Chapter 8

Santa Pongsapak

We had spent the last two weeks quietly observing Sky and Nani, but nothing had really clicked. Dunk and I had noticed how off things had been between them—how Sky kept trying to talk to Nani, but Nani would always avoid it.

Aou, as usual, didn't think much of it. He didn't even seem to care about the tension between Sky and Nani, much less the strange distance growing between them. Boom was a bit more observant, but still, no one had a solid clue about what was really going on—except for me and Dunk.

"So, do you think they're okay?" Joong asked, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall, looking at Dunk and me.

I shrugged. "I don't know. It's hard to say. Sky's been acting like he's lost something, like he's waiting for something from Nani, but Nani's been really distant."

Boom, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "I don't get it. Why's Nani acting like that?"

Dunk and I exchanged glances, unsure of how much we should actually say. We knew Sky had been trying to talk to Nani about something, but it didn't feel right spilling everything yet.

Aou, noticing our silence, leaned back and grinned, as if an idea had popped into his head. "What if they kissed each other?"

The second those words left Aou's mouth, Dunk and I both froze. It was like time stopped for a second, and the weight of the situation hit us full force. I shot a nervous glance at Dunk, who was looking just as tense.

Joong raised an eyebrow, watching us carefully. "Why are you two looking like that?"

Boom narrowed his eyes at both of us, sensing something was off. "Yeah, what's going on with you two?"

Perth, standing nearby, looked between Dunk and me, piecing things together. "You two are acting weird.."

I couldn't take it anymore. With a sigh, I threw my hands up in frustration. "Fine! Yes, Sky and Nani kissed. And it's been... complicated. Nani's been staying with Dew and Win—actually, Win told us during our free time, like, three days ago. He said Nani's been at their place for a few days now."

Perth's eyes widened. "What? Dew and Win told you that?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Win answered for Nani when we asked why they—Nani and Sky—hadn't been arriving together at the university. He just mentioned it like it was no big deal, but we thought it was kind of weird. Nani's been avoiding talking about the kiss, though. We've tried to get him to open up, but he just shrugs it off. Sky hasn't been able to get through to him."

Dunk shifted uncomfortably. "Sky's been really trying, but every time they're about to talk about it, Nani just leaves or shuts him down. It's like he's avoiding it completely."

Boom slapped the back of Aou's head. "I told you, Aou! You're as clueless as ever."

Aou rubbed the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "Guess I missed something big, huh?"

"Mhm..," Dunk muttered, still tense. "This whole thing is a mess."

The room went quiet for a moment, everyone trying to process everything that had just been said. It was chaotic, but we all knew something had to be done before things between Sky and Nani got any worse.

Perth spoke up first, his eyes scanning the room. "We need to do something. This isn't going to fix itself."

I couldn't help but laugh nervously. "Yeah, I guess we better help them figure this out before it gets even messier."

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Nani Hirunkit

I entered the living room, where everyone was gathered. Boom invited us all to his and Aou's place for a casual meet-up. Dew and Win were supposed to come as well, but they had to go to Win's hometown. His parents had called to spend the day with him and his boyfriend—Dew.

The usual warmth that came with being around my friends wasn't there today. The chatter, the laughter—it was quieter, forced. It felt off.

I made my way over to the couch where Joong and Dunk were sitting. They were talking, or at least I thought they were. But as soon as I sat down next to them, they both fell silent, exchanging a glance before quickly looking away.

I frowned. Was I imagining this?

I cleared my throat, trying to join in. "So, what's the plan for tonight?"

Joong, usually so full of energy, gave me a tight smile. "Oh, you know. Same as always." His tone was distant, almost like he wasn't really here, and I caught Dunk staring at his phone, clearly not paying attention to anything I'd just said.

Perth and Santa were sitting at the opposite end of the room, talking in hushed voices. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but it felt so private, so secretive. When Perth noticed me looking, he quickly averted his gaze, his smile too bright, too quick.

Something was wrong.

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to push the growing feeling in my chest down. Maybe I was overthinking it. But it was hard to ignore how everyone was acting. It wasn't like before. It wasn't normal.

I glanced over at Aou and Boom, who were laughing about something—again, their usual teasing, but it felt off. Their laughter wasn't carefree. It was tight, forced. Boom's smile didn't seem genuine, and Aou kept glancing at the others, waiting for some sort of cue before saying anything.

I could feel the weight of it—the distance growing between me and the group. The walls that were slowly being built around me. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were keeping something from me.

I finally snapped. "Is something going on?" I asked, my voice softer than I meant it to be. But I was done with the silence, with the strange looks, the tension in the air.

Boom's eyes widened, and he quickly glanced at Dunk, then at Santa.

Joong opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He closed it again, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, avoiding my eyes.

Perth shifted in his seat, his expression unreadable. Santa glanced at me, a frown tugging at his lips, but before he could say anything, Aou cut in, trying to make things light again. "Nothing's going on, Nani. You're just overthinking."

But I knew better. There was something wrong.

I looked at them all—Santa, Dunk, Joong, Aou, Boom and Perth—none of them would meet my eyes. I couldn't let it slide anymore.

"It doesn't feel like nothing's going on," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. But it was hard to ignore the way their eyes flickered nervously. "You guys are acting strange."

Another heavy silence filled the room. No one spoke.

I wasn't going to let this go.

"Just... just tell me. Why are you all so weird around me today?" I couldn't hold it in anymore. My frustration, my confusion—it was bubbling up and I needed to get it out. I was tired of the silence, tired of their avoidance.

Santa's mouth tightened into a thin line. Dunk, still staring at his phone, clenched his jaw. Joong finally looked up at me, but his gaze was unreadable.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Joong said, but his voice cracked, the unease clear in his tone.

I shifted uncomfortably. This wasn't the Joong I knew. None of them were acting like themselves.

"You guys are hiding something," I said, my voice low, barely above a whisper. But it cut through the tension in the room like a knife. "Stop pretending. Just tell me what's going on."

Boom looked at Aou, then at me, and said quietly, "Maybe... maybe it's just a weird day. Nothing to worry about."

I could feel my heart beating faster, my frustration rising, but I didn't want to lose control. Not yet. Not like this.

But I wasn't going to sit there and keep pretending either.

"You're lying," I said, my voice sharp now. "I can feel it. You're all acting like something is happening and none of you will just tell me. I'm not stupid. What's going on?"

The room fell into an unbearable silence.

I stood up suddenly, unable to stay in that space anymore, surrounded by their secrets and their lies. It felt like the walls were closing in, like I couldn't breathe in the suffocating silence.

"I—I need space," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.

I turned and walked toward the door, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I didn't care if they called out to me. I didn't care if they wanted to stop me. I couldn't stay in that room for another second, feeling like I was suffocating.

"Where are you going?" Joong called after me, his voice filled with confusion.

"I'm done," I said, my voice cold. I didn't look back. "And I need a break. From all of you."

I didn't wait for a response. I just walked out, the heavy silence still echoing in my ears, knowing I couldn't stay. Not like this.