The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 27 – The Empty Classroom

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The school fair ended successfully.

For the next few days, everyone talked about the games, the decorations, and the prizes they had won.

Life slowly returned to normal.

Or at least...

It looked normal.

One afternoon, our mathematics teacher announced an extra revision class after school.

Most of the students complained.

"Another class?"

"I already have too much homework."

Narin sighed dramatically.

"I think the teachers enjoy seeing us suffer."

I looked at him.

"You'll survive."

"That's easy for you to say."

"You always finish your homework."

"Only because you remind me."

I smiled.

"I don't remind you."

"You don't have to."

The extra class ended just before sunset.

Students hurried out of the classroom, eager to get home.

I stayed behind for a moment to organize my books.

When I finally looked up...

The classroom was almost empty.

Only one person remained.

Narin.

"You're still here?" I asked.

He shrugged.

"I was waiting."

"For your friends?"

He shook his head.

"For you."

I looked at him, surprised.

"You didn't have to."

"I know."

He picked up his bag.

"But I wanted to."

The corridors were unusually quiet.

Most classrooms were already locked.

The evening breeze drifted through the open windows.

As we walked toward the school gate, our footsteps echoed through the hallway.

"It's strange," Narin said.

"What is?"

"The school."

"It is?"

"It's always so loud."

He smiled.

"I've never seen it this quiet."

"I like it better this way."

"I figured you would."

We walked down the stairs together.

The setting sun painted the buildings with a warm golden light.

"It feels different," he said softly.

"What does?"

"Walking home with you."

I glanced at him.

"We do this almost every day."

"I know."

"But today..."

He paused for a moment.

"...I don't want to rush."

His words made my heart beat just a little faster.

I didn't understand why.

So I simply nodded.

"We're not in a hurry."

He smiled.

"No."

"We're not."

As we reached the school gate, we noticed that the small stationery shop across the road was still open.

"The owner finally got new pens," Narin said.

"You still remember that shop?"

He laughed.

"How could I forget?"

I looked through the window.

Rows of colorful pens were neatly arranged inside.

Without thinking, I smiled.

It reminded me of the day we first spoke...

The day a simple pen brought two strangers into each other's lives.

Narin noticed my smile.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing."

I looked at the display one last time before turning toward the road.

"It's just..."

"If I hadn't talked to you that day..."

I stopped speaking.

Narin looked at me quietly.

"...we probably wouldn't be standing here now."

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then Narin smiled—a gentle, almost relieved smile.

"I'm really glad I talked to you."

I looked away, pretending to watch the road ahead.

But inside...

Those words stayed with me much longer than the walk home.

Sometimes...

A single conversation was enough to change the direction of two lives.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSjDC06tdy

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