Kael’s POV Something had changed.
Kael didn’t know exactly when it happened.
Perhaps it had happened the night Asher kissed him.
Or maybe it had happened much earlier, in the abandoned classroom where a stranger had grabbed his wrist and told him to run.
Perhaps it had happened every time Asher waited for him after class.
Every time he saved him a seat.
Every time he called him Rabbit.
Or perhaps it had happened so gradually that Kael hadn’t noticed until it was already too late.
Whatever the reason…
Asher had become part of his routine.
And Kael had begun to depend on that routine more than he wanted to admit.
— The morning started with sunlight pouring through the curtains.
Kael woke slowly.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling.
Then his eyes moved toward the opposite bed.
Empty.
His heart sank before he could stop it.
“Where is he?” Kael sat up.
The blanket slipped into his lap.
He looked around the room.
No Asher.
His shoes were gone.
His backpack wasn’t there either.
Kael glanced at the clock.
7:14 a.m.
He should have still been asleep.
Unless…
“He left early,” Noah said from the other side of the room.
Kael turned.
Noah was already dressed.
“…For work?” “Probably.” Kael’s fingers tightened around the blanket.
“Oh.” That was all he said.
But something about his voice sounded disappointed.
Noah noticed.
“You okay?” Kael nodded quickly.
“…I’m fine.” — He wasn’t.
Not exactly.
He knew Asher had responsibilities.
He knew Asher worked because he needed the money.
He knew he couldn’t expect Asher to be around every second.
But that didn’t stop the strange emptiness sitting in Kael’s chest.
He missed him.
It had only been a few hours.
And he already missed him.
Kael frowned at himself.
“That’s ridiculous.” He climbed out of bed and began getting ready for class.
— By the time they reached the lecture hall, Kael had convinced himself that he was fine.
He sat in his usual seat.
Opened his notebook.
Placed his pen beside it.
Everything was normal.
Except…
He kept looking at the door.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
Then finally— The door opened.
Asher walked inside.
Kael’s entire expression changed.
He didn’t even realize it.
His shoulders relaxed.
His eyes brightened.
And the tiny smile that appeared on his lips happened so naturally that Noah noticed immediately.
Asher spotted him.
Their eyes met.
The taller boy smiled.
“Morning, Rabbit.” Kael’s heart fluttered.
“…Morning.” Asher walked toward him.
But before he could reach his seat, Professor Lewis entered.
“Good morning, everyone.” The class began.
Kael tried to concentrate.
He really did.
But Asher was sitting only two seats away.
Every few minutes, Kael’s eyes wandered toward him.
And every time…
He caught himself.
“Stop staring.” He lowered his head.
Then, five minutes later…
He did it again.
— Halfway through the lecture, a folded piece of paper landed on Kael’s desk.
He stared at it.
Slowly unfolded it.
There was handwriting inside.
You’re staring again.
Kael’s eyes widened.
He glanced toward Asher.
The taller boy was looking straight ahead, pretending to pay attention.
Kael quickly wrote underneath.
I’m not.
He folded it.
Sent it back.
A few seconds later, it returned.
You are.
Kael bit his lip to stop himself from smiling.
He wrote: Then stop looking at me.
The note came back almost immediately.
I wasn’t the one staring.
Kael’s face burned.
He folded the paper and shoved it beneath his notebook.
He refused to respond.
Asher quietly smiled.
— After class, the hallway was crowded.
Students spilled through the doors, talking about assignments and weekend plans.
Kael was putting his books away when someone bumped into him.
His notebook fell.
Before it could hit the floor, a large hand caught it.
Asher.
“You dropped this.” “…Thank you.” Kael reached for it.
Their fingers touched.
Neither moved immediately.
For a second, they simply looked at each other.
Then Liam’s voice came from behind them.
“Oh, come on.” Both turned.
Liam stood there with Noah.
“What?” Asher asked.
Liam gestured between them.
“You two.” “What about us?” “You’ve been doing that all week.” “Doing what?” “That.” He pointed at their hands.
Kael immediately pulled his fingers away.
“We weren’t—” “I didn’t say anything.” Liam grinned.
“Yet.” Noah shook his head.
“Leave them alone.” “I’m trying.” “You’re not.” “I know.” — They headed toward the cafeteria.
Kael walked beside Asher.
For once, their shoulders brushed occasionally.
Neither moved away.
Kael was beginning to become comfortable with little things like that.
Too comfortable.
And perhaps that was the problem.
Because other people had started noticing.
— They had barely sat down when a group of students at a nearby table began whispering.
Kael tried not to listen.
He couldn’t help it.
“…That’s them.” “The roommates?” “Yeah.” “They’re always together.” One of the boys laughed.
“Seriously, are they dating or something?” Another voice answered.
“Probably.” Kael’s spoon stopped halfway to his mouth.
His face immediately heated.
He lowered his eyes.
Asher seemed not to notice.
He continued eating.
Then another student spoke loudly enough for them to hear.
“Look at the little one.
He’s practically attached to him.” A few people laughed.
Kael’s stomach tightened.
He knew they weren’t necessarily being cruel.
Maybe they were joking.
Maybe it meant nothing.
But the words still dug into an old wound.
Attached.
Little one.
Always following him.
Kael suddenly felt exposed.
He quietly placed his spoon down.
Asher looked at him.
“You okay?” “…Yeah.” “You stopped eating.” “I’m not hungry.” Asher frowned.
“You barely touched your food.” “I’m really not hungry.” He forced a smile.
“I’m okay.” Asher didn’t look convinced.
But he didn’t push.
— That afternoon…
Kael became quieter.
Not deliberately.
He simply didn’t know what to say.
During their study session, Asher noticed.
“You’ve been quiet.” “I’m studying.” “You’ve been staring at the same sentence for ten minutes.” Kael blinked.
“…Have I?” “Yeah.” “I’m tired.” Asher leaned back.
“Want to take a break?” “No.” “Rabbit.” “I’m fine.” The words came out sharper than Kael intended.
Asher’s expression changed.
Kael immediately regretted it.
“…Sorry.” “It’s okay.” Asher closed his book.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Kael shook his head.
“No.” Asher studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
“Okay.” He didn’t force him.
He never did.
And somehow…
That made Kael feel even worse.
— That evening, Kael returned to the dorm before Asher.
He sat on his bed.
His knees pulled toward his chest.
The room was quiet.
He stared at his hands.
Why did those people’s words bother him so much?
He knew what they were saying wasn’t necessarily true.
But what if it became true?
What if people really did start hating Asher because he was always with him?
What if Asher became a target?
What if people started saying things about him because of Kael?
Kael’s fingers trembled slightly.
He remembered his uncle.
The yelling.
The insults.
The feeling of being blamed for everything.
He didn’t want Asher to experience anything like that.
Asher had already done so much for him.
He couldn’t let his presence become another burden.
— The dorm door opened.
Kael looked up immediately.
Asher stepped inside.
Their eyes met.
For a moment…
Kael’s heart wanted to run toward him.
To say welcome home.
To grab his sleeve.
To tell him about his day.
Instead…
Kael looked away.
“…You’re back.” Asher paused.
Something about Kael’s tone felt different.
“Yeah.” He placed his bag down.
“How was your day?” “Fine.” “Did you eat?” “Yes.” Asher nodded.
He watched Kael carefully.
Normally, Kael would have asked whether he had eaten.
Tonight…
Nothing.
Asher walked closer.
“Rabbit.” Kael looked up.
“Hm?” “Did I do something?” Kael’s heart squeezed.
“No.” “Then why are you acting strange?” “I’m not.” “You are.” Kael looked away.
“…I’m just tired.” Asher was silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“Okay.” He didn’t push.
Again.
He simply walked away.
And somehow…
Kael wished he had.
— Later that night…
The lights went out.
Liam and Noah fell asleep quickly.
Kael remained awake.
He stared at the ceiling.
Across the room…
Asher’s breathing was steady.
Kael turned his head.
He could barely make out Asher’s silhouette in the darkness.
His heart hurt.
He wanted to go to him.
He wanted to climb into his bed like he had before.
He wanted those strong arms around him.
But now…
He was afraid.
Afraid that someone would see.
Afraid that people would talk.
Afraid that his closeness would eventually hurt Asher.
So Kael stayed where he was.
He pulled the blanket tighter around himself.
A single tear slipped silently down his cheek.
“…I’m sorry.” He whispered it into the darkness.
Asher didn’t answer.
Kael closed his eyes.
He didn’t know…
That across the room, Asher was awake.
And he had heard him.
— The next morning…
Kael woke to find something on his desk.
A small paper bag.
He opened it.
Inside was a strawberry pastry.
His favorite.
There was a note beneath it.
You didn’t eat much yesterday.
Eat this.
And stop worrying so much.
At the bottom…
There was one final line.
—Asher Kael stared at it for a long time.
His eyes slowly filled with tears.
Then he smiled.
A tiny, trembling smile.
He pressed the note against his chest.
But the happiness was mixed with something else.
Fear.
Because no matter how hard Kael tried to create distance…
His heart kept finding its way back to Asher.
And he was beginning to realize…
That might be the one thing he couldn’t control.