Just A Dare

15

Next day,

"Tang, you can always talk to me if there's anything bothering you, okay?" Fourth's voice was gentle, his concern evident.

"I and Winny are no longer in contact. To put it simply, we've ended things. We're strangers again," Satang replied, his tone flat but resigned.

"Hey, it's not your fault, okay?" Fourth said reassuringly.

"It's not his fault either... I can't blame anyone for leaving me because... just look at me. I'm not perfect or good enough in anyone's eyes. I hate myself too," Satang said, his voice laced with self-loathing, though he tried to smile.

"Good enough to be played with, but not good enough to receive love," Satang added, his voice barely above a whisper. Fourth could still hear the pain in his words.

Concerned, Fourth recalled something important.

"Tang, when was the last time you saw Mark and took your medication?" Fourth asked.

"About a month ago. I stopped because I didn't think I needed it anymore... and the medication always made me feel nauseous," Satang admitted.

"Why not start taking it again or see Phi Mark?" Fourth suggested, trying to offer a solution.

"You think I'm getting depressed again, right? I'm fine, bro, really. Don't worry about me," Satang said with a forced smile, trying to reassure Fourth.

"Okay," Fourth said reluctantly, not wanting to push Satang but still deeply concerned. After their conversation, Fourth secretly reached out to Mark, hoping to get support for his friend.
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Satang accidentally saw Winny at the canteen with his friends. From a distance, Winny seemed carefree, laughing and chatting as if nothing had ever happened between them. His smile was bright, his laughter genuine, and it felt like a cruel contrast to the heavy weight Satang carried in his heart.

Satang tried to swallow the lump in his throat, forcing himself to smile and laugh as he joined his friends at a nearby table. Inside, however, he felt as though he were half dead, struggling to pretend that seeing Winny didn't hurt him. The image of Winny's happiness was a sharp reminder of the love that now felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the pain of their separation.

As Satang watched Winny from the corner of his eye, a wave of sorrow washed over him. He thought about all the moments they shared—the warmth of Winny's touch, the promises whispered in the dark, the way Winny had once made him feel cherished and loved. It all seemed so distant now, like a dream that had shattered into a million pieces.

Seeing Winny's carefree demeanor made Satang question everything. Was all the love Winny had given him just a facade? Did it mean nothing, now that they were apart?

'Did all the love you gave me turn out to be fake, Winny?' Satang's heart ached with the question he could never voice aloud.

Was the love he once believed in all just an illusion?
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After class, At beach,

Satang found himself walking without purpose. He was too tired to think clearly, and he didn't even know why he ended up at the beach.

The beach looked so peaceful, almost too peaceful. It felt like a cruel joke, showing him a calm that he couldn't reach. As he walked along the shore, each step felt heavy and filled with emptiness.

He felt disconnected and lost, like he was floating in a vast sea of despair. The peaceful scene around him was a stark contrast to the turmoil within. The emptiness was not just a feeling but a deep sadness that he couldn't escape.