the weekend

The neon lights of the karaoke bar flashed outside, casting colorful glows on the sidewalk as Daiki led the group inside.

Ren, still unsure about this entire evening, followed reluctantly, glancing at Hikaru who trailed behind, his usual calm demeanor masking the tightness in his chest.

"C'mon, guys! Let's have some fun!" Daiki called out, his usual confident grin plastered on his face.

But Ren couldn't shake the unease rising in him. He kept his eyes on the floor as they made their way to the karaoke room.

And when the door slid open, Ren's heart sank.

There, sitting comfortably in the room, was Miyu — smiling, laughing, the same old flirtatious attitude.

Great. Just perfect.

But Daiki didn't give Ren a moment to breathe.

With a loud laugh, he gestured toward the couch and practically pulled Hikaru by the wrist.

"Sit here, Hikaru! I saved this spot for you~"

Ren barely registered it as Daiki practically shoved Hikaru down onto the couch, sitting beside him, leaving the space next to Hikaru wide open. Ren sat down, a few feet away, eyes flickering to the TV screen in front of him.

But Daiki wasn't done yet.

He leaned into Hikaru with that same mischievous grin, slipping his arm around Hikaru's waist, pulling him closer.

The touch made Hikaru stiffen, but he said nothing.

His face was unreadable, but Ren could see the discomfort there — the way Hikaru's body tensed every time Daiki moved in just a little too close.

Ren couldn't take it.

His hands balled into fists as Daiki moved again, lightly brushing his fingers along Hikaru's face.

Ren felt a strange, tight knot forming in his chest — jealousy, confusion, and something else that he couldn't quite name. He had no right to feel this way, no right to be angry. Hikaru wasn't his.

But... still...

Stop touching him...

Without even thinking, Ren got up from the couch, his heart racing, and he grabbed Hikaru's hand.

"Let's get out of here," he said, his voice rougher than he intended. He could feel the gaze of Miyu and Daiki on him, but he didn't care.

He led Hikaru to the door, the tension between them growing with every step.

When they reached the other karaoke room, Ren didn't hesitate. He slammed the door behind them, pressing Hikaru against it with a quiet urgency.

The room was dark and quiet, the soundproofing thick enough to muffle the distant noise of the others.

Ren was close now, so close he could feel Hikaru's breath catch in his throat. Their eyes locked — one of those moments where time seemed to slow.

Hikaru's heart was pounding, as if it, too, was screaming for something.

But Hikaru didn't know what to say, didn't know how to stop this moment. His hands twitched by his sides.

Ren's gaze dropped to Hikaru's lips, and before he even realized it, he closed the space between them.

The kiss was sudden, raw, desperate. Their lips met with an urgency neither of them had expected, and the world outside faded away.

Ren's hands gripped Hikaru's shoulders, pulling him closer, pressing their bodies together.

Hikaru couldn't move, couldn't even think. The kiss was everything — soft and gentle at first, but it deepened, their hearts racing, their breaths mixing in the still room.

For a few precious seconds, neither of them knew what to do.

But then, it was clear.

The way Ren held him, the way Hikaru melted into his touch, the way their heartbeats thudded together —

this was more than just a kiss.

It was everything they had been hiding, everything they couldn't say, every unspoken feeling shared in that single moment.

The kiss lasted for about half a minute, but it felt like a lifetime —

too short to be enough, yet long enough to change everything.

When Ren pulled back, his face flushed, breathless, and wide-eyed.

He felt dizzy, like everything was suddenly too real.

His hands remained on Hikaru's face, as if they had nowhere else to go.

For the first time, he wasn't sure what to say.

Hikaru, just as stunned, looked up at him, a quiet whisper escaping his lips.

"Ren..."

Ren didn't respond, his hands trembling as he slowly let go of Hikaru.

He stepped back, staring at him, his mind a mess of thoughts he couldn't untangle.

Hikaru stayed silent, his heart still racing in his chest, but the look in his eyes said everything.

He didn't want this moment to end.

The silence after the kiss was deafening.

Only the faint sound of the music leaking through the walls reminded them that the world still existed beyond this tiny karaoke room.

Ren stood frozen, breathing hard, his hands hanging awkwardly at his sides.

He couldn't even look Hikaru in the eyes.

What did I just do?

Hikaru stayed pressed against the wall, his lips slightly parted, his chest rising and falling quickly.

His cheeks were flushed a deep red, his hands tightly clutching his sleeves.

Neither of them spoke.

Finally, Ren coughed awkwardly and turned away, running a hand through his messy hair.

"...Forget it," he muttered, his voice low and rough. "That was... nothing."

But even he didn't believe his own words.

Hikaru blinked at him, his heart squeezing painfully.

Nothing?

To him, it was everything.

But Hikaru had no courage to fight it.

He just nodded slowly, forcing a small smile, even though he could feel the tears burning the back of his eyes.

Ren didn't dare look back.

He just grabbed the door handle, opened it roughly, and slipped out into the hallway without another word — leaving Hikaru alone, standing there, feeling the emptiness close in around him.

The next day at school —

The sky was clear, the sun was shining, but Hikaru's heart felt heavy, like it was going to explode inside his chest.

He couldn't sit still during classes.

Every time he caught sight of Ren — casually leaning back in his chair, playing with his pen, yawning like nothing had happened —

Hikaru's hands shook with frustration.

How can he pretend like it meant nothing?

During lunch, Hikaru finally gathered his courage.

He stood up from his seat and walked straight to Ren's desk, ignoring the curious stares from classmates.

"Can we talk?" Hikaru asked, his voice firm.

Ren raised an eyebrow lazily.

"About what?" he said, already annoyed.

"Last night," Hikaru said, voice low but steady.

Ren tensed instantly.

His eyes darkened as he glanced around.

"Are you crazy?" he hissed under his breath. "Not here."

Without another word, Hikaru grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the classroom.

They walked in silence through the empty corridors, past the dusty hallways, all the way to the abandoned music room at the back of the school.

The second the door shut behind them, the tension exploded.

"You kissed me," Hikaru said, chest heaving. "Don't pretend like nothing happened."

Ren crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, a fake smirk plastered on his face.

"I was drunk on the stupid karaoke vibes or whatever. It didn't mean anything. Get over it."

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"You're lying."

"Believe what you want," Ren shrugged.

"It's not a game to me, Ren!" Hikaru's voice cracked painfully.

"You kissed me like you meant it! And I..." he took a shaky breath, stepping closer, "I meant it too."

Ren stiffened.

"I like you," Hikaru said, finally letting the truth out, his voice trembling.

Ren scoffed, trying to act unaffected.

"Why would I want to date someone like you?"

That was the last straw.

Hikaru's face crumbled, his eyes filling with tears that he couldn't stop even if he tried.

The hurt in his expression was raw and ugly.

He quickly wiped at his cheeks with his sleeves, trying to hide it, but Ren saw everything.

Ren froze, guilt stabbing at him painfully.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Only Hikaru's soft, broken sniffles filled the room.

Then — in a flash of anger, sadness, and desperation —

Hikaru grabbed Ren's shirt, pulled him down, and kissed him hard.

It wasn't soft or gentle like before.

It was messy, clumsy, full of pain.

When he pulled away, Hikaru's voice cracked as he whispered:

"This is the repayment for what you did to me."

And for the first time —

Ren saw it.

The realness of Hikaru's feelings.

The realness of his own messy, chaotic heart.

He couldn't say anything.

He just stood there, his chest burning, his mind screaming,

What have I done.

Right after the kiss —

Ren stood frozen against the wall, staring at Hikaru who wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

Hikaru's chest was heaving from the emotions crashing inside him.

Without another word, he turned away, walked to the door, and left —

slamming it shut behind him with a thud that echoed painfully in the empty room.

Ren was left there alone, heart pounding wildly, fists clenched at his sides,

still feeling the lingering heat of Hikaru's lips against his own.

What the hell just happened...

He couldn't understand the feeling in his chest.

He just knew one thing:

it hurt.

---

The next few days at school —

Everything changed.

Hikaru, who once used to glance at Ren with soft, shy smiles,

who once blushed just being near him,

now acted like Ren didn't even exist.

In the classroom — Hikaru would quietly sit at his desk, eyes on his books, never once looking at Ren.

During lunch — Hikaru would leave early or eat outside alone, never crossing Ren's path.

When their eyes accidentally met across the room,

Hikaru would immediately look away like Ren was a stranger.

And worst of all —

his eyes, once full of silent love, now looked completely empty.

---

Ren didn't understand at first.

He thought maybe Hikaru was just embarrassed, maybe he would come back after a few days.

But he didn't.

Ren found himself getting irritated for no reason —

getting angry at nothing —

turning around in his seat only to find Hikaru pretending he wasn't even there.

When Miyu tried to flirt with him in the hallway,

Ren pushed her hand away harshly without even realizing it —

his eyes still searching for a boy who refused to look at him.

At night, when he tried to sleep,

he kept remembering the way Hikaru had cried.

The way his voice cracked when he said "I like you."

And it haunted him.

---

One evening —

Ren sat alone in the school rooftop, watching the sky turn dark.

The wind was cold against his skin.

Why does it hurt so much? he thought bitterly.

He's just a stupid, boring boy... right?

But even telling himself that —

his heart twisted painfully.

He missed Hikaru's soft gaze.

He missed the way he blushed.

He missed being seen —

in a way no one had ever seen him before.

Ren realized something terrifying:

He didn't want Hikaru to ignore him.

He didn't want Hikaru to treat him like he was nothing.

And maybe —

maybe he never wanted him to stop looking at him... with love.

A few days later —

Ren couldn't take it anymore.

At first, he told himself he didn't care.

But the more Hikaru ignored him, the more he realized —

he hated it.

He missed those shy glances.

He missed the way Hikaru would secretly stare at him like he was something precious.

Now, Hikaru didn't even glance at him once.

It felt like Ren was invisible.

---

Lunch break —

Ren was sitting by the window, arms crossed, tapping his finger on the desk out of irritation.

Across the courtyard, he spotted Hikaru — sitting quietly, eating alone under a tree.

Daiki, of course, noticed.

With his usual annoying smirk, Daiki casually walked towards Hikaru, two juice cans in hand.

Ren's eyes narrowed immediately.

His whole body tensed without him realizing.

He watched as Daiki sat down beside Hikaru, offering him a drink.

Hikaru smiled politely — the same way he smiled at everyone.

Not like before.

Not the way he used to smile at him.

Ren clenched his fists.

He didn't even realize he had stood up until he heard his chair scrape loudly against the floor.

---

Ren storms outside —

Straight toward them, without even thinking.

He didn't care about anything.

He didn't care if it looked crazy.

He didn't care if people stared.

All he knew was —

he couldn't stand the idea of Hikaru smiling like that at anyone else.

When he reached them, Daiki looked up, raising an eyebrow.

Hikaru looked... blank.

Like Ren was just another person walking by.

That made something snap inside Ren.

Without a word, he grabbed Hikaru's wrist — not harshly, but firm enough that there was no way to resist —

and pulled him up to his feet.

"Oi—what the hell—" Daiki started, but Ren ignored him completely.

He pulled Hikaru along, not even caring where he was going —

anywhere, anywhere away from Daiki, away from all these people.

---

Behind the school building —

Hidden between the walls where no one came,

Ren finally let go of Hikaru's wrist.

There was a heavy silence between them, filled with only the sound of their breathing.

"What are you doing?" Hikaru said, voice cold.

His eyes still wouldn't meet Ren's.

It felt like a punch in the gut.

Ren stepped closer without thinking.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" he said, voice low and rough.

"Why are you pretending I don't exist?"

Hikaru laughed — a broken, bitter sound.

"Because I don't," he said. "Not to you."

Ren grabbed Hikaru's arm before he could turn away.

He wasn't ready to let him go.

"You're so fucking annoying," Ren muttered, but his grip was desperate.

Hikaru yanked his arm free and finally looked up —

his eyes were shining, furious, but also hurting.

"Annoying, huh?" Hikaru said, voice trembling.

"Was it annoying when you kissed me too?"

Ren flinched.

Hikaru kept going, breathing heavily:

"Was it annoying when you held me like that? Was it annoying when you made me feel like—like I was important—only to pretend it never happened?"

Ren didn't know what to say.

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Hikaru shook his head, tears welling up.

"I'm not your fucking toy, Ren."

Without waiting for a reply, Hikaru pushed past him —

this time Ren didn't stop him.

He just stood there, heart pounding painfully,

watching the boy he couldn't admit he needed walk away.