Their late-night conversations continued.
The same—yet not the same.
"Back late today?"
Kan's message popped up close to 11 p.m.
Phat had just returned to her dorm. She glanced at the screen before replying.
"Yeah. Group work."
"Have you eaten?"
She paused.
Her eyes lingered on the question for a moment before she typed back.
"Not yet."
The message was sent.
Less than five seconds later—
"Go eat first.""We can talk later."
Phat pressed her lips together slightly.
"I'm not hungry."
"Don't be stubborn."
She found herself smiling without even realizing it.
"Who's stubborn?"
"You."
The conversation was simple.
But it made her chest feel a little warmer.
"Okay, I'll go eat."
She finally typed.
"Good."
Such a short reply—
but it felt like… someone was waiting.
After that,
it started happening more often.
"Are you back at your dorm yet?""Was class hard today?""Have you slept?""Don't stay up too late studying."
Short messages.
Sent casually.
Like it was normal.
But for Phat—
it wasn't normal at all.
She started noticing.Started waiting.Started feeling like those questions… mattered.
Then one day—
Kan didn't text.
The whole day passed.
No messages.
Phat tried not to think about it.
Tried to act normal.
Study.Talk with friends.Laugh.
But every time she picked up her phone,
her eyes still drifted to the same chat.
Night came—
and still nothing.
She lay on her bed, turning from side to side.
Then picked up her phone again.
Her finger hovered over the same name.
Kan.
She hesitated.
Then typed—
"Where did you go today?"
She paused.
Deleted it.
Typed again.
"Not asleep yet?"
Sent.
Her heart immediately started racing—
like she had just done something she shouldn't have.
A few seconds later,
a reply came.
"Just finished class.""Busy today."
Phat let out a quiet breath without realizing it.
"I see."
She replied shortly.
Then—
"Sorry."
She froze.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"For not texting."
Her heart started beating faster again.
"You don't have to apologize."
She typed, trying to sound normal.
"But I know you were waiting."
Her fingers stopped.
Her eyes fixed on the words.
Too clear.
"I wasn't waiting."
She replied immediately.
"Liar."
His answer came quickly.
Like he knew.
She went silent.
Didn't reply.
"Have you eaten?"
He asked again,
as if he didn't mind her answer before.
Phat pressed her lips together slightly before replying.
"Not yet."
"Go eat first.""Don't let yourself stay hungry."
She looked at the message—
then smiled again.
"I know…"
she murmured to herself before typing—
"You too."
"Yeah.""I can take care of myself."
"But I'm not sure you can."
That message made her go quiet.
Her heartbeat slowed… but felt heavier.
"Why do you care about me?"
She finally typed.
The other side went silent for a moment.
Then—
"I don't know.""It just happened."
That sentence—
simple,
but too clear.
Phat stared at the screen, not knowing how to reply.
Because deep down,
she felt the same way.
They just weren't brave enough yet
to say it out loud.
And maybe—
this kind of care
was even more dangerous than love.