The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 40 – The Courage to Speak

12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiwgB1GDEU

The school camp ended that afternoon.

By the time the buses returned to school, everyone was exhausted.

Some students slept against the windows.

Others talked about the camp as if it had lasted a week instead of two days.

"I can't believe Krit screamed when he saw that spider."

"I did not!" Krit protested.

"It was huge!"

The whole bus laughed.

Even I couldn't help smiling.

The following week, life returned to its usual routine.

Classes.

Homework.

Morning greetings.

Shared lunches.

Walks home.

Everything looked the same.

But Narin's heart felt anything but calm.

Every day, the folded letter remained inside his notebook.

Every day, he told himself,

"Tomorrow."

And every tomorrow became another day of waiting.

One afternoon, after the final bell, Krit found Narin standing alone near the football field.

"You've been carrying that letter for almost a year."

Narin smiled weakly.

"I know."

"So when are you going to tell him?"

Narin looked toward the school building.

"What if he stops talking to me?"

"He won't."

"You don't know that."

Krit sighed.

"I know one thing."

"What?"

"If you never tell him..."

"...you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what his answer would've been."

Narin remained silent.

Those words stayed with him long after Krit had gone home.

The next morning, I arrived early as usual.

The classroom was almost empty.

I sat by the window and opened my notebook.

A few minutes later, Narin walked in.

He wasn't smiling.

"Morning," I said.

"Morning."

He placed his bag beside his desk but didn't sit down.

Instead, he walked toward me.

"Phawin..."

"Hm?"

"Can we talk after school?"

I looked at him curiously.

"About what?"

He took a slow breath.

"Something important."

I noticed how serious he looked.

"Okay."

"I'll wait for you at the rooftop."

"The rooftop?"

He nodded.

"The same place as before."

This time...

There was no smile.

"No 'never mind.'"

"No changing the subject."

Only determination.

All day, I found myself wondering what he wanted to say.

Had something happened at home?

Was he planning to change schools?

Was he in trouble?

Every possibility crossed my mind.

Except the real one.

When the final bell rang, I packed my bag more slowly than usual.

I looked toward the classroom door.

Narin was already gone.

Waiting.

For the first time...

He had decided not to run away from his feelings.

And somewhere above the quiet school...

On the rooftop where words had once remained unspoken...

Someone was finally ready to let his heart be heard.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSfb3UBKsM

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