The Kiss I Never Should Have Asked For - Chapter 19 – The Smile I Couldn't Explain

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The next day...

Korn returned to school.

He still looked a little pale.

But the smile on his face was brighter than usual.

As I walked toward my classroom, I saw him standing near the staircase.

The moment he noticed me, he bowed slightly.

"Good morning, P'Phawin."

"Good morning."

"How are you feeling?"

"Much better."

"You should've rested another day."

He smiled.

"I didn't want to miss school."

I laughed.

"Or was it because of the homework?"

"Maybe."

His answer made both of us laugh.

"Phawin!"

Narin called from behind me.

"There you are."

He walked over and looked at Korn.

"You look alive again."

Korn chuckled.

"Thanks... I think."

Narin patted his shoulder.

"Take care of yourself."

"If you get sick again, my boyfriend will probably bring your homework another time."

Both Korn and I froze for a second.

Narin had said it so naturally.

He wasn't trying to make Korn uncomfortable.

He was simply telling the truth.

Korn smiled politely.

"I'll try not to."

Classes passed quickly.

After school, I waited beneath our usual tree with my notebook.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Korn still hadn't come.

I looked toward the junior building.

"Maybe his teacher kept him."

Just as I was about to leave, I saw him running toward me.

"I'm sorry."

"My teacher asked me to clean the classroom."

"It's okay."

"I just got here."

He looked at me suspiciously.

"You've been waiting."

I smiled.

"Maybe a little."

We exchanged our notebooks.

As I opened mine, a folded piece of paper slipped onto the ground.

I picked it up.

"What is this?"

Korn's eyes widened.

"Oh..."

"I forgot that was inside."

I unfolded it.

It wasn't a letter.

It was a small drawing.

Someone had sketched our usual tree.

Underneath it were two school bags leaning against the trunk.

No faces.

No names.

Just the tree.

The bags.

And the afternoon sun.

"It's beautiful."

I looked at Korn.

"You drew this?"

He nodded shyly.

"When I was absent yesterday..."

"I remembered us studying there."

"So..."

"I drew it."

I smiled.

"I like it."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"It reminds me of peaceful afternoons."

Relief washed over his face.

"I'm glad."

As we packed our things, I carefully placed the drawing back inside my notebook.

"You should keep it."

Korn said quietly.

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because..."

"It's yours now."

I hesitated for a moment.

Then nodded.

"Thank you."

"I'll take good care of it."

That evening, after finishing my homework, I opened my notebook again.

The drawing slipped out onto my desk.

I looked at it for a long time.

It was such a simple sketch.

Yet...

Every line had been drawn with care.

I smiled without realizing it.

Then I quietly placed it inside the first page of my notebook.

For some reason...

I didn't want it to get lost.

I still believed it was just a drawing.

I didn't realize...

It was the first gift Korn had ever given me.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgcY5kfTwA

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