After that, the group went their separate ways. Kan went to find her father at a pagoda in the city. Usually, the final day of the Khmer New Year (the third day) is for the Srang Preah ceremony. Statues of the Buddha are paraded in a procession, followed by a crowd of people. Before the ceremony begins, people invite their elders grandparents, teachers, and parents to participate. In short, the elders sit on chairs while the younger generation pours water over them as a gesture of gratitude and blessing.
For families who cannot make it to the pagoda, they perform the ceremony at home. A monk travels from house to house on a cart, chanting blessings. The houses, beautifully decorated for the Year of the Horse, showcase the aesthetic charm of traditional Khmer wooden architecture, evoking a warm, rural atmosphere. Children who work far away return home for this occasion. In front of the houses, two or three basins of water mixed with lotus or jasmine petals are prepared. When the monk arrives, he sprinkles holy water on the family members, who stand or kneel with their heads bowed and hands clasped in a silent prayer for peace and happiness in the New Year.
Once the monk departs for the next house, the children take the water that was blessed and pour it over their parents and elders. In Khmer culture, parents and guardians are often referred to as the "Living Gods in the home." In some regions, the Trot Dance is performed either before or on the final day of the New Year to ward off bad luck.
At the pagoda, after the Buddha statues were bathed, it was the elders' turn to sit in a row. Auntie ja and Uncle Vira were nudged by San and Kan to take their seats. Kan asked hav to take a photo for them. Hav, who usually dislikes playing with water, didn't refuse. Sina joined Kan in pouring water. As they took photos together, Kan noticed Sina looking pensive, though a smile never left her face. Sina was thinking of her grandmother, who was home alone and getting older; this strengthened her resolve to study hard for a scholarship so she wouldn't have to burden her family with university expenses.
Soon, the traditional dancing began the Ram Vong, where people dance in a graceful circle. While the elders enjoyed the traditional rhythm, the younger crowd preferred modern music. Kan, however, wasn't much for dancing; she preferred splashing water with Sina. She had evolved since the school Sangkran; back then, she was hesitant to play, but the atmosphere of the ancient pagoda, the sight of people in traditional white or Khmer attire, and the spacious surroundings made her feel at ease. Even though she hadn't known Sina for long, they found a natural harmony.
That evening, after a quick meal, the group took a bus back to Battambang, then headed to Phnom Penh, and finally took the train to Kampot. The refreshing breeze during the journey made Kan smile as she watched Sina gazing at the landscape. Meanwhile, auntie ja and Uncle Vira stayed behind to explore more of Siem Reap.
The four teenagers sat quietly on the train. The holiday was ending, and the pressure of the upcoming Grade 12 National Exams (Bac II) began to weigh on them.
Kan tried to stop worrying about ree, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Ree was stubborn and silent, only following the instructions Hana supposedly sent him a chat. She wondered why they didn't just talk in person; if they had, the misunderstanding would have been cleared up.
Ree, on his end, was finally having his own realizations. He had misunderstood Hana. He discovered that Hana hadn't actually messaged him; her account had been hacked. He was certain it was the work of the person who had "helped" him before, but he had no way to contact them. He began to wonder: How did they know I liked Sara? Are they using me to hurt Hana? These questions came too late. The manipulation was so seamless that he had truly believed Hana was that kind of person. He realized he had been played in a game where even the innocent Sara was a pawn.
Upon arriving home, hav's grandmother asked about Kan. He replied simply that she sent her regards and had already gone home. Entering the kitchen, hav noticed several foam boxes outside. He jokingly asked his grandfather if he was doing heavy lifting again.
His grandmother smiled and explained that after seeing the garden at Siv's house (Kan's friend), he wanted to plant vegetables too. Him had met Siv at the market, and she being a bright and helpful girl had guided him on how to set up the garden even without a large plot of land. Hav didn't say much but went to check the garden before preparing his own meal.
Meanwhile, San was busy fixing Kan's house. He grumbled that the house wasn't secure enough, so he spent time repairing and reinforcing the weak spots. It was a surprise to see him so handy, as most thought he only knew how to play sports. By the time he finished, it was already late afternoon. Kan insisted he eat before leaving. She also thought of sister khai; they would all see each other the next day when work resumed after the four-day break. Kan then called Siv and Hana to let them know she had arrived and to schedule a group study session.
Before leaving for Phnom Penh, Hana messaged her parents to let them know she was departing. The house was empty; her parents were likely busy. The thing she missed most was her cats. Back the day She contacted the class president, Mutu, to ask if he could look after her three cats for a few days.
Hana arrived at mutu's house at 7:00 PM, just as his family was having dinner. When mutu went to the door, he was stunned. There stood Hana, a beautiful young woman carrying cat crates in both hands and another strapped to her chest, along with a large bag of cat food. To mutu, she looked like a stylish refugee or a grandmother carrying her grandchildren across a border. He couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
Mutu's mother, hearing the laughter, came out and scolded her son, telling him to help Hana with the heavy crates. Hana introduced herself politely as mutu's classmate who needed a favor. Her directness caught mutu's mother off guard, but she hid her smile. She realized that this was the girl who had taken the Number 1 spot in class from mutu.
While mutu's mother was impressed by Hana's manners, she silently teased her son for being academically brilliant but socially clueless. When mutu asked how Hana knew where he lived, she simply replied that she had asked the vice-president, Neaya.
Mutu's mother invited Hana for dinner, but she politely declined and left. Inside, the mother couldn't stop smiling. She told her husband, "That girl is mutu's rival!" Meanwhile, mutu's younger sibling was overjoyed to have the cats in the house.