped sideways and pulled the door open for Gorya. "I'll let you get to class. Will you text me later?"
Gorya nodded breathlessly and stepped forward. She stopped at the door, and Thyme held his breath as she turned and said, "Not that you asked, but I accept your invitation. I will go to the dance with you."
Thyme exhaled, smiled, and nodded, and Gorya rushed down the hall.
Kaning stepped up the small stool in the flower shop and reached high for the box atop a display case. The container was full of the tiny blooms needed to compose the traditional flower garland for which Kavin gave Kaning the pattern, but the box was just out of reach. She pressed her fingertips into opposite edges and tried to pull it closer, but it tilted instead. She grabbed the box, feeling triumphant until she realized she'd lost her balance on the ladder and was tumbling backward.
Kaning tried to right herself but braced her body for impact as she fell. She pulled the box to her chest to protect the blooms and squeezed her eyes shut, but instead of descending closer to the ground, her fall was hindered by a body and arms wrapped around her, holding her up.
What is with the pull I feel toward this girl? Kavin thought as Kaning's small body fell into his arms. He looked down to see her eyes squeezed shut. She held the box to her chest like it was a child she had to protect from hitting the ground, and he smiled and waited.
When Kaning realized she was safe, she opened her eyes slowly and looked up into Kavin's smiling face in awe. Where did he come from? Was he laughing at her for being so clumsy? How embarrassing! she thought as her face warmed with shame.
Kaning's cheeks turned bright pink, a lovely shade beneath her large eyes, and Kavin realized he was smiling like a fool looking down at her.
At the exact moment, they seemed to notice that they were standing at the center of the flower shop, Kavin holding Kaning in his arms with their faces close enough to kiss. Kaning quickly pressed her feet to the floor, and Kavin only held her as long as she needed him for balance.
"What's in the box that's so important?" Kavin asked softly.
Kaning was curious if she could speak. She felt winded from the whole experience, and even Kavin's usually firm demeanor seemed shaken.
Her cheeks somehow turned an even darker shade of pink, and Kavin smiled again. Charming. She was absolutely charming. No wonder he couldn't stay away. And though he would usually distance himself from girls like Kaning--girls who looked at him like they were falling in love--something about her continued to draw him in.
"Don't you have a game tonight?" Kaning asked, walking away from him to set the box on a nearby table. Kavin followed her to her small workstation and removed the box's lid.
"Yeah, but I wanted to come visit you first." Kaning frowned at him and rolled her eyes.
Kavin grabbed a bag of flowers from the box and held it up. "You're not working on this tonight, are you?"
"Why shouldn't I," Kaning wondered.
Kavin stepped slowly around the table until they were toe to toe and looked down to meet her gaze. "Aren't you going to come watch your friends compete?"
"My friends?" Kaning said in a whisper. She knew he was teasing her, but it was too compelling. The soft tone of his voice, the brazen look in his eyes, and the nearness of his body drove her wild. She often considered teasing him back but worried he would take it seriously and distance himself from her.
But why should he get to play and not her? Even if she did fantasize about being with him, she knew all too well he was unlikely to commit. "Is that what you are?" she muttered, lifting her chin and staring back as brazenly into his eyes.
Kavin was momentarily taken aback before his lips lifted into a smile. "I don't know, Chipmunk. Why don't you tell me."
Kaning rolled her eyes and pushed his shoulder with her palm. "Stop teasing!" she insisted, shuffling away from him. "If you're going to be here, you might as well help out."
"Of course," Kavin said, still smiling. "What do you need?"
Kaning pointed to an identical box on the high surface.
"As you wish," Kavin said, bowing his head slightly and turning toward the display case. He stepped past the stool and reached up to grab the other box.
"You can use..." Kaning began, pointing to the step stool, but Kavin reached the box easily without it.
"Anything else?" he asked.
Kaning shook her head and organized a few other items for her garland. "Are you really not going to the games?" Kavin asked.
"I'll be there," she said simply.
"Just to see the girls, or will you stay for me?" he asked.
"Is that why you came all the way here? Just to ask if I'd be there to watch you play basketball?" she asked. It seemed ridiculous. Maybe he was just passing by and stopped to tease her? She knew he wasn't completely ignorant of the way she felt. A guy who spent that much time with women had to sense the reactions of someone attracted to him. Was he using her as a confidence boost before the game? If so, she wasn't interested in having her time wasted.
"Are you going to the dance?" Kavin asked, seemingly changing the subject.
Kaning sighed and moved on. "I plan to."
Kavin nodded. "And how do you plan to get there?"
"Oh. I don't know," Kaning shrugged. "I can't take the scooter with the dress I'll be wearing. I could have my dad drop me off unless Hana wants me to ride with her," she considered.
"I could pick you up," Kavin suggested casually.
Kaning looked up. "I'll be at home," she told him.
Kavin smiled. "I assumed as much. I don't think you live in this flower shop, even if you spend most of your time here."
"I'll text you the address?" Kaning suggested.
Kavin nodded. "You have my number."
"I do," she said.
Kavin was standing close again. He leaned forward, and Kaning gasped slightly, but he reached behind her for something and then pulled back.
Kaning looked down to see what he had taken, and Kavin was holding a hyacinthe stem in his hands, the flowers blooming brightly between them. Kavin reached with his free hand to grab Kaning's hand and used his thumb to open her fingers before placing the stem in her hand.
"I'll pick you up at eight," he said softly, then turned and left the shop.
Roselyn sat at the desk in her home office, flipping through the pages of her assistant's report on Gorya. It wasn't much. Her parents lived and worked in the countryside. She had a younger brother in middle school. There was not much other family to speak of. There was no one of note in the whole group. Gorya was their most impressive, and she still did not deserve Thyme.
Roselyn considered allowing their foolish little romance to play out to its natural conclusion, but when she learned it was Gorya who influenced Thyme to cancel his red card game she decided it was time to interfere. She could not have some other woman having so much influence in her son's life. Not someone whose ideas were not aligned with her own. And that could be fixed.
"Pruek."
"Yes, ma'am?" Roselyn's secretary responded swiftly.
"Get the car ready. I have business at the school before my son's game begins."
"Yes, ma'am."
Perfect. This would be easy. She would speak to the girl just after her game- there was no sense in spooking her before the game and upsetting Tia- then she would head to her private box and watch Thyme in his first college basketball game. Everything was coming together just as she wished.
Tia left her office and went into the women's locker room to talk to her team. She looked around as the young ladies bantered and prepared for the game. Most were fully suited for the challenge and stretched as they talked.
She noticed Aum sitting silently and wished she could get her to open up. Aum had always been one of the most outgoing ladies and a star player, but lately she was lethargic; disinterested and worn. Tia and Ga both tried to talk to her, but she insisted she would be fine and said no more.
"...would be..." was what prevented Tia from letting it go. Of course, she would be fine, but talking about whatever upset her didn't have to wait until it passed. Tia could see that Aum's friends continued to try to include her in their discussions and playful preparation for the game, but Aum didn't give them much to work with.
Gorya sat beside Aum, put her arm around her waist, and leaned her head against her shoulder. Aum gave in a bit and put her head on Gorya's. It may not be much, but Tia saw the connection and it eased her worries.
Gorya was another concern of Tia's. By now, everyone knew that Thyme was interested in Gorya. Tia had never--ever--had even a hint of her brother being interested in dating, so it was quite a shock when she returned home after the summer break and was told that Thyme was seeing someone. Auntie Yu was happy to report that Thyme may have "fallen in love," significantly improving his attitude.
At the beginning of the school year, Thyme seemed just as lost as ever. Maybe even more angry and distant. Tia thought Auntie Yu might have been mistaken. Then things began to change. Thyme joined the basketball team. He started talking to her more and asking questions about school and dating. He recently concluded the red card game and then asked Gorya out publicly. This must be what Auntie Yu talked about over the summer, Tia thought.
Was it Gorya over the summer as well? Tia knew Gorya was quiet and focused, but she wondered if Gorya was as interested in Thyme as he was in her. She worried that her mother or others may interfere. Tia could not predict what would happen but wanted Gorya to know they had her support.
"Hey, can I talk to you quickly before we begin?" Tia asked, looking down at Gorya.
Aum lifted her head, frowning at Tia. 'I'm here. Isn't that enough for them?' she thought, not wanting to be bothered by concerns and questions.
Gorya looked up also and Tia smiled down at her. "Me?" she asked, pressing a few fingers into her chest.
Tia nodded, Aum visibly relaxed, and Gorya stood and followed Tia to her office, looking confused. Tia closed the door behind them and turned to Gorya, both standing just inside the entrance.
"Hey. It's not a big deal, so don't look so worried," Tia said lightly, tapping Gorya's shoulder. Her smile was so lovely and kind Gorya relaxed considerably. "This may be an absolutely ridiculous time to bring this up, but I don't see you outside of the game much, so I was wondering if you might be willing to answer a few questions about you and Thyme?"
For Gorya, this seemed to come out of nowhere, but then she remembered Tia was Thyme's older sister and wanted to slap herself on the forehead for forgetting this critical detail of his life. He always had such sweet things to say about his older sister, and Gorya wasn't surprised that Coach Tia was that supportive, intelligent, kind woman that Thyme held aloft in his heart.
"Sure. If we have time," Gorya said with a small smile.
"Thank you," Tia said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Okay, so I guess the first thing is just the basics. Are you guys dating, and when did you meet each other?"
Gorya blushed and averted her eyes as she said, "We met this past summer, and we were dating then."
"I knew it!" Tia exclaimed.
Gorya turned back to her, surprised.
Tia smiled brilliantly, and Gorya's nerves were settled by her positive response. Her friends had been supportive but unsure how things might work out with them. The other members of F4 seemed pleasant to her, but it was difficult to tell if they were supportive or just amused by their friend's first attempt at dating. Every other student at their school was either apathetic or hated her. There was no in-between. "Sorry for my enthusiasm," Tia said, lowering her voice. "Auntie Yu mentioned that Thyme's mood seemed to improve this summer, and we wondered if he might have met someone."
Gorya nodded and continued. "As for now... we are going on a date. I don't know if we'll actually be a couple."
Tia nodded thoughtfully and eventually said, "I see. Look, Gorya, I know my brother is a bit... Let's just say rough around the edges. I know the things he's been involved with and the behavior he has exhibited. But I would be so grateful if you could give him a fair chance. And I'm not saying this as your coach. Shit! This sounds bad. Please don't think I'm trying to influence your personal life or sway you in any way. Maybe you should go back..."
"It's okay, Coach. Just say what you were saying. I understand," Gorya assured her. She understood how this situation could be perceived as inappropriate: a person with power over her asking for favors, but Gorya didn't sense any threat from Tia. This was simply a big sister looking out for her little brother: a point of view Gorya knew all too well.
Tia smiled, her lips pressed together and her eyebrows raised at the center. "Thank you. I've seen a change in him, and I know there's room for growth, but trying different things and trying to be different can be challenging, and I see him trying. He will make mistakes, but I can see how much he cares about you in his attempt to improve."
Gorya nodded quietly and considered what Tia said. "Obviously, that doesn't mean you have to date him. That's between you two. I just wanted to say that if you do like him... please be patient with him. Yeah?"
"Yes. Thank you, Coach," Gorya said.
"Great! Now! Are you ready for the game?!" Tia asked, raising her fist between them.
Gorya bumped it with her own and nodded with a smile. She was always calm but excited before their games. She loved playing basketball, and competing was part of what made it fun.
"Let's get it!" Tia smiled and opened the door to follow Gorya out, feeling pleased with their conversation.
Gorya enjoyed the game just as much as she anticipated she would. She was successful in her points and assists, committed only one foul, and though it was a challenge, they came out on top. She noticed a nervous anticipation in Coach Tia as soon as they jogged onto the court to warm up, which was an odd change after their lively talk before the game, and she couldn't shake her worry when Tia continued to fret even after they won.
Once they had showered, changed, and cleaned their things in the locker room, a stern woman walked in and went straight to the coaches' office. Some girls were stunned by the woman's appearance, but Gorya focused more on packing her things and getting out to watch the men's game.
"What is she doing here?" Lita said as the woman walked through the office door without knocking. She was accompanied by a small man who followed quietly in her wake, closing the door behind them.
"Who is she?" Gorya asked. The woman looked familiar, but she couldn't place her. "That's your boyfriend's mom!"
"Ooooh. Then it can't be too surprising that she's here. She's also Tia's mom and the dean of athletics."
"Yeah, but she rarely attends our games. And now she's here. I hope she's not going to hold us up and pretend like she cares how well we're doing," Lita said.
"I'm sorry, but weren't you recently complaining that the women's team doesn't get as much attention as the men's and that we deserve more?" Gorya asked.
"Okay, but I want more attention from our fellow students. If doing well means we're on her radar," Lita said, jamming her thumb through the air to gesture toward the office behind her, "then I'd rather our greatness be kept a secret."
The ladies laughed. Then the office door opened, and they could hear Tia saying, "Mother! No!"
Everyone turned as the petite secretary stepped into the doorway and announced, "Ms. Roselyn would like to speak with Ms. Gorya in this office immediately."
Gorya wished she could sneak out and pretend she had not heard, but everyone turned to look in her direction immediately, giving her away.
Tia and Ga stepped out of the office, and she nodded at Gorya and waved her forward. Gorya put her bag down and walked hesitantly toward the office. Tia placed her hand on Gorya's shoulder and said, "I don't know what she's going to say, but she has insisted, and I can't go against her. You can talk to me later if you need to. Okay?"
Gorya agreed and went into the office where Roselyn was sitting in Tia's chair with a stiff smile on her lips.
"Sit," Roselyn gestured to the chair on the other side and Pruek closed the door from the inside, cutting them off from everyone in the locker room. The secretary then walked to the window, closing the blinds, and Gorya's heart sped nervously.
Gorya did not sit, and Roselyn sniffed, annoyed." What can I do for you?" Gorya asked, though she already suspected what this woman was here to say- just as much as she knew it would be a much different conversation than the one she had with Thyme's sister.
His mother didn't care if it was inappropriate and wouldn't worry about how it made Gorya feel. This woman was intent on getting her way, and Gorya wasn't inclined to concede.
"We can skip the pleasantries. Good game and all that?" Roselyn assumed firmly. "Fine then. I have recently learned that my son has shown an interest in you, and I wanted to tell you that I do not approve of you as a couple."
Gorya's eyebrows shot up briefly. She was not expecting the woman to be so direct, but she appreciated that no time would be wasted pretending.
"Thyme and I are friends. And though you have my respect as his mother, I don't know that your approval is something we need to continue whatever relationship we have or may have in the future," Gorya replied calmly.
Roselyn sniffed again, clearly displeased with this response. Gorya wasn't a kid Roselyn could scare easily with her stern look and important position in the world. She shifted in Tia's chair, straightened her back, and lifted her chin as she said, "My son is the future of my company. Everything he does requires my approval, and I will not stand by as he lowers himself for a girl who appears uninterested in what is best for him and, frankly, who is unworthy of him."
Gorya's body filled with disappointment and anger. Unworthy? Based on what? She, of course, wouldn't pose that question to this woman. It was clear what Ms. Paramaanatra believed made one person more worthy than any other, and in that measure, she was right: Gorya did not add up. But Gorya wasn't keeping score. She wasn't weighing the pros and cons between Thyme and herself. She wasn't comparing or competing with him. She only wanted to react to their feelings and expectations for each other without any concern for how others saw them or what others expected of them.
"If you have an opinion about me or anything else that you feel you need to share with your son, I invite you to do so. I, for one, have no interest in standing here to be judged and insulted by someone who does not know me."
"Then let us get to the end of this. My son's future is more important than anything. If you refuse to dissolve your relationship with him, we must find a way for you to at least measure up. I would like to offer my help."
Gorya frowned, and her defenses dropped. She was sure this woman was about to go the way of a drama and offer her money to break up with Thyme. Maybe even threaten her scholarship. This was different from the approach she was expecting. Unless, by help, Roselyn meant she would show Gorya the door and offer her a ride out to the country to be reunited with her parents and brother. A thought that made Gorya homesick nearly enough to give up her scholarship and everything else.
"And how do you plan to help me?" Gorya asked.
Roselyn smirked and shifted forward, leaning her elbows on the desk. "Easy. You may not have the background or the family to improve your situation, but that cannot be changed. Everything else we have control over. Your look, your behavior, your goals, and your future. Instead of running around dribbling a ball like a boy, you could focus on more feminine extracurriculars. Your major as an environmental scientist is fine. In fact, imagine what you could do with the influence of our company behind you. And as for your expectations of my son and his behavior..." Roselyn rolled her eyes and sat back, "I'm sorry, but you cannot continue forcing your simple social standards onto a man whose future is to run the most successful company in the country. He needs to be strong, confident, and unyielding. He needs to be in control!"
Gorya considered Roselyn's suggestions, unshaken and undeterred. What concerned Gorya was what Roselyn said about Thyme. Was she to believe that his mother was the reason he played those awful games? She thought of her mother, who taught her that her strength was measured by her kindness and resolve to do good. Roselyn wanted her son to behave as a tyrant to show his strength.
Poor Thyme, she thought as she realized the pressure he had been under. While her parents sheltered and showered her with love and compassion, his mother refused warmth in exchange for strength and control.
Yet, in defiance of that deficit, his heart craved tenderness and love. Gorya wasn't sure she was ready for the commitment it would take to help him find joy and love. Clearly, he had the will to change, and she cared for Thyme, but was she willing to change her life to fit into what Roselyn wanted for his partner? Plus, Roselyn expected her to back down in terms of focusing his power.
"No," Gorya said. "None of this makes any sense."
"It makes perfect sense," Roselyn said. "If you want to be with my son and keep your place in this school, you will allow me some control over how you live. You will not be a stain on our legacy. There is no room for error."
Gorya scoffed and glared at Roselyn. She shook her head and backed toward the door. This was absolutely ridiculous! Did Thyme know his mother felt this way? What if he was on board with it? Did he want her to change to fit into his life? She wouldn't do it! She cared for him deeply but would not reshape herself to fit into their box.
"This is...absurd. I'm leaving." Gorya said.
"Just think about it moving forward," Roselyn said calmly. "Imagine your power and influence as part of our family. All the good you could do. And all you have to do is alter a few... surface things."
Gorya could not believe this woman. She was speechless. She sighed heavily and returned to the locker room.
"What was that about?" Lita asked as Gorya retrieved her bag.
"Are you okay?" Aum asked.
"It's fine. I'm fine. Let's just get out there before the game starts," Gorya said.
She didn't wait for a response, but her friends followed as she walked out.
It was hard to focus on the game, but she tried to forget what Roselyn said and simply enjoy the moment. Thyme played well, and she was proud of him.
Gorya watched at the end as Roselyn went down to the court and behaved like a loving mother who wanted the best for her child. Gorya sneered as she considered the truth. Maybe Roselyn did want what was best for Thyme, but could she accept that what he needed to be happy did not align with her expectations?
Gorya's attention was turned as Ren stopped Aum and Lita on their way out. He offered to walk with them from the dorms to the dance, and they accepted. MJ watched from a distance, peeking sadly over at Aum, but she ignored him, and no one knew why.
Gorya wanted to talk to Thyme, but he was surrounded by people, and she did not have the strength to navigate that situation.
Gorya: I've got to get away from this crowd.
Gorya: I would stay and congratulate you on playing so well, but I'm going home to sleep.
Gorya: I'll see you tomorrow at 8?
Gorya didn't wait for a response from Thyme. His mother had stepped aside, and a correspondent from the school newspaper was asking him questions. Gorya smiled, rolled her eyes, and walked away. In terms of statistics, she had done more that night to help her team than Thyme, and the women's team did just as well as a whole, but Thyme was the more exciting story. She wasn't in it for the story anyway. She loved the game and would continue to play no matter what anyone thought of it.