Meanwhile, Inn sat in his dorm room, found himself lost in thought about Pathn. He couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted to get to know him better, but he didn't know how to approach the senior without seeming pushy or desperate.
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Just then, his phone rang, and he jumped at the sound. It was Forze and the gang, asking him to come play basketball with them. He sighed and picked up the phone, answering with a halfhearted “hello".
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"Hey man, we're playing basketball at the park. You wanna come?" Forze asked cheerfully.
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Inn hesitated, his mind wandering to thoughts of Pathn. "I don't know, I might pass this time," he said, hoping Forze wouldn't press the issue.
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"Come on man, it'll be fun! And some classmates is coming too, so it'll be a good chance for you to get to know them better," Forze replied, sounding excited at the prospect of hanging out with Ton.
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Inn sighed again, knowing he couldn't resist the peer pressure for long. "Alright, I'll be there in a bit."
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As he arrived, he saw Ton, one of Pathn's closest friend, already there and ready to play. They teamed up against a group of neighborhood boys. It was a close game, and Inn found himself impressed by Ton's skill on the court.
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"Wow, P’Ton, you're really good at this," Inn said, a hint of admiration in his voice.
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Ton grinned. "Thanks, man. I used to play basketball in middle school. It's been a while, but I still got it."
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Over the next few weeks, the days at school passed by in a blur of classes, homework, and basketball games. Inn and Froze spending more and more time with him after school. Forze was particularly drawn to Ton, admiring his cool and collected demeanor. Inn found himself getting closer to Forze and Ton, but he still felt a sense of distance from Pathn.
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One evening, they were all eating Mookrata after a game of basketball. Ton was in a talkative mood, regaling them with stories of his time with Pathn. Inn was fascinated by everything he said, hanging on his every word. Then Ton began telling them the story of how Pathn had lost his girlfriend.
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"He loved her so much," Ton began, his voice low.
"They were together for years, but she passed away in a car accident. It hit him hard. He hasn't been the same since.”
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Inn and Froze listened intently, feeling sympathy for Pathn. They couldn't imagine what it must have been like to lose someone you loved so much.
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"Pathn used to be so different," Ton said wistfully.
"Before his girlfriend died, he was outgoing and carefree. But after that, he just kind of shut down. He's been that way ever since.”
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Inn felt a pang of sadness for Pathn. He wished there was something he could do to help him, to make him feel better. But he didn't know how to bridge the gap between them, how to break through Pathn's reserve and get to know him better.
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As they finished their meal and said their goodbyes, Inn made a resolution. He was going to find a way to get to know Pathn better, to be there for him if he needed it. He didn't know how he was going to do it, but he was determined to try.
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