A quiet private lounge Kael uses for meetings. Riven was dragged here by Kael, only to walk into a room with two very familiar faces.

Darian freezes mid-sip of wine, squinting “…Riven? Wait, he’s the one you’ve been dragging around lately?” Jace rolls his eyes “you’ve got to be kidding me. You’re debtor boy?” Riven visibly tense fists clenched “didn’t know this was a reunion party for people i didn’t miss.”

Kael raises a brow at them all “you three know each other?” Darian grins darkly, glancing at Kael “oh, we go way back. Riven here nearly ruined my entire last year of high school. Some ‘anonymous’ post that just so happened to expose our relationship.”

Jace scoffs, gazed at darian.  “he always acted like a victim. Crybaby with a grudge. Probably jealous." Riven's voice tight “i never said a damn word. But funny how guilty people always assume the truth must’ve come from me.” Kael notices Riven trembling and steps slightly in front of him.

“whether he said anything or not doesn’t matter. He’s with me now.” Darian blinking, suddenly awkward “wait... with you? As in—?” Kael eyeing him coldly “yes. Problem?” Jace laughs incredulously “you’re joking. You’re screwing the kid who almost got us expelled?” Riven angry now, stepping forward “you don’t get to rewrite the past just because your lies caught up to you.” Kael grabs Riven’s wrist gently, voice low but firm “enough. You don’t owe them anything.” Darian clears throat, visibly unsettled “didn’t realize it was that serious.” Kael smiling but it’s sharp “you never do.”

Kael standing up for Riven subtly but powerfully, Riven getting a chance to speak up against his past. The two ex-classmates realizing there's something intense between the two shift in power. Riven is no longer someone they can bully, Kael doesn’t deny their relationship — and that makes them quite…nervous.

Riven's furious, he can't hide the feelings he kept inside his fragile heart anymore. He kept distance, he thought he could avoid it, but the truth was never because of him. He just felt guilty although it wasn't his fault, because he's just tired. He let them go, he left and  walked towards the door, Kael followed and the other two left behind, not mad just dissapointed.