Red Strings

Chapter Six

"Can't you tell?" Marc asked, his tone laced with both curiosity and amusement. The faint light of dawn was creeping into the room, casting a soft glow on the two friends. Satang sat cross-legged on the floor, his face a mix of exhaustion and lingering excitement from the night before.

Since Satang had arrived, the two of them had been talking nonstop. Satang had been recounting every detail of Winny's cheering competition and the events that followed. His voice carried an almost unintentional reverence as he described Winny's flawless performance, the thunderous applause, and the glow of victory that seemed to radiate from him.

"What do you mean?" Satang asked, breaking the pause in their conversation. His tone was genuinely curious, but there was a hint of confusion.

Marc couldn't suppress the laugh that bubbled out of him. "Winny is flirting with you," he said, shaking his head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Satang froze, his eyes widening slightly before a nervous laugh escaped him. "No," he said, shaking his head in denial. "That's not true. He's just being friendly... nothing more."

Marc gave a heavy sigh, a mix of exasperation and fondness for his friend's obliviousness. "Whatever you say, my friend," he said, settling back against the mattress. "But for now, let's sleep. You look like you need it."

He laid down in the most comfortable position he could find and closed his eyes, clearly done with the conversation for now.

Satang followed suit, lying beside him and shutting his eyes, though sleep didn't come as easily. Marc's words echoed in his mind, refusing to let him rest.

Flirting? Satang thought, his chest tightening slightly at the idea. How could that even be possible? Winny was confident, vibrant, and always at the center of attention, while he was just... him. Quiet, unremarkable, and ordinary.

The thought nagged at him, but exhaustion finally caught up, and his mind began to drift. Even as sleep claimed him, fragments of the night lingered—Winny's warm smile, his parents' kindness, and the way Winny's attention had made him feel seen.

As Satang slipped into unconsciousness, a single thought lingered: What if Marc wasn't wrong?

***

Satang woke up groggily, the afternoon light streaming into his dorm room. He rubbed his eyes, realizing he had slept most of the day away—a consequence of staying up until sunrise talking with Marc. Stretching lazily, he rolled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. 

As he brushed his teeth, Marc's teasing words from the previous night echoed in his mind: *"Winny is flirting with you."* 

Satang scoffed, shaking his head as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. "Come on, Satang. Don't think too much of it," he muttered before resuming his routine. 

After a refreshing shower, he slipped into his favorite pajamas, deciding to spend the rest of the day lounging in the dorm. When he stepped into the kitchen, he saw Marc at the counter, casually making coffee. Satang figured Marc had just returned from running errands. 

Marc greeted him with a brief nod, and Satang silently grabbed a slice of bread from the pantry. Without a word, he walked to the living area, intent on finding something to watch on TV.