By lunchtime—
Everyone knew.
Not officially.Not clearly.
But in that high school way where:
no one says it directly but somehow… everyone knows something
Phuwin felt it.
The looks.The whispers.The way conversations paused when he walked by.
"…Why are people staring?" he muttered, stabbing his food like it personally offended him.
Krit didn't even look up. "Because you're famous now."
"I hate you."
"Thank you."
Mali glanced around the cafeteria, frowning slightly. "…Okay, no, something's actually off."
Phuwin groaned. "Don't say that."
"I'm serious."
"Don't confirm my paranoia."
Krit leaned back, finally scanning the room.
A group at the far table quickly looked away.
"…Oh," he said.
Phuwin froze. "…Oh what?"
Krit looked at him.
Then at Mali.
Then back at Phuwin.
"…You might be a topic."
Phuwin dropped his fork. "A topic?"
"Relax," Krit said. "It's not like a scandal."
"That's worse!"
"How is that worse?"
"I don't want to be a topic!"
Mali sighed. "Okay, calm down. It's probably just speculation."
"Speculation about what?" Phuwin demanded.
Krit shrugged. "You. Him. The usual."
Phuwin stared at him.
"…I'm going to transfer schools."
"You say that every week."
"This time I mean it."
"Did you hear?"
Phuwin froze.
That voice.
Right behind them.
"Apparently they broke up," another voice whispered.
"They were even dating?"
"I thought they were just friends."
"Same."
Phuwin's grip tightened around his spoon.
Krit slowly turned his head.
Very slowly.
"…Do you want me to say something?" he asked quietly.
Phuwin shook his head immediately. "No."
Mali added, "Ignore it."
Phuwin let out a breath.
"…Yeah."
Ignore it.
Easy.
"…It's just weird," he said after a moment. "Like—it was my relationship. Why does everyone else get an opinion?"
"They don't," Mali said.
"They think they do," Krit added.
Phuwin looked down at his tray.
"…We weren't even that public."
Krit raised an eyebrow. "You literally posted him on your story."
"Once!"
"Three times."
"Okay, that's still not public."
"That's very public."
Mali snorted.
Phuwin covered his face. "I hate everything."
Across the cafeteria—
Arthit was sitting with his friends.
Laughing.
Again.
Like nothing had changed.
Phuwin's eyes lingered.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…Stop looking," Krit said.
"I'm not looking."
"You're literally looking."
"I'm observing."
"You're suffering."
Mali kicked Krit lightly. "Enough."
Phuwin looked away.
"…I'm not even sad like that anymore," he said.
Krit blinked. "That was fast."
"I mean it."
Mali tilted her head. "…Then what are you?"
Phuwin paused.
That question again.
What was he?
"…Annoyed," he said finally.
Krit nodded. "Valid."
"Confused," Phuwin added.
Mali nodded. "Also valid."
"…And embarrassed."
Krit winced. "Yeah. That one hits."
"Hey."
They turned.
Beam.
Of course.
"Hi," Mali said cautiously.
Beam grinned, sliding into the empty seat like he'd been invited. "So."
Phuwin immediately sighed. "No."
"No what?"
"No whatever you're about to say."
Beam looked offended. "Wow. You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"I do."
"You don't."
"You're going to ask about the breakup."
"…Okay, yes, but—"
"No."
Beam leaned forward anyway. "Was it mutual?"
Krit clapped once. "Alright, interview over."
Beam ignored him. "Because I heard—"
"You heard wrong," Mali cut in smoothly.
Beam blinked. "I didn't even say what I heard."
"Still wrong."
Phuwin stared at them.
"…Am I not here?"
"No, you're the main character," Krit said. "We're protecting you."
"I didn't ask for protection."
"You're getting it anyway."
Beam sighed dramatically. "You guys are no fun."
"Correct," Mali said.
Beam leaned back.
But didn't leave.
Of course he didn't.
"…For what it's worth," he said, glancing at Phuwin, "he looks worse than you."
Phuwin blinked.
"…What?"
Beam shrugged. "Yeah. He's been quiet today."
Krit frowned. "Really?"
Beam nodded. "Mhm."
Phuwin didn't know what to do with that.
Didn't know how to feel about it.
"…Oh," he said.
That was all.
Silence settled for a moment.
Then—
Krit leaned in slightly. "…Do you feel better hearing that?"
Phuwin hesitated.
"…I don't know."
And that was the truth.
After lunch—
They walked out together.
Same as always.
But now—
It felt like people were watching.
"…I hate this," Phuwin muttered.
"You'll get used to it," Krit said.
"I don't want to get used to it."
"Too bad."
Mali nudged Phuwin lightly. "It'll die down."
"When?"
"Soon."
Krit added, "People get bored fast."
Phuwin sighed. "…I hope so."
They reached the stairs.
Crowded.
Noisy.
Normal.
Phuwin stepped up—
Then paused.
Arthit was there.
Halfway up.
Talking to someone.
Then—
He glanced down.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
That same feeling again.
Tight.Uncomfortable.
Familiar.
Phuwin looked away first.
Walked past him.
Didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't say anything.
At the top of the stairs—
Krit let out a breath. "Okay. That was intense."
Mali nodded. "Yeah."
Phuwin kept walking.
"…I'm fine," he said.
No one believed him.
They reached their classroom.
Phuwin dropped into his seat.
"…Do you think people ever actually understand love?" he asked suddenly.
Krit shrugged. "Eventually."
Mali sat down. "Maybe."
Phuwin stared ahead.
"…I feel like we're all just guessing."
Krit nodded. "We are."
Mali smiled faintly. "That's kind of the point."
Phuwin exhaled slowly.
"…That's stressful."
"Welcome to life," Krit said.
For a moment—
Everything felt loud again.
Messy.
Unclear.
But not as heavy as before.
Just…
Complicated.
Phuwin leaned back in his chair.
"…Next time," he said, "I'm not falling in love."
Krit laughed immediately. "Liar."
Mali smiled. "We'll see."
Phuwin rolled his eyes.
But he smiled too.
Just a little.
Outside—
The rain had stopped.
But the ground was still wet.
End of Chapter 4