KarHao🗣️🔥🙏🏻🥶 Karthik X Ngew Hao (angst included)

Chapter 1: "What"

"What is up with you lately for the past few weeks? You've been a little quiet and sad in the eyes." Ngew Hao patted Karthik on his shoulder, wearing a concerned expression on his face. His eyes searched for any injuries on him. It was well known that Cheng Yue, another classmate graduating, was a terrible person with no villain backstory, and he's just straight up evil and bullies Karthik.

"I-I..." He stammered, obviously shaken, but not stirred. He straightened his posture, remembering that he was hunched over a little to look down at the verdant green hard ass concrete floor. He wiped his eyes with the sleeves of his innocent white shirt, turning them slightly darkened from the damp from his tears. He bit his lip, not daring to say a single word.

"You can tell me about it. It's okay." The corners of Ngew Hao's mouth quirked up, forming a comforting smile.

"But not this time, Ngewiepoo. Not this time." Karthik thought to himself as he let out a long exhale and looked around the hall.

That day was a special occasion. The school hall looked different than usual. Instead of the empty green courts with badminton nets hung up, it had been replaced with rows and columns of blueish plastic chairs, and the hall was split in two by a red carpet, with an arch of blue and gold balloons bubbled at the end near the entrance to decorate and show where the graduates to go.

The hall, once empty earlier today, had now been flooded with flurry of different colours of different hues and shades. Parents, students, teachers. They have finally settled down and took their seats, to wait for the event to begin. In one of the front rows, were only wearing all black. They were in their robes and mortarboard adorned on their heads. Some had already dyed their hair brown, ready and eager to leave their years of high school behind. Some had make-up on their face, highlighting their best and favourite features. Some had their expression, full of woe, sorrowful that they were leaving, only their memories left.

Though, it couldn't be denied that it was the end of times, and it was time for change.

Perhaps that was the reason Karthik had looked like a bucket of fish drowning in air.

Ngew Hao withdrew, distancing himself from him to give him space. He still had his hand patting and stroking him from behind to provide him comfort, albeit Karthik had not given a response to his question. On the side, Cheng Yue gave him a side eye, glaring like he was a nuisance to him.

He inched away from him and whispered to one of his ugly ahh minions, Cheng Yue being Cheng Yue.

And now, it's about to begin.

The principal, Teacher Paulus took long strides towards the stage to announce the start of the event, thrilled to see student performances