The rest of the vacation passed in silence.
No calls.
No messages.
Nothing.
At first, Ping kept staring at his phone every few minutes, convincing himself Keng would call once things calmed down at home. But as the days dragged by, hope slowly became fear.
Still... he waited. Because deep down, he trusted Keng. Keng had promised him he wouldn't leave again. And Ping wanted to believe him. Even when the silence hurt. Even when every night felt heavier than the last.
He waited quietly. Patiently. Painfully.
When vacation finally ended and school resumed, Ping carried only one thought in his heart the entire ride back to school.
'I'll see him there.'
That hope alone was enough to keep him moving.
The moment he arrived at the dorm, Ping barely even unpacked his things before heading straight for Keng's room.
His heartbeat quickened as he stood in front of the familiar door.
Then he knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Silence.
Ping frowned slightly and knocked again, louder this time.
Still nothing.
The hallway suddenly felt colder than before.
Ping stared at the door for a long moment before lowering his hand slowly.
"Maybe... he hasn't come back yet," he whispered to himself, forcing out a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes.
But even he didn't sound convinced.
Slowly, he turned and walked back toward his own room.
The moment the door shut behind him, the exhaustion hit him all at once.
Ping sat down on the edge of the bed and stared blankly at the floor.
The room felt too quiet.
Too empty.
His chest ached in a way he hated.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open.
"Hey buddy, how are you?" Rain asked brightly as he walked inside carrying snacks and a bottle of juice.
Ping barely looked up.
Rain paused immediately.
"...Ping?"
Normally, Ping would've at least complained about Rain barging in and slamming the door.
But now he just sat there silently.
Rain slowly walked closer.
"I literally came into the room and you didn't even notice," he said carefully, concern creeping into his voice.
Ping stayed quiet.
Rain sat beside him.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
Then, after a short pause, he tilted his head teasingly.
"Or... do you miss your boyfriend already?" he joked lightly.
"Didn't you two come back together?"
The second those words left his mouth, Ping's lips trembled.
Rain's smile disappeared instantly.
Ping lowered his head quickly, but tears were already gathering in his eyes.
"Hey," Rain said immediately, panicking.
"What happened?"
Ping tried to speak but his voice broke before the words could come out.
"I think..." He inhaled shakily.
"I think it's over between me and P'Keng."
Rain froze.
"What?"
Ping wiped at his eyes roughly, but the tears kept falling anyway.
"You guys just got together," Rain said quickly, grabbing Ping's hand.
"Why would you say that?"
Slowly, painfully, Ping explained everything.
Rain listened without interrupting, his expression growing more serious with every word.
By the end, his eyes were wide.
"What?!" he shouted.
"That's insane!"
Ping flinched slightly at the volume.
Rain immediately softened again.
"Okay... okay..." he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"That's... really serious."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then Rain turned toward him firmly.
"But you still shouldn't assume the worst."
Ping looked down quietly.
"He called me that day," he whispered.
"He sounded normal... then suddenly the call ended."
Rain's expression softened.
"And after that?"
"Nothing,"ping said looking depressed.
Rain sighed and pulled Ping into a hug without warning.
"You shouldn't cry alone over something like this," he murmured quietly.
Ping's shoulders trembled slightly.
"We'll look for him tomorrow," Rain continued firmly.
"Okay?"
Ping nodded weakly against his shoulder.
"Hm."
The next morning, Rain dragged Ping out early before he could overthink himself into hiding inside the dorm again.
They headed toward Keng's usual spot in school-the quiet area near the Fine Arts building where their group normally gathered.
As soon as they arrived, they spotted three familiar figures.
Tao waved immediately.
"Ping! Rain!"
Bank lifted his hand lazily in greeting while Jinn nodded calmly toward them.
"Hello, phi," Ping and Rain greeted together.
The moment they got closer, Bank looked around casually.
"Where's Keng?" he asked.
"We haven't been able to reach him throughout the holiday."
Ping's chest tightened instantly.
Rain glanced at him worriedly.
"I was actually going to ask you guys the same thing," Ping admitted quietly.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Tao's smile faded.
Bank straightened slightly.
And Jinn's expression turned serious.
The three exchanged quick looks.
Then Jinn stepped forward and rested a hand gently on Ping's shoulder.
"We'll check on him for you," he said calmly.
Ping nodded slowly.
"Thank you."
Even though worry still twisted painfully inside him, hearing that somehow made him feel slightly better.
At least he wasn't the only one searching anymore.
Later that afternoon, Tao, Bank, and Jinn headed to Keng's house together.
The atmosphere inside felt tense the moment they entered.
A maid quietly led them upstairs before quickly disappearing again.
Tao frowned slightly.
"This place feels haunted."
"Shut up," Bank muttered.
Jinn knocked on Keng's bedroom door.
After a few seconds-
"Come in."
They entered slowly.
Keng sat near the window, looking thinner somehow.
Tired.
But the second he saw them, something in his expression softened slightly.
"Why are you guys here?" he asked plainly.
Tao stared at him dramatically.
"Oooooiii."
Keng blinked once.
"If it was Ping standing here, you'd already be clinging to him like a koala."
Bank snorted immediately.
Even Jinn looked mildly amused.
Keng rolled his eyes.
"You're annoying."
"But accurate," Tao replied proudly.
Keng ignored him completely. Instead, his expression shifted.
"How is Ping?"
The question came out too fast.
Too worried.
And immediately, all three noticed.
Jinn crossed his arms.
"He's been crying over you."
Keng's expression tightened painfully.
Tao sighed and dropped onto the couch dramatically.
"You disappeared without warning," he complained.
"What did you expect?"
Keng exhaled slowly and leaned back against his chair.
"It's complicated."
"Then uncomplicate it," Bank said simply.
Silence hung heavily for a moment.
Then Keng finally spoke.
And once he started, he told them everything.
By the time he finished, the room had gone completely quiet.
Then-
"HOLY SH*T," Tao blurted loudly.
Keng winced immediately.
"Must you always yell?"
"Do you always have to live like you're in a drama series?" Tao shot back dramatically.
Even Bank looked genuinely shocked.
"So..." he started carefully.
"You technically have a fiancée now?"
Keng shot him a glare so sharp it could kill.
"What fiancée?"
Bank immediately raised both hands.
"Okay, okay. Relax."
Jinn leaned forward slightly.
"So what are you going to do now?"
Keng didn't hesitate even for a second.
"I promised Ping I wouldn't leave again."
The firmness in his voice silenced the room.
"And I meant it."
His fingers tightened slowly against the edge of his chair.
"I won't let this end the same way it did before."
For the first time since they arrived, Tao stopped joking completely.
The determination in Keng's eyes was unmistakable.
Whatever happened next- Keng had already made up his mind.