Kael’s POV The campus was enormous.
Morning sunlight spilled through the towering oak trees that lined the stone pathways, painting shifting patterns across the ground.
Students filled every corner of the academy, laughter floating through the air as groups reunited after the long break.
Some hurried toward lectures.
Others lingered beneath the trees, chatting as though they had known one another forever.
Everyone looked…
comfortable.
Like they belonged here.
Kael Rowan didn’t Standing near the entrance with a worn duffel bag hanging from one shoulder, he quietly unfolded the now hopelessly crumpled piece of paper in his hand.
Dormitory C.
Room 407.
Simple.
It should have been simple.
Yet somehow…
He had gotten lost three times.
“…seriously?” A tiny sigh escaped his lips.
This school was too big.
Too expensive.
Too beautiful.
Everything about it reminded him that he was here on a scholarship while most of the students around him looked like they had stepped out of luxury magazines.
Pulling his bag higher onto his shoulder, Kael continued walking.
Every unfamiliar face made him feel smaller.
Like a misplaced puzzle piece that somehow ended up in the wrong box.
— “Hey.” The voice stopped him.
Kael slowly looked up.
Three boys stood across the path.
Upperclassmen.
Their perfectly worn uniforms and relaxed confidence made that obvious.
The one in the middle smiled.
Unfortunately…
It wasn’t a kind smile.
“You’re a freshman, aren’t you?” Kael nodded carefully.
The boy chuckled.
“I knew it.” His eyes drifted to Kael’s bag.
“You got any cash?” Kael instinctively hugged the strap closer to himself.
The smile on the senior’s face widened.
“Oh.” “So that’s a yes.” Another stepped closer.
Kael’s breathing became shallow.
His fingers trembled.
The laughter around campus disappeared.
The rustling leaves faded.
Everything blurred.
Instead…
Another voice echoed inside his head.
“Worthless.” “Hand it over.” “Don’t make me ask twice.” His unle.
Even after all this time…
Those words still lived inside him.
“Hey.” One of the seniors frowned.
“You deaf?” Kael took one step back.
Then another.
A hand reached toward his bag.
His entire body froze.
— Someone suddenly grabbed his wrist.
“Run.” The voice was low.
Calm.
Certain.
Warm fingers wrapped around his wrist before Kael had time to react.
His feet moved on instinct.
The stranger pulled him through crowded hallways, across open courtyards and down unfamiliar staircases.
Wind rushed past his face.
Behind them- “HEY!” “COME BACK HERE!” “You little-!” Kael nearly tripped twice.
The stranger never let go.
Not once.
His grip remained steady.
Almost…
Protective.
They finally slipped inside an empty classroom.
The door clicked shut.
Silence.
Kael bent over, hands on his knees as he struggled to breathe.
“I..” He inhaled sharply.
“…think…” Another breath.
“..I’m alive.” A quiet laugh answered him.
Deep.
Warm.
The kind that somehow made the empty classroom feel less empty.
Kael blinked.
Then slowly looked up.
…
Oh.
His brain stopped working.
The stranger was– Ridiculously handsome.
all enough that Kael had to tilt his head to meet his eyes.
Broad shoulders stretched naturally beneath the academy blazer.
Dark hair fell carelessly over sharp brows.
His features were striking without looking like he had tried.
It almost felt unfair.
Kael stared.
The stranger noticed.
One corner of his lips lifted.
“You planning on charging me rent?” Kael blinked.
“…Huh?” “For staring.” “…” “…” Kael’s eyes widened.
Realization hit.
His face exploded with heat.
“I-I wasn’t staring!” !Oh?” The stranger folded his arms.
“So you’ve been looking at the wall this whole time?” “I–” Kael glanced helplessly toward the wall.
“…Maybe.” The stranger laughed.
Actually laughed.
It wasn’t mocking.
It was genuine.
And somehow…
That made Kael even more embarrassed.
He lowered his head until his fringe almost covered his eyes.
Please let the floor open.
Please.
— The laughter suddenly stopped.
The starnger’s expression sharpened.
“They’re still outside.” Kael’s shoulders stiffened.
“…What?” Footsteps.
Closer.
Voices echoed from the hallway.
“They came in here.” “Search every room.” Without another word, the stranger reached for Kael again.
“C’mere.” “W-Wait—” Too late.
Kael found himself gently pulled into the narrow space between a storage cabinet and the wall.
The gap was tiny.
Impossible for two people.
His back touched the wall.
The stranger stood directly in front of him.
Close.
Much…
Much too close.
Kae; swallowed.
His heart began pounding so loudly he was convinced the entire hallway could hear it.
He could smell fresh laudry.
A faint hint of cedar.
Feel the warmth radiating from the taller boy.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Kael didn’t know where to look.
His eyes darted everywhere except forward.
The stranger noticed.
“You get shy this easily?” Kael squeaked.
“I-I don’t!” “No?” The stranger leaned just a little closer.
“Then why are your ears red?” “They’re not!” “They are.” “They’re not!” “They’re cute.” “…” Kael completely froze.
His brain officially resigned.
The stranger smiled to himself.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Outside, footsteps passed the classroom.
Inside…
Kael was busy wishing he could disappear into the wall.