After class, I had lunch with my classmate, the same group with Boss. I was delighted. Even though they almost didn't notice I was around, they didn't forget to look for me.

I had an English class in the afternoon and in the evening there was a freshmen activity again. I heard from Boss that today would be a buddy-code family activity.

Buddy-code family in college was different from common buddy games. The code number in this buddy was our student-faculty number which was sorted by the Thai alphabet. All seniors, freshmen, and also alumni with the same faculty and student number in each year would be in the same buddy-code family.

So this activity wasn't just temporary, it would keep going on until we graduated. Everyone within the same buddy-code would always help each other and get together at least once a year — the time of welcoming a new first-year member. It was like a sort of family-friendship bond.

I was really excited because I didn't have this kind of activity during my primary or high school. Despite no friends in university, at least I would have the buddy-code family helping each other during my four-year of studying here, and even after graduation, this family bond would still keep going.

At least, a fading person like me would have a buddy senior taking care. Anyway, who would be my buddy senior? I couldn't wait to know.

Today all freshmen gathered in the building courtyard. I was surprised as our faculty building was full of people.

"Hello, freshy! How are you today?" P'Tong spoke by megaphone.

"How was the first day of the university? Let's have fun with the activity that everyone is waiting for—The buddy-code family activity!"

"Hooray!" All the seniors were excited.

"As you can see, today our faculty is especially crowded because today all seniors are gonna take you to a buddy-code family dinner! It's great, right? The elders - our fourth-year or alumni seniors will treat you a free meal."

Some friends who loved activities were clapping hands, excitedly.

"However, if it's too easy, it won't be fun. So, we have a little fun game prepared for you, freshy."

Another activity? I was worried. A fading person like me would be in trouble.

"We already placed the code with your name on the dining table. All freshmen can find yours there. Seniors already wrote down your mission, and prepared some special equipment if needed. When you get a mission, you can do it here, at the building courtyard. We'll keep an eye on you until the elder is satisfied. Then they'll go to take you to dinner."

Oh...didn't start yet, I already got nervous. If I did the activity among the crowd, I wondered whether the seniors would see me.

"Are you ready, freshy?"

"Yes."

"Your voice was too low, louder, please! Otherwise, we'll go back, and you'll miss your free meal."

"Yes!!!"

When hearing of 'free meals' everyone shouted so loud.

Thereafter, They let us begin our buddy-code mission. I walk to the table in the last row. I knew my student number should be around the last because my first name started with the second-to-last letter in Thai alphabet.

101 was my buddy-code family number.

Found it.

'101 Archawin (Win)'

There was my name placed on the table.

I tried to find if there was any mission written, I looked around — on the table, beside the table, and under the table — not found. But the other tables near me, already placed the mission. Some people even had equipments like masks, dresses, or whatever regarding to the mission

I heard the loud cheering voice in the building courtyard. My friends already started the mission. Some were dancing, some did a parade walk, some climbed on the wall, some handed brochures, some even helped seniors to sell products, there were all kinds of creative missions.

What was mine? I didn't even see a single mission paper. What should I do?

I hesitated for a while. It might be a mistake. So I decided to ask P'Noey who was taking a photo of freshy dancing. P'Noey seemed to be the only seniors who noticed my existence. Despite forgetting my name.

"P'Noey krub, P'Noey..." I called her three times until she turned to me.

"Oh! What's up? Nong...What's your name? Why don't you do a mission?" P'Noey asked.

"Well, I couldn't find my mission paper." I told her.

"Huh?" She looked confused. "What's your code number?"

"101 krub."

"Eh! What is the 101 code number?" P'Noey exclaimed.

I felt like having my heart in my boots. Wait, I was that beyond invisible, even the seniors didn't know that my code number existed.

"Tong." P'Noey asked the activity leader.

"Is there a 101 code number this year?"

P'Tong was thinking for a moment, then he nodded.

"Yes, normally our faculty only admit one hundred students per year. However, if some year there are students who get admitted with the equal lowest score, then it'd have more than one hundred."

"Eh! So then, Nong 101 code won't have any buddy family right? Because every year there were only one hundred students."

I felt like my soul was blown away, hopelessly. It couldn't be true. My sweet dream of a happy buddy family was ruined. All ruined. I wasn't just non-existent, but my buddy-code didn't even exist. No way! The Win life of mine only could be the poor pity wind. How tragic.

"Hmm...but our year was like this year. We had a 101 code number."

What P'Tong said gave me a light at the end of the tunnel. Well, my buddy family might not be so big with a lot of members from every year. At least, just only one buddy senior was enough, better than no one.

"Eh? Our year? 101 code number? Who? Ahhh!"

P'Noey was suddenly screaming, but she immediately shut her mouth when P'Tong poked her with his elbow as if warning.

"Nong krub." P'Tong talked to me.

"Just wait for a second. I'll find the way to give you a buddy-code mission."

Then, P'Tong was typing on his cell phone, later on, he told me.

"Well, your buddy senior was busy this afternoon, he just arrived here. Now you can go to see your mission."

"Thank you so much," I said, a bit confused.

So that I couldn't find mine before because my buddy senior was busy working somewhere. Now he was already here. I understood. I got back to check again.

Finally, on the table which was only placed my code and name, now I saw the mission paper with...a short, very short, so short, extremely short written.

'Sweep leaves'

Wasn't too short? I scratched my head. It was kind of short as could be barely seen. Other friends' mission was at least completing the sentence with subject, verb, object, or preposition. But for mine, no comment.

Anyway, it had a broom and dustpan placed together.

"Alright, sweep, just sweep."

I picked up the cleaning equipment and walked to the building garden yard. Here it was quiet as most people were gathering in the courtyard. Although it was a little isolated, I was relieved. Hoping my buddy senior would see me as I was the only person here.

I began sweeping. The grating sound of bloom and stone tile could take pleasure in. I was concentrating for a few minutes, later, I was distracted. Sweeping while watching birds and trees.

I loved the garden here. Although it was just a small garden surrounded by buildings. Nevertheless, because of those buildings, making it like a small green oasis among the desert— felt at ease to look at.

I was sweeping and wiped my sweat. I didn't do a timer counting, so I didn't know how long it had taken. However, long enough for me to feel tired.

"Take a break," I told myself. Sitting on the bench near the tree.

"Not clean yet."

Suddenly, a voice said. I was startled. This voice was so familiar.

"P'In?" I widen my eyes. When I saw P'In was leaning his back against the tree. He was looking at me, emotionless, like always.

Today was the first day of the semester. I saw P'In wearing a university uniform for the first time. It was a long-sleeve white shirt and black trousers. I felt like this XU uniform was very suitable for P'In. Especially a tiny golden Unistar pin on his shirt, it was a symbol only for Unistar members. I had seen a group photo of Unistar members wearing a university uniform, it was stunning. The significance of the Unistar pin was probably like a gear of engineering faculty.[5]

"Oh..." I stood up immediately. Continued sweeping.

I glanced at P'In while sweeping. He was still looking at me calmly, but I felt a bit pressured.

Did P'In feel trouble about the floor wasn't cleaned? I thought. Or else, it might ruin his scenery for taking photos.

I didn't understand. But I still kept sweeping until it was clean. I took the falling leaves to the trash bin.

I was done, but P'In still stayed here.

"Okay," He nodded. "wash hands."

"Huh?" I blinked with confusion.

Did my dirty hand also trouble him? I couldn't understand. Anyway, I already intended to wash my hands. I moved to the washbasin nearby canteen.

When the water was flowing through my hand, I was surprised that P'In did follow me.

"P'In? so...do you wanna talk to me?" I was nervous by the way he followed me as if I did something wrong.

I didn't do anything to P'In right? Perhaps, he wanted me to help with something. I didn't understand either. P'In was such an unpredictable person.

"Let's go," P'In said shortly.

"Huh? where to go?" I was confused.

"What do you want to eat?" P'In asked with a monotone voice.

I blinked my eyes, again and again. Why did he ask that?

"P'In...are you hungry?" I asked back, almost whispering.

"Treat you." He replied.

"Huh? why do you want to treat me?" I was stunned.

Why was the famous Unistar moon offered to treat me a meal — treat a fading invisible me? Why?

"Buddy-code treats," P'In said.

His answer was being summered in my head.

Treat...buddy-code — and today was the buddy-code family activity.

And I just finished a sweeping-leaves mission.

P'Tong had said, when a buddy senior was satisfied with our mission, they would come to take us and treat a meal.

When I sorted all my thoughts, everything was make-sense.

Then, I widened my eyes, widely.

"Oh my god!" I was shocked.

"P'In! you're my buddy-code senior!?"

"What do you want to eat?" He didn't answer my question.

Well, I wouldn't plan to answer his question as well. I was too excited to think about the meal.

"Really? P'In!? Your student code is 101 too?"

"Yes." Now, he replied.

Oh, right! P'Tong also said that this year there were only first-year and third-year, which had 101 students. Plus, P'In's first name — Intrakorn, in Thai, the first letter was the same as mine.

"Will we go now?" P'In asked, as he saw me still standing.

"Alright!" I smile happily.

Wow! I couldn't believe it. I had never been this happy in my whole life. Well, sometimes bad luck brought good luck.

Then I agreed that the blue sky after the rainstorm was indeed beautiful.

My buddy-code senior was a UNISTAR! It felt like a dream!

☽------------☽

Footnote:

[5] A gear of engineering faculty is the symbol badge of the engineering faculty in many Thai universities; the shape is like a mechanical gear. People would acknowledge that a student who put on engineering gear is from the faculty of engineering.