The Kiss I Never Should Have Asked For - Chapter 24 – The Feeling I Couldn't Ignore

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After seeing Narin with that boy...

I tried not to think about it.

There was nothing unusual about friends talking after school.

I had friends.

Narin had friends.

There was no reason to be suspicious.

Still...

The image refused to leave my mind.

The next morning, I arrived at school earlier than usual.

The corridors were almost empty.

A few students were cleaning their classrooms before assembly.

As I placed my bag on my desk, someone knocked lightly on the classroom door.

"P'Phawin."

I looked up.

Korn.

"You came all the way here?"

He smiled and held out a notebook.

"You forgot this yesterday."

I laughed.

"So that's why my bag felt lighter."

"You'd forget your head if it wasn't attached."

"Oh?"

"You're making jokes now?"

"I've learned from you."

I gently nudged his shoulder.

"You're getting brave."

He laughed.

For a brief moment...

Everything felt easy.

Simple.

"Phawin!"

Narin's voice echoed down the corridor.

He walked toward us with his usual smile.

"Oh, Korn."

"Good morning."

"Good morning, P'Narin."

Narin looked between us.

"You two really meet every morning now."

I smiled.

"He was just returning my notebook."

Narin nodded.

"I see."

He didn't look upset.

He didn't even tease us.

He simply walked into the classroom.

Something about that reaction felt...

Strange.

The old Narin would have laughed.

Or wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

Or joked that Korn was trying to steal his boyfriend.

Instead...

He acted as if it didn't matter.

After classes ended, I waited for Narin at the school gate.

Ten minutes passed.

Then fifteen.

Finally, he sent a message.

Sorry. I have to help someone again. Don't wait for me.

I stared at the screen.

A month ago...

He would've asked me to come with him.

Now...

He didn't.

"You haven't gone home yet?"

I turned around.

Korn was standing behind me.

"I'm waiting for Narin."

"He had something to do."

Korn glanced at my phone.

"He canceled?"

I nodded.

"He said he's helping someone again."

Korn didn't reply immediately.

Instead, he looked toward the school buildings.

Almost as if he were thinking about something.

Then he spoke quietly.

"P'Phawin..."

"Would you like to walk home together?"

I smiled.

"Sure."

We walked side by side through the quiet streets.

For the first few minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then Korn suddenly stopped in front of a small drink stall.

"Wait here."

Before I could ask why, he ran across the road.

A minute later, he returned with two cold drinks.

"Here."

"You didn't have to buy this."

"I wanted to."

I accepted it with a smile.

"Thank you."

As we continued walking, Korn looked at me.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"When you're with P'Narin..."

"...are you happy?"

The question caught me off guard.

I opened my mouth...

But no answer came.

Of course I loved Narin.

There was no doubt about that.

But...

Was I happy?

Recently...

I wasn't sure anymore.

Seeing my silence, Korn quickly looked away.

"I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay."

"I just..."

"...don't know how to answer."

When we reached the crossroads where our paths separated, Korn smiled.

"I hope tomorrow is a better day."

"So do I."

He waved before walking away.

I stood there for a while, watching him disappear.

Then I looked down at the cold drink still in my hand.

It wasn't expensive.

It wasn't a special gift.

Yet somehow...

Someone had noticed I was having a difficult day.

And that small act of kindness...

Stayed with me much longer than I expected.55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaU9YL01wb

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