The next day.
The classroom looked the same as always.
Students chatting.
Some sleeping.
Some pretending to study.
Everything had returned to normal.
Lin Thit sat in his seat, leaning back lazily.
But his mind was still stuck on yesterday.
The alley.
The fight and the tension he had felt.
Even now, thinking about it made his heart beat a little faster.
That was.... exciting.
He rested his chin on his hand and looked around the classroom.
But something felt missing.
Thuta Zaw wasn't there.But Lin Thit wasn't surprised.After taking that hit to the head yesterday, it wouldn't be strange if he skipped school.
Still....
He clicked his tongue quietly.
What a shame.
Lunch break arrived.
Lin Thit sat with Aung San and Thura at one of the cafeteria tables.
Recently, the three of them had started hanging out together again.In front of them were trays of school food.
Aung San and Thura were chatting energetically.
"Seriously,"Aung San said, waving his chopsticks around," that guy was amazing."
Thura nodded.
"I still can't believe he defeated three people while injured."
Lin Thit listened quietly while chewing his food.
But honestly–
He wasn't interested in the conversation.His mind felt dull again.Like something important had disappeared.
I'm back to this boring life again.
He sighed softly.
Maybe helping Thura that day had been a mistake.For one moment, he thought he had found something new.
A crack in his ordinary life.
But now everything was back to normal.
It was like giving candy to a child...
Then taking it away after one bite.
Aung San suddenly noticed Lin Thits gloomy expression."Hey.You okay?"
Lin Thit shrugged.
"Yeah."
But his voice lacked energy.Aung San frowned slightly.He knew his friend well enough to notice something was wrong.
He's still scared from yesterday experienced, Aung San thought.
Poor guy.
Wanting to cheer him up—and maybe learn more about their new friend Thura—Aung San began thinking.
After a few seconds, he snapped his fingers.
"I got it!"
Both boys looked at him.
"What?"
"How about we go to karaoke after school?"
Thura hesitated immediately.
"That sounds fun"
"But I dont think my parents will let me go."
Lin Thit shook his head as well.
"I probably cant go either."
But Aung San wasnt giving up.
"Come on!This is our youth!"
He slammed his hand on the table dramatically.
"When we become old, opportunities like this won't come again!"
"Then we'll live with regret forever!"
Lin Thit rubbed his forehead.
"Can you stop shouting?"
Eventually, both of them gave up arguing.
"Fine," Lin Thit said.
"But I'm not going far.If the karaoke place is too far away, I'm not going."
Aung San grinned confidently.
"Relax.It's downtown."
"And it just opened recently.#
He pulled out his phone and showed them a picture.
.
.
.
A bright building with neon lights.The sun was already setting when the three boys left the school area.
The streets were busier than usual.Neon signs slowly began lighting up the buildings as evening approached.
Lin Thit walked behind the others while typing a message on his phone.
[Mom, I'll be late today. Im hanging out with friends.]
A few seconds later, he sent it.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket.In front of him, Aung San was confidently leading the way like a tour guide.Thura followed beside him quietly.
"...So," Thura asked, looking around the unfamiliar streets, "how did you even find this karaoke place?
"This area feels strange."
Aung San laughed proudly.
"Information network."
Lin Thit snorted.
"You copied Saw Paings line."
But Aung San ignored the comment.
"A lot of students from our school go here.I heard about it from one of them."
The deeper they walked into the district, the more Lin Thit noticed something.There were many people around.But not the usual kind.
Several young men stood near street corners or leaned against walls.Their clothes looked rough.
Their eyes followed the trio as they passed.
Some of them even looked hostile.
Lin Thit felt a slight chill run down his spine.
Did we just walk into the wrong place?
It felt like they had unknowingly stepped into someone elses territory.
But he didn't say anything.
If he warned Aung San now, that idiot would probably panic and make things worse.
Behind him, Thura seemed to notice the strange atmosphere too.
He lowered his voice.
"This place feels different from normal karaoke areas."
Aung San waved his hand dismissively.
"That's because you guys dont go out enough."
Lin Thit looked at him.
"You sound like an expert."
Aung San puffed his chest proudly."Well obviously."
Then Lin Thit asked,feeling he might be confusing."Wait, arent karaoke and nightclubs basically the same thing?"
Aung San immediately shook his head and looked at Lin Thit with disappointed eyes.
"Uncultured."
"What?"
"Karaoke is private rooms,# Aung San explained seriously."You sing with your friends or family."
He pointed ahead.
"But nightclubs are big open spaces.Dance floors, music, lights."
"Totally different."
Lin Thit stared at him for a moment.
"You realize we both ranked near the bottom in exams, right?"
"And now youre using the word uncultured like a scholar."
Aung San frowned."That's different knowledge."
While the two argued, they finally reached their destination.
A tall building stood in front of them.Bright neon signs glowed above the entrance.Music could faintly be heard from inside.
The first floor windows flashed with colorful lights.The nightclub was already open.
Lin Thit stared at the building.
For some reason
His heart began beating faster.
He couldn't explain why.
But a strange feeling crept into his chest.
Something about this place doesn't feel simple.
Still, the three boys stepped forward and entered the building.