Only Soft For You

Chapter 1 — First Day

Suryakarn University looked less like a university and more like a festival collapsing into chaos.

Music blasted from giant speakers across the campus loud enough to shake nearby windows.

Faculty seniors screamed chants through microphones with terrifying energy despite the heat.

Engineering students jumped together near the fountain while business majors danced badly beside the registration booths.

Somewhere close to the science building, freshmen already looked emotionally broken even though orientation had only started an hour ago.

Completely normal Thai university behavior honestly.

Meanwhile—

near the crowded architecture registration area—

one freshman stood quietly holding far too many bags while trying not to get hit by running seniors.

A serious issue.

Tharin Aiyarak adjusted the strap slipping from his shoulder again before staring down at the orientation map in defeat.

Because honestly?

The campus was enormous.

Dangerously enormous.

And every building somehow looked exactly the same.

A terrible experience for someone who already disliked crowds.

Around him, freshmen laughed excitedly while taking photos together.

Some introduced themselves immediately like lifelong friends.

Others wandered around nervously while pretending not to panic.

Reasonable honestly.

University orientation felt spiritually violent.

Meanwhile—

Tharin carefully stepped aside beneath a shaded tree before checking his phone again.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because only one group of people sent messages this aggressively before nine in the morning.

Family.

A disaster honestly.

The second he unlocked the screen—

notifications flooded the phone immediately.

Aiyarak Family Group Chat

Praew: BABY DID YOU EAT BREAKFAST???

Arthit: Send location.

Khem: Drink enough water today.

Than: Call immediately if uncomfortable.

Chai: Did anyone flirt with you yet?

Tharin physically sighed.

Reasonable honestly.

Because orientation barely started and his family already lost emotional stability.

A serious issue.

Before he could answer—

another message appeared instantly.

Praew: Also don’t trust strangers.

Arthit: Especially handsome men.

Khem: Or loud people.

Chai: Basketball players are emotionally dangerous.

Silence.

Then slowly—

Tharin: Why specifically basketball players?

Immediately—

Chai: Trauma.

Psychotic answer honestly.

Tharin shook his head slightly before typing another message.

Tharin: I’m fine. Stop worrying.

The typing bubbles instantly appeared again.

Terrifying honestly.

Than: Impossible.

Correct honestly.

Because the Aiyarak family worrying about Tharin became natural years ago.

Ever since their parents passed away, his older brothers practically dedicated their lives to taking care of him.

Not that Tharin fully understood how extreme they became over time.

A dangerous lack of awareness honestly.

Because at that exact moment—

less than twenty feet away—

a man pretending to scroll through orientation schedules quietly observed the surrounding crowd carefully.

Another stood near the parking area speaking softly through a hidden earpiece beneath his sleeve.

Neither looked suspicious.

Both professionally monitored everything around Tharin without him noticing at all.

Completely normal Aiyarak family behavior honestly.

Meanwhile—

Tharin remained entirely unaware while struggling with the heavy drawing tube hanging awkwardly against his side.

A disaster honestly.

Because he was currently carrying:

* one backpack,

* one tote bag,

* one architecture drawing case,

* two drink holders,

* snacks packed by Praew,

* desserts packed by Khem,

* medicine packed by Than,

* and enough food to survive a natural disaster.

Normal family behavior according to his brothers.

Psychotic behavior according to everyone else.

As Tharin carefully crossed the crowded courtyard, someone suddenly slammed into his shoulder from the side.

A complete disaster.

The drinks tilted immediately.

His papers flew everywhere across the ground.

The drawing tube rolled dramatically toward the middle walkway while nearby students gasped like witnessing national tragedy.

Reasonable honestly.

Architecture students treated papers like emotional support objects.

Meanwhile—

Tharin froze completely.

A serious issue.

Because those papers included:

* class schedules,

* orientation forms,

* faculty maps,

* and sketches he organized until two in the morning.

Before panic fully settled—

someone crouched beside him quietly.

Then calmly started gathering the papers first.

Large hands.

Black jacket sleeves rolled slightly upward.

Silver watch catching sunlight briefly.

And somehow—

the atmosphere around the person immediately felt different.

Students nearby physically became quieter.

A dangerous sign honestly.

Tharin looked up automatically.

Then froze again.

Because Aran Rattanakosin was kneeling beside him.

A complete disaster.

Even Tharin—who only transferred recently—recognized him immediately.

Everyone knew Aran.

Campus star.

Basketball captain.

Business faculty senior.

Rich.

Popular.

Cold.

The type of person students admired from far away because approaching him felt terrifying naturally.

Around them, whispers spread almost immediately.

“That’s Aran.”

“Why is he helping someone?”

“Oh my god he actually picked up the papers himself.”

Reasonable reactions honestly.

Because apparently—

Aran Rattanakosin usually ignored most people.

Meanwhile—

Aran quietly stacked the papers together before handing them back calmly.

Then finally looked properly at the freshman sitting beside him.

And suddenly—

his thoughts stopped for one second.

A serious issue honestly.

Because the freshman was unfairly attractive.

Soft-looking without trying.

Clear pale skin.

Dark eyes slightly overwhelmed by the crowd.

And a face that made people instinctively want to protect him.

Dangerous realization honestly.

For several seconds—

Aran simply stared.

Which honestly almost never happened.

A terrifying development.

Meanwhile—

Tharin carefully accepted the papers back with both hands automatically.

Polite.

Gentle.

Respectful.

Tharin: “Thank you.”

Soft voice.

Quiet tone.

And somehow—

that affected Aran more than expected.

A serious issue.

Because suddenly—

the loud orientation noise around them seemed less irritating.

Nearby students openly stared now.

Some secretly took pictures already.

A disaster honestly.

Because:

1. Aran voluntarily helped someone.

2. He was still standing there afterward.

3. He kept looking at the freshman.

Campus gossip basically created itself.

Before anyone could speak again—

another voice suddenly exploded nearby dramatically.

Chai: “NONG RIN!”

Silence.

Then immediately—

a tall student rushed toward them holding iced coffee and absolutely no emotional stability.

A terrifying combination honestly.

Chai stopped beside Tharin before instantly noticing Aran standing there.

Then slowly—

his eyebrows lifted.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because Chai loved gossip almost as much as breathing.

A serious character flaw.

Chai: “…Oh?”

Tharin immediately looked spiritually exhausted.

Reasonable honestly.

Because that specific “oh” never led anywhere safe.

Tharin: “Phi Chai please don’t start.”

Too late honestly.

Chai already looked emotionally invested.

Meanwhile—

Aran quietly watched the interaction between them.

And for the first time—

he noticed something else.

Tharin wasn’t naturally soft with everyone.

Around strangers:

careful,

quiet,

reserved.

But with someone familiar?

His shoulders relaxed slightly.

His tone became lighter.

More natural.

That difference mattered more than expected.

A dangerous realization honestly.

Because suddenly—

Aran wanted to become someone Tharin felt comfortable around too.

A terrifying thought.

Chai glanced between them again before finally speaking politely toward Aran.

Chai: “Thanks for helping my cousin.”

Aran nodded once.

Simple.

Calm.

Then unexpectedly—

his eyes shifted toward the number of bags surrounding Tharin again.

A serious concern honestly.

Aran: “Why is he carrying all that himself?”

Silence.

Then Chai burst into laughter immediately.

A terrible sign.

Chai: “Because his brothers think university orientation is life-threatening.”

Correct honestly.

Tharin looked embarrassed immediately afterward.

Because unfortunately—

that was true.

A serious issue.

Before anyone could continue speaking—

an architecture senior suddenly screamed through a microphone nearby.

Architecture Senior: “FIRST-YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS OVER HERE!”

Freshmen immediately started panicking spiritually while rushing toward the faculty line.

Completely normal orientation behavior honestly.

Tharin quickly adjusted his bags again before trying to lift the heavy drawing tube awkwardly.

Then instantly—

Aran reached over and picked it up first.

Silence.

Real silence.

Because somehow—

Aran Rattanakosin carrying a freshman’s belongings looked deeply unbelievable.

A disaster honestly.

Even Chai looked surprised for one second.

Reasonable honestly.

Meanwhile—

less than thirty feet away—

one hidden bodyguard quietly touched the earpiece beneath his collar.

Bodyguard: “Target assisted by male student. No threat detected.”

Across Bangkok—

inside a black luxury car—

Than Aiyarak listened calmly while reviewing documents from a business meeting.

Then quietly asked:

Than: “Describe him.”

Meanwhile—

completely unaware of any of this—

Tharin looked toward Aran nervously.

Tharin: “You really don’t have to help me.”

Aran looked down at him calmly.

Then simply answered:

Aran: “You’re holding too much.”

Silence.

Then somehow—

Tharin’s chest felt strangely warm for one second.

A serious issue honestly.

Because usually strangers avoided involvement.

But Aran helped without hesitation.

And honestly?

That surprised him more than expected.

Then naturally—

before thinking carefully—

Tharin smiled slightly.

Small.

Real.

Not the polite smile from earlier.

Softer.

Warmer.

Because he genuinely appreciated the help.

And unfortunately—

that tiny difference affected Aran immediately.

A dangerous problem.

Because suddenly—

Aran realized something terrifying.

He wanted to see that smile again.

Meanwhile—

Tharin hurried toward the architecture freshmen beside Chai completely unaware of the emotional destruction left behind him.

A terrifying level of obliviousness honestly.

Near the center walkway—

Aran remained standing still for several seconds afterward while holding the drawing tube.

Which honestly shocked nearby students already.

Then finally—

Natee walked over carrying basketball practice forms while staring suspiciously at him.

Natee: “Why are you standing here looking emotionally possessed?”

Silence.

Then slowly—

Aran looked toward the architecture freshmen disappearing into the crowd.

And for the first time in years—

something unfamiliar settled heavily inside his chest.

Not annoyance.

Not boredom.

Not curiosity alone either.

Something far more dangerous honestly.

Then quietly—

Aran asked:

Aran: “…Who was that?”