The Kiss I Never Should Have Asked For - Chapter 28 – The Day Everything Changed

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The days that followed were strangely quiet.

Narin still smiled at me.

He still asked how my classes were going.

He still called me after dinner.

But our conversations had become shorter.

Sometimes...

He would check his phone while we were talking.

Other times...

He would end the call early.

"I'll call you tomorrow."

Tomorrow came.

Then another tomorrow.

Somehow...

Those conversations never became the same again.

Korn, on the other hand...

Was always there.

If I looked tired, he noticed.

If I forgot my notebook, he brought it to me.

If I looked upset, he never asked too many questions.

He simply stayed beside me.

Sometimes...

That was enough.

One afternoon, our teachers announced that school would close early because of a staff meeting.

Students cheered as they rushed out of their classrooms.

Narin walked over to me while putting his books into his bag.

"I have to go."

"So soon?"

He nodded.

"I promised someone."

Again.

That answer again.

I smiled, pretending it didn't hurt.

"Okay."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He gave me a quick smile before hurrying away.

I watched him disappear through the school gate.

For some reason...

He didn't even look back.

"P'Phawin."

I turned around.

Korn was standing a few steps behind me.

"You haven't gone home?"

"I was about to."

He hesitated.

"I... need your help."

"My help?"

He nodded.

"I don't understand one of the history lessons."

"You explain things better than anyone."

I laughed.

"I don't know about that."

"It's true."

We walked to our usual tree.

Books lay open between us.

For nearly an hour, we studied together.

Every now and then...

Korn asked a question.

I explained it.

Then we started talking about completely different things.

Our favorite subjects.

Teachers.

Dreams after graduation.

For the first time...

We weren't just talking about homework.

We were talking about ourselves.

"P'Phawin..."

"Hm?"

"What do you want to do after high school?"

I looked toward the sky.

"I haven't decided."

"Maybe university."

"Maybe."

"What about you?"

Korn smiled.

"I want to stay close to the people I care about."

His answer was simple.

But somehow...

It sounded more meaningful than mine.

The sun had already begun to set.

"I should go."

I closed my notebook.

"I'll walk you to the gate."

Korn said.

"There isn't any need."

"I know."

"I still want to."

We walked slowly through the nearly empty campus.

The silence between us felt comfortable.

Just before reaching the gate, I stopped.

"I almost forgot."

I opened my bag.

"I have your homework notebook."

"Oh."

"I completely forgot."

He laughed.

"I guess we're both becoming forgetful."

I handed it to him.

As he reached for it...

His fingers brushed against mine.

Again.

This time...

Neither of us moved.

For a brief moment...

We simply looked at each other.

His eyes searched mine.

Mine searched his.

Without thinking...

Without planning...

I stepped a little closer.

Korn didn't move.

He didn't say a word.

His heart was beating so loudly that I was sure he could hear it himself.

I looked at his face.

Then at his lips.

I didn't know why.

I didn't know what had come over me.

It was as if my heart acted before my mind could stop it.

I leaned forward...

Until there was almost no distance between us.

And then—

A voice echoed from the school entrance.

"Korn!"

We both jumped back immediately.

One of his classmates came running toward us.

"There you are!"

"The teacher's looking for you."

Korn quickly took his notebook.

"I'll be right there."

His classmate smiled politely at me before walking away.

Neither Korn nor I spoke.

The moment had vanished.

"I..."

Korn began.

"I should go."

"Yeah."

"So should I."

We exchanged one last awkward smile before walking in opposite directions.

Neither of us looked back.

Neither of us mentioned what had almost happened.

But that evening...

As I lay awake in bed...

I couldn't stop wondering.

Why had I wanted to kiss him?55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyjVuunV5E

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