Running Away

As soon as Asahin wrapped up his last class of the day, he turned toward Abel with a calm but deliberate expression.

"I need to go to the library," he announced.

"The library?" Abel's brows furrowed slightly. "I wasn't informed of that by the lady." His voice low, steady voice tinged with suspicion.

"It's for a book I need for an assignment," Asahin explained. "I know I'm not exactly the model student, but I should at least put in some effort." His tone was casual, but beneath it was a quiet determination.

Abel regarded him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright. Let's go."

The library was reserved for students and professors only, which meant Abel had to remain outside once again. Asahin pushed open the heavy wooden doors and slipped into the vast, quiet sanctuary of books. Despite having only one floor, the library was impressively large, the tall shelves forming narrow corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. Sunlight filtered through tall arched windows, casting golden stripes across the polished floor. 

Asahin wandered through the aisles, his steps slow and measured as his eyes scanned the spines of countless books. His focus wasn't on the books, though—it was on finding Kaylen. He had been searching for nearly ten minutes when a firm hand suddenly seized his wrist and yanked him into a narrow gap between two shelves.

"Kayl—" Asahin's breath hitched as Kaylen's hand covered his mouth, his intense gray eyes locking onto Asahin's with an unspoken command for silence.

Kaylen's hand slid down, and he immediately began patting down Asahin's jeans pockets. Confused, Asahin stiffened until he realized what Kaylen was searching for. Reaching into his back pocket, Asahin pulled out his phone and handed it over. Without a word, Kaylen tucked the phone between the rows of books on the shelf behind him. Then, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a black shirt and a cap, thrusting them toward Asahin.

"Put these on," Kaylen instructed, his tone low but urgent.

Asahin hesitated for only a moment before slipping the black shirt over his T-shirt and adjusting the cap on his head. As he straightened, he noticed Kaylen pulling on a cap of his own. Kaylen's lips curled into a quick smile, the sight of it making Asahin's heart thump in his chest. And then Kaylen leaned in, brushing a light kiss over his lips.

Asahin's eyes widened, and heat rushed to his cheeks. Flashes from the night before flickered through his mind. His ears burned as Kaylen's hand slid down to entwine their fingers.

Kaylen signalled him to follow close behind and they started moving swiftly and silently toward the emergency exit. Kaylen slipped a card from his pocket and swiped it through the reader. The lock clicked open, and Kaylen pushed the door wide.

Asahin followed without hesitation, caught in a quiet daze, his steps light yet steady, guided by an unshakable sense of trust. His instincts had never led him astray before. In his original world, they had been his silent guardians, sharpening his awareness and keeping him safe more times than he could count. But learning to listen to them — to truly trust them — had taken time and hard-earned experience.

Perhaps it was the lingering warmth of the night before, or maybe it was the certainty that Kaylen wasn't the kind of person to give his loyalty lightly. Once Kaylen chose someone, he would protect them fiercely, without hesitation or second thought. That unwavering devotion was enough to dissolve any lingering doubt Asahin might have felt. He didn't fear following Kaylen blindly — if anything, the knowledge that Kaylen was by his side now filled him with a quiet, grounding peace. For the first time in what felt like forever, Asahin felt safe, like he could stop watching his back and simply breathe.

They slipped out into the open, entering a sprawling green space behind the library. Towering trees arched above them, casting shifting shadows across the ground. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. Kaylen's grip on Asahin's hand tightened as they hurried through the foliage, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.

Voices suddenly echoed in the distance. Kaylen reacted instantly, pressing Asahin against the rough bark of a nearby tree and shielding him with his body. Asahin's breath caught as Kaylen's hand curled protectively around his waist. With his cheek pressed against Kaylen's shoulder, Asahin could feel the frantic thud of Kaylen's heart beneath the fabric of his shirt. It was racing—fast and hard.

Asahin raised his gaze, meeting Kaylen's eyes. Was this escape making him nervous? Or… was it something else? His own heartbeat had quickened to match Kaylen's. His lips still tingled from that brief kiss, and now he found himself craving more.

As if sensing his thoughts, Kaylen's gaze darkened. He reached up, pulling off Asahin's cap and cupping his face with one hand. His thumb traced the curve of Asahin's cheek before he leaned down and kissed him. This time, the kiss was deeper, more intense. Asahin's lips parted beneath the heat of Kaylen's mouth, and the taste of vanilla and spice flooded his senses.

Asahin's legs were already starting to go weak when Kaylen started pulling back slowly, and whispered with amusement, his breath warm against Asahin's ear. "That's enough for now. We need to get to the highway. There's a car waiting."

Asahin's pulse thundered in his ears as Kaylen tugged his cap back into place and took his hand again. They rushed deftly through the trees, but Asahin's body was beginning to fail him. His muscles screamed with exhaustion, and each breath came harder than the last. His steps faltered, and his vision blurred at the edges. He stumbled, and Kaylen caught him instantly.

"I'm sorry," Asahin murmured, his head swimming. "This body… it's weak."

"It's alright," Kaylen said gently. "I'm going to carry you."

"What—? No, you can't—"

But Kaylen had already hooked an arm behind his knees and lifted him effortlessly.

"Put your arms around my neck," Kaylen instructed.

Asahin hesitated, but his body was too drained to resist. He curled his arms around Kaylen's shoulders, his head resting against the curve of Kaylen's neck.

"You can't possibly carry me all the way there," Asahin protested weakly.

Kaylen smiled. "Don't underestimate me. I can carry you as far as you need." His voice softened. "Just trust me."

Asahin wanted to protest further, to insist that he could walk on his own — but his body had other plans. A sharp ringing echoed in his ears, and his vision blurred, the world around him tilting precariously. The last remnants of his strength threatened to give out. So he settled in Kaylen's arms. The warmth of Kaylen's body beneath his cheek and the steady rise and fall of his breathing seemed to anchor him.

Kaylen adjusted his pace, his long strides becoming slower, more deliberate. His hold remained firm but gentle, as though he could sense just how close Asahin was to unraveling. The scent of vanilla and spice clung to him — sweet and grounding — and it seeped into Asahin's senses like a balm. His body, tense from exhaustion and strain, began to relax against Kaylen's chest. A quiet sense of comfort, of safety, bloomed deep in his chest. How long had it been since he had felt that way?

In his original world, Asahin had always been the protector — the one who stood tall when others couldn't. His broad shoulders and imposing stature made him a pillar of strength, someone others instinctively leaned on. It didn't matter if he was tired or hurting — he wasn't allowed to falter. Showing weakness had never been an option. Vulnerability was a luxury he couldn't afford. Once, in a rare unguarded moment, he had confessed this to his closest friend. He had admitted how exhausting it was to always be strong, how much it hurt to carry the weight of everyone else's safety. How sometimes he wished that someone would carry him for a change.

His friend had smiled — that bright, mischievous smile that always made Asahin's burdens feel a little lighter — and promised to grow taller and stronger so that Asahin could lean on him one day. Asahin had laughed, teasing him about how much taller he thought he could possibly get since Asahin was already 1.90 meters tall. His friend's expression had turned serious then. He had said that even if it wasn't possible in this life, then in another life, he would be the strong one. He would be the one to protect Asahin and care for him, the way Asahin had always done for others.

But his friend never got the chance. He died on his twentieth birthday.

A sharp ache pierced Asahin's chest as the memory surfaced. His eyes stung with unshed tears. Since transmigrating to this world, he had thought about his friend more times than he could count — dreamed about him, even. He wondered if his friend might have found his way to another place too. A place where he was safe, where he was loved, where his parents treated him preciously. A place where he didn't have to fight just to survive and where he could finally be happy.

"Asahin," Kaylen's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "We're here," he said, putting him down.

A blue car waited at the edge of the road. A man in his late forties sat behind the wheel. He rolled down the window and smiled at them.

"I was starting to worry," the man said. His dark green eyes flicked toward Asahin. "Hey there, I'm Sahar Morrison. Kaylen's father."

"Asahin Valmoor," Asahin replied, extending his hand.

Sahar's handshake was firm but warm. "We'll be home soon," he said as they slid into the back seat. "You both look exhausted. Rest while you can."

Asahin leaned back against the seat. Kaylen's hand found his, fingers lacing together. The warm, steady pressure sent a soothing calm through Asahin's body. The last thing he felt before sleep overtook him was the comforting weight of Kaylen's hand in his.