It all began with small gestures.
One evening during exam week, Nonglak was deep into her studies at the library when the lights in her section suddenly went out. She let out a sigh as she began to pack up her books, only to hear footsteps racing down the hallway.
Fame appeared, slightly out of breath, carrying two cups of hot chocolate.
"I figured you'd still be here," she said with a smile.
Nonglak frowned a bit. "You came all the way here just for this?"
Fame set a cup in front of her. "You haven't had dinner."
Nonglak paused, staring at the drink. "You checked?"
"Of course!" Fame replied proudly. "Your friend told me."
"I don't have friends."
"Well, you do now."
Nonglak didn't respond, but she took a sip of the hot chocolate. It was sweeter than she had anticipated.
On another occasion, Fame invited Nonglak to watch her archery tournament.
Nonglak stood at the edge of the field, arms crossed, silently observing as Fame drew back the bowstring.
The arrow soared through the air—
Thud.
Center target.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Fame turned immediately, looking right at Nonglak, her mouth whispered. "For you"
Nonglak rolled her eyes, but when Fame jogged over, beaming like a child, she couldn't help but smile back.
One rainy night on campus, Nonglak found herself without her umbrella.
Before she could even start walking, a shadow appeared beside her.
Fame held an umbrella over both of them. "You really need to stop forgetting things," she said with a teasing tone.
"I didn't forget," Nonglak replied calmly. "I just didn't check the weather."
"That's pretty much the same thing."
They strolled slowly through the rain, campus lights reflecting softly on the wet pavement. For some reason, neither of them spoke, and their shoulders brushed together once, then again, neither of them moving away.
Weeks turned into months, and eventually, Nonglak stopped pretending she didn't enjoy Fame's company.
On a beautiful evening, Fame walked Nonglak back to the rain tree where it all began.
They stood there in silence, and Fame rubbed the back of her neck. "So… I've been chasing you for almost four months now."
Nonglak raised an eyebrow.
"Four months and a day."
Nonglak blinked in surprise. "You counted?"
"…Maybe."
Fame stepped closer. "So?"
"So what?"
"What are we now?"
Nonglak looked at her for a long moment, then awkwardly clears her throat. "Fine."
Fame froze. "Fine?"
Nonglak crossed her arms. "We can try dating."
For a full three seconds, Fame didn't react. Then she suddenly shouted, "YES!" and kissed Nonglak's cheek.
A few students nearby turned to stare, and Nonglak quickly covered her face. "You're embarrassing!"
Fame grabbed both her hands, excitement bubbling over. "Our first date!"
"When?",Nonglak thought for a moment.
"This weekend", Fame's grin was infectious.
"Fine", Lak said softly.
The night before their date, Fame was practicing at the archery range when her phone rang. It was her coach.
"Fame," the coach said, excitement in his voice. "You've been selected for the Olympic team again this year."
"Really?"
"Yes! Training camp starts immediately. We leave in a few days."
Fame stood there, processing the news. The Olympics. But tomorrow was her first date with Nonglak. A small smile crept onto her face. "I understand, coach."
The next day, Fame arrived early at the amusement park entrance, feeling unusually nervous. When Nonglak finally showed up in a simple white dress and cardigan, Fame felt her heart skip a beat.
"You're late," Fame said, feigning annoyance.
"It's only been three minutes."
"That still counts as late."
Nonglak sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
But when Fame held out her hand, Nonglak hesitated just a moment before taking it.
The amusement park was bright and bustling. They rode roller coasters, shared cotton candy, and playfully argued over which game booth was easier to win. At one shooting game, Fame picked up the toy gun with confidence.
"This is basically archery," she joked.
"It's completely different," Nonglak shot back.
Five shots later, Fame had won a large, fluffy blue teddy bear. She placed it in Nonglak's arms. "For you."
Nonglak looked down at it. "It's huge. How am I supposed to carry it home?"
Fame smiled, "I'll carry it."
As they walked through the park, the sky slowly turned orange. They eventually stopped at the top of the Ferris wheel, the city lights twinkling below them. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Fame reached for Nonglak's hand, and this time, Nonglak didn't pull away.
"I'm leaving soon," Fame said softly. "For training."
Nonglak nodded.
"The Olympics." Fame looked at her earnestly. "I'll bring back a medal. For you."
Nonglak gazed out the window. "You should win it for yourself."
Fame slowly closed the distance between them. "No." She squeezed Nonglak's hand gently. "For us."
Nonglak's cheeks flushed a light shade of pink.
The next day, as Nonglak was walking home, a black luxury car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, revealing Fame's father, Amorn.
"Are you Lak? I'd like to speak with you."
Nonglak froze.
Minutes later, they were having a quiet conversation by the roadside. No one else could hear. When it ended, Nonglak stood motionless as Amorn got back into the car. Just as it drove away, Chit, who had been coming back from a friend's house, noticed them and walked over.
"Lak," he said. "What was that about?"
Nonglak looked down. "…It's nothing."
Later that night, Fame's coach called again. "Plans have changed," the coach said. "We're flying out tomorrow morning."
Fame grabbed her car keys ready to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to tell someone first."
Before she could leave, her father stopped her. "What do you mean, someone?" Amorn asked.
Fame sighed. "My girlfriend."
"Your what girlfriend?! You're a girl, Fame," he retorted.
Fame narrowed her brows, exasperated. "Dad, in this day and age, you still care about that? I like Lak, and that's all that matters. She is my girlfriend."
Amorn's anger flared. "You—"
His wife, Marin, intervened, stopping his hand before it could strike Fame. "Fame, go to training. I'll have Min take care of it," she said calmly. "Just focus on your training for now."
Fame hesitated. "…Alright."
But Min never delivered the message.
It was the day of Fame's flight, and she still hadn't seen Nonglak. She wanted to wait longer, but time was slipping away.
"Honey, get on the plane before it's too late. You only have a few minutes left," her mom urged.
"But mom—"
Marin insisted she hurry.
Finally, Fame left.
That night, it rained.
Nonglak went to Fame's house, but Fame wasn't there, and no one answered her knocks.
Months later, after the Olympic Games had concluded, Fame stepped off the plane, proudly holding a silver medal. The first thing she did was head straight to Nonglak's house.
"I told you," she said happily to herself. "I brought it back."
But when she arrived, she saw a FOR SALE sign on the gate.
Fame frowned and rang the bell. No answer. She stood on her toes, peering into the house. It was empty.
An elderly woman walking by slowed down. "Excuse me," Fame asked quickly. "The family that lived here… where did they go?"
The woman shook her head. "They moved out suddenly."
"When?"
"Four months ago."
"Do you know where they went?"
"No one knows."
Fame stood there in silence, her hand tightening around the medal.