Everlasting (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 2: An Unexpected Friendship

The prestigious gates of their elite school loomed large, casting long shadows over the students as they filed in, chattering about the latest gossip and the upcoming exams. Nueng walked in silence, his steps measured and his expression carefully composed. The grand hallways of the school were a stark contrast to the warmth of the garden where he had met Palm just a few nights before, but the memory of that evening lingered in his mind, a small, persistent flicker of light in the back of his thoughts.

As he walked through the marble corridors, Nueng could feel the eyes on him—some admiring, others curious, and a few, as always, envious. He had grown used to it over the years, the unspoken rules of the social hierarchy that dictated every interaction in this school. But today, it felt different. Today, he felt a quiet resolve to seek out the one person who had made him feel something other than the heavy expectations that seemed to follow him everywhere.

Nueng's footsteps echoed as he approached his locker, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Palm. He had been unsure of how to approach the boy again, unsure if their brief connection had meant as much to Palm as it had to him. But as he rounded the corner, his heart skipped a beat when he saw Palm standing there, quietly organizing books into his own locker.

Palm hadn't noticed him yet, and for a moment, Nueng hesitated, his usual confidence wavering. But before he could second-guess himself, he took a deep breath and approached.

"Palm," Nueng called softly, careful not to startle him.

Palm turned, and for a brief second, surprise flashed in his eyes, followed quickly by a warm smile that seemed to ease the tension in Nueng's chest. "Nueng," Palm replied, his voice as gentle as it had been in the garden. "Good morning."

Nueng nodded, feeling oddly nervous. "Good morning. I—uh, I didn't expect to see you here."

Palm chuckled softly, closing his locker with a quiet click. "I didn't expect to see you either, but I'm glad I did."

Nueng felt his heart lift at those words, and he found himself smiling, a genuine smile that felt foreign but welcome. "Me too," he admitted, before the weight of their vastly different worlds began to press down on him again. "Are you... settling in well?"

Palm nodded, his expression growing more thoughtful. "It's a bit overwhelming, but I'm managing. This place is... different from what I'm used to."

Nueng could only imagine. The school was a place of wealth and privilege, where every student was expected to excel and uphold the family name. Palm, with his modest background, must have felt like an outsider in a world that wasn't built for him. But then again, so did Nueng, despite everything he had been given.

"If you ever need anything," Nueng began, feeling a strong urge to offer some form of help, "you can always ask me."

Palm looked at him, something soft and grateful in his gaze. "Thank you, Nueng. That means a lot."

Before the conversation could go any further, the bell rang, signaling the start of the day. The hallway quickly filled with students, and Nueng and Palm were swept up in the crowd. They shared a final glance, a silent promise to continue their conversation later, before heading to their respective classes.

The day passed in a blur of lessons and assignments, but Nueng's thoughts kept drifting back to Palm. During lunch, he found himself scanning the cafeteria, searching for any sign of the boy who had, in such a short time, come to occupy so much of his thoughts. He spotted Palm sitting alone at a table near the back, his head bent over a book.

Nueng made his way over, ignoring the curious glances from his peers. As he approached, Palm looked up, and a smile spread across his face when he saw Nueng.

"Mind if I join you?" Nueng asked, his heart thudding in his chest.

"Not at all," Palm replied, closing his book and gesturing to the empty seat beside him.

As Nueng sat down, the two of them fell into an easy conversation, the kind that seemed to flow naturally despite the differences in their backgrounds. They talked about school, their interests, and even shared a few jokes that had Nueng laughing in a way he hadn't in a long time. For the first time in what felt like forever, Nueng wasn't worrying about what others thought, wasn't burdened by the expectations of his family. He was just a boy, sitting with a friend, enjoying a simple conversation.

But their growing friendship didn't go unnoticed. Ben, Nueng's closest friend since childhood, had been watching the subtle shifts in Nueng's behavior for days. He had seen the way Nueng's eyes lit up when Palm was around, the way his usually guarded demeanor softened. It wasn't that Ben was jealous—far from it. He was protective, worried that Nueng, with all his responsibilities and the pressures of their world, might be hurt if he let his guard down too much.

Later that day, Ben caught up with Nueng in one of the quieter hallways between classes. "Nueng," he called out, his tone light but his eyes serious. "Can we talk?"

Nueng turned, smiling when he saw his friend. "Of course, Ben. What's on your mind?"

Ben hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "I've noticed you've been spending time with Palm lately."

Nueng blinked, not expecting the conversation to take this turn. "Is that a bad thing?" he asked, his voice cautious.

"No," Ben quickly replied, shaking his head. "Not at all. I'm glad to see you smiling more. I just... I want to make sure you're okay. Palm seems like a good person, but you know how people here can be. They notice things, and they talk."

Nueng sighed, understanding Ben's concern. The school was a breeding ground for gossip, and any deviation from the norm was quickly scrutinized and judged. "I know, Ben," he said, his voice quieter now. "But Palm... he's different. He makes me feel like I can breathe, like I don't have to be someone I'm not."

Ben's expression softened, his worry clear in his eyes. "I just don't want to see you get hurt, Nueng. You've got enough on your plate as it is."

Nueng nodded, grateful for Ben's concern but also determined not to let it overshadow the small happiness he had found. "I'll be careful, Ben. But I think... I think Palm might be worth the risk."

Ben offered a small smile, though the concern didn't completely leave his eyes. "If you're sure, then I'll support you, whatever happens."

"Thank you," Nueng said, feeling a warmth spread through him at his friend's words. He knew Ben would always have his back, no matter what.

As the day wore on, Nueng's and Palm's paths continued to cross. They shared more conversations, more moments where the rest of the world seemed to fade away. But it wasn't long before others started to notice as well.

Chopper, a classmate who prided himself on being aware of everyone's business, began to watch Nueng and Palm with growing interest. He had always harbored a vague resentment towards Nueng, a combination of envy and the desire to maintain his own social standing. When he saw how close Nueng and Palm were becoming, he couldn't help but feel that something was off.

One afternoon, as Nueng and Palm sat in a hidden corner of the school's library, quietly discussing their latest assignment, Chopper passed by, his eyes narrowing at the sight. He lingered just long enough to catch the look on Nueng's face—a look of genuine happiness, something Chopper hadn't seen in him before.

A seed of suspicion was planted in Chopper's mind, one that would grow and fester in the days to come. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Nueng and Palm's friendship than met the eye, and he was determined to find out what it was.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Nueng and Palm packed up their things, exchanging a few more words before parting ways. But as they walked in opposite directions, they couldn't help but glance back at each other, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that was beginning to form between them—a bond that would soon face its first true test.

And as Chopper watched from the shadows, his mind already working on how to unravel the mystery between Nueng and Palm, he couldn't help but smirk. He had a feeling that this was going to be very interesting indeed.