The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 21 – The Way Back

11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumpIUGOvaq

By the time the bus reached the museum, everyone had forgotten the game.

Students gathered around the entrance while the teachers counted heads.

"No one wanders off," our homeroom teacher warned. "Stay with your groups."

The class answered in unison.

"Yes, sir!"

Inside, the museum was much quieter than the bus.

Old photographs covered the walls.

Glass cases displayed ancient coins, pottery, and handwritten letters from decades ago.

Most of the students walked quickly from one exhibit to another.

I took my time.

I liked reading every description.

A few minutes later, I heard familiar footsteps behind me.

"I knew I'd find you here."

I smiled without turning around.

"Narin."

"You actually read all of these?"

"They're interesting."

He looked at the long paragraph in front of us and sighed.

"I'll believe you."

I laughed softly.

"You didn't read a single word, did you?"

"I read the title."

"And?"

"I forgot it already."

I shook my head.

"You really are hopeless."

"I prefer 'easily distracted.'"

After lunch, the teachers gave us thirty minutes to explore the gardens surrounding the museum.

The gardens were peaceful, with stone paths winding between colorful flowers and tall trees.

It reminded me of the small garden at school.

Away from the noise, I found a wooden bench beneath a large tree and sat down.

The breeze was cool.

For a few minutes, I simply closed my eyes.

"You disappeared again."

I opened them.

Narin was standing in front of me, holding two ice creams.

"I wasn't hiding."

"I know."

He handed one to me.

"I bought too many."

I looked at him with a smile.

"You always buy too many."

He laughed.

"It seems to happen a lot."

"Or maybe you do it on purpose."

He pretended to think.

"...Maybe."

We sat together on the bench, eating our ice cream in comfortable silence.

Children ran across the grass nearby.

A teacher called for students to stay with the group.

Somewhere in the distance, a bird sang.

"I like this," Narin said quietly.

"What?"

"This."

He looked around the garden.

"No shouting. No homework. Just... sitting."

"I thought you hated sitting still."

"I do."

He smiled.

"But not today."

When it was finally time to return, everyone climbed back onto the bus.

This time, the excitement had faded.

Many students were already tired.

Some fell asleep before the bus even left the parking lot.

As the countryside rolled past the window, I noticed Narin had become unusually quiet.

I glanced toward him.

His head rested against the window.

His eyes were closed.

A few minutes later, the bus hit a bump.

His head slipped sideways... and gently came to rest on my shoulder.

I froze.

I didn't know what to do.

He was asleep.

The students around us were either talking quietly or sleeping themselves.

No one seemed to notice.

For a moment, I considered waking him.

Instead...

I stayed still.

I didn't want to disturb his sleep.

Nearly half an hour passed before the bus entered the city.

Narin slowly opened his eyes.

The moment he realized where he was, he sat up immediately.

"Oh..."

His cheeks turned slightly red.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"I didn't mean to..."

"I know."

He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed.

"Thanks... for not pushing me away."

I looked out of the window, hiding the small smile that had appeared on my face.

"It wasn't a problem."

The rest of the journey passed quietly.

Neither of us mentioned it again.

But every now and then...

I found myself remembering the unexpected weight of his head on my shoulder.

It was such a small moment.

Yet somehow...

It stayed with me long after the trip had ended.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz9LDOEOCV

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