Kael’s POV There was a saying I’d once read in a book.
“Some nights change your life so quietly…
that you don’t realize it until the next morning.” I understood those words now.
Because when I opened my eyes…
Everything felt different.
— Warm.
That was the first thing Kael noticed.
Warm…
and familiar.
His cheek rested against something firm.
His fingers instinctively tightened around soft cotton fabric.
Then…
His sleepy mind finally caught up.
“…Asher.” His eyes flew open.
The room was bathed in the soft blue light of dawn.
Birds chirped faintly outside the dormitory window.
For one terrifying second…
Kael completely forgot how to breathe.
He was still in Asher’s arms.
His head rested against Asher’s chest.
One of Asher’s arms had somehow wrapped loosely around his waist during the night.
“W-Why…?” Then it came back.
The memory.
The warmth.
The featherlight touch against his lips.
Kael’s face instantly burned.
“He kissed me…” His heartbeat exploded inside his chest.
“Did it really happen?” “Or was I dreaming?” Very carefully…
He lifted his fingers and touched his own lips.
They still felt warm.
His eyes became even wider.
“It wasn’t a dream…” — Kael slowly looked up.
Asher’s eyes were closed.
His breathing was slow and even.
“He’s asleep…” A tiny sigh escaped Kael.
“Good…” If Asher had been awake…
Kael was certain he would have died from embarrassment.
He carefully tried to slip away.
One inch…
Then another…
Just as he almost escaped— A large hand tightened ever so slightly around his waist.
Kael froze.
Every muscle in his body locked.
“N-No…” Slowly…
Very slowly…
He looked up again.
Asher still looked asleep.
But…
There was the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.
So small that Kael almost missed it.
“Is he…?” No.
Impossible.
Kael convinced himself he was imagining things.
He gently lifted Asher’s arm away and hurried out of bed.
The moment his feet touched the floor…
He practically ran into the bathroom.
The door clicked shut.
— Kael leaned against it.
Both hands covered his burning face.
“He kissed me…” He slowly slid down until he was sitting on the bathroom floor.
His heart refused to calm down.
“Why…?” “Why would he do that?” His fingers unconsciously touched his lips again.
Then…
A tiny smile escaped him.
Before he realized it.
He immediately covered his mouth.
“Why am I smiling?” He buried his face in his knees.
The bathroom suddenly felt much too small for all the feelings swirling inside his chest.
— Outside…
Asher opened one eye.
Silence.
Then…
He sighed into his pillow.
“I’m an idiot.” He remembered everything.
Every single second.
The kiss.
Kael freezing.
His own panic.
“Why did I kiss him?” He covered his face with both hands.
“What if he hates me now?” “What if I scared him?” “What if he never talks to me again?” The more he thought about it…
The worse he felt.
— Liam suddenly sat up.
He blinked sleepily.
“…Why are you hiding under your blanket?” Asher answered far too quickly.
“I’m not.” “…You are.” “I’m cold.” “It’s summer.” “…” “…Go back to sleep.” Liam narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“…You’re acting weird.” — Breakfast was unusually quiet.
Noah noticed it first.
Kael couldn’t look at Asher.
Asher couldn’t look at Kael.
Whenever one accidentally glanced at the other…
Both immediately looked away.
Liam slowly looked from one to the other.
Then back again.
“…Okay.” “What happened?” “…Nothing.” They answered at exactly the same time.
Liam blinked.
“…That was suspicious.” Noah calmly stirred his tea.
“…Very.” — The walk to class felt longer than usual.
Normally…
Kael walked beside Asher.
Today…
He stayed several steps behind.
Whenever Asher slowed down…
Kael slowed down too.
Whenever Asher stopped…
Kael suddenly became very interested in the flowers growing beside the path.
Liam watched the entire thing.
“…Noah.” “…Hm?” “They had a fight.” “No.” “Then what’s wrong?” “I don’t think even they know.” — The morning lecture became torture.
Professor Lewis was discussing character symbolism.
“…Mr.
Rowan.” Kael immediately stood.
“…Y-Yes?” “What does the white bird represent in chapter five?” Kael blinked.
“…” “…” “…Asher?” The classroom erupted with laughter.
Kael froze.
His face turned scarlet.
Professor Lewis smiled kindly.
“I asked about the bird.” Realizing what he’d just said…
Kael covered his face.
“…S-Sorry…” Across the room…
Even Asher couldn’t stop himself from laughing.
A quiet, genuine laugh.
Hearing it…
Kael looked up.
For a brief moment…
Their eyes met.
Then…
Without thinking…
They both smiled.
It lasted only a second.
But it was enough.
— Lunch arrived.
Neither of them knew who should speak first.
Asher finally gathered his courage.
“…Rabbit.” Kael stopped walking.
“…Hm?” “I…” Asher rubbed the back of his neck.
“…About last night…” Kael’s heartbeat skyrocketed.
“…Y-Yes?” “I…” Before he could finish— “ASHER!” A voice echoed across the cafeteria.
One of the festival committee members came running toward him.
“The stage lights aren’t working!” “We need help!” Asher looked between the student…
And Kael.
“…I’ll be right back.” Kael nodded quietly.
“…Okay.” He watched Asher disappear into the crowd.
The unfinished sentence lingered painfully in the air.
“About last night…” What had he wanted to say?
An apology?
A confession?
Or…
Had Kael simply imagined the meaning behind that tiny kiss?
He didn’t know.
And somehow…
Not knowing hurt more than he expected.
— That evening…
Asher didn’t return until almost midnight.
The festival preparations had taken much longer than expected.
When he quietly opened the dorm room door…
He found Kael sitting on his bed.
Awake.
Arms wrapped around his knees.
The moment Kael saw him…
His eyes lit up.
Then…
Just as quickly…
He looked away.
“…You’re late.” His voice was quiet.
But there was the tiniest pout on his lips.
One Asher had never noticed before.
It made Kael look…
impossibly cute.
“I know.” “I’m sorry.” “You didn’t eat dinner.” Kael looked down.
“…I wasn’t hungry.” Liam groaned dramatically from his bed.
“That’s a lie.” “He refused to eat until you came back.” Kael whipped around.
“L-Liam!” “What?” “It’s true.” Kael buried his burning face in his pillow.
“I told you not to say anything…” Asher stood frozen.
He looked at the untouched dinner on Kael’s desk.
Then at the small, sulking figure hiding behind the pillow.
His heart softened.
He walked over slowly.
“…Rabbit.” No answer.
“…Are you upset with me?” A tiny nod.
“…A little.” “…Because I came home late?” Another tiny nod.
Asher couldn’t stop smiling.
He crouched beside the bed.
“I’m really sorry.” “I’ll try not to make you worry like that.” Kael peeked over the pillow.
“…Really?” “Really.” After a long silence…
Kael slowly held out the lunchbox he’d saved.
“…I kept your dinner warm…” Asher accepted it with both hands.
“…Thank you.” He looked at Kael.
“…Next time…” “I’ll message you if I’m going to be late.” Kael finally smiled.
A shy…
Beautiful smile.
Asher felt something tighten in his chest.
“He’s going to be the death of me…” He realized.
“He’s far too cute.” —