[ Rain's POV ]
I was deep in dreamland when a strange sensation pulled me awake, the heavy, unmistakable feeling of being watched.
I blinked my eyes open. Fran's face was inches from mine, a wide, goofy grin plastered on his face. The room was still bathed in the blue shadows of the night, quiet and still. I squinted at the wall clock, my vision blurry.
"Fran... it's 1:00 AM," I croaked, my voice thick with sleep. "Why are you still awake? Sleep."
"I'm afraid you'll be gone when I wake up," he whispered, his eyes searching mine as if he were trying to memorize my face.
"I won't," I mumbled. To quiet his racing mind, I scooted closer and wrapped my arms around him, softly tapping his back.
He froze for a heartbeat, clearly still not used to me being the one to initiate, but then his arms locked around me, holding me like I was made of gold. I drifted back to sleep to the steady, comforting rhythm of his heart.
In the morning, the peace was shattered. I had slipped away to the bathroom for some privacy, but within minutes, I heard a panicked thundering of footsteps.
"Rain! Rain! Where are you?!"
"I'm in the bathroom!" I shouted back. The doorknob rattled violently, nearly jumping off its hinges. "What?! I'm pooping! Go away, Fran!"
"Oh... okay. Then... I'll go prepare breakfast!" he called out. I heard his footsteps retreating toward the kitchen, sounding far too determined.
For real? Fran is going to cook? I felt a surge of excitement. Maybe he'd been practicing while I was gone?
I hurried out to the kitchen a few minutes later, only to find a scene of total devastation. Rice grains were scattered like snow across the counter, eggshells were crushed everywhere, and the smell of something burning hung in the air.
"Wait a minute! I'm almost done!" Fran said, frantically sliding a black, shriveled mass onto a plate. The fried rice looked like it had been through a war. I looked closer and realized the problem, he hadn't cooked the rice first; he just dumped the raw, hard grains straight into the oil.
"Oi. What is this, Fran?" I asked, a teasing smile tugging at my lips.
"Tsk. It's just an egg, but why is it so hard?" He grumbled, hovering over the stove to try again. I stepped in immediately, taking the spatula from his hand before he could burn the house down.
"That's enough. Let me finish. I have to re-cook the rice, too—I can't eat rocks, you know."
"Sorry," he muttered, looking down at his feet like a scolded puppy. "I just... I don't know how."
"It's okay. You don't have to do all this. What you usually do for me is already enough."
After we ate, the reality of the day set in. I started gathering my things to leave.
"Wait. Your class isn't until the afternoon," Fran noted, his brow furrowing as he watched me pack. "Why are you leaving so early?"
"I need to go back to Sean's condo. I didn't go home last night; he's probably worried sick."
"Home?" Fran hissed the word, his eyes darkening. "That's not your home. Your home is here."
"I just mean... never mind. My uniform is there, Fran. I can't go to school in yesterday's clothes."
"Fine. I'll go with you. Let's get all your things back while we're at it."
"Wait, no! I'm not moving back today. I need to tell Sean properly. It's not right to just vanish after everything he's done for me. Plus, we have our final project presentation to finish."
"You don't have to be so considerate to that 'Goldy,'" he pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Fran! Sean is my friend. He helped me a lot when things were bad."
"Fine," he groaned. "But I'm driving you."
We rode his motorbike to the condo in a tense, vibrating silence. When we arrived, I thought Fran would leave, but instead, he killed the engine and followed me up.
"What? Why are you following me?" I asked, stopping at the door.
"Well... just get your uniform, and... let's hang out before class," he said, pointedly looking at the ceiling rather than my eyes. I sighed. I couldn't say no to that face, so I just let him trail behind me.
Sean opened the door looking like he hadn't slept a wink.
"Oi, Rain! You're here. Are you okay?" Sean's face lit up instantly, but then his gaze moved to the shadow standing behind me. His expression soured. "Why is that mascot following you now?"
"Haha... sorry. I'll just grab my uniform, and then we'll head out."
Sean's expression dimmed. He didn't stop me, but he blocked the doorway with his shoulder, creating a physical barrier so Fran couldn't enter. "Stay out here, Husky," he seemed to say with his eyes.
I hurried inside to grab my things, feeling the heat of their glares even through the wood of the door. After I got my uniform ready, Sean shut the door, keeping me inside for a moment while Fran waited in the hallway.
"Are you okay now?" Sean asked, his voice low and urgent. "Is he bothering you again? Tell me and I'll—"
"No, Sean. I'm fine. We... we already talked. I'll tell you everything later when I come home tonight."
Sean let out a long, weary sigh. "Fine. See you at school later. Just call me if he does something to you again."
"Yes, yes. Thanks. See you," I said, tapping his shoulder.
I pulled the door open, ready to leave, but I didn't realize Fran had been leaning his entire weight against the other side.
THUD!
The heavy door slammed right into him. "Oof!" Fran yelped, stumbling back and clutching his nose.
He had been eavesdropping. The great, intimidating Fran had his ear pressed to the door like a nosy neighbor.
I looked at him, rubbing his sore nose and trying to look tough despite the embarrassment. I couldn't help it, he really is funny sometimes.
"Let's go," I whispered, pulling him toward the elevator before Sean could see him in such a state.