Beyond rivalry

Unwanted partners

Than stared at the notice board without blinking.

The names remained exactly where they had been a second ago.

Business Administration – Thanawat Rattanakul

Digital Media – Narin Chaiyasit

Semester Project Partner

There had to be a mistake.

He checked the list again.

Then a third time.

The names did not change.

Around him, students reacted to their own pairings with excitement, disappointment, or relief.

"I got my best friend!"

"Oh no, we're in different groups."

"This is going to be fun!"

Than heard none of it.

His attention stayed fixed on one name.

Narin Chaiyasit.

The student who had nearly knocked him over less than an hour ago.

"What are the chances?" Phuwin said, stepping beside him with an amused smile.

Than let out a quiet breath.

"Very low."

"I don't know." Phuwin shrugged. "The university has over eight thousand students. Somehow you still ended up with the one guy who crashed into you."

"That's exactly my concern."

Phuwin laughed.

"I think it'll be interesting."

"I don't."

A few meters away, Narin was still staring at the notice board as if it had personally betrayed him.

"No way..."

Krit squeezed through the crowd and looked over his shoulder.

"You found your partner?"

"I found my problem."

Krit read the list.

Thanawat Rattanakul.

"The Business Administration guy?"

"The one with the papers."

"The one you crashed into?"

"The very same."

Krit tried to stay serious...He failed.

A laugh escaped before he could stop it.

"You think this is funny?"

"A little."

"Nin!"

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

"...Not really."

Narin sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck.

"First impressions matter."

"They do."

"And mine involved sending his notes flying across campus."

Krit nodded sympathetically.

"You've definitely set a memorable one."

Students gradually drifted away from the notice board, discussing their new partners.

Some immediately exchanged phone numbers.

Others introduced themselves for the first time.

Narin looked around the courtyard.

"If I have to work with him all semester..."

He scanned the crowd.

"I should probably find him."

At almost the same moment, Than closed his notebook and turned away from the notice board.

Their eyes met across the courtyard.

For a brief second, both of them froze.

Narin forced a smile and gave an awkward wave.

Than hesitated....then nodded politely.

Neither moved.

Neither seemed eager to walk toward the other.

Phuwin glanced between them.

"Are you two planning to communicate through eye contact all semester?"

Krit laughed from the other side.

"I was wondering the same thing."

Narin scratched his cheek before finally taking a deep breath.

"Well..."

He adjusted the strap of his backpack.

"Might as well get this over with."

He started walking toward Than.

With every step, he wondered how on earth he was supposed to work with someone who barely spoke.

Meanwhile, Than watched Narin approach.

He had already reached one conclusion.

This semester was not going to go according to plan.

Narin stopped a few steps away from Than.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Students passed by, laughing with their new partners and making plans for the semester. The cheerful atmosphere around them only made the silence between the two even more noticeable.

Narin cleared his throat.

"So... looks like we're partners."

"It appears so," Than replied.

Narin let out a small laugh.

"I was hoping the notice board had made a typo."

"So was I."

The words were spoken calmly, without a hint of sarcasm, but they landed harder than Narin expected.

"Ouch."

Than looked at him.

"I didn't mean it personally."

"I know." Narin smiled weakly. "Still hurts a little."

Phuwin quietly nudged Than with his elbow.

Than ignored him.

Trying to keep the conversation alive, Narin rubbed the back of his neck.

"Since we'll be working together for a while... maybe we should exchange phone numbers?"

"That's reasonable."

Than unlocked his phone and handed it over.

Narin blinked.

"You trust me with your phone?"

"I'll be watching."

Narin chuckled.

"Fair enough."

He entered his contact information before handing the phone back.

"There.",Than saved the contact.

"Narin."

"You can just call me Nin if you want."

"I'll stick with Narin."

"Okay..."

Another awkward silence settled between them.

Krit, who had been watching from nearby, leaned toward Phuwin.

"This is painful."

"I know."

"I've seen statues have better conversations."

Phuwin struggled to hide a laugh.

Professor Ananda's voice suddenly echoed across the courtyard.

"Everyone assigned to the interdisciplinary project, please gather in Lecture Hall Three."

The four students turned toward the announcement.

One by one, they began walking in the same direction.

Narin glanced sideways at Than.

"You always walk this quietly?"

"I don't usually have anything to say."

"I usually have too much to say."

"I noticed."

Narin laughed.

"You know, that might be the longest conversation we've had."

Than looked ahead, but the corner of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

It was gone in an instant.

Narin wasn't sure if he'd imagined it.

Maybe this partnership wouldn't be easy.

But for the first time since reading the notice board, he felt a tiny spark of curiosity.

Who exactly was Thanawat Rattanakul behind that calm expression?

And though Than would never admit it, he found himself asking a similar question.

Who was Narin Chaiyasit... when he wasn't crashing into people?

The hallway leading to Lecture Hall Three was crowded with students from different departments. Some were introducing themselves to their partners, while others were already discussing ideas for the semester project.

Than and Narin walked side by side, separated by an awkward silence.

Narin wasn't used to silence.

"So..." he began. "What do you think the project's going to be?"

"I'm not sure."

"You've got no guesses?"

"I prefer waiting for the official instructions."

Narin sighed dramatically.

"You really do everything by the book, don't you?"

"It's usually the safest approach."

"Sounds... exhausting."

Than glanced at him,"It works for me."

Narin smiled to himself, "He's impossible."

When they reached the lecture hall, almost every seat was occupied.

Professor Ananda stood at the front, adjusting the projector.

The room gradually fell silent.

"Good afternoon, everyone," the professor began. "Congratulations on being selected for this year's interdisciplinary collaboration project."

A slideshow appeared on the screen behind him.

Theme: Building Communities Through Innovation

"The purpose of this project," Professor Ananda continued, "is to bring students from different faculties together. In the real world, success rarely comes from working only with people who think like you."

Several students nodded.

Others exchanged nervous glances with their partners.

"Over the next four months, each pair will design a proposal that addresses a real problem affecting local communities. You'll research it, interview people, create a presentation, and submit a final report."

Murmurs spread through the room.

"This project is worth fifty percent of your final grade."

The murmurs instantly became louder.

Professor Ananda smiled knowingly.

"I see I have your attention."

Narin leaned toward Than and whispered, "Fifty percent? That's terrifying."

Without looking at him, Than replied quietly, "Which is why we can't afford to take it lightly."

Narin nodded.

For the first time, he realized this wasn't just another assignment.

It was something that could shape both of their futures.

And whether they liked it or not...

They were in it together.

Professor Ananda clicked to the next slide, revealing a list of requirements.

"For your first submission," he said, "I don't want solutions yet. I want understanding. Before you can solve a problem, you must first understand the people affected by it."

He looked around the lecture hall, making eye contact with several students.

"Each pair will choose one community issue and submit a proposal within two weeks. It could involve education, the environment, mental health, accessibility, public spaces, or any other challenge you believe deserves attention."

He paused before adding, "This project isn't about getting the highest grade. It's about learning to work with someone whose strengths and weaknesses are different from your own."

Narin couldn't help glancing at Than.

Different was definitely one way to describe them.

Professor Ananda continued, "Before you leave today, every pair must schedule their first meeting. I expect all of you to begin working immediately."

The lecture ended with the sound of chairs scraping across the floor as students gathered their belongings.

"So..." Narin said, slipping his notebook into his backpack. "When are you free?"

Than opened the calendar on his phone.

"Tomorrow. Four o'clock. University library."

Narin stared at him.

"You already checked your schedule?"

"I keep it updated."

Narin laughed softly.

"I usually just hope I remember."

"I noticed."

There it was again, that almost invisible hint of humor in Than's voice.

Narin smiled.

"Library at four it is. And don't worry..."

He extended his hand with a grin.

"I promise I won't crash into you this time."

Than looked at the offered hand for a brief moment before shaking it.

"I'll hold you to that."

Neither of them realized it, but that simple handshake marked the true beginning of their partnership.

Whether it would end in disaster or friendship...

Only time would tell.