The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 20 – The Journey

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The bus pulled away from the school gates just as the sun began to rise.

Cheers erupted from the back seats.

Someone started singing.

A few students clapped along, while others laughed at how terribly out of tune they were.

Our teachers exchanged helpless smiles.

"It'll be a long day," one of them muttered.

I sat by the window, watching the familiar streets slowly disappear behind us.

Beside me, Narin rested his arm against the window frame.

"You always look outside."

"I like watching places pass by."

"I'd get bored."

"I know."

He smiled.

"You know me too well."

"I've had enough time to notice."

He looked at me for a second but didn't say anything.

Instead, he leaned back in his seat.

About an hour into the journey, one of the boys stood up.

"Let's play a game!"

Immediately, everyone became interested.

"What game?"

"Twenty Questions!"

"No, that's boring!"

"Truth or Dare!"

The entire bus shouted in agreement.

One of the teachers sighed.

"As long as nobody stands up while the bus is moving."

The game began.

Students laughed as silly questions were asked.

"Who's the laziest student?"

"Narin!"

The answer came from three different directions at once.

The whole bus burst into laughter.

Narin placed a hand over his heart.

"I've been betrayed."

"You deserve it!" someone shouted.

A few rounds later, another classmate spun around in his seat and pointed toward us.

"My turn."

He looked directly at Narin.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

The boy grinned.

"Who's your favorite person in this class?"

The bus suddenly became quieter.

Narin scratched his head.

"I have a lot of friends."

"That's not an answer."

"Pick one!"

Everyone began chanting.

"One! One! One!"

Narin laughed nervously.

"I don't know."

"You're lying!"

"I'm not."

The class refused to let him escape.

Finally, he sighed dramatically.

"...Phawin."

The bus fell silent for a second.

Then everyone turned to look at me.

I froze.

"W-What?"

One of the girls laughed.

"The quietest boy?"

Another student nudged Narin.

"Since when?"

He shrugged.

"I just enjoy talking to him."

Someone at the back called out jokingly,

"Does he even talk?"

The whole bus laughed.

Even I smiled.

Narin looked at me.

"He talks."

There was something sincere in the way he said it.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

Just... certain.

For reasons I couldn't explain...

Those two simple words stayed with me for the rest of the trip.

He talks.

It felt as though, in a bus full of people...

Someone had quietly understood me.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWDhp9mxO1

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