Orbit

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Film practically scurried back to her desk, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. She could still feel the ghost of Namtan’s touch where she had nuzzled her nose along her whisker dimple.

As she was making her way back to their little corner, Nanon caught a glimpse of her and wondered if she was a first year. He craned his neck until Film disappeared from his sight.

Hmm. Never seen her around before. He thought.

Love plopped a stack of books on the table and huffed from all the heavy carrying as she sat across Film. She looks at her friend and was about to ask her something when she noticed that Film looked somewhat bewildered.

“What happened to you?”

Film shook her head way too fast and immediately flipped open a book to a random page, pretending to be deeply invested in… whatever it was she just landed on.

“Nothing,” she muttered, avoiding all eye contact.

Love squinted, clearly not buying it. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

I wish.

A ghost would be less dangerous than Phi’Namtan.

Film tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to compose herself but her fingers betrayed her, trembling ever so slightly.

Goodness. Get it together.

She took a deep breath, flipping another page as if that would fix whatever mess Namtan just left in her brain. Unfortunately, her hand was still shaking.

Love caught it immediately.

“Okaaay, who did what?” Love leaned in; eyes gleaming with curiosity. “You’re acting weird.”

“I’m not,” Film denied too quickly, her voice just a tiny bit too high-pitched.

Love raised an eyebrow. “Film Rachanun, look me in the eye right now”

Love was about to press further, but then—

A presence.

A very familiar presence walking past their table.

Film felt it.

She didn't need to look up to know who it was. She refused to.

Because if she did, she knew exactly what she would see—Namtan, all smug and insufferable, throwing her one of those teasing looks.

Nope. Nope, nope, nope.

Film ducked her head lower, pretending to be absorbed in reading whatever it is on that page but the printed words were all nothing but jargon inside her head. Unfortunately for her, she needed to look busy.

Namtan’s steps slowed ever so slightly as she passed by—Film could feel it.

The weight of her gaze. The teasing heat behind it.

“You’re holding the book upside down…” chirps Namtan.

And just before she disappeared past their table, Film swore she heard the softest little chuckle.

UGHHHHHHHH!!!

Film bit the inside of her cheek and wished for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

Tsk. That was soooo humiliating. She scolds herself.

Love gave them a polite nod as they passed by and accidentally locked eyes with Milk, their gaze was innocent, curious even but lingered a little too long than normal. She noticed Milk clutching the handkerchief she gave; her uniform was still stained from the spill but looked drier than it was a few moments ago.

An unexpected smile forms on her lips, somehow feeling redeemed from their clumsy mishap earlier. However, the moment they were gone, she snapped back to her senses and recalls Namtan surprisingly talking to Film.

Puzzled by it, she leans in closer to her friend and starts questioning her.

“That was a strange interaction. Do you and Phi’Namtan know each other?”

Film let out a slow, painfully controlled exhale “…Yes.”

Love’s jaw dropped. “That’s Phi’Namtan, a campus personality, and we’re…we’re regular nerds. How did that happen?”

“It’s a long story…” Film blurts out, defeated as she sinks lower into her chair. 

- 🐥See you on the next chapter 🐼-