It had been two weeks since 'the day' Than had reintroduced himself to Kin. The initial week after their reunion had been thrilling and full of vibrant memories. The frantic search for the lost paper, the exhilaration of a sudden, stolen kiss at The Hub, the heartfelt conversation on Rose Junction Day, and a soothing day spent at the cat café, all unfolded in the span of just one week. But the following week had been quiet and uneventful in contrast, with Than seeing Kin only once, and occasionally spotting him working on projects with his friends.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZTsTbShQE
"Hey Than, what's on your mind?" Pond chimed in, his energetic voice interrupting Than's reverie. He was clad in his swimwear, fresh from the pool, while Than sat pensively by the poolside.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4Zs65WS5X
"Or should I say 'who' is on your mind?" Pond added, with a teasing grin.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY3hi7zQ5K
"Since when are you so interested in my thoughts, Pond?" Than retorted, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57rHSHavZI
"Well, that's what good friends do, they 'care' about their friend's matters," Pond defended himself with a grin.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mIr1fpUZA
Pim, joining in the playful banter, chided Pond, "Maybe you 'care' too much about our friend's matters, Pond."
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhpGov1uLG
"Hey, caring is my middle name!" Pond shot back, putting on an overly dramatic expression.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNI1lqSuMA
The playful banter momentarily diverted Than's preoccupied mind. His thoughts had been circling around one person lately, and Pond's earlier question had hit closer to the mark than intended. Heaving a resigned sigh, he admitted,
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzxODT20iV
"Well, it's really more about 'who' than 'what', as you pointed out, Pond.”
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLhwGMlgPQ
A gasp of faux surprise escaped Pond's lips, "Oh, so our seemingly heartless Than finally has someone on his mind? I wonder who the lucky one is." The surprise on the faces of his friends was evident, mirrored in Than's own expression. His inadvertent slip had given his secret away.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRLLu86WSU
Intrigue piqued, Ton chimed in with a guess, "Could it be Nong-Nan? The cute freshman from the Business school?”
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtEhUYaoqF
Than shook his head, "I will not tell you guys for sure." He protested, making a face of mock resistance.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuxwh7YIQS
Undeterred, Pond teased, "Or maybe it's someone else from the Business school...Not a Nong but a P', and the name starts with the letter 'K'."
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbiHYVLad5
"No way, Pond! How on earth could you know?"
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3IsIIt2Uh
Than's eyes widened in surprise, his shock was genuine and Pond looked equally startled at his own correct guess. He faked a smug look,
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3rFbOqnqe
"Was I right?" He said, his over-the-top reaction adding to the humor. "Well, since I'm the friend who 'cares', it's not hard to guess.”
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5cYUoBJum
Unable to deny the truth any longer, Than admitted it to his friends, his tone half playful, half serious. He watched as Pim and Ton exchanged glances, the surprise evident in their eyes. Pond, who was watching Than's reactions closely, gestured towards his phone, asking for permission to open P'Kin's Instagram profile. Than nodded, giving his tacit approval.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zyYpeAg3i
As Pond's fingers glided over the screen, bringing up the profile of the elusive P'Kin, they found themselves mesmerized by the man in the photos. Kin's impressive physique drew them in, his muscular form a testament to hours spent in the gym.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKSZz9M5xn
"Wow, look at those muscles," Pim commented, her eyes wide with admiration. Ton chimed in with his own commentary, his words laced with humor. "One punch from him and you'd be out cold."
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqtYT0ZdVD
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWDQ2A99SH
Their friends burst into laughter at the exchange. Than felt a mixture of embarrassment and relief. The cat was out of the bag, and he didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWPUF79sCi
"...You guys already knew," Than said, a mixture of mock seriousness and genuine disappointment on his face. "Are you disappointed in me?"
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvtrkSPUrb
"Why would we be disappointed, Than?" Pim answered quickly, her eyes brimming with sincerity. "We're your friends, and we'll support you in everything. Including whoever you choose to love.”
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmuugmWRwA
The words hung in the air, a testament to their unyielding bond. It was a moment of acceptance, of understanding, as Than found his feelings acknowledged and supported by his closest friends.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qnAbah3UT
Pond's playful smirk spread across his face, breaking the solemnity of the moment.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYIs02b5Us
"But I think I know what really attracts you to this guy," he ventured, eyes glinting with mischief. He gestured vaguely towards his biceps, mimicking the impressive size of Kin's muscles.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoZOvO2HMd
"His muscles are quite bulging and sexy. Can't resist imagining dealing with those muscles, can you, Than?”
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoUgye0ut4
Caught off guard by Pond's tease, Than's face flushed a bright red. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, stammering as he tried to formulate a response.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UyCtsjMQb
"No... no!" he finally blurted out, hands raised defensively as if to ward off Pond's jests. "I never thought to that point!" His voice cracked slightly, betraying his embarrassment.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ877hANLm56
Laughter echoed around them, filling the air with an easy camaraderie. Despite Than's red face and sputtered protests, his eyes were sparkling with laughter, showing no sign of discomfort or resentment. After all, these were his friends, and even if their teasing was relentless, they were the ones who stood by him, accepting and supporting him every step of the way.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UNs2ct7fB
………………………………………..
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdh76ANwmM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwTwXBEdbH
A week charged with social interactions, chance meetings, and whirlwind activities had flowed into the calm stream of reality, and Kin found himself immersed in his academic pursuits and personal routines once more. The realities of university life swirled around him as he plunged into his coursework, the never-ending project work, the strenuous workout routines, and the sparse moments of solitude he managed to steal for himself. He hardly had the time for extensive social interactions, aside from his peers with whom he worked on projects, and his friend Jirat.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFmmIr8jNS
"Look, it's your Nong-Than," Jirat teased, nodding towards the figure waving at them from a distance. Than's signature smile stretched across his face.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1C1OTvWoA
Jirat responded with a casual wave, while Kin, his attention still partly on his work, mirrored the gesture absent-mindedly. His gaze met Than's for a brief moment before returning to the project materials spread out in front of him.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBdI6P19Ny
"You seem to be paying less attention to Nong-Than recently," Jirat noted, eyeing Kin suspiciously. His comment hung in the air between them, an unspoken challenge.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN4VzKwXkA
"Well, I have a lot of work to focus on here, you already know that," Kin replied, a playful tone masking the hint of something deeper. But Jirat was an old friend, he could see the shadow that flitted across Kin's face as he spoke.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Aa2BembNk
"Do you guys have problems?" Jirat ventured further.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTWOVI4LUQ
"I mean, the last time you guys were together at the cat cafe, you both looked lovely. Is Nong-Than not okay?" Jirat pushed on, keen to understand his friend's sudden change in behavior.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHkhvt9IpS
"He's okay, more than okay." Kin paused, his fingers drumming restlessly on the table. "But maybe it's just me," he admitted, his voice softer than before, "I mean, I don't want to involve myself too much in his life. He's so innocent and pure-hearted. I'm afraid I might distract him and get him into some trouble.”
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikf8L9j958
"Or maybe it's you who's afraid of getting distracted by him,” Jirat retorted, a playful smirk on his face, clearly enjoying the analysis. A small silence settled between them, interrupted only by the gentle clinking of cutlery and the murmur of conversations around them.
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9GPAbkGQ6
Kin met Jirat's stare, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, “You're quite a pain in the ass, Jirat, always knowing everything about me.”
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCNxPizYYn
"So, can I say that I'm your closest friend then?” Jirat finally asked, a note of triumph in his voice.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
