The Pen That Changed My Life - Chapter 17 – The Birthday

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A few weeks passed.

Exams were over, and the atmosphere at school became lighter again.

Students laughed more.

Teachers gave less homework.

Everyone seemed to be counting the days until the holidays.

That morning, as I entered the classroom, I noticed something unusual.

There were colorful balloons tied near the teacher's desk.

A cake box rested on one of the tables.

"What happened?" I asked.

Narin looked up from his seat.

"You forgot?"

"Forgot what?"

He smiled.

"It's my birthday today."

For a moment, I felt embarrassed.

"I... didn't know."

"That's because I didn't tell anyone."

"Then why are there balloons?"

"My friends found out anyway."

Before I could say anything, several classmates gathered around him.

"Happy birthday!"

"Did you bring cake?"

"Where are the snacks?"

The classroom quickly became noisy.

I quietly walked to my seat.

I hadn't prepared anything.

I didn't even know it was his birthday.

During lunch break, our homeroom teacher allowed the class to celebrate for a short time.

The cake was placed on the front desk.

Everyone sang together.

Narin laughed as one of his friends accidentally smeared a little frosting on his cheek.

"Don't start a cake fight," the teacher warned.

The whole class burst into laughter.

After the cake was cut, slices were passed around the room.

When one reached me, I quietly thanked the student who handed it over.

A few moments later, Narin walked over.

"How is it?"

"It's good."

"Only good?"

I smiled faintly.

"It's really good."

"There."

"That's better."

After school, I didn't go home immediately.

Instead, I stopped at a small stationery shop on the way.

I looked around for several minutes.

There were keychains...

Notebooks...

Bookmarks...

None of them felt right.

Then I noticed a simple black fountain pen displayed in a glass case.

It wasn't expensive.

It wasn't flashy.

It looked... elegant.

For some reason, it reminded me of him.

I bought it.

The next morning, I arrived at school earlier than usual.

Narin wasn't there yet.

I placed the small wrapped box inside his desk drawer.

No note.

No name.

Just the gift.

I sat down and opened my book as if nothing had happened.

A few minutes later, Narin entered the classroom.

As he reached into his desk, he paused.

"What..."

He pulled out the small package and looked around.

"Who put this here?"

The class shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Maybe a secret admirer," someone teased.

The room filled with laughter.

I lowered my eyes to my book.

Narin carefully unwrapped the gift.

When he saw the fountain pen, he smiled.

It wasn't the loud smile everyone knew.

It was smaller.

Warmer.

He held the pen for a moment before quietly placing it inside his pencil case.

He never found out who gave it to him.

Or...

At least...

I didn't think he did.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc46491Ros2

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