My Moon, Chapter 3 pg 16
My Moon, Chapter 3 pg 16
Klai thought back to that day before saying, “That day in the library, it was just me, Kant, Phii Shin, and the librarian.”
The more certain he was that no one else was there, the less he wanted to know who started spreading the story among friends in the department. The only way Klai could protect his heart from feeling as awful as it did weeks ago was to hold onto trust.
Klai trusted Kant… and Klai trusted Phii Shin.
That was enough… Klai didn’t want to know anything more.
That was enough… Klai didn’t have to fear heartbreak anymore.
Klai had heard the saying, “If seeking the truth brings pain, let it stay hidden.” So he chose to let the truth remain concealed, with no intention of chasing it. Klai didn’t need any truth to prop him up and keep moving forward. He would overcome every ordeal on his own.
“I really want to know who the blabbermouth was that spread this until the gossipers had a field day talking about it.”
“Don’t bother wanting to know, Som… let’s think about it,” Cake said, turning to smile at him. “Let’s just blame the librarian, how about that? …Thinking like this feels better, right, Klai?”
Klai let out a soft laugh and nodded. Cake probably thought the same way he did. Klai knew his friend wasn’t suggesting he avoid the truth, but just wanted him to grow stronger quickly.
“No need to blame the librarian, Cake. I feel bad for him,” Klai said with a chuckle before continuing, “I like to think it’ll pass eventually… that alone makes me feel better.”
Even though he knew it wouldn’t pass easily.
“Stay strong, Klai. We’re rooting for you.”
“I’m cheering for you too.”
But Klai would get through it…
After class, Klai and his two close friends packed up to head home, but he seemed more rushed than usual, prompting Som to ask curiously, “Where are you hurrying off to today, Klai?”
“Today, I’m heading back home… my driver is picking me up. He just called to say he’s been waiting in the parking lot for a while. I feel bad for making him wait, so I’m going to quickly pack up and head down to the lot,” Klai said while zipping up his backpack.
“Look at Cake… he’s even considerate of his family’s driver.”
“I believe good people are protected by the heavens.”
The small-framed person being talked about let out a soft laugh before looking up at his two friends. “So, where are you and Som going today?”
“I’m heading up to see my boyfriend on the twelfth floor.”
“I’m going to submit some work to the professor on the fourteenth floor.”
“Oh… so no one’s going downstairs with me, huh?”
“Nope~”
“Can you handle going down in the elevator alone?”
Klai burst out laughing before nodding confidently. “I am nineteen now, you know. I can handle the elevator just fine.”
“Okay… then let’s go wait for the elevator together.”
The slightly taller small-framed boy walked out with his two female friends to wait for the elevator. Not long after, Klai waved goodbye to Cake and Som as they entered the elevator together. Now, he stood waiting alone, his sharp eyes fixed on the downward arrow indicating that the right elevator was descending from the twelfth floor to pick him up. But then, the left elevator’s upward arrow switched to a downward one. Klai gave a small smile, realizing he had two options.
“Whichever one’s less crowded, I’ll take that.”
While waiting, Klai shifted his gaze from the red arrows to a group of second-year seniors standing nearby. If he remembered correctly, he’d seen this group at the freshman booth.
“Got chewed out like a dog, man.”
“Serves you right. You did such sloppy work for the professor.”
“Not only did I get torn apart, my ears are still ringing.”
Klai wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping, but since they were standing close enough, he could clearly hear their conversation. From what he gathered, this group of seniors had probably just submitted their work at the faculty office.
Ding!
The sound snapped Klai’s attention away from the seniors, and he looked at the opening elevator doors. As he stepped into the right elevator, he saw the group of seniors filing into the left one. That left him alone in this rectangular box.
His slender finger reached to press the button to close the doors. Klai watched the reflective metal doors slowly slide toward each other. But a familiar voice slipping through the tiny gap made him quickly press the open button.
“Wait, please!”
Klai didn’t open the doors just because the voice’s owner had asked.
But because he knew who the voice belonged to,
And when the door opened wide enough,
“Phii Shin…”
It made Klai realize… all the efforts he’d made over the past few weeks
“…”
Still weren’t enough to face the cold, indifferent eyes of the other person.
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