The morning rays of sunshine filtered through the lace curtains, casting a warm, golden hue in Inn's room. Inn, with his hair tousled from a good night's sleep, began dressing in his new school uniform. His heart fluttered with a mix of anticipation and nervousness, a thrill that electrified his senses as he prepared for his first day at the new high school.
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As Inn walked through the school's wrought-iron gate, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The school grounds were abuzz with chatter and laughter, the air electric with the collective anticipation of the new students. Inn, despite standing a head taller than most of his peers, felt somewhat overwhelmed.
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"Here goes nothing," he mumbled under his breath, his voice barely audible amidst the symphony of voices around him.
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Upon reaching the registration table, a friendly staff member handed him a name tag bearing the words 'Nong-Inn'. He pinned it onto his crisp uniform, noting the prefix 'Nong', a term for juniors. His gaze then wandered towards the group of senior staff members, his eyes landing on a young man who stood out amongst the others.
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The man had sharp features that gave him a strikingly handsome appearance. His build was athletic, with muscles hinting at a disciplined workout regime. His demeanor, though quiet, exuded a certain intensity that was hard to ignore. His name tag read 'P'Pathn'. Inn found the name unexpectedly easy to remember, it somehow fitting the senior's striking presence.
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As the day's activities began in the great hall, Inn tried his best to participate fully. The teacher's welcoming speech was followed by a game designed to familiarize the students with each other. The playful music and the mingling students created a lively atmosphere that eased Inn's nerves. It was during this game that Inn encountered Pathn.
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"Hi... P'Pathn,"
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Inn said, attempting to make small talk. The playful music continued in the background, providing a comfortable ambiance for their conversation.
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"Nong-Inn, right?"
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Pathn replied, the sound of his voice sending a small jolt of excitement through Inn.
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As the game progressed, the game master randomly picked students and asked them to recall as many names as they could. When Inn was chosen, he managed to recall a good number of names.
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"...Yorth, Nan, Nam, P'Yod, P'Ton..." He pointed at each individual as he said their names, his memory serving him well. "...and P'Pathn." He pointed at Pathn last, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. A wave of warmth washed over Inn at their brief interaction.
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The applause from the crowd brought Inn back to reality. The game master announced,
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“Well, our Nong-Inn has mentioned 32 names!" The crowd clapped even harder, impressed by Inn's quick memory.
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Next, the students were divided into twelve groups for different activities. Inn checked his name tag for his group color. "Navy blue..." he murmured to himself, looking around for the group of staff with the navy blue sign. His heart skipped a beat as he noticed Pathn in the navy blue group as well.
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Throughout the day, Inn found himself glancing towards Pathn unintentionally. And to his surprise, Pathn would occasionally glance back, which only made Inn blush and wonder,
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"Why do I keep looking at him? It would be so embarrassing if he noticed."
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One of the activities that stood out to Inn was a game where a student and a staff member had to navigate a makeshift obstacle course while balancing a ball between them. Inn was chosen by the students due to his athleticism, and the staff chose Pathn. The two met at the starting line of the course, both their faces flushed with determination. Inn broke the awkward silence first, 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp5y15d1fz
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"Well, P'Pathn, it looks like we have to do this together. Let's win this." 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cVlBlPoQJ
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His voice echoed his determination, his competitive spirit shining through.
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"Of course, we will win. Are you ready, Nong-Inn?" 270Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHaRG7B2hD
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Pathn's demeanor changed, his previous quietness replaced with a newfound determination. His words only added to the thrill Inn was feeling.
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As the whistle blew, signifying the start of the game, the atmosphere turned electric. Cheers from their team mates filled the air, the sound of their voices encouraging Inn and Pathn. The teams started the obstacle course, the goal being to keep the ball between them without dropping it.
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Despite the obstacles, Inn and Pathn moved smoothly. Their competitive spirits were evident on their determined faces as they navigated the course. Their synchrony was like poetry in motion, the ball barely wobbling as they maneuvered around obstacles. And when they crossed the finish line in first place, the cheers from their team were deafening.
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Inn couldn't help but jump in joy, the thrill of their victory surging through him. As he turned to Pathn, he felt a spontaneous urge to hug him in celebration. Pathn, taken aback at first, slowly returned the hug. Despite the slight awkwardness due to his usual restraint with physical touch, the moment was a testament to their victorious collaboration.
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Inn and Pathn received their prize - a delightful assortment of snacks. As they distributed the treats among their team, Inn could feel the camaraderie that the day's activities had built among them.
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"Isn't it funny?" Inn remarked, a chuckle escaping his lips. "These are simple snacks, yet they're reacting as if we've won the lottery.”
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Pathn, usually stoic, grinned at Inn's observation, joining in the banter. "Maybe the pride of being on the winning team is even greater than the prize itself," he said, revealing a playful side that Inn hadn't seen before.
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As the day gradually inched towards late afternoon, a sense of accomplishment filled the air. The teachers and senior staff gathered to debrief the day's activities, detailing the next steps and giving a heads-up about the coming semester, school rules, classrooms, facilities, clubs, home room teachers, senior mentors, and so on.
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One particular detail caught Inn's attention: the seniors in each color team would be the junior students' mentors throughout their first year. As the seniors were in their last year, the juniors and seniors would experience their first and last year at the school together. Inn felt a hint of excitement at the prospect of having Pathn as one of his senior mentors.
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"Well, that's all for our activities today," announced the teacher, "See you all when the semester starts next week."
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The room erupted in applause as the activity day came to a close. Students began to rise, engaging in light-hearted conversations and exchanging contact information.
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Inn noticed Pathn still seated in his chair, engrossed in conversation with a few of his friends. Taking a deep breath, Inn decided to approach Pathn, a mix of nervousness and excitement washing over him.
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"P'Pathn, so you're going to be one of my senior mentors this year, right?" he asked, trying to keep his enthusiasm in check.
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"I guess so," Pathn replied, his tone nonchalant yet not unwelcoming.
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"Do you think I could get your LINE ID or Instagram handle? We could keep in touch," Inn suggested, hopeful.
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"Sure, Nong-Inn. Which one do you prefer, LINE or Instagram?" Pathn asked. Though he seemed hesitant, there was a certain warmth to his response.
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"Whichever you use most. Or both, that would be great," Inn replied, feeling relieved.
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"I'll give you both then,"
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Pathn replied, taking Inn's phone to type in his ID and handle. Inn couldn't help but express his gratitude.
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"Thank you, P'Pathn. Today was... really fun. I think we made a good team."
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"Yeah, we did," Pathn agreed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
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In that brief moment, Inn found himself admiring Pathn. He was not only physically attractive, but also hardworking and determined - qualities that Inn found deeply appealing. Despite his initial shyness, he was growing more comfortable around Pathn, though he still found Pathn's quiet demeanor a bit intimidating. After a short pause, Inn decided it was time to take his leave.
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"So, P'Pathn, I guess I'll see you around when the semester starts."
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"See you then, Nong-Inn,"
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Pathn responded, his typically nonchalant tone underlined with a newfound hint of friendliness.
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As the school's activity day came to a close, the atmosphere was filled with excited conversations and heartfelt farewells. Students were exchanging contacts, promising to meet again when the semester started. And amidst all this, Inn found himself looking forward to a new chapter of his life, one that involved a certain senior mentor named P'Pathn.
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