The Kiss I Never Should Have Asked For - Chapter 22 – The Distance Between Us

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The next few days...

I tried to convince myself that nothing was wrong.

Everyone had busy weeks.

Exams were coming.

Teachers kept assigning homework.

Maybe Narin was simply stressed.

Maybe I was thinking too much.

That was what I kept telling myself.

Monday...

Narin didn't wait for me before school.

When I entered the classroom, he was already sitting at his desk.

"You're early today."

He looked up and smiled.

"Yeah."

"I couldn't sleep."

"You should've called me."

"I didn't want to wake you."

It sounded reasonable.

So I smiled and let it go.

Tuesday...

He forgot we were supposed to study together after class.

I waited outside our classroom for nearly twenty minutes.

Finally, he came running down the corridor.

"I'm sorry."

"I completely forgot."

"It's okay."

"You've never forgotten before."

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I've had a lot on my mind lately."

I wanted to ask what was bothering him.

But before I could...

One of our classmates called his name.

"Narin!"

"Come here for a second!"

"I'll be right back," he said.

I nodded.

He walked away.

Five minutes became ten.

Ten became twenty.

Eventually...

I went home alone.

The next afternoon, I found Korn beneath the tree.

"You came alone?"

I nodded.

"Narin was busy again."

Korn looked at me for a moment.

Then quietly moved his bag, making room beside him.

"Sit."

I sat down.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes.

The breeze moved gently through the leaves above us.

It was strangely comforting.

"You don't have to pretend."

Korn said quietly.

I looked at him.

"Pretend what?"

"That you're okay."

I smiled faintly.

"I'm trying."

"I know."

For a while...

We worked on our homework together.

Korn explained a difficult math problem.

I corrected a few mistakes in his English essay.

It felt normal.

Peaceful.

For those moments...

I forgot about everything else.

As we packed our bags, Korn hesitated.

"P'Phawin..."

"Hm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"When was the last time..."

"...you and P'Narin spent an afternoon together?"

I stopped.

I tried to remember.

Yesterday?

No.

Last week?

Not exactly.

It had been...

Longer than I realized.

"I don't know."

The answer surprised even me.

Korn lowered his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay."

"No..."

"I think I needed to think about it."

That evening...

Narin finally called.

"Sorry."

"I've been really busy."

"What have you been busy with?"

There was a brief silence.

"Just..."

"School."

His answer was quick.

Too quick.

I wanted to believe him.

So I did.

But after we hung up...

I couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't told me everything.

And for the first time...

The distance between us no longer felt like bad timing.

It felt like something...

Was quietly pulling us apart.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISgHzxIZUB

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