Laughter echoed from behind me.
I stopped walking immediately.
I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
"Keep it down, what if the little miss hears you?" one of the girls said, followed by quiet giggles.
I took a deep breath, trying to ignore them. But the sound of footsteps getting closer made it impossible to escape.
"Phat."
I closed my eyes briefly before turning around.
Three girls stood there, staring at me. Their eyes were filled with hostility from start to finish.
"What do you want?"
I asked flatly.
"Nothing much. We just wanted to talk."
One of them replied with a smile that wasn't sincere at all.
"Then talk."
I didn't want to waste time.
"You're pretty confident, huh?"
"Or do you think being good at studying means you can do anything?"
Their words kept getting harsher.
I clenched my fists but stayed still.
"Move."
I said shortly.
"What if we don't?"
One of them stepped closer, close enough for me to smell her strong perfume.
"Phat, have you ever wondered something?"
I frowned.
"What?"
"Why we're targeting you."
My heart skipped slightly.
"I don't care."
"But the person who told us to do it… that's interesting."
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
Another girl pulled out her phone and held it up in front of me.
A chat screen.
Just one short message.
"Handle it. She's annoying."
The sender—
Kan
My chest tightened painfully.
"See?"
"The guy you think is so great…"
"He's just annoyed by you."
I couldn't say anything.
My eyes stayed locked on the screen.
His name was too clear.
Too undeniable.
"That's not true…"
I murmured.
"Not true?"
Laughter broke out again.
"Or do you really think he cares about you?"
"He's the student president."
"And you're just—"
"Enough."
I cut in immediately.
My voice trembled slightly, but I forced myself to stand straight.
"Stop messing with me."
I turned to leave, but a hand grabbed my wrist.
"Not so fast."
The sudden pull made me lose my balance.
Laughter rang out again.
"Let go!"
I yanked my hand back, but the more I struggled, the more they laughed.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
One of them suddenly cried out.
And then—everything went silent.
I turned to look.
And saw him.
Rawikan Sutpaisan.
Kan stood there, his gaze colder than I had ever seen before.
"What are you doing?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to make everyone freeze.
"W-We were just talking…"
One of them answered quickly.
Kan glanced at the hand still gripping my arm.
Then said simply,
"Let go."
No one dared to argue.
The hand slowly released me.
I stepped back immediately, my heart still racing.
"You can go."
Kan said, his tone calm but pressuring.
They left almost instantly.
Leaving just me and him.
Silence fell between us, heavy enough to make it hard to breathe.
I looked at him.
He looked at me.
But neither of us spoke.
Until finally—
"Are you satisfied now?"
I said.
He frowned.
"What?"
"Sending people to do this to me."
His expression changed instantly.
"What are you talking about?"
I let out a quiet laugh, even though my chest hurt so badly I could barely breathe.
"Stop pretending."
I held up the phone.
"The evidence is right here."
Kan glanced at the screen for a split second, then looked back at me.
"That's not—"
"Enough."
I cut him off.
"I don't want to hear it."
"Phat, listen—"
He stepped closer, but I stepped back.
"Don't come near me."
My voice trembled.
"I don't want to hear your excuses."
Kan went still, like he was about to say something.
But in the end, he said nothing.
And that silence—
only confirmed everything in my mind.
"I get it now."
I said softly.
"All the times you acted nice…"
I looked up at him. Tears blurred my vision.
"You just wanted to see me fall apart, didn't you?"
"No."
He answered immediately, firm for the first time.
But I didn't believe him anymore.
"You don't have to say anything."
I turned away.
And walked off without looking back.
That day, I decided to hate him.
Without knowing that—
the person standing there…
never even got the chance to explain.