Chapter 13

Win Metawin

The moment I step inside, something feels off. The apartment is too still, too empty, too... wrong.

It takes me a second to realize why.

Nani's things—his gym bag, his hoodie draped over the couch, the half-empty water bottle he always forgets to throw away—they're all gone.

A strange weight settles in my chest.

Beside me, Dew notices it too. I can feel the way his body tenses, his gaze scanning the room as if hoping we're both just imagining things. But we're not.

Without a word, he pulls out his phone. I don't have to ask who he's texting.

I shut the door behind us, stepping further inside as Dew stands frozen in place, waiting for a reply. Seconds pass, then a minute, and then—Dew exhales, barely relieved, before pressing call.

I watch as he lifts the phone to his ear, his fingers gripping it a little too tightly. I slide closer, resting my hand against his lower back. Grounding him.

"Nani?" His voice is steady, but I can hear the tightness underneath.

There's a pause. Then, Nani's voice comes through, quiet and tired. "I'm fine."

Dew doesn't buy it. I don't either.

"Where are you?"

Another pause. Then—

"My parents' place."

I glance at Dew. It's late—if Nani went all the way back to his hometown, he must've left hours ago.

"You didn't say anything," Dew says, his voice quieter now.

"I didn't think I had to." Nani sighs. "I just... I needed to go."

I don't like how that sounds.

Dew swallows, his grip on the phone tightening. "For how long?"

Silence.

Then, finally—

"I don't know."

The weight in my chest sinks lower.

Dew exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. I can feel how tense he is, how he's trying to hold himself together, but I know he's struggling.

"Nani," I speak up, voice softer. "Did something happen?"

There's a sharp inhale on the other end. A hesitation. Then—

"I took a leave from the university."

Dew's entire body stiffens. "What?"

"Just for a while," Nani adds quickly, like he already knows what's coming. "I needed time."

I press my lips together. This isn't just about university.

Dew's struggling to process it, his jaw clenching as he tries to find the right words. "You—" He exhales. "You could've told us."

"I'm telling you now."

"That's not the same, Nani."

"I know."

Dew squeezes his eyes shut, his free hand clenching into a fist at his side.

I rub slow circles against his back, feeling the way he leans into the touch. I know Dew—know that right now, he's fighting the urge to push, to demand answers, to drive all the way to Nani's house if he has to.

"Did Sky say something?" I ask carefully.

The silence that follows is enough of an answer.

Dew tenses even more. I can feel his frustration, his worry, all of it mixing together.

"Are you at least okay?" he asks after a long moment, his voice quieter now.

Nani doesn't answer right away.

"I will be," he says eventually.

It doesn't sit right with me.

Dew presses his lips together, looking like he wants to say more, but instead, he just sighs. "Don't shut us out, Nani."

"I won't." It's not exactly a promise, but it's something.

Dew nods slowly. "Alright."

Another long silence stretches between them before Dew speaks again, softer this time. "Get some rest. Call me tomorrow?"

Nani hums in acknowledgment. "Understood."

And then the call ends.

Dew exhales, staring at his phone for a second before finally dropping it onto the couch. His shoulders slump, the exhaustion hitting him all at once.

I don't hesitate to tug him down with me, pulling him onto the couch. Dew doesn't resist, sinking into the cushions beside me.

We sit in silence for a moment. The weight of everything settles in, heavier than before.

I reach over, intertwining our fingers. "Love," I murmur.

Dew exhales, squeezing my hand. "I hate this."

"I know."

"I hate that he's alone right now."

"I know."

He leans into me slightly, letting his head rest against my shoulder. "I just don't get why he didn't tell us earlier."

I sigh, running my fingers through his hair. "Maybe he wasn't ready."

Dew swallows hard, nodding. "Mhm.." His gaze flickers back to his phone, like he's debating whether to call again. "I just hope he doesn't disappear completely."

I tighten my grip on his hand. "He won't."

Dew doesn't answer, but he leans into me more, letting the warmth of my touch ground him.

And right now, that's all we can do. Wait, and hope that Nani will let us in before it's too late.

-----------------

Sky Wongravee

Three days.

It's been three days since Nani left.

I don't know why I'm standing here.

The dorm feels different without him. Too quiet. Too empty. Nani's bed is still there, but it looks untouched, the sheets smoothed out like no one's coming back to sleep in it. His side of the room is half-empty now—his desk, the shelves, even the random clutter he used to leave around.

I tell myself I don't care.

I shove my hands into my pockets, staring at the space he left behind. It's not like I miss him or anything.

The door to our dorm was locked when I came back earlier. That never happens. Nani was always the one who left it open for me, like he just expected me to show up.

I should stop thinking about this.

I should just go.

He's not coming back anytime soon.

Everyone's acting like this is some huge deal, like Nani disappearing is the worst thing that's ever happened. But so what if he left? He said it himself—he needed space. He took a leave from university. He went home.

That's it.

It's not like I did anything wrong.

Right?

I scoff under my breath, shaking off the weird feeling in my chest. Whatever. If Nani wants to be dramatic, that's on him. I've got better things to do than sit around and wait.

Without a second thought, I grab my jacket and head for the door, slamming it shut behind me.

Everything's fine.

I don't care.

I don't.