Gun, who had been staring at his close friend, tore his gaze away and glanced toward the distant drink stall to ensure that the senior, whom he had nicknamed "the absolute worst" last week, had left the cafeteria.
His friend's fragile love story had long since passed, and Gun knew that his friend had truly moved on. But because of it is his first love, it had hurt Glai so much. It was a memory that was deeply ingrained in his heart. Just moments ago, when his friend saw P'Chin walking into the cafeteria, Glai thought back to the past again.
Gun observed his friend's sweet face, thinking that someone with such a gentle smile shouldn't have to endure sorrow anymore. It hadn't been easy for those bright eyes to regain their sparkles. He sighed inwardly—he wanted his friend to know a certain truth.
It was the truth that would make Glai know that he wasn't the one who ruined that relationship. Glai wasn't as biased as he thought. It was all because of one person who intentionally gave his friend hope. The smile on his friend's face brought back P'Chin's words, replaying in his mind. P'Chin's face and tone showed that he felt very guilty. But that didn't make Gun feel sorry or want to forgive him.
"I realized it when I saw Glai crying in the library... I should've ended it back during the freshman orientation. But because I wanted to win, it spiralled this far."
"Let me ask you, why would you hurt Glai's feelings just to win a bet with your friends?"
"..."
"Tell me the truth. If you keep lying, you're not even human."
"At that time, I didn't know why I did it... I just thought I had to make Glai confess his feelings for me. That way, my friends would see that what I believed was true. I wasn't just imagining things."
"You're a real asshole."
"If you want to insult me, I won't blame you. This guilt haunts me every day."
"I don't want to waste my breath on you. But I will say this: even if you feel guilty for the rest of your life, it won't make up for what you did."
"..."
"Why did you have to cut ties with Glai so harshly? Your words were too cruel to someone who loved you secretly. You knew how hard it is to stop loving someone, yet you told him to stop loving you right after he confessed. Tell me honestly—did you truly feel guilty when you saw him cry?"
"Yes, I felt guilty... That's why I couldn't handle it anymore. I wanted to end everything and stop giving Glai false hope. I thought that by telling him to stop loving me, he'd be able to move on... and stop being hurt by someone like me."
"Your reasoning is twisted. There are hundreds of ways to reject someone, but you chose the one that hurt the most. Do you think someone in love will stop loving you just because the pain is too much?"
"..."
"The deeper the pain, the deeper the scar."
"..."
"But it's a blessing that Glai had moved on."
"I want to see Glai... but I don't know how to start or how to face him."
"Of course, you don't. After everything you've done, it's only natural. You let him believe the relationship ended because of him, even though it was you who intentionally gave Glai false hope."
"..."
"I can't believe all of this happened just because you wanted to win a bet."
"..."
"I know I have no right to ask this, but please... go apologize to Glai and tell him the truth."
"..."
"Let Glai know that the end of that relationship wasn't his fault, but partly yours. Let him finally be free of that guilt."
"..."
"Do you know that Glai once told me he'd never fall in love again? He was scared that his feelings would make that person uncomfortable, just like with you. Honestly, I want to punch you right now because your selfish actions have made such a kind person afraid to love."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize to me. Go apologize to Glai."
"..."
"At least now, Glai has found someone else to love, even if it's another one-sided affection. At least this time, it brings Glai closer to love again."
"Does Glai have someone he likes now?"
"That's none of your concern."
"..."
"But seriously, if you have even a shred of decency left, go apologize to Glai in person."
"I... already apologized."
"When?"
"The day he confessed to me... I said I was sorry."
"Did you tell him why you were apologizing? Did you admit that you gave him false hope just to get him to confess?"
"No... I just said I was sorry."
"Unbelievable. I've never met such a terrible person in my life."
"..."
"You had no fear when doing terrible things, but when it came to apologizing, you could only do it in a way that made you seem blameless."
"..."
"You really are the absolute worst."
Gun sighed as his conversation with P'Chin faded from his mind. That had been the last insult he hurled at P'Chin. He had met P'Chin by chance at a senior's birthday party last week. Learning the truth that day made Gun ache for his friend, He never imagined that P'Chin, who had always seemed like a good person in Glai's eyes, could actually do something so cruel...
Gun had decided to tell his best friend, Glai, the truth from the very first day he found out. But every time he saw Glai's warm smile, a person who never held ill intentions toward anyone, Gun just couldn't bring himself to say it. Telling the truth weighed heavily on him, as he couldn't predict what would happen after Glai learned about it.
Gun was afraid that...
If he told the truth, Glai's sweet smile and bright eyes might disappear forever... So, Gun kept the secret to himself. He knew it wasn't right—Glai had the right to know the truth. But he wanted to wait until after his best friend's birthday. Gun didn't want Glai to carry any bad feelings into what should be a happy day.
Tomorrow, Glai should smile a lot and be the happiest. Nothing should taint that day. Gun also knew that he was the only one who could tell Glai the truth. Because if he waited for that evil senior to confess, Glai would never find out.
"Why are you frowning like that, Gun? What are you thinking about?"
Gun quickly relaxed his furrowed brow before responding,
"N-nothing... I was just thinking that what you said was true. Nobody can completely forget their past, and those experiences can teach us a lot."
Gun realized he was acting suspiciously when Glai squinted at him, as though trying to figure him out. Gun had never lied to or hidden anything from Glai before, so keeping this from his best friend was extremely difficult.
"Are you sure it's not about what we were talking about? Gun, what's on your mind? You can tell me."
"It's nothing, really..." But what excuse could he give? Gun was terrible at lying. "I was just thinking...we should clear the table and head to class before we're late."
Glai frowned and gave him a stern look before glancing at his watch. "We still have twenty minutes. That's plenty of time for you to tell me what's bothering you."
"I'm still worried about not being able to pay you back," Gun said weakly.
"Gun..."
The tension in Glai's frown eased as he looked at Gun intently. "Just tell me what's going on. What happened to make you so upset?"
Gun let out a heavy sigh. Glai never let things slide when Gun was troubled. Glai always managed to help ease his worries and find solutions. How could Gun bring himself to hurt someone as good-hearted as Glai?
"Glai... After your birthday tomorrow, I'll tell you something important."
"Something important? What is it, Gun?"
Gun took a deep breath. "Can you let me tell you after your birthday?"
"Why wait? Give me one good reason."
"Because you're my dearest friend...and I don't want anything to ruin what should be your happiest day."
"So this is directly about me, isn't it?"
Gun sighed again, his head dropping to avoid Glai's gaze. "Yeah."
"Gun..."
The soft call of his name made Gun look up to meet Glai's eyes. A gentle smile appeared on Glai's face.
"Sometimes, learning the truth can hurt... But if we approach it with understanding, we'll see that the truth isn't as harmful as it seems. I believe the truth comes to light when we're strong enough to handle it."
"..."
"I think I'm strong enough now, Gun. Tell me. Don't let this burden you anymore."
"Glai... I swear I never meant to hide this from you. It's been eating at me because I know you deserve to know."
"..."
"I understand, Gun. Don't overthink it."
"Just tell me the truth now."
"..."
"Don't worry about me—I'll be fine."
Glai's reassuring smile shook Gun's heart. Seeing Gun's worried eyes, Glai could guess that the truth likely involved P'Chin. Judging by Gun's annoyed expressions whenever P'Chin came up, it seemed obvious. And there was only one unresolved matter in Glai's heart—one lingering question he hadn't found an answer to until now.
It was about the rumor that someone had told others in the department about Glai confessing his feelings to P'Chin. At this point, Glai wasn't curious about who had started it, but he thought it was time to learn the truth. All he could do was brace himself for whatever wave of reality came crashing down. Even if the truth hit him like a powerful wave, Glai wouldn't fall again.
"I don't even know where to begin..." Gun admitted.
"Take your time. I'm listening."
Gun nodded and began piecing the story together before speaking.
"Last week, I went to a senior's birthday party and ran into P'Chin there. He's friends with one of my seniors, so it was just a coincidence."
"..."
"P'Chin kept avoiding eye contact with me. I wasn't planning to confront him, but I couldn't help myself. I asked him why he was avoiding both me and you. I could understand him avoiding you, but why me too? He should know I can separate issues—I wasn't going to bring up you confessing your feelings and getting rejected."
"..."
"I told him he didn't need to act like we were strangers."
"..."
"That's when P'Chin admitted why he'd been avoiding us... Well, it was more of a confession of guilt."
Gun looked into Glai's unwavering eyes and knew his friend was ready for the truth.
"P'Chin said he knew you liked him since you were in the basketball club together."
"..."
"But he didn't think much of it because it's normal for people to have crushes. Later, when you started looking at him more often and bringing him water repeatedly, he began to remember your name."
"..."
"That's when he started talking about it with his friends, saying that you liked him."
"..."
"His friends didn't believe him."
"..."
"They said if you really liked him, you would have confessed your feelings already."
Gun paused, lowering his head again. Glai reached out and held his hand,
encouraging him to continue.
"P'Chin wanted to prove his friends wrong and make you confess to him before
graduating high school."
"..."
"But when graduation day came, you still hadn't confessed."
"..."
"His friends teased him, saying that even though he was popular, he couldn't assume every junior had a crush on him. They said he was delusional."
"..."
"That made him determined to prove them wrong."
"..."
"He wanted to prove that what he thought was true."
"..."
"After graduation, he kept in touch with you, hoping you'd eventually confess. And when we ended up at the same university as him, he thought his plan had become much easier."
"..."
"So, he told his old friends that he'd definitely make you confess." Glai bit his lip as he recalled all the times P'Chin had been kind to him. "So that's why..."
Gun nodded and continued. "He did everything he could to make you believe he liked you. He gave you hope."
"..."
"And when you finally confessed, P'Chin said..."
"..."
"He said he felt victorious. That he'd won."
Glai had always believed that winning often came at a cost. But he never imagined it would come at the expense of someone's feelings and tears. If winning meant causing someone such pain, Glai would rather be a loser forever.
"But P'Chin admitted that when he saw you crying, he realized he'd gone too far. He said he should have stopped during the freshmen orientation."
"..."
"P'Chin hurt someone as good as you, even though you never did anything to deserve it."
"..."
"P'Chin didn't tell his friends that you confessed your love to him because the word 'victory' lost all meaning the moment he saw you cry."
"There's one thing I want to know..." Glai thought that no matter how much a person might make mistakes or be unforgivable, they should at least experience true love once in their life—a pure love without expectations, simply the desire to love.
"The story about P'Chin secretly liking that junior girl... is it true?"
"I asked him. P'Chin really did secretly love the junior from the Japanese arts department. She once bandaged his wound at the sports event. They talked only afew times, and after that, he quietly loved her."
Glai nodded. "At least P'Chin knew what real love was."
"P'Chin said that after you confessed to him, he mustered the courage to confess his love to that junior. But the result was no different from yours—he got rejected."
"..."
"P'Chin felt even more guilty because he finally understood how much it hurt you."
"..."
"The main reason he avoided both of us was because... he messed up so badly that he couldn't face us."
"Well, he's learned his lesson by now."
"And there's something else... something that really pissed me off."
Glai took a deep breath, nodded, and let Gun know he was ready to listen. "Go ahead, Gun. Let's get everything out today."
"The person who spread the story about you confessing your love to P'Chin throughout your department was..."
"..."
"Thot."
"Thot?"
"Yeah... the friend you cut ties with."
"...This is..."
Glai shook his head before continuing. "It's unexpected... and more complicated than I thought."
"..."
"Deep down, I once suspected it might be P'Chin, but I didn't want to feel any worse. So I ignored it and didn't look for the truth... But I never thought it would be Thot who spread the story."
"Actually, you weren't entirely wrong. P'Chin said there was a day he went drinking with friends from his department. It just so happened that one of them knew Thot, and Thot ended up joining them."
"..."
"P'Chin got drunk and accidentally mentioned your confession to his friends. When Thot heard it, he spread it throughout your department."
"..."
"P'Chin said that when he sobered up, he started questioning his friends to find out who leaked it. When he discovered it was Thot, he told him to stop, but it was too late. The story had already spread everywhere."
Glai exhaled deeply and shook his head. "P'Chin is someone who can't take responsibility for his actions... and Thot..." Glai sighed in frustration. " Thot is someone who acts as if others don't have feelings. He doesn't care if his actions cause others pain or sadness."
"At that time, you didn't personally know Thot yet, right?"
"Right... Back then, I'd only seen him in class. I just knew he was in the same department as me."
"It's messed up how he spread your story yet had the audacity to join your friend group without a care in the world. Thick-skinned doesn't even begin to describe it."
Glai now believed that 'the truth' only reveals itself when we're strong enough to handle it. If he had learned the truth back then, he wouldn't have been able to cope.
"Is there anything else you haven't told me?"
"That's it... I've told you everything."
"Finally... everything weighing on my mind is out."
Glai didn't deny that he felt something. Even though he was stronger now, the truth he had learned today still hit him hard, shaking the defences he had built around his heart.
Glai realized that the scariest thing in the world might be the human heart. The world doesn't inflict pain on us. We create pain for each other. Hearing the truth today was like being forced to drink intensely bitter coffee. Even though he disliked it, he had to finish it as quickly as possible.
He didn't want that bitterness to seep into his heart. But his body felt completely unsettled. Glai knew it wasn't because he had eaten too much or been physically harmed, but he still felt an overwhelming ache. He lowered his head, closed his eyes, and tried to calm himself, reflecting on everything. He thought he was fortunate to learn the truth when his heart was strong enough to withstand it.
This time, he didn't collapse like before. The guilt buried deep within him rose, constricting his throat. He had always believed that their relationship fell apart because of him alone. But Glai didn't hold a grudge against P'Chin. He didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore. Living in separate orbits was best. Holding onto anger would only keep P'Chin in his thoughts, and letting go was the only way forward. He exhaled as the burning in his eyes gradually faded, along with the heavy feelings in his heart.
And at this moment...
Right now...
Every lingering emotion in his heart was erased by the truth.
...
"Which building is your class in?"
"I'm in Building Eleven."
"Oh, I'm in a completely different building." Gun said, furrowing his brows as he looked at his class schedule on his phone. "How did I even check the schedule last night?"
"Where's your class?"
"Building Five."
Glai laughed and stopped walking. "Building Five is way back. You better run, or you'll be late!"
"Glai..." Gun looked him in the eyes, reaching out to pat his head gently. "You're really okay, right?"
"Of course. I admit I felt terrible at first when I heard about what P'Chin did to me..."
Glai sighed quietly before smiling at his best friend. "But I won't let myself feel bad about P'Chin anymore. If I do, it's no different from being stuck in the past with him."
"..."
"There's no point in dwelling on P'Chin, right?"
"..."
"P'Chin has likely learned his lesson. As for me, I'll move on with my life."
"You're so good at moving on."
"Only with some things."
"And with some people, too, right?" Gun teased with a sly smile. "...Like that round moon—you've never stopped staring at it, not even once."
"Gun!" Glai scolded him immediately upon hearing 'round moon', before raising a finger to warn him.
"You always scold me when you're embarrassed."
"I'm not embarrassed."
"But your ears are red."
Glai sighed and raised both hands to cover his ears, a smile slipping out. "Enough...Stop teasing me. You're going to be late."
"Fine, fine... But I hope you see your round moon today."
"Gun!"
Glai shook his head slightly, watching his friend run off, laughing. He had once told Gun about how Panlee helped him when Mek harassed him. At first, Gun didn't know Glai had a crush on Panlee. But when Gun saw Glai secretly watching Panlee from the faculty window almost daily, he figured it out.
Glai hurried to class, holding a piece of paper with the content of his presentation. He quickened his pace after realizing he had wasted too much time arguing with Gun. When he entered the academic building, he saw an open elevator and rushed inside. He was alone in the small box when he pressed the close button. Then, he heard someone shout. Glai quickly pressed the open button.
"Hold the elevator, please!"
Glai nodded as a male student stepped in and smiled at him. The student glanced outside the elevator and shouted again.
"Hurry up, or I won't wait!"
Moments later, a group of scruffy-looking male students rushed in, shoving Glai to the back corner. It was the very back corner. He could hardly breathe.
"Hey, Ae, why are you just standing there? Close the elevator, man!"
"Oops, my bad. I forgot."
At this moment, the position that Glai had always stood in was now occupied by someone named Ae. Glai turned to look at the person standing close to him on the left. He pressed his lips together nervously because a tough-looking man was staring at him, but then he decided to smile. When the man saw his smile, he immediately flashed a wide grin in return.
"You're cute," the man said.
Glai had never been complimented so closely before, so he didn't know how to respond. He could only lower his head and look at his shoes. However, he still felt that the person next to him was staring at him.
"Can I go in too?" Ae asked.
"Ae! Open the elevator," another voice called out.
Glai looked up and tried to locate the elevator doors, but all he saw were the broad backs of several tall people crowding the small space inside. Glai sighed quietly, thinking there was no way anyone else could fit in the elevator now. The space was packed like sardines now...
"I want to go too."
"Can't fit, it's full."
"Then why the hell are you standing by the door?"
"We're just messing around, Panlee."
The small guy standing at the corner of the elevator started to feel his heart race when he heard someone laughing. It was the laugh of a man... whom Glai thought was probably someone playful.
"Ae! Your friend is here, you can close the door now."
"Okay, okay."
"We were just kidding, why are you so angry?"
"I was just joking too, don't overthink it."
"Yeah, you were just joking, but you emphasized the word 'hell.'"
"What's an engineering student like you doing here at this building?"
"I'm here for an English class with Teacher Mary."
"Focus on your studies, kids."
"I really hate Panlee's words. You like to make engineering students like me waver."
Though Glai knew the name "Panlee" wasn't that common in his university—there couldn't be many people with that name—he still wanted to confirm with his own eyes that the person who just got on the elevator with them was truly...
Khun 'Sasin'
Glai stood on his tiptoes and stretched his neck to see, but still couldn't spot the moon. He recognized Panlee's voice, having only heard it once before, but it often echoed in his mind, especially when he felt uneasy...
"Is the person inside okay?"
That question would ring in his mind over and over, making him feel better. Glai couldn't be certain that the person in the elevator with him was Panlee until the tall person in front of him shifted, creating a small gap. Through that gap, Glai saw Panlee's playful smile again. Panlee laughed and looked at his friend, who Glai assumed was from a different department.
Thud... thud...
Again...
Panlee's smile was playing with his little heart again. Glai had seen Panlee's playful smile many times before, but never this close. Normally, he would secretly watch from a distance. But whether far or near, Panlee's smile always played with his heart.
"Hey! Move it, man!" the tall person in front of him shouted, then seemed to panic, but because the elevator was so crowded, he could only point to the door open button. "Hey, open the door for me!"
"How can I open it now? It's full, you idiot. Just get off at the fourth floor," Panlee said.
"You're so careless!"
"Stop swearing, I'm already stressed enough, you idiot!"
Glai glanced up at the number above the elevator doors. The number four replaced the three, and the alert sound rang out before the door opened.
Ding!
The tall guy hurriedly waved his hand to make way and ran out of the elevator. It was at that moment that Glai saw Panlee's playful smile again through the small gap between the people in front of him. It reminded him of that day, but this time, there was no large door blocking Panlee's smile.
But the next moment, Glai almost stopped breathing when the tall person turned to face the elevator door and stepped back closer to him. Panlee had to move back because some other students from the fourth floor were entering the elevator. Glai held his breath, as Panlee continued to step back towards him.
Until...
The toe of Glai's yellow sneakers was now right next to... The edge of Panlee's black sneakers. Glai's lips were pressed together, forming a straight line. A thick piece of paper was now pressed against Glai's chest more than before. Glai was afraid of accidentally bumping into Panlee.
If Panlee turned around to look at him...
If they made eye contact...
Maybe it wouldn't be the sun's heat melting him...
But it would definitely be this moon that would make him...
Feel terrible...
"Why do you look so handsome today, Panlee?" one of Panlee's friends asked.
"We have students from several departments coming for a group project presentation in my department today... so I had to dress well."
"But Panlee is handsome every day, isn't he?"
The tall person standing with his back to Glai laughed lightly before saying, "Oat is right. There will be a reward later."
"Ah... Oat, you're only complimenting Panlee because you want free drinks."
Glai scanned the person in front of him. He wanted to see if Panlee really looked better today than usual. His sharp eyes focused on the darker shade of blonde hair. He had just noticed Panlee had his ear pierced. He wore small silver hoops in his left ear.
It wasn't surprising that someone like Glai, who had been secretly watching from a distance, would just notice these little details, like the fact that Panlee had his ear pierced. It also wasn't surprising that the scent of Panlee's cologne made him realizehow good it felt to get closer to the same moon he had been watching all along...
The small guy nodded slightly before he smiled when he noticed something different. Usually, Panlee wore a loose short-sleeve shirt and black pants. Today, however, Panlee wore a long-sleeve shirt, rolled up slightly above his wrist, and light-colored pants. Glai also noticed the brown leather watch Panlee always wore.
On the first day they met, Panlee wore this same watch. But what Glai had never seen before was a shiny silver ring on Panlee's right index finger. The small guy sighed to himself, thinking that if Panlee wore a ring on his left ring finger...
He'd better prepare himself...
Once again, Glai held his breath after breathing freely for just a moment because the tall person started to move. Panlee put his phone in his back pocket, then adjusted his shirt, making sure it was neat. But no matter what Panlee did, he never turned around to look behind him.
"I'm not flattering Panlee just to get free drinks," Oat said.
"So what do you want, Oat?" one of Panlee's good-looking friends asked.
"I want Prao's number. She's in your department, right? You said you know her?"
"Oh wow, Prao is super cute. She probably has a boyfriend, right?"
"Not yet."
"Then can I have her number?"
"No."
"Are you protecting her, Panlee?"
"Why would I protect her? She's not...," Panlee responded to his friend, "But I have no right to give out her number. Let me ask Prao first. If she says yes, I'll give it to you."
"Thanks a lot, Panlee. I've liked her since first year."
"Hope you get lucky."
"Good guy."
"Yeah, good enough that girls are falling for him all over the place."
"Falling for what? I just keep getting dumped."
"Why?"
"I don't know. She likes to think I'm talking to someone else, even though I'm just playing games at home. Sometimes I even go watch football at your place."
"She misunderstood, huh? Don't you want to go apologize?"
"No... if we really loved each other, we should trust each other, and wouldn't break up so easily like this."
"Are you upset?"
"No, I'm not upset... it's been a couple of months already."
"Find someone new, don't overthink it."
"I'm not looking for anyone... when it comes to love," the tall guy said with a bored tone before continuing, "It's better to stay with friends. It's much more fun."
"Yeah, it's way more fun with us."
"Yeah... Lee... Noh wants to challenge you to a drinking contest again. He said he wants to redeem himself because last time he got drunk like a dog before finishing the third bottle."
"Then bring it on~"
Lee was really Lee, wasn't he? Glai smiled a little at Lee's playful words, then tilted his body slightly to the left to focus on the buttons on the elevator control panel. Since Lee was standing upright and not leaning against the right side wall, Glai could see the control panel through a small gap Lee had left unintentionally. The guy named Ae, who had been standing in that area, also moved just then.
Glai realized... he forgot to select the floor.
He had class on the eighth floor.
;_____;
But now, they were already on the ninth floor. The red light on the fourteenth floor button indicated that the elevator was taking them to the top floor. Glai thought the reason it was taking longer than usual to reach the top was because it stopped at every floor to open the door. The small guy shook his head, thinking he had to wait for everyone to get off the elevator before he could go back and get off at the eighth floor.
He was definitely going to be late for class today. But if it meant listening to Lee's voice for a few more minutes, Glai would be willing to be late for class one day.
"How about tonight, Lee?"
"Sure, I'm free tonight."
"Should we go to P'Fah's place?"
"Why go to P'Fah's? If he sees me drinking too much, he'll come over and scold me again."
"Haha, above Panlee, there's Muen Fah."
"Plus, Muen Fah has the salary that my mom has given. Getting scolded isn't that bad. I'm used to it... but if my salary gets deducted for not listening to P'Fah, that's a different story."
When Glai heard that, he let one hand drop from the thick paper he was holding and covered his mouth to stifle a laugh. He thought Lee was genuinely afraid of P'Fah, but in reality, Lee was more concerned about his allowance getting cut.
Have you ever been afraid of anything? ... Khun Sasin :)
"So, where are we going?"
"P'Boss's place."
"The place you went to sing karaoke?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, don't be late, Lee."
"Yes, sir."
"Lee... don't say 'yes, sir.' You're making me weak."
"If I'm not weak, that would be bad."
Glai stopped smiling and thought...
Yes... not being swayed would actually be worse.
Because even though I'm already swayed... it's still bad.
"I'm not surprised that the girls in my department like you so much... what kind of person are you? You speak so cutely and charmingly."
"You're exaggerating... that's not true," Lee said with a laugh.
While Glai was listening to Lee's conversation with his friend, the person on the left began to move closer. Glai turned to look at the guy who had smiled at him earlier.
And even now...
He's still smiling?
Glai smiled back. The guy had been smiling at him for so long, he couldn't just turn his face away. The guy standing next to him put his hand over his chest and said in a soft voice, almost a whisper,
"Your smile is so sweet... you've melted my heart."
Glai looked down at his shoes again before exhaling softly. This guy made him remember something his close friend, Gun, once said: that he often gets 'flirted with' without realizing it.
Gun's friends liked to flirt with him when they visited the faculty. At first, Glai didn't understand what 'flirting' meant, but now he thought it was exactly what was happening right now. He thought that even if this wasn't someone he secretly liked, receiving compliments like this directly would make anyone embarrassed.
"Hey, can you guys talk more quietly?"
Glai jumped slightly when the guy next to him shouted loudly. He turned to look at the guy who had been smiling at him. Now, that broad smile was gone, replaced with a serious expression.
"There are more people in this elevator, you know... have some consideration for the cute one here."
Ugh... they've been standing here for so long, don't worry about it.
"Where's the cute one you're talking about? I only see us... the people who got on at the fourth floor have already gotten off, right?"
"This one... the one next to me."
"..."
"But he is so small... you guys probably can't see them from the door."
Glai wanted to raise the paper and hide his face when everyone in the elevator tried to look for him. Many of them had already spotted him and smiled back. Some even gave him a small smile. Glai could only smile back at everyone.
"Oh, this person came in first. He opened the elevator to wait for us."
Yeah... and you guys blocked me when I came in and stood here. Did you know I could barely breathe?
"Where's the cute one?"
It was then that Glai was captivated by the voice of the person, the moon. He looked at the tall figure trying to turn and look behind him. But because Sasin was standing so close to him and there were so many people in the small space, turning to look at him was difficult. But when the playful face was about to turn to him, Glai unconsciously raised the thick paper to cover his mouth and nose. His heart was beating so fast that he couldhardly keep track of the rhythm. He stared at the side of Lee's face in silence.
Until...
Ding!
"We've arrived... let's get out of the elevator quickly, I'm suffocating!"
The alert sound went off, and many people inside shouted for the people near the door to hurry up and get off. Lee, who was about to turn around to look at him, was grabbed by his friend's arm and pulled out of the elevator. The guy who had called him 'cute' smiled again before waving and running after his friend.
"Tonight at P'Boss's place, don't bail on us, Lee!"
"Yeah."
Glai watched the tall guy who was being pulled along by his friend while taking his phone out of his back pocket. Just a few minutes ago, the moon was only a hand'sreach away from him, but now, in the next moment, it was farther away. And when Glai saw that same moon getting farther and farther away...
"I hope fate will bring us close again... Mr. Sasin."
Glai sent a message to the moon. The small guy smiled sweetly as the elevator door closed completely. Glai thought that Lee always appeared whenever something bad happened, like today when he discovered the truth that hurt his feelings. Although the truth only hurt his feelings for a short while, and even though Glai had moved on from that bad feeling, having the same moon come to comfort him made his once fragile heart stronger than before.
Today, Glai realized... P'Chin hadn't cut him out of his orbit; it was the round world that was still kind enough to pull him back into its orbit. And then it swung Lee into his orbit.
:)
...
"Our group would like to conclude the presentation now. Thank you."
Glai, as the group leader and the one presenting, raised his hands in a wai gesture before turning to look at the two friends who were smiling at him. He stepped back and stood next to May, waiting to answer the professor's questions after the presentation.
"What do you think gives this company an advantage over its competitors in the same industry?"
Glai turned to look at May and Pie, who were both staring at him, nodding to them before turning back to meet the professor's gaze.
"Aside from the comprehensive transportation services, both air and ground, the strength and advantage of this company lies in its systematic work process. Products are delivered quickly and in perfect condition. The company has maintained excellent standards in this area, earning the trust of customers for decades... and another factor is the advanced transportation technology used."
The professor nodded and wrote something on a piece of white paper. The silence in response made it clear that the professor was satisfied with his answer. As the professor bent his head to write something, the mixed-race student, who called himself the 'Britney Spears of Thailand,' reached over and nudged him from behind. May, standing in the middle, couldn't help but laugh softly when she saw Pie give a thumbs up and wink at Glai.
This was Pie's signature move...
Pie once said that this gesture meant... "My friend is the best!"
Glai pursed his lips to hold back a smile as Pie's voice echoed in his mind, saying "My friend is the best!" He thought Pie was so cute when encouraging her friends, and Pie's bright voice always made Glai laugh. Fifty percent of the smiles and laughter he experienced every day came from... this
"Britney Spears of Thailand."
Although Pie had just joined their group after Glai and May separated from New, Orn, and Thot, Glai thought they adapted quickly because Pie had shown sincerity through many actions. But what Glai admired most about Pie was...
Pie never spoke ill of anyone. Pie usually only talked about herself. In a single day, Pie would share more than ten funny stories and talk about her hobbies. Recently, Pie told them how she had become the aerobics instructor for the grandparents in the same village because the regular instructor didn't show up. Pie didn't want the fun atmosphere to disappear, so she learned the basic aerobics moves and taught them all instead.
Glai thought that people with this attitude and personality weren't easy to find. Before they got to know each other, Glai had heard people say Pie was a tough person, so the other students in the department didn't talk to her much. Glai often saw Pie sitting alone in class, but every time he saw her, her sea-blue eyes always sparkled, never dull. Glai would secretly smile every time he saw Pie raise her hand confidently when the professor allowed questions in class. Perhaps it was because Pie still stood firm in her individuality, even though this meant being alone forever. That was why... Glai decided to smile at Pie that day.
Glai thought that many people misunderstood Pie. Pie wasn't the tough person people assumed her to be. Pie was someone who was confident in herself... and everything Pie did with confidence was always good...
"Does any other student have a question?" The professor placed the pen down and turned to the students sitting in the back.
Glai didn't even have to guess. He knew that a male student from a group sitting at the back would raise his hand to ask a question about the information their group presented. As he expected, Thot raised his hand and smiled slightly.
"I have one, Professor."
"Thot again... What is it with him and our group?" May said, sounding annoyed. Pie sighed softly and said quietly, "What is Thot's problem with our group? He asks questions every class even though we always do our best. Our information is solid, so what else is there to doubt?"
"Go ahead and ask your question," the professor said. "Your group has 10 minutes left."
"Okay, Professor..." Thot stared at Glai standing on the stage, before asking, "I know the headquarters of this company is in Germany, and I heard that in the last three years the company opened new offices abroad... but the presenter didn't mention where?"
Glai met the gaze of the person sitting at the back, raising an eyebrow. Thot seemed to enjoy asking questions that weren't directly related to the key points of their presentation. Glai knew Thot wanted to make their group look flawed in the professor's eyes. Thot had worked with him many times, and he should know that Glai never made mistakes in research.
The small guy shook his head lightly. May and Pie, standing beside him, reached out to rub his arm. Glai quickly turned to look at them and smiled. May and Pie probably thought he couldn't answer Thot's question, which was why he shook his head. But the real reason Glai shook his head was because... Thot could no longer harm him.
"I'll answer that," Glai said calmly, "The company has opened three new offices to act as representatives in foreign countries: in Australia, Malaysia, and Vietnam." Glai continued, "And just to add some extra knowledge for Thot, next year the company will also open a new office in Austria."
The professor nodded after hearing Glai's response. "Okay... any more questions?"
The class fell silent. The professor paused, then added, "Since the previous groups scored low on their presentations, I'm not sure if the groups after them will do the same. So, let's start answering questions to boost your scores from this group."
The professor's comment was met with both cheers of joy and groans of disagreement from the students. The professor often allowed the group that just presented to ask questions, and if the next group answered correctly, they would earn extra points. Some liked this system, while others didn't.
"Who will ask the questions for this group... Phasin, would you like to ask?" the professor asked, staring at May, who stood next to Glai.
May turned to Glai and said, "Should I ask the questions?"
"Sure, May. Don't pressure yourself, just ask something simple related to what we just presented."
"Okay..." May nodded, her delicate eyebrows furrowing as if thinking hard, before turning to look at him again. "I'm afraid the question might be too hard for the others."
"We only have five minutes left, Phasin..."
"Okay, Professor."
"Or should I let Glai ask the question?" the professor suggested.
"Sure, Professor," May replied, moving closer to whisper something in Glai's ear.
"Glai, I'm sorry... but I'm really not confident."
Glai nodded and smiled at her. "It's okay, May. Don't worry."
"Then Glai, please choose a group to answer the question because time is running out. We don't want another repeat of the previous class."
"..."
"If any group can't answer, no extra points will be given, because the professor has done all she can..." the professor said, looking at the students in the back. "And if anyone is secretly using their phone, don't think I can't see... this will be a punishment for those who don't respect the rules of my class. I believe if everyone pays attention to this group's presentation, they'll be able to answer the questions because the questions are based on what was presented earlier."
"Yes, Professor."
After receiving a response from everyone in the class, the professor turned to Glai.
"Glai, you can ask a question and choose which group will answer."
"Yes, Professor..." Glai nodded, then continued, "From our group's presentation, it's clear that this company is a comprehensive transportation service provider, offering both air and ground transport. Therefore, the main revenue and profit come from the transportation of goods."
"..."
"My question is... Besides air and ground transportation, what other services can the company offer to generate additional income and increase profits?"
"Okay... that question isn't too difficult. We talked about this during the presentation... Choose a representative from a group that has already presented."
"Okay..." The reason Glai asked this question was that he already had someone in mind to answer. During the presentation, he noticed that the other person had been playing with their phone and not paying attention at all.
"I choose Thot, from group B."
Thot raised his eyebrows slightly. He stared at Glai without looking away. Glai smiled faintly at him. He didn't want to win or seek revenge. Glai was helping Thot... by showing him that...
From now on, they should walk their separate paths, because Glai would no longer let anything slide. Glai would protect himself to the fullest.
"Can you answer that, Thot?" the professor asked before adding, "Your group members should help answer, don't let one person think alone."
"Uh..."
Glai met Thot's uncertain gaze. Though Thot was sitting at the back of the class, the room wasn't too big, and Glai could clearly see Thot's hesitant eyes. Thot began looking at New and Orn beside him, but his friends looked just as unsure.
"Even though the professor is only giving one point for this question, it could change your grade... Please try to think of an answer, don't just stare at each other like that," the professor said, shaking her head. "If your friends hadn't brought this up before the presentation was over, I wouldn't mind, but you all were playing on your phones, right?"
"..."
"As I've said before, I only ask for two hours of your attention in class, after which you can do whatever you want with your phones. I don't have any right to interfere," the professor continued. "But I've said this many times, this subject isn't easy at all...
If you think you can finish it with just a textbook, I can guarantee that you will fail, so please listen to your professor's advice. You should really start using your brain and listen more."
"Okay, okay. I'll give it a try."
Thot, still feeling reluctant, finally stood up to speak. However, his phone rang before he could finish his sentence. The professor turned back and sighed before lowering her head to write something on a white sheet of paper. Then she looked up and met his gaze. "Did your friend answer the question correctly?"
"No, it wasn't correct, Professor."
"Oh... I'll give you a little more time. Is there any group that can answer?"
"I can, Professor."
"Go ahead."
"The act of allowing another company to rent a warehouse to serve as a distribution center," she answered.
"Is that correct?" The professor turned to ask him again.
He was about to nod and reply, "Yes, it's correct, Professor."
"Group C gets one extra point."
"Thank you, Professor," the girl friend said with a smile before looking at him. He smiled back before turning his attention to the person beside him who nudged his arm. Now, Pie had moved to stand in the place of May. Pie nodded slightly, grinned widely, and whispered softly, "Great job, Glai... Now let Thot know who's who."
"It's not that big of a deal, Pie. I just want Thot to understand... Life is too short to hold grudges against someone. Thot should let go and stop being so hostile. If you don't like someone, just stay away."
"Okay, I'll input the presentation scores into the system, and you can check it later."
"Yes, Professor."
Glai and the two friends got off the stage and returned to their seats. He listened carefully as a group of students presented their work, thinking to himself...
"Today, you did great, Glai."
And after encouraging himself, he didn't forget to...
"What's going on in your head, Glai? Why are you smiling all the time?"
He thanked the person who supported him.
"I was thinking... I'll go out to look at the moon from the balcony tonight."
He thanked the same moon that made him fall in love over and over again every night. After all the groups finished presenting and the professor dismissed the class, May and Pie, who had been curious for a long time, couldn't resist and asked him about Thot. Both of them didn't understand why Thot seemed to dislike him and always acted negatively when they met by chance, like giving him a sidelong glance. Glai didn't really understand it either. He had never done anything to upset him.
Although May and Pie had heard about Glai's confession to P'Chin, which had been rejected by in the first year, they didn't know the full details, and neither had ever asked about his personal life. This time, Glai decided to tell them everything. No matter what kind of relationship it is, if we decide to walk together, sharing past experiences will help us understand and support each other in the future.
"Oh wow, why is Thot like this?"
"If you ask why Thot is this way, we should also ask why P'Chin did that?" Pie said, shaking her head.
"I've seen P'Chin at the freshman orientation... I never thought he'd do something like that."
"The truth is, P'Chin isn't all bad... deep down, I believe he must have some goodness in him, but he made a bad decision this time."
"When I was freshman and not close to Glai yet, I've heard some of the department friends talk about it. At first, I thought Glai must have told the two friends he was close to, and they must have told others... but I never thought it would be like this."
"I have to admit..." May paused before continuing, "At first, when I wasn't close to Glai yet, I thought like Pie too. But after getting closer, I realized that Glai has a very close friend, Gun, and Glai had mentioned that Gun knows almost everything about him... so I secretly thought that Gun must have spread it. I don't know how Gun made this information reach the department, but I thought it might have been him."
"..."
May clasped her hands and raised them above her head before saying, "Gun... I was wrong, I'm sorry. I was just curious, I didn't mean to slander Gun... please forgive me."
"May... you're not apologizing to Gun, you're apologizing to the wind and the sky,"
Pie said, laughing.
Glai laughed too and said, "Gun won't be mad at May. I'm sure he understands."
"From the times I've talked to Gun... I think he's the kind of person who doesn't think too much."
"Yes... but only on some things."
"Oh, Glai... don't make me worry."
"I'm just joking. Gun doesn't think much about it."
The small one laughed while grabbing his bag and getting up to leave. He looked around the classroom, which was empty except for the three of them, then glanced down at his watch.
5:30 PM.
At this time...
The moon was making its appearance.
"It's time for the moon to take over the sun," Pie said as she stood up.
Glai smiled when his friend teased him before nodding his head. "Yeah... it's five- thirty, the moon is taking over the sun now."
"Are there any theories that say the moon will appear in the evening?"
The small one smiled and shook her head. Glai knew that May asked to hear him say a certain phrase, a confession that echoed in his heart but had never been expressed to someone. "The theory of someone who falls in love with the moon."
"I'm blushing for you, Glai," May said with a laugh.
"Stop teasing me already~"
Glai said as he walked out of the classroom, followed by the two friends. He chose to use the escalator to go down to the fourth floor, as usual. Then he stopped in front of the large window with clear glass. His sharp eyes glanced down at the parking lot below. A beautiful smile appeared on his face when he saw someone standing beside a big tree.
"The moon has really appeared," Pie, who had placed her hand on his shoulder, said when Glai turned to look at her. She smiled. "Do you want to watch him for a while?"
Although May knew that Panlee was the one who helped him when he was threatened by Mek, But the first friend in the group to find out that he had a crush on Panlee was Pie. It must be because she was more observant than May. Every time he asked to separate himself to secretly watch Panlee from the fourth floor, Pie would always ask with curiosity.
Then, one day, Pie invited May to stand and watch him on the fourth floor, and May told her about Panlee helping him. Pie then thought that Glai had liked Panlee because of that event. Not long after, he confessed the truth to his friends because he didn't want to hide it anymore. The two of them said they could guess he had liked Panlee since they saw him often watching from the fourth floor. After that, May andPie would often send him to that floor.
"Yeah," Glai nodded.
"Then we'll take our leave first."
"Okay, have a safe trip home."
May nodded and reached out to pat his head. "Have a safe trip home, you moon lover."
Glai chuckled softly. He waved goodbye to the two friends as they went down the escalator, then placed his bag on the middle table and sat down on the same chair.The reason he chose to sit and watch Panlee on the fourth floor was because that floor had a good distance, so it wouldn't make the watched person uncomfortable.
Also, watching from the building had a very low chance of being noticed. But Glai thought... no matter what floor he was on, the moon wouldn't see him, because it had never looked up at the building. Every Monday to Thursday, the owner of the blonde hair usually stood and smoked at the parking lot in the evening. After finishing the cigarette, the moon would stand by the big tree and play with his phone for a while, with his white sports Benz not far away.
Sometimes, there would be a man talking to Panlee, which Glai assumed was his friend. Occasionally, a pretty woman would come up to greet him. Everyone who approached Panlee would receive a smile in return. As for the one who was secretly watching from afar like him, he didn't dare to ask for that smile to take home.
He could only steal the playful smile Panlee gave to others and turn it into a memory for himself. Glai thought... The name "Glai Jai" might not only mean "Our hearts will always be close together," but also mean "Someone who is always given the chance to bring their heart closer to love."
The small one unintentionally smiled when he saw Panlee laughing while talking on the phone with someone. He didn't know who made Panlee so happy, but Glai knew only one thing...
This moon... taught him about love in many forms.
A love without possession.
It's a love that makes us cherish seeing the other person's smile every day... more than holding onto any status.
"I think I did well in the presentation today, right, Khun Sasin... you seem so cheerful," Glai said softly, almost as if wanting only himself to hear, before revealing a sweet smile. "I did the presentation very well."
It's a love that makes him brave enough to love, even though he knows it will never be returned.
"That's because of you, Khun Sasin," Glai replied.
Talking to Panlee through a glass partition was like speaking to the moon on his balcony. No response came back, yet he was happy just watching and sending messages every day.
"Glai..."
Glai was slightly startled when he heard his name. He turned to look at the deep voice owner, widening his eyes in surprise.
"P'Dom?"
"I called you several times, but you didn't pick up, so I got worried and came looking for you... luckily, I took the escalator and saw you sitting by the window."
P'Dom walked toward him as Glai quickly grabbed his backpack and stood up to walk toward someone else, worried he might get caught watching someone. Glai stopped in front of the tall man, offering a smile, and pulled out his phone to check the missed calls.
"Sorry, P'Dom, I put my phone in my bag and had the sound off, so I didn't know you called," Glai explained.
"As long as you're okay, that's fine," P'Dom sighed, then gently rubbed Glai's head. "A while ago, Gun met me at the faculty. He told me everything. Those people are so..."
"..." Glai didn't respond.
"Who are Chin and Thot? Can you take me to them? I'll handle it and make sure they won't mess with you like that Mek."
Glai knew that Gun must be worried about him, which is why he told P'Dom. When Mek harassed Glai in the restroom, Gun had already told P'Dom, and P'Dom was so angry that he went to punch Mek at his condo. After that, Mek never dared to bother him again.
"No need, P'Dom. I haven't had any trouble with those two lately," Glai replied with a reassuring smile.
"Chin might be okay, but Thot used to hang out with you, right? Does that mean you still have to see him?"
"Yes, but I can handle it, P'Dom..." Glai gave him a reassuring smile to ease his worries before continuing, "If I can't handle it, I'll tell you right away."
P'Dom sighed softly. "Are you sure you can deal with people like this?"
Glai nodded seriously, which was rare for him, making P'Dom laugh. "I'm sure, P'Dom!"
"If you can't, tell me right away, okay?"
"Yes."
"Are you going home now? What are you doing here alone?"
"Well..." Glai bit his lip, trying to find an excuse. "I was going to wait for Gun here, then ask him to go for bingsu together, but I forgot he finishes late today."
"Oh, I see. So, are you heading home now?"
"Yes, I am." The truth was, Glai didn't want to leave. He still wanted to watch Panlee playing with his phone for a little longer and send him off in that cool white car.
"Alright... then I'll go home with you. You didn't drive, did you?"
Glai didn't want to hide this from P'Dom, but since the person he had feelings for was Panlee, who was close to P'Dom, he didn't want his crush to make P'Dom worry. Even though P'Dom knew and accepted that Glai liked boys, Glai thought it wouldn't be easy for P'Dom if he found out Glai had feelings for someone so close to him. He knew P'Dom wanted him to find love, but at the same time, P'Dom had to understand that... Love cannot be forced.
If P'Dom knew about this secret crush, Glai believed his big brother would be quite uncomfortable. After much thought, he decided not to tell P'Dom, and asked his three close friends to keep it a secret.
"Yes, I came by taxi today," Glai answered.
"Are you going home because tomorrow is your uncle and Khun Lin's engagement day?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll take you home."
"No need, P'Dom. I can go back by myself."
"I'm your older brother... I have to take care of you," P'Dom said. Glai smiled at him. "Thank you, P'Dom."
"No need to thank me. It's nothing..." P'Dom said, then raised an eyebrow, as if remembering something. "By the way, Glai, you haven't sent me the location of the restaurant yet."
"You're right... I forgot."
"But you've made a reservation, right?"
"Yes, I've reserved a table, P'Dom."
"Alright... I'm going to buy a gift for you tomorrow," P'Dom said, holding Glai's hand as they walked toward the escalator. "I'm thinking really hard about your gift."
Glai stepped onto the same escalator as P'Dom and cheerfully replied, "You don't have to buy me a gift, P'Dom. Just having you, P'Babe, and Khun Kom come to my birthday party is enough for me."
"I can't do that... We have to get you the best gift," P'Dom said, making Glai laugh as he looked at his taller brother.
"Thank you so much, P'Dom."
"Tomorrow... I hope it's a day full of happiness for you, Glai," P'Dom said, releasing Glai's hand and gently patting his head. "I hope the strong person like you smiles a lot."
P'Dom's words were full of care. He was still worried about Glai feeling sad because his father and Khun Lin's engagement was set on the same day as his birthday. Glai reassured him to ease his worries.
"I'm really okay, P'Dom. Don't worry about me."
"Tomorrow, at the engagement, Babe and I will go in the morning."
"Yes, I'll wait to welcome the important guests, like you and P'Babe, at the front of the house."
P'Dom laughed and gently rubbed his hair. "Alright."
What Glai told P'Dom was the truth—he didn't want a birthday gift, just everyone's presence at the party. But he didn't tell his big brother everything. There was still one truth Glai kept hidden.
And that truth was...
This year, for his birthday...
Glai wished the moon would revolve around him for just one minute. :)