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“Last I checked the physics exercises were on the worksheet and not out the window.”
Startled, May whips her head towards her tutor’s voice. Embarrassed, she replies “Sorry P’ Thida I got distracted.”
Thida gives her junior a stern glance before peering out the window herself, curious as to what she was looking so intently at. She notes the handful of students walking around but nothing too special until her eyes land on two very familiar figures. Their intertwined hands were swinging left and right and she could almost hear the whine that the brunette was emitting. The dark haired girl stood her ground though and shook her head, releasing their joined hands and waving at her partner. The brunette pouts and waves back reluctantly. The dark haired girl begins walking backwards into the building but before she completely disappears from sight, the brunette lunges forward and gives her a quick kiss, earning her a smack on the shoulder. The brunette starts to leave with a grin on her face, waving at the latter one more time. When she’s finally out of sight, the dark haired girl turns and walks into the building, sporting her own shy blissful smile.
“P’ Thida do you know who they are?” May’s question breaks Thida’s staring.
“Of course.” Thida turns back to her junior with her own soft smile. “In fact I played a vital role in their love story.”
“Since I’m taking a break could you please tell me about it?” May swoons. “I want to be in that kind of relationship one day.”
“You’ve been daydreaming for the past 5 minutes and you still want to take a break? Don’t you know that exams are right around the corner an-“
“Pretty please? Just a little anecdote or something. I feel like my brain is melting. Please please please p-“
“Okay okay settle down.” Thida sighs but she gives in, “I can tell you about the time they almost ended it with each other.”
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6 months ago
Thida just finishes packing a bag of essentials for Warang’s hospitalization when she hears knocks on her door. Strange since she shouldn’t be getting visitors at this hour. She opens the door and is surprised to see a crying Gyoza.
“Gyo? What happened?! Is everything okay?” Thida steps aside to let her friend in. Gyoza says nothing and reaches for a hug, one that Thida gladly reciprocates. The rest of the night is spent like that with Gyoza’s constant sniffles and Thida’s reassuring pats.
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Thida returns to her dorm and finds Gyoza staring into space, in the same state that she’s been for most of the week. Thida still doesn’t know what happened between her friend and her girlfriend Manaow but she knows it must’ve been something bad for her friend to act like this. She’s been respectful of her space, just gently providing comfort when needed but enough was enough.
“Gyo…” Thida starts. “You know you can’t hide here forever right? You’ve skipped classes for week already. You’re gonna fall behind.” Her concern is met with silence so she sighs and continues. “Manaow has been coming and waiting downstairs everyday this week, hoping that she’d catch a glimpse of you. Whatever it is that happened, I think you two deserve some closure. Don’t you agree hmm?”
It’s quiet for a few more moments before Gyoza replies. “I know. I’ll… I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
Thida smiles. “Good. I will be here if you need me. Now!” she gets up and claps. “Let’s get something to eat.”
“Thida… Thank you.” Gyoza gives her friend a warm smile. Thida mirrors it and drags her to the kitchen.
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Manaow sits nervously on Gyoza’s couch, waiting for her girlfriend to return. She was worried all week when she suddenly disappeared and wouldn’t answer her messages or phone calls. Even though they had been in the middle of an argument, they agreed to meet for their first anniversary where Manaow was planning on apologizing. She was never given the chance unfortunately because her girlfriend never showed up. And even though she knew better, she went and got wasted anyways to ease the ache in her heart.
The opening of the front door causes Manaow to jolt up. She finally sees her girlfriend for the first time in days and notes that she looks exhausted. Gyoza avoids eye contact and walks past Manaow, stopping before the balcony.
“Gyo…” Manaow starts and walks towards her girlfriend.
“Stay where you are. I think we should break up.”
“But Gyo why? Was it what I said the other day? I’m sorry that I got upset. I-“
Gyoza turns around and interrupts her. “It’s because you cheated on me. I saw you that night. With your so called junior.”
Manaow stares back, shocked and confused. “What night? What are you talking about?”
“The night of our anniversary. I went to your room and I saw you guys all cuddled up.” Tears start to blur her vision but she continues. “Of all nights. It had to be that night. That was supposed to be our special day. How could you do that to me?”
“I have no idea what you’re saying! I waited and waited for you but you never came back… and then P’ Warang posted on her Instagram story and I thought you guys became a thing so I went out for drinks! And then Jom took me home. I never slept with Belle, I wouldn’t-“
“You’ve done it once before with Luktarn.” That shuts Manaow up. “You didn’t tell me about that then until I found out so when would you have told me about this if I didn’t walk in to see it myself.”
Manaow takes a step forward“Gyo I really don’t k-“
“No stop.” Gyoza steps back. “I never want to see you again”
“Gyo no wait-“
Manaow is interrupted by the door opening.
“Gyo!” Pure screeches. He rushes in to pull her into his arms.
Seeing that there was nothing she could do and watching her girlfriend cling to someone else, Manaow unwillingly agrees. “Okay… you won’t see me again. I’m sorry.” She picks up the pieces of her heart and walks out the door. With her finally gone, Gyoza’s waterworks start pouring.
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It’s been 2 weeks since the breakup. 2 weeks since she’s last seen Manaow. 2 weeks since Gyoza starts finding random bags of snacks and vitamins hung on her bike and door handles. Even though she never saw the person leaving the items for her she knows who they’re from and deep down she’s touched that Manaow is still looking out for her even though they’re broken up. But her wounds are still fresh and the image of her girlfriend cheating on her is still imprinted in her mind. This routine carries out for another month before the peace gets disrupted. It happens one day when Gyoza is having lunch with Warang.
“So are you ready for graduation? I can’t believe it’s going to be in a week.” Warang says.
Gyoza smiles. She opts to tease her a bit. “I think I should be asking if you’re ready. Ready to leave your little girlfriend so soon for America.”
Warang groans. “Ugh don’t remind me. She’s sad enough as is and I had to do a lot of coaxing and reassuring that nothing will change between us and that I’d be back before she knew it. I’ll miss her lots though.”
“Aww our little Warang is such a lovesick puppy isn’t she~”
Warang shoots Gyoza a glare before taking another bite of her salad. “Oh by the way…” she starts cautiously. “My line junior was wondering if she could talk with you.” Gyoza’s face slowly drops. “She said she wanted to clarify something with you. Maybe it’ll help.”
Warang could see Gyoza thinking. “Just a little talk. Nothing more.” she adds. Gyoza hesitantly nods and prepares herself to meet Belle again.
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Gyoza notes how uncomfortable Belle looks to be around her. Perhaps it was due to her intimidating demeanor or perhaps it was because she felt guilty.
“Hello P’ Gyo” Belle greets.
Gyoza nods in acknowledgment. “What is it that you wanted to tell me?” She asks straight to the point. Gyoza finds that she is equally as uncomfortable being around the girl she saw cuddling with Manaow that night.
“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for what happened. I… I like P’ Naow a lot. But I’m not sure how we ended up like that. I think we were set up.”
“What do you mean?”
Belle takes her phone out and shows Gyoza her messages with Luktarn. Gyoza sees a picture of the night, the same image that has haunted her since. “Why are you showing me this?”
“Because even if it’s a bit late I want to try to make amends. P’ Tarn drugged me and staged the whole thing. And P’ Gyo and P’ Naow’s relationship is suffering because of it. It hurts me to see P’ Naow crying and seeing her sad everyday. As much as I’ve tried to ease her pain, it doesn’t help. P’ Gyo she still loves you. A lot. I catch her sneaking glances at you from afar, too afraid to actually go up to you because she said she made a promise. I see her leaving you snacks whenever she finds the chance to. It hurts me that I’ll never be the one who she’ll treat like that so please P’ Gyo give her another chance.”
Gyoza is tormented by this new information. “Belle I… I have to go. Sorry.” She returns her phone and leaves her standing there. Belle watches her leave. P’ Naow I hope you can be happy again.
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“Well look who it is.” Luktarn sees Gyoza waiting at the entrance to her dorm building. “To what do I owe this pleasure?~”
“Luktarn, why are you blackmailing Belle.” Gyoza angrily asks.
Luktarn laughs. “It’s not blackmail if I’m not asking or threatening her with anything. I just sent her this interesting picture I took.”
Gyoza gives her a stern look but doesn’t say anything.
“You know P’ Gyo, I never really liked you.” Luktarn starts. “You took Naow from me. If you weren’t there then maybe Naow and I could’ve been a couple. I would’ve treated her right. I would’ve loved her right. You’re the reason that she’s heartbroken now, that your relationship ended.”
“You never thought you were in the wrong?”
Luktarn scoffs. “What did I do? You’re the one who chose not to trust her. It was your stupidity that ruined your relationship, not me.” She brushes past Gyoza into her dorm building without another glance back. Gyoza stands there for a few moments, fuming, before she heads back as well.
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The air was warm and the sun was bright. The year 3 classmates were all scattered across the courtyard celebrating their graduations with each other. Gyoza looks around and smiles seeing her peers happily jumping and cheering about. She turns around when she feels a tap on her shoulder and sees a giant purple bunny mascot waving at her. Immediately her smile grows tenfold and she squeals out of excitement. The bunny hands her a congratulatory balloon and gives her a pat on the head.
“Thank you!” Gyoza exclaims with glee. She also reaches up to pat the soft bunny’s head.
“Gyo!” comes a voice from the side. She turns to it and sees Pure walking over with a bouquet. “Congrats on the graduation little one!”
Gyoza takes the bouquet. “Thank you P’ Pure.”
“I was uhh wondering…” he begins and starts to fidget. “If you would like to be my girlfriend?”
His confession does not come as a big surprise to Gyoza, she had a slight feeling that he had a crush on her. Her mind goes back to the last time she got asked out.
“P’ Gyo would you be my girlfriend?”
“Let’s go I’m hungry.”
“But you haven’t answered my question yet!”
“Cmon hurry up, I’m dying to go eat noodles with my girlfriend.”
Gyoza doesn’t feel the same heart-fluttering emotions like she did when Manaow asked her the same question. Thinking back, she becomes overwhelmed with the realization that Manaow has been devoted to her this whole time. Manaow was the one who pursued her despite her initial hesitation in dating her junior. Manaow was the one who silently stayed by her side and made sure she slept enough, ate enough, was warm enough. Manaow was the one who protected her from the thunderstorms at night. Manaow was the one who did all that and more even without being asked to.
Maybe Luktarn was right. Maybe I misunderstood her all this time. Gyoza thinks.
“P’ Gyo! Have you seen Nao- I mean a bunny mascot?” Jom asks while running over.
“Naow? Bunny? What?” Gyoza asks back.
“Uhh well…” Jom scratches his head. “Ah shoot. She asked if she could borrow the bunny mascot for a bit so I let her but now I can’t reach her and I need it back asap.”
The realization hits Gyoza. She frantically looks around her. Shit she was here just a second ago. She remembers Pure when she locks eyes with him again. “P’ Pure, I- I’m really sorry I gotta go.” She shoves the balloon into Pure’s free hand and without sparing him another glance she turns to Jom “I’ll help you look.” The pair run off leaving a disheartened Pure behind.
————————————
Gyoza spots the discarded bunny costume on the bleachers in the gym and immediately runs towards the locker rooms. She almost runs over the person who was coming out until two arms catch her to steady her in place.
“Sorry! I-“ Gyoza pauses when she sees that the person she ran into, the person who caught her, the person she was dying to find was right in front of her.
Manaow steadies Gyoza, makes sure she’s on her feet before looking down and apologizing. “S-sorry I’ll go now.” She takes a few steps before she’s engulfed in a tight backhug.
“Don’t go.” Gyoza pleads. “Don’t you miss me?”
Manaow can feel the back of her shirt dampening. Nervously swallowing she unlinks the hands around her torso and turns around to face Gyoza. “I- I do. A lot. All the time.” Manaow lets go of Gyoza’s hands to start gently wiping her tears. “But I didn’t want to upset you. I hurt you badly and I don’t want my presence to remind you about it. I… I don’t want to get in the way of your happiness.”
“I don’t want you to go away. Not anymore. Belle told me the truth. That it was all set up. I’m sorry that I wasn’t more trusting, that I let my emotions get to me.”
“No… it wasn’t your fault. You had every right because you saw what you saw. I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t have gotten so drunk that night. And I shouldn’t have assumed that about you and P’ Warang based just off of an Instagram post.”
There is a lull in their conversation that causes Gyoza to break into a watery smile and eventually let out a small laugh. “Isn’t it funny that we’re talking about it months later. We should work on our communication so we have fewer misunderstandings in the future.”
“In the future…?” Manaow timidly asks.
“Mhm yes.” Gyoza sniffles. “But I swear if I find out about you sleeping with another girl ever again I’ll-“
Gyoza is cut off by a hug. “You won’t! I promise. Gyo you’re the only one for me.” Manaow sincerely says. “D-does that mean you’ll be my girlfriend again?”
Gyoza smiles. Out of the corner of her eyes she sees the bunny mascot. She chooses to tease her a little. “Hmm I don’t know, I recently fell for a certain bunny mascot.”
Manaow breaks the hug. “Gyo! That was me earlier. Do you want me to get back into it? I can if you want.”
Gyoza wraps her arms behind Manaow’s neck and pulls her down for a kiss, knowing that if she didn’t, Manaow would’ve actually ran over to put the costume back on. She pulls back after a few seconds and smiles. “I was kidding.”
Manaow’s smile also grows and she locks Gyoza into place by the waist and peppers as many kisses as she can onto her face.
“Naow!” Gyoza is a mess of blissful giggles as she tries to escape. She whines“Naow~!” Manaow finally ceases her attacks and pulls back to look at the girl in her arms. She reaches out to fix a few strand of her hair before looking her in the eyes.
“I love you Gyo.”
Gyoza smiles back softly. “I love you too Naow.”
They look at each other for a few more moments before Manaow breaks the silence. “Gyo what happened to the balloon?”
“Balloon? What bal- oh shoot!” Gyoza suddenly remembers and facepalms. “I gave it to P’ Pure in a rush.”
Manaow uncomfortably asks “He was confessing to you right?”
Gyoza looks back up and sees Manaow looking down towards the ground. “He was. But don’t worry I didn’t accept it.” She reaches up to cup both sides of Manaow’s face. “Someone else already has my heart.”
Manaow loosens up and smiles. “That’s me right?”
Without any teasing this time Gyoza replies “Yes it’s you. Always you.”