Life settled into a new rhythm.
Eli still had his circle of friends who shared lunch with him, partners for group projects, the friends he'd grown used to. Kai, on the other hand, carried a quiet aura, but soon he too began drawing people in. Some admired his calm presence, others his quiet intelligence.
Still, Eli couldn't help but notice… whenever Kai wasn't with them, he was with him.
---
"Hey, Eli," one of Eli's friends teased one afternoon, catching sight of Kai waiting near the garden gate.
"You and the new guy seem close, huh? You two always end up together."
Eli flushed. "It's not like that. We just… run into each other a lot."
But the words tasted weak, even to him.
---
Later that day, Eli sat under the shade of the garden bench, sketchbook in hand. He expected quiet, but soon heard the familiar footsteps.
Kai.
Without a word, Kai sat nearby, opening the book he carried. The silence stretched—comfortable, as always.
After a while, Eli closed his sketchbook and turned to him. "Kai… are we friends?"
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Kai blinked, as if surprised, then smiled faintly. "Don't you think we are?"
Eli's chest tightened. He looked away quickly, hiding the small smile tugging at his lips.
Maybe… maybe they were.
---
And though neither of them said more, the simple word—friends—hung between them like a promise.
---