Chapter 1 — The Weight of Quiet Things
The library was always cooler than the rest of the school. Not cold, exactly — just soft, shaded, and calm. The kind of quiet that wrapped around your shoulders like a light blanket.
Save sat at the usual table near the tall windows, a thick novel open in front of him. His thumb rested on the corner of the page, but he hadn't turned it in a while. Outside, sunlight lay across the garden paths, golden and slow.
Across from him, Por had somehow managed to balance two pencils on top of each other, forming a small, wobbly tower.
"Patji, if this falls, you owe me milk tea," Por said, eyes narrowing with mock seriousness.
Patji, half-asleep in his seat with his hoodie bunched behind his head, cracked one eye open. "You owe me milk tea for making me watch this nonsense," he mumbled.
Save smiled, eyes dipping back to the page. This was how it always was — steady, warm. Three of them since childhood.
Por, with his easy smile and loud laugh, always collecting people like sunlight collects on windowsills.
Patji, sarcastic but soft at the edges, who would show up at your door without asking if you needed him.
And Save, quiet and watching, the one who loved stories more than crowds.
Today felt like any other day.
And somehow, that was comforting.
Por's pencil tower wobbled dangerously. "Steady… steady…" he whispered dramatically.
Patji didn't even look. "It's gonna fall. Gravity doesn't like you."
It fell.
"Ahh—see? Gravity hates you personally," Patji said, deadpan.
Por sighed with exaggerated tragedy. "Fine. Milk tea on me later."
Save laughed softly, the kind of laugh that stayed close to the chest. He closed his book carefully as the bell rang in the distance — soft but firm.
"Come on," he said, standing. "Class."
Por stretched, arms over his head. "New term, same struggle. Let's go."
The three of them walked the familiar halls together. Their bags bumped against their sides, and Por kept trying to balance the pencils again as they walked, to Patji's mild horror.
It was ordinary, and it was good.
---
The classroom felt brighter than usual — windows thrown wide, voices softening as students filtered in. Save slid into his usual seat near the middle row, Por dropping into the seat beside him. Patji wandered off to his desk near the back.
A few moments later, the teacher walked in, followed by someone unfamiliar. A boy — tall, black hair neatly falling over his forehead, posture calm and careful. His uniform was crisp, but not in a showy way — just quietly neat. His eyes scanned the room once, dark and thoughtful, before resting somewhere near Save's row.
The teacher cleared his throat.
"Class, we have a new student joining us this term. Please welcome Thanaphum Sestasittikul."
The boy dipped his head politely.
"You can call me Auau," he added, his voice soft, almost measured.
There was a brief, curious rustle among the students — the usual when someone new appears.
Save sat still, gaze meeting Auau's for the smallest second.
A glance. Nothing sharp or heavy. Just…
Calm. Steady. Like the library's quiet had just learned how to stand on two feet.
The teacher gestured. "Auau, you can take the seat next to Worapong."
The boy moved smoothly, slipping into the desk beside Save. Close, but not intrusive. His movements were precise — careful like someone who knew how to stay unnoticed, but not awkward.
Por nudged Save's foot under the desk, eyebrows lifting playfully. Save ignored him, flipping open his notebook.
But his mind stayed a little too focused, a little too aware, of the quiet weight sitting beside him now.
After a small pause, Auau turned slightly toward Save and said softly, "Hi."
Save blinked, the corners of his mouth lifting just a little.
"Hi," he replied, voice quiet and warm.
---
End of Chapter 1