Lai

Today's my first day of university. I am so excited. I'll be studying fine arts under some amazing tutors and I'll get to finally live on my own. My dads hadn't liked that idea but thankfully my uncle had told them it would be good for me.

After all, I've always been independent anyway. One of my dads taught me how to cook, especially cakes and other sweet stuff. It makes sense since he's a baker. My other dad is a police officer, he taught me a little self-defence, which he said was a must.

My dad being a baker meant that growing up, there were always lots of delicious things to eat. Which can account for my weight. I wouldn't say I was really big, I've seen bigger women but I wasn't skinny like lots of the girls around me. The last time I weighed myself I was just under 100kg.

My dads were always telling me that I'm beautiful but it was hard to believe them. No one's ever come to talk to me or ask me out and I was always too shy to ask them. There was only one person that ever really talked to me, my best friend, Tine.

Tine's the complete opposite to me. He's outgoing, bubbly and very funny. Everyone always felt good around him. During my senior year of high school, I had an art show and he came up to speak to me. Tine had said he loved my painting, he said it was the best he'd seen. I was so flattered I blushed if he noticed he didn't say.

After that, at school, he would come and sit with me at lunch or he would invite me to have lunch with him and his friends. It was always awkward when I went to sit with them, I had a feeling they didn't like me all that much but they didn't say anything.

After a while, I thought that something was quite right, it had to be. A good-looking and popular guy like him being friends with the unpopular fat kid seemed too good to be true. So, I started avoiding him and his friends. I would have my lunch in the art room and go straight home after school instead of standing and talking around with him.

My life returned to normal, I was depressed and lonely, just like I had been before. However, One lunchtime, Tine cornered me and demanded to know why I was avoiding him. As I thought about it, my reasons seemed silly but I told him honestly. Of course, I expected him to laugh and say it was true. That he couldn't believe I'd taken so long to figure it out.

However, Tine became upset instead. He said he understood why I thought that way but I was wrong. Tine told me he genuinely liked me and wanted to be my friend. He added that he would have approached me sooner but he didn't know how to do it without making me nervous. Then I had my show and he loved my paintings so he found a reason to talk to me.

Since then, he's been my best friend. We even applied to the same university, we were together when we both read the email to say we had the place we wanted. We are also living in the same dorm. His room is only a few doors down from mine and he is studying engineering.

"Lai!"

I jumped at the sound of my name. Tine was running up to me, waving his hand with the biggest grin on his face. We had agreed to walk into the freshy event together.

"Hey, Tine!" I called back as he reached me and gave me one of his signature big hugs.

In high school, when Tine wasn't there, his friends teased me about liking him as more than a friend. I will admit that in the beginning I did have a crush on him but I only ever saw him with thin, beautiful girls. So, I knew I never stood a chance and I told myself, it was fine just to be his friend.

"Are you excited? I can't wait to see what paintings you'll do!" He sounded happier than I did.

"Shouldn't you be happier about your own course, not mine," I laughed.

"Nah, mine's interesting but you know I love your paintings. Come on, it's starting soon," he said excitedly, pulling me along.

---

Several months passed. Both Tine and I were relieved when the freshy event finished. His had been harder than mine physically, but mine was more mentally draining. On my course, there were lots of thin, confident girls that did nothing but tease me whenever there was anything physical to do.

Thankfully, after seeing me so down once again, he forced me to tell him what they were doing. Tine always managed to find a way to cheer for me. Those girls instantly fell for Tine's good looks and started to be nicer to me after they learned I was his best friend. I knew it was just fake so I ignored it as best as I could.

They gave up after a while when he never paid any attention to them. Now they just ignore me or make sly digs at my work. Especially since the teacher praises my paintings more than theirs.

I was currently getting ready to go out with Tine. He had been begging me for weeks to go for a drink with him. I wasn't a big drinker but I decided that I needed to get out more. There weren't many going-out clothes in my closet so I opted for a pair of black jeans, and a black off-the-shoulder top, it was loose around my stomach. When my long brown hair was down it had a natural curl to it that Tine said suited me.

The bar I was meeting Tine at wasn't very big so it meant it wasn't crowded. When I walked in it was well lit and there was a good singer on a small stage.

I stood awkwardly near the entrance looking for Tine but I couldn't see him. As I stood someone from behind me knocked into me as they passed.

"Oops sorry fatty! You were in the way," one of the guys called out as the rest laughed.

"I didn't know an ugly whale was going to be blocking the doorway, I wouldn't have bothered to come in," a girl taunted.

My cheeks flamed and I hung my head in shame. I was about to turn and leave when I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders. I had assumed it was Tine so I relaxed a little. However, I froze when one of the deepest voices I'd ever heard started to speak.

"I think you should look in the mirror first before calling someone else names like that."

In shock, I looked up and an Adonis of a man stood next to me. His long, dark hair was partly tied up in a bun and his face was chiselled and gorgeous. From what I could see of his frame, he was well-muscled but not bulky like a bodybuilder.

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks so I quickly looked away to avoid being caught staring. The group that had bumped and teased me were standing to attention as if they were almost scared to say something wrong.

"At this school, there is zero tolerance for bullying. We respect everyone and treat them as we wish to be treated. She's a fellow student. I'm not saying you have to be friends with her if you or she doesn't want to, but you will be kinder to her and everyone else whilst you study here. Am I clear?"

They nodded and then quickly scurried away. My saviour still hadn't dropped his arm and I was unsure of what to do.

"Th … thank you," I stammered.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"Lai!"

I looked up to see Tine making his way over from the back of the bar. He eyed my saviour wearily as he approached.

"Hello, P'Nodt," he said with a little bow. "Lai are you ok?" he asked, turning his attention to me and P'Nodt's arm that was still wrapped around me.

"Is this your friend, Tine?"

Tine nodded and to my great disappointment, P'Nodt dropped his arm.

"That's good then," he said in a soft voice. "I was worried she was here alone. I'll leave her to you then."

I turned in time to see him walking away with a couple of other guys. Tine gripped my arms and asked me over and over again what happened and if I was ok. I blushed heavily as I recounted the entire event.

"I should have met you at the door, I'm sorry Lai," Tine looked really sad.

I playfully pushed his shoulder and told him to stop. I was a grown woman and could fight my own battles. Even if P'Nodt hadn't stepped in I could have handled it. Well, I would have left to avoid any more taunts.

His friends told him I was right and that's when he realised he hadn't introduced me. He had three friends from his course, Pin, Max and Trip. They seemed a lot friendlier than his friends from high school.

That night I ended up staying out a lot longer than I had planned. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much and enjoyed myself. His friends were friendly and very funny. They didn't seem to care that I was overweight or not as pretty as the other girls. They treated me just as nicely as Tine.

Throughout the night my mind kept wandering back to P'Nodt. I wanted to ask Tine about him but I dared not. Tine wouldn't tease me in a mean way but he would in a playful way and I wouldn't be able to hide my blush.

So, instead, I allowed my mind to wonder about him. If he was still here? If he was having a good time or if he was flirting with some cute, skinny freshmen?