บททั้งหมดของ THE ART OF FALLING : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Chapter Two The campus buzzed with life. Laughter bounced off the old stone walls, sneakers squeaked sharply on the polished floors, and the warm scent of freshly baked pastries drifted from the café nearby, wrapping the morning air like a soft, buttery hug. Students chatted in clusters, exchanging weekend stories, comparing schedules, and rushing to early classes with half-zipped bags swinging behind them. Nora stepped onto the school grounds with a slow breath, her fingers tightening around the strap of her denim backpack. Her curly hair framed her face in soft waves that swayed with each step, and a slim sketchbook peeked out from her tote bag a little piece of comfort from her previous life. She kept her gaze low, headphones in, and her entire presence small, like she was trying to fold herself into the background. This was her first official day at Springfield Creative University. The school was known for two things: their elite art programs… and their ridiculously attr

Chapter Five Nora didn’t sleep that night. She lay on her bed, one arm draped across her eyes, the other curled around the pillow, trying to block out the memory that refused to leave her mind. The faint glow of the city lights outside her window painted stripes across the room, but she hardly noticed. Her lips still tingled from the memory of Jaden’s kiss. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was… something else. It kept replaying on an endless loop: the moment their lips met, the softness, the warmth, the heat that crept from her chest down to her stomach. The way his hand had found her waist, grounding her, pulling her into a moment she didn’t understand but couldn’t resist. The confusion of it all churned inside her. Why had she let it happen? Why had she leaned in? Why did it feel so intense, so real, so... impossible? Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She reached over lazily, groaning, and read the message. Trisha: “Girl, you were the moment last night. People are talking. And Jade

Chapter Seven Saturday evening arrived quietly, almost deceptively so. Nora hadn’t told Trisha about her plans. She didn’t want the pressure, the teasing, or the endless barrage of “What are you going to wear?” questions that always came with her friend’s enthusiasm. This wasn’t a date. Just… a meet-up. A talk. That was all. That’s what she kept repeating in her mind as she stood in front of her mirror. She wore a simple, fitted dress that hugged her waist and fell just above her knees. Not too short, not too flashy. She didn’t try too hard. But her lips had a soft gloss, and her curls were left wild and defined, tumbling over her shoulders in loose spirals. Her reflection seemed like someone she didn’t quite know—a version of herself that was visible, not hidden, but still careful. Then her phone buzzed. Jaden: “I’m outside.” Her heart nearly leapt through her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and stepped out into the cool evening air. There he was, leani

Chapter Nine Nora didn’t sleep that night. She tried twice, but every time her eyes closed, he returned. His hands on her waist, the way his lips had memorized hers, the quiet whisper that had made her chest flutter: “I want you, but I’ll wait.” No one had ever said that to her. They always wanted, but never waited. And it made her heart ache with confusion, desire, and the tiniest, most terrifying spark of hope. She tossed and turned, tangled in sheets that now felt too small, too confining. Her thoughts raced. How had one boy managed to invade her mind so completely in just a few days? How had one kiss one slow, intentional, perfectly placed kiss shaken the careful walls she had built around her heart? She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to push him away anymore. By morning, she was awake, staring out of her window as the city slowly yawned to life. The soft glow of sunlight caught in her curls, casting golden streaks that made her pause. She sat on the edge of her bed, sketchp

Chapter Eleven Monday arrived like a storm with silent eyes. Not just casual glances or fleeting stares, but looks that lingered, judging and whispering as if the campus itself had a nose for secrets. Nora felt it the moment she stepped onto campus. The hallways buzzed with murmurs and side-eyes, laughter that cut too sharp, and the faint but unmistakable scent of gossip in the air. Something about her had changed—she could feel it—but it wasn’t just her. It was as if the world could smell her, could sense that she no longer belonged to invisibility. Trisha came barreling toward her, weaving through the crowd like she had urgent news. “Girl, what did you do this weekend?” she asked, voice low but urgent, eyes wide with excitement. Nora frowned, adjusting her bag strap nervously. “What do you mean?” Trisha grabbed her arm and pulled her into a quiet corner by the lockers. “Everyone’s talking. Someone saw you leaving Jaden’s place late Saturday night. You didn’t post anything, but p