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Keng was restless. The bustle of student's laughter, hush talks and the scorching hot sun shining above him was as overstimulating as being inside an oven. The poor boy wasn't even supposed to be in this sea of people, but being dragged by an overhyped Kong and his lovesick boyfriend, Thomas left him no choice but to oblige.
His bored but frantic gaze loomed over the colorful banners at either side of the stage in front of him.
It's their annual school festival, them, being the seniors was busy orchestrating the whole event. Just earlier he and his best friend, Namping was busy setting up the photobooth when a frenzy of squealing girls dragged his friend to god knows where.
Though soon, Kong's enthusiasm, the boy's sheepish smile paired with his teasing tone when inviting him to the stage to watch something, hinted that the poor helpless Namping was chosen as the representative for their grade for the silly pageant happening that afternoon.
Back to where Keng was earlier, now his ear drums felt like popping when the loud speaker began playing lively music alongside the voice of the host announcing the start of the festivities.
" Thank god we convinced Namping to participate, Net should've been there but that playboy chickened out" a girl, their classmate whom he hadn't noticed was beside him stated.
" Probably scared of his precious reputation getting tainted"
Keng, although quite excited felt pity for his friend. That boy had a heart as soft as a pillow, making refusing others a very difficult task, probably why he's always caught in something he couldn't even avoid. Sigh, that poor kind boy.
" Alright! Students are you excited?! If so, let me hear you shout to cheer for your favorite candidate"
Every grade level roared as a support for their candidate, the seniors wasn't backing down and surely wasn't planning to be overshadowed by their juniors. Some even brought makeshift banners containing Namping's face that Keng was just astonished they managed to prepare so fast.
" Ohhooo I can see you're all exited na~ Let's not make this any longer, I present you our candidates for Ms. Foundation day 2025!!"
One by one, the names of each representative is mentioned on stage, and the shouts and squealing only got louder as each contestant appeared. A male representative was dressed in a feminine outfit, some in dresses, croptops and skirt, a clear contrast to their bulky builds and their manly attitudes and behaviors. Many laughed, seeming that they are there not just to support their representatives but also ridicule them in some way.
Even the cold and annoyed attitude of Keng wavered a little as he, along with others, giggled a little seeing the ridiculous outfits and makeup the boys are wearing. He even thought to himself how hilarious it would be once he sees Namping, he'll have a good time teasing the other with how he'll look up stage today.
As each representative introduced themselves and ramped in the stage, Keng felt excitement knowing Namping was next. The boy was last to perform, so by the second to the last performance Keng was readying himself, fetching his phone from his pocket and getting ready to record his best friend for a funny video he'll never get tired of teasing him about.
" Last but not the least, let's give it up for Namping Napatsakorn Pingmuang!!!"
The seniors gave a deafening cheer for Namping, but Keng couldn't even scream nor cheer when he saw Namping up there. The surroundings, before too loud and crammy for him appeared to blur and isolated only him and Namping on stage. His eyes also did not fail to catch the shy glance and faint smile his best friend gave him when he looked at his direction. His heart stammered an unfamiliar beat, heat rushed to his cheeks and even in the tips of his ear, his mouth caught in a shape resembling that of a gold fish in waters. He was speechless.
Kong who has also been watching the whole thing unfold was also speechless in a way " Oh my god, is that really Namping in Drag? "
The boy, oh beautiful boy, was wearing a flowy blouse along with a knee length skirt. The outfit made him look feminine but the traces of his masculinity was still there, his frame although slim still has that faint bulk in places a girl shouldn't have like his shoulders who seems much broader than that of a typical girl. Nonetheless, Keng wasn't in awe at how much he looks like a girl, rather he just simply couldn't take away his eyes at how beautiful Namping looked.
His best friend who had always had this delicate air to him, now alliviated by the soft makeup and short hair wig, made him look glowing as if he has his own halo that frames his face and made him stand out from the rest. The way he shyly glanced at the crowd or even the way he tucks his hair in his ears tugs an invisible string in Keng's heart that he wasn't even aware was there.
Keng Harit, the boy was in total awe. He had never looked nor even thought of looking at his best friend this way, he was straight for sure but seeing Namping in this outfit just made him question his sexuality altogether. His heart and his mind that usually makes two different opinions now seems to agree on one thing 'Namping is an absolute beauty right now'. A type of beauty he would risk everything—anything right now, so much so that even their friendship is something he'd risk without batting an eye just to have a chance on that pretty boy up stage.
Snapping him out of his trance was once again the lively voice of the host upstage. There it loomed over him, he had been staring for way too long, though the crowd being much entertained didn't seem to care nor notice his trance earlier.
" Ohhooo we have a beauty, are you guys sure this isn't Janis we have up here?"
" Eyy c'mon Phi, I'm right here. That's totally our pretty Namping right there" Janis, the student council president and also one of the seniors shouted from the side of the stage, sporting a wide and playful smile directed at Namping. Even she was surprised at how beautiful Namping looked right now.
The crowd bursted into laughter, also pondering and realizing how Namping legit looked like Janis at that moment.
" Ok ok, we get it, Namping really is beautiful. So, pretty Namping, how are you feeling with this much love directed towards you?"
Namping smiled shyly, even tucking his hair once more in his ear, that earned a cheer from the crowd. At that moment, anything Namping does just seemed to catch the attention and hearts of the audience, specially a certain someone that hasn't been able to utter a single word since earlier.
" I'm glad you guys liked my outfit. Hope you like it very much that you'll vote for me to win" along that came a charming smile and a wink earning yet another cheer from the awestruck crowd.
That wink, oh that simple wink did wonders for Keng, his poor heart who had been beating erratically since earlier just did a backflip, a somersault and even did a whole hiphop routine after witnessing that spectacle. The only thing the tranced lover boy could do is clutch his heart and let out a genuine smile.
Though peaceful on the inside, his mind was a wreck. It just went haywire upon realizing something, something he couldn't possibly ignore from now on
he's now fucking inlove with his straight bestfriend in drag.