Chapter 7

“Yeah! I knew you would agree! Yes! Woohoo!” Tae Min shouted, throwing both arms into the air as if he had just won a championship.

A few students near the rooftop door turned to stare.

Haru’s eyes widened in embarrassment. “Hey! Sit down! You’re not a kid anymore.”

“Why?” Tae Min laughed, spinning once. “This is a celebration!”

“I said sit down!” Haru hissed, grabbing Tae Min’s sleeve and pulling him back toward the bench near the railing.

Tae Min stumbled forward and nearly fell on top of him.

Haru’s grip tightened. “People are looking at us.”

Tae Min glanced around casually. “Let them. What do they care?”

Haru’s jaw clenched. His voice dropped. “I care.”

That made Tae Min pause.

There was something in Haru’s tone—something heavier than embarrassment.

“…Okay. Fine,” Tae Min muttered, sitting properly this time. “But don’t pretend you’re not excited.”

Haru avoided his eyes for a second before answering. “Of course I am. I just don’t need to announce it to the whole school.”

Tae Min leaned closer, teasing. “Where are we going again?”

“To the mall. After class.” Haru said it calmly, but his fingers nervously tapped against his thigh.

“What?!” Haru suddenly added, widening his eyes dramatically. “Why today? I thought I was going somewhere with my dad.”

Tae Min blinked. “What do you mean? He agreed earlier.”

Haru quickly waved his hand. “I was joking. I changed the topic because… because I wanted to see your reaction.”

Tae Min stared at him suspiciously. “You’re terrible at lying.”

“Was I that obvious?”

“Completely.”

Haru laughed softly, but when his phone vibrated, his expression shifted. “Wait. My mom texted.”

Tae Min nodded.

Haru checked the message.

Aika: Come home before you and Tae Min go out.

Haru felt warmth spread through his chest. Even his mom knew.

Haru: Okay, mom.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket. “She wants me home first before we go.”

“Same. I’ll change,” Tae Min replied quickly. “Then I’ll go to your house.”

“No.” Haru shook his head. “Let’s just meet somewhere.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I do.”

There was a firmness in Haru’s tone that surprised Tae Min.

“…Okay,” Tae Min agreed quietly. “Train station?”

“Yeah. That’s better.”

Recess was nearly over, but neither of them moved.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Haru asked.

“I’m fine.”

Without another word, Haru tore his cream bread in half and shoved one piece into Tae Min’s hand.

“That wasn’t a request,” Haru said flatly. “Take it. Or I’m not coming later.”

Tae Min smirked. “Threatening me now?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. But you better show up.”

Haru smiled gently. “Of course.”

For a moment, everything felt light again.

But the light didn’t last.

Running Late

“What time is it?” Haru suddenly asked.

Tae Min checked his phone. “11:58.”

Haru froze.

“That’s our next subject!”

They both jumped up at once.

“I totally forgot!” Tae Min laughed nervously.

“Run!”

They quickly cleaned their trash together—almost bumping into each other twice in their rush—before sprinting downstairs.

“I hope we make it!” Haru called.

“We will!”

They didn’t.

Their teacher was already inside the classroom.

“Why are you late, Tae Min and Takahashi-kun?”

Tae Min opened his mouth. “It’s because—”

“Because Haru wasn’t feeling well earlier,” Taki interrupted smoothly. “Tae Min brought him to the clinic.”

Several classmates nodded in agreement.

“All of us saw,” someone added.

All except one.

Ryo Tanaka leaned back in his chair with a slow smirk.

“No, they weren’t,” he said loudly. “I saw them on the rooftop.”

The room went quiet.

Haru felt his palms grow cold.

“Is that true?” the teacher asked.

Haru stepped forward. “Yes, we were on the rooftop. But I wasn’t feeling well earlier.”

Tae Min added, “We were eating. That’s all.”

The teacher studied them for a moment.

“…Alright. Come in.”

Relief spread through the room.

As they passed Ryo, Tae Min shot him a cold glare.

Ryo’s smirk faltered.

After School

Three hours later, the final bell rang.

Students flooded the hallway.

Haru walked ahead while Tae Min finished packing his bag.

That small delay would change everything.

Haru turned the corner—and collided with someone solid.

“I’m sorry!” he bowed quickly.

“Don’t you have eyes?”

Haru slowly looked up.

Ryo.

His stomach dropped.

“Oh. It’s you.”

“Talk about perfect timing,” Ryo said, cracking his knuckles.

Haru stepped back. “I didn’t do it intentionally.”

“You humiliated me earlier.”

“You did that yourself.”

Ryo’s smile disappeared.

“Don’t talk back to me.”

He shoved a finger hard against Haru’s forehead.

Haru lost his balance and fell backward.

Pain shot through his elbow.

“Ouch!”

Ryo stepped forward. “You should’ve lied.”

“I—”

“Know your place!”

He raised his hand.

But before it could come down—

Someone grabbed his wrist.

Hard.

Ryo flinched. “Who—?”

Tae Min stood behind him.

His face was unrecognizable.

Cold.

Controlled.

Furious.

“I told you to leave him alone.”

Ryo swallowed. “We were just joking.”

“Is that true, Haru?” Tae Min asked without looking at him.

Haru’s voice trembled. “…No.”

Ryo panicked. “He’s lying!”

Tae Min tightened his grip.

Ryo winced. “Ouch!”

“He pushed me,” Haru admitted, tears slipping down his cheeks.

That was it.

Tae Min’s restraint snapped.

He twisted Ryo’s wrist just enough to make him gasp.

“Leave.”

“Ow! Let go!”

“Leave.”

Ryo stumbled back once released, clutching his red wrist.

“I’ll get my revenge,” he hissed before retreating.

Silence followed.

Haru was still on the ground.

Tae Min knelt immediately. “Are you hurt? Can you stand?”

Instead of answering, Haru lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Tae Min’s waist.

He was shaking.

“I was scared,” Haru whispered.

Tae Min froze for half a second before gently placing a hand on the back of Haru’s head.

“I’m here.”

“What if he comes back?”

“He won’t.”

“You can’t promise that.”

Tae Min hesitated.

“…Then I’ll promise this instead.”

He tightened his arms around him.

“I won’t leave you alone.”

Haru’s grip tightened.

“You’re the only one I can rely on.”

Those words hit harder than any punch.

Tae Min felt something shift inside him.

Responsibility.

Fear.

Something deeper.

“…Let’s go home,” he said softly. “We still have somewhere to be.”

Getting Ready

Despite what happened, neither of them canceled.

Maybe they needed this outing more than ever.

At home, Tae Min rushed through his shower and changed twice before deciding on a simple black jacket and white shirt.

“Mom! I’m leaving!”

“Wait!” Tae Ha called, hurrying over with extra cash. “For emergencies.”

He smiled. “Thanks.”

“Text me when you get there.”

“I will.”

As he stepped outside, excitement returned—but it was layered with something protective now.

He texted Haru.

Tae Min: Heading out. You?

Across town, Haru stared at the message in mild panic.

He hadn’t even picked clothes yet.

Why does he always move so fast?

Haru: Almost ready. Sorry.

Tae Min: Take your time.

Haru exhaled.

He changed quickly, said goodbye to his parents, and accepted money from his father despite insisting he didn’t need it.

“Have fun with Tae Min,” his father said casually.

Haru nodded.

But inside, the words echoed differently.

The Station

The late afternoon sky was painted in orange and soft purple.

Tae Min arrived first.

He checked his reflection in the train station window.

Why am I nervous?

It’s just Haru.

Footsteps approached.

“Tae Min.”

He turned.

Haru stood there, slightly breathless.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Haru had changed into a simple navy sweater.

His hair was still slightly damp.

“You came,” Tae Min said quietly.

“Of course.”

There was a pause.

Then Tae Min noticed something.

A faint red mark on Haru’s wrist.

“Did he grab you there too?”

Haru quickly hid his hand. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing.”

Haru looked up.

The station noise faded into the background.

“I’m fine,” Haru said. “You were there.”

Tae Min swallowed.

“You can’t always depend on me.”

“Why not?”

Because what if I’m not strong enough?

He didn’t say it.

Instead, he reached out.

And without thinking too much—

He took Haru’s hand.

Just lightly.

Not interlocked.

Not tight.

Just enough.

Haru’s breath caught.

People were around them.

Watching.

Passing.

But neither pulled away.

“We’ll be fine,” Tae Min said.

For the first time that day, Haru believed it.

But across the platform—

Someone was watching.

Ryo.

His eyes were dark.

His jaw clenched.

He pulled out his phone.

And took a picture.