As the days passed, Jai slowly began to reflect on what he should really do. With every step he took to avoid Thorn, with every moment he refused to meet his eyes, the heavier his chest felt. It was in those quiet moments that he finally realized—none of it was entirely Thorn's fault. He shouldn't have blamed him… and he definitely shouldn't have pushed him away like that.
Now, things were becoming clearer to him. The pain he felt when Thorn left wasn't just about losing a friend. It was something deeper—something he hadn't fully understood before, but could no longer deny now.
He had fallen for him, and that's the reason why it hurt's him so much.
Jai wanted to tell him. He wanted to apologize, to fix everything, to go back to how things used to be—or at least, try to rebuild what they had lost. But despite all that, he still didn't know where to begin. The words felt too heavy, too important to simply say it out loud.
Now, he stood outside the building with Kim and Van, leaning against the wall as he quietly drifted into his thoughts. His face showed traces of exhaustion from the long day of classes, but the weight in his mind far outweighed any physical fatigue.
"Guys!" he suddenly called out, his voice louder than he intended.
Both of them immediately turned to him.
"Hm?" Van responded, slightly frowning in confusion.
Jai took a deep breath. In that moment, he realized—this was it. The right time to say everything he had been holding in, the questions they had all been wondering about.
"There's something I want to tell you…" he said softly, but with a seriousness that caught their attention.
Kim and Van exchanged glances, both noticing the shift in his tone.
"What is it?" Kim asked carefully.
Jai swallowed before speaking again.
"You've been wondering… what's going on between me and P'Thorn, right?" he said awkwardly, still avoiding their gaze.
Kim nodded slightly.
"But why bringing it up now?" Van asked—then suddenly his eyes widened. "Wait—don't tell me! Is P'Thorn your ex?!"
"What?!" Jai and Kim exclaimed at the same time, both shocked.
"No!" Jai quickly defended himself, grimacing at the absurd assumption.
"Aww…" Van muttered, clearly disappointed in his own guess.
Jai fell silent for a moment before taking another deep breath.
"It's like this…"
And then he told them everything—from how he and Thorn grew up together, to the sudden way Thorn left, and how that absence left a lasting wound in him. He spoke about their reunion, the awkward encounters, and why he had been avoiding Thorn ever since.
Kim and Van listened quietly, not interrupting, letting him finish every word.
"Whaaat?!" Van burst out once Jai was done, clearly in disbelief.
"That's… a lot," Kim said softly, sadness evident in her voice.
"If that's the case…" he continued gently, "What are you planning to do to apologize to him?"
Jai lowered his head, his lips slightly pouting like a child unsure of what to do.
"I… don't know," he admitted weakly, shaking his head.
That was the hardest part—not admitting his feelings, but figuring out how to start again.
Suddenly, Van's face lit up as if a lightbulb had gone off.
"Wait! I got it!" he exclaimed loudly, clearly excited.
"What are you up to now?" Kim asked, already suspicious of his grin.
"Okay, listen," Van said, leaning in. "P'Thorn always goes to the library, right? So we can find out what book he usually reads, after we get that book, then—"
"And then?" Kim interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
"We will put a sticky note in it, so that Jai can talk to him without knowing it's Jai!" Van declared proudly.
"What if he doesn't even read that book?" Jai asked, hesitant but curious.
"Then we'll wait until he does," Van shrugged, completely unfazed.
"What if someone else reads it first?" Kim added, concerned.
"Then we ask the librarian to reserve it exclusively for P'Thorn!" Van insisted, clearly committed to the plan.
Jai thought about it for a moment… and slowly, a small smile formed on his lips.
"Well?" Van asked eagerly.
"Hmm… okay. I'm in," Jai replied, nodding, even patting Van's shoulder in agreement.
The next day, they arrived early at the library to carry out their plan. They seated at a small table, a blank sticky note lay in front of Jai. He held his pen tightly, hesitating, unsure of what to write. His thoughts swirled endlessly, every possible word carrying weight—every letter capable of revealing feelings he had hidden for so long.
"What are you writing? Make it exciting!" Van whispered loudly from beside him, barely containing his excitement.
"I don't know… it might sound cheesy," Jai muttered, slightly embarrassed as he paused with every stroke of the pen.
"It won't! Just write what you feel," Kim encouraged, smiling reassuringly.
"Just write 'please be with me,'" Van suggested with a mischievous grin.
Kim raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"What?" Van defended.
"That's way too obvious," Kim said, though she couldn't hide her smile.
"That's the point—it's direct!" Van insisted.
"Oh please, you just don't know how to love," Kim teased, laughing.
"Aww!" Van clutched his chest dramatically.
The three of them went back and forth, throwing around ideas—simple greetings like "Hi" or "Hello," but none of them felt right. They didn't want it to be too obvious… but they also didn't want it to feel empty.
After a few minutes of hesitation, something finally clicked in Jai's mind. His grip on the pen steadied, and without overthinking it this time, he carefully wrote on the sticky note:
"I like you a lot."
Jai smiled softly, surprised at himself. It felt simple… but honest. Van and Kim both nodded before breaking into quiet cheers, patting his shoulder.
"That's perfect!" Van grinned.
"Okay, let's go before they get here," Kim added, excitement and nervousness mixing in her voice.
With quiet anticipation, the three of them made their way into the library. Every step Jai took carried a hint of nervousness—not just because of the plan, but because of the message he had written.
Because deep down, he knew—this small note could change everything between him and Thorn.
As they entered, they carefully scanned the area. Just as planned, they checked if Thorn and his friends were already there.
Luckily… they weren't.
They hurried toward the librarian, a mixture of nerves and determination written across their faces. Excitement and a trace of anxiety flickered in each of them—especially in Jai, who could hardly believe they were actually going through with the plan.
"Excuse me…" Van's voice trembled slightly, the sticky note clutched tightly in his pocket as he fought to steady himself. "Can we… ask something?"
"Of course! What is it?" The librarian responded with a warm smile, curiosity sparkling in their eyes.
"Uh… could we ask for a favor?" Kim's words came out hesitant, almost swallowed by his own apprehension.
"And what sort of favor would that be?" the librarian raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Kim's words caught in his throat, and the three of them exchanged glances, clearly unsure how to phrase their request. The tension hung in the air for a brief, suspended moment.
"Could we… know what book P'Thorn—the surgeon student—loves to read?" Kim finally blurted out, his excitement barely contained.
The librarian's face brightened, familiar with the student in question. "Let me see… you'll need to wait just a moment." Their hands moved gracefully, beginning the search as the three of them watched with barely contained glee, their shoulders bouncing in anticipation.
"Ahhh! Here it is—this is the book he always borrows!" The librarian's voice carried a hint of playful mystery as they handed over the book.
"Yesss!" Van's voice slipped out in an almost squeal of excitement, his grin difficult to suppress.
"Put it in!" Kim ordered, focused and determined, caught up in every detail of their plan.
Jai nodded carefully, placing the sticky note on the first page with painstaking precision. He clipped it in with a small blue paperclip, as if performing a delicate ritual, the tension and thrill coiling tight in his chest.
The librarian looked puzzled, clearly confused by the three of them. She couldn't understand what was in the book—or why they had put it there.
"Wait…" she suddenly said, stopping mid-shelf, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward them.
The three of them immediately looked up, nerves written all over their faces.
"What are you doing?" the librarian asked, her tone a mix of surprise and mild irritation.
"Uhh… Miss…" Jai started, his words faltering as heat rose to his cheeks and he avoided her gaze.
"Can we… ask a favor?" Van jumped in quickly, practically bouncing with excitement. "So, uh… he has a crush on P'Thorn, and he wants to 'rent' this book just for him. Please?"
"Ai, Van!" Jai groaned, scratching his head, utterly embarrassed by his friend's boldness.
"Ohoo, so cute!" the librarian exclaimed, smiling and chuckling. "Alright, you can!"
Jai and Van froze, their mouths half-open, barely able to believe what they'd just heard.
"Really, Miss?" Jai asked, his voice trembling with a mix of nervousness and delight.
"Mm!" the librarian nodded firmly, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Besides, that's such a cute way to confess. It's exciting!"
Jai couldn't help but grin softly, a warm flutter rising in his chest. He didn't know whether he felt nervous, happy, or both at the same time. The simple, playful gesture for P'Thorn had unexpectedly sparked a strange thrill within him, and for a moment, it felt as if the whole world had blurred into pure, dizzying joy.
"Here you go, Thank you very much Miss, Shy!" Jai said, smiling as he handed the book back.
"Don't worry, this will reach him," Shy replied, their warm smile betraying an understanding of the earnestness in their little scheme.
Before they could even move, Van's eyes went wide. At the library entrance, Thorn appeared, walking in with his friends, laughter and chatter trailing behind him like a shadow. Time seemed to slow for a heartbeat—Van froze, caught between awe and panic.
"Jai! Kim!" Van hissed, tapping Jai's shoulder urgently, panic spiking his voice.
"What?" Kim asked, turning in confusion, caught off guard.
"It's P'Thorn!" Van whispered, his eyes wide.
The three turned toward the entrance just in time to see him.
"Sh—" Jai froze mid-word, heart pounding as his plan suddenly teetered on the edge of discovery.
Instinctively, the trio ducked behind the nearest bookshelf, pretending to search for a book, adrenaline and nervous energy coursing through every movement. Their hearts raced, each action heavy with unspoken tension.
Meanwhile, across the library, Yujin, Way, and Art had quietly seated themselves at a vacant table. They chatted lightly, but their eyes betrayed that their thoughts were elsewhere, still tangled in the morning's earlier events.
Thorn walked with quiet determination toward the reference desk. Despite his composed exterior, a faint flutter of anticipation stirred in his chest with every step—an almost imperceptible nervousness that made the library seem simultaneously vast and intimate.
"Aw, Thornchai. Read it carefully, okay?" Shy said with a knowing smile as they handed him the book.
Thorn couldn't help but return a brief glance, catching a flicker of familiarity and warmth.
"Thank you, Miss, Shy!" he murmured, taking the book with measured hands.
He walked back to his table, the book pressed gently against his chest as if it were fragile. Once seated, he didn't hesitate—he flipped it open immediately. His eyes fell on a small sticky note tucked carefully between the pages.
Time seemed to slow. His gaze lingered on the tiny blue paperclip, on the neat, deliberate handwriting that simply read, "I like you a lot." A warmth spread through him, a fluttering mix of surprise, joy, and disbelief, and for a brief moment, the world around him disappeared.
He looked around, searching for the author. A sudden warmth blossoming in his chest. The confession, simple yet so carefully placed, made him smile, and a gentle flutter against his ribs that he hadn't expected. It was subtle, tender—and entirely unexpected.
"What's that?" Art asked suddenly, and Thorn's attention snapped to him.
"Nothing!" Thorn replied quickly, attempting to hide the grin threatening to break across his face.
"Another love letter, Thorn?" Way teased, raising an eyebrow with a sly grin.
"Looks like your admirers are increasing, huh? Lucky you," Art teased, letting out a laugh that quickly spread to the rest of the group.
Thorn glanced down, a touch embarrassed, but the corners of his lips betrayed him, turning upward despite his efforts to appear unaffected. He pressed the book a little closer to his chest, as if guarding the note from the world, yet his mind raced with the question—what would the sender think if they knew he had read it?
Meanwhile, Yujin sat across, glancing at his phone with a sweet, quiet smile, clearly texting someone that made him happy.
"Another one making him smile like that, huh?" Art teased, earning soft laughter from the others. Yujin shifted slightly, a faint blush creeping up, caught between delight and embarrassment.
———
The room was silent, broken only by the faint rustle of paper on Jai's study table. He rested his elbows on the surface, hands cradling his cheeks as he sank into thought. The sticky note he had left earlier in the library kept replaying in his mind, the words and the moment itself echoing over and over.
He closed his eyes briefly, whispering to himself, "Did he… read it?"
The possibilities spun relentlessly in his mind. What if Thorn had read it but didn't care? What if he had simply discarded it, unaware of the emotions tucked into the small square of paper? Jai bit his lower lip, heart thudding with anxious anticipation, every passing second stretching the knot in his chest tighter.
"Why did I even do that…" he murmured, head bowed, still leaning against the desk.
Yet despite his worry, a small part of him dared to hope—that maybe, just maybe, Thorn had smiled.
The next morning, Jai arrived early to class. The classroom was quiet, sunlight spilling gently through the windows, illuminating the desks in a soft, golden glow. He slouched slightly in his seat, a small sticky note in hand, writing with care and an almost uncontainable delight.
Every stroke of the pen felt deliberate, each word chosen with care. Occasionally, a small smile tugged at his lips, betraying the happiness bubbling in his chest. Kim and Van watched him quietly, supportive, though curious.
"What are you writing?" Kim asked, peeking curiously over his shoulder.
Jai smiled, but quickly covered the note with his hand, hiding it from view.
"Just… writing what I feel," he said, a warm smile tugging at his lips.
Van tilted his head knowingly, a teasing sparkle in his eyes.
"Why not add some chocolate to it?" she suggested playfully.
Jai froze for a moment, caught off guard by the idea, before a genuine smile spread across his face. He lowered his gaze briefly, savoring the thought, then returned to the note with a lighter heart.
"Yeah… you're right. I've been thinking about that since yesterday," Jai said, nodding subtly.
Kim and Van exchanged approving glances, clearly backing their friend's plan. Even as nervousness lingered, Jai felt braver today. He would let his feelings guide him, daring once more to reach out to Thorn, hoping the message would find its way to him.
Once finished, Jai carefully handed the sticky note to Shy, the librarian, a small smile lingering on his face. He left the library with quiet, deliberate steps, the world around him fading slightly as he made his way to a cozy café near campus. Ordering a caramel cold brew, he found a corner to sit in, fingers tracing the rim of the cup as his eyes flicked around the café, taking in the familiar hum of conversation and clinking cups.
When his order was ready, Jai turned on his heel—only to collide with another student. The cup slipped from his hands, sending a warm stream of coffee splashing across the student's uniform. Panic surged in Jai's chest, his heart thudding as he muttered frantic apologies, reaching instinctively to help. The world seemed to blur for a moment, the rich aroma of caramel mingling with the sharp sting of embarrassment.
"Oh no!!" he exclaimed, rushing to grab a napkin, dabbing furiously at the stain. "I'm so sorry, P'!"
"It's okay… it's okay," the student said, brushing off the mess, though he chuckled softly.
"I still feel responsible," Jai insisted, cheeks flushing. "I have to make this right. I'll… I'll wash it for you. I'm really sorry!"
The student raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-surprised.
"You're serious?"
"Absolutely," Jai replied, earnest, his smile sheepish but determined.
After a brief exchange of flustered apologies and nervous glances, the tension finally began to ease. The student chuckled, shaking their head as if brushing off the mishap. Jai exhaled shakily, relief washing over him, and managed a sheepish smile. At last, the student nodded, giving a small, understanding agreement that made Jai's racing heart slow just a little.
"Alright, fine. What's your name by the way?"
"Jai," he said, bowing slightly.
"Okay Jai, I'm Pete," the student replied.
A simple collision, a minor mess—coffee spilling over a uniform—had unexpectedly sparked the start of a new connection. What began as a flustered encounter now carried the faint thrill of something unplanned, a moment that lingered longer than either of them anticipated.
Back in the library, Thorn reopened the book he had borrowed the previous day. Silence enveloped him, punctuated only by the gentle rustling of pages. As he turned a page, his eyes landed on another sticky note, carefully tucked inside.
A smile tugged at his lips as he read, "I hope your day went well. Eat your favorite chocolate before it melts."
A subtle warmth spread through him. Someone had noticed him—his preferences, his little routines—without him ever realizing it. He paused for a moment, furrowing his brow in mild surprise. How could they know, this chocolate was my favorite?
But soon, a soft sigh escaped him, and he tucked the note carefully back into the book. He clipped the purple paperclip onto his ID sling, a small talisman he didn't want to lose, guarding the tiny gesture of affection that had quietly brightened his day.