Ping's so-called admirer didn't fail him that morning.
Just like every other day, a drink hung neatly on his door handle, swaying slightly as if it had just been placed there.
A small folded note rested beside it, the handwriting as familiar as it was mysterious.
Ping picked it up, glancing around the empty hallway before opening it.
" Keep smiling. I hope you have a good day today."
He read it once.
Then again.
A small smile curved onto his lips-this time, he didn't even try to hide it.
Whoever it was... they were consistent. And somehow, that made his chest feel lighter.
By the time he left for school, there was an unusual spring in his step.
His mood felt... brighter. Softer. Almost happy.
- That feeling didn't last.
By noon, the sky had darkened.
Heavy clouds gathered overhead, pressing down on everything.
The air grew thick, humid, almost suffocating.
Rain was about to fall.
Ping was packing his things when a senior approached him.
"Ping," the senior said,
"can you help pass a message to Keng? He's at the theatre art studio."
Ping stiffened immediately.
"I'm busy."
The response came out too quickly.
The senior frowned.
"It won't take long."
Ping didn't even look at him. Instead, he turned sharply to Rain.
"You go."
Rain blinked, then his eyes lit up instantly.
"I would love to-of course I want to see senior handsome-but..." He scratched his head awkwardly.
"I have an errand to run."
Ping stared at him.
"...You're useless."
After a long pause, he exhaled sharply, grabbed his bag, and slung it over his shoulder.
"Fine," he muttered.
"I'll go."
-
The theatre art studio greeted him with a familiar scent-wood, paint, and something nostalgic he couldn't quite place.
Ping stepped inside, already planning his escape.
Drop the message.
Leave immediately.
No lingering.
No eye contact.
He barely spared a glance at the group gathered inside.
Until-
"Keng, seriously," Jinn said, his voice casual, unaware of who had just walked in.
"Don't you think Ping will be furious when he finds out you live next door to him and you're the mysterious sender?"
Ping froze.
Everything inside him stilled.
"...What?"
The word slipped out before he could stop it.
The room fell silent.
Every head turned.
Ping stepped forward slowly, his eyes locking onto Keng. Disbelief flooded his expression.
"So it was you," he said quietly.
Then louder- Sharper.
"Why are you doing this to me again?"
Keng took a step toward him.
"Ping-"
"You disappeared," Ping cut in, his voice trembling despite himself.
"You hurt me. And now you come back just to play with my feelings again? Haven't you toyed with me enough?"
The words came fast.
Too fast.
Like everything he had been holding in had finally found a way out.
Keng opened his mouth- But Ping didn't wait.
He turned and stormed out.
"Ping, please-I can explain!" Keng called, panic breaking through his voice.
- By the time Ping stepped outside- The rain had already started. And within seconds, it poured. Heavy. Relentless.
The kind of rain that soaked through everything without mercy.
Ping didn't stop. He walked straight into it, his clothes clinging to him instantly, his hair sticking to his face.
He didn't care.
"Ping!"
Keng ran after him, his footsteps splashing against the wet ground.
Without thinking, he reached out- And grabbed Ping's wrist.
Ping tried to pull away.
"Let go."
"Please," Keng said, breathless, his grip firm but not forceful.
"Just listen to me."
The rain blurred everything around them, turning the world into nothing but grey and sound.
"Do you hate me that much?" Keng continued, his voice softer now.
"I know you're angry-but let me explain. After that... if you don't want to see me again, I'll accept it. I promise."
Ping stopped struggling. For a moment, he just stood there.
"...Say it," he said flatly.
Keng swallowed hard.
"I didn't want to leave you," he began.
"I had no choice. I tried reaching out when I was abroad, Ping-I really did. But everything went wrong."
Rain dripped from his hair, his voice shaking slightly.
"When I came back... you wouldn't even look at me."
He stepped closer.
"I moved next door because I missed you. I left those things because I didn't know how to face you... but I wanted you to feel cared for. I wanted you to know you weren't forgotten."
Ping's chest tightened.
He saw it now.
The exhaustion.
The regret.
The pain in Keng's eyes.
But he forced himself to stay still.
To not soften.
Not yet.
Keng reached out hesitantly, brushing wet strands of hair away from Ping's face.
"I missed you," he said quietly.
"I know I hurt you. I'm sorry."
The rain continued to fall. As if trying to wash everything away. The anger. The distance. The things they never got to say.
Ping didn't respond. But he didn't pull away either.
- Ping tried to stay firm. Tried to hold onto his anger. But his eyes kept drifting to Keng- Soaked. Shivering slightly.
"...You're going to catch a cold," Ping muttered under his breath.
Keng blinked, surprised.
Ping immediately looked away, annoyed at himself.
"L-let's go somewhere else," he added quickly.
"I don't want to catch a cold either."
A small, unintentional smile slipped through.
Keng saw it. And something in his chest eased.
-
Ping turned first, leading the way back to the dorm. Keng followed quietly.
When they reached Ping's room, the space was empty.
Rain wasn't there.
The room felt warm. Safe. Familiar.
Ping grabbed a towel and shoved it toward Keng.
"Dry your hair."
Then he grabbed another for himself, roughly rubbing at his wet hair. His movements were rushed, uneven. Water still clung to him, dripping onto the floor.
Keng watched him for a moment. Then sighed softly.
"You're terrible at this."
Ping shot him a glare.
"I'm fine."
But before he could move away- Keng reached out and caught his wrist.
Ping froze instantly.
"Let me," Keng said gently. He took the towel from Ping's hands, his fingers brushing lightly against his knuckles.
Then- He stepped closer. Carefully. Slowly. Drying Ping's hair with a softness that made the moment feel heavier than it should. More intimate. More real. His fingers adjusted strands near Ping's forehead, his touch familiar- Achingly familiar.
"It's been a while since I looked at you this close," Keng murmured.
"You're even cuter than the last time I saw you."
Ping's face burned instantly.
"W-what are you saying-"
The door creaked open.
"-OH MY GOD." Rain gasped.
Ping shoved Keng away so fast he nearly lost his balance. He cleared his throat, refusing to meet either of their eyes.
"You-! You should go. You're still wet. Change your clothes."
Keng smiled, amused. Instead of arguing, he stepped closer again, lowering his voice.
"You too," he said softly.
"Make sure you don't catch a cold." His hand lifted briefly- Brushing Ping's hair one last time.
"Little Ping."
Then he turned and walked out.
-
Silence.
Then- Rain blinked slowly.
"...Did I just interrupt something?"
Ping's ears were bright red.
"Come inside."
Rain dropped his bag dramatically.
"PING. Isn't that senior handsome?"
"Stop exaggerating," Ping replied too quickly.
"He's not that handsome."
Rain grinned wickedly.
"Then why are you blushing?"
Ping turned away.
"You talk too much."
"Oh no," Rain gasped.
"You have a lot of explanation to do. I love stuff like this, Little Ping."
Ping spun around instantly.
"Seriously, Rain-did you hear that? Be quiet!"
"Little Ping. Little Ping," Rain repeated, laughing.
-
Outside the room, just down the hallway- Keng paused. He didn't move. Didn't leave immediately. Instead- He smiled. Softly.
Because for the first time since coming back- Ping didn't run away..... completely.