Chapter 26

Nani Hirunkit

It was Monday, and the start of the week had already hit me with the usual rush. Dew and Win were both up early, getting ready for school, and I couldn't exactly back out now. The tension from the past few days was still there, lingering in the background, but I was here, and I was going.

We all piled into Dew's car and made our way to school. I couldn't stop my mind from racing as I thought about the friend group—Aou, Boom, Perth, Santa, Joong, Dunk, and even Sky. The last time I'd seen them, I'd stormed off. Would they be mad at me? Would they still talk to me like before? My stomach twisted at the thought.

When we arrived and walked through the gates, I spotted them all standing in their usual spot, chatting and laughing. The moment they saw me, their faces lit up with excitement.

Aou was the first to spot me, waving enthusiastically. "Nani!" He jogged over, pulling me into a tight hug. "You're back!"

"Thought we lost you for good," Boom added, grinning as he slapped me on the back. "You had us all worried."

Perth raised an eyebrow, looking over at Santa. "Didn't think we'd see you again so soon," he said with a smirk. "Guess we were wrong." Santa chuckled beside him, nodding.

"You can't just disappear like that," Dunk said, giving me a mock glare. "It's been way too quiet without you."

I felt a weight lift off my chest as I realized there was no coldness, no resentment. They were just happy to see me, like nothing had changed.

"Yeah, man," Joong added, crossing his arms with a grin. "We were about to file a missing person report."

My chest loosened a little more as I looked around at them. They were all genuinely glad to have me back.

We were still talking when Sky appeared, walking toward us with his usual calm expression. But when his eyes landed on me, his brows lifted slightly in surprise.

"You came back...?" he said softly, almost in disbelief.

I glanced at him, trying to gauge what he was really thinking. It felt like there was more he wanted to say, but I wasn't sure if I cared to hear it.

"Yeah," I replied flatly, the weight of the moment hanging between us.

Sky didn't respond immediately, just nodded quietly. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary before he turned to the others, who were already back to their usual banter.

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The day went by in a blur, and before I knew it, we were all heading toward our respective classes. Dew and Win had different schedules, so it was just me, Sky, Aou, and Boom walking toward the architecture building.

Aou and Boom had apparently made it their mission to shield me from Sky, though I couldn't quite figure out why. They flanked me on either side, making sure I was sandwiched between them as we walked through the crowded halls of the building. Their chatter and jokes helped keep my focus away from Sky, who was a few paces ahead, walking with his usual calm stride.

I couldn't help but notice that Aou and Boom were doing a little more than just keeping pace with me. They were kind of positioning themselves in such a way that I couldn't even look at Sky without their presence getting in the way. They were shielding me, and though it was kind of funny, it also made me feel... I don't know, protected? It was weird.

"Relax, Nani," Boom teased, glancing at me with a smirk. "We've got your back, okay?"

"Yeah, no need to stress," Aou added, nudging me lightly. "We won't let him bite."

"Yeah, well, it's not him I'm worried about," I muttered, though I wasn't sure if I meant it.

Boom laughed. "You don't have to worry about anything right now. Just focus on getting to class."

I nodded, grateful for their distraction. We made our way toward the architecture classrooms when I spotted a familiar figure walking toward us. It was May—the girl who had a major crush on Sky. She was a few steps ahead, and the second she saw Sky, her face brightened.

"Hey, Sky!" she greeted him, practically bouncing over with a smile that could've melted anyone's heart.

Sky turned to face her, his expression staying neutral but not unkind. "Hey, May."

She stopped just in front of him, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I didn't know you had a class here. Who's this?" She looked at me, her gaze lingering for a second too long. "New friend?"

Sky glanced at me, his usual calm mask sliding into place. "Yeah, just a friend of mine," he said, coolly. "Nani."

May's eyebrows raised slightly, and I could tell she was taking mental notes. "A friend, huh?" she repeated, eyes flicking between Sky and me, then back to Sky. She smiled, but there was a trace of curiosity in her expression.

Boom and Aou exchanged an amused look, making sure to stay in between me and Sky. I couldn't help but feel a little awkward under May's gaze.

Sky, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed. "Anyway," he said, clearly eager to move on. "We're headed to class. You've got your group, right?"

May's smile faltered just a bit at his dismissiveness, but she recovered quickly. "Oh, yeah, of course," she said brightly, though her eyes still lingered on us for a moment longer than necessary. "See you around, Sky."

We all continued walking, but I could feel the weight of May's lingering gaze on my back.

Once we were a few steps away, Aou leaned in, grinning. "Well, that was fun, huh?"

Boom chuckled. "Yeah, I think she's already planning the wedding."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you two were jealous."

Aou raised an eyebrow. "Maybe we are. It's a lot of competition for your attention, you know?"

I shook my head at their teasing, but inside, I couldn't shake the feeling of being under May's watchful eye. And Sky... he was so indifferent about it all. It bothered me more than I cared to admit.

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After literature class, I met up with Aou and Boom in the courtyard near the architecture building. They'd just finished their own class, a hands-on workshop on building models, while I was stuck in a theoretical discussion about the future of literature or whatever. I was glad to get out of there, though, and happy to meet up with them.

Aou slung his arm over my shoulders as we started walking toward the main gate. "Man, that class sounded so boring," he said, shaking his head. "All that talk about symbolism and themes... just let me read the book and figure it out myself."

Boom laughed beside us, his hands shoved in his pockets. "You sound like a true architect. You're supposed to analyze stuff, not just look at it."

I shot him a glance. "At least literature's got its fun moments," I shot back. "Not like you and your tiny buildings."

"Hey, small spaces are efficient," Aou said with a smirk. "You just don't get it yet."

Boom snickered, nudging Aou in the ribs. "Right, Nani? You'd love a tiny building, wouldn't you?"

"Maybe," I said, laughing. "I'll let you design it for me someday."

As we rounded the corner to leave the campus, I noticed a figure walking toward us, someone I recognized immediately. May. She was strolling through the courtyard, her head high, practically radiating confidence. I didn't even think she'd notice us, but then—just as she neared me—she "accidentally" bumped into me.

"Oops," she said, not looking at me as she practically shoulder-checked me on purpose. Then, as if it were all an accident, she turned with a saccharine smile. "Aww... I'm sorry." Her voice was sweet, but there was an unmistakable attitude in the way she looked me up and down, like she was evaluating me.

I straightened up, biting my tongue as the sting of her words hit. She didn't even pause, just kept walking with that same confident air, her heels clicking against the pavement like she was already ten steps ahead.

Aou raised an eyebrow, glancing at me. "That... was weird."

Boom scoffed, shaking his head. "She's got issues."

I couldn't help but feel the weight of her eyes, even as she walked away. "Yeah, I noticed," I muttered, my hands clenched at my sides. I wanted to say something, but I wasn't sure what would be worth it.

"Don't let it get to you," Aou said, nudging me again. "She's just looking for a reaction."

Boom laughed, clearly not impressed. "She'd be better off finding a mirror. At least that'd give her a reason to talk to herself."

I couldn't help but laugh at that, but the feeling May left behind still lingered. It was like she was marking her territory or something. Either way, I wasn't going to let it bother me—at least not today.