The Kiss I Never Should Have Asked For - Chapter 20 – Rumors

59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRCtLc2osE

The drawing stayed inside my notebook.

Every time I opened it...

I saw the tree.

Two school bags.

And the quiet afternoon that had somehow become one of my favorite memories.

I never told anyone about it.

Not even Narin.

It wasn't because I wanted to hide it.

I simply didn't think it was important.

It was only a drawing.

At least...

That's what I told myself.

A few days later, the school was noisier than usual.

As soon as I entered the classroom, Kawi waved at me.

"Phawin!"

"Come here."

I walked over.

"What happened?"

Kawi lowered his voice.

"People are talking about you."

I frowned.

"About me?"

"And Narin?"

He shook his head.

"No."

"You and Korn."

I stared at him.

"What do you mean?"

"They're saying you spend every afternoon together."

"Some juniors even think you're tutoring him."

I laughed.

"That's ridiculous."

"We just help each other with homework."

"I know."

"But you know how schools are."

"One person says something..."

"And by tomorrow, everyone believes it."

Just then, Tawan walked into the classroom.

"What are you two talking about?"

Kawi answered before I could.

"School rumors."

Tawan rolled his eyes.

"Ignore them."

"They'll disappear in a week."

"I hope so."

During lunch, I told Narin about it.

He laughed so hard that he almost dropped his spoon.

"You?"

"Dating Korn?"

I sighed.

"That's not funny."

"It kind of is."

He wiped a tear from his eye.

"People really have too much free time."

"So..."

"You're not bothered?"

He looked at me, confused.

"Why would I be?"

"I trust you."

His answer made me smile.

"Thanks."

"And I trust Korn too."

"He wouldn't do anything to hurt either of us."

For some reason...

Hearing Narin say that made my heart feel lighter.

After school, I found Korn waiting beneath our usual tree.

Before I could say anything, he spoke first.

"You've heard the rumors, haven't you?"

"So you know too?"

He nodded.

"My classmates have been teasing me all day."

"I'm sorry."

He looked surprised.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"Because they're talking about you because of me."

He smiled gently.

"I don't mind."

"I do."

He shook his head.

"P'Phawin..."

"I've already experienced worse."

"This..."

"...isn't enough to bother me."

I looked at him carefully.

His smile seemed calm.

But somehow...

I felt he was hiding something.

As we walked toward the school gate, a group of juniors passed us.

One of them whispered loudly enough for us to hear,

"See?"

"They're together again."

The others laughed before walking away.

I stopped.

Before I could react...

Korn lightly touched my arm.

"It's okay."

"Let's just go."

I looked at him.

"Aren't you angry?"

He smiled.

"If I spend my life worrying about rumors..."

"I'll never be happy."

His words stayed with me long after we had gone our separate ways.

That evening...

I realized something.

Korn wasn't just kind.

He was stronger than I had ever imagined.

And without realizing it...

I had begun to admire him.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRyW0YMttb

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