HIGH SCHOOL LOVE

CHAPTER 7

Chapter 7: Under the Desk

A hand, like a snake, slowly, slowly extended from beneath the desk and grabbed Thanapon's hand.

Thanapon gently patted the back of this hand, but instead of retreating, the hand moved forward, its fingers slowly and deliberately slipping between his, intertwining their fingers.

"Don't worry, no one's paying attention."

Sailub brazenly shook their joined hands.

Their class had done well in this month's exam, so the English teacher rewarded them with a movie.

The lights were all turned off, and everyone's eyes were glued to the screen.

-who would notice them?

"I did pretty well this time."

"Hmm." Thanapon's eyes were also fixed on the screen.

If not for the hand tightly holding his hand under the desk, he would have looked completely focused and absorbed in the movie.

"Next time, I might just make it into the top hundred in the grade,"

Sailub whispered, "You promised me last time."

"What did I promise you?" Thanapon still didn't turn his head, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice..

"Oh, come on, you're trying to go back on your word, huh?" Sailub protested, scratching at his palm in frustration.

Thanapon chuckled and squeezed his fingers, "How late have you been studying every day lately?"

"You've got dark circles under your eyes."

"No, I don't," Sailub stubbornly denied, "I go home and rest every day."

"Why do I feel like..." Thanapon propped his chin on his hand, looking him up and down, "you've gotten a bit uglier lately?"

Sailub looked alarmed. "Really? Are you starting to dislike me?"

Thanapon nodded seriously, "Yes, I do."

Under Sailub's sorrowful gaze, he suddenly chuckled, "You need to balance work and rest. Don't stay up too late studying every night; what's taught in class is the most important."

Sailub, still feeling wronged, squeezed his fingers. "I know."

He had been far behind before, struggling to understand anything in class.

But now, with Thanapon's tutoring and his own secret late-night study sessions, he had managed to catch up on the basics.

He would pay more attention to time management in the future, but still, he pressed, "Do you really dislike me?"

Sailub looked like a scolded puppy, his face full of grievance.

Thanapon squeezed his "dog paw" gently as a gesture of comfort.

Sailub decided that tonight, when he got home, he would secretly steal one of his mom's face masks to use.

"Do you want some?"

From the front came the sound of rustling, and a bag of chips was passed over.

Thanapon took it with one hand, while his other hand, in the darkness, amidst the occasional whispers and rustling of his classmates, remained secretly yet boldly held tightly by Sailub under the desk.