Solo The Unexpected

Since all of the students went home on Summer holiday, Lesmana decided to move his things from Swanton Morley to Hogwarts, since he would spend most of his days there. He has no one to come back for Christmas or any holiday after all. He was all alone.

The house of his father's connection was still the same. The only difference was the thick dust which covered all the furniture. Lesmana started cleaning the house using all the cleaning charms he knew, making sure not a single dirty spot remained. He threw out some expired potion ingredients he had forgotten to bring to Hogwarts last March. Humming softly, the man carried out the entire cleaning process and lost track of time.

It wasn't until he found an old photo, slipping and falling from an old diary he had forgotten. Two boys were sitting side by side with a big grin on their faces, evoking nostalgia. At the back of the photo, the distinct, messy handwriting was still clearly visible:

Though we’ll be apart after graduation, let’s not forget each other. And don’t forget my full name. I’ll bop you on the head if you do!

Your lovely one,
- Arthit

Lesmana didn’t realise a chuckle had escaped his throat. He flipped the photo over again and wondered where Arthit was now. They had lost contact a few months after graduation, chasing their own dreams. Lesmana gazed out the window, his thoughts drifting with the clouds. Memories of their youth floated through his mind, soft and aimless, like the clouds outside.

"The last one is a rotten age," said a boy without any warning. He ran, leaving Lesmana behind. "You are cheating!" The young Lesmana chased the boy, trying hard to pass the Arthit.

Both boys ran from the Library to an empty yard in their school. They stopped under a big tree, chuckling in their breathlessness. "Rotten egg," Arthit mocked. Lesmana bopped the back of his head playfully and replied, "You cheat!" They fell to the ground and laughed, sitting side by side.

Once they were calmer, Arthit asked, "Are you still interested in joining that potions apprenticeship?" Lesmana looked at him, trying to guess the intention behind his question. It wasn't the first or second time he asked. He asked the same question multiple times. "Yeah. I've told you many times I will go there," he answered.

"I..." Arthit stopped. He seemed to be searching for the right words to say. "You know, I'm going to go to Paris after graduation." Lesmana nodded. He had known this. They had talked about their own dreams from time to time. "What am I going to say is..." Lesmana waited for the other boy to continue. Seconds flew by almost a minute. Arthit was still struggling to say the words. "Maybe you want to go with me there..."

Lesmana raised his eyebrow. "Well... it would be fun. But I will stay here." He could see the glow from Arthit's eyes had subsided. "It's too sudden," he added, "Besides, it's the apprenticeship of my father's colleague."

The boys stayed silent for some moments. Only the sounds of moving leaves and the chirping birds filled between the two friends. A soft sigh came out from the boy's mouth, breaking the silence. "In any case you want to change your mind, even in the last minute, or second, or whatever, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll find the way so we can continue our school together.

Lesmana was surprised by his words but he could only smile and nod.

The mist of nostalgia dissipated by the sound of clinking dishes. Lesmana walked to check them and decided to continue it in Muggle way. His hands moved to clean the rest of the dishes but his mind flew away. His lips unconsciously drew something,

"Arthonchai Rattanasunthorn."

The man mumbled the name with longing. He didn't forget the name. He would never forget the name.