(Kaito’s POV)

Kaito was dreaming about Minjae again.

Not the soft kind of dream—the syrupy, lazy ones where light kisses lasted longer than time allowed.

No.

This one was darker. Distance between them. A lens in the way. Minjae watching him through glass. Not saying anything. Just… observing. Detached.

Kaito jolted awake, chest tight.

The apartment was quiet. Still dim from the early morning haze.

He sat up slowly, brushing sleep from his face. The couch creaked under him. His tie had slipped down to the floor at some point. The air smelled like leftover chips and—

Minjae.

That earthy cologne that never quite stuck, but lingered just enough to make him feel something warm and anxious all at once.

He looked over.

The other half of the couch was empty.

No note. No goodbye. Just… gone.

His throat tightened.

He tried not to read into it.

Later that day, work dragged like an anchor through water. Reports. Client emails. A review meeting that could’ve been an email.

He barely looked up from his desk when he got the message.

Ryuji:
“You free tonight? Found something I think you should see.”

Kaito stared at the text, fingers hovering.

His instinct said no.

But curiosity whispered louder.

7:12 p.m.
They met at a rooftop bar in Shibuya. Too expensive. Too polished. Too much like the life Kaito used to chase before he knew what it cost.

Ryuji was already at a table, nursing something dark and neat.

“This place again?” Kaito asked, sitting across from him.

Ryuji smirked. “Nostalgia.”

“What do you want?”

Ryuji pulled out his phone and slid it across the table.

Kaito picked it up.

It was a photo.

Minjae.

Smiling.

Next to a guy Kaito didn’t recognize—early thirties, model-level handsome, one hand resting on Minjae’s shoulder like it belonged there.

Kaito’s stomach dropped.

“I thought you should know,” Ryuji said, voice neutral. “They looked... close.”

“Where did you get this?”

“Spotted them outside a gallery near Ebisu. Yesterday afternoon.”

Kaito blinked.

Yesterday afternoon.

The same day Minjae had said he was editing.

Not that they were exclusive.

Not that he had any right to feel like this.

Still.

Kaito pushed the phone back, jaw tight.

“You don’t know what you saw.”

“I know tension when I see it.”

Kaito stood. “This isn’t your business.”

“I’m making it my business,” Ryuji said, gaze sharp now. “Because I know what it looks like when you trust someone too fast.”

Kaito leaned in, quiet and cold. “No. You know what it looks like when you get jealous.”

Ryuji didn’t respond.

Kaito walked out without another word.

That night

He didn’t text Minjae.

Didn’t open their chat.

Didn’t check the photos.

But he didn’t sleep, either.

He just lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering what it meant if he wasn’t the only one Minjae smiled like that with.

The next morning

Minjae texted.

Minjae:
“Wanna come to the gallery with me tonight? I’ve got a few prints up—first time in Tokyo lol. Kind of a big deal.”

Kaito stared at the message for a long time.

His thumbs moved slowly.

Kaito:
“Can’t. Busy.”

He didn’t ask how long Minjae had been working on those photos. Didn’t ask why he hadn’t mentioned them earlier. Didn’t ask who the guy in the photo was.

Because Kaito had always been better at shutting doors than opening them.

And right now?

He didn’t know if he had the courage to knock.