Rowan stepped out of the shower, steam still clinging to his skin, but his mind was nowhere near the bathroom. Lucian's face—his eyes, his voice, that soft hand pressed against his chest—played in loops he couldn't escape.
His phone buzzed.
Dad calling.
He wiped his hair with a towel and picked up.
"Hey, Dad."
"Rowan! Where are you? It's raining like hell out here—your mom is worried," his father scolded gently. "Come home soon."
Rowan exhaled slowly. "…Dad, I think… I'm falling in love."
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?! FINALLY!" his dad shouted. "My son's human! He has emotions! Oh my god, your mom will faint—
wait, is it serious? Who is it? Where did you meet? Did you two kiss—"
"Dad!" Rowan nearly slipped, face flushing.
"First… it's a guy. Not a girl."
A pause.
Then—
"Ohhh. Okay."
His father's tone softened instantly. "As long as you actually feel something, I don't care. That's my son."
Rowan swallowed. "He's… a freshman. Kai's friend. I don't even know when it happened. But when I hear his name, when I see him… my heart just won't listen to me anymore."
His father hummed. "Then confess."
"I can't." Rowan's voice cracked for the first time. "He's my first love… I need time."
"Take your time," his dad said gently. "Just come home safe."
Rowan ended the call, but the warmth in his chest only grew stronger.
At the Campus Café…
Rain had stopped. Inside the café beside the university, Kai was washing the last batch of plates. Many assumed the café was his, but it belonged to a sharp-tongued widow named Nora, who treated him half like a son and half like trouble.
"Kai! Are the dishes done? It's late, I have to leave," Nora called.
"For where?" Kai teased. "You don't have a husband, you don't have a boyfriend—what important thing do you have to run to?"
Nora glared. "Just because my husband died young doesn't mean I have to remarry. Let me enjoy my life."
"Haa… so you're the female version of me," Kai laughed.
"Hey, hey—have you heard today's BIG news?" Nora leaned in dramatically.
"What news?"
"It's about your Lucian and Rowan!"
Kai froze.
"What?" he asked sharply.
Nora continued excitedly, "There was a football match today. Rowan was changing his shirt—everyone went crazy seeing him shirtless. Then a whole crowd chased him! Suddenly, Lucian appeared out of nowhere, protected Rowan, shouted at everyone… My god, Kai, the whole university thinks they're BOYFRIENDS now!"
Kai's plate slipped from his hand and clattered into the sink.
Nora squealed, "Imagine it! Lucian—beautiful and cute. Rowan—hot and perfect. What if they're actually datin—"
SLAM.
Kai dropped everything and stormed out.
Nora blinked. "…Did I say something wrong? Or did he just realize he's late?" She shrugged. "Whatever. Finally going home."
At Lucian's House…
Lucian lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The words kept replaying:
"Aerin is falling for Kai…"
"She wants to confess."
His chest tightened.
Then—
SLAM! SLAM!
Someone was banging on the gate.
"Luciaaaa! Luciaaaaa!"
The voice was unmistakable.
Kai.
Lucian shot up and ran to the window.
Kai was outside, yelling at the watchman, completely out of control.
Lucian rushed downstairs.
"Sir, he's drunk," the watchman whispered anxiously. "Your father will scold me—"
"It's fine," Lucian said quickly. "Just let him in. I'll handle him."
But the moment Lucian touched Kai's hand, Kai yanked away violently.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Kai screamed. "You—YOU LOVE ROWAN! YOU LOVE ROWAN!"
The watchman froze. Neighbors peeked from balconies.
Lucian's heart dropped.
"Kai… stop. Come inside."
Kai resisted, but Lucian pulled him into his room and closed the door.
"Kai, what is this? Why are you acting like this?" Lucian's voice trembled.
Kai's breath shook.
"I… do you want to leave me?" he whispered.
"You're my only friend… don't leave me."
The word friend stabbed Lucian straight in the heart.
His eyes filled instantly.
"Friend?" Lucian laughed weakly, painfully. "Is that all I am? After everything that happened that night… you call me just a friend?"
Kai's body stiffened.
The memories hit him like a punch.
Kai's Memory — "That Night"
He remembered it clearly.
Lucian crying.
Kai pulling him close.
Their breaths mixing.
Hands gripping shirts.
Back to Present
Kai's hands shook violently as he returned to the moment.
"I KNOW I WAS WRONG!" Kai screamed, voice cracking. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! DON'T LEAVE ME!"
Lucian couldn't even answer.
Kai suddenly gagged—
—and vomited all over the floor.
Lucian exhaled shakily.
"…Come on. Let's clean you up."
He cleaned the mess, carried Kai to the shower, washed him like a child, dried him, and put him in bed.
Even half asleep, Kai whispered:
"Lucia… don't leave me… I was wrong…"
Lucian's chest burned.
Morning
Lucian entered Kai's room. Kai stirred awake, face pale.
"Don't get up," Lucian said coldly. "Skip classes. Rest. I made breakfast. Take your tablets."
Kai held his hand weakly. "…Lucia… I'm sorry."
Lucian pulled away.
"I'll see you later."
He didn't look back.
At the Campus
The moment Lucian stepped onto campus, whispers exploded.
"Rowan's boyfriend!"
"They're dating!"
"They looked perfect yesterday—"
Before Lucian could respond, Aerin hugged him from behind.
"Luciaaa! Look who joined the philanthropy club with me—Lele!"
They chatted for a moment until suddenly—
Screams.
Rowan walked into the courtyard.
Girls squealed.
"Rowan's here for his boyfriend!"
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
Lele gasped.
Aerin grabbed Lucian's hand excitedly. "OMG REALLY?!"
Lucian's chest cracked.
He remembered Kai's breakdown.
The panic.
The danger.
The way he screamed "You'll leave me."
Everything exploded inside him.
"ENOUGH!!!"
The courtyard froze.
Lucian's voice trembled with anger and humiliation.
"How DARE you all talk about my personal life?! Did I EVER say I'm dating Rowan?! STOP making rumors about me!"
Even Rowan stiffened, shocked at the raw pain in Lucian's voice.
One girl whispered, "S-sorry, Luci—"
"That's ENOUGH."
Lucian's eyes were wet.
"Don't cross the line."
He turned around and walked away, shoulders shaking.
Rowan watched him leave, worry etched deep.
Aerin stood frozen.
The crowd fell silent—
Then slowly began murmuring again.