Chapter 7: That much of a psycho?

Kai froze with the phone still pressed to his ear, spine locked, heartbeat slamming so loudly he was sure it could be heard through the line. His father’s voice had a cadence to it, a specific order of words that meant danger. Not anger. Not disappointment. Trouble.

And trouble with his father was never survivable.

“I asked you something,” his father said again, calm in the way predators were calm. “You are keeping secrets from me, son?”

Kai’s mind sprinted. No time to panic. Panic got people buried.

He laughed. Soft. Casual. Perfectly placed.

“Secrets?” Kai said, almost amused. “What secrets would I be keeping from you, father?”

There was a pause. Then, precise as a scalpel, “You mentioned a name. Jaden.”

Kai laughed again, a fraction louder this time, like the name itself was harmless. “Ah. Him. Of course you know him. He modeled in today’s shoot. The one Martin paired me with.”

He leaned into the lie, dressed it nicely. “Actually… I was thinking he’s good. Very good. I wanted Martin to recommend him to you. RJ Fashion could use him as a permanent model.”

Silence stretched. Then his father hummed, pleased.

“Oh. That’s surprisingly practical,” his father said. “For a moment, I thought you were one of those disgusting faggots.”

Kai swallowed bile and answered smoothly, because survival demanded it. “No, father. I like girls. And like I promised, I’ll date whoever you choose for me.”

He bowed his head even though his father could not see it. “If you’ll excuse me, I have assignments to finish.”

Another pause. Then, “Very well. Go. And don’t mess up.”

“Yes, sir. Goodbye, father.”

The line disconnected.

Kai clutched his chest, gasping like he had just surfaced from deep water. His lungs burned. His hands shook. He did not realize he had been holding his breath until it was already over.

That night, sleep refused him.

Jaden’s voice replayed in his head. His eyes. That damn tattoo. The certainty with which he spoke, like he already knew the truth and was simply waiting for Kai to catch up.

Who was he?

Why did he say those things so easily?

And worst of all, why did Kai’s thoughts keep circling back to him, to one stupidly handsome, melanin-rich, sharp-smiled human who had no fear of death and too much interest in him?

Kai hated it. He tried to scrub the thoughts away, drown them in logic and discipline and fear.

Eventually, exhaustion won.

---

Monday morning came too quickly.

Kai woke up resolved. If Jaden wanted chaos, Kai would become boring. Normal. Untouchable.

He went to his father’s office before school and knocked.

“Come in.”

Kai stepped inside and bowed slightly. “Good morning, father. I have a request.”

His father looked up. “Speak.”

“I want to take myself to school,” Kai said carefully. “Using my own car. You said I should live a normal life. Having Martin escort me everywhere makes me look… spoiled. That isn’t normal.”

His father studied him for a long moment, eyes sharp enough to cut through bone.

Finally, he sighed. “Very well. I’ll give you your car back.”

Relief flared too fast. Then his father continued.

“But if I hear a single complaint,” he said quietly, “you know where you’re going.”

Kai’s body reacted before his mind did. A visible shiver ran through him.

“Yes, father.”

His father slid the keys across the desk. “Go to school.”

Kai took them with both hands.

And just like that, freedom was handed to him with a threat attached.

Kai arrived at school wrapped in his usual armor. Hoodie up. Mask on. Not because people couldn’t recognize him anymore, but because he preferred choosing who got to see him. Control was oxygen.

He walked to his locker and paused.

Something was… off.

No voice. No shadow leaning too close. No “angel” whispered like a curse.

No Jaden.

The realization hit him softly, like a warm cup of cocoa in cold hands. Peace. Actual peace. Kai almost laughed. Maybe the universe had finally decided to mind its business.

He grabbed his books for first period. Academics were not his thing. Never had been. Numbers blurred, equations mocked him, and his attention span had the loyalty of a stray cat. Fashion, though? Fashion made sense. Lines, textures, silhouettes. He kept a sketchbook tucked between textbooks, pages filled with designs he never showed anyone. One day, when he was old enough, brave enough, alive enough, he would show his father. Maybe then RJ wouldn’t just be a cage.

Math class.

Worst possible omen.

The room was fuller than usual, so Kai slid into a corner seat like a ghost. Then the teacher walked in.

“Good morning, class,” she said brightly. “Are we ready for the test?”

Kai’s soul left his body, waved goodbye, and ascended.

Test?

Oh.

Right.

He remembered now. The last class. Him slumped forward. Half-asleep. Hoodie over his head while Miss Marmalade’s voice floated somewhere above him, announcing doom while he dreamt of literally anything else.

He took the test anyway. Pure vibes. Zero facts.

When the papers came back, he stared at the red letter.

E.

He blinked.

Honestly? Better than expected.

Later, Miss Marmalade called him in. Her office smelled like tea and chalk dust. She looked at him with curiosity, not fear. That alone made Kai uneasy.

“Mr. Han,” she said gently. “Would you mind taking off your mask?”

Kai hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She smiled. Not tight. Not forced. Real.

“You did poorly,” she said bluntly. “But you have potential. I’m guessing you didn’t know about the test.”

Kai scratched the back of his neck. “I… fell asleep last class. I also joined mid-semester, and things have been… a lot.”

She studied him for a moment, then leaned back. “How do you feel about a study buddy?”

“A study… buddy?”

“Yes. You’re in B class, but I want to pair you with someone from A class. They’re academically terrifying. In a good way.”

A normal kid would say yes instantly.

Kai calculated instead.

“I’d need my father’s permission,” he said carefully. “I can call him now, but I’d need you to explain it. And please… don’t mention today’s test.”

She nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. “Of course.”

The call went smoothly. His father played the perfect public parent, agreeable and proud. Kai knew the rules. Ask in public, get permission. Suffer later.

When it was done, Kai exhaled.

Then he asked the question that mattered.

“Who’s the student?” he said. “You know… people avoid me.”

Miss Marmalade smiled. “Actually, this student chose you.”

Kai frowned. “Chose me?”

“Yes. Top of the school. Very eager.”

His stomach sank.

“What’s his name?” Kai asked, already knowing the answer in his bones.

“Jaden Afolayan.”

The room suddenly became

Kai stared at her, vision buzzing, brain screaming one coherent thought.

Of course.

Of course the universe hated him.

Of course peace was temporary.

Of course the human migraine had found a new way into his life.

Kai left the office with a polite bow and a single, desperate desire: to crawl into a hole and let the earth take him.

He had PE later.... maybe he could sweat his pain away.

-

Gym class was one of the few places Kai didn’t feel like he had to apologize for existing.

He didn’t hate his body. Not even close. If anything, it was one of the few things he trusted. The training he grew up with wasn’t gentle, wasn’t optional, and definitely wasn’t normal. He was a gym rat before he ever learned the term. Discipline lived in his muscles. Control lived in his breath. And yeah, being a model helped. His body was proof of survival.

Still, the changing room?

That was hell.

So Kai waited.

He let everyone else leave first, listening to lockers slam and voices fade until the room belonged to him alone. No stares. No whispers. No murderer jokes disguised as laughter. Sometimes, when it got bad, he leaned into the role they gave him. The monster. The cold one. But every time he did, he lost himself a little.

The victims were already dead when he arrived.

That truth echoed louder than any accusation but only to him.

If his father was so powerful, why didn’t he fix it?

Why was “normal” always just out of reach?

Kai inhaled sharply, shut that door in his head, changed into his sportswear, and walked into the gym like nothing could touch him.

Taekwondo day.

Pairs.

His stomach tightened.

Partners scared him. Not because of the sport. Because of people. Everyone knew his name. Everyone knew the rumor. Who would willingly stand across from the murderer kid?

Someone did.

A boy walked up to him, smiling. Open. Easy.

“Hi.”

Kai blinked. “Hi.”

“Would you like to be my partner?”

Kai almost said no. Almost asked if he was uncomfortable. Almost warned him.

Then he saw Jaden moving closer from

the corner of his eye.

Kai heard himself say, “Yes.”

Not loud. Not dramatic. Just… firm.

“I’m Kai.”

“Andy,” the boy said, still smiling.

From across the gym, Jaden stopped.

And turned away.

The routine went smoothly. Kai and Andy moved in sync, clean strikes, controlled balance. They passed easily. Good enough to leave early, shower, prep for the next class.

Kai didn’t move.

He sat in the corner instead, back against the wall, letting the noise blur. He watched Andy leave with Jaden and frowned.

That's right, they’re friends.

That didn’t sit right. Andy was… good. Soft-spoken. Kind. Why would he orbit someone like Jaden?

Kai pushed the thought away. Drifted. Half-slept.

Fifteen minutes later, the gym erupted.

He woke to voices and movement, eyes snapping to the entrance.

Jaden walked in.

Andy was beside him.

Andy had a bandage on his head.

Kai froze.

That bandage hadn’t been there before.

His first instinct was denial. No way. Not over him. That would be ridiculous. Jaden wasn’t violent when he said Martin was his boyfriend. And Kai wasn’t anything to him anyway.

Their eyes met.

Jaden smiled at him.

Then he smoothed his face, never breaking eye contact.

“What happened?” someone asked.

Jaden answered easily. “An accident.”

Kai’s gaze followed Jaden’s to Andy.

Andy swallowed. “I… I fell. Down the stairs. I was going to get snacks before the principal caught me.”

Concern buzzed around them.

“You’re okay now, right?”

Jaden smiled again. “I took him to the nurse. He’ll be fine. Right, Andrew?”

Andy nodded.

But his eyes flicked up.

Just for a second.

A frown. A glare. Fear, tightly leashed.

Kai saw it.

Kai missed a lot of things in life.

But not that.

His lips curved, slow and knowing.

So he really is that much of a psycho.