Ch. 3: Unspoken Rules

The first thing Kael noticed when he woke up was the unfamiliar ceiling—white, with a small crack running across the corner like a scar. The bed beneath him wasn't his old one; it creaked with every movement, and the blanket smelled faintly of detergent and cedarwood.

He blinked groggily, then rolled over—and promptly hit his forehead on the bottom of the top bunk.

"Damn it," he muttered, rubbing his head. He could already feel a bump forming.

Riven was gone. The top bunk was empty, his blanket thrown back in a way that made it look like he hadn't even slept properly. Kael sat up, listening for movement downstairs. He heard the faint clatter of dishes and the low hum of the television.

Dragging himself out of bed, Kael grabbed a hoodie and headed downstairs, where Mrs. Sato stood in the kitchen, her back to him. She turned around with a smile the second she heard his footsteps.

"Morning, sleepyhead. Eggs and rice?" she asked, already plating a warm breakfast.

"Morning," he said, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, that'd be great."

He sat at the small kitchen table, watching the steam rise from the plate. Everything about this house was clean, organized, comforting—nothing like the tiny apartment he'd lived in with his mom, where the wallpaper peeled and the heater only worked when it wanted to.

"You've got orientation today at your new school," Mrs. Sato said as she poured him a glass of juice. "Riven will walk you there."

Kael blinked. "Wait—he will?"

"Of course." She smiled sweetly, as if that was obvious. "You boys are going to the same school now. It makes sense."

Kael poked at his eggs. "Right. Makes sense."

"He was quiet this morning," she added. "But don't take it personally. Riven's always been that way—quiet, not cold."

"Sure," Kael mumbled. "Real warm and fuzzy, that one."

Mrs. Sato chuckled, placing a wrapped lunchbox in front of him. "Try not to pick any fights. Or flirt with the teachers."

Kael blinked. "What kind of reputation do you think I have?!"

"The charming kind," she teased, wiping her hands on a towel.

---

Riven was already outside when Kael finished breakfast, standing by the front gate with his bag slung over one shoulder and earbuds in. His gaze was distant, focused somewhere past the houses and trees. He didn't even glance at Kael as he approached.

"You're really walking me?" Kael asked, a little amused.

"Don't make me regret it," Riven replied, turning without waiting.

The silence between them stretched thin as they walked, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of gravel underfoot and the occasional distant honk from passing cars. The sky was clear, soft blue streaked with morning light.

Kael glanced sideways. "You always this quiet, or are you just saving your voice for someone else?"

Riven didn't respond.

"Y'know," Kael continued, undeterred, "I can talk enough for the both of us. You just nod if you approve."

Still nothing.

He sighed dramatically. "Okay, I get it. Silent brooding mode activated. I'll shut up."

They reached the school gates just as the first bell rang. Students were already flooding into the building, chatting, laughing, nudging each other. Kael noticed a few eyes lingering on them—well, mostly on Riven. Tall, cool, mysterious Riven with his aloof aura and unreadable eyes.

"He's your housemate, right?" a girl whispered to her friend as they passed. "He never talks to anyone."

Kael felt the heat of attention prickling his neck. "Looks like I'm already famous."

Riven finally looked at him, dark eyes calm. "Try not to make me infamous."

Kael smirked. "Too late."

With that, Riven turned and disappeared into the crowd of students, leaving Kael standing awkwardly at the entrance.

---

Orientation wasn't bad. The teacher was welcoming, the campus was easy to navigate, and Kael had a knack for charming people. By lunchtime, he'd already found a group to sit with, led by a boy named Hiroshi, who had messy brown hair and an energy that reminded Kael of a golden retriever.

"So, what's it like living with the Ice Prince?" Hiroshi asked, biting into a rice ball.

"The who?"

"Riven. That's what some of the girls call him. He's good-looking, cold, mysterious. Typical anime boy type."

Kael nearly choked on his juice. "Seriously?"

"Yep. Doesn't talk to anyone. Keeps to himself. He's like… the final boss of our school."

Kael glanced across the cafeteria and spotted Riven sitting in the back corner, alone, eating silently with one earbud in. His posture was relaxed, but there was something about him—like he didn't care to be noticed, yet couldn't help drawing attention.

"He doesn't really open up to people," Kael said, more to himself than to Hiroshi.

"You close to him?" Hiroshi asked curiously.

Kael hesitated. "Not really. I mean… we share a room now, but we haven't talked much."

"Good luck with that. He's like a locked door with no key."

Kael didn't respond. Instead, he found himself watching Riven a little longer than he meant to.

---

That night, Kael came home exhausted. He dropped his bag by the stairs and headed straight to their shared room. Riven was already there, sitting on the top bunk with his knees drawn up, scrolling through something on his phone.

Kael kicked off his shoes and flopped onto the lower bunk. "People at school think you're scary."

"Do I look like I care?"

Kael smiled at the ceiling. "You didn't deny it."

Silence.

He rolled onto his side, eyes fixed on the wooden slats above him. "Do you care what I think?"

A pause.

Then Riven muttered, "You're loud."

Kael chuckled quietly. "Yeah. I get that a lot."

Somewhere in that heavy silence, something shifted—small, quiet, but real. Kael didn't know what to call it yet. But he felt it.

They were under the same roof, sharing the same air, sleeping only inches apart. And slowly, beneath all the cold silences and sarcastic banter, something was beginning to grow.

Something dangerous.

Something warm.