Kael's bag nearly ripped as he shoved his books inside, not even waiting for Jacob or Mark to catch up. The hallway felt too loud, the chatter of students too sharp against his ears. Every girl that passed him every laugh, every sway of hips looked like another trap waiting to spring.
He practically sprinted out of school, lungs tightening as though he'd just escaped a battlefield.
By the time he reached the street, his phone buzzed Jacob's message.
Jacob: Yo Kael, wait up. Me and Mark were thinking we crash your place for some rounds later.
Kael paused, leaning against a lamppost, sweat cooling on his neck. He typed back quickly:
Kael: Fine. When you're ready, come.
Just… don't expect me to be alive.
He sighed and pocketed the phone, dragging his feet toward home. His mind was a storm—Lucy's teasing, Selira's lessons, Mia's hot whisper pressing him to the desk, and now that purple-haired goddess in class.
It was too much.
He just wanted to shut his eyes and disappear for a while.
The quiet of his room felt like salvation when he finally closed the door behind him. He dropped on his bed face-first, groaning into his pillow.
"Oh God," he muttered, muffled, "is this my life now? Every step I take, boobs are flying at me like missiles."
His phone buzzed again. Jacob this time, laughing in voice notes, promising they'd bring snacks and games.
Kael dragged himself to sit up, rubbing his temples.
"Yeah, sure. Games. Because that's exactly what I need… another distraction before my brain melts."
Kael had barely dragged his hoodie over his head when a loud banging rattled his door.
"Flash-boy! Open up before we break it down!" Jacob's voice boomed from outside.
Kael groaned, rolled his eyes, and shuffled to the door. The moment it swung open, Jacob and Mark pushed past him like they owned the place bags of chips, a bottle of soda, and the old gaming console tucked under Mark's arm.
"Damn, bro, you didn't even breathe after class," Jacob teased, clapping Kael's shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. "One second we blink and boom you're gone like shwiiiip! Fast as lightning. What are you running from? The ghost of exams?"
Kael muttered under his breath, "Na, nevermind… just trying to keep relief. Trying to be safe."
"Safe?" Mark raised an eyebrow, grinning as he tossed himself on Kael's couch. "Safe from what? The cafeteria food? Or are you hiding from someone?"
Kael froze halfway to the kitchen, the words stabbing too close. He recovered with a cough, waving them off. "You guys watch too many dramas. I'm fine. Totally fine."
Jacob wasn't buying it. He leaned in, smirking. "Safe, huh? Sounds like the way a guilty man talks. Tell us, Kael who's chasing you? A debt collector? Or… a girl?"
Kael nearly dropped the glasses he was carrying. "Wh—what? No! Don't start that nonsense "
Jacob and Mark exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter.
"Definitely a girl," Mark said between chuckles. "Look at him. Sweating already and we haven't even turned the console on."
"Shut up, both of you." Kael scowled, but his ears burned red.
They let him off for a moment. Soon snacks were torn open, soda fizzing, and the TV glowing with the familiar blue screen of their old console. The room filled with the smell of fried chips and the rough sound of button-mashing as they dove into their first round.
Kael tried to relax, leaning back on the floor cushions with a handful of chips, letting his friends' loud banter drown his thoughts. For a moment it almost worked.
Almost.
But every time Jacob shoved him in the shoulder with a laugh, Kael felt that whisper Hope you love me? curling back into his ears. Every time Mark joked about "Kael's mysterious speed run after class," his chest tightened with the image of Selira pressing close, telling him she'd wait. And whenever he blinked, even the purple-haired teacher's figure carved itself in his vision.
"Kael!" Jacob shouted, jolting him back. "Bro, what are you doing? You just walked off the map. Again."
"Huh?" Kael blinked at the screen. His character had fallen off a cliff for the third time in five minutes.
Mark shook his head, smirking. "This guy's in love. Or in trouble. Maybe both."
Jacob laughed so hard he nearly spilled soda on the controller. "Definitely both!"
Kael groaned, dragging his hoodie hood over his face. "I hate you guys."
But even as they teased him, a small smile crept up on his lips. Maybe he needed this. The noise, the silliness, the friends who suspected nothing of the storm inside him. For tonight, at least, he could pretend things were simple.
Yet deep down, he knew when the games ended, when the laughter faded he'd still be left with the fire of three women's shadows smoldering inside his head.
The room was loud with button mashing and Jacob's yelling when his phone suddenly lit up, vibrating across the low table. He glanced once at the name, and before he could hit "answer," Mark leaned over with a wolfish grin.
"Ohhh… is that her?"
Kael perked his head up, already smirking despite himself.
Jacob swore under his breath and snatched the phone. "Shut up, both of you." He hit answer, but the moment her voice came through, his whole face tightened like a kid caught stealing candy.
"Where are you?" Her voice cut sharp, fast no greetings, no sweet tones, just pure interrogation.
Kael clamped a hand over his mouth to stop from laughing. Mark nearly fell sideways.
"Uh—at Kael's," Jacob stammered, scratching the back of his neck.
There was a pause, then her voice lashed again. "Don't 'uh' me. After school tomorrow you, me, and your buddies. Refreshments. No excuses."
Jacob glanced sideways at Kael and Mark, both grinning like devils. He cleared his throat. "Uh, sure. Yeah. I'll… I'll bring them."
"Good," she snapped. "Don't be late." Then the line went dead.
The silence afterward was unbearable.
Then Mark exploded. "Yo! Jacob, my guy she owns you, man!" He clutched his stomach, laughing so hard his soda sprayed.
Kael leaned back against the couch, weak from laughter. "Is she your girlfriend or your boss? Because I swear I heard a whip crack through the speaker."
Jacob groaned, burying his face in the cushion. "You guys are the worst."
They didn't stop. They howled, clapping his back, replaying the call in mock voices until Jacob threatened to throw them both out.
Finally, Jacob sat up, pointing a finger at Kael, still trying to catch his breath. "Laugh all you want, but you're coming tomorrow. Both of you. No excuses. If I'm going down, you're going down with me."
Kael raised his hands, still chuckling. "Sure, yeah. Why not?"
But deep down, his chest tightened again. Another outing. Another chance to cross paths with the very people he'd been trying to avoid.
For now, though, the room filled again with laughter, chips crunching, controllers clicking. And for the briefest moment, Kael let himself drown in the noise pretending the storm outside his door hadn't already found its way in.