When deadlines and family responsibilities collude with the heart.
The semester had hit its crazy point—assigments piling up, presentations looming, exams looming over the shoulders of everyone. Fah was already in over his head with his robot project when his cell phone buzzed with a text from home.
> Mom: Don't forget. Your uncle's company is banking on you to work there this summer. No excuses.
Fah sighed, tracing his fingers along his temple. His family never did understand him. To them, engineering was a stepping stone into a "respectable" corporate job, not an art to be adored.
"Trouble?"
Fah looked up to see Tawan sliding into the chair across from him, coffee mug in front of him, as though he had a right to claim every corner of Fah's life.
"Family business," Fah growled. "They're making me do an internship I don't want.".
Tawan's eyebrow flew up. "Sounds familiar. My parents are convinced medicine is my one and only personality trait."
Fah smiled, the dam of his feelings faltering. "You ever get tired of fighting it?"
"All the time," Tawan admitted, his voice quieter than usual. He reached across the table and gently nudged Fah's notebook aside. "But I've learned something. If you're going to wear yourself out, at least do it running after what you want. Otherwise, what's the point?
Fah stared at him, stunned for a moment by the rare honesty. "You make it sound so easy."
"It's not," Tawan said, shrugging. "But it helps when you've got someone in your corner."
The words lingered, heavier than their usual banter. Fah felt the knot in his chest loosen, just a little. He hadn't realized how badly he needed someone to say that—especially Tawan.
Their brief silence was disrupted when one of Fah's professors appeared, reminding him of the project presentation the next day. Fah leaned up, dragging his hands through his hair. "Great. Like I need another reason to freak out."
Tawan smiled, reclining forward. "Don't worry. I'll be front row, being stunningly handsome. That should keep your spirits up."
Fah laughed despite himself. "You're unbelievable."
"And you love it," Tawan replied without consideration, winking.
As they left the library side by side, shoulders touching in the fading light of day, Fah found something important: the world might demand perfection, family might burden with expectation, and school might suffocate—but by Tawan's side, it seemed somewhat bearable.
Maybe even worth it.