Chapter 2

Nani Hirunkit

I stood frozen, my feet glued to the ground, my heart still pounding in my chest. Sky's casual words echoed in my mind, each one sinking deeper and deeper, pressing against my ribs like a weight I couldn't shake. Did he really not notice? How could he not notice?

I stayed there for a long moment, unable to move, unable to think straight. My mind was racing in all directions, colliding with confusion, frustration, and something I wasn't ready to confront.

Then, I heard Sky's voice break through the fog of my thoughts.

"Nani?" he called, his tone light but with a hint of concern.

I glanced up, my eyes locking with his. He stood a few feet away, his back turned, but he had stopped and was now looking at me with that same casual, almost carefree expression. It was as if nothing had happened. As if nothing had changed.

I couldn't speak. I just stood there, my chest tight, my throat dry, caught between the urge to run away and the desire to stay close. I was stuck in place, my mind still replaying his words, still aching from the way my heart had reacted.

Sky blinked, raising an eyebrow, clearly not understanding why I wasn't moving. "Hey, what's up? You coming?"

For a second, I just stared at him, my thoughts scattered. I had to say something, do something, or I would be left behind in this mess of confusion. My breath hitched in my throat, and then I did the only thing that felt right.

I forced myself to move, my feet finally responding, my legs carrying me towards him as fast as I could. I didn't want him to wait, didn't want to stay in that uncomfortable space between us any longer.

As I caught up to him, I looked up, my heart still racing. Sky turned his head, offering me a smile, but there was something different in the way his eyes held mine, something that made my pulse skip. It was as if he knew something, as if he could feel the tension hanging between us.

But he didn't say anything. He just kept walking, and I followed.

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

After we arrived at the dorm, the building was quiet, too quiet. The usual sounds of our friends milling about were absent, and it felt like everything was paused. Sky, completely unaware of the storm brewing in my mind, dropped his bag by the couch and stretched with a sigh.

"Dinner time!" he called, his voice still light, still carefree, like nothing was amiss. He didn't notice the tension hanging thick in the air between us.

I stood by the door, staring at the familiar surroundings of the dorm. The conversations we'd had earlier-his teasing words, my racing heart, the way my body froze at the mention of his name in my dream-swirled in my head. My pulse hammered in my ears.

Sky, still oblivious to my internal chaos, moved toward the kitchen. "You hungry?" he asked over his shoulder, pulling out the leftover food from the fridge.

I nodded, though the thought of eating felt foreign now, my stomach too tangled with nerves to care. I followed him into the kitchen, trying to keep my distance, but every step I took only seemed to draw me closer to him.

"Guess we're eating alone today, huh?" Sky said, setting down the plates on the counter. His voice had a casual tone, but I could tell he was more focused on the task than anything else.

"Yeah..." I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. The words felt heavy in my mouth, like I was trying to say something but couldn't quite get it out.

He didn't seem to notice the shift in my mood. "It's just us, huh? Guess that means no one's here to make fun of us for being boring."

I didn't laugh. Instead, I kept my gaze low, focused on my hands as I fidgeted with the sleeves of my shirt. The air between us felt thick, like it was charged with something unspoken.

Sky's voice cut through the quiet again. "You alright? You've been kind of quiet since we left the university."

I looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time since we entered. His expression was soft, concerned, but still so unaware. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. I wanted to tell him-tell him everything, how his casual words had sent my heart spiraling, how I couldn't get the image of him out of my head-but instead, all that came out was a weak, "I'm fine."

Sky paused for a moment, his brow furrowing, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he handed me a plate. "Well, dinner's ready. Let's eat."

I took the plate, my hands trembling slightly as I held it. We sat down at the small table in the corner, the sound of utensils clinking against plates filling the space between us. It was just us. No distractions, no teasing friends to hide behind.

And yet, the silence was louder than anything else.

Sky finally broke it, his voice quieter this time. "You sure you're okay? You've been off all day."

My heart thudded painfully. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, as if he could see through the mask I was trying to hold up. But he couldn't know. Not yet.

"Yeah..." I said again, my voice weak. "Just tired."

Sky looked at me with a gentle smile, nodding. "If you're ever feeling off, you know you can talk to me, right? No pressure, but... I'm here."

I barely managed a small nod in response, the words stuck in my chest. How could I explain it to him? How could I tell him that everything felt different now?

For the rest of dinner, the tension hung in the air, thick and unspoken. Sky, oblivious to my inner turmoil, kept talking about random things, his usual lighthearted self. And I... I just tried to breathe through it, trying to ignore the way my heart ached with every word he said.

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

It was already around 5:38 pm when the group chat buzzed with a new message.

Perth had sent it, followed by Dunk and Win. They were planning to head out to their usual local bar, and the message was clear: Anyone interested?

Sky, who was washing dishes at the time, glanced over his shoulder at me. His hands worked methodically, scrubbing at a plate, but his focus shifted to me as he wiped his hands dry on a dish towel.

"What's that about?" he asked casually, his voice light but with a touch of curiosity, as though he could sense I was a little off.

I hesitated, glancing down at the message for a moment before replying. "Perth, Win, and Dunk are going to the bar. They're seeing if anyone wants to join."

Sky's brow furrowed as he set the dish down, looking at me more closely. "And what do you think?"

I felt a wave of discomfort settle in my stomach. "I think I'll pass tonight. I'm not feeling great."

Sky's expression softened with concern. "You sure? I can stay and take care of you, Nani."

His words were warm, and for a brief moment, I felt a rush of relief, but I quickly pushed it aside. I couldn't ask him to stay in for me-not when he'd been looking forward to a night out. I forced a small smile, trying to make it seem like everything was fine.

"I'll be okay, Sky. Really. You go ahead and have fun. I'll be fine here."

Sky looked at me for a moment longer, his eyes searching for something, but then he sighed and stood up, grabbing his coat. "Alright, if you're sure. Just... don't stay up too late, okay? Call me if you need anything."

"I will," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure if I'd be able to keep that promise.

He gave me one last look, that same concerned but casual grin, before heading for the door. "I'll be back later. Don't overwork yourself."

I nodded, watching him leave. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, the dorm felt too quiet. I stood there for a moment, feeling like something was missing, before I made my way to the couch and sank down.

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

The hours dragged on. Time passed slowly, and the weight of the day lingered in my chest. I tried to focus on the book I'd been reading, but my mind wouldn't settle. The thought of Sky out there, enjoying the night, was like a constant tug in my thoughts.

It was 1 am when the phone rang, startling me. I blinked, momentarily disoriented, the book still resting open on my lap. I glanced at the screen and saw Sky's name flashing across it.

I answered without hesitation, half-expecting him to be calling because he'd forgotten something or needed something from the dorm. But when I heard Aou's voice instead, it sent a jolt through me.

"Hey, Nani. Um... Sky's kinda... well, he's really drunk. He's been asking for you. Can you come pick him up?"

My stomach dropped at the news. Sky had only gotten drunk once or twice before, and he never let himself get out of control like this.

"What happened?" I asked, already pulling my jacket on and heading for the door.

"He got too caught up in the fun," Aou explained, his voice sounding strained. "We tried to stop him, but you know how he is. Anyway, he needs you, man. Can you come get him?"

I didn't wait for another word. "I'll be there soon."

I grabbed my keys, heart racing. It was the middle of the night, but nothing else mattered. Sky needed me, and I wasn't about to leave him to deal with this alone.

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

As I walked toward Sky, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Dew and Aou standing behind me, both of them grinning with mischievous expressions. Aou raised an eyebrow, his voice playful.

"Look who finally decided to join us," he teased, his eyes flicking from me to Sky. "You were taking your time."

I gave them a small, awkward smile, trying not to let them notice how my heart was racing. "Yeah, well... just wanted to make sure he was okay."

Dew, ever the observant one, didn't miss the way I was standing, nor the way Sky's arm was hanging loosely over the back of his chair. His gaze softened, though the corner of his lips quirked up with amusement. "Looks like someone had a little too much fun," he remarked, nodding toward Sky, who was practically swaying in his seat. "Need help?"

I shook my head quickly, trying to act nonchalant despite the tightness in my chest. "No, I've got it," I said with more confidence than I felt. "I'll take him back to the dorm. You two should enjoy yourselves."

Aou chuckled. "Well, don't take too long. He looks like he's about to pass out."

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "I'll manage." With that, I gave them both a quick nod and turned to Sky.

I walked over, trying to keep my composure as I placed a hand gently on his shoulder. Sky's head lolled to the side, eyes half-lidded, but when he saw me, a wide grin spread across his face. "Nani!" he exclaimed, his voice slurring. "You came to pick me up? Thought I was gonna have to sleep here."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, trying to keep things light even though my heart was a little heavier than usual. "Come on, let's get you back to the dorm."

I wrapped an arm around his waist, trying to lift him up as smoothly as possible, but he was a lot heavier than I expected. I could feel his weight pressing against me, but I didn't mind. I just wanted to get him back to the dorm as quickly as possible-away from this noise, away from the heavy atmosphere of the bar that seemed to make everything feel more complicated than it needed to be.

Dew and Aou waved us off with their usual teasing smiles, but I didn't even look back. I focused on guiding Sky toward the door, praying that I could get him to the car without any more embarrassment.

As I helped him into the passenger seat, I gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. "You're gonna be fine. I'll get you back to the dorm."

Sky slurred something that sounded like a half-formed response, but I wasn't listening too hard. I just got in the driver's seat and drove, keeping my eyes on the road, my hands tight on the wheel. The drive back was quiet, save for the occasional hum of the car engine and Sky's soft murmurs beside me.

By the time I pulled into the dorm parking lot, Sky was almost completely out of it, his head leaning against the window. I sighed, relieved that the worst of it was over.

As I got him out of the car, his legs wobbled, and I had to support most of his weight. Every step toward the dorm felt like an eternity. His body leaned against me more than I expected, and I couldn't help but glance at him, noticing the soft rise and fall of his chest. Despite the frustration and confusion that had been swirling in my mind all day, there was something oddly comforting about his presence right now, even if it was only because I had to carry him back to the dorm.

Once we reached the dorm, I helped Sky up the stairs, his steps slow and unsteady. As I guided him to the room, the weight of him pressed heavily against me. I could feel the tension building between us, thick and heavy in the small space, the air charged with something I couldn't quite grasp.

Before I let him flop onto the bed, I thought it might be a good idea to wake him up a bit. He needed to be somewhat alert. So I quickly grabbed a washcloth and ran it under cold water, dabbing it onto his face. The cold shock seemed to help, and his eyes fluttered open for a moment, looking at me with that dazed expression.

"Hey, Sky," I said softly, trying to get his attention. "You need to wake up a little."

He blinked a few times, still not fully with it. But after a moment, his lips curled into a lazy smile. "Nani," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. "You're so good to me..."

I didn't say anything. Instead, I just gently patted his face with the washcloth again, hoping to clear the haze from his mind. After a few more seconds, Sky sighed and shifted slightly, managing to lift his head enough for me to pull the blanket over him.

But as I stood there, straightening up, Sky grabbed my wrist. His grip was strong, and before I could react, he tugged me closer.

I almost stumbled over him, my chest brushing against his, as I leaned down, now hovering over him, inches from his face. His eyes were still half-lidded, but his gaze held something-something I couldn't identify, but that made my heart race.

I froze for a moment, unsure of what to do, what to say. But Sky didn't seem to care. He just smiled up at me, his voice barely audible. "You're really pretty... with your glasses on..."

"You're drunk Sky.. you should sleep now."

The room felt too small. The space between us felt like it was growing smaller, the tension rising with every passing second. I could hear the beating of my heart in my ears, so loud I was sure Sky could hear it too. I wanted to pull away, but my body didn't move, caught in the warmth of his proximity.

I could feel the weight of his hand still on my wrist, his touch soft but firm. The silence stretched out, and I realized I was still hovering over him, so close to him that I could feel his breath, warm against my skin.

As I stood there, my hand still on the washcloth, ready to pull away, Sky's grip tightened on my wrist. But it wasn't just his hand anymore. Before I could even process what was happening, he reached up with his other hand, his fingers brushing the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and I froze.

His eyes, half-lidded and hazy, slowly drifted down to my lips. I could feel his breath against my skin, the heat of his proximity seeping into my bones. The world seemed to pause for a moment, the silence between us stretching on, heavy and taut.

Without warning, Sky leaned in. His lips met mine-slowly at first, hesitant, but then with a sudden intensity. The kiss was rough, as if he was trying to communicate something, something more than words could say. I barely had time to react before I found myself moving in sync with him, my heart hammering in my chest, my body completely in his hold.

When he finally pulled away, my breath hitched, my chest rising and falling with the weight of it. His gaze lingered on my lips for a moment longer before his eyes met mine again, soft but full of something I couldn't quite name. There was care there, but something more.

Sky was quick. He shifted us, turning us both, his hands guiding me gently but firmly. In the blink of an eye, I was on the bed, lying beneath him. His body was on top of mine, his weight pressing down just enough to make my breath catch. He hovered over me, the tension thick between us.

I was too stunned to do anything-too lost in the swirl of emotions and sensations that had suddenly consumed me. I could feel his body against mine, the warmth radiating from him, his breath steady but heavy against my skin.

And then, it happened. I melted. Every part of me succumbed to his touch, to the feeling of him on top of me, holding me, like there was nowhere else I was meant to be. My mind screamed that I would regret this tomorrow, that I was losing control, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. I was too far gone to stop it now.

Sky's eyes locked onto mine as if asking for permission, but I couldn't answer. My body betrayed me, my heart pounding louder than anything else.

And that was when I knew-I couldn't walk away from this. Not now.