28 Jealousy and Friendship

It all started with a math assignment. Kamon had never been particularly fond of numbers—her relationship with algebra was best described as a mutual misunderstanding. Prem, on the other hand, was a whiz at it. When their teacher paired them up for the latest project, Kamon had groaned internally. 

"I'm warning you now," she had told him, arms crossed. "This might be the biggest academic failure of your life." 

Prem had only laughed. "That's alright. I like a challenge." 

Surprisingly, they got along well. Over the next few days, they met in the library, working through equations while Kamon made exaggerated complaints about the cruelty of mathematics. Prem, with his dry humor, played along. Their study sessions turned into casual chats, then into running jokes about school, classmates, and even their teachers. 

And that was when Patcha started noticing. 

Patcha sat at her desk, her pen tapping rhythmically against her notebook. Across the room, Kamon and Prem were laughing over something, leaning in close as if sharing a secret. 

Her stomach twisted. 

She had liked Prem for a long time—maybe not in a dramatic, love-struck way, but in the quiet hope that someday, he'd notice her the way she noticed him. They had been friends since childhood, but now, here was Kamon, effortlessly stepping into that space. 

Patcha scowled as Kamon playfully nudged Prem's arm. "Since when were they this close?

"You okay?" asked Jamie, who sat beside her. 

Patcha forced a smile. "Fine." 

But she wasn't. 

"Okay, Kamon," Prem said, flipping through his notes. "Here's a joke for you: Why did the equal sign break up with the plus sign?" 

Kamon frowned. "Uh… I don't know. Because it wanted more space?" 

Prem blinked. "Wait. That's actually the right answer." 

Kamon gasped. "Wait, really?" 

"No! I just made that up!" 

Kamon groaned, dropping her head onto the table. "I "hate" you." 

"You should be honored," Prem said smugly. "It's a very rare privilege to be tricked by my comedic genius." 

"You're a menace to society." 

Jamie, sitting nearby, snorted. "You two are so weird." 

From across the room, Patcha watched the interaction, her expression unreadable. 

During lunch, a girl named May strutted up to their table, dramatically flipping her hair. She was known for boasting about the sheer volume of admirers she had. 

"Ugh, another love letter." She sighed loudly, holding up a pink envelope. "I swear, it's exhausting being this desirable." 

Jamie rolled her eyes. Noah, munching on his sandwich, barely reacted. 

Kamon, however, smirked. "You know, May, just because you get a lot of love letters doesn't mean you're beautiful." 

May scoffed. "Excuse me?" 

Kamon leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Cheap products attract many buyers." 

A stunned silence followed. Then, Jamie burst into laughter, nearly choking on her juice. Noah looked up in mild amusement, while Prem covered his face, trying not to laugh. 

May, red-faced, huffed and stormed away. 

Jamie high-fived Kamon. "That was brutal." 

Kamon shrugged. "What can I say? I believe in justice." 

Later that day, Patcha finally reached her breaking point. She found Prem alone near the lockers, scrolling through his phone. 

"Prem," she said sharply. 

He looked up. "Hey, Patcha." 

She folded her arms. "Why are you spending so much time with Kamon?" 

Prem raised an eyebrow. "What?" 

"You never used to hang out with her," she said, trying to sound casual but failing. "Now you two are always laughing together, whispering like best friends. Why?" 

Prem sighed, tucking his phone into his pocket. "We're working on an assignment. And, I don't know, she's fun to be around." 

Patcha clenched her jaw. "So you think I'm not fun?" 

"That's not what I said." Prem frowned. "Why does it matter to you?" 

"Because—" Patcha hesitated. What was she supposed to say? ' Because I like you? Because I thought we had something special before she came along?'

She took a deep breath. "Because you're my friend. And it feels like you're replacing me." 

Prem's expression softened. "Patcha, you're not being replaced. You and I have been friends forever. Just because I talk to Kamon doesn't change that." 

Patcha looked away, not entirely convinced. 

"Maybe you should get to know her," Prem suggested. "She's not so bad." 

Patcha remained silent. 

Meanwhile, Kamon, Jamie, and Noah were on a mission. 

Kamon's phone had been confiscated by Mr. Niran, and as much as she respected the teacher, she wasn't about to survive the weekend without it. 

"We need a plan," Kamon whispered as they stood outside the staff room. 

Jamie peeked through the window. "Mr. Niran's not here. The coast is clear." 

Noah sighed. "This is a bad idea." 

Kamon grinned. "That's why it's fun." 

"It's out time to shine." Jamie grinned.

Slipping inside, they navigated through the cluttered desks. 

"Where does he even keep the confiscated stuff?" Jamie muttered. 

Noah pointed to a cabinet. "There." 

Kamon yanked it open and rummaged through the items. "Aha!" She pulled out her phone. 

At that exact moment, the door opened. 

"What do you think you're doing?" 

All three froze. Mr. Niran stood in the doorway, arms crossed. 

Jamie dropped the ruler she was holding. Noah, ever the strategist, whispered, "We surrender." 

Kamon smiled sheepishly. "Would you believe me if I said we were… organizing?" 

Mr. Niran sighed. "You three. My office. Now." 

Later, as Kamon sat outside the office waiting for her "punishment" (which, fortunately, was only a lecture on respecting school property), Patcha approached her. 

Kamon raised an eyebrow. "Come to scold me too?" 

Patcha shook her head. "No." She hesitated before sitting beside her. "I… might have been unfair to you." 

Kamon blinked. "Wow. Didn't see that coming." 

Patcha rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "Look, I was jealous. Prem and I have been friends for a long time, and I guess I felt like you were… taking my place." 

Kamon studied her. "Patcha, I have no interest in stealing Prem. He's cool, but if I wanted to steal someone, it'd be an actual celebrity. Like, at least a K-pop idol." 

Patcha snorted. "Fair point." 

Mr. Niran stepped out of his office, glancing between them. "Are you two done?" 

Kamon and Patcha exchanged a look, then nodded. 

"Good," he said. "Because jealousy and competition are natural, but real friendships are built on understanding. If you two can't learn that, then no amount of detention will fix it." 

Patcha sighed. "So… we're good?" 

Kamon smirked. "As long as you never try to lecture me again." 

Patcha rolled her eyes. "Fine." 

And with that, a fragile truce was formed.

The afternoon heat was turning the classroom into a slow-cooked disaster. 

Students were either barely staying awake or plotting their next act of rebellion. At this point, the class monitor, Wanida, had given up on controlling them with logic and had resorted to sheer intimidation. 

She scanned the room with her sharp eyes, her patience hanging by a thread. 

"Kanya!" she called out. 

Silence. 

Kanya, who had been absentmindedly doodling stars in the margin of her notebook, blinked in confusion.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she glanced around. 

Then, without saying a word, she began searching. 

She flipped through her textbook, turned to the first page as if checking the author's name, then flipped to the glossary, scanning the words with deep concentration.

She checked her notebook, flipping pages rapidly. 

She even opened her pencil case and peered inside. 

The entire class watched in stunned silence. 

"Kanya," Wanida said again, this time slower, as if speaking to a child. 

Kanya snapped her head up, eyes wide. 

"Who?" 

"You," Wanida said, exasperated. 

Kanya whipped her head around and looked behind her. 

There was no one sitting there. 

So, naturally, she did the only logical thing. 

She pointed at the empty space behind her.

"You mean her?" Kanya asked, her tone completely serious. 

Naphat blinked. "Who?" 

"Kanya." Kanya nodded towards the imaginary figure. "She's right here. Kanya, Wanida's calling you." 

Then, as if following an actual person, she tilted her head and whispered, "Why are you not answering? Be respectful." 

The class exploded into laughter.

Even Phurit, who was half-asleep, choked on his own breath. 

Wanida pinched the bridge of her nose. 

"Kanya—" 

Kanya gasped and turned back to the invisible person.

"She's saying your name again! This is getting serious. Answer her!" 

Someone in the back let out a dramatic "OOOOHHH," while Ploynapat wiped fake tears from her eyes. 

Wanida threw her hands up. 

"KANYA, YOU!" she shouted, pointing directly at her. 

Kanya looked down at herself. 

Then she gasped.

"Oh! Me?!" 

She clutched her chest in fake shock. 

"But why didn't you say so earlier?" 

The class howled.

Even Mr. Thawat, who had just walked in, stood in the doorway, watching in disbelief.

"Kanya," he said, voice heavy with exhaustion, "sit down before I send you and your imaginary friend out of my classroom." 

Kanya nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, sir," she said, glancing behind her. "She's going home now." 

She waved at the empty space, whispering, "Be safe on your way back." 

And with that, another chapter of classroom madness was written in history.