Chapter 2: God's Favorite

[Yoo Yatipat]

I turned back to look at that pale-skinned kid before stepping up the stairs. His perpetually confused expression almost made me burst into laughter, but I managed to hold it in. No matter how cute he looked, he was no different from anyone else I'd encountered.

They all liked me... just by looking at my face.

It's always been this way, from the very beginning until now. From the girls to the point where I openly admitted I liked guys, and the guys started to like me too. I know my looks well and acknowledge that I'm handsome and attractive to a certain degree. But they've already decided I'm that great just because of my looks.

Judging people solely based on their appearance.

Liking someone just for their looks.

"How can you like someone that easily?" I muttered softly before meeting the gaze of that kid's slender eyes again and then feigning indifference.

His name is Kamphan, an odd name for his equally unique character. He continued to look at me, and I turned away. I was more interested in my own business that was about to happen in the next few minutes.

I graduated a few months ago, around the same time as Vee, or maybe a couple of months later since my architecture projects required more time. Despite my younger brother's claim that I wouldn't graduate, I did, and now I even have a job.

Unlike him.

"Are you really not going to pursue further studies, Yatipat?" my professor, with whom I'd worked, asked.

"No, Professor, five years is enough for me," I replied.

"It's a shame. Someone as talented as you could go further."

"I am furthering things for you, Professor," I said, glancing at the latest building design the professor had entrusted to my care.

"Ah, thanks, but I still wish you'd continue studying."

"I can't, Professor."

"There are scholarships available," the professor said, raising an eyebrow at me, but I shook my head in response. 

It isn't just about the money. There are many other things I have to consider. If I study, I won't be able to work to my full potential, and I probably won't be able to take care of my parents as well as I should. It would be a waste of both time and the money I could earn.

"Maybe when I'm ready," I replied.

"You should find yourself a younger lover so you can keep tabs on them like your younger engineer brother does," the professor referred to Vee.

These days, Vee's even more possessive of Mark than a dog with a bone, monitoring him so closely that the whole campus knows they are lovers. I feel embarrassed wherever I go on campus because everyone keeps talking about my younger brother, suggesting he must be scared his wife would disappear to follow him around like this. I'd only ever heard of kids being clingy to their mothers, but now I have to endure hearing about Vee being clingy to his wife.

"You can't change my mind. I'm just not the type to follow anyone around," I replied.

"Yeah, yeah, but you should really find someone. Seriously, your brother seems happy," the professor said, and I had to agree. Vee's happy with a partner, but for me, having a partner is just that. I don't have the time for anyone else, and sometimes, I might not even be able to give them the love they want. Not to mention my heart—it's mine. Why should I foolishly let someone else trample over it?

"I'll handle the subject of love on my own; you can just teach the academic subjects," I told him, and he laughed.

"Haha, will you take on more work next time? But your name is already well-known. I think it'd be good if you opened a social media page to accept more jobs," he suggested.

"I'd rather not. I'm too lazy to respond to messages. I'll just wait for them to contact me directly. If they come through you and you think I'm suitable for the job, then you can pass it on to me," I said.

"Alright, we'll keep it as it is. After all, you're not going anywhere anyway."

"That works for me," I said, meaning that I could manage just fine the way things were. Besides, I was even making more money than when I was studying because I could work full time.

I don't like being rushed in my work; I prefer to manage it on my own. When I'm obsessed with something, I'm really into it. My mom used to say I wouldn't eat because I was immersed in my work, but I was unaware. When I'm engrossed in something, I'm terrifyingly obsessed. I fear that if it disappears, I'll be at a loss. The same goes for loving someone—if I love, I love deeply, and sometimes it can be too much for the other person. So, it's better not to love anyone at all.

"Then I'll give you a call later," the professor said.

"Thank you, sir."

I simply bid farewell to the professor. The nearly hour-long conversation with him ended with simplicity, and just a few minutes later, a notification popped up on my phone, signaling the arrival of money. It was the final payment for the job I'd just submitted.

I'm not rich, and neither is my family, but that's never been an issue. My father runs a car repair shop at home, and my mother stopped working ever since Vee entered university. He claimed he'd earn his own tuition and take responsibility for himself. The same went for me since high school. There were plenty of jobs to do—modeling, being a server at restaurants, or even selling stuff after school, which I did regularly. Even though I didn't like it, I kept at it to ease my parents' burden. We aren't that poor, but I believe if we can earn money, we should, rather than wait until we've finished our studies.

"God Yoo..." A soft voice came from the side, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I turned to look.

"..." I didn't respond, even though I recognized the person calling my name.

"Am I in heaven? God Yoo looked me in the eyes."

"Don't be dramatic," I retorted, and he responded with a playful look.

"Come on, bro... I haven't seen you in so long. Let me be a bit dramatic to match your godly wholesomeness," Pug said.

He's a fourth-year student here who got to know me because he wanted to learn to play the drums. But I wasn't good at that, so I introduced him to a friend instead.

"You just saw me at the bar three days ago," I reminded him.

"Aw, three days is too long; I already missed you," he said.

"Sigh~ Can you move a bit? I'm going back to get something to eat," I told him.

"It's only three in the afternoon," he said after checking his watch.

"That's my lunch."

"Oh, I thought it'd be your breakfast."

"What do you want from me, Pug?" I stopped in my tracks and turned back to him.

"Here," he said, handing me his phone.

Dew Dely

1 hour

Guys! Someone's got the hot scoop! Well, well! I told my people to spy on Daddy Vee, but we ended up with news about God Yoo instead. The gods must be on my side for sure, letting us witness such juicy stories like this. The ArchGod was smiling at the engineering guy. After that, they met again at the architecture building. I haven't heard from him in a while. I was thinking of him yesterday, and today, I got the news. Is this a coincidence or fate? And about this engineering guy I mentioned, I know he's definitely the god's favorite. #PrayForGodYooToUseFacebook #GodYoo

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"What the hell, Dew?" I cursed as I read the news on the phone my junior handed to me.

It was a post from Dud-Dew's page, and Vee and I weren't big fans whenever this Dew posted something. Because every time it involved us brothers, it wasn't very interesting. Yeah, I wasn't interested at all, but others were, and that was why I didn't like it.

It was such a hassle...

They not only wrote whatever they wanted but also included photos that vividly illustrated the story. The first photo showed me smiling at Kamphan when I was flirting with him at the pool, and another one captured me staring at him at my faculty building. Only Kamphan and I knew what we were talking about then, but others weren't there. So, of course, people would believe what Dew wrote.

But sorry... you've got it all wrong.

"That's what I wanted to ask you. Have you been flirting with the kid or what? What were you thinking, flirting with an engineering student? You don't usually do that, right? You don't like that faculty, do you?" Pug asked me.

"I wasn't flirting."

"You were; I can tell just by looking into your eyes. Look, check out the first photo. You're practically radiating flirty vibes," Pug said, pointing at me in the picture.

"Really?"

"Yeah, how could you go flirting around?"

"It wasn't my intention. He's just..."

"Your type?"

"But I wasn't planning on dating him," I replied.

It might be a bad habit I haven't been able to shake off—that I like to look at someone like that. Many might think it's flirting, but honestly, it isn't. I don't see the point in doing so.

I've already mentioned that I'm not a fan of people who fall for someone too easily.

"So, in conclusion, you were really flirting."

"Pug..."

"Why did he, I mean that younger guy, follow you?" he asked me.

"How do you know he's younger?"

"Well..." He scratched his cheek and glanced up at me.

"…" I raised my eyebrows in response.

"You're not really flirting with him, right? You're not going to start any relationship with him, are you? It's just your instincts and bad habits, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I sighed and replied.

"He's Kamphan, Mark's friend, and Mark is Vee's boyfriend. I'm... following him," he said softly in the last part, which made me frown.

"Are you a stalker?"

"No! It's like you like someone, so you follow them on social media, you know?"

"Oh, so you have a crush on that kid?" I continued.

"Don't call him 'that kid,' he's adorable,"

I wanted to roll my eyes at Pug's compliment. I admitted the kid is cute, but he's more clueless.

"But that 'kid' you mentioned likes me," I said with a superior smile, teasing him.

"Hey! If he likes you, how am I supposed to hit on him?" he said frustratedly.

"So you're planning to do that?"

"Just wishful thinking," he replied, making a face.

"Then keep wishing, Pug," I said, patting his shoulder.

"You can talk. He likes you."

"No, I don't!" A clear voice came from the bottom of the building. Pug and I turned to look.

"Little Kamphan..."

The small figure stood there, his face almost turning red, whether from anger or the heat, I didn't care. But strangely, I found myself hoping it was because of the latter.

"I heard your conversation all along. How presumptuous to assume someone likes you. Just flirting without planning to date me? Pfft! Did you even bother asking if I want to date you? Such a delusional guy! So full of yourself!" The kid walked up and confronted me, catching me off guard.

"Wait, wait, Kamphan, calm down."

"My name isn't Kamphan!" He turned to yell at Pug, and even Pug seemed a bit scared, though the kid's ranting was as adorable as a kitten's. It made me want to playfully poke fun at him.

"So what if I'm full of myself? Are you saying I'm wrong?" I challenged.

"Y, yeah!"

"Yeah, as in you don't like me and have no feelings toward me?"

"R, right!"

"You're imagining things, kiddo," I said, tapping the kid's forehead once.

"No, I'm not..."

"Your face is red. You realize that?" I leaned in closer to tease him.

"It's not!" He covered his cheeks with his hands.

"Haha, you like me; I can tell," I said with a grin.

"I'm not planning to date you, though," he shot back.

"Oh? You're not interested?"

"Who would want someone like you as a boyfriend?" he muttered softly, making me pause.

"Why? What's wrong with someone like me?"

"God Yoo, calm down," Pug said.

"Calm down your fucking ass! Well, what's wrong with that?" I dismissed Pug and turned back to Kamphan.

"You meany! Rude! And you're not cute at all! Also, you're so full of yourself, looking down on others like this! I've never cursed at anyone as much as I did to you!" Kamphan insulted me, listing everything from my behavior to my attitude. I almost felt guilty if it weren't for his last remark.

"You've never cursed at anyone the way you did to me?"

"Yeah, I've never done it before, but today, I cursed at you the most, you know?"

"So damn cute," Pug muttered softly, but in my mind, he was just so clueless.

"Then go practice your cursing and come back to try again," I told him.

"Don't you feel any remorse?" He raised his doe-eyed gaze to meet mine.

"Heh... go practice some more, kid," I said, patting his cheek lightly.

"Ugh! You have such a bad attitude!" He swatted my hand away and insulted me again.

"But I'm good-looking, you see?" I countered.

"Who cares?"

"You do," I retorted, and he seemed disgruntled.

"I'm not talking to you anymore. I just wanted to let you know I don't want to date you either! Don't be too full of yourself!" He spun around and walked away, leaving me to smile at his adorable antics.

"God Yoo, you're smiling?!"

"Heh... Kamphan!" I called out to him.

"What now!" The person who had walked up to the front of the building turned back to look at me.

"What if I told you that you're my type?!"

"What?"

"You... you're my type. I like someone like you."

"Shit..." Pug groaned softly while Kamphan's face slowly turned red. I couldn't help but smile at his clueless expression, just like Pug had pointed out before.

"God's fav, huh?"

"God Yoo likes this style, doesn't he?"

"I knew it. I've seen him change his lovers often. So they weren't really his type."

"He's quite cute, you know? That younger guy."

"An engineering student, huh?"

"He's a friend of Mark."

The voices of those in my faculty still floated to my ears, even though the person being talked about had already walked to his car. I just wanted to tease him because teasing made him look cluelessly silly, and when he looked like that, he was cute. And... I had to admit, I really liked that cute behavior of his. But that was just it. I only said it out loud like that, but what happened next was a matter of the future.

"Shit, SHIT."

"Whose shit?" I turned back to ask Pug.

"I don't know, but I'm sure shit's going to happen."

"If some shits happen to you, just tell me later. I'm going to eat first," I said and walked away, leaving him paranoid like a madman.

Dew Dely

Yesterday

Didn't I tell you guys to believe me? When it comes to God Yoo's story, I'm as awesome as his handsome looks. No more rumors now because God Yoo shouted that the guy is God's fav, his favorite type. And that's not just anyone; that's my fourth sweetheart, Kamphan. After Kan, Mark, and Fuse, do I have to lose another of my sweethearts to an architecture graduate now?

5,890 Likes 623 Comments 1,109 Shares

The story of me and that kid got mentioned again on the same page. Dew updated it with even more intensity than before. While the story itself was intense, the comments were even more so.

Nu tella: Check out the attached video clip.

Gee Goodbye: Kamphan is so cuteee.

Tynwarut Turi: Kamphan is surely cute. He's even cuter when he's shy.

Pond Pawee: Damn, that's my little brother.

Pandora: Come see your lil bro, @Yiwaa

Yiwaa: Come see your older bro, @Vee Vivis

Vee Vivis: Damn you, Yoo.

Pug Pana: Don't you dare curse God Yoo.

Bbeam ptv: The person in question is still silent.

MechEngTootsieLi: Just came out of the campus a while ago and I have to go back already?

Nnorthh: Go back for what? @MechEngTootsieLi

MechEngTootsieLi: To protect my lil Kamphan.

TitiNotIronOnly: I'll protect God Yoo's single life and his wild side.

Masa Mark: @Kamphan TankLampOwner

Mark's comment prompted me to look at the name he tagged, and I couldn't help but stare at it. My eyes were fixed, and my heart skipped a beat, but my hand had already tapped on that name.

The kid's Facebook profile with the unusual name looked like any other regular account, mostly filled with pictures tagged by his friends. Besides that, he shared posts about random academic stuff and occasional complaints about the difficulty of studies. Plenty of people followed his account, and he appeared to have many friends because even when he shared nonsense, people still commented.

Unlike me, who rarely posted or shared anything.

Vee Vivis: I told you not to mess with him.

Shortly after I finished reading the comments, a message from my younger brother popped up. It was a simple, straightforward command that I couldn't follow because I'd already done what he had warned me against.

You Yatipat: Too late, I already did.

Vee Vivis: I told you not to, Yoo.

Yoo Yatipat: What's the big deal?

Vee Vivis: The kid isn't like us.

Vee Vivis: He's naive, pure, and adorable.

Yoo Yatipat: If it weren't for the fact that you're with Mark, I'd think you had a crush on him.

Vee Vivis: Everyone in my faculty likes him.

Yoo Yatipat: But it seems like he has a thing for me.

Vee Vivis: He's not someone you should break his heart

I paused at my brother's latest message, wondering why he was so protective. After all, it was just a kid who easily fell for others based on looks. I didn't see what was so special about him. Well, maybe he was a bit cuter than others I'd met.

Yoo Yatipat: And what if I don't make him sad?

Vee Vivis: Then you'll end up falling for him, and that's when the trouble starts.

Yoo Yatipat: What trouble?

Vee Vivis: That kid isn't some easy, flirty plaything like you think.

Yoo Yatipat: But he easily likes me.

Vee Vivis: Damn it! Just don't fall in love with him, okay?

I frowned at the message, not understanding a thing he told me. I had no intention of falling for the kid; I simply admitted he was my type, and that was the extent of it. I didn't know how others might have seen it. The thing about this Kamphan kid was that he intrigued me—the kind you wanted to tease from the first moment you met. If Mark hadn't asked me to back off, I might've kept teasing him more. But then, with both Mark and Vee being so serious about it, I started to think twice.

Why is it such a big deal for them? It's just one kid.

Would they die right here, right now, if I love him? I have feelings, desires, and a set of standards just like theirs. Just saying he's my type has them squirming like they're about to die. If I fall in love or actually start dating him, will they be burned alive or what?

Kamphan TankLampOwner

I looked at the kid's Facebook name again after staring at it since yesterday.

And this time, I hit 'Add Friend'.

Kamphan TankLampOwner accepted your friend request a few seconds ago.

So, you're telling me you don't like me, huh? You accept the request right away; how am I supposed to think you're any different from the others, as Vee claimed? Sigh~ Vee made him sound so difficult, but it doesn't seem that hard after all.

Kamphan TankLampOwner: You go and post to tell everyone that you don't like me.

Kamphan TankLampOwner: Damn it! Everything's so freaking messy right now.

Kamphan TankLampOwner: Even if I am your type and no matter how godly handsome you are, I'd never date you.

Kamphan TankLampOwner: You arrogant being!

You cannot send messages. Learn more.

I was taken aback while I was about to reply. My hand froze, and my mouth probably dropped open a bit. I wanted to yell and curse at him, but now wasn't the time. I just gritted my jaw in frustration, unable to do anything else to him.

That rascal just blocked me!