(Mali's POV)
Mali knew something was going to happen.
She didn't know what.
But the way the hallway felt that morning—too loud, too full, too aware—
Yeah.
Something was definitely going to happen.
"Why is everyone acting weird?" Phuwin muttered beside her, adjusting his bag.
Krit walked on the other side, hands in his pockets. "Because you're famous."
"I'm not famous."
"You're cafeteria-famous."
"That's worse."
Mali sighed. "Can we not start the day like this?"
Krit grinned. "We already did."
They turned the corner—
And immediately heard it.
"—I heard he got dumped."
Mali stopped walking.
Phuwin didn't.
"…Keep going," he said quietly.
They did.
But the words followed.
"—he was too much."
"—I mean, yeah, obviously."
"—I'm not surprised."
Mali's chest tightened.
She looked at Phuwin.
He didn't react.
Didn't turn.
Didn't say anything.
Which was worse.
Krit didn't stay quiet.
Of course he didn't.
He stopped.
Turned.
"Say it louder," he said.
The group froze.
"…What?" one of them said.
Krit stepped closer. "You were whispering. I said, say it louder."
Mali grabbed his arm immediately. "Krit—"
"No, I want to hear it clearly," he continued, voice calm but sharp. "You seem very confident."
"It's not that deep," one of the boys said, shrugging.
Krit smiled.
Not a nice smile.
"Then say it again."
Phuwin turned back. "Krit."
"Wait—"
"No," Phuwin said. "Let's go."
Krit didn't move.
For a second—
Mali thought he wouldn't listen.
Then he exhaled sharply and stepped back.
"…You're lucky he's here," he muttered under his breath.
Mali didn't let go of his arm until they were far away.
"…You didn't have to do that," Phuwin said quietly.
Krit scoffed. "Yes, I did."
"No, you didn't."
"They were talking about you."
"So?"
"So I'm allowed to be annoyed."
Mali stepped between them slightly. "Okay, both of you—stop."
Silence.
Phuwin looked away. "…I don't care."
Krit frowned. "You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I said I'm not!"
Mali raised her voice slightly. "Enough!"
They both stopped.
People were staring.
Again.
Mali lowered her voice. "…Not here."
They walked the rest of the way in silence.
But it wasn't the comfortable kind.
By second period—
the tension hadn't gone away.
If anything—
it got worse.
"Attention, everyone."
Mr. Chai stood at the front of the class, clapping his hands once.
"We will be having a school cultural festival next week."
The class immediately lit up.
"What kind of festival?""Do we have to perform?""Can we skip?"
Mr. Chai raised his hand. "Each class will prepare a booth or activity."
Krit leaned over. "…We should do something chaotic."
Mali didn't even look at him. "No."
Phuwin rested his chin on his hand. "Can we just not participate?"
"No," Mr. Chai said, like he heard him. "Everyone participates."
Phuwin sighed. "Of course."
"Group assignments will be posted this afternoon," Mr. Chai continued.
Mali froze.
"…Please don't," she whispered.
Krit smirked. "Please do."
Phuwin looked between them. "…What?"
Mali slowly turned to him. "If this goes wrong—"
"It won't," Krit said.
"It will."
"It won't."
"It always does."
Phuwin frowned. "…What are you talking about?"
Neither of them answered.
That was suspicious.
By lunchtime—
the list was up.
And of course—
it went wrong.
Mali stared at the paper.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Krit leaned in.
Then grinned.
"Oh, this is perfect."
Phuwin stepped closer.
Then—
froze.
Group 3:
MaliKritPhuwinArthit
Silence.
"…No," Phuwin said immediately.
"Yes," Krit said.
"No."
"Yes."
Mali closed her eyes. "…This is a disaster."
Behind them—
voices started again.
"Wait, they're in the same group?""That's awkward.""Are they going to fight?"
Krit turned slightly. "If you keep talking, maybe."
They shut up.
Phuwin stepped back from the list.
"…I'm not doing this."
"You have to," Mali said.
"I don't."
"You do."
"I'll fail."
"You won't."
"I will."
"You won't."
Krit nodded. "You won't. We'll carry you."
"That's not the point!"
"…I can switch groups."
They turned.
Arthit.
Standing there.
Mali watched Phuwin carefully.
He didn't look at him.
"…You don't have to," Mali said quickly.
Krit crossed his arms. "Yeah. Stay."
Mali shot him a look.
Not helping.
Arthit hesitated.
"…I just thought it might be uncomfortable."
Phuwin finally spoke.
Still not looking at him.
"…It is."
Honest.
Too honest.
The air shifted.
Mali stepped in. "We can just… be normal about it."
Krit nodded. "Yeah. We're very normal people."
"No, we're not," Phuwin said.
"Okay, fair."
Another pause.
Then—
Phuwin exhaled.
"…It's just a project."
Mali nodded. "Exactly."
Krit added, "Worst case, we fail together."
"That's not comforting."
Arthit gave a small nod.
"…Okay."
That was it.
No more words.
They stood there for a moment longer.
Four people.
One group.
Too much history.
Too much tension.
"…This is going to be so chaotic," Krit said.
Mali sighed. "I hate this already."
Phuwin rubbed his face. "…I need sleep."
But somewhere—
under the stress, the awkwardness, the frustration—
Something else was there.
Something new.
Mali noticed it first.
Not clearly.
Not fully.
Just a feeling.
This wasn't just about the breakup anymore.
It was about to become something else.
End of Chapter 5