LOGINThe drive was quiet at first. Jaden sat behind the wheel, hands gripping it like he was holding onto control itself, but Kai was practically vibrating with energy beside him, laughter bubbling up as he leaned back in his seat, arms crossed over the center console, clearly enjoying himself in a way that made Jaden both irritated and unsettled. He didn’t know what Kai was thinking, didn’t know what he was planning, but somehow, the other boy seemed to have everything figured out—every movement, every word, every smirk—like he was orchestrating some private chaos just for the two of them. Finally, Kai broke the silence, leaning slightly toward him with that smirk that always made Jaden want to throttle him and kiss him at the same time. “Okay,” he said, voice casual, “so… you like me.” Jaden rolled his eyes, tapping the steering wheel impatiently. “No. I don’t like you.” Kai blinked once, exaggeratedly. “What?” “I don’t like you,” Jaden repeated, tone flat but carrying an edge that o
Kai shoved Jaden away so hard the back of Jaden’s shoulder thudded against the seat. “Never,” Kai said, breathing sharp and furious, “ever do that again.” Jaden blinked once, like the reaction didn’t compute. “Why?” he asked plainly. “I wanted to kiss you, so I did.” Kai let out a laugh. Not a happy one. The kind that scraped the air. “Well, I don’t enjoy being kissed by someone who has a boyfriend.” Jaden frowned. “What does Andy have to do with this?” Kai turned fully toward him, eyes narrowing like blades sliding out of their sheath. “What does Andy have to do with this?” Kai repeated slowly. “Alright. Let me explain it so even your psycho brain can process it.” He gestured dramatically between them. “Picture this. You and I are dating. In this scenario, you’re Andy, and I’m you.” Kai tapped his own chest. “And then I decide to cheat with the real Andy.” He spread his hands. “See the issue? Because that’s exactly what I’d classify this as.” Jaden opened his mouth, bu
Kai woke up with the kind of headache that felt like someone had been doing parkour inside his skull. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar, too white, too clean. Then his brain snapped awake: right, new apartment. New bed. New everything. Last night was still flickering through his head like a broken projector — the argument, Jaden’s jealousy, the useless back-and-forth that resolved absolutely nothing. He didn’t even know how he felt about Jaden anymore, except annoyed… and tired. Mostly tired. He dragged himself out of bed, brushed his teeth like the sad little adult he was pretending to be, skipped breakfast because the universe clearly didn’t want him nourished, showered, threw on something casual, slapped his mask on, and marched to the door trying to manifest an uneventful morning. He opened it. And boom. Jaden. Right there. Like a surprise boss battle he didn’t ask for. Kai rolled his eyes so hard it’s a miracle they didn’t do a full 360, and just walked past him. No gree
The city blurred past the car like smudged neon eyeliner as Kai rested his forehead against the window, cold glass breathing back at him. He looked like someone whose soul had just gotten back from war and forgot its luggage. Martin drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, side-eyeing him every few seconds like Kai was a bomb with moods for wires.“Okay,” Martin finally said, voice slicing through the quiet. “You’re, uh… unusually silent today. Which, for you, is basically a red flag wrapped in fireworks.”Kai didn’t lift his head. “I forgave you, you know. For almost testifying against me.”Martin groaned. “Bro, I already explained. The plaintiff cornered me. If I refused, they would’ve gotten suspicious. I didn’t say anything terrible! I’m still your favorite cousin.”Kai made a noise that was somewhere between a scoff and a tired exhale. “I don’t know, man.”Martin glanced at him again. “Something else is bothering you. Spill. Maybe we go hit the arcade before your shoot. You’ve
Kai walked into school the next morning with his mask on, tugged high enough to hide half his soul. After yesterday’s circus-on-national-TV, he wasn’t stupid. Anyone who didn’t know his face before definitely knew it now.And Kai was not in the mood to get recognized while trying to solve quadratic equations.He moved through the halls like a ghost in black skinny jeans, ignored the stares, and parked himself in the same deserted lunch corner he used. This was normal If normal ever existed for him.Jaden didn’t talk to him.Didn’t look at him.Didn’t even breathe in his direction.Kai almost choked at the miracle.Jaden was instead sitting on a table with his hands draped around Andy’s waist like he was auditioning for the role of “Distracting Boyfriend #1.”Kai watched that for a second too long.Something in that scene felt… wrong.Not romantic wrong.Narrative wrong.Why was Jaden kissing Kai like he was his personal adrenaline shot, but holding Andy like he was a seatbelt?How do
Martin’s hands trembled on the podium. Not enough for anyone to call it panic. Just enough to notice if you knew him. The prosecutor’s questions came one after another, precise, rehearsed, hungry. Martin answered them all, and yet said nothing. His words hovered in the air, vague and unanchored, like smoke you couldn’t grab. “I don’t remember him going out that day.” Kai almost laughed. It was the same kind of lie as saying the sky wasn’t blue but it's blue. Martin had always done this. When the truth could get him killed, he blurred it. When someone was watching him too closely, he shrank his sentences until they were harmless. Kai leaned back in his seat, jaw tight. Blackmail. Threats. A gun metaphorically pressed to Martin’s spine. And Kai couldn’t expose him. Couldn’t react. Couldn’t save him without ruining him. So he stayed still. The opposition looked displeased. Their plan to use Martin was slipping through their fingers, bleeding out in half-answers and se
Jaden slowed the bike in front of a building that didn’t belong to the rest of the street.Clean glass. Warm lights. Quiet money.Kai climbed off, helmet in hand, eyes narrowing as he took it in.“…Is this your home,” he asked, voice dry, “or are we here to steal something?”Jaden smirked. “Why do
Avery stared at Jaden like she was trying to peel him apart layer by layer. They were at the back of the school, where the noise dulled into distant echoes and the walls carried secrets better than people. “What the fuck do you want with that boy?” she snapped. “Just leave him alone.” Jaden didn’
[Trigger Warning: Censored physical abuse] The studying continued. Kai barely absorbed a word. Anger sat in his chest like a live wire, buzzing nonstop. His father had crossed a line — and Kai knew it. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t just scared. He was furious. Whatever twisted logic h
The library was quiet in the way that felt intentional.Not peaceful—just controlled.Kai sat at the long table near the back, assignments spread out in front of him. His hoodie was off. His mask rested beside his bag. He had decided, very deliberately, to look normal.Normal people waited.Normal







