The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 39 – Under the Stars

11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOteiVOkcFN

The camp grew quieter as the night went on.

One by one, the games came to an end.

The campfire became smaller.

Some students returned to their cabins.

Others sat in small groups, sharing stories and laughing.

Our teacher stood up.

"Don't stay up too late."

"We'll be hiking early tomorrow morning."

Everyone answered together.

"Yes, sir!"

Back in the cabin, six boys tried to settle into their beds.

Someone was still eating chips.

Another refused to stop talking.

Narin lay on the bed across from mine.

"I don't think anyone's going to sleep."

"They'll get tired eventually," I replied.

Krit laughed from the corner.

"Not if Narin keeps talking."

"I don't talk that much."

The whole cabin burst into laughter.

"You've been talking since we got on the bus!"

Narin raised both hands in surrender.

"Fine."

"I'll be quiet."

He lasted less than two minutes.

"So... who's hungry?"

A pillow flew across the room and hit him.

"Go to sleep!"

A little later, when the cabin had finally become quiet, I realized I couldn't sleep.

Carefully, I stepped outside.

The cool night air greeted me.

The campsite was peaceful.

Above me, the sky was filled with more stars than I'd ever seen.

I slowly walked toward an empty wooden bench.

"I knew I'd find you here."

I smiled without turning around.

"You should be asleep."

"So should you."

Narin sat beside me.

For a while, we simply looked at the sky.

"I've never seen this many stars," I said.

"They're beautiful."

"They are."

After a few moments, Narin spoke again.

"Do you think..."

"...people remember moments like this forever?"

I thought for a while before answering.

"I think they remember the people they shared them with."

He looked at me.

"That's a good answer."

A shooting star suddenly crossed the sky.

"There!"

Narin pointed upward.

"Did you see it?"

"I did."

"Make a wish."

"I don't really believe in wishes."

"I do."

"Then what did you wish for?"

He smiled to himself.

"If I tell you..."

"...it won't come true."

I nodded.

"Fair enough."

The truth was...

His wish had only one name.

Phawin.

The next morning, everyone gathered outside the cabins before sunrise.

The teachers counted the students before beginning the hike.

As we walked through the forest, the path became narrow.

Without thinking, Narin slowed his pace until he was walking beside me.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"Eventually."

"You?"

"I kept thinking about last night."

"The stars?"

He smiled.

"Yeah..."

"...the stars."

I smiled back.

"They were unforgettable."

He quietly agreed.

"Some nights are."

Neither of us realized that, years later...

When many memories had faded...

That quiet night beneath the stars would still remain one of the clearest memories in both our hearts.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNKVRyJGYG

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