The Kiss I Never Should Have Asked For - Chapter 41 – The First Date

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A month passed.

The rainy season had almost ended.

School returned to its normal routine.

Homework.

Exams.

Morning assemblies.

Everything felt familiar again.

The only thing that had changed...

Was my heart.

The pain of losing Narin hadn't disappeared.

But it no longer controlled every moment of my day.

Whenever I smiled...

It no longer felt forced.

And somehow...

Korn was always there when I smiled.

One Friday afternoon, after classes ended, Korn stood outside my classroom.

"P'Phawin."

"Hm?"

"Are you busy today?"

I thought for a moment.

"No."

"Why?"

He looked unusually nervous.

His hands were hidden behind his back.

"I..."

"I wanted to ask if..."

"...you'd like to go somewhere with me."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Somewhere?"

He nodded.

"Just us."

I couldn't help smiling.

"Are you asking me on a date?"

His face immediately turned bright red.

"I..."

"I mean..."

"If you want to call it that..."

I laughed so hard that a few students turned to look at us.

"You really are adorable."

Korn covered his face with one hand.

"Please don't laugh."

"I'm trying to be brave."

Seeing him so embarrassed made my heart feel strangely warm.

I stopped laughing.

Then I smiled.

"Okay."

"I'll go."

Korn looked up in surprise.

"Really?"

"Really."

His smile was so bright...

It reminded me of the first time I had seen him smile beneath our tree.

That evening, we met outside the small market near our school.

Neither of us knew exactly what to do.

"So..."

I asked.

"What's the plan?"

Korn scratched the back of his neck.

"I didn't think this far."

"You invited me without a plan?"

"I was afraid you'd say no."

I laughed.

"So your plan was to make a plan after I agreed?"

"...Yes."

I laughed even harder.

"You really are impossible."

We spent the evening walking through the market.

We bought drinks.

Shared snacks.

Played simple festival games.

At one stall, the owner challenged us to throw rings onto small prizes.

Korn missed every throw.

I couldn't stop teasing him.

"You're terrible."

"I know."

"You should've let me do it."

"I wanted to impress you."

"You impressed me."

"I did?"

"By proving you're bad at games."

He pretended to look offended.

"I'll remember that."

As the sun began to set...

We sat on a bench with two cups of ice cream.

For a while...

We simply watched people walking by.

Then Korn spoke softly.

"P'Phawin."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For saying yes today."

I smiled.

"I had fun."

"So did I."

He looked down at his melting ice cream before quietly adding,

"...I hope this won't be our last date."

I looked at him.

Date.

He had said the word without hesitation this time.

I didn't answer immediately.

Instead...

I gently bumped my shoulder against his.

"It depends."

"On what?"

I smiled.

"On whether you let me win the next game."

Korn laughed.

"I can do that."

As we walked home under the evening sky...

Neither of us noticed how naturally our hands had found each other.

And for the first time...

I didn't let go.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kvyolXgFs

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