Ch 6: Uneven Ground

Kael was late.

Again.

He sprinted through the school gate just as it was closing, breath ragged, hair wild from the wind. The guard gave him a disapproving glare, but Kael just bowed clumsily and muttered, "Sorry, sir," before bolting inside.

He barely made it to class before the bell rang, slipping into his seat next to Hiroshi with a dramatic groan.

"Morning, sunshine," Hiroshi teased, sliding a mint across the desk. "Rough morning?"

"Riven didn't wake me up. Alarm didn't go off either. I swear my bed's trying to murder my future."

"You live with Riven?" one girl chimed in from the row behind. "That guy with the stare that could kill?"

Kael sighed. "He's not that bad."

"Not that bad?" Hiroshi blinked. "You're saying that about Riven Sato? Bro, I'm impressed. Or concerned."

Kael smirked and leaned back. "He's complicated. But I'm figuring him out."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of notes, quizzes, and hallway dodging. Kael tried to ignore the way people still stared when he and Riven passed each other in the hall—acknowledging nods, nothing more—but somehow, that small gesture was noticed. Rumors didn't take long to follow.

By the time they got home, the air felt… different.

Kael tossed his bag down near the couch, kicking off his shoes.

"You knew the alarm didn't go off, didn't you?" he called up the stairs.

Silence.

"I know you were awake," Kael continued, heading toward their shared room. "I heard your music playing before I even opened my eyes."

When he pushed the door open, Riven was lying on his bed, phone in hand, earbuds halfway in.

Kael crossed his arms. "You let me sleep in on purpose."

Riven didn't look up. "Maybe."

Kael stepped closer. "Why?"

"Thought you needed it," Riven said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Kael blinked. "Wait—you let me be late because you were… worried?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then what did you mean?"

Riven sighed and finally met Kael's eyes. "You looked exhausted. I figured one late mark wouldn't kill you. But your whining might."

Kael stared at him, stunned for a second. "That's the nicest passive-aggressive act of kindness I've ever gotten."

"Don't get used to it."

Kael flopped onto his bed with a sigh, the mattress bouncing under his weight. "Too late. I'm already touched."

Riven rolled his eyes, but there was a faint tug of a smile on his lips.

"People are talking," Kael said after a pause, eyes on the ceiling.

"When aren't they?"

"They think there's something going on between us."

Riven's expression didn't change. "Let them."

Kael turned his head, studying Riven's face carefully. "It doesn't bother you?"

"I don't live for their approval. And I'm not ashamed of who I talk to."

Kael swallowed. That last part hit deeper than he expected.

"But you are hard to read," he said softly.

Riven sat up, arms resting on his knees. "That's because most people read what they want, not what's there."

Kael gave a short laugh. "That's deep."

"I wasn't trying to be."

They sat in silence for a while. The kind that wasn't awkward anymore—just present.

"Riven," Kael said suddenly, serious now, "if there's ever a time I piss you off too much, just tell me. Don't bottle it up."

Riven gave him a sidelong look. "Why would I bottle it? I'm not that polite."

Kael grinned. "True. But still."

Riven leaned back against the wall. "I'll be honest with you if you're honest with me."

Kael nodded. "Deal."

Later that evening, Mrs. Sato called them down for dinner. They ate quietly, occasionally exchanging comments about school, food, and the ridiculous TV show playing in the background.

Afterward, back in their room, Kael sat cross-legged on his bed, typing on his laptop.

Riven watched him for a moment. "What are you working on?"

Kael looked up, surprised. "Homework. And… I'm trying to write something."

"A story?"

"Yeah." Kael hesitated. "BL, actually."

Riven raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. Got a problem with that?"

"No," Riven said, his voice unreadable. "Just didn't expect it."

Kael stared at him. "Is that a bad thing?"

Riven shrugged. "Not at all."

There was a pause, quiet but tense.

Kael tilted his head. "You're weirdly okay with that."

"Because it doesn't change who you are."

Kael looked down at his laptop screen, cheeks warm.

"Thanks."

Riven lay back, folding his arms behind his head.

Kael resumed typing, a small smile curving his lips.

---

They still didn't have everything figured out.

But somehow, the walls between them were crumbling.

Brick by brick. Word by word.

And in those quiet, in-between moments… something was building.

Not quite friendship.

Not quite something else.

But real.