It began with a decision.
By Wednesday morning, Riven and Eli were done letting others decide what their story looked like.
As they walked through the school gates side by side, Riven reached for Eli's hand. Not accidentally. Not secretly. But deliberately — fingers intertwined, knuckles bare to the air.
Heads turned like dominos. Whispering followed.
They didn't let go.
Near the courtyard, Sora spotted them and grinned. A few juniors stared with wide eyes. One girl pulled out her phone; another elbowed her, whispering too loudly, "Are they really just… holding hands like that?"
Eli looked straight ahead. Riven squeezed his hand once — You okay?
Eli squeezed back — Yes.
---
Assembly Hall — Midday
As if the universe wanted to test their resolve, an impromptu gathering was called.
Students shuffled inside, confused, buzzing. Rumors spread fast — someone said Marcus had pushed the administration to "address inappropriate student conduct." Others swore a suspension was coming.
Eli's heart pounded as they took their seats. He could feel Marcus's smug stare from the third row.
The vice principal stepped onstage with a microphone.
"We have heard disturbing stories recently," she began, "of behavior that may—"
But before she could finish, a voice rang out from the audience.
"Behavior like what, exactly?"
It was Riven — standing, tall and steady, Eli beside him rising too before he could stop himself.
The room fell silent.
The vice principal blinked. "Castillo… this is not—"
"Is this about us holding hands?" Riven asked bluntly. He didn't raise his voice, yet every word was clear. "Because if that's the problem — I don't plan on stopping."
A rush of murmurs echoed from the pews. Someone gasped.
The vice principal cleared her throat. "You are disrupting—"
Eli stepped forward too. "We're not ashamed," he said, voice softer — but the tremble made it even more real. "If we're being punished for being honest about who we care about, you might as well do it in front of everyone."
The tension was electric. Marcus looked stunned. Sora's hands flew to her mouth. A teacher whispered to another, wide-eyed.
The vice principal faltered, clearly unsure how to handle this sudden rebellion.
Riven took Eli's hand again, right there in front of everyone.
"If they're going to watch," he said calmly, "I'd rather give them something real to look at."
For a heartbeat, everything was still.
Then — unexpectedly — someone started clapping.
It was Kai.
Then a girl from the art club.
Then another. And another.
Applause spread through the hall like wildfire. Not unanimous — but loud enough to drown out the whispers that had hunted them for weeks.
Riven didn't smile. But his eyes softened.
Eli did smile — not timidly, but like someone who had chosen himself for the very first time.
And for once, standing under a blinding spotlight, with the entire school watching…
They finally felt free.
---