CHAPTER SEVEN

[3:02 pm – after last class]

*message notification

Kael to Riven: 

Alive?

Riven squinted at his phone screen while zipping up his bag. He rolled his eyes, snorted to himself, and replied:

Riven  to  Kael:

Barely.

Kael to Riven:

Same.

That was it. No emoji. No explanation.

Typical Kael.

Riven pocketed his phone and started heading out of the classroom when— "Hey—Riven, right?" A voice called from the hallway.

He turned to see some guy from another department—tall, with soft hair and a nice smile—walking toward him, holding a familiar paperback. “you left this on the table during lit class,” The guy said, holding out the book. “oh—crap. Thanks.” Riven reached for it, brushing fingers lightly. “i thought i lost this.”

The guy chuckled. “glad i caught you. You always sit at the far back, like a mysterious loner.” Riven laughed under his breath, a little awkward but polite. “that’s just where the plugs are.” They talked for a few minutes. Nothing flirtatious, just light back-and-forth. But riven didn’t notice the figure standing at the edge of the sidewalk, watching.

Kael.

He was “just passing by,” Wearing black and sunglasses again, pretending to check his phone as he leaned on his bike like he just so happened to stop there. But his jaw? Tense. Eyes? Sharp.

He watched the guy hand riven a pen and tap the cover of the book, pointing at something. Too close. Too smiley. Too casual. Kael’s fingers clenched on his phone like it was a stress ball. Eventually, the guy waved goodbye and headed off. Riven turned—and of course, he saw him.

“…Kael?” Riven said, raising a brow as he walked over. “wow, what a totally unexpected coincidence to see you here.”

Kael didn’t reply right away. He just looked at the book in Riven’s hand. “forgot something?” He finally asked, voice flat. Riven blinked. “a book, yeah. But someone was nice enough to return it.”

Kael’s eyes darkened just a touch. “friendly guy.” Riven smirked. “he’s chill. Why?” Kael tilted his head slightly. “no reason.” Riven stepped a little closer, nudging his shoulder. “wait. Are you jealous?” Kael scoffed. “i’m not the one smiling like he just got a love letter.” “oh my god—” Riven covered his face. “you are jealous.”

Kael stepped in close, leaning down with a voice lower than usual. “just making sure no one forgets whose name is written all over that attitude of yours.” Riven’s ears turned red. “i hate you.” Kael smirked, satisfied. “sure you do. Now let’s go. I’m walking you home.”

“again?”

“got a problem?” Riven looked away, hiding a grin. “no. Not really.” Kael held out his hand casually. “…Give me the book.” Riven hesitated. “why?”

Kael shrugged, eyes still on the hallway where the other guy had gone. “i’m just making sure you don’t ‘accidentally’ forget it again.” Riven handed it over, rolling his eyes “possessive freak.” Kael smirked “only when it’s worth it.”

[ “not jealous, just territorial.”]

10:48 pm — that same night

Riven lay on his bed, one foot dangling off the edge, half-scrolling, half-daydreaming. He stared at the book on his desk—the one that kael snatched earlier and held all the way home like a damn bodyguard.

He finally gave in and opened their chat.

Riven to Kael:

You were so obvious today. Lmao.

 Jealous much? *insert eyes rolling and nail polishing emoji

Seen.

No reply for two minutes.

Then...

Kael  to Riven:

You let random guys give you things now?

Riven burst out laughing.

He immediately typed…

Riven to Kael:

Omg hahaha you are jealous

It was a book, Kael. Not his number.

Though he was kinda cute *with blushing while hands on mouth emoji

Pause.

Kael to Riven:

Do you want me to kill him or something?

Riven to Kael:

???!??

What the hell *insert skull emoji

Kael to Riven:

Kidding.

(mostly.)

Riven to Kael:

You were literally leaning on your bike like a drama villain.

What were you even doing there??

Kael  to Riven:

Passing by.

Riven to Kael:

You live on the opposite side of campus.

Kael to Riven:

…I wanted coffee.

Riven to Kael:

Wow. So the café conveniently next to the exact building i was in.

Amazing navigation skills, gps boss.

Seen.

No reply again.

Riven sighed through his smile, then typed one last message:

Riven to Kael:

…Thanks for always showing up. Even if you pretend you’re not. I see it, you know.

Still no reply.

Then:

Kael to Riven:

Don’t get used to it.

I’m not a hero. I just don’t like watching you forget your stuff. Or… Smile at other people like that.

Riven stared at the message for a while.

Then sent a quiet reply.

Riven to Kael:

Not smiling at you though. That’s on you.

Kael to Riven:

Then maybe give me something to smile about.

the next afternoon

Riven was walking  on the sidewalks, bag slung over one shoulder, casually sipping his drink when he heard the familiar rev of a car behind him.

He didn’t even have to turn around.

“you always appear like some final boss,” Riven said lazily. “didn’t know today was part of your patrol route too, boss.”

Kael stopped next to him,  his eyes didn’t leave Riven's face. “you really gonna smile like that at anyone who hands you a damn book?” Riven smirked. “not done with that yet, boss?.” Kael didn’t deny it.

“he stood too close.”

“he was being nice.”

“too nice.”

Riven narrowed his eyes playfully. “oh? And what does that make you, huh? You’ve been ‘too nice’ lately too.” Kael leaned in slightly. “i’m not ‘nice.’ i’m invested.”

“invested?” Riven echoed, raising a brow. “in what? My academic performance?”

“in keeping what’s mine,” Kael muttered — not quite quiet enough. Riven blinked. “excuse me?”Kael straightened, shoved his helmet on with a bit too much force. “i’m saying, next time someone touches your stuff, or gives you that look—”

Riven cut him off, grinning. “you gonna what? Beat them up?” Kael deadpanned. “maybe.”

“you can’t just go around declaring ownership like i’m a stray cat you fed once—”

“i fed you three times.”

“…That’s not the point!”

“it is now.”

Riven, laughing but flustered, opened the passenger door to kael’s car without thinking—only realizing a second later that Kael hadn’t even offered a ride yet. Kael just smirked.

“getting in without asking now?” He teased. Riven, cheeks pink: “shut up. I'm invested too.”

[the gangsters’s playlist ]

Kael slid into the driver’s seat, started the car, and let the quiet hum of the engine fill the silence.

He didn’t speak.

Neither did Riven.

But his ears were red. So were his cheeks. So was the air, probably. Kael reached for the volume knob and turned it down, not that the playlist was loud. It was one of his softer ones — late night r&b, mellow beats, lyrics about things they’d never say out loud.

Riven peeked at him from the corner of his eye. “this your secret gangster playlist?”

Kael didn’t look at him. “shut up. It’s called ‘midnight drive, don’t catch feelings.’”

Riven: “…So you named it that and then still played it around me?”

Kael, flatly: “shut. Up.” A quiet snort escaped riven, but then his smile softened. The moment lingered — too long for just casual. And then, it happened.

Kael reached to shift gears. Riven went to adjust the air vent. Their hands brushed. Paused. Stayed. Neither moved. Riven slowly pulled his hand back like it was on fire. “s-sorry.” Kael stared out the windshield, visibly trying not to clench the steering wheel like a medieval sword.

“…You’re warm,” He said under his breath. Riven looked at him. “what?” Kael cleared his throat. “nothing. Focus on the road.”

“you’re the one driving.”

“exactly. Shut up.”

The rest of the ride? Soft music. Lingering looks. Zero words. Two idiots internally combusting.