chapter 8

The house was quiet the next morning.

Kai stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the hem of his shirt.

He adjusted it.

Paused.

Adjusted it again.

“…You’re doing too much,” he muttered.

He stepped back, looked at himself once more,

Then he grabbed his phone and shoved it into his pocket.

“Whatever.”

The smell of coffee hit him before he reached the kitchen.

Kai slowed down without meaning to.

“…Of course he’s already up.”

He exhaled once, then stepped into the sitting room.

Noah was seated at the table.

Back straight. Posture perfect.

One of his hands was wrapped around a mug, the other resting beside his phone.

He wasn’t scrolling.

Wasn’t moving much at all.

Just… there.

Kai stopped at the entrance for half a second.

“…Morning.”

Noah didn’t look up immediately.

He took a sip first.

Then…in a low voice.“Morning.”

Flat. Casual.

Like last night didn’t exist.

Like none of it did.

Kai walked in, heading straight for the fridge.

He opened it, stared inside longer than necessary, then grabbed a bottle of juice, hesitated, then looked back.

“Can I take this?”

Noah finally looked up.

“Do you need permission to drink juice?”

Kai shrugged. “You said not to touch anything that isn’t mine.”

A pause.

Noah studied him for a second.

“…You can drink it.”

“Wow. Generous.”

“Do you always wake up this early?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

Noah didn’t answer right away.

Kai shut the fridge with his hip.

“Yes.”

Kai snorted. “That’s boring.”

Noah didn’t react.

“What the hell is wrong with him today?” Kai thought.

Kai grabbed a glass, poured slowly, the sound of liquid filling the silence.

He leaned back against the counter and took a sip.

He kept his eyes on Noah over the rim of the glass.

Watching.

Noah didn’t return the look.

He picked up his phone, glanced at something, then set it back down.

Unbothered.

Kai lowered the glass.

“…So.”

Noah didn’t respond.

Kai shifted his weight.

“This whole living together thing,” he said. “How’s that supposed to work?”

Noah set his mug down.

"You stay out of my way.”

Kai blinked once.

“That’s it?”

Noah didn’t repeat himself.

“Grumpy man” Kai mumbled under his breath enough for only him to hear.

Kai let out a short laugh and pushed off the counter, walking a few steps closer.

“That’s not how living together works.”

“It is in my house.”

Kai stopped near the table.

“And if I don’t stay out of your way?” he asked.

Noah’s fingers tapped once against the mug.

A small sound.

Controlled.

Then stilled again.

Kai waited.

“…Then you’ll learn.”

Kai tilted his head slightly.

“Learn what?”

Noah didn’t answer.

He just picked up his coffee again.

Took a slow sip.

Like the conversation was already over.

Kai watched him for a second, then let out a breath through his nose.

“You’re actually annoying.”

Noah didn’t react.

Didn’t even look up.

The silence stretched.

Kai shifted again, restless.

Then…

“You start school tomorrow,” Noah said.

Kai blinked. “What?”

“I spoke to your coordinator.”

Kai straightened. “You what?”

“You’re already registered. The schedule's been sent to your email.”

Kai pulled out his phone quickly.

“…You didn’t even tell me.”

“I just did.”

“That’s not the point…”

“You’re living here,” Noah cut in, calm but firm.

“You follow structure.”

Kai stared at him.

“…You’re not my parent.”

“No,” Noah said, meeting his eyes. “But you’re in my space.”

Kai picked up his phone from his back pocket. He unlocked it and scrolled through it and there sat a notification from the school board.

“…You already did it for real?”

Noah didn’t answer him.

Kai looked up.

“You didn’t even ask me.”

Noah stood up slowly.

Picked up his mug.

Kai’s brows pulled together.

“That’s not how this works.”

Noah walked past him.

Close enough that Kai had to shift slightly to avoid brushing against him.

“You’re in my house.”

That was all he said.

Kai turned after him.

“That doesn’t mean you get to decide everything for me.”

Noah stopped near the sink.

Set the mug down.

Ran water over it.Didn’t even turn around.

Kai waited. Nothing.

He scoffed.

“You like control, don’t you?”

Noah rinsed the mug.

Turned off the tap.

Dried his hands.

Still not looking at him.

“Yes.”

Kai huffed out a small laugh.

“At least you’re honest.”

A pause.

Kai stepped closer again.

Not too close.

Just enough.

“So what else?”

Noah glanced at him briefly.

“What?”

“Rules,” Kai said. “If I’m staying here, there has to be more.”

Noah walked past him again.

This time heading toward the table.

Kai turned to follow him with his eyes.

Waiting.

Noah picked up his keys.

“Don’t go into my room.”

Kai rolled his eyes. “Obviously.”

“Don’t bring people over.”

Kai’s jaw tightened slightly.

“I already said I wouldn’t.”

Noah didn’t respond.

Kai folded his arms.

“What about you?”

Noah paused.

Just for a second.

Then, they continued walking.

“You bringing people over?”

Noah grabbed his jacket from the chair.

“No.”

Kai’s lips curved slightly.

He stepped forward again.

Slow.

Measured.

“Really?”

Noah slipped his arm into the jacket.

Didn’t answer.

Kai stopped a few steps away.

Watching him.

Carefully.

“I thought you wouldn’t be able to help yourself,”

Kai said.

That got a reaction.

Small.

Noah’s hand stilled on the zipper for half a second.

Then continued.

Kai noticed.

Of course he did.

“You think you know me?” Noah asked.

His voice was lower now.

Still calm.

Kai met his eyes.

“I think I’m starting to.”

Silence.

Noah stepped closer.

Not fast.

Not aggressive.

But deliberate.

Kai didn’t move.

Didn’t step back.

Even when Noah stopped just short of him.

“You don’t,” Noah said quietly.

Kai’s lips twitched slightly.

“Then teach me.”

Another pause.

Longer.

Noah held his gaze.

Then…

He stepped back.

Just like that.

He grabbed his keys.

“I have work.”

Kai blinked.

“That’s it?”

Noah walked past him.

Kai turned.

“You always leave when things get interesting?”

Noah stopped at the door.

Hand on the handle.

A beat.

“Only when necessary.”

Then he walked out.

The door shut.

Silence filled the house again.

Kai stood there, staring at the door.

Then he let out a slow breath.

Ran a hand through his hair.

“…Wow.”

He looked down at the table.

At the space, Noah had just left.

Then slowly…

A small smile pulled at his lips.

“Yeah…”

He tilted his head slightly.

Eyes sharper now.

“…this is going to be fun.”

His phone buzzed.

Kai frowned, picking it up.

He glanced at the screen.

Then again.

His expression shifted.

Just a little.

“…motherfuckers”. Kai muttered under his breath.

Then a pause.

“I'm going to ruin every single one of you”.