Sitting at the back of a café near the school, Dean rested his cheek on the cold table, staring at his phone. 

He had a depressed look on his face as he thought back to yesterday. 

Once he and Caden came home, the man started the space thing when they walked through the door. Dean thought it would start tomorrow, but he was wrong when Caden walked into his room and never came back out. 

The man did come out, but that was only to eat and silently give Dean food. Then, today, Caden left the house without him having the chance to get one glance at him. 

Dean let out a disappointed sound as he had not talked or seen Caden at all, and it was already the afternoon. He did not realize how much they were always together until Caden gave them space. 

They have been separated before, only for short periods due to sleeping, school, appointments, or going out for something. The rest of the hours in a day had them together without a break. 

Even the university people would talk about how someone cannot see Dean without Caden by his side. Since his morning classes, people would ask if he and Caden fought because they were not together. 

He shook his head without explanation. Dean did not want to say they are giving each other space to think about their feelings. He did not need to think; he wanted Caden. 

Staring at his home screen picture did not help the lonely feeling crawling through him. 

The picture was of Caden covered with paint while he held a bucket of paint in his hands. He was laughing while pouring the liquid in the bucket down. 

If Caden were here, he would have shown others his home screen that continued Dean's. 

On Caden's home screen, Dean was on the floor with paint on his face, also laughing. Except Caden was pouring more on his body. 

Thinking back to that day, they were supposed to be helping the art teacher fix her room. But instead of painting the walls, they had a paint war. 

Most would think that the art teacher would be mad. But, she was the one who took the picture. 

Dean sighs for the umpteenth time as he continues to stare at the picture. 

Suddenly, Dean felt a weight on his back, bringing his body more into the table. "Deanie, baby! I miss you." The said weight shouted as arms began to wrap around him. 

A mix of black and white hair strands began to obscure his vision. 

Dean slammed his phone down before saying, "Lia, you are going to break my back with all your weight." 

A jab hit him in his side, but Dean did not react to the stinging pain. Lia clicked her tongue when the man did not do anything. 

Lia got off him as she took a seat next to him. She moved the chair close to him before resting her head on his phone. They stared at each other as their faces were close. 

Dean took in Lia and her hair that matches his in color. 

The woman had blue eyes, high cheekbones, clear skin except for the mole under her eye, and bow-shaped lips. 

She is the school's beauty that males chased after, while some females are jealous of her. She and Dean got close during the second year of university. They became friends when they realized how similar their personalities were. 

Even though Dean and Caden were together all the time, people would think Dean and Lia are together. And that is because Lia is always calling him pet names and likes to be clingy. 

The funny thing is, she is not attracted to anyone and rather be single for life. 

"Liaaaa," Dean stretched her name out, "I am not in a good mood." 

Lia grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers. "Oh, love, did Caden dump you? Come into mama's arms, and I will comfort you." 

Dean groaned before throwing his arms around Lia, resting his head on her shoulder when she picked herself up. He rubbed his head on her shoulder, taking in her comforting smell.

They were hugging for a while when they heard some voices entering the scene. 

"Dean is stealing the university's beauty again." 

"Hello, Dean, it is good to see you again finally." 

Dean moved back as he stared at his other two friends, Zie and Wayne. He rolled his eyes at them, "You guys are ridiculous." 

They pulled the other seats at the table back before sitting down and leaning on the table. "We are ridiculous? Are you not in a café with Lia, hugging while your best friend is not present? And you have not ordered any food!" 

After speaking, Zie raised his hand, trying to call a waiter over. Wayne grabbed his hand, pulling it down as he held it for longer than a second. "I will get the food and drinks. I know what all of you want." He stood up and walked away. 

Zie watched the man walk away, rubbing his hand that Wayne touched earlier. 

Dean was jealous. 

Zie and Wayne are together even though they hide it. Zie had a flirty nature, while Wayne had a chilled personality. But they made it work; they have been making it work since high school. 

The only negative thing about the relationship is that it is a secret because Zie is not ready to come out (even though they have been together for seven years). 

Dean cannot help but wonder if staying a secret for long puts a strain on their relationship. 

Lia glared at Zie, "You know how to ruin a moment, loser." 

Zie broke out of his daze as he looked at Lia with a pout, "No need to be mean, Lia. Acknowledge how I feel if the person getting a hug from someone so beautiful is not me." The man started to fake cry. 

Lia looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself by turning towards Dean, smiling at him. 

Dean knew what she wanted to say because she and Zie would have the same argument. And the topic was him not coming out while letting people know that he is with Wayne. 

The argument always ends up with one side getting hurt before they apologize and go through the same cycle again. 

"I am not the middleman," Dean muttered. Lia grabbed his arm, leaning on him, "Love, don't be so mean." 

He rolled his eyes at her. 

Zie laughed but stopped when Wayne came back with some drinks and pastries. He set the tray down before serving the others. Once he finished, he sat down, observing them. 

"No one started fighting, did they?" He asked while raising his eyebrow. Lia and Zie shook their heads while Dean gave the man a look. 

Wayne hummed but did not say anything. They started eating and drinking in silence when Wayne began talking again. "So, where is Caden? Is he busy?" 

Once he heard those words, Dean's depressive mood came back, "No, we are giving each other space." 

"You agreed to that?" Lia asked as she continued to lean on him, taking bites from his food. 

Dean shook his head, "Not really. But it is to give us time to think." 

"To think? What did you two do, fuck each other?" Zie crudely answered. 

"Zie!" Wayne scolded. Lia snorted at Zie's question. 

Dean's face turned red as he used his hands to cover it. Seeing his reaction, his friends looked at him with surprise. 

"Oh my gosh, I was kidding! Did you do it?" Zie yelled as he moved around in his seat. 

"What happened?" Wayne asked. 

"Was he good, love?" Lia spoke right after. 

"We did not do it," Dean started before his voice started to get lower, "we made out a few times and may have dried hump in the car. Then, we sort of confessed, so he thinks time would be good for us to know what we want." 

It was silent after Dean finished speaking as the group took in what he told them. A few minutes passed as Dean started to feel anxious until Zie said something first. 

"So, how was the kiss?" 

Wayne kicked his foot, shutting Zie up while Lia laughed at the man. 

"I can understand why he wants the space. You two have been inseparable since the first meeting. It is good to have room to think if you two want to be together out of feelings or convenience. 

"Do you have true feelings and want to be with him?"

Dean nodded, "I do. I feel like I am missing a piece of myself without him here, and all I see in my future is him." 

Wayne nodded at the answer, looking satisfied as he got ready to say something when Lia beat him to the punch.

"Aw, how sweet. I can see how much Caden means to you. Sometimes it is hard to tell with others." She pointed her last sentence at Zie, who glared at her. 

"If you have something to say, Lia, just say it." 

"I do. It has been seven years. Gay couples are more accepted. Do you understand how it feels to be with someone for a long time, and their lover does not want anyone to know? Because all you are doing is hurting Wayne." Lia argued. 

Dean grabbed Lia while saying her name, trying to stop her from continuing. Wayne's face turned blank as he grabbed Zie, whose face started to turn red with anger. 

"Let's not start this now," Wayne spoke. 

"I agree," Dean said right after. 

But Zie and Lia ignored them. 

"Stop acting like you know my relationship when all you know how to do is hurt people." Zie countered. 

Lia snorted, "And I bet you know all about hurting people because you have been doing it for seven years." 

Zie bared his teeth, "Look here-" 

Wayne slammed his hand on the table as he yelled, "Stop!" 

They jumped, including Dean and the other people that were around them. Wayne did not yell unless he had to. And when he did, it was a scary thing. 

"Lia, I know that you want to help, but I need you to leave it alone. And Zie, stop jumping into this fight every time. You two are friends, and I need you to act like it." 

Once again, silence took over them. Lia looked away without saying anything, and Zie stared at his hands, playing with them. 

No one spoke as the tension was high at the table. So, Dean tried to brighten the mood by saying, "Did you hear about the biology professor hitting his car into the school's historical statue, cracking it?" 

A minute passed before Lia started laughing, and Zie followed after her while Wayne smiled, shaking his head. 

"I heard he was drunk," Zie answered. 

"What? Really? I heard they found drugs in his car." Lia responded to Zie. They started talking about what they heard from the news about the professor. 

Wayne looked at Dean, mouthing, thank you. Dean smiled at him before they entered the conversation. 

Once the atmosphere was good, and they started joking around, it helped Dean forget that he and Caden were giving each other space. Although, he did grab his phone, clenching it.