Elective Courses

"I am a scholarship student." Anurak pointed out, letting New know that he wasn't some money bag. He needed someone to latch onto, not the other way around, okay!

"Cool. That means you are very intelligent. You have to help with my projects and assignments from now on." New was excited about Anurak's status.

"Ain't you a scholarship student too?"

"No. I am not…"

New gave Anurak a curious look.

Why would he think that I was a scholarship student? He checked himself out but still couldn't get it. He was wearing some expensive attire. Where will scholarship students get that kind of money from? Or maybe this new friend doesn't know fashion? Well, that would be understandable…

While New was trying to reevaluate his appearance, Anurak felt like he had placed his toes in his mouth.

He had misjudged New. The richest boys Anurak has ever met were rather pompous. It's either they brag too much, or they don't even talk at all. He hated the ones who didn't talk. They make you feel like ants in their eyes. Even though he knew that Eshin's advice was true and good for him, Anurak was not planning to make friends with any rich student. He was planning to go out of his way to avoid them. It wasn't that Anurak had complex problems. He has just learned the hard way that the only way to stay a man is to remain a man. There is no middle ground. "How can you call yourself a man when you are your age mate's lanky?" He constantly hears his mother's words in his head.

… Just because they have more cash in the bank? With my YouTube channel, I will pave the way to riches for myself. I don't want much. Just enough to make me look good and spoil Sophea, he had thought to himself while agreeing with Eshin outwardly, — back in his room.

Seeing how New was the one that came to him and the guy didn't seem to mind the fact that Anurak was a scholarship student, Anurak decided to just let things develop naturally.

It will not be too late to ask him to fuck off. Since I can't offend him, I might as well tolerate him for now.

Since this guy wants to be my friend so much, it should be mutually beneficial. If he gives me any bullshit, I will just cut him off. But for now, I will keep him around. Anurak sized New up thoughtfully.

"Are you from Bangkok?"

"Yes. And you?"

"Surin," Anurak answered casually. Unaware of the dramatic roll of New's eyes.

I said it. He is the one who doesn't know fashion. Where the hell is Surin on the world map?

"Where is that?" New looked lost.

"Forget it." Anurak waved his hand dismissively. "I need to find my name." He tried to take the list back.

"I have found it already. We have the same course advisor. See…" New showed Anurak his name on the list. Then he pointed to his name. They truly shared the same course advisor.

"Let me take you to his office. It is not as crowded as the others."

Suddenly, New grabbed Anurak's hand, turned around, and started making his way through the corridors.

Completely shocked, Anurak glared at New's back. He wanted to take his hand back, so he tugged.

Realizing what he did, New quickly dropped Anurak's hand.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. Let's go."

Though Anuraka felt strange when New grabbed his hand, he didn't dwell much on that feeling. He leveled up with New so that they started walking side by side instead of him being dragged after New.

As they moved along, Anurak noticed that New's countenance was solemn. He shrugged and ignored it.

Who told him he can drag me like that? What was he thinking? Anurak snorted to himself.

Then a thought occurred to Anurak.

Since New is from Bangkok, he should know all the good places. Instead of waiting for Eshin to show him around, He could just ask New to help him out. The guy might be a good-for-nothing rich kid, but he doesn't seem to be arrogant.

After seeing my course advisor, I will ask him. Anurak decided.

"We are here," New announced as he opened a door and stepped into a waiting room. It is a four – feet wide corridor with two iron benches coated in silver paint. Five people were already seated and waiting with the familiar blue file in their hands.

"Are you taking numbers?" New asked the guy closest to the door.

"No. The line is not long."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Have you seen the advisor before?" Anurak just noticed that New didn't have his Blue file with him.

"Yes. I have. I have been in school for five days now. I am done with registration." He replied.

"Oh." Anurak nodded.

"Bring out your course form. Let me see what you selected."

"I haven't selected any course."

"Oh, good. My brother is also a mechanical engineering student. He is the one who helped me with my elective courses. Since all our major courses are the same. The electives are the only ones we need to worry about."

"True." Anurak nodded. "What did the course advisor say when he saw the electives you chose?"

"He only took a look and nodded before signing the form."

"Wow. Show me the elective you selected then."

Anurak brought out his course form and New started pointing to elective courses for freshmen. He ticked off four. Three would stay with Anurak until sophomore year, while the last one will last until his senior year. The good thing about them was that they carried 2 credit units each.

Anurak's forehead creased. "What if they start clashing with my major courses?"

"They can't."

"How did you know?"

"Because all these courses are within Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical engineering departments. The courses that clash are usually from outside these departments."

"Are you sure?" Anurak didn't want to have the kind of issue Sud was facing.

"My brother is a year three Mechanical engineering student. He is the one who picked my courses. Also, the advisor didn't say anything when I went to show him what I selected. So I am sure there will be no problem."

"Okay." Anurak nodded and started picking the electives New had pointed out. Thereafter, they waited for his turn.

While waiting, Anurak discovered that New was a talker. New has just returned from England, where he had gone to spend his holidays since they left high school. That was almost six months of absolute fun.

Anurak was jealous.

In those six months, apart from the time Anurak spent with Sophea, studying for the scholarship exams and other exams, he spent every other time working his ass off because he knew he would need a lot of money to get through Sunny-Uni if he should make it. That was even before he knew that his father had other plans in store for him. Plans he didn't hesitate to reject. Just imagine if he had slacked off and gallivanted around like New. He would have been messed up pretty badly. It was the money he made in those months that he was using now.

Because he insisted on going for the scholarship instead of cashing out, his father decided not to assist him in any way. He is as good as cut off from his family now.

Anurak didn't just start feeling like a lost stick tossed around by seawater. He started feeling rootless since his mother's death, 8 years ago. She was the only presence and authority in his life. His father, who moved out of the house when he was five, was never there. If not for his mother's death, he wouldn't even have any relationship with his father. Therefore, he always depended on himself for everything.

As long as I work hard, I will be fine.

This was part of the words his mother said to him, hours before she died. Now, it is Anurak's motto.

Shaking off the gloomy thoughts New's chat brought to the surface, Anurak took a deep breath and resolutely decided that he would give whatever it takes to live the best life there is to live in Bangkok. His father, for all intents and purposes, can go to hell.

"Do you have a bike race this weekend? Is that why we wouldn't be going on the tour?" New barged into his thoughts, instantly grabbing his attention but also confusing him.

"What bike race?" Anurak asked with a racing heart. If he could get into bike races, he would make money faster!

"Ain't you a biker? Were you not wearing biking gear this morning?" New asked curiously.

"Oh, yeah. I am a biker."

"So are you racing this weekend?"

"No. I intend to sightsee in the city."

"Oh." The excitement in New's voice dropped while Anurak's eyes started sparkling in anticipation.