LOGINMorning came quietly, carried in by soft light that slipped through the thin gap in the curtains.The house was still.Only the faint sounds of movement from the kitchen and the distant clink of utensils hinted that the day had already begun.Sean ran a hand through his slightly messy hair as he stepped out of the guest room, clearly lacking proper sleep. The electric fan had done little to make the night comfortable, and it showed in the slight crease between his brows.He exhaled.“I need to change.”Without much thought, he walked back toward his room, one hand resting on the doorknob before pushing it open.What he saw—Made him freeze.Yvo was already awake.Seated on the chair near the study table.And in his hands—Letters.Several of them.Opened.Sean’s eyes darkened instantly.A sharp, cold anger surged through him.“What the hell are you doing?”His voice cut through the room.Yvo did not even flinch.He simply glanced up, calm as ever, another letter loosely held between h
Dinner was simple, but warm. Sean’s mother had prepared more than usual, filling the table with dishes that still steamed under the soft yellow light. The faint clatter of plates and utensils blended with the quiet hum of the evening. “Eat slowly,” she reminded gently, placing more food onto Yvo’s plate. “You’re injured.” Yvo nodded politely. “Yes, Auntie. Thank you.” Sean sat across from him, watching despite himself. Yvo’s movements were slower, more careful, his posture slightly stiff from the pain. “You look like you’ll drop that any second,” Sean muttered. Yvo glanced up. “Then stop staring.” Sean scoffed and looked away. For a while, only silence and the soft sounds of dinner filled the space. After they finished, Sean gathered the plates without much comment and brought them to the sink. His mother followed shortly after, wiping her hands on a towel. “I’ll prepare the room,” she said. Sean paused. “The guest room?” he asked. “Yes, of course,” she replie
The bus was almost full when they boarded. Sean stood near the middle rail, one hand gripping the overhead handle while the other held his bag close. Yvo sat beside the window, looking unusually quiet. The vehicle moved forward with a slight jolt. Sean glanced down at him. “Try not to fall asleep. We’re almost there.” Yvo did not respond. A few minutes passed. The bus turned onto a busy road, stopping and starting repeatedly. The motion was steady but slightly uneven. Then, suddenly— Yvo shifted. Without warning, he leaned his head against Sean’s shoulder. Sean froze. His entire body stiffened. “What the—” he hissed under his breath. He tried to move away instantly, lifting his shoulder slightly to push Yvo off. “Hey. What do you think you’re doing?” Yvo did not move. Instead, he muttered softly, eyes closed, “My head hurts.” Sean frowned. “Then sit properly.” “The movement is making it worse,” Yvo replied faintly. “I think I’m getting motion sickness.” Sean looked d
Sean’s voice cut through the quiet parking lot.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”Yvo turned his head calmly, though the tension in the air was obvious.Sean stood behind him, his face tight with anger. The envelope and the letter had already been snatched from Yvo’s hands.“Doesn’t anyone ever teach you not to touch other people’s things?” Sean snapped, his grip tightening on the paper. “Or are you just incapable of respecting someone else’s business?”Yvo crossed his arms, completely unfazed.“You left it in your bike basket like it was on display,” he said flatly. “Anyone could have read it.”“That still doesn’t give you the right,” Sean shot back.The irritation in his voice was sharp, but beneath it was something else.Uneasiness.Yvo studied his face carefully.“So it’s true then,” Yvo said quietly.Sean’s brows furrowed.“The stalker Lareina mentioned,” Yvo continued, lowering his voice. “They’re back.”Sean’s jaw clenched.“That has nothing to do with you.”“Of course
Morning sunlight streamed through the tall classroom windows, spreading warm light across the rows of desks. The room buzzed with the familiar sounds of students chatting, chairs scraping softly against the floor, and notebooks being opened as everyone prepared for the first lesson of the day. Lareina sat quietly near the middle row, arranging her notes while waiting for their professor to arrive. Although the classroom carried the usual lively energy of a normal school morning, her attention kept drifting toward the back. Yvo sat in the last row near the window. Normally, he kept to himself during class, speaking only when necessary or when the teacher called on him. He had always been the quiet type, someone who preferred observing rather than participating in the constant chatter around him. But even with his usual silence, there was always a sense of alertness about him. Recently, that quietness had become different. He was staring outside the window. Completely still. Beyon
Lunch period unfolded with an unusual quiet that seemed to settle between moments rather than fill them.From the narrow passage tucked between the main building and the arts wing, Yvo stood in stillness, half concealed by the concrete wall and the soft shadow it cast. The space had always been overlooked by most students, too plain to linger in, too hidden to notice. For Yvo, that made it perfect. From there, he could see almost everything unfolding across the campus courtyard without drawing attention to himself.The midday sun hung high, washing the open space in a pale brightness. Students gradually spilled out of classrooms, their voices rising into a steady hum of laughter and chatter. Yet despite the noise, Yvo remained detached from it all, as if he existed just outside the rhythm of everyone else.Across the courtyard, Lareina arrived first.She walked at an unhurried pace, her notebook pressed lightly against her chest as if out of habit rather than necessity. She paused near
The sun dipped lower, casting long golden streaks across the campus lawns as the festival carried on around them. Booths overflowed with handmade crafts, games, and colorful snacks, while the faint scent of popcorn and roasted corn mingled with the warm evening air. Lareina wandered from stall to s
Through the tall windows of the gym, sunlight streamed in, painting long streaks of gold on the floor. Outside, the festival continued with laughter and music, but inside, the air felt calm and strangely intimate.Lareina finally broke the silence. “You know,” she said softly, “it’s funny. I’ve kno
Applause erupted when Yvo’s name was called. The sound roared through the gym like a wave of thunder, echoing off the high walls and polished floors. Yvo jogged up to the stage, confidence fully restored, a teasing grin plastered across his face as if the whole world had finally aligned in his favor
The game unfolded like a choreographed battle. Red surged, blue countered, and each score met with a calculated response. Sean remained silent, watching intently, letting every shift of movement and flicker of the rivals’ eyes wash over him. By the second quarter, the scoreboard was tight, red and b







