The Rumors Begin Kael’s POV The next morning, I woke with an uncomfortable feeling in my chest.
I couldn’t explain it.
Nothing had happened.
At least, nothing bad had happened.
Yet the moment my eyes opened, I felt as though something was waiting for me beyond the walls of the dormitory.
I turned my head.
Asher’s bed was empty.
Again.
My fingers tightened around the blanket.
For a ridiculous moment, disappointment settled over me.
Then I remembered what he’d promised.
I won’t leave tomorrow without telling you.
I glanced toward the desk.
There was a small note beside my water bottle.
I reached for it.
Went to the café early.
Didn’t want to wake you.
Eat breakfast.
I’ll see you after class.
There was a tiny drawing beneath the words.
A rabbit.
I stared at it.
Then I smiled.
He had actually drawn that.
It wasn’t particularly good.
The ears were uneven.
One looked much larger than the other.
But somehow, that made it even cuter.
I pressed the note against my chest.
“…Idiot.” I was smiling when Noah walked past.
He stopped.
“What’s that?” I immediately hid the note.
“Nothing.” Noah raised an eyebrow.
“You were smiling.” “I wasn’t.” “You were.” “I wasn’t.” He chuckled.
“Okay.” He continued getting dressed.
I quietly looked at the rabbit again.
My smile returned.
— By the time I reached class, the hallway was already crowded.
Students moved in every direction.
Some were carrying books.
Others were rushing toward lectures.
I was halfway to the classroom when I heard someone whisper.
“That’s him.” I slowed.
Another voice answered.
“The little one?” “Yeah.” I pretended not to hear.
Then another laugh followed.
“They really are together.” My stomach tightened.
I kept walking.
Don’t listen.
Just keep walking.
But their voices followed me.
“Didn’t you see them yesterday?” “They’re always touching.” “I heard they sleep in the same room.” A few students laughed.
My face became hot.
I hurried into the classroom.
— As soon as I sat down, I opened my notebook.
I didn’t write anything.
I simply stared at the page.
My hands were trembling slightly.
Why did their words bother me so much?
Maybe because they weren’t entirely wrong.
Asher and I were always together.
We ate together.
Studied together.
Walked together.
I waited for him to come home.
Sometimes I slept in his arms.
And there had been that kiss.
The thought made my face burn.
I touched my lips unconsciously.
Don’t think about it.
I quickly lowered my hand.
Then the classroom door opened.
Asher walked in.
The moment I saw him…
Everything else disappeared.
He looked tired.
His dark hair was slightly messy.
His sleeves were rolled to his elbows.
His eyes immediately found mine.
He smiled.
That familiar smile.
“Morning, Rabbit.” My chest warmed.
“…Morning.” He walked over and placed something on my desk.
A small packet.
I looked down.
Strawberry candy.
I looked back at him.
“You remembered.” “You like them.” A smile escaped me.
“…Thank you.” He gently tapped my forehead.
“You’re welcome.” The touch lasted barely a second.
But someone nearby noticed.
I heard a quiet laugh.
“There they go again.” My smile disappeared.
Asher noticed.
His expression changed.
“What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” He studied me.
He knew I was lying.
But before he could ask again, Professor Lewis entered.
The class began.
— I tried to concentrate.
But the whispers continued.
Not loudly.
Just enough.
Every time Asher leaned toward me to explain something…
Someone would laugh.
Every time I handed him a pen…
Someone would whisper.
Every time our shoulders touched…
Someone would make a comment.
At first, I ignored them.
Then it became impossible.
During the break, I gathered my books quickly.
I wanted to leave.
Asher caught up with me in the hallway.
“Wait.” I kept walking.
“Kael.” I stopped.
He stepped in front of me.
“Why are you running away?” “I’m not.” “You are.” I looked around.
Students were passing us.
Some were staring.
I immediately lowered my gaze.
Asher noticed.
His expression hardened.
“Is this because of what they’re saying?” I didn’t answer.
“Kael.” “…Maybe.” He sighed.
“I told you yesterday.” “I know.” “Then why are you doing this again?” I swallowed.
“Because it’s getting worse.” “Let them talk.” “You don’t understand.” “Then explain it.” I looked at him.
“You’ll get tired.” “Of what?” “Of me.” His expression changed.
“What?” I looked down.
“Everyone keeps saying I’m always following you.” “You aren’t.” “I am.” “No.” “I wait for you.” “Because you care.” “I sleep in your bed.” He went silent.
My face burned.
“I…” “I didn’t mean—” “I know.” His voice softened.
He stepped closer.
“Kael.” I looked up.
“I don’t mind.” My heart skipped.
“But…” “There is no but.” “You don’t know what people might say.” “I don’t care.” “You should.” “Why?” “Because…” My voice broke.
“…Because you’re the first person who’s ever been kind to me.” Asher’s expression softened.
“And I don’t want to lose you because of something I can’t control.” For a moment, he didn’t speak.
Then he reached out.
His hand rested gently on my head.
I froze.
“You’re not losing me.” His voice was quiet.
“Not because someone else has an opinion.” My eyes stung.
I nodded.
“…Okay.” He smiled.
“Good.” Then he removed his hand.
“Now come eat.” I almost laughed.
“You’re always hungry.” “And you’re always forgetting to eat.” “…That’s not true.” “It is.” “It isn’t.” He smiled.
“Come on, Rabbit.” I followed him.
I couldn’t help it.
— The cafeteria was louder than usual.
We found Liam and Noah at our usual table.
Liam looked at us.
Then looked behind us.
Then back at us.
“What?” Asher asked.
Liam grinned.
“Nothing.” Noah sighed.
“Don’t start.” “I didn’t say anything.” “You were about to.” “I was thinking.” “That’s worse.” I laughed.
For the first time all morning…
I felt normal.
Safe.
Until someone behind us spoke.
“So it’s true.” The laughter around the table died.
A boy stood a few steps away.
He wasn’t alone.
Two other students stood behind him.
He looked directly at Asher.
“You really are attached to him.” Asher didn’t answer.
The boy looked at me.
“What’s wrong?” I lowered my gaze.
“Nothing.” “You’re always hiding behind him.” My fingers tightened around my spoon.
Asher’s voice became colder.
“Leave him alone.” The student laughed.
“I’m just asking.” “You’ve asked enough.” The boy shrugged.
“Fine.” He walked away.
But as he passed…
He muttered something beneath his breath.
I couldn’t hear all of it.
Only two words.
“…freaks…” My stomach dropped.
Asher heard it too.
His chair scraped against the floor.
He stood.
I immediately grabbed his sleeve.
“Asher.” He looked down at my hand.
“Don’t.” His jaw tightened.
“He called us—” “Please.” I held onto his sleeve tighter.
“Don’t fight him.” He stared at me.
I shook my head.
“I don’t want you getting into trouble.” For a moment…
I thought he would ignore me.
Then his shoulders slowly relaxed.
He sat down.
“…Fine.” I released his sleeve.
But I didn’t move my hand very far.
My fingers remained against his wrist.
Asher looked down.
Then at me.
He didn’t say anything.
He simply turned his hand over.
Our fingers intertwined beneath the table.
My heart nearly stopped.
No one could see.
At least…
I hoped no one could.
— That afternoon, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Not the insult.
Not even the rumors.
The way Asher had looked when someone insulted him because of me.
The anger.
The protectiveness.
The way he had still listened when I asked him not to fight.
I didn’t understand why someone like him cared so much.
I had spent most of my life believing that people eventually left.
My uncle had taught me that.
If you weren’t useful…
You were abandoned.
If you were weak…
You were hurt.
If you trusted someone…
They could use it against you.
But Asher kept proving those rules wrong.
Every single day.
— When classes ended, I returned to the dorm.
I sat beside the window.
Outside, students crossed the courtyard.
The sun was beginning to set.
I watched them without really seeing them.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message.
Asher: Working late again.
Don’t wait up.
I stared at it.
My heart sank.
I typed: Okay.
Deleted it.
Typed: Be careful.
Deleted that too.
Finally: Okay.
Eat dinner.
I sent it.
A few seconds later…
Asher: Yes, Rabbit.
I smiled.
Then another message appeared.
Asher: And don’t worry.
My smile faded.
How did he always know?
I placed the phone against my chest.
“…I am worrying.” I whispered.
“But not because I think you’ll leave.” I looked toward the empty bed.
“I’m scared you’ll get hurt.” — Hours passed.
Liam and Noah eventually went to sleep.
I remained awake.
I told myself I wasn’t waiting.
I was reading.
Except I’d read the same paragraph fourteen times.
The clock showed midnight.
Then twelve-thirty.
Then one.
I finally gave up.
I placed the book aside.
I was about to lie down when the door opened.
Asher stepped inside.
He looked exhausted.
His shoulders were slumped.
His hair was messy.
He quietly closed the door.
Then looked toward my bed.
“You should be asleep.” I sat up.
“You said you were coming back.” “I did.” “So I waited.” He stared at me.
Something softened in his eyes.
“You shouldn’t.” “I wanted to.” He walked over.
He looked exhausted enough to collapse.
Instead, he crouched beside my bed.
“I’m sorry.” “For what?” “Making you worry.” I shook my head.
“You don’t have to apologize.” He smiled faintly.
“You’re too forgiving.” I smiled back.
“And you’re too stubborn.” He laughed quietly.
Then…
His hand moved toward me.
He gently brushed my hair away from my forehead.
The touch was so soft that I closed my eyes.
“Good night, Rabbit.” “…Good night.” He stood.
I caught his sleeve.
He looked down.
I didn’t know why I’d done it.
I simply didn’t want him to walk away yet.
He looked at my hand.
Then at me.
“What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” “Then why are you holding me?” I became embarrassed.
“…I don’t know.” He smiled.
Instead of pulling away…
He sat beside me.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
His shoulder touched mine.
I leaned against him.
Just slightly.
He didn’t move away.
His hand rested over mine.
Warm.
Steady.
Safe.
And for the first time that day…
I stopped worrying about what everyone else thought.
Because sitting there beside him…
I finally understood something.
Maybe I didn’t need everyone to understand us.
Maybe I only needed him to understand me.
And he did.
At least…
I hoped he always would.
— Neither of us noticed the shadow standing briefly outside the dormitory door.
Someone had heard enough.
Someone who had been watching.
And unlike the students who had merely teased us…
This person wasn’t laughing.
They were planning something.
Something that would force Asher to choose between staying quiet…
And protecting me.