Water dribbled from his mouth as he drank frantically. Gasping for air between gulps, Mok wiped his jaw and neck before glancing at Lamon, whose shirt collar was soaked. "That was kind of an adventure, right?" Mok flashed a nervous smile.
Lamon shot him a glare. "Mok, can we withdraw our sign-up forms? Honestly, I'm scared to go back to that building..."
"Lamon... you're right, but I don't think we have any other option."
Lamon let out a soft whine. "Mok..." His puppy-like eyes practically begged.
Mok settled into the wooden chair outside the faculty building, resting his chin on his hand. He raised an eyebrow. "Well, at least there aren't many students there."
Relieved to be away from the club room, they sat in silence, replaying everything that had happened before their escape.
A few minutes earlier—
The two of them stood frozen. Words failed them, and their legs refused to move.
At that exact moment, the door swung open with a bang.
A figure emerged. It had no visible legs and was completely covered in a white quilt. Even in the darkness, the pale fabric stood out clearly.
Fear rooted Mok and Lamon to the spot, looking as if they might faint.
Before Mok and Lamon arrived at the anime club—
A quiet space where light narrowly filters through.
It was spacious but layered in dust. Despite the mess, the computers, gaming consoles, and club equipment were all brand new. Two couches furnished the room: one sat near the entrance, while the other was tucked away in the gaming area.
On the couch by the door, someone was sleeping soundly. Her phone kept ringing, but she didn't seem to care. After a moment, a hand slipped out from beneath a white blanket and snatched it up.
"Mmh... okay..." Yawning, she answered lazily. "I'll do it..."
She ended the call before the other person could even finish speaking. Phone tossed aside, she went right back to her real business—sleeping.
Slam!
The sudden noise startled her awake, making her almost curse out loud. She sprang up and peeked over her blanket toward the entrance, wondering "Who are these two little chicks, and why are they here? More importantly, why aren't they saying anything?"
Throwing off the blanket, she walked toward the two boys, who stood stiffly by the door. Scratching her head, she introduced herself. "Sawasdee kha. I'm Nam, a third-year Computer Science student. Oh... I remember now. You two must be the new members joining today."
She extended her hand. "Give me your forms."
There was no response—only a heavy stillness. Nam waved a hand in front of their blank faces, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward.
Instead of explaining themselves, Mok and Lamon shoved the application forms into her hands and bolted.
They didn't look back once, no matter how many times she called after them. However, Nam didn't seem upset. Instead, a pleased smile spread across her lips. "Perfect candidates to become my successors..." Her mischievous laughter echoed through the empty room.
Even after running far away, the two boys could still feel a chill running down their spines.
Back to the present—
"Mok... Mok..." A low voice pulled Mok from his thoughts.
"Hm?"
"Do you think she was a ghost? I've heard stories about ghosts..." Lamon muttered, looking around anxiously. "Do you think our campus is haunted?"
Mok slid the water bottle toward him again. "It's probably just a rumor. Drink some more and calm down."
Lamon immediately took the bottle and chugged as if he had never tasted water before.
A gentle breeze stirred around them, dropping several green leaves onto Mok's lap. He picked one up, idly running his fingers across its surface.
"Lamon..." Gazing at the leaf, Mok spoke quietly. "Should we head back?"
Lamon nodded absentmindedly. "... Can we walk around for a bit first before we go back to the dorm?"
"Sure."
The two of them wandered around the campus for a while to clear their heads before finally returning to their room.
Click!
Lamon pushed the door open and stepped inside. With a long, exhausted sigh, he sank onto his bed and collapsed, his eyes half-closed.
After taking off his shoes, Mok checked on his friend. "Lamon, go take a shower. You'll feel better."
"Mhm," Lamon groaned reluctantly, dragging himself up.
Once Lamon headed into the bathroom, Mok started cleaning up. The room was a complete mess. He folded scattered clothes, sorted the laundry, and organized the clutter. He hurried through the chores, knowing Toffee would nag him if he didn't.
By the time he finished, the sun was already beginning to set. Drawing in a deep breath, he gazed out the window, thinking, "Why hasn't Toffee come back yet?"
Buzz...
The sudden vibration caught his attention.
"Did I leave my phone on silent?" Frowning, Mok searched through his bag and discovered several missed calls on the screen.
He hesitated, staring at the numbers. "I don't want to run away anymore," he murmured to himself. Steeling his resolve, he returned the call, trying to calm his racing heart.
The line clicked. "Hello, khap... Mok..."
"Hello..." And then, silence. Only moments ago, Mok had rehearsed exactly what he wanted to say, but now his voice failed him.
"Mok?" The voice on the other end called his name again. When no answer came, he simply waited.
"Mhm..." Mok finally managed to reply, softening his tone. "Why did you call me, Kao?" He settled onto the couch as he spoke.
"I'm outside your dorm."
"What?" Mok nearly jumped to his feet. "I'm coming down," he added quickly, his voice dipping slightly. "Don't go anywhere, I'm on my way."
The call ended. Taking only his phone, Mok threw on his sandals and hurried toward the bathroom door.
"Lamon, I'm heading downstairs for a bit. Call me if you need anything."
From inside, Lamon answered immediately, "Khap..."
Mok rushed out of the room. He flew down the stairs, almost tripping over his loose sandals as his heart pounded wildly. The moment he stepped through the main entrance, he caught sight of Kao standing beside his car.
Mok paused. "I didn't see him at all today... What is he doing here?" Hiding a small smile, he made his way toward him.
However, Kao was fully focused on arranging a few gift bags by the car door.
"Kao."
The sudden voice startled him, and the packages nearly escaped his grip. Kao quickly spun around and instinctively tried to shield them behind his back.
Suspicion immediately rose in Mok's mind. Before Kao could react, Mok stepped closer, leaning into his space. The faint scent of Mok's skin lingered in the air as he reached right around Kao's waist. A second later, the hidden items were firmly in Mok's hands, leaving Kao standing there with a helpless grin.
Before Mok could pull away, Kao caught him by the waist. Mok protested lightly, his hand tapping Kao's chest as he looked around anxiously. "We're outside... Kao, let go of me."
"No... I'm not letting you go. You'll just run away from me again," Kao teased gently. "Can we go for a night drive?"
Shoving him back playfully, Mok broke free and peeked inside the bags. "Lamon is alone upstairs," he muttered, though his attention quickly locked onto the gifts.
One bag contained his favorite meat dishes and drinks, while another held new clothes and matching watches. Mok thrust them back toward him, his expression darkening. "Take them back. I don't want them. Do you really have money to burn like this?"
"I do." The answer slipped out so naturally that Kao instantly slapped a hand over his mouth, pretending he hadn't said a thing.
"Mok..." Kao tried to explain himself, but it was useless. Every time he offered an excuse, Mok argued right back without hesitation.
Even with Kao following him around like a clingy puppy, Mok kept up an unimpressed front. He continued lecturing him until his irritation finally ran out. Still, seeing the disappointed look on Kao's face made his resolve crumble. In the end, he sighed and accepted the gifts. "Don't do this again," he warned.
Setting the gifts inside the car, Mok glanced toward the road. "I don't think a drive is a good idea tonight. We can go another time." He took a step back.
Kao instantly blocked his path, his lips pulling into a stubborn pout. "No. You promised me, Mok."
Mok stared at him. "When did I promise anything?" Seeing Kao avoid his gaze, Mok knew he was making things up again.
As Mok turned to leave, Kao grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle swing. "Come with me," he pleaded, his voice falling to a whisper. "Don't you have something you want to tell me? Let's go... please?"
Mok covered one ear with his free hand and mumbled a dismissal, deliberately looking away. His face was already burning hot.
Kao opened the passenger door and guided Mok inside, making sure he was comfortable. He had even prepared a plush blanket for him. Mok stared at it, his eyes wide.
The moment they got into the car, Kao started the engine. Watching him take the wheel, Mok thought, "Where did that clingy cat from a moment ago go?"
The city lights reflected in Mok's eyes as he lowered the passenger window.
A gentle breeze swept through his black hair, making him relax with a quiet, content sigh.
His gaze shifted toward the driver's seat. "Where are we going?" he asked.
Kao didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached over and playfully pinched Mok's cheek.
"So childish..." Mok hissed, turning away to hide his spreading grin.
Meanwhile, the car glided smoothly down the road, carrying them together into the neon-lit night.