My Moon, Chapter 3 pg 3
My Moon, Chapter 3 pg 3
“Perfect…” Kant said, glancing at him as they carried the heavy cooler together. “You’ve been crushing on Phii Shin since joining the club, haven’t you? Ever thought about actually getting to know him, Klai?”
Thud!
The sound of the cooler hitting the long wooden table by the basketball court interrupted their conversation. It signaled that Kant had finished helping Klai with his reserve duties for the basketball club. Meanwhile, the main players were due to start their practice.
Next week, their school’s basketball team was competing in the high school championship finals. The club’s teacher had reserved club time for the main players to practice, leaving reserves like Klai and a few other freshmen to sit by the sidelines until the period ended.
“Didn’t we already get to know Phii Shin?”
“That’s not getting to know him, Klai. That’s just introducing yourself to the club members.”
Klai gave a small smile. He knew Kant was right. Standing up and introducing himself to everyone in the basketball club on his first day wasn’t the same as getting to know Phii Shin. It’s like you think just doing that counts as getting to know him, Kant.
It’s not that he didn’t try to approach the person he liked. After several attempts, Klai realized he wasn’t memorable to Phii Shin at all. So, he decided… quietly watching Phii Shin from the sidelines was enough.
The moment that led to this realization was when Klai and the other reserve freshmen were tasked with filling cups from the cooler and serving them to the players during breaks. Klai always made sure to bring water to Phii Shin.
The first week he brought water to Phii Shin:
“Thanks.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
“What’s your name, kid?”
“It’s Klai. My name is Klai.”
“Thank you, Klai.”
Klai was thrilled to talk to Phii Shin, even if it was just a brief conversation. If you think about it, some people might not feel as happy, considering they’ve been in the same club for a month, and he only now asked for his name. But Klai thought it was already great that he made Phii Shin remember him a little.
And then the second week came.
Klai remembers bringing water to Phii Shin. He smiled at him and said, “Thank you.”
The same phrase. Klai smiled, guessing the next sentence would be the same too.
Phii Shin probably remembered his name by now, since he told him just last week.
“Thank you, Imm.” Phii Shin frowned slightly while looking at him. “…Or is it not Im? Did I get your name wrong?”
“…My name is Klai.”
Im was the name of another junior who was a reserve like him. As far as Klai could recall, Im had never brought water to Phii Shin, not even once. Hearing someone else’s name stung a bit, but it didn’t discourage him. The following week, he hurried to the club and carried the cooler to the long wooden table by the field with the other juniors. Klai filled a glass of water for Phii Shin as usual.
The third week…
Klai didn’t have high expectations.
Because he’d heard the saying: Don’t expect, and you won’t be disappointed.
“Thank you…”
Phii Shin stared at him with a thoughtful expression. “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I ever remember your name?”
“…”
“I heard you’re friends with Kant… Let me ask your name one last time, and I won’t forget it next time.”
This time… Klai wasn’t disappointed.
“My name is Klai.”
But that was only in his thoughts, not his feelings.
Because thoughts can still be controlled.
But feelings…
…No one can resist them.
And that’s why Klai thought… it’s best to focus on his duties without slipping up and just watch Phii Shin from the sidelines.
Klai shook off the memories that cautioned him not to hope too much, then turned to his close friend, who was standing with hands on hips, looking at him.
“Should I introduce you to Phii Shin?” Kant asked.
Even now, with his best friend trying everything to get him to connect with Phii Shin, Klai still thought, “I think things are fine as they are.”
“I think if you got to know him, talked to him more, it’d be better than how things are now… Phii Shin’s graduating in a few months, you know,” Kant said.
“…”
“I hate seeing you just sit there watching him without ever talking,” Kant added.
“But I’ve talked to Phii Shin a bit before… and the result was…” Klai trailed off.
“Just when you gave him water. I was watching the whole time. Phii Shin said a couple of words to you, then went back to practice. You were too shy to keep the conversation going,” Kant pointed out.
“…”
“I know you don’t expect to date Phii Shin… just having a crush on him is enough,” Kant said.
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