What's wrong with me?

Kai lay on his bed, his mind swirling with confusion. He couldn't shake the feeling of frustration that had been building up inside him. Evan and he had been spending a lot of time together lately, especially since they started working closely on the gala. Yet, Kai had noticed himself reacting strangely to Evan's touches—small gestures that shouldn't have mattered so much.

"What's wrong with me?" Kai muttered aloud, as if trying to convince himself. He had never felt this way before, and the confusion only compounded his frustration. Was it possible that he liked Evan? The thought startled him, and he immediately slapped his cheek lightly, trying to dispel such notions. Sure, Evan could be cute, especially when he was angry, but that didn't mean Kai liked him romantically. At least, he didn't think so. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the confusing emotions that seemed to be surfacing at the most inconvenient times.

Sighing, he raised his body from a lying position to a sitting position and glanced at his laptop. Maybe watching something would help distract him from his swirling thoughts.

He opened Netflix and started browsing for a movie, hoping to calm his nerves. Just as he was settling into a comedy, his phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

"I need help," the message read.

Curious, Kai quickly typed back, "Who is this?"

"It's Evan," came the reply.

Kai's heart skipped a beat. Why would Evan need help, especially when they had just parted ways a few hours ago? He felt a mix of concern and curiosity. Nervously, he responded, "What do you need help with?"

"I need to talk. Can I come over?" Evan texted back.

Kai's mind raced. This meant Evan would be coming to his home, and the thought made him nervous. Despite the awkwardness, he couldn't just leave Evan in a lurch.

"Sure, I'll text you the address," Kai replied, his fingers trembling slightly.

Evan quickly responded, "Thanks, I'll be there soon."

Kai jumped up, quickly tidying his room and trying to calm the nervous excitement building inside him. He ran downstairs, calling out to the housekeeper.

"A friend is coming over. Can you let him in when he arrives?" he asked. The housekeeper nodded, and Kai returned to his room, trying to focus on the movie but failing miserably.

When the doorbell rang, Kai's heart skipped a beat. He heard the housekeeper letting Evan in and moments later, there was a knock on his bedroom door.

"Come in," Kai called out, trying to keep his voice steady.

Evan entered, looking slightly flustered. "Hey, thanks for letting me come over. I didn't know who else to ask."

"No problem," Kai replied, gesturing for him to sit on the bed. "What's up?"

Evan sat down, his expression serious. "I need your help with something personal. I know it's sudden, but I didn't know who else to turn to."

Kai nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and nervousness. "Sure, what do you need help with?"

Evan hesitated for a moment before speaking. "There are some issues at home. I don't really want to go back right now."

Kai's concern deepened. "Is everything okay? What kind of issues?"

Evan shook his head slightly. "It's complicated. I just need some time away from there."

Kai nodded understandingly. "Got it. You can stay here as long as you need. What about your mom? Won't she be worried?"

Evan sighed. "She's not picking me up today, so it's fine. No worries."

Kai gave a reassuring smile. "Alright. Make yourself comfortable."

Evan nodded, loosening his tie and unbuttoning a few buttons on his shirt as he settled onto the bed. Kai couldn't help but notice Evan's movements, his gaze lingering for a moment on Evan's chest before quickly looking away.

"Thanks, Kai," Evan said, glancing around the room. "I really appreciate this."

Kai shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "It's no problem. Want to watch a movie or something?"

Evan nodded, relaxing a bit. "Sure, what do you have in mind?"

Kai turned to his laptop, scrolling through Netflix. "How about this one?" he suggested, pointing to a comedy.

"Looks good," Evan agreed, moving closer to the laptop screen to get a better view.

Kai felt a shiver run down his spine at their close proximity. He could smell Evan's cologne, a subtle scent that made his head spin. Trying to focus on the movie, he pressed play, but he couldn't ignore how aware he was of Evan's presence next to him.

As the movie played, Kai found it hard to concentrate. Every laugh from Evan, every shift, only made Kai more aware of the closeness between them. Despite the confusion and nerves, he was glad to be there for Evan. Whatever his feelings might be, helping his friend was what mattered most.

---

"Can I ask you something?" Kai inquired as they stood outside his door, Evan having finally decided it was time to head home, despite Kai's offer for him to stay for dinner.

"Sure," Evan replied, his tone a mix of curiosity and exhaustion.

"Why did you come to my place instead of going to any of your friends' houses? I mean, we fight a lot," Kai said, scratching the back of his head nervously.

Evan hesitated for a moment, looking down at his shoes before meeting Kai's gaze. "I don't know... I guess I felt like I could trust you. And I didn't want to burden anyone else with my problems."

Kai nodded slowly, understanding dawning on him. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right? Even if we fight sometimes, I'm still here for you."

"I know," Evan said softly, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks, Kai. I appreciate it."

Kai smiled back, feeling a sense of warmth and relief. Despite their differences, there was a bond between them that went beyond their arguments. As Evan turned to leave, Kai couldn't help but feel grateful that he had been there to help his friend in need.

Although they had their individual differences.