Only Soft For You

Chapter 6 — Rumors Across Campus

By early evening, the entire university somehow developed a new favorite topic.

A serious issue honestly.

And unfortunately—

that topic was:

Aran Rattanakosin spending almost the entire day beside an architecture freshman.

A complete disaster.

Near the central courtyard, students openly whispered while pretending not to stare.

Some seniors looked emotionally invested already.

Others acted like they personally witnessed the beginning of a romance drama unfolding live on campus.

Reasonable honestly.

Because even people who barely knew Aran understood something strange was happening.

A serious issue.

Aran Rattanakosin normally:

* avoided unnecessary conversations,

* ignored random attention,

* and rarely stayed around people longer than required.

Yet today?

He voluntarily followed architecture activities for hours.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Meanwhile—

completely unaware of how famous he became within one day—

Tharin quietly stood near the architecture faculty banner while seniors prepared everyone for group photos.

The evening sky glowed orange above campus.

Music still blasted from orientation stages nearby.

Freshmen wandered everywhere carrying drinks and snacks while taking endless pictures together.

Some students already looked emotionally attached after surviving orientation side by side all day.

Trauma bonding honestly.

A powerful thing.

Near the photography area, architecture seniors struggled to organize freshmen into proper rows.

Failing horribly.

Because nobody listened correctly.

A serious issue.

Architecture Senior: “Tall people in the back!”

Immediate chaos followed.

Several students moved the wrong direction.

One freshman nearly tripped over a bag.

Another accidentally knocked over a banner stand dramatically.

Completely normal orientation behavior honestly.

Meanwhile—

Tharin quietly stayed near the side while waiting for instructions.

Not hiding exactly.

Just naturally avoiding crowded centers.

A habit built from experience honestly.

Because attention usually became exhausting eventually.

Then suddenly—

someone stopped beside him calmly.

And immediately—

nearby students started whispering again.

A serious issue for public peace honestly.

Because of course it was Aran.

A disaster.

Tharin looked up automatically.

Then softly—

Tharin: “You’re still here?”

Aran answered simply.

Aran: “Mn.”

Psychotic honestly.

Because somehow—

he said that like staying beside Tharin the entire day felt completely normal already.

A terrifying development.

Nearby—

Chai silently stared toward the sky afterward.

Chai: “I’m witnessing emotional destruction in real time.”

Correct honestly.

Meanwhile—

one architecture senior finally noticed Aran standing near the freshmen group.

Then immediately froze.

Reasonable honestly.

Because apparently—

seeing Aran voluntarily hanging around architecture students still looked unbelievable.

The senior blinked several times before cautiously speaking.

Architecture Senior: “…Senior Aran?”

Aran glanced toward him calmly.

Aran: “Hm?”

The senior visibly hesitated afterward.

Then awkwardly—

Architecture Senior: “Do you… need something from the architecture faculty?”

Silence.

Then quietly—

Aran answered:

Aran: “No.”

Another pause.

Then—

Aran: “I’m waiting.”

Real silence followed immediately afterward.

Because somehow—

that answer sounded way too meaningful emotionally.

A serious issue.

Nearby students immediately lost emotional stability.

Several freshmen physically turned toward Tharin automatically.

A complete disaster honestly.

Meanwhile—

Tharin wanted the earth to swallow him spiritually.

Reasonable honestly.

Because WHY would Aran answer like that?

A serious issue.

Beside him—

Chai looked moments away from collapsing from entertainment.

Coward behavior honestly.

Chai: “…Oh he’s definitely serious.”

Tharin immediately looked alarmed.

Tharin: “Phi Chai.”

Chai: “I said nothing.”

Lying honestly.

A terrible lie.

Before the situation could become worse—

the architecture senior loudly clapped for attention again.

Architecture Senior: “Okay! Freshmen photos first!”

Students slowly gathered afterward while seniors rearranged rows dramatically.

Unfortunately—

Tharin instinctively moved toward the back again.

Because honestly?

He preferred blending into crowds whenever possible.

Less attention.

Less pressure.

Safer emotionally.

A habit difficult to break.

Before he could fully disappear into the back row—

someone lightly caught the sleeve of his hoodie.

Silence.

Tharin turned automatically.

And froze.

Because Aran still held the edge of his sleeve casually.

A complete disaster honestly.

Then calmly—

Aran: “You should stand in front.”

Real silence settled briefly afterward.

Because somehow—

that small action affected Tharin way more than expected.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Aran looked completely calm externally.

Internally?

Absolute chaos honestly.

Because touching Tharin’s sleeve felt strangely natural already.

Dangerous realization.

Tharin carefully pulled the sleeve back afterward before answering quietly.

Tharin: “I’m okay here.”

Aran studied him silently for one second.

Then unexpectedly—

Aran: “You always move away when people look at you.”

Silence.

Because somehow—

that statement hit too accurately.

A serious issue honestly.

Tharin looked away immediately afterward.

Meanwhile—

Aran noticed another detail clearly now.

Whenever crowds became larger—

Tharin instinctively made himself smaller.

Stayed quieter.

Moved toward corners naturally.

Like too much attention genuinely exhausted him.

Dangerous observation honestly.

Because suddenly—

Aran wanted to stand beside him even more.

A terrifying development.

Eventually the architecture seniors forced everyone into proper rows for photos.

Unfortunately—

one senior suddenly noticed Aran still standing nearby.

Then immediately smiled suspiciously.

A dangerous sign honestly.

Architecture Senior: “Senior Aran!”

Silence.

Then dramatically—

Architecture Senior: “Since you’re already here, join the photo!”

Immediate screaming exploded across the courtyard.

A complete disaster honestly.

Because apparently—

nobody expected him to say that out loud.

Meanwhile—

Tharin’s soul nearly left his body spiritually.

Reasonable honestly.

Because adding Aran into the architecture freshmen picture sounded emotionally unsafe.

A serious issue.

Across the crowd—

Aran looked calm.

As usual.

Then after one second—

he stepped forward naturally.

Real silence followed.

Because somehow—

Aran agreeing without hesitation shocked everyone.

Even Chai froze briefly.

A terrifying achievement honestly.

Nearby students immediately started whispering louder again.

Phones appeared instantly.

Several people openly stared without shame.

Reasonable honestly.

Because visually—

Aran and Tharin standing beside each other looked unfair together.

A serious public issue.

The architecture seniors excitedly rearranged everyone for the photo.

And unfortunately—

Aran ended up standing directly beside Tharin.

A complete disaster.

Because suddenly—

their shoulders nearly touched.

Too close.

Way too close honestly.

Then quietly—

the senior holding the camera yelled:

Architecture Senior: “Everyone smile!”

Immediate chaos followed.

Some students made peace signs.

Others laughed dramatically.

Meanwhile—

Tharin instinctively smiled softly toward the camera.

Not the careful polite smile he used around strangers.

This one happened naturally because the atmosphere finally felt lighter somehow.

Relaxed.

Comfortable.

Real.

And beside him—

Aran froze briefly after seeing it.

Because honestly?

That smile looked beautiful.

A dangerous realization.

The camera flashed several times afterward.

Then immediately—

students rushed toward friends excitedly to check photos together.

Meanwhile—

Aran quietly remained beside Tharin.

Still close.

Still watching him occasionally.

And honestly?

At this point even Tharin started realizing something terrifying.

Aran genuinely liked staying near him.

A serious issue honestly.

Then unexpectedly—

one architecture girl approached nervously while holding her phone.

Architecture Girl: “Um… Rin?”

Tharin looked toward her politely.

Tharin: “Hm?”

The girl visibly relaxed afterward.

Because despite being reserved—

Tharin always answered gently when approached kindly.

Then awkwardly—

Architecture Girl: “Can we add each other? For faculty updates.”

Silence.

Before Tharin could answer—

another freshman approached too.

Then another.

And somehow—

within minutes—

several architecture students gathered around him naturally.

Not because he acted cute.

Not because he tried attracting attention.

Just because being around him felt comfortable somehow.

Meanwhile—

Aran quietly watched the interaction beside the banner area.

And slowly realized something important.

Tharin didn’t pull people toward himself intentionally.

People simply wanted to stay around him naturally.

Dangerous realization honestly.

Because suddenly—

Aran understood he was becoming exactly the same.