"What are you doing... here?" Garam asked, eyes intentionally fixed at Gyu's lap.
"Just talking," Ben replied lazily, still sprawled out.
Garam didn't even look at him.
Ben understood immediately— this wasn't about him.
"I was keeping him company," Ben added.
"Why would you?" Kaven stepped forward and yanked him up.
"Did he say something stupid again?" he whispered to Gyu.
"Why is your hero complex kicking in?" Gyu scoffed.
Kaven let out a relieved sigh.
Good. A taunting Gyu is normal Gyu.
Meanwhile, Terry crouched beside Ben and grabbed the tiffin bag. His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Where's mine?"
Ben froze. Gyu gulped. …That roll.
It must've been Terry's. And he had eaten it. But it wasn't exactly his fault. He hadn't taken it willingly. It had practically been shoved into his hands.
"Dear…" Ben began, his voice dripping with sweetness.
"Don't you dear me," Terry snapped, nostrils flaring.
Ben swallowed nervously.
A hungry Terry was an entirely different species.
"We… ate it," Ben admitted.
"Hey!" Gyu snapped instantly. "Why are you dragging me into this? I didn't ask you to give me anything!"
He pointed straight at Ben.
"He practically forced me!"
Terry's face darkened.
Ben yelped and hurriedly hid behind Gyu.
"You traitor," Terry hissed. "Move."
"I can't!" Gyu panicked. "He's clutching me from behind!"
Ben held onto him like a lifeline. Terry's hand curled into a fist. He charged forward.
Gyu flinched, squeezing his eyes shut, already imagining a punch landing on his face—
But suddenly, he was yanked sideways.
In the next second… Terry's fist didn't meet Gyu. It met Ben's collar. Ben was slammed back as Terry grabbed him fiercely.
"I made that breakfast," Terry growled. "And I didn't even get to eat."
His voice trembled with frustration.
"It was for the two of us."
Then his glare sharpened.
"So why the hell did you eat it with him?"
Ben blinked. Terry's grip tightened.
"You ruined my day."
"I'll buy you food," Garam said quietly, stepping in. "Terry, let it go. Just this once."
But Terry didn't.
"No." His voice cracked. "I made it. For the two of us." His eyes burned.
"And that bastard knew exactly who I wanted to eat with… and still did it behind my back."
Gyu's expression slowly changed.
Until now, he thought it was all a silly fight.
But… Terry wasn't just angry about food.
He was angry because he wanted to share it with his friends and he unknowingly ruined that.
He stepped forward.
"I'm sorry for eating with him," he said softly and placed his hand over Terry's fist, stopping him from shaking Ben any further.
Ben's lips twitched, like he was holding back laughter.
"What is he doing?" Kaven muttered.
Terry stared at Gyu.
The rage on his face slowly melted.. replaced by a controlled calmness.
"…Are you serious?"
"Yeah," Gyu answered. "I am. So let it go."
His voice softened, but his chest felt heavy.
He hadn't had friends in a long time. He didn't even remember how it felt…To be included or ignored. But Garam's hot and cold treatment had showed him just how much it could sting.
Terry hesitated. Then, unexpectedly, he asked—
"Then, are you going to eat with me too?"
Kaven mouth fell open. Gyu blinked.
Even Garam stiffened.
Before anyone could respond, loud laughter burst out—Ben couldn't hold it any longer.
Gyu stared at Terry, confused.
"…Are you warning me not to eat?"
Terry's face turned red. He opened his mouth to explain, but Gyu cut in immediately.
"Look, I'm terribly sorry," He said dramatically. "I don't eat from strangers. He was buzzing nonstop, and I had no idea how to shut him up, so I just took a bite."
"No, I'm asking you out!" Terry blurted out hurriedly.
That only made Ben laugh harder.
Even Kaven joined in, laughing so hard he nearly doubled over.
Meanwhile, Garam quietly sat down on the stairs, watching the chaos unfold with pure exhaustion in his eyes.
"What do you even mean?" Gyu muttered.
Ben wiped tears from his eyes.
"Gyu—"
"Don't you dare," Terry warned.
But Ben grabbed Terry and locked him in a headlock.
"The breakfast was meant for you two!" Ben choked out between laughs. "And I snitched in!"
Terry finally tore himself free.
"You absolute jerk!" he cursed, chasing Ben down the hallway while Ben ran for his life, still laughing.
Gyu stood there, completely dumbfounded. "…What was that?"
Kaven only shrugged.
"He just wants to be your friend." Garam speaks quietly. And didn't say anything further and simply walked away, ignoring their gazes.
"…He talked to me," Gyu murmured, almost to himself. His face lifted slightly.
"And he was the one who pulled you aside when Terry charged…"
Gyu blinked.
"Wasn't it you?"
Kaven shook his head.
"I was on your left, You were pulled to the right."
He paused, then added,
"Do you really think it was me?"
Kaven sighed and patted his shoulder.
"Hey, Gyu… I may not know what happened between you two in the past…"
His voice softened.
"But I've been watching. he's changing. He really is."
Meanwhile, Garam stood alone down the corridor.
His phone screen glowed faintly in his hand.
A picture. A younger version of himself.
And beside him, a girl with pigtails, smiling brightly.
His eyes dimmed. "…I miss you more now."