The lecture hall was almost empty, the late afternoon sun streaming through the tall windows. Harit leaned back in his chair, notebook open but largely ignored, as he watched his friends pack up. Jun sat a few seats away, carefully placing his bow into its case, while Harit's close friend, Noah, scribbled notes and chatted idly.
"So, the family's really sending you off on that business trip?" Noah asked, glancing at Harit. "All the way to Bangkok, right?"
Harit nodded, his tone calm, almost detached. "Yes. It's unavoidable. Important meetings, negotiations… the usual family responsibilities. I'll be gone for three days, maybe four."
Jun's hands froze over the straps of his bow case. "Three days? That's… a lot." He tried to mask the subtle tension in his voice, but Harit noticed it anyway.
Noah shrugged, oblivious to the undercurrent. "Sounds like Harit's got it all under control. You should come with him, Jun, see the business world firsthand."
Jun shook his head, forcing a small smile. "I'm not into corporate stuff. I've got my competition coming up next week. Archery nationals. That's where I need to focus."
Harit glanced at him, noticing the faint glimmer of sadness behind Jun's otherwise confident expression. "I see. I suppose it's best we each stick to our priorities."
Jun's eyes flicked toward Harit. "You could… come to watch me," he said softly, almost uncertainly. "Just for a while. It's silly, but I… I want you there."
Harit's brow furrowed slightly. He could see the unspoken hope in Jun's eyes. For a moment, he felt the tug of something heavier than responsibility. But he shook his head gently, his voice soft, careful. "I'm sorry, Jun. I can't. The trip is… necessary. I have to go."
Jun's lips pressed into a thin line. "I understand," he said quietly, though a small shadow of disappointment crossed his features. "Just… don't forget to come back safely, okay?"
Harit offered a faint, reassuring smile, almost wistful. "I won't. And I expect updates from your competition. Don't slack off while I'm away."
Noah, sensing the shift, cleared his throat. "Well, I guess we'd better wrap up. Harit, you should start preparing for your trip."
Harit nodded, closing his notebook. "Yes. Let's go." He stood, adjusting his bag, and glanced back at Jun one last time before heading out.
Jun watched him leave, bow case slung over his shoulder, the faint sadness in his expression hidden beneath his usual composed mask. "Safe travels, Harit," he whispered quietly, a note of longing in his tone.
The empty lecture hall seemed to echo with unspoken words, promises deferred, and the quiet ache of distance that neither of them could yet bridge.
---
The classroom buzzed with nervous energy as students handed in their final projects. Ren adjusted the strap of his camera bag, glancing at Bom and Anurak with a grin.
"Ready for the big reveal?" Bom asked, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.
Ren chuckled. "As ready as we'll ever be."
Professor Lert moved down the rows, collecting projects and giving faint nods of acknowledgment. When he reached Ren's group, he paused, examining the film case in Ren's hands. "This… this is impressive," he said, tone thoughtful. "I'll be reviewing it in detail, but your work here shows creativity and technical skill. Well done."
Ren felt his chest tighten in relief and excitement. "Thank you, sir," he said, voice steady but bright. Bom and Anurak exchanged wide-eyed smiles.
Outside the classroom, the three of them couldn't contain themselves.
"We did it!" Bom shouted, spinning around in the empty hallway. "I knew all that arguing about lighting would pay off!"
Anurak laughed softly, adjusting his laptop bag. "It wasn't just lighting. It was planning, editing, and everyone actually listening to Ren for once."
Ren shook his head with a laugh, feeling a rare, full-on happiness bubble up in his chest. "You guys did great too. We all did."
They walked through the campus grounds, the autumn sun casting golden light on the stone paths. Students passed them, laughing, chatting, but Ren felt almost weightless, untethered from the usual anxieties that tugged at him.
Bom nudged him. "You know what this calls for?"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "No idea. Enlighten me."
"A celebration," Bom declared. "Right here, right now, or anywhere that serves drinks!"
Anurak smirked. "Knowing you, Bom, it'll involve shouting and embarrassing stories about us."
Ren laughed, already imagining the evening ahead. "Fine. But let's keep it just between friends."
---
The pub was alive with laughter and music, warm amber lights reflecting off the polished wood and glass. Ren leaned back in his chair, a grin plastered across his face as he clinked glasses with Bom, Anurak, and Khem. The celebration was loud, carefree a welcome break after weeks of intense work on their film project.
"I can't believe we actually pulled it off," Bom said, eyes sparkling. "And now a movie offer? That's insane!"
Ren laughed, brushing his hair back. "It's insane, but… it feels good. We did it together." He looked at Khem, who raised his glass with a quiet, knowing smile. The chemistry between them was subtle but electric, a shared understanding that didn't need words.
Anurak chuckled. "And here I thought our biggest challenge was keeping Ren from going overboard with the editing."
Khem leaned forward, eyes warm. "You really did impress everyone. Your vision… it's rare to see someone with that level of creativity and calm under pressure."
Ren felt his chest tighten slightly at the praise, but he shrugged, humble as ever. "I just… do my best. That's all."
The group laughed and joked, glasses raised again, when the door suddenly swung open. The familiar presence of Jun and Lucas immediately shifted the energy in the room. Harit's absence at the party didn't matter; Jun's calculating gaze scanned the crowd until it landed on Ren.
Ren tensed. He felt the pull of danger, subtle but unmistakable a warning that didn't belong in this celebration. Jun's smirk stretched across his face, confident and predatory, while Lucas remained silent, a shadow lurking beside him.
Ren's jaw tightened. He didn't want to make a scene, but he also didn't intend to let Jun disrupt this night. Moving slightly closer to Khem, he whispered under his breath, sharp and low: "Don't interrupt my life."
Jun froze, eyes narrowing. The whisper carried a weight Jun hadn't expected, a quiet authority that made him instinctively step back, tension running through his posture. Ren's warning was more than words it was a boundary, firm and immovable.
Ren's voice grew a little stronger, still close enough for Jun to hear: "Do you understand? Stay out of it. Stay out of *my life*."
Jun's lips tightened in anger, but for a moment, he didn't move. He could feel Ren's control, the invisible pressure that reminded him how much he'd underestimated this quiet, calm force. The smirk faded slightly, replaced by a flicker of unease.
Ren turned back to his friends, lifting his glass toward Khem. "We're celebrating. No one's ruining it tonight." His tone was firm, resolute, leaving no room for argument.
Jun's anger flared, but he realized the confrontation wasn't worth disrupting the party further. With a tight jaw, he stepped back, throwing a glare over his shoulder at Ren before storming toward the exit, Lucas following silently behind him. The tension lingered, a silent promise that their paths would collide again, but for now, Ren had claimed victory.
Khem exhaled softly, his hand brushing against Ren's as he reached for another glass. "You… handled that well," he said quietly, admiration clear in his voice.
Ren smiled, exhaling. "Sometimes you just have to make people understand. Even if they think they're untouchable."
Bom laughed, clinking his glass again. "And that, my friends, is why Ren's the quiet storm we all secretly fear and love."
The night resumed its rhythm, laughter and music reclaiming the space, but an undercurrent remained. Jun had been warned, boundaries had been drawn, and Ren had stood firm an unshakable presence, loyal to himself and those he cared about.
Khem leaned closer to Ren, voice soft, almost shy. "I like how you don't let anyone… take your light away."
Ren's smile softened, eyes meeting Khem's. "And I like how some people remind me it's okay to let someone see it."
The celebration continued, but for Ren, this night was more than just victory it was a declaration. He had friends, allies, and now someone who mattered in a way he hadn't expected. And no one not even Jun could take that away.
---