Leo spotted Johan and Liam near the vending machines.
“Guys,”
he said the moment he reached them, dropping his bag onto the bench,
“I met him.”
Johan looked up sharply.
“Met who?”
“The neighbor,”
Leo replied.
“The hoodie guy.”
Liam nearly choked on his drink.
“You talked to him?”
“Yeah. We were in the elevator together last night,”
Leo said casually.
“Turns out his not a bad guy.”
Johan’s eyes widened.
"That makes it even worse.”
Leo laughed.
“Relax. He’s not that scary.”
Liam crossed his arms.
“Did he threaten you? Blink twice if he did.”
“No,”
Leo said, shaking his head.
“He barely talked, but… I don’t know. He just seemed quiet. Like someone who doesn’t like small talk.”
“That’s how serial killers sound,”
Johan muttered.
Leo rolled his eyes.
“You watch too many crime shows.”
“He glared at us, Leo,”
Johan insisted.
“That wasn’t normal.”
Leo hesitated for a moment, thinking back to the elevator — Rowan’s voice, calm and low. The way his eyes had looked away so quickly.
“He didn’t glare at me,”
Leo said finally.
“Actually… he kind of seemed awkward.”
Liam raised an eyebrow.
“Awkward?”
“Yeah. Like he didn’t know what to say,”
Leo shrugged.
“Honestly, I think you guys just caught him on a bad day.”
Johan groaned dramatically.
“Great. Leo’s adopting another emotionally unavailable person.”
Leo laughed again, but something in his chest fluttered strangely.
With that the bell rang, echoing across campus.
“Come on,”
Leo said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“We’re going to be late.”
____
Later that evening, Leo returned home carrying a small cake his mom had packed for him.
As he walked down the hallway, his steps slowed when his eyes drifted to Rowan’s door.
Should I give him some…?
No— I’ll change first. I’ll come back later.
Leo rushed into his apartment, changed quickly, then stepped back out holding the cake in both hands. He stopped in front of Rowan’s door, staring at it.
“Maybe I should just go back,”
he muttered.
His hand hesitated midair.
Then, gathering his courage, Leo knocked.
The door opened instantly.
Rowan stood there, expression unreadable.
“What do you want?”
“I— I wanted to give you this,”
Leo said, holding out the cake.
“For what?”
“It’s nothing special,”
Leo replied with a small smile.
“My mom gave it to me, and I thought I’d share.”
Rowan stared at him in silence. After a moment, he pushed his hair back and sighed.
“Look… I don’t want to be friends with you.”
He’s so handsome… no— pretty,
Leo thought, momentarily distracted.
“Hey.”
Rowan’s voice snapped him back.
“I’m sorry— what were you saying?”
Leo asked.
“Just give it to me and leave.”
Leo handed over the cake anyway, still smiling, hopeful.
“Have a good night.”
Rowan said nothing.
He shut the door right in Leo’s face.
Leo blinked, then let out a soft laugh as he turned away.
“What a cold neighbor,”
he said, walking back to his apartment.
Rowan stood on the other side of the door, staring down at the cake in his hands.
“…Why are you making this hard for me?”
he muttered, heat rising to his cheeks.
Rowan remained still long after Leo’s footsteps faded down the hallway.
The cake sat untouched in his hands, its warmth seeping through the box like it didn’t belong there—like he didn’t.
“…Idiot,”
Rowan muttered, though he wasn’t sure who he meant.
He set the cake on the small kitchen counter and leaned back against it.
He had survived blood, screams, and nights soaked in vengeance without hesitation.
So why did something this small make his chest feel tight?
Rowan exhaled sharply and pushed himself upright.
“Focus,”
he said under his breath.
“This changes nothing.”
Yet, when he finally opened the box, the faint, sweet smell filled the room.
“…Just eat it and forget,”
he told himself.
He cut a small piece, hesitated, then took a bite.
His eyes widened slightly.
“…Tch.”
He swallowed, turning away as heat crept up his neck again.
__
Meanwhile, Leo lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, phone resting on his chest.
"That was awkward.
Good thing he didn’t throw it on my face."
Leo rolled onto his side, smiling faintly despite himself.
“He’s not that scary,”
he murmured.
“Just… closed off.”
____
The Next Morning the knock came early, too early.
Leo groaned softly, burying his face into the pillow as the sound echoed again—
“Ugh… I’m coming…”
he mumbled, voice muffled.
Another knock followed, louder this time.
Leo dragged himself out of bed, hair sticking up in every direction, eyes half-lidded with sleep. He shuffled toward the door in loose sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, rubbing one eye as he unlocked it.
The door swung open.
And there they were.
Johan stood first, bright grin plastered across his face, sunglasses already perched on his head like he was about to star in some reality show. Liam leaned casually against the wall beside him, coffee in hand, looking far too awake for someone who claimed to hate mornings.
Leo blinked.
“…Why are you here?”
he asked flatly.
Johan gasped, placing a hand over his chest.
“Wow. Is that how you greet your friends?”
Liam took a sip of his coffee.
“Good morning to you too.”
Leo squinted at them suspiciously.
“It’s Saturday. You don’t show up this early unless something’s wrong… or illegal.”
Johan’s grin widened.
“Relax. We’re taking you out.”
“…Out where?”
Johan and Liam exchanged a glance.
Johan stepped forward, lowering his voice dramatically.
“On a date.”
Leo froze.
“…Excuse me?”
“A date,”
Johan repeated, nodding seriously.
“With us.”
Leo stared at him for a full five seconds before slamming the door shut.
Immediately, pounding resumed.
“HEY—!”
Johan protested.
“Open up!”
Leo yanked the door back open.
“You’re insane.”
Liam chuckled.
“Not a romantic date, idiot.”
Johan pouted.
“You ruin everything.”
Leo crossed his arms.
“Then what kind of date is it?”
Johan spread his arms wide.
“A friendship date.”
Leo’s eye twitched.
“That’s not a thing.”
“It is today,”
Liam said calmly.
“Get dressed. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”
“Ten—?!”
Johan leaned in.
“Wear something comfortable.”
“…Why?”
Johan’s smile turned mischievous.
“You’ll see.”
Before Leo could argue further, they turned and walked off down the hall.
Leo stood frozen in his doorway, watching them disappear.
“…I should’ve stayed asleep,”
he muttered.
___
Across the hall, behind a half-open door, Rowan watched.
He hadn’t meant to.
He’d been leaving his apartment quietly when voices caught his attention—familiar ones.
“…A date?”
Rowan muttered under his breath.
The word sat wrong.
Rowan turned away sharply, pulling his hood up as he stepped into the hallway just as Leo shut his door.
____
Leo reappeared ten minutes later, dressed in jeans and a simple jacket, backpack slung over one shoulder.
“Okay,”
he said, trying to catch up.
“Where are we going?”
Johan’s grin returned.
“Surprise.”
They dragged Leo down the street, laughing and bickering the entire way. Leo complained, but not seriously—he’d missed this. The easy noise. The normalcy.
After a bus ride and a suspicious amount of walking, they finally stopped.
Leo frowned, looking up.
“…Wait.”
Bright colors stretched out before them. A towering ferris wheel turned lazily against the sky. Music played in the distance. The scent of sugar and popcorn filled the air.
Leo’s eyes widened.
“…An amusement park?”
Johan threw his arms up.
“TA-DA!”
Liam nodded.
“Welcome to your ‘date."
Leo stared, stunned.
“You dragged me out of bed… for this?”
Johan beamed.
“Exactly.”
Leo burst out laughing before he could stop himself.
“I can’t believe you,”
he said, shaking his head.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“That’s a yes,”
Johan said, already pulling him forward.
____
They rode everything.
The roller coasters that left Leo screaming louder than Johan would ever admit. The spinning rides that made Liam swear he was never eating again. The haunted house where Johan clung shamelessly to Leo’s arm.
“You screamed,”
Leo teased afterward.
“I did NOT.”
“You screamed first.”
Liam smirked.
“You screamed like a child.”
Johan pointed at them.
“Traitors. Both of you.”
They shared street food, sat on benches with sore feet, laughed until their stomachs hurt. For the first time in weeks.
“…Thanks,”
Leo said suddenly.
Johan glanced over.
“For what?”
“For dragging me out,”
Leo said softly.
“I needed it.”
Liam smiled faintly.
“Anytime.”
Johan leaned back.
“You’ve been different lately.”
Leo blinked.
“Different how?”
“Quieter,”
Johan said.
“Distracted.”
Leo hesitated.
“…I miss him,”
he admitted.
They didn’t need to ask who.
Liam nodded.
“Dogs don’t just disappear.”
“I hope so,”
Leo said.
__
Far away, unseen—
Rowan stood at the edge of the park. He hadn’t planned to follow them.
He told himself that repeatedly.
But there he was, hidden among strangers, eyes locked on Leo as he laughed under the evening lights.
Rowan clenched his fists.
You look happier without me,
he thought bitterly.
And that—
That hurt more than any blade ever had.
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