Phuwin forgot his homework.
Not because he was busy.
Just because he didn't care enough to remember.
"That's the third time this week," Mali said, looking at his empty hand.
"I'll copy yours," Phuwin replied.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you need consequences."
Krit leaned back in his chair. "She's parenting you."
"I'm not a child," Phuwin said.
"Debatable," Krit replied immediately.
Phuwin ignored him.
But it didn't hit the same as usual.
Even their jokes felt slightly slower today.
Like everyone was talking, but nothing was landing properly.
🏫 CLASS — EVERYTHING FEELS A BIT OFF, BUT NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY
The teacher wrote on the board.
Nobody was listening properly.
Pens moved.
Phones under desks.
Someone sleeping with their face on the table.
Phuwin stared at the board without reading it.
His mind wasn't loud today.
That was worse.
It was just… blank.
He noticed Arthit across the room again.
Same position.
Same quiet behavior.
But now it didn't feel sharp.
Just distant.
Like something that already happened a long time ago.
Phuwin blinked.
Then looked away.
No reaction.
That felt strange.
🍱 LUNCH — SMALL THINGS FEEL TOO BIG FOR NO REASON
Mali opened her food slowly.
Krit was already halfway through his.
Phuwin hadn't started.
"You're not eating again?" Mali asked.
"I will."
"When?"
"Soon."
"That's not a time."
Krit pointed with his fork. "He's buffering."
"I'm not a device," Phuwin said.
"Prove it."
Phuwin sighed and ate a bite.
No reaction.
No thought.
Just chewing.
"…Food tastes normal," he said.
"That's usually how food works," Mali replied.
"Yeah," he said. "I just noticed it."
That made Krit pause slightly.
"…That's new," he said.
"What is?"
"You noticing normal things."
Phuwin shrugged.
"I guess."
Silence for a moment.
Not uncomfortable.
Just flat.
🧍 ARTHIT — STILL THERE, STILL NOT THERE
Across the cafeteria.
Arthit laughed at something again.
Same as before.
But Phuwin didn't follow it with his eyes this time.
He noticed that too.
"…I think I stopped caring," he said suddenly.
Mali looked up. "About what?"
Phuwin thought for a second.
"…Him."
Krit frowned. "Already?"
"I don't know," Phuwin said honestly. "It just feels… far now."
Mali studied him.
"That's not how it usually works," she said.
"I know."
"Does it feel better?" Krit asked.
Phuwin paused.
"…I don't know yet."
That answer felt more honest than anything else.
🌆 AFTER SCHOOL — SAME WALK, DIFFERENT SILENCE
They walked home like usual.
But nobody talked as much.
Not because anything was wrong.
Just because there wasn't much to say.
Krit kicked a stone down the road.
Mali adjusted her bag strap.
Phuwin looked ahead.
The city was loud again.
But it didn't press on him the same way anymore.
"…Everything feels slower today," Krit said.
"It's not slower," Mali replied. "You're just tired."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
Phuwin didn't join the argument.
That was also new.
🌧 SMALL STOP — UNDER A SHOP ROOF
It started raining lightly again.
They stopped under a small shop roof.
People passing by.
Umbrellas opening.
Motorbikes splashing through water.
Krit leaned against the wall. "I'm hungry again."
"You were just eating," Mali said.
"That was a warm-up."
Phuwin watched the rain.
Then said:
"…I think I'm okay now."
Krit looked at him immediately. "That sounded suspiciously like a lie."
"It's not."
Mali tilted her head. "Okay how?"
Phuwin shrugged.
"…Like, I'm not thinking about it all the time anymore."
Silence.
Krit nodded slowly. "That's actually progress."
"I guess."
Mali wasn't fully convinced.
But she didn't push it.
🌙 END OF CHAPTER 17
The rain got heavier.
People kept walking.
The world didn't pause for anyone.
And Phuwin realized something quietly:
Not everything fades because it's solved.
Sometimes it just… stops hurting at the same speed it started.
And that feels weird too.