The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 15 – The Day I Was Absent

13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtTtVGSIqO

I had never liked missing school.

Even when I was sick, I preferred sitting in class to staying in bed.

But that morning, I woke up with a fever.

When my mother touched my forehead, she frowned.

"You're not going anywhere today."

"I'm fine."

She smiled and placed another hand on my forehead.

"No, you're not."

"I have classes."

"You need rest more than classes."

I knew there was no point arguing with her.

She rarely insisted on anything.

When she did...

Her decision never changed.

The house felt strangely quiet after everyone had left.

My brothers had gone to school.

My little sister had gone too.

Only my mother remained at home.

She brought me warm soup and medicine before sitting beside my bed.

"Sleep for a while."

"I'll try."

"If anyone from school asks, I'll tell them you're sick."

I nodded.

A few minutes later, I drifted asleep.

The next morning, I felt much better.

As soon as I entered the classroom, several classmates greeted me.

"You're back."

"Feeling better?"

I thanked them and walked to my desk.

Before I could even sit down, someone stopped in front of me.

Narin.

"You scared me."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You've never missed school."

"I had a fever."

"I know."

"You know?"

"I asked the teacher."

I looked at him in surprise.

"You... asked about me?"

He scratched the back of his neck.

"Well..."

"You weren't here."

"I noticed."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he reached into his school bag and placed a notebook on my desk.

"I copied all of yesterday's notes."

I opened it.

Every lesson.

Every page.

Everything I had missed had been written neatly for me.

"You didn't have to do this."

"I know."

"Then why did you?"

He smiled.

"I didn't want you to fall behind."

I ran my fingers across the pages.

"...Thank you."

"It's nothing."

"No."

I looked up at him.

"It isn't."

He smiled without saying another word.

That afternoon, while we were leaving school, I asked him something I'd never asked before.

"Why do you always help me?"

He stopped walking.

The smile on his face faded into something quieter.

"I don't know."

"You don't?"

He shook his head.

"I just..."

He looked away toward the road.

"...want to."

Before I could ask anything else, he smiled again.

"Come on."

"We'll be late getting home."

I followed him.

His answer stayed in my mind the entire walk home.

"I just want to."

At the time...

I thought those were the words of a good friend.

I didn't realize they carried feelings that neither of us was ready to name yet.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH53XWYsLqU

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