Shadows of Secrets.

The days following Haruto's cold departure were tense for Jan. Though Haruto hadn't outright rejected him, his silence weighed heavily. Every time Jan saw him across the cafeteria or passing by in the halls, the distance between them felt more palpable. And then there was Ren.

Ren, with his easy-going charm, acted as if nothing had changed. They still met in secret, in quiet corners of the university or at Ren's apartment, where they could talk about everything and nothing. But in the back of Jan's mind, the uncertainty of Haruto's approval still loomed.

One afternoon, as Jan sat reading in the library—this time alone—he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. He glanced up, his eyes meeting those of Kai, Ren's childhood friend. Kai was standing at the end of the aisle, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowing at Jan with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"Jan, right?" Kai's voice cut through the air, startling Jan.

"Yeah…" Jan closed his book slowly, his muscles tensing.

Kai took a few steps closer, his lips curling into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Ren talks about you. A lot, actually."

Jan felt his heart skip a beat. There was something in Kai's tone that made him uneasy, like there was a hidden challenge beneath the surface. He tried to keep his voice steady. "We're… friends."

Kai laughed, a sound that sent a chill down Jan's spine. "Sure, just friends," he mocked, leaning in slightly. "You and Ren must be pretty close for him to ignore all his other friends."

Jan could feel the tension rising between them. Kai's jealousy was almost tangible, a heavy cloud hanging over their conversation. Jan didn't know how to respond, so he stayed silent, hoping the conversation would end there. But Kai wasn't finished.

"You know," Kai continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "Ren's family isn't going to like this. Not at all. Do you really think they'll accept you? A nobody from a rural town?"

Jan stiffened, his throat tightening. He knew Ren's family disapproved of them, but hearing it from someone like Kai made it feel all the more real. The venom in Kai's words cut deep, striking at the insecurities Jan already struggled with.

"I… I don't care what his family thinks," Jan said, his voice coming out quieter than he intended. "That's between Ren and me."

Kai's eyes darkened. "Is it, though? You think you know Ren, but you don't. Not like I do. He may act like everything's fine now, but when it comes down to it, he'll choose them over you."

With that, Kai turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Jan sitting there, frozen in place. His mind whirled with doubts. Did he really know Ren as well as he thought? Could Ren's love for him withstand the pressure from his family? And what role was Kai going to play in all of this?

---

Later That Night: Secrets Between Friends

Jan's thoughts were still spinning as he sat in Ren's apartment that evening. Ren had his arm around him, casually chatting about his day, but Jan wasn't really listening. Kai's words kept echoing in his head, the doubt gnawing at him.

"Are you okay?" Ren asked, noticing Jan's distraction.

Jan hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should bring up his encounter with Kai. But if Ren didn't know how manipulative Kai could be, it might blindside them both later.

"Kai… he talked to me today," Jan finally said, his voice tentative.

Ren's expression shifted instantly. He sat up straighter, his eyes narrowing. "What did he say?"

Jan explained the conversation, leaving nothing out. Ren's face grew darker with each word, his jaw clenching. By the time Jan finished, Ren was visibly angry.

"Kai has no right to talk to you like that," Ren muttered. "I'm going to set him straight."

Jan placed a hand on Ren's arm. "No, Ren. I don't want to cause a bigger problem. I just… I wanted to tell you because I think he's going to try and interfere. He doesn't seem like he's going to let this go."

Ren exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself down. "I've known Kai my whole life. He's always been possessive. But this… this is different. I'll handle it, I promise."

Jan nodded, but the unease didn't leave him. It was clear that Kai wasn't just a minor annoyance. He was a threat to everything Jan and Ren had built, and Jan wasn't sure how much more pressure their relationship could take.

---

Meanwhile: Haruto's Struggles

As Jan and Ren dealt with Kai's growing interference, Haruto was grappling with his own internal battles. He had spent the last few days trying to process Jan's confession, but it wasn't easy. The idea of Jan—his best friend from high school, the guy he thought he knew better than anyone—being in a relationship with someone like Ren was hard to accept.

It wasn't that Haruto was against Jan being gay; he had always suspected it, but hearing it confirmed had still been a shock. What troubled him more was Ren. He didn't trust Ren. The guy had a reputation as a playboy, and Haruto couldn't shake the feeling that Ren was going to hurt Jan in the end.

But as much as he wanted to protect Jan, Haruto didn't know how to express his concerns. So, he did what he always did when he was conflicted—he withdrew. He avoided Jan, avoided talking about the situation, and hoped that time would give him the clarity he needed.

But deep down, Haruto knew that silence wasn't the answer. He needed to talk to Jan, to tell him what he really thought, before things spiraled out of control.