Ketto came out of the changing room, making sure to put the broom and mop back in their proper places. He was ready to report to the pool manager—if everything was approved, he could finally leave.
As he stepped out, he glanced around, wondering where Hanky had disappeared to. Then he spotted two figures leaning against a window, talking. He walked closer. Yes—he was sure. That was Hanky.
His anger flared.
He marched straight up to Hanky and yelled his name. "Hanky!"
He didn't know where the courage came from, who had given him the boldness to shout like that. But at that moment, he was genuinely furious.
Hanky turned around, looking mildly surprised. "Yeah? What's wrong?"
The other guy beside him also looked at Ketto with curiosity.
Ketto's voice rose. "You left me alone to do all the cleaning while you stood here chatting, and now you're asking me what's wrong?"
Hanky couldn't help but laugh.
That only made Ketto angrier. "You're laughing? Seriously?"
Hanky smiled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll go clean with you now, alright?" He reached out and ruffled Ketto's hair, like an older brother teasing a younger one.
Ketto swatted his hand away, furious. "Are you kidding me? I'm already done. I cleaned everything."
Hanky just nodded. "Oh."
Ketto's frustration boiled over. "Unbelievable. I did all the work, and you can't even say sorry or thank you?"
Hanky laughed again, then drew out the words slowly, "S-O-R-R-Y... sorry." He added, "Thank you."
Ketto glared at him. "I don't want it now."
He suddenly remembered there was another person standing there. He glanced at the stranger, then quickly looked away, embarrassed.
The other guy smiled at the scene. "I'm going to head out. You two can continue." He patted Hanky on the shoulder and left, stifling a laugh as he walked away.
Hanky turned back to Ketto. "Don't be so angry. Girls get angry easily."
Ketto's mouth fell open. He stared at Hanky in disbelief. "That's a personal attack! You're really pulling that?"
Hanky shrugged innocently. "I didn't say you. I just said girls get angry easily."
Ketto narrowed his eyes. "Don't play word games with me."
Hanky sighed. "Okay. Truly sorry." He paused. "What else can I do for you?"
"Nothing," Ketto said flatly.
Hanky muttered under his breath, "You're so strange. Getting angry over nothing."
Ketto shot back, "Yes, I get angry easily. So mind your own business. Like you said—I am a girl."
The last sentence—"I am a girl"—came out louder than the rest. Much louder.
Unfortunately, the pool manager had just stepped out of his office and heard it. He pointed at Ketto, walking toward them with a puzzled expression. "What's this? You're a girl?"
Ketto shook his head frantically. "No, no, no! I'm a boy. I'm not a girl. He said I was a girl!" He pointed accusingly at Hanky.
Hanky, seizing the opportunity for one more joke, shook his head with exaggerated innocence. "No, no. I never said that. You said it yourself."
The pool manager gave Hanky a long, skeptical look, scanning him from head to toe.
Ketto felt his soul leave his body. He was angry, frustrated, and deeply embarrassed. "Boy! Boy! Boy! Not a girl!" he insisted, waving his hands.
Then, deciding the topic was hopeless, he changed course entirely. "I finished the cleaning job. You can go check. If everything's fine, I'm leaving."
The manager made a dismissive gesture. "Alright. You can go."
He didn't look at Ketto with obvious suspicion, but there was something in his expression that made Ketto uncomfortable. He didn't want to explain further. He just wanted to leave.
'This is the worst day of my life,'he thought.
He turned and walked away without another word.
Hanky followed him out. As they walked, Hanky kept chuckling to himself. Ketto shot him a death glare. "This is all your fault. You ruined my whole day."
Hanky looked genuinely wronged for a moment. "If you say everything is my fault, that actually makes me feel sad."
Ketto replied coldly, "Who cares?"
They reached the entrance, put on their shoes, and headed for the door. Hanky stepped forward—then stopped. He had stepped on something. He lifted his foot and bent down to look.
A ring was lying on the floor.
He picked it up and held it out. "Whose ring is this?"
Ketto reacted instantly. He lunged forward and snatched it from Hanky's hand. "That's mine."
He examined it. Yes—it was the ring Sunny had given him, the one he had lost earlier. Relief flooded through him.
Hanky let out a small breath. He looked genuinely happy that the ring was found. If it had been lost for good, he would have felt guilty—especially after everything that had happened.