Between Us 

The next morning felt unusually heavy.

Ray woke up earlier than usual, expecting to hear Kim voice in the kitchen like always—boiling water, clinking mugs, humming under his breath.

But the house was silent.

Too silent.

Ray walked out, half-asleep, only to find a note on the counter.

Went out early. Don’t wait. — 

Just an initial.

Ray stared at it for a long time.

It wasn’t like Kim to leave before breakfast. And it definitely wasn’t like Kim to leave without at least saying something directly—he always knocked on Ray’s door or left a longer message.

This?

This felt like distance.

Ray tried not to think about last night—the look Kim gave him when he handed the warm plate, the way Kim had stepped in when Yan teased, the quiet warmth in his eyes.

Maybe Ray had imagined it.

He grabbed his own mug of tea, feeling the silence closing in around him.

Later That Day

Ray was sweeping the porch when he saw Yan walking up the front path—not even bothering to text first.

Ray sighed. “Seriously? Again?”

Yan grinned like a fox. “Miss me?”

“No.”

“Lies,” Yan said, stepping inside anyway. “Is Kim home?”

“No,” Ray replied, sharper this time. “He left early.”

“Oho?” Yan raised a brow. “Trouble in paradise?”

Ray nearly dropped the broom. “WHAT paradise?!”

Yan laughed, holding up his hands. “Relax. I’m kidding. Mostly.”

Ray glared so hard Yan snorted.

But then, Yan leaned against the wall and studied Ray in a way that wasn’t teasing.

More… observant.

“You’re different,” Yan said quietly. “Around him.”

Ray froze.

Yan tilted his head a little and said. “You know that, right?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Right,” Yan chuckled, unconvinced. “Because people stare at their brother’s friend like that all the time.”

Ray’s heart tripped. “I wasn’t staring—”

“You were,” Yan said smoothly. “And he notices.”

Ray’s breath caught.

Yan stepped closer—not too close, but enough to make the air shift.

“Be careful, Ray.”

For the first time, his voice wasn’t playful. “Kim’s… complicated.”

Ray frowned. “Why are you saying this?”

Yan opened his mouth to answer—

But the sound of footsteps interrupted them.

The front door clicked open.

Kim stood there—hair damp from a rushed shower somewhere, sleeves pushed up, collar slightly crooked.

 He stopped immediately when he saw the two of them standing close.

His eyes flickered.

Not angry.

Not exactly.

But something sharp and unreadable flashed for a second before he masked it.

“…Yan,” Kim said, voice calm but tight. “Didn’t expect you.”

Yan smiled lazily. “Just dropping by.”

Kim’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Ray noticed.

Kim walked past Yan without looking at him and brushed by Ray, his shoulder grazing Ray’s lightly—almost like a silent check: Are you okay?

But he didn’t say anything out loud.

Instead, he quietly set his bag down and began clearing some clutter on the table, avoiding Ray’s eyes.

Ray watched him for a moment.

Something was wrong.

Something had shifted.

A Quiet Tension

Yan eventually left—after tossing Ray a wink and Kim a very obvious smirk.

When the door closed, silence settled again.

Kim kept cleaning a stack of books that didn’t need cleaning.

“…You’re avoiding me,” Ray said softly.

Kim’s hand paused mid-movement, but he didn’t turn.

“I’m not,” he said quietly.

“Then look at me.”

Kim froze.

Slowly—hesitantly—he lifted his gaze.

The moment their eyes met, Ray felt his breath catch.

Kim looked… conflicted.

Tired.

Jealous.

Worried.

And something else Ray had seen before but couldn’t name.

“I’m just tired,” Kim murmured, looking away again.

Ray stepped a little closer. “Did I do something? Is it because of last night? Or because Yan keeps—”

“It’s not that,” Kim said immediately.

Ray waited.

Kim swallowed, hands tightening slightly around the book he was holding. “I just… needed some space for a bit.”

Space.

Ray’s stomach twisted.

“Oh,” she whispered. “Okay.”

Kim finally looked up—eyes softening in a way that made Ray’s chest feel too tight.

“…Not from you,” Kim said quietly.

“Just… from my own head.”

Ray blinked. “Your head?”

Kim nodded, exhaling. “It’s been… loud lately.”

Ray didn’t understand fully, but nodded anyway.

Kim wasn’t pushing her away—he was struggling with something internal. Something he didn’t know how to say yet.

And for some reason, that made Ray feel even more confused.

Even more drawn to him.

Kim placed the book down and took a small step closer.

“Ray,” he said gently. “Just… don’t overthink today, okay?”

Ray tried to smile. “Can’t promise that.”

Kim’s lips quirked—barely, but it was there.

A warmth.

A pull.

A closeness that made everything more complicated.

And yet neither of them stepped back.