By the time lunch break arrived, the rain had softened into a steady drizzle that pattered gently against the windows. The classroom buzzed with noise—chairs scraping, wrappers crinkling, students clustering into familiar groups.
Elian stood there, holding his tray awkwardly. He hadn't made any friends yet. He didn't know where people usually sat. Then Juni appeared in the doorway, waving both arms wildly as if Elian might somehow miss him.
"Elian! C'mon—our table's this way!"
Elian blinked. Our? The word warmed him more than he expected.
Juni led him through the crowded cafeteria, weaving between tables until they reached a corner seat near a rain-streaked window. Juni plopped down, cheerful as always. Elian sat across from him, trying not to stare too much.
Juni's lunch was… small. A tiny portion of rice, a boiled egg, and a packet of soy sauce. Elian's tray, prepared by his family's home staff, looked like a full-course meal in comparison. Juni noticed the contrast too—his smile faltering for half a second. He quickly cracked a joke to mask it.
"Wow, your lunch looks like it came from a five-star restaurant."
Elian tried to laugh, but something in his chest tightened. Juni dug into his meal with exaggerated cheerfulness, talking nonstop to fill the silence.
"So! What subjects do you like? Are you good at sports? What was your old school like? Do you know the language here well? Do—"
Halfway through a question, his stomach growled loudly.
Juni froze.
His face flushed scarlet.
"S-Sorry! I woke up late today and didn't eat breakfast, so—"
Without thinking, Elian slid half of his chicken onto Juni's tray.
"…Eat."
Juni stared at the food like it was forbidden treasure.
"Eh?! N-No, no, no—I can't take your lunch! Yours looks expensive! It's probably worth more than my whole week's meals—"
Elian gently pushed the tray toward him again.
"Juni. Please."
Juni's mouth opened and closed like a panicked goldfish. He looked around the cafeteria, realizing others were starting to notice them.
His voice softened. "…You don't have to."
"I want to," Elian said quietly.
Something in Juni's expression melted—some mix of gratitude, embarrassment, and fragile pride.
Slowly… carefully… Juni accepted the food.
And the moment he took the first bite, his eyes widened as if it was the best thing he'd tasted all year. Elian watched, heart swelling in a way he didn't understand.
Halfway through lunch, their teacher walked past their table. Her eyes landed on Elian first—studying him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Then she turned to Juni. Her voice snapped like a whip.
"Juni, didn't I tell you to fix your posture when eating? And stop distracting new students. You're too talkative for your own good."
Juni's entire body stiffened. His smile vanished instantly.
"S-Sorry, ma'am…"
She clicked her tongue and walked away.
Elian stared at Juni, stunned. The Juni he'd met so far was fearless, bright, playful—but now he looked small.
Hurt.
As soon as the teacher was gone, Juni forced a smile again.
"Haha… she's always like that. Don't mind her!"
But the cheer in his voice didn't reach his eyes. Elian's hands clenched under the table. There was something very fragile beneath Juni's laughter—something he was desperately trying to hide.
By the end of the day, the rain had finally stopped, leaving the campus drenched and smelling faintly of wet grass. Students hurried out the gates, eager to go home.
Juni rushed ahead, waving excitedly.
"Elian, this way! The buses are—"
Before he could finish, a senior shoved past him roughly.
"Watch it, runt."
Juni stumbled, nearly dropping his bag. Elian grabbed his arm just in time, steadying him.
Something hot and sharp flared in Elian's chest. A feeling he wasn't used to. A protective instinct he didn't know he had.
He stepped forward. "Apologize."
The senior scoffed. "Huh?"
Elian's expression didn't change. His voice was calm—but icy.
"You pushed him. Apologize."
The senior hesitated, suddenly uneasy. There was something in Elian's eyes—a quiet authority he couldn't ignore. With a click of his tongue, the senior muttered:
"…Whatever. Sorry."
Juni blinked in shock. Elian released his arm slowly, turning to him.
"…Are you okay?"
Juni stared at him, mouth parted, cheeks pink.
Then—softly, shyly— "…Thank you."
Elian looked away, ears burning. He didn't know why protecting Juni felt so natural.
So necessary.
So… right.
But as they boarded the bus together, sitting side by side once more, Elian realized something quietly, undeniably true:
He wanted to stay beside Juni.
Not out of obligation.
Not out of politeness.
But because—there was something about Juni that drew him in like sunlight breaking through clouds. And though he didn't know what it was yet…
He couldn't look away.