The restaurant door swung shut behind Aya and Ren, leaving Kaito and Shou Wei in a silence heavy enough to smother.
For a long moment, neither spoke. The hum of other diners, the clink of chopsticks and bowls, all blurred into background noise.
Shou Wei's hands curled into fists on the table. His chest rose and fell with sharp, uneven breaths.
Kaito, in contrast, lounged back in his chair, his lips pursed, eyes still fixed on the door where Aya had disappeared.
"…Not gay," he finally murmured, almost to himself.
Shou Wei snapped his head toward him. "What?"
"That's what he said." Kaito's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Akira said he's not gay."
Shou Wei slammed his palm against the table, drawing stares from nearby patrons. "Are you serious? That's what you're stuck on?!"
Kaito raised a brow, unbothered. "Well, yeah. If he's not gay, then why the hell is he living with Ren? Why does he let everyone think they're together?" His smirk returned, but it was sharper now, edged with curiosity. "Something about that boy doesn't add up."
Shou Wei's throat tightened. He looked away, jaw clenched so tight it hurt. "Ren isn't like that. He's—he's mine."
Kaito chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Yours? Since when? You've been pining for him for, what, a year? Two? If he wanted you, he would've chosen you already."
The words cut deep, and Shou Wei flinched, anger flashing in his eyes. "Shut up. You don't understand."
"No," Kaito leaned forward, his grin dangerous, "I understand perfectly. You're jealous, Shou Wei. Because Ren has someone else sitting at his side. Someone who looks like he doesn't even care about the rules you and I live by."
Shou Wei's breath shook. He wanted to deny it, wanted to shout—but the image of Ren holding Akira's hand, walking away without hesitation, burned behind his eyes.
Kaito drummed his fingers against the table, gaze turning inward. "Akira… he's different. There's something there I want to unravel."
Shou Wei glared at him. "Stay away from him."
Kaito's smirk widened. "Or what? You'll finally confess to Ren?"
Shou Wei froze, his silence answering for him.
Kaito leaned back, satisfied. "That's what I thought."
---
The next morning sunlight filtered weakly through the blinds of Ren's cramped apartment. Aya sat at the tiny kitchen table, nursing a cup of bitter instant coffee. She hadn't slept well. Her mind kept replaying the confrontation, Kaito's shameless words, Shou Wei's wounded eyes.
Ren shuffled in, hair sticking up in all directions, yawning so hard his jaw cracked. He plopped into the chair opposite her, stealing a sip from her mug before she could protest.
"Morning," he mumbled.
Aya studied him, then asked carefully, "Ren… how do you even know those guys? Shou Wei and… that Kaito person?"
Ren groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Ugh. Don't remind me."
"Ren." Aya leaned forward. "Seriously. Last night felt like a nightmare. Why were they even there?"
He peeked at her between his fingers, grimacing. "Shou Wei… he's from my department. We've been in the same research group before. He's… persistent."
Aya frowned. "Persistent?"
Ren dropped his hands onto the table with a thud. "He's been crushing on me forever. Always showing up where I am, trying to get me to hang out, offering to help with my projects. I didn't think he'd… explode like that, though."
Aya blinked. Pieces clicked together in her head. "So he thinks I'm… taking you away from him?"
Ren gave her a sheepish smile. "Bingo."
Aya groaned, pressing her forehead into her palm. "Great. Just great. So now I'm public enemy number one to your admirer."
Ren chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "At least it makes your disguise more believable, right? Everyone's convinced you're my boyfriend now."
Aya shot him a glare. "Not funny."
But before she could say more, Ren's expression sobered. "And Kaito… he's Shou Wei's best friend. Which makes him twice the headache." He leaned back in his chair, sighing heavily. "The guy's unpredictable. Rich family, spoiled, never filters his mouth. He doesn't care what people think."
Aya remembered the way Kaito had looked at her last night—like a puzzle piece he couldn't wait to pry out of place. Her stomach twisted.
"Ren," she whispered, "I don't like the way he looked at me."
Ren reached across the table, giving her hand a quick squeeze. "Then we'll make sure he doesn't get close. I won't let either of them corner you again."
Aya wanted to believe him. She really did.
But deep down, she had a sinking feeling: Kaito Chen wasn't the type to back off once he'd set his eyes on something.
Or someone.
---