Between Us
Chapter 17
Kim was already at the table when Ray came out the next morning—hair neat, posture calm, eyes on his phone as if nothing unusual had happened between them yesterday.
He didn’t look up when Ray entered.
“Morning,” Kim said lightly, almost rehearsed.
Ray paused.
He had expected… something.
A glance.
A hesitation.
Anything that acknowledged the moment they almost—
Ray shook his head, forcing the thought away.
“Morning,” She replied quietly.
Kim pushed a plate toward him. “I made breakfast for you.”
On any other day, Ray would have smiled at that.
Today, the gesture felt strangely distant—like Kim had wrapped himself in a layer of “normal” to keep Ray from getting too close.
Ray sat down, watching Kim’s expression carefully.
He was polite.
Calm.
Focused on eating his food.
And absolutely avoiding Ray’s eyes.
The mixed signals were starting to feel like a cruel maze.
Ray poked at his toast and said. “You’re acting weird.”
Kim blinked. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
Kim sighed softly. “Ray, I’m trying to make things less… complicated.”
Ray’s throat tightened. “It wasn’t complicated. You’re the one who made it—”
He cut himself off as soon as the words slipped out.
Kim’s shoulders tensed.
But before he could respond—
A knock sounded at the door.
Both of them turned.
Ray didn’t even have to open it to know who it was.
Yan leaned against the frame with a grin like he’d been waiting for this moment all morning.
“Good timing?” he asked.
“No,” both Ray and Kim said at the same time.
Yan laughed and stepped inside anyway.
Yan Stirring the Quiet Waters
Yan plopped onto the couch, stretching out like he owned the place.
“So,” he said casually, looking between them. “You two are looki… tense.”
Ray nearly choked. Kim stiffened.
“We’re fine,” Kim said too quickly.
Ray muttered under his breath, “Sure we are.”
Yan raised an eyebrow. “Did I miss something?”
“No,” Kim said firmly.
“Yes,” Ray said at the same time.
Yan stared, amused. “Wow, mixed answers."
Ray glared at him. Kim avoided Ray’s eyes again.
Yan smirked. “Anyway, Kim—Ethan said he needs you later. Something about the project you guys messed up.”
Kim sighed. “We didn’t mess it up. Ethan forgot to send the file.”
Yan shrugged. “Details.”
Ray watched quietly as Kim grabbed his bag like he was grateful for the excuse to escape.
But before he could step past Yan—
Yan leaned in and whispered (loud enough for Ray to hear),
“You okay? You seem… distracted.”
Kim clenched his jaw. “I’m fine.”
Yan smiled knowingly. “Okay.”
Kim walked toward the door, but Ray caught a subtle glance Kim tossed back—quick, sharp, almost protective—as Yan moved closer to Ray again.
A tiny flash of jealousy.
A tiny slip in Kim’s perfectly normal façade.
Ray’s heart jumped.
Kim quickly looked away, pretending it didn’t happen.
After Kim Left
Yan stretched his arms behind his head. “Sooo… something definitely happened.”
Ray froze. “Nothing happened.”
Yan snorted. “You’re terrible at lying.”
Ray looked away, cheeks warm.
Yan watched her for a quiet moment, expression shifting into something more serious than his usual teasing.
“Ray,” he said softly. “Whatever he’s running from… it isn’t you.”
Ray blinked. “How do you know?”
Yan shrugged. “Kim avoids things when he feels too much. Trust me—I’ve known him for years.”
Ray’s chest tightened.
Too much.
Kim was feeling too much?
Yan stood up to leave but paused at the door.
“Oh, and Ray?”
Ray looked up.
“Don’t let him pretend forever.”
Ray swallowed. “…I’m not sure he’s pretending.”
Yan gave her a small, meaningful look.
“He is.”
And then he left, closing the door behind her.
Later That Evening
Kim returned late—quiet, tired, still pretending their almost-moment never existed.
But Ray noticed something the moment Kim stepped inside.
Kim paused, hesitated, and glanced toward Ray as if checking she was there—safe, home, close.
A small flicker of something warm passed through Kim’s eyes.
He masked it immediately.
But Ray saw it.
And it made everything even more confusing.
Even more tangled.
Even more impossible to ignore.
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