My Moon, Chapter 23 pg 1
My Moon, Chapter 23 pg 1
Chapter 23:
As the elevator doors slid open, Klai stepped out, holding bread and milk that his older brother always left in his locker every Wednesday, accompanied by his two close friends. After submitting documents to request the use of the branch’s mascot costume for the open house event, Klai and his friends headed straight to the wide courtyard behind the university. A few days earlier, the head of the art department, responsible for the branch’s booth, had sent a message in the group chat asking for additional volunteers.
Seeing no one else respond, Klai, who had already finished his own tasks, volunteered to help, which led him and his friends to this courtyard.
“Klai… where’s Leaf?” Pie asked, noticing students from various faculties painting their booths in the same area.
“There, Leaf’s over there…” Klai said, pointing at a friend from their branch waving at them, before adding, “…let’s go.”
“Looks like Leaf’s group is almost done with the booth, right?” Mai asked as they approached their branch mates.
“But Leaf might have other tasks for us to help with…”
“I was thinking the same as you. When Leaf messaged us for help, it seemed like there was a ton of work,” Klai said.
Mai and Pie, walking on either side of him, nodded lightly in agreement. They stopped in front of Leaf, the head of the art department, whose sweat-covered face betrayed a sigh before he spoke.
“Sorry for dragging you guys into this… really, we shouldn’t have bothered you.”
“It’s fine, Leaf,” Klai replied.
“So, what’s left for us to do?” Mai asked.
“The booth’s all done now. Just waiting for the paint to dry, that’s it.”
“…”
“But the task we want you guys to help with is making a brochure... one we can hand out to the juniors when they visit our booth.”
“Oh...”
“You guys can use Photoshop, right?”
“Yeah, I can manage,” Klai replied, nodding slightly.
“Even if we don’t know how, don’t worry, Leaf...” Mai said, turning to him with a sly smile. “...Because Klai’s soon-to-be boyfriend studies graphic design. We can just ask Klai’s future boyfriend to help.”
“Mai, really?!”
“Oh... you mean Panli?”
Mai and Pie burst out laughing at the question from their department mate. Klai rubbed his ear, feeling a flush of heat, before nodding in confirmation.
When Leaf asks so directly like that,
Klai figured he had to answer just as directly.
“I knew it... cause I’ve seen you with Panli a lot.”
Leaf’s comment made Klai even more embarrassed, and he moved his hand to rub the back of his neck. “...”
“So, we’re counting on you for the brochure, Klai.”
“Sure thing, I’ll get it done.”
“When it’s finished, send it to me via email, and I’ll print it out in the morning...” Leaf said, letting out another sigh. “...It’s a good thing you guys are helping. Otherwise, we’d have no brochures for the department to hand out tomorrow, for sure.”
“What about the others? Aren’t they helping with the event?” Mai asked.
“Some are helping... but only a few. The rest said they’re tied up with classes and can’t come. Honestly, I’m also busy with classes, but this is a group responsibility, so we have to make time for it.”
“I get it...” Klai said.
“Yeah, that’s how it is...” Leaf gave a wry smile before continuing, “Anyway, thanks a lot, you guys.”
“Mhm... we’ll head out then. After the next class, we’ll hurry back to work on the brochure.”
“Okay.”
With the confirmation from their department mate, Klai turned and nodded to his two close friends, signaling them to go. He, Mai, and Pie left the area, and along the way, the three of them agreed to work on the project at his condo after the next class.
“Klai... I’m gonna stop by to grab a blended cocoa real quick.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Come with~”
Klai watched Pie chasing after Mai toward the drink shop under the faculty building. He plopped down on a long chair, took a swig from a milk bottle, and unwrapped a piece of bread from its plastic packaging. His thin lips bit into the soft bread, chewing heartily.
However, the vibration of his phone in his pants pocket made Klai set the milk and bread on his lap. He reached in and pulled it out, and the name on the caller ID brought a sweet smile to his face.
‘My Moon’
“Done with class, little pup?”
[Yes, kha.]
Klai pressed his lips together to suppress a grin when he heard Moon’s voice. They hadn’t seen each other all day yesterday because he had a presentation and classes until evening, while Panli had to attend a meeting with business partners at Once in a Blue Moon until late. No matter how often they called each other, it didn’t lessen the overwhelming longing one bit.
“Panli…”
[Huh…]
“What time does you finish class today?”
[Honestly, I’m already done, but I have to help a friend set up a booth first.]
“Oh…”
[Is something up with you? Did someone do something to you?]
“Nah, no one’s done anything to me.”
[Even if no one’s done anything, I’m guessing something’s up… Otherwise, you wouldn’t ask what time I’m done with class.]
“I just wanted you to help me design a brochure. A friend from the art team asked me to help with it.”
[Oh… sure, I can help.]
“But if you are busy, it’s fine. I can manage, though it might not look as nice,” Klai said with a chuckle.
[I can help, but it might be a bit late in the evening. Is your friend in a rush to use it?]
“My friend needs it for tomorrow morning. They’re printing the brochures to hand out to the juniors tomorrow.”
[Oh… then it should be fine. We’ll probably finish it tonight.]
“…”
[But we’re not working on it at the university, right?]
Klai smirked before saying, “Mai, Pie, and I agreed to work on it at my condo.”
[Oh…]
“Why do you have to make that sly ‘oh’ sound, you little pup?”
Klai broke into a wide smile when he heard soft laughter from the other end of the line.
[KhunKlai, you’re overthinking… I’m just talking normally.]
“You’re gonna get it~”
Moon laughed with delight. Klai listened to that sound, which warmed his heart, before deciding to say something that might make the other person’s heart swell too.
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