After that night,
their conversations fell silent.
No one texted first.
No one mentioned what had happened.
It was as if everything
had been paused right there.
But their feelings—
didn't stop with it.
Phat continued her life.
Studying,
exams,
projects.
Everything moved forward,
just like it was supposed to.
But on some nights,
especially the ones that felt too quiet,
she would still find herself looking at her phone.
As if waiting—
even though she knew
no message would come.
As for Kan,
he didn't text again.
Not because he had stopped missing her,
but because he knew
if it went any further,
it would only make things harder for her.
So he chose to stop.
Even though inside,
he had never stopped at all.
Time passed,
until one day—
graduation day.
The university was filled with people.
Laughter,
camera clicks,
voices calling out names.
Everything looked bright.
Except for some hearts.
Phat stood in her graduation gown,
holding a bouquet,
a smile on her face.
But her eyes—
were searching for someone.
Even though they shouldn't.
And then—
she saw him.
Kan.
Standing not far away,
wearing the same gown,
surrounded by friends.
The scene felt like the past.
The only difference was—
this time,
they were no longer in the same world.
Her heart tightened slightly.
"Don't look…"
she told herself.
But her eyes—
refused to listen.
Kan had already seen her.
From the very beginning.
He didn't expect
to feel like this.
Even though time had passed,
even though he should have been "fine,"
just seeing her—
his heart was still not the same.
The two of them
stood on opposite sides.
Not far apart.
But neither of them stepped forward.
As if something invisible
was standing in the way.
Until finally—
their eyes met.
Just for a second.
But clear.
Phat was the one who looked away first.
Like always.
Kan gave a faint smile.
Not because it was funny—
but because he understood.
After a while,
Phat was about to leave.
But a voice called her.
"Phat."
She stopped.
She knew that voice too well.
She slowly turned back.
Kan stood right in front of her.
Close—
just like before.
But the feeling was different.
"Congratulations," he said calmly.
"You too," she replied.
Silence.
Neither of them continued.
As if all the words
had already been used up.
A soft breeze passed by.
The noise around them faded,
leaving only the two of them—
and something that had never really ended.
"How have you been?" Kan asked.
"Good," she answered shortly.
"What about you?"
"Same as always."
The same answer.
But not the same meaning.
Silence again.
Phat tightened her grip on the bouquet slightly,
then spoke.
"About that day…"
Kan looked at her.
She pressed her lips together.
"…I'm sorry."
The words were soft—
but clear.
Kan paused for a moment,
then gave a faint smile.
"It's okay."
A simple answer.
Too simple.
"I understand," he continued.
"You chose what you could handle."
Phat's chest tightened.
Because it was true.
And it hurt.
"What about you?" she asked.
"Are you okay?"
Kan let out a soft laugh.
"I have to be."
He paused,
then added—
"Even if I didn't get what I wanted."
Silence.
That sentence made everything heavier.
Phat looked away.
Unable to meet his eyes.
"Phat."
He called her name.
"…Yeah?"
"…If that day…"
He stopped,
like he was choosing his words.
"If you had answered differently…"
Her heart trembled.
"What do you think we would've been?"
That question—
had no answer.
And never would.
Phat gave a faint smile,
even as her eyes began to burn.
"I don't know."
"Maybe we would've fallen apart even worse."
Kan looked at her,
then shook his head slightly.
"Or maybe… it could've been better."
Silence fell again.
But this time,
it wasn't uncomfortable.
It was acceptance.
That everything
had already become this way.
"I should go now," Phat said.
Just like before.
Kan nodded.
"Yeah."
No stopping her.
No asking her to stay.
Because they both knew—
some things had already gone too far.
Phat turned around
and walked away.
Kan stood there, watching—
just like before.
But this time,
he didn't call her back.
That day,
they graduated.
But something—
was still unfinished.