Sigh...

Sighhhhh...

Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

SIGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...

I slumped over my desk. My life? Stable for 25 years. No dramas, no stress, and of course, no love. And I never regretted any of it. Not once. Never.

But now? Now, I regret everything. EVERYTHING.

What for? Oh, just for coming out to my parents. That’s it. The one moment I thought I was being brave and honest with my family. Little did I know, I was digging my own grave.

I should’ve known. Should’ve known the day my mom screamed, jumped, and hugged me like I’d just handed her a million baht. I thought, Wow... that was... easy.

But nooooooo.

That woman—my own mother—was already plotting, planning, scheming my future like she was writing the script of her favorite lakorn. And now? After her Oscar-worthy emotional blackmail performance, here I am. Agreed to meet the guy she picked.

sighhhhhhhhhh...

But here’s the kicker—this isn’t even the weirdest part. The weird part? The other teachers keep glancing at me and the guy next to me, Tan. And guess what we’re both doing?

Sighing. Together. In sync. Like some tragic, sighing boyband duo.

I glanced at him, head still glued to my desk like I’d melted into it. Didn’t even bother lifting it, just turned my face sideways to look at him. “You okay, Tan?”

He glared at me, like he was shooting invisible daggers straight at my soul. “Stop rubbing salt, man.”

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. “SO. RRY,” I said, dragging the words out just to annoy him more.

And oh, did it work. 

He was annoyed. It's really fun to tease him.

Tan huffed and flopped back in his chair, folding his arms. Then he narrowed his eyes at me, suspicious. “And why are you sighing, huh? You got drama too? Don’t tell me... you're mom arranged you're marriage or something?"

My heart skipped and I went silence. 

And for some reason—like, I have no idea how—his brain worked faster than a bullet train, and he instantly understood my silence. Tan’s eyes went wide. Like really wide. His head whipped toward me so fast, I swear, I thought he was going to sprain his neck.

“No... no... don’t tell me...” he said, his voice getting higher with every word. “YOU... YOU...”

“YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED?!”

He yells it. Loud. Too loud. Loud enough that the entire teacher’s office freezes. Conversations stopped, papers were forgotten, coffee cups hung mid-air. And all their eyes? Now glued to us. 

I slap my hand over his mouth, panicked. "Will you shut up, Tan?!"

He pulls my hand away, absolutely ignoring me. “YOU’RE ACTUALLY GETTING MARRIED?!” he yells again, this time even louder.

“Aisshhhh, damn this guy...” I muttered under my breath, standing up. 

With a polite smile plastered on my face, I bowed to everyone in the teacher’s office. “Sorry, sorry..."

Then, I grabbed Tan’s wrist and practically dragged him out of the office. “Why are you yelling?” I hissed as soon as we were out.

Did he listen? Of course not. Tan never listens.

Instead, he grabbed my shoulders like he was about to propose to me and stared deep into my soul with all the seriousness he could muster. “I will be your best man, okay?”

I stared at him. 

Deadpan.

Without missing a beat, I kicked him—hard—on the foot.

“Ow! What the hell was that for?” he groaned, hopping on one leg like a wounded chicken.

"Did I say I’m getting married?"

“Then...?” he asked, still rubbing his foot.

I sighed, the weight of the world on my shoulders. “Mom just arranged a blind date for me.”

“With a guy?”

“Obviously,” I replied.

Tan nodded, all serious now, like he was some kind of expert in this. “So, what’s the plan?”

I crossed my arms. “The plan is simple. Same as every other blind date. I’ll go, smile politely, and say no. End of story.”

Tan nodded his head, considering my words. Then he asked, “But who’s the guy? Did you see him?”

“No,” I replied. “All I know is he’s Mom’s best friend’s son.”

Tan straightened up, nodding like he was an expert on destiny or something. “Then you’re definitely getting married.”

I glared at him. Pissed. “Tan.”

“Yes?”

“You bastard.”

“Ow!” he whined and I walked inside the office.

                                                                                               ***

Classroom, Afternoon,

The bell rang loud, echoing through the hallways. Lunch break. The students rushed out of the classrooms, their chatter filling the air as they scurried off like ants. My brain was half-dead. I stood there holding my books and phone, just trying to make it through the day.

And then, there they were again. 

Phat and Rit. 

But this time, something was different. Rit was looking mad and Phat? Phat was giving him that apologetic look. But at least Rit didn’t look like he was getting bullied or anything, so I could rest easy. I just walked out of the room minding my own business becasue I have bigger problems to handle here.

That’s when my phone buzzed. It was Tan calling. I picked it up.

I picked up the call. “Yeah, I’m...”

But Tan didn’t even let me respond properly. His voice came out loud and hurried, “Win... come at Pim’s class immediately.”

 And then, click—he hung up.

What the hell? 

What’s going on? 

Is Pim in some trouble?

I quickly made my way to Pim’s class, heart racing. Hoping everything is fine.

Please, God, don’t let it be anything bad.