Chapter 2
Kael stared at the bunk bed that would now be his new world. It wasn't anything fancy—just a wooden frame with a mattress that creaked when he sat down. Riven took the top bunk without asking, already sprawled out with earbuds in, eyes closed.
So much for catching up.
Kael unpacked slowly, stacking his few shirts and jeans into the small drawer Mrs. Sato had cleared for him. Every movement felt loud in the quiet room. It wasn't tension exactly, but…something hung in the air.
He glanced up. "You always this quiet, or is this a new thing?"
Riven opened one eye. "You always this nosy, or is that a new thing?"
Kael grinned. "Nah. Always been a pest."
Riven didn't smile, but there was a tiny flicker in his expression. Recognition, maybe. Or amusement he didn't want to admit.
After dinner, they returned to their room. Kael stood awkwardly by the door, unsure of the unspoken routine. Riven was already back in bed, reading something on his phone.
Kael sat on the lower bunk, legs dangling. "So…you seeing anyone?"
Riven raised an eyebrow. "You trying to gossip, or are you asking for yourself?"
Kael laughed, louder than he meant to. "Maybe both."
Riven rolled onto his side, back facing him. "No. Not seeing anyone."
The answer was simple, but it clung to the air like perfume—noticeable, lingering, and impossible to ignore.
That night, Kael couldn't sleep.
Not because the bed was unfamiliar. Not because Riven's breathing was the only sound in the room.
But because something about being beneath the same roof with him stirred emotions he wasn't sure how to name.